At the speed Ted tore through the jungle, some may have said he was flying. He'd barely struck the ground when the shadows around the temple enveloped him, silencing his passage and obscuring him to even the most alert watchers. But flying was not how he traveled. He didn't have the time for trial and error now. He would make the journey the fastest way possible at the moment. A full gallop through the jungle. He didn't see it, but the vines and vegetation could not find purchase on his form, seeming to slide off of it, or in some cases through it. He was on a mission, and nothing would stop him from accomplishing it.
Soon he heard the sounds of combat, though it seemed to be winding down. Since he wasn't even feeling winded, he kept moving, tearing into the clearing like a whirlwind of shadows. The last remaining attacker came into sight, a creature that appeared to be a giant flying cockroach with split mandibles gaping widely as it dove at its target. Two remained standing, the corpses of several of the beetles littering the area. As it flew at its target, Ted caught it with his magic, slamming the monster into a nearby tree with a wet crunch. Knowing that beetles tend to be resilient, he launched two shadow blades at the insect as well. The blades detonated against the tree trunk he'd pinned the bug to, showering the tree and the area around it with bug guts. Turning to the dreamers, he let the shadows fade from his form.
One was a griffon, wearing what looked like leather armor and bearing several blades, though it was currently using its claws to fight. The second one that was still up looked similar to a pegasus, but the wings and eyes were different. Bat wings adorned the creature's back, and its pupils were slitted like his own. A thestral. Luna's memories had references to them, and said that they were extremely loyal to her, but after her fall, there was no mention of them. It left a strange sensation in his heart, like finding a child you'd thought lost forever. At Ted's appearance the griffon drew a blade, but the bat-pony dropped into a bow.
Ted walked up to the thestral, a male as far as he could tell, and spoke. "No time for that, little one. Where are the other two?" Immediately, the two smaller creatures attention was directed to a second injured thestral, attempting to bandage the wounds of a younger third thestral. Ted breathed a sigh of relief, before focusing on the first two. "There was to be a fifth among you, wasn't there?"
"What do you want, alicorn?" The griffon spat the word as an insult.
"Amald! Stop it, don't you see his eyes? There was only one alicorn that ever bore such eyes in the ancient legends." The stallion said with zeal. Turning to Ted his gaze became less certain. "Though the Nightmare was a creature of anger and hate. How are you so calm?"
Ted stared at the thestral for a moment, a smile forming on his muzzle. There really was no backstory on the Nightmare, just legends of fear and eternal night. Even the memories he shared with Luna had her avoiding ponies as Nightmare Moon. The thing that was never brought up was why. What would drive the lunar princess to such madness, such horrific action as trying to end the world? A backstory was something Ted had gotten very good at creating. "A brain, even an alicorn's is not made for holding two minds. When I found myself trapped with Luna, her anger and grief nearly crushed me. Unlike her, I was a creature of action. I lashed out at the apparent cause of my pain, and sought safety in what I knew. The night was my home, and I sought to be safe." Ted explained. "The elements separated us, but my body had long since succumbed to death. Thus I was left in her armor for decades. Ponies seeking my aid revived me in this form. Even now I'm affected by Luna's touch." he said. "Yes I was the one who lashed out in our madness, but I can now think my own thoughts. Once again I am able to offer protection to those who seek the shadows. Now I ask again, were you expecting a fifth."
The griffon and the first thestral glanced at each other uneasily, before both turned back to him and nodded. "Your friend did not make it. I am sorry, but I found a note referencing this location in the gullet of a large snake. The note was fairly damaged, but considering the condition of everything else, it's a surprise it was legible at all."
The griffon's face hardened before it spoke in a strong, masculine voice. "I assume you killed the creature, then? Did you keep anything from it? A fang or scale, maybe even the skull?" Ted nodded in response, and the griffon's expression softened slightly. "Would you mind if I had a piece of the creature? There is a rite to preform for this sort of death. I don't know who you are, but... it would mean a lot to me if I could be certain that Truda's rest is peaceful."
"I gathered several items from the creature after I managed to kill it, including a nice chunk of meat. It was delicious, actually, and deliciously ironic, considering it tried to eat me." Ted answered, smiling at the griffon. "My ponies call me Nightmare, though my own name has been lost to me, and I currently preside over this area. I'm afraid I don't have proper staffing to keep the area patrolled, however." He said.
"Amald is my name." The griffon said, before gesturing to his companions. "The stallion here is Swift Screen. The mare is Whisper, and the colt is Dart."
Ted looked at the two injured ponies for a moment, before turning back to the griffon "The colt was on watch?"
"I take the blame for that one. I assumed he would be stronger than he was, and able to fight off sleep. I was wrong." Amald said, sparing a glance at the injured colt.
Ted nodded. "There is a healing spring nearby, it should mend any injuries you received during your battle. But first I must ask you, what do you hope to accomplish here? Why did you come to this land?"
Swift answered first. "The Queen is mad. She said we were tainted by Luna during her madness, and set about purifying thestrals, at least that's what she called it. Some of our elders attempted to explain to her that our race predates the princess' fall, but she would hear not a word of it. Said we were confused, and she would help us, and make us better. That there were only three pony races, and that any others were mutations. She went on to purify the elders right in the throne room. From what I heard, the process is excruciating, and some end up broken because of it. I won't let her do that to my family."
"High-Talon isn't what it used to be" Amald said when his friend had finished. "I left when the Griffon Queen gave in to the Mad Queen's demands for demilitarization. This included the destruction of most weapons, even heirlooms. The pony queen has become so powerful that any kingdom near her country's borders has no choice but to give in to her demands. Those who don't? Well, it was only temporary, but the entire city of Boga was trapped in stone for two months as an example to the rest of the world. And no one has heard from the Crystal Kingdom in years."
Ted nodded. "The temples doors will be open to you, if you wish. Now, would you like to head to the spring now, or take your things with you and find a new camp later. I'm not certain this is a good place to stay anymore, as I'm sure the reavers will start to stink soon. That will be both unpleasant, and draw scavengers we do not wish to deal with."
The group agreed upon packing up the camp, and followed the alicorn to the healing spring, where they allowed the waters to mend their wounds. Swift pulled out a bottle to take save some for later, but was quickly admonished by Nightmare, who told the stallion what had happened when he had tried to take some of the water. Waiting for the group to finish their inventory check, the dark alicorn decided to explore the glade a bit. The aura around the area would assure the safety of the dreamers, and he was feeling a pull. A need, like something was calling to him. Someone needed him.
The group paused in their discussion, looking at the alicorn. The emblem on his flank was giving off a faint light, and Whisper only barely noticed the colt starting to follow the glow like a moth to a flame in time to catch him.
Walking down by an obscured creek, he heard whispered mutterings, he could practically feel the panic in the air. Parting a final set of reeds, he came across a pair of changelings, though one seemed to only be a baby. The other was frantic, eyes darting around the clearing it stood in, muttering about a need to keep moving. Approaching the pair, he readied his magic to grab the young shape-shifter, if it tried to run. A likely course considering its fragile mental state.
Deciding to forgo the diplomatic route and risk losing the lost child, he seized the panicked changling in his aura, and turned it to him. It immediately began thrashing and yelling, before throwing the young nymph away, which he barely managed to catch. This left both young changelings in a panic, the younger now crying from the rough handling. He heard the others enter the clearing, and turned upon hearing a blade being drawn. "Put it away, Amald. They're children."
"They're parasites." The griffon countered.
"They are sapient beings like you and I. Keep your xenophobia to yourself." The alicorn reprimanded. "Besides, they are my prisoners. If you do anything to harm them, I will consider it an attack against myself." Returning his view to the changelings he stepped forward, pulling the younger one close first, before lying down on the ground and pulling it under his wing. Focusing emotions seemed to work on Mirage, so he repeated the process on both changelings. The nymph settled down shortly afterwards, sleepy after eating a full meal of concern and care. The older of the two had finally stopped thrashing, and was now just staring at him with wide eyes.
"A last meal? I heard they let prisoners have it ,but Tick said ponies don't give last requests to changelings. What do you want? I don't know anything about the hive! I didn't even want her! I couldn't stop it, I didn't want the Link! Tell me how to turn it off and I will!" The young shape shifter ranted.
The Link must have been what Mirage mentioned. Ted remembered that she had said that changelings were found whenever the connection was made. Did that mean that this changeling was being tracked? A quick glance at the magic in the area showed that something was trying to lock onto the foals, but was having difficulty doing so. Cocking his head to the side, he pulled the other closer, before covering them in the nearby shadows. Immediately the spell lost any hold over the changelings, and releasing them did not bring it back. It seemed that the only reason it was able to keep a lock on them in the jungle was due to its pre-existing connection to the tracking spells targets. Looking back at the children, the older had passed out once under his wing, adrenaline no longer keeping since the tracking spell was no longer bearing down on its mind. He lifted them up, and set them on his back. It seemed to be getting common for him to do this, but despite the connotations of allowing himself to be ridden like the animals from his home, he couldn't find issue with it. His older sister had carried him, as had his parents. It was not someone riding a beast in this situation. It was a caretaker providing the support their charge needed.
"If you are ready, I'm heading back to the temple. I would rather see these nymphs to safety before too long."
Amald was looking uneasy at the idea of sharing residence with the changelings, though the thestrals seemed surprisingly calm. "Sir, the tales told of changelings waylaying ponies and leaving them emotionless husks, were they wrong?" Swift asked.
"I have only met one other so far and she has done nothing to earn my ire. In fact, she helped one of my ponies who were injured, though the damage was well beyond her ability to help." He stated. "Even if we discover them to be dangerous at a later time, I will find a way to help them. I feel no drain when I feed them."
The dreamers were silent for the rest of the trip, baring hushed whispers behind Ted's back. It didn't concern him though. He'd left in a hurry, and had to get back before the ponies did anything stupid in his absence. Considering their track record, he didn't have long before he would need to intervene.
<-(0)->
The cultists were relieved to see him walking up to the temple, almost as relieved as Ted felt to find the temple still standing in one piece. The ponies he led looked shocked by the strange creatures following him, and most looked a little put out when they saw the changelings nestled in his wings. Why was the Nightmare gathering more of the bugs?
'I want to start my own ant farm.' Ted chuckled to himself. 'In all seriousness if they live underground then they must be diggers, and that is something were going to need.' Looking back at the sleeping nymphs, he corrected himself 'Well, we'll need it in the future, at least. No need to rush their childhoods.'
"I want these four given refuge for the day, they may decide to stay or leave once they are rested. In the mean time, send a breakfast to my room, as well as Mirage. I wish to discuss something with her."
On his way to his chambers, Ted noticed a pony slinking by, desperately trying to avoid his gaze. A foolish thing to do, considering he could see just as well in the darkness. Closer inspection revealed why the pony was trying to avoid the alicorn.
"Oh, good morning Shadow Weaver! I trust you slept well?" Ted asked, his face beaming and his voice entirely too jovial.
Weaver cringed from his presence, trying to will himself into a wall. When the alicorn decided to await a response, and his attempts to squeeze through the walls were met with failure, the unicorn merely dropped into a grovel. "Forgive me, master! I spoke in confusion and wayward ideals! Have mercy on your humble servant!"
"Do not make this mistake again, Weaver." Ted said, finally continuing past the shivering unicorn. Walking into his room, the dark alicorn stripped himself of his armor once again, using his magic to remove most of the grime that covered his hooves and used a small towel to clean up his two sleeping guests. He then hopped onto his bed, catching up on his interrupted sleep while keeping the nymphs close by. Until he found a place for them, he'd need to keep them under watch. Before too long, his rest was interrupted by a light knocking on the door.
"It's open, enter." the alicorn called. The door slowly opened to reveal the face of Mirage poking into the room. Her body looked better than the night before, if only just. Already the holes were not as gaping as before, though some he could still put his own hoof through without touching chitin. "Just the pony I wanted to see. I have a question for you, several actually. Do you know anything about caring for foals and nymphs?"
"Y-yes sir, I.. I was a Nurse-mother before the hive fell. I helped care for the younger changelings." Mirage said, walking into the room. Ted closed the door behind her, and lifted a wing, revealing the nymphs to the older changeling.
"Excellent, then you can help us take care of these young ones." He said.
The shape shifters reaction was almost immediate, though not what he'd expected. As she registered what the two dark forms under his wing were, the changeling screamed, pinning herself against the far wall. "No, NO! By the First-Mother, keep them away from me! I don't want to feel it happen again!"
I'mma guess she's reacting badly because the 'Link' is the product of a painful process.
I really like the direction this story is taking!
Drips and drabs of the outside world, huzzah! So then, a "mad queen", eh? Princess Twilight finally took over and went Lesson Zero across all of Equestria. Oof. Be friends or else!
See, this is what happens when Celestia and Luna take a vacation, the first in thousands of years. And Ted thinks he has it bad with leaving the temple for a few hours, worrying the ponies will somehow burn stone down.
Not sure the gryphon will stay but I can almost bet the apple farm that those thestrals will stay. I do wonder if Ted's zealots will feel kinship to the thestrals... and maybe a little competition for Ted's favor/attentions? Heh. Given time, every other thestral in the country will want to gravitate to Ted's location as word spreads, assuming the gryphons leave and get blabby to their fellow feathered friends. This means Ted will have to deal with "purified" thestrals (I sense the feels already for the wounded souls and twisted bodies) and a nasty gryphon Queen who might see Ted/Mr.Nightmare as the country's biggest threat since Nightmare Moon was on her rampage. Hopefully the natural buffer created by evil forest will prove enough deterrent for an army-- but they can fly so, I dunno. It could get dicey for Ted and his budding base of operations.
Oh, and nice save with Ted's quick backstory of why Nightmare Moon was homicidally insane. It not only gives a plausible "why" but allows both Nightmare and Luna to appear as victims of fate.
No he didn't.
wrong," Amald
Mirage
Means barely better, means quite a bit more than merely 'barely' better... as you can see these two statements are mutually exclusive.
5957620 No, the link was a natural changeling thing... she is freaking because every time they Link Psycho Queen uses it to track them.
5957631
... There is only one gryphon.
What army? He left the gryphon kingdom because it was demilitarized.
Awww... We didn't get to see the entirely innocent and completely reverential shrine of the cute cultist mare. Dang it. On a more serious note, I find it interesting that every one calls the Equestrian ruler Queen or the Mad Queen. Neither has positive connotations based on interaction with Luna, and the fact that she is in control of so many things and can brow beat the other nations with force makes me think one of two possible situations have happened. The first, Celestia/Twilight/Cadance/Luna went mad and has begun slowly forcing the world to follow her, or the original Nightmare has found a way back, and has taken over the Equestria. The worrisome bit is the third nickname, The Tyrant Queen. That means nothing good is in Equestria willingly any more.
5957635
Impossible. The cultists were trying to resurrect Nightmare to save them from the Queen.
Luna's comments in the first dream make it clear she is a victim here.
Cadance ruled the Crystal Empire and we just found out that it hasn't been heard from in years after clashing with the Tyrant Queen so it can't be her either.
5957642 I suspect that either some one set up some thing to appear innocent, or some one is being lied to by some one they care about, so its best to just cover all of the bases.
fc02.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2012/122/b/a/meh__design_change_by_xycuroisawesome108-d4ybu4e.png
Sanctuary for all!
((by Jove, it's difficult to find a good picture of genderswapped Nightmare))
5957633 or, it was only just on the thresthold of what people would consider much better, although that would be needless detail that could and was confused with the much more likely interpretation you have, if only just by a large but ultimately marginal amount :P. Yes language can be confusing, but I hope I make some modicum of sense.
i like this story but im not a fan of celestia going crazy in a morally unjust way, does not suit her character.
5957682
Supposedly there is evidence in earlier chapters that shows it is not Luna or Celestia.
5957699 well it could be an effective "daymare sun" but if thats true then this got really interesting
5957642
5957706
My bet is on twilight as when Luna first goes into Nightmare's dream she was thinking of how badly she wanted any pony contact as she had none since that nag had imprisoned her and her sister.
5957682 Ya I agree, but will see if it plays out alright. It just has to make some sense.
I really want to make a comment on the number of chapters that are getting pumped out of this story, but go at whatever pace you want Reykan.
I can't wait for the via dolorosa to begin!
Then we'll see where the story goes from there...
Cliffhanger every chapter!
5957716
OOOOH maybe the tyrant queen is donkey and that's why Luna called her a nag? eh?
just a theory but would be kinda cool to see
Care and concern. Nom! ☺
Don't wanna have the fear of a link leadin' the "Pony Queen" to ya eh, Mirage?
5957682
I don't think it's 'crazy', but it shows Celestia ( if it's even her) in a different light. Shows how others saw her actions, not just those of her ponies.
5957858
Y'know, after reading the ending author's note I was reminded of something. We probably shouldn't be ruling out the original Nightmare. It escaped to somewhere and Ted was out for who knows how long. The original Nightmare might have made a resurgence somewhere else under the guise of a pony in whom it would be unknown. It seems like few knew much of anything about it, so there probably aren't many who would expect it to pop up elsewhere. (Especially because they already "killed" it, as far as they're aware.)
5958001 It could even be something like Discord in Disguise (against the EoH) or Sunset Shimmer...
Queen... well the most common candidates to this are Celestia and Twilight. But i hope you not going with the cliche of this two and have your own original character in mind.
As for this chapter, this is amazing, i can see a new country raise out from the jungles over time as word would get around and more join the Nightmare.
5957653 Damn thats a nice find!
Please start a new paragraph when a new person starts talking, as it looks sloppy otherwise.
I think you mean 'rite to perform.'
5957633 I don't know... Sprinting out of the shadows (or incorporeal mist) and addressing the apparently hunted Thestral as "Little One" (After blowing up the little beasty) while wearing Nightmare's armor seems to send a pretty clear image to me...
To be honest, the first two thirds of this chapter feels awkward, like it has a bit more talking about stuff happening rather than stuff Happening. At least it reinforces that "Nightmare" (Author) is more comfortable in their little forty of character development...
5957633
5958161
Fixed
Glad you guys like it, I'll be working on the next chapter after work, no ETA this time, since last one worked so spectacularly.
The Queen sounds really OP.
Nightmare is gonna have to do so many training montages, with Luna, in his dreams. Cue The Eye of the Tiger!
5958281 But...But.... I can't do montages to music in a written story! Not well, at least!
5958278 Heavy and Wizard from terraria are right, friendship isn't magic. You can't turn people into frogs with friendship.
WHO IS THE PONY QUEEN!?
Oh, so Mirage could become a Queen? That would cause trouble...
I'm hoping that the mystery queen is Queen Majesty. She's canonically the most brutal and ruthless powerhouse in MLP that I know of, is already a queen, and insanely OP.
Plus I really don't want Twilight to have gone insane.
Y'know, usually 'Nightmare' is referred to as a title, rather than the name itself, or the name of the entity's 'species'.
You could always capitalize on this and have Ted take an actual name other than 'Nightmare' or 'Tuna'
Here's even a few ideas that may fit thus far (no consideration given to corny):
Aegis - Armor; Kindly endorsement and guidance.
Knight - Known for chivalry, and proficiency in battle. (Nightmare Knight pun intentional, but not the focus)
Umbra - A region of shadow created by the total obstruction of light.
Nox - Roman counterpart of Greek Nyx (Please don't use this one. )
Erebus - Greek god of the primordial dark.
Most of the others I can come up with are for a female, so unless Ted's gonna end up R63'd, I doubt you'd get to use ones like Nephtys (egyptian goddess of night, death, and birth.)
... Or this little doozy: Achlys, the goddess of eternal night, misery, and sorrow. (Hay, I'd make this the original Nightmare's name.)
5958294
How not to do it (montages):
Look at me, look to you, look back at me, look at this video, back to me, my character is now awesome.
How it's usually done:
Conduct a time skip during which you hilight important or noteworthy events either necessary for character progression, summarization, or comedic intent.
How I'd do it:
End chapters with Tuna-fish beginning a lesson or project and start writing as if you'll go into detail, but then time skip to either its completion or the next notable series of events (whichever comes first) at the beginning of the next chapter.
I was hoping I could get some clarification on the timeline for this story. He said in this chapter that he was trapped in the armor for decades, while in earlier chapters Luna behaved as if her release had been very recent (what with being happy to finally see a dreamer and have company). So in terms of the show when is this happening, pre- season 2 or years after the shows takes place?
5958060 hell i'll join two there's no way I'm going to be in a country that outlawed bacon
5958628
Consider the possibility that both are true. It would certainly be more interesting, would it not? It would suggest that Luna could only interact with the dream realm, and the Queen had barred others from dreaming until the Nightmare did something to cause others to start dreaming again. Or that Luna was being kept isolated or was otherwise avoided, scorned, or feared for some reason in the waking world.
In other words, something went VERY wrong.
Thanks for the new chapter! This story is getting really interesting!
My crack-theory?
Sunset Shimmer's plan to conquer Equestria with mind-controlled teenagers actually worked (who knew) and now knockoff-Twilight rules with an iron hoof.
I'm very much anticipating the reveal of the Mad Queen's identity. I'm hoping its not Celestia or Twilight, though. I'm having a hard time imagining the mental acrobatics required for either of them to turn into someone like the Queen, if she's really as bad as she seems to be.
More Mirage backstory! The changelings are an interesting bunch when it comes to world building, since they're largely a blank canvas allowing authors to make up all sorts of backgrounds for them.
Griffon, head of security forces, voiced by Michael Dorn?
Thestrals give them some steal air support?
changelings give them a sepreatist hive once Mirage is linked in under the shadow of nightmare, so her queen link is stronger than outside queen, and so can cloak, isolate from her?
Twilight went mad when spike left for his hundred year maturity sleep, and Chrysalis broke her freinds to break the Elements?
im absolutely loving this story! but please dont stay up so late, everyone needs their sleep.
5959364 bullshit
img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110118013105/glee/images/a/aa/SLEEP_IS_FOR_THE_WEAK.jpg
5959478
You can DIE without enough sleep
Sleep is for every sentient being alive
It reminds me of " run" with the crazy pony empire of racists.
5959624 bull. Shit.
images.rapgenius.com/349cf0adbd727d2a0503ce872330b2e2.1000x667x1.jpg
I know I'm just joking. You fucking die of sleep deprivation faster than from thirst
5959364 bah, I went to bed around 7:30pm, cuz I was feeling ill. I still got a bunch of sleep, it was just choppy.
5959034 Achievement unlocked: reader starts planning the conversion of your story into a movie.
5959667 Sleep is a crutch, like breathing and eating. Personally, I like my crutches. They are tasty and refreshing.
5959667 Not at all, a human can survive for six to thirty months without sleep but there is really no gauge however generally it is in that time span. However you need stimulants or something seriously wrong with your mind to go that long without sleep.
5959024
Same, but im actually seeing it being Celestia. Just her other "public face" that equestrians arent aware of.
Canon-wise we know she's manipulative to those she "care" about.. what about those she doesn't?
I don't really have a hard time seeing Celly as a tyrant-lestia. Just have her have a motherly mask for her public pony-loving face, and to anyone else that isnt a pony she goes the "queen bitch of the universe" mode and put them in their place.
That place being below the pony master race, since seemingly anything that could even remotely be a danger to EQ from outside has been taken care of. (Those who disagree get the stick. And history is written by the millennia-old immortal alicorn) And Celly DO have the power, skills and motivation to do so.