Nightmare Moon stood in the center of Canterlot, looking at all the terrified ponies surrounding her. She was sure every pony in Canterlot was here, everyone had watched as Nightmare Moon had finished off both Celestia and Luna.
She couldn’t have said it better; it was glorious.
Needless to say, she was very pleased. “Ponies of Canterlot,” she started, unable to keep the triumph out of her voice. “We doubt We need to tell you that We are your new Queen. We are…” her eyes flashed. “Nightmare Dusk! Bow to Us.” She reared back, stomping a hoof on the ground hard, lighting flashed behind her.
There was a long silence. “WE SAID BOW TO US!”
Broken from their collective trance, the quivering noble-ponies bowed. One noble, was brave – or foolish enough to step forward.
“You can’t do this!” he cried.
He was a white stallion with a golden mane – Nightmare recognized him from Twilight’s memories. A distant relative to Princess Celestia, Prince Blueblood.
“We can’t?” she narrowed her eyes menacingly. “Aren’t We already?”
“You can’t because – because you are a fraud!” he huffed. “You aren’t royalty!”
“You’re right,” she said. He blinked, doing a double-take.
“Wait, I am? Wait, of course I am!”
“Of course,” she replied. “In fact, We think there is no better place for you than in the castle with Us.”
She paused, watching the shock and excitement and fear creep onto his face. “We have already gotten you a room – in the dungeon! I’m sure you will find it most homely, it hasn’t been used in ages and is full of nice little bugs and cobwebs! Guards! Seize him.”
“Wait, no!” he cried, backing away as the guards approached, and Nightmare Sparkle halted them.
“Do you have anything else to say to Us?” she flared her wings.
“N-no.” He reluctantly but not hesitantly bowed.
“No? No what?”
“…No your Majesty.”
Nightmare smiled, a chuckle broke past her lips, which turned into a deep laugh. She laughed, and laughed and laughed. “Remember this hour, my little ponies! I am Queen Nightmare Dusk!”
~~
“I can’t believe this.” Shining Armor put his face in his hooves. The six of them were sitting in the Ponyville library, grim and silent, having awoken there.
“We… lost.” Pinkie traced circles in the ground with her hoof, shaking her head, as if to deny to herself that it was true.
“No!” Rainbow Dash and Rarity cried. They glanced at each other, and then Rainbow said, “We haven’t lost! At least… we won’t lose again! I mean, she cheated! She knew we were more powerful so she put us to sleep!” she beat her hoof against the ground, feeling confident with herself.
“Oh dear, I hope Spike is alright,” Rarity whispered.
“We all do,” Applejack added quietly.
Fluttershy was crying softly. “This is all of my fault! I found Twilight in my chicken coop, and sh-she was acting strange, but I didn’t see that something was seriously wrong!” she covered her face, tears streaming down her cheeks. “This is all my fault!”
Applejack put a hoof around her shoulders. “Now, that ain’t true! It wasn’t your fault; nopony is to blame here but Nightmare.”
Fluttershy wrapped her hooves around Applejack, sobbing into her chest. Angel jumped onto Fluttershy’s shoulder, and gently stroked her mane.
Shining Armor rubbed the bridge of his nose with a hoof, “I’d take us to Canterlot immediately to alert the Princess, but my cart left. Something must have happened…” the captain zoned out, deep in thought.
“I could fly there! They don’t call me fastest flyer in Equestria for nothin’!” Rainbow Dash said, leaping into the air.
“We have to use the elements of harmony!” Pinkie looked up in a rare moment of seriousness. “We have to save Twilight!”
“Dear,” Rarity started; “I don’t think the elements will work without Twilight… and… the enemy basically is Twilight.”
The silence was cold and empty.
“I want Twilight baack!” Pinkie burst into tears.
There was a knock on the door. They all looked up, but the door opened before anypony could react, and a very sweaty, extremely exhausted looking Cadance practically fell in. “Cadance!” Shining cried, rushing over to his wife. “Are you okay?” he held her in his hooves, and she gasped for breath.
“I… flew all the way…”
“From Canterlot?” Shining stared at her; she nodded and turned to the other five.
“You’ve got to… help Celestia! She’s in… grave danger!”
All five ponies were on their hooves in an instant. “The Princess is in danger? We must get to Canterlot!” Rarity cried.
The others shouted in agreement. “How do we get there?” Fluttershy wiped a tear from her eye. Everypony went silent.
“The train,” Applejack said. The all galloped out the door, but Applejack stopped and turned to Shining Armor and Cadance. “You comin’?”
Shining Armor looked conflicted, when Cadance replied, “Go with them. I’ll catch up, I promise.”
The captain nodded slowly, then gently set her down and stood up. The two galloped off after the others.
~~
“Assistant, come forth!” Nightmare Dusk trotted up to the throne, keeping a regal posture. She poked her head around to the back, the baby dragon was gone.
“Ah, so he left.” She closed her eyes, thinking of a possible way to find him. He couldn’t have gone out any of the doors – she’d magically sealed them. But there was that massive hole in the wall now, courtesy of her blasting Celestia through it. But no, there was a very long drop into the city – unless he could climb walls? Nightmare pondered this, could he climb walls and ceilings like some other lizards?
“What are We pondering for?” she asked herself and her horn begun to glow. A magenta ball of light formed at the tip of her horn, and hovered down to where Spike had hidden behind the throne. Then, a pale pink trail formed, pretty much mapping exactly where he’d gone.
She followed the trail with her eyes. He’d gone over to the door where Cadance had gone, and had realized he couldn’t get through, and then he had ran to the center of the room. Paced, and headed for the big double-doors. Sealed as well, he had gone for the massive hole, and probably got discouraged from jumping. He had backed away, and his trail lead right to… ah!
Nightmare Dusk stepped up to one of the fancy potted plants on either side of the main doors. She couldn’t help but admire him; he’d managed to bury himself without disturbing the plant itself, and there was only a little bit of dirt around the pot as evidence.
She turned towards the big double doors, “Oh dear. It appears Spike has gone. We shall look for him elsewhere.”
She magically opened the double doors, paused, and then loudly slammed them shut.
There was a long pause, before the pot shook a bit. It fell over, cracking slightly and Nightmare smiled at the startled, muffled cry from inside. She watched the dirt move away, Spike’s claws working like perfect little digging tools.
Spike crawled his way out, and slipped, face planting. He pulled himself up off the floor, shaking his head and finally noticing her. He let out a startled, almost girlish squeal and tried to run, only to face plant again.
Amused, Nightmare placed a hoof on the tip of his tail and watched him run in place. “Twilight, I- Nightmare! I meant Nightmare!” Spike clamped his claws over his mouth in horror, closing his eyes and tensing.
When she did nothing, he opened his eyes, peeked up at her, noticed she was no longer restraining his tail, and made his big escape.
He dashed for the door, but two brainwashed guards blasted in and blocked it, as if reading Nightmare’s mind. He skidded to a stop, and then attempted to go for the other door. Nightmare let him get within a few feet of it before enveloping one of his legs in her telekinesis and pulling it back. Spike face planted for a third time and struggled furiously as she dragged him towards her.
He dug his claws into the floor, and they made nasty screeching sounds that made Nightmare wince and flatten her ears. When she pulled him across the red carpet (Which she intended to make purple,) his claws tore right through it, ripping the fabric in long, messy cuts.
Nightmare wondered if she should file his claws, or simply remove them completely just to be safe. He could seriously do some damage if he really wanted to. But they could also be useful…
She slid him in front of her, and rolled him onto his back. Squirming, he turned his head, pressing one cheek into the floor, trying to avoid her gaze. She pressed a hoof into the side of his head; turning his face and forcing him to look at her. He froze, staring into her purple eyes. She studied his emerald ones; she could see many things in them. Fear, hurt, confusion, and anger the most prominent.
This delighted her. She said nothing, continuing to stare into him. His anxiety seemed to rise with her silence, he’d stopped squirming.
Finally he found the courage to speak: “Where… where is Princess Celestia?”
“You don’t need to worry about it. She’s gone.”
“Gone?! Whe-“ Spike was hushed by her hoof.
“Does it really matter now?” Nightmare chuckled, “she’s gone now.”
Spike didn’t answer; he looked away refusing to look her in the eye again. She unpinned him and stepped back. “Rise, Assistant. Don’t bother running – you know it’s pointless.”
Spike stood up, he looked about to bolt, but then sighed and hung his head.
“Guards!” Nightmare called, and within a moment every brainwashed guard near enough to hear her shout was at her side. “Yes, my Queen?”
“We want all of you to find every pony who works in the castle! Bring them here – every cook, maid and servant We want here. And any guards with free will also be brought here. Now go!”
The guards obeyed without a word, scrambling out the door all in one big mass.
“Now come, Assistant! We have much to do, as We said.”
Spike shot Nightmare a bitter look, and crossed his arms turning away. He was stuck with her, but he wasn’t going to listen to her.
“Come along, that is an order.” She stomped a hoof for emphasis.
“What are you going to do?” Spike huffed. “Throw me out that big hole in the wall?”
“We are perfectly capable of doing it, if you wish. It’s quite a long fall, is it not?”
Spike practically froze. She wouldn’t…
She picked him up by the back of his neck in her mouth and held him over the edge.
“AH! OKAY, OKAY! I’LL DO WHATEVER YOU SAY! PULL ME BACK INSIDE!”
Nightmare stepped back and dropped him to the floor. “That’s what We thought.”
She turned towards the throne. It was much too brightly colored – as was the rest of this dreaded castle. She focused the magic in her horn, closing her eyes. This was going to take a lot of energy…
Her horn glowed bright magenta, pulsing with light. Magical sparks flew off her horn, and she closed her eyes in concentration. Tendrils of magic seeped down from the glow of her horn, and each shot off to a different destination.
The carpet slowly started to knit itself back together where Spike had torn it, and then the color started to fade, turning from bright red to dark purple.
The throne underwent similar changes, going from a bright color to a dark one befitting a Queen of Darkness.
All around the castle colors changed to Nightmare’s will, colors darkening, statues changing, becoming gargoyles.
There was only one place she couldn’t seem to change. The stained glass windows. She strained her magic, before giving up. She could just break them and have them replaced.
The glow of her horn faded, and she sucked in a deep breath, sweat poured down her face. Panting, she couldn’t help but chuckle. “The day We can out-do two Princesses, but remodeling wears us out! We suppose We are a little rusty,”
She looked around, admiring her handy-work. She’d even fixed the big hole in the wall, something that took more effort then she’d realized. The walls had gone black, and the ceiling as well. Not completely black, just so dark blue it looked black. Midnight blue.
Stars were scattered across the walls and ceiling, and pink nebula stretched across the wall. “The horsehead nebula,” she informed an awestruck Spike. “Part of the Orion constellation. It matches our new mane,” she flipped her swirling mane proudly.
The throne had changed not only in color, but in design as well. The color had turned into mixed black and magenta, with silver lining. The back had changed, big black bat wings extended from the sides, and the etchings on the back had changed to form constellations. Something she was proud of.
Spike hated to admit it, but this was all kind of pretty.
Damn. Nightmare Dusk has claimed the throne, banished the Princesses to their respective celestial bodies, remodeled the castle, and is apparently causing poor Spike to go through Stockholm Syndrome.
What's more, the Elements of Harmony and Shining Armor are heading straight for her, and they don't even know that she's already won!
I'll let Bender sum up what their status is. Take it away, Bender!
Also: i149.photobucket.com/albums/s68/21ToWin/moses2ot8.jpg
My reaction to this chapter: 24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6111aCLnG1rv8jpzo1_500.gif
1785057 Usually I hate the 'first post' thing with a passion, but I shall let it go this time because you were epic about it
Also, forgive me for being stupid, but what is Stockholm Syndrome?
1785129 This
I like the name Nightmare Dusk cuz i mean Twilight is dusk I believe. So Nightmare Dusk is now Queen. Wonder how Twilight's friends will save her?
Reverse psycology works every time!
My dare from before has been accomplished.
I am not confusing, you are just ignorant of the context!(If you really want to know just search throgh the comments.)
I should learn how to use a segue, it would improve my commenting skills. But if I were to say what I'm insinuating clearly, people would call me a liar.
Eru Iluvatar 1 LittleAngelStocking 0.
Stockholm syndrome is where a captive begins to admire their captor. They will see their captor as their friend. Oftentimes this happens when the captor does some small kindness to the prisoner which ingratiates the prisoner to the captor. Eventually the captive sees the captor as a friend and would be rescuers as foes.
Oftentimes it happens with guards and prisoners. It is veryimteresting look it up
1785143 1785255
Oh, okay. Thanks
1785255 And Spike seems like he's going through it.
1785449 Huh. I suppose it should make sense, it still sort of is Twilight Poor little guy...
1785191 I admit it, I'm seriously confused
1785568
Look back at the comments 120 and 122.
1785599 No, I don't think so. This is simply a case of "Darkest Before the Dawn". Besides, your challenge was for an ALTERNATE ending where Twilight became permanently evil, and we haven't even reached the true ending yet.
1785634
Need I quote myself?
I emphasize maybe. That was a listed possibility, not a direct part of the dare. It was more of an option to not include it in the main story if she (he? I don't rightly know) didn't want it that way.
The heart of my challenge (though not directly stated) was for the ending to not be a "They beat the villain and everything went back to normal" sort of thing.
Trying to twist my words around will you! If I had a cutie mark, it would be related to my ability to warp the meaning if anything.
You're right, the story isn't over.
In comment 150 I said I reverse psycology works every time.
You know my motivation. (122) I said how I hate it when the villain loses every time.
This is a win-win situation for me. Good= I win the dare. Evil= I get my preferred ending.
Also, Inception esque endings are possible.
1785755 Perhaps, but my argument about this being a case of "Darkest Before the Dawn" still stands. It's not over yet.
1785147 Yep, Twilight and Dusk are the same thing
Is it? Let's go over the facts.
Celestia and Luna are beaten and banished.
The only one who could stand up to Dusk is Twilight (who is Dusk, duh.)
The rest of the Mane 6 really don't have enough fighting prowess to take her on.
Fluttershy is Caboose. (start at 4:50. caution there is swearing) Basically useless in a fight 99% of the time, but when in the right mood is a badass.
Since Fluttershy isn't consistently good, I would say RD is the best fighter, AJ second, Pinkie third, Rarity in fourth, and Fluttershy last. (This is my opinion, and you can dispute it if you want. That isn't the point.)
Magic is always unfair. Twilight has ranged attacks, and she can create energy barriers to repel physical attacks.
The Elements A.K.A. the weapon they use to defeat every opponent, are unusable.
Twilight's friends could use the power of friendship to help her overcome the darkness, though the story would become cliche.
I see no other plausible alternatives. (notice I said plausible, not possible)
oh damn I think Spike might falling for Nightmare Dusk, hell I'm falling in love with Nightmare Dusk.
1785985
Me too.
Twilight (Dusk) becoming ruler of Equestria, and doing a better job than Celestia is what I want.
Show that troll who's boss!
1785868
What do you think of my discussion with Friend of Bronies?
1786083 Lol, what do you mean what do I think? I'm not quite sure what to say
I changed the background of the cover art, and made Nightmare less see-through. What do you guys think?
Oh, also I was listening to this while writing this chapter
1785755 Oh! And also I'm female, because my username - LittleAngelStocking - wasn't enough of a giveaway
1786063
true but she put Luna back in the moon again. god I hate the love/hate sides
1786264
I assumed you were a girl, but this is the internet we're talking about.
Top that.
1705541
Sonic 1 was 1991 and sonic 2 was 1992. I remember this because Sonic CD came out the year I was born.
I never finished 1 or 2 and my sister owned them... so did my neighbors. My brother did give me the best present ever for christmas though. A Nintendo 64 with The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time, and James Bond Golden Eye (My mom took that away because it was "too violent").
A few years ago he told me that it was his attempt to keep me from Sonic because "Sonic is a game for A.D.D. children."
The irony is that I have A.D.D.
It looks nice.
Wait... should I have said what I thought?
Since she blends in a little more, you could say it's a metaphor for Twilight being absorbed into the darkness. Or her acceptance of what she is now.
1786994
She could lighten the punishment on Luna.
1. Luna isn't a real threat.
2. Luna has already been on the moon for a millennia, she might be easily swayed to her side.
1787587 I can't top it
1786147
What I mean is, who do you think is right? Is my logic sound? Could there possibly be an ending that isn't evil without being cliche at this point? Or could the do gooders pull off a win?
1788486 Oh! I think your logic was sound, but he/she also had some good points. (I'm kind of afraid to say anything else cause I don't want to accidentally say anything that might spoil the end)
1788494
I fully understand. Even I think that it would be a bad idea to confirm or deny anything in our posts, because that would give hints.
Spoiler alert! (Swear Warning!)
Horrible segue! Another one of their videos.
Not all English people are this dumb, and I do not hate them!
1788494 was that the name I suggested?
*toss back And checks*
no it was not
disregard this
1785944 You fail to realize that the real Twilight Sparkle is trapped somewhere inside Nightmare Dusk's mind. Therefore, it's only a matter of time before Twilight manages to escape from that mental prison and face Nightmare Dusk in a battle of the minds.
By the way, here's how much this fanfic has managed to get me in the feels:
1793247
Successfully disregarded.
But if Twilight were to gain supremacy, would she be in complete, or just partial control?
1794700
I can counter that video!
I choose you Team Four Star!
1794759 Partial, but she could fight Nightmare Dusk as an equal, since they would essentially be fighting a battle that would only be limited by their imaginations. And if the others kept Nightmare Dusk distracted from the outside at the same time, Twilight would have the edge.
And THAT'S how much this fanfic got your feels? You must be severely lacking in terms of emotions, if that's the case.
1794799
What if Nightmare convince Twilight that she (Twilight) would be a better leader than Celestia, (Trollestia) and that she should be replaced?
She is a horrible leader who's only in charge because of her magic power, and the fact that everyone practically worships her as a deity.
1794849 Twilight would never abandon her friends like that!
1794859
Think about it this way. Her thoughts are being muddled by Nightmare, so acting, and thinking differently would be expected.
And who said anything about Twilight abandoning them? From her point of view they abandoned her, and she thinks this because Nightmare is influencing her thoughts.
Her Element isn't Loyalty anyway, it's magic.
Magic = Power, and power corrupts those who are not careful.
And don't say "Friendship is magic". Twilight is horrible at making friends, so it doesn't necessarily mean anything. (she's getting better at it, but she's still socially awkward)
This is why I sould have been in the debate club.
1794955 You know what? We could continue this pointless debate, or we could just wait and see what future chapters will hold.
I choose to wait and see.
Allow me to leave you with this closing argument, however.
You expect me not to say "Friendship is Magic" when it's part of the show's name?
And while Twilight might have difficulty making friends, she doesn't seem to have much trouble keeping what friendships she does manage to form intact.
For all we know, we could get a reenactment of Nihilus Nix Naught's defeat from AestheticB's "The Immortal Game." (Twilight gains partial control over her body and manages to make it possible for the Elements of Harmony to be used on her, purifying her of Nightmare Dusk.)
But we don't have any idea what LittleAngelStocking has planned, so let's just wait and see.
1795023
How could I ever beat that argument?
*sigh* Ok, on the condition that this was officially a draw. You getting the last word in the argument makes it look like I lost.
I could have a comeback, but it would prolong this debate, and I agree it was pointless, but also fun.
EDIT: For all we know, the author might have used some of our ideas.
1795077 Agreed.
Oh, wait. I just got the last word in!
Okay, now this debate is OVER!
1795092
Technically that wasn't the "last word" because we weren't debating anything anymore.
...
...
...
Dang it!
1795109 Let's not start a new debate, okay?
1795118 But I like watching you guys debate I made popcorn and everything
1795142 Too bad, because we're done.
1795118
The Church yelling at Celestia moments in "My little Caboose Blue Is Magic" are some of my favorites from any fic.
That's an opinion, therefore we don't need to debate anything.