//------------------------------//
// Chapter 7: Quests and copycats 
// Story: There's more than one way to live a Nightmare 
// by Abaddon spice 
//------------------------------//

   I was walking down the corridors. 

It had been an hour since breakfast and I just decided to wander the halls. Hey, it wasn't like I had anything better to do anyway. So I was just exploring, Yes, I know the cliché of the main character getting lost in Canterlot castle; but seriously, it's quite easy to navigate. Especially if you have a built-in navigator.

'Ok now take a left here, and the library should be on the right'

Turns left, meets another corridor.

'Huh? Maybe it was the other corridor' 

See, totally fine.

'Seriously? Come on! That's it. Where the heck are some gaurds so we can just ask directions?'

'No, trust me. I got castle blueprints right here. Now we just need to backtrack to the middle and-'

'Wait. When did we get castle blueprints?'

'It was just lying around here. What's the big deal?'

'Check the back.'

'.........Castle of the sisters? What the- ohhhhh.'

'Yep'

'ohhhh'

I heard a face hoof, 'I'm an idiot' Forest muttered, and a smile spread onto my face.

'I know you are, but I put up with you anyway' I thought back sweetly.

'...shut up' she growled.

I raised my foreleg to muffle my laughter.

'Hey, how did you know I was looking at the wrong map anyway?' Forest asked in confusion.

''All my memories are from the past. There would be no way I would know the layout of a castle I've never been to.' I replied.

'... you know. It frightens me how logical you are.'

'Aww, thanks Forest. And you know what, let's just go back. We can plan what to do in the safety of my room' 

'Hold up. Your room?

'Hey, I walked there, washed there, slept there, it's my room.'

'Yeah, yeah, whatever greedy Gus, but I want you to remember that we individual mind voices have rights too!' 

I rolled my eyes and teleported to "my" room. When I appeared there I saw it was clean, my armor was on the rack, and the bed was made.

"Looks like she did her job" I said gleefully.

'What are you happy about?'

'She still cleaned the room, even though she's terrified of me. She conquered her fear!' I thought as pinkie pie grin spread across my face.

'Or, she was afraid of getting torn to pieces if she skipped the Nightmare Moon's bedroom' Forest replied nonchalantly.

I swear I felt my mane deflate when I heard that.

'Well, ain't you a little bag of sunshine' 

'At your service' and as I heard that I could only imagine Forest doing an over exaggerated bow with a mustash, monocle, and a top hat. 

The image improved my mood a bit.

"Yeah, whatever" I mumbled as I went to the bathroom, so I could do my "business". Once down with that, I layed down on my bed and dove into my thoughts.

'So what do you think we should do?'

'Hmm, I don't know, but by fanfiction rules I think we should go on an adventure'

'Really?'

'We are on chapter seven, Nightie. Chapter Seven! This story has an adventure tag, not slice of life! Heck! We haven't even broke the 2000 words limit yet!'

'Fine! Keep your pants on! But we can't alarm my sisters about our little life adventure, thing, whatever'

'I can only guess you have an idea?'

*cue mission impossible music*

'Seriously' Forest deadpanned.

Nightmare ignored her though, and slid on her armor, which made audible clicks as it attached. As the helmet slid on, she only replied.

"We've got 19 hours and 57 minutes. I'll get Bellerophon into your system by then. Just stay alive. I'm not going to lose you."

'You know what, fuck it. What do want to do?'

"Every search for a hero must begin with something that every hero requires: A villain." she sagely replied, and then ignited her horn, and then they were gone.

They appeared in the badlands.

'Okay. Quotes aside, why are we here?'

'There's a certain changeling queen I want to check on before my niece has a wedding' she thought back and then sent out a life detecting spell.

Behind a few of the rocks to the left, there were multiple life forms.

And they seemed to be in some sort of scuffle.

'How much you want to bet, that's them.'

'Twenty bits says your wrong'

'Your on.'

With a smile, she dove over the rocks to see four changeling drones facing some sort of mutant killer scorpion.

To no surprise, the scorpion was winning.

Nightmare dove into action and sent a powerful bolt of magic that struck the scorpion dead on. It screeched in pain and then whipped its head around so it could focus its new offender. As she dodged the creature's massive writhing tail, she continued firing magical blasts. The beast raised its claws and tried to no avail to end her with them. As she eventually wore it down, she charged forward and drove her whole hoof through the scorpion's head, fully killing it. (Duh)

As she wiped her bracer off in the sand only one thought went through her head.

'You owe me twenty bits'

'......You fight and kill a giant Death scorpion, and that's the only thing you can think?!'

Nightmare tilted her head, and thought for a moment.

'Yes'

...what is wrong with you!?'

'What?'

'Your the good guy, you aren't supposed to kill stuff. I'm the one that's supposed to goad or trick you into killing things or embracing the dark side. How can you be so fine with this?!'

'Oh forest, forest, forest, I never said I was good.'

Nightmare thought and turned so she could confront the drones.

They were gone.

'Dammit!' She silently cursed, and then sent off another life detection spell.

It directed her to four strangely identical rocks.

'Seriously' she deadpanned.

"Alright, I know you're here. Drop the disguises. I just want to to talk." She stated mater-of-factly at the four stones.

All at once the stones burst into flames and three changelings were in her face hissing at her. Three, the fourth one was lying on the ground with its hooves over its head.

Nightmare was startled of course, but getting turned into an alicorn,  being trapped on the moon, living with mythological creatures, getting hit with a rainbow deathbeam, and searching for a species that can shape-shift, it really trains your "Fuck it, and move on" instincts.

So she decided to use her newly honed skills.

"Ok, nice to meet you too. Now can I meet your leader" she replied calmly.

The three looked at her with "da fuck is wrong with you" written clearly across their faces, the fourth one gave her a weak smile. Nightmare just shrugged, "Just take me to you queen. I just want to talk" she repeated.

The drones eyed her and chittered among themselves. The fourth one though looked at its chattering hive mates and then slowly made its way toward her. Once in front of her it just sat down and tilted its head, Nightmare tilted her head back, and they just stared at each other.

"So what's your name?"

The drone stared.

Nightmare waited.

"t?!h&$ ~€£d#*" the drone replied.

"Uh, in Equestrian please."

The drone cleared its throat.

"I, uh, am thorax" he replied with a sheepish smile.

"Nice to meet you Thorax, I'm Nightmare.  Pleased to meet you." Nightmare replied smoothly and the drone looked at her strangely.

"Why do you do that?"

"Do what?" Nightmare asked in confusion.

"Why are you so nice? And you weren't even fazed by our fangs." He replied.

Nightmare rolled her eyes.

"You mean these" she replied and gave him a bladed smile, and Thorax's eyes widened.

"Whoa. I didn't know ponies had fangs!"

Nightmare chuckled, "They don't, but you can say I'm, well-, a little different" she replied with a wink, and the changeling blushed.

'Huh. What did I do?' Nightmare wondered, as she saw the changeling's reddish cheeks.

The other three took this as an opportunity to butt-in.

"The queen agrees to meet you, but not here. Follow us." They replied in unison and then started trotting in a direction.

Nightmare nodded and followed, with Thorax tailing behind her.

They eventually came to a massive cave structure and stopped at the opening.

The three changelings turned and spoke again.

"The queen will meet you shortly" and then they flew off.

'Wow. Nice place, could use some lighting though.'

'Yeah, some sun roofs would look nice'

'Forest your back! I was worried that I broke you.'

'Yeah. You were joking about earlier, right?'

Nightmare shrugged, 'Hey I'm keeping my options open. Plus, if I do take over the world. Don't I need a co ruler?'

'really?'

'Really, really' Nightmare thought back with a smile, then she heard the buzzing of wings.

As she turned her head she saw a lanky, medium sized, teal haired changeling.

Of course this only brought one idea to mind.

'Chrysalis?!'

In the show, Chrysalis was at least the size of freaking Celestia, for pete's sake. Now the mare in front of her was a least as big as Cadence or Luna at best.

"Your majesty, I presume"

Chrysalis gave a snort.

"Your guess is as good as mine" she replied sarcastically.

Nightmare tilted her head, "New royal?"

Her head shot up, sarcasm forgotten "Uh, what?"

Nightmare rolled her eyes, "Your new at the whole royalty thing, aren't you." She stated plainly. This wasn't the Chrysalis she saw waging war at a wedding. This was a teenager that had no idea how to rule a kingdom, Nightmare would know.

Chrysalis lowered her head, "Is it that obvious?"  

Nightmare shrugged her shoulders, "eh, put some more spunk in it. Like you own the place" she said, giving the best advice she had.

Chrysalis took a deep breath, "I am Queen Chrysalis, Ruler of the changelings!" She said in a commanding tone.

"Now that's a ruler!" Nightmare exclaimed with a clop of her hooves.

"Heh, whatever" Chrysalis said with a smile smile working onto her mouth, then she shook her head.

"Hey! What do you want anyway!" She snapped, her fiery demeanor returning.

"Eh, just wanted to see if you wanted to be friends or not?" Nightmare replied nonchalantly.

Chrysalis tilted her head confused, "What?"

Nightmare shrugged, "You heard me, want to be friends?" She stated.

"Are you an idiot or something!" Chrysalis exclaimed, and Nightmare tilted her head.

"No species wants to even be near us, much less be friends! So if this your sorry idea for a joke- Chrysalis bared her fangs- then your going to be sorry." She growled.

Nightmare raised up her hooves angrily, "Woman, calm the fuck down! I wasn't joking! So stop your freaking war rant right freaking there! And be my god damn friend!" She roared.

Chrysalis stared for a minute.

Then she burst out laughing.

'What the-

"That was hilarious!" She exclaimed as she continued her laughing fit.

'Nightie, are you sure she is sane?' Forest asked concerned, about the giggly changeling below them.   

'Nope' she replied as the changeling's laughter episode eventually subsided.

As Nightmare helped her up, she still snickered.

"Do you know how freaking stupid what you said was" she said between snickers.

Nightmare rolled her eyes, "Bitch please. That was mild stupidity." She said with a scoff. 

Chrysalis's eyes sparkled, "Finally someone that doesn't get easily flank hurt!" She said excitedly, and then pulled Nightmare closer.

"Do you have any idea how careful I have to say things so my people so they don't get depressed or do exactly what I say" she said exasperatingly. Nightmare nodded, "Preach woman, I know the feel" she replied, fully remembering having to comfort Luna whenever she made a bad joke.

Chrysalis eyed her surprisingly  "So, your royalty too?" 

"Yep" She replied bluntly.

Chrysalis nodded her head, "Yes, your from that horse species, or whatever"

Nightmare nodded back, "The term's ponies, but I technically don't care" she replied, then she repeated why she had gone here in the first place.

"So, friends?" She said with and extended hoof.

Chrysalis slapped it out of the air.

"Huh-"

Before Nightmare could react Chrysalis had tackled her and put her in a headlock.

"Bitch! We're not friends! We're besties!" She said with a good-natured snarl, and as she tightened her hold, Nightmare smiled.

Now this was someone who could have some fun.