(Everfree Forest, Dark Cave)
Tantabus sat thinking, pondering, ruminating, and any other word to describe it, about which pony it would pursue first.
Shadow Fright approached his master and said in his raspy voice, "Tantabus... the sun is setting. This might be time to as the ponies say "get a move on.""
The shadowy organism put a smoky hand on Tantabus, it recoiled, as if it had been shaken from thought.
"I know Shadow Fright... but I cannot choose who I should go corrupt first." Tantabus stopped, "that doesn't sound right, corrupt sounds so evil. how about "Improve" or "enrich"? What do you think Shadow Fright."
Tantabus leaned in, its white glassily eyes staring into Shadow Frights Red ones.
Tantabus continued, "Well? Answer me!"
Shadow Fright stepped back, "Well, show me the ponies you picked and I'll judge them based on personality, strength, and more."
Tantabus summoned a wall of holographic magic. It displayed images of six ponies, Shadow Fright instantly recognized them!
He roared in anger, "WHY THEM! They destroyed us! Plus, they have the elements of harmony, they could wipe us out!"
Tantabus rolled its eyes and pressed its hoof on Shadow Fright's face, "I am not going to force them into it, little Shadow Fright... I'll make them agree to it..."
Shadow Fright raised his smoky hands, "I ask again, HOW."
Tantabus rolled its eyes again and transformed into a purple mist, it surrounded Shadow Fright and his red eyes turned yellow and purple. He began to drool, he was seeing his greatest desire, ruling the Nightmare Tribe as they shroud the world in darkness.
Shadow Fright heard the voice of Tantabus in his head, "this could be yours if you just say the word, Shadow Fright. Just... say it..."
Shadow Fright said clear as Day, "I submit."
Tantabus smiled and Shadow Fright was engulfed in a purple aura. When the light faded, his gray-blue smoke body had been replaced with a Crome black Pegasus pony, but it had bat wings.
Tantabus reappeared in front of him and said, "there. Isn't it just easier to submit and give in?"
Shadow Fright rose up, "Yes...mistress... I am... slave."
Tantabus smiled and clapped its hooves together. "Good."
"Now kneel before me..."
Shadow Fright kneeled and bowed his head, he was completely under Tantabus's control, and he loved every minute of it.
Tantabus clapped its hooves together and it's horn glowed bright pink. A warm feeling filled, it had its first slave, It said "good slave. Feel my pleasure..."
Shadow Fright felt a wave of pure pleasure was over him, he whispered out.
"Thank you... mistress..."
Tantabus smiled, knowing it had won. "Who are you?" It asked Shadow Fright.
Shadow Fright responded, "I am slave... I am slave... I serve mistress..."
Tantabus laughed, then said. "Ive decided! I will go to the unicorn known as Rarity... she is naturally flirty and she has a bad case of vanity... perfect for the head of the brainwashing when we take over... soon all ponies would be Nightmare Ponies, and the best part is...
"They won't even object, stand up, or resist. Especially when it's coming from the element of generosity. They will be thinking that this is a gift, it is. But, it comes at a price, to be forever connected to everypony else, as they slowly become the slaves of the new nightmare queens."
"Once the gift starts, it will slowly consume them until..."
"Until the only thing left is obedience and control... and the love of the night..."
(Carousel Boutique, Main Lobby)
Rarity was busy fixing up the mannequins after Rainbow Dash burst in, she was exhausted.
Her sister Sweetie Belle approached her and helped Rarity up. "Come on sis, let's get you to bed. You look exhausted."
Rarity yawned, "I suppose so, good night."
(Carousel Boutique, Rarity's Room)
Rarity was sleeping peacefully, dreaming about making the perfect dress, the dress for her wedding day, when a gust of wind blew open the windows and blew her out of bed.
Rarity got to her feet and rubbed her eyes, "What was that for..." she walked over the window and shut it.
Rarity felt the breeze brush past her mane, leaving the smell of lavender in her face.
She heard a voice, "Rarityyyyyy..." it sounded like a snake.
Rarity looked on in shock as her shadow extended and took shape into an Alicorn's shadow. Something began to rise up from it, a being Rarity and anypony would dread to see again. The manifestation of Luna's Doubts and Fears, Tantabus!
Rarity backed up against her bed, scared out of her mind. "TANTABUS! No! Your nothing but a bad dream!"
Tantabus whispered, "I assure you... this is no dream..."
Rarity swung a Hoof at Tantabus's form, it passed right though as if it were smoke.
Rarity said shakily, "Why are you here? I thought that you were g-gone..."
Tantabus interrupted Rarity by petting her with its wispy hooves, "shhhh... I'm not here to harm anypony... the Nightmare Tribe and I are here to help."
Rarity pushed away from Tantabus, saying "Help, how? I thought the Nightmare Tribe was back on the moon... and why did you come to me? why not Luna?"
Tantabus shrugged, "I...grew bored of her... you are younger... you have style."
Tantabus leaned in closer, "you can help me "Improve" everypony."
Rarity tilted her head to one side, "I see now. You want to turn me into another one of your little drones while you shroud the Kingdom in darkness."
Rarity put her hoof against Tantabus's body, "Well I'm not going to be one of your slaves!"
Tantabus opened its glasslike eyes and looked into Rarity's, they were like mirrors. it then said, "No Rarity... you will be queen..."
Tantabus cupped Rarity's face, staring up and down her body, "and you will be more beautiful than Celestia..."
Rarity had no time to react as Tantabus engulfed her into purple smoke, Rarity felt it enter her nose, mouth, and eyes.
Rarity began to see a vision, it was her store really successful, beautiful dresses and outfits lined the hangers and mannequins. Sweetie Belle was hugging Rarity's leg, smiling with pride.
Tantabus whispered into Rarity's ear, "this can be yours and more... I will give you incredible powers. Invisibility, increased magical prowess, increased strength, mind control..."
Rarity seemed to be close to giving in to her vanity, "You can be generous too... my tribe will bring you ponies to "improve"... they will worship you as queen..." Tantabus looked Rarity in the eyes, Rarity could see her reflection in them.
Tantalus finished off with, "and you just have to say two words."
Rarity spoke them out, "I submit..."
Tantabus smiled and began to transform Rarity, shining bright with a purple and yellow glow. Rarity emerged, but she was a changed mare.
Rarity's fur had turned from pure white to deep shining black, her mane and tail had grown and now flowed as if they were water. They were colored shining purple and had white stripes running down them. Rarity's eyes became ice blue and had little glimmers in them. Her horn grew to twice its size and her cutie mark had become a constellation of stars in the shape of gems. She stood as large as Celestia, and she was twice as beautiful.
Tantabus finished the transformation, then fetched a mirror, it said. "Gaze upon your new form my queen! Nightmare Rarity!"
Rarity looked into the mirror, she gasped and then said, "I am beautiful!"
She stepped back and fired a bolt of magic that transformed her bed into gems. "I am powerful!"
Rarity inhaled, then shouted.
"I AM PERFECT!"
Tantabus clapped its wispy hooves then approached Rarity, "ok. I need to finish the... adjustment, so hold still-"
Tantabus's ghostly body was grabbed by Rarity's magic and pulled close, she was looking right into its eyes.
She then said, "I knew you would try something like this! You give me immense powers, then brainwash me while my guard is down? Well, let me fix that for you."
Tantabus struggled as Rarity used her new hypnotic eyes to stare into its own!
Rarity said in a alluring tone, "Gaze deep into my eyes... look deeper... deeper now."
Tantabus obeyed and kept focusing on her eyes, its own eyes were beginning to glow light blue.
Rarity whispered to the being, "You work for me now, darling... your mind is mine to play with, mine to control."
Tantabus went limp on the floor, got up, then kneeled in front of her. It said, "Yes my queen... who shall I give your "gift" to first...?"
Nightmare Rarity looked to Sweetie Belle's room. She began to approach the door, then opened it.
Sweetie Belle woke up with a fright, looked around, then saw Rarity standing at her door, with a purple cloud next to her, she looked like Nightmare Moon!
Sweetie Belle tried to scream before Nightmare Rarity put a hoof over her sisters mouth.
Nightmare Rarity said to Sweetie Belle, "Ssshhh... it's ok Sweetie, its me."
Sweetie Belle said in a scared tone, "Rarity! What happened to you! You look so... dark."
Nightmare Rarity nuzzled Sweetie, then motioned Tantabus to come over. "I'm Still your big sister, I'm just little different. You want to be different like me?"
Sweetie Belle looked scared, but nodded. "If you're still the same old big sis, then yes."
Nightmare Rarity whispered into Sweetie Belle's ear, then Sweetie Belle Said, "I submit to you, Nightmare Rarity."
Tantabus flew over and engulfed Sweetie Belle, when it finished transforming her it flew back to Nightmare Rarity's side, Nightmare Rarity teared up.
Sweetie Belle stood as tall as Rarity previously was before transforming into Nightmare Rarity. Sweetie Belle's fur was shining black and silver, Her mane and tail was now Shiny Pink and had a White-Gold stripe down it. Her cutie Mark became a constellation of the CMC logo that Scootaloo and Apple Bloom had on their flanks as well.
Sweetie Belle looked in a mirror, before saying. "Look Big Sis! I look like you. I'm not scared of the darkness anymore!"
Nightmare Rarity wrapped her mane around Sweetie Belle, "I love you Sweetie..."
Nightmare Rarity turned to Tantabus and looked it in the eyes, "Listen close. Your Queen is giving you a command, go spread my gift to other ponies, but we need some help."
Nightmare Rarity thought for a moment, before saying "Go to my friend Fluttershy's cottage, transform her into one of us... she will be scared at first... but she will learn to feel...beautiful and courageous."
Nightmare Rarity opened the window, "Now Go! Find another Queen to rule the darkness with me..."
Tantabus hissed out, "Yes... my queen..." before turning invisible and flying out the window.
It was heading towards its next target
Fluttershy.