//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5: Shy No More 
// Story: Nightmare Ponyville 
// by Super Ponyman 
//------------------------------//

(Everfree Forest, Dark Cave)

The Nightmare Tribe waited anxiously for Tantabus to return with thier new ruler. Many of them were fininding ways to pass the time.

Some of the shades were playing cards.

Others were telling stories and jokes.

A few were even reading books on "The common fears of ponies" in order to educate themselves in how to take over via mental attack if they had to. 

Shadow Fright sat at the edge of the cave, it was broad daylight out. if he stepped outside, he would disintegrate into dust. He was tapping his Hoof and said, "How long is this going to take? My mistress Tantabus hasn't gotten back yet... she said that she would bring back a queen by daybreak, yet its broad daylight out and no sign of my..."

Shadow Fright's words were cut off by a giant black mare with a shining purple mane put a hoof over his mouth. She had a small black filly beside her, with a pink and white gold mane. 

Nightmare Rarity said to the night Pegasus, "Tell your tribe the one of their queens is here..." 

Shadow Fright shook in his new hooves before saying, "Yes..."

Nightmare Rarity told the nightmare Pegasus her name, "Nightmare Rarity."

Shadow Fright finished his sentence, "Y-Yes Nightmare Rarity!" 

The nightmare Pegasus bent down and said, "and what is your name little one?"

Nightmare Sweetie Belle put on a brace face and walked up to the red eyed Pegasus, "I'm Sweetie Belle."

He ran inside saying to his fellow shades, "Our queen is here! Queen Nightmare Rarity!" 

He pointed towards the entire tribe, "KNEEL BEFORE HER BEAUTY!"

Some of looked at Nightmare Rarity and started to argue amongst themselves. Nightmare Rarity looked at Shadow Fright, who cowered in fear from her gaze. 

She said to the dark Pegasus, "You said that they would accept me as thier queen immediately..." 

She picked up Shadow Fright with her magic, "You said that they would listen to me?!"

Shadow Fright squeaked out a scared response. "I-I-I- said that they would most likely accept you as queen immediately!" He felt his throat being crushed, "perhaps try to give an example of your power..."

Nightmare Rarity smiled, "Actually..." she released Shadow Fright from her grip. "That's a perfect idea."

Nightmare Rarity stepped forward and said, "You want to see my power?! Fine! Bring me forth the person skeptical of my power."

A dark gray shade stepped, it was a unicorn stallion roughly the size of Big Macintosh.

Nightmare Rarity said "you are the one who thinks I'm unable to command?"

He said, "Yes."

Nightmare Rarity scowled, "and what is your reason for this?" 

The dark gray unicorn said, "you are a Mare! You only know how to use other ponies to do your dirty work! You lack any real stre-"

His words were cut short by Nightmare Rarity grabbing the unicorn's neck with her magic, rendering him unable to breathe as his face turned blue. She turned to the tribe.

Nightmare Rarity spoke, "You want strength?"

She looked at the stallion in the eyes, seeing the fear in them.

"Then allow me to demonstrate!"

The nightmare tribe heard a sickening crack as the unicorn stallion's head snapped backwards, then his body went limp. 

Nightmare Rarity tossed the lifeless pony to the floor. Many of the tribe stood back in shock before she said, "Anypony else wish to speak out?"

The rest of the nightmare tribe knelt before Nightmare Rarity, they all said in unison, "Hail Nightmare Rarity!"

Nightmare Rarity smirked, "I think I did good."

(Fluttershy's Cottage, Fluttershy's Bedroom) 

Fluttershy was grooming her mane and wiping her eyes. Discord had been to one of her tea parties and he was always quite... eccentric. 

She was about to start on her tail when her brush started to talk to her, it was Discord!

"You know Fluttershy, you look lovely with or without sugar in your mane..."

Fluttershy dropped the brush with a startled squeal and said. "Discord! I-I thought that you left for the night."

Discord poofed back to his normal, chaotic self and tipped a hat to Fluttershy. He said to her, "I just wanted to say that today was just great. I hope that I have many more parties with you..." 

Fluttershy said to her Draconequess companion, "O-oh thank you Discord. I think I must be off to bed, goodnight."

Discord blushed as he heard his stomach rumble, "Oh Dear, it seems your tea has made its way to my bladder, I will be but a moment."

Discord popped into the bathroom, and said through the door, "I'll lock the door on my way out."

Fluttershy let out a small giggle and said quietly, "I know, you're always there for me, Discord."

Fluttershy put the covers over her back legs. She snuggled up next to her Butterfly shaped pillow and fell asleep.

Before she could get into a deep sleep, Fluttershy smelled Lavender, and then saw her shadow start to extend. Somepony was in her room!

She pulled her covers up over her head and shivered with fear. She thought to herself, "Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear! Please don't be a monster! Please, Please don't be a monster..." 

Fluttershy peeked out from the covers and saw the worst thing she could have imagined, Tantabus, the greatest monster of all next to that dreadful King Sombra and Daybreaker. 

She screamed, but no sound came out. Fluttershy said to the dark creature, "Go away! L-leave me alone!"

Fluttershy heard a voice like a whisper, it was Tantabus. "Do not be afraid of me element of kindness, I come with no harm..." 

Fluttershy felt Tantabus peel the covers off her, she took to the air, trying to use her stare against the creature. Unfortunately, Tantabus's mirror-like eyes just showed Fluttershy's terrified expression.

Tantabus reached out a wispy hoof to Fluttershy, "I come bearing a great gift. The gift of nightmare power, and dominance over the Nightmare Tribe."

Fluttershy shook her head, "no. I'm sorry I don't want that, Tantabus."

Tantabus turned red, obviously annoyed. "How can you deny the promise of this power?"

Fluttershy lost her patience, she screamed in soundless anger as her body began to change. Her feathery wings became bat wings, she grew two fangs, and her eye colors shifted from teal to bright red. Her coat turned from its normal bright cream to a mustard yellow, and her mane and tail became shredded. Fluttershy became Flutterbat!

Tantabus stepped back in slight fear as the unnerving form of Fluttershy's nightmarish counterpart, Flutterbat, hovered in from if it hissing like a lizard. "Stay back monster!"

Flutterbat growled, "You're not so tough now are you? Even the sweetest animals have a dark side of push them too far..." while Fluttershy's personality was the kindness, Flutterbat's personality was authoritative and strong willed.

Tantabus only clapped its hooves, "Well done Fluttershy, this is what my queen wanted, she wanted to see your willpower against my glorious, terrifying form. I must say, even I am shaking in my ethereal hooves from your glaring gaze."

Flutterbat reverted back into Fluttershy, "you're scared of me? I'm-im so sorry..."

Tantabus shrugged, "it's alright." It leaned in closer, "you know... I can help you be more assertive... while still retaining your kind nature to everypony. All you have to do is accept my queens gift..."

Fluttershy looked confused as she put a bit of distance between her and Tantabus. "What type of gift? Who is your queen?"

Tantabus looked into Fluttershy's real eyes, analyzing every detail about them. Thier gaze was soft like chalk, but could become hard as a diamond when enough pressure was applied.

Tantabus finally turned into purple smoke, "I can see why my queen wants you to rule alongside her as equals."

Fluttershy asked again, "Who is your queen?"

Tantabus engulfed Fluttershy, "I will show you..."

Fluttershy saw her animals happily playing in an animal sanctuary, she saw herself in a white lab coat and a black pony was was standing beside her.

Fluttershy saw who it was, it was Rarity, but she looked like Nightmare Moon! She looked happy and not mind controlled at all.

Fluttershy gasped, "you mean that R-Rarity is queen of your nightmare tribe..." 

Tantabus whispered, "yes... and she wants you to join with her... and you just have to say two words Fluttershy...

Fluttershy shut her eyes and said, "I submit... don't hurt me..."

Tantabus whispered, "it doesn't hurt..." as it surrounded Fluttershy in a dark purple cloud of smoke.

When she emerged, her physique had changed drastically. She was the size of Celestia, Her normally small wings had grown and had light cream colored feathers on them. Her fur had turned to a shining black and her cutie Mark had become a constellation of a butterfly. Her teal eyes had little tints of red in them, making them look as if they had small rubies in them. Her mane had grown, turning pink gold covering her right eye. Fluttershy opened her mouth and felt two fangs poking out of her mouth. 

She felt confident!

She felt pretty!

She felt... sexy!

Tantabus looked upon Fluttershy with pride, before saying. "I hereby name you, NIGHTMARE FLUTTERSHY!"

Nightmare Fluttershy said in a alluring voice, "I like it... it conveys power, yet gentleness at the same time..."

Tantabus bowed before her, "who would you like me to transform next my queen?"

Nightmare Fluttershy turned to the plushie she had on her bed, it was made by Pinkie Pie. 

Nightmare Fluttershy pulled Tantabus close, "go to Ponyville and look for a building called the Sugarcube Corner... my friend Pinkie Pie lives there... she will likely be eager to help us out." She said in an authoritative tone.

Discord opened the bathroom and his jaw dropped off, he then picked it up and sticked it back on. He then stammered out, "F-Fluttershy?" 

Nightmare Fluttershy turned to the direction of the voice, but she saw nothing.

Discord was running as fast as he could towards Maneami Beach, he knew Burning Star was on vacation. 

"Even I, the lord of chaos incarnate, didn't see this coming! I gotta do something before this gets too bad. My Magic doesn't work on these, Nightmare Ponies!"

With that, Discord transformed into an eagle and flew off.