//------------------------------//
// Episode 20: A Rare Nightmare Part 1 
// Story: EoH Evolution: Season 1 
// by Bahamut0 
//------------------------------//

Night Terror stared intently at the vision orb he held in his hand. "After months of observation and biding my time, at last the moment has arrived." The image that the orb was broadcasting was that of Rarity and Spike alone in a rock field. Searching for gems that Rarity needed for an order. "Out of all the Elements of Harmony, the Element of Generosity is their weakest link." A dark smile crept across Night Terror's lips. "So confident and sure of her skill, and so fragile and unsure underneath it all." Night Terror then noticed a pack of diamond dogs waiting to ambush Rarity and Spike. "Well then." Night Terror rose from his throne. "Time to play hero." Night Terror altered his appearance. His new look consisted of dark grey pants, black boots, and a black dress shirt. Additionally, his cat-like pupils had transformed into regular pupils. Night Terror looked down at the necklace in his hand. It was made of concentrated nightmare essence. Rarity. Your radiance shall soon peak with darkness... Night Terror stepped through the portal, and arrived not far from the rock field.

Back in the rock field, Rarity and Spike were surrounded by the diamond dogs! "Well. If I didn't regret turning down Inferno's offer to tag along, I do now!" Rarity panicked as the diamond dogs advanced on her and Spike. "Just what do you ruffians want with us?"

"Not here for dragon!" The lead diamond dog answered as he pointed at Rarity. "Here for Magi girl! We see you use magic to find gems! We take you back to caves and you find gems for us to make collars!"

The disguised Night Terror scoffed as he approached the scene. "Bothersome beasts. You don't even know how you're about to tarnish the gem before you." The diamond dogs all turned their attention to Night Terror. "Time I send you home with your tails between your legs." The poison purple aura of his magic cloaked his hands, and Night Terror summoned three bolts of dark lightning that made the diamond dogs cower and scurry back down their holes! Night Terror then turned his attention to Rarity and Spike, and put on a charming smile. "I trust I arrived just in time?"

Rarity blushed as she became captivated by Night Terror. "I must say...you certainly stepped in at the right time." Rarity dusted herself and Spike off. "I simply can't thank you enough, darling. I am Rarity."

"You certainly are one." Night Terror said as he advanced toward Rarity. "A gem such as you does not surface in the world too often." Night Terror smiled as he saw Rarity's face turn scarlet. This one has frequently fantasized about being swept off her feet by a prince. Fitting that I should elevate her higher than that. "Might I have the honor of escorting you home safely?"

Rarity nodded slowly. "O-of course!" Rarity yelped slightly when Night Terror started to carry her bridal style. "Um...not that I'm complaining darling, but why are you carrying me?"

"Surely the stress of such trauma had tired you, hasn't it?" Night Terror asked feigning concern. "I think you would prefer not collapsing on the ground. Though it wouldn't have been as bad as the dirt and filth in the caves of those beasts." Night Terror then brushed his hand against Rarity's cheek. "Such a pristine face should be kept flawless, would you not agree?" 

Rarity's whole face was flushed red at this. She was so thoroughly charmed that she couldn't even nod! Soon enough, they arrived back at Carousel Boutique. "Again...thank you." Rarity said as she averted her gaze from Night Terror to the door. "It was certainly quite courteous of you to think of me."

"In truth, you've been the center of my thoughts for a while now." Night Terror said as he turned Rarity to face him. "You just so happened to be in a situation that allowed me to focus those thoughts. I have watched you from afar Rarity. And I do believe that there was purpose behind our meeting today. I would certainly enjoy meeting you again. But until then, farewell." And with that, Night Terror walked away.

Inferno had been observing the conversation. He would have paid no mind to it. Except for the fact that he was starting to feel quite close to Rarity. In a way that was more than simple friendship. "So. Who was tall, dark and handsome?"

"Oh, Inferno!" Rarity threw herself onto her couch! "I really should have accepted your offer to accompany Spike and me earlier! The two of us were beset by a group of diamond dogs. But then...HE came in and sent them running back to their holes!" Rarity sighed. "Oh, Inferno! It was like something out of my very fantasies! I dare say that I may have just found my prince at long last!"

Inferno frowned. "I don't know Rarity. This all seems a bit too good to be true." He then sighed. "I'm not gonna say 'I told you so' when the time comes. But I've got a bad feeling about that guy. Did you even get his name? You don't know a thing about him!"

"I know that he knows how to treat a lady!" Rarity said with a huff. "You don't have to like him. But if nothing else, respect my wish to further acquaint myself with him." Rarity stormed off to her room, and locked the door. Dreaming of her "prince" not long after.


The next day.
Rarity hummed to herself as she set about finishing her latest order. That is, until a knock at the door interrupted her. "The door's open. Feel free to come in, and I'll be with you shortly." Rarity heard the door open and close, and the sound of footsteps approaching her. "Now then. Is there something I can help you wi-" Rarity's jaw dropped when she saw Night Terror standing right in front of her. "Y-You again?! I-I'm flattered that I occupy so much of your thoughts, but I didn't expect to see you again so soon!"

"Forgive me." Night Terror said with a chuckle. "But nonetheless, how could I resist? You certainly have caught my eye. And it seems you are quite taken with me as well." Night Terror then extended his hand. "Might I have the privilege of speaking with you?"

Rarity nodded. "C-Certainly, darling! I just finished my latest order, and I should be free for the rest of the day." Rarity accepted Night Terror's hand, and was led along to the town square. The two grabbed a seat on a bench. "I hope this doesn't come off as prying but...might you tell me your name?"

"Call me...Void." Night Terror said. "It's all I've felt like since I first felt love and loss."

Rarity's eyes widened. "Oh..oh dear! I apologize darling! I had no intention of digging up any unpleasant memories!"

"It's quite alright." Night Terror said with a dismissive wave. "In truth, it might do some good for me to clear this from my mind. Long ago, there was a girl who captured my every function. To me, she was a queen. One who I wished to give the world to." Night Terror then scowled at the memory of Nightmare Moon's defeats. "But she was taken from me. Never to be seen again." Night Terror subtly took note of Rarity's sympathetic gaze. "And I was left with this as a memento of her..." Night Terror pulled out the very necklace of nightmare essence he had created. "This was to be my gift to her. And is now a constant reminder of the empty place in my core." Night Terror then gazed longingly into Rarity's eyes. "And now? I see the same grace in you as I did her. I wonder, is this fate or luck?"

Rarity was blushing hard and was about to reply when Burst Stream showed up with Twilight. "Hey Rarity! What's up?" Burst Stream greeted. He then noticed the disguised Night Terror. "Uh-oh. Hope I didn't crash your date! I was just telling Twilight about all the crazy events that went down with my team." Burst then noticed the blade of his sword glowing in Night Terror's presence. "Weird...that's never happened before..." He was then met with Night Terror's cold gaze. The glow from Burst Stream's sword seemed to intensify. "Whoa! Care to dial down the intensity a bit?" Burst asked the disguised Night Terror. "What's your deal with me?! I think my sword's telling you to back off! I don't want to hurt you, but I'll defend myself if you decide to throw a punch."

Night Terror seethed before letting out a groan. "Forgive me Rarity. But something has come to my attention. And I'm afraid I must depart. But worry not. We shall meet again quite soon." Night Terror departed, and shot a scowl at Burst as he left Unityville.

"Geez! What's his deal?!" Burst mumbled to himself. He then noticed that the glow from his blade had faded. "First time I've ever seen the sword do that..." Burst then called up Inferno to tell him the news. "Hey man. How's it going? Nice to hear. I'm doing pretty good myself. But, something weird happened with my Duelist Arms today. The blade of my sword started to glow the second this weird guy that was Rarity was around. What did he look like? Let's see...he was dressed in only black. He practically screamed he was going for a dark look. And the second he saw me, her got right up in my face and scowled at me like he had a grudge."

Inferno's eyes shrank in horror as he heard Burst recount events. Then, he remembered that his own blaster had a faint red glow around it when Night Terror was around. "Burst. The same thing happened with my blaster when that guy was with Rarity yesterday. I think our Duelist Arms are trying to tell us something. Trying to warn us. And this guy seems like bad news." Inferno was about to continue his conversation when he saw Rarity return home. "...I'll call you back." Inferno hung up, and confronted Rarity. "Rarity. You were with that guy from yesterday, weren't you?"

"I don't see why that's any of your concern Inferno." Rarity said crossly. "First you seem to disapprove of Void, and then Burst goes and upsets him. I'm starting to think that you and your friends have a very negative effect on him."

Inferno sighed. "Rarity...I'm telling you that this guy's trouble. I know I'm one to talk since rockstars are usually seen as the type to stir up trouble. But something about this guy is off. Nobody's that ideal! Everyone has their faults."

"You certainly seem to be showing yours." Rarity said coldly. "You're treating me as if I'm a child. Why can't you let me have this?! Void has everything I've ever wanted from a man! He's everything I've dreamed of!"

Inferno frowned. "But what if that's only the side that he wants you to see?!" Inferno sighed. "Rarity...you've only spoken with this guy twice. Doesn't ANY of your meeting him sound the least bit scripted?! Stuff like that only happens in movies or books! All of this...it just seems so orchestrated!"

"I know more about him than you think." Rarity said as she stomped over to Inferno. "I know that he's lost someone he held in his heart. And that I make him happy and fill that emptiness! How can you be so cruel as to take that away from him? From me?!" Inferno was utterly dumbfounded at hearing this! "Well I won't let you keep me from this!" Rarity stormed out the door!

Inferno hung his head in defeat. "Rarity..." Inferno sighed. "Why can't you just see that I care?" Inferno then decided to resume his call with Burst. "Hey dude. I just confronted Rarity about that guy she was with. No...it didn't go well. She stormed off after I told her all of it seemed to be too good to be true. I'm not gonna chase after her because she needs some time to process things. I could also use some time to cool off too. Okay. Thanks for listening. Bye." Inferno looked to the door. "Maybe I should just apologize right now. I hope she didn't get too far..."

Meanwhile, Rarity was at the outskirts of town. Her temper still stewing over Inferno's confrontation with her. "Why can't they see how happy Void makes me?" Rarity sighed, and looked at the texts from her friends. All of them saying that she  had gone too far with Inferno. "Then again, I did lose my temper with Inferno. Maybe I'm getting a little bit too caught up in the moment."

"The fault lies not with you. It lies with him." Night Terror said as he approached Rarity. "Obviously, he does not appreciate the fact of your happiness."

Rarity hesitantly looked into Night Terror's eyes. "I-I don't know..." Rarity looked at her phone's message box. "All my friends say that I went too far with Inferno. That I shouldn't have been so harsh."

"They know nothing." Night Terror said coldly as he put a hand on Rarity's shoulder. "Have any of them known the happiness either of us know right now? Do any of them know the pain of heartbreak? Who are they to advise you on such a matter? I could not give my chosen queen the world. But perhaps..." Night Terror pulled out the necklace once again. "It is a gift that I can bestow upon you."

Rarity stared at the necklace. She took a deep breath before taking the necklace into her hands. "I accept." But the instant she slipped it on, a surge of nightmare essence flowed into her! A sphere of darkness enveloped Rarity's body, and soon exploded as her transformation finished! Her skin had turned black, her hair gained a wavy look with a white streak in it, and her pupils turned cat-like. A dark purple dress replaced her old outfit.

Night Terror reverted to his true form, and smiled. "Now I truly see the grace of a queen within you. Darkness truly brings out your radiance. My beautiful Nightmare Rarity."

"You said that you would give me the world, didn't you?" Nightmare Rarity asked with an evil smile. "Tell me darling. When did you plan on doing so?"

Night Terror smirked. "Right now. It's time that this world learns who it belongs to." The very skies darkened as Night Terror used his magic to levitate himself and Nightmare Rarity over Unityville. "CITIZENS OF UNITYVILLE! YOU NO LONGER BELONG TO THE PATHETIC REIGN OF TH ROYAL SISTERS! REJOICE AND DESPAIR! FOR A NEW REIGN IS UPON YOU! A REIGN OF TERROR! I AM LORD NIGHT TERROR OF THE NIGHTMARE FORCES! I AM YOUR FUTURE KING! AND I AM NOT ALONE IN MY REIGN! I GIVE YOU MY QUEEN! NIGHTMARE RARITY!"

The rest of the Main 6 and the Elements of Heroism both looked on in horror as Night Terror and Nightmare Rarity descended from the sky to the ground. "Hello darlings." Nightmare Rarity said with a wicked smile. "Do you like my new look?"

"I-Is that really you Rarity?" Spike asked nervously as he stepped forward.

Nightmare Rarity smiled down at the drake. "Indeed it is Spike." She then knelt down to Spike's level. "You've always been with me. I was just too stupid not to see it earlier. But I can fix all that right now. I've seen how you look at me. I can see your desires clearly now with my new eyes." She then extended her hand to Spike. "Come with me Spike. And you can finally be mine..."

Spike slowly began to reach out his hand, but was slapped across the face as Inferno intervened! "I'm sorry Spike. But you were going to make the wrong choice!" Inferno then turned to face Night Terror and Nightmare Rarity. His gaze held fury as he stared at Night Terror. "You. I was right about you the whole time." He then pointed right at Night Terror! "You're gonna pay for this! You hear me?! I'm not gonna stop until I've scorched your evil ass right into tartarus!"

"If you truly wish to blame someone, blame Burst Stream." Night Terror said coldly. "It was he who helped to defeat my original promised queen. Nightmare Moon!" Night Terror glared hatefully at Burst. "It is with him that most of my hate is centered!"

Twilight stepped forward. "You know that you'll never win! Princess Celestia will put a stop to you! Just like how she banished Nightmare Moon a thousand years ago!"

"And pray tell, just how are you so certain in this fact?" Night Terror asked with an evil chuckle. "She barely put up a fight against my promised queen. What makes you think she will come in to save you now?" Night Terror's answer was delivered in the form of a golden blast of magic! 

Princess Celestia descended from the sky. "Because Twilight informed me of the situation by letter earlier." Celestia stared coldly at Night Terror and Nightmare Rarity. "I knew that you would attack the Elements of Harmony at some point. But I never expected you would do so through such ruthless means."

"As if your words truly wound me that much darling." Nightmare Rarity said with a scoff. "Still. I suppose I should thank you for coming here. It will give me a chance to show my future subjects who the greater ruler will be!" Both Nightmare Rarity and Celestia charged up their magic! The beams clashing as they unleashed their power! But to Nightmare Rarity's surprise, her own beam of magic was overpowered by Celestia's! Knocking her to the ground.

Celestia spread her white wings in a show of dominance. "This battle is over for now. Leave now, and no further harm shall come to you. Stay, and I will protect my subjects from you."

"And she won't be alone." Burst said as he drew his Duelist Arms. "You made a BIG mistake trying to take over my home asshole. Now that you've shown your face, I know who's been trying to take out me and my friends! I'm a man of my word, so listen up! Someday, after we get Rarity back to normal, I'm gonna take you down with one punch!"

Night Terror smirked at Burst's threat. "I would love to see you try." Both Night Terror and Nightmare Rarity teleported away to the Castle of the Two Sisters.

"I must say, you certainly have a sense of irony." Nightmare Rarity said as she observed the old castle. "This is where Nightmare Moon fell. And soon it shall be where our kingdom shall rise." However, only silence came from Night Terror. "Darling? Is something trou-" Nightmare Rarity was struck across the face by Night Terror!

Night Terror gazed coldly at Nightmare Rarity. "How? How could you be so pitifully weak?! The nightmare essence courses through you! You should have gained the power of my departed chosen queen!" He then scowled. "A powerful king should have a queen of equal power by his side. How else is their rule to be cemented?" He then loomed over Nightmare Rarity. "You had best not disappoint me again. I have no use for weakness. And all things I do not need...." Night Terror flared the poison purple aura of his magic. "I eliminate."

Nightmare Rarity breathed frantically as she processed all that had happened. Why? Why is he treating me like this? He said I filled the void in his heart. Is this an empty love? Or am I just a trophy for him to display to all? Nightmare Rarity stared at the ceiling in thought. If this is a nightmare....why can't I wake up?


TO BE CONTINUED