//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 - Reformed but rejected // Story: Captain Goodking and the Nightmare Knights // by Leondude //------------------------------// In spite of saving the world from his own mistakes, Stormy, now calling himself Captain Goodking, has been trying his hardest to make the whole good guy thing work. However, because of his actions and despite wearing a superhero costume, he still looks evil and the townsfolk worry he will pull a Discord and betray everypony once a better deal comes up. Not even neighbourhood pets can stand him, with one cat stuck up a tree tearing his previous costume to shreds. But luckily for the good captain, he decided to make his latest costume a little more protective by making it out of gold with dark blue threads (but not as dark as his previous attire back when he was known as The Storm King) covering the costume and he equipped himself with some goggles too. Although in hindsight, he should have designed a helmet as well. "Get off me!" he shouted, having to deal with another cat trying to claw his eyes out "Can't you see I'm trying to rescue you?!". And once he got the cat down, the elderly Earth pony it belonged to just whacked him across the head with her umbrella and trotted off. Goodking just walked off in a huff. "Start out small Discord said! It will prepare you for when you have to deal with something bigger than yourself and earns you the respect of the townsfolk Discord said! DO I LOOK RESPECTED AND PREPARED FOR WHATEVER LIFE THROWS AT ME?!" After that tirade, Goodking heard a familiar laugh. "Now now, my good captain, there's no need to be like that. Just because it's beginner's stuff does not mean it's going to be easy." And out of thin air, a draconequus teleported right in front of Goodking. It was Discord. "As I once said during one of my classes, have patience and realize you can't snap your problems away, which is ironic because I tend to do that all the time. Unless it starts creating problems for other ponies, but I only start fixing problems the 'normal' way for Fluttershy's sake." "Yeah, you and Fluttershy are pretty close, know what I mean?" Goodking said with a knowing smirk and a wink "Uh...W...Well, that's because we're such good friends!" Discord said in a surprisingly flustered tone and with his cheeks being extremely red "Anyways, we're getting off topic here. If you're having trouble with getting the people's approval, Luna invited you to a little group of ex-villains she banded together (which I'm a bit jealous of because I'm still waiting for my invitation to that group because I'm a reformed baddy! Why aren't I in the group?! Is it because of that one time I betrayed all of you to Tirek?! I said I was sorry! Plus, her little group were going up against my cousin Princess Eris! I could have easily talked her into giving Luna back her magic and teaming up against an alternate version of the Pony of Shadows! And don't say she would convince me into stabbing you guys in the back because she is my cousin because, the last time I listened to someone that I thought wanted the best for me, TIREK ABSORBED MY BUCKING MAGIC!!!!!)." "Yeesh, and I thought I had anger issues." After Discord's little rant, Goodking made his way into Canterlot to meet with Luna regarding him now being part of the Nightmare Knights. When he made his way into the throne room, only Luna was there (and Tempest Shadow as well, for some reason). "So here's the deal, I got this invite from Discord and I was wondering if your group does more than save cats from trees because I've been doing that for weeks and I saw little to no progress." "Captain Goodking, so glad you can make it" Luna responded "Hey Tempest, long time no see. 'you part of these Nightmare Knights?" "It's the least I can do after helping you back when you called yourself The Storm King" Tempest replied "Yep. Good times!" Tempest and Luna can only stare at Goodking reminiscing about his conquering days, wondering if having him on the team was such a good idea. Then Luna spoke up. "Anyways, we require your assistance in helping us take down a threat we long thought to be departed." "Why ain't Celly and the Elephants helping you, then?" Luna then pointed to a broken window showing a battle between the Mane 6, Celestia, and the entire royal guard against alien threats (I kid you not!). Celestia can be seen dueling against an alien with a crown of horns on his head, red hair, redder skin, black face tattoos, burn scars on one side of his face, wearing rather plain and garish looking clothes and wielding what appeared to be a red laser sword. Twilight could also be seen defending the royal guards from a cloaked ape-thing with a laser sword that has two yellow blades. "Something came up" Luna deadpanned "So what's this threat we have to take down?" "I'm glad you asked!" an energetic voice said before a three-horned unicorn teleported in front of Goodking with his minstrels playing the song they played in the previous chapter and the rest of the Nightmare Knights tied up "Introducing......The Grrrrrrrrrreat and powerful Ssssssssssssssssacanaaaaaaaaaassssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!"