Nightmare Moon awoke. Immediately she knew that something was wrong, as she was actually a spirit that did not need sleep. Not since she’d taken over Luna’s body, anyway. But in any event, she was awake. Slowly she stood to her hooves and realized that she had once again become an Alicorn, resembling the form she’d taken when in Luna. In fact, it was an exact replica. The creature gave a wicked grin, delighted to know that she could now go against Celestia once more.
However, she suddenly realized that she was not alone. Nearby was a chimerical beast in the shape of a dragon, and next to him was a large changeling. She recognized, both, as she despised them beyond all reason.
“Discord!” she hissed, “Chrysalis! What are you two doing here?” Before either could answer, a wheezing voice came from the shadows of the dungeon-like room.
“Loud mouth on that one,” it snickered. Nightmare turned to glare at the corner from where it had come.
“Who dares to be so impudent to me?” roared the equine, “Do you not know who I am?” The response was a loud chorus of laughs from the darkness. Though each voice was as different as the next, they all held the same wicked demeanor. Nightmare was no stranger to wickedness being evil herself, but even she felt shaken by how bold they sounded.
“Show yourself!” she barked, “Come out and face me, you cowards!”
“You don’t want to do that…” breathed Chrysalis. Nightmare sneered at the Changeling. Being a warrior, the Alicorn refused to show fear even when she should have. And, as it happened, she should have been showing fear at that moment, for it was then that the strangers in the shadows revealed themselves as a menagerie of terrifying creatures.
“Good evening,” said a gigantic centaur, “Welcome to Midnight Castle.” Discord rose to his full height, and looked the creature right in the eyes.
“Midnight Castle, huh?” he said, his voice full of his usual derision, “How cliché can you get?” Before he could say more, the centaur locked a powerful claw around the Draconequus’s neck. The spirit of Disharmony rolled his eyes and snapped his fingers. The crooked smirk on his face slowly disappeared as he realized that he was still within the creature’s grasp.
“Uh-oh…” Moments later the centaur slammed him into the ground with a loud thud. Nightmare Moon stared dumbfounded at the downed chimera, unable to believe that he had been defeated. It suddenly occurred to her that if they had somehow taken his magic, they might have taken hers as well. In near panic she turned to find a target to test it on. She spotted a large goat glaring at her contemptibly. The Alicorn sneered as she began to charge her horn with her darkest, most powerful energy. She let out a roar as she fired a beam of bluish flame at the goat, completely enveloping him in the inferno. After several minutes she ceased her attack.
She recoiled in horror when she saw that the monstrous goat still stood, completely unscathed. His seemingly permanent scowl moved to form something that resembled a smile as his comrades laughed. Nightmare glared at the creature as he stepped forward. The room became eerily quiet.
“So you mean to put us in our places?” he rasped, “With your power, you’d put us on the run?”
“Well forgive us these smiles on our faces,” added a cindery Jinn, “You’ll know what power is when we are done…”
Discord glanced up to find himself looking into the dripping face of a creature made entirely of lava.
“Son…” he grinned as he pulled the Draconequus to his feet. Discord looked over to see the rest of the creatures closing in on him and the two equines.
“You’re playing with the big boys now…” murmured the centaur.
“Playing with the big boys now,” hissed a massive sea beast as his tentacles writhed around the room.
“Every spell and gesture,” muttered the goat, “Tells you who’s the best, you’re playing with the big boys now…”
“You’re playing with the big boys now!” all five beings called out, “You’re playing with the big boys now!”
Nightmare Moon looked up as the mighty centaur bore down on her with a snarling mouth filled with fangs. The equine’s black heart began to race as she looked upon his intimidating figure.
“Now, start your submission,” he sneered.
“Watch a true magician,” bellowed the lava-creature as his golden belt glowed ominously, “Give an exhibition how!”
“So snap your silly claws, boy!” the Jinn snickered as he circled around Discord, “You’re playing with the big boys now!”
Discord, Chrysalis, and Nightmare Moon were drawn into a tighter circle as the collection of creatures came closer. Their appendages crackled with dark magic, sparking and sizzling, creating flashing shadows on the walls. The shadows seemed to have lives of their own, and Chrysalis swore she heard them rasping along with their owners.
“You’re playing with the big boys now!” they cried, “You’re playing with the big boys now!”
“Though you may abhor us, you will kneel before us!” cackled the sea beast, “Kneel to our splendorous power!”
“You’ve put up no front!” snarled the Lava-creature.
“You’ve put up no fight!” sneered the Jinn.
“You’ve seen us prove to you our might!” howled the sea beast.
“For we’re the masters of the night!” roared the centaur.
“And now, fools, it’s time to bow!” growled the goat. All five beings began chanting in unison as they closed in on the three unfortunate villains.
“Or it’s your own grave you’ll dig, boy,
You’re playing with the big boys,
Playing with the big boys,
Playing with the big boys,
Playing with the big boys,
Playing with the big boys,
Playing with the big boys NOW!”
Later, after returning to their meeting room, all five of the villains were smiling to a degree.
“That was actually kind of fun,” said Squirk, “Maybe you’re not a total dust-brain, Arabus.”