//------------------------------// // Chapter 15: The Nightmare's Nightmare // Story: The Universal Traveler // by Jason Monroe //------------------------------// 3rd POV Nightmare Moon's return went how Jason remembered it for the most part. There were small details that were different, such as the massive numbers of timberwolves that the siren sisters, or Uta sisters as Jason had started calling them, took care of by using their kaginawa grappling hooks to tie them up and quickly dispose of the wooden pests. Jason had stayed in his hiding spot until he heard the element bearers come inside. He smirked a little and jumped down right as Twilight was about to set off one of his traps. It was no surprise to him when most of the ponies got into fighting positions. Jason simply chuckled before looking at them. "Well if I knew that guests were coming to watch me beat up the Nightmare, I would've grabbed some snacks beforehand. Oh well. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Jason Monroe, the being that was once very close to Princess Celestia and her sister Princess Luna until the incident. Nowadays most beings assume that the statue in Canterlot is actually me. As if I would just stand around and let a mare whose mind was clouded by sadness hit me with the elements of harmony. Those things are dangerous. But I suppose I should stop rambling and hand these over to you." Jason said before snapping his fingers and causing the elements to appear in front of the group of mares, causing them to look shocked before Rainbow Dash flew up to him with a look of suspicion on her face. "Look pal! I don't know what you are, but your lies and tricks won't work!" Rainbow said while pointing her hoof into his black shirt, which did very little to hide his rather muscular chest. The other mares shook their heads while Jason, to their surprise, just laughed before tapping Rainbow on the chest with enough force to send her back to her friends without hurting anyone. All of the mares were shocked at the sheer amount of strength that he showed, but what he did next was even more shocking. Jason's left arm glowed a dark purple as he reached into a shadow and ripped out the familiar form of Nightmare Moon. Jason's hand was holding Nightmare by the throat and squeezing down, causing her to release gurgling noises before he punched her into one of his invisible bear traps. Nightmare screamed in pain as her right wing got stuck in the bear trap and ended up being ripped off thanks to her struggling to get free. "Hey Twilight! If you want the real elements of harmony instead of those stones, I suggest you think about how each of your friends acted on your way here and how their actions correspond to the elements. Ya might figure something out." Jason said calmly before a lance of magic was fired through his left side and made him grunt in pain. Jason looked up and saw Nightmare smirking before he chucked three spheres of angelic energy at her, causing her to scream in pain as she futilely tried to avoid the attacks by going into her mist form. While this happened Twilight sat there, thinking about Jason's words, before she realized what he had meant. She smiled before gaining an air of confidence about her as the elements started forming on each of the main six as she goes about her usual speech that every being that has seen the first episode of the show knows. Nightmare heard Twilight and tried to run, only for her to trigger one of Jason's tripwire traps. The tripwire made her fall before quickly dropping a tub of pine resin on Nightmare Moon, sticking her in place long enough for the elements to fire. As the elements struck Nightmare, she began to split away from Luna. Jason noticed this and smirked as Somnum exterreri tried to flee before he created a lasso out of demonic energy and tossed it around Somnum before pulling her towards him. Once the light from the elements died down, everyone was celebrating as normal with Celestia appearing and the reveal of Luna. After a few minutes Jason cleared his throat, causing everyone to turn and look at him. They were shocked to see him holding a dark humanoid with dark blue hair that was similar to Nightmare's and wearing a dark blue and purple suit of armor. The woman looked just like a humanoid version of Nightmare Moon. Celestia saw Jason and looked away in shame for what she thought she had done to him while Luna smiled before growling at the sight of the being that had possessed her. "Now that the celebrations are over, may I ask what you would like me to do with this parasite? Granted I am going to erase her from existence either way, but I thought I would ask?" Jason said while smirking, causing the main six to look horrified while Celestia and Luna just looked at each other before nodding. "We know that we would be unable to stop you regardless of our words and I know that I could never apologize enough for what I have done to you. Once you have carried out the sentence for this parasite, I will do what I can to find your students. I'm certain that the siren sisters would be happy to know that their teacher is back." Celestia said with a smile. Jason tried to hold back his laughter before he burst out in laughter. Everyone was surprised at this because they weren't expecting for him to laugh at Celestia. Jason used his left hand to wipe the tears out of his eyes. "Oh Tia. I was never sealed away in the first place. That statue in Canterlot is one that I made in order to trick opponents into thinking they killed me. On the bottom of the left foot are the words Made in China, which is a joke that you won't get. I have been living on the outskirts of Ponyville with my three students for years. Now before you ask any questions, I am going to inform you that what I am about to use is not normal magic. What I am about to use is soul magic, a form of power that is generated within one's very soul. I learned how to use it from a very big boned, wise-cracking skeleton that loves puns and drinks ketchup. This power is going to exhaust me, so don't be surprised if I pass out." Jason said before quickly turning to Somnum Exterreri and taking a deep breath. "✋︎ ♋︎❍︎ ☟︎♏︎ ⬥︎♒︎□︎ ⬧︎●︎♋︎⍓︎⬧︎ ♋︎■︎♎︎ ♍︎♋︎◻︎⧫︎◆︎❒︎♏︎⬧︎ ♑︎□︎♎︎⬧︎📪︎ 🕆︎■︎🙵■︎□︎⬥︎■︎ ⧫︎□︎ ⧫︎♒︎♏︎ ♒︎♋︎■︎♎︎⬧︎ □︎♐︎ ♎︎♏︎♋︎⧫︎♒︎ ♋︎■︎♎︎ ♌︎□︎◆︎■︎♎︎ ⧫︎□︎ ⧫︎♒︎♏︎ ❒︎♏︎♋︎●︎❍︎ □︎♐︎ ☹︎♓︎♐︎♏︎📪︎ ✋︎ ♍︎♋︎●︎●︎ ◆︎◻︎□︎■︎ ⧫︎♒︎♏︎ 👍︎⍓︎♍︎●︎♏︎ □︎♐︎ 🏱︎❒︎□︎❖︎♓︎♎︎♏︎■︎♍︎♏︎ ⧫︎□︎ ⬧︎♏︎❖︎♏︎❒︎ ⧫︎♒︎♏︎ ●︎♓︎■︎🙵 ⬥︎□︎❖︎♏︎■︎ ♌︎♏︎⧫︎⬥︎♏︎♏︎■︎ ☹︎♓︎♑︎♒︎⧫︎ ♋︎■︎♎︎ 💧︎♒︎♋︎♎︎□︎⬥︎🖴︎ ✋︎ ♎︎♏︎♍︎●︎♋︎❒︎♏︎ ⧫︎♒︎♋︎⧫︎ ⧫︎♒︎♏︎ ♎︎♓︎⬧︎⬧︎♓︎♎︎♏︎■︎♍︎♏︎ ⬧︎♒︎♋︎●︎●︎ ◻︎♏︎❒︎♓︎⬧︎♒︎ ♒︎♏︎❒︎♏︎ ♋︎⧫︎ ⧫︎♒︎♏︎ ♎︎♓︎⬧︎⧫︎♋︎■︎⧫︎ ♏︎■︎♎︎⬧︎ □︎♐︎ ⧫︎♒︎♏︎ ✞︎□︎♓︎♎︎📬︎" Was all Jason said before the room was enveloped in a blinding white light.