//------------------------------// // The castle // Story: My Friend, Nightmare Moon // by evanim26 //------------------------------// 'How could they do this to me?! I haven't done a single thing to them but they were all mean to me, WHY?!' Amber thought as she flapped her wings and flew through the forest Amber night had a nice sky blue coat with a navy blue main and tail with amber-colored stripes, Amber considered herself and nice and friendly filly to everypony she met but when she went to school she found out some rumors had been spread about her, saying she was just acting nice so she could take advantage of everyone's friendship and use them however she wanted, she tried to convince the others they weren't true but nopony believed her. as school continued through the days the rumors only got worse but throughout the days she had one friend who stuck by her until that very same friend became more and more distant, when Amber confronted her friend they told her that they shouldn't be friends anymore and with this Amber ran off without looking back and took to the air. Amber had finally stopped flying to rest as she sobbed in the middle of the Everfree forest "She left me, all of them hate me, what do I do now?" she said out loud then she laid down on the grass below "I'm all alone." she said when suddenly a horrible smell reached her nose so she covered her nose and sat up "Ew, what is that smell? it smells horrible." she said then she heard growling behind her and when she turned to look she saw a timberwolf starring right at her Amber was frozen with fear as the timberwolf slowly walked closer and closer to her until it snarled and Amber quickly took to the air to escape its next attack but she wasn't fast enough as the timberwolf's claw hit her and knocked her into a nearby tree but out of fear for her life she quickly recovered and tried to fly again only to get a sharp pain as she started to flap her wings so instead she ran as fast as her hooves could carry her with the timberwolf hot on her tail (Elsewhere) Nightmare moon was floating through the corridors of the castle of two sisters, ever since the summer sun celebration when she was freed then defeated by the elements, she had successfully detached a part of herself off of Luna before the elements could destroy her and hid away until they eventually left, over the days she had been nothing but a small mist floating through the castle. Nightmare moon growled "Curse that Twilight and her friends, reducing me to this pitiful state. I would head to ponyville and destroy them now but without a host body all I would do is get myself destroyed." she said as she returned to the room where the elements of harmony were first found "I can't go back to Luna, she'll be a lot more resistant to me now, I need a new host, if I don't find one soon then I'll end up disappearing seeing as I have no way to recover my power." she said (Amber) Amber ran through the forest until she came upon a dirt path and with limited choices, she chose to follow it to see where it would take her until in the distance she could see some ruins of an old building and headed straight to it with the timberwolf still following her, Amber burst through the doors and found herself in a room where a small statue with plates on it sat in the middle Nightmare quickly turned and saw Amber burst through the doors and land on the floor "Well, talk about luck, a brand new host just for me, she may be just a filly but she'll just have to do for now." she whispered to herself as Amber quickly stood up and ran behind the statue while the timberwolf walked through the doors Amber was breathing heavily with her eyes shut tight 'What do I do? if it finds me then I'm a goner, what do I do?' she frantically thought as the timberwolf stepped closer to the statue Nightmare flew over to Amber and whispered in her ear "I can help you." Amber's eyes shot open as she stared at the blue mist beside her "Who are you?" she asked "Who I am does not matter, I can help you get rid of this timberwolf but only if you allow me." Nightmare said and Amber looked unsure until the timberwolf started growling again as it took another step forward "I suggest you make a decision, now." she said Amber nodded "Please help me, whoever you are." she said Nightmare grinned as she entered Amber's mind then she began to take over her body making her signature wings appear along with a horn as Amber's coat and mane changed to her colors and all while it was happening the timberwolf stepped closer until he was right over Amber Nightmare looked up at the timberwolf in disgust "Disgusting beast, BEGONE!" she yelled then she shot the timberwolf with her magic blasting him out of the castle and sending him flying back to the woods, and after he was gone Nightmare fell to the ground exhausted "No, I don't have enough power to stay awake, damn...it..." she trailed off as she fell unconscious (2 hours later) Amber slowly opened her eyes and looked around the room 'Ow, why does my head hurt?' she thought but once she started rubbing she felt a horn which surprised her and made her sit straight up as she rubbed it 'Is this a horn? how did I get a horn? this is so weird.' she thought then she felt something was off so she spread her wings out and looked them over but was surprised to find her wings had changed 'Whoa! my wings look so much bigger now, I bet I could fly from Cloudsdale and back fives times in five seconds.' she happily thought "Ah, so you are finally awake, it's about time." A voice said and Amber quickly turned to find where the voice came from but she found nothing "To think I would fall unconscious from one simple magic blast, how annoying. but as long as I have a new host body. I suppose I can make up for this embarrassment." the voice said "Hello! who are you?" Amber asked while looking around The voice laughed "I am the soon-to-be Empress of Equestria and the bringer of eternal night, Nightmare moon!" Nightmare said Amber gasped "You're Nightmare moon?!" she said "Yes I am, and now. your body is mine!" Nightmare said Amber felt something start to take control of her as her own vision began to darken "No, I won't let you." she said trying to resist Nightmare simply chuckled "You don't have a choice little filly." she said slowly taking control Amber shook her head "I WON'T LET YOU!" she said then Nightmare was suddenly repelled allowing Amber full control of her body again leaving Nightmare shocked "How is this possible? you are nothing but a filly, you shouldn't have enough strength to resist me." Nightmare said while Amber was breathing heavily "Perhaps I underestimated the resilient minds of foals." she said Amber caught her breath "Okay, can we talk normally now?" she asked "Why should I waste more breath on you? I might as well try to take control of your body again. I doubt you'll be able to resist me a second time." Nightmare said "Please don't do that anymore. it's scary and I just want to talk. please?" Amber said Nightmare rolled her eyes "Very well, I will entertain you for a few moments longer before taking full control." she said Amber nodded "Thank you for saving me." she said Nightmare huffed "Do you believe I did that out of the kindness of my heart? I needed a new host and I couldn't let you die, or else it would be who knows how long before another pony comes along for me to possess. you are a means to an end, do not forget that." she said Amber glanced down then back up "But you still saved me from being hurt by that timberwolf, and that's the truth. no matter what you say." she said with a smirk while Nightmare just huffed again "By the way, why do you want control over my body? I'm just a pegasus filly." she said "Believe me, I would gladly take control of somepony who is bigger and stronger than you. but since there is none here, I will have no choice but to settle with you." Nightmare said "You mean you can change who you possess?" Amber asked "I can, but it takes a lot of my own energy to transfer myself to somepony else. and that is something I currently do not have a lot of." Nightmare said "Oh," Amber said which made Nightmare raise an eyebrow "Oh? is that all you have to say? just oh?" Nightmare asked then she chuckled "Everypony who has heard of me would run straight to the princess to get rid of me out of fear, but you just "oh"? it did not even sound sad or disappointed." she said Amber looked down "W-well, I...kinda don't want you t-to go." she said Nightmare was more than surprised "What? you don't want me to go? why would you want somepony as evil as me to stay within you?" she asked "Because..." Amber stayed silent for a few moments then she looked back up "You're the first pony to not turn me away, and leave me alone." she said Nightmare huffed "If you are talking about the timberwolf. I have already explained why I saved you." she said "I know, but I also know that you could have left me to the jaws of that timberwolf. you could have turned away and waited for the next pony, but you saved me." Amber said then she smiled "So again. thank you." she said "I grow tired of this conversation, it is time for me to take control of your body so I may have revenge on both Celestia and Twilight." Nightmare said then she attempted to take control of Amber's body again as Amber braced herself but all she felt was a small tingle which went away as fast as it appeared "What trickery is this? don't tell me that I don't have enough power to make another attempt on your mind. this is outrageous! she said Amber smiled "Looks like you're not gonna hurt anypony anytime soon." she said Nightmare growled "Do not think that you are safe. once my power is recharged I will take your mind and body." she said "Well, until then I have time to get to know you better." Amber said "Why do you wish to know more about me?" Nightmare asked "Because I want to become friends." Amber said Nightmare made a small headache come to Amber making her hold her head in pain "DO. NOT. CALL. US. FRIENDS." she said Amber nodded "Okay, I won't call us friends. but what should I call us?" she asked "Nothing, you are nothing but my soon-to-be new body. nothing more." Nightmare said Amber looked down "Oh, okay." she said then she fully stood up "I should head back home." she said but once she opened her wings again she felt the same pain from before "Ow." Nightmare raised an eyebrow "It appears your wing is injured." she said "Thanks captain obvious." Amber said with a smirk "I will cause another headache for you if you choose to not change your tone this instant." Nightmare said Amber looked down "Sorry." she said "Better, now as for your wing. I would heal it but with my power, as it is now. I can not." Nightmare said "But I have to get home. my parents are waiting." Amber said Nightmare chuckled "Then, by all means. go right ahead and get mauled by the first timberwolf you come across with no way to save yourself. and you won't be able to count on me this time." she said "You mean I'm stuck here until my wing heals, and you are strong enough to protect me?" Amber said "Yes." Nightmare said Amber slumped to the ground "Oh no, what am I gonna tell my parents when I get back? "Hi mom and dad, oh where was I all this time? well, I was being chased by a timberwolf when I was saved by Nightmare moon, and now she's inside of my head talking to me". If they hear that story not only will they be confused but they'll try to get rid of you to." she said "I am still surprised you want me to stay." Nightmare said "Not only that but my wings look nothing like my old ones, and I have a horn. how am I gonna explain this?" Amber said "I can easily disguise your body to hide your horn and wings so you will still look like yourself." Nightmare said "You can?" Amber said "But I doubt you will last long, so there's is no reason to hide your features. not when I will have full control soon." Nightmare said "Oh." Amber said then she stood back up "I guess I should go and find someplace to rest since I'll be staying here for a while. do you know where the bedrooms are?" she asked Very well, I will guide you." Nightmare said Amber nodded "Thanks." she said but after only four steps forward she stopped and looked up "Why have you stopped?" Nightmare asked "It's night." Amber said "Yes it is, what about it?" Nightmare asked "I want to look at the stars and moon for a few minutes." Amber said Nightmare was surprised "You want to look at the night sky? why?" she asked Amber smiled "Because it's beautiful and I think of myself as the moon." she said "What do you mean?" Nightmare asked Amber looked down and frowned "During the day, the sun is all alone in the sky with no friends to keep it company as it shines down on the world and I don't like to be alone." she said then she looked back up at the moon and stars "But the moon has so many friends with it in the sky, and the way they sparkle is like they are all talking to one another like real-life friends. which is why I like to think of myself as the moon, up there in the sky with as many friends as I want." Amber said Nightmare stayed silent for a few moments "You...actually love the night and think of yourself as the moon?" she asked Amber nodded "Of course, was it not clear?" she said Nightmare shook away the shock and confusion "Let's get to the bedroom. you must rest as do I." she said "Aw, just a few more minutes. I want to enjoy this view." Amber said "Hm, Luna's room has a much better view of the night sky than a hole in the roof." Nightmare said "Really? then let's head there." Amber said then she began trotting again Nightmare guided Amber through the castle until they came upon a large door with Luna's cutie mark imprinted on it and once inside Amber saw there were a few rocks and cracks here and there but other than that, the room still looked well kept and on the side was an open and clear window of the night sky which Amber went straight to. "Wow, this is a better view. the sky looks so pretty from here." Amber said Nightmare smirked "It does look breathtaking, doesn't it?" she said as she also watched the night sky through Amber's eyes Amber then frowned and looked down "It's sad that I'll never see it again after you take control of my mind and body. I'll miss it." she said Nightmare was surprised that she actually felt sad for the filly. a small filly who loves the night more than the day is not what she expected when she chose her as a host 'I can't let myself feel sorry for this filly. I am the empress of the eternal night. I shouldn't have feelings for this pony.' Nightmare thought but the longer she looked at Amber's sad face the more she felt sad for her 'Perhaps I should make an exception, this once.' Amber moved away from the window and to the bed "Guess I should go to bed now." she said "Wait a moment filly, I wish to tell you something." Nightmare said making Amber stop in her tracks "You are strong, very strong to be able to resist my takeover and not only that. but you love the night more than the day, and I consider those perfect conditions for a new servant." she said "Servant?" Amber asked "Yes, servant. you will assist me when I demand it, and when I want things done for myself. I will take over." Nightmare said Amber gasped "Does that mean you won't take full control of my mind?" she asked Nightmare sighed "Yes it does, be proud for becoming my first servant." she said Amber jumped for joy "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you. I promise I won't let you down." she said then she stopped jumping "And thanks for letting me enjoy the night." she said "It is...my pleasure." Nightmare said with a small smile "Oh right, I never told you my name. it's Amber night and, can I call you Moony?" Amber asked "I would appreciate it if you would either call me by my name, or your highness, or your majesty." Nightmare said "But your name is a mouthful and it doesn't sound right to me if I call you, your highness, or your majesty. so I'll call you Moony." Amber said Nightmare sighed "Very well, I will allow this but do not call me that in front of others. understood?" she said and Amber nodded "Good, now it is time for you to sleep. Amber night." she said "Okay." Amber said then she continued making her way to the bed then got in and covered herself "Goodnight moony." she said but Nightmare didn't say anything as Amber laid down and silently slept "To think I would feel sorry for this pony. I should just take over her mind when my power is back...but that would mean she would be unable to witness my night sky when I finally bring my eternal night...perhaps it is best that I leave her be, for now." Nightmare said then she left herself fall asleep as well.