//------------------------------// // Return of the Nightmare // Story: Nightmare Twilight // by Tiger Girl //------------------------------// Upon entering what was now Pony City, the friends thanked Twilight for the ride and separated. Rarity proudly trotted to her new designing studio; Fluttershy hastened to gather her animals safely out of construction sites; Applejack went home to start harvesting her newly ripened crop of apples; and Pinkie Pie went to babysit Mr. and Mrs. Cake’s twins while they organized their paraphernalia in the new confectionery bakery. Twilight quickly penned a floor trailing list to organize the city’s work schedule, and trotted about the construction sites with Spike on her back, ignoring the purple wings she kept folded to her sides. She was surprised to find that the city’s new designs had been already fabricated during the week she spent at Canterlot planning the coronation, and resigned to admiring the stunning structures. Every building was so magnificent! “Well, I see the construction is well under way here so I’ll be going,” Twilight encouraged the workers. “Thank you Princess” the workers said, bowing respectfully in whatever way their awkward positions allowed. “Why sirs, that’s not necessary.” Twilight grinned, “Just pretend I’m not a Princess.” “Yes, sure thing Princess Twilight” said a brown pony, bowing again as he addressed her. “Yeah. . . they are so not going to treat me like a normal pony.” Twilight felt a twinge of annoyance, but reminded herself to “Stay calm and be a Princess.” When she had reached her "tree house," she stopped trotting in sheer shock. The tree had been expanded with amazing structure; the tree was merely an entrance to the monstrous castle that glimmered and sparkled in the sunlight. It was entirely completed, being the first building to be restructured. “Wow” she gasped, and nodding pleasantly at the tall, erect Stallions on each side of the door entered her “library.” Her mouth fell to the ground (literally) in shock and Spike let out a gasp of green fire as they surveyed in the refurnished library, which looked exactly like Princess Celestia’s except the ceiling was painted identical to the constellation charts she had kept pinned on the walls. “This…is… AMAZING!!!” Yes yes yes yes yes yes! I have the best library ever and all the books in the world to stu—err read.” “And now, I can relax” said Spike, trotting to a plush, velvet chair in the center of the room.” “Uhh Spike I believe that’s my throne.” “Oh yes,” he rolled his eyes and settled for the plush couch on the corner. “Don’t call me if you need me.” He closed his eyes gratefully and feel asleep. “Spike! Spike?" No response but dragon snoring. "Oh well," smiled Twilight, "You’re just a baby dragon after all. Well more like an adolescent dragon. . . whatever.” She relaxed on the red throne and drew a “Manegled” from the Fairy Tail section with her magic. Relaxing with a good fairy tale sounded inviting and certainly would help relax the stress being a Princess brought upon her nerves. “That pony certainly had a long tail. . .” Some moments passed in sweet silence. Then the book fell to the ground-- "Spike? SPIKE!!!” “Yes, Twilight?” yawned Spike without opening his eyes. “Spike, I just realized…” Twilight's purple eyes became huge. “If I don’t fulfill my duties right, Princess Celestia will think I forgot all my studies and send me back to Magic Kindergarten!!” “Oh Twilight, you’re fussing over nothing. The Princess couldn't send you back to Kindergarten. I overhead her saying that your Kindergarten teacher was astounded by your intelligence even at that age, and you heard her say that you know as many spells are her. So just quit it and get some sleep..” “But SPIKE! Do you know what that means? If she can’t send me back to magic Kindergarten, and I do something wrong, she’ll BANISH ME TO THE MOON!” “A dragon can’t get any sleep around here” mumbled the purple dragon. He stumbled unhappily off the couch. “Hey Twilight, I’m going over to Rarity’s. She probably needs some help… and hasn't heard that I’m a Knight now.” Twilight paused in her rant to consider this prospect. “You are?" “Well yes, isn't the closest assistant to a Princess a knight?” “More like a consort. . . But I suppose it’s no harm to consider yourself a knight. . ." “Yes! Thanks Twilight!” The dragon threw on his “knight costume,” a present from Twilight for next Halloween, and waddled out the castle door. Twilight sighed. She felt so alone with too many decisions to make, and she did not dare send a letter to the Celestia, or she would think she wasn't fit to be a Princess. Meanwhile, Rarity was admiring her new Designing studio. “Oh, this is just the most magnificent place in the world. I must get to work on my new designs, and Oh just look at all the beautiful gems!!” “There was a knock on the door. “Come in!” sang Rarity. Spike entered and immediately drooled at the beautiful white pony who glanced around at him. “Oh hello Spike! Just in time, I would be ever so grateful if you would help pass me stuff to make these designs. It’ll only be a few minutes.” “Oh, uhh, sure Rarity… anything for you! But uh did you notice something different about me?” Rarity surveyed Spike momentarily and exclaimed, “Why you just look adorable my Spiky Wiky! Even though you’re wearing a rather old fashioned astronomer robe which is the ultimate crime to the current stream of fashion!” Spike’s face fell, “What? I was supposed to look like a knight…” He threw off the robe in disgust. “Ahem. I’m a knight, my lady, and I’m always at your service.” He gave a little bow and looked for a glimmer of admiration in her face. He was disappointed by a pitying smile. “Well Spike, you certainly can’t think people will notice you as a knight if you don’t dress like one! Just like a lady must look beautiful with the latest fashion at all times, so must a knight wear fancy outfits!” A idea awakened as Rarity gave a little gasp. “Oh my Spiky Wiky! You just gave me the best idea ever! I could make a line of outfits for Stallions! Oh, and of course baby dragons. I would be the most popular designer in all of Equestria for certain!” “Here we go again” Spike sighed as Rarity took to her easel and sketched out several suits. In about an hour’s time, a advertisement had been placed outside the studio for male suits and accessories. “Now, I just have to sit back and wait for the orders,” she grinned at Spike. At that moment, the door swung open and a white, male unicorn with blond hair and a blue bow-tie trotted in. “Hello, I have come to place my order for the latest suit you have.” He said, his head held high so that he hardly saw the designer who, he of course, considered beneath him. “Why. . .uh. .. is it Prince Blueblood?” asked Rarity, in her surprise forgetting to use her usual regal accent. “Why yes, that is me. And I have come here to because they say this is the place for the latest fashions.” Opening his eyes, he finally glanced down at the white and almost panicked. “Whaaat! Rarity? Wha—but you—I uhh…” Rarity wanted with all her heart to scream in his face and kick him right out of her studio, but she knew better. After all, this was a Prince, and if he wore her styles her fame was indeed sealed. "Well, Prince Blueblood, I am indeed flattered that you have chosen to come to my studio in particular." She turned her nose up and gave him the cold shoulder pointed to the pile of sketches."This is what we have. Make your selection at your will, sir.” “At least he can not help but notice how elegant my designs are,” she thought proudly. The Prince wanted to dash away from the pony he’d been so embarrassed by, but he arrogantly stood his ground and selected what appeared to be the most difficult of all the designs. “I would like you to create this one for me; the azure jacket and sand colored buttons would match well with my eyes and hair,” he said, vainly concentrating on his own good looks as was his trademark. Rarity rolled her eyes and inquired, “Well sir, now that you have chosen your design, do you have measurements taken already or do you require me to attain them personally?” Prince Blueblood shuddered at that thought of the pony he despised touching him. “No!! Ahem, I mean… here! You can take my suit for measurements.” He pulled off his jacket with a swipe of magic and plopped it down in front of Rarity. “So gentleman like,” she scoffed to herself. “Very well, this will take little more than an hour so you may wait here or leave and come back for it as you prefer." Rarity expected the Prince to leave, but he replied he in all his vanity would not go anywhere without his jacket. “Well I suppose he has a point there,” Rarity pondered, “In my current rank and class I certainly wouldn't dream of going anywhere without accessories, and he is a Prince! But still, he is so selfish and would never know how to treat a lady. I will never consider him a gentleman!” The next hour passed by slowly as the Prince stood stiff-necked, staring at his reflection in the mirror and turning this way and that to admire it, while Rarity proceeded to cut and stitch up the design, nick picking each detail. Spike, who had thought it best to stay out of the taciturn conversation, contented himself to handing Rarity everything she needed. *** Back in the library, Twilight grew restless on her throne. She tried to concentrate on the Fairy Tail, but it did not interest her as she yearn for nightfall to approach and comfort for with the galaxies of stars which she felt so vividly, now that she was their Princess. "I wish one of my friends were here to help me,” Twilight sighed, “but they are all busy. Usually I’d just go to a book for answers but I can’t! I am doomed to failure! There has to be some way out of this… Think Twilight, think!” She closed her eyes and tried to envision what her favorite legend would have done. “Aha yes! I’ll cast a spell to summon Star Swirl the Bearded from the past! I know I can do it, I still know that spell from future Twilight.” The spell would certainly need a little revision, but Twilight was up to the task. “A legend, from the era of times new a wide, pass the gap in the years and fly to my side.” Suddenly, a swirl of blue and darkness entered the room, encompassing Twilight’s throne as she watched in anticipation. But the wise face of the legend did not appear, instead the face was sinister and cruel, a smile with fangs and eyes narrowed and dark. “Nightmare! Oh my Celestia, I summoned the Nightmare!” Twilight cried, feeling a cold, helpless sense of fear at her mistake. “Yes you have, my precious” laughed a snarling, sinister voice, and now I am here to help you.” “No, you are EVIL! You can’t help me, just go back to where you came from!” cried Twilight, frantically casting relocation spells at Nightmare which had no effect whatsoever. “Seems like you’re in a bit of a fix my Preciousss. You can only vanquish me with the elements of harmony, and your friends aren’t here to help you. Oh, poor Twilight.” Twilight no longer felt like a great Princess; seeing her spell’s fruitless results she sank on her hind legs and whimpered in her seat. “Twilight, you know, you really don’t have to worry like this. I know why you summoned me and I can assist you. I gather that are so worried that Princess Celestia will take away your honor should you fail her. But you don’t have to live in constant torment! You and me together—we will have more power than Celestia could have ever dreamed of! We will never be banished! Your fears will be all over!” The monster's authoritative voice grew louder and louder with each phrase. Twilight sat on her throne, sweaty and shaking, her nerves leaving any common sense as panicked enveloped her system. Nightmare took full advantage of this opportunity. “Just think of what the Princess will think when she hears you summoned the Nightmare! You will be banished to the moon! You have only one way out, Twilight, and that is to let me in. Twilight gasped in horror, her hair frizzing at the ends and her pupils growing smaller. Her wrecked nerves could not take any more pressure—once the most powerful unicorn in Equestria, Twilight sank to the hooves of the almost invisible Nightmare, so well did she blend with the deep shadows. “Yes, Nightmare, help me!” Twilight cried in pure agony. “Ahhh!” Twilight felt a cold wind rushing around her, then a similar sensation inside of her, growing colder as it rushed though her system, hardening her emotions. Her eyes lighted up with a black fervor as she spun out of her chair in a massage flash of darkness. Silence. One shadow rose from the ground. The transformation was accomplished.