//------------------------------// // Road to Nowhere // Story: To Sleep, Perchance to... Nightmare? // by Draconis187 //------------------------------// To Sleep, Perchance to… Nightmare? Road to Nowhere Author: Draconis187 Time: 10:43 Date: Moonday Location: Wal-Mart in Julesburg, Colorado I was walking through the produce section on my own while Scott was looking around for a bag to carry his things so the real Scott could stop feeling embarrassed. I received a number of stares as I walked past some bananas, looking at them reminded me of a certain Tumblr blog. Giving a small chuckle I continued to search the aisles for food. “Mommy, Mommy look!” I heard a young girl shout out from across the aisle. “It’s Nightmare Moon!” I was prepared to see her scream and run but instead she ran up to me before her mother could even try to stop her. In seconds she was hugging my leg, a huge grin on her face. Inside my mind Nightmare gave me a curious look. Did I miss something? She inquired. Other than the fact of being known by most of America’s youth? No. I responded. “Are you here to bring eternal night?” The girl asked, looking up at me. “Uh, no. No I don’t plan on doing that little one.” I replied. ’Little one?’ Where did that come from? I asked Nightmare. She looked at me with an innocent face, which is quite the feat given her personality. I have no idea. At this point her mother caught up and pulled the girl off me. She looked a tad afraid though, then again she was hugging the harbinger of darkness. I gave a small chuckle and spoke. “No need to worry madam. No harm, no foul right? Pardon me but I do have some shopping to do presently.” I said with an air of dignity I never thought I could pull off. Like any princess. Still think you can keep your masculinity? Nightmare teased. Still hiding behind an ill attitude that you don’t truly have? I retorted. Touché. She replied before becoming silent. The mother didn’t respond to me but minded out of my way as I carried on through the aisle. After gathering a few items I went off in search of Scott. Remind me: why do we bother with him? Nightmare asked with disdain. He did help us out with our money troubles… despite being the cause of them in the first place. I replied as I walked out of the Wal-Mart. That second part is my point, how do we know he will not break his promise? She inquired, not buying my faith in him. Nopony breaks a Pinkie Promise… ever. I responded flatly. Whatever. She responded before walking off into a room in my mind. I didn’t think it was a good idea to ask just what she was doing as long as it didn’t hurt me. I found the shop Scott went off to in search of a new bag. Inside I found the white Pegasus pacing up and down with two bags in his wings. Strange to see a Pegasus use their wings like arms, I would never have suspected the pinions would be strong enough to carry the weight. In hindsight though, the bags were empty and would be considerably lighter in mass. The one bag was made of black leather with a skull magnetic latch to seal it. Its strap was more than long enough for him to sling over his head. The other one was… lime green? It had a pink floral pattern adorning every inch of it. The strap was also long enough for Scott but the choice was a different question. I can guess who picked what. Nightmare chipped in, suppressing an evil sounding giggle. Me too. I responded. Unfortunately for Scott, while Nightmare’s laughter would be heard by nopony, my uproarious laughter was. I wasn’t entirely sure why but I found the scene of Scott going up and down, picking up the offensive bag and putting it back, only to pick it up again hilarious. I laughed so loud, everypony in the shop turned in my direction before looking at what I was laughing at. Scott stopped his yo-yo movement to look at me with embarrassment written all over his face. “I see your bag hunting has become a fruitful venture.” I giggled. “Let me guess, you picked that one while Scott picked this one?” I pointed to the lime green bag first before pointing to the other. His expression changed to an annoyed one. “Yes I did, Jacqueline won't let me take it.” He raised the black leather bag to indicate which one he was referring to. I looked a tad surprised at him though, this had to be the first time I've met the real Great Scott. “So I’m talking to the real Great Scott then?” I ask with a curious look. “Of course sweetheart. There ain't another pony like me.” He replied with a wink. “I suggest you keep your ‘sweetheart’ comments to yourself. Otherwise I’ll make you.” I threatened. He shrugged his shoulders. “Whatever you say babe. Sorry, I said there was a reason I didn’t like letting him take control.” Scott looked sadly at me as he said that last part. “Ok then, I suggest we take this bag so we can shut him up.” I suggest. At that Scott and I went up to the counter to pay up. The cashier had a t-shirt on it with my favourite four letter word on it: PAPA. I groaned as I saw the man look at us with disdain. “Ponies in my shop, just what has this world come to?” He sighs. “Apparently, it’s the apocalypse.” I muse, which only serves to make the man’s scowl deepen. “Wow, not much of a person for a joke are you?” “I used to enjoy a good joke… if people were involved. Now get out of my store!” He says, pointing his finger to the door as he shouted. “I'm afraid I must decline your request, my friend needs a new bag to carry his personal items in and we can't leave until we have it.” I say calmly. “Are your big ears broken?!” He shouts, coming around the counter and putting his face close to mine. “Get… the… fuck… out… of… my… store!” Instead of fleeing, I stood my ground and took a deep breath. “No! We came to buy something to help us get to our destination and I'm not letting some xenophobic moron stop me!” Well, I must say the RCV is a brilliant thing to use when you want to end an argument quickly. Not only did he literally brown his trousers, he also let us pay for the bag and leave without incident… after he picked himself up off the floor as he had flown halfway across the store. Nightmare keeled herself over, laughing hysterically. That was beautiful! She said between her giggle fits. I didn’t have to say anything, that was all you! Everypony has a breaking point Nightmare and mine is when others give innocent people a hard time. I responded. “Hey! Nightmare!” A voice called out. I looked around and saw a scrawny man, must have been in his early thirties, late twenties. He was wearing a Fluttershy shirt with the word: ‘Yay!’ on it. I knew what he was in an instant… a brony. “I saw and caught everything! Have any words to say before I post this on YouTube?” I sighed and took a deep breath which made the man take a step back. “I only have this to say: PAPA are a bunch of foals and if you support their views then you are just as narrow minded as them. If any PAPA affiliates or agents are seeing this, I have a special message for you: stay out of my way or you will suffer dire consequences. The other thing is that I'm not going to New York until I hear what happened to Celestia and Luna. In the meantime I'm going to Las Vegas with Great Scott over here. Nightmare, out. Let’s get going Scott.” He complied without any fuss and I placed my earphones in my ears and took off after him. I heard the skinny man say something but I was too busy listening to Avenged Sevenfold’s Blinded in Chains to hear exactly what he said properly. After a few minutes of flight out of the city, I noticed a light blue sedan seemed to be following us. I signalled Scott to land on a cloud ahead of us. As we landed I looked down to see it idling nearby. “That can not be a coincidence.” I muttered. “What?” Scott asked. “That sedan down there. I'm sure it has been following us for the past couple of minutes after we left that shop.” I replied. “The driver hasn’t left it and it’s just idling there. That can't bode well for us.” “Well… what do you suggest then?” Scott inquired with a slight hint of fear in his voice. “Splitting up may make it worse if the driver turns out to be a PAPA agent so I suggest we just keep an eye on it for now until we can gauge its intentions.” I replied. “Besides I want to see the weather for Denver since it’s starting to get rather overcast here.” Scott only nodded in response as I pulled out my laptop. Looking on a local weather channel I saw that Denver was in for a thunderstorm. I sighed deeply as I closed the laptop. “Looks like Denver is in for a thunderstorm. I think we should rather take a bus or something to that regard since we aren't wearing lightning-proof suits.” I say matter-of-factly to Scott. “Got it lady.” Scott replied with a malicious smirk on his face. “Scott, put Jacqueline back. If I talk to you for too long, I might end up beating the both of you senseless.” I said with an exasperated sigh. Scott rolled his eyes. “What’s wrong with me?” “Everything.” Nightmare and I replied in unison. He sighed and his attitude changed as Jacqueline took back control. There were subtle differences between them, the way they carried themselves and their attitude which was the most obvious. But the most striking thing was his eyes, I noticed that his eyes had a shine, a sparkle to them when Jacqueline took over while Scott’s were less so. The truth was that they looked like the eyes of a complete douchebag. “Sorry, I warn you that there were reasons I didn’t want him in control.” Scott said with a tear in his eye. “We noticed.” I deadpanned. “So, I guess we are heading for Denver then?” Scott asked. “Unless you didn’t hear me when Scott was in control, yes we are but we need to take a bus since we aren't properly protected.” I replied with a sigh. He shrugged his shoulders. “I'm afraid we don’t share a lot of views on some subjects so he tends to keep me locked out when he’s in control.” “I gathered that from the moment we walked into that shop.” I mused. She looked at me with a look of embarrassment on his face. After a moment we ended up laughing about it. We composed ourselves after a good five minutes and flew off to the bus station. I kept looking back to see the sedan still following us. I hoped it wasn’t a PAPA agent. You would surmise they would have learned their lesson if they have heard what happened in Omaha. Nightmare noted. Humans are quite stubborn creatures, trust me. I replied with slight disgust at the persistent sedan. We got to the bus station and found we weren’t the only ones wanting to board the bus. I grabbed the attention of a man in front of me. “Sir, excuse my interruption but may I ask if this bus is heading to Denver?” I ask politely. “No, go to the bus station and get a ticket there.” He replied bluntly. “Where is it?” I ask, accidentally dropping the formal attitude. “Just down the street, turn right at the third traffic light and carry on, you should see it after a short while.” He replied. Thanking him, we flew off and followed his directions to the letter. We soon arrived at the bus station and walked in the front door. Inside there were a multitude of people from all different walks of life: Hispanics, Americans, I was sure I heard a Welsh person in the crowd amongst others. I went up to the lady that dealt with the tickets and found she was ignoring me. “Ahem.” I cleared my thought and saw her look at me as if there was something wrong. “Excuse me madam but I would like to purchase two tickets to Denver please.” “Why? So you can spread your disease there as well?” She replied curtly. “What? No madam you are mistaken, I am not ill and there is no possible way that my turning into a pony is contagious.” I reply. “Be that as it may but I’m not taking the risk.” She defiantly responds. “May I speak with your manager then?” I ask nicely. “No.” she responds with a malicious smirk. I gave out a sigh and looked at Nightmare who was looking at me inquisitively. Got any ideas Nightmare? I ask. Oh, I have a few. She replies with a chuckle. Do it, just don’t harm her physically. I say, crestfallen. No need, look. She said, snapping me back into the world. Standing in front of me, arguing with the lady… was that same strange man who recorded me earlier. His earlier happy face was gone and in its place was a face of pure rage… fandom anger. “What is wrong with you lady?!” He shouted, getting the attention of everypony in the room. “They are no more contagious than I am!” “That’s my point, not everyone here shares your opinion and would prefer to not be turned into a pony.” She replied flatly. “Enough of this foalishness!” I shout, banging my hoof on the counter. “All I need is a ticket to Denver for my friend and me as we don’t want to get caught in the thunderstorm!” “I have the safety of other passengers to consider. There a re rumours that this ‘condition’ of yours is capable of spreading.” She retorts. “You know what? Buck you!” I say, turning around and finding Scott waiting outside for me. “Sorry Scott, looks like we are not taking a bus.” “Damn, well then what now?” Scott asks with a disappointed look on his face. “You come with me.” A voice from behind us calls out. I turn around and - to my very little surprise – see the brony that tried to help me out. He had a big grin on his face as if he had just won the lottery. “Now I know that hopping into a car with somepony you don’t know is a little curious but hear me out: I wanted to make a documentary of what you ponies are going through on your journeys and what better candidate than Nightmare Moon?” He said with a smile. “Well, we aren't going to New York until we know Celestia and Luna are back. I did tell you earlier.” I respond. “That’s fine by me, the longer the journey, the more footage I get.” He responds with a happy cheer. “Oh, before I forget, I’m Charles.” I shake his hand with my hoof. “Pleasure, you already know who we are so I don’t think we should reintroduce ourselves. It would be redundant.” “Ok, cool. Hey, can I ask you something?” He said with a smile. “What?” I reply, not knowing where this conversation is going to end up. “Can I brohoof you? Please?” He asked. I rolled my eyes and extended my hoof again, this time colliding it with his fist. “Ow! You could have removed that shoe.” “You didn’t ask.” I reply with a smile. “Oh ha ha. Well, hello everypony!” He said, pulling out his camera from his pocket. “It’s CharlesMaster231 here with an important message! I'm going to be on a road trip with the Nightmare Moon and a Pegasus by the name of Great Scott.” I look at him with a disapproving look. “It looks like yours truly is getting one hell of a stare from the first antagonist of the series, well let’s see if I’ll live or suffer Eternal Night!” I hate him. Nightmare muttered. This is going to be a really long drive. I respond, trying not to facehoof myself. “So what’s my punishment Princess?” He says to me with an eager grin. “Just shut the buck up.” I respond at which he turns to his camera with a huge gasp. “You heard it here first folks! Nightmare Moon curses!” He cries out. “Hey! Give it back!” Nightmare took over and levitated the camera out of his hands and brought it to us. “I know I’ve done some bad things but I doubt they were bad enough for me to get this as punishment.” Nightmare says, pointing the camera at Charles. At that we swapped again and I switched off his camera and tossed it to him. He fumbled it but managed to stop it from hitting the floor and breaking. As we walked from the station, the rain began to pour down on us. Nightmare though was kind enough to create a bubble around all of us so we could stay dry but the moment Charles decided to open his mouth, Nightmare dropped it around him to shut him up. We walked up to Charles’ car… which turned out to be the same blue sedan from earlier! I turn to him in anger and confusion. “Where you following us?” I ask accusingly. He gives me an innocent look as he responds. “No, of course not!” I just rolled my eyes and got into the back of the car. The ‘gents’ look at me confused as I tossed my bag onto the other side of the seat. “I would rather sit on my own thanks.” I respond, turning my flank to them. “Nice ass.” I turn around quickly in anger to see them look around innocently. I know I’m a guy but that is just pathetic and embarrassing. I think. Be glad it isn’t one of the stallions that had tried to court Luna centuries ago. Nightmare responded. But I thou- I try to think. I agree they are uncouth barbarians but we have no other options right now. Nightmare retorts, cutting my train of thought. I saw Scott jump up onto the passenger seat in front as Charles started the car up. It took us longer to get out of the city than if we flew but our coats were going to be dry once we reached Denver so I couldn’t really complain. All I really wanted right now was some peace and quiet while I listened to some songs. I pulled out my headphones and started to listen to Nickelback’s Lullaby and decided to rest. ***** ******** ******** ***** I got up on a bed in a room I couldn’t recognise, looking around I saw Nightmare by the open door. The room had some model planes, a poster of Dante from DMC holding Rebellion outwards and a computer to the side. It took me a bit of time to realise I was actually in my room back home in South Africa. “Why?” I ask Nightmare. “I wanted to think of home, of Canterlot but I could only picture this building.” Nightmare responded with slight disdain. “There is nothing wrong with my home Nightmare.” I retort, slightly hurt that Nightmare would slander my home. “It has only been like that for what, three years?” She says, looking at me with one of those smirks. “It’s true that I've moved houses more times than I care to talk about but this one was a good one.” I respond. I concentrated and changed the location we were in. in moments we were on a sports field in a school yard. Looking around I saw myself and my friends laughing while watching one of them on his skateboard. “I had some good memories here, as well as some bad ones.” I say absent-mindedly. “I remember when Harold there fell on his flank trying to do an Ollie.” And sure enough as I said it, he fell on his backside as the skateboard just slide from under his feet. The area changed again as we found ourselves in the old hall where they held the talent show every year. The hall had visible brickwork up to an average person’s shoulder before becoming normal, plastered wall. The light beige colour continued up to the ceiling where eight fans with three blades hung above the students. Nightmare and I walked up to the higher ‘box’ that the matrics would sit. “You know, I always wanted to try and sing on that stage there.” I said to Nightmare, pointing to the wooden stage at the other end of the hall. It had two sets of stairs, three to be exact, and above it was the school emblem. It had been a few years since I saw it so its image was a fuzzy one but it resembled a shield. I facehoofed myself for talking to Nightmare about all of this. “Why didn’t you?” Nightmare inquired. “Stagefright, I'm not so brilliant with crowds. All those eyes watching me, judging me. I think that if I would never see their faces again I might have tried it out but I saw those people every day of my school life.” I replied with an embarrassed look on my face. “And now?” Nightmare said. I looked down at myself, considering her question before turning to her with a smile. “Now? I'm in the body of an Alicorn with powers I never thought were possible and… I would probably do it but I no longer go to this school and we are several thousand miles away.” “You can still do it, even if it is a dream.” Nightmare says encouragingly, pushing me in the direction of the stage. I looked at her dumbfounded until I gave her on of her own malicious grins. “On one condition…” “What?” She asks with slight impatience in her voice. I jumped up onto the stage and grabbed her with my hooves before pulling her up with me. “You join me!” Nightmare looked angry at me for a few seconds before picking up a guitar. “Well?” I chuckled and got a guitar for myself as well. The rest of the music came from some faceless forms. As I looked into the crowd I noticed it was a mixture of ponies and humans. “I guess you barely knew them?” Nightmare commented. I just look at her and nod. “Let’s get this over with.” I nodded once more and opened up with one of my favourite saddening songs I’ve heard: Nickelback’s Savin Me. “Prison gates won’t open up for me.” I begin. “On these hands and knees I’m crawling.” Nightmare picks up. After a few moments of realising she probably knew it from my memories we continued singing. “Show me what it’s like.” I sang “To be the last one standing.” Nightmare continued. “And teach me wrong from right.” “And I’ll show you what I can be.” “And say for me, say it to me and I’ll leave this life behind me.” “Say it if it’s worth savin me!” We sang in unison. We eventually finished to a cheering crowd which was to be expected since this was a dream. I looked at Nightmare who just gave a smile that seemed to make me smile back at her. We then changed tracks to a Disturbed song: Indestructible. “My declaration embedded deep under my skin” I sang. “A permanent reminder of how it began” Nightmare carried on as we alternated lines. “No hesitation when I am commanded to strike” “You need to know that you’re in for the fight of your life” “You will be shown” “How I’ve become” “Indestructible” We both sang together. “Determination that is incorruptible” “From the other side, a terror to behold” “Annihilation will be unavoidable” As we finished off that song I felt the world end. I looked to Nightmare as we both knew that this was the end of the dream. We both just smirked at each other as the darkness enveloped us. ***** ******** ******** ***** Time: 18: 47 Date: Moonday Location: Denver, Colorado “Well it looks like Sleeping Beauty is awake.” Charles’ voice called out as I opened my eyes. I got up to find we had stopped by a hotel. I looked at the time and gathered Charles stopped so we could sleep and grab some food despite the fact I had gotten us food earlier in the day. They must have had no regard for money. I hope they don’t plan on making me pay. Entering the hotel we found that there were a two other ponies that were sleeping here but as soon as they saw me, they fled to their rooms. I rolled my eyes at the display of ‘courage’ before me and went to the rooms Charles rented for us. I found out that Scott and Charles were sharing a room while I was on my own. As I lay on the bed I found it felt weird since I had been sleeping on clouds the past few days. As I considered sleeping outside on a cloud, a thunderbolt decided to decide for me. There was a knock at the door. “Come in.” The one who entered was Scott, he seemed aloof. He walked up to me as I looked at him with a look that could bore into his very soul. “Would you please not do that?” He asked, I realised it wasn’t the pervert in control and eased my gaze. “Thanks.” “Sure I just wasn’t sure of Scott though, was it him that made that comment about my flank?” I asked. Technically it’s my flank. It’s not your body. Nightmare corrected. I used to have one before your body became mine, remember? I re-corrected. Touché She replied. “I’m not too sure but I think it was Charles.” He replied. “Oh well. I can't exactly do anything about his comment but I think it would be best if we all turned in early. I would like to get to Clifton tomorrow.” I said to Scott who bowed his head. “Okay, at least we have transport now. My wings were starting to hurt.” He complained. I just rolled my eyes and gave a small chuckle. Scott took that as a sign to leave and did so. I levitated the blankets and went to sleep. This little adventure just keeps on getting more interesting. I mused.