//------------------------------// // Thunderstruck // Story: To Sleep, Perchance to... Nightmare? // by Draconis187 //------------------------------// To Sleep, Perchance to… Nightmare? Thunderstruck Author: Draconis187 Time: Doesn’t matter Date: Don’t care Location: My mind, on the surface of the moon I was standing next to Nightmare, looking at Earth through the atmosphere – or lack thereof – of the moon as we played a slightly saddening song by Aviators called One Last Letter. Funny thing is that songs like these tend to lift my spirits rather than crush them. We sang in complete unison, both alternating our lines as the song carried on. One last, thing that I got to say, One more report, before it’s too late. I’m begging you to stop this Chaos today, One last thing that I gotta prove, One final goodbye before we meet our doom, Something happened to the peace that we all knew, This is my one last letter to you. “Why do you want to play songs that would be better suited for funerals?” Nightmare asked as we finished the song. I placed the guitar I had around my neck on the ground, sending a small cloud of dust flying into the endless cosmos before Newton’s Law declared otherwise. “Don’t know why now, but it’s good to play something other than metal or rock. I just find it funny that two Nightmare Moons can play guitar.” I replied with a smile. “This is a dream, anything is possible you foal.” Nightmare quipped. We looked at each other for a few seconds before I gave her my most serious looking face. “Oh, I’m the foal? Who was the one crying in the plane’s bathroom, the one who was crying when we went on that history lesson?” I asked with a roll of my eyes. We shared a good laugh at each other as I reflected back on the trip so far. We had gone from one country to another by crossing an ocean via an aeroplane, got ponynapped but escaped and exacted revenge, met the most perverted Pegasus in the known universe but I’m sure I will be proved wrong sometime when Murphy’s Law dictates so, met a human that seems to be the most obsessed fan you could ever meet and was also a borderline stalker. There was still no news on Celestia and Luna’s conditions but I didn’t actually care that much since the travelling was actually quite nice. “Let’s do another song, before this dream ends. You up for it?” I inquired Nightmare who gave me a menacing smile. “I’ll humour you one more time.” She replied, that smile growing nervously wider. I shook off the smile and picked up the guitar once more. Soon the opening strumming of Temper Temper by Bullet for my Valentine filled the moon’s lack of an atmosphere. This time you’d better bite your tongue Think twice before you open that mouth Take a breath, hold it in your lungs Being from rage, will it overcome? I feel the tension rising high A feel a hump, down in my chest Nothing is strange, I see in red Can’t hold it back Here comes my… Temper temper, time to explode Feels good when I lose control Temper temper, time to explode Chamber’s empty, time to reload Nightmare joined in the vocals at this point, guitar firmly in her hooves as she played. Too late cause now you can’t disarm Too slow, you know you should’ve backed down Did you think before you crossed that line? This intervention’s gonna be divine I feel the time is crawling near I feel the sweat dripping down my face Nothing is strange, I see in red Can’t hold it back Here comes my… We both carried on singing until the end, taking in turns to shout parts of the lyrics. As we finished I looked out and just looked at the Earth. Why Earth? Mainly because I didn’t know what Equestria looked like from space, sue me. Nightmare gave me a look, grabbing my attention until she pointed back up at the planet in front of us. Then I saw it: Equestria. I could see where Canterlot would be, Ponyville, Cloudsdale was pretty easy to see since it was made up of clouds. The contours of the mountain ranges, the oceans of blue, it was a mesmerising sight. “So that’s Equestria?” I muttered under my breath. “This is the view I had for a thousand years. As much as it looks beautiful, I was never able to appreciate it due to my hate and despair. I hated having to look at the place I was banished from.” Nightmare didn’t seem to be talking to me, she was just looking at Equestria with a blank expression n her face. “And now? I think I just might like the view for once in a thousand years.” As if on cue, Equestria began to fade away as it became enveloped in darkness, I gave a deep sigh as the darkness was about to envelop us and end the dream. Nightmare looked angry at me for some reason and her words did not help me figure out why. “Kill Charles, will you?” she said with a hint of hate in her voice. ***** ******** ******** ***** Time: Too Celestia-damned early Date: Will check now, let me get up first! Location: Some stupid hotel room As I awoke there were a few things I realised right away. Number one: my armour was on a dressing table on the other side of the room. I must have subconsciously taken it off and never realised it. Number two: I had a pillow shoved halfway down my throat, again. Number three: Charles was standing right next to my bed, with his camera in his hands. All of a sudden, Nightmare’s attitude made complete sense. “Morning You Majesty. How are you today?” His asked with a dorky smile. “You have five seconds to leave this room before I blast you out.” Nightmare said, spontaneously taking over my vocal cords as I noticed the time, 08:12. “Okay, just wanted you to know that breakfast is being served down below.” Charles shrugged as he placed his camera back into his pocket. “Oh and Scott is talking to those two ponies from yesterday. You know, the ones you scared away?” “It is kind of hard to talk to anypony when they run off into their rooms the moment they see you. I didn’t even see who or what they were.” I retorted as I got up and stretched. I felt my bones audibly pop as I arched my back while extending my wings. “Are those ponies males at least?” “No, they’re both female. Why, do you want a coltfriend?” Charles responded, oblivious to the real Scott’s perverted tendencies. My eyes shot open at his oblivious disregard for Scott’s behaviour. My armour shot across the room as I placed it on my body with my magic. I accidentally – I'm sure Nightmare took over my magic to do this – hit Charles on the head with my helmet as it soared through the air. “Because if Scott is in control, he’ll destroy any hope of them staying around long enough for me to apologise for frightening them last night! Haven’t you noticed his perverted behaviour or is your head that firmly shoved up your rear end?!” I shouted as I ran out my door, conveniently left open, otherwise either Nightmare or I would’ve broken it down in the attempt to get out. I flew down the stairs and found the dining hall. In a corner I saw Scott sitting down next to two mares, talking normally as if they were long-lost friends. My mood instantly changed from the earlier hysterical panic to a more calm state despite I was still physically shaking. I finally managed to see just what their types were, an Earth pony and a Unicorn. The Earth Pony had mint green coloured mane and tail while her coat was powder blue while her eyes were pink. What struck me was the fact that she had a white nurse’s hat on, along with a large red cross with a pink heart in each corner for a Cutie Mark. The Unicorn had a white coat and a pink mane and tail, with a paler shade of pink stripe running down her mane and tail, respectively. Her eyes were blue and her Cutie Mark consisted of three small diamonds. As soon as they saw me they… waved? I looked around myself and saw there was nopony else to wave to so I had assume they were waving at me. I walked over to the table which had red leather seats with little golden buttons in it. The table had a traditional white table cloth with an intricate design of flowers and vines along the edges. The table itself was in the middle of a half moon couch with a single chair with the same leather upholstery on its oaken frame. “So, Scott here has been telling us about you and we must apologise for our behaviour for last night.” The Unicorn said, extending her hoof in apology. I shook it with a smile. “I am Janet Smith, although I’m in the body of a pony called Sugarberry. This here is Nurse Tenderheart.” Sugarberry pointed to the Earth Pony who smiled at me. “My name was Mary Jenkins. We were roommates back in Phoenix, Arizona. What brings the two of you here?” Tenderheart asked us. “We’re on our way to Las Vegas since there hasn’t been any word on the Princesses. I brought Great Scott here along so I could get a few nasty habits out of him.” I looked at Scott with a near menacing glare but he just shrugged and smiled. “I thought it was because you liked my flank.” He said with that smirk of his. I whacked him over the head with my armoured hoof. “Ow! That hurts!” Scott whined as he rubbed the back of his head. Nightmare, the other ponies and I just smiled. “I guess I had that coming.” “Thanks, Jacqueline is a nice girl to talk to but that Scott is quite the pervert.” Sugarberry complained. “He tried to hit on Tenderheart here, using a very corny pickup line.” “I hope you know CPR, cuz you take my breath away!’” Tenderheart recited, making exaggerated hoof movements, as if she was dying from a terminal illness. We all facehoofed, including Great Scott, my armour clanged as the metal connected with metal. “I share the same body as him, so imagine what I have to put up with every day.” Scott whined as we all laughed. My ears perked up as I noticed that Charles was filming us. “Say YouTube!” This would have been the point where I would’ve shot enough lightning into his body to cause it to explode in a shower of blood and assorted body parts but we all looked at each other before embracing in a group hug with big grins on our faces, shouting: “YouTube!” That was embarrassing. Nightmare complained. No point fighting it Nightmare, we’re in a place none of us are familiar with and we’ve been too serious throughout this trip. We need to unwind every once in a while. As much as playing music with you is fun, we need friends to talk to without wanting to tear them apart. I responded. “Good morning folks. What can I get for you?” A waiter came in after our rambunctious laughter and shenanigans had subsided. He was rather unconcerned with serving a table consisting of pastel coloured equines. Oh well, money is money, no matter what the source looks like. “Since this is breakfast, some flapjacks! And hot chocolate!” I declare, my voice nearing RCV proportions as I stuck my hoof into the air. “I would like scrambled eggs, white toast please and an iced tea please.” Scott ordered, looking at the waiter with a smile. “I’ll take the farmhouse breakfast and decaf coffee.” Charles asked, his camera sat neatly on the table. Its focus wasn’t me so I was pleased about that but then I noticed it wasn’t even on so I stopped worrying about it. “That comes with pork, ew!” Tenderheart complained. “I’ll have some muesli and strawberry yoghurt please with some water.” “I’ll have the same but I’d rather have vanilla yoghurt instead please. I’ll have some lemonade.” Sugarberry said with a small smile. After the waiter feverishly wrote down our orders and repeated them so he got them right, he left to order them up. Charles picked up his camera and turned his focus to the two new mares. “Alright Miss Tenderheart, what did you and Sugarberry do before becoming ponies?” He asked as if he was conducting an interview for a news station. “Well, I was studying geology while Tenderheart was going to be a veterinarian.” Sugarberry responded. Charles wheeled the camera around as quickly as possible to get Sugarberry into focus. “We were sharing a flat together which helped out a lot when the time to pay rent came. We both worked as cashiers back there at our local Wal-Mart. We didn’t earn much but we made ends meet as we chipped in equally.” “Nice, what about you Nightmare Moon?” Charles asked. I gave him a malicious smirk as I leaned closer. “Ask me again and I will send a lightning bolt through that camera and you. I thought I made it clear to not use that thing?” I rebuked, earning a genuine look of fear from Charles. “Ok, I get it: you're not a morning pony.” He said as he placed the camera away. “Damn straight.” I replied as I sat back in my seat before my face lit up with the delivery of our drinks. I lifter the hot chocolate to my muzzle and blew on it to cool it down before taking a sip. “That’s some good hot chocolate.” I want to taste it. Nightmare asked as she noticed my expression. Go for it. I replied as I placed the mug back on the saucer it came on. Nightmare took over and picked up the drink with her magic before taking a sip. I couldn’t really se her reaction but judging by the reactions I saw the others give her, I knew it was a pretty embarrassing one. The next moment we switched places as she placed the drink back down. “Are you feeling ok?” Tenderheart asked with concern. “I’m alright, Nightmare and I did a switch. Did she do something wrong?” I addressed the group who were still giving me strange looks. “You just looked… happy. Really, really happy for some reason.” Sugarberry responded as she took a sip of her lemonade. “I guess it had been a while since Nightmare had hot chocolate.” I responded. That’s the first time I ever had such a beverage. Nightmare said with an embarrassed look on her face as she strolled across one of the bridges in Ponyville in my mind. “OK, the first time she had hot chocolate. She doesn’t like showing how she feels, other than hate, jealousy and anger. Those she is fine with expressing.” As I finish my sentence, our food arrived. Want to taste some of it? I ask Nightmare. Ok, as long as I don’t get those looks again. Nightmare responded as we switched places. I’m sure that won’t happen if you don’t give one of your own. I thoughtfully chuckle. “You know Nightmare…” Tenderheart says as she puts her spoon in her muesli. “I’ve just noticed how that whenever you switch, your posture changes.” “That’s because I have Luna’s memories of her etiquette training. A princess doesn’t slouch, which he does, often.” Nightmare said before taking a bite out of one of the flapjacks she had just cut. “So how does it please the royal tastebuds?” Charles asks… with that infernal camera in his hands. “I will make good on my threat about that camera if you don’t put it down this instant.” Nightmare threatened. “Oh, come on!” Charles exasperatedly shouts, throwing his arms into the air in frustration. “I wanted to get some footage of this journey. Is that too much to ask?” “Apparently, yes.” Scott quipped. “You got me beat over the head with that helmet she’s wearing!” Charles shouted as he almost stabs himself through the back of his throat as he took a bite of his breakfast. “If you weren’t such an utter douchebag, maybe she wouldn’t worry about whenever you hang around women, human or equine!” Charles was visibly shaking as he shouted so I took his utensils out of his protesting hands. “Look if you carry on like this, you will end up impaling yourself or somepony. Calm down.” “That’s rich coming from the one threatening to shoot a bolt of lightning at me!” Charles snaps at me. “Why?! Why can't you just let me have my fun?!” “Damn, what happened to ‘love and tolerate’?” Sugarberry asked as Charles continued to fume. “How about I love and tolerate the shit out of you?!” Charles shouts at Sugarberry, who starts to cry. “Now look what you’ve done!” I shout, not at RCV levels but normal shouting. Tenderheart was patting Sugarberry on the shoulder while hugging her, trying to calm her down. “Oh, you know what?! Fuck this!” Charles shouts as he gets up and storms out of the room. “So is that how you see me? As a douchebag?” Scott asked, the real Scott seemingly in control. “It’s the constant hitting on me and other ladies that makes me angry Scott, nothing else since I don’t exactly know your entire story.” I said to Scott as we all just looked through the doorway that Charles went through. “I had better go see what’s up.” The next few moments were strange, I heard him in his room upstairs, thrashing about as if he was having a fight with somepony. As I walked up the staircase, I saw him come out of his room with his suitcase in his hands. “Well, it has not been fun Nightmare. I think I can see now why PAPA hates you all so much: you’re all self absorbed pieces of shit. I can’t believe I enjoyed the show.” He pushed past me with his bag as he went down the staircase. “Don’t worry about paying for the rooms and that, I took care of it last night.” “Charles look, I know you're upset and I’m sorry.” I reply as we both reach the bottom of the staircase. “Look, I didn’t mean to hurt you in that sense. I just have a twisted sense of humour, the both of us do. Not you, Nightmare and I.” “That still doesn’t change the fact that you beat me over the head with a fucking steel helmet!” Charles vexed. “It’s actually platinum, that’s why it has that azure hue to it.” Nightmare piped up, taking over this part of the conversation. “Don’t care! I’m gone!” He shouts, leaving out the front door. “All of this is just pure bullshit!” “Do you think we don’t know that?!” Nightmare and I shout in unison, the both of us fuming with anger. “We almost got killed before we even landed in this blasted country! We got shot at, gassed and saw some PAPA agents shoot a little filly in the leg as a warning!” “What?” That stopped Charles in his tracks, dropping his bag and turning around. “I-I didn’t know…” “Of course not, I don’t like talking about it that much. Each moment of being stuck in that cage, waiting for our turn to die, we knew we had to act quickly.” We looked at him, a small tear falling down our left cheek, we wiped it away. “In the end, through some cunning, we escaped and freed the others they captured. Those people were placed into their most horrible nightmare they could possibly imagine.” I stopped looking at him and looked up to the sky. “You know? I always dreamed of being able to fly. Now I’m an Alicorn, capable of both flight and magic. The only disadvantage I could possibly think of is the gender swapping but I got over that rather quickly.” I said before I realised something. Nightmare and I had been speaking together as if we had the same train of thought, the same amount of control. Looks like the merging is happening faster than either of us had anticipated. Nightmare thought as she realised the same thing. We can worry about it later. I retorted. “Ok, look.” Charles let out a sigh as he sat down on the ground, on top of his bag. “I’m sorry for lashing out at you all.” “Water under the bridge, I’m just glad you stopped long enough to hear my story. I’ll let you do your videos on the condition you ask first. Waking up to seeing a camera in my face is not how I intend on starting my mornings.” I respond, taking the shoe off my one hoof and then extending it. “Fine.” Charles brohoofed me and got up off the floor. “Let’s not keep the others waiting.” I nod and put my shoe back on before following him. In the lobby, Tenderheart, Scott and Sugarberry are standing near the door, watching our conversation. As we both walked back, Scott gave me a nod and a smile as the other two mares gave a sigh of relief. After finishing breakfast, we all packed up our gear and got ready to make for our next destination: Richfield, Utah before making the final trip to Las Vegas, Nevada. As we gathered up our things I saw the two mares standing by the entrance with their own bags, paying up at the reception desk. At first I thought there was nothing wrong with it until I saw their faces light up when they saw us coming down. Tenderheart came up to me with a grin. “We were wondering if you wouldn’t mind taking us with you?” Tenderheart asked as Sugarberry tried to look away, blushing furiously. “May I ask why? We aren't going to New York, you know that.” I respond, taken aback at how we seem to be picking up somepony whenever we stop somewhere. “Well, there are reports of PAPA supporters in the next town we were going to and so we were hoping to go with you since you’ve handled them before. We don’t really mind being in these bodies, Tenderheart is a real pleasure to talk to and her expertise in animal care is amazing.” Tenderheart explained. “You heard me?” I asked. “The whole hotel heard you actually.” Sugarberry piped up. “You were shouting rather loudly.” I just realised that Nightmare and I were using the Royal Canterlot Voice as we shouted at Charles earlier on. I facehoofed myself once the realisation had fully sunk in. This earned a few chuckles from my travelling companions. “She’s right, you must have an impressive pair of lungs to pull off that volume of shouting.” Charles quipped. I gave Charles a glare as he told me this. “I know that, but I don’t use it that often. I didn’t even realise I was using it.” I sheepishly said as they all just looked at me. “Sorry.” “’Sorry’? That was amazing!” Tenderheart said with a big smile on her face. I just looked at her. “Come on, you blew up a small dust storm behind Charles, didn’t you notice it?” “No afraid I did not.” I responded as the conversation had steered far beyond its original course. “Can we get to the reason you want to come with me despite the fact you both ran off the moment you saw me last night?” “We said we were sorry and that Scott explained everything to us, or at least he put our fears to rest at any rate.” Sugarberry said as she picked her bag up with her magic while Tenderheart used her teeth. “Fine, the more the merrier I guess. Will we all fit in the sedan, Charles?” I asked, suddenly worrying about the space we all take up in the car as well as our bags. “Should do. Come on, it’s going to be a long drive for me.” Charles said as we all secured our bags and went to Charles’ blue sedan. We folded the back seats and placed the bags as far back in the boot as possible as the two mares sat next to me, our rears sticking into the boot area but we were at least comfortable. I looked at the time and at the route we were going to be taking on the laptop. It was 13:43… on Shlorgiborgday. Wait, what? I swear I’m going to get a headache from this messed up calendar. I watched us leave the parking area of the hotel and go from Denver and onto the I-70 which would get us to Richfield in the next… 7 hours. I guess I haven’t got anything else to do but lay my head down and wait.