//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 - Old Allies // Story: For Want of Eternal Nightmare // by Flame Bolt //------------------------------// Later that night ‘Those foals’ thought Nightmare as she glided over the Everfree forest. “No doubt Celestia will send her precious Elements to deal with me. I’ll show Celestia and her Elements the true power of the night and finally take my place as ruler of Equestria.” She said to herself. After a few more minutes of flying, Nightmare neared her destination. She decided that it would be easier to go on hoof as her wings were tired out. When she landed, she quickly surveyed her surroundings before walking into the darkness of the forest. Unbeknownst to Nightmare, a pair of draconic eyes had been watching her from the shadows. A dark figure stepped out from the shadows and set off in pursuit of Nightmare. “Twilight, you know what you must do to save my sister again.” “I do Celestia, but by the time I’ve rounded them up Nightmare could attack again” Said Twilight. “Actually, I don’t think she’ll take that chance. Not while I’m here, at least” Replied Eclipse. “Twilight, you don’t need to round them up. I sent Spike a letter a few hours ago and if I’m correct they should be here any minute now.” As if on cue, Rainbow Dash burst into the room, followed by the rest of the group. “Celestia, we came as soon as we got your message. What’s so urgent?” “I think it will only require a name for you to know, just how urgent Celestia means, Rainbow. Nightmare Moon.” responded Twilight. Rainbow sighed, “Where is she this time?” “Probably where you first fought her, The Castle of The Royal Pony Sister’s” replied Celestia. “Let’s go and stop her... again.” Said Rainbow before flying out of the room ahead of everypony else. Nightmare cautiously approached the castle, something wasn’t right and she knew it. She turned around to make sure she wasn’t being followed when suddenly *Clang*. Something had rebounded off her chest plate and upon closer inspection; Nightmare found that it was a dart that was the same colour as her coat. Nightmare frowned, only one pony she knew had this kind of dart and he disappeared along with the rest of his comrades after Nightmare’s banishment. Eventually she looked towards the forest and smiled. “It’s been a while hasn’t it... Night Shade.” The silhouetted Night Shade stepped out from the shadows. He had a charcoal coat and a black mane and tail, both with dark blue streaks running through them. Holstered to his left foreleg was the crossbow he had fired the dart from. His eyes were the same draconic teal as Nightmare’s. He wore a hooded cloak, which was down, and a bandana as a mask, which was also down. “I could say the same to you, Nightmare” replied Night Shade. He spoke in a deep voice, full of emotion. “How have you been these past thousand years, Night Shade?” “One thousand years, Nightmare. After all this time, the first thing you do is act like nothing happened. I know what happened that night, I was there.” “Well why did you leave?” hissed Nightmare. “We all had a very good reason actually. You had given us your blessing, which did this” he gestured to his eyes, “and gave us eternal life. We decided that we would be a much greater asset to you upon your return, rather than tried and executed, so we ran and waited. News travels fast around Equestria so when we found out you were banished for a thousand years, what else should we have done. Then on the night of your return, it all ended so quickly that we were too late to reach you in time. Which explains why, this past week, we have been guarding the castle making sure no pony attempts to enter.” “Where are the other five of you?” “It’s the other four now. We--” “We lost Blood Lance.” It was a mare’s voice that spoke this time. The cloaked mare stepped out of the shadows, followed by three others. She and another figure stopped at the right of Night Shade, whilst the remaining two stopped at the left. The mare brought back her hood; she had a dark brown coat with a brown mane and tail. On her back was a dark red lance with a black tip. “What happened to him Silent Wind?” “He died that night allowing us to escape. If he hadn’t sacrificed himself, we wouldn’t be here. His parting gift to me was his lance.” “Wait... We're being watched” said the stallion next to Silent Wind. “How do you know?” replied Nightmare. “I can sense them” “We’ll carry on our little catch-up session inside the castle, then.” said Night Shade As Nightmare and her allies entered the castle and disappeared from view, the spy took flight. But they weren’t heading towards Ponyville or Canterlot, they were heading somewhere else.