//------------------------------//
// Am I in a Dream... Or a Nightmare 
// Story: A Dream Amongst a Nightmare 
// by Gnome 
//------------------------------//

Lirex stayed laid down on the couch as he winced his eyes closed, continuing to hear the knock.

Finally, Spike went to the door and opened it.

"Oh…h-hey there Rarity." He blushed intensively.

Lirex didn't bother waking up, nopony was more important than him and trying to get some sleep.

The guest started to speak, "Hello. What's your name, darling?"

Lirex grunted, and sighed, "It's Lirex. Now, can I just get some sleep?"

Lirex didn't open his eyes. He just didn't give a care for what the pony had to say.

"Well, I'm Rarity. Twilight, which I believed you met, told me to show you around Ponyville."

He just turned over and groaned as Spike stepped in.

"Uh, Rares, he's pretty tired. You can come back tomorrow though, heh heh." Spike smiled, and led her out.

As he closed the door Lirex turned back around as Spike looked at him.

"What the heck was that?"

"What was what?" Lirex opened his eyes slightly.

"You’re the son of Princess Luna, and you crashed landed from the moon. If I were you, I'd get some ponies on my side."

"Well, you’re not me. So… goodnight."

"It's the middle of the day-"

"It's always night for me. Now shut up." He turned back around and fell asleep.

"Hey-" Spike was interrupted by a snore let out by the Pegasi.

________

It was dark, not the type of blackish dark, it was a type of purplish hue type darkness.

Lirex tried weaving through the darkness but soon tripped over something as he face-planted into the ground.

He heard a laugh, "Well, I see you've finally gotten into your dream state”

Lirex could not pinpoint the location but didn't really have to as a pony walked up to him; he was about Lirex's height and build.

Their movements of their muscles were the same, however there were slight differences.

Whereas Lirex's wings were of feather and bone, the figures were smelted metal and leather. Lirex's eyes were purple; the figures eyes were a type of lava-red color.  

He had black fur, with occasional orange stripes around him, as Lirex examined the character he saw a horn with a broken tip.

"W-Who a-are you?" Lirex asked hesitantly

"Very good question," He finally helped Lirex off the ground, "I am Spikor, Lord of Shadows."

"Hm... Never heard of you..." Lirex thought for a moment.

"I know you haven't... Because you are me, and I am you."

Lirex tried to speak but couldn't at what this, thing, had just said.

He finally got hold of his words, "W-What did you just say?"

Spikor sighed, "I am Spikor, son of Nightmare Moon, born of shadows."

"But... That makes no sense, I am the son of her-"

Spikor cut Lirex off, "You are Luna's son. I am Nightmare Moon's son."

"But that would mean..."

He nodded, "I am your 'Nightmare Moon', so to speak."

Lirex gasped slightly at hearing what this strange but familiar pony had said. He did not believe on word, and he didn't want to, but this creature walked and talked like him.

"Could this be... My Nightmare form?" Lirex thought.

Spikor nodded, "Yes I am your Nightmare..."

Lirex's eyes widened, "You can read my thoughts?"

Spikor nodded.

"And w-why are you telling me this? Why are you coming out to see me now?"

Spikor held up a hoof, stopping the questions,

"Our mothers are battling for superiority. And Nightmare Moon will win over Luna and soon fly down to Equestria and take over Celestia's throne.

It seems like your new found 'friends' would not like you if you were on her side. So, you won't be you when you help mother, you'll be me."

Lirex backed up a little bit as Spikor smiled, revealing dagger like fangs protruding out of his black maw, "B-But why should I help you?"

"Because, it will happen one way or the other."

Spikor started to walk to him as Lirex held up his hooves and Spikor started to bite them.

___

"No.. No! NO!"

Lirex panted heavily as he shot from the couch but was drawn back by a lavender hoof.

"Lirex!"

Lirex took in what had just happened and panted as he looked over to a familiar lavender unicorn.

"W-What happened?" Lirex gulped, catching his breath.

"You had a nightmare. It must have been bad; you were thrashing all over the couch." Twilight frowned a bit.

"Oh... S-Sorry Twilight."

"Don't be."

She petted his mane gently and put her hoof up to his forehead, "Spike, get me an icepack."

Spike, who was at the foot of the couch, ran into the kitchen.

Lirex then thought about the dream,

"It was so real... Could Spikor be me evil side, like Nightmare Moon is to mother... Is mother coming back for revenge?" He let out a sad sigh and closed his eyes; at this point he had more questions than answers.