The Day, Defeated
Bonus chapter: Nightmare Sweetie!
By: The Accursed One
As the Spirit of the Nightmare left the former Nightmare Moon’s body, it started searching for a chaotic, yet inconspicuous target. Discord was out of the question since he was simply too unpredictable, and he was imprisoned in the mana-infused marble form caused by the Elements of Harmony. So, the Nightmare wandered Equus, going from pony to pony, and sometimes gryphon or minotaur, until it reached the time of Twilight Sparkle’s heyday.
The Nightmare began searching over Equestria, as it decided its next target should be a pony. But which race? Should it take over a unicorn that can wreak magical havoc, a pegasus that can cause harm with the weather, or an Earth pony that can, well… The Nightmare decided that Earth ponies weren’t that useful for one to cause chaos with. It eventually chose to control a unicorn, and set out to find the most chaotic unicorn in Equestria: Sweetie Belle.
After the Spirit invaded Sweetie Belle’s mind, turning her into the most dangerous creature in Equestria, it decided to wreak havoc across Equestria once the Nightmare was accustomed to being in the body of a filly. Using Sweetie’s limited magical ability, the Nightmare tested the limits of its new body, using the Carousel Boutique as its proving ground.
Sweetie Belle, now turned Nightmare Sweetie, started out levitating a mannequin and knocking over all of the incomplete dresses that her sister was working on. Her internal magical reserves were increased so that she could stand to hold anything below 70 pounds for more than a few seconds at a time. She then opened all the drawers in Rarity’s work room and threw the contents on the floor. The pony tried to lift and upturn many more things, then realized that there was not enough mana to do so.
“Argh, this body is horrible!” The Nightmare screamed in an outrage. “It can barely do magic without my help, and it’s very frail!” Deciding to leave Sweetie Belle’s body, the Nightmare took its charge to Ponyville’s stargazing hill and relinquished control of the body, leaving it for dead.
Sweetie Belle woke up in intense pain. She felt like her mind had turned off, then was forced back on. Waves of pain also emanated from her horn and torso as well, since her magical power was exhausted beyond its normal capabilities. Even a surge wouldn’t have caused her that much pain. All the filly could do was lay down, unmoving, and just hope somepony would help her.
*****
“Sweetie Belle? Where are you?” Rarity called out, fearing for her sister’s life. Sweetie Belle had disappeared hours previously, and nopony had heard from her or the other Crusaders as to where she went. Rarity hoped that Sweetie Belle was alive and well, and she got her wish.
Sweetie Belle finally mustered the strength to use her voice, and called for her sister, who followed the voice to where Sweetie was. She felt herself being picked up in a warm, light blue magical aura, which she immediately recognized as Rarity’s. Sweetie fell back asleep, knowing that all would be well.
*****
The Spirit of the Nightmare had decided that there was nothing for it on Equus after finding out the pony that could have caused the most damage was too weak and useless. It flew itself out into deep space, hoping some other planet would have a more dangerous being.
The Nightmare flew, if you can call it that, until it saw a blue and greenish planet: Earth. It went into the atmosphere and inhabited a random human. Its charge seemed normal, but the Nightmare realized all too late that the human it had inhabited was going to die from age. When its host died, the Nightmare died with it.