Batmare Beyond

by Tatsurou


Beasts Within, Part 3

As Rarity returned to the Batcave, she found several guests waiting for her. Two she easily recognized as Garfield and Rachel, but the third was a complete stranger to her. He was a young looking man with red and black hair with a single white streak, dark brown eyes, and a strange aura of power surrounding him. "Father?" Rarity asked. "Who is this?"

Bruce smiled. "This is Jason Blood. He's an old friend of mine. When I mentioned your present...situation, he was happy to come and help you through it. Garfield and Rachel are here for similar reasons."

"And exactly what advice could this mortal provide regarding our situation?" Nightmare demanded through Rarity's mouth. "Besides, I'm pretty certain we are already of accord. How could any of these three help?"

Bruce groaned. "All three have dealt with having 'monsters' inside of them in the past, though Jason's situation is the closest to yours. Rarity, why is she talking when you're in control?"

"Part of our agreement," Rarity explained. "She gets to talk if we're only around people who know about her, without us having to switch control of the body."

"Does that mean if you're around people who know Nightmare is also you, you get to talk through her mouth?" Garfield asked.

"No."

"Yes."

"Not a chance."

"It's only fair."

"Not happening."

Jason chuckled. "And I thought my passenger was a handful."

"Oh?" Rarity asked. "And who is your 'passenger'?"

Jason smiled. "I think I'll let him introduce himself." He took a deep breath. "Gone, gone the form of man. Rise the demon Etrigan!" His body burst into flames as the transformation took hold. When the flames passed, a gold skinned, fish faced demon dressed in red and blue stood in his place.

Nightmare suddenly gasped happily. "Etty?" she squealed. "Rarity, please, I must show him my new shape now! Please!"

"Let me talk out of your mouth then," Rarity countered.

"...just this once."

Rarity smiled. "Gone, begone, child of light. Now you face the Darkest Night!" Rarity's transformation into Nightmare form passed quickly, and Nightmare fluttered her eyelashes at Etrigan.

Etrigan, for his part, stared in shock. "My brithday does not come so soon, and yet my eyes behold Nightmare Moon?"

Nightmare chuckled. "Just Nightmare now, Etty. I'm no longer a part of the one I was born from."

"Etty?" Bruce, Rarity, and Garfield asked in shock. Rachel face palmed.

"Born she was from emotional scars, with me she danced amongst the stars," Etrigan explained.

"We used to date," Nightmare translated.

"Used to?" Rachel asked. "What happened?"

"I was bound in magical chains, when she sought one to share her pains."

"Around the time Rarity became my new host, Etty got sealed into that Blood fellow," Nightmare explained. "We never actually broke up, though."

"Speaking of in this new light, what are you doing this wondrous night?"

"My daughter is 13!" Bruce interrupted angrily. "I don't care how old the two of you are, that's still my 13 year old daughter along for the ride!"

"While a tad inappropo," Etrigan replied, "as demon I find I must ask...so?"

Why do I keep picturing him with zebra stripes? Rarity asked Nightmare silently. Nightmare burst into laughter.

"What's so funny?" Garfield asked curiously.

"You are, but looks aren't everything." Nightmare smirked when that caused Garfield to burst into laughter. "So why are these two here-"

Rachel's eyes suddenly split into four crimson slits before returning to normal.

"This honor, Nightmare, you now have, to meet the accursed child of Scath," Etrigan explained.

"Am I to assume that Changeling has his own story of a Beast inside?" Nightmare asked dismissively. "Oh wait, he already told it. It's here in Rarity's memory. What exactly can these two offer Rarity that she doesn't already have since we have made a proper compromise?"

"Lessons in manners for you?" Rachel offered, a little angrily. "You could certainly use them."

"And why should I debase myself with such-"

"These are my friends and family," Rarity interrupted. "You will be appropriately respectful, or there will be consequences."

Nightmare chuckled. "What sort of consequences can you inflict on someone in your own mind-"

She was interrupted as her own hoof struck her in the face. "Stop hitting yourself," Rarity commanded.

"What-"

"Stop hitting yourself."

"How are you-"

"Stop hitting yourself."

"This is against our agreement!"

"Tough."

Nightmare was silent for a time. "Fine," she relented. "I will be respectful of your friends and family when speaking aloud-"

She was interrupted by a sudden squeal. Kori scooped Nightmare into her arms. "Oh who is this adorably dark bat winged unicorn with the shiny blue eyes! She is absolutely adorable!"

Nightmare blinked. "...the evil demonic spirit time sharing Rarity's body?" she offered cautiously.

Kori gasped. "Rarity? You have sprouted wings? I did not know your race went through a Transformation as my own did. Such lovely wings!" She gently stroked the wings. "And your coloration is quite lovely, and your mane!" Setting Nightmare down, she began brushing her mane and tail.

Nightmare started to relax into the brushing, but paused. "And...what I said about being evil?"

"If you were truly evil, Rarity would not let you have control. She is too much a Bat trainee to allow that," Kori explained. "Ergo, you are at best irritating."

Nightmare pouted, much to the amusement of those around her.