//------------------------------// // Forgotten nightmares // Story: Dark days // by Dashie4747 //------------------------------// Chapter 3 The wind galloped and spiralled around Nightmare moon as she soared through the storm clouds surrounding her. Below was the dimming scenery of Ponyville that contained the next stage of her plan. Lightning seemed to dance with her as the rain once more soaked her body, her energy that Chrysalis had given her still speeding through her body. It was almost time for her to get her revenge on her so called sister who punished her and forced her into her shadow for year upon year. How could she have been so stupid as to not believe Chrysalis the first time after all Celestia not only forced her to the moon for her punishment but also took her job of raising the moon? Anger now raged through her body and the dancing lightning bolts that travelled around her seemed to glisten in her eyes. Her time of vengeance will come and when it does it will be sweet and victorious. The prospect of her revenge only fuelled her insanity even more as she fantasized about how it would play out. She would no longer be the one stuck in the shadow. As she flew she suddenly remembered what Chrysalis has said when she first came to herself the night before. Chrysalis had said that they had met once before but she couldn't quite remember the event. Suddenly the memory flashed back to her in a sudden flash back in her mind. She remembered back to the Canterlot wedding when she was Luna. She remembered that she had to keep watch over Canterlot while the wedding played out. Another thing she was mad at was the fact that on the wedding her sister seemed to push her aside while the wedding played out. This only built up the raging inferno that was inside of Nightmare. She remembered sitting in the large tower that looked over Canterlot staring into the horizon of Equestria. As Nightmare began to unearthed the memory it seemed to play out like a movie in her mind. Luna sat alone as the day gradually progressed into the evening. The laughter and cheer that came from below seemed to bellow in her ears making her feel dizzy. The boredom was gradually starting to get to Luna when suddenly someone approached her from behind. She spun around expecting her company to be Celestia or Twilight sparkle. Instead stood princess Cadence who had silently walking up to her. Luna look wasn't expecting company but she certainly wasn't expecting Cadence to come strolling in her chamber silently. Maybe she was just checking for any threats or intruders but there wasn't any that she knew of. There was something strange about Cadence but Luna couldn't tell what. Before Luna could speak Cadence had already began to talk. "You seem to be doing well if your assignment as lookout, I am there by great full for that" said Cadence with a pleased look on her face. This normally wasn't like Cadence at all ever since she has been acting strangely the previous few weeks. Luna returned the smile followed by a thank you. Something was defiantly not right and Luna was afraid she would find out sooner then she thought. "You know you could be made of more assistance if you help me with my backup plans " she said with a wicked but persuasive look on her face. Luna looked puzzled. "What kind of backup plans" she said very curious about the princess's intents. Cadence smiled and walked up to her pressing herself against Luna. Luna was shocked and puzzled by Cadence's quick movements but stayed still anyway. Instead of warmth Cadence's body seemed stone cold. Luna leaned away slightly. "You know, if the wedding doesn't go to plan is all" she whispered quietly. She then removed her body away from Luna's and towards the balcony that overlooked the great city of Canterlot. Luna stared at her in fascination. "We are very much alike, much more alike than you ever thought" Cadence now turned to face Luna, “which is why I want to know that if I ever need you for anything we will be on the same side?" Luna was once again puzzled but she nodded her head, after all it was princess Cadence. "Sure" said Luna "I would be happy to offer my assistance whenever you need it". An almost sinister look seemed to cross Cadence's face but was quickly replaced by reassurance. "Thank you my dear, but if all goes badly then I think that I will need it". Cadence smiled once more and her eyes glowed green for a split second. With that she materialized away and Luna was once again left alone. Reality zoomed back to Nightmare in a split second as she reconfigured her targets house below her. The storm around her still bellowed at her almost as if it was encouraging her to do it. The house of Twilight sparkle was now in her range and she was planning on making a big entrance. Twilight sparkle lay with her face buried in the pile of books that sat open in front of her. It would take more than just coffee to revive her from her seemingly un-dead state. Since her visit to Canterlot to talk to the princess she had done nothing but research and research and she had begun to feel the effect of working too hard. Her head could no longer comprehend the tired state that she was in. She had not slept in three days and she had begun to hallucinate. Spike shook Twilight in an attempt to revive his exhausted friend. "Twilight you've been researching for three days straight! Give it a rest already" said Spike trying to pull Twilight of her chair and into her bed. Twilight just mumbled gibberish not caring what she said. Her brain was beyond fried. Spike had begun to get frustrated when there was a knock at the door. Spike let go of Twilight who flopped to the floor like a sack of flour. Spike opened the door only to be greeted by Rainbow dash that stood soaking wet on their porch. She was shivering as lightning danced around in the dark scenery behind her. Spike allowed her to come in and provided she dried of first. "Thanks Spike, what happened to Twilight?" asked Rainbow dash concerned about her friend who was slumped against a chair sleeping soundly. Spike gave her the kind of look saying "don't ask" and they both proceeded to assist there sleeping friend. The rain had now begun to rattle the windows as it heavily poured down on the house seeking an entrance in which to enter. With both Spike's and Rainbow dash's assistance Twilight was lifted to her bed without disturbing her from her slumber. It didn't look like Twilight would be up for another few days before she could fully recover. "Sleep well Twi" said Rainbow before leaving Twilight bedroom. "Doesn't she look cute when she sleeps?" said Rainbow dash cooing over her peacefully slumbering friend. Spike didn't join her. "Not really" said Spike glancing at Rainbow dash, “besides, she worked herself way too hard over a stupid issue, Luna's probably gone somewhere or is finding her way in the storm somewhere" Spike was cut off by a tremendous explosion that shot debris in multiple directions. Wind and rain flowed into the living room of Twilight Sparkles home. Wood fired in all directions including towards the completely taken off guard Rainbow dash and Spike who had taken cover underneath a table. Bits of sawdust filled the room causing a haze of smoke that engulfed the entire living room. Dashie and Spike had begun to cough at the sawdust that cut at their lungs. Spike turned to see if Twilight was okay and to his surprise she was still sleeping as soundly as she had been before. Silence filled the house apart from the wind howling through the gaping hole in Twilight's ceiling. Spike and Dashie got up only to witness a figure emerge from the sawdust, her hair flowing in front of her coat of armour that glistened dimly in the dark room. Rainbow dash and Spike gasped in horror as Nightmare moon emerged from the surrounding mist of debris. Nightmare's eyes scanned the room searching for her target as if she was a hunter spying her prey. She glanced coldly at Dashie and Spike and then behind them where Twilight lay. Spike watched in awe as Nightmare moon approached them. "It can't be" he whispered silently to himself. Nightmare began to approach Twilight when Rainbow dash jumped in front of her fearlessly. Dashie was ready to defend her friend no matter what but fear still plagued her judgment as she began to regret the decision to literally cross paths with Nightmare. Nightmare continued to walk forward and with a single sweep of Nightmares wing Rainbow dash came crashing to the floor. Dashie got up feeling disorientated from her fall but she was not going to give up without a fight. Dashie then charged bravely at Nightmare who didn't seem to notices her approach. Spike spotted Rainbow dashes brave move but cried out to her before she was seriously injured. "No wait!!!!" yelled Spike at the top of his voice but it was too late. Nightmare turned her head to face Rainbow dash, her eyes where glowing white with energy and anger. As soon as the bolt of energy hit Rainbow dash she was smashed onto the floor motionless. Spike ran to her assistance, his expression was nothing but pure horror. Nightmare reached the side of Twilight bed. A sense of accomplishment flooded through her. She was not going to spend any more time messing around. An invisible bubble wrapped itself around the sleeping Twilight who was completely oblivious of the events going on around her. Then as if Nightmare moon had never been present, she vanished along with Twilight leaving Spike looming over Rainbow who laid half-conscious on the floor. Spike urged Rainbow dash to stay awake and that he was going to get help. Dashie nodded reluctantly and then rested her head against the cold hard floor on Twilight's room. Whatever had happened Rainbow dash didn't know but she was sure about one thing. The storm has arrived.