//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 – Enter Lance // Story: The Nightmare King // by Lt_Lance //------------------------------// The Nightmare King :Chapter 1 – Enter Lance: “-BLE!” “oof!” Lance hit the ground in a clearing of grass He laid in the blackness shocked. “Dafuq?” was all he could think to say. After a few minutes of collecting himself he managed to form coherent thoughts again. “Oh come on I was looking forward to that train” He chuckled dryly to himself. “Ok brain we need to piece together what the actual buck just happened.” he started to think back to the crash. “I must have been rear ended only reason I could think of that my van would just move forward twelve feet. But then I was in the path of a freight train” Lance took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “Yep still alive that’s always a good sign. Death would be so unlike me” he smirked to himself again. “Ok so are you alive in the afterlife? Or is there something more going on here?” He sat up and began to look around. “Well death is darker than I expected.” Lance spoke into the blackness. He then reached up to touch his face. “oh wait” he raised his sunglasses so that they rested on his head “No one saw that!” he gave a sigh of relief “Kay afterlife would of sucked blind.” He looked around. He was in some sort of forest. He saw trees and fauna that seemed familiar and yet he was sure he never seen anything like it before. ”What the hell?” He looked around at the trees dark brown twisted trunks with dark green leaves. The familiarity of it was eating at the back of his head. At the bottom of the trees he saw ferns and shrubberies. Growing along the forest floor around them was some flowers. “Wait just one second!” Lance looked at the flowers that were growing around the outside of the small clearing. He got close to get a better look. The flower had wide pedals that flared out with pedals that stood up that protruded several filaments in multiple directions. Everything about the flower from the stem to the multiple anthers on the end of the filaments was a deep shade of blue. Lance stared at the mysterious flowers for what seemed like Hours. He knew what this flower was after all any self-respecting brony would. He finally muttered almost in a whisper. “Poison Joke?” he questioned himself. He looked up “So that makes this the… Everfree Forest?” He looked around into the trees that surrounded him. “Which is located in the magical land of Equestria.” He backed away from the flower not wanting to see what it could do to him. “So let’s get this straight. Your typical brony just living his life suddenly and tragically meets an untimely end. He wakes up to find himself in Equestria land of magic and ponies!” he looks around again. “In the Everfree Forest.” He stands there for several minutes after which he puts his head in his hands. “How… typical” he deadpanned he raised his head and began to look out into the forest “In all the fics I’ve read it’s always this place. Why this place! Surely there must be more forests or for that case land outside of the Ponyville area that a guy could end up!” He looks up to the sky and raises one of his fists and shouts “Very original Jackass! If it turns out I’m here because twilight botched a spell or something I am going to drown a puppy!” having voiced his grievances with god once again he mumbled “Okay first things first.” he sat down in the middle of the small clearing. “When and where.” He looked around again. “I’m in the Everfree that much has already been decided” He looked up through the trees looking up to the night time sky the moon was just barely poking its way through the leaves. He didn’t see any “mare in the moon” “ Okay looks like at least episode one has occurred.” Lance thought. A noise broke the silence that had built up around the young man. In the distance he could hear what sounded like a lion’s roar. “Manticore” he thought narrowing his eyes. “Sounds like it’s a little ways off. Well in that case to hell with that direction.” The distant manticore deciding his course of action, he stood up and started walking away from the roar. He reaches up and pulled his shades over his eyes. “#Swag” Lance said aloud with a smirk. A little while later he heard it roar again but this time softer. He turned his head and looked into the forest behind him. “hmm damn thing seems to be calming down.” He took a moment to collect himself and take in his surroundings. He started to think over his situation. “They did say graduation would be a new beginning. ” he looked up into the star littered sky and smiled he has been doing that a lot recently. “how right you where dad. ” That’s when the reality of his situation started to kick in. “My family!” he mentally screamed. He felt like he had been kicked in the stomach he had to sit down. He sat under a nearby tree. “Will I ever see them again?” he sighed “probably not.” “Maybe if a train brought me here I could get one to send me back” he immediately discredited the idea. “I don’t want to risk pulling a Leonardo Decaprio and throw my head under a train.” A low fog began to roll in heading towards his left. “odd” he stood up and followed the fog for a few minutes and then he heard voices. “Now we’re getting somewhere!” he thought. When he reached a trail in the forest his world shattered and was rebuilt and then it shattered again then it was glued back together. Talking near a cliff face was none other than the fastest coolest and most super-ultra-extreme-awesomazing pony in Equestria, Rainbow Dash! She appeared to be talking to “Wait are those… Shadow Bolts? Then that means… this must be episode two!” He started to listen to the conversation between Rainbow and the false ponies. “You” Rainbow Dash said. The shadow bolts began to smile. “Thank you for the offer I mean” she then flew to the bridge and tied the rope firmly in place. “But I’m afraid I’m afraid I have to say no” she said calmly and then flew off across the chasm. From what lance could see the Shadow Bolts looked pissed. They exploded into a sparkly purple cloud and flew off into the forest. From the forest line Lance couldn’t help but say “You mad Nightmare Moon” with a slight chuckle. He looked to further up the trail and saw what he was looking for. He looked at the crumbling structure before him and began to walk towards it. “The Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters…” Lance frowned “I’m not even going to comment on the name.” he said as he walked up the trail and up to the impressive front gate of the castle. Lance opened the door and walked in closing it behind him. The room was impressive. Lance had to get his barring before he could form a thought. Sitting in the center of the strange oval room was an impressive piece of architecture. A pedestal that protruded five other pedestals each holding a stone orb. Lance would of stood there for hours If the approaching voices behind him didn’t force him into action. He still didn’t want to be seen so instead of partaking in an awkward conversation he hid behind one of the pillars. The manes six opened the doors and were just as amazed by the architecture as lance was. Lance uses this moment of their stupification to have his fanboy freak-out moment. “Jesus H. Christ it’s them it’s actually them all six of them. Pinky Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Apple Jack, Fluttershy, and Twilight Sparkle. This is the best day ever!... Besides the dying part that kind of sucked but all things considered-“ “Whoa!” Applejack seemed the most amazed out of the group. “Come on, Twilight. Isn't this what you've been waitin' for?” Applejack questioned. Twilight walked towards the pedestal “The Elements of Harmony, we've found them.” She said excitedly. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy flew up to grab the stone orbs. “Careful, careful!” Twilight said worryingly. “One, two, three, four... There's only five!” Pinkie Pie pointed out. “Where's the sixth?” Rainbow Dash asked. Twilight Sparkle began to examine one of the orbs. “The book said: when the five are present, a spark will cause the sixth Element to be revealed.” She said to the group. “What in the hay is that supposed to mean?” Applejack questioned obviously annoyed “I'm not sure, but I have an idea.” Twilight responded. “Stand back. I don't know what will happen.” She then began to charge her magic and took on a deeply concentrated look. “Come on now, y'all. She needs to concentrate.” Applejack said trotting out the door the rest of the ponies bar Twilight in tow. Lance took one look at twilight and then out the window behind him towards the crumbling tower. “Yeah I know where this is gonna end up.” he thought and then he walked past a squinting twilight out the back entrance of the main hall. Lance saw the crumbling ruins at the top of decrepit stone stair case. “Time to get front row seats to the greatest show in the multiverse!” he quietly yelled. He jogged at a fair pace to arrive just in time to see twilight and Nightmare Moon arrive in a purple ploom of smoke. The room looked similar to the room that held the elements but instead of where the elements stood was just a raised platform. “Queue diabolical laughter” Lance thought as he ducked behind another pillar. Nightmare Moon raised her head and gave a hearty evil laugh complete with special effects apparently. “Muahahahahaha!” Lance raised an eyebrow “Wut?… really I could understand the gloating but the lightning and dramatic music seems a bit much.” Lance whispered to himself. Twilight began to kick up dirt with her forhoof threateningly Lance couldn’t help but grin at this point. “Really need a bag of popcorn for this. Where is pinkie when you need her?” He began to look around expectantly. Nothing. “damn” Nightmare Moon looked at twilight in disbelief “You’re kidding. You’re kidding right.” Twilight Charged horn glowing bright Nightmare Moon returned the gesture charging her head on “What in the hell is going through that old mares head anyway why would she just charge her like that?” He always did wonder that when he watched the premier. But before they could collide twilight teleported to the elements completely confusing Nightmare Moon. “Clever girl” Lance thought to himself. Nightmare Moon looked around franticly only to find twilight was applying her little spark to the stone orbs. She did her smokey fliey thingy and landed right as twilight released her spark. The resulting jolt shot her halfway across the room. Something was wrong. Something was horribly, horribly, wrong. The spark that was only just supposed to knock twilight onto her back knocked twilight unconscious. Nightmare Moon panicked for half a second and then the spark failed to do anything. With a look of shocked relief she simply smashed the orbs like she should have. But now she strolled over the unconscious mare lying on the floor with a smug grin. With a low evil chuckle she positioned her horn directly above Twilight's heart positioned to end the life of Celestia’s most Faithful student. She never got the chance to finish her off. I was awestruck. “What the fuck!” I uttered in disbelief. “Think fast this wasn’t supposed to happen then again I’m not supposed to be here. Her friends will be here any minute when they come she will feel 'the spark that resides in the heart of us all' and that jazz but she needs to be awake for that… What does that bitch think she’s doing?” I saw Nightmare Moon preparing to kill Twilight. “Oh hell no!” I didn’t think I didn’t have any plan of attack I just did what he felt was natural… I ran from behind his pillar and right up to the wicked mare of darkness and then. I punched Nightmare Moon… in the face… She didn’t move for a second more shocked than anything else. She turned her head to look at her new opponent and was more shocked than she had ever been in her one thousand and four years of life. Her eyes met lance and she looked him up and down. She was apparently struck by some kind of hairless ape in a black shirt wearing black sunglasses. She was even more shocked when the beast used it’s odd looking appendage to strike her again uppercuting her right under her jaw. She took a few steps back “You will suffer lowly creature nothing gets away with-” I punched her in the face again with a right haymaker “This seems way too easy” Lance thought “STOP THIS AT ONCE WHO DO YOU THI-” I grabbed her horn and looked her strait in the eyes. A low growl rolled out of my throat “In all seriousness shut the hell up! I will not let you hurt her.” Nightmare Moon backed off a bit and managed to shake out of his grip. “So the beast can speak. Such an odd creature you are siding yourself with that pathetic mortal.” I looked over to Twilight Sparkle “Isn’t she supposed to be your subject? Why would you want to kill her wasn’t the whole point of your eternal night to get ponies to love the dark? They can’t do that when they’re dead.” Nightmare Moon grew enraged “How dare you tell me my motives! I wanted to become powerful to show that stupid filly she is not the boss of me! My night will last forever whether my subjects like it or not! They will live in a land of nightmares. Nopony will wake from my rein” “That was worded rather strangely.” I relaxed my shoulders a bit put on a calm face and lifted my sunglasses. I walked over to Nightmare moon who just stared at me venomously. I was a foot away from her when I softly said “Well maybe it’s time for you to wake up from your nightmare Luna.” The look that she gave me was not one I was expecting I thought maybe I would get a look of rage and hate or maybe one of understanding, that one seemed less likely to me. No the look she gave me was one of fear, absolute fear I’m not going to lie it unsettled me for a little bit but then it passed and she spoke like it never happened. “This is not your fight leave now.” I looked at her for a few moments and stated dryly “I can’t help but notice you haven’t killed me yet. Why is that? If you are truly the wicked mare of darkness the stories I’ve heard make you out to be you could of killed me the moment I stopped you from killing that filly.” She looked into my eyes and said angrily “Do you serve Celestia?” “No.” “Then you are not an enemy of mine leave my sight creature!” “So that’s it!” I said triumphantly “You’re trying to kill her because she’s Celestia’s star pupil. But how would you even know that?” “I know many things beast. Now leave me before I change my mind.” Nightmare Moon said coldly. It was at this moment that twilight began to mumble something incoherent and twist and turn in place. I turned to look at her a small smile appearing on my face. “Well well well it looks like we are back on track.” “What do you mean back on track!” Nightmare moon bellowed. Without even looking at her I grabbed her horn again and turned to look her in the face. “I mean you need to get back on the damn pedestal!” I said kicking her hard under her chest plate she landed in the middle of the shards of the elements. “I’m leaving now good luck Luna you’re going to need it” I jogged off behind my pillar when twilight sat up to look at nightmare moon getting to her hooves trying to catch her breath. I could hear the rest of the mane six running up the passage. Twilight heard them to and she sat up and looked back. She actually did the pupil dilatation and from what I could see there was a spark in her eye. “It’s on now” I said. Twilight turned to face Nightmare Moon “You think you can destroy The Elements of Harmony just like that? Well, you're wrong, because the spirits of The Elements of Harmony are right here!” “What?” Nightmare Moon coughed. Twilight proceeded to recall her journey to the castle. “Applejack, who reassured me when I was in doubt, represents the spirit of... honesty! Fluttershy, who tamed the manticore with her compassion, represents the spirit of... kindness! Pinkie Pie, who banished fear by giggling in the face of danger, represents the spirit of... laughter! Rarity, who calmed a sorrowful serpent with a meaningful gift represents the spirit of... generosity! And Rainbow Dash, who could not abandon her friends for her own heart's desire represents the spirit of... loyalty!” all the while twilight was giving her speech the shattered elements were flying to their bearers. "The spirits of these five ponies got us through every challenge you threw at us.” Nightmare Moon wore a look of worry. “But you still don’t have the sixth element the spark didn’t work!” she said semi suradly. Twilight put on a smile and told Nightmare Moon “But it did! A different kind of spark.” She turned around to face her new friends. “I felt it the very moment I realized how happy I was to hear you, to see you, how much I cared about you. The spark ignited inside me when I realized that you all... are my friends!” A bright flash of light formed in the air above twilight and a new stone orb lowered toward Twilight. “You see, Night Mare Moon, when those Elements are ignited by the... the spark, that resides in the heart of us all, it creates the sixth element: the element of... magic!" That’s when the shit hit the fan. The mane six gained the fancy evil destroying jewelry and began to levitate in the air. And a double helix rainbow beam shot out at Nightmare Moon. “NOOOOOOOOOOOoooo!” Nightmare Moon bellowed. Then another deviation occurred “You get her Twilight!” I thought. I always liked this speech of hers, gave me chills the first time around. But as soon as the elements were airborne and Twilight went all avatar state. Something else went wrong. Well not nearly as off course as last time it was definitely not what was supposed to happen. Instead of panicking and flailing like the nightmare was supposed to, she just looked at me. Of course she knew what pillar I was behind after that little scuffle (total Ass whoopin!) we had. She just looked at me and smiled a sultry diabolical smile. “the fuck?” I said. Her eyes glowed bright red and flashed at me. It felt like someone just shined 8999 laser pointers into my eyes. It was bucking PAINFUL! I yelped and stumbled backwards. Temporarily blinded and disoriented I had no way of seeing what I was backing up into. I didn’t know about the window until I was already falling. “Crap I just escaped one death sentence today only to end up in another.” I risked opening my eyes. (which still hurt like hell.) and was greated with quite a sight. “WHY DO PONIES EVAN BUILD CASTLES ON TOP OF CLIFFS!” as it turns out that chasm that rainbow had to fix the bridge for extended to the edge of the castle. As far as I could perceive there was no bottom. So in all likelihood I was dead very dead no amount of self-proclaimed invincibility could save me this time. I shut my eyes and awaited the inevitable. Then out of nowhere my body began to grow hot. It got hotter and hotter until it felt like I was surrounded by fire. Not on fire it just felt like I was near it. It was an odd contrast to the wind hitting my face. Then the heat gradually dissipated until I felt nothing not even the rush of the wind. “….WAIT WHAT!” I opened my eyes to see… nothing. The world around me was nothing but plain white. Not bright white it didn’t hurt to look around. But I couldn’t tell up from down anymore it was just white in all directions. I took a sigh of relief “And I guess that’s strike two. I’m really bad at this whole dying thing.” I said “Which is why you will make a most excellent host.” An odd disembodied voice called out from the sea of white. I began to look around franticly. “There is no use looking for me you will not be able to see me” I didn’t stop “Show yourself!” I demanded. “Muahahaha” Cliché diabolical laughter? “Nightmare Moon is that you?” I asked I didn’t have to wait long for a response “Close but so very off” then something formed in front of me. It was made completely from black (and I don’t mean black substance I’m talking just the color here) which conflicted greatly with the sea of white around us. It started to take shape starting with the legs and working its way up to the torso. It was definitely taking human shape. Then its head started to grow. I gasped in surprise the damn thing was wearing my face but it was wrong. The eyes were off. They had white to them but they weren’t my light hazel color they were a dark green but that’s not what was most startling it had a serpents slitted eyes. It stood there grinning showing a mouth full of inhuman sharp teeth. A stray thought entered my head “I should say something to the evil looking doppelganger” Only one thing came to mind and I spoke with wisdom and courage far beyond measure. I lowered my shades over my eyes crossed my arms across my chest and said. “...Sup”