> The nightmare before hearth's warming eve: Nightmare's revenge > by Monsterthedragon > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Prologue > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The nightmare before hearth's warming eve Nightmare's revenge. Prologue: Princess Celestia and Luna was drinking hot chocolate by the fire place reading a book. Luna nudged her sister and points at you. “Oh, hi I didn't see you there, we were just reading a hearth's warming eve story, would you like to join us?” They moved a bit aside, you nod and got comfortable. “Now, it all started on the night of nightmare night, in a small, but eventful town named Ponyville.” You look at a picture of a town with a stage in the book. “Twas was a few years ago, fewer now than it seems.” Celestia started. “In a place that perhaps you've seen in your dreams.” Luna added with a giggle. “For the story you are about to be told.” “Took place in the harmony days of old.” “Now, you've probably wondered where harmony comes from.” “If you haven't, I'd say it's time you begun.” They finished together. You listen as they read on and you mind drifts off. You see leaves blowing in the darkness and a sign saying Ponyville. Ponyville October 31st Nightmare night “And now the award for the most mane tingled by a pony.” A pony wearing a clown wig and red nose announced the name and the crowd was cheering at the Rainbow maned Pegasus that trots on stage and bowing. “Another magnificent Nightmare night, Rainbow Dash.” The crowd cheered and applause louder. “Thank you everypony, this was the scariest Nightmare night ever! Thank you!” She backed away as the curtains rolled over the stage hiding the pony from view and she put a hoof on her chin in thought. “Something's missing... There's got to be a way to make Nightmare night more hideous, more terrifying, more frightening...” She sighed defeated. “Ah... This can't go on.” She hung her head and moved towards the library. “You've got to do better Dash.” LIBRARY BASMENT “A new Nightmare night?” The lavender unicorn Twilight Sparkle asked looking through a microscope, then used her magic to take notes. “A fresh, new and improved nightmare night, Twilight.” Dash confirmed and Twilight looked at her notes. “After last year, we can't just do the same old thing. We should all be inspired to do something different. We need new scares, new ideas, new discoveries.” At this Twilight looked up from her work. “New discoveries, eh. I think I have just the kind of thing you're talking about.” Dash smiled ear to ear at hearing this, Twilight then took out a jar with a rainbow colored slime blob in it, but the blob was moving trying to get out. “I call it the Soul Robber Tail. Take it, Dash, I'm sure it will come in handy.” Dash hesitated for a moment then took of the lid. “Oh...” Dash took a step back as it jumped and latched itself on her tail, blending into her colors, with a closer look it looked slightly bigger. “Hmmm...” She waved her tail a little when suddenly the tip of it extended and grabbed a book that was 10 feet away. “Awesome.” Twilight took the book and placed it on a shelf, she then trotted off, when she was stopped. “Exactly, Twilight, exactly.” The unicorn turned to her. “That settles it. I'll head out in search of more new discoveries for next year's nightmare night! Please Twilight be careful, while I'm away.” She gave Twilight a quick peek on the cheek and galloped out, leaving Twilight stunned, in her dream world. “Oh, now I'm certainly looking forward to next nightmare night.” She thought holding the cheek. MEANWHILE IN THE EVERFREE FOREST CASTLE “Are you sure about this Scootaloo?” Sweetie Belle asked looking around in fear. “Don't worry you guys. Zecora told me, it's safe.” Scootaloo assured. “Ya sure about that?” Applebloom raised an eyebrow, but before the orange filly could answer. “Look!” Sweetie Belle pointed a hoof at something on the ground, it was some kind of dark blue armor with a blue mist seeped out of it. “This looks familiar somehow.” The clouds removed themselves from the moon and a sinister laughter filled the room. The three crusaders scanned the area for the source of the voice. “W-What w-was that?” Applebloom stuttered with trembling legs. “I don't know, but we're not hanging around to find out, let's go crusaders.” The two happily followed Scoot to the exit, then the laughter came again, but louder this time and the fillies bodies froze on the spot. “Well, well, well, it would appear that I have visitors.” December 23rd Twilight was in her library with a ball shackle around her left hind leg, she looked over her shoulder to see if anyone was there, then resumed writing, she then used her magic to fold it into a paper plane. “I hope this finds you, Dash. Wherever you are.” She dragged the ball behind her to the window. She cast a search and find spell on the plane and tossed it. “I don't remember permitting you to send letters.” A devious voice said behind her. “Hurry, Dash!!” She shouted and was pulled into the darkness. > Chapter 1: Rainbow's return > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Nightmare Before Hearth's Warming Eve Nightmare's Revenge. Celestia flipped the page. Chapter 1: Rainbow Dash returns. Rainbow dash soared through the sky towards her home. “Can't wait to see them again.” She saw the town and her smile grew, but it faded, a wall been built around the town afterward. “That's strange...” She tried to go over the wall, but a magical barrier stopped her. “Twilight must have put it up to protect the town from something.” She thought. She landed at an open gate and was shocked. “The town's deserted...” Her hooves clopped on the ground as she trotted through the town streets. Suddenly the gate closed with a loud boom and locked, making her turn around, she shook it off and continued til she arrived at the town hall. “What the hay.” She saw blue mist covering the door to the town hall, making her unable to open it, her ear twitched to the sound of hooves, turning around she was met with a skeleton pony in front of her. “Whoa Twilight, you've really outdone yourself, it looks so- Wow!” The skeleton pony lashed out after her, but she dodged with a back flip, then two more appeared and the three skeletons shrieked at her. “You...” She readied the Soul Robber. “Your not my welcome home party are you?” They attacked. A voice in the back of her head told her to use her tail, She thrust her tail at them, the tip extended 3 feet and turned into a spear head, piercing the first skeleton. “It can do that to?” She smirked. She hit it again, scattering bones everywhere and left behind golden glowing round plates. “What's this?” She barely dodged an attack from the other skeletons. “I'll figure it out later.” She grabbed one skeleton with the Soul Robber and tossed it into the other, destroying the other, then took out the tossed one. Suddenly three more appeared out of the ground. “Back for more, Huh?” She destroyed the first and quickly took care of the remaining two. “How many of these are there?” The speakers of the Town hall came on. “Testing... Testing... Is this thing on?” Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “Why does that voice sound familiar?” Then more Skeletons appeared. “Gimme a break.” “My dear citizens of Ponyville. This is Nightmare moon speaking!” She grabbed a skeleton and smashed it in the ground. “Today, I bring you a joyous announcement.” Then she threw it in another smashing both of them spreading the golden things. “First of all, as of today, this very hour, this exact moment, I declare this town's name will be changed to Moon-Ville.” She spun around and sucked all the golden things to her, then two new skeletons replaced the defeated ones. “They just keep coming.” She stabbed one twice and it left behind a glowing rainbow colored apple, she took it and her tail began flashing colors like a rave, then one replaced the defeated. “Okay, that's it.” She spun her tail. “Are you ready?” She grabbed a skeleton. “Don't mess with me.” She swung the skeleton around with such speed it created a vortex sucking in the surrounding ones and smashed them to pieces, the flashing on her tail disappeared and the Soul Robber turned red, it let go of the skeleton by itself and smashed the last as it hit a wall. “Whew, that was tough.” The blue mist disappeared with a woosh sound, she heard another woosh, then another. “What happened, while I was gone?” She heard a crash coming from inside the town hall. “Someone's inside.” She walked over towards the town, but then she heard a rustling of metal, she stopped and reached under her wing and took out her small bag, she used to keep her bits in. “It feels heavier then I remember.” She wondered. She peeked inside. “Where did these extra bits come from?” She took out a hoof-full and saw a small difference, they had Nightmare's head on them instead of Celestia's, she put them back and put the bag back. Her ears perked up when she heard hooves. “Derpy?” Out of the shadow a trembling cross eyed pegasus slowly made her way in front of the town hall, on her back was her mail saddlebag. Dash approached her, hoping to get some answers. “Hey Derpy!” The mail mare jumped a little. “I'm not making any more traps!” Dash was taken aback by her outburst. “Oh Dash! It's you!” She hugged Dash happily. “Eh yeah. Derpy, what exactly happened while I was gone?” Derpy released the hug. “I dunno, first Pinkie pie proposed a plan for next Nightmare Night, she said you wanted a 'Dangerous Nightmare Night,' so we organized one to make you happy, she said if we didn't, you might never come back...” Derpy explained. “Do you think that using skeletons to hurt ponies is my idea of a good Nightmare Night!?” Dash almost yelled, Derpy covered her head with her hooves in an attempt to hide herself. “We just wanted you to come back.” The mail pony quickly added. “We set up, what we thought was harmless traps all over the place, but then hordes of weird dressed ponies and skeletons appeared out of nowhere, attacking everypony. Soon it wasn't even safe to be on the streets.” She finished. “This is a disaster! I've got to find Pinkie.” She said, then looked at the shaking pony. “Sorry I yelled at you Derpy.” Derpy looked up with a smile. “It's okay Dash, but I wanna help too. If you ever get into too much trouble, I'll get you out to the nearest safe spot, but I can't guarantee I'll get all your stuff with me, just don't forget.” Then the brown earth pony Doctor hooves popped out behind her. Startling Rainbow. “Write your name down.” Then the gray unicorn Dinky doo popped out of the bag on her left. “Or risk doing it again.” The two then disappeared like they came and Derpy took out a notebook. “Write your name here.” She pointed at a blank spot in the book. Rainbow wrote her name. “Catch you later Dash.” Derpy said and flew off. Dash looked at the town hall. “Time to go and see what's in there.” She took a running start and barged inside. “What happened here?” She looked around the mess, when she spotted something in the center, something black was rising up from the floor. “What's this?” It grew bigger, then grew wings, legs, a head with yellow eyes and a tail, then took the form of Nightmare Moon. “Daaaaaaaaaash!” It called for her. Dash readied the Soul Robber, then music was playing over the speakers. “Come on.” Dash galloped at the shadow, it tossed what looked like dices at her, not seeing it coming one hit Dash on her flank. She swore under her breath, then attacked the shadow with the Soul Robber and colorful notes flew out of it. There was Yellow, purple, blue, pink, red and orange. Ψ Shadow-mare moon Ψ Well, well, well! Dash, the Rainbow Queen! Finally made, huh? Oh, I've been waiting! So how do you like My Moon-Ville? Ha, ha, ha, ha! Dash was confused of why it suddenly started singing, but found herself doing the same, the shadow summoned two shadowbolts to fight, she grabbed one and was about to throw it, but was hit by another dice, making her drop the shadowbolt, she growled. Ψ Dash Ψ It's over! It's over! This time you've gone too far! It's over, I'm serious! Just who do you think you are? Just because you fooled the town Doesn't make you Queen! You'd better give up, surrender now! I'm fixin' everything! Ψ Shadow-mare moon Ψ That's what you think, hah! But you couldn't be more wrong! And this will be the last time You hear the Nightmare song! Ohhh! The shadow summoned a shadowbolt and it lifted a giant dice up in the air. Ψ Shadowbolts Ψ Ohhh! Ψ Shadow-mare moon Ψ Oh ohhh! It summoned another bolt to lift another dice in the air. Ψ Shadowbolts Ψ Ohhh! Ψ Shadow-mare moon Ψ Whoa oh! The first bolt dropped it's dice onto Dash, she quickly rolled out of the way, but hit her wing on something and she heard a crack from it. Ψ Shadowbolts Ψ Ohhh! The last bolt dropped it's dice immediately after, making Dash roll away again, but was careful not to hit her wing again. Ψ Shadow-mare moon Ψ I'm the Mare in the Moon! “Nightmare, what've you done to everypony?” Dash demanded taking out a bolt, then took the notes and went for the shadow. “They're all under my control! Ha ha ha!” This angered the pegasus greatly, but didn't show it too much and attacked. Ψ Dash Ψ I see you're pretty proud of All your booby trapping schemes! But I can say you'll rule this town Only in your dreams! Ψ Shadow-mare moon Ψ Heh, that's funny Dash, it was a dream! But now it's coming true! 'Cause even my mere shadow knows Your days as Queen are through! Whoa oh! Dash took out the last annoying bolt and absorbed the notes, then a loud sound rang through the speakers. Ψ Shadowbolts Ψ Whoa oh! The shadow summoned the bolts with the dices again. Ψ Shadow-mare moon Ψ Oh ohhh! Ψ Shadowbolts Ψ Whoa oh! Ψ Shadow-mare moon Ψ Whoa oh! Ψ Shadowbolts Ψ Whoa oh! Rainbow dodged the dices, suddenly the room went dark and spotlights turned on over Dash and the shadow. “Ready?” Dash was confused of what was happening, but had a good idea of what. “3! 2! 1!” “Let's dance.” Dash announced and danced. Ψ Dash Ψ I see you're pretty proud of All your booby trapping schemes! But I can say you'll rule this town Only in your dreams! Ψ Shadow-mare moon Ψ Heh, that's funny Dash, it was a dream! But now it's coming true! 'Cause even my mere shadow knows Your days as Queen are through! Whoa oh! Ψ Dash Ψ Whoa oh! Ψ Shadow-mare moon Ψ Oh ohhh! Ψ Dash Ψ Whoa oh! Ψ Shadow-mare moon Ψ Whoa oh! Ψ Dash Ψ Whoa oh! I'm the Rainbow Queen! Dash pointed a hoof at the shadow, then all the notes she had collected flew at it and dealt some massive damage, as the shadow screamed in agony. “That's what you get for messing with me.” Small shadows came together under it and it slowly sank down. “Beginner's luck if you ask me. Don't worry. We'll meet again!” It laughed and disappeared. Dash allowed herself a moment to catch her breath and take a look at her wing. “Great, it's been dislocated.” She took a deep breath and put the wing back in it's place. “Argh! Damn it!” She folded her wing to her body, rubbing her sore wing, she then noticed a little spark of light in front of her then it started raining with them and a golden necklace appeared in a flash. “That's the element of loyalty, now what in Equestria is that doing here?” Dash reached out for it. TBC