When a simple determined soldier falls in battle, he is given a second chance as a new life. What is the problem you ask? Not only is he born as a different gender and a pony, but he is the daughter of Nightmare Moon, Empress of Equestria.
(Inspired by Celesti Lateo's story Glory of the Sun. It is not in any way a direct copy, with changes almost everywhere except for the basic idea. If he decides to make this story a parallel world to his own, that is on him, but it is not attached until otherwise said.) (Also inspired byLost Little Wolf)
(This is a self insert. I have joined and am shipping out for basic training a month after school is out. This is a what if scenario for me.) (Sex tag is for jokes, no clop, but there will be gore.)
All my life as a human I have been a soldier. I grew up learning the art of war from a military family, learning everything from archery to sword play, and I honestly enjoyed it, and knew my calling before I was even out of middle school. Sadly, not long after I was done with my basic training, tensions overflowed all across the world. I found myself dead on the battlefield, gazing up at the summer moon before darkness closed around my vision. That was the normal part. See I didn't get a afterlife, rather a rebirth....with all my memories, PTSD, and muscle memory without the strength behind it, and the entirely wrong gender.
Oh and did I mention my mother is a pony goddess who forced Night time (mostly) eternal?
All was still. I didn't know if we won, lost, or both were planing their next move. All I knew was I was bleeding out, and since I couldn't feel anything, probably paralyzed. I forced my eyes open and looked up. The stars and moon shone across the battlefield, bodies of my fellow soldiers both allied and enemy littered everywhere. I looked at the summer moon with my heavy eyes.
I tried to lift my hand and reach for moon. 'I.... if I have to die now.... at least I die under a beautiful moon.' I thought as my vision started to darken around the corners. I grabbed my dog tag to read My name one last time. Colin Wigylus. With a small smile I let my hand rest on my chest before looking back up, my vision fading to black with the moon being the last thing I remember seeing.
'Death is never a end, just a beginning.'
'ThumThump ThumThum'
I woke up to a heavy thumping filling my ears and vibrating my body. I couldn't open my eyes but something just felt... Wrong. I can't explain it but everything was wrong. I tried to move, wanting to get out of where ever I was. I stopped as soon as I heard a voice of distress. It... It sounded familiar but I couldn't place it. One way or another I didn't want to hurt anyone so I stoped and stayed still with my thoughts.
I tried to remember what happened. I remember the battle, and being peppered in the gut. I remember dieing, then ending up here, wherever here is. I took a breath, and even that felt strange, like I was breathing in a liquid but I wasn't drowning. Everything was wrong. I thought back to my high school years and decided to take a philosophy from back then and calm down, and just let things happen.
I thought back on my life, making sure that I didn't suffer any brain damage. 'My name was Colin Wigylus. Is! Okay that was wierd... My name is Colin Wigylus, I am a 19 year old American male. I am a soldier for the US army reserve. I had two younger brothers and both parents alive and well. My Hobbies included Archery, sword play, my little pony and gaming.' I thought, not even noticing my shift back to pastense. It seemed like all my memories were there at the time so I changed focus to my body.
It felt weird. My arms felt out of place and even my head felt strange. I couldn't move or even open my eyes to look at myself. I felt no pain, but instead felt small, weak, and a strange sense of irrational fear. That fear grew until I was panicing for a reason I don't even know.
Then she sang.
I still don't know who she is but her voice, it soothed me. My fears... I felt them go away. I actually fell asleep to her lullaby as I relaxed and let my consciousness fade....
I woke up some time later just as restless as before. I tried to move around much to the discomfort of who ever that lady is again. Eventually I have up and was left alone with my thoughts once again.
I thought back to my hobbies this time. I first got into archery nine years before I joined the military and not to toot my own horn but I was a prodegy. It was as easy as breathing and I even held the state record in California for two weeks. 'Still bitter I lost that competition by one arrow.' I always loved archery, it was a shame that I had to give up my bow to buy my house but that's life for you.
Sword play. Although it is rarely used in this day and age it always drew me in. Maybe it was watching too many movies or reading too much fantasy, but I have always loved swords and their styles. My father learned long ago how to wield them and after much begging he taught me everything he knew. It wasn't much, but it was something.
Gaming. Honestly this one shouldn't be a shock. Gamers are everywhere in this day and age and the types of games just increase. My favorite games were Warframe and Kingdom Hearts respectively. There was just something about those games that spoke to me, and KH especially changed my life for the better.
And last but not least the show My Little Pony. Yeah I may not have been up to date on the episodes, but I still loved the show. I wasn't a hardcore fan, going to cons or cosplay, the most I did was buy a keychain. But the world of equestria, it always enraptured me. It was a world of magic where anything could happen. A nobody can save the world and become a somebody. To me, it is a ideal world, one where I used to wish I'd be a part of.
As I thought this where ever I was jostled akin to a earth quake. Once again that irrational fear returned. I have never been a coward. Yeah I had fears but I never let them control my actions. Being this afraid over something..... It was unheard of. By the time it had finished I was shaking, trying to make myself into a ball just to hide. Then I heard the soothing lullaby again and somehow knew everything was okay.
"Its okay little one, the day won't hurt you no more."
I woke up again bored out of my mind. I needed out, I needed to see God Damn it! I kicked and squirmed Dispite the cries out side. Where ever or whoever she is, I didn't care anymore, I needed out!
"Her magisty is going into labor, the child should be out any minute now!"
I continued to squirm, a small light piercing the darkness of my sight. I made a break for the light before the sound of breaking water filled my ears. I coughed, took a deep breath, and let out a cry. The sound of a baby telling filled my ears as I finally opened my eyes to have them assaulted.
Blurry images filled them as my body was picked up by something MUCH bigger than me. I was wrapped up in something warm, probably a blanket, as I was carried over to a black and blue mass. "It's a Filly your Magisty!" the one carrying me boomed, my ears folding on my head as I whimpered.
This is when I started to realize what was happening. 'Wait.... Did I just whimper? And what is with my ears? And why did she say Filly!' my mind paniced as the black glob started to take more shape and my heart dropped.
"It's okay little Nebula.... Mother is here..." Said the voice I now reconized. Paired with that face it is hard not to. Nightmare Moon grinned down at me with her razor sharp teeth as I lifted one of my arms to get a look.
Instead of a hand, my eyes met a hoof, one covered in dark purple fur. Now normally I'd be happy. I was after all one of those bronies that would kill to come to Equestria. But at that moment in time that wasn't on my mind, so I did the next best thing.
It took a while for the screaming to stop, much to everyone's (pony's?) confusion. Eventually Nightmare had a idea and started to sing. I don't know why but it just...calmed me down, hell even made me tired. I remember them talking about something.... something about my magic, but that was all I got before sleep took over.
I awoke some time later in darkness. Now, unlike normal people, who have an instinctive fear of the dark, I never had that and I am glad to report that it has stayed. Besides, whatever it was I felt against me was warm and even kinda fluffy. I snuggled up against it as I tried to fall back asleep to hear someone chuckle. I looked up and saw a pair of slitted blue eyes looking down at me.
"Such a cute little one. Oh how Fury would have loved you." Nightmare says in a soft tone before she nuzzled me. Honestly, it felt nice. For a moment, everything faded. My fear, confusion, everything save fore the feeling of her love. She wrapped her wings around me and I felt safe. This... it felt so strange. It felt wrong, like I was betraying my original mom but it also felt so right... damn now I'm sounding like a bad pop song.
Then I felt it for the first time, And by God the first time was painful. I felt a presure building up in my head, and it just kept building until I was starting to tear up. I felt my...I felt Nightmare move away from me and try to say something but it hurt too much. I just wanted it gone, I wanted it all gone. And because Murphy is a ass it was at this moment PTSD decided to rear it's ugily head. I screamed as I remembered all I saw, all I felt and had to do on the battlefield. All the fallen friends, all the blood, the child forces that took us by suprise. I screamed as I felt something coming off me in massive quantities until, with a flail of my head, it releaced. I looked and saw a huge, powerful ray of dark Magic shooting out of me and taking out not only the roof of this room, but continuing on and on into the open sky.
I was in awe at first until a new pain started to form. The spell wasnt stopping as I felt a burning on what I asume to be my horn. It hurt so much, before it suddenly went cold. I felt the spell stop as something was placed over my horn and I was left a snobbing, hurting mess.
I felt someone pick me up and hold me, petting my mane and shushing me. I didn't care that she wasn't my first mom. I cried into her fur as Nightmare held me, petting me saying "Shhh... it's okay, it was just your first magic flare, it's okay. Momma is here. Mother is here little one, it's okay."
And I believed her.
Three Years Later
I woke up with a yawn. In these last three years I have slowly started to get used to my position. Being female will always be strange to me, but it just means I'd have to be a tomboy. Over all nothing interesting happened these last few years save for a few info bits. First off, while Mom -sorry- Nightmare Moon does have all of ponydom nocturnal, she does realize that true Nighttime eternal would kill everyone. So she had a ingenious plan. Make it so the sun is out just long enough to help things grow and keep things from freezing before replacing it with the moon again. This paired with a thousand years of special cross pollination to allow most plants to grow at night anyway and she actually has a good ship sailing here as far as plan execution. And that isn't even mentioning the relations with the dragon, where dragons openly walk the streets, making friends with ponies, trading and even giving birth to some Kirin.
Now that's not to say everything is moonshine and water lilies. Unlike Celestia's rule from the show, Mom is well antiquated with war. Ponies these days are still happy go lucky, but are more willing to fight back then the pushovers in the show, For good and for bad. Sombra also is still around and when he heard of me (apparently out of wedlock. Guess my squad mates were right calling me a bastard.) he did everything he could to try to court mom, even starting a war that we are still fighting. The griffons are constantly trying to take over all of Equis, though with there current leader being similar to Hitler, I can't wait for him to loose.
Anyways, history lesson aside I got out of bed before checking myself in the mirror. Had it not been my body staring back I just might have died of cuteness overload. I was a small little thing and if you thought bat ponies were cute, Just imagine one of their foals.... with a horn.... The word adorable comes to mind. My mane was similar to Nightmare's, only instead of just blue there are also tones of purple mixed in. My eyes took the longest for me to get over. they are slitted, to be expected, but the color changes based of my mood, such as the current shade of calm blue. I smiled at my reflection before I heard the door open and in come mom. She smiled as soon as she saw me and quickly scooped me up. "Oh how I missed my little filly! How is my little star?"
"Hehe! I'm fine mommy. I almost cast my first spell today! Look!" I said as I focused hard on creating a aura. Sparks of multiple colors shot out of my horn before I stopped, panting from then mental strain "See?"
Nightmare smiled "Wow, that is amazing Neb! One day, I know you'll be more powerful than even me!"
"Really?"
"Really really!" Nightmare chuckled as she held me close. Its... strange. I know things. I know so much, but it feels like becoming a child did more than effect my body. I honestly and truly love Nightmare Moon like a mother. And I just felt so.... kiddish. Oh well, it'll probably go back to normal once I'm older...
2 Years Later
"But mom, I don't want to go to school!" I said as I was also internally tearing my mane out. I still knew all the math and science from earth, and I didn't want to be back as square one!
Nightmare sighed "Nebula Aurorian Noctis, We will not have this discussion again. I know you are smarter, and more powerful than all the other children, but you still need a education, to learn of history and the arts." She smiled for a moment as she continued. "Besides that, I'm not sending you to a normal school."
"What do you mean" I asked, genuinely confused.
"I mean that this school is unique. Don't think I haven't caught you looking at the recruits training and sparing, you want to learn combat. This school with start your training, on top of teaching you a normal curriculum. Add that the children from other rulers across the world will be attending as a attempt for peace, and even if you were not interested in combat, you would be going." She steps down from her throne and lifts my chin. "I have faith in you Nebula, you will do fine. Its not like you are not coming home for holidays."
I sighed. The only reason I was staying at the school all the time was because of all the political bullshit that comes with royalty. If not for that, then I know I wouldn't be staying 24/7. But, I have a act to keep up. "Okay mom... Hey, do you think I will get my Destined Mark while I'm there?" I asked. And yes, a more mature Equestria, a more mature name for cutie marks.
Nightmare chuckled happily, a soft look flashing across her stilted eyes. "If that is what will get you happy to go."
"Yes yes yes yes yes!" I say, jumping for joy. Uhg, this turning into a foal thing has really affected me huh.... "Come on mom, lets go!" I said, picking up my bag that the steward had handed to me.
"Mistress Moon, Lady Nebula, the carriage has arrived. I take it everything is in order?" He asked in his monotone voice.
Nightmare nodded. "Thank you Ringer, I shall return in time for open court." She said as she took me in her wing and walked us outside and to the waiting carriage. I'm still not used to nighttime eternal. I mean, through the use of magic, plants still grow and there is a form of day and night, with the brightening and dimming of the moon but just the darkness all around... I'm not sure if its a comfort or what. Anyways we hop into the carriage and start off for my new home away from home....
As we flew over the country side Mom decided to speak. "Now, as much as I wish I could just see you off to class as if it is a normal school, I can not. You must be ready for those who will be in your dormitory and those who you will undoubtedly come across."
I sighed. Here we go again. "I know mother, you don't need to repeat it."
She looked at me with a seriousness I have only seen on her a handful of times. "Yes I do little star. You must know because this will not just effect you and me, but the lives of all of Equis." She sighed before hugging me with her wing. "Now, each of the major powers of this world have decided to send their children here. This is in a attempt for peace, after all how can they attack me if their child is friends with you? Each of the students you need to focus on are as follows: Umbral son of Sombra, Shiva of the Windigoes, Amor daughter of Chrysalis, Ragnarok son of Dragon lord Garbal, Hel Daughter of Tirek, and Gray son of Führer Singed Claw. All the children will have their own agendas undoubtedly, but this is not what I give you." The Nightmare turned to me with her dragonic eyes, staring into my own. "I want you to be aware of the dangers, but you have no mission. You are to be a student, make companions, and be a filly for once in your life." She smiled a sweet, fanged smile "is that clear?"
"Yes mom." I said with a smile of my own. Though I couldn't find out why she had worry planted in her eyes. They're kids, it's not like they will murder me. "Can I still bring Equinox with me?" I said before she rolled her eyes.
"if you tell me what spells you put into it yes you may. But I know you'll never give that up." She chuckled. "You even resisted a truth spell and potion, combined, simply because you wanted to keep it hidden." I grinned. Equinox is my Soul weapon, a weapon bound to my very being. It didn't look like much, but I had made it with that in mind. It is always the prettiest flower that pricks.
"You know me too well mom~" I said with a giggle before sighing and taking a breath of the fresh air. I smiled as I thought about these last few years. Don't get me wrong, its awesome being a pony, but god this took a while to get used to. First I had to get used to being a pony, then a filly at that, then the fact that my mom was Nightmare Moon, and to top it all off I was a alicorn OC... I can see the hate comments now.... But then I started to look around. Ponies had turned mostly Nocturnal, the thestrals being upper class, despite being mostly honor bound warriors. The sky, even during the short times of day, always had the stars out, shining everywhere. It is a true paradise to me, at least in Equestria. "So can I bring it?"
My mother gave a tired sigh. "Fine, but only on the condition you use it only in practice or self defense. I've seen what you do with that thing."
"Thanks mom!" I said happily as I summoned the weapon to me. The blade as large as I am appeared on my back, and I knew it would grow alongside me as I age. The black metal with white spirals through it gave it a almost mystical vibe. I held the blade in my magic before I focused on the sphere of white and black at the pommel, changing the shape of the weapon into a bow as the sheath transformed into a quiver filled with arrows made of my magic. With a happy sigh I turned it back into a 'great-sword' and kept it sheathed.
"I worry about you sometimes." Mother chuckled as she looked away from me and out to our destination. The school was massive, as in Hogwarts has a little brother big. We flew around until we pulled up to the front, the night guard stepping out and standing at attention by the door, though they didn't open it.
"What are they waiting for mother?" I asked, confused as normally they try not to wasted our time.
"We have to wait for the other rulers. If one of us disembarks before the others, it is a sign that we think that we are more important. However if we all exit in sync, it is to show we all are equals, as are our children, regardless of the truth."
I groaned as that meant more waiting. As the minutes felt like hours, boredom was strong with this one. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the horns were sounded, and our door, as well as that of the others by us, opened and the carpets rolled out. I stepped out with posture, followed by Nightmare. A careful glance to my side revealed the others, and I must say, not impressed.
Umbral is your classic edgy unicorn OC, black fur, multi-toned gray mane, and Purple eyes with a curved red horn like dear dad. Shiva is a Windigo, the only tell tale feature being that she is a darker shade of blue than most. Amor was slightly interesting, having a maroon color rather than her mother's emerald green. Ragnarok was a edgy dragon, Black with red accents and curved, ram like horns. Hel was interesting only because she looks like a rule 63 version of dad, just smaller. And Gray was uncreatively named. He is, you guessed it, Gray, with black tips on his wings, though the metal tips on his claws I would bet bits is a weapon thats hidden. Turning my focus forward, I notice that each of the leaders stop a pace away, leaving myself and the others to continue forward, getting closer and closer until we were almost next to each other. Almost rehearsed, we all turn around at the same time and bow back to our parents. Once we raised up, we stood as we watched as our parents boarded their rides, and left, though I caught mother smile and give me a wave subtly, causing a faint smile on my face, not that I care if any of the others noticed.
Once they had gone, Umbral was already playing his hand. "Armed like that of a lowly guard. Just what I'd expect from a bastard child." He said smugly, causing the others to laugh, and me to chuckle.
"Oh what, afraid to crack your hoofcure?" I said mockingly "Please lover boy, learn how to treat a lady before you try and flirt. I get your daddy has the hots for my mother, and he just boned your mother for a heir, but really, learn some skills before you try me." That shut everyone up and caused Umbral to sputter, all while I had a calm, smug grin.
"I like her." Gray said with a smile to Ragnarok, who just scoffed.
"Just words. The day she fells me in a spar or duel, I will take her words with weight." The dragon boy said, causing me to give a fanged smile, my eyes flashing a fiery red.
"Anytime, any place. There are no opponents me and Equinox can't fell." I said, my magic having a grip on its handle.
Hel Looked me over, and judging from the look in her eyes and the tense of her muscles, she is worried about her mission that mother warned me about. Amor looked me over "Reading emotions almost as good as a changeling, impressive." She told me giving a small fanged smile of her own.
"I try." I said, all while my head was planing out what she will try. Paranoia never hurt anyone in small doses.
Shiva on the other hand was looking me over, as if she was confused by something. "So, you are the mysterious Nebula Aurorian Noctis. Daughter to Empress Nightmare Moon." She said in a wispy voice. "Such a strange energy from you."
"Yeah dad, she feels like her nature is a Paradox!" Said a new voice, causing the rest of us to jump as a genderbent, young discord gloated before us.
"Now now Eris, you can play with your toys later." Discord, lord of chaos said, standing not far from us as he tisked. "All this fan fair and they didn't invite me to their little peace making. I'm hurt." He said, before falling back onto a couch that wasn't there a moment ago.
"And to answer your question, isnt life and morality a paradox into it's self? I mean, look at sanity and insanity. Genius and madness. Two sides to the same coin. I mean, we all have our own thoughts, our own ways of thinking, and so there is no normal person so we are all insane, but then by that logic everyone is normal and thus sane, making us all geniuses if genius and madness are truly the sane, but then again we are all mad, making us insane." I ranted, causing even discord to look at me quizzically.
"I'll be keeping a eye on you young Nebula. I approve of your chaotic, yet logical thinking, but if you thought up that at your age before even I did, well, I don't know what to think..." He said before turning to the smiling Eris. "Have fun at school dear."
"Bye daddy!" She waved before discord walked through a portal, sparing me another calculating glance.
Everyone was still looking at me as I nervicly chuckled. "Heh Heh.... oops?"
