> Nightmares
>  by FanofAwesomeness
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> The Story is Told
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Dear Twilight Sparkle,
A new story is arriving in town. I think you would enjoy the tale. It will be arriving within the week. But please don't share it. Not everypony will think it's fiction. Be careful to keep this story hidden. If you don't, some ponies might just start doing crazy things. It will be arriving in a wooden box.
Your teacher,
Princess Celestia

"A new story?" Spike asked. "What kind of story?"
"I don't know," Twilight said. "But if it can have such a bad effect on ponies who believe it, then we better be careful."
"Maybe it's another one of those horror stories that you've told me about but never let me read," Spike said.
"That is possible," Twilight said, thinking. "But why would the princess warn me about a story? What could be so bad about it?"
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"Run," whispered a voice. "Run."
"Where are you?" I asked. "What do you want with me?"
This whole thing started when I snuck into the library. I just wanted a story. Where did this thing come from? Why was it after me? Why was Twilight hiding this story in a box?
"RUN!" it screamed. I saw the shadows bend around it. I saw the thing take shape. I saw it lunge at me, extending tose black blades. I saw them plunge into me and...
I woke up in a cold sweat. My heart was beating so fast, it felt like it was going to explode out of my chest. This was the twelfth time since I read the story.
Note to self, I thought. No more scary stories.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"It shows itself as a shadowy creature with no legs, yet it seems to stand upright. It's tail of shadow is the only thing keeping it aloft. It's arms have blades that are as black as himself and as purple as the twilight sky," Twilight read. "The blades have forward barbs made to kill. Its face is a mask of terror. Solid shadow makes up most of the rest of i's body and armor is found on its torso. This is a creature of dreams. A creature of fear. A creature of power. This is the creature known as Nocturne."
That last sentence made shivers run down Twilight's spine. This was definately a creepy story. And some ponies would take this seriously. But why did it sound vaguely familiar?
1 week ago
"It's after me!" screamed the crazy pony. "It's been trying to kill me! It's in the story! Don't read the story!"
This was the third pony that month tha had been found with a crazy hallucination that some creature was trying to kill him.
"It only comes in your sleep!" he continued to scream. "Don't sleep! It could find you! Don't look at the shadows!"
Present
There had been two more incidents just like that after he was locked up in the mental institution.
Right, Twilight thought. But how did they get to it? How did they find it?
"AH!" Spike screamed from upstairs.
"Spike!" Twilight teleported up to theroom where spike was clinging to the ceiling. "Spike, what happened?"
"It was there!" he screamed. "It was right there!"
"What was there?" Twilight asked. "What did you see?"
"That thing," Spike said. "That thing from the new story."
"You read it?"
"Well you didn't say I couldn't," Spike said, slowly climbing down the nearest wall. "And the princess said specifically 'ponies'. I'm not a pony so I thought it would be fine."
"What did you see?" Twilight asked again.
"That," Spike said pointing to the image of Nocturne in the book. "That is what I saw."
"It's just a story, Spike," Twilight said. "It can't hurt you."
"I'm not so sure," Spike said.
"Well I am," Twilight said. "I thought it was a burgler or something."
"Well sorry for being afraid of something that scared five ponies intoinsanity," Spike retorted. "That's the thing they were talking about. It's out there. It's hunting."
"If it were hunting," Twiligt said, "Then there would be five dead ponies. Not five crazy ones."
"Maybe that's how it hunts," Spike said, leaving the room. "Maybe it hunts peoples sanity instead of their lives."
"Maybe your just having imaginative dreams," Twilight said.
"What are the chances of six creatures having the same dreams, Twilight?" Spike asked.
"2%," Twilight replied. "But it is still possible. It's a common coincidence."
"We both know you don't believe in a coincidence," Spike said. "You always told me that there was a logical reason to everything."
"What you're saying isn't logical," Twilight said. "It's crazy."
That night
"Nocturne is a creature of fear. That means that he will feed off of fear. He will drive most to insanity by making them believe that he is real. Once they believe, he's never going to leave. He will literally scare them to death before leaving. He will starve his victims of peace and tranquility. He will feast upon their sanity until there is none left. He will then feast on their emotins, causing drastic mood swings. And finally, he will kill them. All the reportssay that it's heart attacks. But I know the truth." 
Twilight continued to read the story. She wouldn't nave nightmares. It is just a story. But there was something nagging at her that told her otherwise.
> Nightmares of Her Own
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Twilight was in Ponyville town square. She wasn't sure why, but shenever did know what was going on in her dreams. So she just walked away from the square and went to some shops. She figured she might be here to stock up on supplies.
"No," whispered a strange voice. The sound sent shivers down her spine. It was as if it had a double voice.
"Hello?" Twilight said. "Is anypony there?"
Silence was the reply. This is a really strange dream, Twilight thought.
She continued on her path when she heard it again. Then the sound of metal on metal came.
"Hello?" she asked again, tuning around. The streets were deserted. there was nopony around. Then who is saying 'no'?
Strange laughter filled the dream. It was that same double voice. "Whoever is doing this, it isn't funny," Twilight called out. She hadn't had such a bad dream since she was in school.
"Whoever?" the voice called out. "I think you mean 'Whatever', for I am not a who." It seemed amused at the fact that it was scaring her.
"What do you mean?" Twilight asked, beginning to shake.
"You know exactly what I mean Twilight Sparkle," It said.
"How do you know my name?"
"I have many ways of travel. But this one is a personal favorite. Stories. Who would have thought that they could be so helpful."
"What are you talking about?" Twilights shaky voice asked.
"You haven't figured it out? Well I guess I overestimated you. You did recieve that letter a little ways in advance."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that I have done this before. I will strip this town of it's protection just like I did before. You will be my weapon."
"I'm not going to let you do that," Twilight sad, powering up her magic.
"That little horn isn't going to do you any good in here," it said. "This is where I rule."
"What are you?" she asked, almost figuring out where it was.
"I am the one you read about," it said. "I am Nocturne." It lunged at her with both blades extended.
But Twilight was preparing for this. She rolled out of the way and shot a blast of magic at him. but right before it hit him, it stopped.
Twilight's jaw dropped. "I told you," Nocturne said, "That it wasn't going to do you any good."
And with that, he lunged at her, pushing one of his blades into her body.

Twilight woke up screaming. She could feel the blade pierce her body. She could still feel it in her. She threw off the blanket to look and see if she was dying.
And she saw that there was nothing wrong. Nothing had happened to her. She was fine.
"Twilight!" Spike screamed as he ran into her room. "Are you ok?"
"Yeah," she replied. "I'm fine. Go back to bed."
"You dreamed about it, didn't you?"
"It's nothing," Twilight said. "Now go back to sleep." She had some work to do.
> Help
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Twilight knew that there was only one pony that she could talk to about this. But she had to be carefuthat she didn't give away too much information. If she did, he would begin to fall into insanity as well. So she left for the only pegasus that knows magic. She went to Nightwolf's house.
As Twilight knocked on the door, she heard somepony inside hit something. As the door opened, Nightwolf said, "I was kinda buisy, you know. Now if you wouldn't mind," He looked up. "Oh. Sorry Twilight. What can I do for you?"
"I need some help with something," she said. "How much do you know about the last few ponies that went insane?"
"You're looking into the insanity of other ponies?" Nightwolf said, shocked. "That's probably not the best idea. Studying the insane can drive you insane."
"I know you're looking into it, too. Just tell me what you know," Twilight said, annoyed.
"I really don't want to," Nightwolf replied. "It hasn't exactly left me sleeping peacefully."
"What?!" Twilight said. "You've been having nightmares? Please dont tell me that it has a shadow-"
"That floats around wearing armor and Umbra Blades," Nightwolf finished. "Yeah. That's the one. He kills me in every one of them. But my mind doesnt react like it should. I've learned one thing from this. Don't spread the story."
"How'd you learn that?"
"By recieving the nightmares after seeing the story in the subconscious minds of the last three ponies. I was working on the fourth when you got here."
"We need to find a way to stop him."
"Him?" Nightwolf asked.
"Nocturne. That's his name," Twilight replied.
"How do you know this?" Nightwolf asked.
"I was the one who got the story. Princess Celestia sent it to me. The first victim must have snuck in and read it while I was asleep. That's when it all got started. Anypony who knows the story is at risk."
"And you need to get some help immediately!" Nightwolf screamed. "If you know his name, that could end up causing him to be stronger! I need to take a look at your subconscious. Now."
"What?" Twilight asked. "How are you going to do that? Is it going to hurt?"
"It'll be as painless as possible," Nightwolf said. And with that, he struck a match and began to light the candles.
After waiting for a good 23 minutes, Twilight felt something. It was strange. "Hello?" Nightwolf asked.
"I'm right in front of you," Twilight said. That's when she noticed that his eyes were closed and he didn't appear to be breathing. "Nightwolf?"
"I'm in your head right now," He replied. "My physical body isn't containing my spirit. It won't be working as it normally would."
"You should've told me that sooner."
"Sorry."
"Just do what you're in there to do."
"Alright," he said.
It's strange having another pony in my head, Twilight thought.
"I hope you realize that I can hear your thoughts," Nightwolf called out. "It's wierd being in here. It's so much more organized than most pony's minds."
"You heard what I thought?" Twilight asked.
"Yeah. Just don't think of ay deep, dark secret and we'll be fine. Now where is the subconscious hallway?"
She was stunned. If Nightwolf could heard whatever she said or thought right now, then she had better not think of anything specifically concerning Nocturne.
"Holy Celestia!" Nightwolf screamed. Twilight felt a searing pain in her head when he did.
"What?" Twilight asked. "What happened?"
"I'm trying to get out of here!" Nightwolf said, panting. "He's in here!" Twilight could hear and feel Nightwolf's hoofsteps and was wondering what exactly he was running from. Then she remembered Nocturne and connected it to what Nightwolf had said.
"Can't you just end the spell whenever you want?" Twilight suggested.
"Do you really think I wouldn't have tried that?" Nightwolf said. "The spell cuts off automatically at 10 minutes. He can't stop that. Unless he kills me."
"Won't that just send you back and wake you up?" Twilight asked.
"If this were my head, yes," Nightwolf said. "But the rules are different if you're in somepony else's head. If he kills me in here, then my mortal body will die and I'll be trapped in your head. Then you will end up involutarily letting me take over. Eventually, Neither one of us will survive because no two pony's can exist in the same body. Are you understanding what I'm saying?"
"That if Nocturne kills you while you're in my head, both of us will die."
"Exactly," Nightwolf said, panting. His hoofsteps had stopped. "You could help me hold him off by falling asleep. But don't do anything that will get you killed. That will just complicate things even more."
"Alright," Twilight said, laying down. "I'm coming in."
Once Twilight was asleep, she realized that she was in darkness. There was no light. Then she heard hoofsteps pounding on the floor and was crashed into by Nightwolf. "Good," he said. "You're here."
"Why is it so dark?" Twilight asked.
"Because he's the one controlling the environment," Nightwolf answered. "He doesn't control us, though. We have to keep moving. Once time is up, I'll wake you up, ok?"
"Sounds good," Twilight answered. "Just one question."
"Yeah?"
"Where is he?"
"Um," Nightwolf said. "I kinda lost track of him as soon as I paused."
"How do we avoid something that we don't know where it is?" Twilight asked.
"You don't," hissed Nocturne from behind them. Both of them screamed. Nighwolf grabbed Twilight and jumped into the air so he could fly away but was pushed down by sudden pressure. "I control this world. You two will bring me the town inexchange for your sanity and your lives."
"And if we refuse?" Nightwolf asked.
"Then you will both die slowly enough to regret your choice," Nocturne replied, circling them. "What is your choice?"
"I choose to fight," Twilight said. "I'm not going to hand over the town that houses my friends."
"And I'm not just going to sit by and watch you destroy my sistaer's home," Nightwolf agreed. "We fight."
"Unwise," Nocturne said, turning to face them.
"Twilight!" Nightwolf screamed. "Get down!" He raised his hoof as Twilight dropped to the floor. "Vidyudvadhisu!" A bolt of lightning flew out and struck Nocturne on the left side of his chest plate. "Come on!"
Twilight jumped up and followed Nightwolf through the labyrinth that was her mind. Every new twist and turn was unfamiliar. But this is my mind, thought Twilight. How do I not know this?
"Because you never took a trip throught your mind," Nightwolf answered. "I can still hear your thoughts."
As they rounded the corner, Nocturne emerged out of the wall and cut them off. "You are clever, pegasi," he said. "You remind me of another much longer ago."
"Well I do tend to bring balance to most things," Nightwolf said. "In this case, this fight between you and us."
"You are a Balancer," he said. "That is why you still survive. That is why you can do what you can. That is what gives you power."
"What's he talking about?" Twilight asked quietly.
"How the hay should I know?" Nightwolf answered. "You're the second one to call me that," he said to Nocturne. "What does that mean?"
"It means that you are stalling," Nocturne replied. He leaped into the air. Nightwolf just stood up straight and stayed there. Nocturne swung his blade down onto Nightwolf's head...
But instead hit the tile flooring. Nightwolf had disappeared. The spell had timed out. And any second, Nightwolf would be waking up Twilight.
"Twilight!" she heard him scream. "Twilight, wake up!" She squeezed her eyes shut and opened them.
But there were the same surroundings. She was trapped. "You cannot escape me so easily, fool," Nocturne said. "You will stay here until I let you go. You will-"
Twilight felt a shock in her chest and woke up with a start. "Thank Celestia you're alright," Nightwolf said.
"How did you wake me up?" Twilight asked, her heart trying to beat out of her chest.
"Electric restart," Nightwolf said. "I shocked you and jumpstarted your heart into waking you up."