First Nightmare Over Equestria

by ArgentumScriptum

First published June 17th, 2013 17:00

Set 600 years after the great Chaos incident, Equestria has become a place of peace and harmony. But, before Ponyville, or for that matter, Equestria was founded, in the Kingdom named "Harmony", the stage is being set for a huge disaster. Something that may require the current elements of harmony to solve. If not, Harmony may enter a new age of darkness, and a new evil will emerge victorious as the new rulers of this world.

Chapters

Prologue
Chapter 1: A Change Occurs
Chapter 2: When Do Nightmares Become Reality?

Prologue
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First Nightmare Over Equestria

Prologue

Era: 600 AC, New Equestrian Age, 60 Years before Crystal Uprising
Dear King Sombra,
I write to you right now if you in great urgency. Our subjects’ have been tormented by phantoms that my sister can’t diminish. They appear to be pony, but are merely shadows in form. They are anomalous in behavior, because unlike regular nightmare’s, ponies have been experiencing long term damage to their behavior, causing some to go insane, or even worse, criminal. In fact, we have reprehended a pony today for smashing a porcelain flower pot, and using it as a weapon against a guard. The worst part was that her eyes were discolored, almost like the regular color was drained, and was replaced with the eye of a cat. Even with my knowledge, I do not know of how to handle this situation without calling the Element Bearers to risk their lives, just as they had done in the Great Abyss Incident. As I’m aware that you are currently busy in preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration, I would like to know if your people have been suffering the same nightmares.
Your Queen and Faithful Friend,

Celestia
“It’s a scary thing, isn’t it brother?” Turquoise said as he bit through another piece of a dandelion sandwich. Him and his little brother were eating in the dining room, well he was anyway. He looked up to see his little brother fiddling with his little Ukulele, letting out a small chord as it rang through the quiet house. “Brother?” His little brother looked up from his strumming. “Yeah, I guess…” Turquoise picked up the newspaper he was currently holding and hit his little brother in the head. “Ow!” He said as he rubbed his little hooves through his now slightly throbbing head. Turquoise smiled, and continued reading the newspaper.
Even though he was smiling on the outside, he was extremely worried on the inside. This news of nightmares all over Equestria has been stressing everyone out. In fact, his imports on valuable stones are running late because one of the workers called in on a sick day. It was putting a terrible stress on the profits his Jewelry store was making.
Besides that, the people in Hollow Shades haven’t been experiencing any nightmares of the sort. That’s all good with him, he didn’t need any more chaos than he did right now. As he thought that, he waved his hood over his head to clear of any bad luck thinking of the chaos bringer could possibly bring. He looked over at his brother again. “Oh well.” He thought to himself. “Hey Meadow,” His little brother looked at him again. “Put down your little toy guitar and play with the other foals.”
“Okay big brother.” Meadow got off the dining room chair and sat the guitar up against it. Pushed open the door and trotted outside, where he could already hear the foals squeals and laughter. He shook his head and sighed as he put down the paper. “It looks like I better get going as well; it looks like I’ll have to head outside Hollow Hold to find any chance of getting jewels.” And with that, he finished his sandwich, and headed out.

Author's Note

I plan releasing a prequel to this story to explain some of the incidents and times such as "AC" and "Great Abyssal Incident" If you want me to create a prequel before finishing this story, speak up.

Chapter 1: A Change Occurs
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First Nightmare Over Equestria

Chapter 1: A Change Occurs

Dear Celestia,
My Citizens have had no occurrence of what you referred to as "Unfathomable Nightmares" when you wrote to me yesterday. I wish to say, however, that there have been reports of burrows around the outside walls of the kingdom. And there were not just a few burrows, there were many! We sent a search party to investigate them, and they counted nearly 500 burrows! One burrow in question was found just outside the city walls, so I ordered them to search through there.
Only one came back, uttering the same uttering only this phrase, "Holes! So many Holes! Why did they have HOLES!" I don't think under the circumstances of the symptoms each incidents have caused would lead to say that they are related, but they certainly have been causing problems for both of us. There is only one thing I believe now, is that something evil rests under the Crystal Kingdom. I only hope that your kingdom gets better my friend, and I hope for your well-being as well.
Your Friend,

Sombra

Turquoise went deeper into the Everfree Forest, avoiding all the thorns and branches that were obstructing his path. Almost every couple seconds, he would step on a brier, causing extreme pain to his hoof. Or even worse, branch that he had somehow missed would get caught on the canteen he had around his back, making him have to sway a bit to get free, but brushing up against the thorns in the process. But he endured a little longer as he approached his objective. "Damn that crazy old bag." he swore under his breath as he stepped on another brier. "I just hope that she was correct about this 'Abandoned Mine' that supposedly was left out here."
He consulted the historian who worked in the mayors office. She was an extremely old mare, with arthritis in her hind legs. She had shakily described to him an old mine that Hollow Shades used to own, but abandoned due to the constant problems with the outgrowth of the plants.She just pointed him in the right direction of the mine, saying it was straight down an old dusty pathway.
His hoofsteps were growing a little painful from the abuse, so when he broke into the next clearing, he had to lay down and rest. He grabbed his canteen and poured a little on his hooves where the cuts were more sever, then drank a little more. I wonder how far I have to go... As he was thinking, his mind was suddenly filled with past events that just had shaken him down worse for wear. The death of mom, dad abandoning them for a wild life of Canterlot. Heck, even the mayor dying had screwed with his mind a little, he was their godfather after all, he named his little brother after all.
He heard a rustling through the brush across the clearing, and he scrambled for cover under the bush behind him. Dammit, it's probably just a bunny or something, and i'm freaking ou- His thoughts were stopped as he saw something black clear the brush. Two green eyes poked out of the brush, it's eyes darting back and forth as if they were trying to scan the perimeter. Then they looked straight towards the spot that Turquoise was laying in, causing his heart to beat erratically, as if it was a prisoner banging his cup against the bars.
Then as quickly as they appeared, they disappeared into the dark trees and brush behind. Turquoise breathed a sigh of relief as he climbed out of the bush. After checking his coat for any twigs or leaves, he went forward. Whatever that was, it probably was just scouting for predators. It looked to worried to be anything dangerous. He assured himself as he went in the direction of the brush where the eyes were once protruding.
He walked further into the darkness, and soon found it hard to see where he was going. As his face hit another thorn, he thought to himself, "Next time, i'm bringing a machete." His inner complains were halted when a smell hit his nose, causing his face to scrunch up a little. "Oh god that's vile..." He thought as it caused him to lose his footing and he tumbled through the rest of the brush. He thorns wrapped around his body, digging deep into his fur, scratching some parts along his flank and haunch.
He felt the ground beneath him grow hard and he fell face first with a *smack*. He looked up to see a huge cave in front of him, with a worn down piece of wood hanging from the top of the entrance. He smiled a little as he knew where he was at, but groaned a little at the smell. It smelled like rotten eggs, which wouldn't be too strange. Probably from an old miner's egg sandwich, but he didn't want to think about that because it just filled him with bile just imagining it. He just realized he forgot to bring a shovel, so he search the perimeter for any old ones.
When he finally found one, he approached the cave, shaking any ominous feelings he had before. Riches laid in this cave, and he hoped to gather enough to support his jewelry store for a long time.

Author's Note

This chapter was a little boring to write. >.< But if I didn't, I would not be able to proceed to the next chapter, which is much better and exciting.

Chapter 2: When Do Nightmares Become Reality?
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First Nightmare Over Equestria

Chapter 2: When Do Nightmares Become Reality?

Turquoises had the shovel strapped to his back as he journeyed into the abandoned mine. The first thing he noticed when he entered the cave was that it was incredibly stuffy. His nostrils were immediately filled with snot when the warm, moist air hit his face. He was not the one for wiping his snout, but he didn't bring any towels to wipe his nose with, so he had to bear with it for now. For the most part, the cave was illuminated by lanterns still burning thanks to magic left behind by the previous miners. But it was strange that the cave wasn't boarded up. Maybe the previous owners thought they may return to it if a settlement built closer. With himself deep in thought, he ended up walking face first into a wall. "Dammit!" he yelled, but they his eyes were greeted by the most glorious thing he's seen all day, jewels. His face lit up with enthusiasm, as he sent the shovel he had in his hooves into the soft wall in front of him. It cause a bit of dirt to fly into his face, but it met with result as a few gems fell out of the wall. He laughed in rejoice as he threw a few into his bag, and he moved further into the cave. He saw the path ahead was dark, so he grabbed a lantern and went deeper.

****************
The secretary leafed through the paperwork that was laid on her desk. "Oh my." she said as one sheet of paper was brought before her.
To the order of the village,

I'm incredibly sorry for not having this filed earlier, but my father completely forgot to file this paperwork after the mine that we used to own was left behind. There was a good reason for this, but this has been left unsaid by my father, because of "business secrets". But I wrote this letter in this place because the deed to the mine has been left to me, and I wish the mine to condemned. Apparently, it was abandoned due to trouble with the structure, and was declared unsafe and unfitting by the miners to continue digging. Apparently a fault line was discovered in the cave, and tremors became common afterwards. Attached to this letter is a deed to the mine, and I urge you to send workers to board up the mine, before someone wanders in there. Please be as diligent as possible.
Current Owner,

Little D. Cryogene
The secretary leaped out of the chair, and galloped towards the mayor's office, shouting "Emergency! Emergency! We need to send a crew right now!"

*****************
Turquoise felt the bag become heavier as the bag became filled with more gems. Wiping the sweat off his nostrils, he exclaimed, "This place is completely filled with gems! Why would people abandoned this mine?" He decide it was about time to head back, and journeyed a little farther to gather a few more gems. "Mercy!" He shouted as he found a big green and purple gem embedded into the ground.
He hoofed at the ground around the crystal, and measured it to be around 2 feet long, 1 and a third in diameter. He shoved the spade under the egg shaped crystal and plucked the stone out of the ground. As he picked it up with his hooves, he discovered an attractable warmness to the object, He held it close to his face, and found an extreme attraction to it.
Not like, a beauty attractive, but more of a kin attraction.
Then it shook. He quickly dropped it, and it hit the ground with a *splat!* What he saw next will be unforgettable. A small black creature laid still on the ground, it's body about the size of a rabbit. Turquoise, who was always curious with things, got close to it. The warm air emanating from his snout hit the creature, and one of it's eyes opened. It was light blue, and didn't have a pupil. But even without a pupil, he could see it was staring at him.
It started screaming. It's shrieks filled the entirety of the cave, causing loose dirt to fall from the ceiling. Then he heard rumbling behind him. He turned to see a dark mass filling the cave around him. They all were interrogating him, all of them spiteful and horrid.
Who the hell are you? What are you? Why the fuck have you come here? Why have you disturbed our hatchery? What gives you the right to murder our young? ARE YOU PREPARED TO DIE!? Then the entirety of the cave shook, and dirt filled the space around him. His eyes were teared up from all the dirt, and it took him a few seconds to regain his sight. He looked around him, and found that there were holes in all directions, all with blue eyes. Then they all jumped, and his world went black.