OF THE NIGHT

Lirex Stargaze atop a hill, looks down onto the town of Ponyville. He tells himself, "This is where you'll find yourself.. Truly know who you really are, or were..."

Lirex slowly walked into Ponyville seeing several ponies walking around, he knew that this was a busy town. He needed to meet a certain pony, her name, Twilight Sparkle. But he had know idea where she was.

She was one of the only ponies that could help him.

Lirex took out a map from his saddle-bag. Examining it closely, noticing a large tree, turned into a library. The location was, "Twilight's Library".

Lirex nodded and headed in the direction of the library.

He looked around, making sure nopony was paying any "close" attention to him.

He knocked on the library door, a small dragon answered.

"Can I help you stranger?" The dragon asked.

"I need to see a unicorn named, Twilight. Do you know where I can find her, it's urgent?"

The dragon smiled, as he introduced himself. "My name's Spike, what's yours?"

Lirex was a bit confused, "Does it matter?"

"Well, I can't trust anypony that won't tell my his or her name. So what's your name?" Spike asked as he looked closely at the pegasus.

"My name is Lirex Stargaze... Now answer my question." He was getting impatient.

"Well, 'Lirex' Twilight won't be back for a bit. Please come in and wait." Spike opened the door wider, letting Lirex in.

Lirex looked around, he knew it was a library but not to this extent.

"What does she do for a living?" Lirex asked as he looked back at Spike.

"She writes to Princess Celstia, and most-"

Lirex cut the dragon off and walked up close to him.

"Did you say, Princess Celestia?"

"Yeah, why?" Spike was a bit supsicous at why Lirex would show so much interest in Celestia.

"Well you see," Part of one of Lirex's hooves started to turn gray, and then it started to develop holes. "I'm part, shall you say, Nightmare."

Spike was in awe at how a pegasus could do this. "Who are you exactly?"

Lirex's hoof returned to normal, "That's what I'm trying to figure out, and I need Twilight's help with it."

Spike nodded.

They both heard the door open, Spike went over to the door. Lirex just stood there.

"Hey, Spike. Anypony visit me-" The unicorn cut herself off as she saw Lirex.

"Hello, Twilight."

Twilight was a bit surprised that this stranger would know her name, but she soon realized that she was the student of the Princess of Equestria.

"Yes?"

"Twi." Spike spoke up, "You need to help this stallion out. He's slightly a bit creepy."

Twilight looked at Lirex, Lirex returned the glare.

"What do you want?" Twilight asked.

"Help..."

"What kind of help?"

Spike walked upstairs, away from the conversation.

"Help with this," Lirex made part of his wing, turn translucent, holes slowly formed around the wing.

Twilight's eyes widened, "How is that possible, are you an Alicorn?"

Lirex shook his head, "Just a pegasus."

Twilight was in awe at how her new visitor could do this. She walked up to him, examining the his wing. Twilight was puzzled, as she had never been puzzled before.

Twilight looked at his face. "Hold on, oh, I didn't catch your name?"

"Lirex, Lirex Stargaze." He smiled, as he returned his wing back to normal.

Twiling went over to a bookshelf close by. She grabbed a book labeled, "Strange Creatures".

Lirex rolled his eyes, "Oh great, now I'm a strange."

Twilight skimmed each page looking for answers. When she found it.

"Here it is," She set the book on a table, so that they could both read it. "An acient pony, usually a earth pony or pegasi, can change their shape and form at will. The biological name for these creatures is a... Nightmare."

Twilight looked at Lirex, looking into his eyes.

"That's why I need to see Celestia." Lirex said, walking away from Twilight, heading for the door.

Twilight stopped him, "Wait. I can take you to see her."

Lirex thought for a moment. "You can?"

"I'm her most trusted student, I think I can arrange a meeting with her. " She stated, being stighlty sarcastic.

"Good, than lets go." Lirex went back over her and wrapped a wing around her.

"What are you doing?" Twilight looked at him, worried.

"Unicorns aren't the only types of ponies who can transport."

Lirex smiled as his closed his eyes.

"Wait! Don't-"

Lirex transported himself and Twilight to Celestia's castle.

They arrived shortly.

Twilight's eyes widened as she tried to put as much distance from her and Lirex.

"Whoa."

"I know.." Lirex started to walk towards the Royal Gates to Celestia's Castle. "You coming?"

Twilight followed him.

The two started to get close to the entrance.

Twilight spoke up, "So 'Lirex' tell me about you."

Lirex continued to walk, not looking at Twilight, but answering her command. "Well... When I was a little filly I was abducted by Shadow-Bolts-"

"Oh my."

"I'm not done, then I was put into a orphanage which I burned to the ground, saving several foals from years of torture by the caretakers. Then I began my quest to find out who I was. I found out I could change my form. Some call me a changling, others call me a nightmare, as you found in your research." Lirex smiled slightly.

Twilight looked worried, she couldn't beleive such a stallion could take so much torment and sorrow.

"It made who I am... I wouldn't change a bit..."

The couple arrived at the gate, two guard were standing by the gate.

Twilight went up to them, closed her eyes and said.

"I am here to see-"

She was interrupted by grunting and struggling. She opened her eyes seeing the Royal Guards on the ground, Lirex on top them, sighing.

"What the-"

"They weren't going to let us in," Lirex said getting off the knocked out bodies of the guards.

"How so?"

Lirex slowly pushed the gates open, he pointed up to the sky. Twilight saw the sun and the moon at the same time.

"How's that possible?" Twilight asked confused.

"My friend Discord has done what I told him to, confuse the princesses."

"Your an ally to Discord?" Twilight was enraged.

Lirex nodded, as he continued to walk, "You comin'?"

Twilight shook her head as she formed a magical wall around Lirex's hooves.

"Your an ally to Discord, I do not let those types of ponies get away with their plans."

Lirex smiled as he looked back at Twilight.

He looked behind Twilight. Twilight eyes widened as she saw a shadow cover her.

"Hello, old friend."

Twilight passed out at the sight of him.

"You always know how to make an entrance, Discord."

Discord smiled, "My specialty."