Dreams that Bind

Rarity's POV

Once again, we were gathered at Sugarcube Corner for a slumber party. I tried to laugh with my friends, but I just couldn't. The whole "Nightmare Rarity" thing was still on my mind. While I did take comfort in the fact  that my friends would never abandon me for anypony else, I still couldn't help be feel guilty for allowing the nightmare forces to make me another Nightmare Moon.

"Something wrong Rarity?" a voice asked.

"Huh?" I asked, and realized that I had zoned out, as it were. I turned to the source, who happen to be Spike. "Oh, Spike. Nothing's wrong Daring, just a lot on my mind." I replied.

"Like what?" Spike asked.

I'm sorry to say I broken down then and there. I know it's not very lady-like to cry like a foal, but I did anyway.

"Oh Spike!" I whaled and wrapped my hooves around him, "I can't believe I let those guys think my friends would leave me for some other pony who couldn't spell for pony manure."

By now the others had heard me crying and came around us. I could feel Spike return the hug and pat me on my neck in a comforting way.

"Rarity, it's okay, everything is back to normal now." Twilight comforted.

"I know, " I sobbed, "it's just that I came so close to hurting everypony I care about."

"Now that's crazy talk, it wasn't you Sugarcube, Nightmare Rarity said that she and you were two separate ponies, though, how that works is beyond me." Applejack said.

"I can tell you." I replied.

"Rarity you don't have to if you don't want to." Fluttershy stated.

"No, I insist." I declared. Everypony else grew silent. "In my mind, I was in a dark empty place, nothing surrounding me but the color black, very much like a void. Then, SHE came to join me. She introduced herself as "the new and improved Rarity". I demanded to know what she was talking about. She only laughed and mocked and tormented me with her words. She was the more powerful of us two, so she had control of my body, and it took her form."

Pinkie shuttered. "That sounds really scary."

"It was. She was almost defeated when all of you fired at her, but the fact that I was the element of generosity allowed her to survive the blasts. Thing was, I had the element, not her. I gained strength from the memories you feed me and took her on myself, defeating her with one magical friendship filled blast from my horn." I said , just now realizing how loudly I was speaking, almost shouting.

The others stared at me in shock.

"I don't know if I got rid of her perminately, but judging that the moon animals went back to normal, I don't think we'll have to worry about the Nightmare forces anytime soon." Twilight put in.

Good to know, I guess.

"I...I...I want to go to sleep now." I said.

"Well, it is pretty late, Ah reckon we should hit the hay." Applejack yawned.

The other agreed and got into their sleeping bags. That  was then I noticed I was still hugging the little dragon, and Spike hadn't let go the whole time either.

"Spike, you can let go now." I told him.

He back off and blushed. It was so adorable I could help but give him a kiss on the cheek.

"Good night Spike." I giggled.

"Y-y-yeah, goodnight Rarity." Spike stammered and went off to his sleeping bag.

I chuckled and watched him go to sleep, then rested my head on my pillow.

***

I opened my eyes, darkness surrounded me. The place felt familiar, and I didn't like it one bit. Just as I got on my hooves, blue starry smoke surrounded me. It went around me a few times before it stopped in front me and formed a tall black unicorn.

"Nightmare Rarity I cried.

"Please, that's so over, my name is Queen Nightmare."

That didn't make any sense. She looked exactly like Nightmare Rarity, cutie mark and all.

"But if you are here, then..."

"That's right Rarity, did you really think you were rid of me?" she asked menacingly.

"Do you really think you can take my body again?" I growled.

"I have no need of yours or anypony else's body anymore. I absorbed enough magic  from you, your friends and Princess Luna to make a body of my own. I'm only here to remind you of your guilt.

"My guilt?"

"It was YOU who allowed my minions to "corrupt" you. It was YOUR choice to allow your body to be my vessel. And now, it's YOU who'll have to deal with the consequences."

"ENOUGH OF YOUR LIES!" a new voice shouted.

We turned to see Princess Luna had joined us. "You know just as well as I do it was all your and your forces doing." Luna said firmly.

"Oh, is it? Tell me, Luna, was it my fault to you wanted to overthrow Celestia and you made a deal with me to gain the power to do so?" Queen Nightmare  asked.

"That was different. I chose to out of jealousy. Your nightmare forces tricked Rarity with those nightmares and lies."

"Say what you like, Shadowfright made sure it was her choice in the end."

"A choice I made under the influence of your minions!; and while we're at it, if you really were as powerful as you make yourself out to be, then you have done your own dirty work!" I snapped.

Nightmare glared at me. "How DARE you...well, if that's what you think, let's put YOU in a similar situation, shall we?" the queen asked menacingly as her horn lit up with a blue aura. There was blinding flash of white light...