Dreams that Bind

Nightmare's POV

How dare she insult my sense of style! That stupid marshmallow. I trotted over to a mirror and gazed at my reflection. Having taken the form of Nightmare Moon once again, I looked upon my slender body and starry blue flowing mane. Alas, I was devoid of a cutie mark. Had I the moon cutie mark from when I took over Princess Luna, I would be calling myself Nightmare Moon. But as it stand, I don't, so I had to use my original name. One could argue that I was "the pony of shadows" from that old pony tale, but this was false, I'd have known if I was missing any of my magic.

"My queen." a voice called.

I sighed and turned around. Shadowfright, the leader of my nightmare forces stood at attention.

"What?" I asked irritably.

"I heard my troops  talking, they all think it would be best to rebel against you and that we are better off without you. While I still believe in you, my queen, I do see where they were coming from. We were promised a kingdom and this is the second time you've failed us." Shadowfright said seriously.

I walked over to him and got in his face.

"I'm not done yet, not my a long shot! You get out and tell my subjects to settle down, OR THEY'LL HAVE ME TO ANSWER TOO!" I roared.

Shadowfright flew out of my cave. Alone again, I was left to wonder how this could happen to us. How were we reduced to living in a cave system in a mountain. I thought back.

***

Her friends had almost defeated me again, but I regained control at the last minute.

"Seems your friends thought they could best me again, but you have the element of generosity, and I have control. They can't do anything." I laughed.

This seemed to strike a cord with her. Suddenly, we where surrounded by moving pictures. Memories. The marshmallow pony got on on her hooves.

"Do you still think you've won?" Rarity asked.

"You think YOU can defeat me? Don't make me laugh, you so called friends couldn't, what makes you think you can?" I asked.

"I have something more powerful than you'll ever be!" She declared, and started to rise into the air surrounded by a blue aura.

I stepped back and charged my horn.

"It FRIENDSHIP!" Rarity shouted, sending a powerful blast my way. I blocked it with a magic blast of my own. The two were evenly matched, it like I was in combat with Celestia again. Fortunately, Rarity wasn't a alicorn, so she didn't have the endurance to keep up the fight for long. She soon began to tire.

"I told you I can't be defeated." I sneered as my blast was approaching her. It seemed victory would be mine when...

"You mean everything to me. Please come home." it was the voice of the baby dragon, followed by some more memories.

"I'M COME SPIKEY WIKEY!" Rarity shouted and her blast rushed towards me, as if those words final words and memories gave her new-found strength

"NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I cried as the magic blue blast hit me with unspeakable force, just like the elements of harmony.

The next thing I knew, I was in my original form, quickly disguising myself as a cloud of smoke. I could see Rarity above me, conversing with her friends. I slipped away, thankfully unnoticed  and rejoined my nightmare forces. who had the scenes to flee the scene as well. They too where stripped from their hosts, but surprising kept their smokey bodies rather than going back to their shadow state. Eventually, we came to rest at a mountain range. I could tell my forces were not pleased.

"What now, YOUR HIGHNESS?" one asked, sarcasm dripping from his mouth.

"Now we regroup and strengthen up, we fight another day." I told him.

Complaints erupted from their mouths.

"SILIENCE!!" I roared.

The complaints stopped in the moments notice.

"Does anypony have a better idea?" I asked.

It was silent for a full minute.

"If there are no suggestions, take a cave in these mountains and don't bother me." I ordered.

My forces grumbled as they flew up the mountains, each choosing a cave. I flew up to the highest cave in the tallest mountain and looked it. Curiously, there was a vanity mirror inside. I took a look at myself and was disgusted by what I saw. A smokey black alicorn looked back at me.

"Ugh, I like my Nightmare Moon form better." I spat.

At those words, I watched in the mirror as my body started to change. I could feel as bones and organs began to develop in my body. The smoke that was my body started to become skin, fur and eternal hair. When the transformation was complete, I was Nightmare Moon again. This would have pleased me to no end if I had the cutie mark, but being a Nightmare Force, I suppose I wouldn't get one anyway. After all, I took over other ponies bodies and their cutie marks change when I have control.

***

Even if I had a physical body to call my own, I'm still reduced to tormenting Rarity from a distance. One would ask why  would I bother, to which the answer is simple. To insure that the elements of harmony can't be used against me again. If I keep downing Rarity, she'll be too depressed to use  her element against me, hopefully.

I would think that I could try and take Equestria by force again, but as of now, it's too early to try to re-invade. I had to wait two years before trying again with Rarity, when I failed with Princes Luna. As I sat in my cave, I wondered my I was suppose to combat friendship, it had been the key to my downfall both times. If I could figure how to combat it, I might have a chance to deliver the kingdom I had promised my subjects.