Nightmare's Parallel

Chapter 4: Stalking Prey

Ponyville was in an uproar, everybody either sprinting through the streets or cowering in their homes. Yes it was true Nightmare Moon had returned and Celestia was nowhere to be found.

"Where's Princess Celestia?!" Twilight screamed to her new "friends".

"Aah got no idea but i know she 'aint here!" Applejack shouted back.

"She's not in Canterlot either!" Rainbow dash shouted with fluttershy close behind.

"My word, where could that woman have gone to?" Rarity questioned.

"I think she's playing hide and seek!" Pinkie said cheerfully. The other five looked at her angrily. "What? she could be...." Pinkie said. Twilight had retreated to her library home to research the Elements of Harmony.

"UUUGH! HOW CAN I STOP NIGHTMARE MOON WITHOUT THE ELEMENTS OF HARMONY?!" Twilight yelled angrily only to get smashed into by Rainbow Dash.

"AND JUST WHAT ARE THE ELEMENTS OF HARMONY?! AND HOW DID YOU KNOW ABOUT NIGHTMARE?! ARE YOU A SPY?" Rainbow was pulled back by A.J.

"Woah there nelly! she 'aint no spy, but she sure does know what's goin' on, dont'cha twilight?" Applejack said as her and the other five closed in on Twi.

"I read all about the legacy and predictions of Nightmare Moon. Something called the elements of harmony are the only things that can stop her. But i have no idea what they are, or where to find them. I DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY DO!" Twilight was cut off by pinkie's voice.

"The elements of harmony, a reference guide!" Pinkie said happily.

"HOW DID YOU FIND THAT?!" Twilight yelled.

"It was under E!" Pinkie said triumphantly. Twilight frowned and started reading aloud.

"The elements of harmony, an ancient power said to bring peace to all the land. There are six elements but only five are known, Generosity, Kindness, Laughter, Honesty, and Loyalty. The sixth element is a complete mystery. The last known location of the elements of harmony was in the ancient castle of the royal sister princesses. Which is now known better as....." Twilight stopped and gasped. "THE EVERFREE FOREST!" All six of them said aloud.

"B-b-but the everfree forest is evil and dangerous!" Fluttershy squealed in terror.

"Yeah and it 'aint natural. Folks say it don't work the same way as equestria." Applejack said weakly. They all stopped talking. "Hey did you guys hear that?" AJ asked.

"hear what?" Rarity asked.

"That noise. Sounded like a stick breakin'" Applejack said and looked around.

"Hmm, no i didnt hear it." Twilight said.

"I think somebody's followin' us." Applejack said. Brock gasped silently as he knew he had been found out, but if he could move away from this area maybe they wouldn't find him. So he crawled away silent as the night. When he was far enough away he teleported to nightmare's castle. Nightmare sat upon the throne looking around at the room as if searching for something when Brock warped into the room.

"Aah, you have returned. what did you uncover?" She asked him.

"The six girls are on their way here. And if i may ask, what were you doing when i arrived?" Brock asked. This brought nightmare's attention shooting back to Brock. "M-my apologies my queen!" He said and bowed.

"No no its alright, i was just searching for something." She said and looked around.

"Such as what my queen?" Brock asked.

"An ancient room that only i can open." Nightmare said and looked back at him.

"And may i ask what is inside?" He asked her as he stood.

"I will tell you when the time is right, but for now head to the library in this castle and keep yourself busy. Im going to attempt to stop the fools who dare challenge my rule." And with that Nightmare turned into a cloud and flew out the door.

"Hmm, how can the library still be in tact after all this time?" Brock thought to himself as he walked up the stairs. He stopped when he saw the library entrance glowing with magic. He was amazed when he walked inside the barrier and saw the entire library was encased in the barrier. "Amazing, even after a thousand years the library where i used to live is still completely in tact." Brock said to himself. He was soon engrossed in his studies and he soon found that he had fallen asleep in the pages of a book. He had looked out the window to see what time of day it was. Only then did he remember it was eternal night so he checked the clock and it was around two o' clock in the afternoon. He had rushed downstairs to see if his queen had returned. Thankfully she had not, but just then she whisped through the door and materialized into an adult woman. "My queen you have returned." He said and bowed.

"Yes Brock i am back and i should have taken care of them for good." She said with a grin.

"What did you do?" Brock asked.

"I sent an angry hydra after them." She said.

"Isn't that a little extreme?" Brock asked her.

"Nothing is to extreme when it comes to the challenge of my rule." She said sternly.

"Very well my queen is there anything you need?" Brock asked.

"Hmm, there is one thing you could do." She said.

"Anything my queen." Brock said. At this a black light flashed and Brock opened his eyes to have a set of brownish colored wings on his back.

"I need you to keep an eye on the six, don't make your presence known to them stay high enough that they cant see you but stay low enough that you can see them." She said and sat down on her throne.

"As you command my queen." With that Brock flew out the window and vanished from her sight. Brock was loving the feel of being able to fly through the air like a Pegasus but still be able to be a natural unicorn. He closed his eyes for a moment and ended up smashing into a tall tree. The collision sent him spiraling through the air and he managed to stop himself before it happened again. When he looked again he could get a direct view of the six girls. He casted a spell to turn himself invisible and he flew in close to them so he could hear them.

"Woo, that was a close call." Applejack said.

"Yeah thanks to twilight we were able to take down that hydra." Dash said.

"Yeah great job twilight!" Pinkie said.

"Oh it was nothing, all it took was an uprooted tree to the back of the head and it was over." Twilight said with a chuckle.

"Still it must take an awful lot of magic to do that!" The other five were congratulating her and laughing. They were approaching the destroyed bridge that led to nightmares castle. Brock gasped and flew back to nightmare and became visible again.

"My queen the six girls are at the bridge!" He shouted.

"WHAT!? HOW DID THEY GET PAST THE HYDRA?!" She yelled.

"Apparently Twilight Sparkle uprooted a tree with her magic and knocked it out with it." Brock said.

"Oh..... Well you have been very loyal to me, here." Nightmare said and stepped off the throne and opened a door to the side of the room. "Inside this room, lies a reward i have waited eons to give you for your services to me. Take these and hide in the western tower of the castle until i am through with the six." She said to him.

"Yes my queen whatever you desire." With that he warped his rewards and himself to the western tower.