Cutie Mark Crusaders Nightmares, Yay!

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 4

Chapter 1

Darkness.
There was only darkness, the pain had ceased too.
She tried to focus on what she had been before and remembered a light.
It was beautiful, possessing all the colors of the spectrum, but she hated it, for it brought the pain.
An excruciating pain, like being peeled alive.
This rang a bell: she wasn't a pony, but a nightmare, a parasitic being that survived by taking over the mind and body of it's host.
The fact that she couldn't feel any part of her body should have given her an hint, but she still felt a bit slow.

"Now, where is my host?" she asked to nopony in particular scanning her surroundings with her sight.

Her voice reverberated with a strange echo in the empty room.
It was long, with many high broken windows which pieces littered the ground together with fragments of the vault.
Two times she had fought in this place with her previous host, and twice she was defeated. By the elements of harmony.
She remembered being sure of having smashed five of them.
And she remembered the unicorn.

"That puny pony that who knows how summoned six brand new elements for herself and her friends! Ah, how I hate her!" she cried in anger as her purple gaseous form waved and swirled furiously.

"And then came the rainbow colored light..." she sighed letting the painful memory sink in.

Of course, the room was deserted: nopony was in sight.
She had lost everything except her life.

"Keeping a low profile would be advisable, but I want revenge! Those six mares shall suffer as I did!" she roared at the empty space around her.

She swirled in place before darting towards the half broken down doors of the room. She fended the air in absolute silence, passing through dusty, ruined corridors and darkened, run down halls. In less than a minute, she was out in the forest.
The sun was high in the sky, yet the canopy shielded out almost all the brightness.
She didn't waste even a second glancing at the dense undergrowth before identifying the road that went from the palace behind her towards the nearby pony village and darting towards that direction.

It had been a painful month: she had searched a suitable host in Ponyville without success. None of those ponies had a desire strong enough to be tempted by her, none of them had a reason to go against the bearers.

"The only pony that might have had the requirements was a little annoying filly that loved bullying the bearer's sisters," sighed the nightmare from beneath the canopy of the library-tree "Pearl Crown or a similar spoiled rich filly name. I cannot believe that I, the one that corrupted princess Luna, cannot find a suitable host..."

She looked down at the colorful population of the city, searching for a desire strong enough.

"Maybe I have to tone down my expectations: in a thousand years the desires of ponykind have dulled a lot..." she sighed again.

She noticed that she had been sighing a lot in the past days. She also considered that in her current state she couldn't do much more, being a sentient purple mist.

And then came the sensation of being dragged away, as if somepony was pulling many ropes planted with harpoons in her body.
A second later, she had vanished.

Some moments earlier, three particular fillies were standing near a roughly drawn magic circle wearing black robes.
The room had been darkened, the only light came from the lit candles placed on four of the five points of the star enclosed in the circle.

"Are ya ready, girls?" asked one of them with a strong southern accent, her voice was a little shaky.

The other two nodded.
The one that had talked lit a match and, holding it with her mouth, turned on the last candle.
A thick cloud of gray smoke started swirling in the middle of the circle, faster and faster until it dissipated leaving behind... Another cloud, only purple.

"Oh, come on! Who the hay wrote that book!" protested one of the two that hadn't spoken stomping one of her tiny orange hoofs in annoyance.

"We should tell Twilight that this 'Necroponycon' here is a fake," commented the third hanging her hooded head, a hint of sadness in her voice.

"Where am I? What's the meaning of this? I demand an explanation!" thundered the mist waving furiously.

"Wait, the cloud spoke! It worked, we did it!" beamed the first one.

"CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS OCCULTISTS, YAY!" shouted the three fillies putting out the robes and looking at their flanks before snorting in disappointment seeing them still bare.

The mist would have frowned if she could.

"Who are you? And what are you doing?" demanded the now confused nightmare.

"Oh, right, you're still there. We're the cutie mark crusaders and we summoned you tryin' to obtain our 'occultist cutie mark'. Ah reckon we messed up something though..." said the one that lit the candle, a light yellow earth pony with red mane and tail and a huge red bow.

"You're not an elder abdominal, right?" said the second one, an orange pegasus with spiky purple mane and tail.

"It's eldritch abomination," corrected the last one, a white unicorn with curly pink and violet mane and tail.

The nightmare recognized two of them as sisters of the bearers and the third as a close friend.
She also noticed that their desire of obtaining a cutie mark was overwhelming.
She would have smiled if she had a mouth.

"No, I am not an abomination, but something much better, for I am a djinn!" she declared.

"Diggin' ? What's that?" asked Apple Bloom.

"Djinn: a creature with huge magical powers that can grant wishes," droned Sweetie Belle.

"What are you, a dictionary?" asked the mist.

"Pretty much..." confirmed Scootaloo nodding, before starting to jump in place and asking "So you'll grant our wishes?"

"You summoned me, so I can grant one of your wishes," explained the nightmare.

"Can ya give us cutie marks?" asked the yellow filly unable to hold back her excitement.

"Unfortunately, no: it goes far beyond my powers..." said the cloud in a well faked sad tone.

There was a chorus of "Oww..." from the fillies, who hanged their heads.

"There could be a way... No, you wouldn't let me..." said the mist at a well calculated time.

"What is it? Tell us, please!" said Scootaloo jerking up her head.

"Well, I can lend part of my powers to you so that you can obtain your cutie mark easier; yet this way you'll have my presence always in your heads."

"Sounds good to me," said Scootaloo shrugging.

"Ah dunno, ya wouldn't do some strange numbo-jumbo like controllin' our minds, wouldn't ya?" asked Apple Bloom much less eager to accept the deal.

"Of course not! Why would I do something similar? Moreover, you can send me away if and whenever you wish," she said mentally coursing that filly.

"Well, we can try at least..." suggested Sweetie Belle shyly.

"Ok... ehm, what's yer name again?" asked the yellow one.

"You can call me Night."

"Ok Night, we accept!" beamed the three of them.

Immediately, the mist divided into three smaller clouds that drifted towards the three fillies, cloaking them like a second skin, only to disappear a second later sinking in their fur, leaving no physical evidence of ever being there.

"Uhm, did it work?" asked after a couple of minutes Scootaloo.

Author's Note

I think that the best way to pass Nightmare Night is writing a story featuring Nightmare Moon herself, so here we are with a new adventure :pinkiehappy:

Oh, and Happy Nightmare Night (or Halloween if you like) to all of you!

I'm sorry to tell that it's currently not edited, I'll remedy as soon as I can :twilightsheepish:

Chapter 2

She couldn't believe it, yet she had failed. She, the last of nightmares, the one who had subdued an immortal goddess to her will and had almost conquered the whole Equestria, the most evil side of the terrible Nightmare Moon had failed miserably. She had been sure her power would suffice, but she had made a grave miscalculation: those three fillies, taken singularly, wouldn't have proven a problem. But they were three. That meant splitting her considerable powers into three parts, none enough to subdue any of those fillies, their desires being too strong to be overpowered.
And now she was slowly fading, her consciousness lost in those youngsters hyperactive minds.
But she couldn't let go like that, not without her revenge: she planted an idea in those young minds, a germ that would surface in due time, turning those three innocent fillies into the tools of her will.

The days passed without hearing anything from Night, and nothing seemed to change in the three crusader's lives.

"I think that dumb cloud tricked us and is now laughing wherever clouds like her live..." muttered Scootaloo as they walked toward the school.

They were pacing slowly, their heads hanging low to reflect the state of their morale.

"And today there's the math test too..." added Apple Bloom with a sigh "Did ya study?"

"Yes, it shouldn't be too hard," said Sweetie Belle with confidence.

"It's today?! Shoot, I forgot!" said Scootaloo facehoofing "I'm so doomed..."

"C'mon Scoots, Ah tried to study but Ah'm totally lost, we'll fail in two," said Apple Bloom trying to cheer her up.

If only that djinn powers wern't a fake she could have helped us... thought the pegasus letting out a deep sigh.

"Yeah, she could have been useful," said Apple Bloom with a nod.

"Who could be useful?" asked Scootaloo rising an eyebrow.

"The djinn, you were talking about her..." said Sweetie Belle.

"I did not say anything, I was thinking that..." said the pegasus stopping in mid sentence as realization struck the trio.

She and Apple Bloom shared a sly grin and turned towards their friend.

"No, forget it, I won't help you cheat!" said the unicorn shaking her head.

The other two put on their best puppy eyes.

The answer to the ninth question is four, right? mentally asked Scootaloo eager to finish.

No, it should be three! thought Apple Bloom.

Really girls, how can you think that two times nine divided by three makes those numbers? It's six... thought Sweetie Belle as she shook her head.

And the last one? asked Scootaloo.

Five.

Are ya sure, Sweetie? Ah think it should be ten...

You're right Apple Bloom, it's ten: I forgot to multiply! thought the unicorn as she corrected her answer.

After school, in the afternoon, the trio of fillies went to Sugarcube Corner to celebrate the success of their plan with a milkshake.

"That was awesome!" said Scootaloo as Pinkie Pie placed a chocolate milkshake in front of her.

"Yes, it was nice, but we won't do it again!" said Sweetie Belle in a stern tone.

"Aww, c'mon, Sweetie, we can git good grades and make our families happy, what's so bad 'bout it?" asked Apple Bloom grabbing her treat.

"Well, if something gives you good grades and makes your family happy, it cannot be a bad thing," intervened Pinkie "Unless it's cheating, that is bad... But you three wouldn't cheat, right?"

It's definitely cheating... thought Sweetie.

"No, we were talkin'bout..." started Apple Bloom.

"A study group, nothing like cheating," said Scootaloo coming to her resque.

Thanks Scoots!

Don't sweat it!

"Ah, I agree with Sweetie: studying is so boooring," said Pinkie in a knowing tone "But you need it, and if you study with your friends it's more fun!"

"Pinkamena Dianne Pie, where did you put the last batch of cupcakes?" came the voice of Ms.Cake from the kitchen.

"Uh-oh, gotta go girls, see you again!" said the pink mare before bolting upstairs.

"See, Pinkie is okay with it," said Scootaloo.

"You just lied to her!" protested Sweetie Belle.

"What else could we do? Tell her we're teletip... Teletapi... We have some super awesome mind powers?"

"I believe the word you were searching is telepaths, anyway you have a point there..."

"And it would be a pity to waste those powers, don't ya think?" insisted Apple Bloom.

"Fine, but you'll keep studying anyway, deal?"

"Deal!" agreed the other two rising their milkshakes in the air.

That night the weather squad had scheduled a heavy storm, complete of thunders and lightnings.
Sweetie Belle stared silently at the ceiling of her room, silently bracing for the next lightning to strike.
A flash illuminated the room and a second later came the roar of thunder.
She cuddled up under her blankets and hugged her favorite plush, a small but detailed princess Celestia her sister had sewn her.

If only I wasn't alone...

Hey there, problems sleeping? the voice of her pegasus friend echoed in her mind.

Scootaloo?

The one and only, would you like some company?

Yeah, but why are you awake? Are you scared too?

Me? N-no, of course not... A thunder fell near my house and woke me up...

It was a lightning, the thunder is just the sound.

Wow, are you sure you're not a pegasus? joked Scootaloo.

I'm pretty sure I'm a unicorn, chuckled Sweetie Belle.

Sweetie, do you think we recived any other power thanks to Night?

I don't really feel any difference, that said, I'm having a chat with my friend on the othes side of the town... I guess we can expect something more.

We can try to discover if we have any other cool mental power and try to get our cutie mark as mentalists tomorrow!

For some reason, I think that mentalists isn't the right term, yet we can try.

Scootaloo? asked again the unicorn after a little while.

Yes?

Thank you.

Hey, you helped me ace the math test, keeping you company during a lousy storm is nothing! mentally said the pegasus You can always count on me and Bloom when you're sad or scared!

You promise?

Absolutely!

Pinkie promise?

Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye, recited the pegasus voice We'll be always together!

Thank you, Scootaloo.

And with that, the two fillies slowly drifted to a peaceful sleep.

Author's Note

Here we are with the second chapter! :pinkiehappy:

I'd like to thank you all for the support you're showing me :twilightsmile:

Chapter 3

It came out that the following day neither Apple Bloom nor Sweetie Belle had time to go crusading, both occupied with their respective sisters, so Scootaloo ended up wandering alone around Ponyville.
She paced slowly along the dusty streets that circled the city, her head hanging low, occasionally glancing at the sky's reflection in the puddles left from the night before.
It was only when a supposedly deep blue sky appeared to be bright pink that she raised her head. She immediately regretted her choice: in front of her stood Diamond Tiara, proudly wearing her namesake headwear and a malicious expression.

"Well well, what have we here? Chickenloo?" asked the pink filly with a scornful laugh "What are you doing out here?"

"She's obviously trying to get her cutie mark as puddle watcher!" mocked Silver Spoon, who had been standing a bit behind her friend.

"Good one Silver!"

"Get lost, I'm not in the mood right now!" retorted angrily Scootaloo.

"Oh, are we sour-mooded today? What for? The other two blank flanks realized how much of a useless dodo you are?" insisted the pink filly sharing a laugh with her friend.

"Cut it Diamond Tiara!" barked Scootaloo.

"Maybe we should get away, Diamond," suggested Silver Spoon "She seems pretty mad."

"Yeah, with that bad tempers of her she might attack us..."

For a moment, Scootaloo considered the idea of harming the two bullies, while her eyes turned draconic for a fleeting instant, but she bit down her anger, stomped vigorously the path with a forehooves and ran away, leaving behind a visible indent in the dirt road and two mildly shaken fillies.

She galloped as fast as she could, as far as possible from the duo of odious fillies, before dropping exhausted in the middle of a flower field and starting crying.
Unbeknownst to her, right over the field, on a lonely cloud, Rainbow Dash was taking a nap. A nap that was interrupted by somepony's anguished cry.
She yawned and stretched before looking down her cloud to see what was happening.

"Squirt? What's up?" she asked descending in front of the crying filly.

Recognizing her idol's voice, Scootaloo did her best not to let her see that she was crying and put on a very little convincing grin as she said: "Oh, hi Rainbow, it's nothing, just a bit of sand in my eyes..."

"Sand, yeah... Look squirt, I won't stick my nose in this if you don't want, but keeping everything bottled up, while it might sound cool, I assure you it's hard and very bad..."

Scootaloo fixed her gaze in Rainbow's magenta eyes for a moment before giving in and hugging her tightly, tears once again flowing free.
The cyan mare hugged her back.

"Want to tell me what happened?" she questioned when the filly's sobbing had calmed down a bit.

"I cannot fly."

"Well, of course: you're still young after all!"

"But you always say that you already flew at my age..."

"True, but there are pegasi like Fluttershy who learn a tad later, it's normal."

"And to make matters worse, I'm a blank flank..."

"Well, it's certainly not pleasant but I don't see how the two things are linked..."

"Because two fillies bully me for that," whispered the filly.

"What? Who are they? I'll go and let them have a piece of my mind! I always hated bullies!"

"Wait, please!" implored Scootaloo "It would only make matters worse... And it would be uncool to threaten two fillies."

"Fine, this time I won't do anything..."

In that moment, Tunderlane landed in front of the two and said: "Finally I found you, Dash! Did you forget that we have work to do? Everypony is waiting for you!"

"Shoot, I completely forgot! Squirt, I've gotta go, are you fine?"

"Uhm, yeah, don't worry..." answered the interested filly.

"Good. Come on Thunderlane, get moving!" said Rainbow dashing away.

Left alone, Scootaloo fell on the ground, extremely tired. She rolled on her back and gazed at the clear midday sky. She didn't cry, she was tired of crying.
Puffy clouds lazily sailed through the azure expanse above her head. A pair of nightingales flew by, ignoring the little filly and her problems.

"You are so lucky, you know?" asked Scootaloo to the birds "You can fly to your heart content, not having to worry about bullies..."

The nightingales, obviously, did not respond.

"How I wish I was able to fly too..."

Again, the nightingales didn't say anything.

"What am I doing? Talking to some birds?" questioned Scootaloo covering her face with her forelimbs "Maybe I even expected an answer..."

She climbed back to her hooves, her fatigue washed away, a determined expression on her face.

"If I really want to, I can fly!" she shouted before running ahead.

She built up some speed, then she jumped, her wings beating frantically. For a moment she soared in the sky, but then she fell, landing with a loud "Ouch!"

She stood once again.

"If you can't do something the first time, you keep on trying again and again!"

And with that she tried once again, this time with a longer sprint before the take off.

"I can do this!" she said as she jumped.

This time, she felt something run through her body, some kind of energy she couldn't describe well, a strange electricity she would have said; it rushed through her muscles towards her wings, where it accomplished its purpose, making the small appendages strong enough to sustain the filly's weight.
This time, Scootaloo didn't fall. She glided and landed softly, a huge smile plastered on her face.

While Scootaloo was having her discussion with Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, Apple Bloom was busy helping her elder siblings in the orchard. Or at least, that was what she believed she was supposed to be doing.

"What do ya mean Ah'm too young to do that? Ah'm old enough ta help ya applebuckin' !" protested the filly at her sister's denial.

"It's dangerous, Apple Bloom, ya might get hurt! Just git the apples that falls as we always do," said Applejack in a stern but caring tone.

"We can work faster if ya let me help!"

"It's out of question, missy. Right big brother?"

From behind a nearby tree came a loud knock of hooves connecting with a hard trunk just before Big Macintosh said: "Eeeyup!"

"See? Big Mac agrees with me."

Apple Bloom knew full well that her sister was caring for her, but for some reason she felt she did not want to let go.

"Ya're just scared I might be better than ya, sis!" retorted Apple Bloom stomping a hoof down.

"That's just stupid Bloom!"

"No, me wasting mah time here is stupid. Ya can buck yer apples alone, Ah'm outa here!" said the filly turning around and running away, tears in her eyes.

"Where ya think ya're goin' ? Come back here this instant! Apple Bloom!" shouted Applejack before adding with a sigh "Geez, girls this days... Ah must follow her before she gits in trouble"

She was ready to run after her sister when she felt a hoof on her shoulder.

"Nope," said her brother "It's normal for fillies her age to be defiant. Ah know of another mare that was like that when she was young..."

"It was ten years ago, and Ah really am better than you at bucking the apple trees!" retorted Applejack pouting a little.

"Don't worry, she'll be back soon and she'll be sorry," continued Big Mac ignoring his sister's retort "Now, back to work."

Chapter 5

The next day, two out of three crusaders were waiting just outside Ponyville on the path that lead into Everfree Forest; Scootaloo was relaxing on a low cloud while Apple Bloom was pacing back and forth, disappointment distorting her features into a frown.

"Where is she? We were supposed to meet here half an hour ago..."

"Relax Bloom, I'm sure she has an understandable reason to be late..."

"Ah know Scoots, Ah'm just concerned about her... She keeps sayin' she's coming but..." explained Apple Bloom, letting out a sigh as she sat down in the middle of the road.

"Don't worry, if she had a problem she would have told us."

Truth to be told, Sweetie Belle had a problem: while trotting through town to reach her friends she had bumped into Pinkie Pie, who had inexplicably guessed right away what the three fillies were up to and had insisted on giving the small unicorn something useful.

"Where are those things?" muttered the pink mare as she ransacked her own room at Sugarcube Corner.

"Pinkie, I really appreciate, but it's not necessary..." said Sweetie "Moreover I'm already late."

"Ah, found them!" announced Pinkie Pie holding out a decently sized wooden crate.

It didn't looked anything special, hadn't it been for the writing in capital letters reciting 'break in case of monster hunting crusade'.

"What's that?"

"Now, take this and go meet your friends. Pay attention!" was Pinkie only answer.

"Finally you're here Sweetie!" said Scootaloo as the trio reunited "Where have you been?"

"And what's that crate?" inquired Apple Bloom.

"Hi girls, sorry but I met Pinkie who insisted on giving me this..."

"Break in case - wait, how did Pinkie knew?" asked the pegasus eyeing the crate.

"She's Pinkie Pie," stated Sweetie Belle certain that it would somehow explain everything "Let's just open it, ok?"

After having received a nod from her friends, the unicorn tore the lid off with her magic, revealing three sets of polished metal armors (comprehensive of helm, breastplate and four legs protection) and a letter. The filly took the folded parchment and red out loud:

"Dear girls, if you're reading this it means that my pinkie-sense told me you were going into the Everfree, don't deny it, my left backhoof never lies!
Anyway these are the armors I used back in the day to chase cockatrices away from the rock farm with my sisters(I'll have to tell you sometimes, maybe in front of a cup of chocolate milk, I love chocolate milk!); they are made of machalite ore, not the sturdiest of materials but it's certainly light. I hope they'll prove useful, Pinkie Pie."

"Wow, just wow..." commented Apple Bloom, her mouth agape.

"If Pinkie was a pegasus, I'd try to make her my sister instead of Rainbow..."

"Really Scoots?" asked Sweetie raising an eyebrow.

The pegasus tapped her chin with a forehoof and said: "No, probably not."

"Anyway, Ah take the black one!" said Apple Bloom studying the three armors.

"What? Why?" asked Sweetie, showing that she wanted the black one.

"Because the other two have either wing or horn protections."

"Hey, it's true, but why? I thought that Pinkie's sisters where earth ponies too..." said Scootaloo.

"Post Scriptum" red the unicorn after having turned the letter "I adapted mine and Inkie's for you, hope you like them."

Ten minutes later, the trio of armored fillies where marching through the forest dense undergrowth, fierce-looking in their new garments (excepts Scootaloo: a dark pink armor is a lot of things, but certainly not fierce looking).

"I'm totally going to have mine repainted," grunted the frowning pegasus.

"Com'on Scoots, it's not that bad," said Apple Bloom.

"Yes, it compliments your mane," added Sweetie Belle.

"It's easy for you: yours is gray, not pink!"

"Well, it's Pinkie's, of course it would be pink," stated the first "Ah mean, even her name is pink!"

"I think it's actually a light purple... Under the right light at least..." added the unicorn.

Scootaloo was about to retort when Apple Bloom silenced her with a hoof and whispered: "Did you hear it?"

They stood silent, trying to discern any sound. There was a faint noise, as if somepony was digging the ground with just his or her forehooves.
They stooped and slowly made their way towards the source of the noise: it was a lone timberwolf, with a huge scar in its back bark, clawing at the ground.

The trio exchanged a nod and jumped out of their hiding spot shouting: "CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS MONSTER HUNTERS, YAY!"

The wolf turned just in time to see a pink and orange blur connecting a pair of hooves with its face. It was sent flying towards a nearby tree where it shattered.

"Well, that was easier than it looked..." said Scootaloo, a hint of disappointment in her voice.

"Timberwolves aren't really resistant, but they regenerate!" said Apple Bloom pointing at the pieces of wood rebuilding the creature.

"Cool!" said the pegasus pumping an armored hoof in the air "I can beat it how many times I like!"

"Sorry to steal your prey, but this one is mine!" said Sweetie Belle catching the timberwolf in her telekinetic grasp.

The creature howled and trashed but couldn't get free, not before Apple Bloom jumped in front of it and bucked it straight on the chest, sending the poor wolf flying over the canopy and out of sight.

"Let's search something that's worth of huntin', what ya think?" asked the filly as to explain her actions.

"Yeah, maybe it was too weak, even if immortal..." admitted Scootaloo kicking a rock.

And so, the three fillies went in search of a worthy opponent, which they found in a sleeping manticore.

"That lion is huge, I bet it's strong too!" whispered Scootaloo while spying the sleeping beast.

"It's a manticore, and it's incredibly strong and ferocious," droneed Sweetie.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" asked the pegasus, ready to charge.

"Ah think that getting it by surprise is best, considering its size..." commented Apple Bloom "Let's attack together while it's sleepin', ok?"

The other two gave and affirmative nod, but as they started to move, they were levitated in front of three very familiar mares: Rarity, Applejack and Pinkie Pie, the latter bearing a large smile in place of the other two's angry frown.

"Yer all in big troubles, missies, ya know right?" asked Applejack in a stern tone.

"What were you thinking? You could have gotten hurt!" said Rarity "Luckily for us, Pinkie found you!"

"I knew those armors would look great on you, especially yours Scootaloo!" said the pink mare in a knowing tone.

"That's not the time and place for that, Pinkie, even if you're right," chastised the white mare.

"We're sorry," said the three fillies in a dejected tone.

"Ah bet you are! Now let's go before something finds us!" ordered Applejack turning around.

As if to punctuate her statement, the not-so-sleeping-anymore manticore raised and let out a deafening roar.

Goodbye surprise attack, sighed Scootaloo.

"RUN EVERYPONY, RUN!" shouted Pinkie bolting away.

The others did not need to be told two times.
The six ponies did their best to avoid the beast, running and flying as fast as they could and throwing rocks and trunks at the manticore when they could.
In the end, the creature lost interest and they got out of the forest.

"Do you understand why we are so angry?" asked Rarity panting heavily.

"Yes, we're sorry" said the three fillies in unison.

We could have beaten it! thought Apple Bloom.

Definitely! confirmed Sweetie Belle.

Hadn't we been interrupted... commented the pegasus.

"Good, but yer all grounded anyway," declared Applejack "Ya too Scootaloo, we told yer parents."

"No more crazy crusades for a month," announced Rarity "And no sweets!"

At the statement, both the crusaders and Pinkie became sad.

"Please, anything but the sweets!" implored the pink mare "I practically eat ONLY sweets!"

"Pinkie, yer not grounded."

"Ah, it's true! You're really smart Applejack!"

The farmare facehoofed.

Author's Note

I know I'm very late (once again) but I had a couple of very full weeks... I'm really sorry nonetheless.
On a side Note, thank you very much for your increasing support, it really makes my day :twilightsmile:

Chapter 6

A couple of days later, the three crusaders were spending their lunchtime indoors.

"It's so unfair!" protested Scootaloo slamming a hoof on her desk.

"Yeah, but what can we do?" asked Apple Bloom in a dejected tone "Ah mean, they're our families, we cannot go and buck them like we did with the timberwolf..."

"Bloom is right, we just have to endure this punishment..." sighed Sweetie Belle.

"Oh, I thought Ponyville had become a quieter place," said a voice behind them, a malevolent mirth in its tone "The fact that the cutie mark calamities were grounded certainly explains that!"

The trio turned to se Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon and three older colts snickering at their fate. Of course, it was Diamond who had talked.

"Yeah, it took long enough but your families finally realized how dangerous your childish play are for Ponyville" added Silver Spoon.

"Git away ya all, we're not in the mood!" said Apple Bloom.

"Yeah, come back the day after nevermore," suggested Sweetie Belle.

I hope they go away soon, thought Scootaloo I'm dying to beat some sense into those bullies and I'm starting to consider the option...

Hold on Scoots, beating Diamond will be great but it will worsen our punishment, thought Sweetie Belle.

"And why should we listen to what you blank flanks want?" asked Silver Spoon crooking an eyebrow behind her glasses.

I should endure...

"Silver, don't say that: it's offensive to the other blank flanks!" said Diamond Tiara in a obviously fake concern "Those three are far worse than blank flanks: a weak earth pony, a unicorn without magic and a dodo!"

Endure...

"Yeah, I bet your families are ashamed of you!" commented one of the colts, a bulky earth pony with dark brown coat and hay-colored mane, laughing with his friends.

At those words, the supposed dodo spread her wing and bolted to the colt who had talked, hitting him hard on the jaw with both her forehooves.

"You know what? They can ground me forever, but at least I'll enjoy myself kicking your flanks!" said Scootaloo without landing.

"Bark! Gal, you're gonna pay for this!" said one of the other two colts, this one bright red with azure mane and skinnier than his friend.

They grabbed the pegasus and pulled her down: even with Night's help, she was still a pegasus filly, with little chances of overpowering two bigger, older male earth ponies.
A second later, both the colts let Scootaloo go, one after receiving a solid buck in the barrel, the other thrown by Sweetie's emerald magic.
Apple Bloom helped Scootaloo on her hooves, then the three crusaders turned towards the other two fillies.

"H-how?" stammered Diamond Tiara, her eyes wide as saucers as she watched the three colts on the floor.

"D-Diamod, look at t-their eyes..." whispered Silver Spoon, dread in her voice.

The pink filly's eyes widened even more as she asked: "What are you?"

"Uh? What are ya talkin'bout?" asked in return Apple Bloom raising an eyebrow.

The crusaders looked at each other, finally understanding what was so disturbing for Diamond and Silver: their eyes were featuring slit pupils like those of dragons and cats.

"Well, that's strange," commented Apple Bloom.

"I like them," said Sweetie Belle "I kind of look like Spike, I guess..."

"Any idea on how did this happen?" asked the first one.

"Who cares? We have a pair of fillies to deal with!" exclaimed Scootaloo pointing at the two bullies.

"I will tell miss Cheerlilee! And my dad too!" threatened Diamond Tiara, but her shaky voice cut the effectiveness of the menace.

"Tell them, I've beaten a timberwolf some days ago, they shouldn't be too much of a problem..." said the pegasus as she and her friends closed on the other two fillies.

"Please, don't hurt me! I was mean only because she asked me to!" revealed Silver Spoon as she started crying.

"Silver!"

"Don't worry Diamond, we already knew," said Sweetie "And we did not plan on sparing her."

A couple of minutes later, the cutie mark crusaders were contemplating the fruits of their work: five young ponies were lying fainted at their hooves, two of them where fillies showing some bloody cuts and bruises on various parts of their bodies.

"Ya know girls, Ah never thought that hurting somepony would feel this good..." said Apple Bloom looking at their victims.

"Yeah, it felt... Right somehow, didn't it?" asked Scootaloo.

"Girls, do you realize what you just said?" asked Sweetie Belle as if she had just noticed an important particular.

"Yeah, this shouldn't have made us feel good, Ah know..." said Apple Bloom lowering her head.

"Not that! Well, maybe also that, but now it's unimportant! It felt right, do you understand what this means?"

The other two exchanged a confused look, then Scootaloo admitted: "No."

"That's the reason why we haven't got our cutie mark yet, because we did the wrong things!" explained the little unicorn "It felt right because it was what we're supposed to do!"

"Bullyin' other ponies?" asked Apple Bloom.

"Beating bullies?" asked Scootaloo.

"No, those are means, it the result that counts! We beat those that ruled the school, we rule now," patiently explained Sweetie "We are born to rule other ponies!"

"But we still didn't gain our marks..." protested Apple Bloom.

"Because we're still not ruling enough ponies!" continued the unicorn with calm "Now, who has more ponies under her rule than us?"

"The mayor?" suggested Scootaloo.

"It's a start, and who's above?"

"Princess Celestia!" exclaimed both the others in unison.

"Precisely," said Sweetie Belle with a malicious smile that the other two soon mirrored.

While the three crusaders were leaving the school via teleport spell to retrieve their armors and to hatch a plan to confront and win Celestia, another mare was teleporting. That mare was princess Luna, rushing to her sister to inform her of a great threat: in fact, thanks to her link with Night and to her superior alicorn senses, she had felt the return of the nightmare, even if she couldn't put her hoof on where the parasite was.
She flew, trotted and teleported through the many halls of the palace, cursing her sister in her mind for having left their old castle in the Everfree.

"Tia," she said finally entering the throne room "We shall borrow some of thy time to discuss a matter of the outmost importance!"

"Oh, good morning Lulu," saluted Celestia wearing her usual motherly smile "Of course we can talk, just let me finish with those two petitioners."

In front of the golden seat where the white alicorn was, there were two stallions, certainly nobleponies Luna judged from their looks and the way they were disputing over the ownership of some piece land.
Celestia solved the problem after fifteen minutes of arguing, dividing the land in two halves and giving one to each stallion, an idea that neither of them liked but both accepted.

"Very well," said Celestia rising and pacing towards her sister "Now that this is settled, what did you need to tell me?"

"We sensed a grand threat for Equestria: the nightmare has come back!" explained Luna pacing with her fellow alicorn around the room.

"Has it come for you again?"

"No, we have sensed it in Ponyville; it is weak, but it is gaining power by the minute."

"Any idea on what is it planning?"

"We fear that it will come for us and thou, for it always yearned a position of power."

"Fine," said Celestia after a short pause "I'll take the elements of harmony to the bearers, you stay there."

"As thou ask, sister."

Chapter 7

While the entirety of Ponyville residents plus princess Celestia were busy searching for the mysterious pony who attacked the school, injuring five foals, ponynapping other three and presumably the host of the nightmare, while Luna was reading herself for the meeting with the creature responsible of her banishment, the cutie mark crusaders were marching towards Canterlot, moving incredibly fast for a trio of fillies wearing plate armors (which they had previously recovered from Sweetie's room).

"Sweetie, Ah was thinkin', isn't it a bit too optimistic to think that we can beat Celestia AND her army alone?" asked Apple Bloom while they marched through a small thicket.

"Yes, it is."

"Then shouldn’t we, I don't know, get an army too?" asked Scootaloo who was flying little above their heads "Oh, and a catapult too!"

"You're right girls, but I'm a step ahead and I already know of a place where we can get our army," calmly revealed Sweetie Belle.

"Where?" asked Apple Bloom looking around as if expecting to spot said army peeking at them from behind the trees.

"You'll see..." was the unicorn enigmatic response.

Infiltrating Canterlot proved easier than expected thanks to a group of foals their age coming back from a school trip, in which they hid themselves (thanks to Sweetie's magic that made their armors invisible and their eyes normal-looking).
Once inside the mighty walls, the small unicorn led them towards the southern part of the city and to a pretty large building. It had two long wings extending from the central body, which was a tall circular tower with a bell on top.
There was something in the structure that didn't sit well with Scootaloo, and probably it had to do with the bars at the windows.

"What is this place? A prison?" she asked as Sweetie started walking down the path that led through a beautifully tended garden towards the looming building.

"No, it's an orphanage," explained the unicorn stopping to wait for her friends.

"To me, it looks kinda like a madhouse..." commented Apple Bloom.

"I'm not sure, but if I remember correctly it was originally a madhouse," said Sweetie tapping her chin with a forehoof "It was converted years ago..."

"That's really fascinating, but why are we here?" asked Scootloo, decided to keep the greatest distance possible between her and the building.

"We're here to get our army, of course!" explained the unicorn "Star Shimmer, a colt I always meet when I accompany my sister shopping, lives here and will be more than eager to help us."

"Wait, are ya implyin' that our army will be made of foals? Are ya kiddnin' us?" asked Apple Bloom wearing an angry frown.

"I'm not kidding anypony, Bloom," replied Sweetie "Think about it: do you really think that the guards will go all out on foals? Now let's go."

Despite ponykind's tendency to kindness and generosity, the Royal Refuge for Less Fortunate Foals held around a hundred little ponies of various races, and all of them had heeded Star Shimmer's call to hear out his friend speech.

"Hey there, Sweets, your audience is here and ready to hear you out," said Star Shimmer approaching the three crusaders.

He had a bluish coat with his mane and tail kept long, both of the same hue of blue of his coat but with white dots. He had a liking for the unicorn filly but he kept it for himself.

"Perfect, thank you Star, you've helped a lot by gathering them together," answered Sweetie with a smile.

The little unicorn approached the edge of the stage still wearing the same smile and looked at the small crowd of foals.

"Colts and fillies, hear me out," she asked to gather their attention "Are you satisfied with what you have?"

Murmurs spred through the audience.

"Would ya like to have more?" asked Apple Bloom joining her friend.

"Would you like to get whatever you desire?" asked Scootaloo flying over the crowd.

"Would you like to live in the royal palace?" asked Sweetie "Then there's only one thing to do: help us getting in, keep the guards occupied while we take care of princess Celestia and snatch the throne from her!"

Cheers of approval had raised at each promise the fillies had made, but going against the princess didn't sit well with some of the foals.

"Great speech, it didn't work though," said Scootaloo landing next to her friends "What do we do now?"

"The only possible thing," answered Sweetie solemnly "When I say to look, close your eyes, ok?"

When the other two nodded, she addressed the crowd once again: "It seems some of you are not convinced of our good intentions, then I'll show you something that will make you change your mind; now, look intently at my horn."

As soon as she finished speaking, a bright green flash erupted from her horn. When it faded, she overlooked the result with a sly smile.

"Wow, did you hypnotize everypony?" asked the pegasus waving a hoof in front of Star Shimmer's empty gaze.

"Yeah, something like that, but this spell won't last long, we've gotta hurry."

"Then let's not waste any more time: to the castle!" exclaimed Apple Bloom pointing a hoof towards the large building.

It was a slow day for the two guards stationed at the palace entrance, even more than usual since the princess left and the day court was cancelled, yet the two earth ponies stood there bearing an identical severe expression. Yet, they silently thanked Celestia when a little pink filly trotted in their direction asking for help in finding her parents with puppy eyes.
So, Sweetie Belle watched from afar the first guard follow one of her 'soldiers' into a trap and signaled the other bait to take action.
This time it was a brown colt with a baseball hat who trotted towards the last guard to ask for direction. And just when the stallion looked away, a kick propelled brick (courtesy of Apple Bloom) connected violently with the back of his head, sending him in the realm of dreams. Sweetie and Apple Bloom then motioned their impromptu army towards the entrance, where the colt was pushing the stallion in a bush (with little results) and where they were joined by Scootaloo, the pink filly and the ambush team.

"Good job everypony," complimented Sweetie Belle "Phase one is complete, now go inside and wreak havoc!"

Luna was an heavy sleeper, and only a small number of sounds could wake her, especially if it was early afternoon, but the sound of giggles was one of those.
Her survival instinct kicked in as she jumped awake and scanned her room for any trace of her prank loving sister, yet she could only see a purple unicorn filly sitting on her bed, giggling like a mad.

"Uhm, hello?" tentatively saluted the alicorn.

"Excuse me princess for waking you up," said the giggling filly "But you were making those funny noises... And you were sleep talking too."

In that moment the doors of the chamber burst open, letting in Shining Armor.

"Your Majesty, foals have invaded the palace and are now causing all sort of trouble," declared the captain of the guards.

"Thou think?" retorted Luna causing another fit of giggles to the filly "What do thou need me for? Round them up and accompany those little ones to their families."

"Ehm, yes, I was just..." tried saying Shining, but the alicorn's stern gaze made him change his mind "Yes your Majesty, right away."

With that he levitated the filly on his back and exited with a salute, leaving Luna behind.
The princess only sighed.

Chapter 8

Having decided that going back to sleep wasn't the right thing to do in that situation, Luna opted to begin her duties early and pointed towards the throne room. As she pranced through the luxurious (and in certain points even decorated by hoof-painted drawings) halls and corridors of the palace, she found herself unable to shake off the feeling that something was wrong, and not the obviously out of place foals. But it was only when she entered the throne room that she was able to name that feeling.
There, scattered around the room, were the limp bodies of ten guards, all still alive but too battered to even stand; and in the center of such devastation, too busy staring at the throne (and discussing if Rarity's couch would be better) to notice her, were three armor-clad fillies.

"Thou..." hissed Luna clearly feeling the presence of the nightmare.

At those words the three fillies swiftly turned to regard her.

"Wait, who is this?" asked the orange one pointing a hoof at her "How the hay did we get the wrong alicorn? I didn't even know there were two of them!"

"Language Scoots," sternly reprised her the white one.

"She's princess Luna, the one that our sis saved from Nightmare Moon," explained in a thick southern accent the last one "Don't ya read newspapers?"

"You read newspapers?" asked the one called Scoots crooking an eyebrow.

"No, mah big bro does."

"SILENCE!" ordered the booming voice of the princess "What art thou doing in our throne room, nightmares?"

"Nightmares? Is she talking about us?" whispered Scootaloo to her light yellow friend.

"Ya ask me? Ah'm not some kinda oracle, ask Sweetie."

"I don't know what you're talking about," said Sweetie Belle ignoring her friends "But I can tell you that we are the cutie mark crusaders and we are here to detronize you and your sister!"

"Thou have fallen low, nightmare, using clueless foals for your nasty plots..." sighed Luna "Don't thou worry thyselves, little ponies, we shall banish that foul creature and -"

"CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS: GOD SLAYERS, YAY!" the three fillies shouted in unison cutting short Luna's words and charging towards her.

Moving much faster than the princess expected, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo got right next to her, reading themselves to hit. Luna would have likely avoided such a direct attack, hadn't it been for a hooffull of emerald green threads emerging from the floor had blocked her right forehoof, forcing the princess to hastily summon a cerulean shield around her.
While the pale dome was enough to stop the pegasus' charge, it did a poor work against Apple Bloom's solid buck, which smashed through the barrier connecting with the alicorn left shoulder. Luckily for Luna, the hit had lost all its force in piercing the shield.
Repelling the damaged shield the alicorn managed to knock back her assailants, while she freed herself from the bindings and took flight.

"Hey, that's cheatin'!" protested the earth pony stomping a hoof.

"Don't worry Bloom," said Sweetie "We're getting her back down."

And with that more threads erupted from the ceiling and the walls. Luna nimbly maneuvered through the wriggling dedalus until she let out a cerulean pulse of magical energy that dissipated the threads. Sweetie frowned.

"Scoots, get her!" she snarled.

"On my way!" said the pegasus bolting at a speed that would have made her idol proud.

Meanwhile, the small unicorn decided to go for a more blunt tactic: "Get ready Bloom, you're going up!"

"What?" asked the earth pony right before being encased in her friend shimmering aura and thrown at the princess.

But right when Apple Bloom realized she would miss the alicorn and fall, a pair of frail looking ethereal wings appeared on her back, keeping her aloft. She looked down to see her friend, visibly taxed by all those spells but still winking at her. After a pair of awkward flaps, the yellow filly charged too, joining Scootaloo in the aerial battle.
Luna didn't expect to see the yellow filly in the air, so she was very surprised (and pained) when she received a buck in the right side; it was a hard hit, but nowhere near enough to defeat the alicorn, who, after taking a moment to understand what had happened, caught Scotaloo's tail in her magical grasp and unceremoniously flung her at her friend.
With a loud "Ouch!" both fillies went plummeting, only to be caught in Sweetie's grasp.

"We think thou had enough of this, right?" asked Luna landing in front of the trio, her imposing form towering over the smaller fillies.

While Scootaloo and Apple Bloom had only some minor bruises and were ready for round three, Sweetie Belle was showing clear signs of exhaustion.

Girls, when I shout, we go with plan R, ok? mentally said Sweetie panting.

R? Already? asked Scootaloo I can go on!

Sweets can't. To mah right, ok? asked Apple Bloom.

"NOW!" shouted the unicorn before releasing a green flash from her horn, which forced Luna to shield her eyes with a hoof.

When the light died down, she heard three loud noises of broken glass. She opened her eyes only to find three filly shaped holes in the stained glass window depicting Nightmare Moon's defeat.

Spike was running as fast as his short legs let him towards the large white mare in front of him. He had been sent back to the library to retrieve a volume on scrying magic when the letter had erupted in the usual fashion: in a burp of green flames and smoke.

"Princess!" wheezed the little dragon trying to catch his breath "There's a letter for you, it's from princess Luna."

"Lulu? I wonder what might be reason to write me, and in the middle of the afternoon too..." she said expressing her thoughts before regarding her student's assistant with her usual graceful smile "Anyway, thank you Spike."

Celestia took the scroll in her golden aura and started reading it. The more information she took from the parchment, the deeper the frown on he forehead became.

"What is it, princess?" asked Twilight who had been scanning some maps next to her mentor "Has something happened?"

"Dear Tia," started reading Celestia aloud "I just had a close encounter with a trio of fillies possessed by the nightmare," she lowered the parchment and regarded Twilight "I believe Luna has found your friends little sisters, and it's for the best that we hurry back to Canterlot. Fetch your friends, we depart as soon as possible"

Author's Note

A new chapter, a merry Christmas and my best wishes for a happy new year :twilightsmiles:

Chapter 9

The castle grounds were in complete chaos, with the guards running everywhere in search of the three crusaders, who were currently hidden deep in the maze.

"Geez, Sweetie, you have to work on your endurance: we could have beaten her had you lasted longer!" protested Scootaloo as her reptilian eyes scanned the sky in search of flying guards.

They had hidden under an arc made of hedge, hoping to gain some minutes to let Sweetie rest.

"Don't be so harsh with her," retorted Apple Bloom "She had to control the foals, remember?"

"That's not the point," flatly stated the unicorn, flopping down, her back against the maze walls "I made a huge miscalculation."

"What do you mean?" asked the pegasus turning around to look at her friend.

"I overestimated us: Luna is the weakest of the two princesses, yet she bested us without breaking a sweat... And we had the surprise factor on our side too..."

"Then what? We give up? We go back and say we're sorry?" asked Scootaloo, rage evident in her words.

"Ah doubt we can just go home now: it won't take long for the guards to find where we live... And Ah recon mah sis will be mighty angry..." said Apple Bloom hanging her head.

Both the other fillies saddened thinking to their own families' reactions.

"There's another thing: Luna referred to us as nightmare, and it made me wonder if Night was a real djinn..." added Sweetie after a short silence.

"You mean that that dumb cloud made a fool of us?" asked Scootaloo frowning "But she gave us something for sure!"

"No, I think it was Nightmare Moon trying to take control over us... Our eyes are a huge hint."

"But we're not being controlled, right?" asked Apple Bloom closing her eyes, as if to seal the influence of the infamous creature.

"I'm not being controlled by nopony Sweets!" said the pegasus stomping a hoof.

"No, but she's influencing us, like I did with the foals... I'm not sure I would have ever considered the idea of invading the castle before," explained the white filly "But the point is, I fear that our families' welcome might be worse than you think."

"No, there's no way that mah sis is going to use the elements on me!" protested Apple Bloom "And Ah'm sure Rarity will do the same for ya!"

"We attacked Luna, Celestia won't go easy on us: it's either the elements or banishment..." warned the unicorn, before adding in a somewhat solemn tone: "To the moon."

"It's not like princess Celestia sends ponies to the moon everyday..." countered Scootaloo, yet her eyes went up to the sky once more.

"She sent there her own sister, who wasn't just influenced... I say we run away."

"Where to, Sweetie? Ah have family members almost everywhere in Equestria!"

"When Rainbow was young she went for a while in the Griffin Kingdom... We can go there too..." proposed the orange filly.

But before they could reach a decision, voices and hoofsteps made it clear that they weren't alone anymore.
The trio rushed through the maze, hoping to avoid the guards, but apparently they wasted too much time hiding for they soon found themselves cornered in a dead end, the guardstallions rapidly closing on them from different routes. But then, something unexpected happened:

"They're here! Come swiftly!" somepony called out from the castle.

And to that call heeded all the guards, galloping away from the maze.

"Here we are Lulu, where are the foals?" asked Celestia entering the throne room.

There she found Capitan Shining Armor scowling at a small group of guards while a trio of foals happily played with Luna's tail and mane as she sat in the throne massaging her temples.

"Those are not our fillies..." stated Rainbow hovering next to Celestia.

"Ah reckon they're not even fillies..." said Applejack.

The foals where in fact three colts, lamely painted to match the crusaders' coat colors, wearing some kind of armor made of cardboard.

"We know that, Miss Applejack," said Luna in a tired tone "We're ashamed to say that the guards took the wrong foals: those three acted as baits."

The Sweetie-imposter, who was none other than Star Shimmer, grinned.

"What do we do now?" asked Rarity, fear in her voice.

"We'll find them," said Celestia placing a hoof on the white unicorn's shoulder "Do not fear."

If entering the city had been easy, the three fillies found pretty hard to leave it, especially since Sweetie Belle was still unable to cast illusions that lasted long enough, and so they ended up hiding in one of the many parks.

"We should be safe here," said Apple Bloom spying around the bush they had hidden in "At least for a while..."

"Then we have some time to think on our next move," said Scootaloo "Any idea on how to reach the Griffon Empire?"

"So it's decided already?" asked Apple Bloom showing a bit of concern.

"So it seems, Bloom," chuckled weakly Sweetie Belle "Any other idea?"

"Ah'm not so sure Ah can leave mah family just like that..." explained the yellow filly "Ah'm turning mahself in."

"But Bloom, what if they send you to the moon?" asked Scootaloo.

"Ah'm sorry girls, Ah can't go on like this," she said jumping out of the bush.

Scootaloo was ready to go after her, but her friend's hoof stopped her.

"It's one of the fugitives! Get her!" shouted a male voice, probably a guard.

"Com'on lazy bums, come an git me!" shouted back Apple Bloom.

Silent tears started streaming down both fillies cheeks hearing their friend being subdued by the guards.

"Search the park, the other two must be near!" ordered the same guardstallion.

"Sweetie, brace yourself," said Scootaloo gritting her teeth and passing her front hooves around the unicorn's trunk "Take off!"

And with that the pegasus bolted out of the bush, her friend in her hooves, passing right in the middle of a group pegasi guards.
The guardspony, after a moment of uncertainty, flew as fast as they wings could carry them behind the two fillies.

"They're closing on us Scoots!" shouted Sweetie to make sure her friend could hear her over the wind.

"Can you teleport?"

"Only one of us."

Scootaloo peered at the rapidly closing city walls and at the waterfall behind them. She also spotted a rainbow streak coming their way from the castle.

"It's enough!" she said securing her grab on Sweetie.

"What do you mean?" would have asked the unicorn, but her friend had thrown her over the walls.

The world started spinning fast until she started plummeting toward the waterfall, but a bit out the raging current and into the empty air.

Rainbow is coming your way! rang the pegasus' voice in her mind.

She looked up and saw the familiar cyan mare flying at top speed to get her.

"Sweetie, I'm coming!" said Rainbow Dash flying as fast as she could.

Sweetie looked down. She was almost at the bottom of the waterfall.

"Got you!" said the pegasus grabbing her tail.

"I'm sorry Rainbow," said Sweetie staring into the mare's magenta eyes.

Then, in a green flash she was gone.

Chapter 10

Rainbow Dash stared down at her hooves for a long minute, then she pushed open the door she was standing in front of and entered the throne room with Scootaloo and Apple Bloom, the latter limping slightly. The two fillies kept their eyes downcast, knowing that their time had come.

"Apple Bloom!" exclaimed Applejack seeing her sister.

Even though there was only relief in her voice, the yellow filly flinched. Yet, her gaze stayed on the ground.

"Where's my Sweetie?" asked Rarity "Where is she, Rainbow?"

"She... I'm sorry Rarity, she teleported away..." answered the pegasus hanging her head.

"What?" asked Twilight stupified "How?"

Soon started a discussion between the two unicorns and the cyan mare about whether Sweetie Belle was able to teleport, which then became a way to decide if the trio was guilty or not, gaining the contribute of every adult in the room.
Apple Bloom looked like she was about to break in tears, Scootalo closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"SHUT UP!" shouted the small pegasus at the top of her lungs.

The eight mares looked like they had been frozen as their eyes fixed on the filly, eyes expressing surprise and confusion.

"Yes, we attacked Diamond Tiara, her goons and princess Luna; I don't know about nightmares but its likely we got one on our hooves; yes, Sweetie can teleport, about how I haven't got a clue; yes, I threw her down the waterfall, because I knew she would survive; and yes, she's alive, we're sure thanks to our telepi... Telepo... Our mind link," said Scootaloo stomping a little hoof at every sentence "Now, send us to the moon and let's get this done."

"Just be quick..." begged Apple Bloom looking up for the first time, her eyes teary like her friend's.

Silence fell on the room.

"The moon?" asked Celestia crooking an eyebrow.

"Uhm, yes... Didn't you send Nightmare Moon there?" asked Scootaloo exchanging a confused glance with her fellow crusader.

"That is the truth," said Luna noticing her sister's uneasiness "But our sister had no other option, since we held control on three of the six elements of harmony."

"So, yer not sendin' us on the moon?" asked Apple Bloom.

"No," said Celestia in a motherly tone offering a sweet smile.

"It would be impossible anyway," continued Luna chuckling in a forehoof "Unless thou have some link with the moon like us."

"Luckily for us, this time the elements can be used," said the white alicorn.

"Wait just a second, princess" protested Applejack "Yer asking me to fire what defeated Nightmare Moon, an immortal alicorn like yerself, to mah lil sis?"

"Yes, that more or less summarizes the whole plan."

"Ah hope yer pullin' mah leg..."

"Applejack is right, princess," said Twilight "The element are the probably most powerful weapon at our hooves."

"Yeah, and we all heard Nightmare Moon crying in pain when we hit her," enforced Rainbow Dash.

"We were there too," stated solemnly Luna "But we felt no pain whatsoever... It is the parasite who suffers, thou have not to worry."

"Uhm, princess Luna, you're not sayin' it's safe only to punish us, right?" asked Apple Bloom looking up to the much larger mare.

"We... I am the last pony that could blame thou little ones for thy errors," said the midnight alicorn lowering her head to the filly eye level "I found forgiveness having done far worse, thou deserve no punishment."

The six ponyvillian mares exchanged glances then, in perfect synchronization, shrugged.

"I reckon we have a deal, princess," said Applejack "I beg yer forgiveness fer doubtin' ya."

"You were in the right seeking the good for your family, Applejack, you don't need to apologize," said Celestia with a graceful smile "I'll be taking the elements now."

Less than five minutes later, the six mares were using the elements for the second time, a rainbow hued beam of light and magic surging from their floating bodies to crash down on the fillies. Like Luna had said, the two crusaders felt no pain, yet screams of pain, in a voice that sounded like a distorted eco of their own fused together, could be heard clearly.
After the light had died down, both Scootaloo and Apple Bloom looked just fine, like they did before the whole ordeal.

"Hey, it didn't hurt at all!" said Scootaloo beaming.

"We have to tell Sweetie!" said Apple Bloom.

Both concentrated on telepathically relying the message to their friend, only to be hit by realization a second later: no nightmare meant no telepathy.

Meanwhile, the nightmare's remnants had regrouped into a small purple cloud that was trying to sneak out of the room.

"That's the djinn-Ah mean, the nightmare!" shouted Apple Bloom pointing a hoof at the cloud, who bolted away.

"It must be going to where Sweetie is!" said Scootaloo running after it.

"Rainbow!" said Twilight.

"Already on it Twi!" said the cyan pegasus flying after the fugitive cloud.

Sweetie Belle woke up in one of the many thicket that adorned the mountain side, the waterfall roaring a bit further on the left.

"Right, I teleported away from Rainbow," stated the filly gazing at her surroundings.

It was night, and the moon was bathing the landscape in her silver glow.
She tried to use telepathy to contact Scootaloo and Apple Bloom, but couldn't feel nothing.

"Either they're sleeping or the moon is out of range..."

She rolled her worlds in her mind, like a d candy too bitter to swallow. Tears formed in her eyes.

"I'm alone."

And with that she started crying.
She cried for her friends, banished on the moon to save her. She cried for herself, alone and forced to run from family and friends. She cried for how stupid she had been when they met the nightmare. She cried for all the crusades and fun stuff she wouldn't be able to do. She cried in anger for the monster she had become.
She felt suffocating, as if her armor had been crafted in lead. She took off the helm and threw it away. It clanged empty on the rocks, like a melancholic bell. Piece by piece she took the armor off, slowly making her way in a random direction, leaving behind a trail of glistering metal pieces. It made her easier to track, but she didn't care.
With her breathing made uneven by the sobbing, she trekked on the rocky ground of the mountainside.
She went on like that for a time that she couldn't define, suffocating in her anger and sadness, when she heard a noise she could not define: a strange mix of rapid wingbeats and rustling of wind. It wasn't until the noise had gained considerable volume that she could locate its source: Rainbow Dash, flying like a madmare after a purple cloud.
Sweetie didn't waste another second and started running, only to stumble and fall after a few steps.

"Run Sweetie, run!" shouted Rainbow Dash.

The filly turned around and fixed her reptilian eyes on the cloud, unable to even tear her gaze away from it. Until it was too late.

Author's Note

I was wondering: what would you think, my faithful readers, of a sequel to this?

Chapter 11

Rainbow Dash's eyes widened in horror as the cloud enveloped Sweetie Belle, soon followed by her pained screams.
As the sickening mist started to be absorbed by the filly's body, her head shot back towards the sky, tears streaming profusely from the emerald pools of raw magic that were her eyes and down her cheeks, as her coat darkened till it was the same color of anthracite, her mane following a similar fate turning coal black and deep purple. When the last strand of mist disappeared, the screaming ceased, but Sweetie did not move a muscle except from closing her eyes, stopping the tears too.
All in all, it took just a couple of minutes, five at best, but for Rainbow they had been five painfully long minutes in which she could only stare powerless at her friend's little sister suffer.

"S-Sweetie?" tentatively asked the pegasus landing in front of the filly.

The unicorn moved her mouth, but produced no sound at all.

"Did you say something? Sweetie, talk to me, please!"

"I won," said the other, in a voice that wasn't her own nor was Nightmare Moon's, but a mixed up dissonance of the two, a two toned nightmare in Rainbow's hears.

The cyan mare, hears splayed back, took a couple of steps away from Sweetie, as she retook a normal stance and fixed her reptilian eyes on her.

"What is it? Rainbow Dash, daredevil, is scared of a filly!" teased the nightmare laughing evilly "You're pathetic, you all are, and that's why I have won."

Rainbow shook her head to clear her mind, then, wearing an angry frown, said: "You may have a filly's face, but you're a monster at heart."

"Then come, show me you're not weak!"

Rainbow shoot like a bullet towards the nightmare, who didn't even try to dodge, ending up pinning the filly to the ground, a hoof raised and ready to hit. A hit that never came.

"See? I told you: weak and pathetic," laughed the nightmare.

A second later, her horn lit up and the pegasus was sent flying by an emerald blast.

"I'd love to keep chatting with you," said the nightmare slowly pacing towards the point where her opponent had fallen "But you're a nuisance, and as such you must be eliminated."

A golden beam made the ground in front of her explode, forcing her to back down and shield herself with a hoof.

"Surrender Nightmare Moon, and release the filly!" commanded the booming voice of princess Luna as she, her sister, and an hot air balloon carrying the remaining elements of harmony landed near Rainbow.

"Luna, Celestia and the elements of harmony, all came to witness my victory!" laughed the filly "Yet Nightmare Moon now sounds off... I must choose a new name... Nightmare Belle? Nah, lame..."

None of the mares' expressions changed, all of them frowning in anger except Rarity, whose worry for her sister was more than evident.

"There is no victory here for you, nor there will be in the future!" sternly said Celestia.

"Then what would you do? Use the elements?" asked the nightmare, her bravado unchanged.

"Ya can bet on it!" said Applejack "Com' on girls, let's take our Sweetie back!"

"Are you sure?" asked the filly in an uncaring tone "I fail to see how killing this girl will bring her back to you."

"Nice try nightmare, but we know the elements won't harm Sweetie!" said Twilight with a confident grin.

"Yes, I know that, I was there too, remember?" said the filly inspecting one of her forehooves "I'm talking about the fact that I'm fusing my life essence with hers... An alicorn can survive, maybe even one of you, but this filly..."

"She's certainly lying to avoid being attacked," said Rainbow "She knows the elements are our only option!"

"Maybe, but we have no mean to know if it's true," said Twilight, disgust in her voice.

"We can't risk: it's my Sweetie!" implored Rarity.

"As I was saying, Celestia, it's my win," laughed the filly "Hey, what do you think of Nightmare Toll? Pretty cool, uh?"

In that moment her left forehoof jabbed her face in the left eye, as if it had its own will. Around the impact point, Nightmare's coat looked cracked, revealing Sweetie white fur and a normal looking emerald eye.

"Sis, it's me, Sweetie!" said the filly in her own voice "You have to use the elements!"

"You stupid little foal!" said Nightmare pressing a hoof on the rejuvenated eye, the fur rapidly darkening once more "How did you pull that stunt?"

There was no reply from the body owner.

"Good," said the filly turning to regard the mares "What was I saying? Hey, what's with that look?"

The element bearers didn't answer, instead they started floating, rainbow hued treads linking them. They all looked determined to end that story.

"Wait, you can't do that!" said the nightmare "Think of the filly!"

Rarity offered her sister a graceful smile, then she answered the nightmare: "We do."

And with that, a stream of every color of the spectrum surged from them to crash on the filly.

"No, not this again!" screamed the nightmare, absolute fear in her voice.

When the light died down, Sweetie Belle was lying on the ground, her normal color scheme restored. She was unconscious, but alive. Almost immediately Rarity was hugging her.
Over them, the ominous purple mist that was the nightmare flowed in the light breeze.

"This will be the last time we hear of you, parasite!" said Celestia in a harsh tone.

The cloud tried to float away, but soon found its gaseous form trapped between four silvery walls.
That day, the bearers of the elements witnessed Celestia's wrath, in the form of a blazing pillar of searing golden light and scorching crimson flames falling from the sky on the nightmare, freeing Equestria from its race.
Around five minutes later, Sweetie woke up and shared a long hug with her sister. Then an idea struck her mind. Her eyes flew down on her flank and...

"OH, COME ON!" she shouted staring at her still blank flank "What does a filly needs to do to get a cutie mark?"

At those words, everypony else shared a much needed heartfelt laugh.

"What?" she asked "Did I say something funny?"

Sweetie Belle entered her room and wobbly made her way towards the night stand where she started preparing for the night.
It had been an exhausting day: the changelings, the fake princess, the wedding and the party after it!
And now she was so tired she could almost fall asleep right there.
She walked away from the mirror and placed herself in her bed, where she immediately drifted to sleep.
Had she been less sleepy, she would probably have noticed that something was off... Like the image in the mirror, who was still standing there, watching her sleep with her emerald, reptilian eyes.
She moved her mouth as if to say something, but no sound came out, then went to bed mirroring Sweetie's position.

"Soon," she had said "Very soon."

Author's Note

So here we are, that's the end, thank you all for all your wonderful support :pinkiehappy:

As I had previously stated, the last part is a bridge to the upcoming sequel, which will be released in a month maybe, but don't take that for granted, it might take a bit longer.

Anyway, see you all soon folks :twilightsmile:

Chapter 4

Apple Bloom ran as fast as her short legs could carry her, eyes tightly shut to keep the tears from flowing freely.
She knew that it was wrong, that she had to go back and apologize, that Applejack only wanted to avoid her getting hurt, yet she couldn't. She didn't know why, she simply couldn't.
If her eyes were open and if anypony else was there, he or she might have noticed that there was something wrong with the filly's eyes.
Now, it might sound obvious, but running with your eyes closed in an apple orchard isn't the best of ideas, and in fact Apple Bloom ended up bumping into a tree.
While she massaged her head, she noticed that, despite her full body tackle, none of the apples had fallen from the branches. Sure it was one old and sturdy plant, but no apple fell anyway.

"Dumb tree," she muttered as tears started flowing once again from her now normal-looking eyes.

She sniffed and picked herself up, then turned to go back but stopped in mid step. She casted a spiteful glare to the offending plant.

"Ah won't let a tree defy me!" she said as she positioned herself to buck the plant.

She gave it her best shot, bucking the rough bark with all her strength, yet, again, no apple fell; instead she felt sore from the recoil.
She fell to the ground utterly defeated, tears once again flowing.

"Sis was right, Ah'm not strong enough..." she said sniffling "If only Ah wasn't this weak..."

Then it came. A rush of new energy washed over her, making the numbness fade away and leaving behind a sense of confidence.
She raised, feeling much stronger and sure to obtain the results she desired now.
She positioned herself once again and bucked the tree. This time, only one single apple kept her place in the branches.

Sweetie Belle was overjoyed: since she had aced the math test and had helped her friends do so, Rarity had given her permission to go to Sapphire Shores’s concert. The only problem was that her sister herself hated that kind of music, so she had to find somepony to see to her.
And exactly that was the reason behind her knocking at that certain house front door.

"Yes?" asked a unicorn filly with blonde mane and light purple coat opening the door, then, upon spotting her classmate she added "Oh, hello Sweetie Belle!"

"Hi Dinky, is your sister home?" asked Sweetie.

Now, Sparkler was a pretty reserved pony, often out of town for work, but Sweetie knew that they had a thing in common, and it was their love fore Sapphire's music.

It took little effort to convince the pink mare, and so, fifteen minutes before the start the two of them where already pretty near the stage.
The concert went on smoothly, with only two fans taken away from the stage by the guardspony. The show was amazingly beautiful, Sapphire herself was absolutely dazzling.
After the concert ended, Sparkler and Sweetie departed for the train station to return Ponyville.
While Canterlot was Equestria capital city and the residence of both princesses, it had its fair share of criminals, and precisely into one of them bumped Sparkler: a nimble but sturdy-looking pegasus stallion with dark brown coat and lime green mane and tail, with a black key for cutie mark.

"Hey, mind you step, gal!" snarled the stallion pushing Sparkler back.

He had a deep voice, as rough as his manners.

"Sparkler, you okay?" asked Sweetie helping her up.

"Yes, thanks Sweetie," she said before referring to the stallion "And you, mister, it's you who rushed out that alley and bumped into me!"

The stallion ignored her and simply walked away.

"Hey, you!" shouted the mare grabbing his tail in her telekinetic grasp and dragging him back "I pretend your excuses!"

The stallion turned around and bashed her with a forehoof, knocking out the poor mare.

"Sparkler was it? I think I'll make some extra bits tonight..." he said wearing a sly grin.

"Sparkler!" shrilled the filly rushing at the fallen mare side.

She had passed out and had a little blood flowing from a cut on her left temple.

Sweetie turned to confront the stallion and, even if she did not have the faintest idea on what he planned, said: "I won't let you touch her!"

"You? Don't make me laugh! You're useless! Get lost!" he said pushing the filly against a wall.

It hurt, and a lot. Sweetie felt tears in her eyes as her vision started to get blurry.
While the stallion ransacked his prey's saddles, the filly tried to focus her magic, but failed as she always did.
Her head started pounding to the rhythm of her heartbeat. She was scared.
She tried once again to focus her magic.

"Please, help me," murmured the filly feeling the little focus she had starting to fade.

Then, like a torrent, energy started to flow through her, washing away the pain and charging her horn. She could feel her magic building up, ready to follow her command.

She grasped the stallion with her newfound telekinesis and lifted him a pair of meters from earth.
Her eyes started resembling those of a reptile as a malevolent grin crept on her face.

"What the - put me down!" he shrieked while aimlessly flailing his hooves around and uselessly beating his wings.

"Are you sure? I thought pegasi liked to fly..."

"Put me down, you little witch!"

For a moment she was tempted to slam him into the road with all her strength, but then she remember her sister telling her that a true lady should always use grace and poise.

"You didn't say please," she commented as her eyes returned to normal "Then it's a no."

And with that she hurled him away, making him fall into a nearby trash can.
She then carefully lifted Sparkler and her things and trotted away.
Unfortunately for her, when Rarity discovered what happened, while being happy that her sister had finally developed her own magic, she forbade her to go anywhere out of Ponyville without her.

Girls, I've come back! You won't believe what happened! mentally said Sweetie Belle as she lied down on her bed.

It wasn't exactly late, not far past ten pm, yet it had been a pretty exhausting evening for the unicorn filly.

Ah bet the show was good, but never as good as what Ah did today... answered Apple Bloom in a somewhat blurry tone: she had been asleep for a while, for applebucking is an heavy job, really draining for a filly.

I bet that neither of you did anything as awesome as what I did! stated Scootaloo, her thoughts dripping confidence.

Ah helped my sis applebuckin' !

Uhm, Bloom, you always help your sister... objected Sweetie Belle.

Ah mean Ah helped by buckin' the trees! Ah'm super-strong now, like Applejack! explained Apple Bloom in an excited tone.

Well, that makes it more amazing... admitted the other.

Please, that's nowhere near flying, because today I flew all day, with Rainbow too! It was awesome! exclaimed Scootaloo.

Really? Kudos to you Scoots, now Diamond Tiara will never say yer a chicken again! complimented Apple Bloom.

Flying might beat applebucking, but it's nothing compared to using magic to save Sparkler from a nasty stallion...

You did what?! asked both Sweetie's friend in a disbelieving tone.

And so, the small unicorn and the other two crusaders related each her own story, discovering that they all shared the same energy rush feeling.

Girls, that's incredible! You think that this is Night's doing? asked Scootaloo once they had finished.

That's the only explanation, admitted Sweetie.

Meetin' that djinn was one of the best things ever! cheered Apple Bloom Do ya imagine the possibilities we have now? We can crusade like never before!

Yeah! That's true Bloom! complimented Sweetie Any suggestions?

I have one, girls... said Scootaloo.

Author's Note

I'm late, I know and I'm sorry :fluttercry: