"NIGHTMARE, LOOK OUT!"

Liche's Pov

I froze my hand mere centimetres from her throat as her eyes met mine. The sharp increase of her heart beat showed the fear her eyes refused to show. With a small grunt I slowly retracted my hand. Glaring at her, I cautiously retreated unsure of why I had spared her.

Groaning I stumbled backwards, my eyes burning as I felt my head ache for the first time since I had awoken in that coffin. A searing pain shot up my chest as I gave a strangled scream. Whimpering pitifully, I collapsed my body shivering as wave after wave of searing pain slammed into me. With a final gasp I saw only black.

Nightmare Moon's Pov

"Bastard!" Eris snapped eyeing the beast with hatred as she helped her father to his feet. Twilight still in a slight daze shakily motioned for her friends to perform the spell again.

I stood to the side unsure of what had happened as the pitiful being lay curled up in a ball, shivering as if in extreme pain. But a creature like him couldn't feel pain, what was it then, a ploy?

"Come on girls lets just get this over with" Twilight muttered shuffling forward as all but Fluttershy got into position

"No" Fluttershy spoke removing her element as Luna turned on her.

"WHAT DOES THOU MEAN NO!?" Luna roared stomping over to the meek mare as Discord gave a small snarl. Placing himself in front of the timid pegasus, the two eyed each other menacingly as Eris glared at her father. In mere seconds the group had been splintered.

"Explain yourself." Celestia demanded her eyes unsure of what the mare was thinking as I prayed she had a good reason.

"He beat us with ease, he threw Discord and you about like it was child play, he shrugged off the elements and when he had the opportunity to kill princess Nightmare Moon he stopped. It is hard to believe, but from what you told me I don't think he wanted to hurt us. No, I know he didn't want to kill us, in fact the only reason he attacked was because he was attacked as well as insulted" the mare finished flinching as a few of her friends sent her dirty looks. Luna and Eris looked like they wanted to strangle the mare.

"Faust, damn it Fluttershy! That thing is a monster, he isn't an animal that can be redeemed with a bit of kindness!" Eris snapped her tail twitching in testimony to her anger.

Sadly apart from me, Chrysalis and Discord, the rest were siding with Eris and Luna. It was four against twelve, the odds were not in our favour as I feared a fight breaking out. Discord and Luna looked ready to trade blows as Molestia worriedly tried to usher me across. But like Fluttershy I knew there was something up, a liche did not just stop attacking because of a name. This beast, though I found the word hard to use as I looked at him, was maybe not what he seemed.

"That thing is a monster, it deserves to die" Razor Wing hissed eyeing the creature with distaste as her horn crackled with energy. I knew that if we left an opening one of them would kill the thing. The only reason Discord was on our side was because Fluttershy was his best friend.

"Lachlan would have given him a chance. He gave you all a chance" she replied the room going silent as I cringed at the mare’s bluntness. "Each and every one of us took advantage of him: some raping him, some of us nearly killed him, yet he forgave us. This creature’s only crime is being here. Did you look at him? He was scared, he was shaking like a leaf when we confronted him." Fluttershy continued, her words seeming to calm the mob as a few of the elements faltered their expressions turning to sadness as some seemed to have second thoughts. "Why don't we show this liche kindness instead of hatred?" Fluttershy inquired as Celestia gave a sad shake of her head.

"Fluttershy, that thing isn't sapient, it is just a monster with memories of when it was alive, it isn't actually feeling them just parroting them. Monsters can’t be redeemed" she replied kindly. Fluttershy was quiet for seconds and I feared she had given up.

"You are wrong. Lachlan was able to do it. Look what he achieved by himself, he was able to cure both you and your sister of your darker halves, separated them from you two, then convinced them to do good. He fell in love with Eris who was referred to by many as a hideous monster. Lachlan never judged any of us even for our past actions so please in his memory give this liche a chance. I will even keep him at my cottage if needed" Fluttershy finished a slight crazed look in her eyes as she looked prepared to fight to protect this thing. I of course did not wish to see it die either but I understood the others concerns.

"No Fluttershy, I cannot have that thing live, hand it over now." Celestia demanded her eyes narrowed as the pegasus met her glare.

"No! I am sorry princess but I can’t allow an innocent to be punished." She replied as Celestia gritted her teeth. Her horn flared as she went to yank the unconscious liche out of her hands. Stepping forward I intercepted shielding her as Celestia looked at me horrified.

"Please don't make me regret this." I whispered to Fluttershy as I squared up to the white alicorn.

"Back off Celestia, she has made her claim and since the liche has neither killed nor harmed he has technically done nothing wrong." I growled, my eyes narrowed as I prayed that Celestia would not do something foolish. As we circled each other I cautiously cast a shield charm just in case.

"We don't need to do this. I despise the creature as much as you but he could be a unique ally if we could get him on our side." I reasoned feeling my heart sink as the white alicorn gave me a look of pure hatred. I knew that she would not agree but I had to chance it. I feared if I did not then Fluttershy would be punished harshly.

"I am asking you one final time, TO SURRENDER THAT LICHE!" Celestia screamed, her eyes glowing white as I fearfully took a step back. Even Luna was giving her sister a nervous look. Celestia looked hysterical her eyes briefly flashing red as she snarled at me. Where once stood a regal, patient princess now stood a rabid furious mare who looked ready to lash out at the drop of a hat.

A prism beam of light shot past me slamming into Celestia's head as she shrieked in pain. The liche was back up his cold blue eyes narrowed as to my surprise he walked past me. Luna stiffened as he walked towards her lazily flicking any magic thrown in his direction aside as he set his sight on the downed alicorn. We were all frozen in place courtesy of the liche's foul magic. A large gash adorned the side of her head as he gently placed his hand atop it. A dazzling flash of white blinded me momentarily, several yelps and groans of pain came from around me as I experientially opened my eyes. The liche was gone, leaving only Celestia as I noticed that the gash was now gone.

"He helped her, despite her wanting to sign his death warrant." I muttered as the others rushed over to the fallen princess.

Liche’s Pov

"What is it?"

"It isn't anything I have ever seen before"

"He's cute"

"Uhhh" I grumbled un-intelligently, my head pounding as I gently rubbed my forehead. A soft quilt covered my form as I groggily opened my eyes. Hushed whispers came from all sides as I froze. Gingerly touching my head I paused as my hand came into contact with, hair? I rose myself to my feet, pushing past the blurred forms as I clumsy rubbed my eyes. Reaching sink I violently vomited my chest aching as I panted for breath. I dry heaved a few times as I drank greedily from the tap. I gasped as I caught sight of myself in the mirror perched atop the sink. The sight that greeted me was not the hideous deformed skull but instead a face, my face. Hesitantly I experientially poked and prodded my face, making sure it was not a cruel illusion as I felt tears gather at the corners of my eyes. I gave a small sob as I realised I was human.

"We found you passed out a few miles from our village. You were badly hurt. We brought you here to hopefully heal you. Our elder, well she was able to remove whatever black magic had disguised you as that skeletal abomination." One of the mares spoke up her brown mane covering one of her eyes as a nurse’s cap adorned her head. Tearing my eyes away from my reflection I finally took in the mares present in the room.

The ponies each had a pair of antennae on their heads which were a mixture of straight curled or in some cases twisted. Some of the ponies seemed similar to moths, having thick tufts of fur around their neck and chest as well as insect shaped wings. The others wings were see-through, their fur seeming to match their wings as the butterfly ponies seemed to be brighter.

I gave a confused look as she gave a warm smile gently placing a hand on my shoulder as I tensed. The mare gently guided me back to bed her antennae twitching as I fidgeted uncomfortable with having the mare so close to me. The nurse huffed placing a glass of water in my hands as she gestured for me to drink.

"I understand that you have just woken up and are most likely confused and scared but as a nurse you have my oath that no harm or mistreatment will come to you. Now lie down, you may not feel any pain but your body is still badly hurt, once the pain killers wear off you are going to be in a lot of pain, but I will personally see to it that there is a nurse with you at all times" the mare finished her kind face showing no trace of malice as I watched her carefully.

I now understood why I hadn't decimated village in confusion or fear, the drugs were for some reason dampening my powers. I tried to protest about the sleep thing demanding answers as the mare gave me a smug smile placing a hand gently on my chest as I tried to push her hand away.
Eventually I gave up, my magic and strength strongly diminished as my head feel against the cool side of the pillow.

"My name is Stitches, nurse Stitches by the way" the mare spoke up blowing strands of her mane out of her face as I nodded. I briefly explained my predicament the mare giving me a sympathetic smile as she gave me check up on my vitals.

"Now we live directly in between the Everfree and the Drakon mountains, so we are used to strange beings passing through here. What gathered the large crowd was that according to our equipment you should be dead. Your vital signs are all flat or zero, your heart is not moving, yet still you are warm and are still breathing, it is the strangest case I have in my eighty years of service ever witnessed" she informed me as I took in all that she said.

I already knew that I wasn't alive and whilst I was glad that the skeletal form was not actually my own, I still wished that I wasn't a liche I think they had called me. That of course brought my attention back to that group of nuts as I pondered why they had attacked me. More so why had I attacked then spared one of them as well as healed the other. I could have killed them, I would have killed them but something had stopped me. Something about some of the mares there had sparkled memories. The black one with the blue hair as well as the yellow one had tried to protect me, spare me even.

Ironically I felt the strangest case of deja vu, as if I knew them. But that was impossible I had awoken on earth not this place, Equestria I think the textbooks had called it. I assumed that they most likely just reminded me of someone back home maybe an old friend or girlfriend. It didn't matter anyway the past was in the past. I noticed just how dark it was as candles and torches were lit around the small hospital

A shrill scream echoed from outside scaring the shit out of me as I jumped to my feet. Running to the door I watched as ponies fled in all directions screaming something about bloody hooves or something. Grunting I threw myself over the balcony ignoring the near twenty foot drop as I landed on my toes.

Monsters were attacking, the bug ponies buildings on fire illuminating their forms as I gave grimace. Many looked like I had, skeletal forms but they had more flesh on them. Nurse Stitches grabbed a sobbing foal of the ground screaming instructions to the ponies. I was forced to make a choice as a young filly was grabbed, the beast atop her priming its claws to gut her.

Nightmare Moon's POV

I growled in annoyance as for the sixth time a dirty look was thrown my way, Chrysalis and Fluttershy fared no better as the ponies, changeling and draconequus that were meant to be our friends glared at us like we were criminals. Celestia sat on her throne her eyes never leaving mine as Fluttershy tried to put on a brave face.

"I should have the lot of you banished for your crimes" Celestia stated causing Fluttershy to whimper as I gave her a dead glare.

"And what would that do other than negate the question of why the liche was acting the way it was" I retorted giving the irksome mare a small sneer as Luna snorted.

"What is there to question? The beast fled like a coward and assaulted royalty" My counterpart hissed pacing back and forth.

"He spared us, you blind foolish child! Why is it that you refuse to swallow your pride and accept that you were wrong? Have you learnt nothing of your pig-headedness and what it costed us last time" I spat instantly regretting my words as the mare froze.

"IT WAS YOU WHO CAUSED THAT" she roared stalking towards me as I snarled in distaste.

"MAYBE IF YOU HAD NOT BEEN SUCH A JEALOUS BRAT THEN I WOULD NEVER HAVE HAD A REASON TO TARGET YOU" I snapped tired of my counterpart’s arrogance and stupidity.

With that I stormed out of the room uncaring of the stupid mock trial as I needed to vent my frustration out. A lone tear trickled down my cheek as I slammed my room’s door shut.

"Lachlan what would you do" I sighed looking up at the night sky.

Liche’s POV

CRUNCH

With a strangled scream the last of the beast fell. A force of 200 had attacked this peaceful village in the hopes of an easy meal, 200 now lay dead. Bodies lay scattered in all directions as blood was slowly diluted by the torrent of rain. The insect ponies cowered indoors many peering out from the safety of their windows and doors as I cracked my neck. I had forcefully extracted information from the last bloody hoof. I had learnt their species names, what they were and most importantly where their stronghold stands.

"You're leaving aren't you?" A familiar voice spoke up from behind. Nurse Stitches stood with her arms crossed watching me warily as I gave a ghost of a smile. The mare was drenched, the tufts of fur around her chest and the tip of her ears comically hanging down as I suppressed a snort of laughter. Realising what I was laughing at she gave a half hearted glare.

"Hey don't laugh at me! Its not my fault that my kind have thicker coats" she complained stomping her foot causing both of us to momentarily forget about the dead beasts at my feet as we laughed. Grunting I feel to one knee, my body already exhausted before the battle. My form shivered as Stitches grabbed me using her wings to support me as I hissed in pain.

"You’re hurt, you need to rest, now!" She stated pulling me away as we headed down a narrow street.

"What are your species called?" I asked weakly making small talk as she smiled at the distraction.

"Well as you can see, there are two species but we are called flutter ponies or ponies of the forest. We are a subspecies of pegasi like Thestral's, Longma's and bat ponies. Flutter ponies sadly like most species in the world have a small male ratio, which is why many of them stay at home and raise the foals. We are great scavengers, though our antennas are sensitive to vibration helping us avoid predators, and our enhanced smell means we can track down the rarest fungi, mushrooms and plants which we then sell to passing trading caravans. Gryphon's especially love the mushrooms as seasoning and accompaniment to, their meals" she finished, grimacing at the thought of their carnivorous lifestyle.

"If you are so good at detecting predators then why did none of you pick up on these" I replied idly kicking one of the prone bodies as already ponies were gathering the bodies to be burned. Around me families huddled together giving me nods of appropriation and looks of fear as "thank you" and "savoir" were thrown about.

"These things are not normal our antenna help us detect the crunch of leafs, snapping twigs in some cases a heart beat or heavy breathing but these things are dead and move with a swiftness and silence that is unmatched." i mean had it not been for the fleeing village people and the screams I would have not known they were here" she replied hoisting me slightly lower as my legs started to drag, I was still exhausted from my fight with the group of mad ponies and other creatures and having been fighting for an hour was feeling the burn of exhaustion.

The early signs of morning started to show as a gentle pink started to replace black. A small cottage came into sight sticking out besides the tree house that many of the ponies here seemed to prefer. In fact, there were few buildings not made of wood as most were either houses built on trees or carved into the trees themselves.

"I'm home" the mare barked dropping me on to a comfy sofa. My body went limp as I found myself yawning. A crash of feet could be heard from above as a thunder of foot steps followed. Four mares burst into the living room tackling the startled mare. Cries of relief and sobs echoed around the spacious room as Stitches was trapped by the four mares. A stallion made his way into the room limping badly, shooing the smaller mares away as he grabbed Stitches in a bone crushing hug.

"My daughter, when I heard of the bloody hooves attack I assumed you were lost" he soberly stated tears streaking down his face. Stitches squirmed in the stallions grip grumbling about not being a foal as the stallion chuckled. Turning the stallion looked over at my slouched form. Raising his brow inquisitive he gave a sly smirk as he nudged his daughter suggestively. One of the mares giggled as she gave me a playful grin before turning to her daughter.

"Really, a town invasion and you were picking up stallions, I taught you well" she laughed as Stitches went red with embarrassment.

"Daddy, mum, aunties meet my patient, uh I didn't catch your name" she replied her cheeks heating up as she flashed me a sheepish grin.

"I don't know." I sighed the mare awkwardly looking back and forth as one of the mares spoke up.

"What happened out there? One minute we were being told to hide in our homes, next we heard horrible shrieks, then silence. I got the reports there were around two hundred of those things" one of the mares spoke. Only now did I notice she was donned in guard armor, her grey coat contrasting the gold as she looked at us questioningly.

"From the start, tell us what happened."

Nightmare Moon’s POV

4 hours later

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN EVERFREE VILLAGE WAS ATTACKED!?" Luna roared causing me to wince as I entered the throne room. Despite having only been at each others throats mere hours ago, more important things had come up as the guard that delivered the news cowered under the night blue alicorns glare.

Luckily most of the group had returned to their homes, Razor Wing returning to her hive. The elements had returned home all but Twilight and Fluttershy who was residing with me. Discord had agreed to take care of the timid mare’s animals until I was confident that she would not suffer any bullying at the hands of her "friends".

"Bloody hooves attacked in hundreds. They were seen ransacking the city before I left to get help. I believe the city to be lost. Please your majesty we need to move now if we are to save any survivors." The guard pleaded her eyes watering as she tried to keep her composure.

"Very well, the four of us will come to thy aid with a platoon of 50 guards. Let us move!" Luna barked giving me a neutral glance as I gave a nod.

"Glimmer Shield will lead the guards whilst Twilight, Luna and I will push back the beasts." I followed up as the guard gave a nod rushing to alert the night guards.

"I hope you will not try to spare these beasts" Luna growled as I resisted the urge to slap her upside the head. Once Celestia had calmed down, she had whilst not agreed with out actions, had at least understood that we would not have done what we did merely to spite them. Though Chrysalis bless her had only sided with me due to our close friendship.

Twilight stood awkwardly between the two of us as we awaited Glimmer Shield and the night guards. Usually captain Dark Wing would lead the night guards, but as much as both I and Luna were loathed to admit it, Glimmer Shield was a far better commander as well as tactician.

"Your majesties, Twili?" the mare stated in surprise as her sister gave her a warm smile. I could see her displeasure at seeing her younger sister here but we needed her as Celestia was currently negotiating with the gryphon's empress. As much as I wished to stay optimistic It would take us to long to reach the small village in time to give any aid. it was more a hunt more than a rescue now.

"Lets move out!" the Glimmer Shield barked.

Author's Note

Well Lachlan has unlocked more of his magic as well as regained a body. But he still isn't human, will memory of his loved ones or maybe new love allow him to regain his humanity fuck if I know. As for sex either there will be shit tons or it will be tons of shit