Lucid Nightmares

Lucid Nightmares

Chapter 3

“Lately I’ve been wondering, just who is Rarity?” the Nightmare spoke. She sighed, staring at her dark hooves with disdain. “It all started- well, I’m not so certain about that, anymore.” Rarity smiled, brushing her mane back. “My, or perhaps, Rarity’s friend reminded-told me who Rarity was.”

Her listener breathed heavily, shivering. The ground was so cold, so lifeless.

“Look at me, going on and on. I don’t even know who I am, anymore, darling!” the dark mare stood, slender legs digging into the soil. “Hah! Such a farce, I am! Rarity, me, we’re just...” she breathed. “Fake. Aren’t we?”

The ground remained cold and lifeless. Just like her. Just like she would be. The mare with no home. She lifted her head up as much as she could. The black, dark blur made her anxious. Made her scared.

Made her feel a little more safe.

She wanted to speak. Oh so desperately wanted to speak. What was she? Why did it hurt? Why did the ground tug at her hind legs?

Rarity paced back and forth in the room, paying the listener no mind. “And that’s when I realized, darling. That’s when I realized just who Rarity is. Rarity... I... am nothing. What am I, underneath my possessions, my connections?”

Something beautiful. Please. Just listen.

“I am dependent on others. No matter how I look at it. I am made from what other ponies speak and think of me. I just want attention, I suppose.” Rarity smiled weakly, those blue, shining eyes of hers dulling just a little. “Applejack, darling. Are you still awake?”

The orange mare only continued her steady breath, her one unoccupied eye struggling just to look up towards the slender, dark mare. Why did she look so sad? So important?

“Mm. I suppose no.” Rarity sighed, stepping over. Applejack felt the cold hoof brush her cheek, yet could do little. “You look dreadful, darling. This doesn’t suit you.” Rarity nuzzled the trapped, wavering being. “Applejack. You said all those wonderful things about me... but what about now? I feel so alive, yet so lifeless. Would you still love me, if I weren’t me anymore?”

Nightmare Rarity sighed. Her ear perked up. She chanced a glance back towards the only entrance of the room. It was covered in a dreadful void of smoke. They were trapped. “Oh, dear. I suppose I’ve overstayed my welcome in this world, then?” she chuckled to herself.

Applejack gasped and shook and cried as the evil grabbed and tore at her sanctuary. Her roots. Her being. Her room. And yet, she couldn’t move. This was all she was. Just a part of the dream. Furniture for this world and this world only.

It hurt.

Rarity brushed the horrifying mix of tree and farmer that her mind had chosen to represent her best friend. It provided little comfort to the being, she knew, but it made the Nightmare pony feel better at least. Really, it was sad to see this happen. Only a little, though.

It was all just a dream after all. “I will return soon, perhaps. You were right, darling, you really are a great listener.”

And just like that, it was all gone. The blackened mare. The shadows. Applejack panted. It was so hard to breathe, in her lonely, rooted sanctuary, in her prison.

In Rarity’s mind.

The unicorn lifted her head up from her bed. She opened her mouth in a yawn, glancing down towards her body.

Of course, she was still in her ‘Nightmare form’, for lack of a better term. Really, Rarity was getting used to it. It felt so much better than that small, insignificant form of hers. She stood and gave a glance to the clock. It had only been a few hours.

The sun was still out. Perhaps she’d go for another walk?

Really, she didn’t feel like talking to others, anyway. She perked her ear at the sound of the bell of her door ringing. She sighed. Another act to put on, another mask to wear.

All for attention.

“Welcome to Carousel Boutique, where every garment is- Oh, Rainbow Dash, what brings you here?” Rarity spoke. She chided herself. Really, with how empty those words sounded, you’d think she didn’t want her friend to be there!

“Heya Rarity!” the pegasus spoke in that adorable scratchy voice of hers. “Just stoppin’ by! I brought some, uh, ‘Hope you feel better real super soon’ cupcakes from Pinkie. She said you’d need them soon.” the mare grinned, setting the box of what Rarity could only assume were the cupcakes on the table.

“Oh, is that so? Well, then, I suppose I’ll thank her personally later.” Rarity hummed absentmindedly, magic grasping the box of sweets and carrying them away towards the kitchen. She turned towards Rainbow Dash. The pegasus scratched a hoof and stretched a wing, casually looking around the room. Curiously, not at Rarity herself. “Rainbow, darling?”

“Eh?” Rainbow finally seemed to realize that Rarity was still there, turning to the unicorn in question.

“Did you really only come to make a delivery?”

“Oh, uh, well, yeah!” Rainbow smirked. “Make sure you eat them real soon, yeah? Cuz, uh, cupcakes are better fresh or somethin’.” the pegasus said, clearing her throat.

“Mm. Care to join me then?” Rarity smiled sincerely. Rainbow seemed to perk up.

“Well, I dunno, I mean, I’m kinda busy workin’ on some, er, stunts and stuff...”

“You don’t have to, darling. Simply offering, of course. It’s quite lonely in here, at the moment.”

“Oh, uh, yeah?” Rainbow’s wings gave a little flap. Rarity held back a chuckle.

“Yes, darling. Sweetie is off enjoying the day, and I’m not taking any clients today.”

“Well, awesome! I mean, uh, yeah, I can totally keep ya company for a few minutes or whatever.” Rainbow cleared her throat.

The two sat together, enjoying the cupcakes. Rarity noted the white and blue frosting on each treat, chuckling. “How have you been, Rainbow?”

“Pretty great. Pretty cool. I mean, you know, same old same old.” Rainbow chomped on a cupcake, tapping at the floor with a hoof anxiously. “...You?”

“Mm. Not well, to be frank.” Rarity lifted up another of the sweets, taking a small nibble. “But I suppose I could be worse, no?” She chuckled inwardly.

“U-uh, really? That stinks. I mean, uh, yeah, it’s probably cuz it’s still early! I’m cranky after I wake up too, heh!”

“Really now?” Rarity commented, only half paying attention.

Rainbow seemed to notice, muttering to herself. She took a few moments to regain her composure. Why is this so awkward? Maybe this was a bad time... “Hey, uh, Rarity.”

“Yes, darling?”

“What do you, erm, I mean.” She swallowed her breath. “Do you have your eyes on anypony?”

“No.” Rarity answered simply. Rainbow seemed to shake at the speedy reply. Truth be told, after the fiasco of the gala, Rarity had gotten quite pessimistic over things such as love.

Maybe she was a tad bitter.

“Oh, uh, well, that’s cool.” Rainbow coughed. Since when did Rarity make her afraid? Her heart felt like it would explode.

And really, depending on where this went, it very well might.

“Do you have your eyes on somepony special, Rainbow?” Rarity smiled softly. “I never figured you for the romantic.”

“Shut up!” Rainbow exclaimed defensively. She gulped and reeled back. “Erm, sorry, I mean... Even the coolest pony in all of Ponyville can be romantic, you know?” She crossed her hooves. “I’ll have you know that I have the smoothest moves this side of Equestria!”

Rarity chuckled. “I’m sure you do, darling. Why bring it up, though?”

Rainbow bit her lip, staring at her unfinished cupcake. Suddenly, she wasn’t hungry anymore. “Well... urgh, yeah, okay, I-I’ve got the hots for somepony alright? Don’t go spreadin’ around that I’m some kind of hopeless romantic or whatever.”

Rarity leaned in close to Rainbow, her cute little pegasus friend. “Oh, you have my word, darling.” She nuzzled into her friend. Rainbow’s wings stretched outwards as their bodies touched. “Who is it? Did you want my help in wooing them?”

“Guh, well, erm. You could say that.” Spit it out, Dash. Spit it out. “You see, it’s, uh, it’s a mare that... you know.”

“Oh, my, a mare?”

“Yeah.” Rainbow answered simply, looking away.

“I know a lot of mares, darling. That doesn’t really help.”

“Well, uh, that’s, ahem.” Rainbow grimaced. “Oh, crud, look at the time! Gotta go see Twilight about the new Daring Do, hah, hah, hah!”

Before Rarity could comment, Rainbow escaped her grasp and flew straight out the kitchen window.

“...Hm. Oh well.” Rarity lifted the remainder of the sweet snack and tossed them into the garbage. “So Rainbow Dash has a crush on us, is it?”

Nightmare chuckled in self deprecation. Her magic shut the window and locked the doors as she retreated to her work room. “Really, darling. You could do so much better.” She sighed, staring at her dark reflection in the mirrors. “Just look at me. Such a mess.”

So much better.

Rainbow groaned, burying her stupid head into a cloud, muffling her annoyed grunts. “Ugh! Come on, Dash! You could do WAY better than that.”

Her face was red. She could still smell Rarity’s perfume on her, and it completely embarrassed her just how amazing that smell was.

“Nng, why? Why her. Why not somepony... I-I don’t know!” Somepony that wouldn’t hurt so much if they said no.

And she made it so obvious too! That was really stupid. Pathetic, even! “Ugh, she probably thinks I’m some dumb filly now.”

Rainbow buried her face inside her hooves. She resisted the urge to cry.

Cool ponies don’t cry. Even if it feels like they’re about to pass out.

 Her wings drooped over the sides of the small cloud she was venting into. Maybe a bit of whimpering was okay. “Ugh. Borrowed all those cheesy romances for nothin’. And I wasted all those bits on cupcakes.”

She thought of Rarity. She’d been doing that a lot lately. Especially after the unicorn seemed to just seclude herself inside of Carousel Boutique. It was all going to go perfectly. She’d barge in and lift Rarity up, pulling the unicorn away from whatever she was working on. Take her to some hill or place with a cool view, and just totally woo the mare with free food and sheer awesomeness.

And then maybe they’d cuddle or... something! Rainbow blushed.

She thought of Rarity again. Of that sad, distant look in wonderful blue her eyes. Of how empty her words sounded. Of that... wrongness, that just seemed to surround her. Was it because of her, or was something really bothering the unicorn? Something that Rainbow, in her love sickness, just completely ignored in favor of trying to hit on her!?

Rainbow stood atop the cloud, looking towards Carousel Boutique. “Great. Now Rarity probably hates me, and I hate me too.” She slumped over and groaned. “One thing we have in common.”

Rainbow sat for a while, grumbling, as the wind blew her tail aside. “...Alright. No more moping! Not for the Element of Loyalty!” She smirked.

She’ll just try again tomorrow! Swoop in, grab Rarity, and take her out to have an awesome time, Rainbow Dash style!

But not just for the pegasus, but for the unicorn herself.

Rainbow Dash promised to herself that she’d make Rarity feel better.

“Oh, hello Applejack!” Twilight Sparkle, Element of Magic and owner of the Golden Oaks Library, smiled at her friend as the farmer walked in. The young purple alicorn put her book aside, making sure it was properly bookmarked, before trotting up to meet the earth pony. Twilight’s smile left her face as she noticed the grave, nervous look on Applejack’s face. “What’s wrong?”

Applejack frowned. “It’s... it’s Rarity, Twi.” Twilight’s face twisted into a concerned expression, the alicorn urging Applejack to continue. “I, well, you know how she hasn’t left her house in a while?”

Twilight nodded. “Yes, I was aware. I figured she was busy.” The alicorn blushed. “I know personally the effects of getting a little too into my studies.”

Applejack shook her head. “Well, she came ta Sweet Apple Acres fer a while.”

Twilight smiled. “Oh! That’s good. How was she?” Her own expression darkened as Applejack seemed to sulk.

“Not too good, Twi. Not good at all. She was actin’ all weird, and started askin’ me some pretty awkward questions, an’ then she just up and left.”

“Questions? What sort of questions?”

Applejack scratched the back of her neck. “Well, she started demandin’ ah tell her who ‘Rarity’ was.”

“She... asked you who she was?” Twilight rose a brow, putting a hoof to her chin. “Amnesia, or...?”

“Naw, ah doubt it was amnesia. She was just sorta... freakin’ out, yanno? Ah’m gettin’ kinda worried.”

“Maybe it’s just stress.” Twilight offered. Although she doubted it herself. “Was there anything else weird?”

Applejack swallowed her breath. “Well, ah mean, there was this... feelin’, ah got, whenever ah looked in her eyes. Like, somethin’ was just not right. An’ while we were talkin’, she suddenly started holdin’ her head and limpin’.”

Mind control, maybe? Twilight shook her head. “Anything else?”

“No- well, actually. She had some white hairs in her mane, and her coat looked a little grey, today.”

White hairs, grey coat. Twilight gasped. Oh no, maybe...!

“Twi? Twi! Twilight!” Applejack snapped Twilight out of her thoughts. “What’s wrong with Rarity!?”

Twilight grimaced. “I-if Rarity looked different, and you said she was asking questions about herself...”

Applejack nodded.

“...I think Rarity might have been replaced by a changeling!”