Nightmares are ordinary; that is what Princess Luna insists. Everypony has them, and they all follow similar patterns. There's no reason that Derpy should get worked up over hers.

That's easy for the Princess to say when she's not the one surrounded by train wrecks, psychopaths, zombies, evil witches, cannibals, etc. Most pressing, of course, is the gray, clown-faced shadow from Derpy's own nightmares that keeps stalking her from within the mist.

What is it, and can Derpy ever confront it? If she ever wants her home back, she'll have to, but how can she defeat a thing born of her own heart?

Note to readers: This story has a serious continuity snarl, in that Moon Dancer appears as a pony with a personality nothing like herself as since depicted in the show. That's a hazard of writing fanfiction in an ongoing universe, and will require an MST3K mantra "hoof wave."

Cover art by Tarantad0 Click the source link, and leave a like or a favorite.