The timid mare closed her exhausted eyes and lay her head onto the pillow. She dragged her blankets atop of her and smiled as she bid goodnight to her animal friends. As she fell asleep, she found herself watching the colours of her room swiftly darkening, noticing a pony in the corner. She stepped forward, cautiously. Slowly, she identified the pony as a winged, dark gold coated mare with a messy, tangled pink mane.
Wait A second...
The mare, whom Fluttershy identified as her dark side, stared at her with red, malicious eyes. She spread her leathery wings, bringing a succulent, juicy apple to her fangs. "Hello again, Fluttershy." She hissed, accidentally biting her lip and causing it to bleed due to the sharp canines that lay in her mouth.
"Why... How?" Fluttershy mumbled, watching as Flutterbat got up, her apple still balanced in her hoof.
"What? You thought I'd leave you just like that? Tut, I thought you better than that. Even if your so called 'friends' don't."
"My friends think me better than-"
"Please! They think you a frail weakling. They think you a disgrace to pony kind."
"No they don't!"
"And because of me, they'll think you a monster."
"A-a monster?" There was a silence as Flutterbat rapidly nodded. She unfolded her large, wide wings as if threatening Fluttershy. At once, a shadow grew from beside Fluttershy, it growled and bared it's teeth at the mare. Flutterbat departed by her side, thrusting and lifting her wings as to blow the dark shadow far away.
"But I'll protect you, shy."
"This is a nightmare, and nothing else!"
"Princess Luna prevents nightmares in Equestria, you foal! You know I'm real! Stop doubting it!" Flutterbat reached the core of her apple and spat the seeds out.
"I-I j-just w-want t-to b-be f-free..."
Fluttershy awoke with a scream, startling her animals. They circled around her, pondering why she had been afraid. A knock echoed through the cottage, and Fluttershy cautiously thrusted it open.
"Goodness! Did I cause the whole neighbourhood to wake up?" Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Applejack were all standing by the door, a lamp in Twilight's hoof.
"No. The whole of Ponyville!"
"And hardly anything wakes Rainbow up, so y'all know your scream was mighty loud."
"What happened, Flutters?" The Pegasus shivered, she didn't want to remind herself, let alone talk about, her reunion with her dark self.
"N-nothing.... Just a bad dream."
"Princess Luna prevents nightmares in Equestria, though? What if something happened to the princess! I'll contact her now!" Twilight galloped to the desk next to the birdhouse and threw the parchment in front of her. She began to write her letter.
Dearest Princess Celestia,
I write to you to inform you that one of my friends, specifically Fluttershy, had experienced a nightmare. I, knowing that Her Highness, Princess Luna Of Equestria, your sister and my beloved friend, prevents nightmares in Equestria. I wish to know if there are any problems in Canterlot or anything has happened to Luna. I will see if Fluttershy will give you a summary of her dream later.
Awaiting your response,
Your Faithful Student Princess Twilight Sparkle
Before long, she threw the letter to Spike, who immediately inhaled and exhaled a fiery, green magical burst. Not a moment had passed before a letter of reply appeared, and Twilight urolled the and read the contents.
My Faithful Student, Princess Twilight,
It is always lovely to hear from you, and Luna is well. However, I wish to see the summary of Fluttershy's nightmare, as I have never heard of such a thing in Equestrian Society. Ever.
Dear Twilight Sparkle,
We thank thee for your worry of us, but we assure you we are healthy and well. In thou's words, We art enjoying ourself with fun! Rest assure, no nightmares have been in Equestria for as long as We have been here from our thousand year exile. Know that We continue to protect our subjects throughout their time spent in the dreamworld. But, we have made a discovery of a dimension made for the sole reason of nightmares. We know it as Tartarus, and this maddening place is where most of the villainous, bloodthirsty tyrants and murderers who sought power reside. Sombra, Tirek and multiple others exist here, including the dark magic that took hold of me when I transformed into Nightmare Moon. I believe that they have withered and died, and the only possibility is that it escaped and took hold of Fluttershy, but too weak to transform her right away.
Luna and Celestia
