A Broken Nightmare

by Mirenheart

Rating: mature
Tags: Original Character, Princess Celestia, Main 6, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Sad, Nightmare Moon, Princess Luna
Length: 5195

Nightmare Moon, thought to have been destroyed five years ago, suddenly shows up on Nightmare Night. But, somethings wrong...

Five years after being hit by the Elements of Harmony, Nightmare Moon shows up in Ponyville. But instead of a terrifying monster set on bringing about Eternal Night, Luna sees a starving, Miserable shadow of something that shouldn't exist.

Aight! so this is my first fic since I was a teenager. I'll add more info to this as well as more tags as the story progresses, as I have no idea where I', taking this at the moment. Some of this was inspired by The Return of Princess Nightmare Moon.

Published 2015-07-14 18:50:01 UTC
Last updated 2017-09-19 04:53:02 UTC

Chapter 1 - Chained

Six little ponies, those who dared stand against her, rose into the air as the magic of the Elements coursed through them, surrounding them in a grand rainbow of magic. The wind howled around her as the magical pressure began to rise. She could feel her skin crawling underneath her fur as the harmonious magic fought against her very being. The magical rainbow then shot forward, and Nightmare Moon looked on in horror as it surrounded her. Pain was all that she felt, and she screamed. She didn't want this, she didn't want to return to the moon. She couldn't. She'd do anything to stop this from happening again!

Time slowed down, and then stopped. The pain stopped, and within her mind, Nightmare Moon could hear something. Voices in her mind, talking to her. It was the Elements, and they were offering her a chance. She would not have to return to her prison, and spend another thousand years trapped. But she had to be punished. She had done too much, more than any of these ponies would ever know. She would be imprisoned here in Equestria, and only for a short time. Nightmare eagerly accepted. She felt herself being pulled away, out of the rainbow, as time returned to normal. Where she had been, she saw a small, blue alicorn.

Suddenly, she found herself flung out of the castle, and down into the ravine surrounding it. Pulled into a cave, she found herself hanging in front of the Tree of Harmony itself, the source of the elements. She was given the details of her punishment. When she had heard what they demanded of her, she wanted to refuse, to turn it down and just be sent away again. But it was too late, she'd already accepted, and now she had to live with it. And live with it she did.

She was chained high above the tree itself, hidden from view of any who should enter. Then there was pain, as her magic was ripped from her, leaving only enough to keep her alive, but not enough to fully sustain herself. Chains surrounded her legs, binding her to the place, and sapping any magical buildup, but allowing her to move about the small space some. There she sat, staring at the very thing that she currently hated most, unable to eat, to drink, to sleep, but never dying. To spend an eternity there alone, or until the terms of her imprisonment had been met.

She was offered a small reprieve to her loneliness. Through the tree, she was sort of allowed to watch the world, observe events as they happened, and learn from them as she spent her time in solitary. She saw those wretched Element Bearers, going about their disgutingly happy lives, having adventures and making friends. She hated it. She hated them. And most of all, she hated that bitch who had replaced her. That fake who gladly took her place alongside Celestia. She looked happy, and ponies loved her and the night. Her Night! The songs and praises they gave the false one should have been for her! How dare they... how dare she...

Once the confusion left their minds, chaos broke out, and ponies ran from the Nightmare reincanated, screaming and knocking things over as they tried to escape the evil that just wiped out their snacks. The Elements attempted to calm everypony, and restore order to the place, but it was difficult. Luna could only stare at the site before her. This miserable... thing that had come into town. A shadow of what she used to be. A pile of skin and bones, blowing out weazing breathes as it slept a fitful sleep upon the hay pile. She hated what this thing represented, what it reminded her of. But at the same time, she felt pity. This thing... She. She had been subjected to something terrible. A punishment had been dolled out to her, and Luna wasn't sure she had really deserved it, not if this was the result.

Reaching out with her magic, Luna examined the Nightmare. She had so little magic. She only had enough to keep her alive, and keep her body from falling apart around her. Her internal organs and muscles were shriveled and usless. Her skin was nothing but a crusty covering. She was more like something a Necromancer would have brought forth, except this being could be saved from the effects. Nothing important had completly crumbled away. In fact, she was already absorbing magic from the environment, and Luna's spell. Luna stopped her examination, and thought to herself. Should she really allow this mare to continue? All of Equestria could be at risk! Everything she'd come to love and care for could be taken away! Maybe... maybe she should just... end it...

"NO!" Luna cried out loud. She would not stoop to that level. No matter what this creature represented, she would not go down that path again. What few citizens had been left in the area quickly made a hasty retreat when Luna shouted. Only Luna, Nightmare, the Elements, and Nure Redheart remained. She'd cautiously moved closer to the two alicorns to take a look at the pitful sleeping mare. She quietly waited for Luna to finish her examination, clamping her ears to her skull when she'd yelled, before speaking up.

"P-princess Luna? W... what did you find out? Is she going to be alright?" The Nurse, ever true to her cutie mark, was worried for the sickly alicorn, and willing to help her get better, even if she was evil. She got closer to her, climbing up onto the hay and looking her over. She grimaced at what she saw. This mare shouldn't have been alive at this point.

"She is... in a bad spot. Only magic is keeping her alive at this point. If she is to make a recovery, we must get her to a hospital quickly, and give her fluids and nutrients. Magic can only help her so much," Luna surrounded the skeletal mare, and layed her upon her back. She weighed almost nothing, and felt disturbing against her fur. Suppressing a shudder, Luna motioned for Redheart to lead her to the hospital.

"Sparkle? I need you to write a letter to my sister. I urgently need her here, but do not tell her of the Nightmare, I will do that myself. Please join us when you are finished. I need the rest of you girls to make sure everypony in town is okay, and see if you can convince them to return and help clean up the festivities. We-," Nightmare suddenly vomited up the contents of her tiny stomach, all over Luna's neck and front leg. This time, she did not supress the shudder.

"Uuuuughhh... I will need a very long bath after this." Casting a quick spell, she cleaned off most of the vomit, but she could still feel it in her fur, and it made her feel ill. "Come nurse, we must make haste."

beep... beep... beep...

"are you sure... I mean she is... Luna...."

Her ear flicked softely. Somepony nearby was talking.

beep... beep... beep...

"I know.... she didn't attack... ate alot of pie..."

Try as she might, Nightmare couldn't hear what they were saying. They sounded far away. All she could really hear was an incessant beeping sound.

beep... beep... beep...

"alright... trust you... I just hope..."

The beeping was starting to get to her. And the pain. She felt alot of pain. Her body felt like it was recovering, and her nerves were growing back, and it HURT. Her limbs were sore, her head was pounding, her teeth ached. Everything hurt. She groaned as loud as she could. Only a light sigh escaped her lips.

beep... beep... beep...

"Wait, I think she's waking up."

With great difficulty, she cracked open one of her eyes. Everything was blurry and unfocused. She saw something to her right. It was a dark blue color, and vaguely pony shaped.

beep... beep... beep...

"Nightmare? Can you hear me?"

Opening her other eye slightly, she attempted to get a better look at whatever this blue thing was. To left was another pony shape, smaller, and purple.

beep... beep... beep...

"Here, I'll go get the doctor. You just stay here with... her."

The purple pony left, leaving the blue one. Her vision was beginning to clear up, and she was able to see what was around her more clearly. The blue blur of a pony started to take shape. She tried to speak, but her throat was dry and her lips were cracked. "Mmmmph..."

"You need to speak up. I can't hear you..." A tall, somewhat thin Alicorn mare with a blue, flowing mane and tail filled with stars and star dust. Upon her flank was a large black splotch with a crescent moon within it. Large feathered wings were folded up at her sides, and a grand horn peared up from her mane. Princess Luna.

Her teal eyes looked upon her with concern... and fear...

Nightmare's dull, dragon slit eyes slowly towards the nearby desk, before flicking back to Luna. She parted parted her dry, cracked lips, her dull fangs showing as she opened her jaw. A small, forked tongue weakly liked her lips.

"Oh, of course." Luna picked up the pitcher of water left on the desk and filled up a cup for before levitating it over to the sickly alicorn. Nightmare lifted her head a best she could, letting Luna put the glass to her lips. Luna watched the Nightmare's throat bulge slightly as she drained the glass, not having been used for such a thing in a long time. When she was finished, Luna place the glass back on the desk.

"Nightmare, I... why are you here? What happened to you?" The Nightmare could only weeze and cough, and Luna winced with sympathy.

"Princess Luna? Please dont make my... patient try to talk right now. She need time to recover before she can do even that. The doctor had come in, and brought a cart of supplies and tools with her. Twilight stood outside the door, waiting for Luna to follow her

"I am sorry doctor. I will take my leave for now. I shall return in the morning to check up on her. Don't be afraid to contact me if there are any... complications," Luna exited the room and followed Twilight out into the lobby, taking a seat in one of the larger chairs. Twilight spoke up.

"I just got a message from Celestia," Twilight magiked a scroll over to Luna, who unraveled it and began reading. Celestia couldn't make it. Something had happened in Canterlot that caused a panic, and she needed to be there to help calm ponies down. Unless it was an emergency, Luna would have to wait until morning for her.

"Hmm, very well, I suppose this can wait until then. Sparkle, I hope you do not mind me staying at your castle for the night do you?"

"Oh! of course not! I've already got some rooms ready for when guests stop by!" Twilight and Luna got off the chairs, and made their way outside.

"Thank you Sparkle," They took off into the sky, towards the giant crystal tree that was Twilight's home.

Author's Note

A complete rewrite of this chapter, and one that I feel more satisfied with. I can actually go places with this.

Chapter 2 - Judged

Nightmare Moon found herself face-to... trunk... with the Tree of Harmony. Only moments ago had she been beaten by those commoners and their Elements, and now she was here, being judged by the source of their magic. Voices whispered in her head, belonging to those she had thought lost many ages ago. The tree began to shine brighter, illuminating the cave, and the voices spoke louder and clearer as it did. Finally, she could understand them

"Nightmare Moon! Luna Cosmosus of the Alicorn Tribe!" Six loud, distinct voices rang out, reverberating in her mind and ringing in her ears, "You have been found guilty of crimes against Harmony, and the world itself! Twice now, you have refused to allow the sun to rise, intending to cover the land in eternal night! Before even that, you harmed your sister, and killed many of your loyal subjects in your rage! And during your imprisonment, you spread horrific nightmares across the world, poisoning minds and driving creatures to madness! Through your actions, many dark, dangerous beings were brought to life, created in the images of their nightmares, driven insane by your meddling! "

When she'd been sent to the moon, she'd been angry, and bordering insane, and she lashed out and hurt as many beings as she could. The resulting nightmares drove the world into a dark age. Half of what was now down in Tarterus had been created during this time, because of her nightmares. Their insane creators, called Lunatics, thought the nightmares were visions from a god, telling them to create these creatures to plunge the world into darkness. Even now, centuries later, the land was still recovering from the creatures rampages.

"You shall be punished! Locked away around this very tree, until we deem you fit to leave! Your time on the moon had taught you NOTHING, so now you're punishment shall be more severe! We hath created a new Luna, out of the image of the pony you once were, to take your place and lead the world to prosperity whilst you're left here to rot. We had given you the chance, to escape and make up for your trangresions, and you attempted the same thing you did all those years ago. Goodbye, Luna Cosmosus, we hope you learn better this time..."

She felt herself brought up to the ceiling of the cave, well above the Tree of Harmony. She felt chains attatch to her limbs, and something apply itself to her horn, as she was chained up, and left to hang there. The Elements, while known to be artifacts of kindness and goodness, were not to be trifled with, and she was going to experience the full force of their fury. She growled and screamed, straining against the chains, cursing everyone and everything with the most vile obscieneties she could.

Hours turned into days as she continued to shout and scream, the fire of her anger never cooling. Days to weeks, and the words stopped, devolving into nothing but growls and angry looks, hatefully staring at the tree. Weeks to months, and she no longer had the strength to fight against the chains, and her voice quieted. Months to years, and the fire in her eyes went out, leaving her tired, and listless, hanging from the ceiling, unmoving, almost dead.

Every time the Elements were used, she could see the tree light up as power was drawn from it. When Discord appeared, she'd felt his prescense, but this place was uneffected. She'd seen changelings take shelter in here once, for but a few days. When Sombra had reappeared with the empire, she felt his death through the tree. The tree was powerful, and had a connection to all of equestria, and with her so close, she could feel much of it too. However, it was slowly losing it's power. The day came when the tree had to make a choice. Release it's hold on her, to hold back the seeds of Discord, or let the seeds go free, in order to keep her there.

It chose to keep her there, and for the first time in many years, she saw her sister, dragged into the cave, and trapped within the vines. She watched the Element bearers as they confronted the tree, giving back the elements, and freeing her sister, and her... doppleganger. They had not seen her, none knew she was here. She tried to call out, hoping their niave nature might work in her favour, and release her, but she could no longer talk, her throat dry, and damaged from so much screaming. They left her there in the cave, trapped.

Year had passed since her inprisonment. Magic no longer sustained her body, fur falling out and feathers turning to dust. Fat and muscles dissapeared from under her skin, and her organs ate themselves to try and sustain her. However, the Tree itself would not let her die, leaving her to constantly starve, but never die. Her anger and rage died out, though the hatred stayed, year in and year out. When the sisters and the bearers had left the cave, instead of renewed rage and hatred, she felt only hoplessness.

The Tree of Harmony was kind to those who deserved it, and beyond cruel to those who did not. When the element bearers came back, they came with strange items, which turned to keys as they brought them near, eventually unlocking the chest at the base of the tree. She felt the tree fill the six with power, and when it created the Castle. But she found she couldn't care much. her emotions were slowly dissapearing, leaving her nothing but a husk, though she still held on to her hate, and the tree continued to hold onto her.

Through time warping and changing as the timeline was screwed with, to the destruction of the changelings dark throne, she held onto her hate, the last bit of emmotion she had left, though it was slowly fading as well. Finally, after many long years, the last of her emmotions, the tiny bit of hatred dissapeared from her. And then, the chains fell away from her, and she was slowly lowered to the ground.

The elements spoke to her once again, Cold, stern voices. "...We excepted you to last longer, Nightmare, though we suppose that is a good thing. We release you now, having decided you have learned your lesson. However, should you slip up again, your next punishment shall be many worlds worse next time, and next time, you won't be released..." And with that, she was left alone, tired, emotionless, and utterly broken.

It was not for another few weeks that she could think again, thoughts slowly creeping back into her head, as magic, which had been forcibly removed from her, slowly flowed back into her, giving her feeling once more. Her eyes cracked open, looking about the cave. She saw the tree once again, and felt as if she should hate it... but she could not, she was too tired.

When she had regained enough magic, she used her horn, and slowly pulled up her body off the ground.

'... Free... I'm finally free...'

Author's Note

Rewritten to have less family and less HIM bullshit.

But is also like, alot darker now. Honestly, putting her on the moon for 1000 years is pretty cruel already. I wouldn't put it past the elements to be even worse the next time around.

Prologue - Bones of Nightmare

Tonight was Nightmare Night, an ancient holiday dedicated to Princess Luna and her darker self, Nightmare Moon. Mildly terrifying decorations were set up on every house and street. Young foals would dress up every year in costumes and go about the town collecting candy from their friends and neighbors. A party, set up by Ponyville’s Premiere Pretty Pink Party Pony, was set up in the town center, with food, games, and music to entertain children and adults alike.

Free... she was finally free...

Webs were set up and around the buildings, along with spiders hanging from them, paper black cats, pumpkins, and bats were found plastered to the walls and roofs, and jack-o-lanterns with wicked faces were found on the steps of every home. The Sugar Cube Corner, and several other normally bright colored buildings were painted in black, orange, and purple to hide their usual candy coloring. Luna’s nightguard, the thestral ponies, were found hanging around various parts of the town, to ensure everypony was safe and secure while they partied the night away. Their tufted ears, fanged mouths, slit dragon eyes, and bat wings that were a natural feature of the aptly named batponies, fit in perfectly well with the decorum of the festivities.

The chains that bound her were finally broken...

Princess Luna herself was in attendance, watching over the festivities dedicated to her for the fifth year since her return, reveling in the adoration and praise the young foals showered on her as she spun scary stories from times long since past. A huge smile was found on her face as she scared the children with a scary face and a flash of lightning in the sky to emphasize the end of her story. She waited for the screaming and giggling to subside before she moved on to her next story. Her costume being as one of her thestral ponies, with fangs, bat wings, and dark red slit eyes.

Her magic was almost gone... but she had enough to drag herself away from her prison...

Twilight Sparkle, the recently crowned Princess of Friendship, was beside her, helping set the mood of the stories with her magic, conjuring fog to surround the children, making lightning strike in the sky, and whatever else helped the currently story along. Though not as exhausted as Rarity, she was still tired from helping Pinkie and the rest of the town set up the party, and so instead of participating in the festivities, opted to sit and help Luna with storytelling. Her costume was of a vampony, With a cape that had too high of a collar, a dribble of fake blood down her chin, and slicked back hair.

So hungry... so tired...

Rarity, a seamstress of decent renown, was found having fallen asleep from exhaustion on a fancy lounging chair in the midst of it all, an odd, but not surprising fixture that she seemingly had with her everywhere she went, in case she needed to faint. The white unicorn, her time spent making costumes for the holiday having taken its toll on her, slumbered away as the party continued through the night. She had no costume, and instead came in a black dress with her hair up in a bun, as she had no time to make a costume of her own.

She crawled through a forest, ancient and deadly, like her...

Pinkie Pie, the main pony to have worked on setting up the festivities, was running to and fro, making sure everypony was having a good time, the games were properly set up and working, and the snacks were filled. Excited chatter streamed from her as she zipped back and forth, no pony able to understand what she was saying as she was moving too much, but nopony really caring as just having her around brought a smile to their faces. Her costume was Discord, who had agreed to accompany her and make her look like him. He did so enjoy the chaos that seems to follow her.

Monstrous beasts everywhere, but not one dared to attack her...

Rainbow Dash, the local weather pony and Prankster Extraordinaire, was busying herself with pranks and such. Armed with several terrifying monster masks, lightning clouds, spiders and bats on a string, and various other tricks, she went about Ponyville stealthily, making sure that the adults were getting as good of a scare this night as the children were. Screaming, followed by angry shouts and a giggling Rainbow flying off to find her next victims. She was costumed to look like a ninja, with a sash around her face and a fake sword on her back.

Blue flowers filled with Discord's magic...

Applejack, Ponyville's most dependable pony, was busying herself with cooking up confections and such for ponies to enjoy. A small wood burning oven was found near her, brought into town so she could keep up with cooking pies and treats while the night went on. Her costume was a Timberwolf, covered in wood, and had a green glow to her eyes. A costume she made her own, with the exception of her eyes courtesy of Twilight.

...they seemed to shy away as she approached, not once touching her...

Fluttershy, a timid Pegasus who used to be afraid of her own shadow, had finally decided to join this year. Though she was still terrified, she was not so scared that she couldn’t enjoy hanging out with her friends on this night. Though, she still hid whenever she saw someone in a scary costume. Her costume was of a fuzzy, and somewhat adorable lion.

She was ravenous... had she been able to catch one... she would have eaten one of the beasts...

Spike, Twilight’s #1 assistant and Ponyville’s only dragon, was busy having fun with the other children. After having spent time running around town and getting candy, he was now sitting in front of Luna, listening to her stories as he munched on candy. He was dressed in his favorite costume, a dragon.

A scream... She watched as a zebra, eyes wide with fear ran from her... She followed...

All in all, the night was a good one. Despite the sounds and energy radiating off the party, the night was calm and quiet. Until a sharp scream was heard. All at once, all the music, talking, laughing and such stopped at once, and every pony who could turned their head towards the disturbance, as well as waking Rarity up. Zecora, who had been at home preparing for her own Nightmare Night show, was seen running away from the Everfree Forest, her eyes wide and fear apparent on her face. She looked as though she had seen a ghost.

A town... there was food in a town...

Stopping before Luna, she took her time to catch her breath before speaking. "A terrible f-fright I've had this Nightmare Night!"

Luna moved closer, placing her hoof on the zebra in the hopes of calming her. "A terrible fright? What has happened?"

"I must leave here soon! For I have seen Nightmare Moon!"

Through the streets she dragged herself... Ponies running from her... screaming... but that did not matter...

“Nightmare Moon? Impossible! I alone was the Nightmare, there was no separate being, and the elements have long since purified me of such hatred!” Though she attempted to assure everypony of this, the fear on her face was clear.

“She was like a skeleton, almost dead. She did not attack me, but regardless, I fled," More screams were heard coming from the direction Zecora had come from.

Snapping her head towards the screams, she saw ponies running from a shadowed figure slowly walking down the street.

Luna... she remembered Luna... but she could wait... the smell of food... it was driving her...

Stumbling down the path was a tall, dark alicorn. Her horn, as well as her body, were glowing faintly. She was using her magic to keep herself upright and walking. She looked very skeletal, Her ribs sticking out, her legs bony and thin, almost no muscle or fat anywhere on her body. Her stomach was nearly non-existent, merely a pouch where organs should be, and her once majestic mane, a sea of stars, was now hanging limply around her form, strands of dark blue. Her now grey coat was very dull, and had lost the luster it once had when it was black. Her wings were dragging along the ground, with few feathers left on them. Her hooves were chipped and damaged, and her horn was long and jagged, signs that they hadn't been used or taken care of for a very long time. Her mouth hung open, showing her pointed, predatory teeth, and a small fleck of saliva hanging from her jaw. The worst were her eyes, which were sunken into her skull. They were dull and almost lifeless, most of the color having gone from them. She looked like she hadn’t eaten in years. Luna simply stared in horror at the sickly thing before her, unable to move from the shock of what she was seeing.

"N-nightmare Moon! But... how...? You should not exist!"

The Nightmare Alicorn ignored her, trudging slowly into the town center, before she lifted her head to look around. She stopped to look at Luna for a moment, before her eyes settled on a table filled with apple based treats. Her dull eyes widened, and seemed to regain some life as she hobbled towards the table as quickly as she could. The few ponies that hadn’t run away by this time had quickly gotten out of here way as she made her way to the table. Once she arrived at the table, she slowly and painfully pulled herself up onto a bench, sitting before the feast.

Luna cautiously approached the table. The closer she looked, the more sickly the Nightmare seemed. Her eyes were wide, and filled with a feral hunger, as a small bit of drool spilled out of her mouth. Finally, she couldn’t hold back any longer, and dove into an apple pie, devouring as much of it as she could. Luna simply stared as she watched this nightmare, A being born of hate, envy, and malice, gorged herself on as much food as she could, looking more like a wild, starving animal than a threat to Equestria.

Slowly coming up besides Luna, Twilight spoke up, “L… Luna? Should we… do something about her?”

“I… No… let her eat…” Luna stuttered, confused, and somewhat afraid of the sight before her.

Nightmare finished her third pie, slowly stopping and looking up at the ponies surrounding her. Then, suddenly, she turned to the side, dropped her head down, and vomited. After she finished her heaving, she wiped her mouth with a hoof, and set back to eating more.

“My word! How long has she gone without eating!? To just keep eating after throwing everything up…” Rarity said as she held a hoof to her mouth, trying not to get sick herself at the sight. The others merely nodded, staring at the miserable creature before them with pity.

Finally... food...

Eventually, Nightmare stopped eating, her stomach visibly filled with food. Finally satisfied, she crawled off the bench, and made her way to a tub filled with water and apples for the Apple Bobbing game. She lowered her mouth to the water and drank her fill, her stomach filling up even more. Finally satisfied and sure she wasn't going to throw up again, she made her way towards a pile of hay bales that here being used as decoration, set up next to the wall of town hall. Nudging a Jack-o-lantern from atop one of the bales with her snout, she dragged herself onto it, before the glow of her horn disappeared, and she fell asleep.

Everypong was silent, looking on in terror and confusion. Only Applejack spoke out.

“She ate all muh Apple Cinnamon Fritters, those were muh favorites…”

Author's Note

Alright, chapter redone slightly.

Also, if anyone wants to help me as an editor for this fic, I would be glad to have the help.