The Nightmare Knights and the Crystal Wars

by Pen Mightier

Rating: teen
Tags: Trixie, Sunset Shimmer, Adventure, Human, Twilight Sparkle, Princess Luna, Drama, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Comedy, Starlight Glimmer, Romance
Length: 17380

Heroes are not born. They are made. And the Crystal War was a forge of heroes, turning even Nightmares into hope. This is the story of six Nightmares; Twilight, Starlight, Sunset, Trixie, Luna and Sunshine, the first of the Nightmare Knights.

"Raise the Heavens!" - The Nightmare Knights' rallying cry.

Heroes are not born. They are made. And the Crystal War was a forge of heroes, hardened ponies who have stared into the abyss and emerged stronger. But six unicorns went further than any other and brought the abyss back with them. They were the same six who defeated the Night Queen herself, the six who bore Nightmare Moon's dark curse into battle against Discord, the six who quietly subverted Queen Chrysalis into becoming Equestria's secret pawn, the six most feared by both Equestria's enemies and her own citizens. This is the unsung tale of six unicorns, Twilight Sparkle N1, Starlight Glimmer N2, Sunset Shimmer N3, Trixie Lulamoon N4, Luna Eclipse N5 and Sunshine Smiles N6, and their nightmare-bonded commander, [OFFICER NAME REDACTED] N7. Together they lead Equestria's last hope, the fearsome legion of nightmare-bonded humans and their loyal nightmares, the [REGIMENT DESIGNATION REDACTED PENDING CORRECTIONS FROM THE VICEROY OF HUMAN AFFAIRS].

As always, proudly brought to you by our hardworking dream team, Not A Hat and Brad The Brony.

S5 Finale spoilers herein.

Story premise in a nutshell: In a world without the sonic rainboom, the sirens succeed in amassing an army of brainwashed humans to invade Equestria. Their invasion led them straight into the hooves of Sombra and his army of mind-controlled ponies. The clash ended with the Sirens defeated and Sombra acquiring a new source of mind-controlled soldiers - Earth. The fielding of Sombra's highly-versatile mind-controlled human minions in battle further pressured Equestria into a corner. With no end to the war in sight, Equestria resorted to desperate measures. Once prisoners of Equestria, Nightmare-infected ponies and humans are finally allowed to fight to earn their freedom. This is the story of the first six Nightmare ponies, their human commander and their part in the Crystal War.

This is a Crystal War story featuring squad-based heroics, camaraderie-in-arms and a touch of wartime field survival. Originally conceived as a thought exercise in explaining away the absence of all the other villains in the the Crystal War continuity.

Published 2015-12-11 01:00:01 UTC
Last updated 2015-12-12 15:37:26 UTC

Operation Jail-Break-From-The-Naughty-Pony-Corner!

Knight Captain N7, Household Accounts Book

There is something very enlightening about being inside a prison cell. It compels one to constantly think outside the box, so to speak. Well, it was a choice between that or read the graffiti on the walls, which, quite frankly, makes for poor conversation partners. This, compounded with the disappointing lack of alcohol in prison cells, forces one to see the rest of the world from a very, very sober perspective. Which, considering the state of the war outside, makes for very deep questions into why the world is wearing its underpants on its head.

Allow me to demonstrate. Take a moment to reflect upon the Equestrian national anthem, for example. The Equestrian national anthem is very patriotic. That is, it is very enthusiastic about stomping foreigners into the dust. It also sounds particularly good when you twang it out on a plastic knife. It wasn't always that way. It used to sound better in the shower. And I suppose it also had something about peace and harmony and paying your taxes at one point.

I was trying to prove this point to my visiting guest when she decided to just magically, and rather rudely, pull the table out from underneath my plastic knife.

I'd wager my winkleduds she didn't know the table was optional, that the tension in my prison cell was, in fact, thick enough to twang my knife against.

Twang, Twaaang twang twang, TWAAAaaaAAAaaaAAANG

Judging by the deeply pained furrow in her eyebrows, she regretted discovering that fact firsthand.

There was a loud bang and a sudden rush of air. The six solar guards standing watch in the little prison cell winced at the sound.

I frowned, looking down at my smoking white gloves. I carefully aimed my frown behind me at the knife-shaped hole in my cell's wall. That hole was quite a feat, considering the walls were designed to contain the more rambunctious variety of Nightmares, not unlike yours truly. "Pardon the interruption, my lady, I seem to have misplaced my knife." I peered out of the hole at the sunlight and freedom streaming through. I glimpsed my musical instrument, soaring off into the open sky, free as a knife that can fly. "I think I see it right over there, by the horizon. Would you mind if I nip out to fetch it?" I suggested, not letting too much hope into my request.

"I banished it to the sun," my guest said, in an irritable tone that suggested she might actually allow me to go recover it personally.

"Oh." That gave me pause. Last I checked, my insurance policy did not cover sunburns. "No matter." I shrugged. "I can still make my point with this piece of chalk." No sooner had the chalk emerged from my jacket pocket when it suddenly achieved escape velocity and narrowly avoided shaving my face off on its way to the sun. "The point is, your new anthem is rather violent, my lady." I drove my point home just as another violent bang shook the jail cell, marking the chalk's exit. I mean, just consider all the violence that playing the anthem with a plastic knife alone can achieve.

"Violent?" she muttered under her breath. "In case you haven't noticed, there is already quite a lot of violence about."

I raised an eyebrow at the two new ventilation holes rather judgmentally shedding dust and debris in my cell. "I noticed," I said, giving her a level look.

"We are at war," she reminded me, the deep dark pools of her magenta eyes threatening to drown me. You know, just in case I forgot that Equestria’s biggest stairs fetishist is out to conquer all of Equestria, probably to build more stairs. "We remain the same singers, simply singing a different tune to a different time."

She uttered words of such deep profundity that we all cannot help but stare in awe of her wisdom, the memory of the knife and chalk she martyred to her sun all but forgotten in the face of her artful wordcraft. Truly, we were gobsmacked, for surely a single phrase that must otherwise take a whole week of planning could not have been spontaneously thought up in the passion of the moment.

"You can stop narrating my wisdom now," she muttered, frowning at me. Though she seemed to have softened at my nostalgic jabbing, if only a little. "You...and your deadly tone-deafness has achieved what you sought. You wound me up into falling so easily into your trap," she admitted with a deep sigh. "You will no doubt use my words to justify allowing you and the hundreds of Nightmares in this….quarantine hospital...to join the war." She sighed, reading into my intentions with ridiculous ease.

I allowed myself a smug little smile. "We remain the same singers, simply singing a different tune to a different time," I echoed her, slowly leaning forwards across my table. It would have been slightly more impressive a gesture had she not pulled my table away from under me earlier, leaving me (quite literally) hanging. “My point is, Princess, you are quite willing to turn everything from your farmers to your anthem to the cause of this war. Why not us? We are still the friends you knew before all of this began. Well, perhaps with greener snake-like irises that, I admit, do have a nasty habit of glowing in the dark, and perhaps a little penchant for wearing black."

"That is exactly it," my lady said, as she did exactly what I wanted to do and leaned forwards on my table.

"You have something against the colour black?" I frowned, looking down at my choice of attire. I had foregone my casual inmate jumpsuit in favour of something a little more formal — a full dress uniform fashioned in deepest black.

"No. I have something against you being possessed by Nightmare Moon," she reminded me, just in case I forgot why I and a few hundred other unfortunate souls are stuck in this prison. Being a Nightmare makes for a very restrictive social circle. It is difficult to make friends when the rest of the world believes you practice a very literal notion of ‘having friends for dinner’.

Us Nightmares are very picky eaters, you know.

"I never would have guessed. I thought I just began habitually shutting my sun blinds and applying more sun cream than usual for the fun of it." I made an excellent show of looking surprised. I get a lot of practice, serving as my Lady's personal butler for years. At being surprised, I mean. Not at wearing sun cream, that was more a job requirement.

"Even your wit is more insufferable than usual," she muttered, darkly.

"I am certain it is just a harmless side effect of overexposure to absolute victory.” I waved a hand dismissively. “You know, over a certain evil dark super monster piggybacking on your sister."

"You and my faithful students should never have gone to face Nightmare Moon." She sighed, heavily.

"While Twilight, Sunset, Trixie, Sunshine and Starlight should not be allowed out unattended after dark....or ever for that matter....I must admit I was busier cleaning up the filthy corpses littering your palace. Do you know how difficult it is to scrub blood out of fur-friendly carpets?" I sighed, shaking my head at the memory of all that scrubbing. It was quite furious scrubbing, mind you. "All while said corpses insisted on climbing out of the dustbin and dribbling everywhere while demanding eternal night and brains? It didn't help that I had to do it all by myself, seeing as the rest of the palace staff were too busy being dead, undead or, worse, mind-controlled." I gave a brief pause. "Who ever knew butlers are immune to mind control? Or dying for that matter."

She trembled, no doubt at the thought of evil nightmare zombies lurching and moaning all over her throne on that fateful night, a night that will forever be remembered as the Summer Sun Massacre.

"So I shall admit that in my zeal to clean up the palace I may have accidentally helped your students rip an ancient-evil-super-demon out of your sister. And we may or may not have spilled all that angsty darkness all over Equestria in our hurry. And there might be one or two new nightmares cropping up every week or so. We notice, you know. It is getting a little cramped in this prison." I paced my confession to the intensity of her trembling, aiming for somewhere above 'absolute despair' and anywhere below 'completely ballistic'. "But..." Her eyebrow twitched at my courage at using the word. "...look on the bright side."

"Oh, aren't things bright enough already?" she demanded, her eyes sparking dangerously at me.

"Your sister was back in time for dinner for the first time in one thousand years. She may have lost some weight, maybe a pair of wings too, but at least she got some dessert." I was happy to note the fond look in her eyes at the thought of her sister's long awaited return. Emboldened by my success, I ploughed on with all the positives. "And the seven of us now save a veritable fortune on costumes every Nightmare Night. Except we don't get to go out for candy, as you've shut us in here for the past seven years. Honestly, my lady, we’d kill for a little fresh air. Literally. Shun Shrewd’s ‘Heart of War’ states that winning is waving the right-sized stick at the right time. I surmise that having several hundred more waving bigger sticks improves your chances significantly, especially when you have more than the other bugger.”

My lady’s eyebrow rose like a rather deadly guillotine. “Even if you’ve all ‘trained’, how do you know that waving your sticks at those evil vicious sandbags in the yard means you’re ready to fight a war?” she demanded pointedly.

“Other than the fact that our sandbags started out as evil vicious rockbags? Need I remind you that a fifth of the Equestrian High Command and a good portion of its best soldiers are behind these walls as a result of the Summer Sun Massacre? It was not difficult to convince them to train the rest of us. It was either that or the local sport — competitive graffiti-reading,” I pointed out. “Not to mention we are all the same dark super entities who showed Discord the way to the moon. And helped Chrysalis see the whole world from our point of view. Though between you and me, I don't think she has a choice in the matter."

“So perhaps you are all as strong and capable as you think you are.” My lady’s eyes bore down on me. “How do I know I am not simply throwing Sombra, master mind-enslaver, the final weapon he needs to finish the war?”

“Simple.” I smiled. “The same reason we must fight him. We are Nightmares, Princess. We are Kings and Queens of the night. We do not bow down to anyone, let alone his cheap mind tricks. We are Kings and Queens of the night. We sense each other’s nobility, we sense its lack in those who are not of our kin. We are Kings and Queens of the night. We do not suffer lessers amongst us, especially not Sombra’s mind-enslaved infiltrators. We are the one force in Equestria he cannot hope to infiltrate or control. And we all know that what he cannot own he destroys.” I gestured around my prison cell. “Mark my words, as sure as Discord’s biting moon dust right now, Sombra will come for us. And when he does, I do not want us to be here fighting to defend our cell doors. I want us to be fighting under the open sky, under your sun, under our night.” I slowly leaned back, allowing her to finally let out the breath she had been holding. “...is what I’d tell him if he ever asked,” I chuckled, dryly. “But the honest answer is, there is no room for crystals in our heads. We are far too obsessed with the colour black.

“But you knew all that,” I added with a smug little smile. Her eyes widened perceptibly as I caught her out. “You know it well. Because both you and Luna are masters of the same school of dark magic that Sombra practices, as you have previously demonstrated. And you discovered it firsthand when you tried using dark magic against her. Nightmare Moon had taken Luna’s mastery of dark magic and made it her own. And now that magic is ours, along with the immunity it grants against that very same brand of magic,” I pressed. Her ears flattened, her lips creased. I could see she was cracking. “So what is stopping you, I wonder? Is it the flagging public opinion that has long been worn down by war weariness? The war cabinet? Or is it….?”

To my surprise, she suddenly scoffed. "To think you used to be my trusted aide once." She sighed, shaking her head at the sheer thought of me in a butler suit serving her tea and cake on a calm, sunny day. The horror. "So that is your reasoning? You fear Sombra knocking down your door? Do you have so little faith in me now? That I would not place my best soldiers here to protect you and my students from Sombra?" she demanded.

"We all know your soldiers are scared puddingless of us Nightmares." I shrugged. "The best of your troops get to request to be transferred to the front lines. All that remain are those without enough testicular fortitude to make demands. I have honestly seen more nuts in a raisin." I said simply. “The proof of the pudding is they have long since failed their mission.”

“What?” she quavered, losing the firm confidence in her voice. “Wh-what do you mean they’ve failed? Explain!” she demanded.

"I think I have explained enough, my lady,” I said, standing up. “Allow me to show you." I gave a casual wave of my hand.

The six royal guardsponies in the room with us suddenly leaped forward, casting their clothes into the air. Six unicorns dressed in matte black combat barding stood in their place, all glaring at my guest with glowing serpentine eyes that mirrored my own.

Princess Celestia leaped out of her seat, her horn glowing, her war hammer floating threateningly at my throat. But the hammer slowly lowered as her eyes widened with pained recognition. She knew the six mares surrounding her. How could she not? They were her former personal students and very own sister.

"I present to you Shadowbolt 1, our Order's first squadron." I gestured at the Nightmares. "With regards to our progress at learning humble soldiering, we graduated from marching three years ago and moved swiftly on to taking fortresses." I gestured grandly all around me. "My lady, you now stand, perhaps a little irritably, in the product of our practice run, Fort Nightmare, home of the Nightmare Knights."

"You...." She pointed an accusing forehoof at me. "This...this is mutiny!"

"Mutiny implies we were soldiers to begin with," I chuckled. "This, my lady, is a jailbreak three years in the making. I invite you to make the best of it."

Her eyes flashed menacingly at me. "What have you done with the guards posted here? My guards?!" Her look threatened a fate worse than a one-way trip to the sun.

I bit my lip at her question. "They joined us. Not too long after they became Nightmares themselves," I explained the hard way, frank and blunt. "They had no choice. It was either join us as comrades or report it to the brass and join us as fellow jailbirds. They turned not too long after they were stationed here. We are still trying to determine whether it's prolonged exposure to Nightmares or the pea soup, but my money is set on the pea soup."

My Nightmares winced and gagged at the very thought of the prison's pea soup.

"By the heavens..." Celestia's forehoof flew up to her mouth, muffling a loud gasp. "Wh-what...what have I done?!" She staggered backwards, falling onto her rump in horror.

"That pea soup was definitely a pony rights violation," I agreed with her.

"W-what about the humans we freed from Sombra? T-the ones I sent here for safety?" she demanded.

I frowned. There would be no easy way to explain this. In the second year of the war, around the same time he subdued and mind-enslaved an invading group of Sirens, Sombra suddenly began fielding mind-enslaved human soldiers. The few that the Equestrians managed to free alive revealed that they had somehow been kidnapped from our homeworld, Earth. How and why remained a mystery. Most of said humans had been brought to Fort San Palomino for safety in the hope that Sombra's eventual defeat would reveal a way to return them all home. Needless to say, it wasn’t long before they became Nightmare humans like me.

"If it is any consolation, in our time here we have discovered that Nightmare humans like me..." I gestured at myself, "...are all that keep the Nightmares anchored.”

“Anchored?” She frowned. “Explain.”

“We do not quite understand it ourselves,” I admitted. “Luna has tried to explain it as an extension of her own ‘dream sharing’ spell. The current popular theory purports that anchoring is a way for ponies to share the strain of their Nightmares. Humans appear to be more resistant to the Nightmare’s corrosive effects upon the psyche. When anchoring ponies, they can take the brunt of the Nightmare’s damage upon the mind with little to no harm,” I explained what little I myself understood.

“So...the only reason my students and sister are still sane….” She stared at the mares gathered around us, her eyes widening with grim realization.

“Indeed,” I nodded. “I am their Anchor. They are my Nightmares.” I gestured at the rest of the prison. “The stronger the bond between the Anchor and his Nightmares, the stronger the anchoring. In fact, many of our Anchors are now strong enough to allow their Nightmares to unleash the full strength of Nightmare Moon herself without losing themselves to her madness. It is our rite of passage, the mark that distinguishes a humble squire from a full-fledged Knight.”

“So...all the humans in this place…?” she whispered, almost in awe of the amazing force of coincidence that had forged this place. It almost makes one wonder if fate truly played dice with the destinies of man and pony.

“Yes, we are all Anchors to our Nightmares,” I nodded. “We have Anchors aplenty, enough for our Order's many squadrons. And all their hug and snuggle needs."

I decided not to tell her that we still had some problems with belly-rub and raspberry rationing, even with the field guide I had written for all my human comrades. What she doesn't know can't hurt her, I suppose.

"I...I...” She stared down at her own forehooves, eyes slowly welling up.

"Sister..." One of the mares, a midnight blue unicorn, rushed up to Celestia. She reached out, as if to pull her into a tight loving hug. But she stopped herself short, her forehoof hanging limply in the air. "Sister. I know I have the least right to speak on this matter, but I assure you that not one of us blame you. If anything, it is my fault." She hung her head, biting her lip. "I am sorry. I am sorry I have brought this wretched curse down upon your beloved ponies. And human." She shut her eyes tight, as if hoping it might stem the tears.

"We've been through this. It wasn't your fault, Luna," I said solemnly, kneeling down by her side. "The six of us understood the risks when we decided to face Nightmare Moon together."

"Trixie didn't! Trixie thought we were just gonna kick the moon outta her plot and...ooof!" The azure blue unicorn in the corner stopped short on receiving a hoof-kick from the golden yellow mare next to her.

"We would have all perished in a most gruesome and bloody fashion before graduating to craving brains if you hadn't saved us and joined us in defeating Nightmare Moon." I went on, giving Luna’s silky azure mane a comforting ruffle. "I'd say escaping with a mere obsession for keeping the lights off is more than a mercy."

"Yeah, Luna, it was definitely not your fault!" Another unicorn, my best long-range scout and bastion of all purpleness, Twilight Sparkle, pulled her comrade into a reassuring hug. "We all know what it is to be Nightmares. We know it better than anypony!"

"T-Thank you. Thank you, dear friends." Luna was quick to return the hug while giving me a nod of gratitude. "Sister, if there is one thing I have learned from my folly, it is to try and make the best of what I have left," she said, looking up at her sister, her eyes aglow with rekindled determination. "And my friends, my sisters-in-arms, have shown me just how much I have left. My only wish is to use what I have to finally carry out my duty to Equestria," she said firmly.

"The nightmare within us all makes us strong, stronger than any regular pony. You always taught us that to be strong is to serve." My bravest engineer pony, Sunset Shimmer, stepped up to her former teacher. "Let us become even stronger. Let us serve, Your Highness."

"We have trained for over three years," even my normally quiet heavy lancer, Starlight Glimmer, spoke her part. "We are ready, Princess."

"Besides, saving Equestria for realsies must be more fun than dreaming about it!" My swiftest shock-trooper and sergeant, the very definition of pink, Sunshine Smiles, hopped excitedly at the very thought. "Please let us help you, Your Majesty. Oh please, ohpleasepleasepleaspleasplease!" She unleashed our squad’s ultimate trump card: Her puppy dog eyes.

"The great and powerful Trixie shall show you all just how much greatness and powerfulness Trixie can produce in one minute. Six thousand rounds! Twelve with both runic blades! That's how much!" My great and powerful shock-flanker (no pun intended), Trixie, declared, waving around her runic swords trailing chains of crystal-piercing magic catalyst rounds wrapped all around her barding's bandoliers. She trailed off into silence under the weight of everypony's heavy glares. "Fine. Trixie will just be great and powerful somewhere else then." She sheathed her runic swords with a huff.

Princess Celestia trembled. She hesitantly reached out towards her students and sister with a quivering forehoof. She bit her lip, her eyes overflowing with longing. "M-my students...sister..." She sighed, softly. "You've all grown so much. I...I've always wanted...I only wish..." She closed her eyes, lowering her forehoof with reluctant resignation. Perhaps, deep down inside, she wished for some spell, some miracle, to turn back time, to bring us all back to happier times.

But we all knew that was impossible.

"Just… promise me one thing," she finally whispered, pleadingly. "I cannot make this request of you as a princess. For I have long since failed as a princess. I make this request as a weak, powerless mare. Do what you can for Equestria, do what I cannot. But no matter what, promise me, promise me you will all come back to me. Alive."

"We promise!" her students replied as one.

"No matter how far we go," Sunset said determinedly.

"Or how high." Sunshine giggled.

"We'll come home to you." Trixie nodded.

"For real this time." Twilight agreed.

"When this is all over." Starlight nodded, grimly.

"Thank you, my dearest little ponies," she whispered, bowing her head to them solemnly. "And you." She suddenly glared up at me, blinking her tears away furiously. "Bring my little ponies home. All of them," she growled, a fierce desperation in her voice.

"Yes, my lady." I placed a palm over my jacket lapel, a gesture from simpler times long past, back when we were simply mistress and aide.

"And bring yourself home," she hissed, leaning in close. "Because after all this, I will need a good cup of tea."

"I promise you it will be the best damn cup of tea you ever had," I promised, solemnly.

"I will hold you to it, even if I must drag you back up from Tartarus myself." She sniffled, shaking her tears out of her eyes. "Very well." She straightened up to her full majestic height. "Children of Equestria!" she barked.

We all straightened up to attention before her.

"Equestria calls upon you. I call upon you. And you shall answer as the Knights of the Nightmare Order!" she declared, waving a commanding forehoof. "Curtsy, ponies. Rise, Knights of Equestria!"

As one, her six former students lowered their horns to the floor; six knights rose up in their place. With fierce will and grim determination they stood firm as the first Nightmare Knights of Equestria.

"And you." She turned to me, fixing me in her gaze. "You will lead my Nightmare Knights. You will bring every single one of them home to me. Kneel, human." She gave me a brief, fond smile, a smile I have missed ever so much. "Rise, Knight Captain!" she commanded, stomping a hoof imperiously.

A man knelt; a Knight Captain rose.

I have never stood taller, yet felt more humbled, than that very moment. For her, for my Knights, I would move mountains and raise Tartarus.

"Sister." My Lady stepped up to her sister. She bowed her head. Luna did a half-step back in surprise, her ears flattening out of concern for her sister. "I am sorry. For everything. For before, and for leaving you in a new prison so soon after your return from another. If...No. When you come back, when we find peace again, we shall be together, as sisters, nightmare or no."

"I will miss you until that day, sister mine." Luna gave her sister a determined nod. "Until then, your knight serves you, Princess!"

"I love you, Lulu," Celestia whispered, softly.

"And I love you, Tia." Luna replied, longingly.

"Knights, I salute you!" Celestia roared, throwing a forehoof up into the air, her eyes trailing sparkling tears. "Protect Equestria! Protect Harmony! And, most importantly, protect your friends!"

We saluted in reply, snapping our hands and hooves over our overflowing hearts. We would never be readier than that very moment.

"And please, please, all of you, come back home to me," Celestia pleaded in a faint whisper. "I'll be waiting for you all."

Knight Captain N7, Household Accounts Book, 22nd of Sunwane, C.E. 1007

The seven of us strode down the main cell block, our steps drowned out by the loud cheers. "NIGHTMARE KNIGHTS! NIGHTMARE KNIGHTS!" They chanted in our wake. News had spread faster than a speeding ticket. Everyone, mare and stallion, filly and colt, man and woman, boy and girl, thronged the railings of the walkways and catwalks above us. Playing cards, lunch tickets, even discarded inmate jumpsuits we all once wore fluttered down like slightly more flagrant banners and confetti all around us. The seven of us stepped over the jumpsuits as we made our way. We would not need them anymore.

We were free.

I stepped up to what was once the warden's balcony. From here our warden once stood watch over us. There and then I stood watch over my Nightmare Knights. My Nightmares joined me. This was it. This was the moment we had long awaited, the pinnacle we had all trained towards. Every single mare, stallion, foal, man, woman and child were trained and ready to finally take our fight to the enemy.

The chants and cheers faded away into silence. Every eye in the vast cell block were on me. I felt their expectations, their hopes, their wishes. They wished to leave, to fight, to take back their homes and lives. The ponies desired nothing more than to return to a peaceful Equestria. The humans wished for that one chance at returning home where they belong. It was a hope they were prepared to gamble their lives on. And they were gambling it all on me and my plan. They would follow me to their deaths if it meant they might catch a glimpse of their most fervent wishes.

Perhaps....perhaps this was not a good idea after all?

I felt a soft but reassuring pressure in the small of my back.

"Hay, we're all in this together," I heard Twilight say soothingly.

"You do not stand alone, Commander," Luna declared, similarly headbutting me.

"Hurry up, Seven! Trixie can't be awesome alone!" Thank you, Trixie.

"We can't start the party without the star, Sev." I heard Sunshine giggle as I felt another bump.

"We trust you, big guy." I felt Sunset nod against my back. “Knock’em out!”

I felt one last bump from the ever silent Starlight. I suppose that was a whole speech from her.

"Thank you, girls." I gave them a sideways glance and a smile of gratitude. With my Nightmares standing with me, I could go anywhere, do anything. I was certain of that much. I took a deep breath as I saluted my comrades. "NIGHTMARE KNIGHTS!" I bellowed. “You have all heard the rumours. Yes, I come to you with good news and bad news. The bad news is, no more pea soup!”

Cheers, claps and clops rose across the entire hall.

“But I liked the pea soup,” I heard Starlight mutter behind me, earning her a smack from her Nightmare sisters.

“The good news is….” I took a deep breath. “...there is still something worthy of our determination.” The hall faded into reverent silence. “There will continue to be something worthy of our determination, even after we have left the pea soup and these walls behind. There will continue to be something worthy of our determination, even now at this hour of evil, when Equestria has fled beneath the dust to escape the march of tyranny, when all of us are so far adrift from home that we can only visit in the stories and songs we share, when we are cursed, imprisoned and forgotten by our own. The enemy will seek to destroy that which is worthy of our determination. They can destroy armies, cities, fortresses, flesh, bone, even minds. But they cannot destroy the one thing worthy of our determination. Look beside you. Look around you. Look at the one thing worthy of our determination.” As one the ponies and people in the hall looked to one another. Small smiles, even a few chuckles and giggles spread. Hooves held hooves, hands held hands, and hooves joined hands.

“They cannot ever hope to destroy this,” I barked, reaching out for my Nightmares. They placed their forehooves in my hands. I squeezed them in mine. “They cannot ever hope to destroy our wills, hearts and friendships. That is what we are, a force of nature, a light of hope, a bond endurant! This is our determination! It is Invincible! Indestructible! Immortal! And we shall make them feel it! We bring the nightmares! We are Nightmare Knights!” I roared, raising my hands up, the forehooves of my six Nightmares with them.

The hall erupted in cheers and cries. It shook with the ferocity of our determination. Hooves and hands flew into the air. Hats, gloves and more prison jumpsuits flew into the air. Pegasi and thestrals flew up, hoof-punching the air. Magic sparks and fireworks flooded the hall. As one the Nightmare Knights chanted our rallying cry, “RAISE THE HEAVENS! RAISE THE HEAVENS! RAISE THE HEAVENS!!”

Author's Note

To those of you new to my stories, welcome. To those of you returning, welcome back. Many thanks for giving this story a try. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Operation Snuggle-Combo-Counter

Dragoonsmare Prime N1, Personal Log Entry

In another time, another place, an explosive burst of rainbow light rocked the sky. The eruption of power rippled across Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns'. A giant dragon burst forth from the roof of the entrance exam hall. Princess Celestia was on her way to a meeting with her personal pupil, Sunset Shimmer, when the sight gave her pause. She went to investigate.

She would never meet up with her personal pupil, only to find her intimidating the school's entrance examinees.

A certain Trixie Lulamoon, a young unicorn filly, had come to the school aspiring to be the greatest and most powerful unicorn mage ever. She had come to the entrance exams early in the hopes of scoring a good enough impression to win herself that scholarship she needed to get her place. But to her dismay, she ran into a very scary upperclassfilly who stopped her getting into the entrance exam.

She never got her shot at greatness. She would spend the rest of her life wondering what her life would have been like if she had stood up to that upperclassfilly and showed her exactly how truly great and powerful she was.

A little unicorn filly from the country, a certain Starlight Glimmer, had come racing to Canterlot on her own four hooves. She had come in search of her one and only childhood friend who had been spirited away to be made the Princess' personal pupil. She would find her and bring her back. She would fight through guards and knock down gates if she had to. She would stop at nothing… nothing except for giant scary dragons.

Losing her nerve, the poor little filly turned tail and fled. She would spend the rest of her life regretting her decision, forever wondering if she would've been allowed to keep her friend if only she had kept up as her equal.

A very cheerful little filly, a certain Sunshine Smiles, visited the school to cheer up her ever-moody elder sister with a big box of homemade cookies. She would never have encountered a little purple filly crying over her failed entrance exams. She would never have stopped to cheer her up and drag her off to find the school's smartest student, Celestia’s own personal pupil, to ask for help in passing the retake exams...and end up inexplicably passing the exam herself.

She would go on to live a long, full and very happy life being her ever bubbly and cheerful self. Oh, and she would get herself and her sister very cute princess dresses at some point.

And the rest was history. A very peaceful and pleasant history.

This was not that place or that time. This was Fort Nightmare, an island fortress off the coast of San Palomino. Once a quarantine for victims of the Nightmare curse, the fort was now home to the Nightmare Knights, Equestria’s first all-Nightmare special forces unit.

The fort had been, in fact, remodeled into what was best described as a comfortable (if claustrophobic) apartment complex, if apartments were ever built to keep monsters of Tartarus both out and in.

At least the monsters on the inside were allowed nice, clean and comfortable rest rooms. I groaned loudly into the sink, splashing soberingly cold water on my face. Facing Celestia had been nerve-wracking as hay. Meeting her as a unicorn brought me straight back to my days as her student facing one of her really obtuse pop quizzes. ‘Twilight, what is the sound of one hoof clopping? Twilight, what is Pinkie Pie? Twilight, why is Equestria being overrun by an evil tyrant who can’t even string two words together?’

Gotta admit, I kinda screwed up on that last one.

Funny thing is, I was at a point where I felt more guilty about not feeling guilty at all. There is something about living all those years as a cursed monster of darkness that kinda drains all feeling out of you.

I can’t help but admire Luna for keeping up her guilt for over one thousand years.

I looked up at the mirror above the sink. A simple purple unicorn wearing her mane in short, spiked curls stared back at me. It was the final result of a protracted war between her once long straight mane and the loading breech of her bolt-action rune-spear. End result - rune-spear 1, mane completely mangled and burnt. But what struck me the most was her eyes. Her once bright violet eyes had long since contracted into cyan serpentine slits. They stared back at me with a haunted, ravenous look.

I shook my head as I turned my attention down to the saddlebags by my side. A bright speckled purple egg was very comfortably cushioned in one of them. I reached down and gave the egg a gentle pat. "Hay, having a good dream in there?" I asked softly, a fond smile playing across my lips. I knew dragging him around was always a risk, but no place in Equestria was safe, not anymore. Besides, if I ever left him behind he'd be all 'Fine, leave me here, I'm just gonna go get laid or something. Hah, cracked you up!'.

I miss him so much, even his bad puns.

"Hay, Twilight." I jumped off the floor as a forehoof patted me awkwardly on my withers. I quickly shoved aside my saddlebags, letting the flap close with a protective snap over the egg. "Sorry, I did try calling out to you, y'know. With semaphore and smoke signals and everything." I looked up to find the apologetic face of a fire-yellow mare with a mane that looked in dire need of a fire extinguisher. She reminded me of a certain unicorn friend of mine who had long since developed a taste for cafeteria food on alien worlds. Only her eyes seemed out of place. Instead of the bright emerald orbs I had come to expect, she had snake-like harlequin eyes, much like my own.

I miss her too, even her crazed attempts at building zombie armies to take over the world.

Though sometimes I wonder if the only reason Sunset Shimmer hasn’t tried it here is because somepony else has beaten her to it. And by a long shot too.

“Sorry, sorry. I’m just trying to wrap my head around, well, everything,” I said, quickly slinging my saddlebags over my barding.

“Heh, yeah, tell me about it. I’m still all wet and quivery from meeting Princess Celestia.” She chuckled. Creepily I might add. “I know we’re still wiped from playing ninja knights with the Princess, but we don’t wanna be late for muster,” she said, nudging me in the flank towards the door.

“Hay, easy, I need that!” I yelped as I was wheeled forwards on my forehooves alone.

“What, this?” She cracked a sly grin, nuzzling a cheek against where my cutie mark would be under my barding. “Are you planning on exchanging all this for some extra ammo and gear from the quartermistress?” She wiggled her eyebrows at me. “I can help you appraise its worth in crystal-piercing rounds, maybe get you a better deal? Whaddya say?”

Now I really miss my own Sunset Shimmer. It’s as if all that ambition she would have otherwise poured into her relentless megalomania had all been accidentally dumped into her undiscriminatinglack of regard for personal space.

“I’d turn into the alicorn princess of ammunition with that much ammo,” I muttered, cradling my face with a hoof as I resigned myself to being propelled forwards by my flanks. “We’d probably just drown Sombra and the Empire in ammo.”

“So you’re currently the alicorn princess of badonkadonks?” She chuckled. “I’d totally worship you and your divine bounty, your majesty~”

I gave a long suffering sigh, turning off my ears and making sure my tail kept my flank adequately protected for the rest of our journey to the armoury.

Despite being a VIP prison, the fort had a surprisingly generous armoury, stocked with enough parts and materials to fashion all the armour and small arms we’d ever need. Princess Celestia was serious when she said she meant to keep us all well protected.

She probably never expected us to paint and dye everything black. It could be worse. The curse could have given us an obsession over the colour pink.

‘At least you’d have been Equestria’s most fabulous regiment, darling,’ I could practically hear Rarity say in my head.

I do not know how to gauge the fashionability of all the black all around me. But I can say with measured certainty that we are definitely Equestria’s most disorganized unit. At that point in time the ponies thronging the armoury had more in common with a parasprite swarm rushing a buffet stand.

I very quickly lost Sunset to a group of giggly eyelash-batting mares from the intelligence division. Deciding that not having my flank permanently groped was no great loss, I turned my attention to queuing. In a world without queues. Seriously, I’ve seen more orderly queues during the Pinkie clone stampede.

Why does this queue only get longer over time?! That should be physically impossible! I swear, the next pony who cuts in line in front of me will get her tail tied to her hindhoof!

“Next.” One of the quartermistresses further down waved a forehoof at me. I sighed in relief as I finally stepped up to pick up my gear. “Oh, Prime N1.” My quartermistress, a grape purple mare in a simple black Nightmare jumpsuit, saluted me. I recognized her as Dosey Dotes, an innkeeper in another life, another time. Here she was N92, an officer in the supply and logistics chapter of the Knighthood, the Chapter Ateliers.

“At ease, N92.” I gave her a little smile, saluting her in turn. We do not use our real names outside our squads. The prison had taken our names away and replaced them with numbers in their records. It was Celestia’s decision, one I understood well. It was best for us that nopony ever found out who we are and what we’ve done. Now it had become a mask of sorts, one we wore in the hopes that we might shed it on that happy day we return to our regular lives. When we ‘wake up from this nightmare’, as many put it.

Sometimes I wonder what sort of ‘regular’ life I would wake up to in this particular world. It’s strange how all this had become ‘regular’ for me.

“Ma’am, yes, ma’am.” Dosey smiled before consulting her clipboard. “Let’s see, N1, Chapter Dragoons, long range scout. Yep, have I got the rune-spear for you.” She rummaged around beneath the table before emerging with an ancient bolt-action toothpick. I’ve seen barracks janitors issued with deadlier looking mops. “It’s an artifact of ancieeeent power,” she whispered. “B-but it’s still totally got a warranty,” she quickly added in reply to my glare. “Look, it was the only one we had with the power capacity big enough to handle your disgusting amount of horn mojo, okay? I mean, you did kinda blow apart so many practice rune-spears in drills that we ended up making you practice with a broom. See this, we gave it all the tender love‘n’care we can. It’s got the only decent scope we managed to scrounge. It’s even got a six round magazine modified to fire anything: Crystal-piercing rounds, love taps, teddy bears, N4, whatever you want to kill your enemies with. It can even use Imperial-standard magazines and ammunition, just like the boss ordered.”

“Fine,” I sighed, accepting the toothpick. I could’ve sworn I heard her breathe a sigh of relief. I couldn’t help but frown as I slung my spear into its idle saddle-firing position over my right withers. It was a challenge to not give into the temptation to use my magic to handle it. Unicorn rune-weapons differ from those built for pegasi and earth ponies in that they are boosted by the unicorn’s own reserves of magic, giving them greater stopping power and range. The downside is handling them with magic interferes with their firing mechanism, giving them all the accuracy of a drunk stallion in a public bathroom. About all the potential for misfire too. It took me months of training with a magic inhibitor ring stuck around my horn to get it right.

“Wait, that’s it?” I frowned at the single spare magazine she hoofed over. “What am I supposed to do with this? Boop the enemy with it?”

She had the decency to reply with a sheepish little pony squee. “Hay, it even comes with invisible good luck charms.”

“I don’t see any invisi-...” I stopped myself, my cheeks suddenly heating up noticeably.

“And, look, I gotcha an omni-colt.” Before I could test out just how good an implement of booping the magazine was, she had quickly offered me what looked like a hoof-guard as a peace offering. I gave a little sigh as I slipped the omni-colt on my right forehoof. “It also tells the time,” Dosey added helpfully.

“I’d hope so.” I frowned, tapping the screen on. It certainly told the time. And nothing more. “N92, I’m supposed to be able to use this to communicate with my squad and review maps and everything. I’ve seen sun dials more useful and deadly than this!”

“N119 is working on that, okay!” She sighed in exasperation. Obviously it wasn’t the first time she had to explain the problem that day. “Look, at least you can’t complain about it not being deadly enough.”

“Yeah, it’s gonna end up killing me.” I groaned, facehoofing. And very narrowly shaving my forelocks with the rune-dagger that had slid out of my omni-colt. It even made a sharpy deadly zing sound as it sliced the air.

“Yep. With your very own side-arm, a semi-automatic Flim-Flam Industries Pointy-Pokey Mk-1 rune-dagger, complete with a three round cartridge. A good way to die,” Dosey said smoothly, grinning widely at my flabbergasted look. “Look, I even got you a little something, off the records.” She passed me a small flax wallet.

I opened it with my magic, taking a peek inside. My heart leaped at its contents. It was a fresh set of bobby pins and a screwdriver. “N92….” I would have kissed her. Except her human sergeant was not too far away and would probably pony-punt me into the moat for it. I settled for politely thanking her. “Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!”

“Heh, I knew that’d save my hide.” She chuckled. “We finally finished everypony’s squadron and personal badges. Here’s yours.” She passed me two badges for my combat barding. One was a simple capital ‘N’ and a ‘1’, with a stylized version of my cutie mark. Below it was my rank, ‘Dragoonsmare Prime’. The other was my squad’s, ‘S1’, for Shadowbolt 1.

“And here’s your standard kit complete with a fresh snuggle gauge.” Dosey hoofed over a field satchel filled with all the basic amenities a serious fighting pony might need, including a medikit, water canteen and the all-important hug and snuggle gauge everypony wears clasped to their prison collars.

It’s secretly just an overglorified sand timer. But none of the humans know this. Or, at least, if they did, they were very good at pretending otherwise.

“I don’t really need this,” I said, passing the snuggle gauge back. “You realize it was my human who started the whole ‘one hug every 24 hours or your pony dies’ hoax?” I raised an eyebrow.

“Shush!” She hissed warningly at me. “What? What hoax? I totally need my huggles every day,” she managed to say while whistling innocently at the same time. “Are you telling me your human doesn’t give you daily hugs and snuggles?!” she dropped her voice to a horrified whisper.

“W-what does th-that have to do with a-a-anything?” I felt the thermal biology of my cheeks betray me. Stupid cheeks. It’s not like I enjoy being hugged and snuggled by him. Sure, my Nightmare would roll over and beg, even purr, at his touch. What kind of evil dark super monster purrs?! I’ll admit it feels nice to have my Nightmare tamed and brought to heel. And sure when he gets my ears and mane just right it’s hoof-curlingly amazing. And it feels good when...fine, okay, maybe I don’t dislike it too much.

“It’s…” she trailed off into a thoughtful silence, “...it’s everything,” she said, raising a forehoof up to her own snuggle gauge. “We...we never know how much time we have left together.” She glanced further down the line at another quartermistress, a young human woman who was busy helping my Commander adjust his omni-colt. I had only ever met her in passing, N116, sergeant of Dosey’s squadron and her Anchor. She was…why is she giggling with my Commander? And why is my human chuckling along with her?! I’m so gonna boop him into next month. I’m so gonna tell the others so we can all collectively boop him into next year.

Despite my distraction, I didn’t miss the look of quiet longing in Dosey’s eyes, or the warm fond glow on her face.

Oh, no. It’s a death flag if I ever saw one.

“Dosey.” I broke the taboo and used her real name, much to her surprise. “You’re a supply officer. Y-You’ll be alright.” I was never much good at this kind of thing. But my friends were. They’d have known what to do, what to say. It was not an easy act to follow, but I did my best. I reached out, giving her forehoof a tight squeeze in my own. “Once this is all over, you won’t need these silly gauges. You’ll have all the time in the world.”

She gave me a faint little smile. “Thanks, Twilight. I hope so.” She called me by name. She sighed, giving her human another glance. “I wonder...would my commander stay in Equestria if I invited her to come stay with me? Or maybe I could go with her when she returns home?” She giggled a little into her forehooves. “You’ve...given me something to look forwards to, N1. I hope it goes well with your human too.” She reached out to give me a tight hug. I returned it as best as I could without poking somepony’s eye out with my rune-spear. “Raise the Heavens, N1,” she whispered in my ear.

“Raise the Heavens, N92,” I replied, giving her a little squeeze.

“Speaking of humans, I think he wants you.” She nodded over my withers with a little giggle, releasing me.

I looked around and found my human along with the rest of my Nightmare sisters looking my way, all wearing what I believe in military terms are ‘shit-eating grins’. They all pointed at the snuggle gauges around their necks (or, in my human’s case, his bare collar), an ancient Minoan gladiator games gesture that meant ‘finish it off’, one that had been popularized within the Knighthood for all the wrong reasons.

The heat in my cheeks reached biologically unhealthy levels. I hefted my saddlebags and rune-spear and stormed over to my squad in a huff.

“Sparklebutt’s totally winning this war,” Sunshine cheered.

“She is certainly a killer. Of ladies, that is.” Luna nodded sagely.

“Totally called it, Twi.” Sunset gave me a sly grin. “Semper filly!”

“Trading flank,” somepony said, quietly. I was sure it was Starlight.

“All is fair in love and war, sometimes both at the same time.” My human enjoyed a chuckle at my expense, maybe a little too much.

“After all, where would we be without love?” Luna nodded, sagely.

“Extinct,” Starlight Glimmer replied, deadpan.

“How much plot is it for a fog grenade, by the way? Just so I know how many of these flanks I need to bring with me.” Sunset pointed a hoof at the rest of the squad.

"I am certain there is not enough change in that arms depot for even one," Luna said with a quiet chuckle.

"What'd they pay as change anyway? Oooh, I know, huggles!" Sunshine Smiles giggled.

"Everything's about huggles with you, Smiley." My human ruffled her mane playfully. Sunshine gave a contented hum at his attention.

“While the great and powerful flanks of Trixie can easily win her the contents of that armoury, all that firepower would be gross overcompensation for how great and powerful Trixie already is,” Trixie declared.

We all gave her and her bandoliers of magical rounds and saddlebags stuffed with rune-swords and lightning grenades a pointed look.

“That’s...a lot of flank,” Luna finally whispered in awe at the mini war machine that was Trixie.

“Stay safe, Trixie,” Sunset said with grim solemness as she pressed something into Trixie’s forehoof. It was a whole bandolier of...are those condoms?

We all doubled up with laughter as Trixie blushed and sputtered. “I-I wouldn’t...not with anypony other than the….nopony gets to even dream of this great and powerful plot!” She waved her forehooves like windmills at us.

I couldn’t help but be reminded of my friends, Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie. I couldn’t help but hear their laughter echoing mine. Of course, my squadmates, my Nightmare sisters, are my friends now. And perhaps...perhaps I too have something to look forwards to, even here.

‘Something worthy of our determination!’

I absentmindedly pulled out my snuggle gauge and carefully clasped it to my collar. I gave it a tap, allowing the timer to begin ticking away into the future.

I gave a teeny pony-squee as I noticed my Commander was no longer laughing along. He was looking down at me, giving me one of his fond, encouraging grins. My cheeks broke the laws of thermodynamics as I realized he saw what I did. He chuckled at my expense before pulling me and the others into a surprise hug.

I am so gonna boop him for this.

Author's Note

Shadowbolt 1’s Squad Badge

Twilight’s Badge:

Sunset Shimmer’s Badge

Sunshine Smile’s Badge

Operation Dudette-Where-Are-My-Marshmallows?!

Dragoonsmare Prime N1, Personal Log Entry - 22nd of Sunwane, C.E. 1007

“What is the situation?” the Commander asked cooly, even as the entire fortress shook like a caffeinated examinee on a deadline. He looked calm amidst the blazing warning sirens and sea of chaotic activity around him, like the anchor he was. But his tight grip on my withers told me otherwise; he was worried. Very worried. Only an hour after his official appointment as Knight Captain, his fort was under fire and he was already facing a cafeteria war room full of grim faced human and pony officers, all looking to him for leadership in what will likely be our first ever real life battle.

I bit my lip, wondering just how I ever thought I’d make a difference accompanying him here. Picking up a rune-spear and picking off tin cans was one thing. After years of training I am just about able to hold my own in a fight. But support my squad? Help my Commander?

I suddenly felt like a tiny helpless filly in a room full of adults.

The only thing that felt real was his hand tightening on my withers. That was when I realized: He would hide his fears from his officers, his troops, everyone. But not me. He relied on me to be there for him.

I could do that much, at the very least. I put on my most stoic face, even as I pressed my side up against his legs. He seemed to relax at that, much to my relief.

An off-white unicorn everyone knew as N9, once Raven, Celestia’s personal secretary in a past life, stepped forwards. “Sir.” She quickly unfurled a map of the fortress on the cafeteria table in front of us. “At 1705 hours, her Royal Majesty left the compound with an escort of royal guards and boarded her personal airship, the REAV Sun Flare, in the fort’s airfield here.” Raven pinned a white marshmallow on a pudding before placing it on the airfield on the map. “At 1722, Sun Flare abruptly ceased communications with our control tower. At 1728, a submarine craft surfaced next to the airbase. We have no intel on it, but the tag it broadcasts identify it as an Equestrian navy vessel, the RENS Toybox.” She placed a half-eaten subway sandwich in the sea to the southwest of the fort.

“At 1734 hours, the Toybox deployed a landing vessel carrying a heavy tank and a platoon of soldiers in royal guard armour. They made ground on our airfield at 1740 hours. All our attempts at hailing the REAV Sun Flare and RENS Toybox on all frequencies went unheeded. We were just sending out a detachment to investigate when the Toybox, the tank and the platoon all opened fire on us. We have lost our southwestern sentry towers to rune-artillery fire from the Toybox and the tank. We also have reports of rune-fire inside the Sun Flare. The royal guard appear to be fighting amongst themselves.”

The Commander wore a thoughtful look, even as another violent tremor shook the entire fort. Dust rained down on us as he frowned down at the map. “The Toybox and all troops it deployed are hereby designated as hostiles. The shoot first variety,” he said, placing a small bowl of pea soup in the airbase between the airship and the fort.

Everyone in the room glared down at the pea soup as if it had personally insulted their respective mothers.

“Mind-enslaved soldiers?” Luna frowned at the map.

"Or the Imperials are having a costume party?" Sunshine suggested with a giggle, "Good thing we're all dressed up too!"

A tall, severe-faced human woman who looked as if she had been born with a lemon in her mouth, a certain Major N84, leaned forwards on the impromptu war room table. “Or worse, Equestria has finally decided to wipe us all out once and for all,” she muttered darkly. There is a reason her warm heart and sunny disposition had long earned her the nickname ‘Ice’. “Revealing our hand to Celestia was a mistake.” She slammed a fist down on the map right next to the pudding. “You can never trust a tyrant who doesn’t cackle and monologue.”

“She’d never do that!” I gave Ice a dark scowl of my own. The rest of Shadowbolt 1 echoed my protest.

“I agree. She’d never cackle and monologue.” A human flight officer, N250, scratched his blonde mane thoughtfully while pacing around the table. He was built like a featherless bird, more limb than body, making his gait a turbulent thing to watch. From what I heard from the pegasi, he flew about as well as he walked, a fact that had earned him the nickname ‘Stone’ amongst his pegasi Nightmares. “She would have just set this whole place on fire before she left. She wouldn’t bother with sissy things like tanks and submarines.”

“No, but the war cabinet might,” Major N26, a unicorn once known as Major Charge Light, ex-Equestrian military, said. “I wouldn’t put it past Blueblood and his dogs. They’ve got a fetish for tanks.” Her love for the good General Blueblood had earned her the endearing nickname ‘Princess’.

I noticed Luna give the Commander a subtle nudge. On cue, the Commander cleared his throat. “Now now, no fighting, please. This is a war council after all,” he said with a faint disarming smile. “We have too little information to point any fingers. But we do have enough to point our rune-weapons. We have enemies firing on us. We will be generous with our reply.” He earned himself nods from the gathered officers. He rallied his officers with what looked like ridiculous ease. But I felt just how much his knees shook against my withers. He knew one slip, one moment of indecisiveness, was all it would take to lose the confidence of his officers on their first ever mission.

“Aye, jolly well said, Captain.” A large, fruity human man gave my Commander a moustache bristle of approval. There wasn’t much else to his expression, seeing as everything above the moustache was obscured by the broad brim of his black officer cap. “Now, what shud our troopers chucker while we sit around ’n’ bash out de finer details of our engagement?” Major N16, more commonly known as Major Moustache, said. “Can’t have’em sitting ‘round with their thumbs up their arses, aye? They might lose’em up there.”

“N9, issue the order.” The Commander gave Raven a decisive nod. “Fire on anyone who as much as sneeze on us. Fire on anyone who does not lay down their arms when politely asked. If ever in doubt, shoot first. If it screams in Crystal, shoot harder.”

Raven nodded, turning to the magic-broadcaster mounted on her squadsister’s saddle.

“Banner Heartsong of the Pages, reporting! What are our orders, Captain?” a quivering but brave little voice asked. I looked around and found one of the Page Commanders, a young human girl named N117, crawling out from under the meeting table with her little squad of four Nightmare fillies. She saluted firmly even as her knees trembled beneath her. Her squad of Nightmare Pages, one perched on her head, two on each of her shoulders and one cuddled tightly in her other arm, all mirrored her salute with varying degrees of success. One tried to salute with a hindhoof in a commendable effort to copy her fellow Pages.

I couldn’t help but wonder if this is our secret superweapon of mass distraction.

“Pages.” My Commander saluted the five young Pages with a little smile. “You five have a very important mission. You will lead all the other Pages to the Keep’s inner gate and form our final line of defense. Remember your training. You are the Order’s last hope if all else fails.”

“Sir, yes, sir!” The five little Pages nodded. “Raise the Heavens!” They marched out of the war room with grim purpose.

The remaining Knights, interestingly, stood straighter, all sharing looks of grim determination, probably reminded of what exactly we were defending.

“Cute.” Ice rolled her eyes. But the white of her knuckles as she clenched her fist betrayed her own renewed purpose.

“So, Captain, I take it we get less critical important orders?” Stone chuckled.

“Nothing too difficult, I assure you.” The Commander nodded. “Now, we will assume Princess Celestia has been neutralized and taken captive. She is now designated objective ‘Marshmallow’.” The Commander waved a hand at the….where the marshmallow was. He frowned down at suspect number 1 of 1, Sunset.

“What?” Sunset paused her chewing to look up at him. “I mean, sir, yes, sir!”

“Sunset, what did we say about eating Celestia?” the Commander asked, pointedly.

“I must restrict it to my dreams, Commander.” Sunset saluted smartly, offering the Commander a bag of marshmallows. “Want some Cele-....marshmallows?”

The Commander chewed thoughtfully as he straightened back up. “Our primary mission will be to ensure the enemy does not escape with our Marshmallow,” he said, passing the bag of marshmallows around the room.

“Aye. Losing the Marshmallow might put a wee cramp on our plans for world domina-...I mean, savin’ Equestria, ya ken.” Moustache helped himself to a marshmallow.

“There is the little problem of that tank in our way. And we can assume the enemy has captured and manned the three bunkers around the airfield.” Ice placed three liquorice gumdrops and a single candy bar around the airfield facing towards the fort.

“Teleportation?” Stone suggested, turning to Major Princess. “We’ve turned off the anti-teleportation thingy in the prison, right?”

“Shadowbolt 24 confirmed there is a spatial disruption matrix over the entire area. The enemy must have deployed one,” Major Princess said grimly. “That means no teleporting in or out,” she added, noticing the blank look on Stone’s face.

“Aerial options?” Ice asked.

“The bunkers provide a wide angle of anti-air fire and are equipped with rune-flak,” Raven reported.

“Nope. Nope. All my nope. Not taking my pegasi anywhere near that.” Stone shook his head. “How about using Nightmare mode?”

“Still won’t be enough to absorb all that anti-infantry fire. We’d be dead long before we even see their faces.” Ice waved a hand at the bunkers. “Not that I want to see their faces, not without my fists in them at least.”

“We’ll have to do this the old fashioned way. Fight and take the hill by hoof alone.” Major Princess sighed. “Doesn’t help that the airfield is all empty space. There’s no cover for us to advance.” She pointed out all the embarrassingly empty space on the map.

I noticed Luna give the commander another subtle nudge, her tail curled around the hand the commander held behind his back. “Not exactly,” the Commander finally spoke up with a faint smile, pointing at the candy bar in the middle of the airfield. “There is a tank.”

“An enemy tank that would sooner run you over than provide you cover,” Ice pointed out.

“That would be the case if it had a driver.” The Commander picked up the candy bar with a smug little smile. “For they have brought a tank to a sniper fight.” He tossed the candy bar over to me. I was so surprised I almost fumbled the candy bar in my forehooves, forgetting I even had magic. “Ladies and gentlemen, you know what I’ve always wanted for Hearthswarming?” He grinned, widely. “A tank.”

Wait. He wants me to do what?!

When one imagines a rune-spear sniper, one imagines that popularized image of the lone runemare sitting in a lofty tower all by her lonesome. She would have the sparkling tip of her spear poking out over a parapet as she dealt death through her high-powered crystal-ball scope.

One would never have imagined a unicorn lying down on a pool table about five hooves away from a narrow window half-obscured by a torn curtain. She cradled her ancient toothpick in her forehooves, bracing its rear over her right withers. Her rune-spear was anything but sparkling, every bit of its reflective surfaces blackened with soot and warpaint. Neither would one have imagined her having a fellow squadsister cowering beneath the window sill while holding a hoofheld anemometer out through a crack in the window.

The scene outside was one of absolute chaos. In the distance the REAV Sun Flare, Celestia’s airship, sat like a beached whale on the airfield. Between us and it, three squat bunkers sat like trolls protecting the airfield. Its parapets blinked bright yellow, pouring heavy rune-lancer fire at us in wide sweeps, keeping us all pinned down behind our cover. The tank, a mighty ten-wheeled iron monster, slowly advanced on us at a leisurely pace, pounding our entrenchments with its heavy rune-hammer. Behind it marched the enemy platoon, using its broad iron hide as cover from our pitiful return-fire.

Panicked communication crackled over my omni-colt. “Command! This is Shadowbolt 25. We have royal guards retreating under enemy fire towards point Manehattan! They have thrown aside their weapons in surrender. They appear to be friendlies. We are providing covering fire!” A brave mare shouted over the coms. “Wait...what’s that strapped to his saddle? Oh, Celestia! He’s carrying a bomb! He’s running at us! Shoot him! Shoo-.....” A violent explosion rocked the fort. Loud static hissed at us in the emptiness that followed.

“Medic!” a new voice crackled over the coms. “Please, somepony! Oh, heavens, she’s bleeding! We need a medic at point Manehattan! Please! For the love of Celestia, please!”

“Command, this here’s Shadowbolt 22 reportin’ from point Aaaappleloosa. We got more of’em mind-enslaved suicidin’ buckers crawling this way!” another urgent voice crackled over the coms. “Command, if ya’ll kindly advise, we’d be mighty grateful! Over.”

“All units, neutralize any approaching non-Nightmare mobiles,” my Commander ordered over the coms, his voice chillingly grave. “Shadowbolt 4, provide overwatch over point Manehattan. Shadowbolt 3, sweep and secure. Shadowbolt 7, standby to provide medic support once Shadowbolt 3 gives the all-clear. Over.”

“Sir, yes, sir!”

I took slow, deep breaths, shutting out the screams of panic and cries for help. I have been trained to snipe in thunderstorms. I have been trained to snipe in the middle of a burning ring of fire. I have been trained to snipe while buried under a hill of quesadillas. I can shut out anything. I turned a blind eye to N14, Red Heart, rushing past while singlehoofedly towing what I think was a human on a stretcher. I ignored the stray tracers raising dust and debris from the furniture all around me, even the few that pinged off my barding. I even braced against one stray bullet that managed to find its way through a gap in my left pauldron, biting and searing my withers beneath. My omni-colt pinged red, notifying me of my injury. Y’know, just in case I hadn’t noticed the big gaping hole in my withers.

“Twilight!” Starlight gasped, dropping the anemometer. She must have noticed me shake from the impact. “You’re shot!”

I swear, she’s worse than the omni-colt!

“I noticed,” I grunted, even as my nightmare began to coil around the wound, knitting the flesh back together painfully slowly. “Focus and give me a wind reading,” I hissed, biting back the slow, torturous pain as best as I can.

“Three hooves per second, bearing forty two degrees east by north east,” Starlight reported, timidly.

I peered through my ‘decent’ scope. The tank was finally in range, its bearing allowing me a perfect view of its driver’s porthole. I spotted the driver. He was a young colt, probably no older than my brother. His eyes glowed a nauseating green and sickly purple, a telltale sign of mind-enslavement.

I can do this. My squad is relying on me. My fellow Knights are relying on me. My Commander...

I curled my forehoof around the trigger.

Don’t close your eyes. Don’t look away. Aim. Shoot. Kill.

My forehoof quivered.

He’s just a colt, barely a stallion. He’s a mind-enslaved innocent!

The tank’s turret swung around, its muzzle obscuring my line of sight. I growled in frustration, mentally kicking myself for not taking the shot when I had the chance.

I have been trained to shoot tin cans and straw dummies. I have been trained to believe that ponies are made of tin and straw. I have been trained to kill ponies.

None of that prepared me to kill ponies.

The tank’s muzzle flashed. Another explosion rocked the fort. Dust and debris rained down on me from the creaking ceiling. I couldn’t help but wonder just how much longer the fort will hold.

A voice cried over the coms. “This is Shadowbolt 1 at point Ponyville!” I felt my heart freeze over. “Knights down! I repeat, N4 and N7 are down! Injury too serious for nightmare regen. Medic! Please, medic!” I heard Luna’s voice plead over the coms.

Something fogged up my scope. I realized it was tears. I numbly noticed they were my own.

Trixie….Trixie’s hurt. The...The Commander's hurt. They hurt them. I could have stopped them. I could have killed them. But I let them hurt them.

I...I’m...

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!” I heard myself scream, almost as if I had been the one shot. I almost broke the spear’s trigger under my forehoof. The tank’s turret swung away. The driver was wide open. My horn sparked, charging my spear with a burst of magic. There was a loud crack, a boom of thunder. The magic bullet flew true. The shot struck the colt clean in the head. I saw it all through the scope, every jerking movement of his dying body. I pulled the bolt back violently, ejecting the spent casing and chambering a fresh magic catalyst round. I shot again. I struck him in the muzzle. I shot again. I struck him in the neck. I didn’t need to check his pulse to know he was well and truly dead. But I continued pounding him, even as the tank lurched to a halt.

“E-Enemy armour immobilized!” I numbly heard my Commander croak over the coms. “B-Bombardiers, f-fire fog grenades on the target!”

Is he...is he alright? Is the Commander alright?

A wave of fog canisters sailed through the air overhead, trailing wisps of fog in perfect unison. They exploded into clouds of thick choking smog as they struck the tank. They hid the colt from my sight, even as my rune-spear clicked empty. I pulled the trigger back again. And again. All I got were hollow clicks on a blank, foggy scope.

I slumped against my rune-spear. The heavy spear lost balance, rolling over the edge of the pool table and onto the floor, taking me with it. I sobbed and whimpered against the ground, willing it to swallow me whole.

I caught a glimpse of a human staggering up a pile of rubble in the distance. In his right arm was a rune-banner, its flag stained a vicious dark red. In his left was a pony, pulling him up by her own shaky hooves. I couldn't tell whether her fur was light blue or dark red in the blinding glare of the sun. They stumbled. They even fell. She pushed him back up to his feet before finally collapsing into the dust herself. He staggered the rest of the way to the top alone. There he stood tall, his back broad. Something in his eyes sparkled bright in the fierce sunset glare.

Tears? Blood? I couldn't tell.

“NIGHTMARE KNIGHTS!” I heard a familiar voice cry as he raised his rune-banner into the sky. “RAISE THE HEAVENS!” he roared. That was when I recognized him. He was the Commander. And he was leading the charge.

“RAISE THE HEAVENS!” Ponies and humans alike climbed out of their entrenchments and charged the airfield.

The rapidfire bark of the heavy rune-lancers in the bunkers suddenly focused midfield, right on the tank’s last position. Loud clangs and pings filled the air as the rounds struck the back of the tank, almost drowning out the cries and screams of the soldiers caught in the blind fire.

One of the bunker’s heavy rune-lancers ceased fire. Then another. Eerie silence took over all three of them.

“Command, this is Shadowbolt 15. Objective Gumdrop 1, secured! Bunker neutralized. Over.”

“Command, Shadowbolt 18. We have the prize. Gumdrop 2 is bagged. Over.”

“Command, Shadowbolt 25 here. Ah think yer gonna want ta give Gumdrop 3 a darn good scrubbin’, like, before we ever use it again. Objective’s kinda dirty but neutralized. Over.”

The fog cleared. Three bunkers lay dormant. The middle of the airfield was a scene of massacre. An entire platoon of ponies in royal guard armour lay unmoving behind the tank.

It had all gone according to the Commander’s plan. We took out the tank driver, paralyzing the tank. The immobilized tank was covered with fog grenades, hiding it from view. Believing we were using the fog to rush and capture the tank, the bunkers had unleashed their trap and opened fire on the tank’s position, mercilessly mowing down its own ponies that had been using the tank as cover. Meanwhile, our troops ignored the tank, using the smoke cover to advance up the flanks and take the bunkers instead.

I watched blankly as the tank’s turret slowly turned towards the nearest bunker, intent on avenging its comrades. But it was too late. A fiery yellow and red blur followed by a bright pink one were already clambering its front grill.

“Knock knock, motherbuckers!” I heard Sunset bark as her horn glowed a bright blinding blue. I felt my own nightmare stir within me, sensing that familiar twitch of a Nightmare sister dipping into her well of nightmare power. With brutal casualness she ripped the undoubtedly magic-resistant tank hatch cleanly off its hinges. She loomed over the opening, her two rune-halberds glinting fiercely in the sunset.

“M-mercy!” a voice inside the tank screamed.

“This one’s for Trixie!” Sunset roared, ramming her two rune-halberds down the hatch. "And this one's for the Commander!" She pulled the triggers on her rune-halberds with grim vindictiveness. There was the thick sound of rushing air. A pillar of fire erupted from the hatch, turning the tank into a deadly volcano. There was no hope for the crew inside.

“Command, this is Shadowbolt 1,” Sunshine reported from her position covering Sunset, her voice uncharacteristically grave. “Objective Candy Bar neutralized. I repeat. The tank is neutra….”

The tank suddenly erupted in blinding magical light. The ground rumbled. I felt the rush of hot air prickle my fur all the way from within the fort. I could only watch as the booby-trapped tank turned into a blazing magical fireball, devouring Sunset and Sunshine right in front of me.

No.

NOO.

NOOOOOOOOOOO!

“Shadowbolt 1, Command Awake!” I heard my Commander’s pained cry fill the coms. “Awake! Awake, dammit!”

Black sparks of energy coiled around the two limp forms in the cloud of dust and debris left behind by the fireball. The dark wave of energy from the two was unmistakeable. It was the evil light of two Nightmares awakening. The question is, would they awake in time to save their hosts?

I felt my blood boil. My Commander’s release command was all it needed to spill over. My anger surged in a violent storm. I felt my mane and tail explode in a miasma of pure, dark magic. My nightmare rushed and coiled about me in thick, jet black serpentine tendrils. The half-healed wound in my withers instantly vanished in a wisp of smoke.

Starlight let out a high-pitched scream, sharp fangs erupting from her maw. Dark magic lanced and swirled around her like a vengeful galaxy of stars. “T-Twilight…” she whimpered at me, her hooves trembling with unbridled power. “C-calm down,” she pleaded, hoarsely. “Trixie, the Commander, Sunset and Sunshine...W-we need to…”

But my eyes were already set on the Sun Flare, a monstrous shadow against the setting sun. Its dark shape was taking off, its six powerful magic turbines whining alive. The nose was already slowly turning towards our fort in mid-ascent. The lumbering beast was slowly but surely picking up speed towards us.

My heart and mind was full of nothing but Sunset, Sunshine, Trixie and the Commander. But now that I think back, there was not a single thought spared for their wellbeing. I burned with a singular need to avenge them. All I saw in my dark, blazing world were the two stark magical glows on the Sun Flare’s bridge, the last two non-nightmare life signs. Two targets for my vengeance. They will pay! Dearly!

“Twilight! No!” Starlight cried out after me.

But nothing could stop me. I ran at the window. The fort’s walls crumbled like a stack of quills under my charge. I sailed out in a shower of mortar and debris. The airfield quickly shrunk under my galloping bounds. I charged at the incoming airship, willing it to come at me, to hasten my revenge.

I leapt. The ground rapidly dropped away below me. I soared with ridiculous ease into the sunset sky. The airship’s bridge, a giant cage of iron and glass, rushed to meet me. I braced myself as the bridge rammed into me, engulfing me in a rain of glass shards and bent metal.

Something went horribly wrong.

I flew through some sort of malicious energy barrier. My nightmare magic tried to twist itself inside out, taking me with it. It felt as if all the magic inside me was trying to rip my horn apart. My crash landing on the bridge’s floor was a dull throb compared to the searing fire coursing through my horn.

I heard a scream of pain. I numbly noticed it wasn’t my own. It was Starlight’s. She crashed into the floor next to me, rolling into a trembling, whimpering ball. From how she was spasming with pain, clutching her horn for dear life, she must have taken the full brunt of the barrier protecting the bridge as well.

The foal! Why’d she follow me here?!

My Nightmare form was still intact, at least. I sensed two life signatures nearby. I looked up at the first. I just about managed to make out what looked like Celestia, her face frozen in an expression of agony behind a solid block of red crystal. She must have walked into the barrier trap as well.

Wait, where’s the last life signature?!

“Twilight, Starlight, i-is it really you?” There was the loud click of a rune-weapon being cocked. The muzzle of a rune-axe pressed itself against Starlight’s mane. “I-I don’t r-recognize you two. But he said you’d be c-coming.”

I grunted, pushing myself up onto my shaky hooves. Every touch sent more flaming knives into my horn. My magic flashed and sparked, rebelling against my body. Raising my head alone was a struggle. But I just about managed to lay eyes on my final target.

What little was left of my heart sank away. It was yet another ghost from another life.

“O-oh. Hi, Twinkleshine,” my voice sounded flat and lifeless in my own ears.

“H-happy to see you too,” Starlight grunted, giving the rune-axe in her face a dark look.

“I haven’t seen you two since Moon D-Dancer’s birthday p-p-party.” The off-white unicorn in royal guard barding smiled a watery little smile. Terrified tears trickled down from her glowing green and purple eyes. “So, it’s true. You all really became nightmares.” She bit her lip. “We tried to find you all. M-Minuette, Dancer, Lyra and I even snuck into the palace after the whole Summer Sun thing. T-the blood...the bodies…” She trembled, shutting her eyes tight, as if it might banish the image from her mind. “We...we missed you all so much,” she choked.

“I...I missed you too, Twinkle,” I whispered, emptily.

“H-He’s letting me think...and talk! But I still can’t control my body. I-I haven’t eaten or drank in days. I haven’t slept. I-I’m s-scared, Starlight, Twilight,” she squeaked, her eyes filled with unspeakable horrors. “I-I’m scared I might hurt you.”

“Shhh, it’s alright, Twinkle. You can’t hurt us. We’re Nightmares,” I soothed, not feeling a single word of what I was saying. The Nightmare had numbed everything to a dull roar. I was secretly thankful. It made everything so much easier.

“I-I’m sorry. I can’t stop him. He’s using me to crash the ship into t-the fort.” Her eyes flicked towards the ship’s wheel, grasped in her light mulberry magic. “I-I don’t wanna harm anypony. E-especially Celestia! You need to stop me! Please!” she pleaded.

“I will, Twinkle.” I nodded. A small, guilty part of me wished I could feel something, anything, about what I was about to do. The rest of me was simply grimly aware of what I had to do.

“Th-thank you, Twilight. Thank you.” She smiled bravely at me. “W-Whatever happens, please don’t blame yourself. I’m happy...that you’ve been my friend, e-especially here and now,” she whispered, closing her eyes in solemn acceptance. “I’m ready.” She sniffled. “Please, do it.”

“Thank you, Twinkle.” I pulled her into one last embrace in one forehoof. “Good bye.”

And slammed my rune-dagger into her heart with the other.

She gave a soft sigh of relief as she slumped against me.

But I wasn’t done yet. No, I was ready this time.

Her faint peaceful smile suddenly contorted into a malicious grin as she let out a bark of feral laughter. The bomb hidden beneath her saddle bleeped alive.

But it was far too late.

I had long since summoned all my nightmare strength into my forehooves, flinging her straight through the window with all the force of a cannonball. Her body sailed out of the bridge and into the open sunset in a shower of glass shards.

“Clever girl,” Twinkleshine hissed at me. Her crazed eyes gleamed with a dangerous red spark before they were consumed by a brilliant ball of pink fire.

The ship rocked dangerously from the explosion blooming in the sunset.

“Those horseapples are getting really old, Sombra,” I growled, glaring down at the smoke and debris. I stood and watched in pensive silence as the last of the dust faded away in the sea breeze. I expected to see something, some tin or straw, anything. But there was nothing left.

But more than that, I expected to feel something, sadness, even grief, anything. My nightmare had its ‘vengeance’, but it left me with nothing but an emptiness that threatened to drown me. And my nightmare wouldn’t allow me to fill it with anything else.

Somepony, anypony, please, help me!

I felt a light touch, lighter than the wind rushing through my mane. It was soothing, like the gentle feel of my mane being ruffled. Protective, like being tucked into a blanket before the hearth. Calming, like a morning snuggle on Hearthswarming day. It quelled the raging nightmare within me, bringing it to heel like a naughty little puppy. I felt like a drifting boat finally secured by my anchor. I felt him reach out to me through our nightmare bond. ‘Come home to me, Twilight.’ His gentle voice guided me back down to sweet sanity. Just like I and my Nightmare sisters had practiced time and time again with our Anchor, I allowed our stand-down command to take over me, sealing the nightmare away and bringing me home.

My nightmare slowly faded away into the gathering twilight, taking all the strength and resilience it had lent me. I felt like a swimmer climbing out of a deep dark pool, heavy and tired but happy to breathe once more.

Starlight said nothing as she crawled over to the ship’s wheel. She gave a low grunt as she pulled herself up and took the wheel in her forehooves, turning it hard to starboard. “C-Command, Shadowbolt 1,” she rasped into her omni-colt. “B-be advised, objective Marshmallow and Pudding are secured. Repeat, we bucking won. Shadowbolt 1, out.” She threw her omni-colt into a wall. She too allowed her nightmare to fade away, leaving her to slump down against the wheel with a soft sob.

I shielded my eyes with a forehoof as the ship’s sudden turn swung the setting sun into my face. We slowly panned across the fort’s southwestern face, taking in all its burning towers and collapsed walls. The ocean sparkled innocently below, all traces of the rogue submarine gone.

The battle was over. We had won.

But then why? Why do I feel like I lost?

Like a stringless puppet, I slumped to the floor. I let out a loud sob. I was glad I was at least still able to cry.

Author's Note

A little video to end this chapter on:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaA0lkAshXI

Operation Just-Beat-It

“Sunset Shimmer, do you realize what you did?”

Yes, I was saving her time and trouble. That Trixie filly didn’t even know the basics of Starswirl’s seven precepts. She would have totally failed the entrance exam.

“Maybe, maybe not. Now we will never know for certain. But one thing is certain, my faithful student. You have failed her.”

No! I never fail! I cannot fail! I always win! Ponies aren’t tests! How the hay do you even fail somepony anyway?! Is there even a way to win somepony?

“Don’t you always win, my faithful student?”

I hate it! I hate it when she gives me that stupid smug know-it-all smile! I hate it when she knows something I don’t! I’ll show her! I’ll win that pathetic little filly. I’ll win everypony!

....

Funny. You don’t realize just how horribly you’ve lost until you realize you can’t win. And not winning ponies means you’re losing them; You’re alone. Only then did I realize there was something that sucked more than losing. It’s being alone.

The Life and Times of N3 - 23rd of Sunwane, C.E. 1007
Oh buck.

I’m alive.

Well, either that or Sombra’s managed to bring Tartarus here. Well, buck you too, bro.

….

Nah, sissy things like death happens to other ponies. Sunset Shimmer is totes alive.

Hah! Betcha didn’t see that coming, huh, tank?! Think you’re an iron hardass? Well, I’m alive! You’re not alive! That means I win! And you just got your tanky flank whooped by a filly! How do you like them apples, huh?

Ouch ouch ouch ouch that hurts!

Buck, I hate tanks. Hear that, tank? I hate you. Please rot in tank-hell, tank.

Tank you.

Ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch! Gotta stop crackin’ such awesome jokes. Might kill myself.

Oh Celestia, it feels like a hamster died in my throat. Need something to drink. Pretty sure bucking up a tank ten ways to Sunday earns me a hospital bed, right? And a hot nurse to gimme all the prescribed tender love and care a winning hero needs, right?

I could totally do with N14 from the medic’s chapter. I’ve got her fully checked out, she’s definitely grade AAA under the sheets with those soft marshmallowy badonkadonks. She’s probably a screamer too. Hmmm. Or maybe N86? Not done staking her out yet, but she swings them buns like a champ!

I slowly cracked open an eyelid. That didn’t help much, seeing as the rest of the world was pretty damn dark. How am I supposed to see the goods in all this murk?

I just about made out a faint glow from what looked like a medical crystal ball set on a trolley next to me. Faint zig-zaggy lines ran across its surface to the sound of faint beeping.

Oooh, is that my heart? Woo, awesome beats, sis! Keep it up!

I’ll be here aaaall night, folks.

No, seriously, I will.

My ears twitched at a sound. “Dosey…” I heard somepony whisper behind the curtain around the bed opposite me. Oh, might be one of them hot nurses? Oh, yes, my body is ready!

“H-Hay, Mich.” I heard another voice whimper in reply. I felt my fur stand on end, my nightmare rippling in sudden agitation. I could sense her. A fully awakened nightmare was in the bed opposite mine. I could see the faint blue glow of her nightmare aura casting the silhouette of a human woman against the privacy curtain around her bed.

Why’s somepony got her nightmare on full release inside a hospital?

Unless...

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Dosey. I-I should’ve given you the release command sooner.” The first voice hiccuped. It came from the human silhouette.

“It’s...it’s alright, Mich. H-Honest. I-I was dead the moment that sub blasted the ammo dump. I should have done as you told me and secured it before we opened shop.” The Nightmare said, soothingly. “Did...did the ammo make it?”

“Yeah. You shielded everything.” Silhouette said, reassuringly. “Even the supplies of pea soup.”

“Thank goodness.” Nightmare chuckled. “I wouldn’t hear the end of it if I had to tell N1 she’d be tossing rocks at the enemy for the rest of the war.” She trailed off into a soft little sigh. “I...I’m glad you gave me the release command though. I...I wanted to speak to you one last time.”

Okaaay, aaaawkward. Why’d I wake up for this? Buck my life. I’ve got the timing from Tartarus.

“Mich, I need you to do me a really big favour.” Nightmare whispered. “It’s gonna be tough but...you’re a strong girl. I know you can do it.”

“Anything, Dosey. Anything.” Silhouette said, her hands grasping something on the bed.

“I need you to give me the stand down command. Please, bring me home, one last time.” Nightmare pleaded.

“B-but...Dosey! Your nightmare’s the only thing keeping you alive! If I do that you’ll die!” Silhouette cried.

“I know, Mich. But...I’m not alive either. I’m only a quarter of a pony, and that’s a hard sell, even for me.” Nightmare chuckled, bitterly.

“The medics chapter can put you back together! N3 designed all those nightmare prosthetics! We’ll make you right in no time! Promise!” Silhouette said, her voice full of thin, frail hope.

“But I’d still need to remain in a waking nightmare to keep what’s left of me going, Mich. If you keep anchoring me forever, you’ll….” Nightmare faltered. “I-I mean, I’d never be able to feel, I’d never be able to tell you what I really want to tell you.” She said, softly. “Please, Mich, I know I’m being selfish, but….please, please do it for me.”

“Dosey…” Silhouette sobbed. “God, please, please stay with me. I’ll make you all the chocolate pancakes you want! I’ll give you belly rubs and raspberries till you’re sick of me! Just….just please...I can’t do this alone. I need you. I need you, Dosey.” She pleaded.

“Hay, I’m not going anywhere, Mich. You know I’ll never miss a snuggle, right on the clock.” Nightmare said, soothingly.

“You realize the whole snuggle gauge thing’s a hoax, right?” Silhouette gave a wet chuckle. “All of us humans know that.”

“Heh, busted.” Nightmare giggled, softly. “I know this sounds cliche as buck, Mich, but I’ll be right beside you, every trot of the way. You’re not getting rid of me, not by a long shot.”

“Dosey…” Silhoutte whispered. “I-I’m sorry. I was only thinking of myself. You...you deserve better.” She choked. “I...I’ll….I’ll give you the command.”

“Thank you, Commander.” Nightmare whispered, gratefully.

“A-are you sure?” Silhouette asked, one last time, one last quiver of hope in her voice.

“Yes. Please, do it.” Nightmare gave a grateful sigh.

“Command Pancakes.” Silhouette whispered. “Remember the pillow fight, remember the pancakes, remember the belly rubs. Please, come home to me, Dosey.” She recited their stand-down command, simple but very personal, very powerful words that, uttered by an Anchor, can tame even the most powerful Nightmare.

“Urgh!” Nightmare cried, her bed suddenly squeaking under her jolt. The soft blue glow of her nightmare faded from the curtains.

“D-Dosey?! What’s wrong?!” Silhoutte cried.

“N-nothing.” Nightmare panted. “Just...just all the bruises coming out to play. Heh. Subs hurt.” She rasped. “Mich, I don’t have much time. I-I wanted to say, I, Mich, I lo-….all this time I’ve…I really, really lo-...” Nightmare gave a soft, contented sigh. “No. I….yeah, I really want you to live happy.” She said, sounding suddenly calm and strangely content. “I...I don’t want you to forget me. I want you to remember me by being happy. Find more friends. Make’em chocolate pancakes. Give’em all raspberries and belly rubs. Remember me by them. And please….please make it out of this alive.”

“Dosey…” Silhouette whispered.

“I’m...happy, Mich. I can feel happy again.” Nightmare giggled, bravely. “I’m happy that you’ve been my...my friend. Thank you, for letting me feel happy….one last time.” Nightmare whispered, softly. “Hay, Mich, sing me to sleep, please?”

Silhouette took a slow, deep breath.
“Hush now, quiet now, it’s time to lay down your sleepy head.
Driftin off to sleep, exciting day behind you.
Driftin’ off to sleep, let the joy of dreamland find you. …”
She sang, gently.

A long, happy little sigh filled the air. A faint, distant beeping faded into one flat tone.

Silhoutte’s voice shook.
“Hush now, quiet now, close your sleepy eyes.
Hush now, quiet now, my...how...how time...sure flies…”
She gave a quiet sob. “...D-Dosey….D-Dosey...Dosey…”

Oh, sweet heavens, why?!

I couldn’t listen. Not anymore. I wanted to just curl up and disappear. I pressed my head against my pillow as hard as I could, willing myself to fall back into sweet, sweet stupor. Whatever it takes to escape this place.

I felt something reach out to me. It gently stroked my cheeks, wiping tears I didn’t even know I had. It softly petted my ears, just the way I always liked it. I felt so safe and warm all of a sudden underneath its touch. With a sweet, firm but loving caress, it lulled me back into deep, welcome sleep.

I only wish I never ever woke up again.

Nightmare Knights Intelligence Files - The Organization of the Rank and File

Document Classified by Chapter Corazierri of the Order
WARNING: The viewing of classified material by anypony lacking appropriate security clearance can and will result in severe punishment including dessert restrictions, snuggle rationing and/or death.

File Name : Letter re: ‘Recommendations on the Immediate Re-organization of the Nightmare Order’
Author : Chief-Major ~~Light-Charge~~ N26
Date : 3rd of Summersun, C.E. 1004 (3 Years Old)
Confidentiality Level : Order Members Only

With the Knight Captain and the Round Table’s agreement, this document will outline the re-organization of the paramilitary special forces now called ‘The Order of Nightmare Knights’.

The current squad-based system built around each squad’s Anchor is excellent for fostering the level of unit cohesion and team morale each squad will need to survive in the field. This is rendered all the more critical by the fact that a squad is only as strong as the Anchor and Nightmare bond they share and the power of the release and stand-down command unique to each squad. Any discussion of alternate arrangements are moot. I advise keeping the squads as the core functional unit of our Order henceforth.

I advise building any further levels of organization on top of the existing squad-based system. For the purposes of warfare of scale, our forces shall be organized into ‘Banners’, battle groups made up of anything between five to ten squads. Banners will regularly train together in maneuvering in formation. Banners will be encouraged to develop their own identity, culture and personalized tactics.

I also advise that each squad be made up of members with distinct key tactical roles, such that each squad alone will have the strategic mix of skills and talents needed to tackle any mission short of a large scale battle. To enable this, we will organize the Order into ‘Chapters’, training schools dedicated to each individual tactical class. Every Knight will be assigned to a Chapter. There they will train with fellow members of their soldier class every morning in the techniques and skills necessary to their particular class. Snipers will learn to snipe, Shock-troopers will learn to shock and Flankers will learn to flank. In the afternoon they should return to train with their own regular squads, bringing together the unique skills and abilities of their individual Chapters and learning how to integrate it into their squad’s build.

The following are the Chapters we shall organize with all due haste. For the benefits of any humans reading this, I have, with the help of my Anchor, Sergeant ~~Prakarsh Singh~~ N28, provided human-friendly translations for the various Equestrian terms.

Chapter Dragoons: These shall be our medium and light scouts, both high speed rangers and long range scouts. They shall be trained in the arts of field reconnaissance, high mobility maneuvers and surgical strikes at long range. They shall be mainly equipped with rune-spears (sniper rifles) for long distance engagements.

I personally recommend ~~Twilight Sparkle~~ N1 to be our first Dragoonsmare.

Chapter Ansars: These shall be our heavy engineer troopers. They shall be trained in the use of highly technical weaponry including the rune-halberds (flamethrowers), weather catapults (grenade launchers) and satchel charges for use in demolitions and sabotage. They will also be equipped with rune-axes (shotguns) to better defend their positions at close range.

I personally recommend ~~Sunset Shimmer~~ N3 to be our first Ansarsmare.

Chapter Desultor: These shall be our assassin and flanker troopers. Making use of our affinity for darkness and stealth, the assassins and flankers shall be trained in the art of swift, silent maneuvering and clean, quiet removal of hostile elements. In battle they will disrupt enemy firing lines, spread terror and chaos and dispatch key enemy elements, for example their commanders. Flankers will be equipped with light rune-rapiers (submachine guns) and rune-daggers (pistols).

I personally recommend ~~Trixie Lulamoon~~ N4 to be our first Desultorsmare.

Chapter Jäger: These shall be our light to medium shock troopers. They shall be our most versatile soldier class, able to fulfill any role from defense to assisting in charges. They shall be trained in the use of rune-blades (assault rifles) and rune-claymores (heavy machine guns).

I personally recommend ~~Sunshine Smiles~~ N5 to be our first Jägersmare.

Chapter Lancer-Cataphract: These shall be our heavy troopers, the lynchpin of our firing lines and the spearhead of our charges. They shall be equipped with the iconic cataphract shield, a large saddle-mounted forward-tapered tower shield that extends over the knight’s head. It is designed to deploy forwards over the trooper’s head during charges and to deploy vertically into the ground when stationary to provide cover for our firing lines. They will provide mobile cover for our troops while maneuvering and allow us to deploy mobile firing lines that can adapt to every situation. While the weight of the shield restricts traditional cataphracts to light weapons, the monstrous strength of Nightmare Lancer-Cataphracts will allow them to also carry heavy defensive weaponry, such as the rune-lancer (minigun).

I personally recommend ~~Starlight Glimmer~~ N2 to be our first Lancermare.

Chapter Harquebusiers: These shall be our heavy artillery troops. trained in the use of saddle-mounted and hoof-held rune-hammers (missile launchers) and rune-morningstars (flak cannons). While we have yet to acquire the heavy weapons necessary for this Chapter, their training will be vital if we are to have any chance against Imperial armoured vehicles and fortress emplacements.

I personally recommend ~~Luna Eclipse~~ N6 to be our first Harquebusmare.

Chapter Hussars: While our pegasi brothers and sisters are perfectly suited to all our other roles, they have one very obvious tactical advantage that sets them apart from everypony else - their wings. The Hussars will be trained in purely aerial roles. They will be split into two arms, the Ravens Hussars and Bugbear Hussars.

Ravens will specialize in maintaining air-superiority and providing surgical air support to ground troops. They will be trained in the use of a mix of jäger and anti-air harquebusier weaponry.

The Bugbear Hussars will be trained in tactical aerial bombardment using thundercloud bombs and guided Rune-Hammer missiles as well as in laying down fog-cover to conceal ground troop movements.

I personally recommend ~~Spitfire~~ N16 to be our first Hussarsmare.

Chapter Hospitaliers: These shall be our field medics, trained in both traditional first aid and Nightmare first aid. As you are all aware, our nightmares grant us accelerated regeneration that can heal most minor injuries with relative ease. While traditional healing spells appear to hinder Nightmare regeneration, Knight Red Heart N14 has discovered that a number of Knights including herself have an aptitude for a brand of healing unique to Nightmares. With the help of these ponies and their special Nightmare powers, we can accelerate Nightmare regeneration on the field. The Chapter Hospitaliers will work towards improving these skills for use in the field as well as train in battlefield triage, trauma care and medevac tactics.

I personally recommend ~~Red Heart~~ N14 to be our first Hospitalier.

Chapter Atelier: The Ateliersponies shall be the supplies and logistics arm of our Order. They will specialize in the acquisition, production, delivery and defense of critical supplies and ammo. They will play a critical role in maintaining and defending our supply lines. As our campaigns march further north into the heart of Imperial lands, their role will only become all the more critical.

I personally recommend ~~Dosey Dotes~~ N92 to be our first Ateliersmare.

Chapter Auxilia: It is important to recognize that we are in this Order not by choice. While I do not question your resolve, let us admit that none of us volunteered to become Nightmares. There will be those amongst us who, morally or for other reasons, do not wish to fight at all if they can avoid it. We must protect this sanctity of free will, for it is all that sets us apart from the Imperials and their mind-enslaved soldiers. As such, Chapter Auxilia will be a home for those who wish to avoid combat. They shall provide the domestic support for the fighting troops, fulfilling essential roles from catering and household management to nursing. The Auxilia will receive basic fitness and combat training and will serve as the last line of defense in our homes and forts. Let us pray that, come what may, it shall never come to that.