The Nightmare King

:Chapter 4 – Luck of the Iomurish:

“Hey wake up!” Lance yelled right into Red Skies ear.

“Kakogo cherta!” he yelled bolting up quickly snapping his eyes shut when he got a face full of sunlight. “Ha Russian ponies!” Lance thought happily to himself.

“Good morning Red Skies”

Red Skies shielding his eyes from the sun with his hoof opened his eyes again to look around it was morning and the sun was a little way over the horizon… and he felt terrible.

“Oh my head, what happened last night?”

“We drank are weight in vodka my friend, it was a great time.”

“Da… who are you again?”

“Don’t worry it will come back to you just give it time buddy” Skies continued to rub his head with both of his hooves.

Lance brought out two of Red Skies traveling canteens. “Here I got us some water from the river down the road it should help with your headache.”

“Spasiba comrade.” Red skies said red skies says taking the filled canteen from Lance.

“So where you heading now Skies?”

“I’m going to pack up camp and head into Ponyville.” He raised his hoof and pointed down the road “It’s just up the road a few miles.”

“Neat and what do you plan to do when you get there?”

“I really don’t know…” Skies said quietly looking into the distance

“Stick with me new best friend and I will see if we can fix that.” Lance said putting one hoof over Red Skies shoulder.

Lance helped Red Skies pack up his camp “So starting to remember anything from last night?” he asked

Skies began to look around and hesitantly gave a reply. “Da and what I remember is… unsettling…”

“My friend…” Lance looked Red Skies in the eyes from behind his sunglasses “…do you fear me?”

“…Da” He said nodding his head finishing putting his meager belongings into his saddlebags.

Lance smiled and patted him on the back. “Isn’t it relieving to admit your fears friend? Trust me Skies stick with me and we will go places, just watch!”

“Whatever you say comrade” Red Skies said starting to walk towards the road.

Lance walked up to his sides and looked in both directions. Last night it was too dark to see what was around Red Skies camp. In one direction was Ponyville and beyond that was the capitol of the Royal Empire of Equestria Canterlot in the other direction the road led off and split in a few directions some forests and hills could be seen dotting the horizon. However on the road there was a large cart packed way past capacity with crates and bags. This large oversized cart was being pulled by a ginger orange unicorn mare. She had a white and green mane tied back in a braided pony tail. Lance taped Red skies on the shoulder pointing at the strange mare.

“Hey Skies look at that cart! Is that normal?”

“Neit that is way too much for one pony to move.”

“Should we help?”

“Neit let the unicorn do her own work.”

“Well my new friends a racist… that’s hilarious!” lance thought to himself

He hit skies in the shoulder “Oh come on be a gentlecolt and help the mare.”

Molly O’Malley has been traveling for over a week trying to reach the small town of Ponyville. She had said goodbye to all her friends and family back in Delibolin packed up everything she owned and made it for Ponyshire. It was a fresh start one that she desperately needed. She didn’t leave the Maneglican Isles on the best of conditions. She came across a pair of stallions on the side of the road and decided a friendly greeting was in order.

“Top of the morning to ya” the unicorn waved to the duo.

“No freakin way!” lances eyes were opening wide behind his sunglasses.

“Hello there my name is Lance what’s your name!?”

“I am Molly O’Malley of Delibolin.” She said smiling putting a hoof to her chest.

A smile spread across lance's face

“Um are you okay there fella?” Molly said wearing a look of concern on her face

“Don’t worry about him he’s… weird.” Red skies answered waving a hoof in lances direction

“Need any help Miss O’Malley? You have an awful lot there.” Lance asked looking over Molly’s cart.

“No thank you friend no offense but you creep me out.”

“Oh? …how so?”

“Just look at ya! You’re hiding your eyes behind glasses so no one can see what you’re looking at. You’re standing there looking at me like a wolf to a rabbit.”

“How can you tell how I’m looking at you if I’m wearing these?” Lance said pointing to his shades.

“You don’t need to see the eyes to see the intent, and you’re not the first stallion to look at me with a predatory gaze. It is usually more playful then yours however.”

“You’re quite the acute mare Molly” Lance said nodding his head.

“Skies help the mare!” lance shouted looking towards his companion.

“Chto!? Why should I?” Red skies said looking back at Lance.

“Because I unsettle her! Now please do this for me! I don’t know how many more Irish ponies I will meet!”

They both looked at him for a few seconds in silence

“…What?” lance said looking back and forth between them.

[A Few Minutes Later]

“Oi! Now you’ve got it all arsways!” Lance was almost dying at this point she was just too much.

He was watching red skies attempt to fix the mess he made. When trying to take some of the weight off her cart he knocked the whole thing down! It took them a few hours to fix the damned thing. Molly wasn’t that adept with magic it turns out. She could barely levitate anything above twenty pounds. Lance did get to see unicorn magic for the first time. It was interesting to see but the auras were not as defined as they were in the show. They still had definite color. Molly’s magical aura color was forest green. (of course it is)

“Are we ready to go ladies!” Lance yelled to the arguing pair.

“Yea I’ll pull me cart meself thank you!” she yelled at Red Skies

“Da fine do what you want!” Skies yelled back.

“Calm down you two can flirt each other when we get to Ponyville.” Lance chuckled

Molly started to pull her cart and looked away from Red skies

“Ha! Don’t make me laugh I prefer me ponies a little more… curvy.” She said with a wink.

“Come along Skies we have gained a traveling companion for our walk to Ponyville.”

Red Skies was sitting on the side of the road grumbling to himself about snooty borshwa unicorns. He didn’t even notice he was left behind for a few minutes. When he looked up he saw that he was alone again. He wouldn’t admit it but he was really starting to enjoy the company of the scary strange creature he met. He got up and spread his wings and flew to catch up with his new comrades.

“So what brings you to Ponyville Molly?” Lance asked

“I made a deal with a tavern owner there. I’m going to be brewing up some special Iomurish whisky for him and work the pub.” She answered

“That’s awesome. I just plan on winging it seeing where the snow falls and all that.” Lanse said waving his hoof dismissively.

“So you have no plan? You eejit you’re gonna be sleepin under the stars tonight!”

“Whatever you say Miss O’Mally”

“Please just call me Molly ya maken me feel old”

“So you’re a …filly fooler? Do they actually say that here?”

“Yes and so what if I am!”

“Then they do say that here …that’s interesting” Lance thought aloud

“What is wrong with you!”

Red skies landed then visibly upset that he was left behind but he didn’t voice any objections. Instead he commented on molly’s complection.

“Why does comrade Molly look so flustered?”

“Your friend is a freak!” Molly Screamed to Red Skies

“Da, I told you this when you two met.”

She just sighed defeated. And started to pick up the pace a bit. The sun was starting to get high in the sky and Lance guessed it was around noon. The pegasi were doing a great job with the weather not a single cloud in the sky. They were approaching the town of Ponyville and man was it a sight.

“Wow... nice place” lance said dumbly.

“Da Ponyville is good place. The ponies here are accepting and care for each other. Not like that horrible borshwa elitist camp Canterlot!”

Lance began to laugh “Raciest and a communist! I hit the pony jackpot here.” He managed to calm his laughter to wave molly off.

“It was nice traveling with you Molly.”

“Da”

“Well so long boys I have work to do.” Molly walked off pulling her cart through town to the dismay of the many residents she didn't seem to want to slow down for.

“See you later Molly!”

“Dasveedanya comrade!”

Lance and Red Skies looked around taking in their surroundings lance could see the market from here it was crowded with ponies.

“Ponyville… I expected it to be smaller.”

“Neit, all traffic heading to Canterlot from the west comes through Ponyville. It is the last stop for many travelers heading to the capitol.”

“That’s pretty boss I guess. Were you heading to the capitol Skies?”

“Neit” he said looking away with a look of restraint in his eyes.

“Whatever man… let’s look around town I’m dying to see it.” Lance said excitedly his Inner brony seeping through.

Ponyville had all the flavors one would expect Sugar Cube Corner was located near the town center on the intersection of Sugar Road and Cube Lane. Rarities boutique was located in what appeared to be a small business district. The Carrousel Boutique was gorgeous… I mean awesome… yea awesome. Lance couldn’t find Twilights library much to his dismay. The sun was starting to tip low in the sky on Lances and Skies tour when they heard a familiar voice. They saw Molly’s cart sitting in front of a good two story building with a sign that read “The Drunken Mare” in the door were two ponies a tan earth pony and Molly.

“You can’t do this to me Silver Poles!” Molly yelled in his face.

“Well I’m sorry Miss O’Malley the former land lord skipped town and sold it to me and I have no interest in running a pub.” He said with mock concern

“You listen here boyo! I sold everything I owned and moved all the way across Equestria to get here!”

“Well I don’t know what to tell you miss. It looks like you just got the short end of the stick.”

“Well then what are you gonna do with the place then!” Molly questioned.

“I’m going to tear it down and build a gentlecolts club.” Poles said walking back into the building.

“That’s just stupid you manky colt! You can’t just tear down the only pub in Ponyville!" Molly yelled after him.

“Miss O’Malley what I do with my property is my own business! Now I have a lot of planning to do, good day!” and with that he slammed the door in her face.

Molly hung her head and tears started to escape her eyes. It was all over for her she had no place left to go. She walked over to her cart and pulled out a large brown whisky bottle. Lance approached her as she was staring at it.

“You ok there molly?”

“Lay off!” She said through angry tears “If you need me I will be in the park getting langered.” She walked away sniffling.

“Wow comrade Molly seemed really upset Lance.”

“That she did Skies, that she did.” Lance said watching her walk away.

“So what are we going to do now?”

“Red skies I need you to watch Molly’s cart. Can you do that for me?”

“Da, sure, but what are you doing?”

“Well she had a point I can’t let this pony tear down the only pub in Ponyville. I’m going to… renegotiate the terms of his lease on this property.” Lance then walked into the pub.

Red Skies watched Lance as he entered and shook his head “Poor bastard”

Inside the pub there were several tables on the main floor and a long bartop against the wall. There was a staircase against the back wall that led upstairs. Below the stairs was a door that must have led to the basement. Behind the bar top was the pony Lance was here to see. He was overlooking some blue prints and legal documents.

“Hello there little pony” lance said approaching the tan earth pony.

“Sorry but the Drunken Mare is no longer open for business.” The stallion said

“Oh I know I’m not here to drink. I’ve come here to eat!”

“Um I don’t think they ever served food here.” He said still not looking up from his papers

Lance stopped and raised an eyebrow “Really? Who the hell was running this place that’s just stupid!?”

“Yes it was, now if you have nothing else to do here I suggest you leave.”

“Oh no I’m still going to get my fill.” Lance said putting his hooves on the counter.

“Excuse me?” the tan pony said raising his head to look at the blue earth pony stallion before him. He was backing up a bit and a little uneasy about how close Lance was to him.

“Are you afraid?” lance asked the unsettled pony

“No” he said backing off a bit with an annoyed expression on his face.

Lance lifted his shades and looked at the stallion with his green snake eyes now only a few inches from his face.

“Oh you shouldn’t lie to me.”

Silver Poles came to in what appeared to be an early industrial aged London. (Of course ponies have no idea what London is, or the industrial era either.) “Where am I!” he looked around all of the streets were deserted. “Hello! Is anypony there?” he didn’t get an answer. After sitting there for a few minutes with nothing happening he got to his hooves and started to walk through the streets. The crack of thunder was heard in the distance. Looking up he saw a storm was rolling in from the west.

“That doesn’t look good.” He said looking up to the sky.

“Hello is anypony there?! I’m lost and I need help!” he yelled into the air.

*crash*

The sound of wood breaking was heard coming from the building ahead on the right side of the street. Silver Poles started to walk towards the sound when the thunder cracked again this time followed by rain. It was pouring in a matter of seconds. The building was opened he ran in to get out of the rain. He looked around to see he was in what appeared to be a shop. There was a counter and a cash register but nopony was around. “H-hello?” Silver Poles called out into the shop. There was an open door behind the counter that led into a hallway. He walked around the store front looking to see if he could find anything or anypony. The search proved fruitless and he sat down in frustration.

“Where am I …what’s going on?”

The rain outside was starting to let up but the sun was still blotted out. Silver Poles decided to see what was behind the counter. He walked into the dark hallway when he heard an odd dripping sound. It sounded like water hitting stone.

Drip… drip… drip

He followed the sound curious as to its cause. There was an open door at the far end of the hall that led into a dark room. The sound of the dripping was coming from in there. What he saw sitting in the dark was something strait out of the darkest pits of Tartarus.

It was a pony but at the same time it had no business carrying that name. Sure it had a pony’s body but that’s where the similarities ended. Where a ponies large caring eyes would be were two charcoal black orbs it is unknown if it could see at all. It didn’t appear to have a mouth where one normally would be was just skin below its nose. The nose had a steady stream of blood seeping out and an occasional drip was heard as it hit the ground. The hooves of this monster were completely covered in blood. The very act of living seemed to bring this creature pain.

“Oh dear Celestia”

Its ears perked in his direction. “Buck me” its head snapped towards him. (literally it’s neck friggen snapped) Silver Poles heard a strange off putting sound it was like a combination between a moan and a growl. It started to cry. It had no tears the beast cried blood. The strange bloody hooved monster was facing him now shambling closer and closer.
The weird moaning growl was heard again but this time it was accompanied by the sound of tearing. The face on the beast was contorting and and its black eyes were cringing in pain.

*rrriiiiiiiip*

The skin where its mouth would have been tore apart into a makeshift mouth. Blood was pouring from this new wound on its face. Inside the makeshift mouth were two rows of razor sharp teeth all stained crimson. It stopped its approach in order to vomit. Its bile was sprayed across the floor it was a mix of blood and pus. It raised its head again opened its torn mouth and “spoke”.

“b-l-o-o-d.” the word was gargled out of its mouth.

Silver Poles was going to be sick but his fear held his stomach in place. The bloody hooved monster took another step towards him. Silver Poles bolted for the door tripping over his hooves and falling onto his face. He scrambled to his hooves and looked behind him to see that the monster was only eight meters away. He ran again with renewed vigor. He vaulted over the counter and ran for the door. It was locked! Somehow the door was locked from the outside! He turned around and heard a gurgling rattling noise as the monster walked onto the counter.
Silver Poles began to buck the door trying to break it down.

“Let me out! Let me out! Let me OUT!” He bucked with all his might and kicked the door off its hinges. He didn’t even turn around he backed out of the shop not taking his eyes off the monster.
When he made it through the door frame heard several moaning growls behind him.

*rrriiiiiiiip* *rrriiiiiiiip*

*rrriiiiiiiip* *rrriiiiiiiip*

*rrriiiiiiiip* *rrriiiiiiiip*

He turned around to see six more identical monsters one was voiding its bloody stomach onto the street. The one that chased him was now standing in the doorway. Blood was covering the road. Silver Poles started to cry and shiver.
“b-l-o-o-d.” “b-l-o-o-d.” “b-l-o-o-d.” the beasts all began to gargle out words as they approached him.

“No! Noooo! Celestia help me! Noooooooooooo please no-”

It went silent in the pub for a while and Red Skies tried not to think about what was going on in there. After a while he heard Lance talk again.

“I’m glad we had this chat Mr. Poles.”

“…”

“No, thank you, this is a very generous offer I will gladly take this land off your hooves.”

“…”

“And a good day to you as well.”

Lance walked out the door and took a large exhale. “I’m stuffed I won’t need to eat again for weeks!”

Red skies walked up to the door and looked in to see that the tan pony was standing with his forhooves on the bartop. He was shaking like a leaf quietly sobbing.

“Umm… what exactly did you do in there?”

“Oh, nothing much… however I’m going to need somepony to help me run my new pub and I know just the unicorn for the job. Start putting her stuff upstairs and the equipment in the basement while I go get her.”

Lance trotted off in the direction of the park.

“Da sure… wait, chto!?”

Lance was thinking on his luck. “I managed to gain a decent amount of property from that little business deal.” He smirked to himself at the thought of calling that complete and utter mind fuck a business deal. “I wonder how some bronies back home would feel about someone doing that to a pony?” that thought made him stop and think for a moment “… ah fuck em!” he laughed manically trotting off to the park. He found Molly sitting on a bench with a half empty brown bottle at her side. When she saw lance coming she grabbed her bottle and stood up.

“Oi! Ello there tall dark and scary. Come to scare the foals and make old mares cry?” Molly had a small smile on her face and her eyes were unfocused. Surprisingly she was standing steady.

“And good evening to you to Molly I see you have been enjoying the drink… in a public park.”

“What I do with me time is me own rite!”

“Yes but I would appreciate it if you would do it indoors. Maybe at the local pub?”

“Yea boyo don’t know if you heard the whole thing but that deal got shot down.” She took a swig from her bottle. “But I may be stuck here and I may be homeless but at least I have me drink.” She smiled

“Well your situation might not be as hopeless as you think Molly”

“Whatever you say fella. You can have me cart I don’t need it anymore and that stoopid pegasus messed it all up anyway.” She said taking another swig of her bottle.

“Yes I already moved all of your belongings into my new establishment.”

“Oh look at you Mr. Fancy land owner. Leave me be I want to drown my sorrows in peace.”

“Molly just come with me you need to sleep this off.”

“You’re not the boss of me! Mind your own!” she started to chug her bottle

“Damn this mare can really put it away!”

She capped off and shook it to get every last drop out of it. She looked into the bottle and back to Lance “why won’t you hump off!” luckily the park was nearly deserted. She was completely intoxicated now and completely belligerent.

She griped the bottle in her magic and lifted her head. “I’m telling you to back off now and leave me alone!” she threw the bottle at lance… faster than the speed of sound… what appeared to be a long black cylindrical extremity shot from lances shadow and grabbed the bottle right in front of his face.

“…The fuck?” Lance asked in shock?

“Sweet Celestia… what is that?”

“…Fuck it. Just roll with it.”

Lance walked towards Molly throwing the bottle aside he lifted his shades revealing his eyes

“Miss O’Malley it’s time to go to sleep!”

Molly swayed back and forth for a little bit and promptly collapsed on the grass.

There was nopony around in the park which Lance thanked god for. He picked her up with his tendril and plopped her on his back. Covering his eyes again he trotted out of the park and said

“Come with me you silly drunken unicorn we’re going home.”

Lance was walking through town towards the pub when a thought entered his mind. He had yet to see Pinky Pie. “I have been in town all day where is my damn party!” He stopped in the middle of the road frustrated and yelled

“Pinkie Pie!” She popped up from a garbage can on the side of the rode. “Holy shit!” Lance screamed in surprise. Pinky looked around confused for a second.

“Wait this isn’t Rarity’s bathtub what’s going on.”

“…again just fuck it”

“What gives Pinkie, I have been here sense at least noon. I thought you welcome every new resident of Ponyville?” “And what was she doing in Rarity’s bathtub?”

She turned her body to face me and Molly and put on a sheepish grin

“Oopsie daisy!” she giggled nervously rubbing the back of her head well still chilling in the garbage can Oscar the Grouch style. “I’m sorry about that! I reaaalllllyyy am but we just had this huge party yesterday for the princess and I was so busy today! My pinky sense told me we were getting three new ponies today but the cakes wouldn’t let me take a party break. Can you believe that! So I decided that when my shift ended that I would find them but then you found me!”

“What?” Lance asked she was wearing the biggest grin on her face… my heart… the diabetes!

“By the way I’m Pinkie Pie! Wait you already knew that! That’s silly you’re silly Mister! What’s your name?”

“Um you can call me Lance.”

She took a notepad out of her mane and began to wright something down muttering things about cake and dinosaurs. She looked up and waved her hoof asking

“And the other guests of honor?”

Lance smiled and motioned to the sleeping unicorn on his back. “This here is Molly O’Malley and the other is back at my place he is a red pegasus named Red Skies.”

She mumbled something else and seemed irritated but finished up whatever she was writing. Satisfied she smiled put the notepad in her mane.

“Again I am so sorry I couldn't throw you a party but you didn’t know where you would be staying until like an hour and a half ago.”

“Wait, how did you-”

“So welcoming party for three at your place no foals aloud!”

“Umm”

“Awesome! I’ll be sure to invite everypony!”

“Thanks Pinkie but hold off for another day or two we need to settle in and open up first.”

“Okie dokie lokie Lancy boy!”

She disappeared into the garbage can lance stood there for a few minutes coming to terms with what just happened.

“Pinkie Pie is best physics defying pony?”

“Works for me.” Lance muttered as he continued his walk towards his new pub.

He arrived to see the cart was totally unpacked and Red Skies was nowhere to be seen.

“I’m impressed” lance said walking into the pub

“Privet Lance, welcome back.” Red Skies said as he was walking down the stairs facing Lance and Molly.

“It’s good to see you to friend, where can I put this?” Lance said motioning to the mare asleep on his back.

Red Skies started to look concerned “You didn’t… you know” Red Skies said pointing to a tan earth pony lying on the floor in a pony fetal position still crying muttering about blood.

“Holy crap he’s still here!?” lance asked surprised “And no I just put her to sleep.”

“Da, where do you think he would have gone?”

“I don’t know!” lance started to poke Silver Poles in the ribs. “What am I going to do with this thing?”

Red Skies took Molly from Lance “Did he sign over all rights to this property to you?”

“Yes he did.” Lance said with a smirk.

“You are truly terrifying comrade… get rid of him.” Red Skies said darkly

“I may be many things but I’m not a killer Skies!”

“I didn’t say kill him just get rid of him!” Red Skies seemed offended that Lance thought he was suggesting such a thing. “Just... Drop him off at the hospital or something.”

Red Skies took Molly upstairs to her room which he had set up when Lance was out while Lance took his latest "victim" to Ponyville hospital. If recent memory served they did have a psychiatric ward there. Poles would fit right in. When Lance got back to the Drunken Mare he met Red Skies out front.

“Well comrade I will be off it was… interesting meeting you.” Red Skies said as he turned to leave.

“Where are you going?” Lance asked curiously

“I don’t know…” he began to look at the ground

“Do you want to go?” Lance asked him

“…” He didn’t answer.

“Red Skies” Lance said putting a hoof on his shoulder

“Da?” he questioned

“You’re hired!” Lance said with a grin. They shared a laugh before walking into the pub.

“The place could use a little work comrade” Skies said looking around the main floor.

“That it could Skies that it could.” Lance answered nodding his head.

“So what do we do first?” Skies asked

“The first thing we do my friend… is buy parasprite insurance!” Lance said pointing his hoof into the air for emphasis.

“Chto?!”

Author's Note

Man these earlier chapters are just filled with errors...