A Nightmare to Remember

by kurusagi16

Rating: everyone
Tags: Tragedy, Princess Celestia, Alternate Universe, Twilight Sparkle, Sad, Princess Luna, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark
Length: 1803

What would Equestria be like, if Celestia was the villain, and there was no one left who could stop her?

In this one shot story, we get a glimpse of Celestia as the all powerful villainess, Nightmare Star, and her harsh and cruel reign over Equestria.

Published 2016-08-22 21:10:01 UTC
Last updated 2016-08-22 21:10:01 UTC

Nightmare Star

It was a dark time for Equestria. Their once benevolent ruler, Princess Celestia, had changed. No longer was she the warm and radiant pony that all knew and loved, for now, she'd become harsh and cruel, ruling over the land with an iron hoof. Many of the ponies wondered what could've happened to make their princess change so drastically. Some said it was some kind of spell, others said that it was an imposter, and others said that their princess cracked and gave into evil and darkness. But whatever reason, the truth remained that the old Celestia was gone, and in her place was the fearsome Nightmare Star.

* * *

"Please, your highness, I beg you to reconsider." begged an earth pony who had managed to get an audience with Nightmare Star.

Nightmare Star was an intimidating mare with a formidable presence. Her mane was fiery wave of flames, her eyes bore slits and had a relentless, hard look to them, and her attire of golden armor and a golden horned crown, brought both command and fear. The great Alicorn frowned deeply as she looked down upon the foolish pony.

"Am I to understand," She said, "That you want me to bring back the night?"

The Earth Pony nodded. Since the beginning of Nightmare Star's reign, she'd made the entire land endure an eternal day, with the sun constantly shining in the sky. Most would think this wouldn't be such a terribly bad thing. But Nightmare Star used her powers (and threatening command over the weather Pegasi), to make it so that each day was filled with grueling heat, causing ponies to feel the might of the sun. And with the constant feeling of unrelenting heat, it was almost too much for the poor ponies to bear.

"If we were to have nighttime once again." said the Earth Pony. "Then we would all be able to rest more properly, and give our homes and farms a rest from all this sun."

Nightmare Star narrowed her eyes. "Are you saying you are ungrateful for my daytime?" she questioned venomously.

The Pony's eyes widened with fear as he shook his head quickly. "No, no, no! Not at all you highness! We all love your daytime and your sun very much, all we're asking is for a little rest. That's all."

Nightmare Star stood up from her throne and slowly trotted up to the pony, who shivered with fear as she approached.

"As I have told many of you insufferable fools countless times." She growled. "The day shall last forever, and all who oppose me shall feel the might of the sun itself." Her flaming mane seemed to get bigger and more wild as her anger rose. "Do you wish to see it's might for yourself?"

"N-n-no, no you highness." he stammered. "I-I-I didn't mean what I said, we don't really need night all that badly. Please forgive my disrespect."

Nightmare Star took in the sight of the groveling pony as he continued to defend himself and ask for forgiveness.

"Very well." she said. "You are forgiven...for now. I do not wish to see you or hear any more complaints about my day again. Is that clear?"

"Y-yes!"

"Then go, leave my sight."

The pony didn't waste a second and galloped out of the throne room as fast as he could. Nightmare Star stood there and watched, feeling pleased to having taken care of that annoyance. After hearing the mind numbing rambles of dissatisfied subjects, she felt like she needed something to brighten up her mood.

"Guards!" she cried.

Immediately two guards came in. "Yes, your highness?"

"Send in the prisoners." she said. "I wish to have a word with them."

"As you wish."

* * *

The guards soon returned, and with them they'd brought the two prisoners. The first, was Princess Luna, who had been reduced to a sad and ragged state, and with her was Twilight Sparkle, who was also in a similar condition. Around both their necks, were special necklaces that nulled their magical powers, making them utterly helpless and vulnerable. The guards pushed them toward the throne where Nightmare Star sat, and forced them to kneel before her.

"That will be all." Nightmare Star said to the guards. "You may go, until I have need of you again."

The guards bowed and left the room, leaving the three mare to themselves. Nightmare Star smiled wickedly at Luna and Twilight. "My dear sister and student, how have you been? I trust your stay in the dungeons has been pleasant enough."

Luna lifted her head and glared at her. "You are not my sister." she said angrily. "My real sister, Celestia, would never treat me or any of her subjects in the manner of which you have."

Nightmare Star chuckled darkly. "Say what you will, little Luna, but no matter what you say or think, the fact remains that Celestia isn't here anymore. She's never coming back, and I'll forever rule in her place."

"You won't succeed!" said Twilight defiantly.

"Oh? And why is that?" she asked.

"Because, so long as you're ruler of Equestria, there will always be somepony who will want to stop you. It's only a matter of time before someone rises up against you to return things to the way they were. And when that happens, it'll all be over for you, and Equestria will be free again."

A moment of silence passed before Nightmare Star burst out into laughter. "Oh, dear Twilight, you are just as naive as ever. If you think that such helpless and foolish little ponies can beat me-"

"They shall!" interrupted Luna. "There shall always be those who are meant to oppose evil. And as Twilight has said, that day shall come, and with the power of Harmony and its elements-"

"Do you mean, these elements?" asked Nightmare Star, using her magic to levitate the gemstones into view of her prisoners.

Luna and Twilight stared at them with open mouths, while Nightmare Star just laughed. "You didn't think I'd just leave the only thing that could have any possible chance of stopping me out where somepony might find it, did you?"

The two of them tried to find their words, but were unable to. The elements, the one thing they were counting on to end all this, was in her possession, to do with as she pleased.

Nightmare Star smirked. "Yes, these things have been quite a nuisance in the past, haven't they? Well, once I get rid of them, they shouldn't be a problem to anypony anymore."

"You can't!" cried Twilight.

Nightmare Star arched an eyebrow. "Oh, but I can, and I will." she said. She pulled the elements closer to her, then, using fire magic, she inserted all the gems, except the element of magic, to dust. Both Luna and Twilight cried out in protest, unable to believe what they'd just witnessed. The elements were gone, along with the means of defeating Nightmare Star and restoring Equestria to its peaceful state. Nightmare Star held up the pile of ashes in her hoof and walked toward the two mare, leaning down and blowing it in their faces. "See? Just as I've said. It's time you've learned to face the truth, which that you have no hope left, and that I've already won."

Twilight's eyes filled with tears, both from the dust, and from the sadness of seeing the elements disappear so quickly and so easily.

"How?" asked Luna shakily, as she looked into Nightmare Star's face with a mix of disbelief and devastation. "How could you do this?! How could you be so heartless?"

Nightmare Star slowly grinned. "Why? Simple, it's because...I'm the bad guy." she said. And with that said, she then began to break into song.

"I'm not the damsel in distress,

I'm not your sister or the frightened princess.

I'm not a little bird who needs your help to fly. Nope!"

She knelt close to both their faces and sang, "I'm the bad guy." Then, using her magic, she conjured up a series of statues that now circled around them. Statues of Discord, Sombra, Chrysalis, Tirek, and Sunset, all of whom were once great villains, only to now be encased in their own prisons of stone.

"All these former villains that you see!

Each of them, with shaking knees has knelt before me.

I'm not your teacher or your savior this time!

I'm the bad guy."

She made the statues disappear and instead conjured up a map of Equestria.

"Oh it's magic! To watch this planet, shrivel up and die!" Her horn glowed, making the image of Equestria shrivel and wither, until there was nothing left. Luna and Twilight looked upon with horror at the new Equestria before them. A desolate landscape with no life left upon it. "Oh it's thrilling, to be a villain. I destroy their homes and then I watch them cry. Because I'm the bad guy!"

Nightmare Star made the map disappear, and teleported the three of them to a newly renovated part of the castle, filled with fire and lava, acting as a kind of torture chamber to use for those who would get it into their heads to oppose her. Luna and Twilight began to sweat in the room's heat, feeling as though they were trapped inside an oven.

"Oh isn't it fantastic? I see something, I blast it!" Nightmare Star immediately blasted a bust of a Unicorn that had been nearby with a flaming ball of fire. "And I'll tell you why." She set Luna and Twilight dangling above a pit of lava and walked toward them on the raised platform. "I have a little weakness, for barrenness and bleakness." She pulled out the element of magic and tossed onto the ground before her hooves. "I destroy your hopes and then I watch you cry!" She then mercilessly shattered the element of magic, grinning triumphantly at the two ponies, who felt their hope die as they looked at the broken remains of the gem. "See I find this business rather fun, I don't need any assistance or your adulation, I'll vaporize this world and then bid you goodbye. Why?" There was a pause, as Nightmare Star prompted, "Come on, guess!"

"Cause, you're the bad guy?" answered Luna and Twilight in unison.

"Well, mare." replied Nightmare Star. And then, she let out a maniacal laugh, concluding her song. She had won, and was now ready to relish in her rule, and torture her prisoners for as long as she saw fit. Equestria as it was known, was doomed, for all eternity. 'Long, reign the sun.'

Author's Note

Hey! Wanted to try out this one shot thing, inspired by the following song. Please comment your thoughts on it!