The Return of Doctor Whooves

R.I.F.T Headquarters...

Galaxy Swirls growled as he fitted the last of his armor to himself, and strapped the First Blade to one of his front forelegs, with his scythe going onto his back. He had some payback coming towards Nightmare Moon, Element of Generosity trapped inside there or not. Making him relive the worst night of his life? There was rarely ever a personal vendetta against those he went into battle against, but this time, Hero of Equestria or not, Nightmarity was going to feel the same pain she'd dealt him in full, and then some. With a growl, he went over to a icebox nearby, and opened up the lid and pulled out a packet of A-Positive blood from his personal stash. Ripping the packet open, he drank every last dollop of blood inside the packet, leaving his muzzle in a bloody red mess. While it wasn't as satisfying as drinking the blood of an enemy direct from the battlefield and watching them collapse and fade away into Death's wings, it would have to do for now. For now, his hunger was sustained. Not all Bat-Ponies needed to drink blood, but in Galaxy's case, it was a necessity. He was of a special sub-species of Bat-Pony, the Thestrals, who needed a gallon of blood everyday to keep themselves alive. It was no small wonder then, combined with Galaxy's already borderline insanity, that everypony under his command back when he was Captain of the Night Guard was afraid of him. Galaxy didn't care. He wasn't in that job to be liked.

Meanwhile, nearby, Sudoku loaded special bullets forged with magic into his revolvers. Letting the barrel roll with a satisfying click, Sudoku smirked and pulled on a jacket that had more bullet packets attached to it. Right next to him, his wife was doing the same with her shotgun and pumped it before giving it a kiss and saying "Hello Sweetie."

"Sure you're not worried she loves that thing more then you?" Lightning teased as her hooves crackled with lightning before she threw out her forelegs and let out a blast of it towards a stone wall, scorching it and smirking. "Yep, still got it."

"Pretty sure... I think." Sudoku replied nervously before glancing at the scorched brick wall and then at Lightning. "You do know that's coming out of your paycheck for the month right?"

"...Shit." Lightning muttered to herself. "And I had my eye on this absolutely sexy leather jacket I was going to buy."

"You know, maybe we should be starting a swear jar with all the cussing you're doing." Scrabbling joked, and this time everypony in the room looked towards him.

"And my dear wife would have to be the one to contributing most of the money to it, considering how many times she curses at us in a day." Sudoku joked before getting a dirty look shot towards him from Target.

"You do realize I can hear you right?" She asked in that tone of voice every husband knew that if they didn't stop, they were relegated to the couch for a week. Nearby, Galaxy groaned to himself.

"...Mad Goddess about to take over the world and yet here we are still arguing like foals and fillies. Really shows how likely this team is going to end up in the future right? Probably with most, if not all of us dead by some enemy's hooves." He muttered to himself before taking another packet of blood and drinking it dry.

"Hey, cool it with the binge drinking. You do know that we don't get more of those shipped in till the end of the month right? Have to conserve our supply. It's not just for your personal pleasure you know." Target remarked and Galaxy smirked back at her.

"Right, and I don't see you doing the same with the bottles of Applejack Daniels's Red you keep in that stash under your desk you like to think private yet we all know about." Galaxy sneered and Target was left momentarily speechless for a brief minute. Then, there was the sound of a door opening, and Shining Armor stepped in dressed in full Captain of the Royal Guard regalia with the magnificent golden hilted, blue bladed sword Stormbringer.

"You guys and gals ready to do this, or are we going to argue like schoolfillies?" He asked whilst in the background Galaxy muttered "...Exactly what I compared us to..."

"So, how bad is it out there?" Target asked, phrasing the question on everypony's minds.

"You'll have to see for yourself." Shining stated grimly as Target's expression turned into one of worry.

"That bad, huh?" She asked, before turning to Scrabbling and Sunburst as everypony else rushed out the front door with Target soon to follow. "You two, hold down the fort! We'll be back."

After Target had left, Sunburst stammered out "W-Why do w-we always get the job of holding down the fort?"

Scrabbling threw a foreleg around him excitedly and exclaimed "Hey, it's just us, the two "S"s! We can do anything together!"

"...Great." Sunburst muttered to himself.

When the agents of R.I.F.T stepped out onto the streets of Canterlot, they were in for a big surprise. Stalls were closed shut, newspaper stands had noponies manning them and lights were out in every building. To put it simply, it was a ghost town. The only ponies about were them and them alone. Needless to say, everypony was getting an eerie feeling to say the least.

I see the Bad Moon a-rising...

"Okay, I don't like this." Sudoku muttered. "Where is everypony?"

"They're all asleep, and in the fits of nightmares that they can't wake up from. Just like you guys were. Got to hand it to her, Nightmarity works fast." Shining Armor observed as the group slowly trodded through the cobblestone pathways of the normally hustling and bustling city. Overhead, the stars had been blotted out by dark clouds. Just then, a thought occurred to Target.

"Hey, speaking of Nightmarity, where is she?" Target asked as she watched the skies, searching for any signs of the possessed pony. She heard the sounds of wings flapping and a shadow darted through the clouds, but she was unable to tell any distinct feature of the figure. Then loud laughter reached the ears of everypony present.

I see trouble on the way...

"Soooooo... Someponies were actually determined enough to escape my little gifts for them?" Nightmarity's voice chuckled from somewhere in the clouds.

"Gifts?" Shining asked in anger towards her. "How can you call those dreams you gave us gifts!?!"

"Oh, they were gifts alright. Consider this. If I hadn't given them to you, none of you mortals would have even known your worse fears would you? Lightning, you wouldn't have known you still had lingering fears of the Master... Or whatever she calls herself nowadays. Oops, spoilers. Don't think I was supposed to give that little tidbit of information out yet. And Shining... Oh dear handsome Shining, you never would have been able to fight your fear of Boltstrike. We all have monsters under our beds, and I applaud you for defeating yours. And Galaxy... Oh poor Galaxy. Yours was the worst of all. Even I feel sorry for you. Imagine, sympathy from the Devil!"

"Did the original Nightmare ever talk this much?" Target whispered as she leaned over to Shining, who could only shrug.

"Tartarus if I know. I wasn't there. You'd have to ask Twiley." Shining remarked.

I see earthquakes and lightnin'...

"You know, I could give you a gift from actually waking up from my Nightmares. Not many have been able to do that. What I'm about to offer you is something rare, so think hard about this. How would you like to actually be lieutenants in my army? I mean, look at dear old Galaxy! He's already got the proper armor! Mind you, a few more jewels would be nice but you get the picture."

"You really MUST be crazy if you think we'd ever join you!" Shining shouted. There came a sigh from somewhere nearby.

"Oh well... Least it was worth a shot. Shadowbolts, get them!"

Then, from out of the smokey clouds came pillars of smoke shooting towards the ground all over Canterlot and the pillars reformed into figures with dark blue windswept manes, flying goggles, demonic yellow eyes and wearing black versions of the Wonderbolts uniforms, almost as if in mockery. Shining couldn't count how many there were, there had to be at least a hundred, maybe more.

"See my Shadowbolts? Look how fabulous my little darlings are!"

I see those bad times today...

"Only thing I see is just some ponies lining up for the slaughter!" Galaxy snarled and his wings fully extended as his eyes glowed a dark yellow in the night, piercing the darkness like headlights through a fog. He pulled out his black scythe with dark blue detailing around the edges and swung it around, the blood red runes on it becoming visible reading in the ancient Transalfangyan tongue "Blood Moon". The Reaper of Canterlot had returned to the battlefield at long last, and he intended to enjoy every minute of it. Everypony else was drawing their weapons as well as a battalion of Shadowbolts charged.

Don't go around tonight,

Galaxy took the first swing and sliced off the head of a Bolt, covering himself in black blood which he licked off himself and shuddered in disgust. So that's what demon blood tasted like. Not something he'd ever want to try again, he noted to himself.

BAM! BAM! went the sounds of Sudoku's Colts as he clocked two Shadowbolts in the head and there was the sound of a distinct KA-CHUNK! as Target blasted another with her shotgun. Meanwhile, Shining had engaged in a sword duel with another one, and was matching blow for blow perfectly until he was able to send his enemy's sword flying out of it's hooves before knocking it to the ground and stabbing it in the heart. Then he heard the sound of wings flapping behind him and Shining whirled around and shoved the tip of Stormbringer into the ground sending electricity arcs towards five Shadowbolts making them explode into clouds of smoke.

Damn it Cadence, why'd you have to be off in Saddle Arabia as a delegate on today of all days?" Shining mused to himself as nearby Lightning Dust generated two lightning whips in her hooves and cracked them before grabbing a Shadowbolt's front forelegs with them and hurling it into a shop window sending glass flying everywhere some cutting into her skin drawing blood but she ignored the pain. There were far more important things to focus on right now.

Well, it's bound to take your life,

"Come out Nightmare!" Lightning challenged, her recklessness, that in one universe would have gotten her flank kicked out from the Wonderbolts Academy and had already got her struck by lightning after she'd decided to hold a heavy metal concert during a rainstorm coming out. "Or are you too much of a coward to face us like a mare?"

"Oh no... Tell me she didn't." Target sighed before blasting another Shadowbolt.

"Yeah, she did." Shining muttered in response. And soon enough, Lightning's challenge was answered. The clouds parted just enough for a rather large hole in the sky, exposing the city center of Canterlot to the moonlight was opened, and then Nightmarity revealed herself at last. She was now covered in a variation of the original Nightmare Moon's battle armor, only this time in gold and encrusted with only the finest of gems.

There's a Bad Moon on the rise,

"So, like what you see?"

Then, Nightmarity was blasted backward into the Canterlot Clock Tower by two magical beams, one golden in color and the other midnight blue.

"Who dares!?!" She roared, only to see both of the Royal Sisters appear in front of her, determined looks on their faces. Nightmarity groaned in distaste even as she picked her mighty form up out of the ruins of the clock tower's roof and took to the skies once more, her horn glowing in a purple magical aura.

"Oh, I should have known. The Royal Sisters, always interfering with a pony's day to day duties. Lording over us like Goddesses who think they know all, know what's best for their "Little Ponies" (She said this in a mocking tone) and letting the Elements of Harmony do all the work! Well, I'm here to tell you there's been a regime change! I intend to remake Equestria, and in my own fabulous image!"

"Sister dear?" Luna inquired with a curiously raised eyebrow as she gazed upon her dark self's (In a sense) outrageously styled armor. Not even her sister looked that bright and shiny, dare she say gaudy even, in her battle armor! "Did me, as the Nightmare ever have this much of an ego?"

"To be honest... I think she does have you beat in... Oh what's the phrase... The hamminess department." Celestia giggled to herself as she cover her mouth with a hoof. "Oh, I'm sorry, but it's true. You were never this amusing as the Nightmare."

"Tis' a grand jest on your part, we are sure sister! We are sure we were just as amusing as this fraud!" Luna shot back at her sister.

"I WILL NOT BE MOCKED!" Nightmarity roared before blasting a beam of pure magical energy that Celestia and Luna met with their own respective beams and the three battled for dominance before all three beams fizzled out, none of the three overpowering the other as they were equally matched.

"Temper temper. Thou really must keep it under control. Not befitting of a lady." Luna teased, and for this she was tackled into several rooftops, shingles flying everywhere by an enraged Nightmarity but Luna blasted her foe off her by flapping her wings and creating powerful gusts of wind.

I hear hurricanes a-blowing,

Nightmarity created a purple ball of energy in her hooves and fired it at Luna but was met by two golden beams from Celestia which ripped it apart before it could even reach the Princess of the Night.

"You shall not hurt my sister!" Celestia shouted in anger before her voice turned to that soft, kind and guiding voice that everypony, everywhere knew so well. That very same voice which made the Doctor fall head over hooves for her.

"Rarity, I implore you. You've got to look inside yourself! Do not let this Spirit control you! I know the real you, and she would be ashamed and disgusted at your actions right now." Celestia stated kindly as she and Nightmarity stared each other down, each other's horns crackling with magical energy.

"My sister is right! We too have felt the taint of the Nightmare, and we too know how enthralling and seductive it's power is! But all it leaves you with in the end is a feeling of great shame for your actions! We speak from experience, Generosity Bearer, so thou must hear us now! Come back to us, come back to the light!" Luna shouted as she took back to the skies and was now behind Nightmarity.

"I... I..." Nightmarity whispered, and just for a moment, there was a trace of the old Rarity. But then it was gone. "I DO NOT ACCEPT YOUR OFFERS! THE OLD RARITY IS GONE, ONLY I LIVE ON NOW!" Nightmarity roared and with twin blasts from her hooves, she sent both Royal Sisters flying to both ends of the city making them land in huge spider-web style craters.

I know the end is coming soon...

Shining snarled as he beheaded another Shadowbolt. For Equestria! Meanwhile, Galaxy smirked as he knifed another Shadowbolt.

"Ya know, if we don't get the old Rarity back, can I take up her job in Ponyville as its resident fashionista?" He asked and Target scoffed.

"What the Tartarus do you know about fashion?" She demanded even as she blasted another Shadowbolt. "How many more can there be?" She mused, already exhausted.

"Well, for one thing I know Sunburst looks absolutely sexy in that robe of his and that I look kick-ass in this armor!" Galaxy stated in a matter of fact tone and Target groaned even as Galaxy took down another Shadowbolt and sung "Now I'm back in the ring, to take another swing! The walls start shaking, the earth starts quaking!". Why did she even bother reasoning with him?

I fear rivers over flowing...

In an alleyway, unseen, lurked another pony, this one wearing a dark purple dress and having a short cropped black mane. With a smirk, she pulled out a silver device, with a red glow at its tip and used it on several Shadowbolts turning them back into smoke before vanishing back into the alleyway once more. Fun playing the hero it was, but she'd lingered here too long. The Doctor would eventually show up, as he always did and she did not want to expose herself to him just yet. The time wasn't right, but it would be soon enough...

I hear the voice of rage and ruin...

Meanwhile, even as Shining and R.I.F.T battled the Shadowbolts in the streets, one lone drakeling wandered throughout all this chaos and as he glanced to the skies, he saw the battle unfold between the Royal Sisters and the mare that he pined for with all his heart.

"Rarity..." Spike mused sadly as a tear rolled down his cheek. "Why did this have to happen to you?" He ran towards where Nightmarity was even as Shining saw him and shouted "Spike, stop! Don't be a fool!" But Spike didn't listen.

"Oh, what's this? A little drakeling come out to play? Shouldn't you be in bed by this hour?" Nightmarity asked in a mock-sweet tone of voice.

"Rarity, please! Listen to me! I know you're in there somewhere! I... I... never told this to anypony else, not even Twilight, but I love you! Remember when we went gem hunting and you were captured by those Diamond Dogs? I rushed to protect you, just as I am now! So please Rarity, come back to me!" Spike pleaded, passion filling his every word. Nightmarity gave him a small smile, perhaps her old self reasserting itself for just a moment, but then it was gone and Nightmarity was back.

Well Spikey-Boo... (This usage of her personal nickname for him gave Spike hope, before it was quickly dashed by her next statement.) Touched as I am by your words, I'm sorry, but the Rarity you knew is gone forever!"

Time seemed to slow down as every member of R.I.F.T and Shining seemed to rush towards Spike to protect him, even as a purple bolt of lightning rushed towards the ground right towards the young drake with Rarity mentally screaming out "NO!" ,with Shining even throwing up a blue energy shield around him, but it was all for naught as the bolt pierced right through him and then only ashes remained...

Well don't go around tonight

Well, it's bound to take your life

There's a Bad Moon on the rise...

To Be Continued...