Chapters What does it mean to end a war? I personally believe that this is a question that is answered with another question; How do you end a war? This brings the trueness to the fact, it means nothing. A war is almost always started on something that far surpasses the value that a war is fought upon.
But not many knew that every society can be destroyed over the greed of just one. Unfortunately, this happened. It was right then, everypony knew. And they would know until the end of times… or if they happen to forget the pain of the past. These scars will run deep, and everypony knew it.
But one pony, a blue speck out of a whole world, he alone had just potently, in a sense, froze a point of time. Princess Luna, or to others known as Nightmare Moon, was put into a state of endless reset. She was protected inside a Vault, designed by the absolute smartest minds known to ponykind at the moment. When the vault opened, and only when, would she be able to walk freely again, to attempt to repair this world.
However, the bombs began to arrive.
They were made by the griffons, in order of the emperor of Gryffindor, had decided that they have lost this war.
However, instead of accepting the defeat, they were cowards, ones that believed in the philosophy “I go down, you come with me”. They had launched them, technology completely unknown, magic-infused nuclear power and flames spread across the lands of all, destroying the entirety of everypony's lives.
Just before they landed, some select ponies were able to go inside vaults, starting at 0, and going all the way up to 999.
Blue Trails, Dash, Yuki, Lily, Vanessa. These random ponies, although some from entirely different generations of life, and others frozen to sleep out the death of the world, they will be the ones to completely restore this. But first, one has to awaken. To intimate the final act of this world.
Wake up, sweet Luna. Wake up, smell the ashes. Awaken your pet. And then? After you have awoken? You’ll find out. You’ll realize that in a way, you committed regicide. But that's ok. You don’t need to remember that. Yet…
Awakening in a room that is darker than the night is terrifying. It induced panic into the pony, and even worse when what little memory you have is simply communication. She breathed heavy, albeit she had no idea what was happening.
The bombs.
Her head ached at that moment, a memory barrier blocking access to certain parts of her memory. It was like being an employee working at a government facility, with a basic access to information, some parts are allowed, but the whole of it is not in it’s entirety.
Fletcher… Where is Fletcher?
She started to calm down, just enough to think slower. Her wings were flared out, and she was able to recall a spell, something from…
Before the bombs her memory was immense, but so much of it was blocked. It was disorienting.
As she recalled the spell, her horn flickered to life, emitting a soft glow, that transferred into a bright ray of light, giving the room some form, some flavor. With light, she relaxed imessnely. Around the room was scattered cans, bowels, some devices that she could not identify, mostly all trash, but none-of-the-less she was able to soothe herself.
And she lay there for a while.
She still didn't know what was happening, she didn't even know her name. But from the way she woke up, she could say it was much like awaking from a nightmare.
Her head perked up at that last word.
Nightmare… Nightmare… I am… nightmare.
She smiled, giving herself some form security. She just wished that-
That same pain came back again. Her head aching from attempting her chances at her memory. It seemed that trying to think anything about… him. Just caused her extreme headaches.
“Must be… a security mechanism.” Nightmare said to herself.
The spell began to fade, so she fortyfied, imaging the essence of the spell being grown. She had to figure out her dilemma.
While she didn’t know what was happening, she knew one thing; she had to get out. Although, she had a sneaking suspicion that there was in fact fail safes integrated within the building. She walked over to the huge metal door, looking ever unperterable. A fortresses, that was her awakening place. Her mind racked for ideas, but her state was unable to think of anything, not to mention her limited resources. Although, she remembered something earlier.
“Ah ha!” She exclaimed. Fletcher, a magical beast, or more-so, a wolf that was bound by a Blue Magic, constructed by the best minds, including Twi-
Yet again, her head stopped further inquiry.
“Ugh… I can tell that this is going to get very frustrating… VERY fast.” She knew what she needed to know now.
She walked about the trash, sometimes bumping a can or two, causing a sound that startled her almost every time. But she found what she was looking for.
It was a simple chest, one that contained her own personal chattels, but she was appreciative of the one who had thought ahead for this. Inside was a cloak, it was black and nigh weightless, but because of clear signs it had many enchantments. When she picked it up with her hooves, her hands were warmed to a perfect temperature, and she became both relaxed, but alerted, many times aware of what was around her. She could hear much better, smell everything better, see where even the lights could not reach, and she felt more empowered.
Using her magic, she was able to place the cloak on herself, the effects seemingly enhanced. She continued to search the container.
Inside was a mask that she couldn't place her hoof on, but it was very familiar, some memories seeping through. It had thick, glass goggles, and a long beak, much like one that would be used for a plague doctor. However, it seemed to have been repurposed, as now it had metal reinforcements, and the beak was sharpened to a high degree, so sharp it glistened.
She placed the mask to the side for the moment, and continued her search. There was three more items. A saddlebag, a staff, and a box that was made out of a fine ivory.
She fitted the saddlebag around the barrel of her body, placing the mask along with it. She then reached for the box. When she did, she noticed engravings, and was able to, although not knowing how, decipher what the engravings were spelling.
“The night becomes darker before the day, and the day becomes brighter before the night”
When she said these words, the engravings glowed a brilliant blue. The latches unlocked before, revealing the contents.
At first sight it only appeared to be a small blade, but as she picked the item up by the handle, the blade suddenly extended into a very exquisite silver cutlass. The handle was made out gold and silver, engraved with interlocking patterns. The blade itself was a sight to behold. It’s edge was sharp enough to cut through steel without effort, and it had engravings that glowed a frosty blue has she moved it throughout the air. She lightly touched the ground to confirm her suspicion of a Frost enchantment, as the ground froze.
She brought the sword to the box, and just as it was about to touch the box, it transformed into a sheath for the blade, made out of the same ivory. It had a belt so one could wrap it around themselves for quick drawing of the blade.
She know looked at the last item. It was a staff, gold swirling around the body of it all. It was topped with a gem of sapphire, which started to glow as she picked it up with her magic.
Fletcher
When she wielded the staff, the junk around her started to move, a blue magic flowing through the staff and wrapping around the trash. It had started to construct itself into what Nightmare has grown to fondly call Fletcher.
It took the form of a timberwolf, which was a wolf of magical properties, but it could make itself out of anything around it. It was also a loyal friend to its creator, which was Nightmare.
It roared in its awaking, declaring it’s awakening and reunion with what it considered family.
Author's Note
I got the mask idea from the mask makes the pony
In which thou escapes
“Well, hello to you Fletcher” Nightmare pronounced, as she was cuddled with affection from the magical beast. She nuzzled against it, even though it was made out of cans and paper. Her mind returned to more important matters.
“Hey boy, think you can get us out of here?” The beast licked her nose with a blue tongue in confirmation. He let go of nightmare, and then proceed to gaze upon the door.
Fletcher siphoned his magic into the door, the trash falling apart as he left. A moment later, the door made a colossal shifting noise as it opened. The blue magic returned to its place within her staff.
Nightmare sighed. She knew this was going to be quite the adventure.
What Nightmare had not expected was the night sky. There was dusty sand every, heavily contrasting with the flourishing plant life around the area. It was dark, but her cloak was able to support with that issue. But what it could not help with is the dust that was flying everywhere.
Damn… If only i had a mask…
It was in that moment she mentally face hoofed. She levitated out her Plague doctor mask, and had placed it upon her face.
And then something terrifying happened.
Without warning, the air was sucked out of the mask, creating a vacuum. This was nothing that nightmare was expecting, and she started to instantly panic. She couldn't remove the mask, it was like it was completely attached to her face. She tried to suck in oxygen, but the place was like a void, completely merciless.
And then it made a loud buzzing noise, and oxygen entered the mask.
It was a process of sterilization, and now the mask was actively filtering the air. Nightmare merely laid there, her body exhausted out of fear. But she had a job, find shelter.
Shakily, she got back up onto her hooves, the cloak aiding her by feeding her energy to move. Her wings had been extended out of fear, and she merely fluttered them out. She decided against flying, the winds would throw her like a ragdoll, and had instead determined that walking was a much better option.
The dust was pelting her, but it was merely a inconvenience than anything. What she did not like, was the group of sketchy figures ahead of her.
There was three, one pony, one zebra, and one griffin. None was even slightly friendly looking. All of them had blades, but they looked rustic and damaged. While it seemed like avoiding them would be the smart choice, it was the only visible path, and she had to find shelter and civilization.
“... Well, here goes nothing”
She paced quickly, in her mind she looked rather uninteresting, but her items had apparently caused the opposite effect.
“Hey lady… Mind giving us your stuff? Make it easy for us all?” The griffin said in a gruff voice.
She froze, a realization appearing before her. “Um… I don’t really have anything of much value.” She smiled nervously.
Her next actions were bewildering to her.
The unicorn had placed one of the blades upon her back side, causing her to react in a matter that was pure reflex.
Nightmare unsheathed her blade, and batted the knife with her sword, the knife frosting up. The impact had caused the unicorn levitating it to have his head rattle, the feedback affecting him directly. Nightmare then swung the blade at the griffin, who had raised his hand out of reaction, and cutting his claw clean off. He staggered back, but was ended quickly, the blade already have piercing his heart.
The zebra tried to intervene, but was knocked back by the butt of the handle hitting her square on the forehead. The unicorn then slashed at her again, but the nightmare’s blade was faster, and hit the knife on the side of the hilt, shattering the blade out of sheer force. The unicorn was shocked, and during his state was also dispatched by a cold, ruthless stab into the heart.
The zebra, realizing his situation, began to run. His escape was stopped however, by the blade flying forth and ended yet another miserable soul.
This took less than a minute to resolve, and Nightmare hadn’t mean any of it.
But secretly to herself she had been happy that, wherever this skill of combat came from, it came when it did.
And her travels continues. She walked down the dirt road, finally determined to find a goal she can obtain.
In which thou finds a partner
Chapter the fourth: In which thou discovers a partner
Dust storms don’t pass easily, as Nightmare has discovered, and it was unbelievably annoying for her. But it was getting worse.
If i don’t find shelter… i’ll get lost.
In the distance, she could see an overpass.
Right next to the thug that had taken refuge there.
She didn't want to fight again. But if she didn’t, she might still get lost. She began to approach the cave when a she heard a thundering bang. Her pupils turned into pinpricks as a bullet went right through one her her wings. For a moment, everything froze, but just for a moment as she hunched other and screamed out in pain. Fletcher stood in front of her, taking another bullet that was shot out. In his current form he was made out of sand, so a chunk of sand blew off. It was quickly replaced by more.
“Fletcher… Go fetch”
She needn’t say much more, as he sped towards the foe, his maw opening like a whale catching a school of fish, he chomped down, and just like that the fiend was gone, weapon and all.
Nightmare slowly traveled off to the overpass, and, the fire still blazing, she couldn't help but become victim to sleep.
_______________________________________________________
Nightmare awoke to sand. She had slept wearing her mask and cloak, so her goggles were covered in sand. She shook her head, seeing Fletcher had been watching all night, his fur taking the form of sand, the tips of them glowing blue. His breathing was slow but massive, inhaling large amounts of oxygen. His ears flicking about, acting like sonars.
The fire had gone out during the night, but the cloak had kept her warm. It only remained as smoldering embers, the ground around it blackened by the fire. Now that the dust storm was gone, she could see the area more clearly.
The overpass had grass hanging over the side of it, and the surrounding area had the same thick grass. Bushes were everywhere, but still, the dirt around it look barren of anything that could grow plant life. Past the overpass, it was dead and barren from there, much like the rest of the wasteland, as she had found it to be called from the few journals she had found.
Nightmare noticed when his ears fixed on one point, and he started to sniff the air. His eyes suddenly became alert, and he patted Nightmare a few times.
She stood up, staggering towards the opening of the overpass, and she saw a stallion who was inside a yellow suit that had a mask that appeared to function much like her’s, and he was approaching the overpass.
Wanting to make her presence known, she stepped out of the overpass and unsheathed her sword. “T-that's close enough”
He froze on the spot, his mask blocking any way of knowing where he was looking or what he looked like. “...Now is that how you greet everyone?” He said dryly.
“It’s how everyone else has greeted me” She fired back. He merely nodded, and removing his mask, he spoke again.
“Well I know a different way, and it doesn't involve either one of us being killed’ His voice was now chipper and happy, ‘My name is Blue Trails, but people usually calls me Bluey” He approached closer, holding his hoof out.
Nightmare merely looked at the opposing limb, not knowing what to do, and awkwardly stared it.
“Or not… well, i'm of no danger, just merely wandering.’ He took a glance at her wing’ and you look like you need help. Why don’t we go into this overpass here and get you fixed up.” He began to walk into the shelter.
For a moment she stood there before realizing a breath she didn’t know she was holding.
Well… he seems nice enough, might as well get this fixed.
She walked into the overpass to see him sitting down reigniting the fire. “It’s safe to take off your mask in here, not much radiation.”
Nodding to him, she used her magic and removed the mask, placing it within her saddle bag.
“Alright, let's see what you got `ere” He gently grabbed her wing, extending it fully, a visible bullet hole through her the midsection of the wing “Oh… that's much worse than i thought.”
Nightmare whimpered at those words, never really taking a look upon it.
“Damn, I can’t fix this with just some herbs, you’ll never be able to fly again… look, my adopted daughter, she’s a unicorn, a mighty powerful one at that, her ancestors are the ponies Before the Bombs, name are Twilight and Vinyl Scratch”
It took a moment for his words to register, but when they did an intense pain ravaged her head.
I remember, those ponies…
Ponyville, Nightmare Night. The Sixth Era.
“NOW, MY LOYAL SUBJECTS, GIVE US SOMETHING SWEET TO BITE, OR WE SHALL’ she stopped for a moment to put on a terrifying smile “EAT YOU!” She popped up behind the group,
Her voice boomed throughout the forest, terrifying all these little ponies.
However, one came back, and although she couldn't remember what he said exactly, he asked if she could scare them again next year, his name was pipsqueak.
And if not for Twilight, she would have never discovered how to interact with these ponies.
Nightmare found herself staggered against the wall, breathing heavily, a few more memories flooding in. She found herself just barely standing. Blue Trails was trying to calm her, but did not approach.
“Lady? Are you alright?”
“Yes… I’m fine…”
The elements of harmony. I HAVE to find them.
“Um, Blue Trails?”
“Please, just call me Bluey”
“Bluey… do you know where the Castle of the Sisters is?
His whole body tesesed up as if he was afraid to say. “Yes…” He eventually said. “But it’s much too dangerous to go there, it’s impossible to get out of there with out of there without some type of injury, if not being killed entirely.”
“Doesn't matter… There's something that we have to get”