Masks Lie and Nightmares Never Die

/

Fifteen minutes has passed since the party started and already everybody was enjoying themselves, except for Shining Armor who was walking through the party and talking to various nightmares hoping one of them knew where Lord Nightmare’s Mansion was. However, the nightmares he asked either couldn’t speak, hear him over the music or was too busy having fun in Pinkie’s party, “Grr, none of these of these nightmares are any help. Is there anypony here that can talk?” he questioned. Shining continued his search until he saw a nightmare that didn’t look liked the other. The nightmare in question was wearing a grey hooded robe that seems to be decorated with odd shaped jewelry and symbols. The nightmare also seems to be holding an open book in his left hand and is reading the pages while taking sips from a cup in his right.

Shining ponder for a moment before taking action, “Well he or she certainly stands out from the other nightmares. Maybe he or she knows anything,” He then made his way to the hooded nightmare, but as he got close to the nightmare it immediately closed the book it was holding and turned to face Shining.

“Hello equine what doesss thou need of me?” the nightmare spoke in a clearly snake like voice.

Shining blinked for a moment not prepared for the nightmare to notice his presence this fast, but he quickly regained his composure, “I want to ask you for directions.”

“Directionsss to where exactly?”

Shining noticed that the nightmare’s hand was deathly pale, but decided to ignore it, “To Lord Nightmare’s Mansion.”

“Ah the mansion…now tell me boy. Why would you want to go there?” The nightmare asked, “Don’t you know that it’s dangerous to go against the Great Lord?”

“I can care less about how great he is, I need to go there to save my sister! He foalnapped her, and now who knows what’s happening to her!”

“You’re worried for your ssssister…an understandable scenario. Here take this,” The nightmare then flipped through the pages of its book before stopping on a single page. When it stopped on the page something floated out of the book and headed towards Shining Armor, “This ssshould aid you.”

Shining took the object with his magic and opened it up, “A map! And it only shows where me and the others are…” he said with his excitement dying down, “What’s the big idea! This map is only showing the layout of the entire village! Wait…how is the map doing that?”

“That’sss because this is an area map it always shows the location of the owner and the owner’s nearby friendsss in a town, village, or building.”

“Well that’s new…but how is this map going to help me and others find my sister?”

The nightmare sighed, “You see that arrow pointing outside the village?”

Shining just noticed the arrow the pointed out and sheepishly rubbed the back of his head, “Uh…yes?”

“That arrow is pointing you to your next destination or at least where you ssshould head. Right now you have ssset it to find Lord Nightmare’s Mansion.”

“So the map is telling me to exit the village first then once I’m back out in that wasteland it should show me which direction to go. Am I correct?”

“Precisely boy, now…leave me I wish to enjoy the festivitiesss undisturbed,” the nightmare said as it turn away from Shining.

“Thanks, this will really help.”

“Think nothing of it…but you ssshould enjoy the party.”

“Why should I enjoy this party when my sister is in the hands of your Lord!”

“Heh…my lord? I’m sorry to break this to you, but I don’t serve him.”

“Wait what? Aren’t you a nightmare yourself?”

“Heh…you made that assumption on your own boy”

“Then who are you?”

“An observer.”

“An observer? What’s that?”

The observer, instead of responding simply ignored the question, and went back to reading, Shining shrugged and walked away, “I guess he or she doesn’t want answer anymore questions. Doesn’t matter now I have what we need to find the mansion. Although, that encounter did leave me with more questions that will have to remain unanswered. Twily, your big brother is coming to save you.”

/

As this was happening, Pinkie Pie was just being Pinkie before she was approached by a skeleton nightmare wearing a cow skull on its head. The nightmare asked her to follow him, and Pinkie none the wiser agreed and followed the creature to its hut. When they got there the nightmare faced her and spoke, “Hiiie…I’m skelllly the chef-f ch-hf…argh! I’m the guy who runs this villllllage in the middle of nowhere.”

“Nice to meet ‘cha Skelly I’m Pinkie Pie.”

“Welllll met pink one, but now…I bet y-you’re wondering why I brought y-you here.”

“Well I was for a moment then I thought. Hey, maybe this boney guy can give us directions to Lord Nightmare’s mansion in this empty wasteland,” Pinkie said with smile.

“Ohhhh…straight to the p-point, well I w-was going to r-reward you anyway, for br-bringing life to my village fu-full of stib-sti…grrr…village full of dead guys!”

“No problem Skelly, it’s what I do.”

“Quite right. Any who, as for your d-directions just f-follow the path that exits th-he east of this villlllage, but I have one qu-question. Why in the d-damn sk-skeletons do you w-want to go to Lord Nightmare’s Mannnsion?!”

“Oh that’s easy. Our friend Twilight was foalnapped by your Lord’s right hand men the Nightmare Brothers, so we used a portal to cross from our world to your world in order to rescue her.”

“Oh…well that make sense…b-but you shouldn’t go there.”

“Aw…why not?” Pinkie said dejected.

“H-hold on let m-me finish…you sh-shouldn’t go there not w-without this!” Skelly then held out his right hand and open his palm only to show nothing at all. Pinkie none the wiser stick out her right hoof and shook his hand. However, the reaction Pinkie got from Skelly was not what she expected, “Grr…grah!!!! Dang it! Dang it! Dang it! I freaked it up again!”

“Uh…Freaked what up?” Pinkie asked confused.

“That wasn’t s-supposed to be an h-handshake! There w-was suppose to be a key in m-my hand for y-you to take!”

“Why would I need a key? I don’t have fingers to grab it with silly.”

“Errr…quite right. C-Could you h-hold on for a moment? I n-need to f-find that b-blasted key” Skelly said as he searched around his house looking for the key. Five minutes later of searching and he only grew more angry and frustrated by the missing key, “Grah!!! I l-looked everywhere for that blasted k-key! Where in t-the dang forsaken wasteland did I p-place that key?!” Skelly roared as his eye sockets started glowing red. Pinkie giggled slightly at the skeleton’s desperation, “What are y-you laughing at? You brightly c-colored equine!.”

“At you silly!”

“T-That was a r-rhetorical question…” he said annoyed.

“And I also found that key you’re looking for.”

“WHAAATT!!!! Why didn’t you say so earlier!!!” he said with his eye sockets nearly bursting into flames, but instead of getting an answer Pinkie got close to his face and whispered

“Because I didn’t want to embarrasses you,” she whispered as she pointed to the key that was hanging on one of the horns on his cow skull.

“Never speak of t-this to anyone,” he said flatly as his anger subsided.

“Okey dokey,” she said with a salute.

“Anyway…here y-you go,” he then took the key off his horn and gave it to Pinkie who took in her mouth and stuffed it into her mane.

“That’s it? I thought you’re going to be dramatic about this key?”

“The magic is gone…so I didn’t even bother anymore,” he said as he huddles up into a corner in the room.

“Uh, what are you doing?”

“This i-is my s-shame corner.”

“Shame corner?”

“Uh, can y-you leave me a-alone for now? I wish to c-cry alone,” Skelly sobbed.

“Aw… don’t be like that Skelly I’m sure you’ll get it next time,” Pinkie encouraged.

“You r-really think so?”

“Sure, and besides look what I got,” Pinkie trailed off as she turned around and started to make something away from Skelly’s field of vision.

“Hey, what a-are you doing over there?”

“It’s a surprise silly just wait a little longer I’m almost done. And…ta-da!” Pinkie then faced Skelly and handed him a lightly colored present which immediately lifted his spirits, “A p-present for me? You s-shouldn’t have.”

“Go ahead open it,” Pinkie prodded.

“Oh if you insisssst,” he replied with glee. Skelly then proceeded to undo the bow on the present slowly as he was doing this Pinkie took a few steps back while grinning knowing the contents of the present. Once the bow was undone Skelly began opening the box and when he opened the box he was met with a startling sight.

“SURPRISE!!!” Shouted Pinkie as she busted her face through the bottom of the box while wearing skeleton face paint.

“Ahhhhhhhhh!!!...Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Oh you got me child I-I did not e-expect that at all!” Skelly said with a grin only a skeleton could pull off, “How can I ever t-thank you?”

“Well…you can start by explaining what the key you gave me does,” Pinkie said as she wiped away the make-up from her face.

“O-Oh, t-that ha ha is used to ha open the front ha door to the m-mansion ha ha ha! Geezus, I can’t stop laughing ha ha ha!”

“Oh is that all it does?” Pinkie asked slightly disappointed.

“Yup ha…not much e-else to it.”

“And why did you give it to me?”

“B-Because ha ha that is t-the only s-safe way into ha the m-mansion.”

“Really? Well I better get back to my friends and tell them what I found out,” However, before she turned to leave she ran back up to Skelly took off his cow skull and placed a party hat on his, “Oh yeah make sure to enjoy the party I worked really hard on it,” she said with a simple smile before leaving the chief’s house for good to tell her friends what she learned.

“Oh, ha ha I forgot to t-tell her ha that the m-mansion is alive a-and going to change s-soon ha ha ha!!!”

/

During their walk in the hallway Fredrick decided to strike up a conversation with Twilight so they can get to know each other better. Twilight kickoff the conversation by explaining to him how she first became Celestia’s student and when she first came to Ponyville meeting ponies that will eventually become the friends she knows and love. Twilight also pointed out the experiences she had shared with her friends their triumphs and the lessons they learned together. Fredrick added his comments from time to time from saying how intense the changeling battle was to how wacky her life is at times.

After she was finished talking, Fredrick began telling her that even though he personally witness all the events himself he found it to be more fitting to hear it from the mare who experienced it herself. However, Twilight told him she still found it creepy that a being from another world was watching her life up to this point, but Fredrick responded by saying he prefer the term observer. Twilight ignored that response and asked Fredrick about his life. However, Fredrick was reluctant saying that he doesn’t really remember much about his initial creation, but he ultimately decided to tell her what he can remember by starting how he met his mentor the original Nightmare Lord.

As he started the conversation he opened a door in front of him and Twilight which led outside into the garden. Twilight was surprised at first by the sudden change in scenery, but when started he started to explain how he met his mentor Twilight quickly focused her attention to him in order not miss any details. However, to her disappointment his explanation was short. He told her all he could see at first was black and a couple of voices telling him that he was going to be alright after what seemed to be an eternity he woke up surrounded by the younger versions of the Nightmare Brothers and the Boogy Man himself.

“So that’s how you met your mentor and your future right hand men?” Twilight questioned as they walked through garden.

“Pretty much…like I said I don’t remember much about my initial creation. All I can remember is how I met my mentor the Boogy man and my best men Panic, Fear, and Paranoia. To be frank, I believe I may have lost some of my memories. What do you think my dear?”

“Well judging from what you told me it sounds like you may have been caught up in an accident. Which could explain why you can’t remember much about your initial creation; because, if the accident involved any trauma to the head you probably suffered amnesia.”

“That’s an excellent deduction my dear, but from my experience I feel like it was no accident.”

“What do you mean?”

“What I mean my dear is I think someone took my memories.”

“Took your memories? I suppose it is possible since I read in a book there are many ways to induce amnesia magic included, but if someone did took your memories why would they take the ones of your initial creation?”

“I don’t know my dear, but let’s not worry about me for now. Right now we should focus on the current mystery at hand, and once that mystery is solved then we can worry about my amnesia. Okay?”

“I guess…but tell me this Fredrick. If you would be able to take off that mask what would you do once the mask is off?”

“Simple…put on another mask.”

“Why?” she asked in a confused tone, “Why do you want to wear another mask?”

“Because my dear Twilight…we all wear masks I just prefer to make mine’s obvious,” Fredrick responded cryptically.

“Okay… what does that mean?”

“Figure it out my dear…you’re quite intelligent after all.”

“Right…anyway where is your mentor? We are in the garden aren’t we? And where’s the memorial you mentioned? I don’t see it around here.”

“That because we are standing in a mini garden placed on this part of the mansion’s roof.”

“Wait, we’re on the roof of the mansion?!” Twilight exclaimed in surprise.

“Technically only a part of the roof.”

“That’s beside the point. We just walked down several hallways and not once we climbed any set of stairs.”

“That’s because your room is located on the last floor of this mansion.”

“That still doesn’t make sense!”

“Says the transformed alicron as she speaks to a nightmare.”

“Oh ha ha, I see your point,” Twilight said as realized the irony of her statement.

“Anyway, as for the actual garden. Look before you,” Fredrick said as he pointed ahead of himself. Twilight did as he said and looked beyond the railing in front of her. What she saw beyond the railing surprised her, for the garden they were looking was enormous taking of several acres of land. It also seems to be divided into four quadrants, but she can only make out two of them. The quadrant to the left of her seems to be a hedge maze similar to the one found near Canterlot Castle, but the quadrant to her right seems to be a forest made up of strange looking mushrooms ranging from large to small sizes.

“That’s the garden!?” She exclaimed in shock.

“Only half of it my dear. What you can see before you is the Maze of Wandering Nightmares and the Fungal Forest. Don’t worry; the mushrooms in that forest are mostly edible save for a few amanita muscaria here and there.”

“Okay…I have a few questions.”

“Shoot.”

“First, why do you call that hedge maze the Maze of Wandering Nightmares?”

“Well it used to be a normal hedge maze until some stray feral nightmares decided to make it their home. However, I also seen some regular nightmares go in there only to get lost, but don’t worry about them they eventually find their way out; in about…fifty years give or take.”

“Fifty years! Aren’t you worried about your own kind?”

Fredrick sighed, “Let me tell you something Twilight. Dreams and Nightmares can never die, not as long is there someone that believes in those said dreams or nightmares.”

“So…you’re saying they’re immortal in a sense?”

“Pretty much…and their strength and power is influenced by how many people believe in them.”

“Wow…how many people believe in you?”

“To put it simply…As long fear and terror exist in the world I will never die.”

Twilight stared at Fredrick in disbelief, for if what he said is true it means that there is no definite way of destroying him. This would also mean the power he possesses is immeasurable which meant he was going easy on her during their first encounter. It didn’t take Twilight long figure out how the nightmares in his body are go about to plunge his world and her world into eternal darkness.

“A body with such immense power the nightmares in his body wouldn’t have much of a problem plunging worlds into darkness. I’m starting to doubt that Princess Celestia and Luna have enough power to stop him I don’t even think the elements of harmony could stop him as well. Fredrick I’m starting to understand why you need my help.”

Twilight was broken out of her thoughts when she heard Fredrick speak again, “Well my dear we have strayed a bit of topic. How about we go back to it?”

“Huh? Oh right! Sorry,” Twilight said, quickly as she composed herself.

“It’s quite alright my dear. Now please ask your next question.”

Twilight while already satisfied with what she learned from her first question figured that it wouldn’t hurt to learn more about the garden, “I was wondering…why do you have a forest made up of mushrooms in your garden?”

“Well my subordinates were complaining the lack of mushrooms for their pizza and other meals that require the fungus, and since I still had a good amount of space in my garden so I thought why not? But imagine my surprise when the mushrooms we were growing ended up becoming a forest, and the funny thing is there are beings living in there.”

Twilight became curious at this information, “That’s interesting what kind of nightmare would live in a forest made up of mushrooms?”

“Heh, that is where I have to stop you my dear.”

“Wait…are you saying the beings living there aren’t nightmares?”

“That is exactly what I’m saying my dear. These beings are a new race not seen in my world before.”

“That’s amazing! And they only started to appear after your mushrooms became a forest?”

“As the brother of your friend Applejack would say ‘yup.’”

“I wonder what they look like,” Twilight said curiously.

Fredrick laughed a bit, “Well after we meet with my mentor I suppose we can explore the forest and meet this new race together.”

Twilight looked at Fredrick with eyes filled with glee, “Really?” In response all he did was nod his head which signaled yes. Twilight became elated jumping up and down before stopping in embarrassing realization that Fredrick is currently watching her act like a filly, “Err…That’s great!” she said before giving of an embarrassed smile.

“That’s good to hear my dear, now tell me Twilight how is your flying skills?” Fredrick asked already knowing her answer.

Twilight looked away from Fredrick again in embarrassment, “I’m still learning…” she said quietly.

“I’m sorry my dear I did not quite catch that would you mind saying it again?” he ask politely.

“I’m still learning,” she said again only slightly quieter than her first response.

“I still couldn’t hear you my dear please…once more.”

Twilight sighed and took a deep breath as she faced Fredrick, “I said I’m still learning,” she finally said in normal volume.

“Really? That’s quite a shocker,” Fredrick said in mock surprise, “But I suppose that’s what I get for assuming.”

“Yeah…I’m still new with these wings. My friend Rainbow Dash was teaching me how to fly before...err you cause this whole fiasco.”

“Ah yes…I’m very sorry about that.”

“I know you are, but why did ask about my flying skills?” Twilight asked with a raised brow.

The nightmare quickly composed himself before responding, “Well I thought we could fly to the garden instead of walking, but considering your situation looks like only one of us will be doing the flying.”

“You can fly? With what? I don’t see any wings on you, although I can imagine you using a levitation spell.”

Fredrick chuckled, “And you’ll be right Twilight. I can use magic to make myself fly, but I can also fly with theses,” Twilight was perplexed by what the nightmare meant until a pair of wings sprouted from his back. The wings themselves seemed to be a mix of bird and bat wings while having the strange color scheme that went from white to ashy grey. She was awe struck at Fredrick’s wings as she recalled her new wings have grown larger to fit her new body, but when she looks at Fredrick’s they’re much larger compared to his body. Twilight knew that he is a powerful being, but those wings solidify that fact the he is no normal nightmare. However, as she was busy with her thoughts, Fredrick took this chance to scoop her up bridal style and take off into the night sky.

“H-Hey?! What are you doing?!” Twilight exclaimed with a flushed face.

“Well my flight challenged angel. I thought instead of asking you to grab onto me, I went ‘hey!’ Since I’m going to have you as my passenger anyway I just might as well take you into the air instead of waiting for you to respond.”

“You should still at least wait for my consent!”

“Well there isn’t much we can do about that my dear now can we?” He said with a hidden smirk, “So I suggest you hang on tight because as a word of warning I do like to be a daredevil when I’m flying.”

Twilight’s mind immediately started to panic after hearing this, “Wait what?!?” However, as soon as she said that Fredrick immediately dive-bombed at a high speed that could contend with Rainbow Dash, “Ahhhh!!!!!” she screamed as she wrapped her arms around Fredrick and held on for dear life. Unfortunately, for Twilight this was the beginning of the ride Fredrick planned for her as he made his way to the Fungal Forest.

/

Pinkie met up with her friends minus Shining after talking with Skelly. While leaving out the fact she has a key she told them that there is a path that leads outside the village, and as long they follow that path they will eventually reach Lord Nightmare’s Mansion. Moments later Shining met up with them as well and told them he was given a personal map that will help lead them to the mansion. However, much to his surprise he was told that Pinkie found a way to get to the mansion as well, but instead of questioning how Pinkie got a hold of this simple information he decided to go with her suggestion. Unfortunately, that did not stop the others from questioning what the personal map does, but Shining told them that he will explain it when they start walking down the path. After partying for a little while longer the group took their leave while saying goodbye to their new dead looking friends.

Once they started walking the path Shining explained how the map works. He told them the arrow that is showing on the map is telling them which direction to go in order to reach their destination which in their case is following the path Pinkie told them about. He also explained that the map only shows their current location and the blue dots are themselves.

“Now that’s one heck of a find Shining,” said Applejack

“Indeed I never knew such a thing existed. Although…I wish it wasn’t so shabby looking,” Rarity added.

“I’ll admit it is an interesting find, but I have one question…where did you procure such an item?” Luna asked.

“I got it from this strange hooded being that was at the party. He or she gave it to me when I told it that we’re saving my sister.”

“Really, that it? You just asked it and it gave this item to you?” Luna said with a confused look.

“Pretty much, but that’s not the strange part. When I assumed the being is a nightmare it told me it wasn’t, but instead it told me it was an observer.”

“An observer? What in tarnation is that?” Applejack questioned.

“I don’t know; your guess is good as mine. What about you Princess Luna do you know what an observer is?”

“Unfortunately, no we have no records of such beings in equestrian, but it could be possible these beings exist in this world.”

“I guess we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it then,” said Applejack

“Agreed,” Shining added.

After the conversation the group continued along the path. However, after walking for a few hours the map Shining obtained from the observer started to make an alarming sound

*WARNING!!! WARNING!!!*

The map screamed out causing the group to stop in their tracks and investigate the map. When Shining pull out the map and opened it the map stopped making the noise, but instead it showed a large red dot on the map heading towards their direction.

“Uhh…Shining if the blue dots are us then what do the red dot’s represent?” Pinkie asked somewhat nervously as the ground beneath them started to shake.

“Well since the blue represents friends and allies. I believe it’s safe to assume that whatever the red dot represents is not friendly,” Shining responded as the red dot inches closer to their position and the shaking grew worse.

“Yeah and the size of that dot tells me that whatever it is. It’s huge” Applejack added.

However, not long after she said that the cause of the shaking earth revealed itself to them. Breaking through the dried out wasteland was a colossal serpent that went over their heads and back into the earth with its remaining length following suit. The group remained awe struck for a moment before Pinkie notice something appearing on the map.

“Hey Shining your map is writing something out!”

“Huh? Hey you’re right!”

“Well what does it say?” Applejack said impatiently “Because I don’t know if ya’ll notice, but that giant whatever it is, is coming back!”

“Hold on the words are becoming clear…”

Grand Wyrm of the Wastelands, Durge

Feared by: 134,500 people and counting.

Level: 46

Resist: Dark, Earth

Weak: Light, Water

“What the heck? What’s all this stuff?” Applejack said in confusion.

“I don’t know!” Shining shouted in panic as the serpent grew closer and closer.

Luna gazed upon the words and quickly figured out what it meant, “I know what the map is telling us,” she said as her face grew a smile.

“What does it mean Princess Luna?” Shining asked in desperation.

“The map is telling us all we need to know about the giant serpent!”

“It is?!” exclaimed everypony in shock save for Luna.

“I’ll explain later, but first we have to deal with this nightmare!” she shouted as the serpent broke out of the ground showing its head. The serpent itself is grey in color, but it also seems to have strange markings of its own colored in black. Also the eyes of the serpent seem to glow yellow in anticipation of its next meal, and once it let out a mighty roar the group steady themselves for a fight.

/