A Nightmare in Equestria

It was a beautiful night out or rather a beautiful dream of night, Luna found herself flying through the night sky, enjoying the cold crisp air blowing against her flowing mane and tail and her dark blue coat. Everything seemed so right, so peaceful and quiet. She closed her eyes, smiling serenely before opening them, looking down to see a mare galloping around. She looked about 15 or so it was hard to tell, with her pale grayish blue eyes, a light blonde messy looking mane and tail, pale blue coat and a cutie mark of a pillow. This must be her dream Luna was in, she followed her closely, trying to stay hidden. She landed when the mare seemed to stop, curious to see why she’d done so. The dreamscape changed, shifting into what seemed like some kind of industrial building. Luna looked around only to notice she’d lost sight of the girl, which caused her to panic, frantically searching around. Noticing how industrial the building seemed; a large boiler was nearby, it’s fire burning brightly. Luna began to run, wanting to make sure the young pony was safe, panic growing more with every step something felt off about this place. Something… horrible; as if some kind of monster was here, but she wasn’t sure what it could be. It didn’t feel like any kind of beast she could think of and she didn’t know why. It felt otherworldly.

The young pony was running, running as fast her legs could carry her, looking around to find a way out or a place to hide;she could hear faint steps coming from nearby but they didn’t sound like a pony’s or like any other creature she knew of. Where was she? How’d she get here? Why’d her dream change? What was coming for her? Was she going to be okay? Was she going to die? Could she escape this place? These questions were her only thoughts. They kept echoing in her mind as she ran faster, praying for Princess Luna to save her. She had to be coming or already here and just looking for her right? Watching the dreams of ponies and helping them when they were in trouble was one of her duties. And the young mare was certainly in some sort of trouble.

Trouble that grew more apparent as a dead end had now stopped the young pony in her tracks. She felt her heart pounding as the footsteps grew closer, only to be drowned out by an awful sound something akin to metal scraping against the metal pipes around the building. The mare found herself covering her ears with her forehooves, her eyes closed shut, wincing at the sound. Whatever was making that noise was closer than before, she opened her eyes just enough to make out the faint figure of something. It drew closer and closer, moving whatever it had on it that was making that awful noise away. The mare's eyes widened, she shuddered. Whatever this thing was, it certainly didn't seem friendly. It didn’t take long before the being was right in front of her, a wide cruel smile on its face.

Luna was still lost, but the sound of something scraping along the pipes had alerted her enough to start running for where the noise seemed to have been coming from. ‘Please let her be safe’ she thought to herself. Once the noise had finally stopped Luna felt like she had lost track of where she should be going again only to hear a loud scream which instantly had Luna running faster than she’d ever run before. That dreaded feeling she had when she first found herself here grew stronger than ever, this place was filled with something evil, but she couldn’t figure out what it was. But that didn’t matter a mare’s life could be at stake. She had to rescue her, it was something she’d do if a pony was having a nightmare she always tried to help if it was possible and this was one of those times she needed to do so. Another scream was heard, this time louder and sounding pained, followed by a laugh, a cold and sadistic laugh, sending a chill down the alicorn princess’s spine. She checked every corner she saw, but she couldn’t find the mare or who or whatever else was here, until one final corner. That’s when she found them.

The thing turned out to be some kind of creature, standing on two legs, she couldn’t see anything aside from the back of its head, so she started to step forwards, hoping her hoofsteps would catch its attention and get it to turn around so she’d see what this thing looked like. Unfortunately it didn’t work, so she charged up a beam of magic to blast it the beam didn’t hit him despite Luna aiming directly at it, but it only missed just barely. With an aggravated huff Luna started to run, only to find herself frozen in place. She looked at the being, observing its appearance. It wore a red and green striped sweater, that looked a bit ratty, with some tears on the end of its sleeves and the bottom, with blue jeans and brown shoes and a brown fedora, nothing too unusual until something caught her eye: a brown glove with 4 long knives that were made to curl into claws on its right hand. She could see severe looking burns on the back of the beings head.

The mare seemed to have been thrown against something as upon looking over the beings shoulder she could see a few bruises on her. She tried to fire another beam of magic at them, once more just barely missing. Perhaps they were aware of her presence and were somehow managing to mess with her magic? She gave a little huff of annoyance and watched carefully. Only to witness something that turned everything into a nightmare.The mare was lifted into the air and was suddenly writhing about, trying to find a way to break free. She was moved over to the being, who finally spoke in a raspy masculine voice.

“Gotcha bitch.” He said with a wide grin, he reached out to her with the gloved hand it’s knives moving a bit as they brushed up against the mares flesh.

“You look a bit like someone I knew once. Strange. Least your hair and eyes do sort of.”

The knives began to dig into her flesh, Luna jerked forwards, taking two steps forward before becoming frozen in place again; panic coursing through her entire body as the knives dragged down, leaving four long claw marks on the young mares chest. Blood started to drip from his clawed glove and onto the floor as he moved it away from her,along with from the freshly formed wounds, wincing as she felt a stabbing pain in one of her back legs, feeling the knives dig deeply into it, tearing through the muscle tendons and ligaments; dragging up from the hoof to the foreleg, slicing it open as blood poured from the wound as he ripped the blades out. Luna tried to move, focusing as hard as she could, yet still not moving. He grabbed the other back leg this time with the non glove hand, holding her up to look him right in the eyes, the young mare shook in fear her irises like pinpricks.

She felt like she could hardly breathe as if her throat had closed up, her mouth dry. He began to twist and bend the back leg in ways it wasn’t meant to, Luna could hear the sounds of bone breaking over the agonizing screams, a bit of bone poking through the leg. The man began to cut into her front left leg, twisting the two knives in it around in circles, ripping the veins before repeating the action to other leg; nearly severing it in the process. Blood had formed a large puddle under and around them, expanding as he cut into her at random, blood staining her mane and coat, practically crimson before he stopped. He stared at her silently, his grin still there before letting out a laugh.

The mare let out a scream that echoed around the nearly empty room more than before as she was flung against the wall, smacking into a few pipes, a crunching sound confirming at least one broke upon impact. The man appeared next to her, slicing into her back, as she was suddenly dragged upwards until nearly reaching the ceiling, leaving a trail of blood behind her. Higher and higher she went; smacking into more pipes with immense force, breaking or fracturing her bones even further. Luna could do nothing but scream as she saw the young mare fall to the floor after being dragged along the ceiling for a few seconds. The young mares corpse dropped to the concrete flooring of the building after it fell from the ceiling, looking like a bloodied mess. The man appeared in front of her, looking directly at her with blue gray eyes, she looked him straight in them until suddenly, he disappeared.

Luna woke up sweating, breathing heavily, shaking violently. It was just a young mare’s nightmare. She kept telling herself as she got out of bed, still shaking with every hoof step. It wasn’t real. No one dies for real in nightmares. She told herself, trying to calm down before heading downstairs to see her older sister by taking multiple deep breaths. Once she’d calmed down enough for her behavior to not raise any suspicion she headed downstairs. Celestia, her sister was at the kitchen table, a plate of waffles with whipped cream on them in front of her, a teacup floating in front as well, her golden magic aura surrounding it as she read the newspaper taking a few sips. Luna sat down, levitating a few pancakes off a large plate for herself, taking bites of one.

“Good morning Luna dear sister. How was the dream walk last night?” Celestia asked. Luna bit her lower lip, not wanting to bring up the nightmare she’d witnessed.

“It was alright, plenty of sweet dreams.” She replied.

“Excellent.” Celestia took a few bites of pancake. They drank and ate in mostly silence for a few minutes before suddenly the sound of a teacup shattering onto the hard tile floor broke the silence, tea spilling a puddle onto it.

“What’s wrong sister?” Luna asked. Her question was soon answered as Celestia levitated the paper for Luna to look at. On the front page was a familiar face: the young mare that she’d seen the nightmare of. Her name was Tina Neigh and she was only 15 before death. She had died and the most distinctive thing about her corpse were 4 long claw marks down her chest. Fear and panic hit her harder than a freight train smashing into a concrete wall. This couldn’t be true. No one dies in real life just because they died in a dream. Echoed in her mind once again. But it was wrong, this was real.

The man had managed to kill her for real from that nightmare. This was unlike anything she’d ever witnessed let alone read about.

“Sister…” Luna started. “I saw that mare last night. She had a nightmare about a demon man of some sort murdering her. And… now she’s actually dead. And the most distinguished thing about her corpse were four long claw marks down her chest. The demon had a glove with knives on it that did that to her.” The two princesses’ blood ran cold as they went silent. Something had gone horribly, horribly wrong last night and some kind of otherworldly demon had entered the realm of Equestria. And they’d claimed their first victim. Who was next and just how could they stop this demon. They needed to find out his identity first, Luna described him to her sister who nodded to her with every detail as she listened carefully.

“Sister. Get me a scroll a quill and some ink. I’m going to contact Twilight and see if she and her friends can help us with this. I feel it’d be best to get some form help researching this man as much as we can. He does not sound like he is of our world but it wouldn’t hurt to try.” Celestia said, Luna nodding in approval as she went off to get what she was asked to do, magicking them over to her sister once she’d find them. Celestia began to write: ‘Dearest Twilight. I can guess by now that you have seen the news story about the young mare Tina Neighs death. My dearest younger sister has more information on the story. I kindly suggest you and your friends come to Canterlot immediately to hear of it. We ask you to help us out with this problem. We’re going to need all the help we need. Yours truly, Princess Celestia.’ Upon signing the letter she magicked it off to Twilight. “We can only hope to find some sort of information on the demon. Did he speak to you at least?” She asked. Luna shook her head.

“Sadly no. I only heard him speak a few times. He disappeared before I could ask any questions.” She replied. Celestia let out a small sigh.

“That’s alright. I’m sure Twilight and the others can help us out with everything.” She said, waiting patiently for Twilight and her friends to arrive.

Back in Ponyville Twlight was busy wandering her castle, the news of the mares murder had shook her up a bit and she felt like a walk around the castle might help calm her nerves. Spike approached her, holding onto a scroll that he’d received just moments earlier when he was in the library reading a Power Ponies comic. Twilight stopped in her tracks, instantly using her magic to levitate the scroll to her, opening it and reading it.

“Spike, get the others, the princesses need our help now. Celestia says Luna has more information on what happened to the mare that in the newspaper today.” She said, Spike nodded.

“Alright.” He said, it only took about 10 minutes before the others were all there.

“So Twi, what’s up.” Rainbow Dash said.

“Celestia and Luna have requested us to come to Canterlot. Luna has some information she wants to share with us.” Twilight answers.

“Well let’s go then. We don’t wanna keep them waiting.” Pinkie spoke up.

The 6 ponies and one dragon headed off for Canterlot in the balloon, arriving at the castle eventually. The royal guards moved aside upon seeing them, bowing slightly as they went inside, heading for the throne room.

“We’re so glad you came so quickly.” Luna said with a smile.

“So Princess. What’s the information you want to share with us?” Twilight asked. Luna began to describe the man she’d seen in the nightmare, as they all listened carefully.

“He sounds....interesting.” Spike said after a few minutes of silence.

“And you say he was the cause of her death? Like somehow what he did to her in that dream had happened to her in real life because she’d died with similar markings he left on her?” Applejack asked.

“Yes. I’m certain that it had. It’s the only explanation for why her body was found in the state it was. Especially with the four long claw marks on her chest. I am also sure this man is obviously not of our world or of the world found in the mirror where Sunset Shimmer resides and your other counterparts.” Luna responded.

“Hmm. That’s going to make it difficult to find information.” Twilight paused. “But we are all willing to do our absolute best to find as much information as we can. I’m sure there has to be at least something out there.” She finished. “

“He sounds like some kind of bizarre demon that haunts dreams. Like a dream demon.” Pinkie stated.

“Let’s get to the library to do research, I think I know where we should look.” Said Twilight. The ponies and dragon headed for the nearby library, following Twilights lead once inside.

“Alright. Everyone take a look all around here and get any book or books you feel would help us the most.” She commanded, the others nodding before heading off in different directions. They searched and searched, grabbing multiple books each, flipping through page after page, yet sadly couldn’t find a thing.

“This sucks. There’s nothing here that’s all that helpful.” Dash said, putting away a few books as the others did the same aside from Twilight who was flipping through a book on different types of demon and demon-like creatures.

“I’ve found something about what he could be but nothing seems to match his description.” She sighed, putting the book away. She scoured the shelf, her eyes rapidly moving from title to title before finding something a book she knew she’d never seen before. Excited she pulled it out of the shelf, running to the table she’d been at and opening it instantly after sitting down. It took mere moments before she found what she needed.

“Come here.” She called out, everyone heading to her.

“Did you find something?” Luna asked.

“Yes! The mans name is Freddy Krueger. He’s a demon who’s capable of manipulating others dreams into nightmares where he kills them. Anything he does to a victim in a dream happens to them in real life.” She said. “Apparently he had been a child murderer who lived in a small town called Springwood before his death he was known back then as the Springwood Slasher, and spread his victims remains throughout the town. Apparently his reason behind such a horrible crime was to get back at the way the town mostly his classmates had treated him in his childhood, deciding killing their children would hurt them the most. He was going to be sentenced for life for his crimes and most likely execution but they didn’t have a search warrant signed or at least not to the right person as the judge had been drunk at the time so he got off free. The parents of the town were understandably furious with this especially the victims parents and went off to find him. They found him in the boiler room he was once a janitor for, poured gasoline everywhere there and trailed it outside, then lit a match and burned him alive and the whole place down. He had made a deal with some other dream demons for immortality and his powers which he gained and then came back to life as a dream demon. He’s incredibly sadistic, powerful and he uses the victims worst fears to kill them.” She explained.

There was a long pause of silence after Twilights explanation. “He sounds positively awful.” Fluttershy said, breaking the silence.

“Awful is a bit of an understatement darling.” Rarity said.

“So if he’s immortal what are we supposed to do?” Pinkie asked.

“It says his immortality is limited to the dream world. One can drag him out of there and once he’s out he’s mortal.” Twilight answered.

“Well alright. That sounds easy. All we gotta do is find him and drag him into the real world then!” Applejack said.

“It’s not that simple. He has a tendency to make sure no one can do that so easily.” Twilight added.

“If we work together it shouldn’t be that difficult.” Dash spoke out.

“We’ve faced plenty of powerful beings before I’m sure this won’t be too different. We just gotta find a way to distract him and grab him into the real world. I’m guessing we gotta wake up once we’ve got him?” Pinkie asked.

“Correct. The problem is just how we’ll do that.” Twilight replied.

“Well darling I’m sure you can think of a plan.” Rarity said, “After all you are excellent at doing so.” She added, Twilight smiling at her comment.

“I’ll do my best. You can all chime in with suggestions any time you can think of one. We need all the help we can get.” She said.

“We can’t take too long. Who knows when he’ll strike next. Or who he’ll strike next.” Fluttershy said.