Cantervania: Symphony of the Nightmare

Nightmare Moon raised an eyebrow as the doors swung open. A pale green light burned from the torches illuminating the room.

The castle courtroom lay in tatters, white banners with a golden sun emblazoned on the front lay ripped to shreds. A slender skinny thing with what resembled a long dog’s face sat in the corner, creating sickening crunching and slurping sounds as it feasted on a poor unfortunate soul. It turned to look at her, it’s black eyes sunken inside it’s skull, it’s jaw dripping with fresh blood, it’s lips pulled back to reveal row after row of razor sharp teeth.

Several grey ponies, wearing Nightmare Moon’s signature sapphire armour, strode forth, their eyes glowing green and lizard-like, hauled some survivors before her Dark Majesty.

One of the prisoners, a strong, handsome looking stallion unicorn, looked the Queen in the eye in defiance. His usual kempt hair lay in a mess atop his head, his white coat stained red with blood.

The Queen strode up to him and raised his chin up to her. “Do you fear death, my little ponies?” she crooned as he tore his head away and averted his eyes. “Do you fear that dark abyss?”

Several of them shivered and shuddered in fear. One small colt, who hadn’t even earned his cutie mark yet, started to cry for his mother.

“None of you have anything to say to your beloved Queen?”

Her eyes narrowed as they all shuffled awkwardly.

“Pity.” She turned to the guard nearest her. “Have them executed.”

The pony stomped his hoof in salute and made to grab the colt without a cutie mark, who squealed in fear. The white stallion stepped forwards and locked eyes with the guard.

“If you want them, you’ll have to go through me.” His voice was stern and powerful, yet gentle at the same time. His eyes burned daggers into Nightmare Moon’s servant.

The dark pegasus growled at him as the Queen raised a hoof. He bowed and stepped backwards, his glowing green eyes watching with dark intent.

She laughed at the unicorn and smirked maliciously. “My, my, what a brave little pony you are. Tell me your name.” Her forked tongue flicked in between her sharpened teeth.

The stallion straightened up and glared at her in defiance.

“Tell me. Your name,” Nightmare Moon growled quietly, feeling her patience slip.

He glanced back at the ponies behind him. He sighed and turned back to her, and with a dark look, he spoke.

“Shining Armour. Captain of the Canterlot Guard.”

She grasped him with her magic and dragged him close to her. “Address me properly as your rightful queen, or see these ponies suffer,” she warned. Her eyes blazed and her fangs gleamed in the light of the torches around them.

He struggled in her grasp as magic swirled around him.

“Shining Armour... Captain of the Canterlot Guard... Your Grace...”

She laughed and released him. He dropped to the floor and grunted in pain.

“You see my subjects? Even Celestia’s most loyal and stalwart defender, the good and heroic Captain Shining Armour knows I am Equestria’s undisputed ruler.” She grinned and eyed the ponies before her.

“You are all,” she continued, her head lowering and her eyes darkening, “to refer to me in the correct way. And worship me like you would my dear sister...”

Her eyes pierced the prisoners before her. Each one trembled under her evil gaze. “Like the loyal subjects you are. If you do not...”

She gestured to the monster in the corner, it’s eyes hungrily watching the group. One mare let out a small shriek in terror before Shining Armour comforted her and offered a small smile. His smile quickly faded as he noticed he Queen watching him.

“And you, Captain, will serve me now.” Her eyes gleamed with maliciousness. She stamped a hoof and her wings unfurled, as black as night. “Come, stand at my side.”

Shining said nothing, his eyes locked with hers as he gave a resigned bow. ”For Equestria,” he told himself. Her smile grew with malice as he joined her at the throne.

The crowd murmured amongst themselves and glared at him. One stallion spat at the floor as he walked past.

“Traitor.”

Both the Captain and the Queen turned to him. Shining’s eyes were filled with sadness. “We must... obey our new Queen, if Equestria is to survive,” he said quietly. He silently pleaded with the stallion to not resist.

The stallion shook his head and pointed to their host. “She is no Queen. She unleashed monsters on us! I watched the streets run red with blood! My wife...” He faltered, his eyes welling up with tears. “My sweet filly... my baby...” he sank to the floor and glared up at her, overcome with grief and anger. “I will never bow to you, Nightmare Moon.”

The Queen looked at him with spiteful eyes and pouted in an almost comical way. “Am I so terrible you would risk death?” Her venomous words caused the rest of the ponies to quiver in fear and avert their eyes.

The stallion nodded. “I would, and I call every self respecting pony here to choose death before dishonour.” He glared at Shining Armour, who looked on sadly, and still silently pleaded.

With a nod, Nightmare Moon spoke again. “Commendable sir, but extremely foolish.”

He prepared himself for a quick death and thought of his wife and child. “I’m coming, my love,” he whispered to himself as his eyes squeezed shut.

The Queen glanced to the monster at her side, who grinned up at her. “Kill the others. Leave him.”

The stallion’s eyes snapped open and he started back. “What? No!” He looked around in fear at the ponies beside him. “I didn’t mean-”

The Queen grinned at him as the monster charged, it’s long arms plucked the prisoners up and ripped them to shreds, it’s jaw crunched as bones shattered in it’s mouth.

As blood spattered down onto him, the stallion who defied her screamed and looked at his hooves. His pupils turned to pinpricks as he looked at Shining Armour. “I didn’t-”

Nightmare’s laugh rang out, hollow and vicious. “Do you see, now, what comes from defiance, my dear stallion?” She strode over to him, raising his face to hers. “I am all that you will ever need, from now on.”

His eyes glazed over as grief took him. He bowed, long and mournful. “My... Queen... I offer my humblest apologi-”

With a quick flash of light, her horn lit up with magic and snapped his neck. His body crumpled to the floor amidst he blood spatters. With a nod of the Queen’s head, the monster greedily snatched his corpse and began to devour it.

Shining Armour looked horrified at the blood splattered in front of him and sank to the floor in despair. “You didn’t need to do that...” he muttered as tears welled up in his eyes.

“If they shall not bow to me, the rightful ruler of Equestria, then I shall see each city crumble and every soul scourged in pain until they beg for my rule,” Nightmare Moon stated coldly and sneered at him. “Do you agree, captain?”

He sighed sadly. “Yes Your Grace...”

She walked over to him and flashed a smile as she raised his face to hers. “Good boy.”

She cackled as he jutted his jaw away from her.

“I suspect you will quickly learn to appreciate me as you did Celestia. Follow.”

The Queen rose from her throne and strode down a corridor, her mane and tail swishing as a breeze blew through the court.

Shining almost scampered after her, the unexpected movement caught him off guard as he glared at the beast as it bared it’s teeth at him, almost grinning. Bits of flesh still protruded from it’s mouth. The dark ponies that escorted him in hissed and fluttered their dark wings. Their eyes followed him out of the room.

He too ka deep breath and stood up straight, following the Queen with as much resolve as he could muster.

“For Equestria,” he breathed quietly.

***

The gorgon shrieked in frustration, the darkness of her lair illuminated in a greenish grey light through her vision. Her eyes landed upon the intruder. The snakes on her head hissed and bared their tiny fangs. As she crawled forwards she hissed and rattled her colossal tail, sensing this particular pony was more dangerous than most. With confusion, she noticed this pony’s eyes were closed and it reeked of something more than fear.

She heaved her grotesque scaly body forwards as the pony dashed to her side. The intruder fired magic at her, causing her to hiss in pain and blindly swipe with her claws, being careful not to destroy her latest meal. She roared in frustration as the new intruder continued to evade her, still with it’s eyes tight shut.

The gorgon felt the magic behind her eyes start to swell and with another shriek, her claw snagged the intruder’s cloak. As she yanked it down she heard the pony grunt, causing the foul creature to grin to herself. She swung the cloak around, making the intruder to slam into a pillar with a crack.

“Celestia shits in my dinner once again,” the pony grumbled and spat out some blood. The gorgon watched as her latest victim struggled to it’s feet, swiping a hoof blindly in front of it.

She grinned, and smacked it with her great claws, hurling it away to the other side of her lair. She cackled, a horrific sound that echoed throughout the cavern and slithered over to her latest meal, caressing the most recently turned to stone pony with gentle affection. She heard a noise, and turned, raging with anger as this intruder dared to still delay her meal.

As the pony rose to it’s feet, it’s forehead began to darken. A flash of black magic, darker than the darkness of her cave, hurled towards her, and the last thing she saw was her body, falling away from her? Her face twisted in confusion as she felt no pain. She watched as her own blood spilled out from her headless body, oozing into the ground and her collection of bones.

Her eyes rolled back, and glared as the pony stood up, it’s broken horn fizzing with the same darkness that struck her. She felt her twisted magic burning behind her own eyes and released it in one final act of spite, hoping to catch he wretched intruder off guard.

As the snakes on her head gnashed their teeth, and with the final rattle of her once mighty tail, darkness enveloped her sight.

***

Tempest Shadow opened her eyes as she heard the death rattle of the gorgon, and squinted into the cave. Her horn lit up with a low level light spell as she panted for breath. She fired into the air, the light illuminating the dark cavern. Her ear twitched as she heard a twinkling sound and turned to the nearest stone pony as a light began to emanate from within it, and quickly made to grab it before it fell. As light passed over the statue, it turned into a purple skinned unicorn with a dark purple mane with a pink stripe, and magenta coloured eyes. Her cutie mark resembled a star shining bright, branded almost, onto her flank.

The unicorn looked at Tempest with confusion.

“Hellohhmpf-” She started, before turning quickly and shoving her way out of the Shadow’s grasp, then vomited over the bones and stony floor.

Tempest raised her eyebrows, unimpressed, and retrieved a flask of water from her pack.

The unicorn gasped for air. Tempest offered her some water. The young mare eagerly grabbed it and took a mouthful, gargling it in her mouth before spitting and taking another drink.

“Tch. I wish amateurs wouldn’t get in the way.”

“What happened?” the young mare asked in between breaths, and handed the flask over.

Tempest grumbled as the flask was near empty, shooting a look at the unicorn. “You were attacked by a gorgon.” She gestured to what was left of the headless body, making the unicorn recoil in horror.

“Such a hideous creation that one look turns you to stone and then it feeds off of your dreams. It’s head is still dangerous so try not to look at it. And the blood is poison, so don’t touch.” She glanced at her new charge.

“You’re welcome, by the way. The only way to free the petrified victims are to slay the beast quick enough so it hadn’t begun to feed.”

The unicorn shuddered. “Thanks, I’ve never seen a gorgon before-”

“No-one ever does, then they’re a statue.”

Tempest looked at the pony in front of her and softened her expression. “I’m looking for a pony that came down here.” She scratched her nose. “Toilet Sparkle or something.”

The pony turned red and scowled. “My name is Twi-light Sparkle. Not Toilet.”

Tempest just shrugged and muttered something under her breath as she turned to leave. “Come on.”

Twilight glared after her. “Where are we going?”

“Ponyville,” Tempest grunted from ahead.

“Wait!”

Tempest closed her eyes in frustration as she turned around. “What now?”

Twilight straightened up and pulled a book out of her pack. “I... came down here looking for something, let me show you.” She opened the book and flicked through the pages.

Tempest started forwards as she saw the cover of the book, the same symbol as on her flank. “Where did you get this?” she demanded and snatched it from the young mare.

“Hey careful!” she exclaimed before Tempest stopped her.

“Where. Did. You. Get. It?”

Twilight felt a chill run up her spine at the strange pony’s growl. “It was... in my library...” She winced as the unicorn with a broken horn rapidly flicked through the pages with little to no care. “Please be careful it’s a very old book.”

“I know.” The strange pony grumbled. Suddenly, she froze and stared at the name of the page and let out a soft whisper. Her eyes turned sad her steely expression softened momentarily.

“Griffomir...”

The young mare watched her carefully. “Did you know him?”

Tempest turned to her and snapped the book shut, her face regaining the former coldness and her eyes their steely gaze. “He raised me.”

Twilight’s jaw dropped and she stumbled back in surprise. Suddenly it made sense, fighting and killing a creature like this gorgon, the scar over her eye, the broken horn--she reasoned must have been from fighting monsters, the ragged and muddy cloak, the damaged and beaten armour underneath...

“You’re a Shadow...”

The Shadow narrowed her eyes and walked over to her slowly. “Who are you?” she asked with a thinly veiled threat edging it’s way into her voice. “Explain yourself, how did you get this book?”

Twilight swallowed. “I told you, it was in my library.” She glanced at the cover and searched the pony’s body for any similar markings. “can you... lift up your cloak please?” she murmured timidly.

Tempest glared at her for a few minutes as the cavern grew cold. The unicorn squirmed under her gaze.

“Uh... forget it... just a thought...” She smiled weakly.

The Shadow rolled her eyes and swished her cloak upwards, revealing her dark purple and black armour, and the symbol of her order shining bright in the dim light.

Twilight stared at the symbol. “Two lightning bolts mirrored... you really are a Shadow aren’t you?”

“Mhm.” Tempest glared at her and sighed. She stuck her hoof out begrudgingly. “Tempest Shadow,” she muttered and forced a smile at the young mare.

Twilight jumped up and shook her hoof vigorously. “Twilight Sparkle, it’s a real honour to meet a hero like you-”

Tempest held up a hoof and silenced her. “No. Not a hero, just doing a job.”

“No really, I’ve read about Shadows, how they’d make magical weapons and fight monsters with them day after day, never resting in heir sacred duty to protect Equestria?” Twilight beamed at her.

The Shadow scowled and turned to leave once more. “Sounds like hell to me.”

Twilight’s face fell. “Oh...” She scowled. “So much for Shadows being defenders of Equestria,” she thought to herself.

“Come on then, I promised your friends I’d get you back.”

Tempest turned and started back p the great staircase to the cavern. Her magical light faded high above, leaving them in darkness once more.

“No.”

Twilight’s voice cut through the dark like a knife through butter. She cleared her throat and sent a brighter spell into the roof of the cave.

Tempest slowly turned and glared a her. “Excuse me?” she growled.

“I said. No.” The young unicorn felt her knees tremble as the Shadow glared at her.

“Listen princess, I have a job to do. If you’ve read about Shadows you’d know that once a Shadow takes a job they always finish it.”

Twilight seemed to shrink as the unicorn’s steely gaze and harsh words worked their way through her mind. An idea formed in her head at that moment. “I want to make a deal first. I’ll pay you, too.”

The Shadow narrowed her eyes. “What kind of deal?”

“Before I go back with you, you help me find and open the Tomb-”

“Of the Moon. Your dragon told me.”

Twilight stammered and sputtered in surprise. “So you know about it then?

Tempest shrugged. “I told him I didn’t know and didn’t care, and I’ll tell you I don’t know anything about it and don’t care.” She sighed and tutted. “But... " She glanced at the book in Twilight’s grasp. “You give me that, and we have a deal.”

The young mare recoiled and clutched the book to her side. “This is an important part of Equestrian history, I can’t just-”

“Then we have no deal, do we, Sparkle?” The Shadow glared at her, her hoof tapping in frustration and impatience.

Twilight glanced at the book and despaired. She sighed and levitated it towards the bad tempered unicorn with a broken horn. “Fine. Deal.” She scowled as Tempest snatched it up and shoved it, rather roughly, making Twilight wince, into her own pack.

Satisfied, Tempest nodded and gestured around with a wave of her hoof. “So, where do we start?”

Twilight glanced around and grimaced. “I... don’t know. I thought I was following an old inscription on the walls but it led me here.” She shuddered as her eyes rested on the gorgon’s body, and the marble slab it had guarded. Her eyes widened as she saw the symbol engraved on it. She quickly crossed over to it as Tempest watched her.

Tempest followed her eyes and regarded the marble slab. “Is that..?”

“I think so...”

“Hmph. Lucky.”

Twilight ignored her and inspected the slab closely.

A large half crescent moon was engraved on it, and a bright light started to shine from it as Tempest got closer. Twilight swallowed and regarded it carefully, noting the edges and ridges of the slab. With wide eyes she turned to the Shadow.

“Tempest... I think this is a tomb...”

Her words were slow, delicate. As the Shadow got closer and closer, light started to glow from the symbol of the moon. With realization, Twilight turned to her companion.

“I... think it’s reacting to you.”

Tempest groaned and stepped up right next to the unicorn. “I don’t see why-”

A swirling mass of white light poured forth from the symbol, and engulfed Tempest in it’s grasp. She struggled, her hooves twitched as she began to rise into the air.

Twilight stumbled back as she watched with widened eyes. The slab started to shift sideways. “It’s opening...” Twilight murmured.

Tempest grunted. “Well fucking shut it and get this off me!”

The young unicorn suddenly remembered Celestia’s words in her letter. “Only together can you open the Tomb of the Moon... Tempest!”

The Shadow glanced down, even with light swirling around her she could make out the small pony by the tomb’s side.

“I think this is supposed to happen! Just hold on a moment longer!”

Tempest rolled her eyes as magic coursed through her veins. She grunted in pain as a sudden flash rippled through her forehead, her broken horn started sputtering with magic. Her mouth opened in a pained yell as the magic released her, and the tomb’s door fully slid off, hitting the ground with a heavy crash.

Twilight quickly helped Tempest to her feet, much to the latter’s annoyance. “I’m fine,” she grumbled. They both gazed up at the sight before them, mouths open in slight wonder and terror both.

***

Ponyville was oddly quiet. Usually a song was being sung, or the laughter and general hubbub of it’s inhabitants was enough to drown any pony’s thoughts out. Today though, no-one laughed, or sang, or spoke much.

Pegasi up above guided their friends and neighbours towards the outskirts of the town and kept a watchful eye for any would-be attackers, their eyes straining in the dark with only moonlight to guide their way. Unicorns used their magic to cast low level invisibility spells on their loved ones and each other and bid one another farewell for now. Earth ponies loaded up heavy carts with their possessions and ample supplies of food and moved as quickly and quietly as possible.

Several hours had passed after Tempest left to find Twilight. The mayor gave the ponies of Ponyville an order to evacuate

Twilight’s friends gathered around the Golden Oaks Library as the crowd moved past them with a few mares telling their children to be brave, some young ones began to cry. The Cutie Mark Crusaders stood with the girls, worry on their faces and tears in their eyes.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle rushed forwards to hug their sisters. Scootaloo awkwardly kicked the dirt and looked at Rainbow Dash, who gestured her hooves inwards with a brave smile.

“Applejack please come with us! Ah don’t wanna leave you!” Apple Bloom cried as she buried her face in her sister’s mane.

Applejack swung a hoof around her and cradled her gently. “Easy now, filly, you gotta stick with Big Mac and look after Granny ya hear?” She smiled warmly, hiding the emotion in her eyes. “Once Twilight comes back we’ll all leave together and meet ya in Appleoosa, alright?”

Sweetie Belle sobbed as loudly as Rarity as they held each other, making unintelligible sounds with her mouth in between sobs.

Rainbow Dash, meanwhile, gave Scootaloo an awkward hug and patted her on her back. “You’ll be alright kid, you gotta stay awesome and look after these ponies, yeah?”

The young pegasus looked up at her and smiled bravely. “Yeah totally, Rainbow dash, I’ll look after them.” Her face fell slightly. “Just... be careful yourself, yeah?”

“Yeah...” Rainbow murmured back, scuffling the filly’s mane slightly. “Don’t worry about me, kid. Now get a move on before the rest of these... big babies start crying.” She winked, tears brimming her own eyes.

Scootaloo nodded and tapped her friends’ shoulders. With a nod of her head, they all moved away silently and solemnly. Big Mac, Applejack and Apple bloom’s elder brother approached them. With a silent nod, he gestured to the crowd of ponies, where Granny Smith waited with sad eyes and a wagon full of supplies. As Apple Bloom turned to him, she couldn’t contain herself and thrust herself at him, her large bow quivering as her small body heaved with silent sobs.

Sweetie Belle followed suit, latching onto the big red stallion as he looked at his sister and her friends sadly. With another small nod, he started to herd the small fillies away and re-joined the crowd.

As the mares watched them go, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Applejack glanced at each other sadly and took deep breaths. They embraced quietly, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy joined them in solidarity.

“I sure hope Twilight’s okay...” the shy pegasus mumbled quietly, breaking the silence as it surrounded them.

With a gasp, Rarity broke off and pointed towards the forest. “Speaking of...”

They all turned to look, and spotted Twilight Sparkle with Tempest Shadow in tow, and a mysterious third pony with them wearing Tempest’s dirty cloak.

Her friends rushed forwards and gave Twilight a hug. They of course scolded her for running off as well, and praised Tempest for bringing her back alive and well. The Shadow grunted and turned away, resting against a building’s walls.

The newest stranger watched them quietly, saying nothing. Twilight turned to her and raised a hoof. “Girls, I know this may sound hard to believe, but...”

They watched with mouths agape as Twilight introduced her newest companion. Rarity fainted, Fluttershy dove for cover, Rainbow Dash and Applejack stared in shocked horror, and Pinkie Pie’s eyes dilated to pinpricks.

The stranger gracefully bowed and threw back her hood.