The brush rustled deep within a starlit forest. The dying leaves of autumn fell around a fleeing orange pegasus as he frantically swatted away the bushes and ferns. He tripped over his hooves as he broke into a clearing and pushed up his messy blue mane out of his face, panting.

He quickly whirled around at a faint whistling sound and rolled out of the way as a bronze shield flew like a discus and embedded into the ground where he had just been. The moonlight reflected off of it with a malevolent gleam. Flash could nearly see his petrified reflection in it.

Flash frantically tried to will his wings to listen to him, but they instead flapped uselessly. He scrambled backwards as fast as he could… only to skid to a halt as a menacing shadow fell over him.

The depictions always showed Somnambula as a kind being, always in deep meditation or overcoming some obstacle with her mind and wit. But that wasn’t who was before Flash Sentry. Her wings were ragged and leathery, tape draped over her body and limbs. Her chest was open, though no organs could be seen. Her eye sockets were empty and glowing with an ethereal green glow, her muzzle shriveled and full of jagged teeth.

Flash took a step back and his ear turned to the sound of the shield being excavated. Flash Magnus was hardly the stalwart of bravery and courage either – encased in dull, dented armor, his muzzle, eyes, and wings were in a similar state to Somnambula’s.

“Unworthy… Unworthy… Unworthy…” they rasped in unison, their voices like hoarse whispers that cut Flash deeper than any blade would.

Flash whimpered, looking back and forth between the two as they slowly advanced on him.

“Please, stop!” he cried, his voice echoing through the wooded glade.

Just as he thought he could feel their ragged breath on his coat, a pale blue mist swirled around him, shoving both of the twisted ponies back. Luna manifested, practically standing over top of him with her wings spread wide.

“Begone, nightmares,” Luna boomed, her eyes glowing a pale silver.

Slowly, the twisted Somnambula and Flash Magnus backed away flap by flap. Flash looked up at Luna, gulping in a breath of air as he broke into an uneasy smile up at the princess. “Thank you, your majesty.”

“’Tis my duty, Flash Sentry,” Luna said, a kind smile crossing her muzzle as she gazed down at him.

A flicker of movement caught her attention. The twisted Flash Magnus had hurled his shield at her.

Luna’s eyes widened in surprise. She case out one foreleg and swatted the shield away – half a second before it would have embedded in her chest. She stood there, eyes looking from the shield to its deranged hurler.

“Go, Flash Sentry!” Luna cast out one wing towards the trees. “Twilight awaits up ahead, and a peaceful night sleep.”

Flash nodded once and took off in a full sprint. Luna noticed the twisted Magnus turn towards him and she leveled her horn at the nightmare. A beam of silvery magic blasted the abomination into a tree, while Flash disappeared in the wood line.

Her ear flicked towards the gust of wind behind her. Her wings swung with titanic force and slammed the zombified Somnambula to the ground. The nightmare lost a wing as it bounced across the ground before rolling back upright closer to the trees.

“Impossible,” Luna whispered, looking between Somnambula and the recovering Flash Magnus. With a growl, she ignited her horn again and sent out a sweeping wave of silvery magic at the two simultaneously.

The two flickered like static, growling in defiance, before vanishing away. Luna’s eyes followed their remnants – a pale blue mist, laced with familiar sparkles. She broke into a gallop after the mist, but was only able to follow it a few feet before it dispersed completely.

Luna wasn’t sure what scared her more: corporeal nightmares able to fight back, or the fact her pulse was racing and her breathing heavy. Nightmares weren’t real. They couldn’t fight back… could they? Were they getting stronger… or she weaker?

The only thing Luna did know for certain was: this was hardly a random occurrence. Ponies throughout Ponyville were suffering from the worst nightmares she had ever seen. And they weren’t slowing down.

A faint cry in the distant reached Luna’s ear. She looked into the dense foliage once more before letting out a huff and turning to leave. Off to the next nightmare.

And unaware of the pale blue eyes and their slanted pupils tracking her every motion from the shadows.

“Quite a show, boss.”

“Yes, but she’ll need more fuel. Ponyville should have us covered still. Care to make another run?”

“But of course. It’s always a pleasure to stretch my legs among the mortals. Anyone in particular you want?”

“The more corrupt the better. You should know the difference.”

“Indeed.”

“We’re getting close. A little more pressure… a little more difficulty… and one untainted Tantabus will be at my disposal.”

“What if she doesn’t make one for you to steal?”

“Oh, she will. And if by some chance she doesn’t, we’ll make her then. The Nightmare can be… quite persuasive, if applied to the right weak points. Now go, and do not fail me. Remember, I freed you from the Abyss, I can send you back.”

“…Wouldn’t dream of it.”

Author's Note

And so we begin.

I hear Ponyville is rather charming this time of year.

I'd love to swing by for a visit.

~L