When Nightmares Become Reality

"Come on, Dark! Give him back!" The young pegasus colt cried out, flailing his hooves in the air as he attempted to grab his stuffed bear, which was currently held hostage by his older brother.

"What's the matter, Shorty? Can't reach your stupid bear?" The older pegasus mocked. The colt frowned as his brother shoved the teddy bear in his face, then raised it high once he saw the foal reach for it.

"This isn't funny, Dark, you know what mom always says-"

"Do I look like I care what mom says?" The older pegasus spoke with a tight voice, making the colt cower. A chuckle escaped the older pegasi's throat, seeing how vulnerable and helpless his little brother was.

"Dark Style!" A loud feminine voice shouted from behind the older pegasus, making him look back over his shoulder. An elder female pegasus stood in the door frame, glaring at her adolescent colt. "Give it back."

Dark Style snorted, but knew it was best to not argue with his mother. He looked back down at his younger brother and dropped the stuffed bear in front of him, mumbling something that sounded along the lines of 'Twerp'. He turned around, walking towards the door, his mother moving aside as he stepped through.

"Are you okay, Solar?" The elder pegasus spoke with a calming tone as she walked towards her young colt. He nodded in response before picking up the teddy bear, nuzzling into it comfortably.

Dark Style laid on his bed, atop the sheets as he stared at the ceiling of his room. He was still upset about the outcome after he had teased his younger brother. Dark Style didn't think he did anything wrong, he was just messing around and Solar Haze, as well as their mother had taken it too seriously.

"Dark?" A husky voice broke the adolescent pegasus from his thoughts as he looked over at the door. A tall, dark furred pegasus stallion stood in the door frame, his slate blue eyes were filled with concern as he looked at the latter.

"What do you want, Storm?" Dark Style spoke, slightly annoyed. Shadow Storm didn't reply, instead he walked over to his brother's bed, sitting on the floor beside him.

"I'm worried about you, Dark. It doesn't look like you're going down the right path."

"What do you mean, 'the right path'?"

"I'm talking about the way you treat, Solar Haze. I'm concerned about how your teasing and constant mocking will affect your guys relationship. I'm also worried that if it doesn't stop, this'll also affect your future, as well as the way you treat other ponies."

"You're starting to sound a lot like mom." Dark Style scoffed, not bothered to take his brother's word for it.

Shadow Storm's ears lowered after seeing how careless his younger brother was. His worry didn't cease as he thought more about how the pegasi's actions would affect his future. Then an idea struck the older pegasus, something that he knew for years but had accidentally forgotten.

"Say.. Have you ever heard of, Makeldama, Dark Style?" Shadow Storm asked, slight suspicion in his voice.

"No? Why are you asking me this?"

"Well.. you might meet her soon, if your attitude doesn't change."

Dark Style raised a brow, his face looked both annoyed and puzzled. He wanted his brother to leave him alone but he also wanted to know who, or what this 'Makeldama' is.

"Makeldama is a mysterious creature of unknown origin. Some say she used to be a regular mare, living a regular life. As of now though, she lives on as a horrifically disfigured monster, hunting and preying on disobedient teens. She'll give you various warnings to change your attitude before it's too late. However, if you ignore her warnings, she'll give you a visit, and use you as an example to other troublemaker teens, so they'll be aware of what she'll do if you disobey."

Dark Style remained silent as he stared at his brother. Although, by the time he processed everything, he slowly smirked and began to laugh.

"You- you really expect me to believe some monster will get me if I don't stop teasing, Solar?" Dark Style spoke between chuckles, finding all of this laughable.

"Just be careful of what you say. 'cause if you don't, you might regret it later in life." Shadow Storm answered. He stood up and left his brother's room, listening as Dark Style's fit of laughter began to fade as he got further from his room.

Dark Style jolted up as he gasped for air, a few coughs escaping him afterwards. His vision was a little fuzzy and the headache he got was not minor. Even through his slightly blurred eyesight, Dark Style looked around curiously.

He was no longer in his room, in fact, he had no idea where he was. The ground was a dull brown, almost grey looking colour with no grass, plants, or any sign of life on it. The sky was much lighter, but it was no longer blue, now it appeared almost white, as if it was surrounded by clouds or fog. The trees had no leaves or moss on them and were completely black and dead.

Dark Style's ears pinned back instinctively. Where was he? Why was he here and not at home? He was confused, and never admittedly fearful.

Suddenly, something ran by in front of him, making the pegasus jump. Dark Style didn't know what to do or think, all he knew was that thing was fast. He barely even caught a glimpse of it when it ran past.

Then, it happened again. Only this time, Dark Style felt the wind of the creature's speed brush past him. It was closer. Now afraid, the pegasus outstretched his wings and lowered his head to the ground. "W-Whoever's out there, show yourself!" He tried to sound tough, but it came out like a cry.

Nothing. No response. No movements. No insanely fast creature running by him. Just, nothing. Dark Style wanted to think he was safe, to believe that thing was gone. But the eerie silence was making him anxious.

Dark Style opened his mouth to take in a breath of air, but an ear-piercing shriek filled what once was silence. The pegasi screamed back from shock and fear, then without a second thought, he turned tail and ran.

He heard his heart begin to beat in his ear as nothing but fear overcame him. It was difficult galloping through this unknown terrain, especially when he couldn't focus properly.

A sudden impact made Dark Style let out a pained yelp, as he then collided into one of the dead trees. He swore he heard a small crunch as a few of his ribs slowly began to ache. He whimpered and shakily stood up, his body screamed at him as he did.

Dark Style looked over his shoulder, staring at the right side of his body to see how much damage the collision with the tree caused. A couple of large bruises roughly the size of a baseball were scattered here and there, but his wing looked fine.

Dark Style exhaled and turned his head to examine his left side. His eyes widened and his breath hitched, as he gazed at the three deep wounds on his torso. As soon as the Pegasus noticed the gashes, the sudden pain began to course through his body, making him scream through gritted teeth.

Tears pecked at the corners of Dark Style's eyes, this pain was unbearable. His once grey fur was now stained and drenched crimson with his own blood. He raised his foreleg and reached towards one of the deep gashes, flinching as he brushed the edge with his hoof experimentally.

A figure ran by the pegasus, making his head shoot up as his eyes darted around hastily. He took a step back, his heart beating in his ear rapidly. A sudden snap made him turn his head, looking behind himself just in time to see a tree creaking as it leaned to the side, beginning to fall.

He gasped and quickly moved out of the way as the tree hit the ground with a mighty thud, right where he was standing. Dark Style took in a few breaths, surprised by how he almost got squashed like a pancake. He went to turn around but bumped into something. It was as hard as a tree but something about it seemed.. off.

Dark Style slowly looked up, and gasped in shock and horror.

A pony, at least, he assumed it was a pony, stood there on its hind-limbs standing tall and mighty as a long tail full of quills on its end thumped against the ground. Its legs were taller than his height, so he assumed it would be taller even if it stood on all fours. It was unhealthily skinny, its ribs showing through its skin and 'fur'. It's forelegs twitched with anticipation, and Dark Style couldn't help but notice the long, sharp claws that replaced its hooves. What spooked Dark Style the most was its face.

It had large, completely black eyes as some type of black liquid spilled out from them, staining its 'fur'. Its snout was long and full of razor sharp teeth, a forked tongue brushed across them every now and then. On its head was a broken horn, which seemed to be snapped in half, as multiple cracks ran along it. Instead of a mane, it had multiple of those quills that were shown on its tail as they covered its head down to its shoulders.

Dark Style's breath caught in his throat. What was this thing?! He didn't know. He opened his mouth, then closed it, repeating this a few times before the latter lowered its head, narrowing its 'eyes' in a glare as it flared its 'wings'. At least, where wings should've been. It was nothing but the bone structure, as if the feathers and muscles were ripped clean off.

"You shall cease your horrid behaviour towards your younger kin." Its voice came out deep and raspy, making Dark Style's throat itchy.

"W-.. What?.." He asked nervously. The latter's eyes narrowed once more as it snorted, swiftly bringing up one of its hind-legs and kicking him to the ground. He went to get back up, but was quickly pinned by the hoof that kicked him down with ease. He noticed blood and gashes covering its flank, both of them. Had it clawed off its own cutie mark? He had no time to ask as it bent down, leaning its head forward, now coming face to face with him.

"You shall cease your atrocious actions towards your younger kin-" It bared its sharp teeth, showing off its fangs in a snarl. "-Or there WILL be dire consequences." Its hoof pressed harder down on his torso, making him let out a wheezing cough. He opened his mouth to object, but its head shot down immediately, and dug its teeth deep into his throat.

Dark Style's eyes widened in fear and agony and he opened his mouth to scream, but no sound came out. Only a small, inaudible whimper of pain. He began coughing up blood as tears ran down the sides of his face. The latter loosened its jaws slightly before pulling its head back, ripping Dark Style's throat as it did so. He held a hoof up to his neck as the metallic liquid covered his hoof instantly.

He looked up at the latter, his eyes wide with pure fear and shock. The 'pony' glared down at him, licking its jaws which were covered in his blood.

"Don't take thy warning as a joke, child. This is your final warning before I come after thee." It growled lowly, then disappeared into thin air, as if it never existed.

Dark Style's vision became increasingly blurry with every second. His head fell to the ground with a 'thump' as black began clouding his eyesight. He knew he was dying, but there wasn't anything he could do about it. He slowly closed his eyes and accepted his fate.

Dark Style awoke with a gasp, shooting up from his bed as his wings unfurled frantically. He flapped them slowly a few times as he panted, quickly taking in his surroundings. He was back home, back in his room, back in his bed. He sighed and fell back onto the pillow.

"It was just a dream.. nothing to worry about.." He told himself, closing his eyes as he tried going back to sleep, even though he was still on edge. It felt so.. real. The pain, the gashes, everything. He tried his best to ignore it, and assure himself it was only a dream, no matter how terrifyingly real the pain was.. but then something else kept him awake. A word, or was it a name? It kept flashing through his tired mind, and sometimes a low, nearly inaudible voice spoke it.

The name, 'Makeldama'.