-The Night-mare in her soul-

Chapter 2- So you think you're a royal?

"Alright class, who can tell me what this letter is?" Ms Cheerilee asked, writing a 'B' onto the class chalkboard. Looking around the room she pointed to a short pudgy boy with scruffy light brown hair and bluish skin. The boy wore a black shirt with a pair of scissors printed on the front.

"Oh I know this one, it's an upside-down 'P'." The boy answered to the dumbfounded Nightmare.

"Close Snips, but this letter is referred to as 'B', can anyone give me an example of a word beginning with the letter 'B'?" The teacher asked, the corner of her eye giving a very subtle twitch that went unnoticed by almost the whole class.

"Brain-dead." The pastel pink girl from before said in a taunting tone at Snips' incorrect answer. This got a chuckle from most of the students which caused the overweight boy to hunch over in his seat. Oddly enough the girl's snark went unnoticed by the teacher.

Thinking for a moment, Nightmare turned to the girl with the tiara, her annoyance at her blatant insult inspiring one of her own. "How about baleful." Nightmare retorted as she glared at the overdressed girl.

"I'm not sure I'm familiar with that word, Noche, perhaps you could use it in a sentence for us?" Ms Cheerilee asked with an ignorant smile.

"Sure," Nightmare said as she stood up from her chair and turned her body to face the pastel colored girl. "I intend to be baleful to this brat if she dares to be rude in my presence." Gesturing to the girl as she spoke she narrowed her eyes before returning her expression back to normal as she faced herself back to the teacher.

"And what's that supposed to mean snake eyes?" The brat responded standing up from her seat.

The teacher watched as the two girls walked up to one another, standing almost nose to nose as they glared at one another.

"It means keep acting like a spoiled noble and find out what happens next." Nightmare threatened as she showed her sharp baby teeth.

"Or what? You're gonna try and kiss me, freak." Just as Ms Cheerilee started to make her way to the middle of the class, Nightmare gave a little smirk.

"Why? Are you asking? Cause in terms of looks, you might be easy on the eyes." Nightmare teased as she caressed the girl's cheek before grabbing her by the back of her hair. "However, you have a terrible personality."

Giving a sturdy tug Nightmare watched as the girl's eyes went wide as her head was forcefully pulled backwards as Nightmare leaned in towards her ear.

"Don't try to square up to me Chica, cause I will turn your world into a living wake." Nightmare whispered as she loosened her grip causing the girl to pee herself as she collapsed to the floor in her own urine. The girl shaking as her visual image of Nightmare became that of a monster.

"That's enough you!" Ms Cheerilee said in a harsh voice as she placed herself between the two girls. "Noche, hallway now."

Giving the teacher a raised eyebrow, Nightmare obeyed the adult's command, walking past the frightened girl as she glanced down at her.

"It's okay Diamond Tiara, let's get you to the nurse's office and get you cleaned up." Ms Cheerilee said in a comforting tone as she helped the girl up.

Watching as the three ladies existed into the hallway, the class looked down at the small puddle of yellow liquid for a hard moment.

"Well that got heated quickly." Scootaloo said as she scooted her desk away from the puddle.

"Yeah, I don't think I've even seen Diamond pee herself and we've gotten into fist fights all the time." Added Applebloom as she looked away from the floor.

"No kidding, she didn't even have to hit her and she scares the pee right out of her." Snips said with a brighter attitude. "You think it means she likes me?"

"No Snips, we don't think she likes you. Although pity is a good guess." Applebloom stated as Snips sunk back into his chair.

"Oh…"

_____***_____

Waiting in the hallway, Nightmare watched as Ms Cheerilee walked down around the corner with a sniffling Diamond Tiara. The repercussions of her actions falling flat as she audibly snorted. "If you're gonna wear the crown then you best know what it means." Nightmare mumbled to herself as she kicked at the ground.

'And what price does it cost hmm?' A familiar voice echoed through her mind as the lights of the hall flicked. Her vision clouded into darkness as the voice taunted her from everywhere. 'Poor little Noche, finally without her title, yet still holds her royal values. How twisted.'

"Who's there?" Nightmare asked as a cold chill ran up her spine.

Stepping away from the lockers she had been leaning on, Nightmare looked around at her surroundings only to find nothing.

'Ah ah ah. Spoilers.' As the voice faded away a firm grip grasped her shoulder dragging her back into reality.

"Hey, you okay?" Ms Cheerilee asked with a look of concern as she saw sweat beating down Noche's face. The young girl breathing heavily as she looked up at the teacher.

"What? I…" looking back around the hallway, Nightmare noticed that the hallway had reverted back to normal. Closing her eyes she took a deep breath and held it for a few seconds before breathing out. 'What was that? Some kind of PTSD panic attack?' She asked herself before opening her eyes to look at the now worried teacher.

"I'm okay… I think my body just caught up to me. I'm not normally this confrontational." She said looking down at the ground. "How is she. Diamond, I mean."

"Startled, her mother is having to come by with some clean clothes. Why did you do that?" The teacher asked, looking Nightmare in the eyes.

"I don't like bullies," Nightmare stated with a disappointed tone. "Figured if I gave her a reason not to…" Nightmare’s words cut off as her eyes began to water. "It doesn't matter, it was wrong… nothing more."

Cheerilee watched as the five year old girl wiped her eyes with her sleeve before taking a deep breath. "So what now, detention, suspension?"

"I… think a verbal warning and a word with your mother will do. Now let's get back to class." Ms Cheerilee sighed as they watched one of the school janitors enter the classroom with a mop and bucket. "Or maybe a quick rescue while the janitor cleans up the mess, you'll be posted next to me of course."

"Okay." Nightmare said in a low tone as Ms Cheerilee gathered the class.

_____***_____

A meeting was called day one, Spoiled Riche, Diamond Tiara's mother had called a meeting with the principal demanding my expulsion. My mother and Ms Cheerilee argued against it.

"I will not allow my daughter to be anywhere near that little monster. I want her gone!" Spoiled Riche shouted as her daughter looked at me with a smirk.

"And I'm telling you that she's not going anywhere Riche. My daughter has just as much right to be here as yours does." Luna argued back as the two mothers stood nose to nose.

"Ladies please, we're talking about two five year old girls. Both of which have shown signs of regret for their actions. This doesn't have to be bigger than what you're making it out to be." Ms Cheerilee said squeezing between the rather passed mothers.

"Bigger than what it is… BIGGER THAN WHAT IT IS!!!" Spoiled Riche upped in volume as she glared at the kindergarten teacher. "You weren't the one who had to bring their daughter a new pair of clothes because she was scared for her life."

"That's enough, both of you." I said standing up from the chair opposite of Diamond. The four adults in the room got quiet as they looked at me. "I scared your daughter, yes, but showing her that all her problems can be solved by yelling and screaming won't do her any good in the future." Turning my gaze to Diamond Tiara, she flinched. "What is the price of that Tiara you wear?" I asked as Spoiled Riche got ready to say something before Diamond cut her off.

"$2500, why?" Diamond questioned as I shook my head.

Watching my response Spoiled Riche seemed to pick up on something as they waited for my response.

"Not what I meant, the tiara on your head is a type of crown." I stated, looking her in the eyes as a queen to their successor. "A crown worn by those who lead comes with a price, one that can't be paid for in gold. You want to live up to your name's sake than stop putting others down and learn what it means to wear the thin piece of jewelry." Turning my attention to Spoiled Riche, "Let your daughter grow."

With that I walked over to the principal who had been listening patently. "It's your school, it's what you decide." I said with a bow before looking back to my mom who had a look of pride on her face as she rested her hand on my head.

"Well, what say you, Principal Celestia?" Luna asked with a warm smile.

"I… would say no rescue for two weeks." Celestia who's chin was resting on the back of her hands looked over to Spoiled, "For both parties involved. During that time, they will be spent under my careful watch as they learn to get along."

Looking over to Diamond and Spoiled, their faces showed two different emotions, while the elder showed defeat, the younger showed fear.

"Now then, I have things to do as do the four of you. We can pick this back up after their detention period has completed to see if any other measures are needed. Who knows, they might just surprise you." Celestia finished as she noted down the girls' punishment before standing to grab her jacket.

_____***_____

Sitting in the back seat of the car, I focused my eyes out the window. Watching as trees and powerlines flew on by. 'That could have gone worse.' I thought to myself as my mother cleared her throat.

"Well, that could have gone worse." She said looking up at me through the rear view mirror. "Be glad that it was your Aunt that was in charge of the school instead of one of Spoiled's relatives. So why did you scare her?"

Looking away from the window I pondered for a moment in thought. "To be honest, I'm not really sure anymore. She insulted a boy named Snips and I chose to act in his defense, but there were better ways of handling it."

"Ms Cheerilee said she found you having a panic attack in the hallway." My mother said pulling into the parking lot of a small restaurant. "You want to tell me what brought that on?"

"Not really, but withholding doesn't do any good. I was fine until the teacher turned the corner, after that I just blanked out. It was like I wasn't even there anymore. I guess the stress just got to me." I answered with a shrug that caused my mother to frown.

"You scared me you know," looking up at my mother I could see water forming in her eyes. "Not your actions, but your reaction to what you did. You don't have to close yourself off like that."

"I'm sorry…" I said lowering my gaze.

"Don't be, it wasn't your fault, it's a mother's job to worry and it's your job not to grow up so fast, you don't have to protect the world Noche, just live it okay." Luna undid her seatbelt as she leaned back and hugged me tight.

"Okay." I said as my eyes began to water from her sadness. We sat like that for a moment, not saying a word as we held one another. The silence only ending with the grow of my stomach.

"Alright, let's get something to eat, we're meeting my sister here anyways." With that the two of us exited the car as we made our way inside.

_____***_____

-else where-

A young mare with gold fur and a red and yellow mane entered Celestia's school for gifted unicorns.

"Alright Sunset, you got this. Just go in there and show those canterlot nobles what a real unicorn can do." The little filly said to herself as she entered the testing room.

"You must be Sunset Shimmer." The white alicorn said as she looked at the little filly with eyes of familiarity. "Why don't you start off by showing us some of the spells you've learnt so far."

Author's Note

And now introducing, the first glimpse of Sunset Shimmer.

This chapter is brought to you by the song:
The Cost of the Crown - Mercedes Lackey & Shandeen

Which is what's being referred to by Nightmare in this chapter.