-The Night-Mare in her eyes-

Chapter 4- Campfire Kindness

Reunited at the bottom of the long valley within the Everfree, the six mares headed onward through the fog as sounds of hooves marching could be heard in the distance before abruptly stopping. Listening carefully the somber sound of crackling wood could be heard as an orangish bloom fluttered faintly within the fog. As they approached the cause of the light, two figures obscured by the shadows coming from the campfire.

Slowly getting closer it became apparent that one of the two was laying on their side, while the other moved around them. Getting close enough, the six mares were able to recognize the two figures before them. Laying on the ground with harbored breath, laid the red and yellow maned golden pegasus. Her armor lay off to the side amongst the ground as the slightly taller white unicorn removed her armor, showing a layer of cloth that rested under her armor plating. Stripping herself of her fabric padding, the white unicorn General Moon rolled the padding into a pillow before placing it under the pegasus’s head.

“This should help, how bite onto this.” The general commanded softly as she put a metal dagger into the soft dirt before placing its leather sheath into her mouth. “I’m going to relocate your wing now.” Placing a hoof onto the pegasus’s shoulder, she pressed it firmly as her horn softly began to glow.

Watching as the orangish gold pegasus’s wing was wrapped in the unicorn’s magical aura, sweat began to run down Shimmering Sun’s forehead as the unicorn forced the joint back into its socket with a confirming ‘pop’. Breathing out through her nostrils, Shimmering dropped the leather sheath as she looked at the General with watery eyes.

“You know…” Shimmering commented as she tried to control her breathing. “There are better ways of getting a mare out of her armor than stumbling off a cliff.” She teased reaching her hoof out for the General’s.

Taking the mare’s hoof into her own, the white unicorn laid down next to the pegasus, placing her neck across her side as she looked into the pegasus’s own. “And there are better ways of getting me out of mine.” Moon said in a soft tone with a hint of concern. Letting out a short sigh the two nuzzled each other as they laid next to one another.

“You think the others will be okay without us?” Shimmering asked, laying her head back onto the makeshift pillow.

“They know what to do, I did train them myself.” Moon said with a smirk that fell as the sound of a loud roar made her ear twitch. Standing up from her comrade, General Moon walked to the other side of the campfire as she looked hard into the fog.

“What is it.?” Shimmering asked struggling to lean forward as a large lion’s paw swiped out of the fog, slashing the General across the cheek splattering blood across the ground as the unicorn teleported to the side of the creature delivering a powerful hind kick into the creature’s side as it bounced off of the fire and over the pegasus. Landing on its four legs, the creature let out another roar as it spread a pair of large bat-like wings, a long scorpion tail whipping around its side.

Rushing at the unicorn it jumped with a pounce before landing on nothing as everything in the clearing faded into mist, leaving the six mares in the middle of the valley with the angry Manticore. Searching around the clearing, the Manticore eyed the six remaining ponies. Charging at the group, Rarity reared up on her front legs, bucking the creature in the face. “Take that you ruffian.” She called with a smirk as the Manticore roared again. Seeing the Manticore unfazed by her attack, Rarity started sprinting away as the Manticore followed.

Feeling pressure on its skull, the Manticore halted in place, glancing up at the orange earth pony as she gripped the Manticore by the mane causing it to hop around before launching the earth pony off.

“All yours partner.” Applejack told Rainbow as she flew past the blue pegasus, landing on the ground behind her with a bow.

“I’m on it.” Rainbow Dash said with a salute as she flew around the Manticore, attempting to confuse the beast as it smacked her away with its tail.

Getting back up from the ground, Rainbow, Applejack, Twilight, Pinkie Pie and Rarity charged at the beast as Fluttershy flew in between them. “WAIT!” Fluttershy yelled as they slid to a stop. Watching the yellow pegasus walk up to it, the Manticore raised its claw up to strike as Fluttershy nuzzled its paw causing it to stop. “Shh… It’s okay.” Fluttershy said in a gentle tone as the Manticore lowered itself back down, showing the mare its paw.

A old rusted spear head protruded from the creature’s paw, the site drawing Fluttershy’s eyes before she looked into the Manticore’s. “Oh, you poor little baby… Now this might hurt just a second.” She said in a motherly tone as she leaned forward, grabbing the spear head and pulling it out with her teeth. Nuzzling the yellow pegasus, it thanked the mare before running on back into the fog.

“How did you know about the spear?” Twilight asked as Fluttershy walked up beside her.

“I didn’t, sometimes we all just need to be shown a little kindness.” Fluttershy stated, meeting back up with the others as Twilight stared at the spear head laying on the ground.

As she began walking back to rejoin the others, Twilight noticed a piece of torn fabric laying next to a leather sheath near where the phantom campfire had been prior to the manticore attack. Picking it up in her magic, she was surprised to see that the sheath read ‘Princess N. Moon’ on its underside. ‘Who are you?’ she thought to herself as she put it away to ask about it later.

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Nightmare Moon slammed open the door from the cell as she threw the metal poker across the hall. Her silvery mane returning back to a purple starry night as her irises became teal as she crossed back into the hallway of the dungeon. “You Fucking BITCH!!!” She screamed, grabbing the furnace in her magic as she slammed it through the bars of one of the empty cells. “ERRAH!!! I hope you fucking rot down her Celestia!” Kicking the door back shut, Nightmare stormed her way back up the stairs to the main hallway. The stone slabs crumbling to dust as she stomped her way to the back of the castle and into the royal garden. Looking up at the sun, Nightmare's cloud-like mane turned to that of fire as she lit her horn. Grabbing the sun in her magic as she forced the day into night, a small crack formed down her horn as she moved the two Celestial bodies without the aid of Celestia’s or Luna’s magic. “Two days left…” She said looking back in the direction of Ponyville as blood started trickling down her horn.

Walking back into the castle, Nightmare’s mane maintained its fiery form as she started wandering the halls, searching for something.

“Now then, where did she put you?” Nightmare as she made her way for a specific chamber. “I know it’s behind one of these doors.” Walking for a few minutes, Nightmare came across a set of two large wooden doors with gold trim. ‘I hear they’re calling you ‘Nightmare’ Moon now.’ Celestia’s voice entered her mind as she pressed the two doors open with her hooves.

Walking into the stone chamber she noticed the old banners still hanging in the withered throne room. ‘It’s a shame really, because of you…’ Nightmare shook her head trying to erase the memory from her mind, not wanting to think about what happened the last time she had entered this room.

Locking her eyes on the pillar in the center of the throne room, Nightmare stared at the five stone orbs resting on the arms of their pillar. “Hello elements, I’m going to need a favor from you.” She said as her fiery mane reached out, collecting the orbs in their magical fire as she brought them close. “I know more than enough to know that I’m incapable of using you, however I also know that your tree is always listening.”

Gritting her teeth, Nightmare placed the elements on the ground. Lowering her head she closed her eyes as she placed the tip of her horn to the stone orbs. Her magic gently flowing into them as they sent a gentle spark of magic back to her horn.

Sending their magic back and forth for a moment, Nightmare raised herself back up as she opened her eyes looking down at the orbs before leaving the room to head to Luna’s old sleeping chambers to rest as she waited for her visitors to arrive.

Author's Note

Next time on -The Night-Mare in her eyes-, Can our heroes make it to the Castle of the Two Sisters, who are these two mystery mares in the forest. Found out that and so much more, next time on baba ba ba baa baaa ba ba baa ba baaa.

yes, I'm going for a DBZ reference in the notes.
Next chapter is going to be a longer one. Hope to see you there.