-The Night-Mare in her eyes-

Chapter 5- Why Nightmares dream of war

Rain poured down upon the forest hamlet of Hollow Shades, grand weeping willows lurched over the village homes, swinging back and forth in the storm’s howling wind. Large puddles formed over cobbled paths as water ran off of wooden roofs. Glass lanterns hung from overhangs from ropes and chains giving light to passersby in the middle of the dark rainy day. The thestrals of Hollow Shades watches as two cloaked mares walked down the cobbled streets from the safety of their homes and businesses. Eyes slowly followed the cloaked mares as the sound of metal ‘clanked’ from under their clothed bodies. Whispers slowly permeated through the rain; some of the thestrals pointed their hooves at the taller of the two cloaked mares, the faint shape of a white horn poking out from the taller one’s hood.

The two mares stopped their walk as the taller turned their head towards some of the younger thestrals who stood beneath one of the businesses' overhangs. The young thestral foals slowly backed up as the tall cloaked pony strutted over to them. Her golden thestral like eyes glowing in the faint fire of lantern light. Stopping in front of the small foals the mare lowered herself to their eye level giving them a look at her faded white muzzle and her sharp teeth. “Pardon some time, little ones.” The mare spoke in a soft motherly tone looking between the three thestral foals. “We wish to acquire shelter from thine storm. Should tho aid us.” A faint glow came from the mare’s horn as a small pouch appeared from under her cloak, which when opened showed several weeks worth of fruit stored with the small pouch. Looking at one another, the three foals nodded their heads in agreement as they led the two mares down a side alley before pointing to a wide two floor wooden house with a set of swinging doors at the front. Handing over the pouch to the foal in front the unicorn mare smiled at them. “Make sure to share.” She told the foals with a flutter of her lashes.

“Are you sure those three were the right ones to give that to?” The shorter mare asked looking over to her companion, her tealish eyes showing a hint of doubt.

“I’m sure, out of the colts and fillies of the thestral tribe, those ones were the skinniest, my guess being from the local orphanage.” Looking the shorter mare in the eyes as she watched the three foals happily take off through the allies the white unicorn’s smile faded into a neutral expression. “Besides… thoughts who own nothing are the quickest to give out everything.”

Entering the establishment, the two mares dried themselves off with a light warming spell casted by the unicorn as they made their way to the tavern keeper. Their metal horseshoes thumping as they walked along the wooden floor. Removing her hood, the red and yellow maned pegasus took a deep breath before speaking to the stallion running the tavern. “We would like a room for two.” The pegasus said, looking up at the stallion as her unicorn companion stood quietly with her eyes closed.

“No can do, we don’t house your kind here.” The stallion stated, looking from the pegasus to the unicorn. “Yours either, unicorn. Now I recommend you two turn yourselves around and find somewhere else to sleep under. Perhaps one of the small diamond dog campment near the mountains to the south.” Turning his back to the mares he made his way across the bar over to a small group of three stallions as he refilled their drinks.

“Aren’t you tired of the solar princess bleeding you dry, colt.” The unicorn said, opening her eyes to show that theirs were the same as hers. “I would hope that my ponies would be more welcoming than that.” Turning their heads, the four stallions narrowed their brows at the unicorn’s words.

“And what makes us ‘your’ ponies, Unicorn. You may have similar eyes to us, but you're not thestral.” One of the stallions spoke up with a scarf around his neck for warmth.

Taking slow steps towards the thestrals, the unicorn removed her cloak with her magic passing it to her pegasus. “All tribes of Equestria are my ponies, from the Kirins of the Peaks of Peril to the Pegasi of Cloudsdale, to the Unicorns of Canterlot and yes even the Thestrals of Hollow Shades.” Approaching the scarfed stallion, she looked him dead in the eyes for a brief moment before turning to the tavern keeper. “Now I’m supposed to meet a stallion known as First Sergeant Night Striker to see about rectifying the injustices that plagues the thestrals as well as all other tribes that Celestia deems not favor. So me and my comrade ask again. Would you kindly give us a room for two.”

A long silence filled the room as the four stallions stared at the unicorn. “Give them a room.” The thestral at the end of the bar ordered as he took a drink from his wooden mug. “If she’s her as Night Striker’s guest then she’s more than welcome. Besides you should feel honored hosting the Night Mare General of the Desert Night.”

Looking over at the thestral at the end of the bar, the unicorn noticed a few things. The first being the scar that ran down his left eye, the iris grayed and whitened from an injury that induced blindness, the second was the two little nubs where his wings should be. “What’s your name, soldier?” The unicorn asked as the tavern keeper went to retrieve a key behind the counter.

“Captain Dark Stride, General.” The stallion said, looking at her.

“Captain Dark Stride…. Your squad fought with us during the battle of the San Nine, at the border of Palomino. I read your report. You fought bravely to get you fellow warriors out of enemy lines.” General Moon stated as if she had just read the report. “It’s good to see that you’re still alive and kicking. Most ponies, whose names I memorize, rarely get to be seen by my eyes after discharge.”

“Oh and why is that?” The Captain asked with a smirk already expecting the answer.

“Because rarely do I leave the line.” General Moon stated with her own smirk before the two let out a hearty chuckle.

“Yeah, I thought that would be your answer, the fights are rarely over for ponies like us, even without my wings I still act as a guard here in these parts.” Looking down at his mug he let out a sigh. “Even if the Princesses have forgotten us.”

“A problem that we’ve come here to rectify.” The pegasus added as she took the key from the keeper. “Our ponies all across Equestria are suffering while the Princesses stay held up in their Castle. They’re bleeding us dry while they waste their wealth, they take our food and demand tax while our foals are left to starve.”

“Calm yourself, Shimmering Sun,” General Moon said with a glance. “She is correct though, what's happening here isn’t isolated. It’s happening all throughout Equestria and those ponies closest to Celestia are to blind to see it.”

“So you're going to take on the goddess of the sun?” The Tavern Keeper asked placing two mugs filled with cider in front of the mares. “But why come to Hollow Shades?”

“Isn’t it obvious, she’s putting together an army.” The thestral in the scarf said putting his mug down. “And we’re at the top of the list. Where do we sign up?”

=====***=====

Ten ponies sat in wait around a large circular tablet as the white unicorn of the night entered the room, dawned in her cobalt blue armor, her silvery mane flowed behind her in a hidden breeze. Alongside her, in her own matching armor, walked an orangish gold pegasus, her red and yellow mane pulled back into a ponytail at the bottom of her helmet. Her cutie mark of a two tone sun surrounded by four white stars painted on the metal covering her flank.

“It’s about time.” Said a war torn pegasus with an aquamarine coat and pastel pink mane, her body covered in white armor. “We were beginning to wonder if you were ever gonna show up to this meeting, Princess Noche de Estrella Moon.”

“Staff Sergeant Zephyr Sky, It is pleasant as always to see you.” The unicorn said as she reached her spot at the table. Lighting her horn, the room around them went dark as a three dimensional map of the Everfree Forest and the area surrounding the Castle of Two Sisters appeared on the table. “As our intel has provided, in three days time Princess Luna will be leaving the Castle of the Two Sisters in order to oversee the construction of a new castle on the recently formed Canterlot. Currently over half of Princess Celestia’s royal guard has been moved to Canterlot in order to help with the construction of the castle as well as to make sure the lunar princess is safe.”

Taking in a deep breath, the white unicorn moved the location of the map to view their current location within the Ponyville settlement. “Currently we have a total of fifteen thestral knights, eight pegasi fighters, six unicorn mages, six kirin scouts and eight earth pony soldiers under our command. Our enemy commands not only more than double our combined forces, she also has the benefit of the creatures within the Everfree.” Moving the map back over the Everfree, several images of local creatures appeared over the map.

“Most creatures within the Everfree are completely harmless unless provoked. For example Manticores unusually won’t attack unless threatened by others, even though they do hunt for their food, they normally won’t attack creatures that are capable of fighting back. River Serpents are the same and can normally be talked to since they are a speaking species. Timberwolves on the other hoof do not see things like other creatures. They consume magic and have been documented eating ponies to get it. A strong blow to their body can render them in mobile for a brief period of time, however if an Alpha is among their group, the repairable ability of their wooden bodies will repair twice as quick if not almost instant. The most effective way of dealing with them is to destroy their core hidden within the center of their body, mostly within the chest.”

Dropping the images of the creatures from the map the General continued to plan out their routes to the castle as well as their method of attack. “In short, once we get to the castle, it’ll be up to you to take down Celestia.” The representative of the unicorns stated as they looked at the General. “You sure you’re going to be able to pull it off?”

“If I can get close to her, I should be able to subdue her. While Luna pulls from the moon and Celestia pulls from the Sun, I was gifted with the stars. As long as the sun stays set, I’ll be able to stand an equal chance in magic alone. That also doesn’t include the fact that Celestia hasn’t had to deal with actual physical combat in a while. Does that answer your question, Corporal Sparkle?”

Giving the General a firm nod, Corporal Sparkle looked to the others. “In that case if we have nothing else to discuss, we should prepare ourselves. So get the supplies you need now while you can.” The Corporal stated as he readied himself to stand.

“One last thing if I may.” The General said, regaining the attention of the eleven ponies in the room with her. “Once we leave this room, I am no longer your Princess, I am your comrade, your equal. I will no longer be ‘Princess Noche de Estrella Moon’, I will be Celestia’s personal Nightmare.”

Looking at the others with eyes filled with determination, the leader of the kirin scout, Spring Flare spoke up. “Then we shall call you as such. Today Princess Noche de Estrella Moon is no more. Long live the pony of the night. The protector of all the pony tribes. Night-mare Moon.”

Standing up from the table, the one eyed thestral and comrade, First Sergeant Night Striker looked at the General. Giving her a pony solute. “To Nightmare Moon.”

“To Nightmare Moon.” Said the Earth ponies, Melon Rock and Tree Breaker with a stomp.

“To Nightmare Moon.” Spoke Staff Sergeant Zephyr Sky and her subordinate delivering a feathered bow.

“To Nightmare Moon. We’ll see you out there.” Corporal Sparkle said, giving a deep bow with his horn.

“To Equestria!” Shouted Nightmare Moon in her Battlefield Voice alongside Shimmering Sun.

=====***=====

Waking up from her sleep, Nightmare Moon looked out towards the Everfree from the window of Luna’s old personal chamber. Stretching out her wings with a pop, she opened the window and flew up to the highest point of the castle. Her ears swiveled as she listened to the sounds of the forest.

“Is that singing?” She asked herself as she looked out past the river nearest the castle. Straining her eyes for a brief moment she was able to spot a small pink dot bouncing through the trees. “I see, they’ve made it this far have they.” Jumping off the castle, she glided her way down to the main entrance. Her legs touching down gently as she looked over her shoulder to the forest. “Then, I best get things ready.” Lighting up her horn, Nightmare Moon gripped the two celestial bodies, shifting them from night to day. The faint sound of creaking as another crack ran down her horn as the magic finished.

Walking into the castle, Nightmare Moon made her way back down into the dungeon to the cell where Celestia laid. Opening the door, Nightmare widened her cheeks into a malicious smile. “Wakey Wakey.” She said as she entered the cell with an iron key in her mouth.

Undoing the chains binding Celestia to the room, Nightmare Moon placed her horn under Celestia’s barrel as she rolled her onto her back. “Can't have you just sitting down here. We have to get you ready for the big event.”

Holding Celestia on her back, Nightmare made her way through the dungeon and up the stairs. Entering the hallway she carried the unconscious white alicorn to the southside of the castle and through a large wooden door.

Entering the room with the solar princess, Nightmare flared her magic to turn back time within the room, returning it back to its original state a thousand years ago. Walking inside of the stone room, Nightmare looked at the large pool of water that filled the large tube. The tube itself being big enough to hold ten average size ponies at one time.

Walking into the water, She gently slid Celestia off her back and held her so that her head was slightly above the water. Reaching over for a bottle of soap and a brush she began to carefully clean the princess’s wounds and wash her fur. “It’s a shame you weren’t a better pony Celestia.” Nightmare said with a frown as she looked down at Celestia’s scarred up back, her eyes emotionless as she carefully plucked the broken feathers from her wings. “If you had just treated me as your niece instead of the daughter of a monster…”

Picking up a bucket, she filled it with clean water before slowly pouring it over Celestia’s coat. “If you hadn’t sent me off to every conflict and battlefield.” Nightmare closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath as she let out a long sigh. “I probably won’t have known just how bad you had let things get. I wouldn’t have met and lost Shimmering, I wouldn’t have found the strength to stand up to you.”

Listening to Nightmare talk, Celestia slightly opened her one remaining good eye as it watered in regret. “I… I wish I could say I still hated you. It's funny really, after everything you did to me, to us. I can’t seem to hate you and it’s killing me.” Nightmare’s eyes watered as tears flowed down her cheeks. Placing her chin at the base of Celestia’s wings, Nightmare closed her eyes and cried. “Why couldn’t you have just killed me. Why did you have to place me in the one place where no matter what I did, I couldn’t die. Do you even realize what it’s like to try to end your life for a thousand years?”

Closing her eye, Celestia pretended to sleep as she felt Nightmare lift her head with a sniff. “But it’s fine, cause pretty soon, it’ll all be over and you can go on hiding away from society.”

Picking Celestia up in her magic Nightmare Moon placed the solar alicorn back onto her back as she walked her way out of the royal bath house, the sun’s light drying them through the many windows as Nightmare and Celestia made their way to the old throne room.

‘She didn’t destroy the elements?’ Celestia questioned to herself as Nightmare walked past the pillar of stone orbs before gently placing Celestia down on her old throne, the sound of the old wooden doors creaking open as Nightmare stood on the platform in front of the two thrones.

“Let the show…” Nightmare summoned her armor as she watched six mares slowly enter through the door. “Begin.”

Author's Note

My job gave me a three day weekend. I literally have nothing else to do.

Side note, I probably shouldn't listen to Billie Ellish while writing.

Nightmare Moon/ Princess Noche de Estrella Moon.