Rise of Ruinous

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic: RISE OF RUINOUS

Chapter 14 - Hiding in the Shadows

The time: A month after Zecora gets her Element of Harmony.

Nightmare Moon stretches and rises, off to do her duties for the night.  Princess Luna meets her in the throne room, shivering a bit.

N.Moon: Luna?

P.Luna: Nightmare Moon!  There's been a rash of crazy nightmares around lately, I'm not sure if you can clear these.

N.Moon: *smirk* I got it, Luna.

The larger alicorn murrs as she takes wing and flies around.  She flies by Twilight Sparkle's library, seeing Spike having a bad nightmare.  She glows silver in an attempt to pull the nightmare out, but it was MUCH harder to this time.....

N.Moon: Hmm?

After MUCH effort, she finally got Spike's nightmare out of his sleep, the black mare gasping and panting a bit.

N.Moon: -This can only be.....-

Nightmare Moon growls, flying off to see if any other ponies needed her help.  She'd find no shortage tonight.....

*INTRO SEQUENCE*

The next morning, everypony was talking about the crazy dreams they had before Nightmare Moon took them away, the mare herself trotting in.

N.Moon: *gasp, pant*  Sleep well?

The Mane 6 smirk at Nightmare Moon.

T.Sparkle: Bit out-of-practice?

N.Moon: I know what you ponies are thinking, and I THINK I know what happened.

Spike: What?  Us having the WORST nightmares since you started taking them away?

N.Moon: I saw that, Spike.  I was referring to WHY you had the worst nightmares since I started taking them away.

R.Dash: Oh?

N.Moon: *nod*  You remember Philomena?

Fluttershy: Princess Celestia's pet phoenix?

N.Moon: *nod*  I have my own version, and he's a bit more..... mischevious.  Problem is, he zips from pony to pony, causing nightmares.  He was my right hoof when I was a jealous evil mare bent on causing nighttime everlasting, and apparently he didn't get the memo that I'm not that jealous evil mare anymore.

T.Sparkle: Why can't'cha just talk to him?

N.Moon: Since I haven't seen him for 200 years.  We usually work without the other's intervention.

R.Dash: That's stupid.  You two should be a team, right?

N.Moon: We ARE, we just work independent of each other.

The Mane 6 nod, satisfied - for now.

N.Moon: For now, I implore you, write down what you dream before you see me pull your nightmares out.  I NEED to see where he is so I can give him a wake-up call, OK?

Virtuna: Hey, no prob, Moon.

P.Pie: We'll certainly help out.

Rarity: Sure.

Nightmare Moon smiles and heads out, sighing.

Applejack: She's a bit frazzled 'bout this, I can tell.  She's been workin' harder than I do during harvest season tryin' ta change her image, and this pet of hers is undoin' it.

Fluttershy: Poor Nightmare Moon.....  *blink!*  Oh, my.....

The Mane 6 chuckle as Virtuna heads for Fluttershy.

Virtuna: Never thought you'd say THAT, eh?

That got all seven ponies laughing.  That night, several ponies had bad dreams, Nightmare Moon having to work overtime to collect them.  The ponies then wake up and hand over their reports.

N.Moon: Really, he's not that bad - or he won't be once I tell him I've changed.

A.Bloom: I hope so, this is getting ridiculous.

N.Moon: *smirk* Let's change places, THEN you'll know what's ridiculous.

The two chuckle a bit, then Apple Bloom hands over her report.

N.Moon: Good night.

A.Bloom: I hope.....

Nightmare Moon sighs, feeling bad for the little filly.  She flies off collecting more nightmares and reports.  Nightmare Moon goes over the reports as she flies around.

N.Moon: *flies over Twilight's library*  1.....  *Sugar Cube Corner*  2.....  *Sweet Apple Acres*  3.....  *Rainbow Dash's house*  4.....  *Carousel Boutique*  5..... *She turns her head quickly and discovers one house left, Fluttershy's cottage!*  NO!

The Mare in the Moon takes off fast for Fluttershy's cottage, just in time to see the poor pegasus shivering in bed.  She growls, slamming her front hooves, silver light surrounding the cottage and waking up Fluttershy, who was still shaking in terror.

N.Moon: Hang on, Fluttershy!

Nightmare Moon smiles reassuringly at Fluttershy as the rest of the ponies gallop in.  Fluttershy returns the smile, then Nightmare Moon glares angrily.

N.Moon: Get out here, NOW!

Rainbow Dash was about to gallop up until Applejack bit her tail to stop her.  Then, a large black bird about twice Philomena's size flew out of Fluttershy's shadow!

Mane 6: WHOA!

Applejack: LANDS SAKES!  What IS that?!

N.Moon: *looks at Applejack* It's a shadowhawk, my pet, Malphorious.  *She glares up at the shadowhawk*  GET DOWN HERE!

The bird looks down at the Mare in the Moon, but doesn't move.  Fluttershy watches the large beast as it hovers over its master.

N.Moon: RIGHT NOW, MISTER!

Fluttershy: HEY!  Get down here!

The bird coos a bit as it lands on Fluttershy's footboard.

Fluttershy (with Nightmare Moon and the rest of the Mane 6 looking on in shock): Look here you!  Who do you think you are?!  Giving Nightmare Moon's friends nightmares and trying to undo her hard work?!  She's NOT the jealous "Mare in the Moon" anymore!!  She's the "Sentinel of the Stars"!!  She's trying to PRO-TECT us!!  Or did you not see what she did at the Royal Anniversary!?

The shadowhawk coos nervously.

Fluttershy: Don't'cha coo like that at ME, PAL!  SHE is YOUR MASTER, and SHE is NOT EVIL ANYMORE!!!  Now *hoof on the bird's chest* YOU apologize to *points at Nightmare Moon* HER, AND DO IT RIGHT NOW!!!!!

The bird coos ashamedly, head down at Nightmare Moon.  It then lands on Nightmare Moon's back.

N.Moon: Uh........... What-the-hay-and-oats-just-happened?!  Malphorious here was spreading terror in the night and Fluttershy.....

The Mane 6 except for a hotly-blushing Fluttershy laugh.

R.Dash: Yeah, she..... gets that way sometimes.

N.Moon: Oh?

T.Sparkle: Yeah.  One time there was a dragon who was threatening to blanket Equestria under heavy smoke.  When we got up to the top of the mountain where he was sleeping, Fluttershy told us she was scared of dragons - until it cornered all of us and then, well, Fluttershy just.....

N.Moon: Gave that dragon the stern talking-to she just did to Malphorious.

Nightmare Moon looks at Fluttershy.

N.Moon: I gotta say this: You *lays near Fluttershy* are amazing when it's time to get tough, you're tougher than I thought.

Fluttershy: Aw.

Fluttershy nervously chuckles then blushes as Nightmare Moon nuzzles her.  Then, with a coo, Malphorious nuzzles Fluttershy, making all the ponies laugh.

N.Moon: Dear Princess Celestia,

Today - well, toNIGHT - I learned that one must not underestimate anypony in any situation.  No matter what obstacle is in the way, friends can help anypony find a way around or through.  And no matter what kind of pony one is, they can always find inspiration from the strength of another.

Your former enemy,

Nightmare Moon.

P.Luna: What is that, sister?

P.Celestia: *floats the scroll over* You won't believe it.

P.Luna: *reads, then gasps* A letter about FRIENDSHIP?  From NIGHTMARE MOON?!

P.Celstia: *smile* Indeed.

Discord walks in and the princesses look at him.

Discord: Hmm?

P.Celestia: *holds up the scroll* Your turn.

TO BE CONTINUED