Lucky Leaves

As Clover arrived at her destination, she landed smoothly. Okay, she skidded for a few meters, but that's about it.

The area was dark, like a piece of the morning sky was removed and replaced with a chunk of the night. Her pendant glowed brightly as she approached.

{Nightshade?}

{I am yours to command.}

{Good. I get the feeling that I might need your help.}

At that, Nightshade manifested. The two made their way forward, in relatively silent company.

There was thunder nearby. A bolt of dark blue lightning struck. That wasn't right.

Looking around, she queried, "Huh? Where's the Nightmare?"

Nightshade was quick to reply. {Don't you see it? That cloud IS the Nightmare!}

Looking upward, Clover gulped. "Any ideas? I think I'm fresh out."

{Well, if there's something that could stop a giant storm front...}

NOW Clover had an idea. Concentrating her energy, she more or less remolded herself into a Pegasus. Her wings were no longer shadowy, but strong and purposeful looking. They were fully manifested like those of any Pegasus. On her wings there was a set of violet wingblades. Very sharp.

Giving a couple of test flaps, she then shot into the air, as fast as possible.

When she got within, she saw her allies fighting against the monster. Moon Shadow was blasting it nearly constantly with her magic. The others were trying their level best. Heart Song was singing brightly. Her music seemed to heal and boost the others. Just as a dark cloud was heading for Southern Cross, Clover moved in, slashing it with one wing and then punching it to dissipate it.

Southern Cross wiped his brow. "Thanks. What took you?"

"Some minor distractions. But I can help now." Clover said, kind of evading the question.

Keep doing what you were doing." He instructed. "You're a Pegasus; use those wings!" He then paused. "Uh... How did you do that?"

Clover rolled her eyes, but explained, "Well, you can do anything in a dream. The same should apply here."

As Clover dashed off to deal with another cloud, she could see flashes of what might happen should they fail. Her friends, mindless slaves; the princesses: dead; her home: destroyed.

She shoved that aside. "No! I can't let that happen! I WON'T LET THAT HAPPEN!"

The Nightmare just did the worst possible thing. It had given her motivation.

She commanded, "Nightshade: MERGE!"

With that, there was a flash of violet light, and there was Clover, changed into a Thestral. Razor sharp teeth, membranous wings (with lesser blades) and all. Wisps of red energy wafted off of her,

She roared with an unearthly ferocity, zooming forward to deal with several clouds in quick succession. Her eyes were completely a solid blue, the same colour as Princess Luna's coat. She kicked, slashed, dodged and ducked, at a ferocious pace. But no matter what, the clouds kept increasing in number. Many of those who were in the fight were knocked out of commission. Either victims of their darkest fears or shocked by one of the bolts of lightning.

Clover!
Wake up, Clover!
We are here for you!
Don't let the Nightmare win!
You can win together!

Suddenly, something in Clover snapped her out of it. The voices of her friends, back home. They were indeed praying for her.

Win together? She had an idea.

She flew over to Heart Song, who was still living up to her name. "Hearts! I've got an idea! Or rather, I think that YOU have the RIGHT idea! Sing with me? I feel one of your namesake coming up!"

They set up beside each other and began to sing. A very different song.

There is a light inside us
That we can all ignite
And all that's dark about us
Will fade into the night!

The Nightmare sort of recoiled from the renewed strength of the song.

There is strength in every heart
There's a power in every song
A power that starts within us
A power that will bring once more the Dawn!

By this time, Moon Shadow caught on and joined them, a field of coruscating light surrounded them. Soon enough, Southern Cross and multiple other DreamGuards had joined in. The Nightmare was writhing in agony.

As much as a giant cloud can do that, anyway.

And as we sail into the air
More beautiful than any prayer
This power will right every wrong
And it will always show how much we care!
For those who have the power to hear
The magic of our song will ring out clear!

There's a strength inside us
That tells us wrong and right
A song into the darkness
To bring us to the light!!!!

The enormous cloud dissipated with a scream of pure agony that could be heard for a hundred kilometers. At least.

Clover began feeling weak. Even with everypony else joining in, that had taken a lot out of her. She made sure to land before she reverted to her base form. Even some of those who had been affected by the Nightmare's power were beginning to awaken, released from the endless nightmare they were trapped in.

Southern Cross landed too, as did the rest of the team. He wiped his brow. "Great job. Get the wounded home. They'll recover soon. Until then, Merry Part."

In unison, they all said, "Until we Merry Meet Again."

Clover and Heart Song had the same idea. "JINX! You all owe me a soda!" Then they pointed at each other. "JINX again! JINX again again!"

The others all laughed at their antics. The drink would be worth it.

After this, Southern Cross came up to Clover, putting a hoof on her withers. "You and Heart Song were certainly the MVPs this time. You're getting a bonus. So. How does it feel to have saved Equestria?"

Clover let out a long breath and collapsed, unconscious. She had overexerted herself once more.

Heart Song decided to take her home this time. Their duty there was done.