Heart Of A Nightmare

[Kaltes-Herzeleid]

Chapter 25: Sacrificium
----

The heavy marching of hoofsteps was like thunder in the air, the sun was in the sky, yet somehow it's light felt dim. Gloomy. Princesses Celestia and Luna were at the front of their force, the younger princesses not far behind. The ponies were adorned in gold and or dark blue armor, pegasai flew overhead, just a bit behind the leaders, keeping their eyes out for any unexpected attacks. Twilight Sparkle shifted in dark purple armor, her helmet felt awkward to her, didn't help that whenever she moved she felt like she was banging trash can lids together. As a princess she was spared no expense, her armor was to protect her at all costs. Princess Cadence's armor was a deep red in color, so clean (at the moment) Twilight could see her own reflection in it. The sunlight glinted off Celestia's golden armor, making Twilight squint. She glanced behind her, a seemingly endless sea of ponies marching behind her, their faces blank, armor polished and weapons drawn. Ready for war.


The sloping hills lay before them just feet away, and they could see the castle...now covered in dark jagged crystals, making it look even larger than it already was. Green and blue fire flickered and hissed endlessly. Celestia flared her white feathered wings out in a brief command to halt, in an instant they all did. Aside from the wind there was not a sound, just the eerie stillness of a calm before a storm.


King Sombra marched out onto the balcony, his glowing eyes fixing the Equestrian forces with an icy glare, but the traces of a smile lingered on his lips. Beneath him, in the city, his own army awaited his command, equally as silent as Celestia's own. Sombra looked each of the four over, noting Nightmare Rarity's absence. He raised a dark brow at that, either she didn't care for the human at all or there was another legion on the way. If it was the second option then he was not worried, he had a plan, after all.


A moment more of heavy silence passed before Sombra gave the order.


"ATTACK!"


Celestia didn't even need to say it aloud, a single gesture was all it took, the armies charging steps was deafening, it may of well have been the only sound in the world. Battle screams rising in a terrifying chorus, Celestia's army dashing down the great hill, Sombra's rushing up to meet them halfway. Blades clashed, armored forms collided violently as the two legions met head on. Celestia and Luna sweeping through droves of ponies, blasting any enemy in their path, Twilight and Cadence stuck close together; back to back as they opened fire. Pegasus ponies swooped down, knocking opposing soldiers high into the air and sending them crashing hard to the earth or into nearby buildings.


King Sombra lept down from his balcony, a crystal structure springing forth from the ground for him to land on, laughing to himself he joined the battle, leaping down and crushing a pony beneath his hooves; letting loose with several blasts of dark magic the beams striking several attackers. An earth pony soldier swiped at his head with a sword, Sombra chuckled at his futile efforts moments before a crystal shot from the ground like a bullet and gored the pony through his midsection as he reared up on his back legs for another strike. Three more ponies met the same fate, skewered through, struggling to free themselves in a panicked bout to save their lives. The protruding ends slick with crimson blood.


Sombra grunted when a figure slammed into his body, lifting him up he tumbled across the ground roughly, to his credit he recovered by firmly digging his hooves into the dirt to effectively halt his momentum. He looked to see Cadence glowering at him, oh if looks could kill. He only smirked coldly, standing a bit taller as he sneered at her.


"Here for your husband?"


Princess Cadence retaliated by firing directly at him, Sombra sidestepped to avoid it and shot back , Cadence jumped into the air, her wings keeping her aloft she rained several more spells down on Sombra. He avoided them by lifting himself up to her level with a well aimed crystal, closing the distance between them in a flash. His jaws opened like a shark about to bite down on a helpless fish, had it not been for a blast destroying his crystalline perch he would have ripped the young princess' jugular out. King Sombra growled in frustration, seeing Celestia closing in as he fell. His curved horn glowed red and green, energy crackling free it separated into three bolts of dark magic, Celestia folded her wings over her front; a shield springing forth. The second the blasts made contact she fanned her wings out, the energy spiraling away harmlessly.


Sombra laughed as the two landed. "Always the defender Celestia, you never change. So tell me, where is Nightmare?"


Neither princess answered as they charged at him, his horn glowed and called a stray spear to him, it swung in a wide arc to keep them at bay. Following up with a shot to the chest that staggered Celestia, but did not topple her. Cadence ducked under a jab, with a yell she connected a punch to Sombra's jaw. He grunted as he was knocked off his hooves and winced as his side met the ground unceremoniously. He admitted he was surprised by Cadence's ferocity, she'd certainly learned a thing or two after becoming the successor to the Crystal Empire. But not good enough. With a snarl he lashed out with a strong kick to her midsection as she was rearing up, she groaned when she hit the ground, already feeling her body beginning to bruise. Celestia shielded her niece fiercely, her horn thrumming with power, casting a fiery glow upon her face.


"My business is with Nightmare, not any of you, at the moment. Now where is she?"



-----

Nightmare Rarity thought that the ponies of today were a pampered lot when it came to war. In a time when magic was at it's infancy, battles had been waged with sharp, cold blades and blood was spilled. Drenching the ground of which they died upon. It had been some time since she had used such weapons in battle, but it was a knowledge and experience that never truly left her. It began as a cloud smoke forming beside her, then in a burst a wicked battleaxe was in it's place. It's blades gleamed in the light of the sun, her hooves firm on the ground. She was practically encased in armor, gold in color, each plate shifting perfectly with her body. Gems encrusted in her helmet and a few in the shoulder region adding a unique beauty to such an ancient attire.


King Sombra wasn't foolish to think they'd come from one direction, sentries had been placed around the perimeter, but not enough. Their faces clearly showed their demoralization at the sheer number of shadowy, phantom like soldiers she had brought with her. Even in light, they were ghastly. Amorphous in shape, glowing eyes and monstrous faces.


Her horn glowed as she gestured towards them with her ax. "Let not a one escape," her command was obeyed instantly. Her mane whipping as several of her minions zipped by her at frightening speeds. Several guards charged at them, she noted how a few had those odd, cumbersome helmets on their heads. Mindlessly running at them.


She made short work of each of them.


Her ax swung so fast it was little more than a flash of cutting metal. One guard's head was removed as a result, a helmeted pony was bashed aside, another attacker's head was split in two by a downward swipe. Then the deadly weapon began spinning all around her, what few brave (or foolish enough) to remain backed away from her. Nightmare appeared as though she was within a fortress of dangerous metal, ready to kill whoever approached. As soon as it began, it ceased, still distracted she effortlessly ended their feeble existences. Taking satisfaction at the looks of fear and uncertainty that would not be their final expressions.


She inclined with her head for her subordinates to resume moving forward.


It was only a few more steps until they came upon the hill, leading down to the Empire itself. Battle raged. Nightmare Rarity turned her cold eyes on the western direction, smiling to herself as more of her forces came into view, awaiting her command.



-----


King Sombra's horn clashed with Princess Luna's, resembling the sound of tree branches clacking together. With a feral snarl he shoved her aside, the snarl turning into a grunt as Cadence launched herself at him, aggressively slamming her hooves into his chest. He slid back a few feet, but kept his bearings in tact. In the blink of an eye he generated another crystal spire to shield himself from a shot from the tip of Celestia's long horn. It shattered the black gem upon impact but it did it's job well. One on one wouldn't be impossible, but three against one? He wasn't going to push himself. Growling, another crystal burst from the ground, leaving a cloud of dust in it's wake, carrying him higher and higher. Teeth gritted in fury, Luna blasted the lower half of it, breaking it in two, but by that point Sombra simply sprung back onto the safety of the balcony where several guards awaited.


"Your Highness, look!"


When he did, his jaw dropped.


With a gesture of her ax, a trail of blood flying from it, Nightmare Rarity's forces swooped into action from the south and west. Hundreds of them! He had been expecting Nightmare to join the fray...but not with this much support! They'd be crushed in due time if something was not done.


Nightmare Rarity herself shifted into a formless blackish purple cloud, almost resembling a combination of smoke and shadow. She soared towards the opposing force, the momentum blowing several soldiers away. Nightmare quickly regained full form, magical lasers spouting from horn, any enemy in her sight was hit. If they weren't on the receiving end of her ax, of course. Blood sprayed in the air with every swipe, a punch from an armor hoof rendered a helmeted pony unconscious. A kick breaking a jaw, teeth littering the ground. She was a furious storm, her determination to reach Michael unmatched. For the first time, Sombra wondered if he might have made a mistake. Absently he gestured to his guards to fire some arrows at a few pegasai getting to close for his liking. Two evaded, others fell from the sky wounded or dead.


Silently he marched back into the confines of his castle. If she was that determined, she would reach him. If not, then he would admit he had severely overestimated her.



-----

The guards were irritated by the fact that rather than participate in the battle above, they were to remain in the drab dungeon to watch over the two prisoners. Nor were they fond of Shining Armor suddenly banging his hooves on the bars.


"Hey, we need help in here!"


"Keep banging those damn bars and I'll give you something to need help about," the bigger guard said gruffly, threateningly glaring the direction of the imprisoned pony.


"I'm serious! M-Michael, the h-hum-m-man just collapsed...he's not moving!"


The guard merely scowled. "You think we're falling for that? Piss off."


Shining's face only grew more frantic with worry, his brow creasing further as he looked behind him somewhere off in the cell.


"Please, he just started breathing real heavy, said something about chest pains and he just fell over. Please!" He begged, hooves clattering on the bars with his plea. The guards' ears flattened out at the loud noise, the bigger one's irritation turning to anger as he stomped over. Shining grunted in pain when he butted him back further into the cell with the blunt end of his spear.


"Shut up!" He shouted, peering into the cell. Sure enough, Michael was laying flat on his front, cheek meshed against the stone floor, still.


"Alright human, get up now!" No response. The other guard, tentatively, approached. "Didn't you hear me you hairless monkey? Get up!"


"I think we should go in-,"


"What?!"


"King Sombra needs him alive!"


"He might not later!"


"But what if he does you idiot!?" The other guard's voice rose an octave with that statement, "do you really want to be responsible for-,"


"Oh shut up!" The guard bellowed, huffing. Their voices still ringing in their ears he finally relented, taking out his big bronze colored keys he began unlocking the cell. The smaller guard went in first, pointing his spear at Shining Armor, commanding him to back up against the wall; to which he relented without hesitation. His eyes traveling to Michael and the big guard, and back to the smaller one pointing his spear at him.


"Alright human, you better hope this isn't some prank," he roughly prodded the blunt end of his weapon into Michael's side. The second harder than the last. "Get up!" He snapped, wishing he could just stick him with the blade and get it over with. But no reaction was given. Just silence and stillness. An air of something intense lingering in the cell itself now, as though the room itself knew what was to occur. Shining Armor flinched when the guard jabbed Michael in the back with the blade, not enough to illicit blood, but clearly not comfortable to be on the receiving end of either.


The guard raised a brow...perhaps the claims of illness weren't false, but he still wasn't wholly convinced. Quietly he rolled Michael over onto his back, peering at his dirtied face hard, watching for any signs of movement.


Suddenly, he felt a crushing and agonizing pressure at his throat and he couldn't breath. That's when he saw Michael's arms...the arms ending in hands. The hands of which were squeezing his throat. Michael's brown eyes had opened, and in them was a fury the likes of which the guard had never seen in another. His spear clattered to the ground and his eyes bulged and he desperately attempted to form words. To plead for mercy, for his comrade to notice, anything. Even a scream would suffice. The noises had alerted the other guard, the second he turned his head Shining knocked the weapon out of his hooves with a harsh jab before promptly tackling him.


Michael stood to his feet, hands still crushing the guard's neck for several seconds longer, seeing stars and his vision cloudy he was thrown savagely into the wall, helmet dislodged and falling noisily to the floor before he himself followed. But Michael was not done with him. In those moments the guard regretted his mistreatment of Michael, his participation in anything pertaining to King Sombra. Michael heaved him upwards, slamming him into the bars, and not missing a beat began bashing his skull into the bars repeatedly. Each clang and howl of pain echoing around the dungeon, Michael continued despite this. It was several more clangs later until he was satisfied, allowing the guard to drop limply to the ground. His face was one of pain, but Michael felt no pity.


Shining Armor watched as the human's breathing began to even out before he said anything, he wiped a spot of blood from the corner of his mouth where the guard had caught him with a glancing blow.


"Michael? You okay?"


"Yeah," he replied in a ragged voice, a great exhale puffing out as he stooped to pick up the keys. He jingled them together with a slight grin.


"Let's go."

[Kaltes-Herzeleid]

Chapter 26: Strong As I Am
----

Shining Armor and I made our way hurriedly up the stone steps, leaving the guards locked up in our one time cell. I glanced back at the pony, jingling the keys in my hand. There were three keys on the loop in total, so naturally I knew they must go to something.


"What else are these for?"


"One is for the door right here, one is for the armory," he replied, looking over this shoulder as I began unlocking the old iron door that led down to the dungeon. It dreadfully creaked as I pulled it open...to see a plethora of guards waiting for us. Or rather, coming to a dead stop at the sight of us, baffled. Like they were expecting someone else, or perhaps not expecting anyone at all. The room itself was wide, a large wooden desk and chair sat off to the side, unattended, a door behind the guards and one off to the left. I suspected the left was the armory.


Either way, there was no time to dwell.


We rushed at the guards head on and vice versa, using the spear I commandeered off the guards back at the cell I block two swords. I found myself wishing I had a better weapon as I smacked them aside with my weapon. It was awkward for me fighting with something pony sized, I swiped at a soldier, but he avoided it easily before promptly leaping right at me. I grunted, spear falling uselessly to the ground as I was lifted off my feet and smashed hard onto the stone. The wind knocked straight out of my body. The soldier glared at me with murder in his eyes, a dagger drawn, raising to plunge it directly into my heart.


Despite my pain I sent my fist plowing squarely into his nose, despite his apparent crystalline form striking him was no different that striking flesh and bone. He dropped his weapon but retaliated with a punch to my jaw, my eyes watering. But my need, my drive to find Nightmare Rarity at all costs overtook any pain I felt. Snarling, I shoved the pony off, a free hand grabbing the dagger. I heard the clanging of armored hooves running up behind me and without hesitation I acted. Swiveling around I drew the dagger across the attacker's snout. My first attacker pounced on me from behind with a triumphant laugh, his comrade backing away with howls of pain at his bloodied face.


My fingers, shaky but determined undid the tie I still had around my neck. The soldier must have been surprised to see me untie my tie in the midst of a fight. But I doubt it equated to whatever he was thinking when I wrapped it around his own neck. With a roar of my own I heaved him up and over, bringing his helmeted head crashing down to the floor. But I didn't stop there.


Two soldiers dashed towards me, swords at the ready. With another bellow I swung the unconscious pony, tie still around his throat, battering the two away from me. Wheeling around I saw the bloodied pony approaching me, vengeance in his eyes turning to fright and bafflement. I must've looked like an utter madman: Hair a disheveled mess, eyes bulging, a scream that hurt my throat erupting from me as I heaved my makeshift weapon over my head and brought him down onto the other. The clattering of armor and bodies breaking together resonating loudly. For good measure I repeated the action, panting and gasping as the room began to grow quiet once more.


"You know, in all my years I never thought I'd see someone use somepony else as a club."


I looked over at Shining Armor, noting the other soldiers either unconscious or dead behind him. He had a slightly bruised lip and a cut on his side, but other than that he seemed fine. "Showoff," I chuckled in a rasp.


"What?" He replied with a grin, glancing over behind him. "I wasn't Captain of the Royal Guard for nothing you know." He walked over, extending a hoof.


"I'll check the armory for anything, you rest a bit. I don't think anyone's face is supposed to be that red." I obliged and sat down while he went over to the door on the left. Still breathing heavily I eyed the other door. It was wooden and unassuming. Plain for a dungeon. Exhaling I stood up, making my way towards it, faintly registering the jingle of keys and the noise of a lock being undone. My hand outstretched towards the doorknob...


"No Michael don't!"


I was already twisting it when Shining screamed his words, but I was blinded by a flash of green. It washed over my vision like paint running down a wall, I felt myself falling. The green shifting to crushing blackness.



-----

The doors to the castle were blasted open, they hung limply on their great hinges as shadowy beasts flew in. Arrows shot through the air, missing the majority and sticking harmlessly in the walls. Green and purple flames flickered in the wind as the battle poured into the castle. Like its exterior, it had undergone extensive remodeling. Black walls sheathed in the ugly and uneven crystals, resembling an infectious disease of sorts that had overtaken a body. The floors were now a sleek gray, so clean it could act as a mirror. Bodies collided and cold blades clashed, Nightmare Rarity's armored form entered, flanked by several ghostly looking monsters with gleaming eyes of red and yellow. Satisfied at having broken into the castle, but she would not be fully content until Michael was with her once again and King Sombra was dead.


A soldier made the mistake of rushing at her, with a cold sneer she swatted him down, a gold glad hoof crunching into his throat. He struggled to breath and flecks of blood now dotted the floor as his life ebbed further and further away. Her elegant horn glowed and the doors were ripped off their hinges and hurled across the room. The boom of their impact reverberated it made almost everyone cringe, the doors pinning multiple soldiers beneath their mass. Without even batting an eye she progressed further into the castle itself, passing the broken doors and the ponies feebly struggling to free themselves. Several of her own subordinates still flanked her upon her command, she wasn't interested in fighting any guards or whatever else lay ahead. It had pleased her to crush her foes and humiliate those who stood in her way, but she knew it would be foolish to tire herself on such wastes when a bigger challenge lay ahead.


They rounded the corner, her tail dragging like a cape until suddenly she stopped. A wavering gasp emitted from her and a shiver wormed it's way up her spine. Her guards paused in concern, each exchanging confused glances before daring to speak.


"My Queen? Is something wrong?" A beaked one with yellow eyes and a raspy voice spoke the inquiry, approaching hesitantly.


"Michael?" Nightmare Rarity's mind raced. From some distance she felt a surge of terror and uncertainty, loneliness and a wave of hopeless despair. She knew it was not her own feelings. Somehow, she had sense Michael's, wherever he was right now. And he was afraid.


"Let's move," she didn't even acknowledge the guard's question, striding right past him. Regardless they followed her, her pace verging on that of a run.


"Michael, wherever you are I need you to fight. Please, my love, hold on."



-----

Michael did not know where he was. It was a forest of sorts. A dead one. Not a single solitary sound save for his own ragged breaths and footsteps. There was no grass. No leaves of the trees. The trees towered over him, black trunks seemingly went on for eternity, the claw like branches all upturned to the icy gray sky. The sky more unending than them. The claws outstretched for a hope that would never come. There was no sign of a sun or anything providing the light, yet impossibly so there was light. Michael breathed heavily, sweat glinting on his forehead and his legs were beginning to hurt. Something of a whimper and a sob escaped him, rising up into the claws of the trees.


Something was behind him, all around him. All seeing and unseen by him. The presence threatened to indulge him in it's freezing despair and fiery hate.


"Michael, wherever you are I need you to fight. Please, my love, hold on."


His heart did back flips in his sternum, bouncing off his bones, he would recognize that voice anywhere.


"Nightmare?"


There was no response. Only the emptiness.


"Nightmare! Please where are you!?" He cried. He knew he was not insane. He had heard her. Michael hadn't even registered it at first but his legs were carrying him forward faster than he thought he could run, muscles howling in agonized protest, but still he ran from the all seeing feeling that pervaded the forest. The very air around him was alive with it.


He burst out of the forest...a spire lay several meters away. It was like a castle or fortress of sorts. It jutted from the cold ground. Jet black and without flaw. It was more frightening than the forest. It had no door, just a gaping maw ready for him and him alone. Michael may has well have been in flight as he drew closer and closer to the abyss that awaited him. The second he entered the darkness a door thunderously slammed shut behind him and he was entombed. It was like he was in the deepest depths of the ocean. Crushing darkness, not a speck of light.


Alone.



-----

Once Nightmare Rarity stopped in her tracks, finding that fear and crushing hopelessness wash over her again. Her gaze towards the ceiling now, but she appeared to somehow look past it and beyond the sky itself. As though she were seeing something that only she could witness with her own sapphire eyes.


"Michael." She spoke clear and strong, startling her guards, in fact they actually looked around. Confused.


"You need to run. Where ever you are, no matter how far apart we seem, I am here."


Without another word the feeling vanished soon as it came and she proceeded onward. She could feel the eyes of her guards behind her, looking at her as though she had gone completely insane. Her mane whipped as she turned back to them with a dangerous look in her eyes now.


"Come on, we haven't got much time."



-----

"Michael.You need to run. Where ever you are, no matter how far apart we seem, I am here."

Again her voice came to him, strong and reaffirming. Light suddenly glistened from along the walls, spiraling up and up in the darkness above. Stairs. Hundreds of them lay before Michael, his heart hammered in his chest, but his love for her and his need to conquer this unseen force emanated from his being. However scared he might be. And once more he ran. His footsteps fast and heavy, echoing. The light an unearthly blue, but it guided him in his journey up. He could feel it behind him, the dark consuming force behind him. The anger, the fear, the hopelessness and isolation. It might have been a hell hound snapping ravenously at his heels in its relentless pursuit.


Michael fell once, catching himself with his hands. They stung and burned from the palms slapping into the unforgiving stone, but no matter the pain he ran again. The light guiding him higher and higher. It was like Nightmare Rarity was running alongside him all the while, her words of encouragement whispered strongly into his ear.


"Run."


He knew not where her voice came from this time. His mind? Above? All around? Michael heard whispers all around, too distant and quiet to make out, but their malice was evident. But he ignored them. They had no power. His resolve built in him stronger and stronger, so powerful and glowing he could've sworn it shined from him. His heart pounding in his chest so hard he felt it might burst out from him. But he cared not, to him there was no other choice.


How long had he been running? He honestly could not say. It could have been seconds, minutes, hours...even years. Either way he reached the top to see a huge mirror before him. It expanded from the floor to the ceiling. It was flawless, only he himself peered back. Michael cautiously looked behind him, the stairs were gone now. Only a pit of black lay behind him now. He have a sharp intake of breath at that and slowly turned back to the mirror to see himself.


The reflection was the same in every way and he was still. Now did he understand. The feelings of hate and fear, isolation and despair left him like an exorcised demon. Flying away to the icy blackness to which they rightfully belonged.


Michael ran.


For the briefest of moments there were two Michaels running at one another, their stride the exact same. But Michael ran not out of fear, but to freedom. He crossed his arms protectively over his face and jumped forward. His muscles burned like white hot fire. The two Michaels met, for a moment they were one and the same, but only one came through. The sound of shattering glass was like music as Michael broke through the other side, glinting glass soaring around him; the mirror behind him falling to pieces all at once, and he fell towards a radiant sapphire glow. It shone brighter and stronger with every passing second.


He smiled. Spreading his arms like they were wings he fell into it. The light should have been blinding to look into it, yet it was not. It consumed his vision, the warmth and love enveloping him endlessly.


Somewhere, he saw Nightmare Rarity smile.

[Kaltes-Herzeleid]

The recent chapter's title and several other things are a reference to this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-VnDcs3pnU

[Kaltes-Herzeleid]

Chapter 27: Duel
----

I awoke with a start, gulping a massive breath of air like a drowning man bursting up through the water's surface, my body jolting upwards. I looked around wildly, taking in the dark stone structures and that I was sitting on something uneven. I could see dozens of stairs below me.


"Oh thank goodness...thought you'd never wake up," Shining Armor spoke up from behind me in a relieved voice, I looked over at him in surprise, steadily piecing together what must have happened. There was some sort of light...then I must have passed out somehow, then Shining dragged me along who knows how far until I snapped out of it. But just to be sure I tentatively asked: "What happened?"


"I'm sorry," Shining Armor replied regretfully, rubbing the back of his head with a hoof shamefully and averting eye contact with me. "I should have warned you about that. Sombra is fond of traps...particularly some form of dark magic that overtakes your mind when you open a specific door. It causes you to experience your absolute worst fears. I-I've never seen or heard of it affecting someone so badly."


I stood up, rolling a crick from neck and rubbing my sore back, being dragged over steps had taken it's toll on me. But regardless I still had the fiery determination to find Nightmare Rarity, she was close, I could feel it in the pit of my stomach.


"Doesn't matter now, let's get moving."



-----

King Sombra could hear the sounds of battle outside the throne room doors, or rather the sound of voices pleading for mercy and shrieks of pain and likely death. The throne room had been extensively remade in his image, crystals coating the walls and the ground a sleek black and steel gray carpet leading to the throne itself. The crystals a green and black combination, much more sharp and jagged and exuding in menace. Glinting with dark energies. The curtains had been drawn over the windows, sunlight peaking through the slits.


The doors were blasted open in a flash of sapphire, Nightmare Rarity's entrance was swift. Her eyes glowed as she glared daggers at the dark pony. He was shorter than her, but he was not intimidated as he all but strolled down the steps to meet her with a grin.


"I'd extend you a warm welcome but suffice it to say you've made quite the mess," he cast a glance over her shoulder to see bodies strewn about the hallway.


"Where's Michael?"


"The human? Down in the dungeon, last I checked," his response earned him a quiet snarl, he noted shadows had sprung up around her hooves as an indication of her rage.


"All this to get to me?"


"More or less, I have a-,"


"I'm not interested in whatever pathetic proposition you may have for me," she sneered, "either free Michael now and then you die. Or I kill you now and then I free Michael."


King Sombra, for once, allowed himself to be visibly aghast. So much planning and effort, to have it all thrown back in his face. He returned her glare, the eerie glow of his eyes growing stronger as he growled back like a feral dog.


"So be it!"


His curved horn unleashed a jet of magic, pulsating red and green streaked towards Nightmare Rarity. In a golden blur she raised a hoof, the blast deflecting off the armor and straight back to the source. Sombra grunted when it struck his sternum, stumbling. Nightmare returned fire, the energy spiraled into the stallion to effectively lift him off his hooves and send him plowing into the steps of the throne. Steps buckling and crumbling upon impact. He shook his head to clear his vision, reacting in time to dodge another shot, the broken steps were blown apart in it's wake. Surprisingly, jets of shadow erupted from his hooves like flames to rapidly propel him around the room.


Nightmare Rarity sprung upwards to evade another blast of dark magic, her armor was highly durable and reflective but she wasn't just going to allow herself to be struck repeatedly. She landed, only to be slammed into by Sombra himself. The speed sent her sliding along the floor, hooves screeching along it's sleek surface. Another beam hit her squarely in the chest, audibly crying out she was sent cracking into a wall near one of the windows. Somewhat dazed she regained her footing, a sound resembling cracking ice jarring her back to full concentration. Looking at her chest to see ugly black crystals growing from the armor, twisted and gnarled. Immediately she tore the chest piece away and sent it clattering off into the shadows, mentally sighing in relief to find the spell had not affected her body. But there was little time to dwell on that.


King Sombra jetted toward her, teeth bared in the mixture of a grimace and sadistic grin. Nightmare Rarity reacted, but not in the way he anticipated. Rather than dash aside, she merely conjured a shield that he met head on. His vision a blur, Sombra staggered back in a way similar to a drunk leaving a bar in the late hours of night. His jaw went numb when an uppercut connected with it and sent him sprawling along the floor. Despite this he defended himself appropriately, Nightmare Rarity slid to a halt as a crystal shot up from the floor, she gasped when several more entrapped her in their grasp. Mostly her armored legs, another began to break through the ground, aiming for her exposed chest, ready to skewer her.


Reflexively she countered, a pulse emanating from her horn shattering the monstrous obtrusion's to many, many pieces. She held them in her magical grasp, her mane whipping about wildly as she redirected them at Sombra. Grunting, his body transformed into a mass of a shadow, splashing into the floor safely. An unearthly roar emitting from him as he sprang out at her, teeth clipping together inches from her face. Baring her own sharp teeth she locked horns with him and sent him stumbling off to the side. Quickly she attempted to close the distance, Sombra stomping a hoof on the floor and a crystal bursting up beneath her hooves. Silently she was flung into the air, landing in a heap. Still winded, she was enclosed in a magical aura and lifted limply like a ragdoll and was unceremoniously hurled across the room. Her shoulder bashed through part of the wall around one of the many windows, ripping through curtains as she soared out the castle to fall to the ground.


King Sombra smiled cruelly in the direction she had been thrown, a deep chuckle rumbling from him and filling the throne room.


"You should have heard me out." He turned his head towards the door, brushing a strand of loose hair from his visage. "I'll enjoy killing your human," he spoke aloud, mockingly, and began to take his first steps out. Were it not a beam of magic to impact just mere inches in front of him. He was startled, but quickly rage returned, his head sharply turning to see Nightmare Rarity...flying!? She had apparently discarded most of her armor, save for the jewel encrusted helmet and shoes, her mane and tail flowing with the wind. Clearly suspended very high from the ground, no wings. Her horn did not even glow. A cold glint in her eyes as she calmly floated back in, neatly touching down. The armor clicked and clanked against the cold floor, shadows flowed from her mane and her horn crackled with energy.


"You dare seek to challenge me? I, who commanded legions over a thousand years before you were even born?"


"Get away from me!" Sombra fired directly at her, the crackling magic fading out of existence upon contact with a swiftly conjured shield. They circled one another dangerously, like two predators about to spring in a moments notice. A ethereal diamond took shape over the tip of Nightmare Rarity's horn, pulsating with power as Sombra's own horn glowed. Determination to live overtaking his own fear.


With a roar he fired, his red cape flapping in an unnatural wind, the beam a red and green color with sparks of purple. Nightmare Rarity released her own, a vibrant sapphire jet of energy twisting endlessly. Light filled the room and poured out the windows of the castle, Sombra's growls and yells of frustration to maintain his attack, heart hammering in his chest as her attack began to cut through his own like a scythe through wheat. Frantically he tried to conjure up more magic to pour into it, but it was futile as it drew closer and closer. Finally a burst happened. King Sombra sailing backwards and colliding hard with the already broken steps, body limply hitting the floor. Nightmare Rarity slid back, hooves screeching across the floor before she slumped down, breathing heavily.


She glanced towards the unmoving form of Sombra, bits of rubble lying on and around him. Nightmare sneered in his direction, slowly standing back to her full height.


But all conflict was forgotten when a familiar voice called out: "Nightmare!"



-----

I'd seen the flash of white light from the hallway and it'd made me run faster than I ever thought I could, Shining Armor fell behind somewhat but he was able to stay behind me. I lept over a corpse of a soldier and I saw her. My heart soared in my chest, relief washing over me like a purifying waterfall.


"Nightmare!"


She wheeled around to face me, her mane disheveled but still beautiful, a stunned look crossed her face. Already I found myself wanting to kiss her beautiful face all over just to assure myself she was truly there. It was strange, we'd technically only been apart for not even a whole week yet it felt like years. My sides heaved with every breath I took as I ran towards her, my arms enclosing around her. Neither of us spoke, I felt the need to fall to my knees, gently she helped me to lower myself. I felt her lips brush across my ear, a relieved sigh escaping her and a kiss on my cheek. I shuddered as I breathed shakily, feeling tears well up in my eyes as I held her tight. I honestly didn't think I could hold her any closer than I had before but I did.


"I missed you so much," my voice choked with a sob, the events of today registering entirely in my head. The risk, the fear...the death and violence. Nightmare Rarity ran a hoof down my back reassuringly, I saw her place her helmet down on the ground near me. Instinctively I held her face in my hands, feeling the familiar soft black fur, her scent filling my nostrils. Her stunning eyes meeting mine as our lips connected. It was quick, but I didn't doubt that both of us needed that kiss in that moment.


"Shhhh, I'm here."



-----

King Sombra's lip twitched. Followed by an ear. Pain wracked his body, he was certain a rib or two was cracked his back leg ached terribly. His world a blur of dark colors and his blood roaring in his ears ferociously as the events of the battle flooded back to him. His teeth gritted together so hard he felt they might shatter, cautiously he shifted. Eyes moving more than his head as he took in his surroundings, his gaze locking on Nightmare Rarity and Michael. They were in an embrace, murmuring to each other and sharing quick and tender kisses. He saw Shining Armor but found he was not angry at him. Not in the slightest. His rage fixed on her and the human. Michael looked battered and exhausted, but relieved all the same.


He didn't need to look outside to know the battle was lost. And that infuriated him. Bested. Humiliated. All those years of planning undone in a day.


And they were to blame. Nightmare and her precious human.


"If you two love each other so much, then die together!"


With a guttural yell of rage and defiance he shot to his hooves, rust red energy gathered around his horn...



-----

Several things happened in the span of a few seconds: I heard King Sombra scream, I saw his horn glowing an ugly red, his eyes were fixed on us with complete murder within them. Grasping Nightmare, my arms burning from overuse, I shoved her aside; much to her own shock. Her eyes were wide, mouth agape as she slid across the floor from the force of my shove, despair and hopelessness shown clear on her face. I reached for the helmet, anything to defend myself.


The magic rocketed towards me like a bullet, I held the golden helmet up to my chest in one last act of defense. I felt my arms buckle from the force of it, but regardless I shoved back...and to my surprise...the attack ricocheted back at the source.


I saw King Sombra's eyes, once filled with vengeful fury, become filled with sheer and unadulterated terror. He reared on his back legs ready to dodge but by that time it was much to late. The magic struck him, and instantly it took effect. It started at his hooves. His body was transforming into a crystalline statue of sorts. His eyes took in what was happening with desperate disbelief, as the magic overtook him. His legs becoming an ugly crystal, his torso next. The sound resembled a frozen lake cracking apart, or glass shattering. A scream emitted from Sombra as it crawled up his neck, his head stiffly turning in an attempt to thrash, to stave off the inevitable. The scream was cutoff. Snuffed out of existence. And there before us was a crystalline King Sombra. Reared up on his hind legs, face permanently an expression of fear. Mouth parted in an endless, unheard scream.


I hadn't even realized I was walking towards him until I was just feet away from him, the helmet dangling from one of my hands. Everything felt weightless, the world gradually began to spin. I stopped in front on him, looking down at him. Slowly I gripped the jewel encrusted helmet in my hands so tightly my knuckles turned white and I lifted it over my head.


"I told you."


Soon as those words left my mouth I smashed his now crystallized head to hundreds of pieces. I gasped when my knees touched the carpet, leaning heavily to my right, helmet rolling away from me. I felt Nightmare Rarity steadily wrap her forelegs around me, easing me into a comfortable position. I looked up to her stunning face, her mane hanging over me, each strand glinting. In that moment I felt safe once more, looking at her. Feeling her touch.


"Nightmare...can we go home now?" I asked before I fell into a state of peaceful unconsciousness. I knew that when I woke up I'd see her again. That was all I needed to know.

[Kaltes-Herzeleid]

Chapter 28: Aftermath
----

Waking up in a hospital was certainly better than waking up in that awful castle. Speaking of which...oh right, I smashed his head. It was night out, thankfully. Outside I could hear crickets happily chirping away their nightly songs. A clocked ticked away on the wall opposite me, the walls themselves a pleasant blue color. My body hurt, but not as bad as last time I was conscious. When was the last time I was conscious? I shifted my head slowly to the right, looking at the window, then to the left. My neck hurt and I cringed at the pain somewhat, my fingers twitching on the sterile white hospital blanket. Then I saw Nightmare Rarity, sitting asleep in the chair opposite me. Her backlegs tucked against her, forehooves resting over each other neatly upon which she rested her cheek. Her mane hung down radiantly, though clearly a bit disheveled, but still it twinkled and glinted like the night sky itself.


Her eyes opened after about a minute of me staring at her and immediately becoming alert as whatever form of sleep left her in a flash. Nightmare's hooves quietly touched down to the floor and she approached me, a smile on her lips which I suddenly had the urge to kiss.


"You're awake," she spoke in a relieved voice, though despite her relief I could tell she was still tired.


"Yeah...how long have I-,"


"Two days."


"...Damn," was the only word I could find to properly describe my reaction to that news. I was silent for a moment before piping up again. "What happened...you know...after all that?" My voice cracked slightly from a mixture of curiosity and nervousness, that and I was thirsty, but that could wait.


"Needless to say King Sombra won't be coming back, we all saw to that. And you remember those ponies with the atrocious helmets?"


"The ones with the glowing eyes? Yeah," I nodded, shifting myself into a more upward position.


"As it turns out they were under some form of mind control, the traitors, those who voluntarily sided with Sombra will be spending the rest of their days rotting in prison cells."


I exhaled in relief to know that the battle was over for good. My head plopping back into the pillow and I couldn't help but smile, my eyes noticed...a hole in the wall. Just near the door.


"Ummm...," I pointed to it, "what happened there?"


Nightmare Rarity followed my finger to the wall, when she saw what I was asking about she chuckled lightly before turning back to me.


"A nurse insisted visiting hours were over. I disagreed."


I honestly could help but laugh at that, my ribs ached from it but I didn't care. There was no sense dwelling on it, other than apparently being bashed up I was fine. Still I laughed anyway before a light cough and a sigh escaped me. I held one of her hooves in my hands as she leaned in, our lips meeting in a much needed, long kiss, a hand running the length of a leg to her shoulder. The black fur soft and silky...then my stomach let out a gurgling growl which felt like it might wake up everyone else in the building. Slowly I broke way, casting an annoyed glance at my gut. "Really you do this now?"


Like she'd heard my thoughts Nightmare Rarity smiled at me with a raised brow, a free hoof reaching behind the still white curtain and pulling in a silver cart with a covered tray and a pitcher of crystal clear water adorning it's top. Clearly not hospital food, lucky me. Her horn glowed and lifted the dome cover off, revealing a plate of food which was clearly still warm, I didn't ask how, my mind just jumped to the conclusion of magic. My eyes practically lit up at the sight of a slab meat among the vegetables. She levitated a sharp, gleaming knife and fork and carefully began cutting into the meat first, obviously seeing me eyeing it eagerly.


"Uh, wait...what animal is it?"


"Manticore," she replied without missing a beat, pronging a piece of the fork and gently sent it towards my mouth. Never would have thought meat made out of manticore could be so damn delicious. I chewed it eagerly and swallowed as she had already begun slicing another. I grinned widely as I was fed another, musing over the many things that had occurred in my life as of late.


"So...I meet a unicorn pony from another dimension...fall in love with her...travel to said alternate dimension," I counted each event off on my fingers. "Attend a gala, fight in a war, and now I'm eating a manticore."


Nightmare Rarity chuckled, feeding me another, filling up a glass with the ice cold water, to which I gulped down to more than half empty. Stopping to take a breath, then grew awkward at how greedy I must have looked. I gave her an apologetic glance, but she only smiled back to indicate I had no reason to be ashamed and simply offered me another piece of juicy meat. I continued to eat in silence a bit longer, my stomach finally beginning to feel satisfaction at having real food for the first time in a few days. I noticed how tired she suddenly looked now, like the events of everything that had happened had spontaneously exhausted her.


"You should go home and get some rest," I gently encouraged after finishing off some of the vegetables, reaching out and brushing a stray lock of her mane. Nightmare Rarity gave a small smile in return, setting the utensils down when I indicated I was full.


"Not without you," she replied, the dome covering the plate once more and the cart was quietly rolled back behind the curtain. "Which should hopefully be tomorrow."


"Hopefully," I echoed, feeling tired myself now, the food settling and the sensation of peace lingering pleasantly in the room itself taking full effect. Getting an idea I began scooting over on the bed as much as I could, flipping up the blanket and patting the bed itself. "If you're going to stay here then I'm not letting you sleep in a chair."


Slowly she eased herself in, wincing slightly. Noting my concern she quickly spoke. "It's nothing really, armor or not being smashed through a wall takes its toll."


My eyes narrowed at that, becoming all the more glad Sombra was dead. Gently she drew me back into the present a caress of her hoof to my cheek, prompting me to lay down with her and I drew the blanket over us. The bed was small so it required us to have our bodies close together, not that either of us had minded. If anything it had been hard to sleep without her. Careful to avoid touching her sore shoulder I pulled her close, my head beneath her chin like before, her legs drawing me in further.


"I missed you," Nightmare whispered, statement piercing the silence. I gave her a light but reassuring squeeze.


"I'm here. I'm not going anywhere," I lifted my head to look her in the eyes with my response. I needed to. A hoof brushed my messy hair, it was slow and deliberate, as if to further reassure herself that I was truly here. I realized it was the first time she'd in a long while that she had faced the possibility of loss. Loss had followed me like a specter my entire life, but the fear of this loss and the pain of it's possibility had weighed greatly on me. I ran my hand down her side, feeling the soft fur and kissed her. Her lips warm and soft as she returned my gesture of love and affirmation.


When we pulled away I never looked away, I let her gaze at me as long as she needed, a word never spoken. Only when she closed her eyes did I close mine. Contentment easing me into slumber with the one I loved in my arms once more.

[Kaltes-Herzeleid]

Chapter 29: Home
----

It felt like it had been ages since I'd seen that pool of water. The water that carried me over to this world of talking ponies and mythical creatures. It was still as we had last left it, the glowing gems shining bright from Nightmare Rarity's power, opening the gateway. The multicolored light illuminated her as she returned to my side, smiling at me for a moment as I wrapped an arm across her shoulders. My fingers brushing against her beautiful mane as we wordlessly stepped into the water. It was funny really, the first time I had traveled dimensions with her I was a nervous wreck, but now it was like I was taking a walk through a field on a pleasant spring evening. That familiar rush filled me as we were submerged, the world seemed to spin as we walked onward. There was no sensation of drowning or of being soaked by the dark water, just a feeling of a great shift.


In no time at all our heads broke through the surface of the other side and without batting an eye we stepped out and onto grass. The grass of my world.


The air was warm and crickets chirped, leaves rustled and the grass itself had been cut sometime earlier that day because that familiar scent lingered in the air. The moon was a perfect crescent in the night sky, stars sporadically dotted around it. Strange...I don't remember finding the world this serene last I left it. It was like there was a shift in the universe itself when I met her, and now that we were together, that shift was permanent.


"Michael?" Nightmare Rarity asked from ahead, my gaze locking onto her, I hadn't even realized she had moved ahead. She had a brow raised curiously and spoke again. "Is everything alright?"


"Yeah, sorry, got distracted," I resumed walking, my arm finding it's rightful place around her shoulders once more. "You know how I get sometimes."


"Feeling reflective?" She asked with a sideways glance and a subtle little smile.


"How can you tell?"


"You get a certain look in your eyes. Strange...I feel like I've known you my entire life," she said as we passed a thicket of bushes and tress, the road just up ahead from us. A single solitary car drove by, the sound fading and fading soon as it had came. "It's been...extraordinary."


I looked around cautiously to make sure no further vehicles were coming, then at the apartments to insure no neighbors were still up and out. I doubted that they would be, night was always calm and quiet around here. We crossed the road relatively quickly, fishing in my pocket for my keys before I responded.


"And there's more extraordinary things to come," I said, with a big smile on my face. We stopped at my familiar door, there was a special but unnamed feeling that stems from coming home after a long absence. That was another funny thing. It hadn't even really been that long since I'd left, yet somehow it did feel like a long age had passed. She kissed the corner of my lips at my words, a pleasurable tingle running over my body. Unlocking the door and opening it, I playfully gestured for her to enter first like a proper gentleman, in turn she coyly flicked her flowing tail across my chin. I grinned and barely gave the door a glance as I shut it, locking it behind me.


I flicked on the lights. "Huh. Power's still on after all...oh and I'm probably fired too." I thought of my job, and how I had unexpectedly vanished for several days now...


"Hm, what did you do?" Nightmare asked, smiling to herself and a light chuckle following her question. "All this time and I never asked you what your occupation was!" She playfully exclaimed.


"Oh, just a mundane physical job."


"Well that explains the farmers tan," she said, looking at my somewhat tanned forearms, causing me to run my fingers along them.


"Yeah...well, least I'm still ninety eight percent pale," I laughed along with her for a moment. I looked around my home now, the walls seemed empty without pictures, emptier than before. "I'm going to have to get some pictures up there."


"We'll have time for that and more," she sat herself on the couch, beckoning me over with a hoof. I sank down in the cushions, if there was one thing Equestria didn't have it was this couch. Nightmare slid forelegs along my lap and I pulled her in, never looking away from her. Comfortable silence filled the place of our voices for the moment, a free hand touching her cheek and moving down her neck, taking the time to feel her fur and the warmth of her body. I could feel every breath she took. My brow creased as I remember something I had yet to do as of late, my hand moved from her shoulder to her chest, over her heart.


Gently it beat within. A tender look crossed Nightmare Rarity's face, a hoof slowly touching my face, running over an eyebrow and down a cheek, feeling my facial hair before softly trailing across my lips.


That shift I could have sworn I felt in the beginning had reached its completion. In this moment I truly knew everything was right. I was never one to believe in fate, destiny, whatever one desired to call it; but I felt I was meant to be with her. That no matter what had occurred in the past, I was meant to find her. Her head tilted to the side curiously at my sudden change in mood. I eased her up with my hands, being sure to sweetly run my hands down the length of her forelegs as I moved closer to her chest slowly. A contented sigh left my lungs as I pressed my ear to her chest, her heartbeat filling my soul. I felt her wrap a foreleg around me in, hoof stroking my arm as I continued to listen.


My eyes welled up, but not out of sadness, but out of the purest joy I had ever known.


"Thank you," I said in a soft voice, embracing her fully.


"For what?"


"For everything."


Nightmare Rarity tilted my head upwards to look at her beautiful, exquisite face and to meet her eyes that enraptured me.


"And I thank you my dear," she replied softly. My love spoke in an equally soft voice, a mare so amazing and dark and as powerful as the night itself.


No further words were exchanged as we kissed again, the rest of the world fading from our subconscious as our lips met.


I knew my life would never be the same after I met her, and I think she knew that hers would never be the same either. But I could have never imagined what we would have found together in one another, and I could not be happier.


She is my Nightmare. My love. And I am hers. And we walk a unique path of love forevermore.






-The End-

[Kaltes-Herzeleid]

Naturally when thinking of story and how it will progress leads to ideas that never make it in, so I thought it'd be fun to list off what scenes, and ideas/concepts that never made it into the story or were changed over time.

What is a cutie mark?

Funnily enough, never once is the concept of a cutie mark ever addressed despite the fact in the context Michael (I'll just refer to myself by name rather than "I" for the most part) has no idea what they are. In most stories where a human somehow ends up in Equestria the human is almost always at some point bound to inquire as to what they are.

I at one point did plan on having him ask just what exactly the markings meant shortly after Nightmare and Michael officially become a couple, to which Nightmare would jokingly and flirtatiously ask if he was looking at her rear leading to some shyness and embarrassment on his end.


A suit for the Gala

This very nearly made into chapter twenty, a scene in which Michael awkwardly has to ask Rarity to make him suit for the Grand Galloping Gala. Fortunately for him Princess Cadence happens to walk in and manages to help overcome the initial unease and so Michael gets his suit in the end.

It's referred to in narration at the chapter's beginning, but was cut out to save time and progress the story a bit faster rather than have a chapter that could've amounted to little more than filler.


Discord

The reality warping chaos spirit was considered to make it in, mostly in the Gala sequence. However I feel like if he was at the Gala King Sombra's attack might lose it's impact and be ended with a potential snap of the fingers by Discord. Plus I don't think I'm very good at writing comedy/humor and Discord is a comedic character by nature, so I felt he would be a bit too tough to write for.


Escape

Michael was originally supposed to provoke the guards into a rage with various insults until the more aggressive of the two attempts to outright attack him by thrusting his spear through the bars, to which Michael pulls it in; forcing the guards to unlock the cell and come in to try and retrieve it. Obviously that doesn't end well for them.

I decided not to use this because I planned for the insults to be very vulgar and I felt it just wouldn't fit the tone of the story.


Own worst enemy

Of all the chapters in the story this is the one I put the most thought into. The whole thing involving a tower of darkness and frightening isolation was always present, but the top of the stairs was different. Now the whole thing of having to face an evil self or at least a darker half has been done many, many times. Originally Michael was literally going to fight a manifestation of his worst qualities and win, but frankly the more I thought about it the stupider it sounded no matter what direction I went with it.

In the end I opted for something subtly symbolic and cerebral, and in my opinion vastly more satisfying.


King Sombra's proposition

A rather last minute change. Originally Sombra was going to disclose his offer towards Nightmare Rarity to join him and perhaps more, only to be laughingly rejected. However I ultimately felt it would not fit Nightmare's character to just here him out and then fight, she loves Michael and is not interested in a damn thing he has to say. Period. The moment he attacked Michael was the moment he sealed his fate.

Plus her basically telling him it can be done the easy way (give Michael back and then be killed) or the hard way (be killed in battle and then take Michael back) was much more badass.


Extended duel

Nightmare Rarity and King Sombra's fight was eventually travel outside the castle, including Sombra goring an allusion of Nightmare through only to be surprised that it was a fake and the real Nightmare attacks from some unexpected point, her flying to reach him on gigantic crystal spires and exchanging shots at the other, and then concluding it in the throne room.


King Sombra's alternate fate

This was scraped early on, but it's still noteworthy. Originally I had the Nightmare utilizing her own dark magic to permanently trap King Sombra in an eternal nightmare, unable to awaken again and be in a constant state of terror, plagued by his own fears and horrifying visions.

Not a bad idea, but I felt that having him be crystallized by his own spell and his head smashed was a more conclusive end for him.