07-03-2015, 03:14 PM
Chapter 3: The Castle and The Aftermath
----
Nightmare Rarity strode up the winding staircase that to most seemed endless in number, her hooves never missing a beat, their impact on the ancient and cold steps resonating with an eerie and empty echo. Enormous rubies embedded in the walls around her casting a crimson glow on her beautiful features, her tail flowing behind her like a cape. Finally she reached the simple wooden door, nearly as ancients as the lunar caverns themselves stood before her. Her regal horn glowed a sapphire blue and the door easily swung open, she suppressed her annoyance when she was greeted by nervous servant. Like many of her subordinates he resembled a living shadow, shifting and amorphous save for the torso and up. His face was catlike in nature, shadowy and wispy black whiskers flowing from his face, his paws fumbling nervously and his stone gray eyes obviously struggled to meet her piercing blue eyes.
"Y-you're Majesty, dinner is awaiting you in the-"
"I am not hungry tonight," she cut him off before walking past him briskly. The servant blinked once. Nightmare Rarity hardly ever broke her schedule, she spent hours in the caverns doing whatever it is she did, never to be disturbed by anyone; then she had dinner and went straight to her private living quarters. Again, not to be disturbed unless necessary. He half turned towards her and mustered his courage to question her.
"M-my Queen? Is there something wrong?"
He cringed as he saw one of her ears twitch once, fearing he had instigated her wrath.
"You heard me, and I am not to be disturbed for the rest of tonight. Understood?" Her voice was stern, but not angry or even irritated.
"Yes Supreme One," he bowed, nose nearly touching the smooth floor. He heard her hoofsteps leave the room and only then did he look up. Befuddled.
Nightmare Rarity's horn glowed for a moment or two before she vanished in a bright blue and purple flash of light that vibrantly illuminated the room before vanishing just as soon as it had appeared. She appeared in her personal bedroom in another quick flash, a few magic sparkles lingering in the air before disappearing, almost like snowflakes as they drifted down. The room was large, with soft dark blue carpet beneath her hooves, a massive bed with black covers and sheets and a plethora of inviting pillows. Gossamer curtains hung at each side of the bed, dark blue in color, the delicate fabric gleamed as though they too held the stars within them. She sighed aloud, her gaze shifting towards the bathroom, silently hoping a relaxing bath would assist in her clearing her mind after tonight's strange turn of events.
----
I felt more energized and strangely more dazed than I ever had been in my whole life. I barely registered that I nearly walked face first into my own front door. I fumbled in my pocket for my keys, grunting as I had to dig deep within it before finally finding them, they jingled like bells as I pulled them out into the open; but I didn't open my door. I just stood there for a minute or so before I glanced over my shoulder in a tiny glimmer of hope.
"What? Were you honestly hoping she followed you home?" I thought in a scolding manner, however I smirked at the fact that for a man who had just received the knowledge that unicorns and magic exist I was handling it all rather well. "I really want to see her again," I thought. What if I never saw her again? The notion of that made my heart ache and I nearly shuddered. She never said she'd come back though...I unlocked my door and entered my apartment, absently shutting and locking the door.
The thought of seeing her again excited me. I felt the need to speak with her, she was mysterious and so unique to my otherwise quiet life. I sat down on my couch, my mind still occupied with thoughts of Nightmare, and that made me feel a deep sense of happiness that filled my entire body.
"I'll go back tomorrow," I decided. Trusting she would be there, a newfound feeling of hope soaring in my chest, a big smile on my face.
----
Nightmare Rarity walked out of the bathroom, her mane a bit damp, a bit of steam caused by the heat of the bath lingering behind her. And still feeling rather dissatisfied about...something. It annoyed her that she couldn't quite figure it out as easily as she would've liked. Slowly she walked over to her vanity mirror, kept on a jet black stand with several small drawers, the wood was smoothed and polished; perfect as it always was. Her horn glowed and the top right drawer opened, a brush was levitated to her hooves, while she never admitted it she found brushing her mane in the quiet of her room to be a relaxing activity. Eyes never leaving the mirror she gently began pulling the brush through her long locks. Another sigh of contemplation escaped as she continued her brushing, her mane regaining its full and lush look quickly.
"Why did I reveal myself?" She questioned herself. "You've seen those creatures before, why would this one in particular be so...," she struggled to find the correct word, "special?" It was true. She'd seen humans before when she'd gone to that little park, hence why she usually came at night. She could have easily ignored him when he'd asked if someone was there. "Why did I choose to speak with him?" She scowled into the mirror, but her hooves remained gentle with her hair.
"I risked my own safety!"
Did she crave companionship? Nightmare Rarity would've laughed at the concept...but lately that idea was becoming more and more with every passing day. Perhaps it was because she had seen others have it, and something about that made her want it too? She visibly smirked to herself in the mirror at that thought.
"But either way, he fascinates me."
She placed the brush back into the drawer and gently closed it. She had decided. Nightmare would go back to that park tomorrow night, and while she did not admit it as she walked to her bed, a hope lingered in her chest. She hoped to see Michael again.
----
Nightmare Rarity strode up the winding staircase that to most seemed endless in number, her hooves never missing a beat, their impact on the ancient and cold steps resonating with an eerie and empty echo. Enormous rubies embedded in the walls around her casting a crimson glow on her beautiful features, her tail flowing behind her like a cape. Finally she reached the simple wooden door, nearly as ancients as the lunar caverns themselves stood before her. Her regal horn glowed a sapphire blue and the door easily swung open, she suppressed her annoyance when she was greeted by nervous servant. Like many of her subordinates he resembled a living shadow, shifting and amorphous save for the torso and up. His face was catlike in nature, shadowy and wispy black whiskers flowing from his face, his paws fumbling nervously and his stone gray eyes obviously struggled to meet her piercing blue eyes.
"Y-you're Majesty, dinner is awaiting you in the-"
"I am not hungry tonight," she cut him off before walking past him briskly. The servant blinked once. Nightmare Rarity hardly ever broke her schedule, she spent hours in the caverns doing whatever it is she did, never to be disturbed by anyone; then she had dinner and went straight to her private living quarters. Again, not to be disturbed unless necessary. He half turned towards her and mustered his courage to question her.
"M-my Queen? Is there something wrong?"
He cringed as he saw one of her ears twitch once, fearing he had instigated her wrath.
"You heard me, and I am not to be disturbed for the rest of tonight. Understood?" Her voice was stern, but not angry or even irritated.
"Yes Supreme One," he bowed, nose nearly touching the smooth floor. He heard her hoofsteps leave the room and only then did he look up. Befuddled.
Nightmare Rarity's horn glowed for a moment or two before she vanished in a bright blue and purple flash of light that vibrantly illuminated the room before vanishing just as soon as it had appeared. She appeared in her personal bedroom in another quick flash, a few magic sparkles lingering in the air before disappearing, almost like snowflakes as they drifted down. The room was large, with soft dark blue carpet beneath her hooves, a massive bed with black covers and sheets and a plethora of inviting pillows. Gossamer curtains hung at each side of the bed, dark blue in color, the delicate fabric gleamed as though they too held the stars within them. She sighed aloud, her gaze shifting towards the bathroom, silently hoping a relaxing bath would assist in her clearing her mind after tonight's strange turn of events.
----
I felt more energized and strangely more dazed than I ever had been in my whole life. I barely registered that I nearly walked face first into my own front door. I fumbled in my pocket for my keys, grunting as I had to dig deep within it before finally finding them, they jingled like bells as I pulled them out into the open; but I didn't open my door. I just stood there for a minute or so before I glanced over my shoulder in a tiny glimmer of hope.
"What? Were you honestly hoping she followed you home?" I thought in a scolding manner, however I smirked at the fact that for a man who had just received the knowledge that unicorns and magic exist I was handling it all rather well. "I really want to see her again," I thought. What if I never saw her again? The notion of that made my heart ache and I nearly shuddered. She never said she'd come back though...I unlocked my door and entered my apartment, absently shutting and locking the door.
The thought of seeing her again excited me. I felt the need to speak with her, she was mysterious and so unique to my otherwise quiet life. I sat down on my couch, my mind still occupied with thoughts of Nightmare, and that made me feel a deep sense of happiness that filled my entire body.
"I'll go back tomorrow," I decided. Trusting she would be there, a newfound feeling of hope soaring in my chest, a big smile on my face.
----
Nightmare Rarity walked out of the bathroom, her mane a bit damp, a bit of steam caused by the heat of the bath lingering behind her. And still feeling rather dissatisfied about...something. It annoyed her that she couldn't quite figure it out as easily as she would've liked. Slowly she walked over to her vanity mirror, kept on a jet black stand with several small drawers, the wood was smoothed and polished; perfect as it always was. Her horn glowed and the top right drawer opened, a brush was levitated to her hooves, while she never admitted it she found brushing her mane in the quiet of her room to be a relaxing activity. Eyes never leaving the mirror she gently began pulling the brush through her long locks. Another sigh of contemplation escaped as she continued her brushing, her mane regaining its full and lush look quickly.
"Why did I reveal myself?" She questioned herself. "You've seen those creatures before, why would this one in particular be so...," she struggled to find the correct word, "special?" It was true. She'd seen humans before when she'd gone to that little park, hence why she usually came at night. She could have easily ignored him when he'd asked if someone was there. "Why did I choose to speak with him?" She scowled into the mirror, but her hooves remained gentle with her hair.
"I risked my own safety!"
Did she crave companionship? Nightmare Rarity would've laughed at the concept...but lately that idea was becoming more and more with every passing day. Perhaps it was because she had seen others have it, and something about that made her want it too? She visibly smirked to herself in the mirror at that thought.
"But either way, he fascinates me."
She placed the brush back into the drawer and gently closed it. She had decided. Nightmare would go back to that park tomorrow night, and while she did not admit it as she walked to her bed, a hope lingered in her chest. She hoped to see Michael again.