08-03-2015, 10:23 AM
(This post was last modified: 08-03-2015, 10:25 AM by Kaltes-Herzeleid.)
Chapter 10: Welcome to Ponyville
-----
Nightmare Rarity and I remained behind the great closed doors of Twilight's castle, her voice a bit muffled, but it was obvious she was prepping the citizens of Ponyville for the big reveal. I stood inches from Nightmare, feeling rather anxious. I was practically alien in this world! And given Nightmare's history...I could guess they wouldn't react...quietly. Lynch mob came to mind. I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye, stone faced in her expressions, waiting for the doors to open. It still lingered on my mind, when I had woken up to find sleeping so close to me, her head nearly resting atop my own. So close...
"Nervous?" She asked.
"A little," I confessed.
I was surprised when she briefly allowed her shoulder to touch my arm in an act of reassurance, her fur soft and warm.
"You needn't be, should things get out of hand I'll have us out of her before you can blink," she said simply.
I sighed and stared at the doors, huge and purple, looming ahead of us like some great opponent. Impatience starting to swell in my chest, I just wanted to get this over with already, I almost wanted to just rip open the doors and shout "Here we are!"
However, just as thought sprang to mind the doors were surrounded by a magical, purple aura and swung open. My eyes squinted in the spontaneous appearance of sunlight, blinding us temporarily to whatever was out there, but regardless I heard the sound of Nightmare's hooves moving across the ground to the outside world with myself following. Placing a hand on her shoulder to steady myself...
"SURPRISE!" A unison of voices shouted at us all at once. Confetti blasting into the air and drifting down towards us, dozens of ponies wearing party hats, tables set up with punch and candies and cupcakes. Two poles hoisting up a banner that read in big, colorful lettering: "WELCOME NIGHTMARE & MICHAEL!!!"
"Ooooh, just look at their faces, this surprise totally worked!" The pink pony with a poofy pink mane and tail exclaimed enthusiastically, bouncing up and down all the while. I finally looked over at Nightmare, who's face bore a moderately annoyed expression, confetti littering her mane now.
"A...surprise party," she stated, though I couldn't really determine whether it was a question or a statement by the tone of her voice.
"Well duh! Why else did we all say 'SURPRISE' when you walked out?" The pony said, her already high pitched voice rising an octave at the word "surprise" before blowing into a party horn.
"Yep, it was all Pinkie Pie's idea," Twilight Sparkle said from beside us, "though sadly, not everypony decided to show up...," the purple alicorn trailed off, a distant look in her eyes for a moment or two. The day was a sunny and clear one, but thankfully rather cool. The grass was fresh and green, buildings, small and humble in size were overlooked by the castle. Birds chirped their songs freely from the trees. It was then I really began to survey the party goers. The shy yellow pegasus hung around in the back, quietly pouring herself some punch. I noticed the white unicorn and rainbow maned pegasus were absent however. It was then I understood why Twilight seemed a bit sad for those few seconds. Most of the ponies came up to my stomach, and they all varied in colors. The crowd seemed a bit small, but happy none the less.
"Oh, here comes Applejack," Twilight perked up a bit, Nightmare Rarity and I followed her gaze to the hat wearing pony approached pulling a thing vaguely reminiscent of a wagon carrying what looked to be pies.
I reared back when Pinkie Pie invaded my personal space, "Hope you like apple pies!" She exclaimed before zipping off, a small cloud of dust lingered in her wake. I heard Nightmare sigh in a mixture of annoyance and exasperation, glancing at her to see her massaging a temple with a hoof.
"This is going to be a long day."
Chapter 11: Love (and Unrest)
-----
Nightmare Rarity and I entered our room with mixed reactions. She was irritated, greatly, I was more of a combination of relieved and tired. Relieved we hadn't been greeted by an angry mob, and that neither of us had made a scene. And tired because the party had lasted most of the day and the sun was setting. Nightmare all but slammed the door shut with a kick from one of her long backlegs. Confetti still hung in mane and to an extent her tail, and she wasn't fond of the fact she'd spent several hours surrounded by loud, partying ponies. I sighed, rubbing eyes for a few seconds.
"Least the cupcakes were good," I grumbled, more to myself. Though I saw Nightmare glance at me out of the corner of her eye as she finally found a hair brush.
"I should have expected a surprise party," she said scornfully, "Pinkie Pie always jumps at the chance to throw one." Her long black horn glowed with magic as she began carefully brushing her mane to get the multicolored confetti out. I watched as the brushstrokes forced the party material out, returning it to its full glory. Her mane and tail always looked so incredibly soft and beautiful, I found myself wanting to brush her myself. Her gleaming eyes fixed on me yet again, something like a smirk on her lips.
"Caught you again."
"What?" I was taken aback.
"Staring. What else?" She chuckled, though I wasn't sure if it was amusement or sinister. A nervous feeling arose in my gut as she turned to fully face me. "Well?" She angled her head, "anything left in my mane?"
"No," I saw it all littering the floor around her hooves, the floor itself was shined to perfection. I could see her reflection in it. The sun had gone down, leaving the room dim and darkened, her eyes shining brighter in the shadows. Her mane twinkling and sparkling like the night sky full of stars.
"No," I said again, "but there's still some in youe tail."
"So I noticed," she replied, scowling as she turned to look at her tail, which like her mane had been had confetti clinging to it.
Before I could stop myself I blurted out "Can I brush your tail?"
Her gaze snapped back to me, slightly glaring at me for a few seconds. My hands clasped together nervously. "Please?"
Her sapphire eyes pierced me for only a few moments longer, but it felt like an eternity.
"Very well."
The brush drifted towards me, enclosed in a magical grip until it was gently placed in my waiting hands, I held it as though it were the fragilest thing in the world before I finally looked at her. She stood still as a statue, waiting for me to advanced, the moon casting its white light upon her gorgeous black fur. My footsteps felt incredibly loud in the otherwise quiet room, I stopped mere inches from her, slowly dropping to one knee with brush clutched in one hand. I looked up at her, she only nodded. A slight curiosity in her eyes.
Raising the brush I began my work, drawing it through the exquisitely soft tail, clearing out whatever confetti clung so persistently to it, I held some of the soft locks of hair in my free hand as the brush ran through her tail again. I felt compelled not to look at her yet I could feel her eyes on me as I continued my brushing, losing myself to the soft sensation of her hair in my hand, the repeated and comforting strokes of the brush. The deep silence hanging around the room.
"I love you," the thought repeated itself over and over again my mind. I wanted to say it in that exact moment, but before I could act at all she pulled her tail away rather abruptly, hair briefly brushing against my face. Jolted out of the moment, I looked up at her, her expression unreadable.
"Thank you for your assistance," she nodded curtly, "now if you'll excuse me I need to bathe." Nightmare Rarity turned rather quickly and marched towards the bathroom.
"Nightmare...," I trailed off, still kneeling. Her right ear twitched once and she looked back at me over her shoulder, her eyes soft.
"I truly do appreciate your help, but it has been a long and tiresome day," she stepped into the bathroom, her long black horn glowing once more and the doors quietly closed.
----
The caverns beneath the Crystal Empire's castle were still a dreary place, even after it was apparently freed from the tyrannical King Sombra. All was silent as it usually was, nopony ever came down here. The stairs were old and cracked and broken looking. Foreboding. Perfect.
The small center of the ancient stone ground suddenly crackled and glowed with black and green energy, it bubbled up and illuminated the ground as something was magically pushed up from the ground. It was red with a cruel curve to it, the horn crackled and glowed with dark energy as black tendrils wriggled from the broken end, twining together and pulsating with green energy. Thrumming with dark power as the shadows took an equine shape. Becoming solid. Alive.
The horn continued to glow and pulse as at last the process was done. It had taken him two, very nearly three, long years. But he had done it. His gray fur sleek, his mane black as shadow, his wicked red horn sharp. His legs were shaky at first as he stood, a deep grunt emerging from his chest as his muscles adjusted to their use once more.
King Sombra, breathed the cold air into his lungs as though it were the sweetest scent in all creation, finally being able to truly breath again was magnificent. His lips twisted upward into a malicious grin as he lifted a hoof, slowly and precisely placed it back down to be sure. His impossibly wide grin growing all the wider as his legs held up.
He breathed deeply again, and he spoke only to himself.
"I'm back."
----
Nightmare Rarity sighed as she stepped out of the bathroom, her mane and tail ever so slightly damp, she was surprised to find that Michael was still awake. Sitting on the bed, his head hung low in a look of contemplation. He faced her slowly.
"I was wondering if you'd ever come out."
"I was hoping you would be asleep," she retorted, trying to put on a snarky tone, but found she could not.
"Are you coming to me, or am I coming to you?" He asked slowly, each word purposeful. Nightmare Rarity raised a brow and proceeded towards her, for a few seconds she noticed a look of panic and doubt enter his dark brown eyes but it was quickly replaced by determination. She climbed up on the bed beside him, fixing him with another piercing stare of which he met with an equal, if not greater intensity.
"Nightmare...I-I...," he trailed off, looking away and sighing. Obviously frustrated with himself.
"Yes?" She asked, hoping to encourage him. He looked at her again.
"I need to say this...Nightmare ever since we met. I...," he took a hoof into his hands, a gesture that surprised her, but she did not pull away.
"Nightmare Rarity, I'd be shocked beyond all belief if you even remotely felt the same, but I've been silent about many things in my life. Never acted on just much as well...but I can't do that this time."
Their eyes never left one another as he finally said what he felt deep within his heart.
"Nightmare Rarity...I love you."
-----
Nightmare Rarity and I remained behind the great closed doors of Twilight's castle, her voice a bit muffled, but it was obvious she was prepping the citizens of Ponyville for the big reveal. I stood inches from Nightmare, feeling rather anxious. I was practically alien in this world! And given Nightmare's history...I could guess they wouldn't react...quietly. Lynch mob came to mind. I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye, stone faced in her expressions, waiting for the doors to open. It still lingered on my mind, when I had woken up to find sleeping so close to me, her head nearly resting atop my own. So close...
"Nervous?" She asked.
"A little," I confessed.
I was surprised when she briefly allowed her shoulder to touch my arm in an act of reassurance, her fur soft and warm.
"You needn't be, should things get out of hand I'll have us out of her before you can blink," she said simply.
I sighed and stared at the doors, huge and purple, looming ahead of us like some great opponent. Impatience starting to swell in my chest, I just wanted to get this over with already, I almost wanted to just rip open the doors and shout "Here we are!"
However, just as thought sprang to mind the doors were surrounded by a magical, purple aura and swung open. My eyes squinted in the spontaneous appearance of sunlight, blinding us temporarily to whatever was out there, but regardless I heard the sound of Nightmare's hooves moving across the ground to the outside world with myself following. Placing a hand on her shoulder to steady myself...
"SURPRISE!" A unison of voices shouted at us all at once. Confetti blasting into the air and drifting down towards us, dozens of ponies wearing party hats, tables set up with punch and candies and cupcakes. Two poles hoisting up a banner that read in big, colorful lettering: "WELCOME NIGHTMARE & MICHAEL!!!"
"Ooooh, just look at their faces, this surprise totally worked!" The pink pony with a poofy pink mane and tail exclaimed enthusiastically, bouncing up and down all the while. I finally looked over at Nightmare, who's face bore a moderately annoyed expression, confetti littering her mane now.
"A...surprise party," she stated, though I couldn't really determine whether it was a question or a statement by the tone of her voice.
"Well duh! Why else did we all say 'SURPRISE' when you walked out?" The pony said, her already high pitched voice rising an octave at the word "surprise" before blowing into a party horn.
"Yep, it was all Pinkie Pie's idea," Twilight Sparkle said from beside us, "though sadly, not everypony decided to show up...," the purple alicorn trailed off, a distant look in her eyes for a moment or two. The day was a sunny and clear one, but thankfully rather cool. The grass was fresh and green, buildings, small and humble in size were overlooked by the castle. Birds chirped their songs freely from the trees. It was then I really began to survey the party goers. The shy yellow pegasus hung around in the back, quietly pouring herself some punch. I noticed the white unicorn and rainbow maned pegasus were absent however. It was then I understood why Twilight seemed a bit sad for those few seconds. Most of the ponies came up to my stomach, and they all varied in colors. The crowd seemed a bit small, but happy none the less.
"Oh, here comes Applejack," Twilight perked up a bit, Nightmare Rarity and I followed her gaze to the hat wearing pony approached pulling a thing vaguely reminiscent of a wagon carrying what looked to be pies.
I reared back when Pinkie Pie invaded my personal space, "Hope you like apple pies!" She exclaimed before zipping off, a small cloud of dust lingered in her wake. I heard Nightmare sigh in a mixture of annoyance and exasperation, glancing at her to see her massaging a temple with a hoof.
"This is going to be a long day."
Chapter 11: Love (and Unrest)
-----
Nightmare Rarity and I entered our room with mixed reactions. She was irritated, greatly, I was more of a combination of relieved and tired. Relieved we hadn't been greeted by an angry mob, and that neither of us had made a scene. And tired because the party had lasted most of the day and the sun was setting. Nightmare all but slammed the door shut with a kick from one of her long backlegs. Confetti still hung in mane and to an extent her tail, and she wasn't fond of the fact she'd spent several hours surrounded by loud, partying ponies. I sighed, rubbing eyes for a few seconds.
"Least the cupcakes were good," I grumbled, more to myself. Though I saw Nightmare glance at me out of the corner of her eye as she finally found a hair brush.
"I should have expected a surprise party," she said scornfully, "Pinkie Pie always jumps at the chance to throw one." Her long black horn glowed with magic as she began carefully brushing her mane to get the multicolored confetti out. I watched as the brushstrokes forced the party material out, returning it to its full glory. Her mane and tail always looked so incredibly soft and beautiful, I found myself wanting to brush her myself. Her gleaming eyes fixed on me yet again, something like a smirk on her lips.
"Caught you again."
"What?" I was taken aback.
"Staring. What else?" She chuckled, though I wasn't sure if it was amusement or sinister. A nervous feeling arose in my gut as she turned to fully face me. "Well?" She angled her head, "anything left in my mane?"
"No," I saw it all littering the floor around her hooves, the floor itself was shined to perfection. I could see her reflection in it. The sun had gone down, leaving the room dim and darkened, her eyes shining brighter in the shadows. Her mane twinkling and sparkling like the night sky full of stars.
"No," I said again, "but there's still some in youe tail."
"So I noticed," she replied, scowling as she turned to look at her tail, which like her mane had been had confetti clinging to it.
Before I could stop myself I blurted out "Can I brush your tail?"
Her gaze snapped back to me, slightly glaring at me for a few seconds. My hands clasped together nervously. "Please?"
Her sapphire eyes pierced me for only a few moments longer, but it felt like an eternity.
"Very well."
The brush drifted towards me, enclosed in a magical grip until it was gently placed in my waiting hands, I held it as though it were the fragilest thing in the world before I finally looked at her. She stood still as a statue, waiting for me to advanced, the moon casting its white light upon her gorgeous black fur. My footsteps felt incredibly loud in the otherwise quiet room, I stopped mere inches from her, slowly dropping to one knee with brush clutched in one hand. I looked up at her, she only nodded. A slight curiosity in her eyes.
Raising the brush I began my work, drawing it through the exquisitely soft tail, clearing out whatever confetti clung so persistently to it, I held some of the soft locks of hair in my free hand as the brush ran through her tail again. I felt compelled not to look at her yet I could feel her eyes on me as I continued my brushing, losing myself to the soft sensation of her hair in my hand, the repeated and comforting strokes of the brush. The deep silence hanging around the room.
"I love you," the thought repeated itself over and over again my mind. I wanted to say it in that exact moment, but before I could act at all she pulled her tail away rather abruptly, hair briefly brushing against my face. Jolted out of the moment, I looked up at her, her expression unreadable.
"Thank you for your assistance," she nodded curtly, "now if you'll excuse me I need to bathe." Nightmare Rarity turned rather quickly and marched towards the bathroom.
"Nightmare...," I trailed off, still kneeling. Her right ear twitched once and she looked back at me over her shoulder, her eyes soft.
"I truly do appreciate your help, but it has been a long and tiresome day," she stepped into the bathroom, her long black horn glowing once more and the doors quietly closed.
----
The caverns beneath the Crystal Empire's castle were still a dreary place, even after it was apparently freed from the tyrannical King Sombra. All was silent as it usually was, nopony ever came down here. The stairs were old and cracked and broken looking. Foreboding. Perfect.
The small center of the ancient stone ground suddenly crackled and glowed with black and green energy, it bubbled up and illuminated the ground as something was magically pushed up from the ground. It was red with a cruel curve to it, the horn crackled and glowed with dark energy as black tendrils wriggled from the broken end, twining together and pulsating with green energy. Thrumming with dark power as the shadows took an equine shape. Becoming solid. Alive.
The horn continued to glow and pulse as at last the process was done. It had taken him two, very nearly three, long years. But he had done it. His gray fur sleek, his mane black as shadow, his wicked red horn sharp. His legs were shaky at first as he stood, a deep grunt emerging from his chest as his muscles adjusted to their use once more.
King Sombra, breathed the cold air into his lungs as though it were the sweetest scent in all creation, finally being able to truly breath again was magnificent. His lips twisted upward into a malicious grin as he lifted a hoof, slowly and precisely placed it back down to be sure. His impossibly wide grin growing all the wider as his legs held up.
He breathed deeply again, and he spoke only to himself.
"I'm back."
----
Nightmare Rarity sighed as she stepped out of the bathroom, her mane and tail ever so slightly damp, she was surprised to find that Michael was still awake. Sitting on the bed, his head hung low in a look of contemplation. He faced her slowly.
"I was wondering if you'd ever come out."
"I was hoping you would be asleep," she retorted, trying to put on a snarky tone, but found she could not.
"Are you coming to me, or am I coming to you?" He asked slowly, each word purposeful. Nightmare Rarity raised a brow and proceeded towards her, for a few seconds she noticed a look of panic and doubt enter his dark brown eyes but it was quickly replaced by determination. She climbed up on the bed beside him, fixing him with another piercing stare of which he met with an equal, if not greater intensity.
"Nightmare...I-I...," he trailed off, looking away and sighing. Obviously frustrated with himself.
"Yes?" She asked, hoping to encourage him. He looked at her again.
"I need to say this...Nightmare ever since we met. I...," he took a hoof into his hands, a gesture that surprised her, but she did not pull away.
"Nightmare Rarity, I'd be shocked beyond all belief if you even remotely felt the same, but I've been silent about many things in my life. Never acted on just much as well...but I can't do that this time."
Their eyes never left one another as he finally said what he felt deep within his heart.
"Nightmare Rarity...I love you."