Nightmare was having a really good couple of days. Very good days. So good, in fact, that the only way it could possibly get better is if a terrifying she-horse were to approach him. Hopefully with the intent to mentally scar him for life, if not to simply kill him.

Unfortunately, his Fool of a master wouldn’t appreciate his trusty steed dying terribly in the midst of reproduction, so Nightmare would sadly be forced to fight back in that situation.

Moving past that, there were two reasons as to why these past couple of days have been so delectably amazing, so enjoyable, in fact, that the tenebrous Shadow was humming... well, he got as close to humming as dream devouring horse that wielded fear like a plague it wouldn’t let the world forget. Rather, it sounded more like the neighs of a dying stallion... a truly beautiful sound, if Nightmare was being completely honest.

Well, he was always honest. The most honest horse in the world. Two worlds, even.

Nightmare wielded the strange yet miraculous power to travel through dreams. While the unassuming masses slept, whether human or Nightmare Creature, the dark destrier could dive into the whirling labyrinth of the mind, observing the strange events occurring within them. With humans, they were generally reasonable. Some could imagine doing something that they already often do within their daily lives, or live out their wildest fantasies. With the horrific abominations, however — none as horrific as Nightmare himself — there was no logic... no rhyme nor reason as to what manifested into their minds. After all, they were consumed by Corruption, which led them on a path of pure chaos.

Of course, Nightmare had no interest in such boring things. Dreams were overrated, anyways.

Nightmares, on the other hand — when dreams twisted into something threatening to harm the sleeper’s sanity — were where the real thrill could be found.

Using his [Nightmare] Ability, the black horse could force others to create a dream which, forged from their experiences and the dark recesses of their own minds, would actively attempt to harm them. Only in the dream, of course. Nightmare couldn’t use those nightmares offensively without the [Dream Curse], after all.

The Shadow could then invade those nightmares, and face off against the ’heart’ of it. Sometimes, it would take the form of a human or monster. Other times, it was something much more abstract, such as an item or a concept. Within those nightmares, the black steed had to simultaneously protect the dreamer while also battling against the being protecting it. If the creator of the dream was hurt or killed, they would be forced to awaken, and Nightmare couldn’t have that happening. When it came to Nightmare Creatures, on the other hand, he had to protect himself from two threats.

Failing to conquer the nightmare would expel Nightmare — the horse — from the dream. Unlike the owner of the nightmare themself, however, Nightmare had to sustain all the damage he received within their mind. So, if he found it too difficult, he had to escape in order to keep his life. If he had the [Dream Curse], then he wouldn’t have to put himself at so much risk...

Then again, that was why his master sent him out into this safe environment. To collect nightmares until the [Dream Curse] could be used. Then, Nightmare would be able to kill beings without having to even enter their sight. They will simply experience nightmare after nightmare, until they eventually lose all will to live... killing them silently.

And upon their death, a new nightmare would be added to his collection.

So, the two reasons why Nightmare was so joyful was due to the fact that he could both terrorize an endless amount of defenseless people while strengthening himself. Killing two horses with one stone.

Nightmare snorted. Glowing red eyes peered from the surrounding shadows, gazing upon a large estate. Within he sensed a Transcendent soul... one that would provide him with a Transcendent nightmare.

Despite the difference in Rank, Nightmare was a Terror. As such, the gap wasn’t too large. He would be slightly disadvantaged, but he had already collected over a hundred nightmares, strengthening him somewhat despite the fact that they were of the Dormant and Awakened Rank mostly, with only a couple of Ascended ones.

More importantly, a nightmare was his natural battleground. The fear would feed him, and, considering that the one he was targeting must have been a human, it was unlikely for them to attack him unless he did so first, assuming their nightmare allowed them to keep their powers... leaving only the heart of the nightmare to deal with.

Nightmare snorted, causing a gust of air so powerful that the dust and debris in the alleyway blew away. A moment later, he grinded his hooves against the concrete, scarring it, before rushing forward at impossible speeds.

The macabre Terror made great leaps and strides as it barreled towards the estate, reaching speeds that could even put some Transcendent and Corrupted beings to shame. Nightmare was a creature meant to carry a warrior blessed by the shadows. His master seemed to fear his behind feeling the full wrath of Nightmare’s powerful back jostling him up and down, unfortunately, so that would have to wait until he acquired whatever a saddle was.

At the moment, though, Nightmare was alone, and free to unleash his disastrous speed as he wished.

Leaping over the large wall surrounding the large estate, Nightmare swiftly landed upon a vast field sprinkled with bushes and trees here and there, with a small river splitting it. A similarly miniscule bridge allowing one to bridge the gap without wetting their feet curved over the river in all its wooden glory.

Nightmare, of course, didn’t appreciate the scenery. Much too peaceful. Too little things to frighten others!

A moment later, the tenebrous steed froze, before turning into a shadow. In its intangible form, he ran over to a tree’s shadow, concealing himself completely. It was nighttime as well, so it was much easier for the terrifying stallion to blend in than usual. He focused deeper into the estate.

Moonlight poured across the sprawling estate like pale water, washing silver over curved rooftops and dark lacquered beams. The manor sat atop a low hill beyond a few black pines, its layered halls and covered walkways spreading outward like the wings of some ancient beast asleep beneath the night sky. Rows of red lanterns swayed gently beneath the eaves, their dim glow reflected in still ponds crowded with lotus leaves and drifting petals. Stone paths wound through carefully sculpted gardens where twisted plum trees leaned over carved bridges, and somewhere deeper within the grounds, the quiet trickle of water echoed from a hidden stream.

The estate itself seemed less like a residence and more like a secluded kingdom untouched by time. Tall walls enclosed courtyards large enough to swallow entire houses, while painted screens and jade-inlaid doors guarded the inner chambers from wandering eyes. Incense drifted lazily through open windows, mixing with the scent of rain-soaked earth and old cedar. Servants moved silently beneath the lantern light like passing ghosts, their footsteps swallowed by the vastness of the compound.

Then, a moment later, the reason why Nightmare had to hurriedly hide slammed her intricate wooden lattice windows open, unkempt pink hair swaying in the soft night winds. Golden eyes that seemed to fade into pink, bloodshot and wide open, scanned the estate’s gardens and fields...

Before locking in on Nightmare. He stiffened, preparing to run away.

Then, her lips curled upwards, eyes narrowing in what seemed to be sadistic glee. Her mouth moved, but from this distance, Nightmare wouldn’t be able to hear her unless she screamed. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

However, he could read her lips... and what he understood infuriated him.

"Haunt me if you dare, little pony."

Pony? A pony?! Not just any pony, but a little one?!

Fine! He’d haunt her not just tonight, but the following night as well. There would be the night after... he’d haunt her until one of them dropped dead!

...Though, things didn’t end so well the last time he tried that, did they? Actually, maybe they did.

As the Transcendent beauty shut the window, Nightmare arrogantly sprinted forth in his shadow form. He sensed her falling back into a deep sleep — unnaturally fast, even. But he didn’t pay it any mind... because the moment he was close enough to enter her dream, the steed planted the seed of terror into her heart...

And galloped directly into her mind.

If she dared to taunt him, the haunting Terror that served a miraculous Divine Shadow, then she would soon know that Sloth comes for all. The only question is when.