Chapter 4

He awoke groggy and in front of Zecora's fireplace. The warmth was welcoming and his head felt heavy under its own weight, his wings to felt like lead. Zecora was string her pot humming putting him at ease. He was not expecting the door to open and Apple Bloom and two other fillies at her side, one a white unicorn with light blue and pink mane, as well as a small tan colored pegasus with purple mane who's wings seemed too small to really pick her up. He felt trapped and nowhere to go but he resigned himself to looking at the fire as his heart began to pick up a swift pace. None have ever seen him but Zecora but now he was about to be found out.

"Hey Zecora, we came by to ask you a question. I know you can't help us with our cutie marks but we were wondering if you had an idea." Apple bloom was asking before she laid eyes on Nightmare. All three fillies froze. As Zecora put down her ladle and met the three.

"Well met Apple Bloom, but like I said before you will get your cutie mark soon." She said then looked to Nightmare. Nightmare looked over his shoulder and his eyes looked at the small fillies. Scotaloo was shocked and was the first to say something.

"Who is that Zecora…I've never seen him in ponyville." he ducked behind Zecora followed by the other two.

"His name is not mine to give to you, why not ask him yourself Scotaloo?" she said smiling, then looked to him with an endearing smirk putting him less on edge. The one called Scotaloo came out slightly from behind Zecora and looked to him.

"What's your name?" she asked. Nightmare Darkness was hesitant to say. His name was very dark but so was his home but he struggled to stand and towered over the young filly who shrunk back behind Zecora.

"My name is Nightmare Darkness to you, for I am a flyer by the moon." He said. The Unicorn and Apple Bloom looked at each other then back to him. Scotaloo was behind Zecora in a flash behind her shivering in fear. Zecora chuckled and looked to the fillies.

"Nightmare be true but take a closer look and you might see he is more like you.." She said as Nightmare turned to look at the fire and Apple Bloom looked at his flank and it was blank with no cutie mark. Apple Bloom walked out first followed by the Unicorn and Scotaloo.

"You don have a cutie mark? You're just like us! But is just a little weird that you speak just like Zecora…" she looked back at Zecora then back to Nightmare. He turned toward them and looked at their flanks and then his. He had wondered why he had never gotten his cutie mark but he simply was far to busy surviving the forest to worry about such things.

"Yes my flank is bare, but it is an easy thing to forget living in fear." He replied looking to the three.

"Well you really need to find your cutie mark! And we can help you because we are…the cutie mark crusaders!" all three joined together announcing as they placed all three of their blank flanks together. He gave a small smile these fillies were the reason he worked hard to scare them from the forest so they could live more fulfilling lives. They looked at each other and back to him.

"I'm Apple Bloom." Apple bloom introduces.

"I'm Scotaloo." Scotaloo said next

"I'm Sweety Belle." Sweety Belle finished.

"How long have you living in the Everfree forest Nightmare?" Sweety Belle asked cocking her head to the side in question. He considered his time there and looked to Zecora.

"How long ive been in the Ever free forest, is as long as or longer then when Zecora first showest." He replied. All three looked at Zecora who nodded in agreement.

"I was first scared by Nightmare first thinking him a bat, and then I found he was nothing more than a black pegasus at that." She said looking to the fillies. He sat down by the fire. As the Crusaders moved to sit across from him on his left and sat down.

"Nightmare have you ever been to ponyville?" Apple Bloom asked.

"I have been there, though I would be shunned without a care." He said looking to Apple Bloom.

"How are you so sure Nightmare? Like I bet you're an awesome pony, not as awesome as Rainbow Dash but still cool." Scotaloo said then Sweety Belle punched her hoof into Scotaloo's shoulder

"What?" Scoatloo asked genuinely. He turned to them and smile.

"You three are the first to see me and I don't wish to be as scary. As nightmare moon was my inspiration for choosing my current situation. Many Ponies have wondered here feeling like there was nothing to fear, so taking the mantle of Nightmare Darkness I drive them from this evil forest. No pony I fear to say would really wish to look my way, for I am an evil looking pony and live in darkness instead of day." He said. All three of them looked at him and look at one another.

"What?" they all asked. Zecora chuckled. As she walked to him handing him a bowl with her brew which he took and drank feeling the healing herbs begin to rejuvenate his body.

"What he says is this, ponies are scared of less than this." She said as she raised her hoof making the point.

"Oh I see what your sayin, everypony will be scared of him and run because he's a scary looking pony, but we really want you to be a new pony crusader Nightmare." Apple Bloom smiled and began to look at him with pleading eyes. He had to admit he always wondered what it was like to have friends. Even if they were fillies.

"I will join your crusade to find your cutie mark post haste." He said looking to Zecora for support who simply smiled and put her hoof around his shoulder.

"As soon as you make friends your happiness will never end." She said.

"Oh sweet! With ND we have five members. We have another member but she is in Manehatten." Scotaloo said with excitement. Sweety Belle smiled and stood up looking at him then Apple Bloom and Scotaloo.

"Come on let's take him to our club house. We have to give him the proper initiation." She said hopping up and down with excitement.

"Come on ND lets go." Scotaloo said leading them out the door, she hopped on a scooter and placed a helmet on same as Apple Bloom and Sweety Belle as they put on skies and held onto ropes. Nightmare followed them then looked at Zecora.

"Go have fun, it's been far too long since you have done." She said giving him a nudge. He followed the fillies outside. Scotaloos wings hummed to life as she put her wing power to powering her scooter. Nightmare opened his wins and followed them, they were fast, but he was easily able to stay with them. As they broke from the forest clutches he hesitated for a moment then continued to follow them. Nightmare flew close to the three crusaders who were laughing at the thrill of it all their laughter was infectious and he let out a small laugh which was deep and hearty which made him stop, he hadn't herd his own laugh before. He let out another laugh as the ponies began to go into town and he shot up like an arrow into the air high above the town. Hiding in the clouds as other pegasus flew around loftily. As they left town they slowed looking for him as he dove down again beside them. Heading along the road to the Apple farm he followed them for another minute before they stopped and the club house. It was nestled in an apple tree where he fluttered to the ground. Looking around he took in the sights the smells of the area. The crusaders took off their helmets and left them by the ramp that lead up to the Club house. he followed them as he walked into the door all three of the ponies were in front of him Sweety Belle at a pedistle, Scotaloo, was playing on the drums a steady bead and Apple Bloom was there writing feather in teeth ready to write down his name in the roster. Sweety Belle looked to him.

"Do you Nightmare Darkness pledge yourself to helping your fellow ponies to find their cutie mars as you to try to discover your own!" Sweety Bell said in an ominous voice. He thought it odd but decided to play along.

"I Nightmare Darkness do swear to help find your cutie marks somewhere." He pledged raising his hoof.

"Do you pledge yourself to help those in need and ponies who are your friends, confidaunts, pals, best buddies, nakima….Scotaloo what's nakima?" Sweety Belle looked at Scotaloo for an answer. She simply shrugged

"I heard it somewhere and it sounded cool so I put it in…" she said. Apple Bloom rolled her eyes.

"Just keep going." She urged Sweety Belle. She cleared her throat.

"Do you pledge yourself Nightmare Darkness to the cutie mark crusaders." She finished giving him the stink eye.

"I Nightmare Darkness do, for that I am sure." He pledged as he nodded. Then all three shouted in glee as Sweety belle tried to give him a cloak but she was too short to put it on him. He leaned down and she placed it on him but it was too small.

"I'll have to make you a new one…" she said rubbing her hoof under her chin. He chuckled. Feeling a warm feeling in his chest, is this what friendship is like? He wondered. There was a call from outside the club house.

"Apple Bloom we need ye to do your chores trees don't just buck themselves y'know." The thick accent was interesting, Apple bloom did have a slight one but the voice this belonged to was very thick. He turned around looking at the door as the three crusaders went to the window.

"Aww come on Apple Jack, we just got a new crusader, and well he has to learn the ropes first. Can't I do mah chores later?" she pleaded hanging her head out the window. Nightmare kept back not wanting to be seen.

"No Apple Bloom that's what y'said yesterday, now come on down here fore I come and get chu." She sighed. But Apple Jack was already walking up the ramp. And looked at her sister then passed her at Nightmare. She jumped in through the door and placed herself between Nightmare and the three crusaders.

"Who in Blue Blazes is this pony! Get back fillies." She said grinding her hoof along the wooden floor. He backed up he didn't wish to engage in a fight but he stood his ground.

"Wait sis, he's our new cutie mark crusader." She said going in front of Apple Jack and Scotaloo, Sweety Belle followed making a wall between them he simply looked at his new found friends and thanked they were there. Apple Jack looked bewildered.

"What are you on about a full grown stallion has his cutie mark. And he's too old to be in your club." She said glaring at him. He turned his flank and showed his flank and her jaw dropped.

"No cutie mark have I, for I have never told a lie." He said to her.

"Whoa partner you speak just like Zecora, what's going on here Apple Bloom who is this pony." She demanded answers as she strikes her hoof to the floor, but her stance was less aggressive.

"This is Nightmare Darkness. He's lived in the Everfree forest for most of his life even before Zecora cam to live there." Apple Boom began explaining.

"Ya and we met him at Zecora's at first we were afraid of him but he told us he's the one who has been scaring people for years keeping people away from the forest because it's dangerous." Scotaloo added.

"And we saw he had a blank flank and well we wanted him to be a cutie mark crusader so we can help him find his mark. " Sweety Belle finished. Apple Jack looked at him shock and with fear.

"You lived in that forest for years? What drove you to live there…I understand Zecora but what about you?" Apple Jack asked. Nightmare Darkness looked her up and down he had seen her from a distance as well as the other five from her group but up close her mane was ruff and tumbled from many hours working the farm she had a rustic allure but she was honest and well he could respect that. He walked closer to the crusaders and placed a hoof on Apple Blooms head and rustled it.

"Many thanks for the time it has been mostly sublime, Apple Jack I say this to you that I would never harm Apple Bloom. I live in Everfree forest that is true but I have watched over all of you. These fillies are quite a group, for I have never felt such hope. My time in the forest be sure, has lead my life to be a tad crude. I have never come to ponyville true, without a reason but to pass out Zecora's brew." He said. Apple Jack looked at him with wide eyes. His Lavender cat like eyes spoke volumes of his experiences but he was reserved and very wise it seemed and his speech was odd but made him sound all that much wiser. He walked behind her and out the door.

"Crusaders if you in ever need, simply say my name and I'll come at the utmost speed." He said plucking a feather and placing it on the door frame door, he then took to the air.

"Hey wait I have more questions for you!" Apple Jack hollered at him as she came back to her senses. He needed to get away from ponies so he went looking with his head in the clouds.