Chapter 5

Nightmare flew up into the clouds and slowed his pace feeling like his worries were behind him. But he simply found a cloud and landed on it. It had been a small while since he had landed on one. The clouds above Everfree forest were wild and untamed. He laid down as he looked down on ponyville. It was peaceful enough. The encounter with Apple jack was one he didn't wish to repeat and though he felt a warm feeling in his heart from joining the Cutie mark crusaders he simply didn't wish to be considered dangerous, Apple Jacks first impression was the harsh honesty of every pony in ponyville he had summarized. Many times he had wondered what life would have been like if he hadn't run away from Cloudsdale. He slumped onto the cloud with a sigh. There was so much to think about when it came to social interactions with other ponies. He remembered back to when the Six had come into his woods for the first time after Luna has escaped her prison. He watched them from afar, there were even a few creatures that were moving in behind them to attack but he had stopped them by barrelling full force into a fight. He had gained a few wounds from that encounter. He looked at the inside of his leg and the reminisce of an old scar. He then his mind wondered into the past once again.

They had pressed on into the castle; the others lost their way and were separated from Twilight. He then took it upon himself to lead the five to Twilight, He flew into nooks and crannies of the ruins he had come to know as his second home he created small bangs and walked along the ground so they could hear his hoof steps clearly as they followed calling out Twilights name till finally they were lead to Twilight, he saw the group rescue Nightmare Moon from her own torment with the elements of harmony it was magical. Then Celestia came in through a hole in the roof and was reunited with her sister. It was very touching to see Luna begin to repent. After the battle he escorted the ponies back through the forest unbeknownst to them. Rainbow Dash was asking them if they had seen how awesome she was, Rarity was agreeing with Dash as she flipped her hair, Apple Jack was saying how Granny Smith wouldn't believe what tale she was about to say, Pinki was simply bouncing around the group in a style that represented a loaded spring, Fluttershy was at the back of the small herd smiling and nodding agreeing with everyone as quickly as she could with her small voice, and Twilight was leading them out of the wood silently smiling and nodding happy that everything turned out right. He was happy to see them go and then it was amazing that night fireworks from Canterlot and ponyville, the night sky was alight once again with celebrations for the return of Princess Luna and evil being vanquished. He stood just inside the treeline smiling at the small part he played in this tale though none would know it.

He opened his eyes from the memory as he her wings beat coming closer to him. He pulled the cloud around himself and hid as he hid in plain sight but then of all the clouds to land on the pony landed on his cloud, he frowned but didn't move. He peeked through a small bit he made and he saw it was Rainbow Dash. She was punching the cloud to make it just right and comfortable but inadvertently she was punching him in the side.

" What kin of cloud is this sturdy." She complained as she punched harder. Making his face contort in pain. He sucked in air. Then she seemed to stop and laid down putting her hooves behind her head. He sighed inwardly as she was now unknowingly using his body and a bit of cloud as a pillow. He laid there not moving. The she began to do something he did not think such a brash pony would do, begin to sing an hum as she moved her hoof to the beat in her head.

"Rainbow Dash….Oh Rainbow Daaaash." The voice belonged to Pinki pie. Rainbow stopped hummin and crawled over him and hung her hooves looking at Pinki.

"Don't you see I'm busy Pinki." She said in a tired lazy tone.

"No you look like your humming and singing on a cloud sandwich." She said smiling.

"You herd me?! Wait what is a cloud sandwich?" she asked confused.

"Oh that other pony is wrapped in the cloud you're on." she said obviously. Crap. Nightmare rolled out from under the cloud and bolted.

"What the!" Rainbow Dash was shocked and took off in pursuit of him she was an accomplished flier he knew and in speed he couldn't match her but he would have to outdo her in maneuverability. He shot down trying to get to the forest as quick as possible he looked over his shoulder as Rainbow Dash was gaining on him and Pinki was hopping along after them he banked to the left and spiraled down plummeting towards the earth, then opened his wings above the ground and was sailing like a bullet on wings into the Everfree forest and looking back Rainbow was hot on his hooves he hoped she would stop at the forest boundary but it seemed like it wasn't going to happen. He began to weave throught the trees then stopped quickly and hid behind a tree then a teal blue streak passed by him going ridiculously fast.

"Where did he go! I almost had him…" Rainbows cry of frustration choed through the dark forest. Pinki Pie walked into view and Rainbow landed in front of her.

"Have you ever seen that guy before?" Rainbow asked. Pinki Pie gasped.

"Could he be a new pony to ponyville and if so he needs a welcome party! Oh I know exactly who and what to get…EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE!" she shouted throwing her hooves up and confetti exploded everywhere. Then the smell of timber wolves became more prominent and his pupils shrank, sure he had dealt with the dragon but the wolves were still very active and would only move back to look at their old territory in time. Two wolves had surrounded them as Pinki shouted. They both looked around fully understanding their situation and had a look of fear.

"Pinki get out of here I'll hold them off." Rainbow said landing Pinki pulled out what seemed out of nowhere her party cannon and launched a shot of explosive confetti at a one timber wolf blinding it giving her a chance to run. Then both looked at Rainbow dash with a hungry look in their glowing eyes. He couldn't let her fight alone. He opened his wings startling Rainbow because he was just up in a tree as he dove down into the Timber wolf that had confetti on it from Pinki's attack.

"You who are you!" Rainbow asked as he backed up to her and they faced away from each other as a third timber wolf walked into the small clearing.

"No time for introductions, for to if we fail means our destruction." He said.

"Right…" she said as the timber wolf lunged at her and she struck it I the face making it jump back.

"To the Sky we must fly, for I hear Pinki Pie." He said hearing a scream.

"Pinki Pie!" Rainbow Dash launched into the sky immediately stunning the timber wolves with her speed he followed suit as he followed her, Rainbow was halfway to Pinki following her he then dove down to see Rainbow dash had shattered the timber wolf he landed next to Pinki and looked to Rainbow.

"Lift her up we must go, I want nothing to do with this timber show." He flapped his wings as rainbow and him, picked up Pinki and then flew to the field just outside Ponyville. When they landed Rainbow was tired from the extra load that was Pinki.

"Ok..now that were not in harm's way who are you?" Rainbow asked push her hoof against his chest. Pinki looked at him with her big blue eyes.

"I am Nightmare Darkness for that is my name, Please stay away from these woods just the same." He stated then turned and lifted his wings and took to the sky as he flew back to the Everfree forest.

"I wasn't done with you yet!" she said but did not pursue him. He saw that Rarity, Twilight, Fluttershy, and Apple Jack were heading to Rainbow and Pinki.