Chapter 8

Twilight couldn't shake the fact that that the feeling Nightmare Darkness gave off was more then familiar. She had begun to bury herself in her studies when finally she couldn't find much on the reason Luna had become Nightmare Moon, simply put it was only because she was overcome by jealousy and her heart was turned. Then a commotion outside as streaks from the pony crowd as she ran out to see what was wrong then she saw the situation. A foal carriage was barrelling down a hill heading for a sharp drop. Before she could help a streak of rainbow flashed in the sky and Rainbow dash was stopping the carriage. It slowed and stopped before the plunge and everypony cheered.

"Just earlier I heard she save a filly from a well." Came a random pony

"Is that right? Wow Rainbow dash is really a hero." The pony next to him agreed. Twilight smiled at her friend as Apple Jack chuckled.

"that Rainbow dash is somthin." She said. Rainbow Dash then looked concerned into the carriage.

"Oh no! There is something wrong with the baby!" she announced drawing surprised gasps from the crowd.

"She's not cheering for evrypony's favorite hero Rainboow Dash!" she said holding up the baby pony up for everyone to see then they began to cheer again. Twilight wand Apple Jack were just as shocked when Rainbow announced there was a problem but with her last comment they both looked at eachother with side long glance. Rainbow then returned the baby to her mother as photos of her was being taken. Scotaloo popped up with a rainbow colored wig her face full of admiration for her idol.

"There are no words in the dictionary that could describe Rainbow Dashes awesomness." She said beaming. Twilight looked to Apple Jack.

"I can think of a few new words." She said with a hoof to her mouth.

"And I bet modest aint one of em." Apple Jack said agreeing. As Rainbow dash was showering her "fans" with kisses before flying in a lightning bolt pattern creating the cloud design. Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinki had shown up just as Rainbow was making her exit.

"No but she is kinda awesome." Twilight admitted with a smile. After her departure, Twilight looked to Apple Jack.

"Could you ponies come and help me I find I need some help with my research." Twilight asked.

"Oh what you wonderin now? All you ever do is research or study." Apple jack pointed a hoof. Then sighed.

"Well I am don't the mornin chores so I guess I could give you some help." She agreed. Rarity shrugged.

"I just finished my contemplation and have time to spare. But I must remind you my time is precious." She said poshly then smiled.

"Of course not when a friend is need." She walked up to Twilight. Pinki bounced up and down behind her as fluttershy followed them.

"Of course!" Pinki said enthusiastically.

"I…um…yes I can help." Flutter said. The group went to Twilights home and began to look for anything that might be related to Nightmare moon and once again the subject was very dry in terms of information, simply folklore and legend. Finally after several hours Pinki exploded.

"I can't find anything on Nightmare moon!" she flopped on her back and faked looking dead then rolled over and stood up.

"Im hungry. Let's go out for a bite to eat…" she said standing up. Twilight sighed and as she was about to disagree her stomach grumbled loudly. She laughed awkwardly.

"Yea why not let's go to Sugar Cube corner." Rarity put out the offer. They all agreed and left going out the door and began to walk down the main street. Then a crowd of ponies were looking up to see that three elder ponies were on a balcony but as the fourth one began to walk onto the balcony it began to buckle and break under the added weight. Everyone was shocked and they were about to jump into action before Rainbow Dashes voice announced to everyone.

"Never fear your friendly neighbourhood Rainbow Dash is here!" she said as she bolted under the falling balcony and slowed it down to a safe stop and placed it gently down. Everypony cheered as she turned around and began to drink in the praise.

"we would be lost without you." One pony said.

"You our hero Rainbow Dash." Said another. Then with that followed by a chant of her name by the adoring ponies.

"Rainbow Dash, Rainbow Dash, Rainbow Dash!" the crowd cheered. Rainbow then flew up and put her hoof to her ear.

"I can't hear you!" she said making the crowd chant louder as she threw her hooves up in the air from one side to the next. Twilight and company looked on very weary of Rainbows reactions.

"Call me silly, But I think this whole hero thing might be going to Rainbow Dash's head." Twilight said putting a hoof up with a look of concern.

"You may be right…silly." Pinki said as they followed their friend with a group of adoring fans into Sugar Cube corner. Where she continued to parade herself to her adoring fans.

Nightmare Darkness had completed a normal routine by searching for anything or anyone in trouble. He finally came around to visit Zecora who was just locking up her hut as he landed to greet her.

"Off to town I see," then she finished his sentence

"To bad you can come with me." She said not giving him room to argue. She pulled out a robe from her saddlebag and gave it to him.

"Come with me, sore ponies you should see." Zecora said as she began to walk away. He followed her putting on the robe covering his head so his eyes were better shielded from curious ponies. He followed her and unlike Zecora she struck up a conversation.

"So you withheld the truth, you know that not a good thing to do." She said.

"I know that to be true, only am worried that something bad will happen soon." He said walking besider her shortening his strides so he didn't make Zecora walk to fast.

"Is something amiss in this forest?" She asked frowning.

"The forest is growing unruly more and more, but I don't know the reason what for." He said pulling back his hood looking at her.

"What will happen will, and during that time the truth I will tell." He said looking forward.

"I trust your judgement, but I only hope it will not be very bad as you make it." As they exited the forest he put his hood up shadowing his face. When they entered the town it was bustling with life pegasus's, earth ponies, Unicorns all living in harmony. It was something he enjoyed to see there were looked to him and Zecora but they were mainly directed at him. He only hoped that his cover would not be blown. Just then five of the six came around the corner and saw Zecora.

"Hey Zecora." Apple Jack greeted followed by the rest. But something was off.

"Of the five I see but why is Rainbow Dash not with your company?" Zecora asked The ponies rolled their eyes and that spoke volumes to Nightmare but he simply smiled.

"Don't get me started Rainbow Dash has saved a few ponies today and shes not the shred modest about it if anything its inflating her ego beyond anypony I have ever met…" Twilight said.

"I can think of one." Rarity said without hesitating. Which made them look to her.

"what I had a rotten time at the Galla with Blue blood." She said. Still sore about that it seemed. Pinki was coming closer to him looking at him with a scrutinizing eye then smiled and began to hop announcing his name

"OH hey Nigh." She was cut short by his hoof in her mouth.

"It is not wise to say my name, for other ponies might run away…" He said slowly pulling his hoof away making Pinki smile.

"Ok but what do I call you then." She said. He put his hoof to his head sighing.

"Please call me Night for that will work just fine." He concluded putting his hoof down. Zecora chuckled.

"I pulling him along, but he is still so very headstrong." She nudged him. Which made him roll his eyes.

"Well anyways Rainbow dash is simply bein not a good hero only wanting more praise, if she had any of your modesty Nightma…Night. I think we would be happy for her. But I just can't agree with how she carries herself." Apple Jack said. He got an idea of what was goin on.

"Well I see your problems with a pompous hero, but who said there can't be more than one, I say be heroes yourselves and teach her the meaning of modesty…for who can teach better than a friend court?" he said explaining.

"A friend court?" Apple Jack said.

"It means a friend or friends in a position of influence." Twilight explained without thinking about it.

"But I see, why don't we take his advice and patrol ponyville as heroes. Then." Twilight was about to explain.

"Say no more I am on it I have the perfect costumes!" Rarity said with a gush of enthusiasm. Nightmare chuckled.

"Twilight and all I have one thing though maybe will work for you all. Choose a persona then each pose as this hero and help Rainbow dash see the error of her ways for that I believe is the only way." He said looking to Zecora who nodded in agreement.

"Thank you Night." Twilight smiled but Rarity was already going to her home to design and fix up the hero costumes. The ponies waved goodbye and took off after Rarity to see how they could help. Zecora looked to him and laughed.

"Look at you, all wise and smart giving ideas and helpful words." She smiled as they began to grocery shop she needed some help. A few hours passed and he was packed full carrying her things when a shout alerted him to a falling Hot air balloon. He saw Rainbow Dash was signing an autograph not paying attention for the pony in distress he herd her say she had ten seconds then she finished the signature and was up like a bullet and going to rescue. His trained eyes though didn't miss the masked costumed pony hopping from rooftop to rooftop to save the day and when the pony was plucked from danger he smiled. Zecora chuckled.

"I feel those ponies have everything under control now don't you?" she said. He nodded simply as he followed her leaving ponyville he trusted the main five could help teach their friend a lesson which he had no doubt would be a humbling one.