The Phantom Of Equestria (AIE)

>It has been several months since you ended up landing in magic horse land and you are not adjusting well.
>Sure the local Ponyville residents have been... hospitable enough and all that but you just don't really feel like you fit in wherever you go.
>It doesn't help that when you arrived you were shirtless and the ponies that found you ran away screaming causing a commotion in town.
>Something about the tattoo on your left shoulder being the mark of the tyrant.
>You don't really get what they were talking about, but since then you've made a concerted effort to keep it hidden around others.
>As a kid you would always draw a little silver moon on yourself so when you got older you felt it was fitting to make it permanent.
>Not really being able to remember that far back, you think it had something to do with the imaginary friend you used to have as a kid.
>Every time you fell asleep she would appear in your dreams and always be so supportive when you had a rough day or just needed a friend.
>She did have a weird habit of going off on a violent tangent when you would tell her how people were bullying you at school.
>When you were having good days she would be playful and regale you with stories of her homeland and the stars.
>For a thing made up in your head she definitely had a unique personality.
>Unfortunately as you grew older you dreamed of her less often and now you can barely remember anything about her.
>You think she may have been an animal, but you're certain she was female.
>Maybe a blue horse? Black?
>It doesn't matter anymore anyway.

>You grab your mug and knock back another mouthful of piss weak pony liquor.
>Never being one to drink much before, you chuckle mirthlessly at the current situation.
>You can't find a good paying job because you can't use magic or fly.
>After you let slip that you're an omnivore ponies started quietly shunning you.
>What's even better, you live in a run-down shack on the edge of a friggin forest infested with tree wolves and god only knows what else.
>You don't even have the money to fix up the thing. It's either food or warmth come payday, not both.
>And so here you are sitting in this grimy bar trying to drown your woes in what may as well be foul tasting water.
>Tossing a couple of bits on the bar you go to get off of your stool only to get shoved over by a group of gryphons making their way to the back.
"Hey watch where you're going!"
>The largest gryphon turns back at you and snorts before continuing on.
>Picking yourself up off of the damp floor you brush yourself off and then look around again at the bar.
>You may not be able to remember her name or face but if your old friend would see you now she would be disappointed in how you turned out.
>Head hanging in self appointed shame, you growl and clench your fists.
>This is not okay.
>You refuse to allow yourself to become someone who would let her down like that.
>Knuckles turning white with anger you punch the bar much to the irritation of the barkeep.
>"Hey anon what did I tell you? If you wanna break something take your flank outside!"
>Ignoring the yelling of the barkeep you make your way over to the gryphons and plant your hand firmly on the shoulder of the biggest of the bunch.
"I said watch where you're going."
>The gryphon looks up at you and growls.
"Growl all you want Tweety. You owe me an apology and I'm not leaving until I get one."
>The other two gryphons make to stand up but the large one raises a claw while never breaking eye contact with you.
>"Sorry."
>The gryphon practically spits the word at you, but upon realizing that you're likely inches away from getting your ass kicked you turn and walk away.
>Now that your plan to get drunk and pass out in a ditch somewhere has been ruined you decide that it's time to go.

>While walking past the smoldering fireplace a shoddy painting catches your eye.
>Taking a moment, you decide to get a closer look at the painting.
>It shows a white horse with a rainbow mane shooting lasers at a black horse in blue armor with a mane made of stars.
>You look at the symbol on her back leg and your eyes widen in disbelief.
>It's the exact same as the one you have tattooed on your shoulder.
>The painting is titled "The fall of Nightmare Moon".
>Memories come flooding back as the realization slowly sinks in.
>The horse in the painting is the one from your imagination.
"Holy hell... Nightmare Moon? Nitey? How could I forget you?"
>Slapping your hand against your forehead you mentally berate yourself for forgetting her.
"Gods in hell Nitey, I'm so sorry."
>Something else tickles at the back of your memory.
>A faint wisp of a memory, something barely there yet you have the feeling it's very important.
>What was it that the two of you made up together?
>It was a song of some kind about wearing a mask.
>It was a rather morbid duet but she always sounded so beautiful when she sung with you.

>Realizing that you've been standing in front of the fireplace like a drunken idiot you make your way out the door and start heading home.
>Maybe you'll finally get some luck and dream of Nitey again.
>You just hope that she'll forgive you for leaving her alone for so long.
>Lost in your thoughts you start trying to sing the parts of the song you remember and you don't notice when three shapes leave the bar and follow after you at a distance.
"Song..song..song.. what were the stupid lyrics again..."
>You hum a little snippet from the parts you can remember and words slowly come back to you.
"Those who have seen your face, Draw back in fear."
>Out there in the deep darkness something stirs.
>"What is that sound? Something is... calling me?"
"I am the mask you wear..."
>"Why does that sound so familiar?"
"It's me they hear"
>In a prison cell an unknowable distance away the room is flooded with pale green light as two slitted eyes snap open.
"In all your fantasies, You always knew"
>Smooth black fur pulls back in a snarl revealing a mouth filled with glistening, white fangs.
"That mare and mystery, Were both in you."
>"ANON."

>looking up you discover not only do you not know where you are, but you have also wandered into a dead end alley way.
"Well that's pretty shitty."
>Turning around you find the way blocked by the gryphons from the bar.
"I don't suppose I can buy you gentlemen a pint?"
>Screeching, the largest gryphon leaps forward and rakes one of his claws across your chest.
"Gah!"
>You stumble back, clutching your chest in agony.
>The wound doesn't go deep enough to reach the bone but it's bleeding pretty badly.
"Nitey wouldn't go down without a fight and neither will I!"
>The gryphon coils up and springs forth, trying to ram you into the wall.
>Frantically groping around you manage to grab a wooden crate and bring it down on the gryphon's head before he can connect.
>Having momentarily stunned your opponent, you quickly seize the advantage and jamb your thumbs into both of his eyes.
>Clutching his ruined eyes, the gryphon falls to the ground howling and thrashing around in agony.
>Seeing that things have taken a turn for the worse the other two gryphons leap on you and claw at your face and arms.
>With blood dribbling from multiple gashes and one of your eyes ruined you know this is the end of the game for you.
>Confident in the certainty of your death, the gryphons leave you in a growing puddle of your own blood and attempt to tend to their leader.
>Using your good eye you look over at your tattoo and smile.
"Well Nitey *Cough* at least I got to remember you again before the end.. right?"
>Everything has gone cold and the wounds don't hurt anymore.
"Let's sing one more song before we say goodbye.. what do you say?
>Silence is your only answer.
"I guess it's too late for me now, but maybe if I do good you'll visit me in the next life too."
>Your vision has started to fade but you're determined to hold on just a little bit longer hoping to make her proud of you in the very end.
"In sleep she sang to me, In dreams she came..."
>The gryphons stop tending to their leader and look around trying to see why the alley was suddenly covered in darkness.
"That voice which calls to me, And speaks my n-name"
>Your voice cracks and somehow takes on a second, deeper tone while you struggle to get out the last few words.
"And do I dream again?"
>warmth is somehow slowly returning to your body and your vision is coming back into focus.
'What's going on? Why do I feel so warm?'
>Words are now forcing themselves out of your mouth before you know what you're saying.
"For now I find-"
>"The Phantom of Equestria is there-"
"Inside my mind"

>Piecing together that you're responsible for the sudden change, the gryphons turn back to you and prepare to finish you off.
>Or at least they would have if they weren't paralyzed in sheer terror.
>"Sing once again with me-"
>You hear a deep yet feminine voice coming from behind you.
>"Our strange duet."
>You prop yourself up slightly and look behind you into the darkness where the voice is coming from
>"My power over you-"
>Is.. is that Nitey?
>"Grows stronger yet.
>Nightmare Moon steps out of the blackness restoring the alleyway to it's previous light level.
>"And though you turn from me-"
"Nitey it's really you. I.. I can't believe it."
>"To glance behind."
>She's never looked so beautiful.
>"The Phantom of Equestria is there-"
>Nightmare Moon looks from your body laying in a puddle of its own blood to the trio of gryphons and her eyes narrow to slits.
>"Inside. Your. Mind."
>And she has never looked so terrifying before now either.