“Gorgeous, simply gorgeous!” The towering mare’s warbling chuckles echoed through the hall. “This corridor could use some marble busts of my likeness, however. And that clearing outside…nothing but drab gray rock! Shadowfright must rally a few of his compatriots to do something about that. Maybe set up a courtyard? A fountain? A courtyard with a fountain…?”

He never thought the day…well, night…would come, but the melody of Rarity’s voice began to fade into the back of Spike’s mind. Maybe it was the reverberating, rich, yet domineering undertone—part of a package deal alongside her new stature, dark fur, body tone, and ethereal shadow demon minions. Maybe it was the fact that she hadn’t addressed him by name or even looked at him since ordering one of her minions to bind his wrists.

Stout dragon legs trembled as they did their best to keep up with Rarity’s wide gait. Though his head remained craned downwards, Spike looked up as Rarity gesticulated in her monologue. Surely, she figured out his plan to rescue the rest of the Element Bearers from her dungeon. Why was she rambling about castle repairs and not…that?

Spike blinked. The Elements of Harmony had turned Nightmare Moon back to Luna, but right now? There was a snag. When Discord returned a second time, they were useless if even one of their bearers were under his spell. Only after Twilight restored them to their real selves could the Elements of Harmony work their magic. Even if by some miracle Twilight and her other friends had broken out of their cells and retrieved the Elements of Harmony again, what use would they be against a fellow Element bearer?

Under the faint yellow candlelight from the ceiling lamps and the glow of the homeworld from outside, a thin film of cold sweat formed on Spike’s claws as they drifted closer together. Rarity was a friend he treasured above many others. Now, she barely acknowledged his existence. Or maybe she was; she didn’t have to see him in order to feed off his dread.

I missed publishing art and writing fanfic. Residency training in a third-world country is a real pain.

Anyway, have a commission for Bluesliver The sphinxlover! He had formulated quite a comprehensive vision for Nightmare Rarity’s anthro self and wanted an art piece that encapsulated it. He also made a short story to go along with it; I hope he doesn’t mind me making…substantial creative liberties on it.