OC for Roleplaying: The Nightmare Knight

[Nightmare Knight]

Physical Description
Pegasus Pony
Off-white coat, akin to the shade of the moon
A mane as black as the darkest night
Eyes as blue as beams of moonlight over fallen snow
A mark on his flank of a Rook in Chess, symbolizing his role as a devout protector and a dependable soldier, but not the most powerful of all Equestria's beings.

Likes:
Protecting those in need
Showing his true power
Dominating powerful enemies
Always being there for his friends
Meeting new ponies
Flying across the world
Discovering new locations
Ranch dressing. A lot of Ranch dressing.

Dislikes:
Those who are arrogant or entitlists (believe they are "entitled" to things)
Dishonorable or dishonest conduct
Being filthy
Stale Candy
Dealing with people who complain
Paper cuts. He HATES paper cuts.

The Legend of the Nightmare Knight

The Nightmare Knight has existed for centuries, always seeming to elude the ponies of Equestria, never being seen except briefly at the edge of the Everfree Forest. This has led many to believe that he is haunted by some sort of dark power...

And they aren't wrong.

At the age of 23, with the Canterlot Council recently assassinated in the Great Crystal Wars against King Sombre, Celestia crowned herself Princess and High Ruler of all Equestria. Princess Luna was, of course, named along with her, but as the Princess of the Night, she was shown little respect, as ponies had heard rumors that Sombre had been killed by a Nightmare. Thus, her descent into madness began...

When Princess Luna was banished to the moon after donning the True Power of the Night, there was no one left to lower the moon. Celestia feared using this power, as the young and still inexperienced Princess did not wish to be corrupted as her sister had. But something had to be done.

The first thing she did was disband the Nigh<a href="http://forum.legendsofequestria.com/index.php?topic=2470.0">Read the forum rules.</a>chers, Luna's personal detachment of The Royal Guard. She feared that they were a threat to her claim as sole ruler, and weeded them out within a day's time. The Captain of these guards, known only as The Nightmare Knight, was Luna's friend and ally since fillyhood.

He and she were born around the same time, but she was royalty, born to King Solaris, and he was born to a merchant in the fledgling capital city of Canterlot. They met while she was out flying in her early years, and they had become fast friends. They spent their time around the castle, and King Solaris approved of the relationship, as he felt this would give Luna a glimpse of normal life. Eventually, after much training, he became the Nightmare Knight, Luna's personal Captain of the Guard. He had served Luna faithfully for many of his 18 years, and now that she was gone, he was devastated.

Then, the next blow came in his removal as Captain from the Nigh<a href="http://forum.legendsofequestria.com/index.php?topic=2470.0">Read the forum rules.</a>chers, as well as his fellow soldiers being disbanded sent home, stripped of their rank, armor, and honor. Fury overtook him, and he flew to the Castle of the Two Sisters to confront Celestia, and claim that she had no right to do such things.

But when he arrived, he found things were worse than he had feared. Celestia had been waiting for him, with her Dawn Guard ready to arrest him on the spot. She had shrewdly devised a way for him to be banished from Equestria, for she saw him to be a direct threat to her rule. Once he realized this, he fled from before her, but not before she wounded him with a magic bolt.

Knowing his time and life force were running out, he noticed that it was still night, as it had only been two days since Luna's banishment, and Luna could no longer lower the moon. He looked up at the now Mare in the Moon, and cried out for her to save him. He promised that he would continue to serve her faithfully throughout all eternity, and would continue to do her work, as long as she did not abandon her friend.

And she answered.

A ghostly pale of Luna appeared before him, looking very weak and frail. She told him that he would be trusted with great and terrible power, and that he would be the Guardian of the Night until her return. He readily agreed, and the Power of the Night passed into him.

As the Succubus overtook him, his coat darkened to pure black, and his whole body emanated a faint purple glow. His mane turned a deep shade of cyan, and his pupils dilated into vertical slits.

He rose from the ground, and solemnly swore that the Night was his, and he would protect it. She thanked him, and told him that the Power would give him unnaturally long life, as he would be needed to do Luna's duty. She left him, entrusting him to guard the Night, and ensure Celestia remained safe, for Luna still oved her sister dearly.

But the Succubus had other intentions.

As soon as Luna had faded, the Nightmare Knight felt a great rage overtake him. How could they do this to his Luna? How dare they take her away from him? How are they getting away with all of this?

"Well," he thought, "they won't for long..."

With his newfound power, he stormed the gates of the Castle of the Two Sisters and demanded that Celestia face him. He fought his way through the first set of Dawn guard with ease, marveling at his newfound power, and the hunger for more that it left inside him.

He blew open the doors to the Throne Room, and there, standing in full battle armor, was Princess Celestia, with a dozen Dawn guard ready to defend her. With all reservations stripped from him by the Succubus, The Nightmare Knight slew every guard as they came to him, and did so in horrifically brutal fashion. When the heads, limbs, and blood stopped flying, it was only he and Celestia that remained.

"You will die by my blade, monster!" she exclaimed, brandishing her golden halberd.

"The only monster I see here," said the Nightmare, "is the one who banished her own sister and declared herself Empress of the Known World!"

And with that, she could restrain her rage no longer. Her horn began to glow with a red flame, and a massive explosion rocked the Castle, causing major damage to the whole structure, and throwing the Nightmare Knight clear through a stone wall.

When he arose from the rubble, he did not see Celestia in front of him, but a mare made of pure fire, with death in her eyes.

"The Power of Day will break you!" the creature screamed, and sent a bolt of sacred fire in his direction.

He realized at this moment that he could no longer defeat her, and shot a bolt of darkness out to intercept the flaming death coming his way. Both bolts collided, and a great flash of light engulfed the area for miles.

When the light from the explosion faded, the now-corrupted Celestia looked around the ruined chamber, and noticed a charred helmet lying on the ground. The Knight's helmet.

She raised her regal head, and let out a laugh that was terrible in intent and triumphant in tone. She had finally eliminated the last threat to her absolute authority. Finally, she could go about the business of maintaining an empire, rather than building one, now that there was no one to stand in her way.

With his power overthrown, and the Succubus having receded into him after the fight, the Nightmare Knight ran deeply into the forest, hiding under a tree. There he was, Guardian of the Night, cowering in fear before the unequal Power of the Day.

He knew now that there was no chance that Celestia would be overthrown, and he forced himself to do as he had promised to Luna. With his remaining power, he slowly began to lower the moon, ending the night that had engulfed Equestria for nearly three days.

He made his way out of the Everfree Forest, looking back at the ruined castle, and the memories that were left in the ruins. He knew he would have to hide. But that was OK. He didn't want to stay where so much pain and sorrow were culminated. But... then again, he couldn't just leave the place of his childhood, and this forest could conceal him well enough.

As the sun began to rise, he looked back at the fading moon, whispering, "Sleep well, my Luna."

The next day, at high noon, Celestia addressed the citizens of Canterlot, telling them that she had conquered and killed the usurper, The Nightmare Knight, and that peace was finally secured for her people.

But she never figured out why she could not raise or lower the moon. And she never would, not until she saw, centuries later, a dark form on the edge of the Everfree Forest, watching her go by in her flaming chariot, waiting for the time when the Nightmare would begin again...