The Return of Nightmare Moon (comics)

The Return of Nightmare Moon is the second story arc of the comics series by Heather Nuffer. It seems to be set before the Season 3 finale, and features the return of Nightmare Moon, the first antagonist of the series. It will run from Issue #5 to Issue #8.

Issue #5 was realeased on March 26, 2013 (originally March 20), although it was available in Hot Topic store by March 23, 2013. Issue #6 will be realeased on April 26, 2013, Issue #7 on May 21, 2013, and Issue #8 will be realeased on June 19, 2013.

Plot
Issue #5

The story begins with Twilight Sparkle having a nightmare. The nightmare's setting is in what appears to be an abandoned village. She screams in horror as shadows reach for her, only to be woken up. She looks at her books while going for a walk; however, none of them has a cure. She is interrupted by Rainbow Dash, who seems to have a lack of sleep. She exclaims that she is having nightmares as well.Apperantly, Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy are under the same condition.

Later that night, Pinkie Pie hosts a slumber party, in where the others are still pondering about their nightmares. A few hours after they go to sleep, they experience the nightmares again. In Twilight's dream, she is dismissed from the royal court of Canterlot for eternity; meanwhile, Applejack is dreaming of her family blaming her for loosing their land. Fluttershy dreams of her animals running away from her. Rainbow Dash's dream is of her being rejected by the Wonderbolts. Pinkie's is of nopony being amused by her comedy. Last but not the least, Rarity's nightmare is about her friends rejecting her gifts and bringing attention to a new pony named Maybelle(who is similar in design to Mabel from Gravity Falls). Unlike the others' dreams, Rarity's have dark clouds around them.

After this, Rarity is immediately taken away by black smoke to the moon. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy try to stop this. However, they fail.Twilight sends a letter to the Princess by Spike, who immidieatly faints from tears after doing so. Twilight requests to speak to Princess Luna, due to the fact that she controls dreams and was taken over by Nightmare Moon.

Princess Celestia and Luna head over to where the group is. Princess Luna explains that, although she is not clear on what happened, she knows that dark and evil forces have taken Rarity to the Nightmare Dreamscape. According to her, when she was Nightmare Moon, she thought that she could make other ponies feel special about her by making them fear her. Often, the dark forces would decide for her on what to do. Once Luna was brought back to her normal self by The Elements of Harmony, she hoped that these dark forces would disapear; however, they somehow got enough energy from the new moon's cycle, and gain what Nightmare Moon promised them: a powerful kingdom of their own.

Alarmed, the Elements of Harmony suggest that they go at once, but Luna stops them by warning them that the dark forces may destroy Ponyville, saying that they will be better off by letting Luna go alone. Celestia replies by saying that the Elements are no ordinary ponies, and that they have defeated evil before. Reluctantly, Luna accepts this. Celestia explains that she can send them to the dreamscape, and that she will protect Ponyville. Luna mentions that she hopes Rarity has bravery;otherwise, the dark forces will take over quickly.

On the last page, Rarity is shown trying to fight off the dark forces, which she is doing somehow unsuccessfully. They surround her once more, which makes Rarity close her eyes. Afterwards, she says "Oh dear, that is definitely a step up. Good show, wooshie things", which indicates that she is starting to be corrupted by them.