@MLP-Silver-Quill  
I’ve seen you on YouTube :O o u o

@Background Pony #4292: Rarity: I’m right here… Somepony… Save me…

Rarity: Somepony… help me…

@Background Pony #5DD1: Now if only we could upvote comments.

Don’t care what anyone says. This is one of the best comic book stories I’ve ever seen/read.

@dynamicv: There’s no indication that Luna created Nightmare, though. Especially when considering that time travel comic with Discord and the CMC.
 
Besides, suggesting that Luna created Nightmare suggests that Luna was, by default, evil. And that particular idea leaves an uncomfortably sour taste in my mouth.

back when the comic was good…

@PonyPon  
The Nightmare Rarity arc concluded in June 2013.
 
 
@dynamicv  
This is true.

@kleptomage  
I think there are a LOT of things in MLP as a whole that aren’t adequately explained.

@kleptomage  
And it’s been what, a year or two since then?

That you guys are having this discussion shows that the comics did not adequately explain the nightmare forces.

@Jarkes  
I think Luna (or rather, Nightmare Moon) created the “Nightmare Force” herself like she created the Tantabus. She originally made it to possess and control others through nightmares but just like the Tantabus it gained a will of its own. She promised it a kingdom to rule by her side in exchange for its continued assistance and coming back for her after her defeat by the Elements of Harmony was probably part of the deal. It fits with her shame and guilt in the arc, and explains why she thinks to herself that “she lied” at one point, I couldn’t figure out what she was referring to the first time I read it.
 
I mentioned the Tantabus as a precedent for Luna having the power to create sentient mind-parasites, but your idea about her magic gaining a will of its own without her explicit intention also has a precedent in the show: the fabled “Pony of Shadows” that supposedly haunts the Castle of the Two Sisters. Real or not, the concept is at least something conceivably canon in the world of Equestria.

@LuminoZero
 
Something like that, yes. Or perhaps Yami Marik from Yu-Gi-Oh.

@Jarkes
 
So the Nightmare is ‘Mad Jack’?
 

 
I’m OK with this.
 
-Lumino

@LuminoZero
 
I usually prefer the idea of Luna’s own inner darkness becoming so great that it literally became its own distinct personality and took control of Luna (basically a Jekyll/Hyde kind of thing, or perhaps like Norman Osborn & the Green Goblin in the 2002 Spider-Man movie), rather than the Nightmare Forces being a separate entity from the start (basically, the Nightmare Forces didn’t have separate physical forms until AFTER Nightmare Moon was defeated by the Mane Six).
 
I interpreted the climax of the arc as Luna accepting that in the end the Nightmare was still a part of herself and basically taking it back in. Which I think was what Faust intended with her original idea of a separate entity known as “The Nightmare” influencing and corrupting Luna. Heck, I honestly think that that was how Nuhfer intended to write this arc with Faust’s original idea in mind, but she didn’t quite pull that off IMO.

@MLP-Silver-Quill  
Happy to be of help! I love getting the chance to fanboy over this comic, because there are so many BAD comics (especially in the main arc, FF’s tend to be pretty good) and it is nice to talk about some of the good ones they had.
 
-Lumino

@LuminoZero  
It did indeed and I appreciate your thoughts. I also understand how it can feel to read a message board and be frustrated by posts. A side benefit of putting my artwork out there is feedback I might not get on other sites.
 
I did love Spike’s role in this and his affection for Rarity. :) Plus I’m with you on “Zen and the Art of Gazebo Repair”.

@MLP-Silver-Quill
 
Oooh, tough question from the Reviewing Hippogriff. Honestly, I love the third issue with Spike waking up after being flung into a mountain, trudging his way to the Nightmare Castle sneaking inside and, best of all, overcoming the illusion/dream magic of the Nightmare, something that no other character in the story was capable of doing without outside help. I am a Sparity shipper, so that probably helped, but the “You’re not my Rarity!” scene was just perfect to me.
 
I liked NMR as a villain, because for once the villain had a legitimate plan that didn’t depend on the heroes being total idiots for it to work. Her first act was to remove the ability of them to use the EoH to defeat her, which is a pretty cunning move for a cartoon villain. And her next act displayed that same cunning, destroying Ponyville to remove any trace of love the ponies still had for Rarity, knowing that such could prove to be her undoing.
 
I liked Luna’s story arc, of having to come to terms with her past misdeeds, and how allowing the guilt to dictate her actions stifled her power and ability (as evidenced by her non-ethereal mane). She was so afraid of the Nightmare and, by extension, herself losing control, that she couldn’t bring her full power to bare. Once she accepted her failures and accepted the forgiveness of the ponies, she was able to finally move on and be the princess she was meant to be. The Guardian of the Night.
 
I don’t feel that the Nightmare was some phantom parasite to absolve Luna of all responsibility. I consider it more like a silver tongued devil, much like we saw with Rarity. It manipulates, preying on fears and insecurities (of which both of them have plenty) to make its host pliable and willing. Then it takes over. Luna is still responsible for letting her jealousy and resentment let the being in, but it does absolve her of the ‘Trying to kill all life on Equestria’ bit.
 
Yeah, the third act of the story was a bit rushed, but I found enough there to enjoy. The Battle for Ponyville was actually very entertaining to watch and the conclusion, though expected, certainly did a great job pulling on the right emotional strings.
 

 
I mean, I focus on that one because, ya know, shipper. But in fairness, the entire scene with all of the Mane Six reminding Rarity that she is not alone and they would never abandon her is touching and cheesy in all the ways that work for MLP.
 
It’s my favorite adventure arc of the comics, and only loses out to “Zen and the art of Gazebo Repair” for the title of Best Arc Ever.
 
Whew, that reply got away from me a bit, but I hope it answered your question!
 
-Lumino

While i currently haven’t read the comic, but this art is just gorgeous. Love the two sided face of Rarity.

@LuminoZero  
What is your favorite part about the story arc?

Like for Nightmare Rarity.
 
Seething hatred for the discussion on EQD where nobody actually understands the nuances of the story.
 
-Lumino