History NightmareFuel / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicSeason5

[[folder: The Lost Treasure Of Griffonstone]]

[[folder: Do Princesses Dream Of Magic Sheep?]]

[[folder: The One Where Pinkie Pie Knows]]

[[folder: The Cutie Remark]]

** Flim and Flam deforesting Equestria, with the sky entirely overcast with smog.

* Discord finally snapping and trying to send Tree Hugger into a rift to a world of UncannyValley puppets! Noticeably, this is the only time Tree Hugger loses her cool.

%% Nightmare Fuel isn't for slightly unpleasant things. Don't add something here unless it left you feeling terrified even after the
%% episode ended.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/twilight_spike_and_starlight_on_the_barren_landscape_s5e26.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[VideoGame/UntilDawn Boom: butterfly effect.]]]]

[[folder:The Cutie Map 2-Parter]]

* The shadowy thing that keeps tormenting Apple Bloom. [[NothingIsScarier Some mysterious force remaining just out of sight, tormenting and tempting Applebloom but never showing itself]]. And when we finally see it [[GlowingEyesOfDoom it's not]] [[SlasherSmile pretty at all.]] Even scarier when it's revealed that it was a second Apple Bloom the entire time, showing it was self-inflicted.

[[folder: The Cutie Remark (Two parter)]]

* Perhaps the most frightening thing of all is the realization that the fate of Equestria rests entirely on Rainbow Dash performing her Sonic Rainboom and the Mane Six getting their cutie marks. The thought that a single event could alter the fate of Equestria so greatly is more than a little disturbing. Also rather unsettling is the fact that not even Twilight could undo Starlight Glimmer's meddling in the Mane Six's past. The only way to stop these bad futures was for Twilight to reason with Starlight and get her to stop of her own accord. What would've happened had Twilight failed to convince Starlight to stop? Would the two have been locked in a never-ending cycle of Starlight preventing Rainbow Dash from performing the Sonic Rainboom, and Twilight undoing it? Or worse, the good future may have become completely irretrievable since Starlight very nearly destroyed the scroll allowing the two of them to go back in time. In other words, Starlight Glimmer almost single-handedly destroyed all of Equestria, all because her friend got his cutie mark before she did. It's no exaggeration to say that she is easily the worst/most dangerous villain in the entire MLP:FiM series.

** Flim and Flam deforesting Equestria.
* The final Badfuture:
* A barren, windblown wasteland. [[NothingIsScarier No hint is given]] as to how it came about. It simply is.

** "https://youtu.be/XTzcCJLPCKU?t=190Friends...friends...friends...tell...tell...tell..."

** "[[https://youtu.be/XTzcCJLPCKU?t=190Friends...friends...friends...tell...tell...tell...]]"

* In-universe: Discord finally snapping and trying to send Tree Hugger into a rift to a world of UncannyValley puppets! Noticeably, this is the only time Tree Hugger loses her cool.

* The very first sign of something weird going on is when Twilight points out that the cutie marks of all of the ponies in the town are exactly the same: an "equals" sign. For a lot of commentors on Website/YouTube and Blog/EquestriaDaily, it's reminiscent of ''VideoGame/StoryOfTheBlanks'' or ''Fanfic/TheConversionBureau''.
** Then comes TheReveal: The cutie marks are magically forced upon ponies, and they work by completely nullifying their individual talents and special abilities.
* The general idea that someone knows a spell to take away any individuality and skills is a horrifying concept from the start. But the creepiest line from the episode was this one from the song:
-->'''Townsponies:''' You can't have a nightmare, if you never dream.
** Daniel Ingram, the song writer, stated that the musical number is based of propaganda music from UsefulNotes/WorldWarII.
** There's also this creepy line that in context is terrifying because we later find out how exactly Starlight rules. Especially the point it's delivered: Starlight notices one of the ponies' braids have come undone and approaches her. Luckily, she only uses her magic to fix the pony's hair, but the look in said pony's eyes while it's all happening is one of [[OhCrap abject terror]], despite that [[StepfordSmiler frozen smile]].
--> '''Starlight''': No one shakes in fear.
* On that note, there is also the following line, which feels incredibly eerie and off:
-->'''Sugar Belle''': Is your friendship ending?
* Starlight Glimmer, the episode's BigBad. She [[FauxAffablyEvil puts on an air of cheerful kindness]], but is ruling what can only be described as a totalitarian society wherein she [[HappinessIsMandatory forces ponies to be equal]]. She steals ponies' cutie marks, brainwashes them in creepily realistic ways (trapping them in a room and forcing them to listen to an audio track with messages like "to excel is to fail") and guilt trips anyone who shows a desire to go back to their special talents. And then it's [[WhamShot revealed]] that she [[{{Hypocrite}} still has her cutie mark and plans to use Twilight's power to force her cause on Equestria]].
** Unlike other {{Arc Villain}}s, Starlight doesn't have an [[ObviouslyEvil over-the-top villain design]], nor is she a supernatural creature ([[FantasyKitchenSink relatively]] [[{{Unicorn}} speaking]]). You cannot simply tell that Starlight is evil just by looking at her, making her seem more realistic than the other villains on the show.
*** There's also Starlight's moments when her facade slips into a rage. There's just something unsettling about how angry she gets. One gets the feeling Starlight [[TheMentallyDisturbed might not be mentally well]]. This is especially disturbing given how calm and friendly she was before, bringing to mind someone like [[Literature/{{Misery}} Annie Wilkes]].
** It's implied that her want for "equality" comes from an intense hatred for cutie marks. It makes you wonder what could've possibly happened to her to inspire such hatred that's enough for her to believe brainwashing is a justifiable way of supposedly freeing ponies.
** "Well, it seems you inspire all sorts of free-thinking... ''don't you?''"

** Out of context, it looks like Twilight is being raped. This is what [[Series/LazyTown Robbie Rotten]] thinks when he shows up [[https://youtu.be/lgMD1Kc7bAQ?t=14s here]]. Yeah, [[MemeticMutation don't let your kids watch it]]!
** Also a TearJerker, Pinkie Pie, the pony of smiles, was literally crying when her Cutie Mark was taken away. What a delightful experience!
** Starlight's corruption causes the characters' colors to drain, much like [[CallBack Discord's brainwashing]].

* The fake smiles and forced happiness of the ponies gets creepier as the episode progresses. :Especially when we learn that the ponies essentially gave up their free will for this "perfect" town of "equality".
--> '''Pinkie Pie:''' "I know smiles. And [[StepfordSmiler those smiles]]? [[UncannyValley They're just not right.]]"
** You know something is wrong when the Element of Laughter says that someone's smile is "not right".
* The entire village is chock full of this. Leading up to the episode some fans assumed that the entire concept would be sugarcoated in the sense that Starlight Glimmer would be along the lines of [[{{Website/Tumblr}} the more radical users of a certain website]]. However the actual episode plays the entire thing dead serious, between the above mentioned brainwashing and the fact that Starlight Glimmer is essentially a dictator, the whole village is not that far removed from real life totalitarian nations like North Korea.
** There are also [[CreepyChild children]] in that town.
* In short, the portrayal of Starlight's town is about as accurate a portrayal of a cult as you could possibly get away with in a G-rated cartoon.
** It's also eerily reminiscent of the USSR, almost hitting too close to home. Stray from the party line nd it's off to the gulag for you! [[note]] In other ways, the USSR was a polar opposite of this. All sorts of talents were encouraged, but only if you used them to further the Party's cause. [[/note]]
* Has anyone noticed how Party Favor reacts when he's 'released' the day after he was 'exiled' to the Room 101 knock-off Starlight has created? To be fair, it could simply be discussed by the Mane Six to lure Starlight in, but how he reacted is close to reactions of actual cult members after they have fallen from grace. Not to mention that he was trying to tell his fellow townspeople he loved them, but got a door slammed in his face. Starlight doesn't care about love, just conformity. Party Favor's desperation after he's been banished to the room is also creepily realistic.
-->'''Party Favor:''' Didn't you see what just happened out there?! Your friend has accepted our way! You will ''all'' accept our way! It's only a matter of time!

* The shadowy thing that keeps tormenting Applebloom. [[NothingIsScarier Some mysterious force remaining just out of sight, tormenting and tempting Applebloom but never showing itself]]. And when we finally see it [[GlowingEyesOfDoom it's not]] [[SlasherSmile pretty at all.]] :Even scarier when it's revealed that it was a second Apple Bloom the entire time, showing it was self-inflicted.
* The nightmares both Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo have over their cutie marks. Sure, Sweetie Belle's pretty funny, where her singing cutie mark is replaced by a mop and bucket, but how about Scootaloo? In her dream, she tries to do a magnificent jump, but her cutie mark changes into a cooking cutie mark, making her able to stir up cream. Unfortunately, she lands into a gigantic chasm filled with cream. When she lands into the pile, she tries with all her might just to stay afloat, but she sinks down, probably drowning into it!
* It's hard to catch the first time, but when Big Macintosh says that Apple Bloom will need to change her name, there are some Apple family photographs floating in the background, but with Apple Bloom's presence cut out with scissors. They're not only kicking her out of her home, they're disavowing all evidence of her ''even existing''. Thank Celestia it was only a nightmare.
* The endless cycling through them and Apple Bloom "waking up" again and again is disturbing, particularly because the implication that it doesn't even matter if you know it's a dream; your mind's just going to keep on screwing with you and tearing down all logic until Princess Luna (hopefully) arrives and bails you out. It was all very reminiscent of the first issue (among other portions) of ''ComicBook/TheSandman''.

* Discord's home: a PocketDimension with warped gravity, EldritchAbomination beasts flying around, and a sky resembling a black [[VideoGame/{{Earthbound}} Giygas]].
** The poor mailpony has been floating around, hopelessly lost, apparently for days, ultimately being [[ComedicSociopathy thrown back into the void by Discord]] and taken by one of said beasts in the background, with no sign he ever escapes.

* While he's utterly domestic in Fluttershy's company, Discord is still unsettling for others. When he appears in Spike's bed to ask him a question, Spike does ''not'' treat him like an annoying neighbor. No, after Discord leaves he curls up in his blanket and shivers. In the next scene, Discord's first action is to pretend his eye is one of Rarity's mirrors, giving the CMC quite a fright.
* Discord finally snapping and trying to send Tree Hugger into a rift to a world of UncannyValley puppets! Noticeably, this is the only time Tree Hugger loses her cool.

* The Arimaspi. A massive goat-like cyclops who effortlessly curb-stomps King Guto and his soldiers in his theft of the Idol of Boreas. Its nightmarish design, combined with the intense atmosphere of the flashback made for a surprisingly dark sequence.
* Upon finding out she's essentially stuck on the crags of a bottomless canyon, Rainbow Dash cries out for help, only for the camera to pan out and reveal the winds make it impossible to hear her. This chillingly shows that if the map hadn't sent Pinkie Pie with her, there would've been a likely chance no pony or griffon would've thought to check for Rainbow Dash down there. Where no one can hear you scream indeed...

** Some of the dreams perverted by the Tantabus almost border on BodyHorror, such as the monstrous dresses and Angel changing into a monster while Fluttershy's back is turned.
** Opalescence chasing down a shrunken pony, likely intending to eat him up. Consider from that pony's perspective, Opal would appear to be the size of a house.
** Near the end of the episode, the Tantabus, in the guise of an [[AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever immense]] [[PhysicalGod alicorn]] [[DarkIsEvil made of darkness]], begins marching into the real world. There is a real feeling of despair and hopelessness about that scene.
** Just the fact that Luna has a GuiltComplex so strong that she would intentionally torment herself every night as ThePenance.
** Even if it was a nightmare, seeing Luna transform back into Nightmare Moon again and no-selling the Mane Six's first attempt at purifying her. It's possible Luna transforms back into Nightmare Moon and beats up her friends in her dreams every time she falls asleep.
** Let's just take a moment to reflect on the Tantabus. Specifically, on its ability to potentially turn real life into a nightmare. Even in the dream world, where the ponies could conjure up anything with their imagination, they still could barely even faze the Tantabus. Imagine trying to battle this thing in the real world - an EldritchAbomination RealityWarper that can turn life into a waking nightmare. Because it's a living nightmare, by definition you are pretty much powerless to stop it. Even more terrifyingly, it's barely even sentient. It does not feel pity, remorse or fear and can absolutely not be reasoned with. It's like fighting Discord, but instead of wacky hijinks you get screaming horrors. It could quite possibly have become the single most powerful, darkest antagonist in the history of the show.
** A NothingIsScarier thought: You never see the Tantabus partially appearing in the waking world as its attempting to walk through the portal. One can only imagine what it must have looked like, considering its sheer size and it taking the vague form of Princess Luna.

[[folder: The Cutie Remark (Part 1)]]

** When Twilight and Spike arrive back in Ponyville, not only is the castle gone, but the town has been boarded up and nearly-abandoned. When they reach Sugar Cube Corner, they find it lost all of its whimsical architecture[[note]]except for the cupcake-shaped part, which is merely changed to a loaf of bread[[/note]] and looks like a normal structure. This was one of the first signs something really is off.
** Sweet Apple Acres converted from a farm to a factory.
** Alternate!Applejack explains what happened: Equestria was besieged by a variation of the Crystal Empire that is under the rule of [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E1TheCrystalEmpirePart1 King]] [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E2TheCrystalEmpirePart2 Sombra]]. Not only does he re-enslave the Crystal Ponies, but he also brainwashed them all to serve as his army as he sets out to conquer Equestria. It's so bad that Princess Celestia herself finally leads the charge.

** Sombra has conquered large sections of Equestria. Hopefully he's overextended.
** The fact that, even with all this, this is the least bleak of the [[BadFuture Bad Futures!]]
* Starlight herself is a piece of prime NightmareFuel this episode too. Her obvious emotional instability, [[SlasherSmile Slasher Smiles]], StalkerWithoutACrush antics towards Twilight and the foals/fillies involved in the Rainboom, as well as being fully willing to harm [[WouldHurtAChild anyone]] who stands in the way of her revenge can be very unsettling.
** Her first time interfering with the Rainboom is her just creeping out of the cloud RD and the bullies race by, SlasherSmile in full view and forcibly restrains Rainbow Dash against her will.
** You know it's not a good sign if the Princess of Friendship suddenly freezes in place shivering at the thought of Starlight coming back for revenge.
** Then there’s the scene where she convinces the bullies to stop picking on Fluttershy, forcing Twilight into an awkward position of having to defend bullying. It’s funny at first...until Starlight starts teaching her anti-cutie mark philosophy to the fillies. That’s right, Starlight tried to indoctrinate a group of CHILDREN into believing her cult ideology.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: The Cutie Remark (Part 2)]]

** One of the young ponies in the village turns into a changeling. How many other ponies were already replaced beforehand?

* The fourth and fifth Alternate [[BadFuture Bad Futures]]:
** Lord Tirek took over and is destroying Equestria, nobody remaining to challenge him.
** Discord fulfilling his WorldGoneMad realm with the Royal Sisters as his clowns/jesters.
* The Barren Wasteland BadFuture. [[NothingIsScarier Nothing is ever said]] as to how it came about. It simply is.

* Starlight herself is a piece of prime NightmareFuel this episode too. Her obvious emotional instability, [[SlasherSmile Slasher Smiles]], StalkerWithACrush antics towards Twilight and the foals/fillies involved in the Rainboom, as well as being fully willing to harm [[WouldHurtAChild anyone]] who stands in the way of her revenge can be very unsettling.

** Out of context, it looks like Twilight is being raped. This is what [[Series/LazyTown Robbie Rotten]] thinks when he shows up [[https://youtu.be/lgMD1Kc7bAQ?t=14s here]].

** Also a Tear Jerker, Pinkie Pie, the pony of smiles, was literally crying when her Cutie Mark was taken away What a delightful experience!

** A NothingIsScarier thought: You never see the Tantabus partially appearing in the waking world as it's attempting to walk through the portal. One can only imagine what it must have looked like, considering its sheer size and it taking the vague form of Princess Luna.

[[caption-width-right:350:NothingIsScarier]]