(Originally posted June 14, 2015)


Perhaps one of the oldest things on my checklist is finally checked off ^^;

Ever since Solar Flare made her debut, I have always wanted to recreate Nightmare Moon and give her the same treatment. Finally, I can say she's done! This undertaking was done by myself and my friend DragonaDeMetal since we now both co-own Solar Flare. I felt it was only fitting that both of us collab our thoughts and ideas into one amazing character.

Learning from Solar Flare, we noticed that Celestia's essence was entirely compromised. Solar Flare simply looks far too different to be deemed recognizable without giving the context, much like how nobody would know the difference between Darth Vader and Anakin Skywalker if they knew nothing about Star Wars. Dragona and I went into this with the mindset that we are going to preserve that essence of Nightmare Moon. We literally have spent several days going back and forth with ideas. I think the end result shows the fruit of our labor. :D

I want to especially thank my friend who runs the Ask Princess Moon blog over on Tumblr. He has been my Nightmare Moon expert that I've been consulting to make sure the design still captured that essence of Nightmare Moon.

Update: In this alternate universe, Luna is taken hold of a miasma. After the Elements of Harmony were used by Celestia, Nightmare Moon was banished to the moon for 1000 years. However, this Nightmare Moon is a lot more crafty than of the canonverse.

Nightmare Moon has spent the entirety of her banishment plotting the perfect form of revenge against Celestia. She is much easier to socialize to than Solar Flare, but has a massive ego because she has probably thought of every legitimate possibility of resistance against her and countered it in some way, shape, or form. Nightmare Moon plans on breaking Celestia's will, rather than killing her. She wants Celestia to watch everypony turn against her.

She has created a secret cult in Canterlot, being the eyes and ears of their queen and carrying out her bidding. This cult has spread to commoners all the way to leading officials in Canterlot's guard and government.

Luna is not entirely lost, however. Even though the Elements of Harmony are the sole weakness to Nightmare Moon, Luna is struggling to fight the miasma. Currently, she has given up and watches helplessly as Nightmare Moon destroys everything she loves. If Luna had hope, it is very likely that she would give the miasma a difficult time keeping her at bay.

This Nightmare Moon is much more powerful and would surely defeat Celestia if the Elements were out of the equation.

About the design:
It was DragonaDeMetal's idea to give her a different look during a lunar eclipse. (Her normal version is on the left. Lunar eclipse version on the right.)
Her horn is meant to be warped by dark magic, but based off Diana's weapon in League of Legends.
While I suggested we add more horns do show more of her corruption, Dragona had the last say as to what kind of horns.
Dragona shaped the mane and I shaped the tail.
To give her more of a Celestia-like mane, I turned her mane colors to fit the color palette of Nightmare Moon.
All armor designs were created by DragonaDeMetal.
To keep her wings the same shape but still more detailed, I added realistic feathers and turned the upper portion translucent like a membrane.
Dragona loves fetlocks and a traditional unicorn's tail.
I decided to turn the sclera in her eye black.


This design of Nightmare Moon is owned by  Sorelstrasz Sorelstrasz and  DragonaDeMetal DragonaDeMetal