Drawn by RedDragon (https://www.furaffinity.net/user/reddragon) <3

For the like 3 of your that have read Red Hypergiant, this 'Nightmare' might ring a bell. This is Artheas, and even though he looks REALLY angry here, he's actually a pacifist. Preferring to reason his way out of conflicts and occasionally using intimidation to get information from others.

Not a whole lot is actually stated about him in the novels, but he was the mount of Dawn [Memory's Fragment] and was 'kind of' abused by her. Being one of the very few of his kind in a world that was becoming a desolate wasteland, Artheas stuck with Dawn because she didn't fear what he was; a "Hidden Nightmare" of sorts. One that would 'transform' into a regular horse when the sun wasn't out, but during night would become what you see above. A ghastly looking thing that most people feared the worst. Be it for their own safety or the false rumor that they caused precious forests or villages to burn, they were hunted down when spotted. In a harsh world, Dawn was the only ally he really had, regardless of how often he had a gun pointed at his head.

Red Hypergiant is in a different universe entirely, and Artheas isn't quite sure how he got there. I won't spoil much here, but I did want to talk about his abilities and feats (because again; they were never really explained in the novels).

-Very High Level of Telekinesis
Even within RH, Artheas has shown an extremely high level of TK abilities. But being a pacifist, he refuses to use them to actually harm anyone (at least not directly). These alone make him an amazing mount, but his own morals do limit the amount of aid he will provide while in combat. No stranger to firefights, being shot, or even rushing into warzones, what often looks like pure luck of not being shot is actually diverting or even stopping bullets in their place.

-Limited Area Gravity Control
Artheas has only really used this around himself/those riding him. Allowing him to give the appearance of running on walls or ceilings, up buildings etc. when really he's just shifting gravity in a bubble around himself. Allowing him, his rider, and any equipment they are carrying to remain on easier.

-Extreme Physical Endurance
For those of you who've read RH, you know that the large rifle Thais carries 'weighs about as much as a small car'. And though he can easily feel it, Artheas carries it with ease. Not only that, but carrying it while trekking between cities (about 1000 miles, or just over 1600km) in a day. He never really seems to get tired or exhausted within the novels due to being used to life 'on the run' while with Dawn, and can keep this pace up for weeks on end. A minor healing factor as well, nothing too extreme but able to heal bullet wounds within a day of being patched up.
...Granted, that isn't the same for his pain tolerance. Keep that in mind.

And we'll end this off with some fun Quotes:
Thais getting a back massage from the nightmare's talents
Thais: "Did you ever do this with Her?"
He stopped for a moment, then continued. "...No. Not really. Dawn never liked me doing anything good for her, really."
"Define good." That made the Nightmare chuckle.
"Buy her flowers, lick her wounds, massage her feet. The usual stuff." Even she half smiled at that. "She was too strong for her own good sometimes. Always wanting the bottle to cure her pain, not another person. Heartache does that to people."
"Yes..." Thais mumbled. "It really does."
"Don't take this the wrong way, but you're softer than she was." The leopard glared at him with her right eye. "See? That's taking it the wrong way." A faint growl from her, and she left it. "I don't mean that you're soft and pliable. Far from it, in fact. But you only point a gun in my face occasionally."

Thais: "You seem to like talking about her alot."
Artheas: "I just miss her a little, that's all. I guess I felt... Safe with her. Much like I do with you."
"Safe?"
"You don't see me as a Nightmare. Neither did she. You don't see me as something that needs to be preserved or something endangered. You just want to live, and are willing to survive with another wanting just that."
"Survive, but not live." Another shrug from the horse.
"Sometimes they can be the same, even without knowing it. Living doesn't have to be defined as surviving in luxury. It's just a matter of opinion when it comes to happiness. Often enough, that change can shift without you even realizing it."

"I'm not an alien." Artheas grumbled at her, getting the female [Thais] to smirk.
"Sure you're not. You're just a talking horse with telekinesis that happens to set himself on fire when it turns to night. Not alien at all."
"But I'm believable. Not some bald thin grey humanoids going 'Beep, Boop, Boob' and sticking Epona-knows-what into people's anus."

All of a sudden, his mane ignited in a bright blue flame. Burning its way across his entire body, slowly transforming the brown fur into a cyan as if it were a burning sheet of paper. All the way down to his hooves, even keeping a small bit of fire on the heels of them. "...Wow."
"See? Nothing special. It just happens." He shrugged while looking back. Seeing her rather thralled expression and chuckling at her.
"Seriously... That was amazing." Another chuckle, and he shook his head. "And that doesn't hurt?"
"Don't even feel it. Though, it does give me the feeling of a fresh breeze through the mane. That's about it." He continued on, the flames on his neck moving closer to her, but not threatening her position. They didn't even give off alot of heat, just the normal warmth that his mane would normally give.
"And nothing else changes with this? No strengthened powers, no extra abilities? Pyrokinetics?" He chuckled at that.
"Notta. Just some cool looking cosmetics and a slight craving for strawberry pancakes."

Artheas © Bartan
Art © Red, she can be found here:
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