@Ranun
They sure were. ;)

This is barely seen being somewhere at the beginnings of derpi.
But this artist was already amazing.

This is 11 years old and the emotional impact is still amazing 🥺😔

Trixie is the perfect example of a pony that could easily become a nightmare if someone like Starlight hadn’t been there for her. Lonely, constantly being pushed around by the world, having to hold herself up on a pillar just to make any ground, two steps forward, one and a half steps back. I think if the creators of My Little Pony had brought Nightmare Trixie in, it could have served as a massive growing point for Twilight and Trixie alike as characters. But what we got was nice too.
 
I think there would have been something extremely poignant about it if her hoof had been stamping on her old hat in this panel.

NO, Trixie! Fight it!

“Go away, Trixie does not need your help, not when she has friends like Twilight to help her.”
 
The shade vanished, confusing Trixie for a moment, before it appeared behind her with a mad bellow. “You are a fool, do you really think Twilight, or any of her friends could ever be friends with you after the things you have done?”
 
Trixie remained silent, but tears began to fall from her eyes, which caused the shade to smile, the ancient shadow leaning down to whisper into her ear. “I could offer you so much more, all you have to do…is let me in.”

oh buck, Nightmare Trixie! gotta ge- zap!  
“what is your command, my queen?”

Is it bad that I would still serve her?

@stormsongs
 
the Nightmare had taken Rarity

And in season 3, alicorn amulet…

the nightmare hath taken her.

Much want.

Amazing work.