Luna led Discord and Celestia to the library. She rolled her eyes as the draconequus kept going on about nothing.
Ugh... Luna thought. Does he never shut up. How does my sister tolerate him? How can Fluttershy possibly be friends with him? The lunar princess let out a sigh of relief when they arrived at the library.
When Luna opened the door they found Twilight reading at her very cluttered table, Owlishious was perched on her head and hooted upon the trio's entrance. Twilight glanced up from her book.
"Princess Luna," Twilight happily greeted her fellow alicorn. "Princess Celestia... and" she stopped and gaped at Discord. "Discord," she cried in confusion.
"Of course it's me, Twilight," Discord said with a huff. "Who else would I be?"
"No, I mean what are you doing here," Twilight pointed at the draconequus and stomped her hoof.
Celestia stepped in front of him. "He's here to meet the humans," she told her. "Is Dave here?"
Celestia looked around the library, her ears twitched when she heard a groan from the far end of the library where Dave, upon hearing his name stood up and stretched. He put down the comic he was reading and walked over to them.
"Ya, I'm here," unfortunately, he thought.
The ponies all noticed that Discord had become rather quiet when the man neared. They turned to see that Discord was turning a ghostly shade of white and he was even sweating, profusely.
What in the hell is that thing, Dave thought. Then he shrugged. Best not to question it, though I'll have to ask Arron in the morning. "Uhh, hello... Mr?" Dave asked gesturing for the terrified being in front of him to introduce himself.
Celestia gave Discord a gentle nudged. He of course took the hint, his color returned to normal and he coughed into his fist.
"Oh, excuse me," Discord said clearing his throat one more time before offering his paw to the man. "I'm not a mister, just call me Discord, or Lord of Chaos,"— then he muttered— "Though I'd prefer Lord of Chaos."
Celestia, Luna and Twilight chuckled but Dave didn't catch what he said.
"I'm David but everyone calls me Dave, pleased to meet you Discord, " Dave said shaking Discord's offered paw, though he still looked a bit unsure. "I think?"
Discord again fell silent and quickly withdrew his hand, he held it aloft as if it had just been burned. "My, my look at the time," he said wringing out his hand a few more times. "I'm sorry Dave, but I can't stay to chit chat."
Discord snapped his fingers and vanished in a blink of light.
Dave rubbed the top of his head. "Did I offend him some how?"
Dave's question hung in the air because none of the ponies knew what to make of Discord's bizarre behavior.
So Discord doesn't like the humans and the way he was acting he seemed to be afraid of Dave, Luna thought as she looked at the puzzled man. Perhaps keeping them around wouldn't be such a bad thing.
"Was it just me," Twilight said. "Or did Discord act like he was afraid of Dave?"
"I think that's an accurate assumption Twilight," Celestia said. "But I don't know if that bodes well or ill for us, if Dave has that kind of influence on a Lord of Chaos then what other kinds of effects does he and his brother have on ponies."
Dave frowned at this. "Uhh, I'm standing right here you know!"
The three alicorns all turned to Dave who was already perplexed and aggravated, now with the three ponies staring at him those feelings were being compounded.
What's going on, Dave thought closing his eyes to shut out the wide eyed ponies. Did I do something wrong? Who was that Discord... creature and why did he suddenly leave? I wish Arron was here so he could tell me what's going on!
Celestia coughed and used her hoof to gesture the other two over to where she was. Twilight and Luna nodded and trotted over to circle around her.
"Was it just me," Celestia whispered. "Or did Discord actually seem... afraid of Dave?"
"I noticed that too," Twilight spoke softly, then turned to look at Dave who was now sitting cross-legged on the floor his arms were folded and his eyes were closed. "I've never seen Discord act like that, do either of you know why?"
Luna and Celestia exchanged glances. "I'm afraid, we don't," Luna whispered after a short pause.
"But I think it would be worth our while to find out," Celestia told her sister. "Luna, perhaps you could sneak inside of Arron's dreams and hopefully it will help shed some light on this mystery."
Twilight gasped. "You can't do that," she quietly exclaimed.
"And why can't I," Luna quietly, but gruffly asked her.
Twilight looked around panicked. "Well, because... it's wrong."
Celestia and Luna glanced at each other. Celestia then turned to Twilight and smiled, Luna rolled her eyes and vanished in a cloud of dark blue smoke.
"Luna is the princess who watches over ponies dreams," Celestia said, using a hoof she gently pushed up on Twilight's chin to raise her head. "Arron and his brother may not be from here, but while they are, they are under our care, thus they are under our jurisdiction."
Twilight balked, not only at the way Celestia looked, but also the way she spoke.
What is going on, Twilight thought. I've never seen Celestia act like this before. She turned around and saw Dave who was still sitting pondering, completely oblivious to anything going on around him. Then again we've never had humans here before. She turned back to her former mentor. Is she scared, or worried? Then there was the way Discord reacted... not to mention that book. The one who remains will in infamy remain.. Twilight frowned when she recalled the old poem. Perhaps Celestia sees them as a threat, her frown deepened. Perhaps I should too. She glanced back at Dave who wasn't meditating like she thought, but actually sleeping. She could hear his light snores and bubbles expanded and retracted from his nose. Twilight giggled at the sight and Celestia did too. Alright so maybe she doesn't see them as a threat, I mean they are friendly...
Twilight couldn't take it anymore. "Princess do you think that Dave and Arron are dangerous?" She closed her eyes and cursed herself. I shouldn't have said that.
Celestia placed a hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "At this point I don't know what to think, but with the way Discord was acting, they might be."
Luna drifted up the stairs and down the hall. The vaporous form halted in front of one of the doors. The sound of light snoring could be heard from the other side of the door. Knowing that Arron was sound asleep the vapor broke into two sections one part went under the door the rest went through the keyhole. When her cloudy mass reformed inside the room she found her unwitting target. Arron was sitting propped up on the bed, he was leaning against the wall with his head tilted down.
Luna floated over the man's head and noticed that he was clutching his side and even whimpered every time he breathed just a bit too deeply. Though he did flinch every once in a while he still remained asleep. Luna rematerialized into her normal corporeal form, the wind from her wings beat against Arron's face making his hair dance a bit, even though it was already a mess.
How can he sleep so peacefully, Luna thought, then she smiled. We will know in a moment.
She softly landed on his bed and, her horn began to glow, then she bent down and when her horn touched his forehead, everything went black. She was to startled to scream as she was sucked inside Arron's conscience.
The trees on Leon's land were arrayed in vibrant colors, especially the maples that were varying shades of deep reds or oranges. Arron clasped his hands behind his back, closed his eyes and breath in, the fall air filled his nostrils. The different smells all mixed together, all letting him know that autumn was coming to a close and winter was right around the corner. A flurry of past memories passed before him, his mouth formed a deep frown forcing him to reopen his eyes.
It's too nice a day to be having such thoughts, he thought and forced the old memories away. He stretched his arms up over his head. I don't care what people say, the fall is the best time of year, not to hot and not to cold and it's just so damned pretty.
Arron smiled and continued his jaunt through the woods. I have no idea how I got back to Leon's place, he thought and looked around at the trees. I'll have to find Dave—
Arron halted when the autumn woods around him were suddenly replaced with a spring meadow. "Ah," he said in realization. "So I am dreaming after all," he solemnly said with a sigh.
"There's no need for such sorrow, brother," A man said. "Though this may only be a dream, it's a very important part of your story."
Arron looked up to see several people standing around in the middle of the meadow. Arron sighed again and walked towards the four people who were apparently awaiting his arrival. As he got closer he realized that one of the four was none other than his long dead grandfather.
"Wow, gramps," Arron told him. "You look much younger and healthier than you did the last time I saw you!"
Harry harrumphed. "I don't know why I needed to be here... but he insisted that I come," he nodded to the man who had spoken to him when he arrived. "Trust me little buddy, I have a lot of work to do—"
"You're not the only one," a young woman said crossing her arms.
"She's right we're all really busy now that—"
The man who first spoke coughed into his hand in order to silence them.
"First things first," the man said when the others had quieted. "Introductions, I'm Peter," Peter said gesturing to himself. "You already know Harry, your grandfather," he said gesturing to him.
"I'd prefer it if you'd call me Ray," Harry grumbled.
Arron chuckled. So even in death he's still the man I remember when I was little.
Peter coughed again. "Moving on," he said. "The man next to me is Richard."
"Greeting's to you my descendant," Richard said. "I've been looking forward to meeting the man that would finally fulfill that old promise."
"Wait," Arron excitedly said, his eyes going wide. "Are you... perhaps King Richard? As in Richard the Lion Heart?"
"Oh," Richard said. "It seems you know of me!"
"Yes, yes," Peter interrupted. "We have much to discuss and we have limited time."
Ray rolled his eyes. "like always," he muttered.
Peter glanced over at Ray to give him a disapproving glare. Ray looked off into the distance to avoid eye contact.
"The last person here is—"
"Joan of Arc at your service," she said with a French flourish, interrupting Peter's introduction. "I am so pleased to meet you once again Arron, though, I've been wondering why you changed your name? Your original was much more beautiful, no?"
Peter walked over to Joan, placed a hand on her shoulder, and slowly shook his head. Joan frowned but nodded in understanding.
"I meant no offense," she said. Arron gave her a dismissive wave.
"Not a problem," Arron replied. "Though I would think you'd already know the answer to that one."
"As I've stated we have little time," Peter said in a much sterner manner than last time.
Arron straightened while the others gathered around him. When the five were all circled together Peter eyed all of them, but stopped when he got to Arron.
"Arron," he calmly said, clasping his hands behind him. "What do you know about demons?"
Arron jumped at the question. "Not much I'm afraid," he said, confused. "I know that Lucifer and his followers where all tossed out of heaven after his rebellion."
Peter shook his head and the others snickered. "No," Peter said. "I'm not referring to those fallen angels that have become devils... I'm talking about the demons who have been around for as long as we have."
"You don't remember this, little buddy," Ray said. "But you were a guardian angel under Michal the Archangel and though no one here knows why, but you were friends with several demons."
Arron was shocked. "I was?"
They all nodded. "It's one of the biggest reasons why you volunteered for this mission," Peter said.
"I did?" Arron replied, unsure if he believed what they were telling him.
"Demon's aren't the monsters the people on Earth have made them out to be," Joan said trying to reassure him.
"Aye," Richard piped up. "We've been on friendly terms with several demon clans for as long as I can remember." He gave Arron a quick wink. "And that is quite a long time."
"Nearly an eternity," his grandfather muttered under his breath.
Peter sighed. "Arron," Peter firmly stated his name to get his attention. "You were one of the first of the angels to become friends with them, so they know you and they'll definitely remember you when you rescue them, that is another reason why you've been chosen."
Arron shook his head and gestured with his hands. "Wow, wow, wow, what do you mean I need to rescue them?"
The four of them exchanged nervous glances which only made Arron even more uncomfortable than he already was.
"Arron," Ray calmly said with a warm smile. "You know how you like writing about demons and such?"
Arron raised a curious eyebrow at this. "Yeeessss, why? What are you saying grandpa? That those fictitious stories I've written are true or something?"
"Or something," his grandfather said with a hearty laugh.
Arron's arms went limp and his mouth hung open. You've got to be kidding me! I mean that's just stuff I made up! There's no truth to those stories, he thought.
"There is more truth in your tales than even you know, Arron," Peter said. "After all who's the one who gave you the ideas about them in the first place, hmmm?"
Arron let out a nervous laugh. "You can't be telling me that the Meserino, Veserino and Vorihelcom are all real... right? Right!"
Peter looked away for a moment.
Joan decided to intervene on his behalf. "No," she said, before thinking about it. "Or at least those aren't their real names at least, and the Vorihelcom as you've named them don't really exist."
"At least we've never met a demon clan like the one you've described...yet," Richard said holding up a finger. "It doesn't mean they don't exist, it's we just haven't yet encountered them," he explained.
Arron pondered this and nodded. I guess that makes sense, he thought. "Wait! He looked up at Peter. Does that mean that Sk"—
"Arron," Richard, Peter and Joan all exclaimed. "Never speak that name!"
So he is real! Or was real, Arron thought horrified. If he's real then the Meserino demons... or whatever they're called, really could be imprisoned!
"It's time we told you everything," Peter said. "We don't have much time left."
Arron decided to sit down, he was feeling rather uneasy about some of the things he just learned.
Peter, Joan, Richard and his grandfather told him everything they could. Arron stood up when they were finished with their explanations. Richard and Joan vanished leaving Peter and Ray alone with Arron.
Arron was about to give his grandfather a hug, but he held up his arm and shook his head. "Sorry little buddy," Ray said with a sorrowful expression. "But I don't have a body so I can't touch you."
"Oh," Arron said. "Sorry grandpa."
Ray laughed it off. "Don't be," he said with a smirk. "I'll see you again... in time." Ray winked at him and vanished right before his eyes.
Peter walked over to Arron. "There is something else I need to impart to you before I take my leave," he whispered. "You cannot be in the presence of a demon as you are now, so..." Peter placed his hands on top of Arron's head and spoke calmly and commandingly.
Arron felt a flood of power surge throughout his body, when Peter finished and removed his hands from off his head, he felt strange. Arron looked at his hands and clenched his fists a few times. That certainly was, different, he thought.
Peter sighed as though he was exhausted. "I'm afraid that is the only thing I can do for you, Arron. After tomorrow night we won't be able to contact you anymore, so please get your brother back home as soon as you can."
Arron nodded in agreement. "I will!"
"hmmm," Peter said with a smile. "That's good to hear. There's still one more thing I need to do before I go." Then he turned his head to the sky. "Luna get down here!"
Arron was shocked at the appearance of the lunar princess. Her ears were laying flat against her head and her legs were shaking, even after she landed she didn't even look up to meet the man's imposing gaze.
"Please look at me," he said kneeling down and raising her head so they were looking each other in the eye. "Princess Luna I need you to keep everything you've heard a secret," Peter said slowly, but with authority. "Whatever you do, do not tell Celestia about anything we've discussed. Will you promise?"
Luna's eyes turned to Arron she looked as if she was asking for help, but he merely shrugged. I'm sorry Luna, he thought. But you're on your own.
She blinked and frowned as if in response to what he was thinking. So she turned her eyes back to Peter.
"We, will promise," Luna said. "Though, I doubt my sister would believe me even if I told her."
Peter shook his head. "You think she wouldn't because of what happened in your past?"
Luna was so stunned by what Peter said she stopped shaking and now seemed frozen. "HOW DOS'T THOU KNOW THAT," she demanded in her Canterlot voice, pointing an accusing hoof at the now laughing angel.
"I know a lot about you," Peter said with a smirk. "Even more than you realize," he said with a wink. "But your past isn't my concern... Your future is... or at least might be."
Luna looked around in confusion. Future? might be? she thought. "What do you mean..." she tried to ask but she was back in Ponyville standing beside Arron's bed, and he was still asleep.
Luna's cheeks flushed with rage. She trotted to the open window and flew as far and as fast as her wings could take her. "WHAT DID HE MEAN," she yelled to her night sky. "WHAT DOES ARRON HAVE TO DO WITH OUR FUTURE?"
She ranted until her anger abated and the burning sensation she was feeling cooled off. She was still panting rather heavily when she flopped down on a nearby cloud. She could feel her anger rise once more so she stuck her head inside the cloud and screamed. Fortunately the cloud muffled the noise, though she doubted that there was any pony within the vicinity that could have heard her anyway.
Luna took her head out of the cloud and breathed in the night air. Much to her disappointment it was time to lower the moon, because she felt her sister start to raise the sun. Luna's horn glowed as she assisted the moon to hide behind the hills far off in the distance. Meanwhile the night gave way to the dawn of morning.
Where did my beautiful night go, she thought when her horn ceased glowing. What exactly was that man? More importantly what do I do about Arron? If I can't tell my sister, who can I tell? And if we're going to be a part of Arron's mission where will we fit in?
Luna sighed in frustration. She got up from her makeshift bed and took to the air. She still wasn't feeling all that great when she returned to the castle. Twilight, has known them far longer than anypony, she thought. If we can't speak about this with our sister, then perhaps the princess of friendship is the next best thing.
Luna strode through the halls making her way to the library where she hopefully would find the pony she could confide in, she really needed to talk to somepony. Twilight had already helped her out several times already, so she was hoping she'd be able to help out once more.