Darkness shrouded her vision, a sweat pouring from her burrowed brow.
"No... No... NO!" Twilight shrieked, a shroud of dark, violent blue consumed her, choking her, squeezing the breath from her compressed torso.
"Help, please..." She was fading out, the dank, damp walls around her closing in. With a final, sharp breath, the lavender mare was startled awake.
Her eyes darted around the room in blind panic. The room was still as when she fell asleep; her bed was beneath her, with Spike's beside her own, and her small, clean window allowed the moonlight to saturate everything around her.
"Twilight? Hey Twilight, are you okay?"
The breathless mare looked down as she quivered on her bed. Her panicked eyes met with the wide pupils of her assistant, Spike.
The short baby dragon poked her leg carefully, tilting his head slightly.
"You're sweating... What happened?" His mouth scrunched up in concern. Lately, Twilight had been increasingly restless, and he was beginning to worry. It was usual for the mare to panic every once and a while, but for a week straight, it was a concerning sign.
Spike hadn't seen the mare this worried since her initial arrival at Ponyville. The poor reclusive Twilight had fought the idea of having friends, arguing that she was best off with her nose in books. It took Spike some time to help her warm up to the fellow ponies.
Now, seeing Twilight in such a state saddened the baby dragon, as she had come so far. Whatever was on the mind of the studious pony must have been huge; she had tossed and turned every night, sometimes even crying or, on the worst nights, screaming.
He offered his clawed paw in a gesture of friendship; he hoped he could bring at least some comfort to his best friend.
She smiled, her heart warmed by the care Spike gave her. Ever since she had arrived in Ponyville, even through the banishment of Discord, the little purple dragon had been by her side. He was so accommodating, and she was incredibly thankful.
With a gentle nuzzle, she sighed a breath of relief.
"Thank you Spike... It was, just a nightmare. I'm fine, really," she looked up at the still-night sky. Despite her brave words, she was disturbed.
The depth and darkness of the sky brought back all the raw images of her night-terrors. It suffocated her, every night. The sheer silence alone made her fur crawl.
Spike didn't believe her one bit, but didn't want to panic the already nervous pony. With a sad sigh, he curled back onto his bed, pulling the soft blanket back over his scaley hide.
Her anxiety rubbed off on the young scaled assistant. He was in a constant state of guarding the poor Twilight, as he cared too much to let harm fall upon her.
If anyone touches a strand of fur on that mare's body, so help me... Spike thought to himself sleepily, as his mind blurred into sleep.
"Well, I'm here if you need me, Twily," he managed to mumble, before sleep finally consumed his young mind.
"Thanks, Spike," she whispered, turning to face her small window. Stars beamed down onto her soft lavender coat, causing her to glow slightly. Despite the night's obvious beauty, Twilight was still terrified. Every night for almost two weeks straight, it was the same night terror. Every night, it progressed, becoming more frightening.
Maybe it's all the books, Twilight thought to herself with a saddened heart. Granted, her reading material had been rather dark, but it didn't usually disturb her this much. Not to the point of nightmares, that's for certain. Something had to be done. She couldn't keep tossing and turning, it was interfering with her studies. The mare gasped, realising what she must do.
"Spike? Spike?!" Twilight poked the dragon with a forceful hoof, pulling the blanket off him. "Spike I need you to take a note for Celestia!"
"Hmm.. Twi, can it wait until morning?" The dragon yawned, a flicker of green flame illuminating the entire top floor of her treehouse.
"No it can't! GET UP!" Twilight flicked the dragon out of his bed with a swift movement of her muzzle, pushing him onto the cold wooden floors.
"Fine, fine," he grumpily grabbed a quill and a scroll of old paper.
"Dear Celestia, I fear that I am troubled. Every night for almost two weeks now I've had these troubling dreams, of dark times and an evil being," Twilight paced the length of her room, her hooves beating fretfully against the floor. The sound echoed throughout the library, reminding her of how alone she was after the nightmares.
She checked to make sure Spike was following, before continuing in a squeaky tone.
"In my dream I am struck down by a dark, shadowy creature. It has a female voice, and tells me that 'It's over'. I don't know what it means, and it's keeping me awake. If you can give me any advice, I'd be very grateful.
Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle."
The mare sighed with relief as Spike sent off the scroll. At least now something may be able to be done, or at least the Princess could offer some insight into what's happening.
Twilight returned to bed to try and capture a few hours of sleep, and was able to doze until morning. The pony was gently awoken by a concerned Spike, waving the Princess's reply.
"Twily, wake up! Wake up!!" He began to shake her, as she groggily opened her eyes.
"H-huh?" Twilight tried to re-focus her eyes.
The response caused her heart to skip a beat, as she read the single paragraph.
"My faithful student; the time has come. Would you kindly gather the six elements and meet me at Canterlot? We have no time to waste."
With a shiver of her purple coat, Twilight rushed to her hooves, gathering a saddlepack of vital things and books.
"Spike let's go," with not a moment to spare the mare closed the door to the library.