//------------------------------// // Call to arms // Story: Apocalypse: Worlds End or New Beginnings // by Blue dragon 116 //------------------------------// It would seem that even im my dreams I wouldn't be free from the horrors of reality. In my dreams I lay at the bottom of a mountain of body's. My own body broken and unresponsive as the sound of movement could be heard coming closer from seemingly all sides. "This is truly a sad sight wouldn't you agree brother?" Famine said as he appeared before me with a devilish smirk on his face. "Indeed it is." War said somewhere as pain erupted in my side, and I was forced off my gut and onto my side by the sheer force of the attack. For a long second everything disappeared in light of the pain that filled my body as I struggled to maintain consciousness. "You will pay dearly for this." I said hearing two other voices matching my words. Startled I forced my eyes open and couldn't believe what I was seeing. On the ground across from me lay two others, staring at me with mirrored expressions of my shock. Before me lay a dragon much like myself save his eyes were a beautiful green color, and behind him was Timor but something was off. As I looked closer at him I noticed he seemed younger, and his eyes had a light green tint fading in and out behind his crimson eyes. "What the hell is this?" We all three said in unison, while staring dumbly at one another. "It amusing how the one being that can stop us is unable too." War said putting his foot on the dragons face and applying pressure. Making we three captives shift similarly trying to rid ourselves of the pain and pressure of wars boot on our faces. "Indeed it tis." Famine kneeling in front of me. "You would be able to stop all of this with but a thought boy, if only you weren't fighting to maintain your humanity." " I am human." I said grinding my teeth in frustration as I glared up at Famine. Only to see a Famine place a hand next to his ear and grin. "Ohh did you hear that boy? Go ahead say that again." Famine said smiling down at me, trying to get me to speak once more. Only for both heads to snap towards the dragon as he spoke and then Timor right after. "I am a dragon dissident from Gawain the great." "I am the new avatar of fear and your master I command you to release me at once." "Ohh don't you see boy?" Famine said bouncing on his toes giddily. "you are all the same creature and yet you fight within yourself to have one part maintain dominance, how foolish are you?" "It matters not brother." War said drawing his broad sword and holding it above the dragons head, and plunging it through his neck. Making us all scream in pain as blood began to flow from all our necks. "This fool will never come to terms with what he is so he will never be a threat, nothing more than another soul for Death to reap." As War spoke he moved the blade back and forth until a loud snap could be heard and everything faded to black. I jumped awake to find myself back in the gardens, curled into a ball underneath the tree. For what seemed like hours I sat there completely oblivious to the world around me trying to think of what that dream could mean. But I was broken from my turmoil by the sound of hoof steps approaching, and a mental probe from Chrysalis. With a tired sigh I rolled into a sitting position with my back to the tree, only then realizing I was in human form. And then to my surprise it wasn't Chrysalis that emerged from the shadows into the clearing, but Luna as she trotted over to me with a concerned look on her face. "And to what do I owe this pleasure princess?" I said as Luna sat across from me, making her face twist into a agitated scowl. "You know why I am here Thomas so why don't you tell me?" She said glaring at me tapping her hoof while she waited for my answer. "It was a nightmare Luna nothing more. Its defiantly not something that warrants your concern. We all have them from time to time, im no exception." I said as I tried to stand only to be forced back down and see Luna's horn glowing with a aggravated look on her face. "The realm of dreams are my domain, and It is my duty as princess of the night to fight off nightmares and bad dreams that would plague my ponies.' Luna said lecturing me like I was a insolent child who slept through a lesson. "That goes doubly for my friends and family, especially when the evil presence is so strong in a nightmare that I am not allowed entrance. So Thomas will you tell me what it was you dreamt or must I force you tell me? For a long second we simply stared each other down, locked in a battle of wills. That is until Luna let out annoyed sigh, and I smirked believing I had one. Until Luna's horn began to glow and the light around her seemed to just disappear, and the temperature dropped and continued to do so. Until I finally caved not wanting to test the strength of Luna's dream magic's and said. "Ok, Ok Luna you can stop ill tell you." I sighed and waited as Luna canceled the spell with a smirk. "In my dream my body was broken and I lay at the bottom of a mountain of shriveled body's. And then War and Famine showed up mocking me saying I could defeat them if only I wasn't fighting to cling to my humanity." "Your body was broken?" Luna asked with a inquisitive look interrupting me. "And then your foe mocked your humanity?" "Indeed they did princess." I said earning a solemn nod as a sign to continue. " Meanwhile there was a dragon much like the form I take except his eyes were green, and what looked like a younger version of Timor with a faint green light flickering behind his eyes. And until I argued I was still human all three of us said the exact same thing at the same time. "So there were creatures similar to each facet of your power present." Luna stated, interrupting me once more making my eye twitch in annoyance. "And you and the duplicates all spoke as if the same being?" "Yes Luna there were." I Growled in annoyance as I continued my tale. " And then just before war killed us in the dream Famine said I need to quite fighting the different parts of who I am. So that was my dream Luna is that what you wanted too hear?" Luna stared at me with a look devoid of any emotion, or any signs of life as if she were lost in thought. until I cleared my throat in annoyance making her shake her head and return to herself.. "Well what do you think Thomas?" She said fixing me with a cold calculating gaze. "Are you just human or are you so much more than that?" "I don't know what I am!" I yelled throwing my hands up exasperation. "I was born Human, with the soul of a dragon king long since past. And then while I was an infant I was force fed fear incarnate. Only to have it stain my mind and soul until I came here, where he showed remorse and gave me all his power and memory. And further more I have found one I care for deeply and adopted her people as my own, that in of itself has changed me. So be to damn honest Luna I have no idea what I am and I wouldn't even know where to began to set myself straight." A dismal silence followed my outburst broken only by the cool night breeze and a critter moving in the bushes behind me. Luna was the first to break the silence as she stood and came to sit beside me pulling me close with a wing. "I cant say I know how you feel because I don't." She said simply starring at her moon as she spoke. "But I know what holding things to yourself can do to a pony. So don't be afraid to come to me or my sister for help, Im sure Chrysalis would be of help in some ways as well. You are not alone in this Thomas granted you may hold the most responsibility in this matter, but that doesn't mean you must carry it all yourself. When you are ready i will aid you in your quest to find yourself you need but ask." "We will see Luna." I said as I thought over what she said." But for now put out a royal decree all ponies are to come to canterlot immediately. And all with any form of skill with a weapon should report to the guard at once." Luna gave me a disapproving look making me smile just a hair. "I know many will be upset, but trust me the guard is in dire need of more volunteers and the more of the population we have in canterlot the better we can defend them." "Very well good night friend" Luna said squeezing me gently with her wing before she release me and took to the sky. silence rained as I watched Luna disappear into the night sky and thought of what to don next. "You know she is right don't you?" "How long have you been there Chrysalis?" I said as I turned to face her as she stepped out of the shadows behind me. "Long enough." She said cryptically as she watched Luna disappear into the night. "You know she is right I will help you how ever I can." "I know that, trust me I do." I said with a worn out tone. "But I don't eve know where to begin myself." "Maybe you should consider the princesses offer that would seem to be the best option at this point. And I get the feeling she wouldn't offer this to just anyone, especially with how personal this is to her. You must really mean a lot to her, maybe more than just a friend." Chrysalis said before winking at me and dissapering in a flash if green fire leaving me alone to ponder what she and Luna had said.