Chapter 2
Dream of a Steel Beast
Ponyville:
It was a quiet, peaceful afternoon in small town of Ponyville. The sun was setting for the day, shops and carts close up for the night, and every pony prepares themselves for the upcoming storm scheduled for the evening. Most ponies were either hastily finishing the final preparations, or hurrying to find shelter. Among these ponies, were both Applejack, the earth pony, and Rarity, the unicorn. They had been invited to stay the stormy night in the castle of their friend, and princess, Twilight Sparkle. The two of them had just arrived at the door when the rain started it’s decent. It was in a matter of seconds that the rain fell harder, and harder. The two ponies were getting soaked to the bone.
“Twilight? Twilight!!! Oh, what could possibly be keeping her so long?”
“Take it easy, sugar cube. This ain’t nothing, but water. Yah won’t melt.”
“Be that as it may. All this harsh rain fall cannot be good for my hair. Or my night gown for that matter.”
Rarity again knocked on the doors for the crystal like palace. But, again, no one was there to answer their call. So, she tried it again, and the results were the same as before. She continued the practice over and over again. Each time she grew angrier, and more frustrated up to the point where she let out a wrathful cry.
“TWILIGHT SPARKLE!!! WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE THE REASON WHY YOU HAVN”T OPENED THE DOOR?!!!”
“Because, she’s right behind you.”
Rarity turned around to find Twilight soaked from all the rain water, levitating several bags. She couldn’t help but feel both embarrassed, and sorry for Twilight.
“Oh my. I’m…I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you weren’t home.”
“I had to run, and get some last minutes supplies. I thought that Spike would’ve got the door for you.”
“I, uh. Ah asked Spike and Fluttershy to keep an eye on Applebloom, and her friends tonight. Seeing that Big Mac’s away.”
“Oh, yes. Sweetie Bell was talking about that. I’ll have to thank both Fluttershy, and spikey wikey for helping out.”
“Alright then. Let me just unlock the door.”
The young Alicorn made her way to the large door, pulled out her key, and unlocked the huge doors. They slowly opened revealing the lit hallway of Castle Friendship. Once they were inside. Twilight and her friends made their way towards a large stairwell, leading to other parts of the castle.
“Come on. I’ll show you guys to we’ll be crashing.”
“Hopefully, I can get my hair back to it’s former glory. I knew this rain wasn’t good for it.”
“Is your hair gonna be the only thing you’re gonna talk about all night?”
“Well, excuse me if I want to look me best. Even in my sleep.”
Twilight nodded her head, and continued to lead her friends through the halls, and to their sleeping quarters.
Later, that evening, the three girls were sitting in a circle, recalling their events from earlier that day Applejack had just finished her tale of how she had to put a stop to another of her sisters cutie mark crusades, when Applebloom attempted to be the first pony to fly with wings of cardboard off of the apple barn. Twilight, and Rarity couldn’t help but laugh.
“Heh heh. Ooooh those were the days.”
“Yep, I remember when I tried pulling a stunt like that. I lasted a good 5 seconds before I hit the ground. Though it was a smaller height.”
“I thank you for preventing anyone else from trying that. Who knows what could have happened to sweetie bell if she …”
“I hear you. I was just looking out for y’all.”
Rarity nodded, then let out a soft yawn. She looked at a nearby clock, and noticed it was past midnight.
“Well, we should get some sleep. I’ve got to keep myself from getting my eyes all wrinkly in the morning.”
“yeah, I’d recon getting some shut eye. I got to see what the damage is like back home.”“I’m sure the farm, and the girls are alright.”
“I was talking about Flutters, and Spike. Who knows what those three have been up to?”
Twilight giggled a bit before curling under her sleeping bag. Slowly her eyes began to blink slower, and slower as she drifted off to sleep, with the sounds of rain drops echoing through the darkness.
There was nothing but darkness in front of Twilight. All she could see were the two hooves in front of her. She knew not where she was, until the sky began to brighten into a red dawn. But, instead of the day growing brighter, revealing a blue sky. It remained the same dark red, displaying only silhouettes of mountains and a flat, rocky plain. Then there was a great tremor in the ground below her. Twilight could hear and see the cracking of earth as it continued its path in front of her until it stop as the quake died down. She sighed in relief, as if it was all over. However, she began to feel the quake begin to pick up where it left off. This time the two halves of the ground began to drift apart, right underneath the Alicorn herself. Lightning flash, and thunder roared as, twilight leaped to one side of the two halves. As the earth parted, and lightning scatter the rubble, large fires began to burst from the pit. She was terrified beyond belief. Twilight, coming to her sense, began to run as far away from the pit. Before she could even start, a loud, Bull like roar had echoed from the pit. As she turned to look back she could see a massive steel beast, dragon like, rise from the fires, as if a monster of Tartarus had come to Equestria. Once the beast had made it out, Twilight saw the beast move its massive body towards one of the mountains, where she saw a red figure standing there. As if it was returning to its master. It began to get darker, and darker, when Twilight realized the monster’s tail was right on top of her, and pressed its weight on her fragile body. Twilight could only shut her tearful eyes, and brace for the inevitable.
In an instant, Twilight awoke, sweaty and hyperventilating. She looked around to find that she was still in her room. She saw that Spike was standing in the doorway.
“Geez Twilight. You’ve must have had some messed up dream.”
“Spike! When did you get hear?”
“Around 8. You were still asleep by then. You murmured while you slept.”
“Did I say anything?”
“Nothing I could tell. What was it that you were dreaming?”
“I’ll tell you later. Now, please. Take a letter to Princess Celestia.”
“Oh, it’s those kind of dreams.”
The baby dragon had done what he had been instructed, and readied quil for what every Twilight spoke.
[i]Dear Princess Celestia,
Last night, I had one of the most terrifying nightmares than ever before. I saw a large red steel beast. Dragon like in structure, and as tall as the crystal palace. It was heading towards a red figure in the distance. Though I could not tell who it was. I fear that something big is about to happen, hear in Equestria. I wish to speak with you, hoping that you may help shed some light in this event.
Your faithful student,
Princess Twilight Sparkle
When Twilight had finished, Spike blew his flame, and sending it to the princess. It was only a matter of time before the princess would respond.
“The princess hasn’t responded yet. I guess it’s not all that important. Maybe it was just a dream, and nothing more.”
“Sure, it could just be BUUUURRRP!!!”
A letter had just made its way out of Spike’s fiery mouth, and landed right onto Twilight’s lap. She levitated the letter, and unfolded the parchment which read the princess’ response.
My Dearest Twilight,
My sister had informed me of your dream. Though I do not know who the red figure whom you speak of. But, I may know something about this beast of yours. But more will be discussed later. For now, I need you and the elements to join me in Canterlot. I have urgent new that you must be present for.
Your Teacher and Friend forever.
Princess Celestia
Twilight then got up from her sleeping bag, and placed the letter on her night stand. She looked to Spike, who retained his original position when he entered the room. She approached him, and placed her hoof on his shoulder.
“The princess has requested our presence, up in Canterlot. Find the girls, and tell them to meet me at the train station. Pack you things, before you do so.”
The baby dragon nodded, and made his way out of the room. In preparation for their trip to the Equestrian capital of Canterlot.