//------------------------------// // 7: The Courts of Somnium // Story: A Nightmare in Eidolon // by FolkloreBrony //------------------------------// //// Chapter 7-The Courts of Somnium //// The day passed slowly as the two figures traveled upon the road, seemingly leading nowhere. The ghosts had long since parted, leaving Nyx alone with the toad. She was thankful that they had left, their presence giving her the creeps. The forest was so peaceful without them, and their absence did wonders for her nerves. Not that it was the only thing that set her at ease. For the most part, Nyx found the journey with Toby enjoyable, finding him a rather laid back person to talk to, despite his pompous attitude. He was mindful enough to keep her company as they walked together, answering any questions she had while asking a few of his own. Currently, she was talking a little bit about her home life. He had asked her about her family, and she proudly went into detail about both Twilight and Spike, declaring them the greatest mother and brother ever. That had earned an amused stare from the toad, one which she shrugged off as he had never met them. “I think you’d like Spike, he’s kinda like you. All grumpy and sarcastic.” She grinned as Toby looked up at her in wonder. “I still can’t believe your brother is a dragon,” Toby said, amazed that one of the glorified lizards was living peacefully among the Equestrians. Nyx giggled. “Well, don’t say he’s my brother in front of him. He thinks if he starts going around calling me his sister then he’s gotta start calling Twilight ‘mom’, and that just weirds him out.” Toby cocked his head, “Would that be far from the truth? You said your mother hatched him.” “True, but he grew up with her and uncle Shining when they were just foals, so they’ve always acted more like brother and sister to each other.” She smiled, thinking back at how he’d try so hard for her to recognize him as ‘Uncle Spike’, only for the two of them to get into a sibling squabble soon after. “I think he’s just being silly, honestly, but then again--” Nyx was about to comment on how he stood up for her when Toby raised a finger to her lips, stopping as he looked down the path. “What is it?” she asked, perking up her ears, wondering if he had heard something. “We’re here,” he said, quickly hopping forward. Nyx perked up, picking up her pace as she followed. Soon, they both exited the forest, looking out to the world before them. The moon had finally left the face of the sun, its heat beating down on a desert waste. Curiously, whales swam above in the sky as if the great blue were the ocean itself, piercing through the clouds as their long, melodic songs carried upon the wind. Sand dunes rose into the air before her like mountains of gold, smoothed by the passing of time as they snaked for miles. But at the center of this land stood a city, buildings cut in stone that towered from the sands like a jewel.  Further into the city, she saw the towering spires of a palace that sat upon a short butte, hanging upon it with columns of marble carved into the rock. Grand palm trees grew within its courts, while water bubbled out from a pool that ran down a waterfall into the city below. Nyx stood in awe at the city before her, admiring its exotic beauty, and the people who went about their business in the streets were no less stunning. Her eyes adjusted, uniquely able to make out the different moving creatures from such a distance. Toads, Saddle Arabians, and Abyssinians paraded the markets places and business districts garbed in wonderous fabrics of many colors, extravagant and proud in their riches. She looked upon the scene in wonder, thinking she had entered the mystic realm of the Orient. Her goal was so close now, she could reach out and take it. She would have moved forward if her hooves hadn’t locked in place at the sight of what was before her, eyes widening as she realized there was another race that resided in this city. Ponies. City streets filled with ponies. Nyx watched them from a distance, not daring to move forward. She suddenly felt apprehensive, no longer confident to move forward. Toby noticed her freeze up, looking at her in confusion as he stepped closer to her. “Milady?” he asked, tugging on her leg to lead her forward. She backed away. Nyx was terrified. Memories surged back into her mind, horrible images of pain and malice returning to her as if it had all happened yesterday, with one name only presented to her. Baltimare. She couldn’t trust ponies anymore, not after what happened. The citizens of Ponyville were one thing, she knew them, but this? Quickly she turned around, ready to run back into the forest to get away from them. But to her horror, the forest was gone. The path they had been on has simply vanished, leaving only desert sands for miles around, taking away her only means of escape. She started to panic, realizing that she wouldn’t be able to get away from these ponies, and there was nowhere to hide. “Milady? What’s the matter?” Toby hurried over to Nyx’s side, looking up at her with concern as she lost her ability to breathe. “I… I can’t!” Nyx hyperventilated, rushing over to a pile of boulders lying to the side of the road, hoping she hadn’t been seen by the ponies congregated in the city. “Can’t what?” “I can’t go! They’ll see me!” she peered over the boulders with suspicion, eyes darting around to survey her surroundings only to hide again when she thought someone was looking in their direction. “Who will see you? You’re not making any sense!” Toby shouted, only for Nyx to ignore him. He growled, grabbing hold of her head and turning her around, forcing her to look at him, “Who?” “Ponies,” she whispered, shaking as she looked at him with frightened eyes. Toby paused, finding it odd for that to upset her. “Well yes, ponies are a large part of the population of this city, Arabian horses being larger.” He looked up at her curiously, “why is that so important?” “I...” Nyx frowned, looking away as she bowed her head in shame. I’m Nightmare Moon, she thought, the words tasting bitter in her mouth as they rose up in her mind. Words she had heard so many times, words she wished to forget. She pushed them away, avoiding them for a slightly better phrase. “I’m not well liked by ponies, it’s not safe.” The two were silent for a moment, the amphibian processing what she said as his eyes narrowed, the mare looking away dejectedly. “Did you happen to hit your head before I met you?” Toby quipped, earning an annoyed glare from Nyx. “This is serious!” Nyx growled sharply, not taking kindly to how nonchalant he was about her situation. “They’d rip me apart if they saw me!” Toby scoffed, finding the idea utterly ridiculous. “I hardly think that’s true. The ponies here are a respectable lot who I’ve had the pleasure to know my whole life, as well as any other creature in the city.” He frowned, tapping his foot as he croaked, “what makes you think they’d be so violent?” “It’s… complicated,” Nyx mumbled, leaving it at that. Toby tilted his head in thought, trying to put together what little information he had to figure out why she was being so cryptic. “I don’t see why you have anything to worry about,” Toby pondered, looking her over skeptically. “I think you’re just having the jitters. It’s not like you’ve been attacked before, right?” Nyx froze, a cold shiver running down her spine. “Again, complicated,” she growled, not wanting to be pressed. “Riiiight,” Toby said with a hint of sarcasm, frowning as he crossed his arms. “Well, Miss Complicated, as much as you might not like it, the only way to the Emperor is through that city, so unless you’d like to start weaving dreams with the vision makers, I’d suggest you’d get over your inhibition and snap to it!” Nyx stared wide-eyed at Toby, surprised by his outburst. She wanted to protest, but that stone cold stare he gave her made the words die on her tongue. She looked back at the city with a groan, her eyes locked onto the ponies that would spell her doom. She turned to Toby, hoping he might have some sympathy for her plight, but his gaze crushed any hope she had that he would relent to her. Nyx slumped, her muscles relaxing in defeat as she let out a sigh, looking down at her hooves. “Alright, I’ll go,” she said, peering over the boulder again. Toby smiled, ready to hop back onto the road and enter the city, but was halted when Nyx pulled him back. She shook her head, fidgeting as she looked at a few of the stands in the market, filled with robes and other forms of clothing. “But not like this.” Nyx hid in the dark of the alleyway to the side of the marketplace, anxiously waiting for Toby to return. They had snuck into the city without a hitch, but now she had to remain unseen while Toby went to find her some means to conceal herself in the crowds. Nyx’s heart hadn’t stopped racing since the moment she entered inside the metropolis’ walls, feeling that her anxieties hadn’t left her. Where is he? she wondered, tapping her hoof on the ground impatiently. Toby had been gone for some time now, leaving her to wonder if he would ever return. Again, thoughts doubting his character came to mind, fueling her paranoia. Had he brought her here knowing who she was all along, pretending to be her friend only to form a mob to attack her? No, she knew better than that. Toby was sincere, she was sure of it, but she couldn’t help but feel alone all the same. Just then she heard someone clearing their throat behind her, whipping her head around to see who had come up behind her. It was Toby, and she immediately relaxed, the worry lifted off her shoulders as she walked towards him. “What took you so long?” she asked, rushing over to him as he moved into the shadow of the alley. “Was trying to find a good deal on the current line of fashion,” Toby huffed, pulling the fabric from over his shoulder. “Seriously?” she asked, flabbergasted that he would be concerned whether or not her robes were ‘in the now’. “Hey, if I have to start buying your clothes, I’m gonna make sure you’re presentable, for the right price, of course.” Toby forced a smile, handing the robes to Nyx as the mare rolled her eyes. “Alright, as long as you got it.” She took the robes and inspected them, going over the intricate designs woven into the fabric. It was a traditional Arabian robe made from royal-blue wool sewn together with silver silk, expertly stitched together with detailed designs around its corners. She smiled comfortably at it, slipping into them. “I still think you’re being ridiculous. I know these people, I trust them,” Toby grumbled, watching her adjust robe. He had tried to convince her that she had nothing to be frightened of, but she was far more stubborn about this than she had about the two paths. “Well I don’t know them, and I don’t trust them,” Nyx deadpanned, pulling on the robe against her shoulder to tighten it. The fabric fit her perfectly, covering up her wings from view. She smiled at that, lifting the hood over her head, her horn and muzzle sticking out along with a plume of her mane. She couldn’t do anything about that, but it mattered little. “Well, how do I look?” she asked, twirling around in her robes for him to get a good look. “As presentable as I predicted you’d be, milady.” He sighed, gesturing to the street. “Care to take the final steps, now?” Nyx nodded her head, following Toby into the marketplace. She tensed a little as ponies passed her by, but when they didn’t pay her any mind, she relaxed, now taking the time to digest her new surroundings. The residents of Somnium were vibrant and rich, decorated with many fine jewels and bracelets of gold. Many walked on the street on their own business, while some rode upon great beasts, strange creatures that stunned Nyx as she looked at them. They were as large as camels, with shaggy, hulking bodies that resembled the lumbering stance of bears while having long trunks just like an elephant. Vendors perched under tents would at times throws wads of varying colors that shone like diamonds at the creatures, who eagerly lapped them up like candy. Intrigued, Nyx drew closer to the tents, wanting to observe what they were doing. There she was surprised to find Saddle Arabian mares wringing out bright pink clouds over pitchers, water dripping out of them filling a set of jars. Looking to a sign beside a tent with painted red hearts, she tried to read the words but found herself unable to, the language it was written in unfamiliar to her. She turned from the sign only to accidentally walk face-first into a pink cloud that a zebra was carrying, her body tensing as the images inside permeated her senses. She immediately pulled out, the scene inside burned into her mind, making both her and the zebra blush. She was thankful that she had been able to turn away before anything too intense was seen, moving down the street as quickly as possible to forget what had happened and partake in the other dealings of the market, hiding her hot red cheeks under the hood. As she walked, her eyes rose to the sky, watching the whales peacefully sailing above them, while also taking note of a parade of blimps hanging low over the city, rope bridges connecting them all as creatures roamed between them. Moving ahead she found another tent filled with coats with moving images, ranging from rolling green plains to knights in shining armor fighting dragons. These coats were being sown by an elderly Abyssinian tabby, the cat sitting on the silhouette of an old wooden spindle spinning in the dark. The old tabby cranked the spindle, weaving a golden tapestry that showed dancing images of prancing ponies. When the translucent fabric needed trimming, her arms broke apart, splitting into an extra pair of limbs that stretched out to sow and snip at it with scissors and needles. Nyx stared with wide eyes as the feline looked up at her, slit eyes piercing through the shade. The mare blushed and turned away, not liking to be reminded of her own condition, no matter if it was unintentional.  Further down were the food courts of the markets, steam rising from metal pots and pans as they filled her nostrils with foreign scents. Upon further inspection, however, she was shocked to find a wide, and quite weird, assortment of various meals and foods. From strange fruits with spikes and teeth to sticky purple gumbo with eyes on rice, and bubbling covered pots with red tentacles wiggling out from under the lids. She had been feeling hungry moments ago, but after seeing what was available, she felt her stomach turn. She felt somewhat overwhelmed as she took in the very peculiar workings of the city street she had stumbled upon, considering running back into the desert to try her luck out there. But for better or worse, her curiosity got the better of her, egging her on to take the next step forward. Turning on the street, she made her way into the town square, her breath taken by the beauty of this ancient place. Blue and green vines snaked over the walls of the buildings, blooming flowers of yellow and orange, covered in fruits filling the air with the smell of citrus. Entertainers flooded the center surrounding the fountain, dancing with fire and taming mysterious beasts, among other things. A group of lovers sat near the fountain waters, either watching the performers or being too distracted with each other, their reflections rippling across the lily-covered surface. Nyx pushed through the crowd to get a better look, Toby following close behind. Bipedal street performers wearing noble’s outfits and face masks with white hoods backflipped and flew, showing off their acrobatics to the crowd. Nyx caught a glimpse of their masks, all of them painted with fleshy colors with green goggles for eyes and Spanish mustaches added to them. She watched with fascination as they landed on each other's shoulders, one masked figure balancing himself on his partner’s fingertip.  A group of children ran past her, filled with foals, kittens, and young minotaurs giggling and howling in delight as they rushed towards one of the stands. A pony stood behind the counter covered in parchments, smiling happily at the children as he pulled out the papers and folded them, ready to create his little wonders. “What is all this?” Nyx asked, watching as the origami maker folded the paper into a tiny dragon, the paper beast flying over his hand as it blew tiny sparks from its mouth. “The festival of Kabus. It celebrates both the harvest in Fallford, and the founding of Eidolon itself,” Toby remarked, paying for a bowl of wiggling worm noodles on rice, much to Nyx’s disgust. “Can you tell me anything about this Emperor?” she asked quickly, wanting to get her mind off of the fact that the toad was eating something that was no doubt still alive. “Really not much I can say, I’ve never met him personally,” Toby said with a loud crunch, tipping his fez back as he thought. “Most don’t even know where he is half the time. From what I’ve heard, he’s a little… odd.” Nyx raised an eyebrow at that, wondering what constituted as odd in a place like this. “Seems to fit with everything I’ve seen so far.” Toby just looked up at her, wearing a wide cheeky grin. “Nothing I have to worry about, right?” She grimaced, watching the toad pop a handful of the ‘noodles’ into his mouth, several tiny tendrils thrashing around out of the corners of his lips. “No. Just make sure to keep that cloak tight around you.” He swallowed, pointing to the large group of people between them and the path to the palace. The mare frowned at the new obstacle, not liking the density of the crowd one bit. However, with the path so close, she could tolerate going through them, albeit as quickly and quietly as possible. She snorted, batting away a sparkling butterfly that flew across her face. She was about to turn away when a voice rang out suddenly above the crowd. “Everyone? Everyone! Come and see the Storyteller and his fireworks!” A boy called, several bystanders quickly turning to make their way towards a corner of the square. Nyx shot up as she heard the voice call, her curiosity getting the better of her as she moved toward the growing mass to see what was going on. Standing in the middle of the crowd stood a tall and feathery owl, ratty with age yet moving about with the spit and vinegar of a younger bird. The owl wore plenty of clothing, multiple layers of clothes, robes, and scarfs hanging from his body. He easily stood above most of the others who watched him, gesturing with his wings as if they were hands as he performed his parlor tricks. He held a staff in his other wing he used to lean his weight on, trinkets and ointments hanging from the head rattling as he moved around a large cauldron placed in front of him. “Yes, yes, magnificent. Now gather around, and see the fruit of the harvest our great land has bestowed upon us!” the Storyteller said with a wave of a feather, several colorful fireworks popping harmlessly in the air, much to the delight of several children present. He smiled at that, tapping his staff against the cauldron, the metal bowl catching fire. “Somnium, oh Somnium! Our shining city of dreams! How the land itself sings its beauty and wonder!” He reached into his robes and pulled out a pouch, quickly snatching a handful of powder from it and casting it into the fire. The flames burst into all the colors of the rainbow, images forming showing the beautiful land of Eidolon to the delight of the crowd. “But for every dream, there is a nightmare, and for every white spire, there is a dark tower.” The Storyteller waved his wing again, the once beautiful image in the flame contorting into something horrible. Thorny weeds and other unsavory things clawed their way through the peaceful meadows and grew in a twisted forest, and above it rose a dark mountain with a dark castle built upon its slope. Several gasps escaped from the children watching, while the adults just watched silently, having heard the story before. Nyx found herself staring at the gothic towers with a sense of dread, feeling a presence of hatred she had not felt in a long time. “Yes, everyone, for it is the castle of Tarikor I speak of, its shadow cast in the land of Somnum Exterreri,” he spoke as a castle burst in shadow and flames, dark and foreboding as it towered over their heads. “Its magic is all things corrupt! All-consuming, all spawn of the Dark!” A shadow form from the flowing mists, swirling as it rose dark and imposing. The shadow took shape, creating a silhouette of a bipedal creature both lanky and thin, with large curved horns growing from its head. The silhouette reached out a long, boney arm and snapped its wrist, a turret of blue flames consuming the entirety of the mist, forcing a collective squeal from the children. Nyx let out a squeal of her own, mindfully hiding it from the others as she pushed herself closer to the play to get a better view. The Storyteller smiled, the horrible figure before the crowd vanishing in an instant to be replaced with bright sunflowers, fireworks, and candy, falling to the ground as the kids gleefully scooped them up. Many of the adults chuckled, looking up at the symbol of a yin-yang that hovered over the images. “But on this day of the festival of Kabus, we are reminded of the life and joy that keeps that represents the light. Only then can we keep the darkness at bay.” The Storyteller shook his head and chuckled, raising a wing to the crowd. “But one day it will return to balance, no longer will the Dark spread its influence upon our lands. That forest will be made a home again, as it was when High Mother Luna walked these lands, before the corruption.” Nyx felt her heart skip a beat when she heard the princess’ name, freezing up as it rang in her ears. Her fears were made worse when the mist wrapped around the Storyteller like a snake, twisting around until it rose above his head to form the menacing figure of Nightmare Moon herself. I was right, they know who I am! Nyx panicked, backing away from the front of the crowd to try and disappear into the masses. Unfortunately, the crowd had become incredibly dense, making it difficult for her to push through the people gathered. As she squeezed her way between ponies and cats, Nyx felt as though she were being suffocated. So little room left her pressed together as if she were a sardine stuffed into a can, unable to breathe. The mare sucked in the air sharply, desperately forcing herself forward, not paying attention to where she was going. All of it came to a crashing halt, when someone accidentally stepped on the tail of her cloak, forcing her to the ground. No. Nyx’s eyes dilated as she fully realized what had happened. She found herself lying on the street surrounded by the crowd, all staring at her with wide eyes. But that wasn’t the problem. The problem was that her cloak had been completely torn off, lying under an Arabian’s hoof a few feet away. Therefore, there was nothing stopping the crowd of creatures to see the wings spread across her back, or her face that had been so well-hidden under her hood. Quickly Nyx pulled at the cloak, causing the Arabian to stumble as she scooped up her clothes and wrapped herself in them, trying to hide from the gathering crowd. But the damage was done. They had seen her wings, she knew they had, and it wouldn’t take a genius to put two and two together based on her appearance. She tried to run, but as she turned her body, she was met with a wall of creatures standing over her, blocking off her escape. What she didn’t notice was that the crowd didn’t look at her with malice but confusion, watching with rising concern as she freaked out. All she knew was that she was surrounded, and in her panic, she didn’t know what to do. Nyx fell to the ground, sobbing to herself as Toby pulled himself out of the concerned crowd, quickly hopping to her side to her aid. “Milady? What happened? Are you alright?” he asked, placing his webbed hand on her shoulder. “They saw me!” Nyx stammered, her eyes darting around like a frightened animal. It only got worse when a few members of the crowd drew closer, her body visibly shaking as she shrank away from them. “Please don’t hurt me!” A young Abyssinian that had come to her side paused, raising his paw to her with concern. “Why would we do that?” The mare, however, recoiled, bringing up her wings as if to shield herself from some imminent attack. The Abyssinian frowned, but pulled away, not wanting to make her any more uncomfortable. Soon another figure pushed themselves through the crowd, an Arabian unicorn stallion who forced the others to back away. He had a creme-colored coat and a solid beige mane, braided and combed properly upon his head. He looked rather important if the gold ornaments he wore were to go by, turning to stare right at her with wide eyes under his shemagh, much to her discomfort. The Abyssinian bowed respectively to the unicorn, leaning into his ear to whisper words she could not hear, her eyes glued onto them with suspicion as the pony finally turned to her with a look of understanding. “Miss, it is quite alright. I assure you no one means you any harm,” he spoke soothingly, lowering himself down to her level and pulling his shemagh down so as not to intimidate her. He spoke with an accent that was smooth and kind, offering her a smile to show he meant no harm. However, she only backed away suspiciously, putting a good distance between her and him. He didn’t mind however and let her do whatever made her comfortable. “Why not? You know who I am,” she said accusingly, her cat-like irises narrowing dangerously thin behind the frames. He raised his eyebrow, tilting his head curiously. “And who do I know you to be?” he asked, offering a smile she was reluctant to accept as genuine. Nyx glared at him, then shifted her gaze towards the Storyteller, whose misty illusion of Nightmare Moon still stood proud and erect. The unicorn turned to look at it, letting out a sigh as he came to understand why she was so defensive, allowing himself to smirk.  “Yes, the resemblance is uncanny. There’s no mistaking that at all.” He looked at her again, playfully bowing to her as if she were royalty. “The great Nightmare Moon, eh? Decided to try the festival tar lo mein? I’m a little more fond of the living rice pudding, myself.” The two remained silent as they read each other’s features, the stallion overly optimistic in his attitude while Nyx remained defensive and suspicious. She didn’t understand why they weren’t screaming in terror, why they weren’t reaching out to grab her and drag her away. Why they didn’t hurt her. “...Why are you being nice to me? Aren’t you afraid of me?” she asked, looking at him skeptically. “Now why should I be afraid of you? You’re being scared enough for the both of us, I think,” he joked, shrugging as her look made it clear that her patience was running thin. “Why am I being nice? I find it tends to be the polite thing to do. Unless you don’t want me to. I could do mean if you want.” He put on the meanest face he could muster, one that amounted to a rather awkward toothy half-grin, something that almost made her smile. “No, nice is fine.” “Oh good, that’s much more fun,” he said, elated, rolling his shoulder as he rose up from her side, “besides, you don’t seem to be much of a threat. Usually, big scary villains burn half the village down before they actually talk to anyone. So you can’t be so bad.” “So if that’s all true, and I’m not just being an optimistic old fool,” he leaned in closer, his lips pierced as he asked the question she dreaded, “are you Nightmare Moon?” “I...” Nyx paused for a moment, holding the question in her mind. She knew what the correct answer was, but… at that moment, he was giving her the option to calm the situation, and she’d be a fool not to take it. “My name is Nyx.” “And that’s all that matters, don’t you think?” He smirked, offering her a hoof. Nyx stared at it for a moment, looking over to Toby almost as if asking if it was safe. The toad gave her a confident smile, eyes darting between the two hopefully. That was about as much confidence she was going to get, reluctantly reaching forward to place her hoof in his. To her relief, the smile on the stallion’s face only grew brighter as he lifted her off the ground, turning to the crowd as he raised her hoof in the air. “Everyone? Everyone come hither, for it seems an alicorn has graced our fair city!” he declared, spinning her around to show her off to everyone so they all could see. Surprised murmurs arose from the masses, many pointing at her who had not been at the front to see when she first lost her robe. She hugged the cloth for security, letting it comfort and calm her as she became the center of attention to over a few hundred different individuals. “Did you see, mommy? Did you see?” a colt piped up, tugging on the Arabian robe of the mare standing beside him. “An alicorn? There hasn’t been an alicorn in this land for over a thousand years,” whispered a hawk-like bipedal creature, staring at her as he leaned over to another of his kind, gripping his own noblemen’s cloth. “She’s pretty!” an Abyssinian kitten squealed, giggling to her group of friends as they pointed at her. Nyx blushed a little, not used to getting so much attention, especially the pleasant kind. Still, she held Toby close for support, even as a group of nobles stepped forward, two Saddle Arabians clad in silver armor and forest green ceremonial clothes led by two identical twin ponies, each of them smaller than a foal. Both of them were dressed rather ridiculously, the vests they wore sown together with mix-matched rags that were somehow made exactly the same between the two. Red and blue stripes clashed with yellow with red polka dots, yet the brothers didn’t seem to notice the flaw in this, proudly displaying their outfits before her. Nyx couldn’t help but snicker a little at how silly they looked, hiding it as to not appear rude and get on anyone’s bad side.  “What’s this? Who’s this? Someone grand? Someone new?” they both spoke one after the other, the brothers uttering the sentences in flawless succession. “An alicorn? An alicorn! With both wing and horn!” Nyx was startled as they suddenly teleported on her back without the use of magic, one brother taping her horn while the other lifted her left wing in the air with his hooves, inspecting it. “Yes, yes! Hurry we must, hurry and bring you to our master!” “Your master?” Nyx asked, pulling her wing away from the tiny pony’s grasp, shooing them off of her as they landed effortlessly onto the ground. “The Emperor! Please, stay your temper. He will want to see you in the Courts,” they both said in unison, smiling as the guards stepped forward, looking down on her indifferently, reminding Nyx of the Royal Guard of Canterlot. She looked between the guards and the brothers and bit her lip, not exactly confident yet to be hauled away by two members of Eidolon’s military force. “Only if Toby can come with me,” she said suddenly, hugging Toby tightly for support making him croak loudly, the toad smiling nervously at the guards as he tried to breathe in her grip. The brothers eagerly nodded their heads, moving to stand side-by-side with Toby, “Yes of course! The toad will bear our load.” “I say, whatever do you mean by lo-oof!” Toby was cut off when the twins suddenly unloaded several heavy boxes onto the amphibian from seemingly out of nowhere, Toby holding up the tall stack of supplies cartoonishly as he wobbled about. Nyx couldn’t help but giggle at his predicament, Toby grunting in frustration as he eventually got the packages balanced in his arms, awkwardly standing on his back two legs as he made his way to the palace gates.  “I’ll come as well.” Nyx turned around to face the stallion who had spoken kindly to her, staring at him as he gave her a coy smile. “I’m sure you’d appreciate the company?” he said, tilting his head playfully. Nyx grinned, surprised as she did so. She didn’t know why, but she didn’t feel as tense as she had before. In fact, she felt… better. Better than she had in a very long time. She let out a sigh and nodded to him, gesturing him to follow. Something had changed, making the weight on her shoulders easier to lift, if for just a little while. She was still nervous, but for once, she felt safe. She only wished that it could last. Nyx was silent as she was led to the palace gates, her eyes fixed on the guards guiding her. Their uniforms were extravagant, sliver platted armor covered in beautiful forest green trappings. She noticed a symbol sown upon the blankets, taking note of the crecent moon swallowing a six-pointed star. Their faces were covered in a turban cloth, hiding their expression from her as they stared at her without saying a word. While their silence definitely made her feel uneasy, she didn’t think they meant her any harm. It also helped that Toby was allowed to go with her, the panting toad numbing her already shaky nerves. The stallion, on the other hand, remained somewhat of an enigma to her. While she was grateful that he had offered such kindness to her, she still didn’t fully understand why. As a matter of fact, she didn’t understand why any of the townspeople seemed to treat her nicely. They no doubt knew who she was, so why no panic? Why hadn’t fear crippled them or anger riled them up into a mob to take her away? There was still much she didn’t understand, and she was hoping she would get some answers soon. Still, at the moment, she only had him to focus on. Mostly because he wouldn’t stop talking. “Wow, I can’t help but feel a little excited. I mean, an alicorn in Eidolon? This is truly history! I mean the last time an alicorn was here, oh man! She about tore up the place!” he blabbered, his eyes never leaving her form as the group was led through the palace gate. “That was you, right?” “Technically no, technically yes,” Nyx mumbled, rolling her eyes a little at his endless attention. What had started as a rather mature stallion had quickly devolved until an endless tirade as he completely geeked out on her, something she wasn’t accustomed to dealing with. She didn’t mind though, not really. It was actually kind of nice, having someone giving her attention that wasn’t hurtful. She was pleased that the whole city seemed that way as well, welcoming her with open arms. She wasn't used to strangers treating her kindly despite knowing what she was. She could get used to this. “Eh, doesn’t really matter, anyway. What’s done is done. I just can’t believe you found us!” he said excitedly, bouncing a little as he walked. “Well actually, I didn’t find this place. I was brought here by… something,” she admitted, her expression saddening. The stallion gasped dramatically, putting a hoof to his mouth., “Wait, like a foalnapping?” “Oh Celestia, no. At least I don’t think so,” she said with a bit of uncertainty, rubbing her shoulder, frustrated. “Good good, that’s… Good,” he said that last word with a bit of relief, pondering upon something. He immediately went back to his cheery self, smiling at her as he brushed it off, “I’m sure whatever it was, the Emperor will be able to help in any way possible. Ah, we’re here.” Nyx blinked as she turned to come face to face with a set of heavy doors marking the entrance to the palace, red-painted wood etched with golden accents. The doors were pulled open and they were led inside, both Nyx and Toby gasping the moment their eyes fell upon the hall. “Wow,” Toby said breathlessly, his jaw lowering in awe. Nyx was taken aback by how beautiful the court was, the walls shimmering with gold and silver. The marble floor was so polished it looked as if it were made of the finest pearl, the reflections mirrored perfectly as they walked. The ceiling was covered in vivid renaissance quality paintings, displaying events of Eidolon’s history. What stood out the most about them however was that the painted figures actually moved as if they were alive, staring down at them with interest as they were lead further into the court. They weren’t alone in giving the newcomers attention. The court was filled with noblemen and maidens of all sorts, from toads, ponies, camels, zebras, yaks, avians, minotaurs, Saddle Arabians, and Abyssinians alike. All of them held a regal atmosphere to themselves, clothed in only the most expensive of fabrics. As Nyx drew closer, their attention grew more and more curious as they moved out of the way, murmuring quietly to each other. Nyx would have panicked if not for the pleasant smiles they wore whenever their gaze fell upon her, some of the stallions in the groups even blushing as they looked at her, vainly hoping for her attention. Nyx blushed a little at that sort of attention and drew closer to the guards, just as they came to a stop right before the throne. The seat of power was impressive indeed, holding countless gemstones of varying colors, all carved into a black onyx structure. She was about to move forward, when a spear moved to block her path, the guard to her left shaking his head. “Wait here,” the guard ordered her, then turned to the stallion to address him. “You, come with me please.” Nyx looked to the stallion as he just shrugged his shoulders, following the guards deep into the adjacent hall without question. Left alone with Toby, she grasped the pendant around her neck, holding it tightly as she waited to see what would happen next. The creatures of the court stared at her with longing fascination, softly murmuring to themselves as they waited for their Emperor to come. Just as she was beginning to feel uncomfortable under their gaze, Toby yanked on her robe, drawing her attention away from their eyes. “Are you feeling alright, Milady?” the toad asked, meeting her gaze with soft concerned eyes. “Yes, just nervous,” she answered, hugging him closer so she’d have some semblance of safety. Toby welcomed her hold without protest, chuckling to himself as he reassured her. “Oh, don’t fret. I don’t know much of the Emperor, but I know enough to know he’s a fair man who is certain to be considerate concerning your situation,” a thought entered his mind, looking a little sheepish as he glanced nervously to the crowd. “Just to be safe though, don’t mention grape juice.”   Nyx scrunched up her nose as she glared at him, wondering what in the world that was supposed to mean. She couldn’t dwell on it long however as the court doors swung open, forcing Nyx’s attention as the stallion who had shown her kindness walked into the court, his wardrobe changed to something far more impressive. Nyx marveled at how extravagant he was. He wore a ceremonial dress saddle that wrapped around his midsection to his shoulder, patterns of forest green mixed with those of violet, silver, and gold. A golden band hung from his neck held together in small square plates, jewels hanging from them glistening in the light. His mane had been tended to, the braids wrapping around his head while the main body was tied towards the bottom with gold ribbon, as was the base of his tail. As he passed Nyx he offered a glance and a cheeky smile, leaving her and Toby behind as he stepped up towards the throne. She watched him curiously, wondering why he was moving towards it. She wondered if he was the Emperor’s advisor, making his way to stand by his side before he entered the hall. She gasped when he sat down upon the throne. “You? You’re the Emperor?!” Nyx gawked at him in absolute shock. “Surprised? Sorry I didn’t let on earlier, but I just can’t resist making an entrance.” He batted away his mane, chuckling at his own little joke. “So how was it? Marvelous? Astonishing? Breathtaking?” he asked playfully, lying upon the throne on his belly, staring down at them with his face resting on his hooves. “Weird is more like it,” Toby said bluntly, earning a snicker from the mare. “And there’s nothing wrong with that. No one normal ever changed the world,” the Emperor said with a proud smile, sitting up as he leaned back on his throne. “I must say, I really am fascinated by the means you entered my kingdom. Please, if you would, could you tell me more?” Nyx continued to stare at him as her thoughts returned to the present, remembering why she was here. “Yes, I guess that’s okay.” Nyx nodded quickly, her eyes shifting towards the court members as they listened to the conversation taking place. “Splendid! Oh, but you must be hungry after your journey. Come, refreshments for our guests!” the Emperor declared, clapping his hooves. The Court suddenly changed in an instant, and before they could process what was happening, Nyx and Toby found themselves sitting at a long table filled to the brim with food. The members of the court had shifted as well, all sitting and laughing amongst themselves as they ate and drank by candlelight, all of them acting naturally as if they had been doing this the whole time. Nyx and Toby sat at the head of the table, both placed on either side while the Emperor sat in between them. Toby for his part was quick to dive in, grabbing handfuls of spiked fruits and crawling beetles, and all manner of bizarre delectables that made Nyx’s stomach turn. “Madam?” someone addressed her from behind, the mare turning to look at who it was. Standing there was an Abyssinian dressed in a tuxedo, holding up a covered dish that he presented to her. “As ordered by His Highness.” Nyx turned to the Emperor, who smiled and raised a goblet to her, reaching down into his own mountainous plate, pulling out a shelled fish and slurping its insides down. Nyx groaned, not liking where this was going. Seeing all the bizarre food this mix-matched city of creatures enjoyed eating, she could only imagine what awaited underneath the silver cover. But when he lifted the lid, she was surprised to find a rather familiar scent reach her nostrils, her senses filled with a feeling of home. Looking down, she looked in pleased silence at a bowl of celery soup and a stack of small daffodil sandwiches. Levitating one of the sandwiches to her mouth, she took a small bite, her eyes brightening as she took another and another, quickly devouring it. “Better, yes?” the Emperor asked, rolling his fork through a pile of noodles and blinking eyeballs. “Yes, thank you,” she said as she slurped a spoonful of soup, looking at him curiously. “How did you--?” “Whatever a guest wants I freely give. You only desired for something, and there it was.” He smiled, his fork covered in noodles that he shoved into his mouth and chewed. As he ate his food he pointed his fork at her, bobbing it in the air as he nodded his head and swallowed. “You know, I just realized I haven’t told you my name! I am Emperor Kadhaab of the Eidolonian Empire, a pleasure to be acquainted,” he said as he reached over with his hoof, offering a shake. “Nyx, again. Just Nyx,” she answered politely as she took his hoof, shyly looking up to him as he tilted his head. “Really? An alicorn with no titles?” he asked, genuinely surprised with the lack thereof.   “I… really don’t like them,” she replied, shaking her head as she took another spoonful of her soup, averting her gaze from him in order to hide from any further explanation. “Fair enough,” Kadhaab said, crunching down on the shell of something Nyx didn’t want to know, “Delicious! Go ahead, by all means.” Nyx groaned but complied, trying to keep her focus on her own food as to not lose her appetite. Once she got back the rhythm of biting, chewing, and swallowing, she had to admit her food was quite nice, tasting exactly how it would if Twilight had made it. That thought gave her a sense of nostalgia, gazing longingly into her soup bowl as she became troubled, wondering how worried her family was at the moment. Thankfully, she was quickly pulled away from her thoughts, Kadhaab whistling for her attention as he leaned toward her. “So, you said something brought you here. I would hope that you can tell me what?” She nodded, taking a bite from one of the sandwiches. “Something attacked me at a party, my birthday party in fact. Some sort of shadow,” she remarked, remembering the strange being who had held her in its grasp. Kadhaab gasped in shock, placing a hoof on her shoulder with concern. “Attacked? Goodness! I knew it had brought you here, but I did not realize it resorted to violence. Surely it didn’t harm you?” “No, but I must have blacked out, and when I woke up, I was here,” she said, poking her spoon into her soup dispassionately. “I don’t know why.” “Could you describe this shadow? What did it look like?” he asked, completely focused on her every word. Nyx shook her head. “All I know is that one moment I was making a wish, and the next I was being picked up off the ground by a silver mist.” She looked up at him with worry in her eyes, begging him for help. “Please, you must know something.” Kadhaab smiled, quickly patting her on the shoulder to comfort her, “Do not despair. As it is, I do happen to know what has brought you here,” he said, making her light up with relief and curiosity. “We call it the Phantom. An ancient being who has lived on this plane of existence since the founding of Eidolon.” Nyx frowned. “But, why did it bring me here?” “Now that is more of a mystery to me. I don’t really understand the motives of that spirit, but I’ve never known it to be malevolent.” Kadhaab tapped his chin, seeming to be pondering something. Nyx let out a sigh, finding this information rather uninteresting. “Look, whether it’s friendly or not doesn’t really matter to me, I just want to go home.” “Well you see, there’s the problem. I... can’t actually do that,” he said solemnly, watching as her eyes widened in horror. What? No! Nyx began to sweat, leaning forward in a panic. Nyx stammered, “Please, I just want to go back to my family. I’ll give you whatever you want, I can--!” “You misunderstand. It’s not because I want to keep you away from your family, but I just don’t have the ability to do such a thing.” Kadhaab looked at her sadly, shaking his head. “I’m sorry.” Nyx stared at him for what seemed like forever, hoping that she would find some sign on his features that he was only joking. But when she found none, it only caused her heart to sink, knowing that she was stuck in this world with nowhere to go. Nyx started to cry, the realization boiling inside of her. More than anything she wanted her mother’s comforting embrace to tell her everything would be fine, but that too was denied. Why had it brought her here? Was this some kind of punishment, the deeds of Nightmare Moon finally catching up to her? Had the world finally found a way to get rid of her for good? She didn’t want to be trapped in this world, separated from her family and friends forever. She just wanted to go home. As tears rolled down her cheeks, Kadhaab looked upon her sorrowfully. He felt bad for the mare who had come to him, only for him to take away what hope she had. When she started to sob, it only hurt him deeper. He frowned as he thought of everything he could that might help her, the final answer coming to him as a sense of dread rose up in his throat. “There is… a way.” “W-What?” Nyx whispered as she looked up, her teary eyes suddenly lighting up with hope. “Mind you, it’s an insane idea. Tittering upon suicidal even, but...” the Emperor frowned, regretting even mentioning something so stupid. Nyx, however, shook her head, placing her hoof on his arm. “What, what is it? I’ll do anything to get back home. Please,” her eyes watered again as she stared at him, a look of desperation written on her face. “Alright,” Kadhaab said dejectedly, looking as if he was betraying her by telling her this. “My family has ruled this empire for centuries, and we’ve kept it a peaceful and prosperous one since its founding. But the crowning achievement of my line is the Phantasm.” Nyx blinked in confusion. “The Phantasm?” “The Phantasm is a relic created by my ancestors to make this realm possible. Without it, everything you have seen would be nothing more than a broken, unformed empty space of the dream realm, nothing different to the dreamscape your Princess Luna walks every night.” His eye twitched slightly at the mention of the princess, his expression growing dark for a moment. “Sort of like the Crystal Heart?” Nyx asked, all while she looked at him with a hint of concern. “Hmm, I’ve heard of that artifact passed along in the stories told in my youth, so yes,” he said enthusiastically, returning back to the upbeat yet serious tone he previously had.  “The Phantasm is a great source of magic, greater than any other in this realm. With it, I could theoretically open a tear from this reality into the living plane.” Nyx grimaced at the mention of the ‘living’ plane but kept quiet, reminding herself that she was still breathing. “Then what’s the problem?” “Unfortunately, the Phantasm was stolen centuries ago, and now it resides in the dark towers of the Nightmare Forest, along with the land’s master,” he spoke grimly, making the candlelight flicker to a non-existent wind. The Dark, she thought, remembering the tale she had heard from the Storyteller. “The monster who lives there, is that why you never went to get it back?” “Yes, the corruption occupying that place is too great for me or any of my subjects to travel there, no one possesses the magic face him,” Kadhaab admitted, shrugging his shoulders with a sigh. “And after so long with the realm still intact, there was never any reason to retrieve it.” The Emperor’s expression saddened. “But recently, that has all changed. The Dark’s influence has started to spread. A blight has fallen upon these lands. Foul beasts roam the forest, and everything is made sick by the darkness.” His expression, however, brightened, looking up to her enthusiastically. “But you, you could defeat him. You’re an alicorn, and if my senses are not deceiving me, you seem to possess abilities enhanced by the realm itself!” “I...” She paused, frowning as she realized her severe lack of magic after she had been turned back into a filly by the princesses. “No, I’m not all that strong, actually. I can’t even do basic spells without having some trouble,” Nyx insisted, suddenly feeling her confidence in this one chance to get home falter. “Are you so sure of that?” he asked, a shadow quickly flashing across his face. Nyx happened to notice it and narrowed her eyes as she tensed, feeling something was wrong. Quickly she looked over her head just in time to see a massive boulder easily three times her size plummeting just above her, ready to crush her with its mass. Instinctively her horn flared with magic, hopelessly trying to keep it from hitting her, knowing that it was going to fall on her and kill her at any moment. Which only fueled her absolute shock when she actually held the boulder in her magic, without breaking a sweat. “M-Milady!” Toby croaked in shock, hopping onto the table in a panic, staring at her with wide eyes as his jaw dropped. Nyx upon her part was dumbstruck, the weight of the object quickly settling in her mind. The stone easily weighed a ton, and she was holding it as if it were nothing. With a bit of hesitance, she got out of her chair and lowered the stone in front of her so she could hold it, slowly releasing it from her magic ready to reapply it at any moment. The boulder, however, eased into her awaiting grasp without crushing them, resting as she examined it closely. She felt its weight, but she didn’t even buckle under the weight, balancing it evenly in her shaking grasp. “W-What? How?” Nyx asked him with wide eyes, holding the boulder in her hooves. “As I said, it seems your natural talents are enhanced in this realm, both physical and magical.” He smirked, leaning back into his chair with a smug look on his face. “Or not. Who knows? This is all a dream, isn’t it?” “You… you could have--!” Nyx started to yell at him in a shaky voice, only for Kadhaab to laugh while waving his hoof. “Don’t fret, if you hadn’t have caught the boulder it would have bounced off of you as harmlessly as a rubber ball.” To further his point, he took the boulder from her into his own magic and brought it to himself, releasing it to bounce on his hoof as if it was as light as a feather. He looked like a ponified Atlas balancing the massive stone like a basketball. Soon growing bored with it, he crumpled it up like paper into a baseball-sized rock and tossed it onto the ground, the rock landing with a crashing thud as it cracked the marble underneath it, sinking deep into the floor. Kadhaab sighed. “But don’t misunderstand, even with this strength the journey would be dangerous. But you? The alicorns have changed the course of fate before, and you could finally rid us of this monster. You’re our only hope. If you do this, you’ll have saved my people, and I can use the Phantasm’s magic to send you home.” Her gaze fell, his words sinking in. She wanted her family back, but the forest sounded dangerous. It certainly gave her pause, reluctant to accept such a quest. But as her thoughts lingered on herself, they slowly shifted to not only her family, but the people of Eidolon as well. If what Kadhaab said was true, then they were all in danger, future victims to whatever this Darkness was. Getting home was one thing, but becoming a hero for them? It was a little much, and yet, she felt she had a responsibility to help. Turning her attention to her flank, she gazed at the kite-shield cutie mark resting there, resolution rising in her mind. Despite the danger ahead, Nyx soon decided that she was being selfish. Getting home was one matter, but protecting them was exactly what she needed to do. It was her calling, her destiny, to help others in any way she could, no matter the danger, even if they would scorn and hate her afterward. And one thing she had learned while being in this land, was that the people of Eidolon held neither of these things against her. “Alright,” she spoke, softly at first and barely a whisper, rising with the determination that fueled her courage, “I’ll do it. I’ll journey to the Nightmare Forest, I’ll climb its dark towers, and I’ll get your relic back.” As she spoke, for but a brief moment, there was a red glint in the Emperor’s eyes. But Nyx didn’t notice, her focus anchored to the conflict building up inside of her, between the foreboding of what was ahead of her, the hospitality she was shown by this land’s people, and her desire to get back home. The night that fell upon Eidolon was yet another spectacle Nyx found herself in wonder of, gazing up to the galaxy-filled heavens. The sky was so clear and full Nyx could see distant worlds and stars as if they were right next to her, welcoming her with their beauty. But what she loved most was the orange and green nebulas that shimmered with explosive color, snaking their way in long arches across the desert night. The mare sighed, stepping back into her chamber, moving over to the dresser to finish her nightly rituals. Kadhaab had provided guest rooms for both her and Toby to sleep for the night before going on her journey tomorrow, letting her rest before taking on the dangerous quest. She was at least grateful she wouldn’t be going in alone. Toby had insisted that he accompany her to the dark towers, stating blatantly that without him she’d be dead before she even stepped out of the city. Nyx rolled her eyes at the thought and smiled, knowing he was just chivalrous. She was thankful she had at least made a friend here, even if he was a pompous sarcastic airbag. She’d need one to comfort her every step of the way for what was coming. She had been up for a while now, unable to sleep. To be truthful she was afraid to, not knowing if the nightmares would return in a place like this. Can you even have a dream within a dream? Am I even dreaming to begin with? It was all still confusing to her, so she decided to distract herself by testing her new powers. She had spent the evening experimenting with her magic, seeing how far she could go. It was during these exercises that she discovered all of her powers had been restored to their original potency. Multiplication, teleportation, shadow-shifting, it was as if she had become Nightmare Moon again. And beyond that she found she could perform spells she never would have dreamed of being able to perform, some even being cast with relative ease, others with a little more effort. Turns out, growing up in a library filled to the brim with spellbooks while being raised by one of Equestria’s greatest mages had its perks. As she neared the dresser, Nyx levitated a mirror and comb to her face, brushing her mane to smooth out all the loose strands. She stared at her horn through the reflection, contemplating her new abilities. She held so much power, any other pony would have gone mad with it. Nyx, however, only lost herself in thought, her expression downcast as she pondered over all the things she could do with it. She could protect ponies from monster attacks as she had during the siege of Ponyville. She could help her friends when they were in trouble. With this power, she could protect her family from anyone who would harm them. It was a power she’d lose the moment she returned home. Nyx frowned, the thought of how helpless she really was sinking deep into her mind. How long before somepony takes Spike or your friends or your mother, just to get to you? What will you do then? Diamond’s words still rang true in her mind, even after the long months past. And after that time, she still had no answer, because if someone came and hurt those she loved, she wouldn’t be able to do anything about it. She was weak, and no matter what, there would always be those in Equestria who either hated her, or wanted to use her. And it only made her angry. Because now she had a taste of a world that didn’t judge her, a world where she could be herself without the consequence of others executing their ill will upon her. A people who didn’t hate her, welcoming her with open arms even though they knew who she was. She was drunk with it, but it was something she couldn’t hope to hold on to. When she returned home, everyone would still see it. No matter how much time woould pass, no matter how much she’d change. They would always see it. Nyx held the mirror in her magic for a moment longer as that realization set in, her frown reflected right back to her. Her breath grew heavy, and as her nostrils flared, she brought the mirror down on the edge of the dresser and smashed it, the wood and glass splintering with a loud crack! She focused on the shattered remains that rested on the floor, a single tear falling from her quiet form. She turned away, ready to return to her bed to get the rest needed for her journey in the morning, the broken glass reflecting her retreat into the dark of her lonely chamber.