//------------------------------//
// Chapter 7 
// Story: The Crown of Eques 
// by PTBonesbeard 
//------------------------------//

Night Wishes was dreaming. She knew she was, but went along with it. After all, dreams were just the mind playing out jumbled memory, and couldn't hurt her. 

Amid the fog of incoherent thought, up rose a scene of a picturesque grassland and rolling hills. On a hill lounged a white unicorn filly with a pinkish sparkling mane. She wore a silvery crown and luxurious cape. In her hooves were gathered a pile of glittering gems which she snuggled lovingly.

Then down swooped an off white pegasus colt with a lite purple mane. He was adorned with dark iron armor. They seemed to be arguing as the unicorn fended him away from her gem pile.

Then suddenly, a dull pink earth pony popped up out of the ground and grabbed a gem. The unicorn screeched in a high pitched voice incoherently. She chased the earth pony as it dived back into the ground and tunneled through the ground like a mole. As they chased the trailing dirt mound off, the gems scattered. 

Picking up one that landed near her, she turned it around in her hooves trying to determine what kind it was. But the more she tried to look at it, the more it became fuzzy and distorted.

"Night Wishes!" called a voice. but she ignored it. "Night Wishes! hellooo!" persisted the voice, now from above her, in a irritatingly, familiar, high pitched tone. "Hey Bedmane!"

"What!" she shouted. looking up to see the pegasus colt hovering there above her.

"Thank the gods! It's about time you responded!" growled the colt. His voice definitely not matching his gender. "The Arch Mage told me to," Suddenly he was interrupted by an orangeish tan pegasus filly in a metal hat glomping onto him. Shivering with fear in her iron armor as she wailed.

"Save me commander!"

"What in the gods name are you dreaming about?!" shouted the pegasus as he squeezed out of the filly's grip. Putting a hoof to his head he groaned and suddenly popped. In his place appeared the aquamarine filly from the university. The voice now matching the face.

"Oh! Swirly Pop. it's you."

"Yeah of course it's me!" Swirly said in annoyance as she hovered there, glancing around. "What are you even? Ugh! Nevermind." she groaned. Turning away from the dreamponies antics. "Wyvern Wax told me to practice my dream walker spell to make sure I can contact you."

"Why you? Couldn't he tell me himself?" asked Wishes.

"That's what I asked him." she whined in frustration." But you know him. He just brushed it away with some magic mumbo about me getting a better reception to your dreamscape. Anyway, shut up and listen so I can get this overwith, and out of this nightmare." Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Swirly Pop began.

"Master told me to tell you that something called Hollows have emerged from Mount (.......) And have started to (.....) for (.......)" Suddenly her dream world began to shake. Obscuring Swirly Pop's voice.

"What?!" she asked. "I didn't catch that!"

"Oh no! You're waking up!" she groans in frustration as she looks around at the fadeing world. "Don't wake up yet! (...) not finished (...)" But the dreamscape continues to collapse and fade. "Crap!" she screams "You better (...) be (.........) on purpose!" She yells angrily, Cupping her hooves too her muzzle as she shrinks away into the fog. Then a sudden jolt brings Wishes back fully to wakefulness.

"Ah!" Night Wishes shouts as she sits bolt upright. The book that had been laying over her face sliding off and clattering to the coach's floor. Blinking away her sleepyness, she tries to remember the dream, but it fades from memory like smoke in a breeze. The clatter of wagon wheels fill her hearing as the coach sways. The lantern swinging wildly as she feels the coach is traveling at a much faster pace then before.

Picking up her fallen book, she stufs it back in her bag before carefully climbing over to the small hatch that opens to the driver's seat.

"Hey! What's going on out there? Why are we going so fast?" she shouts. hammering at the hatch. There is no response. Just the sound of the puller pony's hooves clattering on cobblestone.

Buffing herself with her warming spell, she unlatches the hatch and slides it open. Squinting against the flurry of snowflakes blowing in, she forces her head thru to get the driver pony's attention. To her surprise, she sees that one of the driving lanterns has been torn away, and the driver's seat is empty.

"Where's the driver!" she yells down at the puller pony. Squinting as snowflakes bounce off her face, whittling away at her warming spell. But he ignores her and continues his full on gallop through the night, his reins flapping in the frigid air behind him. The single remaining lantern barely lighting the road enough to see.

Reaching out with her hooves, Wishes waves them around till the reins catch. Hauling back on them as she shouts.

"Whoa!"

"No!" he shouts back. Straining against his bridle. "They're after us! They'll catch us!" He looks back at her and she sees his pale, terror stricken face.

"Who?!" The puller pony just snaps his head forward with a scream, yanking the reins from her grasp. Pulling her head back in through the hatch, she latches it before turning her attention to the side window. Undoing the fasteners, she pushes open the curtains and pokes her head out to look behind.

To her surprise, she sees three equine figures in dark barding in pursuit. Barely visible in the shrouds of night amidst the curtain of snow.

As if sensing her gaze, they seem to double their speed. The sounds of their heaving breaths and snorting muzzles reach her ears over the rushing wind.

Pulling herself back into the coach, a wave of apprehension washes over her at the thought of the imminent combat.

'Oh gods! This is really happening!' she thinks to herself as panic begins to grip at her hart. 'Maybe they just want to rob us.' she reasons. 'They wouldn't really try to kill us, would they? Oh gods! Would they try to violate me?!'

"No!" she asserts to herself. Anger at the thought of being forced against her will galvanizing her resolve.

'Focus on your training Wishes!' Concentrating on her internal lexicon of combat spells, she reviews her memories of the proper use and tactics.

'Ok!' she thinks to herself. 'First, protection and ward spells. Wait! What will I be going up against?' She doesn't remember spotting any horns in their silhouettes. 'They all looked like earth pon,' CLUNK! Her thoughts are interrupted by the sounds of hooves hitting the back of the coach.

"No no no!" she wailes. "I'm not ready yet!" The clunks proceed up the back of the coach and onto the thin wood roof. "Aaah!" Squeezing her eyes shut, she casts her first spell. The Stonehide protection spell washes over her and she feels her dense, short fur prickle and itch as their fibers stiffen. Wishes moves over against the front bench looking up as there's a clatter above her.

'Ok. Next, fire spell? No. To closed in. Ice? In this weather? Not likely very effective. That leaves lightning. But I'll need a target." Just then, a long scarred blade stabs down through the roof, catching her in the rear left hoof. Night Wishes shrieked in terror as she recoils from the weapon. Quickly checking her leg, she sees the boot leather warded off the attack. But it felt looser with the gash down it's side.

The long blade retracts up and she dives to the other side of the coach as it pierces down again in the center. Readying her spell attack as it retracts again, she watches carefully. Then, as soon as it reappears, she unleashes it straight into the blade. There's an unequine shriek from above as it yanks back.

"Ha ha!" she whinnies in victory. Then suddenly a armored hoof thrusts through the curtains on her right, tearing them open. Squeaking in fright, she fires off a rushed bolt that scorches the wooden frame. There's another crash from above and Wishes flinches as bits and splinters rain down on her. Backing up towards the opposite coach door, she mentally scolds herself for rushing the shot, readying her next.

Wishes hears another tearing of curtains behind her an she jumps in fright when a hoof scrapes on her back. Panicked at the thought of them all around her, she begins firing spells  out the windows and through the roof at random.

'I'm panicking! Stop panicking!' she screams at herself in her mind, but the flood of panic drowns out her rational thoughts. Before she can calm herself, her magic reserves begin to ache as each spell feels weaker then the last. Suddenly her next spell fizzles. Her horn barely lighting up.

"Out of magic? How can I be out of magic?!" she shouts in confusion. She had never runout of magic before. Sure, after prolonged spell practice she would get tired and achy, but never empty. It made her feel so weak, powerless, and worst of all, vulnerable.

Her attackers hissed and growled as they renewed their siege on the coach. Smashing and tareing away more of the damaged walls and ceiling to climb through. Night Wishes's horn gave a few pitiful sparks of effort, but as soon as she caught sight of one of the attacker's faces, all hope and courage fled her.

It's piercing, inequine blue eyes cut right to her soul, freezing her to the bone. The jagged line of it's mouth displaying sharp teeth, drove away all hope of resistance. Filling her with dread and despair.

Then suddenly, the coach gave a bounce beneath her, breaking eye contact. There was a rumble of uneven ground followed by a sharp jolt as the carriage went airborne. Wishes flailed her hooves as she floated seemingly weightless into the air. Then gravity slammed her down hard as it returned to the ground.

Her world became a tumbling, bouncing, cacophony of crashing, and splintering noise. Gravity tossed her around the interior as the coach fell down a cliff, ending in an almighty CRUNCH!

Wishes couldn't tell how long she lay there, but the next thing she remembers is the feeling of her protection spell dissipating. It had saved her from scrapes and scratches, but she can already feel the bumps and bruises blossoming over her battered body. There's a ping of breaking metal and clatter of the abused lantern falling to the ceiling, now floor, of the collapsed coach. Wishes flinches at the spatter of oil on her muzzle, and watches in a daze as the flickering flame on its wick threatens to snuff out.

But suddenly, it leaps over to the now saturated coach curtains and splintered wood. The flare of fire light and heat brings her swiftly back and she struggles to pull away. To Wishes alarm, she finds her front has been pinned tightly in the collapsed wreck. While her hind quarters scrape at ground and open air. Terror at being burned alive, combined with a rising claustrophobic fear, lends her a burst of strength to buck and squirm till something gives way.

Wiggling with all her might, Wishes falls free and scooches away as the flames quickly gorge them selves on broken wood, torn upholstery, and flammable resin. The falling snow and cold air doing little to hinder it's feast.

She sits there on the snowy ground in a daze, her heart pounding in fright at the near death experience. Then suddenly she snaps out of it in realization.

"My bag!" Leaping to her hooves, she casts about desperately for some way to douse the flames. Then Wishes spots it laying on the ground close to some trees. "Oh my lucky stars! Thank the gods!" she breathes to herself as she gallops over and hugs it too herself.

Flipping open the flap, she checks over the content and fishes out a magica potion. Popping off the cork, she throws it back in one swift gulp. Muscling past the reflexive gag to the medicinal flavor.

"Ug" she groans, eyeing the now empty vessel. "I know he has ways to make these more palatable." But despite her destain for the flavor, Wishes is mollified by the return of the comfortable buzz from her horn.

Slinging her bag onto her back, she glances over at the crackling blaze of the coach. Her gaze drifting up the cliff face and through the flickering flames and rising smoke she thinks she can see three dark shapes moving at the ridgeline. The memory of that horrible face through the coach window compels her to make haste and put as much distance as she can between herself and those monsters.

After several minutes of a swift trot through the cold, moonlit forest, Wishes is reminded of how out of shape she is. Huffing and puffing, she pauses and leans against a tree trying to catch her breath.

'Good gods!' she thinks to herself 'Why is traveling so difficult? I hope I can find a fire and soft bed when I get to...' Wishes pauses in her thoughts when it dawns on her, she has no idea where she is, or what direction she's heading.  The quiet peace of the cold night is broken when she shouts in frustration at the moon and stars.

She claps a hoof to her muzzle at the sound of a startled bird winging away through the tree branches. The following silence seems to become less peaceful as the memory of those things that attacked the carriage flashes through her mind. The wind whistling through the trees masking their approaching hoofsteps. looking back the way she had come, she imagines them emerging amongst the shifting shadows of the trees and bushes. Those horrible eyes shining at her. Boring into her soul.

'Stop it.' she admonishes herself, squeezing her eyes shut 'You can't start panicking again. you're a powerful Mage. Powerful Mages don't scream and cry like a little filly.'

Opening her eyes, she glances around the dark, moonlit forest to reassure herself everything is fine. But the lifeless silence pressing in around her causes a whimper to escape her lips.

Shoving down her fears with determination to finish her quest, Night Wishes reaches back with her magic and fishes out the map from her saddlebags. Unrolling it, she squints to read in the dim moonlight.

"Hmm." she muses to herself "Can I risk a little bit of light?" Giving a cautious glance around, she casts a simple candlelight spell.

Catching the small, flickering blue flame between her hooves, she holds it close to the map and finds Los Monokeros. After a few seconds of scanning the map, she finds Gallops Hill, in Gallops hold, near the center of Crown. Just to the left of Pinnacle mountain. Tracing the roads connecting the two places, she memorizes the route as she recalls the clairvoyance spell for guidance.

Closing her eyes, she focuses and casts the spell. After a few seconds, she cracks an eye open, and to her delight, she sees a glittery ball drop from her horn and dart off through the trees. As it goes, it leaves a thin strand of light in it's wake to show the way to her destination.

With a whinny of pride, she packs away the map and snuffs the candle spell between her hooves. The clairvoyance spell only lasts a few seconds, giving her a heading before fading away. So periodically, as she goes she needs to recast it to ensure she's heading the right direction.

Just then, Wishes ear flicks at the rising sound of rushing wind accompanied by periodic beating of powerful wings. Turning about to determine the direction it's coming from, she throws herself up against a tree trunk as she spots a dark shape moving across the sky. The stars winking out as the huge flying creature passes in the night. Holding her breath, Wishes hugs the tree in terror as she watches it wheel about. Circling the sky above her before continuing on out of sight over the mountains.

"Thank the gods." she breathes in relief as the sound of the creature fade to nothing. "What even was that?" But considering the terrors she had already witnessed that night, she really didn't want to know.

After what feels like hours of trotting, Wishes runs into an increasingly thickening barrier of bushes. Despite her caution, their prickly branches reach out and catch in her clothes and cloak, impeding her progress. Determined to follow the spell's trail, she forces herself through till suddenly, she yelps in surprise as she steps into open air and tumbles down a short slope.

Picking herself up with as much dignity as she can muster, she finds herself on a stone paved road. Looking one way, then the other, she recasts the spell and sees it direct her down the road to the right. 

"Ha ha! take that stupid bushes." she says to the indifferent shrubs. Then she spots their small red fruits speckling their branches. Looking closer, she plucks one and pops it into her mouth, chewing carefully. "Snowberries!" Spitting out the slightly bitter fruit, she quickly harvests the easiest to reach berries before continuing her journey.

After another few hours of trotting, making much easier progress, her weary eyes see lights from candle lanterns in the distance.

"Thank the gods." she breathes to herself. Her spirit invigorated by the sight of civilization. Approaching the stone fortress gate, Wishes gives it a knock with her forehoof. After a few seconds without reply, she knocks harder causing the door to rattle on it's hinges. "Hello! any pony home?"

"Alright!" comes a shout from the other side. "Quit your hammering! Give me a minute."  After a bit, a slit window in the door opens up and a feathery beaked face appears. "Who goes there? What business brings you to Fort Dumpling?"

"I am Adept superior Night Time Wishes of the University of Magnus, seeking shelter for the night."

"Running a little late, aren't you?"

"What do you mean late?!" snaps back Wishes. Her frustration evident in her tone.

"It'll be dawn in a few hours. You'd have done well to make camp instead of traveling at this unholy hour."

"Well excuse me! The carriage I was riding was attacked by monsters several hours ago, and I've been running for my life for half the night!"

"Wait, you're telling me the Los Monokeros coach was attacked?"

"Yes!" she shouts. Stamping her hoof in irritation. "I've got the ticket right here if you need proof." Reaching into her saddlebag with her magic, she floats out the document. The guard squints at the paper, then closes the window. There's the sounds of the bolts being withdrawn and Wishes steps back as the door swings out. The griffin guard steps into the doorway with a lantern held aloft. Taking the paper from her telekinetic grip, he scans it before lowering the lantern to illuminate her glowering face. 

"Alright, alright." he said as he steps aside. Giving her passage to enter. "No need to get your tail in a twist. It's part of my job to question arrivals after dark." Despite her annoyance, Wishes is relieved to enter the shelter of the stone walls. "What where these monsters that attacked you?" he asked as he secured the door and lead her towards the inn.

"I'm not sure. They looked like ponies, but their eyes glowed." She couldn't suppress a shudder at the memory of those horrible eyes. The guard paused and gave Wishes a doubtful look. "They had big sharp teeth too!" she defended, projecting a picture of light of the creature on a nearby wall. The guard looked over the image before dismissing her fears for hysteria.

"It looks like some brigands played you for a fool."

"Hay! I know what I saw. And besides, it was convincing enough to spook the puller pony."

"Whatever." he dismissed with a shrug as he continues. We'll have to send word to the jarl about it. Here's the inn." He said. Stopping and pointing out the sign on a one story house. It read (The Stumbling Snowcat) "You can shelter there till morning. No need to worry about any spooky ponies getting in." he finished with a chuckle. Turning his back to ignore the glare she shoots at him.

Pushing the door open and entering the inn took a bit of effort, as she finds several ponies and griffins bedded down on any part of open floor they could find.

"Close the blasted door." came a angry grumble from a pony closest to her. Rasing their head enough to glare at her.

"Sorry." Wishes apologizes. Quickly doing so.

"And make sure you stuff that blanket in tight under it. Keep the wind out." Finding an old blanket there at the threshold, she pushes it in tight to the base before picking her way across the room to an open table at the back.

Shedding her cloak and hat, she slumps into the chair in exhaustion. idly she glances over to the hearth and spots a kettle of water. Reaching out with her telekinesis she gathers up several dried herbs hanging nearby and a mug.

Crushing them up as best she can with her bear hooves, she adds them to the mug and pours in some hot water. Within seconds a pleasing aroma fills her senses and she drinks the brew. The calming sedative of the crude potion relaxes her nerves and she lays her head on the table and allows herself to fall asleep.

Meanwhile outside, after escorting the scaredy pony unicorn to the inn, the guard delivered a report to the Captain of the watch before returning to his post by the gate. Settling down in the patch of bear ground, he wraps his cloak tight around him to await the coming dawn.

After some time, just as his eyelids begin to droop, his ears detect a muted shuffling of hooves beyond the barred door. Concentrating on the sound, he detects the huffing and sniffing accompanying the now distinct hoof falls. Turning his head, he watches the door warily and suddenly the noise stops. Squinting, he strains his ears to hear any more sounds, but silence rains.

After a few minutes he begins to think he may have imagined it, but suddenly  the door yanks back against the lock. As if someone is pulling on it from the outside. Stopped from opening by the seeded bolts.

The movement confuses him, because he knows there's no handle or anything to grip on the outside face of it to pull on. After a second, the door relaxes. Almost as if it had been pushed by a light breeze. But the night was calm.

Then again, the door rattles as it is yanked on. Then a third, despelling any benign reason for it's action.

"Hay! Who's there?" he shouts, but the intruder continues. jumping up, he approaches the door. "Stop doing that!" he commands. Gripping the handle to stop the movement, he pulls but the opposing force overpowers him. "Knock it Off!" he shouts. Flicking open the latch on the small window and yanking it open.

There, framed in the slit window, floats two shining blue orbs above a jagged line of teeth. The guard desperately tries to pull his eyes away, but they demand his attention.

"Scorpan preserve me." he breathes as he feels a chill of emptiness pull at his mind. The monster there utters one powerful command.

"OPEN."

Inside the inn, Night Time Wishes is stirred to waking as the room is filled with shouting. Candles are lit and the fire is stoked. Brightening the room with firelight. She groans and tries to cover her ears, but the stamp of hooves and paws, with the addition of the clanging of the alarm bell outside shatters any hope for peaceful rest.

"What's happening?" she asks as she watches them kick away bedding and buckle on armor.

"The fort's under attack." says a nearby pony readying weapons. She feels a chill of fear as the memory of the coach attack flash through her mind.

"Come on! let's go!" shouts a griffin, leading several out the door. Quickly she casts her protection spell as she gathers up her things.

There's a shout followed by a scream outside. A pony walks over and unlatches the door. But before he can open it, a pony spattered with blood followed by a griffin, push in from outside. A pony behind the two stumbles and falls across the threshold and screams as he is suddenly yanked bodily back out. The griffin at the door chances a glance out before slamming it shut and ramming home the bolts.

"What is it? What's going on?"

"A monster!" gasps the bloody pony collapsed on the floor. "It's..." he cuts off as he throws up on the floor.

"It's some kind of demon creature." finishes the griffin as he jams a broom handle in the door latch. "It's tearing through the guard like a bear through a beehive." Wishes's adrenaline rushes in fear as she takes notice of a window behind and above her.

There's a thud at the door and everyone focuses on it. Readying bows and arrows. Some tip over tables and chairs to create impromptu barricades facing the doorway. Then there's a thunderus crash from outside. and everyone gos quiet as the noise echoes to silence.

"What was that?" someone whispers after a few minutes.

"Maybe they killed it." whispers another

"Shush!" hisses the griffin. "Watch the door." A few more minutes pass with out any incident.

"How do we know if it's still out there?"

"If you want to know so bad, go look for yourself." They're questions are answered as the sound of shuffling and sniffing is heard outside the door. 

Then, to Night Wishes horror, deep, gutteral words are spoken. Though the language has been unspoken for hundreds of years, the translation from ancient poneish forms in her head, as if spoken directly to her.

(Wood and Iron, to me Yield, be undone.)

With that, the wood of the door gives a slow, heavy groan. As if holding back a mighty flood. The thought of throwing up a counter spell flits into her mind, but before she can even form one in her mind, the lock and hinges crack and wood splinters. Followed swiftly by the door and frame exploding. Sending shards of metal and wood fragments flying. The rush of wind plunges the room into darkness.

Amid the coughs and cries of confusion, in rushes the two dark pony monsters, shrouded in black shadowy smoke. They fall on the defenders and slay without mercy. Wishes fires off several lightning bolts desperately, but amid the low light and shadowy forms, they are impossible to hit.

Suddenly a third appears in the broken doorway and locks eyes with her, and just like that she freezes in terror. As it strides slowly twords her, It's jagged mouth parts and it speaks in that horrible heavy tone.

(Surrenderist thy self, she Monokeros.)

Her spell fizzles and a feeling like a hole opening in her heart causes her legs to weaken. Those vacuous eyes drawing closer, filling her vision. Consuming her spirit.

(You can not escape, your doom.)

It declares as it strides ever closer, the light of a unicorn horn sparkling with blue fire as it draws a fat-bladed dagger. Wishes sobs in despair as any thought to turn and run evaporates from her mind.

Another pony close by, seeing the monster distracted, charges and rams his spear into the monster's flank. It reels and lets loose a shriek of pain so piercing, it's attacker recoils clutching at his head as blood dribbles from his ears.

As soon as eye contact is broken, Wishes flight instinct takes hold of her and she turns and leaps up to the window. Smashing out the stained glass, she wriggles through and falls headfirst onto the packed snow. Scarcely had she landed when she is back on her hooves and galloping full tilt towards the open gate. Ignoring the scattered bodies staining the snowy ground.

Just then, her damaged boot on her rear hoof comes loose, and the next step she takes rolls her hoof sending nails of pain shooting up her leg. She cries out in pain as she stumbles and falls to the cold ground. She lay there for a few seconds bawling in pain. Holding her sprained hoof. Regretting ever leaving the university. Then she spots the monsters emerging from the inn to continue their relentless pursuit. Her fear of them forces her to push down her pain and anguish and continue to flee.

Flipping onto her belly to avoid their horrible freezing gaze she desperately pulls herself to her hooves and limps for her life towards the open gate. Wishes whimpers as their pounding hoof steps approach. Despair fills her as in her logical mind, she knows she is doomed. Within seconds they fall on her.

"Leave me alone!" She cries as the first bites her tail, pulling back, halting her progress. Another grabs her by the wounded leg, lifting it high, causing her to collapse to her belly. Out of the corner of her eye she sees one come up beside her and she immediately squeezes her eyes shut to avoid that terrible gaze. "No! Stop. Let me go." she whimpered and pleaded. She feels it bite onto her right foreleg and they pull, stretching her out. Immobilizing her. For the briefest second, she wonders if they intend to tare her limb from limb. But instead, they flip her over. Pinning her hooves to the ground. Still, she keeps her eyes squeezed shut despite her curiosity of what they're about to do.

"Master Wyvernwax! Help me!" She wails desperately to the night sky. To her surprise, a deep bone-shaking roar answers her.

Opening her eyes, she sees a giant black dragon descend from the night sky and land overtop of her. The blast of wind scatters the dark ponies, and they shriek and hiss as they start to circle. Night Wishes stares in aw up at the dragon as it stands over her. Then she notices that it's holding something hairy in it's right foreclaw. But before she can discern what it is, she is distracted by a firey red glow coming from it's chest as it draws in air. She watches in fascination as the glow moves up it's neck and bursts forth in terrible glory. Lighting up the night in Tartarean fire. It's heat is enough to relight Wishes's will to escape. 

Flipping onto her hooves, she quickly limps for the gate. Ducking to avoid the swinging dragon tail as it fights the dark creatures. Reaching the gate, she pulls out a health potion and downs it. She kicks her sprained leg as the tingling sensation runs down it's length. There's a snap of a leather thong, and her loose boot flys off. Pausing to think about going back to get it, the sight of the monsters battling behind her sends that notion to Tartarus.

Limp/trotting down the road helps her gane confidence in her hoofing so she's able to pull off a half-decent gallop. But before long, her energy ebbs out and without adrenaline to buff her, she slows to a walk. Huffing and puffing in exhaustion.

Lifting her head wearily, she sees, just over the horizon, the glow of dawn approaching. And at the sight, she dares to believe, she will survive the night.

"Heh heh. (pant). I win, (pant), this round." Wishes chuckled breathlessly. But her good mood quickly dies as she looks back to see the black dragon rise into the air and turn to fly right towards her. "Oh buck me." she whines. Fishing out a stamina potion and sucking it down. Even as she runs into the morning, despair chews at her mind. Her body, though energized with potion, tells her she's at the end of her rope.

Her legs burn with weariness, her chest aches with fire. And even with the approach of dawn, all she had achieved for her first day outside the university, was trade one terrible end for another. She began to cry again as she felt her doom draw closer with every heavy wingbeat. As inevitable as falling from a great hight. All she could do, was wait for the ground to meet her.

As Wishes hears the giant beast just above her, she turns her gaze upwards to see the form of her death. A huge set of sharp claws fills her vision as they close in around her. Lifting her up into the sky. Wishes screams in alarm as the ground drops away. Her hooves galloping away in mid air.

"Oh gods!" she sobs into the rushing wind. "Why can't you make it quick?!" Then, as she is carried higher and higher, the sun's rays hit her face. Blinking in surprise, she looks down at the land of Crown spread out before her. Bathed in morning's light. 

Behind her the sea, dotted with icebergs and  ice flats, catch the morning sun's rays. Shattering them into roads of soft rainbow light that streak across the land. Below her are large dunes of stark-white snow and mountain ranges dusted like surgery sweet rolls. Ahead of her stands Pinnacle Mountain. Standing tall like a tower. the only thing tall enough to catch the prismatic light and rise above it. To it's left she sees the steaming flats of Hotmarch. And to her right stretches Gallops hold. Prominently watched over by the Keep atop Gallops Hill. Beyond lays the deep green of Jaegervale hold.

The view is a festival of color and light. Then she takes notice of the dragon's other claw. In the sunlight it is easy to see, that clutched in it's right talons, is the lifeless body of a tan and red mare.

All the annoyances, fears, death, terrors, sadness, and exhaustion, finally takes it's toll, and Night Time Wishes gives in. Allowing herself to fall into indifferent unconsciousness.

o o O O O o o

In her dream, Wishes gallops through the halls of the University of Magnus dressed in her pink robe and slippers. Behind her she can hear the shadowy monster ponies following in hot pursuit. As she gets closer to Wyvernwax's chamber, her hooves become more and more encumbered. By the time she reaches the top of the stairs leading to her Master's room, it feels as if she's slogging through chest-high mud. 

Panting and heaving with exertion, she shoves at the doors but they are locked tight. Behind her she can hear them starting up the stares. Sniffing and shrieking.

"Master!" she cries desperately pounding at the doors. "Master please! Open the door! they're coming!"

"Who is it?" replies the cheery voice of Wyvernwax. 

"It's me! Night Time Wishes! Hurry and open up!"

"I thought I told you your expelled till your quest is complete."

"But Master! They're to powerful! they'll kill me! Please! Open the door." she pleads. Looking back, she sees their shadows rising up the far wall. Any minute they'll be coming into view. And as soon as they spot her, they'll catch her, and drag her away to gods know where. To do gods know what to her. "Please. I can't do it alone. I need your help." she weeps. leaning up against the door.

"I have already given you all the supplies and skills you need." answers her master from the other side of the door. "It was you who wanted the world saved. You cared so much about all those ponies. Now go and finish what you started." 

Then she hears the door unlock and she jumps up and barges in, only to fall flat on her face. Confused, she looks up to find she's laying outside the university's front gate. She gets up and turns just in time to see the iron barred gate slam shut. She stares in despair at the university beyond the gate as the snow thickens. The wind cuts through her to the bone. The fluffy pink bathrobe doing nothing to shield her from it's bite. Above her she hears the windigo howl as it gallops towards New Los Monokeros. As it passes over, ice grows up and covers the tall, majestic buildings. She watches as unicorns inside beat at the windows. Desperate to escape their frosted tombs.

Wishes sinks to the ground and sobs into her hooves as the snow piles up around her.

"Bed mane! Hello!" calls a familiar voice through the icy flakes.

"Swirly Pop?!" she exclaims. Poping her head up to look around. "Swirly Pop is that you?!"

"Ah! There you are." Looking through the iron gate Wishes sees her old school mate approaching. A protective bubble sheds the falling snow. Keeping it from gathering on her. "Why do you have to dream of such a cold place? Can't it be somewhere cozy and warm? Even that crazy toon land would do. Like last time. But without those weirdo ponies." Instantly the snow, stone, and gate disappear. Replaced by green grassland and trees. "Sweet." says Swirly Pop as she drops her bubble and looks around. "But I swear, if somepony hugs me I'm gonna..." she is cut off as Wishes wraps her forelegs around her in a tight hug.

"Swirly Pop! I'm so glad to see you! You've no idea how much misery I've been through." Then she notices Swirly's sour expression. "Oh! Sorry." she apologizes. Stepping back. "I've just been through alot and, um, got carried away." Swirly Pop just scowls. Then cocks her head to look her up and down.

"Ech, Bathrobe? still?"

"Oh! Right." In a flash of magic, the pink garment is replaced with her school uniform. "There. Better?"

"Ech." Swirly replies as she rolls her eyes and turns away. Confused, Wishes asks.

"Swirly Pop. What's rong?"

"Oh nothing, my little perfect hooves." Swirly murmured under her breath

"What?"

"No. Nothing. Just shut up for a minute and let me give my message so I can get back to studying, and you can get back to... dreaming about, freezing your tail off. Or whatever you were doing." Clearing her throat, Swirly Pop recomposes herself and begins.

"Like I was saying before, Master Wyvernwax says there's these things called Hollows that have been sighted in the area, and you need to avoid them at all cost."

"Um, yeah. A little late for that." Wishes interrupted 

"What?" Swirly deadpans

"They attacked my coach and crashed it. I've been running from three of them all night."

"Oh. Well Wyvernwax said you can hit them with a magelight to the face to keep them off you."

"How does he expect me to do that?" Wishes whinnies. "I've been trying to hit them with lightning bolts, and can't land a single shot!"

"How can you, of all ponies not land a single shot?!" Swirly Pop exclaims. "Whenever we faced off in the practice hall, you held a solid nine point five. While I could barely keep a consistent seven!"

"Well, it's not that simple. Standing and hitting a stationary paper target is nothing compared to when the target is charging you. Intent on biting your face off." Swirly just stared at her with a strange expression. Clearly envisioning Wishes's dire scenario. "And if they're moving around so fast I can't hit them with a bolt, how in the gods names am I going to be able to hit them with a slow magelight spell?!"

"Huh." ponders Swirly. Rubbing her chin and looking at the ground. "He did mention that Awsanium would work. Said it's just like Silver to a vampire."

"Oh! That would be great." Wishes says with delight as she clopped her hooves together. "Did he send some along?"

"This is a dreamscape Wishes." Swirly Pop deadpans again. "I'm not actually here. I can't carry tangible through the intangible."

"Ah. Right. I see what you mean."

"If you get to town, see if you can buy some. In the meantime, I would think any high yield light spell will be enough to ward them off."

"Hm. I'll need to think about that." Wishes mused. Looking up at the intangible sun in the intangible sky.

"Welp. That's my job done. good luck." With that, Swirly turns away and walks into a heavy fog rolling in from out of nowhere.

"Wait! you can't leave yet! What about the dragon?!"

"Dragon? What dragon?" asks Swirly Pop looking back in confusion.

"The Black dragon. It caught me!" Swirly shouts something back, but Wishes can't make it out. "What do I do?! What if it eats me?!" Wishes gallops after Swirly Pop, but her school mate fades away.

o o O O O o o

"Baa!" Wishes shouts as she wakes up. She has a brief panic attack when she notices a weight on her back. But after a short spaz, she shakes off the leaves and branches that had been piled on top of her. Standing up and glancing around in embarrassment, Wishes is perplexed to find she's back on the ground under some trees. Looking down the rocky slope, she sees the spring crops of Gallops hold stretching out before her.

Looking around the small clearing she woke up in, she finds she's completely alone. Checking where she had been laying, there was just a tangle of branches and leaves.

'Were's the dragon?' she thought to herself. 'Did it just drop me? Why would it go through all that trouble to catch me only, to...' Just then a wisp of stink wafted past her muzzle. She claps a hoof to her nose at the smell. Her stink ward must have worn off while she had slept.

"Gods! I can't believe I left it get this bad." Twitching her ears around, Wishes hears the distant trickle of a stream nearby. After a bit of trotting, she found it running down the slope to a series of pools. Dipping a hoof in the crystal clear water, she finds that it's freezing cold.

'Hm. I wonder if this works.' Charging her warming spell. It worked back at school on the tub. But she never tried it on a natural running water. Overcharging the spell for good measure, she casts it. Testing it again, she's pleased to find it cool instead of freezing.

With several more casts, the pool is just above temperate. After a quick glance around to ensure she's alone, Wishes strips off all her clothes and settles into the water. After a few minutes climatizing to it, she reaches over to her discarded bags with her telekinesis and fishes around inside. Sure enough, she finds a small bar of soap and begrudgingly she grumbles a thanks to her Master's foresight. Working up a lather, she scrubs away at her coat and mane.

After some vigorous washing, she sets the soap bar on a rock and lays back in the pool. As the dirty water is washed away it's replenished by the cold stream nearby forcing her to recast the warming spell to keep it comfortable. Wishes's peaceful rest doesn't last long though. Faintly at first, but getting closer, she hears a clicking squeaking sound. Flicking her ear in annoyance, she tries to ignore it, but it grows louder. Growling in frustration, she cracks an eye open and sees a mound of mud moving up to the rim of the pool where the water empties out. Perplexed, she sits up to get a better look when it rises to reveal the crustacean carrying it, waving it's big claws menacingly.

Disgusted at the sight of the spiky, carapaced bottom feeder, she jumps up with a squeals and tries to throw a spell at it. But it fizzles as she realizes she foalishly used up her magic on staying comfortable. With a berbling chitter, the giant crab begins skittering around the pool towards her. Screaming she clambers out of the water and bolts for the nearest boulder. Climbing up on top with difficulty she kicks at it as it hops up to snap at her with it's big claws.

Suddenly there's a warcry, and out of some nearby bushes leaps a short green earthpony, wearing a mask and colorful outfit, wielding a knoby stick in his teeth. Swinging it down, he splatters the mound of mud on it's head causing it to squeak angrily and spin about to snap at the offending wood. Once it grabs hold with both it's claws, the pony gives the stick a sharp twist. Flipping the crab over to expose it's weak spot. With a impressive leap, the short pony colt lands one massive hit and it's skittering legs instantly go limp. Mopping his masked brow, he looks up at the dripping wet unicorn standing exposed atop the boulder.

"Are you alright lady?"

"Aaah!" shrieks wishes as she scampers down behind the rock.

"Woah! Are you ok? Hey lady?" he shouts in alarm. Running around to check on her. But stopping to duck a flying stone from Wishes.

"You Little Creep!" she yells. Her bright red face appearing just above the boulder as she throws more stones. "You were spying on me!?"

"No! I wasn't!" he answers as he ducks and dodges away from her projectiles. "I was just foraging for food over there and, Ouch! Heard you screaming and came running to see if, Oh! you needed any help! Ah!" Pausing her assault, Wishes pondered his explanation before lowering her next stone.

"Oh. Right. Sorry. And, Thanks." she said. Her ears drooping ashamed as her head sinks behind the boulder. "I guess it's my fault for letting my guard down." Peaking out from under his forehooves to make sure no more projectiles were coming, he turns his back to her rubbing his hooves and explains himself. Meanwhile, she telekinetically grabs her clothes and quickly dresses.

"Yeah. Ya see, my cart broke down just up the road and I've been stuck in the area. I had no idea you were here, or what you were doing. So, if you're alright, I'll just be going." 

"Wait!" says Wishes. walking out from behind the rock fully dressed again. "You have a cart? Can I catch a ride up to Gallops Hill?"

"Well, you could. But... Woah!" he stops talking at the sight of her school uniform. "Those robes. Are you a wizard?"

"Uh, yes?" she answers. A little confused at his question.

"Do you know any mending spells? Oh please tell me you know mending spells."

"N, no. Not really. Sorry."

"Oh." he says. Slumping with a sigh. "Because the one wheel got completely busted. And if it doesn't get fixed, I'm stuck. Cause I can't just leave it by the road. What if a band of highway robbers find it? It's full of, all of my... equipment!" Wishes raises an eyebrow suspiciously at his shifty eyed pause.

"Equipment?"

"Yeah!" he answers a little too quickly with a forced grin. "I'm a traveling performer. That's why I'm all dressed in..." he finishes, standing on his hindhooves and waving a short forehoof at his outfit.

"Oh." Wishes says as she takes a moment to take a closer look at his clothes. They seem to be a patchwork of reds and blues. Made up to be a comical jester's outfit. His mask/hat is a quilted red and black diamond pattern, that covers his entire head. Save for his eyes and mouth. His ears make up the twin points which he flops up and down, causing the pompoms on their tips to bounce comically.

"I see. Well, show me what's broken. Maybe I can think of something."

"Ok. But I'm warning you, it's pretty bad."

"Come now. It can't be that bad."

***

'Oh gods. It is that bad.' thought Wishes as she fails to hide her grimace at the sight of the carnage. Filled with heavy looking crates, the axle was propped up with stones and the right-front wheel was laying smashed into pieces. Six of the eight spokes had been completely shattered, and the rim has a nasty U bent in it. So even if she could magic the spokes back together, or make new ones, there's no way it would move without a lot of effort.

"So, any ideas?" asked the colt forlornly. Watching her pickup several splintered pieces of wood in her magic and try to puzzle them together.

"Sorry." she apologized as she hangs her head. "I don't know any way to fix this. Looks like you'll have to get a new one."

"Don't feel bad." he consoled. Patting her shoulder. "I knew it was a long shot."

"Well, I could go to town and buy one and bring it back for you." she offered. Looking up towards Gallops Hill. "Or maybe," she thought aloud spotting a farmhouse and silo just over the next rise. "There's a farm over there that might,"

"No." he cut her off with a sigh. "I already tried asking him. He flat-out refused to help. I even offered to pay, and he ran me off with his pitchfork."

"Well that's just mean." she glared at the house.

"Shouted something about it being my fault or something." 

"Let me go have a talk with him." Wishes asserted. Standing up and setting off at a brisk trot. "Maybe I can change his mind." 

"Ok. Good luck"

The bluff that the small house sat on top of, rose above the surrounding fields. Big enough to host a three story silo, shed, and vegetable garden. Parked by the shed was a wagon with a spare wheel lashed to it's side. And in the garden, stooped over neat, orderly rows of plants stood a soft shaded purple earthpony with a hoe gripped in his teeth. Trotting up to the whicker fence that ran around the garden, she hooks her forehooves over it and waves to get his attention.

"Excuse me sir. My name is Night Time Wishes. May I have a moment of your time to speak with you?" Raising his head he gives her an appraising look before answering.

"Talk is cheap. But my time isn't. So make it quick unicorn. What do ya want?"

Oh, well. I was wondering if you may have noticed, there's a wagon just down the road that suffered an unfortunate accident and,"

"Yeah. I've noticed." he interrupted "An I don't care. Nice talk. Good day." he finishes curtly before returning to his work. Wishes scrunches her muzzle at his antisocial attitude, but presses on, determined to solve the problem.

"Well I've taken a look at it, aaand all it needs to continue it's journey is a new wheel." The pony just flicks his ear and continues working. "Aaand, I can't help but notice there's a spare wheel just hanging over there on that charming wag,"

"I said no!" he suddenly spat. Dropping his hoe and glaring at her. "My spare wheel is not for sale! If that stubby squat wants a wheel, he can walk his fat lazy plot right up to town and buy his own."

"How can you say that?" gasps Wishes. Putting her hoof to her muzzle aghast. "A pony's stature dose not equate to a pony's obesity or lethargy." The farmpony looks abashed, taken aback by her articulate admonishment. "Why, what if ponies started calling you a smelly sweaty dirt-pony, just because you work hard in the hot sun, diligently caring for your garden. Growing all these beautiful and delicious vegetables. Hm?"

"Well, ah." he stammers in reply. Rubbing a dirty forehoof at his sweat-soaked mane.

"That little Colt down there at the side of the road is a fellow pony who needs help. You've seen the size of that wagon. I'm impressed somepony his size can pull that around all by himself. Surely you can see and respect the determination it takes to do that for a living?"

"Now hold up just a minute." he says. Trying to retake the initiative. "You've seen him. Y'all have to admit he looks sketchy as all get-out with that get-up he's wearing."

"Just because he's dressed ' funny ' dose not equate to being untrustworthy. If, you would've taken the time to talk with him, you would have found out he's dressed that way because of his line of work. Need I address your own choice of attire?" she asks. Eyeing his stained linen shirt and worn, baggy trousers.

"Take me for instance" she continues. gesturing to herself. "At a glance, you may think I'm an evil sorcerer just one spell away from turning you into a frog." she punctuates her words by lowering her voice, sparkling her horn and waving her forehooves menacingly. "But if you put your biases aside for a moment to talk to me, you'd find I'm just a young university filly on a mission to help her fellow ponies. Or? Is it the only way you would even give me the time of day, is if I came cantering up here in a pretty purple dress?" she asks. Striking a pose and flicking her curly mane with a casually alluring air.

"Ah. I wouldn't. Uh." he stutters. turning away to hide his reddening face in embarrassment. 

"But if I can't even get two earthponies to get along with each-other, then how can I ever even hope to convince any creature to cooperate." she says sadly. Hanging her head over the fence with a pout.

"Aw. Don't go doin that. Ah guess I am a dumb mudpony. If I can't help another earthpony out, I can't expect anypony to help me if something happens. Aw, just take the wheel."

"Really?" asks Wishes with hopeful surprise as he trots over and takes it down. Hoofing it over the fence to her. "Are you sure you don't want anything for it?"

"Naw. I'm sorry for getting ya down like that. Sides, you taught me a valuable lesson. And I feel like a real horseshoe for not knowing better."

"Oh thank you. Thank you. Thank you." Wishes says before quickly leaning over the fence to give him an unexpected peck on the cheek.

"Daw, get on down the road before you get me in trouble with my wife." he says. Rubbing his cheek and returning to his work.

The short green earthpony stares an aw as he watches as the tall filly mage prances down the road towards him. A spring in her step, a smile on her face, and the replacement wheel rolling along beside her, guided by her magic.

"I can't believe it." he says in wonder as she pushes away the broken debris and slides the new wheel onto the axle. Dropping the retainer pin in and giving it a playful spin. "How did you do it?"

"I just explained the problem to him in a way he could understand. I knew, once he understood your plight he would come around to the proper response." she answers. Turning back to him. "By the way, I realized while I was up there, I didn't properly introduce myself to you yet."

"I am Adept Superior, Night Time Wishes, of the University of Magnus. Sent by Arch Mage Wyvern Redwax to seek out the Heralds of the Rainbow Warrior to banish the Windigos from Crown." she finishes with a short curtsey.

"Oh wow!" he applauded. Clopping his forehooves together. "I had no idea I was in the presence of royalty!"

"Ah. I'm not exactly royalty." she corrects. A bit confused he would think that. "And you are?" He blinks in confusion for a few seconds before answering. 

"Oh! I am the famous Ricky Ticky the Great." He runs out of sight to the other side of the wagon and rummages through a crate. Before she can move around to see what he's doing, a large colorful ball flies over and lands in front of her. Followed by Ricky Ticky landing on top of it. "Acrobat Extraordinaire!" he declares as he balances on the tip of his hindhoof, juggling four red balls, and balancing a baton on his nose.

"That's amazing!" She praises as she clops her hooves appreciatively. Watching him manage to roll the ball this way and that. Switching between hindhooves as he maintains his balance all while keeping the red balls circling in the air. "Bravo! Bravo!" she shouts as he finishes doing a flip off the ball and catching the four on top of each-other in one hoof and the baton standing upright in the other.

"That is Extraordinary." Wishes remarks as he gives her a bow and returns his things to the wagon. "But. If you don't mind. I would love to see your face."

"Bu!" he stutters. Accidentally dropping a red ball.

"What's the matter? I just want to put a pony face to the name?"

"Oh, you wouldn't want to see that." he answers. pouncing on the ball and sheepishly returning it to the wagon. I'm not the handsomest stallion. I'm sure whatever you imagine I look like is better than the real thing."

"Nonsense. Just a quick look is all I ask. Besides, you already got an eye full of me." she reminded him. crossing her forehooves. "It's only fair."

"That was a total accident." he defends. Tapping his hooves together and doing a shifty eye again as he forces a smile. She just cocks an eye.

"Oh come on... That was just... It's not that..." he stammers as she taps a hoof. Maintaining an accusatory look. "Oh, alright." he relents with a sigh. "But I'm warning you, it isn't pretty." Wishes smiles in anticipation as he gives a nervous glance around before raising his hoof to pull up the mask.

Wishes's smile melts into a grimace and her pupils shrink as she views the devastation. Slowly, she reaches out and lowers his hoof again. Managing to force a grin back onto her face.

"You're right... That's... a very pretty mask. I have no idea why you would ever want to take it off." Ricky just answers her with an, "I told you so." look.

The purple farmpony pauses his work as Ricky pulls his wagon up the road. He leans on his hoe, returning a wave from Wishes reclining on the back. Watching with a smile as they pass. Then, turning to continue his work he nearly jumps out of his fur when his wife appears, standing right behind him, with a frown.

* Level Up *

Stamina increased +5

New Perk (Speech)
(Bribery) Buying and selling prices are 10% better.

Quest Perk added
(Alluring linguist) using dramatic moves during speech checks grants you +1 charm. Double too the opposite sex.

"Aw come on! Only half level of stamina? No fair." (crosses hooves, makes pouty face)

Charm doesn't work on author.