//------------------------------// // Of Dreams and Darkness // Story: Lines and Webs // by Airstream //------------------------------// Twilight and Spike soon realized the disadvantages that came with traveling with a construct instead of a pony. Golden Radiance never became tired, she seemed to feel no pain, and she was able to walk through brambles, thick brush, and thorny patches that Spike and Twilight had to avoid. The exhausted unicorn and dragon scrambled to keep pace with her, and several times she was required to wait patiently for them to catch up. The trio proceeded deeper into the woods, their way lit only by the faintest moonlight and the glow of Twilight's horn. At last, they broke through the thicket of branches, into a small clearing barely large enough for Spike to spread his wings, allowing the tendons to stretch. Golden Radiance turned to Twilight. "There used to be wooden buildings through here, but it would appear that they have rotted away. Regardless, a public hall I used to frequent stood here once. There was a concealed passage leading to a storeroom under the floorboards. With your permission, I would like to open it." Twilight blinked groggily. "Of course. Go ahead." Twilight felt a brief tug on her magic, and the ground near Golden Radiance cracked and shuddered, revealing an old passageway lined with dusty stone. "My apologies for the use of your magic, Twilight Sparkle. This construct is weak as of yet, and without some of your magic or a full moon, I cannot both maintain it and use my own magic. Hopefully there will be something inside that will alleviate the problem. I think your dragon should be able to fit as well, if he doesn't mind tight spaces." Spike snorted. "Trust me, I have no problem with small spaces. I've spent three months in a basement." Golden Radiance chuckled. "Very well, then." she said, turning towards the entrance. Twilight felt a slight tug at her magic again, and both of the unicorns' hornlights came to life. "Let us begin." The group descended down the stairs into the passage, which, at a muttered command from Golden Radiance, sealed itself shut once more. Twilight turned to find herself staring down a long, shadowy hallway that extended past her light into total blackness. Golden Radiance again took the lead, the exhausted unicorn and dragon down a slight gradient curve to their left. They walked in silence, listening to the echo of their steps bouncing around them on the walls. The noise reminded Twilight uncomfortably of the conflict in the library, and she shuddered at the memory of Morning Star's voice. As they walked, Twilight allowed herself the luxury of thinking about the implications of what she had done. Her friends would be looking for them, of course. Why wouldn't they? After all, they would have seen her apparently kill her coltfriend and run off into the woods, apparently possessed by dark magic. She wasn't sure what Celestia had told them, but she was willing to bet it wasn't complimentary or reassuring. The Regulars would be out, and Canterlot would be on alert. Undoubtedly her whereabouts and description would be being circulated by the Air Corps, and it would be hard to find a place where nopony hadn't heard of her, after Celestia's public unveiling of her. Twilight idly wondered how much of the ceremony was because she had been being recognized for something noteworthy, or if it was held to make sure she was recognizable. Either way, she could no longer enter towns or cities for long, not without a place to stay or a disguise. She made a mental note to check her books for self-perpetuating illusions that might be of assistance, and wished she was a Changeling for the first time in her life. Her family, of course, would be worried sick. Her parents would be inconsolable at this point, as Celestia would have broken the news to them personally. Her heart ached at the pain she was causing her parents, both of whom she was sure had no idea as to the circumstances of her birth. She vowed to make it up to them both, to explain everything after she exposed Celestia for the liar she was. They would understand. They had to. She thought about her brother. How much did he know? Was he complicit in Celestia's plans? Was Cadance? Could she expect him to come looking for her as well? She wasn't sure of how competent a magic user her brother was, but he was Captain of the Guard for a reason. She shook her head, shoving thoughts of family aside. They would do her no good now. She realized that odds were good that her friends at least would be catching up to her. They knew her habits, how she thought and reacted, and that she was probably exhausted and going to ground. They, on the other hand, would be fresh and rested, and Celestia would undoubtedly have given them any aid she could render. It was highly probable that the Elements would be coming into play. If they really were as powerful as Twilight suspected, they would at least be able to enhance her friends' physical capabilities by value of their powerful aura alone. She began to plan for the eventuality of their encounter. Another first in her life, she began to compose a list of strengths and weaknesses for her friends, how they could be neutralized singly, in pairs, or as a whole. Her thoughts then turned to the books in her bag. Translating them was slow, but there was another option, albeit a much more dangerous one. The books were sealed with a series of arcane formulae, which would release all the power they contained at once. If Twilight could find a way to harness that explosion of power, holding those spells captive, she could study them at leisure, releasing them with no more effort than reading a sentence off of a page. Twilight knew there was a way to enchant items in such a manner, staffs, swords and such. Another project for her library, no doubt. The tunnel abruptly straightened, and Twilight snapped out of her reverie, noticing that the light from her horn revealed the slow expansion of the passageway. Golden Radiance picked up the pace, and finally they walked through an arch which revealed a huge storeroom, walls lined with boxes and bags. Golden Radiance sighed in relief. "I had hoped that it would be so untouched. My family must have forgotten this place, or left too suddenly to clear it. At last." She turned to the exhausted pair, and flared her horn, causing lanterns on the wall to flare into life, magical flame burning brightly. "Welcome, my descendant, to the Hall of Plenty. And hope once more, for we can now truly prepare for our journey." ________________________________________ The boxes, it turned out, were full of emergency supplies. The wood itself had been artfully crafted by hoof, runes of preservation and protection along the sides, and Twilight discovered the contents were remarkably well preserved when she removed the lid from the top of one of the boxes. Inside were nothing except for potions. Strong ones, made for healing light wounds by being rubbed on the skin. She cautiously withdrew one of the bottles, sealing the crate, and set it on top. Whirling, she trotted over to the next crate. It contained dried fruit, mainly berries and a few packets of apples. Her stomach growled, reminding her that she had not eaten. She sealed it and moved on. The three companions moved through the storeroom, uncovering clothes, medicine, food, and other supplies. "There's enough to supply an army in here!" Spike said, looking through a box of lantern oil. "A full company of Knights Equestria, numbering eighty-and-four, plus their commanders, for one week." Golden Radiance said, looking for one box in particular. "My father took me through here many a time in my youth, and pointed out the importance of proper supply. An army cannot march if it is freezing and starved, or fight with rusty weapons and parched mouths." She withdrew a small box made of darker wood, and smiled at its contents. Carefully, she withdrew a small glass sphere which glowed with milky light. "What is that?" Twilight asked, as she let her cloak and saddlebags fall to the floor, moving to stand beside the unicorn. "A specially prepared glass container, made to contain rare or elusive materials, such as light or heat, for use at a later date when it is not available. This one in particular is full of moonlight, and the box itself contains many more full of Luna's blessing." the unicorn said, as she withdrew two more. "Three should provide me with all of the moonlight I need to refill this vessel's reserves." And with that, the unicorn closed her eyes, inhaling deeply. Twilight and Spike looked on as the stones rose into the air and burst apart in a cloud of dust, the light remaining curiously suspended. It pulsed once, twice, and then flared with such intensity that the dragon and unicorn averted their eyes. Like smoke, it began to coil around the head of the unicorn, spiraling down into her horn. The light began to diminish in intensity, as the three silver clouds were absorbed by the paper unicorn, who gradually settled down on her haunches, looking for all the world like a pony who had just polished off a large meal. And in a way, she had, Twilight supposed. The source of her power was the moon and magic, after all. The construct opened her eyes again, smiling widely. Jumping to her hooves, she began to seize objects in her emerald grip, bundles assembling themselves with remarkable speed, the boxes they came from sliding into and out of the shelves at a rapid pace as Twilight and Spike took cover from the veritable hail of flint boxes, packaged foods, and other such supplies. Twilight watched in amazement as the former Archivist used her skills at organizing to assemble everything the group would need in tidy packs, the process taking mere minutes. Spike blinked. Here he had thought that Twilight was a master of organization, but this unicorn put her to shame. Golden Radiance concluded her masterful manipulation of the stores with a flourish, sending the last boxes back to their respective slots with a final burst of magic. Her eyes, though they had burned with dull green flame before, now resembled the eyes of a pony, pupils glimmering with a faint green light. Seizing Twilight's bottle of healing potion, she uncorked it, checking its contents to make sure they were safe for use. "Lie down." she commanded, approaching Twilight with the bottle. "It's fine, really!" Twilight said, attempting to take the bottle from her. "I've done this on my own before a million times, I can take care of it!" "Child, you have run for several hours at least, used far more magic than you should have, and you are burned along one full side of your body. I detect at least four cuts that could turn septic if not treated properly, several strained tendons, bruising along your left eye and labored breathing I suspect is from a bruised or cracked rib. As my descendant, I am making sure that you do not leave this place before you are healed and fed and rested." Golden Radiance said, pushing the shaky unicorn over. Spike nodded. "And if you try anything, I'll hold you down until she's finished healing you." "You'll do no such thing unless you want to crack her collarbone, daft lizard. Go, rest. I shall tend to your caretaker." Golden Radiance said, fixing the dragon with a level stare that somehow managed to reduce him into a quivering child once more. Twilight opened her mouth to protest, raising her head. Golden Radiance took the opportunity to shove Twilight's rolled up cloak under her head and forcefully push it back down. "Enough, Twilight Sparkle. You've done quite enough today." the unicorn said, and Twilight finally stopped struggling, laying her head down and letting the spellcaster tend to her wounds. As the purple mare felt the potion hit her skin, she stifled a groan. The sensation of a numbing solution in the potion hitting her skin and seeping through her pores was the first bit of relief she had had all day, and the unicorn found herself going limp with the sensation of not-pain, allowing herself the luxury of lying still and feeling her tired muscles relax. She felt herself slipping off into sleep, and as she went under, Twilight reached for her bags. Golden Radiance arched an inquisitive eyebrow as the unicorn undid the clasps on her bag with telekinesis, reaching for Radiant Zenith's crystal. Tearing a small strip from her already destroyed cloak, she re-strung the pendant and placed it firmly around her neck before lying back down and allowing herself to slip firmly into slumber. ________________________________________ If the waking world was peaceful when Twilight finally slept, the landscape of Twilight's mind was a warzone. The little mare found herself standing on a bed of hot black volcanic sand, looking off into the distance, towards a lightning filled sky choked with ash and dust. The ground under her feet rumbled and shifted, crackling with flame and erupting into jagged rock. The mare watched in awe as the landscape changed, boiling rivers shifting in their beds and mountains crumbling under the weight of massive fireballs falling from the sky. Proceeding forward, she picked her way through the violent land, heading nowhere in particular. She walked for an eternity or an instant, she was never sure which, looking for something familiar. She picked her way around a low ridge of rock, noting the blasted trees and scorched earth. At last, her hooves began to move faster, and she maneuvered with more surety. She trotted over a low rise, looking over the valley below. At last, she realized where she was. There, sitting in the valley where Ponyville used to be, was the main keep of Canterlot Castle. The edifice looked different, black rock and crumbling granite replacing the marble and brass of the palace Twilight knew so well. The roof was collapsed, all of the windows smashed and jagged. The woodwork smoked gently, and as Twilight looked at the mountain where the palace used to be, she witnessed the collapse of the cliff it had once occupied, the sound like thunder rolling on for far too long. Feeling no other choice was available to her, she proceeded inside the castle, stepping through the blasted doors and letting light spill from her horn. The hallowed halls were all at once familiar and utterly alien. The walls were bare, ugly and scarred, and the intricate stonework lay defaced and in pieces. Instead of statues of notable ponies, the plinths on the wall held Twilight, in all of her best and worst moments. Her as she was as a filly, jumping for joy at her Cutie Mark. Her as an antisocial bookworm, unknowing and uncaring of the wonderful world around her, preferring books to friends. And of course, her as the Element of Magic, fighting for her friends and world against gods and monsters big and small. Her adversaries and allies stood as well. There Twilight saw her brother, steadfast and strong. Discord, sinuous and leering at her. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie stood among Nightmare Moon, the Changeling Queen, the Flim Flam brothers, Trixie the showpony, a hydra, and others. Twilight moved through the grand hall before the throne room, realizing that the statues had thinned. All of the ones on the walls around her now were of Morning Star and her, talking and laughing together, fighting side by side, and falling in love. Then of course came the statues she knew would come. Morning Star, his face twisted in fury. Morning Star, grinning a humorless and icy grin. Morning Star, broken and burned at her hooves, defiant to the end. Twilight felt the rage burning in her chest, and she quickened her pace, heading for the throne room doors. Her mood was no less foul when she saw what waited for her inside. Her mentor stood overhead, towering above the unicorn, an expression of regal calm upon her face as she stared down at her. The unicorn heard the doors to the throne room close behind her as she took in the walls. Here, in the sanctum of her mind, her teacher waited for her patiently, still the center of Twilight's world after all that had been done. Twilight began to shake in fear and rage, and without realizing it, she began to scream at her teacher, part epithet and part hurt, bewildered anger. She screamed and screamed and screamed, tears running down her face as she unleashed the full fury of her mind against this cold, marble goddess. Howling in pain, Twilight felt the walls began to tremble, cracks running alongside the supporting pillars and floor towards the statue. "How could you do this to me? Me! Why, damn you? Tell me why!" she screamed, and suddenly the statue began to crumble, the beatific face of Twilight's goddess flaking away in chunks, marred and imperfect. "I trusted you more than anypony! You were perfect, you were always good! You were my one constant, and now you're just another monster! I can't trust you, or my friends, or my family, or anypony, and it's all because of you, you bucking liar! You!" The statue began to shake and crack in earnest now, great pieces falling away one at a time and shattering on the floor. As Twilight raged, the walls of the palace began to collapse, rubble cascading down and pulverizing itself into dust. Twilight continued to scream at her goddess, the power of her voice reducing it to gravel. "Now I'm running for reasons I don't understand, finding out that the life I thought was mine is really yours. I'm just another piece, right? Just a pawn, just a token to be traded away. What is it you want, you monster? What could I possibly have to offer a damned goddess? Why can't you just leave me be? Leave me alone, Celestia! Leave me alone! I'm not playing this game anymore. Not me, not ever again! Never, do you hear me? Never!" Collapsing, the unicorn began to cry in earnest, alone in the ruins of her mind, utterly alone and afraid. The sky overhead rumbled and blackened, thunderheads forming and rain falling gently from the sky, caressing the broken mare sobbing on the ground. She allowed herself to grieve, there under black skies on black stone, the ruins of her former life surrounding her. Twilight began to rock back and forth, comforting herself desperately. She cried until she simply had no more tears left, and merely lay empty on the ground. As she pulled herself together, the clouds overhead lightened and rolled to the sides, allowing Twilight to see the sky fading to a simple grey. Twilight looked around in wonder. The land was faded and devoid of color, true. But the ruins of the castle were gone, and the world seemed to be at peace. Twilight listened, and was only able to hear a faint, regular noise, like a heartbeat or the breathing of a small child. She got to her hooves, looking out at the world around her. Flat in all directions. Shaking her head, she wished for color. Suddenly, as if she had disturbed a pool of perfectly still water, the land around her rippled with green grass stretching as far as the eye could see. Smiling, she looked up at the sky, seeing the color deepen to the blue of a late summer sky. A laugh from the mare brought forth trees and flowers, growing in abundance, and she began to run tirelessly, letting the landscape of her mind become fertile and fresh. She called forth rivers flowing deep and fast, winding across the land in broad, meandering curves. Mountains thrust themselves forward from the land, purple and rich, capped with gleaming snow. A colorful songbird flitted over one shoulder, flying up to join its friends in the sky. Deer bounded through fields of grass, and fish swam through the pools and rivers as the unicorn created the world she wanted to see. Coming to a bend in the river, she stopped. Lying under the shade of a willow tree, the mare sat, allowing herself to think clearly, without bias or emotion. At last, Twilight began analyzing her next moves. As the mare planned and thought, she sighed and smiled, allowing herself to fall into true sleep, the sky overhead fading to night.