//------------------------------// // Intro: Just a Dream? // Story: My Brave Pony: Starfleet Magic Season XI // by DakariKingMykan //------------------------------// INTRO Prince Castor and Princess Leilani; the six year-old children of Grand Ruler Celesto and Queen Celestia, were sleeping very peacefully in their beds, when they both began to have a strange dream. It was a rather odd thing for two individuals to actually be part of the same dream, but there they were… …Walking along a beautiful meadow landscape, with so many colorful flowers, and surrounded by magical trees. The scenery seemed rather distorted; almost blurry even, either it was just a clean mist, or the fact that it was just a dream. “Castor, where are we?” asked Lelani. “I don’t know,” replied her brother. “How are we both here at the same time?” Neither one of them could describe this beautiful place. It all seemed and felt so real. Lelani felt the soft breeze blowing through her pink mane, and then she looked up at the sky and saw cute little birds flying about and feeding their babies in their nests. “Aw… it’s so cute.” Castor, being a very young boy, didn’t think too much of cute, but he did find this place too good to be true. “Hey, what’s that?” he cried as he looked on ahead. There was a stone pathway leading up to a small sanctuary a large pedestal, in the center of a round pool, with six stone columns surrounding it. In the very center of the platform, was a statue of a human creature-- a knight, as was hinted by the way the carvings portrayed him dressed in armor, shoulder and knee pads, and a helmet with no visor. Castor and Leilani got in closer, crossing the small bridge to the altar, and looked up at the statue in awe. “Cool.” said Castor. “He’s handsome.” chirped Leilani. They fluttered about looking the statue from head to toe. Then, they both saw, clutched in the statue’s hands was a long sword, with a golden blade, and a silver hilt. It wasn’t made of stone as the statue itself. “Wow!” the kids exclaimed softly. They had never seen such an elegant weapon before, but as they moved in to see if they could dislodge it from the statue’s grip… …The sky grew dark with shadowy clouds billowing over, followed by eerie winds, and the animals all panicking and fleeing the scene. “What’s happening?!” cried Leilani. “I don’t know, but I don’t like it!” replied Castor. Things got way worse as the entire landscape began to transform, from a blissful meadow, into a desolate and frightening place with only the sanctuary remaining strong, while everything else was all withered and darkened by shadows. The frightened children held each other, wanting to get out of this place, but all ways were the same-- an endless stretch of darkening chaos, and the two little children, young and undertrained in fighting and use of magic stood helpless by the altar. Then, it happened! Horrifying monsters and shadowy specters began to appear, in the sky, from the ground, or just roaming from the distance. The children couldn’t help but scream in horrors.. …But then… The statue began to glow, and it changed from a stone figure to a living being-- a knight in silver armor, with a long pale blue skirt. He had pale skin, almost like snow, and small locks of golden hair draping from his helmet. Gripping his sword tightly, he glared at the oncoming monsters, and leapt over the children, off the altar, and began to engage in battle. Swinging his mighty sword, he made sparks fly as the monsters were struck and fell over. “Look at him go!” remarked Castor. “He’s amazing for a statue.” added Leilani. They then watched as the knight raised his sword up high as its golden blade glowed brightly, and he declared, “Evil nightmares, I cast you back into the darkness from whence you came! BE GONE!!” The sword, glowing brighter than ever, unleashed a wave of sparkling energy; casting the shadows and the monsters away. The children were more in awe than relief. They had never seen such magic before, but then again hard much in this place made sense to them anyway. The knight then looked over towards the young ones, with a rather strange but calm expression. The children, curious of their saviour, slowly began to approach him… …When suddenly, an evil laugh was heard as the sky grew dark once again. The knight looked up at the growing darkness, growling fiercely as a pair of large and evil red eyes appeared, followed by a demonic, feminine voice. “No one can stop the nightmare!” The knight raised his sword to attack again, but the shadows swopped in on him, ensnaring him, and making him drop his sword on the ground. “Oh, no!” cried Castor. Leilani couldn’t bear to watch. Suddenly, the knight called out to them both, “…Take the sword! Take it, and protect good dreams!” The children were both confused. “Stay where you are!” bellowed the shadow voice. “That sword rightfully belongs to me.” “Never!!” shouted the knight and his eyes began to glow, firing a beam of magic at his sword; striking it hard, in a flash so bright, The shadow creature screamed in outrage, while the children cried out in fright… …Snapping wide awake in bed. At that very second, the door to their bedroom opened, and their parents, in their night robes, rushed in. “Children!” cried Grand Ruler “Are you alright?” “We heard you screaming.” said Celestia The children seemed hot and sweaty as if they had seen ghosts. “I just had a strange dream.” said Castor. “Me too.” added Leilani. The parents gave their children each a cup of water and tucked them back into bed. “Maybe you two are just excited about your birthday tomorrow.” said Celestia with a proud smirk. Grand Ruler looked at the small clock, “What do you know? It’s after midnight. It is your birthday.” “Ohh… Happy Birthday, my dears…” Celestia cooed as she hugged and pecked her children sweetly. “Six years old already.” “We’re so very proud of you both.” Grand Ruler. The children did feel relieved and happy it was their birthday, and soon they were lying down again while it was still dark out, and their parents went back to bed too. Still, the two children felt concerned about that dream; it felt so real, and so mysterious that they both had it together. They both hoped it was nothing to really worry about… …But they were soon to be proven wrong! MY BRAVE PONY STARFLEET MAGIC: SEASON XI