//------------------------------// // Chapter 11- Ill Equilibrium // Story: Dismay Turned Discord // by Reedling //------------------------------// “Midnight? Dear...Midnight Star!” “Calm yourself Lavender Dreams....He has been studying all night!” Morpheus opened his eyes as he fixated his view his parents walked closer to him. His mother was a lavender unicorn with magenta eye shadow. The scent of the latest fragrance from some foreign pony country danced around her perfect mane. Her baby blue eyes looked over to her somepony worriedly. His father gave a lighthearted smile to his sleepy colt. His chiseled muzzle was barbered to make him look older then he truly was. He wore a fine tailored waistcoat with silver buttons which complemented his dark blue coat. “M...Mother?...Father?” “Why you seem almost surprised that we came to check up on you!” His mother huffed,turning her head in feigned sadness. “It’s not like that at all mother,I merely surprised to see you in the Observatory.” “Luminous, I think our son is ill!” “Dear colt. You left the observatory years ago! Said you had to find Nova Dusk’s son for something. What was his name again...?” “Sirius, Sirius Dusk” Morpheus whispered. As he whispered his old friend’s name the ground below moved, the whole room began to smear and run like paint. Morpheus’ first instinct was to jump and protect his parents, but even they joined the room’s illusion, puddling like hot colored wax. “Where am I ?.....” “....The darkest part of the Dreamworld.” Morpheus tried to turn his body to the voice, but his hooves were beginning to melt like his parents. “Do not let your fears consume you...In the dream world-in here you need to remember who you are.” “I am Morpheus Aeon! King to Equestria, Lord of Dreams and Night!” “Are you really? You were furious when you found out Pan hid your past. Are you really ready to give up it. To give up on me?” The voice become louder as if it was drawing closer to him. From the muddy colors of the illusion appeared Midnight Star. “But....I. how can there be two of me?” Morpheus gasped as his eyes grew wide. He scanned this doppelganger as if it was one of Crystalline’s tricks. “Remember what I said? We are in the dream world...Crystalline caught you in here, and now we are trapped.” “We....you are a part of me-” “I wish I was, seeing how you still do not call yourself Midnight Star. Pan means well, I assure you he isn’t like Crystalline. But if you can’t remember me, and accept your past...Equestria will need a new king.” “Why am I being told to remember my past...from my past self?” “Your subconscious was tampered with when Pan made us into Morpheus Aeon. You play the role of the dutiful king, Because that is how Pan altered us to be. Do you remember the day he asked if you wanted to help found Equestria?” Morpheus turned away, he couldn’t remember anything. All Morpheus felt when he tried to remember was the cold distrust he felt for his former friend. “I don’t.” “Don’t feel what Crystalline wants you to. Remember your children?..remember Brightly?....Remember your family?” “I-I don't feel anything...but cold and numb. Here I am stuck in the dream world, talking to my former self who is trying to get me to remember why I exist...I don’t. I don’t feel well.” “It’s not the same place when you’re not saving people from nightmares is it?” “No, no it isn’t. Now I feel like I am in a nightmare of my own. I’ve got to snap out of it for Astrum’s sake...We need wake up. How can I do that?” Midnight gave a wide smile. “Now we’re talking!” ==================================================================== Luna yawned. As she opened her eyes to the sunset. Celestia had to of been giving Luna some extra rest. Or maybe she was so used to her father raising the moon. She rose from her pillow and walked over to her balcony. she was ready to yell a thank you to her sister when she saw she wasn’t alone. “I thought we were being punished. Why does Tia’ get to have friends over?” Luna sighed. She forced her eyes to the sky and pushed the moon to it’s spot. But it did not budge. “....Why won’t you set!? I am the moon princess! Rise!” ==================================================================== Celestia and Chrysalis chuckled innocently. “That sunset is so pretty!” Chrysalis gawked. “I know! I don’t understand why the sky can’t always look like that.”Celestia wondered. “Well if it always looked so pretty, wouldn't it get boring? You’d be used to it” “You’re right....It’s beautiful because you don’t see it all the time.”Celestia smiled to her new friend. “I think it’s time to let Luna raise the moon before somepony notices.” ===================================================================== “Maybe dad can help.” Luna told herself as she opened her door and headed to the royal bedroom. Mother had said that he wasn’t feeling well. “Maybe I could cheer him up!” Luna opened the door to the bedroom. She knew mother would understand if she left her room if it was an emergency. She trotted slowly into the dark room, she could make out that somepony was sleeping. As she got closer she saw her father, he didn’t look the same. His whole body looked like a piece cut from the night sky, even small white lights glowed. These lights were too dim to provide much light though. Luna’s first instinct was to wake up her father and ask for help, but the longer she stood watching him sleep. She could knew, he was ill. His body was giving off a cold breeze. He groaned softly, his eyelid clenching in pain. “Dad-” Luna whispered. She had never seen her father in pain before. He was the king, a proud and dedicated leader. Luna took off a silver slipper,and placed her bare hoof to his forehead. ===================================================================== The Moon flew in to the center of the sky sucking the vibrant sunset’s rainbow from existence. The stars grew wildly in the night’s air. Soon there was little space free of the white dots that speckled the black sky. “Whoa! your sister doesn’t waste anytime does she!” Chrysalis giggled. “No...That does seem right. My sister and I just recently learn how..” “Is she better at magic?” “I don’t think so. She’s always getting flying lessons with father.” ===================================================================== “Your grace...I’ve just received some disturbing news near the Savannah border of a pony village being....”Sir Harbinger began to tell her, then moved his mouth closer with more secret details. “Aethereum, I’ve never heard of such a thing!” “Should I give news to apprehend the criminal to the inns?” “No...instead send this letter to the Dusk Observatory and make sure only Sirius reads it. Thank you Sir Harbinger.” “As..as you wish Your Grace.” Sir Harbinger eye’s looked worried to his queen. Why did she not want to act on such horrific news? He had made sure to tell her at night to keep the Canterlot residence from spreading the news like a wild fire through Equestria. As he looked into her still eyes, he saw no sympathy. The only way he could gauge she actually heard him was from her shocked response...but yet. No, who was he to question the queen? Pan stared coldly to Harbinger. He felt his chest twist and reel, falling to the messenger's arms in tears. Curse Crystalline, her curse was driving him mad. he wasn’t sure know how long he could fake being Astrum. “I can sense. You think I am being quite insensitive old friend. I-I don’t mean to be. In fact I’m finding it hard to keep my tears aside.” “Astrum...How long have you known me? You think I would cast you off as weak if you cried? I can tell your husband is ill. He was one of the head unicorns at Dusk’s observatory. Which means there’s no way he would need other unicorns to help him with whatever “spell” you tried to tell me about. I just want you to know, It’s alright to cry. You might be more powerful than when we first met, but alone even I couldn’t handle the burden placed on you. No Pegasus I know deserves to be pardoned more than you Brightly.” Pan tilted his head, This harbinger remembered her? How? Though he would have liked to retrace his spell’s effect, he didn’t have the chance right now. He gave a soft gasp that he choked on as he cried softly, embracing a shocked Harbinger’s arms. “I...I’m not sure how I can help him. While trying to keep my fillies unaware.” “That does seem rather hard. Those two like to get in whatever trouble they can. ‘Giant-ursas-made-of-space-and-eclipse-making-kind-of-trouble’.” He chuckled lightly trying his best to comfort her. Pan gave a dark smile. “Clever Astrum. Blame your children for my trouble. Though it seems Equestria would rather believe that, then remember me.” Pan thought. “Harbinger...Do you think I am a good role model?” Pan seized some salty water to his eyes as he motioned his eyebrows as pathetically as plausible. “Y-yes...my queen. Not only are you a fine role model for your children, but for Equestria’s youth.” Harbinger motioned himself closer to Astrum, his voice sprang up a overbearing charm that could spill over as if extracted perfume. He got close enough he could feel the dew of Astrum’s breath. Then he rammed into her head, using his wings as added force. Pan fell flat to the floor like a scared goat. Harbinger’s eyes grew in fear as he watched his friend change into a brown alicorn. “Treason!....Imposter! YOUR GRACE!” He began to yell until he heard the sound of hoof steps coming towards him. “Sir Harbinger calm yourself! What is the meaning for yelling at such an hour?” “Your grace this pony..he-” “Is a loyal friend to the throne, and I am sorry that I had to trick you....But I’ve been spending my time taking care of my husband.” “I have important news! A settlement has been-” “I know...Even though I was not here when you told it, I could feel it in my gut. Something dark is heading towards us. I ask that you follow what my double instructed. I don’t want anyone in Canterlot questioning my abilities. Understood Sir Harbinger?” “Y-yes my queen.” Harbinger’s eyes glared to this Astrum. How many doppelganger’s did she have he wondered? But it had been such hard work getting there that he couldn’t spare any more energy to question this Astrum’s word. He raised a hoof in a salute, then gave a royal bow and exited. Pan gave a low groan. “I never knew Pegasi hit like buffalos. Aethe-Hello Astrum.” “We meet again old friend..” “No.....after all this time!” ================================================================ Grue stretched his limbs which flexed with an unusual vitality in them. “..that’s odd I never feel this good.” He thought. “SSsssuprised on how a little bit of magic can help eaSsse your burden.” “I...I remember you. I don’t think I’m supposed to trust you.” “TrusSst is sSsomthing I care little for Grue....Do you know that you are out of the Savannah?” “..Yes..that pony doc-” Grue’s heart started to beat wildly as he strained his forehead’s muscles to open his eyes. “It’s not your eyes that are closed SsssSilly Grue. It’s your sight! You’re blind!” “Blind!..how!?” “Let’ssSs just be glad There’sss a cure!...do you want it?” “I---I do.” “Well that would be a problem wouldn’t it Grue!...you’ve got a belly full of untapped magic....and no horn to usSse it!” “Magic!...That’s evil!” Crystalline perked her eyes. “I guess the fool really absorbed those simpleton’s lessons.” She giggled to herself, slithering her body close to Grue’s ear. “Well it seems only fitting! They named you after the very thing they fear! The cold...dark...evil...Ssshadow that you are! Grue..A creature of the dark.” It felt right, the words resonating in his heart as she spoke. His name was a cold stab at what his father had made him, a creature of magic in a culture that believed it was vile. “Grue...Why don’t you prove to them just how dark you are?”Crystalline whispered in a drawn out hiss. “I still need a horn, right?..how do I get one of those?” “What if I offered you a tasSste of my magic?” “No! I only need a horn,to rid myself of this sinful magic!” “When will you embrace your nature Grue? Sssirius Dusk was one of the brightest unicorns. It’s a shame to wish it away so senselessly!” Her serpent-like voice cracked to her true voice, destroying the illusion she had plunged him into so meticulously. “Because my father isn’t here now...I was born with the Zebras! That is what I believe I am!” His young voice squeaked in protest. “Then you will die savage, naive and blind. Die like a Zebra, until you beg for my help!” It took awhile for Grue to relax his body. It pulsed with power which grasped longingly at Grue’s essence. Like oil to water, without a horn Grue was just a ponified mana well. Which was paying a toll on Grue’s overall health. He was always fatigued, always far behind in his lessons. His muscles, all of them ached as he moved. “Anypony?....Someone!” Grue yelled. His own voice scratched at his ear drums. He couldn’t help it, he seized into tears as he felt the salt burn against his face. Crystalline gave a thankful sigh. “Took you long enough Grue. Please, keep crying!” She giggled darkly to herself siphoning the sorrow in her mouth like spaghetti.