Dear Princess…
Chapter 4
Erebus had been working on his “Important” task now for a week and he was starting to feel… underachieved. He understood full well that these tasks were important but just not requiring of his particular skill set, he would go talk to Luna at day’s end.
“Milady… I’ve come to a bit of a, predicament.” Erebus was a bit reluctant to label Luna’s assigned tasks as inadequate but he felt he was in a rut, and it’s only been a week.
“Speak my assistant, thou hast my attention.”
“You see it’s a matter of difficulty, I feel as though my tasks are below me, I’m deeply sorry Milady.” Erebus bowed his head shamefully.
“I see, though the tasks I presented were rather meager they stood only as a warm up, I see you are now ready for what comes.” Luna had a bit of a shimmer in her eyes that shone of anticipation.
“If I may ask, what am I ready for? Erebus braced himself nervously.
“I would like to teach you a very special and highly forbidden magic, it is rivaled in secrecy only to control of the sun and moon to anyone but my sister and I.” Luna gave a rather fond smile.
“If I may inquire a second time, why would you teach such a forbidden magic to me?”
“If thou wishes to assist me then this spell is required, you do still wish to assist me correct?” Luna’s smile turned into a confused turn of the head.
“Milady I would anything for thou, When can we start?”
“Immediately, now follow me I have a lot to teach in a short time.” Luna pulled the book from the book case and the two faded from sight to return to the secret underground library.
Luna made sure no one was following then she aimed her horn at a section of bookshelves and charged her magic, at first it didn’t seem to have any effect. Then the entire room started changing colors from its usual stone gray to vibrant hues of dark blue and purple, Erebus was in awe of what was occurring around him and Luna just gave a bit of a smirk. Then small white dots littered the ceiling and began to almost glimmer.
“Luna, what is all this.” Erebus’ voice trailed as his mind was trying to grasp what she had just done.
“This Erebus is known as the dreamscape, or the border between reality and fantasy. In a world such as this anything is possible as long as control is maintained. Here take a look at the books on the shelves now.” Erebus picked up a random book and flipped through it.
“Journals, no these are records of… dreams?” Erebus was confused he never knew that Luna had the power to enter dreams before.
“Yes Erebus those in particular are the dreams of a pony from Ponyville, everyone in Equestria hath a book of all the dreams I have seen, as well as how it could affect their daily lives.”
“Well how come there aren’t many books here though milady?” Erebus look to all the bookshelves there were only a couple, and in total there had to be only about 100 to 150 book at most.
“Yes well, the thing is I have only been around for a short time and I try to fix as much as I can but there is only so much time in a night, this is where you come in Erebus I need you to help me in the aiding and recording of everyone’s dreams specifically the ones that turn into nightmares.” Erebus sat down, this was a lot to take in this is a new world of excitement and helping others, but that also meant that it is full of new dangers and unforeseen peril Erebus knew what must be done.
“Luna, I have thought this over and I know what I should do, my only hope is that the choice I make is the right one.” Erebus sighed.
“Erebus, they’re no right or wrong choices but how you carry out the choice that decides outcomes.” Luna turned to face the bookshelf once more. “I understand if the task is too great a burden Erebus.”
“Milady, please do not sell your assistant so shortly. Though it be true the risks are great, I made a promise to help you in any way I can, and that’s a promise I intend to see through milady… Luna.” Luna turned around with a smile across her face.
“Thank you Erebus. First things first though take this it’s an enchanted amulet that will allow only a single chosen person to enter this dreamscape.” it was a weird design but it looked very inconspicuous. “Now we can begin the first part of your training, I’m going to send you into your own dream with a small piece of my power to help guide you. This isn’t going to be easy Erebus, but I have faith in you.” With a nod from Erebus Luna charged her horn and placed it upon Erebus’ forehead and his eyes grew heavy and soon his mind drifted into a magic induced slumber.
Everything was blurry at first; as he lay there on the floor waiting for his eyes to adjust his mind wandered around theories of what this dreamscape was going to be like and what kind of mysteries would he stumble upon. He rubbed his eyes in anticipation as his vision came into focus, to his surprise the room in which he was in looked identical to… the room he was just in. Either Canterlot and the Dreamscape have the same architect, or the spell didn’t work. He looked around for Luna but she was nowhere to be seen. “Luna, where did thou go?” Erebus called out but he got no response. He walked around a bit in search of any sign to where he was, if he was even anywhere at all. He also wondered if this was a test given to him by Luna, but surely the Princess would have appeared before him and told him of such… right? Erebus had begun walking around the small archive and noticed nothing out of the ordinary. “Have I really been transported to an alternate realm?” Erebus said aloud to himself quite quizzically. Even though he wasn’t addressing anyone he had hoped that someone would have heard him and responded. Though Erebus had thought of leaving there was no exit door, so he was forced to wander aimlessly. Erebus grew quite bored with just walking around and figured while he was here he could kill some time by reading one of these old books, and who knows maybe he might learn something new. After surveying the area he decided on the first book, it was a sort of curious book as it was the only one on its shelf. The curiousness of the book only increased as Erebus looked it over; it was bound in red leather, its spine was warped, and the faded gold lettering was nearly illegible. It seemed to almost hymn as Erebus held it in his hand beckoning him to open it and gaze upon its many secrets. Beams of light shown as he opened the cover, it felt as if it was scanning him over but before he could do anything it was over. The once blank and yellowing pages begun to fill with words and pictures, it was then that Erebus knew what he had stumbled upon and took a second look at the cover to confirm his suspicions. He was right this was no ordinary book, the faded gold lettering turned to a smoky black as the title now became legible. It had only been one word and it shook Erebus to his core as he stared at this one word “EREBUS.” These were the records of his dreams.