//------------------------------// // 5 - Act 1 - The Dream Walkers // Story: On The Dark Side of the Moon // by Blue Wolf //------------------------------// The Bringer of the Dawn bowed her head and did her best to maintain her composure, as Applejack's last words hung in the air. The last piece of what truly must have been a day of horrors for her most beloved student had fallen into place, and Celestia remained silent for a moment - the princess 's heart filling with guilt at the thought of the role she had inadvertently played. She could hear Applejack - normally one of the most stoic of the six friends, struggling to keep her tears in check and knew that she must act quickly before what little hope her ponies had left faded completely. The Alicorn rose to her full regal height and stood gracefully, wings flared, with all the strength and determination of a true ruler of Equestria. Her voice was calm and gentle, without a trace of scorn but yet was full of resolve and authority. “It would seem that we all have had a part to play in this my little ponies, and...while there will come a time when we must all make amends for our mistakes...our task must first be to safeguard Twilight, and return her to us safely.” Celestia fixed her gaze on the six dejected faces before her, her expression solemn. “What Twilight needs the most now is the love of her friends, that is the one thing which will give us any chance of saving her. We must work together, and through our love for Twilight we can overcome the challenges that lie ahead.” “Jus' tell us what to do Princess...” Applejack adjusted her hat, and turned to look at Celestia, her face was still sad and filled with shame, but now also with a quiet resolve. At that moment the main entrance doors burst open and Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armour came charging in at top speed. Both of the royal couple's manes looked somewhat more untidy and wind-blown than usual, as if they had been flying very fast. “Twily!” Shining Armour called out to his sister as he and his wife galloped the length of the hall to Twilight's side. “Oh my gosh...Twilight!” gasped Princess Cadence, barely slowing down as she raced past her aunt and knelt beside her in-law, as Shining Armour came to a screeching halt behind her. “Twilight?” Princess Cadence gently tried to rouse the mare with a hoof, but Twilight's only response was a faint whimper and to curl even further up into herself. “Oh Twilight...” Cadence scooped up Twilight into a hug, softly reciting their foalhood chant to her as if it were a magic spell. “Sunshine, sunshine – ladybugs awake...clap your hooves...and...do a little shake...” A tear trickled down the Ruler of the Crystal Empire's cheek and her voice wavered when she realised no response was forthcoming, and as she was carefully set down Twilight's whimpers became more distressed and her condition appeared to be getting worse. Shining Armour stared at the limp form of his sister in shock as Cadence buried her nose in Twilight's mane. “Wha...What happened?!” Shining Armour looked up at Princess Celestia Celestia's expression was grave. “It appears that Twilight has fallen victim to... an unfortunate chain of events.” The ivory Princess looked distinctly uncomfortable as a fresh reminder of the fateful meeting with her student gnawed at her. “She cannot escape this nightmare alone, and it is draining her spirit along with her magic. I called you here because if Twilight is to have the strength to survive, she will need all the love we can give her.” Cadence raised her head to look at her aunt, and gave Celestia a silent nod of understanding. Her horn glowed brightly, and a bright, heart shaped flare of arcane energy drifted from her horn and faded into Twilight's chest. The Crystal Princess then lay down beside her sister in law, her horn still glowing with a sky blue aura as she continued to channel her love into the unconscious Keeper of Magic, her powers appearing to soothe Twilight's fevered hallucinations a little. Princess Celestia nodded with grim satisfaction. “Cadence's magic will strengthen Twilight's spirit, but it cannot stop it from being drained entirely. It may however buy us enough time to free her.” She turned to the others. “There is only one hope of rescuing Twilight. The Elements of Harmony.” “The Elements of Harmony? But...Princess...without Twilight and her Element of Magic, the other Elements won't work!” Spike pointed out “Indeed this is true Spike...” agreed Celestia. The Guardian of the Day turned to face her sister. “And that is why we need Luna's help too.” “Sister?” Luna seemed hesitant. Celestia drew close and touched her horn to her sister's. “Luna, I know that you still unsure of yourself after what happened. But Twilight needs you, she needs both of us...I know that you can do this sister.” Luna expression remained troubled, but after a long moment of contemplation and a final glance a Twilight she bowed her head in agreement. “I will do whatever I can sister...” “Princess...I don't get it. How are we gonna use the elements without Twilight?” complained Rainbow Dash. “Didn't you tell us once that you an' Luna weren't connected to the Elements anymore?” The pegasus pony sat down and drooped her head. “Ugh...My head hurts...” “Unfortunately, what I told you about the Elements is true Rainbow Dash.” Celestia explained. “However - as you have already heard, as Princess of the Night, Luna has the power to enter ponies' dreams – which thus provides a way to get to Twilight from inside the nightmare. It will not be easy, but I am confident that Luna will be able to bring all of you with her into Twilight's dream.” Rainbow Dash's hoof clapped to her forehead in embarrassment. “Oh yeah...heh...right...” she mumbled. “Therefore, your mission is to travel into Twilight's dreams with Luna, and bring with you the six Elements of Harmony.” Celestia continued.“Once you have found Twilight and given her her element, you must use them to help free her.” “D'ya think it'll really work Princess?” Applejack breathed. “It is our only hope Applejack. Twilight's nightmare is drawn from her fears, and there is no way of telling what dangers and obstacles you may face. But I have faith in all of you that you will succeed.” “Well what are we waiting for?” Rainbow Dash sprang into action, eager to start. “Ya'll can count me in Princess” replied Applejack. “Ya'll comin' too Fluttershy?” Fluttershy cringed a little. Rainbow Dash hovered over to her fellow pegasus. “C'mon Fluttershy, step it up! Twilight needs us! Please?” Fluttershy took a deep breath. “I'll...I'll do it Rainbow Dash. Even if it means facing scary monsters and fears which make me nervous, I'm going to help save Twilight...” Rainbow Dash pulled her friend into a hug. The white unicorn mare tossed her purple mane. “Rarity...is ready!” “Me too! Me too! Oh this is going to be so fun-fun-funerific! I've never been in a dream before...well, I've been in my dreams before but never anypony else's!” Pinkie bounced up and down excitedly. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “I'm coming too.” Shining Armour stepped forward, wearing his most stern Royal Guard frown. “So will I.” Cadence also began to stand up, but Celestia shook her head and held up one hoof. “Shining, Cadance - I understand your wish to volunteer. But you would best help Twilight by staying by her side, she needs your love to stay strong. I myself will be remaining with Twilight, and I will need your help to keep her spirit alive before help can reach her.” Celestia gave the royal couple a sympathetic look. "Shining...I have already written to your parents telling them that Twilight has had an accident. I have promised I will do everything I can to care for her, but I have also asked that they wait to hear from me before coming to the palace. It would be cruel for them see Twilight like this...” Shining Armour hesitated, and looked back at Cadence, who after a moment's thought gave a silent nod. The white stallion dipped his head reluctantly. “As you wish, your highness...” He turned and settled down beside his wife, who had turned her attention back to Twilight along with her magic. “Er...There's one small problem - didn't we leave the Elements back in Ponyville?” Spike asked. Celestia smiled. “No need to worry Spike. I may have placed a spell to prevent Discord or anypony else from taking them away, but not myself. Luna also made certain that she placed a summoning spell on them for me before she left the library, just in case we needed them.” Her horn glowed, magically summoning the six Elements of Harmony. The five necklaces popped into existence in front of her and distributed themselves to the rest of the Mane Six, while Twilight's tiara floated over towards Spike. “I entrust Twilight's element to you Spike. Please, do whatever you can to deliver this to Twilight safely.” Spike quickly snapped to attention. “You have my word your Highness. Noble Dragon's Honour.” Celestia looked round at the group. “There is not much time left. Shining, please see that Twilight is brought up with me to my royal chambers at once. We shall best care for her there.” -------------------------------- The Sun Princess watched as Twilight was carried carefully into the Princess's chambers and gently set down on the round bed by the fireplace. Luna led the rest of the ponies in, Rarity barely able to contain herself at sight of the rich, purple coloured carpet, and the walls decorated with murals of clouds and bedecked with tapestries of stars. On the opposite side of the room to the door, a huge, arched French window opened onto the balcony. This room was the Princess's home, her private sanctuary within the tallest tower of the castle and a place which few ponies apart from Luna ever got to see. As Cadence and Shining Armour took their places beside the bed, Celestia walked over to stand by Twilight, then flared her wings and faced the six ponies and one dragon on whom the fate of her student rested. “Good luck my little ponies. Myself and Twilight are counting on you. Please bring my most faithful student back safe.” The eldest of the ruling sisters then lay down on her bed close beside her student, letting Twilight's body rest against her flanks and curling her flowing mane and tail around her like a blanket. One by one, each of the remaining Mane Six approached the bed and nosed at the stricken Twilight's cheek before gathering round in a rough circle in the centre of the room with Princess Luna. Luna regally held her hoof up for silence. “Listen very carefully my little ponies. Twilight's fears have become very powerful, but Twilight must face them otherwise the nightmares will never end. But – what is most important, Twilight will need the strength of her friends to help conquer her fear. We must stand with her by her side, and lend our support in the face of that which she fears the most.” There was a moment of silent contemplation of Luna's final warning, and then the Dream Walker's horn began to glow brightly as she prepared her spell. Five hooves and one dragon claw reached out and met in the centre of the circle, and after a moment a sixth, darker hoof joined them as white light filled Luna's eyes and poured from the tip of her horn. The comfortable royal quarters bent and rippled around them, and within moments the rescue party had vanished in a blinding flash of light, leaving Celestia, Cadence and Shining Armour alone with Twilight.