Luna had taken Twilight and Shadowheart to a private room where Celestia was waiting for them. She had just lowered the sun and set the room to negotiate the terms of Shadowheart’s expert services. She sat in the largest chair at the end of the long table that could easily seat ten office ponies and their followers. Luna sat next to her sister's right while Twilight sat next to Celestia's Left. Shadowheart Sat at the opposite end of the table which was about ten feet from Celestia.
Celestia spoke first, "So, Mr. Shadowheart what would you like in exchange for your services in locating and retrieving Prince Cassius."
Shadowheart looked to the three Alicorns that sat in front of him. He noted that Luna was in distress, most likely from worry. Twilight was as calm as she could bring herself to be.
She looked tense despite her best effort not to be. Celestia however held her composure quite well considering the events that had befallen them. She was determined to find this Cassius and bring him home safely. Shadowheart respected them for their quick action to this unfortunate event.
"My terms are simple. I was told you could help me find my brother. I want everything you have on him and his possible location." Shadowheart spoke sternly.
"Right to the point. Very well, when Cassius is returned to Luna you will have Canterlot's full resources and support to locate you long lost brother." Celestia said with a smile.
"Is there anything else you would like." Luna asked nervously.
Shadowheart looked curiously to her before speaking, "I need supplies for the journey when I have a location. Until then, I need to know where the attack was when the journal was stolen and I will need to speak to the survivor of that attack."
Luna shot up and said, "She is in no condition to be brought back into..."
"Luna, enough." Celestia snapped.
Luna lowered her head and sat back down in her seat.
Celestia continued, "Very well, Twilight will take you to see Constance at the Canterlot hospital. I will grant you access to anything you will need in your search.
Now go and find Cassius Shadowheart, I will find your brother."
Shadowheart nodded, then got out of his chair. Twilight followed and the two left the room and headed to the hospital. Celesta looked to Luna and hugged her tenderly.
"I know this is hard Lulu, but you need to let him work. He will find Cassius and bring him back safely. You just look for him in the dream realm, I'm sure he will leave clues for you."
Luna returned the hug before walking to her chambers to enter the dream realm. The race was on to locate and bring her child home from this nightmare.
*************************************************
Constance wasn't expecting any visitors today. When Twilight and Shadowheart walked in she was sure she was going to be taken to prison or something like that. After Twilight explained Shadowheart was a tracker and needed her help to find something that could give him a clue on where to start, Constance agreed to help.
Shadowheart looked her in the eyes and spoke calmly, "I need you to tell me what the attacker looked like. What did they have on them, what type of pony they were, anything you think can help me find a place to start."
Constance rubbed the back of her head with a with a hoof. She was trying to figure out what would be important information to share and what would be useless.
"Well, he was unicorn and he used fire spells. He carried a sword like you and he looked like he could use it too. He looked like he was set up to travel in a desert or something like that." She began as she tried to fight for consciousness that the painkillers threatened to take her out of.
"What did this unicorn look like?" Shadowheart asked.
Constance was silent for a moment, " He had a mane that moved like fire and he was as red as fire too. And his sword..."
Shadowheart looked at her with a raised eyebrow, "What about his sword Constance?"
She looked to her leg and lifted it up for him to see the bandages, "It is what burned my leg. He only scratched me with it and my leg burst into flames. If Pinkie Pie hadn't intervened. I wouldn't be here right now."
Shadowheart was silent.
Twilight stepped forward, "What did Pinkie Pie do that saved you Constance? I wasn't told she was your savior."
Constance was about to speak when Shadowheart stood up from the chair he was sitting in and walked out. Twilight looked to the door as it closed behind him.
"Constance, I will talk to you later." Twilight said as she hurried after him.
She found him already heading out the front door.
"Shadowheart, wait up." she called.
He was lost inside his thoughts as she galloped beside him.
"What's gotten into you?" Twilight asked a she tried to catch her breath.
"I know who this pony is." He replied.
"That's great. So who is he?" Twilight asked.
Shadowheart continued walking when he replied, "Flamearch."
Twilight was confused, "Who is Flamearch?"
"A very deadly pony obsessed with power. I have had my run-ins with him many times. If he is behind this then The Faithless are involved." Shadowheart looked on to the balloons in the distance.
"Who are they?" Twilight asked as she tried to keep his pace.
Shadowheart looked to her and replied, "I will explain in the balloons on the way to Ponyville. I need to get to that alley."
"Well, lets get some sleep at the library in town first. The alley is locked down and only you and I will be allowed in." Twilight said with a yawn.
"A library? For sleep?" Shadowheart asked.
"I was the librarian there and I still live in the top floor. It's not so bad. I have a guest bed for you. Come on lets go." Twilight said as she started to gallop to the balloons at the thought of seeing Spike again after being gone for a few months.
With a heavy sigh, Shadowheart hurried after her.
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Flamearch had been reduced to playing nanny for his new partner. In the few hours he had spent with Cassius he had made him dinner, they played several games of tag and hide-and-seek. Eventually his kindness paid off when the young unicorn revealed he could take Flamearch to a place that no pony but him and his mother could go. A place that allowed him to become a god among other ponies. Flamearch relished at the thought. Too his disappointment, Cassius told him to go to sleep and he would show him then. Normally Flamearch would have threatened somepony if they made him wait, but he was very tired and he needed to stay in the little foal's good graces if he wanted to learn anything. He gladly left to collapse into his bed and drift off to his dreams for the night.
Flamearch found himself surrounded by a massive ring of fire while he sat on a throne.
His view of the now conquered Canterlot and the Sun Goddess in shackles bowing to him, the sight gave him goosebumps. This was the best dream he could ever have. He desperately wanted to make it a reality, with a few changes to the location and the princess of the sun to remain ruler of the sun and not his slave. He wanted supreme power, but having to raise the sun would be pain in his mind. While enjoying the sight of his near perfect dream he noticed a black figure racing towards him. Flamearch rouse from his throne, summoned Ragnarok and held a defensive stance. The figure was now in sight and he could see...Something that he only read about in old books with Liz. A nightmare spawn was racing to him with intent to feed on his good dreams.
He braced with his sword and fired a volley of fire balls from his horn. The creature of darkness curled into a ball and took the hits. After absorbing most if not all of the fireballs, it uncoiled and spat them back at Flamearch in one massive orb. He jumped off this high throne and began to free fall to the scorched earth below as he fired two streaks of white fire from his hoofs that arched and followed the spawn as it tried to avoid the hits. When Flamearch finally hit the ground he fired two more streaks and unleashed a massive tornado of flames that combined with the streaks. Flamearch could almost swear he saw it smile. A flicker of it's eyes and the tornado of molten fire distorted and dispensed into small swirls of black. They gathered around the Nightmare Spawn and began to form smaller versions of it.
Before Flamearch knew it, he was looking to an army of them. The original lifted its hoof at him and the others began the attack. Flamearch closed his eyes and tapped into his darkest of magic. He opened his eyes and found the spell that he promised himself he would never use again until the found the power to beat him. He began to charge the destructive force that would surely kill all of them at once. With out warning the shadow spawn clones vanished and the original began to fade away. In its wake stood a large gray Alicorn with multi colored eyes. Flamearch instantly knew who this Alicorn was. He was looking at the true Cassius Nightshade.
"You have come to grace me in my dreams?" Flamearch asked in astonishment.
The Alicorn smiled warmly then in a flash of light Cassius stood in his place. Flamearch was dumbfounded and was about to yell at the young unicorn.
"Flamearch, don't be angry. I liked him too. My mommy read the book every night to me and said that he wrote it from me. So I know what he looked like. I'm sorry I tricked you."
Flamearch quelled his anger for the moment then asked, "And you share the same exact name because?"
Cassius levitated to Flamearch side and began, "We share the same name because we are both special to her. She even told me that I was given his eyes when I was born. I was also given a gift from him. I can do everything he could and more."
"What kind of gifts?" Flamearch asked rubbing his temples with his hooves.
"I can look into a ponies heart and see their true feelings. Mr. Flamearch, your heart is very angry and dark. What is wrong?" Cassius asked in concern for him.
Flamearch looked away and quickly spoke, "Nothing that concerns you little one. Now you said you would show me a new realm?"
Cassius smiled showing his teeth and trotted to a wall. With a wave of his hoof a wooden door appeared. Flamearch raised an eyebrow. Cassius looked to him as he began opening the door and stepped through, closing it behind him. Curious, Flamearch walked to the door. He felt a magical pressure flow from it, like it was bridging a gap of some kind. He opened the door and peered beyond it to see another door and the other side of a hallway. It's wooden sign read "Jara".
"Welcome to the Castle of Dreams! The realm of the Princess Of The Night and the Nocturnal Guardian or as most call it, the dream realm!" Cassius called with joy.
Flamearch was awestruck at the sight before him. Doors lined the walls as they came and went, hallways opening and closing. Even a few Nightmare Spawns loomed above fading and reappearing like the small embers of a camp fire. This new plane of existence felt overwhelming to say the least. Flamearch fell to his flank as he took it all in. He felt the freedom to do whatever he desired and something told him it would become a true reality here. He liked the feeling and wanted it to never end.
"Cassius, you said only you and your mother could come here? " He asked as he took long breaths.
Cassius nodded, "Yes. Why?"
Flamearch looked him in the rings of his eyes and asked, "Cassius, be honest with me. Who is your mother?"
Cassius turned his head and pointed to a midnight black Alicorn with dark blue armor. "She is."
Flamearch eyes widened as he instantly recognized Nightmare Moon at the other end of the hall with a very angry look. He shot up, grabbing Cassius and galloped down the hall to the main chamber of the Castle of Dreams. Luna who had entered her Nightmare Moon form gave chase.
Flamearch yelled as he ran for what he believed to be his life, "Cassius you never said you mother was Nightmare Fucking Moon."
"She isn't. She is Princess Luna." spoke the bouncing unicorn.
Flamearch turned to enter the hall labeled “Ponyville”. He galloped to the nearest wall, opened a random door and jumped in. He found himself in a world that was only filled with giant muffins. There were animals and even ponies made of muffins. At this point Flamearch was more terrified of this dream then Cassius’ hell bent mother. He was considering taking his chances with a pissed off Alicorn rather than be in this world one more second.
"Where are we?" he asked.
Cassius cheerfully answered, "This is Ditzy Doo's dream. I love her dreams, she always lets us stay and have a snack.
"Cassius?" Flamearch asked placing Cassius down.
"Yes?" replied the young unicorn.
"What happens if I die outside of my dream?" Flamearch asked in concern.
Cassius rubbed his head with a hoof, "Well outside of the dreamers own dream everything becomes real to them, infact if you leave with a muffin here and wake up with it in your hooves,
it will be magically summoned. But if you leave a dream with somepony else, one of you will be teleported to where the first one wakes up."
Flamearch gulped at the thought of being killed by Princess Luna and decided to stay a little longer in the muffin world. Hours passed as Flamearch watched Cassius play with a very strange pony. Her eyes scared him more than Cassius’. It was unnatural how one trailed off and the other looked normal. About an hour ago, Luna entered the dream and asked the pony if she had seen Cassius and his captor. Thankfully she had told her they left just before she entered. Cassius said he could trust her and at the moment he didn't see a reason to doubt that.
"Cassius, its time to go." Flamearch said.
The young colt looks disappointed, but said goodbye to his friend and she gave him a few muffins for the road. With one last hug and a they left and headed back to Flamearch. On their way out of the Ponyville Hall Flamearch noticed a sign that filled him with intense rage. He stopped and stared at it. Cassius stopped and looked to see him glaring at the door.
"Flamearch, What is wrong?" He asked with a mouth full of blueberry muffins
Flamearch looked to him and asked, "Cassius can we enter this dream for a bit. This pony was the reason that my family was... Wiped from the world."
"Wiped from the world?" Cassius asked spitting up a little piece of muffin.
"My family was killed thanks to this pony. That is the reason I wanted your power. I want to avenge them and bring them back. The pony responsible for their deaths had eluded me for so long. I could never kill him without the power I have been seeking." Flamearch said darkly
"Your whole family?" Cassius asked as he began to cry from the sad story.
"Well my brother survived. I haven't seem him in years, but I know exactly how I would greet him now." Flamearch with a toothy grin.
Cassius walked over finishing his muffin. He opened the door and Flamearch gladly walked inside without another word. Cassius looked up to read the killer of Flamearch family the sign read , "Shadowheart".
********************************************************
Shadowheart was sitting in his dream of his late father. The old tan unicorn was sitting at a table with him. The two of them were drinking tea as Shadowheart’s little brother was trying to use his magic and start a fire with his mom so they could cook dinner.
"Shadowheart, you are almost ready to accept Dragonslayer. I'm am sure you will wield it with honor and make our family proud as you defend the will of the Princess Celestia." the old unicorn said.
Shadowheart shot up from his seat in protest, "Father, why should I defend the will of a rule that lives past the sea and has never come to even greet her subjects in over 1000 years?"
"She has not forgotten us Shadowheart, She still cares for us. Have you not heard of what has happened in her court?" spoke his father.
"No, what has happened that has kept her from even seeing if we are even alive!" Yelled Shadowheart.
"If I have taught you anything my son, it is a temper will destroy any warrior."
He said while drinking more of is tea.
"I'm sorry father, I will remember to keep it in check. What has happened to her." he said taking his seat again.
"Her sister has returned from her banishment. This means He will follow soon after. When he does she will need your hooves in battle." the old stallion said.
"Does this mean Crystal Glare was right? His predictions have come true again, so that means..." the white unicorn began.
"Yes my time is numbered and the revolution will begin with the Dark Libra Awakening." The old unicorn finished his tea.
Shadowheart sat in silence at the realization of the words that hit him. Suddenly his father fell over and turned to ashes when he hit the ground. The house burst into flames and his mother was engulfed by the fire. Shadowheart grabbed his brother and ran out of the flames using his magic to cover them. When he was out, his brother had disappeared and he was holding Dragonslayer. Shadowheart turned to see the destruction of his family's house and all of his relatives dead on the burning earth.
"Shadowheart?" called a voice.
He turned to try and find the source of the voice, "What? Who is there?"
"Come now Shadow. You didn't really think you would get away from me, did you?" The voice spoke again.
Without warning Shadowheart was surrounded by a large ring of fire. He drew Dragonslayer and stood with it pointed straight out in front of him.
"Oh poor Shadowheart. You weren't home in time to stop anything. They are dead, because of your failure. You are the reason they died."
"Who are you! Show yourself!" shouted the white unicorn.
Two figures stepped through the fire covered in a protective ball of shadows. When they were clear of the fire the ball vaporized into the air revealing Flamearch and a small gray unicorn.
"Flamearch!" Shadowheart growled. "Is that young Cassius?"
Flamearch smiled sadistically, "The Nocturnal Guardian himself."
Shadowheart’s eyes went wide and he dropped Dragonslayer. His body trembled slightly at the realization.
"Shadowheart, the predictions are coming true." Flamearch spoke darkly.
"Most of the events have fallen into place. The revolution was started six years ago, it will end on the seventh year. Welcome to the new age Shadowheart, do you want survive the first ten minutes?"
Flamearch used his magic and the earth erupted under Shadowheart sending him into the air with a ball of lava that engulfed him. The mass fell with a splatter on the ground causing him to wake up in a cold sweat. He was laying in the guest bed in Twilight's library. His dream told him many things about his journey and his duty. Now he had to admit for one of the few times in his life, he needed help. Tomorrow he would go to the alley and get what little information he needed now, then he was off to Hoofsville to get an old friend of his. It would take some persuading, but he was sure the second he mentioned, The Dark Libra prophesy that Crystal Glare had predicted, he would join him without hesitation.