//------------------------------// // Chapter 12 – Crimson and the Dream of Dreams // Story: Fire and Brimstone, Book 2 // by BluePhoenyx //------------------------------// The mansion of Duchess Vanderhoof was on a plot of property that spanned acres. The private residence was sealed by a gate and walled in by a barrier of foliage spanning up a stone wall. The gate has a security post where a pony sat and guarded the gate. Fluttershy led the way as Rarity, Twilight, and Crimson followed. Fluttershy walked up to the security post where the pony guard read a book. “Um, excuse me. I was wondering…” The security pony lifted his hoof to silence Fluttershy, not taking his eyes off the book. Twilight smiled. “Boy, do I know what that’s like.” A pause ensued as it seemed that the security guard either forgot about Fluttershy and company’s presence or totally disregarded them. “Um, excuse me?” Again, the guard lifted his hoof to silence her. This time, he turned the page to move on to the next. Twilight was appalled at the rudeness. She looked at Rarity. “Am I this rude?” Rarity shook her head. “No, dear. You at least acknowledge our existence.” Fluttershy tried again. “Um, excuse me?” This time, the guard didn’t even gesture. Twilight had enough. “That’s it.” Twilight telekinetically moved the book from the guard pony’s hooves. “Hey!” The guard protested at Twilight’s actions. “What do you want?” Rarity recoiled from the blunt and rude question. “Well I never…” “Um, I’m sorry to bother you but…” “The Duchess is not seeing anypony. Now leave.” He reached up, swiped the book out of the air, then sat back down sifting through the pages to find his lost place. Twilight looked at the guard, then to her friends. “Well, I guess I’ll have to use the royalty card.” She walked up to the post and spread her alacorn wings. “I am Princess Twilight Sparkle and I demand an audience with the Duchess.” The guard looked at the ponies with frustration. “Look, I don’t care who you are. The Duchess said no interruptions. No pony gets in. Got it?” Twilight Sparkle, feeling defeated, slowly lowered her wings and tucked them at her side. Rarity scoffed. “Crimson, darling. Can you persuade this gentlemen to let us in?” Crimson complied with a bow. “With pleasure.” The guard shack was launched into the air as the guard slammed into the closed gates, knocking them clean off their hinges. He flew onto the Duchess property, bouncing on the grass. With the gates falling to the floor, Crimson bowed and lifted his hoof to gesture to his friends a warm welcome. “After you.” The girls walked through the ‘gates’ single file and started to walk their way up the path toward the mansion. On the way, they looked down at the rude security guard and walked on by. The path winded through a garden of bush sculptures and led to a multi-story modern architectural home. The entry pathway reached over a large swimming pool that wrapped around the foundation of the building. The white paint covered the residence as the group went in between large marble pillars to magnificently engraved double doors. Above all, Rarity was staring in admiration of the architecture and dreamed of the lifestyle. “If this is the life of a duchess, sign me up!” Twilight chuckled. “I’m a princess and I live in a library.” Rarity looked at Twilight. “Yes, but you’re also a modest princess.” The girls laughed as Twilight reached up and knocked on the door. Before long, the doors squeaked open, revealing the humongous entryway. Twilight looked in awe. “Maybe I could be just a little less modest.” The butler, an earth pony dressed in a tuxedo, looked at the group. “Yes?” Fluttershy stepped forward. “Um, hello. It’s me again.” “Ms. Butterfly. Greetings.” “It... It’s actually Flutt-” The butler quickly scanned over the dirty group, paying particular attention to the injured Crimson. “Please.” The butler opened the door allowing the group in. “If you would be so kind as to wipe your hooves off prior to entering the premise.” The great room had a large multi-tier chandelier hanging from the ceiling, elegant tapestries on the wall, and statues of various kinds all around, tiled floors, and various other rich person’s effects. The butler closed the door behind the group. “This way, please.” He led them down a hall to the study. Twilight’s eyes sparkled as the corners of her lips refused to stop her smile. “Please wait here and make yourselves at home. I shall summon the Duchess.” The butler closed the door behind him leaving them alone in a vast library with a desk near a bay window. Twilight stared nearly hypnotized. “Maybe I should be a lot less modest.” She started to sift through the books while the other sat down and rest. * * * A short time passed and the study doors opened. The Duchess - an elderly mare with her mane up in a bun, a thin framed pair of seeing glasses, strings of pearls dangling around her neck, furs wrapped around her body, and fancy stockings protecting her legs - entered the study. Books littered the ground as Twilight went as fast as she could, reading every interesting book she found. The Duchess and the Butler stared at the mess before she noticed the yellow pegasus. “My, Fluttershy.” She turned to her butler. “That’ll be all, Mr. Biggleworth.” The butler bowed and closed the door behind him. “Please, introduce me to your friends.” “Well, um.” Fluttershy turned to Rarity. “This is-“ Rarity rushed to the Duchess. “Rarity. Charmed.” “Umm..” Rarity turned toward Crimson. “This is-“ The Duchess lowered her head and tipped her glasses. “The infamous ‘Destroyer’ in my home.” She looked at his various injuries and saw a handsome pony underneath all of the injuries. “You’re cuter than they said you were.” Crimson bowed. “Duchess Vanderhoof, you honor me with your generosity.” The Duchess smiled. “I don’t think he’s really that bad.” “Yes, well…” Fluttershy turned to Twilight. “This is my friend-“ The Duchess gaspped. “Princess Twilight Sparkle!” She bowed at the presence of a princess. “What brings your highness to my humble home?” Twilight blushed. “Now, now. No need for formalities.” The Duchess stood relaxed as she continued. “We’re actually here to help my friend.” She gestured to Crimson. “If the Destroyer is a friend of Princess Twilight Sparkle, then you’re a friend of mine.” Crimson bowed. “Your kind words are undeserving, but might I ask the Duchess to call me by name?” “Oh? And what would that be?” “Crimson.” “Ohh. Such a strong name for a handsome pony. Oooo, if I were younger, I would… Mmm...” A brief and awkward pause ensued before Twilight cleared her throat. “Oh, yes. Crimson. Very well. How may I help you?” “Ms. Fluttershy brought-“ Twilight cleared her throat again, this time looking at Crimson. “Remember, casual.” “Err… Just Fluttershy… brought a family of ponies.” “Yes, they’re a lovely bunch of coconuts.” “I am sure. I wish to speak to the young filly.” “Ellena?” “If that is her name…” The Duchess turned around and opened the door. “Sure thing. Just sit tight sweet cheeks.” The Duchess left the room as the group looked at the doorway. Twilight leaned over to Rarity and Fluttershy. “She seems… Nice…” Fluttershy looked at Twilight. “Oh, she is.” * * * After a short while, the Duchess returned with the mother and the filly. Immediately, the filly hid behind the mare. The mare looked at Crimson. “You again? What do you want?” The Duchess turned to the mare. “Now now Sara. The nice pony just wants to talk to Ellena.” “’Nice’ pony? Ever since my children found him, he’s done nothing but give us drama and trouble.” “Regretfully, you speak the truth.” Crimson stood. “However, you would not be alive if I had not intervened.” Twilight spoke up in defense of Crimson’s claims. “It’s true. Things happened just as he described it. Even we barely escaped with our lives.” Sara looked suspiciously at the strange curse of a pony. “You want to talk to my daughter, you’ll have to talk to me too.” Crimson nodded to Sara. “That shall not pose a problem.” Sara watched Crimson trying to interpret his intentions, then turned to the scared filly behind her. She knelt down so she was eye to eye with her daughter. “Honey, this pony wants to talk to you again. But don’t worry. I’ll be here the whole time.” The scared filly looked wide-eyed and scared at her mother, but nodded her head. The mother stood up and led the filly into the study where they sat down across from Crimson. Twilight leaned to Crimson’s ear. “Now be nice. She’s already confused and scared to death.” Crimson nodded and she went and sit in a chair. Crimson looked at the young filly. “Ms. Ellena, I have come to ask for your aid.” The filly looked up at her mother. Sara looked down to notice her confusion. “How can my daughter ‘aid’ you?” Twilight chimed in. “Actually, it’s to help me too.” Sara looked at the new princess. Crimson continued his plea. “Ms. Sara, I seek your daughter’s assistance in the location of the kingdom’s relic – the Elements of Harmony.” Sara and the Duchess’s eyes popped in surprise. “The Elements are missing?” Twilight nodded. “Yes, and we believe your daughter is the only pony that can help us find out who stole them and what they want with them." Sara looked at her daughter. “But how?” “Do you recall what I told you at your cabin?” Crimson asked. Sara looked up at Crimson. “About the ‘seeing’ thing?” “Yes. We need your daughter to harness that power to peer into the-“ “No!” Sara stood up and stood between Crimson and Ellena. “How can you ask my daughter to willingly go through those nightmares?” “I-“ Crimson stared at Sara unable to answer the question. Ellena tugged at her mother’s tail. “I’ll do it mommy.” Sara turned around to look at her little girl. “What?” “Princess Twilight Sparkle needs me.” Sara stared at her daughter. “Well yes, but-“ “I want to help.” Ellena looked up at her mother. “I want to help Princess Twilight Sparkle.” Sara hugged her little girl trying to hold back tears. “I’m proud of you.” She stood up and turned toward Crimson and Twilight. “So, what do you plan on doing?” Twilight looked at Crimson. “Yeah, I didn’t even know seers were real until you said so earlier. I don’t know anything about them.” “Nor do I. My sister was given private counseling regarding her gift and guarded her with their lives.” “So… What now?” Twilight questioned. Crimson thought to himself for a moment. “I suppose… Princess, can you inflict a magically induced slumber?” Twilight lifted her head proudly. “Easily.” “I believe that is our next step.” Crimson stood up and Sara took a step back, protecting her daughter from the mauled red coated pony. “Ms. Sara, please get Ms. Ellena ready for bed.” Sara looked at Crimson baffled. “… It’s passed her bedtime anyways.” She turned around to her daughter. “Come on, hunny. Time to get ready for bed.” * * * In Ellena’s room, Sara sat next to her daughter, who was tucked into bed. Twilight stood at the foot of her bed with Crimson on the other side of Sara. Sara hummed a song to her daughter - a nightly thing for her and her children. Crimson watched this strange motherly bonding ritual while Twilight smiled watching. After she finished humming, she sat up. “Ms. Ellena, here is what I request from you.” Ellena’s eyes cracked open. “Do you know what the Elements of Harmony are?” Ellena shook her head barely conscious. Twilight looked at Crimson. “Why do you need her to know what the Elements of Harmony are?” Crimson turned to look to Twilight. “I am hoping that her thinking and focusing on the relics will allow her to track them and pinpoint their location.” “Is that how Demi found the cabin?” “I believe so.” Crimson looked back at the sleepy child. Twilight looked at Ellena. “Okay, picture a crown with so much love and compassion that it makes all problems go away.” Ellena peeked her eyes open at the princess at her bed. “Like… like the bad man in my dreams?” “Yes, like the bad man in your dreams.” Crimson leaned toward Twilight. “More detail.” “Okay, okay. The crown has… five friends. They too have a lot of love to give to every pony in Equestria.” “Six?” “Yes, six of them total.” “The six… The six… star…s…” Ellena fell asleep. Crimson looked at the little girl, then Twilight. “Did you cast the spell?” Twilight shook her head. “No, she just fell asleep naturally.” Crimson walked to the other side of the bed next to Sara. “Ms. Sara, if I may ask a request of you.” Sara looked up at the stranger. “May I request that you stay with your daughter until she awakens?” Sara stared at the stranger, looked at the princess, then back at the stranger. “Sure. Sure, I’ll stay with her tonight.” Crimson left the room with Twilight following behind. Twilight turned to the mother, who was now staring at her little girl. “Thank you for you and your daughter’s help. I’m right down the hall.” Sara looked at Twilight and nods. * * * The butler showed the two around the halls, pointing out where the rooms were located. Crimson escorted Twilight to her room, turned around then bowed as he opened the door for her. “Princess Twilight, my room is across the way. Please do not hesitate if I am needed.” Twilight smiled at the noble pony. “Thanks, Crimson.” Twilight went into her room and closed the door behind her. She turned around to look at her luxurious and spacious room. “Oh my goodness. Look at this bay window.” She walked by the bed touching the fabric with her hoof. “Silk sheets!” She kept walking around and her eyes stared at the walk in closet. “A walk in closet. Dressing room. Rarity in a hot tub. Fireplace. B-“ She leaned over and looked at Rarity in her hot tub. Rarity, face mask over her eyes, moisturizers covering her face, hair wrapped in a towel, laid completely relaxed. Rarity let out a deep sigh. “This is the life, Twilight.” She tilted her head up at Twilight. “You’ve gatta try this, darling.” Twilight thought to herself. “You know, that sounds like a great idea.” Twilight jumpped in the spa with Rarity. “Where’s Fluttershy?” “Fluttershy is with the puppy the Duchess adopted.” Twilight smiled and leaned back to relax. “If she needed to relax, a puppy will do it.” “I agree darling.” The two just sat in the hot spa and relax the night away.