//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: The Velvet Room // Story: Personas of Harmony // by EricStarstorm //------------------------------// Ponyville was always quiet at this time of night. The village was active during the daytime--there was no denying that. However, there wasn't much of anything to say about its night life. It was a quiet town, after all. To say that every pony in town was asleep at this time, however, would be inaccurate. There was a certain somepony, for example, that loved to stay up late to read by candlelight...even as her baby dragon companion slept heavily in the basket only a few feet away from her reading desk. The only sounds permeating the library were that dragon's snores and the turning pages of that pony's book. Twilight Sparkle was starting to get tired, however. Her life was not as busy as she had originally thought it would be as a royal figure, but it still had a tendency to wear her down after a while. She found herself sleeping more than usual as a result. She didn't mind the change, but it left her with a bit less freedom to do as she liked. Despite this, she knew she wanted to wake up early tomorrow, so she put a bookmark in her book and placed it on the reading table, stretched her legs and wings, and climbed into her bed. Before she closed her eyes, she turned to Spike. He was still fast asleep, and Twilight couldn't help but smile at how tightly his eyes were closed. It was as if he was afraid he would be abruptly woken up by something. "Sweet dreams, Spike," Twilight whispered. She used her magic to extinguish the candle, nestled into her blanket, and quickly fell asleep. Twilight remembered falling asleep, but she felt wide awake. There was nothing around her, no matter where she looked--save for murky darkness. She tried to use her horn as a light, but even this didn't pierce the shadows that surrounded her. She wondered if it was a dream...but it felt so real. "Hello?" she asked pensively. To her surprise, her voice didn't echo--it always seemed to in empty places like this. "Welcome," responded the reverberating voice of an old man, "to the Velvet Room." The darkness started to lift as soon as the voice faded away. Now able to see, Twilight found herself in what appeared to be the backseat of a chariot. The walls appeared to be covered in blue leather, and blue carpet covered the floor. One side of the room held a minibar with several kinds of drinks. On the side of the room opposite Twilight, there were two blue leather couches--one facing Twilight, and one facing the side of the room. Before the couches was a large table. Sitting on the couches were creatures that Twilight vaguely remembered--one old and male, the other female and much younger. "Humans?" Twilight asked. "You are certainly a most unusual guest," said the old man. "I suppose introductions are in order. I am Igor, and this is my assistant, Margaret." The young woman smiled and nodded. "Don't worry--you're asleep in the real world. You've been summoned here from within your dreams." Needless to say, Twilight was confused. "I'm...Twilight Sparkle...Where exactly am I?" "As I said before, this is the Velvet Room," Igor replied. "Those who are chosen and bound by a contract--or soon will be--can enter this room, whether through my summons or of their own volition. It is tied to your fate." "As for why we called you here," Margaret said, "we felt it prudent to warn you." "Warn me?" Twilight asked. "In a very short time, your life will drastically change," Igor explained. "Whether this change is for the better or the worse is up to you. It is imperative that you steel yourself for the trials ahead, for they will be long and arduous. You must see everything to the end." "I'm...still confused..." "A natural response. Once your contract has come into play, we will summon you here again. Perhaps more will be clear by then." Igor nodded to Twilight. "Until then...farewell." The Velvet Room began to fade into darkness, and Twilight could feel herself losing consciousness. She opened her mouth to ask a question, but she found herself without the energy to speak. Despite her struggles, she fell asleep again. Spike was the first one to wake up that morning. He expected Twilight to be up and about already, but he didn't hear her downstairs. Confused, he scratched his head and looked towards her bed...only to find that she was still asleep. Apparently, her night hadn't been very restful--her sheets were a mess, and her mane was ruffled and unkempt, as if she had been tossing and turning in her sleep. Silently cursing himself for not managing to wake up earlier, he jumped onto Twilight's bed and tried to shake her awake. She didn't respond. "Twilight, wake up!" Spike exclaimed. Twilight remained motionless for another moment. Spike was about to get a frying pan, but her eyes finally fluttered open. "Oh...looks like I overslept. Sorry about that." Twilight's voice was the groggiest Spike had ever heard it. "I had the strangest dream last night..." "You sure it wasn't a nightmare?" Spike asked. "You've got serious bedmane." "It wasn't bad...just weird." Twilight got up and stretched. "I'll tell you about it after I get cleaned up. Can you make breakfast?" "I'd be happy to! How about pancakes?" "As long as you don't add rubies to them again. You know I can't eat that stuff." Spike sighed. "I mixed up the plates, okay? Jeez." Twilight giggled as Spike left the room. She picked up a hairbrush with her magic and began to work through the knots and tangles that had attacked during the night. As she brushed her mane into a manageable state, however, Igor's words echoed in her mind. "My life will change...what could he possibly have meant?" the bookish mare asked herself. "I'm already a princess...how much more CAN my life change?" As she finished brushing her mane, she took a long look at herself in the mirror. She stared into her own eyes, and the analyzing gaze of her reflection stared back at her. "I guess we'll find out...if it was more than just a dream," Twilight said. She went downstairs, ready to start her day.