THE SECRET OF EQUESTRIA
Chapter one: The tale begins.......
It was sometime ago that Mrs. Elizabeth Jonathan Brisby had gone to see the Rats of NIMH in order to get her house moved away from the plow. She had remembered that day, the day when she was known as a heroine to the Rats. That was nearly a month ago. Elizabeth sat quietly in her new home, looking out at the peaceful night before her. She gave a sigh, if only Jonathan had been there to stop Jenner and be with his loving family again. Luckily for the Rats, Justin had defeated Jenner and the corrupt rat had met his own demise. As Brisby was about to stand to call it a night, she heard a familiar voice.
"Mother?"
Brisby turned as she looked to the source. There, standing in the doorway of the living room was Timothy, the youngest son of the Brisby family. Elizabeth was grateful that Timothy had gotten better from his illness. He looked so much like his father.
Elizabeth looked in surprise, "Timmy? What are you doing out of bed this late?" She gave him a calm but stern look.
"I can't sleep...." Timmy replied, "I had a bad dream." Timothy held a small teddy bear in his right hand and he was trembling, Brisby could see a few tears running down his soft cheeks.
Elizabeth gave a warm smile, "Come here sweetheart, tell me about it." She gestured Timothy over to which he nodded his head slowly and sat in her lap, "Tell me what happened...." She said softly.
Timothy began explaining the dream, "Well, I was out with Cynthia, Teresa and Martin." He said, "We were playing in a field, then this big dark shadow came and grabbed us, and....and...." Timothy began crying as he sank into his mother's chest.
"Shhh...." Brisby hushed him, "It's alright, I'm here, it was only a bad dream." She rocked him back and forth caressing his head gently.
"I don't wanna get taken from you mama!" Timothy cried.
Elizabeth did her best to calm her child down as she spoke softly, "Timothy, you have nothing to fear, I won't let anything happen to you, you're safe." As she kept Timmy in her warm embrace she quietly began humming a familiar lullaby. She then began to sing:
"Dream by night, wish by day.... love begins this way.
Night's a friend, with love to send....each new day.
Bless your heart, bless your soul.... let your dreams come true.
Future songs and Flying Dreams, wait for you.
Love it seems made Flying Dreams, so hearts could soar.
Heaven's scent, these wings were meant, to prove once more.....
That love is the key......
As you wish, as you will, dream a flying start.
Love and care, the power's there.
Trust your heart, trust your heart....."
As Brisby sang, Timothy had drifted off to sleep. Brisby smiled warmly, "Goodnight Timothy.... have pleasant dreams." She carried Timmy back to his bed, placing his warm blankets over him and kissed his forehead.
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Twilight Sparkle groaned as she had spent the last several hours trying to figure out a final piece of the mathematical problem before her. She looked at her research notes then back at the problem. To her, this test by Princess Celestia didn't make any sense. Twilight gave a calm breath, using the relaxation technique taught to her by Cadance. Twilight's ears perked as she looked up to see a familiar baby Dragon come down the stairs, his eyes baggy and red.
"Twilight?" He yawned, "You're still up? It's nearly 4 AM." He held out a clock in front of him.
"I'm sorry Spike," Twilight replied, "It's just that I can't seem to understand why Princess Celestia would have me take a math test as part of my Princess training."
"Well can't you figure that out tomorrow and just come to bed?" Spike asked.
Twilight sighed, "Well.... I suppose you're right, maybe this studying is getting the better of me." She giggled. Twilight closed the book in front of her as she went up the stairs following Spike. Twilight's thoughts suddenly went to another book she had read earlier that night. "That amulet in the book I read was strange.... it must be important, what does it do? And what do those journal entries by that..... 'Nicodomo'.... or whatever his name was mean?" Twilight thought. Twilight's thoughts were interrupted as she saw Spike snoring away. Twilight gave a smile, "Goodnight Spike.... see you in the morning." She kissed him on the forehead and went off to sleep.
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As Twilight slept, a mysterious shadow moved silently through the night. The shadow had suddenly disappeared, ending up in another dimension. The shadow crept slowly up to where the Brisby family's home was located. A dark and terrifying laughter was heard as the shadow made it's way into the Brisby home. In the black of the night a scream echoed throughout the house and Mrs.Brisby suddenly gasped and awoke to a terrifying sight. A dark creature stood before her, the creature looked like a horse but had dark purple and green eyes, it's teeth were razor sharp and a dark red horn protruded from it's forehead. The creature licked it's muzzle with a frightening smile and it spoke with a booming and evil voice, "Your children are MINE!!!"
Brisby was terrified beyond belief as her eyes widened in horror. She looked as dark smoke came through the house. She heard a loud scream, "MOTHER!!! HELP!!!"
Brisby gasped, "Teresa!!!" She quickly ran as the creature laughed and the darkness grew. Brisby couldn't see anything. The entire room was pitch black.
"MAMA! HELP US!!!" Another voice cried out, which was that of Cynthia.
Elizabeth froze, she didn't know what to do, she was too horrified. And then there was another voice, one that belonged to her youngest son, "MAMA HELP ME!!! I DON'T WANNA GO!!"
"Timothy!! No!!!" Brisby said silently.