Lightning flashed across the sky. Thunder boomed and shook the earth. Rain came pouring down in buckets, soaking Dusk's fur completely. But he ignored all of that as he ran, galloping up the craggy slope. The meagre light his horn shone did nothing to penetrate the surrounding darkness enshrouding him completely.
He could hear them behind him. Cold, cruel laughter. Sibilant hissing. Angry voices. Deep growling. Metal clanking. No matter how fast he ran, no matter how far he scrambled, they just kept getting closer. He could practically hear them striding, slithering, sneaking up behind him. Was it hot breath on the back of his neck or just the wind?
One of his hooves suddenly didn't feel anything solid. He had to screech to a halt to avoid falling off the sharp drop that had appeared before him. His breathing erratic, he glanced around for a way out. Nothing. No other paths, other than the one he'd just galloped up. Nowhere to go. Nowhere to hide. Trapped.
"Oh, Dusk, don't give up now," a horribly familiar oily voice taunted. "The chase was just starting to get fun."
Dusk whipped around. Discord had appeared before him, a malicious smile on his lips while his mismatched eyes glimmered with cruelty.
He wasn't alone. The darkness behind him seem to writhe as if it were alive. And it was.
"May we feassssssst on him now?" hissed one of the many Paraserpents flanking him. "We are ssssso hungry."
"At least let me have a little fun first," rumbled Doom. "I'll make sure there's something left for you."
"Not that there is much to him anyway," put in Sombra, his crystal sword flashing. "I do even wonder how he managed to survive us."
"Indeed," snickered Chrysalis. "I didn't even need to bring my minions this time. No precious love on his side now."
"N-no!" Dusk desperately flared his magic. "St-st-stay back! Keep away from me!"
The darkness suddenly burst with brilliant orange light. Fire was blazing all around him now, creeping steadily closer behind the villains. Behind it, a pair of giant white orbs burned even stronger than flames themselves. The blood red silhouette of a wolf could be made out, a low growl making the very earth rumble.
And through it stepped a figure. Tall as Celestia, dressed head to hoof in battle armour, soulless black holes piercing Dusk's very soul. A sword was pulled from its sheath, held by magic and in its blade, Dusk could see his own terrified face.
"No… no, not you!" He tried to step back, but his hoof slipped. "P-p-please, no! Sompony, anypony, help me!"
Discord chuckled. "Sorry, Dusky. Nopony here but us. Your friends are gone. Your princesses are beaten. Nopony to save you now."
"WE BEG TO DIFFER!" a powerful voice boomed behind him. "HAVE AT THEE, CURS!"
Before the villains could react, a pure white light engulfed them all. With barely a cry, they were gone. The flames were extinguished and the gentle glow of starlight and moonlight took their place. Dusk turned to see the Princess of the Night descending. When she landed, the cliff face was replaced by a lush meadow that spread out from her touch, fireflies dancing around them.
But Dusk didn't have time to appreciate its beauty. He bowed his head shamefully to her.
"I'm sorry," he mumbled.
"So you have said the last time this happened and the time before that and every time since then," she said sternly. "Yet you have made little improvement since we began this aspect of your training."
"I… I have no excuse, Luna," he stammered. "It's… I… it's difficult…"
"I know." She sighed. "I suppose it isn't entirely your fault. You have seen and experienced many dark things and not just those that take physical form. It would be a wonder if you didn't have nightmares about them."
Dusk nodded. "I've had worse ones. Though this one did rank up there with them too."
"I understand. But you must learn to control and confront them," she urged. "If you are to learn the ways of the night, being able to walk the dreamscape is an essential part of it. But to do that, you must have control of your own dreams before you can even think of walking into others."
"I know," sighed Dusk. "I'm trying my best here but… I… I… I'm scared…"
"I'd consider you a fool if you weren't," she said. "But we were once told that courage is not simply being unafraid. It's being afraid, but doing what must be done regardless. You cannot run from them forever, Dusk. You know you can't."
"But how?"
"Confronting your fears is something you have to face, but I shall do all I can to aid you." She paused thoughtfully. "Perhaps it might be wise to be in a situation where you as much under the night's influence as you can be. Exposure to the stars and moon may increase your prowess and allow me to better connect with your dreams."
"Possibly," agreed Dusk, remembering what she'd told him about his affinity for the night he shared a fraction of. "But how would I do that?"
"I would have thought that answer were obvious," she remarked. "You will have to sleep under the stars in a very literal sense. Perhaps you could go, what is that ponies do for fun these days… camping?"
It seemed a feasible idea. Dusk had never been much of an outdoors type of pony and had never really been camping before. His parents obviously never took him, Canterlot had few places appropriate for it and he hadn't seen in point in trying it in Ponyville. But he was always open to new experiences and this looked like the best chance he had of having a greater influence over his dreams.
"It's worth a try," he said eventually. "I only hope it works."
"As do I," she said with a sympathetic grimace. "It pains me to see one as dear to me as you have to suffer such things. But I cannot always be there to protect you."
"Yes." He gazed around the meadow and smiled at her. "But I'm grateful for the times you are."
She returned the smile. "I think that's enough for tonight. I shall give you a reprieve, but I expect you to be ready to try again tomorrow night. Clear?"
"Crystal, Luna."
She winced a little at the word, but it was brief. "Come, let us walk. I think there's much you need to tell me, especially concerning recent developments with Mr. Strike."
Dusk chuckled. "You have no idea…"
Dusk made his way to the library at a slow pace the next morning. It was nothing to do with being tired. Though he had to face his nightmares, Luna's presence and her powers as princess ensured that he always managed to get the sleep he needed. In recent days, however, it was getting more and more difficult to actually face that sleep.
It had been a whole week since Luna had begun this part of his training. The power to become a part of the world of dreams. To walk into the dreams of others and change parts of them, if he so pleased. But Luna had set him about the task of first controlling his own. In her own words, he had to practice being able to swim in his own river or else be swept away in the massive current of other dreams.
So far, it looked like he was having great difficulty swimming against this current. Each of the nightmares he had was as bad as the other. Ones where he was back in Canterlot and never meeting the girls. Ones where the girls just abandoned him, including Twilight. On the day of Ray's birthday, he'd had one where Wrath had become fully formed and reduced his home to nothing more than dust.
Twilight and Spike had been as supportive as they could. But there was only so much they could do in the physical world. In the world of dreams, he was beyond even their aid, swept away in the fear of another nightmare where Twilight kicked him out of the library while Spike tossed his hat out after him, telling him to go back to Canterlot because he wasn't welcome there anymore.
"So, how'd it go?" asked Twilight brightly when he walked in. Her smile faded when she saw Dusk's face. "Oh. No improvement?"
"No improvement," echoed Dusk. "And I'm starting to wonder if there will ever be any."
"Don't be like that, Dusk. You'll get the hang of it," she encouraged. "It'll just take time."
"It's been a whole week, Twilight, since Luna started teaching me about how to walk the dreamscape," he reminded her. "So far, I've barely been able to take a shuffle out of my own nightmares. It'll be a wonder if I'm ever able to walk between others."
"Dusk, you have the potential. Luna knows you do." She placed a hoof on his cheek. "You can do this. You've faced tougher things before."
"But that's just it, Twilight," he sighed. "I've already faced these fears before. I'm so different from who I used to be and I defeated all the villains who keep appearing in my nightmares, or else seen them defeated. Why aren't they just gone?"
"You know it's not that simple. Just because you face your fears doesn't mean they're gone forever. I still get nervous about tests and my studies, Fluttershy can still be rather timid and I'm sure even Luna has some lingering fears about Nightmare Moon," she reasoned. "You can't make your fears vanish, but they don't have to own you."
"They seem to be doing a good job so far," he murmured, casting his gaze down.
Twilight was silent for a moment, but her voice returned, still as gentle as before.
"My darling Dusk. Look at me, please." He did. Her brilliant violet eyes shone with determination. "You can do this. I know you can."
A small smile tugged at his mouth. "I'll try…"
"No. You won't try. You will."
"Right."
"No, you need to say it. Come on."
"Is this necessary?"
"Completely necessary, now say it."
"Why?"
"Because I'm your marefriend and your boss and you can decide which one gives my word more authority. Now, say it."
"I… I will."
"More confidence than that! Come on!"
"I will."
"One more time!"
"I will!"
"That's better." She planted a kiss on his cheek. "And do you know why you will?"
"Because it's an essential part of my training with Luna and I should be focused on my studies?" he asked.
"Well, there is that but…" She leaned in to whisper sultrily. "When you do, you can come visit me in my dreams."
Dusk's face flushed red and he stammered incoherently. Twilight only pulled back and gave him a half-lidded gaze and a wink before walking away. There was a definite sway to her hips as she did too, with Dusk quite unable to draw his eyes away from her hind quarters. She glanced back and giggled, looking quite pleased with the results. It would have been perfect.
Had she not stumbled about halfway across the room and almost lost her balance.
"Darn it!" he heard her curse under her breath, trying to hide her embarrassment. "I put too much sway into that. Stupid book should have been clearer…"
Dusk let out a small snigger. She glared back, her face flushed this time.
"Not a word, mister," she warned. "Not. A word."
"How about three then?" he offered, smiling sincerely. "I love you."
She returned it. "I love you too. Now, let's get some studying done. You can't be staring at my flank all day."
"That's a shame." Dusk blinked in surprise and blushed again. "Goodness, did… did I really just say that?"
"Yeah, you did," Spike said, walking in from another wing. "And do me a favour, try not to when I'm in the room."
Dusk didn't really acknowledge his comment. He'd always been respectful and chivalrous to Twilight. He never thought he'd ever say anything so… lewd. Then again, he never thought she would do anything like that either. Come to think of it, they'd been passing similar remarks to each other for a while now. Not frequently, but every now and then. What did it mean?
He decided not to think too much about it right now. Mainly because he had more important things to think about and also because the very thought of what it referred to made his cheeks burn.
Changing topics, he told them about what Luna had suggested to improve his dream walking and Twilight seemed quite onboard with the idea.
"That does make sense. We already know that my magic is stronger with the sun out while yours is best at night," she recalled. "Maybe this will be what'll set you on the right path. Plus, I'm sure camping would be fun."
"But… I've never been camping before," he admitted. "I barely know the first thing about camping."
"We could always look at a few books?" she suggested.
"Hey, I have an idea!" Spike exclaimed. "I was talking to Apple Bloom and she said that she and Applejack are going camping up at Winesome Falls this weekend. You could go along with them, they could show you some things about camping and you get to sleep under the stars for your training!"
"That's a great idea, Spike!" agreed Twilight.
"It does sound reasonable," said Dusk. "But I would have thought Luna would have wanted me to do this by myself."
"And since when have we ever let you do anything by yourself?" asked Spike. "Besides, that's for in your dreams. I think she'd be okay with somepony showing you how to set up a tent and make smores."
"You make a good point. Right, I'll do it," he decided. "I just hope they won't mind me coming along."
Spike waved a claw dismissively. "It'll be fine. Scootaloo's going along with Rainbow and I hear Sweetie's bringing Rarity. I'm sure they'd be happy to have us along."
"You might be… wait, us?" Dusk asked.
He nodded. "Yeah. I'm going with you! I've camped out before. I did it on the dragon migration, remember? I can show you the ropes, teach you something for a change. Plus, this is like a trip of siblings, actual and honorary. Since you and me are brothers in assistantship, it'll be perfect."
"Again, Spike, you make a good point," agreed Dusk. "That is, if Twilight doesn't mind."
"Of course not. I can cope by myself for one weekend," she assured. "You two go and have a good time, but remember, it's not all for fun."
"Yes, teacher Twilight," groaned Spike.
"Oh, don't be like that, Spike. Learning is great fun!" she said, clapping her hooves together. "Right, Dusk?"
"It can be quite enjoyable to expand one's knowledge," he said.
"Great, I'll try and contain my excitement," Spike remarked sarcastically. "Only you two could make a camping trip sound boring."
The day after was when Spike and Dusk met Applejack, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo at edge of the woods on the outskirts of town. Considering that the previous night had been another round of uncontrollable nightmares for Dusk, he was keen to get this underway. At the same time, he was comforted that he would be doing this with friends.
They were all wearing two saddlebags with essential supplies in them, Spike bringing along some parchment, a bottle of ink and a quill for making any notes he needed. On top of those they had their sleeping bags, which Dusk had procured from a camping store in town. Spike's was ruby red, while his was midnight blue, matching their saddlebags.
"You packed bug spray?" Applejack asked her sister.
"Yup." She flipped her own saddlebag's flap up. "You got the canteens?"
"Yup." Applejack flipped hers up too. "Looks like we're all set then."
Their check had certainly taken less time than Twilight's. She'd spent about an hour with them both before they'd set out, checking and double checking a checklist she'd made for essential camping equipment. As much as he loved her, even Dusk found it a little tedious.
A trundling behind them got their attention and a long shadow was cast across them. They all looked up in shock as they witnessed a literal tower of suitcases and bags coming towards them. The luggage in question was in a cart being lugged by Sweetie Belle while Rarity trotted beside her, wearing a pink skirt, purple shades, yellow shoes and matching headscarf with her cutie mark patterned on it.
"Gee, Rarity, did you remember to pack?" remarked Applejack.
"Oh, well, let's see who gets the last laugh when you're absolutely desperate to curl your lashes, and you realize you didn't bring your eyelash curler," she returned, as if that settled the matter.
Spike, as usual, was in awe. "Wow! You look great, Rarity!"
"Spike! How lovely you and Dusk are joining us," she trilled. "Ready to start 'roughing it', as they say?"
"Indeed. I've never been camping before, so this should be fun," said Dusk.
"Splendid!" She beckoned him over and spoke in a low voice. "Are you quite sure little Spikey is alright to join us?"
"Of course, why wouldn't he be?"
She leaned a little closer. "Well it's just after the Empire and what the brute Doom did to him, are you certain he's well enough to attend?"
"He's fine, Rarity," he replied. "It's just camping and his scales protected him from the worst of Doom's hit. Twilight and I have had him checked, he's fine."
"I suppose so..." She didn't look completely convinced, but let the matter drop.
"Well, looks like we're all set now," noted Applejack,
"But what about Rainbow Dash? Isn't Rainbow Dash coming?" Scootaloo asked frantically.
"'Course she is, sugarcube," Applejack said. "She's gonna meet us up at our first campsite."
"Oh." Scootaloo said nothing, but she tried to smile it off.
What an awkward start to it all, Dusk couldn't help but think.
"Alright, y'all, let's move 'em out!"
With that, they started making their way up the hill. Dusk noted how Rarity was keeping a close eye on Spike, but also that Sweetie was definitely struggling with Rarity's packing.
"Here," he said, supporting the harness with his horn while unsaddling her. "Allow me."
"Huh?" She realised what he was doing. "It's fine, Dusk, you don't have to do that."
"I insist." He strained a little from the weight but tried not to show it. "There, see?"
"You sure you don't mind?" He shook his head. "Yay! Thanks, Dusk!" She gave him a quick hug and walked alongside her sister, mimicking her strut.
"A gentlecolt as always, Mr Noir," noted Rarity.
"I try, Miss Belle," he returned.
She smiled but it faded when her eyes flickered to Spike again. Spike didn't really notice, for he was addressing Applejack.
"So, how's the farm gonna be while you two are away?" he asked.
"We got Big Mac an' Ray pullin' double duty," she answered. "Between the two-a them, they should be able ta get all the chores done we'd normally do."
"And if they don't?" asked Dusk.
"Oh, they will. Big Mac ah know can pull his own weight, but if ah get back an' find out that Ray's not met the quota ah set him, ah'm tellin' Apple Bloom ta get ma rope an' see how he fancies bein' an apple fer an evenin', hangin' by his legs from a tree. An' if he tries ta teleport his way outta it..."
Dusk frowned. "Applejack, after all he's been through, shouldn't you cut him a little slack?"
"Alright, fine." She paused to think. "A couple-a hours hangin' from the tree then."
"I think it's astounding he was so willing to return to work after what happened on his birthday," put in Rarity. "I know he said that he was fine, and he most likely wasn't lying on the second occasion. But still, he didn't even ask for a couple of days to recover."
"Yeah, but Ray's awesome," added Scootaloo. "Not as awesome as Rainbow Dash, obviously, but enough that he can just keep at it."
Dusk smiled at the compliment towards Ray, despite himself. The Crusaders, obviously, didn't know the exact details behind what happened with Ray on that day, but they'd instead been told (after reportedly many hours of pestering on all sides of the spectrum) that the rest of them who'd set up the event had accidentally ended up offending Ray with something during the party, which had opened up more than a few old wounds for the stallion. Not dishonest, simply not telling the full story. Besides, the fillies probably deserved to know something on the matter, seeing how much they seemed to idolize Ray as of late, for lack of a better term. They'd helped to set up the party, even, but ultimately weren't able to attend themselves because of school. Likely for the best, Dusk thought to himself.
"At least he was still willing to have a celebration with us, you know, despite all of that. A way smaller and quieter one than originally, but it was something. Boy, did Pinkie explode when she heard that..." Spike crossed his arms and smirked in a self-satisfied fashion. "I'm just glad I didn't end up wasting my money on that gift I got for him… and also that he enjoyed it as much as I thought he would."
Now, Dusk couldn't help but smirk himself while he chuckled, something that Applejack and even Rarity were also doing to differing extents. "Yes, he definitely seemed to get a kick out of that Horses & Heroes setup you got him, Spike…"
Spike caught the teasing in his tone and glared up as his older honorary brother. "I thought it was something a guy like him would be interested in! And turns out I was right! Don't start teasing me about my choice in gifts when you went and got him a bunch of books like Twilight did."
"Touché," Dusk remarked. "Though unlike Twilight, the books I gave him were part of a series purely of the fantasy and adventure genre, like what he writes about. And my gift could be considered of the educational variety, as opposed to…" he trailed off, waiting for the response he knew was coming. It came.
"Not everything has to be educational! Sheesh, all this time you spend around Twilight is really rubbing off on you. She says the exact same things about Horses & Heroes. It's not just a game for geeks! It's a deep, complex role-playing strategy sort of game with fun adventure elements that you play with friends! You know, you'd probably be into it too, Dusk."
"Perhaps… and how do you know all of this, anyways?"
"There's a group of ponies back at Canterlot I used to get together with to play whenever I was available. I still meet up with them sometimes, whenever I'm away at Canterlot on royal business or something."
"It sounds like it woulda been a pretty big, fun party though, if it weren't for what ya'll told us. Maybe the three-a us shoulda come along anyways," suggested Apple Bloom. "Show him how the Cutie Mark Crusaders throw a party!"
"That's nice-a ya, sis, but for you fillies, school comes first. 'Sides, ah think what happened there probably woulda happened anyways," said Applejack. "But it's alright. Only two days since then an' he's back to it. Though that may be 'cause he had a lil' help from somepony else."
"Ooooooooh!" Rarity squealed. "After all of this time, it's finally happened! Ray and Fluttershy: together!"
"Indeed," said Dusk. "After all the worrying we were doing, it was certainly gratifying to see them return like that."
"Walking side by side, her wings draped over him," sighed Rarity. "I know it has been said, but those two are simply adorable together!"
"Yeah," nodded Spike. "It might mean more mushy stuff, but I think I can put up with it. Honestly, Fluttershy is the last pony I'd expect to get a coltfriend."
"She couldn't have found a better one," said Dusk. "I think the two of them will be very happy together."
"Ah'm happy fer 'em too," said Applejack. "Faust knows they waited long enough. Ah mean, they've been oglin' each other pretty much since the firs' day they met. Ah think it's real sweet. Sure must be nice fer em…"
For a moment, Applejack looked slightly forlorn. It didn't go unnoticed by her sister.
"You okay, big sis?" she asked.
"Hm? Oh, yeah, fine sugarcube," she said quickly. "Just thinkin', is all."
"I think I know what about," put in Rarity. "Oh, don't you fret, Applejack. I'm certain you'll find the stallion of your dreams someday."
"Thanks, Rarity," she said with a grateful smile.
"Though not if you keep doing your mane like that."
She glared. "Whatcha sayin' 'bout ma mane?"
"Now, now, ladies," Dusk interceded. "Let's not start a fight over manestyles."
Rarity nodded. "Yes, you're absolutely right, Dusk."
"Thank you."
"Sorry, darling, but yours is far worse."
Dusk did a double take. "I beg your pardon?"
Everypony else just laughed and not long after, he was too.
After about half an hour of walking and about fifty times of Rarity asking if they were there yet, they arrived at the campsite. Rainbow was already there and prepared some log seats and a fireplace for them by kicking away trunks of trees and getting some rocks from the river respectively. From the flashy way she did it, Dusk had the impression she could have done this a while ago but was waiting to show off in front of them.
Establishing that respective siblings would be sharing respective tents, they got to work setting them up. As he predicted, Dusk was unsure as to where the pegs went or how to pitch it, but Spike was there to lend a claw, even though he admitted that on his dragon migration he'd never actually set up a tent as there was no room for one in his bundle.
"But no biggy, right?" he said. "I mean, look at that. We got it set up already." No sooner had he said that, their tent collapsed. "Heh heh… mallet please?"
After about three tries and some help from the others, their tent managed to stay up and the sun had already set. They got a fire going, courtesy of Applejack and gathered around it. Rarity had even brought her fainting couch for comfort, along with an inflatable tent the size of a large shed.
"Okay, everypony get comfortable," invited Rainbow, "'cause I'm about to tell you the best story you've ever heard."
"Is it about the time when Rarity had wings, and then they got ruined, and then you saved her from plummeting to her doom?" asked Scootaloo.
Rarity blushed and hid her eyes behind her glasses.
"Okay, maybe it's the second best story you've ever heard. But probably still the scariest." She put on a spooky voice. "You like scary stories, right?"
Scootaloo gasped, but nodded mutely.
"It all happened on a night just like this one, in a forest, just like this..."
Rainbow then told a story about the Olden Pony, a wizened old crone who roamed an ancient forest in search of her lost rusty horseshoe, so that she might continue her journey in comfort. Her croaking demands of who has her horseshoe could be heard by travellers and if she had you in her sights, she would pursue you relentlessly to return it.
The story did give Dusk a chill up his spine, but it had a more profound impact on the youngest of the group. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were trembling in fear and jumped at any loud noise, though Scootaloo appeared to be trying to act braver in front of her idol. Spike was shivering and nervously sucking on his thumb.
"An impressive tale, Rainbow," praised Dusk. "It may even rival the one that I have in mind."
"Yeah, right," she scoffed. Then she glanced curiously at him. "So, what story would that be then?"
"Ah gotta admit, ah kinda wanna hear this too," put in Applejack. "If it's anythin' like the one ya told on Nightmare Night, it should be good."
"And your puppets certainly serve to make the story even more terrifying," added Rarity.
"Very well then. I shall tell you… tomorrow night," he announced.
"Aw, come on!" complained Rainbow. "You can't just dangle something like that and then yank it out of reach!"
"Call it a teaser," he countered. "Anyway, it's rather late and I think the little ones have been scared enough for tonight."
"I-I'm not sc-scared!" insisted Scootaloo in a shaky voice. "T-tell me your story, I can take it!"
"No, I think I'll save it." The other young ones looked relieved. "But be patient, for tomorrow I shall tell the tale of Eros and the Broken Mirror of Foul Fortune."
On that note which left a bit of a chill, they retreated into their tents. The last thing Dusk saw before he closed the flap was Scootaloo leaning casually on the log. He looked to see Spike clutching at his bed roll.
"Quite alright, brother?" he asked.
"Huh? Oh yeah, fine, sure," he said quickly. "So, um, how's it feel being under the stars then?"
Dusk created a very vibrant looking colour form of Spike, making him sprout a pair of wings and fly away into nothingness.
"My magic certainly feels stronger," he admitted. "Let's hope it carries over into the dream world."
"Have faith, buddy," Spike echoed. "After all, you got the number one dragon assistant with you. You'll be fine."
"I hope so." He yawned and extinguished their lantern. "Goodnight, Spike."
"Night, Dusk. And uh, if you hear somepony asking for their rusty old horseshoe… let me know?"
"I will…" he promised.
With a sigh of relief, the baby dragon rolled over and was soon snoring soundly. Dusk closed his eyes and let the sounds of the forest outside lull him to sleep…
He stood at the entrance of a massive elaborate stone arch. His sight was obscured for what lay beyond by a white fog that completely hid whatever lay behind it. But Dusk gulped, as he shook inside his armour. He knew exactly what was waiting for him.
Despite his armour, he didn't feel it would protect him. Even though he had a sword, he didn't think it would do any good. But there was no choice. This was the only way forward, the way back populated by yet more horrific monsters than the ones that were just lurking behind this foggy wall. He had to do it.
He swallowed hard, drew his sword, raised his shield and stepped through the fog. He stood in a grand hall that looked like it was made for somepony a hundred feet taller. Six supporting columns lined the passage up to the end. There he saw what awaited him and immediately wished he could go back the way he came.
A massive earth pony as tall as a house, dressed in golden armour that made him look incredibly obese, but no less intimidating. A humongous hammer rested on its head next to him. Up on a balcony, another pony emerged. This one was a Pegasus, dressed in his own golden armour that bore resemblance to a lion and was just as tall, though slimmer and shorter than the other. A lance was clutched in his right forehoof.
No sooner had he seen Dusk, he jumped down from the balcony and landed beside the earth pony, who was picking up his hammer. The other prepared his lance. Dusk gulped and raised his own weapon, feeling woefully inadequate against the duo as they charged towards him.
Before they could reach him though, a bright light appeared from the floor before him and an armoured form climbed out of it. Wielding a scythe that was reminiscent of a crescent moon, Luna raised the weapon and dashed forward, slicing four times, two for each.
She stopped in a crouch. They stopped mid-step. She rose to stand. They fell to the ground with a loud clang and clatter.
Dusk broke out in a smile. "Well struck, princess!"
"Thank you, my student." She cut quite a fierce figure in armour very similar to Nightmare Moon. "I didn't know you were into such things as, I believe it is termed, fantasy role-playing?"
"Believe me, Luna, this is a role I'd rather not be playing," said Dusk.
"I would not blame you. A rather curious dream, I must admit," she noted.
"This is a very old nightmare I had," he said. "I picked up a fantasy book that told the story of a cursed and dying land, inhabited by insane undead and monstrous demons. I was about seven at the time and didn't realise the book wasn't… well, suited for a younger reader."
"Clearly," agreed Luna.
"But why didn't you let me fight them? I thought this was supposed to be about me mastering my nightmares and I do feel a little stronger out here in the night. I could have taken them." He spared another glance at their prone forms. "Possibly."
"Possibly. But since you are here, there's something I'd like to show you." She held out a glittering hoof. "Take my hoof."
Trusting her, Dusk did so. The scene around them began to blur and shift like witnessing it through a kaleidoscope. As it became clearer, their armour faded, the grand hall dissolved away and it didn't take Dusk long to recognise where they were.
"Wait… this is my tent. There's Spike and… me?" Looking longer, he saw that it really was his sleeping form. "Well… this is quite bizarre."
"You get used to it. But notice, my student, not your body, but what emerges from it."
Dusk gasped when he saw what she meant. His phantom form was connected to his body by a stream of bright white magic, glowing brightly like the moon. He looked across to Spike and saw the same stream, but his was floating off into the sky, through the walls of their tent.
"What is it?" he whispered, tempted to touch it.
"Dreams," she answered. "That is the path you would travel down to enter the mind while it sleeps. If you were to travel down that one, you would see young Spike is having a dream where he is playing in a sea of gemstones with Rarity at his side. And ice cream."
"That sounds like Spike," he chuckled. "Why have I not been able to see this before?"
"Because you've been in your own dreams," she said. "By my power, I have let you leave your physical form so that you may witness this. Without the awareness that I possess and that you need to be trained for, you would not even be able to achieve this. If you were to attempt it alone, I fear you would be lost in a sea of dreams."
Dusk shivered at the thought. "I see. So, is it like this with everypony?"
"See for yourself," she offered.
They stepped out of the tent and Dusk gazed around in awe. From each of the tents was a line of magic that danced towards the sky. Up in the sky, they connected to another series of dream paths that painted the night and faintly, he could see dozens, if not hundreds of lines far off in the distance. From every home in Canterlot far off in the distance to Ponyville below the range they rested in.
The closest thing Dusk had for comparison was the magic that was emitted by the light and love of the Crystal Empire. But even then, he was hard pressed to decide which one was more spectacular.
"Beautiful, is it not?" Luna said proudly. "All of those minds at play in a world where anything is possible."
"Remarkable," he whispered in awe.
"You and I are the only ones who can see them like this," she said. "At this time, when they all become part of a nexus of dreams. Separate, yet connected so that I may watch over them, walk between them. And soon, you will learn to do the same."
Dusk's stomach dropped. "But… there are so many of them. How will I ever learn to walk this?"
"You will, in time," she promised.
The awe that consumed Dusk was slowly being replaced by dread. He didn't see how she was going to be able to complete that promise.
Though he was rested, Dusk was by no means untroubled when he awoke the next morning. While the others were all chatting and packing away their tents, his mind lingered on what Luna had shown him last night.
He had always known that the dream world was huge, but to actually see it… he wondered how Luna managed it. Watching over all of those dreams, every single night. And that was just in Equestria. Did her duties take her to other lands too? And she expected him to master such a complex and massive art?
He wasn't an alicorn. He may have had an affinity for the night, but she was the night. She'd had a thousand years of practice and he'd barely had two weeks. Even in the presence of her night, it felt like he was being given a large stick and was expected to knock down a mountain with it. He'd taken to all of her other lessons but this… this just seemed impossible.
And that was just walking in dreams. Before that, he had to control his own dreams and even that seemed impossible. Still his nightmares plagued him and he seemed barely able to keep them at bay. Only Luna's presence seemed to banish them and she wouldn't always be around, for she had other subjects to attend to.
He decided to try not to think about it for now. He just said to Spike that there was minimal improvement and left it at that. The baby dragon grimaced sympathetically and patted his leg comfortingly.
"Don't beat yourself up about it, bro," he said while they were on the road. "Like Twilight said, Luna wouldn't be teaching you this stuff if she thought you couldn't do it."
"I know. But even princesses make mistakes and errors in judgement," he murmured. "Maybe she's overestimating my abilities."
"Or maybe you're just underestimating them," he countered. "Come on, Dusk. You faced off an evil king in a swordfight, even though you knew you barely stood a chance. If you can do that, you can face off a few nightmares."
"I suppose." He smiled at Spike. "Thanks."
"Don't mention it," he shrugged. "Plus, you're pulling all of that luggage all by yourself too."
"Yes, but…" He paused to wipe some sweat off his forehead. "I fear that it may soon beat me."
Spike laughed. "What? You can take on Sombra, but you can't pull a cart of bags?"
"I do have my limits."
"And Sombra had a sword!"
"And these bags are extremely heavy. If you'd like to try your claw at pulling, be my guest."
"Heh… no, thanks I'm good. Besides," he added, "not sure Rarity would want me doing it anyway."
Dusk looked over at the debutante, who had attached her couch to wheels and was being pushed up by Sweetie Belle. Spike had offered to push her up himself, but she'd quickly objected to it, saying that her sister wanted to do it instead.
"She's been like that since we started," Spike went on. "She keeps asking if I'm okay, she won't let me do any heavy lifting and I swear she keeps watching me."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. You were talking to her at the start. Has she said anything?" he asked.
"I think she's just a little worried, Spike. We've been through a lot recently and I'm sure she's just concerned for you," answered Dusk.
"I get that, but she's never been like this. I don't see what the problem is. I'm totally fine. These scales can stand up to a lot." He glanced down at his scars. "I mean, aside from this."
Dusk said nothing. He still felt a hint of uneasiness when he saw that. Fortunately, his thoughts were dispelled by Applejack.
"Hey, you two, pick up the pace!" she called. "If we don't get a move on, it'll be dark before we get to the campsite!"
Scootaloo, who had been snoozing on the bags, suddenly jerked awake at the word.
"Dark?!" Her wings buzzed as she sped along on her scooter. "I'll just ride ahead and make sure the path is clear. We don't wanna be out here after dark, right?"
"Doesn't matter to me," shrugged Rainbow.
"Well, y'know," she said in a hushed voice while gesturing to her friends, "it's for the scaredy-ponies, heheh."
With that, off she sped until she rounded a corner and was out of sight. He looked at Spike, who looked as flummoxed as he did. Maybe it was just that Scootaloo wanted to get there ahead of them to impress Rainbow Dash in some way. As long as she was careful, she would be fine. The Crusaders had done far more dangerous things.
But her odd behaviour didn't stop there. A little further up the path, she randomly jumped out of some bushes, saying the path was better than travelling through them. She appeared to jump at every small or sudden sound and actually ended up right beside Dusk at one point in an instant. He noticed, now that she was close, the bags under her eyes.
"Uh, d-do you need a little help?" she asked Dusk.
"I'll manage, thank you," he said. "Are you quite alright, Scootaloo?"
"Yeah, yeah, fine," she said in a would-be casual voice. "Just uh, looking to help out a friend, that's all. Heheh…"
"Are you sure? If something is wrong…"
"I'm okay, really!" she insisted. "So, uh, this story you're gonna tell tonight. Um, not too scary, is it? I mean, not that I would be scared but, you know… the others might be."
"I'm not certain if it will match Rainbow's story, but I promise it will be quite a chilling tale," he replied. "Unless you would be scared in which case, I could tell a different story."
"Nuh-uh." Rainbow, who was flying above, landed next to him. "You're not skimping out on this, Dusk. I wanna make this as scary as you can. Scoots here can handle it, right?"
"Yeah, of course I can!" she said with false bravado. "You know me, Rainbow Dash!"
"Alright! I'm expecting great things, Dusk."
"I can only promise my best, Rainbow."
She snickered and soared off again. Dusk went to speak with Scootaloo again, but the filly had already forged on ahead. Even from here, he could see how strained her smile was.
At the next campsite, the need for tents was negated by the presence of a cave they could instead use for shelter. Since it was already getting dark, Dusk was thankful that all they had to do was lay down their sleeping bags and be ready to go to sleep if they needed it.
Scootaloo took a while getting back with the firewood and even then, it was only about four twigs. Probably out of understanding of how dark it was getting, Applejack said it was enough and managed to start a fire with them.
"Okay, everypony comfy?" Applejack asked. "Right then, Dusk, ya gotta story ta tell us. Let's hear it!"
"Very well then." He stood up. "I promised you a tale of nightmares and at night, with my power at its peak, I am at perfect liberty to tell you it."
Calling upon his magic, he began to weave his colour shapes to play out the events as he narrated them. The first image he took was of each of his three fellow Elements as he spoke them.
"Beauty." Rarity's puppet flicked her mane elegantly. "Grace." Rainbow's puppet landed from the sky. "Strength." Applejack's performed a few kicks. "There is no denying that, in some way, we all admire and long after physical perfection and external appeal. We're always encouraged to look our best, to look presentable and to project a strong image you would wish others to see of yourself, even if it's a far cry to how you feel inside.
"But what if there were a way to make your body, your appearance as perfect as you could want it to be with merely a thought? What if you wanted something to change about yourself, you could alter it exactly the way you wanted it to be? They say that, a long time ago in a distant land, one being had that power."
"Ooh, do tell," Rarity encouraged. "I like the sound of this already."
Dusk smiled and fashioned a new puppet. A unicorn mare with a long, flowing mane, slender legs, a perfectly toned body and brilliant golden eyes. They all stared at her in awe as she strutted around the camp.
"Her name was Eros," he continued. "And she was a mare in a town where all stallions longed after her and all mares longed to be her. Her mane was said to shimmer like a river of melted chocolate. Her fur was sleek and the colour of honey. Her eyes shone as brilliantly as Celestia's sun and it was said she even rivalled her in sheer radiance and beauty. Everypony wondered how she was rewarded with such perfection. Was she just born a beauty? Some form of spell? What was her secret? Everypony wondered, but only she knew.
"You see in her home, a grand affair overlooking the town she lived in, she did have a secret. It was in the form of a mirror. To any other, it looked like a simple, full-length mirror with a wooden frame. But set above the glass is an inscription, forged in magical runes. It reads 'see what you will see'. And that was exactly what she did. For whatever she wanted to look like, if she wanted her mane to shimmer or her mane to be sleek, she would have to simply need to say it while she gazed upon her reflection in it… and it would happen.
"She used her mirror so she might be the most beautiful mare in town. She enjoyed all the attention, enticing every stallion with her enchanting looks. There was not a single one that couldn't gaze upon her and be at once enchanted by her beauty. None… except one.
"He came to the town one day while travelling, a stallion named Charming. He was every bit as handsome and brilliant as she was beautiful and fair. The moment she saw, she was besotted and knew his heart would belong to her. Yet he did not stare after her as others did, nor did he try to woo her or charm her. This disturbed Eros. How could he not be? She soon discovered that it was because his heart belonged to another. A mare named Modesty, to whom he was betrothed.
"Still, she tried to win him. Every day, she went to her mirror and changed something about herself. Every day, she would stand and attempt to entice him and every time, he looked past her. No matter how much she changed, no matter how beautiful she tried to make herself or how much she tried to show herself off, he never, ever so much as glanced at her.
"Soon, she was driven into madness. In desperation, she knew there was only one way she would have him and only one thing that stood in her way. Modesty. She had to go and she didn't care how she did. All Eros had to do was get rid of Modesty and Charming would be hers. She went to her kitchen and took a knife from one of the drawers. She waited until Modesty was away from him and alone in the dead of the night. She trapped her in an alley, drew the knife and…"
Dusk stopped when they all gasped, with a few quiet screams. He let it sink in and continued.
"Charming found the body of Modesty the next morning. The wail he made was said to be heard from miles away. He knew who had done this and stormed to the house, kicking down the door and finding Eros in her dressing room. Her magic mirror stood at the other end of the room and at first, he thought he saw a ghost… until he heard Eros's voice dripped in honey oozing from the lips of a twisted form of the mare he loved.
"'You see,' she cooed, 'you don't need her. I can be her. I can be whoever you want. I can be better than she ever was. Whatever you want, my love, it is yours.'
"'Whatever I want?' asked Charming. He glanced at the mirror, at Eros, at the blunt weapon he'd brought with him. 'Very well… I want you to see what you really are!'
"And with that, he flung the weapon towards her. Though his aim wasn't at her. She only realised too late and reached out with her magic just as it struck the mirror… and broke it. And when it did, she had been using her magic while standing before it. Only this time, her reflection became broken and so did she. What was ugly about her inside finally matched how she looked outside.
"Charming never came out of that house. The townsfolk feared the worst had happened, but all they heard was her maddened screams as they rent the air. And since then, no one has been inside that house. But they say the remains of the mirror are still in there and that its power can still be used by those who have pure intent in their heart. But if you use it for selfish or shallow reasons, the ghost of Eros will come for you and see to it that your reflection is made as ugly as she now is and torment you for the rest of your days with her tortured screams at the loss of her love and her beauty.
"Such is the fate of those who seek out the Broken Mirror of Foul Fortune," he finished.
An air of terrified silence hung thickly in the wake of his story. The Crusaders and Spike trembled with fear, Rarity slipped away the mirror she'd been using while looking at it frightfully, even Applejack looked shaken. But Dusk looked at Rainbow Dash.
"So, how was that?" he asked.
"Meh, I've heard scarier," she said casually. "But, uh… that one was pretty good."
"High praise indeed," bowed Dusk. "Thank you, everypony. I hope you don't have nightmares and that you learned something from that story. Never be too concerned with how you look. It's how you act that really matters."
"It's a nice lesson, but did ya have ta scare it inta us?" asked Applejack with a smile.
"Stories like that do help the message stick," replied Dusk.
"Don't worry, you'll be safe with me tonight," Rarity assured her trembling sister.
Scootaloo looked terrified. "It's not time for bed yet, is it?"
"'Fraid so, Scootaloo," said Applejack.
"Uh, but we haven't even sung any campfire songs yet!" she suggested.
"I think it's a little late for campfire songs," said Dusk. "We'd best be getting to bed. Princess Luna wouldn't want me to keep her waiting."
They all bade each other goodnight, but Scootaloo seemed determined.
"Oh, just one song! Anyone? How about a dance contest? I know you love to cut a rug, so how 'bout we mess up a cave floor? I have a brilliant idea! Hide and seek! Who's with me?"
Apple Bloom yawned. "Maybe tomorrow."
"Seems like ya don't really wanna go to sleep tonight. Is there some reason why?" asked Applejack.
"Pfft, of course not!" she dismissed. "I just love camping and hanging out with Rainbow Dash so much that I don't wanna waste a single minute with sleep! She worked hard to keep a yawn down. "Heh, silly sleep."
"That's cool and all, Scoot, but this pony needs her shut-eye and she needs it now!" said Rainbow, already curling up in her sleeping bag.
Dusk and Spike crawled into theirs and not long after, were fast asleep themselves.
No nightmares when he entered the dream world this time. Luna was already in their moonlit meadow waiting for him, for which Dusk was relieved.
"No terrors to beset me tonight, Luna?" he asked.
"Not for you, no," she said. "Instead, I wanted us to try something different since the opportunity seems right. Come."
She offered a hoof and he took it. Once again, the nexus of dreams could be seen in the night sky. But one of them, he noticed, was different from all of the rest. While the other lines were white, one was black, writhing, and it was coming from Scootaloo, who was tossing and turning restlessly in her sleep.
"It means she's having a nightmare," Luna answered his unasked question. "Something has affected her deeply, which also plagued her the night before. As princess, it is my duty to see that her dreams are peaceful. But tonight, I won't be."
"But… who's going to help her?" Luna's silence and intense gaze answered that. "Oh, no… Luna, you-you can't be serious."
"Does this expression look as if I am being a kid?" she asked. "I am assigning you to calm her mind, Dusk."
"But I can't even stop my own nightmares!" he insisted. "How am I supposed to prevent another's?"
"Because you will find that this is a fear that is quite familiar to you," she replied. "I know you can do this, Dusk. I will be ready to step in if anything happens, but I think I will not need to this time. I want you to try, for your friend. Please."
That piercing gaze saw right through him. Her words heartened him somewhat, though he still had doubts. He took a deep breath and started towards Scootaloo. He paused and looked back.
"'I'm not kidding.'" Luna looked confused at his statement. "The phrase you were looking for before is 'I'm not kidding.'"
"Oh." She blushed a little. "Modern dialect is still a mystery to me. What do baby goats have to do with anything?"
"Ask the goats?" he suggested. "Well, once more unto the breach…"
He took another breath and jumped into the dream stream. He screamed as it felt like he was tumbling off a cliff, but he felt some force slow his fall and make his descent gentler, so that he landed nicely.
"Thanks, Luna," he murmured and witnessed the scene.
Scootaloo's dream was inside an old, worn-down house. Cobwebs the size of dinner plates hung in the rafters, the floorboards creaked beneath his hooves and the wooden structure looked about ready to collapse. He noted a dressing table… and a cracked full body mirror standing on one of the walls.
And there was Scootaloo, desperately backing away from a pony dressed in a long, ragged black robe. A hood hid the face, but it didn't take a mighty intellect to figure out what was going on here. Normally, Dusk wouldn't be prone to immediate violence, but this was a nightmare. He could be excused this one time.
"Eros!" he shouted. The mare turned and hissed. "Back away from my friend."
In three strides, he had crossed the room and on the fourth, he'd raised his back hooves in a kick. Before the unicorn could react, she was knocked off her hooves and towards the mirror. When she hit the surface, it shimmered like a rock falling in water and she fell through it with a chilling scream that was cut short.
"Where you belong," he said and looked to Scootaloo. "Are you al-?"
He didn't get to finish, for she was already embracing his legs tightly. He returned it, patting her head comfortingly.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"My pleasure," he said. "Normally, a gentlecolt wouldn't strike a mare, but in this case, I make an exception."
She laughed a little. "But how'd you get here? How'd I get here? I thought we were in the cave! Did Eros kidnap us? Hey, wait… I thought she was a ghost. How'd you manage to kick her?"
"Because she wasn't real. None of this is. You're dreaming, Scootaloo," he told her.
"Really?" Dusk demonstrated by kicking over a chair. It froze before it hit the ground and reverted to its original position. "But… it seems so real."
"Dreams usually do," he mused. "But they're not. They can't hurt you and if it tries, I won't let it."
"Thanks," she murmured. "But how'd you get here? Or are you just a dream too?"
"In a way, I am. I made a small trip from my dream world to yours. Somepony who watches over all dreams thought you could use a little help."
"You mean… Luna?" Dusk nodded. "Wow. I remember seeing her, in a dream I had last night. But why didn't she come? Why'd she send you? Not that I'm complaining."
Dusk took a moment to answer. "She thought I would be better for the job. I'm sorry my story scared you so much, Scootaloo."
"It's okay," she said. "It was still a good story."
"But scary?"
She gulped. "Yeah…"
"Why didn't you say anything then?" he asked her. "Why did you feel you had to pretend you weren't scared? We would have understood, we were all scared by those stories. Even my own story still gives me the chills."
"Except Rainbow Dash," she put in. "Rainbow Dash isn't scared. She's never scared."
"I wouldn't say…" And suddenly, it made sense.
Why she'd been acting so jittery around Rainbow. Why she'd put on a brave face for her. Why she'd never said anything this whole time. Why Luna had sent him here rather than coming herself.
"You're trying to impress her, aren't you?" he ventured. "You don't want her to see you scared, to reject you."
"What? How'd you-? I mean, uh," she stammered. "What I mean is… yeah…"
"Oh, Scootaloo…" He gave her another hug.
"Y-you won't tell her, right?" she asked fearfully.
"No. But you should."
"What? Are you crazy?!" she demanded. "If I tell her, sh-she's gonna think I-I'm not cool! She'll never take me under her wing and teach me then!"
"Do you honestly think she doesn't like you?" he asked. "How could she not like a filly who is willing to do zip lining and hang-gliding and anything else it takes to get her cutie mark? Who is willing to stand against an army of Discord's minions, who made it out of Canterlot when the changelings attacked without a scratch on her? You're strong, Scootaloo and you're brave. More than you give yourself credit for."
"You… you really mean that?"
"I really do. And, between you and me…" He leaned in to whisper. "Rainbow can be a sight scaredy-pony too."
Her eyes widened in surprise. "No way! Get outta here!"
"I'm serious. You remember the Young Flyers Competition, the one where she did the Sonic Rainboom?" She nodded. "She was absolutely terrified before she did that."
"No way!"
"Yes way," he said. "She'd been trying to do it before, but every time she hadn't managed it. On the day, she thought she was going to fail again and in front of the Wonderbolts, no less."
"Wow…" She looked amazed. "She never told us that part of the story."
"It's Rainbow Dash. Do you really expect her to? We all have our fears, Scootaloo. You do, I do, even Rainbow does. But at some point, we have to face those fears or they won't stop chasing us. In the waking world or the dream world."
"Indeed, brother!" a voice roared.
They both whipped around and saw the door be kicked aside by the massive hoof of Blackhole Doom. The earth seemed to shake as he strode inside.
"What?!" Scootaloo scrambled away. "W-what's he doing here?!"
"He must have followed me from my plain of dreams. Or I brought him with me." He placed himself between them. "Stay behind me, Scootaloo."
"How touching," he snarled. "But I'll tear through you in a second and she'll be mine!"
Dusk stood ready to fight him, but…
"Hey!" Scootaloo stepped out from behind him. "You can't talk to him like that!"
"Oh really?" He snorted with laughter. "And what makes you think you can tell me what to do, runt?"
"Because you're just a big bully!" she retorted. "And bullies always get what they deserve. Dusk, duck!"
Dusk was at first surprised by her command, but a quick glance behind him told him what she had in mind. With a smile to her, he hit the ground with her… so that Doom was staring right into the mirror.
"What? What is this?" A loud scream answered his question and Eros shot out of the mirror towards him. "What?! No! NO! Get your hooves off me! Get off me! NOOOOO!"
But no matter how much he screamed and struggled, nothing could stop Eros from dragging him behind the glass with her. The surface shimmered once again and they were both gone.
"Well, that was different," remarked Dusk. "Quick thinking there, Scootaloo."
She shrugged. "My dream, my rules. I couldn't let him hurt you. He's already done enough of that."
"Thank you," he said sincerely. "See? Stronger and braver than you think."
"I guess I am," she relaised. "But what if Rainbow Dash doesn't think so?"
"She will. But even if not, then you have to take that chance," he said. "You can't keep running from your fears, Scootaloo. You have to face them. Trust me, I know."
An unseen force took a hold of his body again and started to lift him up. It looked like his time here was up.
"Hey, what's going on?" she hurried up to him. "Where are you going?"
"Sorry, this is where I get off," he said. "Good luck, Scootaloo! Not that you need it!"
He saw Scootaloo's face break out into a smile and she waved in farewell. He waved back and in a flash of white light, he was back in the moonlit meadow with a smiling Scootaloo replaced by a beaming Luna.
"You did it, Dusk! I knew you would!"
"I did," he echoed. "I still don't quite believe it."
"Believe it. You've taken your first step in this world and I couldn't be more proud of you," she praised.
"But I still had you helping me. I still had to be transported and taken out of the dream by you," he said. "I still have a long way to go."
"I never said you didn't. Dusk, you must understand the reason I showed you the nexus. It was not to intimidate you, though I'm sorry if that has been the case."
"It's okay. But why did you show me?" he asked.
"To help you understand. Very few ponies would be able to control their own dreams, let alone have the ability to walk into others. It was your presence in Scootaloo's that let her do that. The dream world is so massively intricate, they can't even take the first step. Even for myself, it was a long while before I could. I wanted to show you that what you had to learn wouldn't just take a few nights. It is going to take time, but you will learn, one step at a time.
"There are some things in this world that are far from simple and it can be difficult to understand them. But you shouldn't rush them, nor should you expect to. With time, you will understand and you will learn. And while I did aid you in the matter, comforting Scootaloo, getting her to realise her fears and giving her the courage to face them? That was all you, my student. That was your first step and you performed admirably."
Dusk started to smile. "Yes… it was. Wait, she hasn't spoken to Rainbow yet. How do you know that she will?"
"I believe she will," she said knowingly.
"But I still need to face my own fears and beat them in my dreams," he said.
"That was another reason I sent you to her. Answer me something: all those fiends you faced and even your own fears… were you ever alone?"
He didn't even have to think about that answer. "No…"
"And you will never have to be." She draped her wing around him in a comforting embrace. "This will be a challenge for you, one that will be difficult and it will take it's time, but you will succeed."
He looked up at her. "How can you be so sure?"
"Think of who you used to be and look where you are now." She smiled. "You've already done it, once before."
Though it was night, the city did not sleep. The lights of neon shone as bright as the stars above, drowning out their lights. Taxi carts continued to ferry ponies back and forth between the various events the city's nightlight had to offer. Everypony had something to do and nopony paid any mind to the flickering shadows they might glimpse out of the corner of their eyes.
Thus it was that Fallen was able to move between the alleyways, streets and rooftops of the Eastern city without being detected. Now and again, he had to stop and rest. The power Sombra's horn granted him gave him the ability to melt into the shadows, but he was still getting used to the power and the drain it put on him when used too much.
Even one lost to darkness had to be careful of being swallowed by the shadows.
It helped as well that he had temporarily discarded his armour and dressed again in the dark, hooded robe he'd used before. It meant he was lighter on his hooves, not to mention quieter. He was practically a shadow himself.
He paused to check the street he was on. The rendezvous wasn't far from here. If those he'd contacted about information on these two were correct, they would be meeting him there tonight. They were reluctant to talk of them at first and Fallen suspected it was out of fear of the pair. He soon reminded them who they should fear.
Almost a week he'd spent travelling here to the East and it had taken a little longer to find a way to get in contact with them. But it would be worth it. These two had quite a reputation. They were just what he was looking for.
One last shadow walk and he arrived. A courtyard behind a temple, the tall building casting adequate darkness. For extra measure, he extinguished the feeble lamps that were placed there. Now, all he had to do was wait.
And he didn't have to wait long. He sensed movement in the shadows and the faint flickering of fabric in the wind. He turned and there they stood.
The pair stood motionless a few feet away. They were slim, almost unnaturally so, small, but he didn't let their appearance deceive him. They wore identical robes, coloured white and red with intricate flower patterns. Their manes were tied in traditional buns, but the most striking features were their faces… or lack thereof. They both wore theatre masks, black on one half and white on the other. One wore a mask of sadness, a painted tears under both eyes. The other wore a mask of happiness, its painted lips smiling eerily so.
They watched him silently and he watched them. He silently wondered if he'd be able to defeat them should they turn on him. Quite likely he would, but they may be stubborn about it if their reputations were anything to go by. But he wasn't here to fight them.
"Finding you two was rather challenging," he said. "One of the qualities that I seek from thee."
They didn't reply. They just watched him, barely moving. He didn't expect them to either.
"I shall get to the point," he went on. "I know the skills and talents owed to thee, but thine efforts are wasted on petty thievery and assassinations of criminal scum thou findest thyselves doing. What I seek from thee is not a single task to be accomplished, but a journey towards a better world."
Now they moved. The two of them cocked their heads curiously at him. He let his wings and horn show and they cocked their heads a little further.
"Thou knowest what this means. Thou knowest the power I must possess. Thou knowest that more honour, more glory must be gained from aiding me in mine efforts than anything the so-called crime lords may offer thee," he said. "Come with me and it shall be yours. What say thee?"
Their heads returned to their former positions, but still they were silent. Perhaps they weren't concerned with that and only the money.
"What we task ourselves to I am certain will result in some monetary gains, if that is thy concern. Though this I cannot guarantee, I…"
He stopped speaking because they moved again. This time, their heads sunk into low bows. They agreed.
"Excellent. Then, Snick," he said to the happy faced one and to the despairing one. "Slash. I bid thee the warmest of welcomes."