//------------------------------// // Back to Reality // Story: The Marker's Prophecy // by Dakilladj //------------------------------//         The armoured figure was the last thing I saw before being assaulted by light. While scrambling to bring the covers over my eyes, I found that they were no longer there. As a last resort I covered her eyes with my hooves and tried to recover from the sudden attack.                  “Wake up princess, you’re late to breakfast!” a familiar feminine voice said to my right.         My eyes had adjusted enough to at least give a vague impression as to whom was in the room with me. Sure enough a royal guard was by my bedside. Why this guard was here I hadn’t the faintest idea.         “Get up, Princess Celestia sent me to escort you.” The guard stated in a tired tone.         I grunted before bringing myself upright. Rubbing my eyes, I noticed the sheets I had so desperately sought were just out of my reach. I Looked towards the guard with a look of accusation.                  “Do you really think I don’t know how to wake your highness up by now? This has been the fourth time this week alone princess.” The guard defended herself. “I’ve learnt that eliminating the blanket and using sunlight is the most effective strategy. Anything else and I would've had to drag you out of bed.”         I nodded in agreement. Memories of mornings past informed me that anything, but this method would result in me just shrugging the guard off. I started out of bed and the guard moved towards the door.         “I’ll be right outside. Don’t keep your sister waiting.” The guard said before closing the door behind her.         Stretching my fore and back legs, I glanced around my room. Unlike my sister’s room, mine was relatively empty aside from the essentials. A closet and dresser of clothes with a mirror sat next to the door. a lounge chair next to a fireplace I haven’t used in a while occupied a fifth of my room. A balcony next to my bed (Princess sized) allowed for midnight flights. Lastly, a desk with a layer of dust was beside my bed. All wrapped in the dark blue paint of the walls and floor. Already in auto-pilot, I got dressed in the standard princess attire. Crown on, slippers slipped into, and mantle wrapped around my neck. Looking into the mirror, they all looked fine. Opening the dresser and taking out a comb kept my hair in line and normal. Sadly, the same couldn’t be said for my eyes. Red veins slowly advanced towards my pupils, the war has been long fought and the veins were ever present. Dismissing what I couldn’t change, I opened the door and sure enough the guard was in the motion of knocking. Bringing down her hoof quickly, she started to lead the way. I followed. “We are exactly twenty minutes late for breakfast princess.” The mare said almost provocatively. “I hope that we aren’t scolded for this” “I’ll talk to Celestia about it.” I promised to the guard. “That would be much appreciated princess.” The guard replied An awkward silence enveloped us as we continued down the many halls of Canterlot Castle. To visitors and new recruits, it is an endless maze. Getting to your desired destination can either take a few minutes or one to two hours depending on whether or not you ask for help. To me, I grew up with these walls around me and I knew them inside out. “Here we are princess. Enjoy your meal.” The guard said before opening the door for me. I snapped out of my reverie, and walked into the room. Inside was a large table and a few chairs. Princess Celestia occupied one, and a few captains were in the others. Sounds could be heard from the room adjacent. The Mess Hall was also lively at this hour. I walked towards the chair next to my sister and took a seat. A servant had seen me enter and had waited for me to settle down. He brought a platter with pancakes. They were buttered and off to the side were my utensils and maple syrup awaited my input. “That will be all, thank you.” Celestia told the servant. He bowed before leaving the room. “Good morning Luna, I hope you slept well.” My sister started with a smile. “I had your favorite made and served.” “I thank you for that sister.” I replied automatically. “What did I miss today in the morning court?” “Nothing special. The rich complaining about their lack of privilege, the royals complaining about minor offences against them, et cetera, et cetera.” My sister replied “I hope it was worth missing.” “It helps, and I have to also thank you for that as well.” I said. “What is the weather looking like?” “A downpour scheduled for the morning, and all will be sunny for the rest of the afternoon.” My sister said. She nodded to the captains as they finished up their meal and left the room. “How have the dreams been?” “Horrible, they always start out the same way.” I tried to keep my composure. “I don’t know why this is happening sister, it is just too strange.” “I don’t know how to help you Luna. If you need any help than you just have to ask.” Celestia replied; draping her wing over me. “I’ll always be here to help Wuna.” “Thanks Tia, I’ve tried to understand them but i’d rather not even think of them at all.” I replied, snuggling closer to my sister. “I have a feeling that they aren’t going to stop anytime soon.” “What did you see this time?” Celestia asked me. “Was it worse than last night’s?” “The dreams always gets worse in someway. They either get longer or more vivid.” I tried to explain. “ I don’t know how to stop them. I don’t even know if what they entail will befall our Land, but every night I get more and more sure it will happen.” “ Explaining them to me might help. You don’t have to burden yourself with this knowledge alone.” Celestia tried to console. Thinking back to my dreams, I couldn’t describe them to anypony. It was horrible enough just being in them, but describing them would be in an entirely different league. Celestia’s my sister and the most powerful being on the planet. She could handle it right? “Very well; I will tell you about them tonight. Are you available?” I asked my sister. “For you? Always. Come to my room when you are ready to talk. Although, coming after the afternoon court would prove to be ideal.” Celestia replied unwrapping her wing. “Be prepared Tia. These dreams are unlike any you, or even I, have ever experienced.” I warned “I’ll be ready. All you have to do is explain. If there isn’t anything else, then I must be off. Have a nice day Wuna.” Celestia said as she parted from the room. I sighed and turned back to my food. I had regained some of my appetite, but the pancakes still remained half finished as I left the room.         Ever since the dreams had started, I’ve been losing sleep. This lead to most of my duties being given to others. Currently, I was on vacation with no responsibilities other than keeping myself going. Easier said than done when these dreams advocate death and destruction of our race and every living thing in the world.         Turning a corner I heard voices from down the hall.         “So why do you think she has so much free time now?” Voice A asked         “We don’t know, but it maybe that she is suffering from some kind of sickness.” Voice B replied         “Or she just doesn’t want to work, that’s always on the table.” Voice C chimed in.         silently approaching the voices, I rounded a corner and they all saluted simultaneously.         “Princess! Nothing special to report.” Guard C stated.          “At ease, continue the good work.”I replied. before continuing on my way.          Rumour and speculation had been rampant throughout the castle. Ponies will wonder why one of their beloved sovereigns isn’t doing their job anymore.         Wandering had been my go-to strategy for dealing with the stress, but between the somewhat harsh glances received by guards and the growing awareness of my actions, or lack there of, I needed to be doing something that at least looked somewhat productive. Currently walking around and investigating the flora from the gardens got everyone to stop with the glares.         The gardens was exactly where I was going. I desperately needed a schedule to organize all the ‘work’ I’d need to do for the days to come.         The gardens were a calming sight. The lush abundance of colours and fragrances dulled my senses. I walked towards a pavilion in the distance, all the while taking in my surrounds and the ponies as well. I smiled, forgotten by the world for a short period of time.         I’d better make this a habit, I almost feel like starting up my duties again. Yet there was something nagging me at the back of my mind. It was truly the only thing keeping me from achieving a perfect state of mind.         “Come to my room when you are ready to talk.” The words echoed in my head. For some reason I felt a growing dread in my stomach. I would need to talk to my sister about the dreams, but how could I? I wouldn’t know where to begin, let alone continue for long without breaking down.                  The garden grew silent as I closed my eyes and pondered my predicament. I needed to tell Celestia about my dreams, but was now the right time? When is the right time to talk about nightmares that may or may not come true?         I was beginning to get a headache as I pondered my situation. opening my eyes, the first thing i noticed was that there were no living souls in the gardens besides myself. Weird, this is the busiest time for the gardeners. They must be slacking off as well.         “Luna” said a voice behind me. I turned to look but found that nopony was there. Disregarding the strange atmosphere I now found myself in, i started on my way back to the castle. I couldn't take a step as I took in my surroundings. The scents I had been inhaling earlier were no longer present with only a stench of decay in it’s place. What is going on here? It hadn’t been 5 minutes since I had taken a break. Am i going crazy? “It’s coming Luna” the voice from before warned. The source was nowhere in the garden from the looks of it. That was when i heard IT. The sound that made my blood run cold. A steady thumping coming from behind,indicating that something large was approaching. I’d heard it many time before, but not once in reality. It got louder and louder until I snapped my head to get a glimpse of the horrendous creature that was ready to eviscerate me. Nothing was there, it was all my imagination I told myself. Only a glance at the flowers below me informed me that not all was right. Gone were the numerous colours only to be replaced with a dark blue. A red substance was starting to drip out of the flowers as i tried to back away. Before I could blink the sky transformed from a cheery blue to a deep black. How I was able to see at all was beyond me, but unfortunately i still could. The gazebo from before started to rot as the wood turned to ruin right in front of me. Turning to the castle, it was even worse for wear. The walls started to crumble and turn to dust in the vicious winds. “We are coming Luna” the voice said in my ear. I couldn’t speak, it was hard enough keeping the tears from flowing as i watched my home blow away. Leaving behind only a wide tower I’d never seen before. Why this was the only building spared was beyond me, yet i was glad at least something survived. “We are coming soon.” the voice promised me. I was somehow enthralled by the tower before me. I somehow knew there was something inside, and that something was the key to this whole ordeal regarding the dreams. I focused on the building as it slowly opened itself like a box, spraying darkness outwards. My hope shriveled up and I started to back away as I realized exactly what was inside. Even being in it’s presence was enough to unnerve and downright terrify even the toughest of ponies. Out from the darkness came the object from which all every nightmare would become reality. It’s red glow shone through the sludge covering its ancient surface. “And you will make us whole” the voice said. I felt a presence on my back and two legs appeared in my peripheral vision. They rested on my face and slowly brought my head to the side. What I saw was a white slim ape with three holes in what I would assume to be its face. I couldn’t take a breath before the eyes started to glow a violent light. The being let out a high pitched shriek that invaded my skull and vibrated in my brain. I felt myself falling to the ground before everything went black.