Celestia's eyes snapped open as the goddess bolted upright, sweat glistening on her furrowed brow. Although the cool air of her private quarters soothed her face, her heart still raced at a speed possibly detrimental to her health. Her breathing was pained, and her throat ached with dryness.
"My, you look terrible... As always. Hahaha!"
Casting a frustrated glance at the draconequus leaning against the far wall of her dormitory, the Princess grasped a pitcher of water in her magic, attempting to pour herself some relief for her throat. A few drops splashed onto the end-table upon which the glass sat as her magic flickered, making her grip unstable.
"Allow me."
Celestia felt the pitcher gently remove itself from her grip. It danced about for a few seconds before filling the glass the rest of the way. The Princess' magic reached out a bit too eagerly, snatching the glass from the end-table. Catching herself and reapplying her restraint, Celestia took a dainty, albeit lengthy, sip. Some of the liquid dribbled down her chin, eliciting a laugh from her company.
"By all means, no need to restrain yourself for my sake, Sunbutt."
Slowly lowering the glass, the Princess couldn't help a sigh of relief as the water eased most of the dryness away.
"How long was I..."
"A day. I ran a whole day and night cycle for the both of you, since there was no one around to do it."
"Luna...?"
"She's still asleep. I wouldn't wake her, though."
The Princess stopped herself from getting up. Her maternal instinct was overridden by her calm logic; both she and Luna needed their rest.
Discord crossed his arms, his uninterested gaze meeting Celestia's concerned one. "You're welcome, by the way. I managed to tell Rarity that you and your sister are looking for a way to bring her and her friends back."
"You didn't... You didn't see anypony else?"
"No. I thought they would all be together, seeing as how we homed in on their magic essences, but I didn't see the others. Rarity didn't even know they were in the same dimension as her."
"Goodness... This is troublesome indeed."
Discord stroked his beard with a griffon claw. "There could be multiple realms within those realms, for all we know. I could feel that the others were... How to say this...? 'Far, yet near.' There seemed to be an unseen veil or other that kept me from seeing them." He shrugged. "Not that I care to think about it that much."
The Princess' expression softened momentarily; she knew the small bit of good in Discord was twisted in a knot of worry for Fluttershy.
"Far, yet near... Maybe Rarity will know something about this."
"I doubt she even knows how she got there."
"Did you ask her?"
"There was only time for me to ask what you told me to ask, so no."
The Princess slumped back into her bed. She wondered how this had all started in the first place; the Elements of Harmony disappearing overnight into a nightmarish, magic-starved world filled with deadly creatures. Although they had faced the dangers of Equestria with little hesitation, Celestia felt this new realm was a different kind of danger.
The Princess closed her eyes for a moment. She knew she was in for a series of sleepless nights.
The gentle roar of the bonfire sounded more like wind than flame. The unicorn doubted she would ever get used to the ethereal fire; it waved slowly about, like seaweed moving in rhythm with the ocean's push and pull, but not taking notice of any wind that made it into the ruined tower. Pale sunlight streamed in through the doorway, making sleep pretty much unreachable.
Worse still, her excitement to finally meet Princess Luna and potentially get home was keeping her awake, her mind running through the multiple causes of what stranded her here.
An artifact?
An ancient spell?
A freak magical accident?
A curse...?
She shivered at the last option, recalling Tarkus' condition. However, as much as it seemed to coincide with this place and what was going on, it didn't line up with how she was pulled from Equestria. Something like that didn't exist back home, as far as she knew.
Could it?
The unicorn sat up, staring across the bonfire to the doorway, where the knight sat. He leaned against the wall nearest to the door, his gaze focused one something outside. There didn't seem to be anything out there, however, judging by the way his head roved back and forth while his eyes scanned the buildings outside. His hands were relaxed, but still touching the sword hilt.
The massive blade had its point in the ground, the hilt coming up just above the knight's waist. Nicks in the edges betrayed the true age of the weapon, as it was highly polished and well maintained. It didn't match the armor, which looked rather dirty and battered in comparison.
Discord's words came back to the unicorn, echoing in her ears. She frowned.
Whatever made Discord distrust Tarkus was beyond her. She initially doubted that Discord knew what he was talking about, and solely misjudged the knight for who he was. The more she thought about it, however, the more her opinion of Tarkus began to shift, as well as poke holes in her own theory.
Discord would not likely be joking in circumstances as desperate as these. As little as he seemed to care for them, he always meant the best, especially after befriending Fluttershy. In that moment, she also began to doubt Tarkus, as well. Beneath the title of "knight of Berenike," he was nothing but a man on the brink of self-destruction, and despite the fact that her presence had pulled him back, there was no telling how much more suffering it would take until he finally...
She shivered, unwilling to even finish the simple thought of the unthinkable. More possibilities crowded into her head as she wandered her own thoughts and began to pull from her experiences. Rarity remembered stories of ponies who lived outside of Equestria who would beset you with a harrowing plight and ask for help. They would bring the clueless passerby to an ambush and foalnap them, then sent the unlucky victim across the sea in a slave ship and never to be seen again.
Rarity shook her head.
No, the knight's vow earlier seemed genuine.
Even though everything logically pointed to him being potentially traitorous: The fact that Rarity did not know the surrounding area; that Tarkus could be leading her away from her goal; the possibility that Rarity was not in chains at the moment simply because he could possibly not afford to take any chances and wanted her unharmed for potential enslavement.
Both of these were ignored simply because she couldn't believe it herself.
It felt wrong to pass judgement on him like that.
The knight seemed too interested in Rarity's personal life and sharing his own at the same time. She felt that Tarkus was a lonely man, and was simply enjoying his newfound company. And even though Tarkus seemed fine at the moment, the unicorn had a feeling that it was only temporary. Not to mention the grand city that they had been traveling through for the entire day was completely void of its populace, save for the occasional undead soldier that shambled up and down the ruined streets. If there was a business in enslavement, it did not make itself known, as there didn't seem to be anybody alive who could be interested in such a commodity.
And with that, she was back to square one of her reasoning.
However, before she could start her thinking process again, the knight began to hum a haunting melody. His voice was deep and low, scaling the hills and valleys of the notes with some noticable effort, but he effectively hit them. Rarity did not stay awake long enough to hear it. His baritone humming eased her mind, and draped her under the blanket of unconsciousness.
The Alicorn princess watched as the world around her began to blur into a swirl of color, her darkened bedroom darkening further into a bottomless void.
She was not alarmed by this change; it happened every time she dream-walked.
This dreamwalk was very different, though. She would cross borders she hadn't crossed in millennia, not since she first learned how to do so. That was the night she learned that there were other places out there. Other worlds filled with creatures that no imagination could possibly create.
Her eyes glowed fiercely as she poured what little strength she had recovered into the spell. She watched as her surroundings began to materialize once again. A tiny ray of light pierced the darkness, illuminating Luna's indigo figure. The ray grew into a beam, which expanded into an all-encompassing whiteness, the void around her slinking back in the presence of this contrast.
Unfazed by the sudden burst of brightness, the Princess continued forward as her eyes adjusted, the light seeming to fade almost immediately. Figures, initially blurred, quickly sharpened into the outlines of fairly large stone buildings.
Luna's jaw tightened briefly. What kind of creatures lived here if they rivaled her in size? By Equestrian standards, she was fairly tall; only a head shorter than her sister, but the doorways suggested that they could stand more than just a few hooves taller than her. Gazing around at the architecture, she noted the red coloration and long, straight lines combined with the occasional rounded tower or dome roof. Overall, it was foreign; nothing she had seen before, but not completely alien or otherworldly.
There was little doubt that she was not in the dream of a pony. And she was sure this was the same place that Rarity was.
A bloodcurdling scream cut through the air, chilling Luna to the bone. Despite her brief shiver, her wings flapped once, sending her into the air with a sudden gust of wind. Although the sound was haunting and awful, she still knew what a dream was, and that both she and the dreamer could not be harmed by the contents of the vision.
Another scream--this time, from her right, just below her. One of her wings brushing a rounded chimney, she dipped into a tight turn, tucking her wings as she approached the ground. Kicking off of the wall, she galloped into the tight alleyway, eyes roving the surroundings.
Brick walls surrounded her, creating a passageway almost eight feet wide. Rooftops blotted out rectangular cuts of sunlight above her, leaving little of the fading rays to illuminate the tight corridor. Just ahead of her, two upright figures were wrestling with each other, although one was humongous compared to the other.
"Help! Help! Someone! Please! Auuugh!"
The undoubtedly female voice belonged to the smaller of the two figures, who was shoved against the left wall by a shoulder. Her pleas were silenced as the larger individual jabbed what looked to be some sort of trident at her middle.
"Cease your struggle."
The pointed tips glowed bright blue, the glow almost seeming to be sucked up by the female, whose struggle almost intensified for a couple of seconds. As the artificial light faded, so did the female's resistance. She stopped moving entirely, only her lips moving to speak slowly, her tone autonomous.
"Yes, sir."
The larger figure suddenly noticed the newest arrival, the hood swiveling in Luna's direction. The Princess squinted at the strange sight--the creature was not hooded, but the head was more like a strange helmet with a flat top slightly wider than the rest. Six slits were arranged in two vertical rows of three, from which two glowing blue orbs stared straight back at her.
"You. Such light..."
The trident was lifted again, this time pointing in Luna's general direction. The Princess bristled at the movement, her horn aglow.
"You will join us in the Archives. You'll make a fine subject for my studies..."
Luna's eyes narrowed, her mouth opening to reply.
"Blood and vinegaaar!"
The masculine roar filled the tight space, shocking the Princess into silence. Before she could turn around, something pressed hard on her flank, then released. A dark shape sailed above her, something catching some of the stray sunlight and reflecting it downward into the gloomy passageway.
A massive sword--even longer than Luna's body--glinted dimly in the fading sun. It stretched back past the creature's head and appendages by what seemed like miles, further emphasizing its length. It appeared to be in pristine condition, the dark metal polished to a fine, mirror-esque finish. The blade cascaded down in a long arc, heading straight for the larger figure, who adjusted the trident to point towards the male creature instead.
A bright blue light burned into existence before shattering as something slammed into the enormous masculine creature, but the momentum carried the massive weapon he was carrying straight down--cleaving the sorcerer in two. The man crashed into the ground in front of the female, who was still standing completely still. He rose for a second, but failed to right himself, collapsing.
And just like that, it was over.
There was a short period of silence until the distant ringing of bells and blaring of horns started to build, as well as the clanking of armor coming closer and closer. Luna clicked her tongue in annoyance before willing her form to vanish, unsure of how this world would react to her presence. Just before her snout disappeared, something darted up to her face.
"Wait!"
A blast of blue aura filled the narrow corridor as the Princess defended herself with a hastily-erected barrier. A strange appendage with five individual phalanges appeared against her shield, along with a heavyset, masculine face. In that brief flash of light, Luna got a good glimpse of the aggressor: Bold, craggy features dominated the man's clean-shaven face. Thick brows, thick chin and wide jaw gave him a strong, confident appearance. His hazel eyes gleamed brightly in the fading artificial luminescence, full of disturbingly clear recognition. Their surroundings swirled around them, the setting changing to a different part of the dream. As it slowly began to settle into a new place, the man spoke.
"Who are you? You look... familiar."
The Princess' hackles slowly lowered, although her guard remained up. "We are Pr... Call us Luna. Who are you?"
The spinning around them ceased, revealing the inside of a blacksmith. A set of bellows disappeared into a bright red flame, the coals starting to die down somewhat. Various tools, tongs and bits were spread out on a table beside it, just past a massive anvil almost the size of Luna, as well as a smaller anvil about the size of her head. Two vats were situated next to those, one filled with water, while the other was filled with a darker liquid. Past the cobbles of what appeared to be the "smithy" was a bed with an itchy-looking blanket, as well as an (thankfully) empty chamber-pot.
As the Princess drank in the remainder of the humble interior, the man in front of her rubbed his chin with a coal-smudged hand.
"I... I swear I could have seen you somewhere..." The man quickly broke his stare, shaking his head. "My apologies; I am old, and my facilities fail me from time to time." He gave a slight bow, his right leg extended forward. "I am Tarkus of Berenike."
As he introduced himself, the Princess inspected this "Tarkus." He wore a simple white shirt with a small parting at the collar, tied together by a series of leather strips. A large, brown apron stretched across most of his form, dropping all the way to the top of his knees. A pair of heavy boots covered the remainder of his lower limbs, while a pair of thick gloves now covered his hands. Everything except for the shirt was scarred and blackened from heavy use. However, the wound on his chest was still apparent, the blood leaking down the front of his apron.
"Tarkus of Berenike... You're wounded..." Luna started.
"Oh, it's nothing too dangerous." Tarkus pulled down the collar, revealing a sort of brand--a lone circle that almost seemed to glow a dull red. "If I do bleed out, I'll be back without a hitch.
"By... By what means have you procured such devilry?!" Luna demanded, her discomfort beginning to show.
"It is a curse bestowed upon us by the Gods," Tarkus stated simply. "Why or how, we do not know. But it is the way things are, now."
The Princess' eyes narrowed. "F-fine, but earlier, you said you recognize us. How is this so?"
The man scratched his half-combed mop of jaw-length hair. "Well, maybe not specifically you, but one of your... kind, for lack of a better term."
"Our kind... Then, you mean..."
Over the crackling of the kiln behind the two, the alarms and cries had completely died down. Luna glanced back, unsettled by the sudden silence. "What was that, out there? In the alley?"
Tarkus crossed his burly arms. "That... That was a Six-eyed Channeler."
Luna turned to face him again, fixing him with an expectant stare. "Yes?"
"They've been abducting our women and children through magic; either through coercion, or bending their will to their own. What people have heard is that they take their victims back to the Duke's Archives, back in the capital city."
"What happens there?"
"Experimentation, torture, or worse. No one really knows. What we do know is that our king turns a blind eye to our predicament, as we are left to defend ourselves against Seath's followers."
Luna frowned, concern registering on her features. "Have you...?"
Tarkus perked up. "Have I lost anyone?" He chuckled. "No. I was lucky enough to have lost my family before this started."
The Princess' frown deepened. "Regardless, we are sorry."
"So, why are you here, then?"
Taken aback by the sudden inquiry, Luna took her time with her answer.
"We... I am looking for somepony. Somepony like me."
"Does she have a purple mane? Well-combed, well-kept, with a marble-white coat and sky-blue eyes?"
The Princess was taken even further aback at the flawless description of the unicorn in question. "So you've seen her?"
"I've met her. She is... a wonderful individual, I must admit," Tarkus chuckled.
"How... How is Rarity?" Luna asked, relief flooding her mind.
"She's a lively one. More lively than anyone I've known for a very, very long time."
The Princess couldn't help a quiet giggle. "She can be quite the drama queen."
"Yes, yes she can. Do you know she fainted when I offered her my protection?"
Luna shook her head. "It is worse than we thought!" She declared with mock concern.
Tarkus smiled, and for a moment, Luna felt a warmth from him that she hadn't this entire time, almost as if he was glowing with heat. Gazing at his face, she recognized it as legitimate happiness. A mirthful moment of respite for someone who had been alone for so long.
Which was what worried her.
"So, I assume you know her position?" She inquired.
"We are heading to the Duke's Archives; our only hope lies in the magic compiled there."
Luna's brow furrowed. "Isn't that where...?"
"The experiment, torture and other horrible unmentionables are?" Tarkus nodded. "Yes; you see, it is all experiments in magic, which is an ever-evolving science here."
"Yes, as it is in our world," Luna admitted.
"Then you realize it is the only place where we could find a possibility of getting our unicorn home."
Luna winced as he said, 'our.' After a short pause, she began again, "When you get there, will you..."
Tarkus cocked an eyebrow. "Will I what?"
Luna gulped. It was a rather rude question to ask, but she didn't have an eternity to stick around.
"Will you be able to let her go?"
Tarkus stiffened visibly for a moment, his eyes widening slightly. In that instant, the stalwart confidence of the weathered, experienced blacksmith faded. His mouth wavered for a moment before he let out a steady exhale.
"Of course. I wouldn't have it any other way."
The Princess' gaze hardened. "Promise me."
Tarkus straightened up, the warrior-esque fire rekindled behind his eyes. He placed a fist on his sternum, his voice projecting slightly more than usual in the tiny smithy.
"I swear on my honor as a knight of Berenike."
Luna's wings opened up, almost brushing some of the equipment on the nearby tables. Her eyes blazed white-hot with energy, small bursts of electricity and magic darting out from her horn and mane.
"Princess Luna of the Solar Sister Diarchy accepts your oath, sir knight. May our favor guide your blade, and light your path."
Tarkus' eyes widened for a moment in childlike awe before returning to their hardened, weathered selves. He gave a silent nod, as did Luna.
There was a brief pause as the two drank in the similarities of each other's worlds, impressed with each other's familiarity of such procedures, as well as each other's appreciation for the values held within them.
Luna smiled before taking a few steps back. "We take our leave, Knight Tarkus."
The smithy began to fade, as did Tarkus' form. Black plate armor materialized over the heavy boots and heat-scarred apron.
"As must I, Princess."
As the vision began to fade, Luna watched as Tarkus was enveloped in the still-conjuring suit of armor. Just as his face began to disappear, she noticed something off.
His eyes darkened before disappearing entirely, as if receding into his skull. Twin pits as dark as the deepest twilight stared back, devoid of life or emotion. There was a brief glint of something red before the rest of the helmet appeared--and Luna's vision disappeared, leaving her alone in her darkened bedchamber.
Luna exhaled deeply, feeling as if she had just emerged from a deep body of water.
One down. Six more to find.