//------------------------------// // Nightmares // Story: Corruption 2: Advent of Darkness // by LordLycaon //------------------------------// The darkness was everywhere. Everywhere she looked, darkness. She was in an infinite expanse of black. She kept heading forward, hoping, praying that she could find some sort of light. Anything would be better than this endless nothingness. As she continued onward, she could finally see a gleaming light in the distance. It was small, flickering, and weak, but it was a light all the same. She immediately started running toward it, a small bit of hope having flared to life in her chest. She could finally escape this abysmal place! She could finally go home to her friends and see her family! She could- The white light flashed red for an instant. She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw that. The light continued to flicker between red and white, staying red for longer periods of time until it stopped. The bloody shade split into two orbs that became menacing, evil eyes. "You will fall into Darkness," said a booming voice that nearly deafened her. The entire plain of blackness lit up into a blazing inferno, the eyes carried by a massive black blaze. "It is your destiny" The blaze moved in to devour her in its infernal maw. -o- Twilight shot up with a scream, drenched in a cold sweat, panting heavily. She looked around her bedroom and out the window. It was morning. It looked like the sun had only risen about an hour ago. She placed a hoof over her chest to calm herself a little. But that persisting nightmare of hers… "Twilight!" called Spike as he rushed into her room. "Are you all right? I heard you scream!" The purple mare nodded reluctantly. "Y-yes, Spike. I'm fine. Just a… bad dream is all." The baby dragon didn't seem entirely convinced, but he didn't press the subject. "Well, okay. Breakfast is ready downstairs whenever you're ready." Twilight nodded gratefully as the little dragon left her room. She leaned back in her bed, staring up at the ceiling. That nightmare again… that black inferno with the ruby red eyes… ever since Sombra's defeat three months ago, that sole image had plagued her sleep nearly every night. Princess Luna had tried to help her, but all that did was give the moon princess the same horrible dream for about a week. The young mare sighed as she pulled herself out of bed and got ready for the day. When she finished, she headed downstairs and into the dining room, where a fresh stack of pancakes awaited her. Spike was in the kitchen, washing his own plate along with a third set. Twilight furrowed her brow slightly. "Spike, where's Flash?" "He had to go out for a little bit," the baby dragon answered. "He said it was just regular guard stuff." "Oh." Twilight sighed and sat to eat her breakfast, lifting up a fork and knife with her magic. She had grown used to eating breakfast with Flash Sentry. After Twilight had been released from the hospital in Canterlot, Princess Celestia had recommended that a guard stay with Twilight until further notice, just in case… something happened. Flash was one of the few who volunteered for the job. He was a nice enough guy, and even helped around the library when he wasn't out on the town running errands or doing guard work. Twilight occasionally caught herself just staring at him when she didn't think anyone else was looking. This didn't go unnoticed by her friends, who sometimes teased her about having a crush, which she of course denied completely. She finished eating and levitated her plate and eating utensils into the kitchen, where Spike took them and got to washing them. Twilight then left the dining room and went into her workplace in the library, where she kept her schedules. She could see that some things had already been crossed out. Flash and Spike must've already taken care of a few things on the list. It was still pretty long, though, even by Twilight's standards, which was really saying something. It looked like she might have some free time later today. Maybe she would go out for little bit. After her… incident… she'd been avoiding others except for her friends. Everypony else seemed to get nervous around her, for understandable reasons. Even her own family, Shining Armor and Cadance included, seemed a bit unnerved when they were in her presence. But she occasionally went outside regardless. She needed to get out from time to time, if only to stretch her legs. She headed over to the door after calling out to tell Spike that she was going to run a few errands, taking her to-do list with her. The sun outside was as bright as always, shining over all of Equestria with its brilliant glow. She looked over the list and went for the first thing that wasn't crossed out. She had to go see Applejack about catering for a party that Pinkie Pie was going to throw in a few days. She didn't know why Pinkie was planning this party, but she didn't really question it. She'd learned not to question Pinkie's logic. It was better for her sanity that way. Rolling up the list, she headed straight for Sweet Apple Acres. Suddenly, she felt a chill on her back. She turned, and saw nothing but Ponyville and a few of its inhabitants walking about, running their own errands. That feeling just now, though… it was… familiar. Like she had encountered its source before. She shook her head. It was probably nothing. She continued on down the road, shrugging off what had just happened. But despite her attempts to ignore it, she couldn't shake the feeling that somepony – or something – was watching her. Something… familiar… -o- Drip. Drip. Drip. The sound of water dripping from the stalactites on the cave ceiling above was the only thing that permeated the dense darkness of the cavern. The silence was eerie, enough to send chills down one's spine. A small light began to flare to life. A dark unicorn stallion sneered as he stood from where he had been lying, his horn glowing with barely enough light to allow him to see his bleak surroundings. Where was he? How had he gotten here? And why did his magic feel so weak? Whatever the reason, he needed – no, demanded – answers. He looked around briefly, then headed down through the dark corridor. Drip. Drip. Drip. Those infernal droplets were beginning to irritate him. His frighteningly unnatural eyes held a look of agitation. He shook his head and continued forward. He tried to recall what happened before he woke up in this strange place. A bright light. A young unicorn mare with pure white eyes. It all soon hit him like a landslide. He had been defeated by that insolent little mare. But how? His magic was the most powerful in all of Equestria! The only one with power that could surpass his own was his mentor, but that mare didn't use dark magic. It was something else entirely. It was pure light. The perfect contrast to the dark magic that he normally used. Drip. Drip. Drip. He glared up at the ceiling. He was tempted to blast the stone above to stop that nuisance sound, but he knew better. Doing that would likely cause the entire cavern to collapse. Even his magic wasn't strong enough to keep a mountain from crushing his body into the dirt. "Annoying," he muttered to himself. "I know, right?" inquired a voice from behind. The dark stallion turned, ready to fight, only to let his jaw drop at the sight of a wild amalgam of animals reclining on a sofa, playing a game of solitaire on a card table. "I was beginning to wonder when you'd notice me. I'm sorta hard to miss, you know." "Who and what are you?" the stallion demanded, his horn flaring more brightly. The mismatched creature just laughed in response. "Wow, you really are just too serious, aren't you?" he inquired in a mocking tone. "Relax. I'm no enemy of yours. In fact, I'd like us to be the best of bosom buddies! But not really." "I asked you a question, creature!" the stallion shouted angrily. "And you will soon have your answer, my student," said a loud, booming voice. Above them, a pair of blazing red eyes opened, glaring down at the both of them. The stallion and the mix-and-match creature looked up with very different expressions; the stallion with recognition and reverence, and the creature with a bored look. "Oh, you again," the creature said with a yawn. "Here to chastise me again, old timer? I've heard all your speeches before." "Show respect, beast!" the stallion exclaimed indignantly. "You are in the presence of the greatest sorcerer this world has ever seen and ever will see!" "Calm yourself, my student," the voice replied. "You do not know of this one, but he is another of my students. His disrespect is very much to be expected. I have taught him the ways of chaos, just as I have taught you the ways of fear." The stallion did as he was instructed and backed away from the amalgam, who smirked cockily at him. "You are both required for a very sensitive task. That is why I had him transport you to safety, student. You must both find the one called the Red-Black Beast. He is yet another apprentice of mine, and is one of two chosen required to release me from my cursed prison." "Consider it done, Master," the stallion said with a respectful bow. "Yeah, sure, whatever," the amalgam said as he picked his nose, pulling out his own brain and spinning it like a basketball before replacing it through his ear. "So, where do we find this 'Red-Black Beast' guy anyway?" "He is within a mountain south of Equestria," the voice replied. "He is sealed within Mount Etna." The students of the owner of the voice nodded, and were just about to leave. "One last thing…" The two followers turned to face their master. "In order to break the seal, you will need the Etna Key." "And where is this key, Master?" the stallion inquired. "It lies hidden in a village outside Canterlot. It dwells within Ponyville."