//------------------------------// // Chapter 14 - The Sarcophagus, Pt. 2 // Story: Nighttide Star // by Vertigo-01 //------------------------------// “Nngh…” Rainbow Dash stirred, eyes fluttering against closed lids. Her head throbbed with a dull ache, made worse by a set of strange noises surrounding her. But after a moment, the noises became more discernible. Gruff voices spoke from nearby. “… cess, we need… ack to Canter…” “It wi… day soon.” “Nay,” came a louder, more prominent voice. “In time.” Rainbow heard another noise, something like hooves galloping through mud. A series of familiar voices sounded from behind her. “Princess! Are y’all alright?” “Good heavens, Princess, what happened here?” “Oh my gosh, you guys! Is everything…?” There was a hush, followed soon after by a timid, frightened voice. “…Rainbow Dash?” That was enough to wake the pegasus. With a groan, Rainbow Dash slowly rolled onto her stomach, trying to make her way to her hooves. There was a collective gasp from all around her. As she kneeled on the ground, she looked up and squinted to see who it was. A bright orange slit of an eye stared back. “Daah!” Rainbow jumped back, only to fall into the forelegs of another pony. She jerked her head around and found Fluttershy looking back in just as much shock as her. “Rainbow Dash! Are you alright?” The cerulean pegasus turned her attention back forward. Several of her friends were gathered around her, along with a couple of Night Guards – staring back at her with orange eyes. “Ugh,” she groaned as she stood back to her hooves. “You guys ever, like, think about working Nightmare Night full-time?” “Rainbow Dash,” Applejack called out as she galloped over to her side. “What in Celestia’s mane happened to y’all here?” “Uh, you’re asking the wrong pony.” Rubbing the side of her head with a hoof, she shouted to one of the guards, “Hey, what is going on? And how long was I out?” As one of the guards opened his mouth to reply, he was interrupted by a regal voice from nearby. “I believe I can answer your question.” Rainbow Dash turned to find Princess Luna lying in a patch of tall, wet grass, flanked on either side by a mare. Twilight lay against her visible side, appearing to rest peacefully. On the other end, Nighttide was sprawled out in a shallow plot of swamp mud, her mane and tail matted with debris while her metal wings lay flat against the ground. As for Luna— “Whoa, Princess!” Rainbow Dash motioned for Applejack to step back as she approached Luna. “Wha… are you okay?” The Princess’ flowing mane and tail glowed an ethereal blue, the stars within glistening with even more intensity than usual. But despite her cosmic appearance, the rest of her body lay disheveled and bruised. Her left wing was compressed by Twilight’s body leaning against her side, but on the other end, Rainbow could tell her right wing was either injured or broken, as the joints and plumes stuck out at odd angles along her side. Her dark blue coat was covered in grass and mud in various areas. And yet, her sapphire eyes pierced through the night with as much life as ever, staring right back at the pegasus. She smiled. “It is good to see you well, Rainbow Dash.” Rainbow blinked. “Heh. Wish I could say the same of you, Princess.” __________ “Okay… calm down. We just… need to press forward for now, right? So… let’s objectively review the material here.” Twilight was stuck somewhere in a dark world between dreams. Ever since her last conversation with Princess Luna, the darkness had only receded in bits and pieces. While shapes and sounds still tried to take form, the progression had slowed to a crawl, leaving Twilight with what she hoped to be enough time to gather her own thoughts before they were forcibly pushed out by someone else’s again. “Alright,” she muttered to herself in the dark ether, her voice neither echoing nor ceasing in its travel. “The last dream was of Nighttide in a hospital. And before that, I had a dream about her mother, as her mother…” She tilted her head. “But how is that even possible?” Twilight took a moment to breathe, focusing on the instinctive rhythm as she carefully organized her thoughts. “Okay. The first thing I dreamt of was a war… in Equestria…” She squinted into the blurred horizon as she tried to recall the details. “Something to do with the Griffons. And Rainbow Dash was…” She grimaced at the memory of her friend collapsing in a besieged cottage. “…No. It wasn’t real. None of that ever happened. We were falling together when the Night Guard picked her up. So why…?” She blinked, then sighed in defeat. “Yeah, this is definitely not making any sense—” Suddenly, the world around her began to shake violently. Shapes, colors, and sounds flooded her senses as she was pulled from her train of thought. “UGH,” she growled against the turmoil. “A little objective sensibility wouldn’t hurt right about now!” And the darkness was filled once more with light. __________ Everypony gathered around Princess Luna as she shuffled herself to a more comfortable position. She took a moment to nuzzle the top of Twilight’s mane before turning her attention back to everyone else. Rainbow Dash stepped ahead of the crowd, glancing between the two mares surrounding the Princess. With a shaky voice, she asked, “A-are they alright?” “Yes,” Luna replied with a calming grace. “They are currently in the dream realm as we speak.” Running a dirty hoof through the back of her mane, Rainbow said, “Sorry I didn’t get to go along. But, like, what happened, exactly?” She pointed to Nighttide as she said, “Last thing I remember was crazy-mane over there going kamikaze on us.” As if on cue, a low snarl emanated from Nighttide’s mouth. Princess Luna glanced aside at the mare best that she could from her position, then returned her attention to Rainbow with a tired gaze. “I’m afraid the aura has done quite a number on your friend here. But to answer your question: Nighttide crashed into my barrier, effectively kicking us out of the sky. It appeared you were knocked unconscious in the process.” Rainbow winced as she rubbed a hoof to her temple. “So that’s why it feels like I’ve got lightning for brains right now. How long was I out?” The Princess looked up at the moon, now resting close to one side of the thick border of trees looming around them. “A couple of hours.” “Huh.” Looking over at her friends, she asked, “And when did you guys get here?” Rarity trotted up alongside the rest, gesturing with a hoof to a nearby guard. “These gentlecolts here escorted us at the request of the Princess. We only just got here.” Rainbow nodded idly as she looked over the Night Guard standing behind her friends. Two of the guards unbuckled themselves from Luna’s carriage, upon which rested the stirring figure of a blue stallion. “Princess Luna,” one of the guards spoke as he approached the alicorn. “I apologize in advance, but I must insist that we make arrangements for your return to Canterlot. Your sister will awake within the next few hours.” The Princess let out an audible sigh, laced with both frustration and concern. “I understand. I’m just… not sure how best to approach this matter.” She leaned her head back to glance once more at Nighttide. “Given our current circumstances, I cannot be separated from either Nighttide or Princess Twilight. I must stay close if I am to maintain their connection.” “We could transport you with the two back to Canterlot in your carriage,” another guard suggested. “But therein lies another issue,” she said as she turned to the guard. “The potential threat of Nighttide to the capital. If she were to separate from Twilight’s conscious with the aura still intact, I cannot predict what may happen.” She furrowed her brow and added, “I doubt it would be in the best interest of Equestria to return with this mare in tow.” Fluttershy trotted up to the Princess. “Is Nighttide really that much of a threat?” “You should’ve seen her back there,” Rainbow commented from aside, hovering a little off the ground to make emphasis with her hooves. “She was like something right out of a nightmare! I didn’t even know she could do half the things she did.” “Well then, I reckon we’ll have to set here a spell,” Applejack said as she sat down between the two. “I’m afraid that is out of the question,” another guard spoke. “The Princess must return to Canterlot if she is to lower the moon on time.” “Wait,” Rarity said. “You mean, she can’t just do it from anywhere in Equestria?” Princess Luna was now becoming visibly irritated, though she continued to keep her tone steady. “I’m afraid not. At the very least, I cannot from this low ground while using my magic to connect two ponies’ dreams together.” Rainbow groaned. “Then what’re we supposed to do?” “Nngh…” The stallion aboard Luna’s carriage stumbled slowly to his hooves. “I believe… I may have a solution.” Everypony turned their attention to the stallion as two guards flew up beside him. “Halt!” one of the guards shouted. “You are under arrest by order of the Princess. Do not speak until—” “Hold thy tongue a moment,” Princess Luna interjected over the guard. As she shifted her position enough to face Riptide, she said, “And what solution might you suggest, Riptide?” “Whoa whoa whoa, hang on a sec,” Rainbow interrupted as the guards gawked at the Princess. “Isn’t this the guy that started this whole mess? Why would you want to listen to him?” “I understand your concern, Rainbow Dash, but I believe it would be in our best interest to—” “Seriously?!” She waved her hooves wildly in the air as she hovered in front of her. “It’s because of him that Twi and Nighttide got jacked up in the first place!” The Princess gave her a dull look. “Well then, might you have any other suggestions to share with us?” “Well… I-I mean…” Rainbow’s hover faltered for a moment as she crossed her forelegs. “…No, but I still don’t like the idea.” Princess Luna nodded. “I cannot say I find it pleasing either. But…” She turned back to Riptide. “I understand that your motives were not all they would seem on the surface.” The two guards hovering beside Riptide looked between each other, then back at Luna. By her nod, they released the stallion, though they continued to hover close. “Right then.” Riptide carefully stood in the carriage, rubbing the side of his head with a hoof. “Unless my imagination is prophetic, you paid a visit to my dreams?” “A few hours ago, yes,” Luna said with a nod. “I’m already apprised of your involvement in full.” Riptide blinked. “In… full?” “Yes.” She tilted her head. “I would believe a scientist such as yourself would understand the breadth and power of alicorn magic by now, given your years of covert research and observation.” Riptide gulped. “R-right. Um…” He cleared his throat as he sat to his haunches. “I can’t say I’m up to speed with everything that’s happened, but from what I understand, the grey mare has been possessed by the negative magic. Correct?” Princess Luna nodded once, silently. “And you need safe travel to Canterlot – something that will keep the magic in check?” “Ugh, seriously dude,” Rainbow grumbled as she hovered toward the carriage, “if you’ve got a point to make, then hurry up and get to it.” “No, I think I do.” He nodded absently. “I’m just trying to cover all my bases.” A moment passed as Riptide sat silent in thought. “I can’t promise it will be completely effective, but I believe my airship would be capable of transporting all of you back safely, while keeping the negative magic in check.” As some of the guards and mares chimed in mixed protests, Princess Luna spoke over them. “And why would you believe this to be the case?” “My ship was designed from day-one to act as a containment vessel of sorts for the negative magic that now resides in Nighttide. The walls are infused with a static positive magical force – the same aquatic-based spells I was developing years ago – that counteracts the negative magic while simultaneously allowing it to fuse with the rest of the ship—” “Can we get on with this, already?” Rainbow shouted. Clearing his throat again, Riptide continued. “While there was one incident previously where the negative magic broke past the barriers, those barriers have since been improved. Marginally, at least.” Taking a moment to breathe, he said, “I believe my ship carries the best probability of transporting you and the others safely to Canterlot.” “But what would you suggest we do with the grey mare once arriving?” one of the guards asked snidely. “That, I cannot determine,” he said, shaking his head. “It would be at this point that the Royal Guard and the Princesses would have to take over.” As everypony grumbled their distaste of the idea, Princess Luna eventually said, “Alright then. I see little other option, aside from handing over my responsibility to my sister.” She leaned her head to the side to look past Applejack and the others. “Prithee, where is Twilight’s assistant, Spike?” “Oh, right.” Rarity trotted back to a blue silk bundle she dropped off on a dry patch of grass near the carriage. “Spike…” She nuzzled the side of the bundle gently. “Spike, darling. Wake up.” “Mmh… huh?” The baby dragon stuck his head out from an opening in the blanket and rubbed one of his eyes with the back of a claw. “Wha… where are we?” Rarity kneeled down and stroked a hoof across the dragon’s scales. “Well, I’m not quite sure myself, but we’re with the Princess and the others now.” Spike blinked in the dark of the moon up at Rarity. “Is Twilight okay?” She smiled. “Yes, darling, everyone’s just fine. Here.” She unfurled the blanket from around him and stood back up. “Come, the Princess wants to speak with you.” As Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie watched from aside, Rarity escorted Spike up to the Princess and— “Twilight?” Spike blinked at the sleeping form of the mare before rushing over to her side. He looked up with desperate eyes at the alicorn she rested on. “Princess Luna, is she alright?” The Princess smiled softly at the dragon. “Verily, Spike; she is but asleep at the moment.” Spike nodded apprehensively as he watched over the slow rise and fall of Twilight’s barrel. After a moment, he looked up and said, “So, you needed me for something?” “From what I understand, you attempted to send a letter to my sister some hours before. Is this correct?” Spike nodded. “Yeah, I did, but we never got anything back.” Luna furrowed her brow for a moment, before looking up to Riptide. “Could you think of any reason why draconic magic might have been prevented from returning to Canterlot?” Riptide stroked a hoof across his chin. “Hmm… well…” He looked at the mares gathered between them. “Didn’t Twilight confirm the magic had some sort of effect before you showed up in the cave?” Rarity turned back to the stallion. “As a matter of fact, yes.” Gesturing with a hoof over to Fluttershy, she said, “Twilight had just left Fluttershy here when she went to investigate a flash they saw coming from the mountain.” “That’s right,” Fluttershy added. “And when I got back to the balloon, she flew into a snowstorm below us.” “We saw another flash moments later,” Rarity continued. “Only this time, it grew in size until it collided with our balloon.” She hung her head a little as she said, “It was then that I tried to teleport us all to safety, but…” She squinted in thought. “From what Nighttide said later, my magic turned from blue to black right before we disappeared.” “Stranger still,” Applejack said, “when we finally found Twilight in the cave, it was like she was under a spell of some sort. Like she wasn’t herself.” She turned to look at Nighttide’s restless form and added, “Twilight shot some sort of magical somethin’-er-nother at Rarity, but Nighttide jumped in front of her just in time to stop it.” “Then we read through that journal you wrote,” Pinkie Pie added with a bounce. “And I took a nap,” Rainbow Dash said as she hovered complacently above the entire group. Everyone looked up at her. “Hey,” she shouted, “I don’t see the point in a recap of everything! Shouldn’t we be, like, getting the hay out of here or something?” “Hold on just a moment.” Rarity stepped back to face Riptide. “I’m confused about one little detail. If your ship was designed to contain this ‘negative magic,’ then what were you doing in that cave in the first place?” Riptide looked off in the distance toward the mountain looming over the swamp. “I was attempting to absorb the magic myself. For years, I had researched the means for unicorns to use this magic themselves, but it had always proven too strong, too volatile for use outside of the devices I built. Nevertheless, I made a desperate attempt in hopes that I could act as a living demonstration of its potential… before the Royal Guard would eventually find me.” Hanging his head, he said, “I knew when Twilight escaped that it would only be a matter of time.” He then glanced hesitantly back at Rarity. “In any case, I realized immediately that it was a mistake. Negative magic – or, whatever it really is – was originally discovered in the caverns of Maretainia—” “And the aura works best when manifested in a cavernous area,” Princess Luna finished on his behalf. Riptide looked over at the Princess with a guilt-riddled expression. “It would seem for all my research, there may have well been a valid reason you and your sister locked away this knowledge.” Luna stared calmly back. “Indeed.” __________ As the blinding light transitioned to blurred shapes and colors, the voice of an older stallion sounded from somewhere in front of Twilight. “… war ended in 1918. Since then, the government has renewed its contract each decade with the Daedalus Institute of—” A bell rang from somewhere overhead. Gradually, the shapes took form. Twilight made out a dimly lit classroom filled with adolescent ponies. An older, light brown stallion with glasses stood in front of a chalkboard at the front of the class. “Alright class,” the stallion spoke above the bell as ponies bolted up from their seats. “Don’t forget to upload your submissions for this week’s test. They’re due by tonight.” Twilight carefully walked between the desks, looking around for somepony familiar. Finally, she spotted her – a mare with a long black and green mane. She rushed forward against the tumult, trying to catch up with her. But as she bumped into tables and ponies, she realized that while she could feel them, nothing around her seemed to yield to her touch. Suddenly, a pony from behind galloped straight into her, sending her careening head-over-hoof into the far wall. “OW!” Twilight’s head crashed into a window sill as she came to a stop. But nobody noticed her. “Ugh… dream physics,” she groaned to herself as she shook her head, making her way back to her hooves. Twilight rushed outside the classroom through the throng of ponies and found Nighttide walking through a pair of double doors at the end of the hall. Her appearance differed from when she first met her at Fluttershy’s; her legs were made of complex looking machinery, although she had no alloy around her barrel. As she caught up with the mare, Twilight noticed two other ponies walking on either side of her, talking amicably. They appeared to be in a large urban district of sorts, the two-story school building which they had just exited flanked at all sides by towering skyscrapers. The sky overhead radiated a dull orange as rain came down in thin sheets. Twilight could smell the stench of hot asphalt steaming from the moisture, mixed with the dull odor of car exhaust. Her nose scrunched at the scents – it was the first time she had smelled anything like them. Twilight eventually slowed her pace once she was within earshot of the ponies and listened. “…I swear, you’d think they’d let up on all the history stuff these days,” one mare beside Nighttide said. “Like they care,” a stallion on her other side replied. “It’s not like there’s more pressing matters at hoof or anything.” The stallion paused for a moment as he leaned toward Nighttide. “How’re you holding up through it?” “Eh.” Nighttide shrugged as she continued to walk with them. “It’s whatever.” The mare on her other side looked as if she was going to say something, then glanced off to the side instead. The stallion spoke again. “Surely you must feel something about it?” “I told you before, it’s not a big deal anymore,” Nighttide barked. “We’ll cover 1999 next month and be done with it.” She rubbed the spot between her eyes and sighed. “Look, let’s just get this test over with and call it a day, alright? The Colonel wants me to report in for Labyrinth duty tonight.” “Wow, a test and work on your sixteenth birthday,” the mare commented. “Do they even know?” “Oh yeah. ‘Happy birthday’ this year equals a body suit. Woo.” Nighttide maintained her flat expression. The stallion gave her a nudge with his shoulder and smiled at her. “Don’t forget, next week, you and I are gonna check out the new park they opened on the mountain. They say you can get a great view of the city from there!” Twilight’s head buzzed a little as she followed the three forward. She walked ahead so she could better see their expressions. To her surprise, she saw Nighttide break a weak smile as she looked over at the stallion. “Thanks, loser.” Nighttide nudged the stallion back gently. Twilight thought she could see a hesitance in her eyes, but before she could give it any serious thought, she blindly trotted into something hard. “Ouch! Wha…?” Twilight looked up and saw she had run into a light pole. She shook her head at the irony and quickly regained her composure. As she continued following the group, she realized the landscape around her was changing again. She began to feel drowsy as dark images passed by her. After a moment, she was alert again, standing with Nighttide and the Colonel in a small, dimly fluorescent-lit room. The two were sitting at a table across from each other. A large, red digital clock on the far wall read 18:13 hours. The room was scantily furnished with only a couple of file cabinets, another table built into one of the steel grey walls, and a window above it that looked out onto a brightly lit city skyline. It was still raining. The Colonel spoke first. “Nighttide. I need to talk to you about something important.” Nighttide seemed completely uninterested, propping her head on her hooves while looking past his shoulder and out the window. “What’s up?” The Colonel adjusted his uniform a little as he went to speak. “I’m afraid a new policy is being implemented into the Labyrinth project.” “Oh, what, like more exercises or something? Please,” she scoffed, gesturing lazily with a hoof, “that doesn’t bother me, you know that.” “Nighttide…” The Colonel shifted a little in his seat. “I don’t care if you address me informally, you know that. But I still think it would be better if—” “Look, Rubedo.” Nighttide looked at him with the same flat expression. “If they wanted to start a fuss because I don’t dish out sir’s and ma’am’s every second of the day, they would’ve already. All they’re gonna do is put me on the track at school.” “Not anymore,” the Colonel said with an unnerving quickness. Nighttide tilted her head. “What do you mean?” The Colonel got up from his seat and walked over to the window. “Nighttide… the government wants to reorganize DIRE’s military projects. Namely ours.” She narrowed her eyes at the Colonel’s back. “Which means… what, exactly?” The Colonel sighed, although Twilight could barely hear it. “The Labyrinth project is being converted into an internal affair.” He turned toward Nighttide with a somber expression. “Which means you won’t be going back to your school.” Nighttide blinked as she processed the information. “Wh-why? What’s wrong with—” “They’re reigning in the ponies within the project and establishing an on-site school system.” He paused for a second. “For the next two years, you will be stationed here, exclusively, at Ridley.” “Right, like I already am.” Nighttide shrugged. “So why are they pulling me out of school?” “Nighttide…” The Colonel walked hesitantly back over to the table and looked her in the eyes. “They’re shutting the doors. You’re going to be here at Ridley for the next two years… and nowhere else.” Now it was beginning to click. “You… you mean, stuck here, the entire time.” The Colonel nodded once. “Correct.” Nighttide’s focus drifted briefly to the table, eyes wide in disbelief. “But that’s stupid! Why the hell would they want to lock us all up here? What’re they trying to do?” “Labyrinth has officially been rebranded as a funnel project, as you know they’ve been trying to do for the past several months. Those ponies who’re already in their adolescence will be assigned to sub-projects geared toward prepping each for military service—” “Wait,” Nighttide said, bolting up from her seat. “Military service… as in, they’re going to force us into the military? This isn’t a proving ground project anymore?” “Listen, Nighttide. This has been building up for some time – you and everyone else here knew that. It’s simply how the system works—” “Horseshit,” Nighttide barked back. “They have no more right to force us into… i-into slavery, than anyone else!” The Colonel drew a deep breath. “I’m sorry. Speaking off the record, I understand your frustration—” “Like hell you do,” Nighttide screamed at the stallion. “Yes, I actually do,” The Colonel shouted back as he suddenly stepped toward Nighttide, causing her to rear her head back. “Do you really think I’m happy about this? Honestly?” His breathing was now heavy, audible. “I took you in under my supervision because I knew that a day like this would come – a day when the government would choose to use its citizens rather than employ them.” He relaxed his composure. “It’s better to make the best of a bad situation than to leave things to chance.” Nighttide was still visibly furious, but his words seemed to move her somewhat. With a shaky tone, she spoke again. “Rubedo, surely you can say something to them?” “My rank doesn’t give me that sort of influence. Hell, I don’t know if anypony here has a high enough rank for that.” He furrowed his brow, clearing his throat. “But I have to speak on behalf of the military as well. And,” he turned back to Nighttide, “speaking as your ranking officer, I’m here to inform you that for the next two years—” Nighttide flinched as she turned away, folding her ears flat against her skull. He paused for a moment, then finished. “…For the next two years, you will be here at DIRE Ridley, working under Labyrinth’s direct supervision.” Nighttide began to shiver. She struggled for a few seconds to form her next statement, then said, “When does this take effect?” “This Monday.” Nighttide swung her head back around. “B-but I have plans with a friend!” “I’m sorry, Nighttide.” The Colonel made for the door. “You will report for Labyrinth duty in Complex 051 at 0700 hours this Monday.” He opened the door and looked back with a stern expression, teetering on the edge of breaking. “I expect to see you there on time.” As the Colonel walked out, he closed the door behind him with a firm thud. Twilight was now the only one left in the room with Nighttide, although she probably had no idea she was there. Nighttide remained standing in the same spot, shaking more now than before. She carefully sat down on the floor where she was and looked down. Twilight slowly walked up beside her and naturally went to wrap a hoof around her, but just before she did, Nighttide screamed— “God fucking DAMMIT,” she screamed as she slammed her metal hooves on the hard laminate floor beneath her, causing the harsh sound to reverberate through the room and shake the filing cabinets. She opened her mouth to say something as tears formed around the rim of her violet eyes. But then, her shaking stopped, and her mouth clenched shut. Even her tears seemed to hesitate. Slowly, her head began to droop. Twilight hung her head to look into her eyes. All that she could see were how sad and lost they appeared to be. Nighttide sat in silence for several moments, only shifting her weight with each breath she took. After a while, she closed her eyes and laid across the floor. Twilight laid down beside her as well, watching the mare to see what she would do or say next. But nothing happened. The two lay quietly beside each other, one oblivious to the other, for nearly an hour. Twilight watched her slowly fall asleep. Although it seemed to make no difference, she scooted closer and draped a wing around Nighttide. Just before she fell asleep herself, Twilight heard the mare mutter something under her breath. “… mom… I miss you… I miss you so much…” Twilight gently nuzzled the side of her cheek and whispered, “It’s okay, Nighttide. I’m right here with you.” Unbeknownst to either, Princess Luna stood outside the door looking in. She tilted her head curiously as her horn began to glow. __________ With the help of the Night Guard and Rainbow Dash, Princess Luna and the two sleeping mares were carefully loaded into the carriage. The rest packed themselves in as comfortable as possible as the guards flew them back to the mountaintop at a brisk pace. The moon was nearly resting on the horizon by the time they made it back to the frigid plateau of the mountain. As every able pony disembarked the carriage, Luna called out to one of her guards. “See to it that Riptide is given the freedom necessary to pilot his ship. But if you perceive any issues, evacuate everypony else. I will personally see to Twilight and Nighttide’s safety.” The guard looked as if he wanted to protest her order, but followed through anyway. As the guard escorted Riptide to the ship, Rainbow Dash flew up beside Luna. “Need any help, Princess?” “Yes.” She motioned with a hoof for another nearby guard as she stood up, flexing her one good wing. “If you two could carry Nighttide, I will take care of Twilight myself.” “But Princess,” the guard argued, “what about your injured wing? You cannot fly in your condition!” The Princess merely returned a smirk. “Oh ye of such little faith.” With a spark of blue magic from her horn, her bad wing stretched out to its peak with a series of audible pops, eliciting a faint grimace from the Princess. Tears welling in her eyes, she released the magical aura and flexed the various twisted tendons in her wing. Maintaining her smirk, she added, “Remind me sometime to educate you on my battle history, young guard.” Rainbow and the guard gawked at her for a moment before hoisting Nighttide into the air. With a strain in her voice, Rainbow asked, “Y-you sure you’ve got her, Princess?” Luna was already cradling Twilight in her hooves. “Verily. Now, onward! Make haste!” With visible effort, Princess Luna forced herself and her cargo into a wobbly hover. After a few seconds, she stabled out and headed with the others off toward the ship. Riptide had already opened the rear cargo bay of his ship for everypony to enter, a large ramp now leading from the interior to the snow-covered ground. The Princess and her entourage were the last to enter as Riptide sealed the bay with his magic. “Princess,” Riptide spoke as he finished sealing the door. “Nighttide would do best to be stored in the smallest room on the second floor, down that hall.” He pointed across the hanger toward the same hall Nighttide had explored earlier. “It’ll be the first room on the right.” Without a word, the Princess continued up toward the hall with Twilight as Rainbow Dash and the guard followed after her with Nighttide. Once they neared the narrow corridor, Rainbow helped load Nighttide onto the back of the guard while Luna magically hoisted Twilight onto her back. The group walked down the corridor, now fully illuminated by manalights above, and turned into the first room on the right. The room was barren, save the single table Nighttide noticed hours before. “So, how’re we supposed to do this?” Rainbow asked as she helped keep Nighttide balanced on the guard’s back. “Do we just unload everypony in here?” “For now.” Princess Luna carefully wrapped Twilight in her magic, straining for a moment as she slid her off her back onto the table. “If you could, set Nighttide down next to her.” The guard cantered over to the side of the table, allowing Rainbow to hoist Nighttide off his back. “Phew. Okay, that should do it.” Wiping her brow with a foreleg, she glanced between the guard and the Princess. “So, now what?” Just then, Riptide, escorted closely by two guards, walked within the opening of the room. “Everypony settled in?” Rainbow glared over at the stallion. “More or less.” “Princess,” one of the guards flanking his side began, “we’re about to depart for Canterlot. Do you have any requests before we leave?” Standing up to her full height for the first time in hours, the Princess looked over Riptide silently. After a moment, she said, “Obviously, I cannot begin to appropriately dispense against all that has happened here in the past few hours, let alone the years you spent dabbling in this forbidden practice.” She took a couple steps toward the stallion, lifting her head well above his own to peer down the brim of her muzzle. “But it is my hope that as a former Royal Guard, you will perform your duties here as expected.” Riptide looked the Princess in the eyes. “There will be much to discuss later, I’m sure… and legalities to handle.” He glanced over at one of the guards with a tired smile. “It’s okay, though. This is a mess I created, one which is squarely out of my hooves now. I’m only interested in helping to resolve this however I can.” The Princess stared at him for a moment, considering his words carefully, before nodding toward the guards. “Escort him to wherever he wishes. Ensure our safe return to Canterlot.” With a salute, the two guards escorted Riptide back down the hall, just as Rarity and the others trotted up. “Is everything alright in here, Princess?” Luna walked over next to Twilight and Nighttide. Sitting to her haunches, she looked back at their friends. “I believe so.” “Well, that’s good to hear.” As Rarity and the rest sat down together, she said, “Is there any way we can help?” “Yeah,” Rainbow said, yawning in the process. “So… like, is there any way we can jump into their dreams now, too?” “I’m afraid not, my little ponies,” the Princess answered. “The event horizon has already passed.” She looked over the two sleeping mares on the table with an exhausted expression. “Now, it is up to Twilight to see things through.” __________ Somewhere within the darkness surrounding Twilight, a sound could be heard. Ears twitching on their own, she attempted to turn her head. Once again, she felt restrained, her body out of her control. There was a chill to the air around her – a stale, bitter chill, unlike any Twilight had felt before. But once more, the sensation came to her as something familiar. Something terribly, horrifyingly familiar. “… nngh… nnh…” Her body strained on its own against a very real set of restraints strapped around her barrel. Her muzzle lay flat on its side against a cold, hard surface. She tried to move her legs, but a strange thought crossed her mind. ‘The synaptic sensors… They’re not responding.’ If Twilight could have blinked at the thought, she would have. It was bizarre, how both her mind and body were once more out of her control, and yet she was still able to observe as herself, both separate and at one with the pony she presumed to manifest. ‘Nighttide…?’ And with that thought, a bright light flickered to life overhead. Out of her periphery, a set of mechanical armatures approached her exposed side. Her eyes strained to look in their direction, but her body felt sluggish, as if any thoughts – Twilight’s or Nighttide’s – had little effect on what she could do. A silhouette of a pony made its way into her direct line of sight. The pony stood just outside the light, and all she could make out was the outline of a white lab coat. “Nighttide Star,” a stallion’s voice spoke from the pony. “Can you hear me?” With an unusual amount of effort, she muttered, “Y-yes, I can.” “We’re about to begin the procedure. Can you feel anything below the collar bone?” She thought for a moment. As she strained to move her body against the restraints around her barrel, she noticed that she in fact couldn’t feel anything below the ruffled coat hairs of her neck. She muttered back, “No… I don’t think so.” The stallion nodded to someone behind her. “Let us know if you feel anything.” With that, the stallion walked out of sight. Nighttide struggled to move her head in his direction, stammering, “W-wait… this isn’t… like before. What…?” “Please, darling,” a mare’s voice spoke soothingly from behind her, “try not to speak anymore than necessary. You need to keep your energy to let us know if anything goes wrong.” “Goes… wrong?” She tried to look back at the voice, but could barely lift her snout off the cold metal surface she lay upon. “But… they put me… under…” “Shh,” the mare whispered in her ear. “Be still. It’ll be over soon.” Nighttide tried to form a reply, but found her energy quickly draining. She could hardly open her mouth to so much as utter a sound. Allowing herself to relax for a moment, she tried once again to turn her eyes toward the armatures looming over her figure. Slowly, carefully, she followed the rim of the table beneath her, the outline of her prosthetics lying straight out, a white blanket draped partially over her barrel, and… That was when Twilight, affixed to the mare’s sight, took in something truly terrifying. With a hushed whirr, one of the armatures lowered itself carefully to an exposed part of her grey stomach. From the end of the machine protruded a small cutting wheel spinning impossibly fast, the soft, innocent sound it elicited a mockery to the threat it posed. Twilight could feel what little bit of Nighttide’s muscles left in control tense up at the sight. With a slow blink, she watched as the wheel cut carefully into the coat of her barrel, working its way from above the joint of her front leg to the top of her back. The two consciousness’ watched as the various armatures worked slowly and carefully to cut away at the grey coat. In time, a square section of her side had been sliced through, leaving no trace of visible blood whatsoever. That is, until another arm lowered to remove the section of cutaway flesh. Nighttide whimpered audibly as she watched an entire chunk of her barrel hoist up and away from her body, leaving a blurred section of sickly reds and purples exposed in its wake. Turning her eyes away, she tried to close them shut, but found the action nigh on impossible. Warm tears began to well on instinct as a chill ran through her body. “Easy, dear,” the mare’s voice cooed from behind her. “Do you feel any pain?” Nighttide struggled to use her voice. “Just answer yes or no,” the mare spoke again. Taking a moment just to breathe, Nighttide eventually murmured, “N… no!” “That’s a good girl.” The mare stroked a hoof through her thick mane. Nighttide would have flinched away from the touch, had she the ability to do so. As Twilight watched helplessly from the mare’s perspective, she realized that Nighttide had no idea why they would have had her awake for the surgery, let alone why it was necessary to cut so far into her body. Last she was informed, the suit she was being given used surface-mounted sensors to interact with her body’s nervous system, like some others her age used within Labyrinth. A minor surgery at best, they would have put her under for the procedure, just as they had done when installing her most recent set of prosthetics. Nighttide lay helpless, her mind struggling to fight against whatever was taking place as her fatigued body begged for mental surrender. Over the course of what felt like hours, the mechanical armatures worked diligently against the outline of her barrel, barely visible in Nighttide’s periphery. Various shapes of red and purple were hoisted away from her body, replaced by objects of silver and grey. Though her body was numb against the process, in time, she could feel herself losing consciousness. A dull beep emanated somewhere beyond the table. “Alright,” the stallion from before spoke nearby, “let’s finish up. Blood pressure’s getting low.” “Right,” the mare’s voice responded. Suddenly, the armatures paused. Nighttide thought briefly to look in their direction, but decided against it. Focusing instead on her periphery, she noticed a larger armature hoisting down a smooth, curved sheet of alloy. It was then that she noticed a faint glimmer of green glowing somewhere from her flank. “Reactor tests show green,” another stallion spoke from behind. “Installing starboard hull now.” As the armature lowered the curved piece of metal onto her side, she could faintly feel a series of clicks and shutters against her frame. The mare from before spoke as she walked into her line of sight. “Alright, we’re done with the worst part. Now we can put you under for the last bit.” Nighttide struggled to squint at the mare. Her face was familiar. “Is… wh-wha…” “Shh, it’s okay,” the mare cooed again as she reached a hoof out under the glow of the overhead light. Blinking once, Nighttide stared straight up at the mare. “… Ne… philim?” The mare didn’t respond, merely stroking her long black bangs out of the way. Looking up at someone behind her, she said, “Administer the anesthetic, then we’ll work on her port side and neural implants.” “Right,” a stallion replied from behind. Before Nighttide could argue, she noticed her eyes were suddenly becoming very heavy. Once more, she attempted to close them shut. This time, she succeeded. __________ “…Hmm.” Princess Luna sat next to the table with her back against the wall, her head hung low in concentration. For a moment, her mane’s glow flickered in the dim light of the room. Then, she blinked, squinting at the two sleeping mares. Twilight fidgeted in her sleep. With a whimper, she slowly stretched herself out and nuzzled against the cold metal frame of Nighttide’s body. Luna tilted her head curiously at that. Off to her side, everypony else was taking the time to rest, sprawled out across the cold floor next to the Princess. As the ship’s hull shuddered once, Applejack lifted her head and looked over at the table. “Mmh… hey, uh… Princess.” She rubbed her eyes slowly, then gestured toward the table with a hoof. “Is that okay?” With a soft grunt, Twilight lifted her wing nearest Nighttide and draped it over her suit, cuddling in closer to the mare. Luna continued to watch carefully. Eventually, she muttered, “I believe so.” Applejack shifted to a more comfortable position, now leaning against a sleeping Pinkie. After a moment, she said, “So, can you see what they’re dreaming ‘bout right now?” “I can only see bits and pieces at a time. It helps when I have all my focus available, but this is a unique situation, to have two ponies’ dream worlds merged into one.” Applejack nodded hesitantly. “So… are they doing alright?” The Princess took a moment to reply as she watched Twilight and Nighttide’s bodies rising and falling with their own breaths. “They’re just fine. Although…” Applejack lifted her head. “Although what, yer majesty?” The Princess glared at the sleeping figure of Nighttide for a second, then looked back at Applejack. “Although, I will be glad when it is finished.” She smiled feebly as she added, “Keeping two ponies’ dreams connected takes more concentration than I remembered.” Applejack smiled in return. “Well, s’long as y’all are alright.” She then rested her head against her outstretched forelegs and closed her eyes. “Mmm,” the Princess hummed as she returned her attention to Twilight. She watched for a moment in silence, before eventually closing her own eyes. __________ “… Twilight…” Darkness, once again. “… Twilight Sparkle…” A familiar voice in the distance. Then, the darkness gently parted into a sea of sapphire blue, glistening with starlight. Twilight lay with eyes closed atop the surface of the calm sea, the coat hairs along her cheeks matted with tears. Some distance ahead of her, the outline of Princess Luna shimmered above the blue expanse. She walked with a calming grace toward Twilight as gentle ripples spread infinitely across the sea with each hoof-step. Then, she paused. Beside Twilight was Nighttide’s resting form, just as she was in the real world. Both mares lie side-by-side, with Twilight’s one wing outstretched over Nighttide’s metal suit. The Princess watched for a moment as Twilight stirred, nuzzling her head against the exposed portion of Nighttide’s neck. Carefully, the Princess walked forward, just as Twilight’s muzzle began to move. “I’m here,” Twilight whispered next to Nighttide’s ear. “Everything’s… gonna be just fine.” As the Princess closed the gap, she paused again and looked over Twilight. Her coat was a dulled shade of lavender, bordering the same grey as Nighttide’s own. As well, her mane glistened softly in the glow of the sea, but it reflected a darker tone than her natural violet. A still moment passed before Princess Luna kneeled down beside Twilight. Carefully nuzzling the sleeping alicorn, Luna kept one eye fixed on Nighttide. With a strained exhale, Twilight stirred. “P-Princess Luna…?” “Yes, Twilight,” the Princess whispered. “Hast thou made any progress?” “Progress…” Twilight furrowed her brow. “That’s right. Nighttide was…” Another moment passed, broken only by the gentle murmur of the sea surrounding them. “… Princess.” Twilight raised her head and slowly opened her bloodshot eyes. “I honestly don’t know what I’m supposed to do here. All I’ve done so far is watch Nighttide’s past replay before us. And…” She hung her head, watching idly as waves lapped against her fetlocks. “It’s horrible. It’s so horrible, Princess. I don’t even know what half the things I’ve witnessed were, but I just know… it’s awful.” The Princess gently tilted Twilight’s head toward her own with a hoof. “Twilight. Somewhere in this world, there is a place in which she seeks the comfort of a loved one. It is there that you must shine the light into her heart.” “Shine the…” Twilight tilted her head curiously at the alicorn. “I still don’t understand that. What exactly do you mean by ‘shine the light?’” “The light of friendship, of course.” Wiping a hoof across her eyes, Twilight giggled breathily. “Is it really always that simple?” The Princess smiled, touching a hoof to Twilight’s tear-stained cheek. “This mare has a deeply troubled past, one that has been plagued with nightmare events and, from what I can tell, a lack of communion.” “So… what she needs is… to know someone is there for her?” “Verily,” the Princess said with a nod. “You have done well to make it this far, and Nighttide has been gracious enough to share with you her past.” Twilight squinted in thought. “So, this isn’t… whatever that aura thing is?” “Not exactly. While it is true that the aura has trapped Nighttide in her dream realm, it does not yet have control over her thoughts – merely her body, which I am keeping restrained through our link.” “I see.” Twilight sighed as she rested her head on her outstretched hooves. “I still have so many questions… I really just wish I understood more about what’s going on.” Smiling tiredly, she added, “But at this rate, I guess I’m just along for the ride.” The Princess nodded and smiled as she stood back up. “It is my hope that with the next dream, you may be able to make some form of conscious connection with her. I will do my best on my end of things to see the opportunity presents itself.” “Right. Um…” Standing wearily to her own hooves, Twilight said, “I do have one question though.” “Yes?” “Why exactly did I have a dream about Equestria being at war?” She smirked a little as she added, “And with Griffons, of all things?” Princess Luna furrowed her brow in thought. “There is certainly something unique about the way in which Nighttide interacts with your own dream realm. All I can say for certain now is there is more to the mare than we currently understand – magic that is not part of our world.” “You mean technology, right?” The Princess raised an eyebrow. Twilight merely chuckled at that. “Oh, nevermind. Maybe Nighttide can explain herself once she wakes up.” Giggling softly, Luna said, “Perhaps so. For now, I wish you well, Twilight.” “Thanks.” With that, Twilight rested her weary body back on the sea beneath her, draping her wing back over Nighttide. As Princess Luna began to gradually merge with the darkness once again, she looked upon Twilight with a warm smile before glancing at Nighttide. Nighttide’s violet eyes were open, staring right back.