Inside the Carousel Boutique in Ponyville, a white unicorn filly with a light purple and pink mane was inside practicing singing in her room in front of some stuff animals on chairs when her older sister, a white unicorn with a curly purple mane and a three diamond cutie mark on her flank walked in. "Sweetie Belle, I know your practicing for the talent show, but I just came in to tell you something important." The white unicorn with a slight English accent attempted to talk to her, but was interrupted by her sister saying "I can't help you with whatever new dress your making right now Rarity, I'm trying to conquer my stage fright in time for the talent show and I need the practice if I'm going to perform in front of a live audience."
Ever since getting her cutie mark, a shield with a star and a musical note in it representing her singing talent, alongside her fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders, Applebloom, Applejack's younger sister and Scootaloo self proclaimed number one of Rainbow Dash, and reforming and befriending their former bullies, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, she had been practicing hard on her singing and had worked up the nerve to sign up for a talent competition with a small complication, she had a bad case of stage fright.
"I'm just happy you'll be there in the audience to show your support and It'll be great to know to there's someone I know in the audience other than just my best friends." Sweetie Belle happily stated with a smile. "That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about..." Rarity said with reluctance be continuing. "I've been called away to Canterlot again with my friends over an urgent matter and we leave need to leave as soon as possible." Rarity said sadly.
Sweetie Belle's smile turned into a small frown with a dejected "oh." "I'm sorry Sweetie Belle, I want to see your performance more than anything and I'd stay if I could, but this could be a very serious matter and..." before Rarity could continue, Sweetie Belle interrupted. "I know Rarity and you don't have to apologize, but it's gonna be harder to perform if your not there..." Sweetie Belle said glumly.
"Well if you it makes you feel better, I could ask Spike to attend the performance in my stead if it makes you feel better, he won't be coming with us again, so I'm sure he'll some free time after he finishes his chores." Rarity offered.
"Sure... I'm okay with that..." Sweetie Belle muttered.
Rarity gave her small smile. "Good, now if you want to, you can come with me to see us off at the train station." she offered.
"Nah... I promised my friends I'd hang out them today after I'm done practicing." she stated.
"Alright, well I better be going, I'll you see in a few days time." Rarity informed her sister.
After Rarity left the boutique, Sweetie Belle finished practice and caught with her friends Applebloom and Scootaloo and were even joined by Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. While the other four walked and chatted away, Sweetie Belle was lost in her own thoughts. "The talent shows tomorrow and I still haven't gotten over my stage fright. It's worse now that Rarity's going off with her friends to probably save Equestria from another disaster. Maybe I'm just not cut out for singing." As she was thinking this, Sweetie Belle passed by a window sill with poster advertising the talent competition.
Looking at it, she sighed. "Rarity, why are you never around when I need you the most." As she thought this, she didn't notice the window the had started show a vision of her sister looking at her sadly before her face suddenly changed into rage, causing the window to crack loudly catching Sweetie Belle's attention. Upon looking at the cracked glass, the window suddenly shattered in front of her, the glass shards barely missing her. The window suddenly shattering caused Sweetie Belle to stumble back in surprise. As she regained her footing, she took a look back at the shattered window, only to gain a look of terror on her face as a nightmarish smokey creature emerged. She looked to her as her "friends" also turned into more of those terrifying creatures and the world turned pitch black.
Terrified, Sweetie Belle quickly got up and ran as the creatures gave chase.
After a short while of running with the creatures still hot on her tail, Sweetie Belle suddenly noticed a small bright light, which grew bigger and brighter as she got closer to it, which in turn caused the smokey creatures chasing her to dissipate.
Sweetie Belle smiled brightly as she let the warmth of the light engulf her.
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Sweetie Belle opened her eyes and noticed she was standing in front of a very large gate. As she looked around, she noticed she was on a floating island in the middle of night.
Walking through the gate, she suddenly her a wise sounding voice. "Oh ho hoo! We have a guest! Is this your first time here, mademoiselle?" An owl asked as it appeared out of nowhere. "Uh yeah... I guess it is." Sweetie Belle answered awkwardly, surprised she was actually talking to an owl.
"Well then, allow me to explain. You are now standing at the entrance to what your people would call The World of Dreams." The owl explained.
"The world of dreams?" Sweetie Belle questioned with genuine curiosity.
"Hoo! Listen well, young filly. Don't be fooled by that name, "World of Dreams". Owl stated before continuing "I don't mean to imply the world itself doesn't exist. It is simply... oh, how should I put it? It is another world, one that you are able to visit only while you are fast asleep. We ourselves refer to it as the Night Dimension. And people who come to the Night Dimension from your world are known as visitors. The owl explained. Sweetie Belle nodded in understanding.
"Oh! Pardon me, I do tend to rattle on. You may call me Owl, Visitor." Owl introduced himself. Wanting to be polite, Sweetie Belle decided to introduce herself as well. "Well then it's nice to meet you Owl, my name is Sweetie Belle." The young filly introduced herself. Owl smiled and replied "The pleasure is all mine, my dear." Before they could continue their conversation, a purple blur suddenly flew in front of them, startling them both and causing Sweetie Belle to fall flat on her flank.
"Hoo! What's that?! What's that?!" Owl exclaimed in exasperation as a strange being flew down to greet them.
Owl was the first to recover before scowling at the being and stating in a scolding tone "Dearest me, you gave me quite a fright! You ought to no better than to startle your elders in such a manner!" Owl shouted at the being. The being turned his gaze over to Sweetie Belle before smiling. "Hey there!" The being greeted before continuing. "Sorry about the old bird here. I know it must be drag listening to him squawking on and on." The being teased at Owl. Owl scowled again. "Excuse me... a drag?! I am simply attempting to welcome this young visitor!" Owl exclaimed as Sweetie Belle got up.
"Who... who are you? The filly asked as the being flew in figure eights in the air before introducing himself. "My name is Nights! Let me tell you, you'll have a much better time flying around with me than chatting with this old bird here." Nights stated before flying down to Sweetie Belle's and offering his hand. "So how about it? Want to Dualize with me and try your hoof at flying?" Nights offered.
"Du... Dualize? Flying? The filly questioned.
"Hoo! Nights here is able to "Dualize" with Visitor's. The process allows your bodies to assimilate with one another." Owl explained to the confused filly. "What do you mean?" Sweetie Belle asked, not sure if she was gonna like the answer. "Ah well... it would probably be much easier to understand if you just try it." Owl then flew over next to Nights before saying. "Go over and touch Nights. You'll see what I mean. That is, of course, if you're interested in that sort of thing..." Owl stated sarcastically. Sweetie Belle thought it over. She didn't like the sound of that part with the assimilating bodies, but was interested at the part about being able to fly around. Eventually her curiosity won out and she walked over to Nights, who had his held out. Sweetie Belle hesitated a moment before putting her hoof on his hand and a bright light enveloped them.
When Sweetie Belle opened her eyes to find herself floating in the air. Looking at her hooves, she noticed she was now transparent, though she managed to remain calm, she noticed someone copying her movement's perfectly to her right. She quickly realized it was Nights, and had enough composure ask a rather obvious question. "What's going on Nights?" When Nights simply stared at her, Sweetie Belle quickly put two and two together and voiced her realization rather quickly. "This is what you meant by Dualizing isn't it?" Nights simply smiled and nodded in response.
Owl flew up to them and stated. "Now then, now that you and Nights are Dualized, try flying a few laps around the plaza to get a better feel of flying. Sweetie Belle-Nights nodded and flew the laps around the plaza before Owl suggested. "Good, now that your used to flying, take flight around the area to get used to flying different environments." The joined duo nodded and took off into the sky. Flying around the night sky felt incredible to Sweetie Belle and decided to fly around next to the edge of the floating island, after Nights taught her the paraloop ability and the Drill dash.
As they were flying over the edge, Nights suddenly shouted. "Hey, hold on moment! There's something I forgot to tell you." Stopping in midair, Nights pointed his finger to the dark seas below the island. "You see that dark ocean down there? You'd be best off if you don't go anywhere near it." Nights warned. Sweetie Belle looked down toward the dark sea and suddenly felt a sense of dread looking at it. "I... I take it that there's a leg... legend about to keep others from going." Sweetie Belle guessed, her voice quivering a little. Nights simply nodded before saying. "Right. I don't know if it's really true or not myself..., but they say it can destroy a Visitor's soul, and then they'll never be able to return here again..." Nights glumly stated. "Oh dear..." Sweetie Belle muttered nervously.
"Anyway it's just a story, so enough with this gloomy talk, let's get back to the Dream Gate!" Nights stated with Sweetie Belle nodding in agreement before flying back to the plaza.
Upon landing, Nights and Sweetie Belle separated from each other before Nights asked. "So, how did enjoy flying around for the first time?" Sweetie Belle enthusiastically answered the question."It was amazing! No wonder Scootaloo wants to fly so much! It's fun! When Nights looked at her funny, Nights had to ask."Who's Scootaloo? Sweetie Belle was glad to answer the question. "Scootaloo is one of my best friends and despite being a pegasus, a pony with wings, she has trouble flying." Nights gained a look of understanding on his face and nodded.
Owl flew over and noticed a door appear in one of the empty door frames. "Ho hoo! How curious. The door to Nightopia seems to have appeared. Owl looked over to Sweetie Belle before realization suddenly hit him. "But that must mean... You must have an Ideya!" The elder owl exclaimed. Giving him a confused look, Sweetie Belle quickly asked. "Wha... what's an Ideya? And what's Nightopia? Sweetie Belle asked with curiosity.
Owl was more than happy to explain to young Visitor. "Ideya are sparks of light that dwell within the hearts of Visitor's." Owl explained before continuing. "Here in the Night Dimension, those Ideya can give form to the paradise known as Nightopia." Owl finished.
"Paradise?!" Sweetie Belle excitedly questioned, looking back at the door.
Nights, who had been impatiently waiting, suddenly exclaimed. "Oh, come on! Enough with the explanations already! Let's just go check it out!
Hey! I'm almost forgot to ask what your name was." Sweetie Belle was somewhat amused by Nights antics, happily decided to introduce herself. "My name is Sweetie Belle. It's a great pleasure to meet you, Nights." She happily said. "The pleasure's all mine! let's go then , Sweetie Belle!" Sweetie Belle excitedly replied. "All right!"
Before anyone could step toward the door, a red and black figure resembling Nights suddenly pinned him against the door. before Sweetie Belle could process what was going on, the new being started speaking. "Ah Nights. Long time no see. Out for a walk with your little Visitor friend, are we?" Scowling at the being currently holding him against the door by the neck, Nights replied in a strained voice. "Reala!" Reala simply replied with a very fake apology. " Sorry Nights. I'm under orders to put you away a bit. Nothing personal." Sweetie Belle was getting very angry at the sight of her new friend being taken prisoner by this terrible look-a-like named Reala, which is why she couldn't stop herself from shouting "Hey! Leave Nights alone!" as she attempted to stop him before Owl blocked her path, exclaiming. "No! You mustn't go near that monster!
Reala simply chuckled at this display before saying. "Yes, yes, listen to your elders. You're just a helpless little horse after all." Reala insulted before laughing evilly as he pushed Nights through the door.
Sweetie Belle nearly collapsed from the shock of what just transpired, slowly sitting down on her flank. Owl flew over and tried to comfort her. "Oh, I'm so sorry. That was terribly frightening, wasn't it? Hoo!"
Sweetie Belle simply looked up at him before asking a question, her voice quivering as she did. "Wha... what was the th...thing? Owl looked at her before beginning his explanation. "That was a Nightmaren, from the dark realm of Nightmare." Owl began. "Their goal is to take Ideya from Visitors in order to destroy Nightopia. When Visitors come to this world, they ambush them and steal their Ideya from them. In all likelihood, they must have taken your Ideya as well..." Owl paused upon taking notice of some thing on Sweetie Belle's hooves before suddenly exclaiming. "Oh hoo! That crimson light! Could it be a Red Ideya!?
"Huh?!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed upon noticing the red light coming from her front hooves.
Owl quickly put two and two together. "I see! That Ideya must be what called forth this door! You hold the "Ideya of Courage." With that, you might just be able to rescue Nights!
"Really!?" Sweetie Belle exclaimed.
Owl continued. "but that is your decision. I will be waiting for you beyond the door." Owl finished as he teleported away, leaving Sweetie Belle alone.
Sweetie Belle's new friend was in danger,and she just couldn't stand idly by, now knowing she might be able to help nights. Without hesitation, she approached the door, briefly taking note of the stained glass window above it which depicted two fish swimming. She neared the door and gently pushed opened being bathed in bright light.