The Nightguard - Sunset

by Dark Vessel

First published 25th of January, 2018

Luna's ability to dreamwalk is not merely used for emotional support - it is needed, to prevent catastrophe from befalling the land. Before Luna was around, in the days of the 3 kingdoms, others held her mantle of Dreamwalker - this is their story.

There are dark forces in this world. Entities who seek to destroy all that stands, the pony of shadows being one of them... Equestria has faced many terrors, and overcome each of them. While tales are told of the other foes to be defeated, these beasts have been kept so secret that not even Princess Twilight Sparkle knows of their existence...

Luna has not always stood against these monsters. In the distant past, others claimed her mantle of guardian of the night - this is their story.

In a land fragmented, Dream Weaver, a skilled unicorn focused on the crafting of complex runes and the development of new spells receives a summons - the spirit of knowledge has given him permission, along with the means to access her realm. He accepts, starting him down a road that will change the future of Equus - and perhaps the worlds beyond - for all eternity.

Chapter 0 - Now She Is Become Death

Long ago, centuries before the great winter that befell the 3 pony kingdoms, the small hamlet of New Dawn rested on the outskirts of unicorn territory. A peaceful village, mainly focused on extraction of magically-reactive gemstones from the nearby caves, this unassuming town was soon to be the birthplace of the most ancient battle known to ponykind.

Darkness coated the land as the jeweled sky of night shone overhead, as a group of 3 mares were gathered at a door. The mare within sighed, rubbing her eyes. "Sorry girls, i'd join you, but... I haven't slept well the last few days... I just want to get some sleep at this point" Amber stated with a grimace and yawn, glancing in a nearby candle-lit mirror to view her eyes - heavy bags beneath them. One of her visitors frowned, stating "That's a shame... You've been like this for the last few weeks. Maybe you're coming down with something?"

Amber frowned, stating "No, I don't think it's that... Just some recurring dreams that have been interrupting my sleep for the last few weeks." softly, before smiling and stating "...Don't let my tiredness stop you from having fun, though. I'll join you again in a week, promise."

Her friends gave soft smiles at that, nodding as one stated "I'll save some salt for you!", flashing her a grin before turning to leave. The mare sighed, finally closing the door as she stepped into her house, muttering "...Damned nightmares... Oh well...", starting to walk back to her bedroom as she glanced through her house. Everything was where it should be, at least. Maps. Her latest news-report on international politics. Her mirror with a--

She blinked and paled, yelping out and immediately focusing on the mirror. Within, she saw a being that had haunted her dreams for the past few weeks. A shapeless, amorphous mass of shadows, it hovered behind her soundlessly as it spoke in a whisper "How long do you intend to tolerate these nuisances? Feeling entitled to your time...". Amber tensed, before relaxing as a purple mist began to pour from behind her eyes - the physical signs of a dark-magic takeover the beast had been orchestrating in her sleep for weeks

"I... You know what? You're right. They should know better!" she exclaimed, the being hissing "Yes... Their friendship for you has been a lie all along. You've had to rely on these 'friendships' for too long, Amber..." The being chuckled as her eyes began to glow green next, her irises turning a deep red - she had already fallen to it now, it only had to go through the motions. "...You're right..." she replied with a shiver, looking down before the creature's form suddenly expanded, as it hissed "I can give you the strength to abandon them... To make them pay... Just let it happen, and we will become one."

At that moment, the creature gave a screech, surging into the mare's horn and immediately flowing down the ducts within. She gasped, widening her eyes and straightening, yet did not fight it, as her eyes quickly turned completely black. If one could see into her mind, they could see the innate magical ability and skill she possessed fighting a losing battle on pure instinct against the invader, rapidly failing as another personality overtook her. Quickly, she gained a grin, starting to laugh maniacally as a black liquid seemed to coalesce around her, forming into the shape of a massive alicorn mare moments later, her horn bent back as her irises shone a bright white.

"AT LAST... AT LONG, LONG LAST! A HOST! A VESSEL FOR MY POWER!" she screamed, her horn flashing as a tremendous explosion destroyed the house she was within, ponies turning to look in shock and horror as she lit up her horn again "THE AGE OF LIGHT HAS ENDED! THE AGE OF LIFE, HAS ENDED! NOW, DARKNESS WILL REIGN!" she screeched before giving another maniacal laugh, her horn flashing brightly.

Dream Weaver finally blinked, gasping as he turned off the spell he had been using to peer into the realm of the Spirit of Knowledge. She had invited him to peer into her knowledge of the near future for reasons unknown - at least, until now. He panted heavily, resting his hooves upon the central stone of his rune-matrix as he trembled in shock and fear, exclaiming "...What!? But... How... What am I supposed to do!?"

No reply came, the wind whistling through the grass that surrounded his custom-built rune array

Chapter 1 - A Cry in the Dark

Dream Weaver walked down the path connecting his makeshift rune-matrix to New Dawn - his eyes firmly on the road, as he frowned with his ears drooped backwards. The sheer power of that beast... I could feel it. If this prophecy comes true, then I don't think anypony could do much to stop it. Somepony needs to do something, or... he grimaced, sighing and muttering "...We're all dead. Why did the spirit choose to tell me, of all ponies? Why not the princess? It's not like I can do anything alone... And without proof of this message originating from her, i'll be laughed out of any audience." as his head rose to focus on the town.

"No... There has to be something I can do. The spirit chose to speak to me for a reason... And as the spirit of knowledge, she relies on life - she wants me to succeed..." he scowled, looking up to the night's sky and muttering "...I'm good with making spells, but could I possibly do anything to face that monster?"

Within moments, he was back inside the town, grimacing and looking to Amber's house as he passed it with a light undertone of fear, his eyes drawn to a window leading into her living room. Exactly as it appeared in the vision... Just how long do I have to work with, here? he thought, frowning and lowering his gaze again as he approached his own home - not too far down the same street. ...That creature was in her dreams while she slept... It's possible it's with her now? he thought, blinking and pausing as he turned to look to her house - the streets were empty ...If I can see it while it's trying to influence her, and take her as a host, maybe I can fight it? he reasoned, pausing and glancing across the street again before setting his jaw and returning to her house, looking over the rune-array that functioned as her lock. It was complex, but for someone of his experience in runecraft? It was foal's play.

With a deep inhale, the stallion pressed his horn to the rune, closing his eyes tightly and quickly starting to exploit a few glitches in the lock to make it mistakenly think it was her, and unlock. Dream Weaver shivered lightly as he did it, muttering "This feels so wrong, but... It could save us all."

A few moments later, the rune glowed as the door slowly opened, the stallion inhaling and exhaling deeply as he cast a small spell to obscure the sound of his hooves, before gently closing the door and heading for her bedroom. Totally not creepy, totally not creepy... he repeated in his mind, inhaling deeply as he ran through scenarios of her noticing him in his mind. As if 'i'm here to save you from an evil symbiote' is gonna go down well... he rolled his eyes, finally arriving at her door and pushing it open a crack, peering in cautiously.

...She's asleep... But no strange purple cloud-monster in sight... he thought, glancing over the room cautiously before opening the door a little more, leaning his head forwards as he walked in soundlessly, biting his lip. The room was normal enough, as he noted no glowing artifacts, or strange runes immediately visible..., finally turning his attention to the mare herself. Her fur was yellow, with a light-brown mane, her face scrunched up in a cringe grimace and cringe as she trembled, panting softly. Dream Weaver grimaced and looked over her in response, thinking So i'm fighting an invisible foe, who can possess the minds of ponies, but only after tormenting them in their dreams for who knows how long... Great.
This is just getting better and better before he lowered his head, closing the door again and leaving her house, before resetting the lock and returning to his own.

He sighed, yawning lightly as he moved to his own bed, closing his eyes tightly and muttering "Great... Now I get to see if it noticed my intrusion, and will pay me a visit... It's too late for me to do anything now, anyway. I don't have the hours left in the day to strategize about a cure, and the only alternative... Just... No. she won't be the only victim, as well. If there's one..."

He groaned, rolling over and stating "It's hopeless! I'll... Think this over in the morning..." with a sigh, closing eyes and soon falling into a deep, restful sleep.

Author's Notes:

So begins the tale! I've been waiting to release something like this for a looong time. If you're interested in intricate fan-universes, you've come to the right place! I've been developing this one for literally years.