The Valhalla Cascade: The Arrival

I

Princess Luna was sat curled in her chambers looking out at the mornings activities bellow. Her subjects bellow scurried about like ants as they went about their jobs. She was somewhat envious of their energy as she was exhausted from the ongoing events resulting from the rift.

There was a soft tap of hooves behind her and sudden warmth at her side. Starstream jumped onto the sofa next to her and snuggled up under her wing, and for a few minutes they remained silent and still; just enjoying the cuddle in the silent morning air.

Luna looked down at the blue unicorn, and was surprised he was looking up at her with slight concern.

“Is something wrong?” she asked wiggling round to better face Starstream.

“You look exhausted. When’s the last time you slept?”

“Funny, I was about to ask you the same question.”

“I was up all night investigating our not-so-welcome guest after his shouting match. It’s not night anymore so you don’t have an excuse.”

“I’m fine. Stop worrying. I’ve dealt with worse situations in the past fine. I should be worrying about you!”

“Don’t patronise me Luna,” Starstream said, getting annoyed, “The last time you were under this much stress you went insane and tried to cover the planet in eternal night.”

For one moment Luna leapt back, face a mask of shock. Starstream suddenly wondered if in a moment of irritability he’d said something so catastrophic that his foreseeable future was on the dark side of the moon. But before he could properly panic, Luna had suddenly enveloped him in a massive hug; both forelegs and wings wrapped around him as he was thrown back onto the sofa. “You’re the only pony in Equestria crazy enough to say something like that.”

“I love you too.” Starstream gasped, trying to wiggle some breathing room, under Luna’s considerably larger frame.

Releasing Starstream Luna sat back. “There’s something bothering you, I can sense it in your mind.”

“It’s nothing important.” Starstream sighed.

“Tell me. Please!”

“But....”

“TELL ME STARSTREAM!”

“Ok! Just turn off the Royal Canterlot voice.” Starstream got up to stretch his legs. Despite his protestations Luna knew that this was really bothering him. “Ever since we put that creature in the vaults, I’ve been having these nightmares. Well it more like the same nightmare but with different versions. When your mare-friend is in charge of helping ponies confront their nightmares, they it kinda start getting to you.

“So you’ll admit I’m your Mare-friend now?” Luna giggled blushing slightly.

Starstream blushed as well and kissed Luna on the nose before continuing. “Each one starts off more or less the same; I’m in a strange place, an alien planet, not the same one each time though. There’s a yellowish one with floating islands, one like the moon and one that’s covered in jungles.”

“Do they look like how you imagined alien worlds would look like?” Luna asked “What’s happening?”

“I’m surrounded by people I care about. Not anyone I actually know, but in the dream they’re family and friends.” Starstream was staring at the floor, voice becoming more urgent. “...and then... and then storm clouds start rolling in...And...And...”

“What happened next!?” Luna was really concerned now. Starstream was a little odd sometimes but this was starting to scare her.

“A monster drops out of the sky and kills everything.” He whispered. “And I mean everything. The sea’s boils and the skies burn. Those are dead worlds now.” Starstream collapsed back onto the sofa, breathing heavily.

Luna sat beside him and once again stared out the window. “I don’t know exactly what all that means Starstream. But I can tell you’re under more stress than even I am. I know everyone’s worried about Jack and the Rift and the creature in the vaults but just remember this; Dogfish Rising nearly beat Jack by herself, armed only with a harpoon gun and some barbed wire, and you blasted him with your magic so hard that he fled despite having beaten everyone else and you had lapsed into a coma from the effort. Now if he couldn’t beat a blind gryphon, one unicorn and two palace guards; how do you think he stands a chance against the Elements of Harmony, Princess Twilight, her friends, the same Gryphon, the Doctor and an irate mother Pegasus?”

Starstream kissed Luna again, stretching up to reach her head. “You know what!” he exclaimed sitting back down, “You’re absolutely right! I knew that I just needed to talk to you. I’ve just been getting myself worked up over the past few days. I’ve really missed you. I haven’t seen you at least two weeks.”

“Well as soon as things settle down properly,” Luna grinned playfully, “I will clear a whole week on my schedule and reserve it just for you. I’ll even wear those socks you walking in one me prancing around in when we first met.”

Starstream squeaked at the sudden forwardness and blushed so hard that he almost turned purple.

II

I just beyond the Canterlot perimeter Jack stood, silently going over his plan of attack. Around him the horde mutant Diamond dogs panted with excitement at the prospect of attacking the capital city of the Pony race. A long animosity had existed between the two races and not entirely unjustified. Now hyped up on Jacks genetic augmentations the distrust of the ponies had been amplified a thousand fold.

His new lieutenants Wrex and Ruck eagerly ran up and informed Jack that all assault teams and Collectors were in position.

“Jack to all points,” he broadcast on implanted radio’s, His twisted face stretched into a malicious grin, “Attack.”