The Castle of Dreams

Chapter 7

The throne room in Canterlot was filled with heartbreak and despair. Everypony was downtrodden, their hearts despaired and grieving. Even the Princesses looked hopeless as the horrible knowledge plagued their minds.

Prince Polaris was seeing to the security of Canterlot and doing his best to restrict Sombra’s movements by conjuring a blizzard around the Crystal Empire. Ivory was managing the Crystal Pony refugees along with the help among the Castle Staff. But without Prince Pollo, whose conjured sunlight had been the one true repellant against the darkness, it was like trying to stop a slow but surely destructive oil spill. Wherever the darkness spread, it corrupted, turning splendiferous sites of natural beauty into barren wastelands, withering trees and then coating them with crystal, flowers withered and died, grass yellowed and turned to dust.

King Sombra had returned, and Midnight Blaze was his vessel. The Knights of Adventure, along with Shining Armor, could not get that horrible moment out of their heads, when they had bared witness to Midnight’s terrifying transformation as the Unicorn whose Heart was Black as Night slowly took him over. Prince Pollo had used the last of his magic to buy them time to escape, and had been imprisoned by Sombra.

Shining Armor had only barely managed to get his wife, the still comatose Princess Cadance, as they had all made their escape.

The Elements of Harmony were there too, devastated by what they had learned, Twilight most of all.

She looked at the stained-glass window where the image of Cadance and Spike, minus the Crystal Heart. It had dulled in color until it was almost gray, black, and white. Even worse was the window showing the Knights of Adventure and their Spirits of Adventure. But now, it too was dulled gray, black and white, and the image of Midnight and the Helm of Light was gone. Spike himself stood by her side, wiping tears.

“But… he Pinkie-Promised,” she whispered.

She heard hoofsteps and looked to see Princess Celestia stop by her side.

“Do not give in to despair, my faithful student. There is still hope.”

Then Princes Celestia called everypony’s attention.

“Hear me, my friends and loyal subjects. The situation, as the Knights of Adventure have explained, is dire. Not only has Sombra returned and reclaimed the Crystal Empire, he has taken over Sir Midnight Blaze as his new vessel. Although some of the Crystal Ponies managed to escape, the many that did not Sombra has enslaved once more to his twisted rule, and Prince Apollomino has been taken prisoner. We must pull together, to save not just them but Midnight from Sombra’s thrall.”

“But how?!” Starfyre neighed as flapped himself aloft. “Sombra’s got Midnight, he has the Crystal Heart, what can we do to stop him?”

“Never pegged you for a quitter, Star,” teased Rainbow Dash in a good-natured way.

“You got something to say, fillyfriend?!” growled the yellow Pegasus stallion, in no mood for jokes.

“Enough!” shouted Prince Florinda, earning their attention. “An Empire, my apprentice, and my nephew are all counting on us to save them! This is not the time for petty rivalries.”

“Thank you, Florinda,” said Princess Celestia. “As I was saying, King Sombra must be stopped. But in order to defeat this enemy, we must know this enemy.”

Then the doors to the throneroom opened, everypony looking to see two unicorn ponies enter, one a stallion, the other a mare. The stallion was well-muscled, a dark red, like rosewood, with a mane and tail of ebony, the mane brushed back into a coltish-ponytail, while his actual tail was shortened and styled the same way as the members of the Royal Guard, and he had fetlocks almost concealing his hooves completely. His horn extended like a thorn yet shimmered like oil on water.

His cutie-mark was a trio of twinkles, colored gold, arranged with one above a silver shield similar to the one on Shining Armor’s cutie-mark, the other two at its lower sides. He carried himself with the regal and commanding composure of a general, with a resolute gaze in his ruby eyes tainted only by a look of guilt.

His wife was white like fresh-fallen snow with a mane, held in place by a hair-band, colored azure with streaks of alice-blue, her tail was wavy, colored the same as her mane. Her horn glittered like an icicle, and her cutie-mark was a storybook with three sky-blue twinkle stars on the cover, and a gold ribbon set in its pages like a bookmark.

“Fillies and gentlecolts, for those of you unfamiliar with them, may I present Knighthoof, semi-retired General of the Canterlot Royal Army, and Madame-Librarian Faerie Tail,” announced Princess Celestia before adding, “Midnight Blaze’s parents.”

“General Knighthoof!” gasped Shining Armor and he rushed over and gave him a salute. “Request permission to apologize for failing to saving your son, sir!”

“Granted,” obliged Knighthoof in a gruff voice, “but seriously. At ease, soldier.”

“Sir! Yes, sir!” replied Shining Armor, secretly glad to see his old mentor.

“General Knighthoof, Madame Faerie Tail,” welcomed Twilight, the many memories of spending time in the royal library with her, “it’s good to see you both again.”

“Twilight, dear,” greeted Faerie Tail in a warm voice, “you’ve become such a beautiful young mare.”

“Uh, General? Madame?”

Knighthoof and Faerie Tail looked ahead and noticed the Stallions of Adventure (minus their leader) approached them, looking ashamed, as Big McIntosh said, “We’re mighty sorry.”

“We should’ve stuck close to Midnight,” added Starfyre, who sounded like he didn’t have a lot of fire in him at the moment.

“And in that, we failed miserably!” exclaimed Bravissimo in a way that would’ve been theatric if the words weren’t sincere.

“We understand if you can never forgive us,” whimpered Forester, both apologetic and a little afraid of this militant unicorn.

“We’ll accept any punishment,” Thunderlane  moped.

“STOW IT!” roared Knighthoof, making them all flinch as the general now had everypony’s attention. “Save the tears when we’ve rescued my son! That’s an order! Understand?!”

“Sir! Yes, sir!” the stallions all agreed, straightening their poise at Knighthoof’s command, hearing as well as feeling the authority in it. Shining Armor just smiled, the sound of his former superior officer’s voice as he took charge was reassuring.

“General,” greeted the two princesses.

“Your Majesties,” replied Knighthoof with a bow, his wife bowing as well.

“Thank you for coming, old friend,” said Princess Celestia, “I apologize for what has transpired. I should never have entrusted Midnight with the task of recovering the Crystal Heart.”

“Hold, on!” brayed Starfyre, “Are you calling Midnight a failure?!”

A silver-gold magical aura enshrouded him as he was suddenly plowed into the floor, Knighthoof shouting, “How dare you show such disrespect to your princess?!”

“At ease, General. He’s just upset,” calmed Princess Celestia. “Starfyre, everyone… the failure is not Midnight’s. It is mine…”

“That can’t be true, Princess!” Twilight protested.

“How could this possibly be your fault?!” seconded Shining Armor.

“No, Shining Armor,” spoke up Knighthoof. “The fault is not Midnight’s nor is it the Princess’s. It’s ours.”

“We have kept this secret for far too long,” Faerie Tail agreed with her husband, holding his hoof.

“What secret?” Twilight asked, instantly becoming wary.

“Everypony,” Knighthoof called, “there is a reason Midnight was the one Sombra took over, the reason why Midnight was drawn to the Crystal Empire, the reason why Sombra did not just take anypony to be his host.”

“Because he couldn’t,” Faerie Tail added. “Sombra was drastically weakened when Princess Cadance used the Crystal Heart against him. In his frail state, all he was capable of was whispering dark thoughts into ponies’ minds and thrusting them into nightmares. In doing so, he manipulated another to steal the Crystal Heart for him, enabling him the strength he needed to move forward with his plans. But there was a certain kind of pony he needed, a pony with whom he had a connection that is undeniable.”

“What kind a’ connection? Midnight never even met Sombra till we went t’ th’ Empire!” Big McIntosh brought up.

“This has long been the darkest and most shameful secret of my family,” answered Knighthoof with a heavy heart.

“Through me, everypony, my son, Midnight Blaze, is a direct descendant of King Sombra…”

The Mares of Harmony and Stallions of Adventure, along with Shining Armor, and Spike, were shaken to their very cores the moment those words left Knighthoof’s mouth.

“Princess!” cried Twilight as she turned to her teacher, her eyes threatening to shed tears, “Please tell me this isn’t true!”

“Of course it’s not true, Twi!” snapped Rainbow Dash, Starfyre adding, “No way Midnight’s related to that creepazoid Sombra!”

“Midnight’s a pony like no other!” Spike declared.

But Princess Celestia lowered her eyes sadly, and everypony realized…

“It’s true…?” whispered Fluttershy and Forester, who said, “Our friend Midnight? Descended from the Unicorn whose Heart is as Black as Night?”

“It can’t be…” whimpered Fluttershy.

“So, what you’re saying,” Bravissimo gathered, “is that Sombra required a pony related to him by blood to use as a host and new body, which is why he chose Midnight.”

“Indeed,” Knighthoof confirmed. “Sombra could easily have chosen me, but it seems Midnight beholds qualities Sombra desired that I apparently lack. That or he wanted Midnight, who also poses a great threat to Sombra.”

“What do you mean, General Knighthoof?” Twilight asked. “Midnight’s a great mage an’ all, but what exactly makes him a threat to Sombra?”

“It’s us…” realized Big McIntosh, all eyes turning to him. “Midnight an’ us are th’ Spirits of Adventure, and Midnight’s our leader cuz he’s th’ Spirit of Light!”

“That is correct, Big McIntosh,” Faerie Tail answered, “and Sombra thrives in Shadow and Darkness. By robbing Midnight of his body, Midnight cannot utilize his Spirit of Light against him nor can the rest of you, the Knights of Adventure, utilize your own Spirits because the Spirits of Adventure draw their power from the Spirit of Light!”

“Hold on a second!” Pinkie Pie spoke up. She then reached behind her back, pulling out a glass of water, drank, and then spat out the water as if she were startled.

“If that meanie Sombra took Midnight’s body, then where’s the real Midnight?”

Nopony had an answer.

“In any case,” Princess Celestia broke the silence, “we must find out what Sombra is planning next. Only then can we-”

Princess!!

The voice was unmistakable but it sounded like an echo, distant yet persisted like the peal of a bell.

“Midnight?!” Twilight gasped.

Is somepony there? Can anypony hear me?!

“That’s my son!” stated Knighthoof urgently, as he looked around, trying to see where the voice was coming from. It sounded like a desperate cry for help.

“Midnight, honey?” Faerie Tail called, sounding close to heartbreak. “Where are you?”

“The windows!” Thunderlane pointed out.

Everypony looked towards the windows, and sure enough, they could see a shadow moving across them, from window to window. Bravissimo and Rarity, with their eyes for detail, saw it.

“It looks like…” Bravissimo started, Rarity finishing, “Yes, like the shadow of a unicorn!”

“Midnight, is that you?” called Shining Armor.

Shining Armor! Big Mac! Anypony!

“Where in th’ hay is he?!” Big McIntosh asked, sounding confused.

“Can he even hear us?” Bravissimo added.

Is somepony there? Please! Help me...!!!

Then the voice stopped.

“Midnight? Midnight!” yelled Twilight hopefully.

She was answered with silence.

Faerie Tail broke down into heart-wrenching sobs, her husband holding her as she cried, “Tell me he’s gonna be alright…!”

“We’ll get him back…” he whispered solemnly, as everypony looked at a loss.

“I fear the situation is worse than we imagined,” Princess Celestia worried

“Indeed, my sister.”

Everypony looked to the doorways and saw…

“Princess Luna!” Shining Armor awed, as everypony, but Princesses Celestia and Florinda, bowed to the Princess of the Night. Neither did Knighthoof as he continued to console Faerie Tail.

“Luna, my sister,” greeted Princess Celestia, “have you some wisdom or other to offer?”

“I believe I know where Midnight is,” answered Princess Luna. “I fear he, or rather his mind, is trapped.”

The Knights of Adventure gushed with questions.

“His mind?”

“Trapped?”

“But where?”

“Details, details!”

Princess Luna approached them as she explained, “When Sombra stole Midnight Blaze’s body, he, to put it simply, kicked Midnight’s mind out so that he could settle in. In which case, there is only one place Midnight’s mind could go after being forcibly evicted from his body – The Dream Plane.”

“Of course!” Princess Florinda gasped, “It makes perfect sense!”

“What’s the Dream Plane?” asked Shining Armor. “I’ve never heard of it.”

“I read about it once,” Twilight volunteered, “the Dream Plane is where the minds of all sleeping Ponies go.”

“Correct, Twilight Sparkle,” answered Princess Luna, “the Dream Plane is a part of my sphere of influence as the Princess of the Night. It is my duty to calm the sleeping minds of ponies who suffer bad dreams; I do so by entering their dreams and helping them face their fears or destroy the figment of their imagination that plagues them with nightmares.”

“Incredible…” Shining Armor whispered.

“However, even my power in the Dream Plane is limited,” Princess Luna continued, “for only if somepony is asleep can I enter their dream, and I am limited to their dream itself. I cannot leave their dream and explore the Dream Plane, which is where dreams truly take place. Since Sombra now inhabits Midnight Blaze’s body, I can only surmise Midnight Blaze’s mind is trapped in the Dream Plane, for there is nowhere else I can think of he could go.”

“But if Midnight’s mind is in the Dream Plane, was he really here just now?” Starfyre asked.

“Not entirely,” Princess Luna amended. “I believe Midnight Blaze was attempting to reach out and communicate through the windows. The windows of Canterlot Castle are not ordinary – The glass is composed of minute traces of crystal, and crystal itself is magical in many ways.”

“So what you are saying, my sister,” spoke Princess Celestia, “that somehow, Midnight connected to the traces of crystal in the windows in an effort to communicate.”

“That, or… he reached out through his connection to the Spirits of Adventure to make contact with his friends while using the windows as a medium,” Luna confirmed. Big McIntosh, Starfyre, Bravissimo, Thunderlane, and Forester all felt their hearts sink.

“Alas, it seems that his effort failed. We were able to hear him, but it appears he could not hear us.”

“Then wha’ can we do ta’ reach Midnight?” Big McIntosh asked.

“There must be some way,” insisted Bravissimo.

“We can’t leave our buddy hangin’!” Starfyre stated.

“We gotta get him back!” yelled Thunderlane.

“Please, Princess! What can we do?” asked Forester.

All eyes were on the Princess of the Night. She closed her eyes and sighed before declaring, “I have an idea but it’s not guaranteed to work.”

“Anything at this point could be helpful, Princess Luna,” assured Princess Florinda, her eyes betraying her concern for her apprentice.

Nodding, Princess Luna called, “Knights of Adventure! Your leader is in peril, and without him your own Spirits of Adventure are powerless – Would the five of you brave the unknown to save him?”

Big McIntosh, Starfyre, Bravissimo, Thunderlane, and Forester answered her with determined expressions.

“Very well – The plan I have in mind is to establish contact with Midnight Blaze. Perhaps speaking to him will unveil a means of overcoming Sombra or a way of restoring Midnight Blaze to his body. I shall cast the five of you into a slumber and connect your sleeping minds into single dream. I shall enter your united dream, and hopefully what we do next will enable us to make contact with Midnight Blaze. What say you?”

“Like you even have to ask!” neighed Starfyre.

“Let’s saddle up, pardners!” Big Mac reared, ready for anything.

“As we in the theatre say,” Bravissimo added, “break a leg, everypony!”

“Let’s do it!” Thunderlane cheered.

“I’m ready,” Forester looked nervous, but the look in his eyes was undeniable.

“And me as well,” Shining Armor stepped forward.

“What?” everypony said.

“Midnight and I are friends, we’ve been friends ever since we were colts!” Shining Armor reasoned. He looked at his sister and smile.

“And if my little sister has taught me anything, it’s that anything’s possible with the Magic of Friendship!”

Twilight smiled. Knighthoof and Faerie Tail both smiled in gratitude, and the Knights of Adventure nodded in approval.

“Very well,” Princess Luna replied. “Until Midnight is rescued, the Knights of Adventure require a leader. Shining Armor, Prince by right and name, you are charged to lead the Knights of Adventure to save Midnight, to save the Crystal Empire, and to stop the Unicorn Whose Heart is as Black as Night!”

“I accept this honor and responsibility,” Shining Armor swore, “to lead the Knights of Adventure until we rescue their true leader, at which point I will gladly step down and relinquish leadership to Midnight Blaze.”

“Now that that is settled,” Princess Luna responded, “I shall take my leave.”

“Wait!” Thunderlane flew up and over to her, asking, “What about Midnight? I thought you were gonna help us try and talk to him!”

“In order for this plan to succeed, Thunderlane,” Princess Luna reasoned, “I must be at my full potential, which I will be once the Night arrives. For now, all of you must be patient. I will meet you in the Castle Gardens tonight at seven o’clock.”

It was torturous, having to wait all that time, but seven pm eventually arrived. Everypony gathered in the Canterlot Royal Gardens, in the center of a lush patch of grass. The Knights of Adventure, along with their temporary leader gathered in front of Princess Luna.

“For this to work, you must first all surround me in a circle.”

They obeyed, and Princes Luna announced to the spectators, “This spell requires my full concentration – No interruptions.”

Everypony looked at Pinkie Pie who was absent-mindedly tinkering with her party-cannon, until the silence earned her attention and she noticed everypony was looking at her with raised eyebrows.

“I guess I should do this another time, huh?”

“Stallions! Art thou ready?” Princess Luna asked in the Canterlot Royal Voice.

“You Highness, we were ready the moment you proposed this course of action!” Shining Armor declared, the other stallions nodding in agreement.

“Then close thine eyes and relax…”

The Stallions all sat down, their eyes closing, as Princess Luna began her spell. Her horn flared with a soothing glow like moonlight. Her magic reached out like ribbons of silvery silk, touching each stallion’s mind, and they all let out a collective gasp.

Twilight stifled a gasp, when she felt a wing on her shoulder. It was Princess Florinda.

“Have faith,” she whispered. “Come, everypony. Let us leave them to dream. Hopefully, of a solution.”