The Castle of Dreams

Chapter 8

The Stallions all groaned, getting up, some of them yawning as though they were waking up.

Whoa… that was weird, Starfyre muttered.

Eeyup, Big Mcintosh agreed, rubbing his head.

I say, did nothing happen? Bravissimo was looking around and everypony followed suit.

They were still in the gardens.

What’s the big idea?! I thought we were out! Thunderlane sounded like he’d been stood up.

Maybe we were, Shining Armor suggested. This place doesn’t feel the same.

Um, where’s Princess Luna? Forester had asked the million bit question.

Over here.

They looked to see Princess Luna approach them.

Do not let thine eyes fool thee, for this is indeed the Dream Plane.

But… this looks just like the Royal Gardens, Your Highness, Forester replied in a respectful way. Far be it from the timid gardener to conflict with a Princess.

No it isn’t, Shining Armor disagreed. I feel it – This place… I’ve felt it every time I’ve dreamed and slept.

Hey, I feel it too! Starfyre closed his eyes and concentrated.

All at once, everypony, but Starfyre and Princess Luna, gasped to see the garden turn into a large cloud not far away from Cloudsdale.

Awesome! How did I do that?!

This is the realm of dreams, Starfyre, Princess Luna reminded, here it is our imaginations that dictate what is and what isn’t.

Curious, Shining Armor explored his memory and concentrated. The scenery of Cloudsdale cleared away, revealing a playground in Canterlot.

What’s this? Thunderlane asked, intrigued by the slide and swing-set.

Before anypony could answer him, they all heard a distant laugh. Looking towards the cobblestone path that wound its way through the park, they saw two young colts who looked uncannily familiar. They were both unicorns and looked similar in age. They ran side by side, the white one yelling, “The enemy is storming the castle!”

The blue one responded, “Quick, comrade! To the battlements!”

Laughing the two colts ran to the jungle-gym, stabbing their little horns at imaginary enemies.

Shining Armor! Are those two colts…? Big McIntosh could definitely see the resemblance.

Yeah, that’s me and Midnight when we were colts, Shining Armor replied with a small but sad smile. Back then, we dreamed of joining the Royal Guard together, to be warriors and protect everypony in Equestria. We were each other’s first friend.

The two colts then cheered as the young Midnight shouted, “That’s right, run you cowards!”

“And don’t come back!” added the young Shining Armor. “High Hoof!”

They laughed as they did so, but both stopped when they heard a distant laugh, a laugh both the current and past Shining Armor recognized, as the latter pulled the young Midnight down to a nearby bush, whispering, “Get down!”

“What is it?! A dragon, changelings?” young Midnight asked, peeking out from the bush.

Everypony watched as a young pink alicorn filly with a teal crystal heart and gold lace as a cutie mark led a younger very familiar unicorn filly with a lavender coat and dark purple mane to the swing-set.

“Hey, it’s Cadance and your sis!”

“Shh!” young Shining Armor shushed, to the young Midnight’s bewilderment.

They watched as young Cadance started pushing the younger Twilight on the swing, and both Shining Armors smiled as they saw their little sister laugh, gleefully saying, “Higher, Cadance! Higher!”

“Not too high,” amended the young Cadance. “We don’t want you getting another owie.”

“Ok,” agreed little Twilight.

The swinging slowed a little as little Twilight said, “I am so lucky to have you as my foalsitter!”

“I’m the one who’s lucky, Twilight,” insisted Cadance.

“You’re a princess!” scoffed Twilight who then looked a bit discouraged. “I’m just a regular old unicorn.”

Cadance stopped the swing and hugged Twilight from behind, saying, “You are anything but a regular old unicorn.”

Smiling, little Twilight let Cadance take her off the swing, as they then did their secret hoofshake and said together, “Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!”

They both giggled as Cadance then led Twilight out of the park, neither of them knowing they’d been watched as young Shining Armor and Midnight stepped out of the bush.

“Why didn’t we ask them to play? We could’ve used some damsels in distress.”

Shining Armor observed his past self’s longing expression as the colt he once was looked on after the young princess foalsitting his little sister. It was then Midnight understood as he chuckled, saying “You like her, don’t you!”

Everypony watched in understanding amusement as the young Shining Armor tried to answer, but all that came out was, “Well- Uh- I…”

“Hey, it’s cool, bro,” Midnight assured with a shrug of his shoulders. “But you’re gonna have to tell her one day.”

“Yeah…” agreed the young Shining Armor. He then noticed Midnight saluting him, and laughed as he did the same, and they spoke their own little secret hoofshake.

“To Equestria, I pledge my life, along to everypony! To safeguard all from fear and strife, alongside my best brony!”

The two colts laughed and hoofbumped, as the scene faded away.

Shining Armor looked crestfallen as Forester said, You two were really good friends back then, huh?

You seemed more like brothers, Captain, Bravissimo noted.

But there was a snag that almost ruined our friendship, Shining Armor admitted.

At the sound of his words, the mist around them faded to reveal a courtyard. The stallions and princess noticed a nearby assembly of Royal Guard practicing a drill. But what drew their attention was the young Shining Armor and Midnight standing near a door, with a sign that read ‘Recruiting Office’.

“How can you do this?” the young Shining Armor asked, sounding hurt and disappointed. “We promised together! We’d join the Royal Guard, we even made an oath!”

The young Midnight Blaze looked sad but unwavering.

“Shining… I’m sorry. But I’ve been asking myself lately, ‘Why do I want to be a Royal Guard?’ I thought about it over and over! …Then I realized why – I wanted to join the Royal Guard, because it’s what my father wants.”

“So? Lots of colts join cuz’ they wanna make their dads proud!” argued Shining Armor.

“But that’s just it, Shining!” admonished Midnight. “This is what my dad wants me to do. But he has never asked me what I want! …Shining, I don’t want this. I thought I did, but I can’t do this just to please my father. That’s not a good enough reason to dedicate my life to the Guard.”

“What about honor?!” the young Shining Armor was beginning to sound angry. “What about loyalty to the Princess? What about our oath and friendship, Midnight?!”

Everypony watched as the young Midnight was silent for a few moments, and the current Shining Armor felt his heart tighten with guilt as he saw the emotional turmoil on his friend’s face.

“I’m sorry, bro…” Midnight turned around. “But I have come to the conclusion that my destiny is not with the Royal Guard. I’m gonna take the entrance exam to Princess Celestia’s School of Gifted Unicorns. Maybe I’ll find my way there. I wish you the best of luck, Shining Armor, and know that you’ll always be my best friend.”

The young Midnight slowly walked away, as the young Shining Armor yelled, “Fine! Walk away, like a coward!”

The young Shining Armor turned to enter the Recruiting Office, but he stopped, suddenly looking sorry as he turned just in time to see Midnight leave the courtyard.

The scene faded away, as Shining Armor shook his head with guilt and sorrow.

I can’t believe I said that to him…

Hey, buddy, Starfyre, assured, patting Shining on the back. We say a lotta things when we’re colts, things we don’t really mean. I know I’ve said some stupid things, and I prob’ly still do.

I have to handle a lot of foals in Ponyville, and my weather team buddies, Thunderlane butted in, and they get into bunches of fights, but I always help `em make up.

Past is past, pardner, Big McIntosh said. Cain’t do nothin’ about it. But ya have ta’ remember, friends might bump heads ev’ry now and then, but true friendship is always worth fighting for.

Shining Armor let the words wash over him, cleaning away a little of the guilt, as he managed to regain his stature, and said Thanks, guys.

Perhaps now we can proceed with the task at hoof? Princess Luna reminded them. After making sure she had their attention, Princess Luna continued.

Thou hath witnessed the power of the Dream Plane. Here, thy imaginations become reality. Along with thine fears and thine memories. Here, you have the power to make possible the impossible.

So we could get Midnight back? Shining Armor asked.

Not exactly, Princess Luna answered, for we haven’t any means to restore Midnight to his body, and it’s still hosting Sombra’s fallen spirit. For now, we must try and contact Midnight, and hopefully what we do next will unveil a direction to take. Now, everypony, concentrate! Focus on each other, and focus on summoning Midnight’s spirit to us.

You heard the princess, Knights of Adventure! Shining Armor looked to them all, as they snapped to attention, determination showing in their eyes and blazing in their hearts.

Think of Midnight! Focus on the friendship each of us shares with him, and we will bring him home!

Big McInotsh focused on the last good talk he and Midnight shared, when Midnight told him about the school he wanted to open up and the pride Big Mac took in being an earth pony.

Thunderlane focused on the last soccer game had coached with Midnight’s help, and their team won.

Bravissimo focused on his last big play, where Midnight helped using magical special-effects.

Forester focused on the day they planted a seed and Midnight’s spell helped it grow into a beautiful willow tree.

Starfyre focused on that awesome moment when he and Midnight skydived together and fell into a giant pillow Midnight conjured with a spell, and how they high-hoofed afterwards.

They felt his presence as it slowly arrived.

Guys…? Is that you?

His voice sounded afraid and sad. They looked and saw a distant figure in the mist.

Midnight, is that you?! Shining Armor called.

Shining Armor, you’re here too! the figure sounded rejoiced.

Taking a careful look, Bravissimo noted that figure was indeed shaped like a unicorn.

Hold on, if you are Midnight, then who played the part of Private Pansy at the last Heart’s Warming Eve pageant?

Fluttershy played Private Pansy while Rainbow Dash played Commander Hurricane, the figure answered and everypony laughed.

Midnight, are you ok? Shining Armor asked as he began to approach the shadow of Midnight.

No! Don’t come any closer, Shining! the shadow shied, Sombra has me trapped, and he might have done something to me that could hurt all of you.

Shining Armor stopped, looking unsure, when Big McIntosh, asked Haystack! Are y’alright?

Big Mac, everypony! You have to stop him! Midnight pleaded.

Are you talking about Sombra, buddy? Starfyre asked.

Yes! King Sombra plans to restore his real body, but that’s not the problem! He’s seeking something, something that will enable him to invade the sleeping minds of everypony!

I thought he could already do that, Thunderlane brought up. Y’know, trap ponies in waking nightmares?

He doesn’t have that power anymore, Midnight explained. He’s seeking some kind of artifact, an artifact that will enable him to physically enter the Dream Plane!

But why would Sombra want to enter the Dream Plane? Bravissimo wondered. He seemed rather determined to escape it using your body.

It has something to do with this strange castle.

Castle?! Princess Luna echoed. Midnight Blaze, this castle thou speakest of, does it have a ring of lights encircling the highest tower?

Yes! Sombra was using it before he took my body, I sensed it gave him some kind of power. But he lost that power when he took my body and awoke in the real world.

And this artifact, he covets… Have you any idea what it might be? Princess Luna pressured.

I think it’s some kind of mirror, Midnight confirmed, although Sombra is using my body, sometimes I can see what he’s seeing.

Then our problems have only begun, Princess Luna dreaded. Midnight Blaze, until we can find a way to restore you to your body, you must try and learn more of Sombra’s schemes.

I understand, Your Highness, Midnight obliged. I’ll do my best to learn what I can.

Midnight! I promise, we’ll get you back, Shining Armor swore.

I know you will, the figure replied, Shining Armor could hear the faith his friend had in him just from the sound of his voice.

Suddenly, everything started to shake, the stallions and princess all cried out in alarm, as Midnight yelled, It’s Sombra! He knows I’m up to something! Quick everypony, wake up! You must go, now!

Midnight…! The stallions all called as Princess Luna cast a spell.

“Midnight!” shouted Shining Armor as he bolted up panting, and found himself lying on the grass, covered in sweat. Looking around, he saw the others wake up, and they were back in the garden.

“Everypony wake up! We have to go back!”

“No, Shining Armor!”

Princess Luna’s Royal Canterlot Voice snapped them all out of their drowsiness as a shimmer of magic revealed the Princess of the Night.

“Even were we to go back, none of us can help Midnight now. I sensed it, even in the Dream Plane Midnight is a prisoner. Sombra did something to chain Midnight to the Dream Plane.”

“But why?! What could Sombra gain from keeping Midnight trapped in the Dream Plane?” Shining Armor demanded.

“And what were you and Midnight talking about?”

“I shall call an assembly in the morning,” Princess Luna promised. “Everypony should hear what we have learned, and all of you need your rest. I’ll have a guard show you to your rooms.”

Without waiting for a response, Princess Luna disappeared in a flash of magic.

Shining Armor sighed in vexation as Big Mac wondered, “Wha’ in th’ hay is Sombra up to? It ain’t enough he takes our friend and th’ empire, he wants all a’ Equestria?!”

“That jerk…” Thunderlane agreed. “I wanna knock him inta’ next week!”

“That’s enough, stallions,” Shining ordered, his tone was low but almost instantly it had earned their whole attention, as the Captain faced his new company.

“As much as I wanna go back and help Midnight this very instant! …We need our rest. To bed, all of you! We’ll attend the assembly in the morning, and hopefully we’ll have our next move planned.”

Seeing the look in Shining’s eyes made the stallions know at once there was no point in arguing, and so they departed. But Shining Armor did not follow, Forester noticing as he asked, “Shining? Aren’t you coming?”

Shining Armor was looking towards a statue of a guardspony, whispering loud enough, “I’ll be along.”

Forester felt it, that Shining Armor was upset. But he decided to leave Shining Armor alone and followed his friends. Shining Armor felt his heart sink, in grief, in shame, in guilt.

How could I have been so selfish? he thought to himself, those horrible words echoing in his mind.

Walk away, like a coward.

What kind of friend am I? he pondered.

But then he stood tall.

I let Midnight down once… I won’t do it again!

Rage burned in his heart, resolved fortified his nerve.

Sombra… You will pay!

Morning broke, and it wasn’t long before the assembly was called, as everypony gathered in the throneroom.

“Now that everypony is here, let this meeting come to order,” declared Princess Celestia. “First item of business, Prince Polaris – What is that status regarding Sombra?”

“Sombra is slowly but surely spreading his evil across Equestria,” reported the Prince of Fall and Winter. “He has taken Neighagra Falls and is spreading his influence to the Eastern Sea, where Manehatten is in crisis. What’s worse, anypony caught in the spread of his darkness is enslaved and added to Sombra’s mind-controlled army of ponies. I’ve sent two battalions of our Royal Guard, along with a squad from the Wonderbolts to aid in the resistance effort. Alas, it is a losing battle. There have been multiple casualties and some of our warriors have also been enslaved to Sombra’s depraved control.”

“You said his darkness is spreading across Equestria,” noted Princess Luna, “but from the sound of it, it seems more like Sombra is taking the east.”

“For the moment, Princess Luna,” Prince Polaris clarified, “I have conjured a series of blizzards and whiteout around the north-east of Canterlot, in efforts to waylay Sombra’s troops and darkness. For the moment we are safe, but the snowstorms are only forcing Sombra to continue conquering more of Equestria!”

“If this continues, Your Highnesses,” Knighthoof offered, “we’ll be completely outnumbered and surrounded once Sombra finally turns his attention to Canterlot.”

“I must agree with Knighthoof,” Princess Celestia stated. “Fighting Sombra’s mind-slaves will only result in more casualties and more soldiers for Sombra. I am ordering an immediate evacuation of all Equestria to here in Canterlot.”

“But Princess!” Twilight objected, “Canterlot can’t possibly offer haven to everypony in Equestria!”

“We must, Twily,” Shining Armor disagreed. “It’s better if we gather everypony’s strength rather than allow ourselves to be thinned out.”

“I can use my magic to help earth pony farmers to quickly grow more food,” offered Princess Florinda, “and summon rain for drinking water. We’ll have enough provisions for everypony, as well as our guard.”

“Now, sister,” Princess Celestia addressed, “I believe you, along with the Knights of Adventure, have something to share with us.”

“Indeed,” Princess Luna confirmed, “Our troubles are only beginning. Sombra is not only spreading his darkness across Equestria, he plans to gain more power by two methods. The first is to restore his original body.”

“Why would Sombra want to restore his own body when he has Midnight as his new vessel?” Rarity asked.

“My guess is, Sombra finds Midnight’s body to be insufficient,” Prince Polaris offered. “Sombra developed an impressive fortitude to master the dark magicks he has at his disposal. Midnight has not. It is quite possible that Sombra is barely able to use the dark magic he mastered in his original body because Midnight’s body has not built up the kind of internal strength necessary to manipulate the dark powers.”

“Which brings us to the other method Sombra covets to conquer Equestria,” Princess Luna continued. “Everypony, I fear Sombra is seeking a way to physically enter the Dream Plane.”

“How would he do that?” Big McIntosh asked. “Cain’t he just hit the hay and dream himself into the Dream Plane?”

“But more importantly, why?” added Applejack, as confused as her brother. “Why in thunder-ation duz Sombra wanna enter the Dream Plane like that?”

“Sleep does enable one to exist in the Dream Plane,” Princess Luna explained, “but almost everypony never realizes their dreams are just dreams. Sombra certainly knows how to interact with his dreams, and control them to an extent. But this offers him very little, compared to what he could gain by entering the Dream Plane physically.”

“How do you mean, Your Highness?” Shining Armor asked.

“If Sombra were to enter the Dream Plane physically,” Princess Luna explained ominously, “he would possibly gain access to a power too horrible to face… I believe Sombra seeks to take control of the Castle of Dreams.”

Princesses Celestia and Florinda, along with Prince Polaris, gasped in horror, immediately setting everypony else on edge.

“Wait a minute, what’s the Castle of Dreams?!” Spike asked.

“I’ve never read about it!” worried Twilight.

“Wait, is that the same castle Midnight and I were in?” Shining Armor asked. “He had me imprisoned there until Midnight set me free.”

“The Castle of Dreams…” Princess Celestia mused grimly. “I thought it was a myth.”

“It would appear otherwise,” Prince Polaris debated. “This is even worse than we thought. To gain the power of the Castle of Dreams would make Sombra unstoppable.”

“But he can’t enter it,” Princess Florinda disputed, “perhaps he did as a spirit but since he now inhabits Midnight’s body, he is limited to his own dreams in the Dream Plane.”

“Which explains something else Midnight informed us of, last night,” Princess Luna informed them. “Midnight stated Sombra is seeking artifact… I believe the artifact he spoke of, is the Mirror of Fantasia.”

The look on Princess Celestia’s face told everypony this news was not good.

“Wait a minute, I have never heard of this Mirror of Fantasia,” Princess Florinda remarked.

“I believe I might have read mentions of it long ago,” Prince Polaris offered, “but even I do not possess this knowledge.”

“Few would,” Princess Celestia confirmed. Everypony’s eyes were on her as she went on. “In the waning days of the tribes of Unicorns, Pegasi, and Earth Ponies, when Equestria was just beginning, Clover the Clever sought to make dreams reality, and believed the method was to physically enter what later came to be known as the Dream Plane.”

“Wasn’t Clover the Clever the apprentice of Star Swirl the Bearded?” Twilight asked. “I remember when I played her at the Hearth’s Warming Eve play, she was the adviser of Princess Platinum, and came to be known as a great magician in her own right.”

“Indeed she was,” Princess Celestia confirmed. “Clover was fascinated by the concept of dreams, how anything is possible in a dream. She pondered, if anything is possible in a dream, why not could she make it so for reality? So Clover researched extensively in anything pertaining to dreams, and conducted several experiments, often putting herself at risk, for she would not force nor ask anypony to risk themselves for her pursuit of knowledge.”

“Sound like somepony we know,” Starfyre kidded as he gave a wink to Twilight, only to flinch at the glare he got from Shining Armor.

“As I was saying…” Princess Celestia said with a fake cough, “Clover soon invented a spell for Lucid Dreaming, which allows one to know they are asleep and in a dream, thereby allowing one to control their dreams. Using Lucid Dreaming, Clover soon found something beyond the parameters of her own dreams.”

“The Dream Plane,” Shining Armor, Bravissimo, and Fluttershy all realized aloud.

“Indeed,” Princess Celestia confirmed. “Clover soon realized that dreams take place, not within one’s mind, but on a different plane of existence, which is how she discovered the Dream Plane and named it so. This only urged Clover to learn more, and soon she invented a way to physically enter the Dream Plane… via her creation, the Mirror of Fantasia.”

“So this mirror lets anypony just mosey on in t’th’ Dream Plane, Princess?” asked Applejack.

“Exactly, Applejack,” Princess Celestia replied, “and it was for that very reason the Mirror was dangerous.”

“How exactly does walking in the Dream Plane become dangerous?” Thunderlane asked, Pinkie Pie adding, “Yeah, the Dream Plane sounds like a place to have fun!”

“The Dream Plane is indeed a place where dreams are real,” Princess Celestia clarified, her horn shining as the Princess of the Sun cast a spell.

Over everypony’s head an image of a misty meadow appeared.

“In the Dream Plane, anything is possible. One can simply sprout wings and fly, cast spells without a horn, make their dreams come true as easily as stamping one’s hoof. But the Dream Plane draws power from imagination. And Imagination is a powerful thing, especially when it comes to Fear.”

“You’re talking about nightmares and bad dreams,” Forester presumed with a shudder.

“The Dream Plane isn’t just where our dreams take place, it is where we experience our fears made into nightmares.”

“And not only that,” Princess Luna added, “What happens in dreams stay in dreams. But what happens on the Dream Plane is real… Given the correct method, these dreams-made-real can potentially invade this world.”

“You mean… something bad could happen in the Dream Plane, and come into the real world?” asked Twilight fearfully.

“It’s happened before,” Princess Celestia confirmed. “When Clover the Clever completed the Mirror of Fantasia, she tested it by being the first pony to ever step physically into the Dream Plane. Here, she sought to make everypony’s dreams come true.”

“And the road to Tartartus is often paved with good intentions,” Princess Luna added. “Clover conjured a great Castle in the Dream Plane, from where she could work and observe others’ dreams. She planned to learn what others dreamed so as to ascertain their desires, and make the corresponding dreams real before bringing them out of the Dream Plane into the waking world.”

“And this castle is the Castle of Dreams you mentioned before,” Shining Armor surmised.

“Yes, and the master of the Castle would have access to the dreams of everypony in Equestria,” Princess Luna went on, “and most likely every dreaming creature in the world.”

“Clover then exited the Dream Plane so as to present the results of all her work to her mentor, Star Swirl,” Princess Celestia continued.

“But in her carelessness, she’d left the Mirror of Fantasia open.”

Both Princesses fell silent.

“…Then what happened?” Spike broke the ice.

“Discord happened…” Princess Celestia replied, much to everypony’s shock! “Nopony knows how, but a dream running rampant found its way out of the Mirror on its own, and somehow this dream became Discord, the Spirit of Disharmony.”

“So Discord came to be because Clover the Clever opened a door into the Dream Plane?” asked Twilight. “How is that even possible?”

“There is no way to be truly sure,” Princess Celestia answered. “For just as with Chaos, anything is possible with Dreams. With such power, Discord was able to enslave al of Equestria and subject everypony to a period of misery.”

“It was then my sister and I utilized the Elements of Harmony in order to depose Discord’s wretched rule over Equestria,” Princess Luna concluded.

“In shame of what her actions had caused, Clover the Clever decided to seal the doorway between the Dream Plane and the waking world and hide the Mirror of Fantasia. She destroyed all her research on dreams and swore never to share her findings with anypony.”

“So… Sombra now seeks the Mirror Fantasia,” Shining Armor gathered, “and if he gets it, he’ll get the Castle of Dreams and nopony will be safe from him! He’ll be able to access the sleeping minds of everypony in the world!”

“And he’ll use the power of the Dream Plane to remake his real body!” Twilight added.

“We can’t waste a moment,” Princess Celestia declared, “We must find the Mirror of Fantasia before Sombra, and hopefully we will uncover a way to restore Midnight to his body.”

“Then what’re we waiting for?” Shining Armor asked. “The Knights of Adventure stand ready, Your Majesty!”

“Very well,” Princess Celestia agreed, “The Knights of Adventure shall take up the task of finding and recovering the Mirror of Fantasia. Twilight, you and your friends must remain here to aid in protecting Canterlot; we will need the Elements of Harmony. Prince Polaris, continue overseeing military operations, and Princess Florinda, you shall oversee handling all refugees.”

“Princess Celestia,” Faerie Tail spoke up, “There is something more everypony should hear.”

“By all means,” Princess Celestia conferred.

All eyes fell to Faerie Tail and her husband Knighthoof.

“As my wife stated, you must all hear what we have to say, for it may provide insight or some knowledge that could be of use.”

“What do you mean, Sir?” asked Shining Armor.

“Sombra was not always evil,” Knighthoof explained. “Once upon a time, he was a wandering warrior, searching for a purpose. He was once a knight of the old Unicorn kingdom.”

“Sombra was a knight?!” Shining Armor was in awe. “Are we talking about the same Sombra whose known as ‘the Unicorn whose Heart is as Black as Night?’”

“He was,” Knighthoof confirmed. “Honorable and selfless, Sombra served the Unicorn Kingdom and was revered as a hero. He was born the bastard child of a noblemare and a squire. Because of his black coat and the circumstances surrounding his birth he was seen as an omen of ill-fortune. Because of this, he had a hard childhood. Even so, Sombra strove to achieve his dreams, and proved himself worthy of knighthood, becoming Sir Sombra de Obsidian. Over time, Sombra’s exploits and adventures made him revered and a legend. To many unicorns, even earth ponies and pegasi, he was honored and hailed as a hero. But he soon became disillusioned by the rift of distrust and persecution between the three pony tribes.”

“Sombra attempted to convince the Unicorn King that the tribes should unite and put their differences behind them,” Faerie Tail added.

“Alas, his words fell on deaf ears. So Sombra chose to leave the Kingdom and find his own way. He wandered the lands, lending his horn, his blade, and his magic as a mercenary. Eventually, he heard tell of a new land, Equestria.”

“Arriving there, he was happy to find the tribes had united into a single community,” Knighthoof went on. “He travelled around Equestria, lending a helping hoof to everypony. But then he found a wonderful place, the Crystal Empire. There, he was astonished by its beauty and the love and hope. But then, the Crystal Empire fell into a dark time, when a plague started to infect many crystal ponies.”

“But help arrived in the form of young and beautiful unicorn healer, Evening Star,” Faerie Tail explained. “She combined her knowledge of herbs with her unique magic to create an elixir, healing the sick and relieving the crystal ponies of their suffering. Sombra assisted her, and during their time together helping the crystal ponies, they fell in love.”

“How romantic!” swooned Rarity. “Brought together by compassion and sympathy a romance is born betwixt the unflinching compassion of a healer and the rough yet gentle heart of a warrior!”

“Indeed,” Faerie Tail agreed. “Never had there been a romance so loving as that shared between Evening Star and Sombra. They fell in love, and were married, and eventually they had two children.”

“But while all this had been happening,” Knighthoof stepped in morbidly, “Clover had been tampering with powers she should not have tampered with. For when Discord appeared, he wrought havoc upon all of Equestria, bringing misery and suffering unto everypony. During one of Discord’s rampant bouts, he had caused an earthquake that scarred the Crystal Empire with destruction. Sombra and Evening Star’s youngest child, their only daughter… was killed in the chaos.”

The Mares of Harmony all gasped.

“His child’s death and his family grieving was only the beginning of Sombra’s fall,” Knighthoof said with a heavy heart.

“Clover’s accursed creation, the Mirror of Fantasia, unleashed not only discord into the waking world but something else as well, something evil, something born from the nightmares of all ponies. An evil that sensed the grieving hate within Sombra’s heart. After Princesses Celestia and Luna defeated Discord and imprisoned him within stone, Sombra felt cheated of revenge, and outraged that the Princesses has only jailed Discord instead of destroying him.”

“Sombra’s hate and rage attracted the evil that Clover’s mirror had allowed escape,” Faerie Tail said.

“But it was only when Faerie Tail passed away did Sombra finally fall to darkness. The evil infected Sombra’s grieving heart and transformed him into the threat we now face: King Sombra, the Unicorn whose Heart is as Black as Night…”

Everypony was silenced with awe, until big McIntosh asked, “Wha’ happened to Sombra’s other kid? Y’all said they had two.”

“Sombra’s other child, his firstborn son,” Knighthoof explained, “was also my and Midnight’s ancestor, Rising Hope. Rise was almost a grown stallion when his family was broken. He’d lost his sister to Discord’s selfish bouts of havoc, his mother to an illness, and his father to evil. He left the Crystal Empire when his father lashed out at him in his grief, and was not there when Sombra took over the Empire. Rise grew up, found love, raised a family, and passed on. His family continued all the way down to mine.”

Twilight and Shining Armor shared a sorrowful look of sympathy.

“And Midnight has no idea…” Shining Armor supposed.

“None…” Knighthoof confirmed in shame. “I should’ve told him.”

“The fault is not yours, old friend,” Princess Celestia insisted. “I should never have placed Midnight at risk – I only did what I felt as necessary, and my reasons were flawed.”

“With all due respect, Princess Celestia,” Prince Polaris spoke up, “I believe we must get a move on; I must return to command my troops, and my sister should prepare to receive the refugees.”

“Agreed,” Princess Celestia said and Prince Polaris nodded respectfully before leaving the throne room. “Twilight, as I said before, you and your friends must remain here and use the Elements of Harmony to aid in protecting Canterlot.”

“Yes, Princess,” Twilight replied.

“Spike, prepare to send some messages, I’ll need you momentarily.”

“Ready and able, Your Highness!” Spike said while whipping out a quill and parchment from his back on reflex.

“Princess Florinda, stand ready,” Princess Celestia said to the Princess of Spring and Summer. “We have much work ahead of us.”

“Of course,” Princess Florinda said before turning to the Stallions. “I am counting, on all of you. Save the Empire, save my nephew, and save my apprentice. Midnight and Prince Pollo sacrificed themselves already, and I don’t want to see anypony else suffer a loss.”

The Knights of Adventure all saluted, and Florinda left to make preparations. Knighthoof and Faerie Tail approached them as the old general said, “Midnight is our son – We have faith you won’t let him down.”

“We believe in you, because we know Midnight certainly does,” Faerie Tail agreed.

The couple left.

Princes Celestia then stood before The Stallions of Adventure and the Mares of Harmony.

“All of you represent the hopes of Equestria: Harmony will always prevail, just as Adventure tests even the strongest of Friendships, but the Magic of them all is truly worth fighting for.”

Princess Luna stepped forward, saying, “Twilight Sparkle, I recommend you aid the Knights in the Royal Library; perhaps there you will all discover a lead to the whereabouts of the Mirror of Fantasia.”

“Wait, whattya mean the whereabouts of the mirror?” Starfyre asked.

“After realizing her creation had unleashed untold havoc upon Equestria,” Princess Celestia answered, “Clover the Clever decided to hide the Mirror, that its magic was too dangerous to allow anypony to use. She hid the Mirror in a location known only to her and destroyed all her research on dreams to cover her tracks. The only one she entrusted the secret of the mirror to was her mentor.”

“In that case,” Twilight announced, “We’ll look in the Wing of Star Swirl the Bearded!”