The Silverfox Chronicles

Story two: Fever Dreams

Darkness.

That was all Embane could see.

Nightmare's forces-shadowy ponies with white eyes- surrounded him by the hundreds.

For every one he killed, ten more took their place.

Embane's body sagged with exhaustion. Suddenly, Nightmare's "soldiers" started to dog pile on him. They bit and hit at his body, causing him to cry out. Embane lashed out with his horn, impaling several of them, but to no avail.

This isn't how he remembered the war going.

The sky, pitch black, swirled and warped above him. Nightmare's demented white eyes appeared in the sky and Embane heard his laugh.

Finally, the alicorn's legs gave out and he collapsed onto the ground, more of Nightmare's forces piling over him.

Through his blurred vision, he saw Nightmare approach him. The white unicorn bent down, his muzzle centimeters away from Embane's.

Nightmare's shadowy tentacles pushed through his minions, gripping Embane's body. Nightmare pulled him out of the deadly dog pile, holding him by his legs and neck.

Nightmare said something that Embane couldn't hear coherently.

Then, he began to stretch Embane, causing him to scream. Embane looked around wildly, trying to find any allies.

He was completely alone.

Where was Goldenbell or his other pony forces?!

The tentacle around his neck began to tighten, cutting off his air supply.

In his terrified state, Embane completely forgot about holding his breath. His vision began to blur.

Embane let out a choked sob as he lost conscious.

"Embane, wake up!"

The alicorn Prince's eyes snapped open, focusing on Goldenbell.

"What-?" He murmured, confused.

Goldenbell lay beside him, her wing around him.

"You were having a nightmare, a pretty nasty one, at that." Goldenbelle said gently.

Embane nodded, and suddenly a shiver passed through him. He groaned and laid his head down, feeling horrible.

Goldenbell pressed her forehead against Embane's. "Mm. You're warm. Very warm. I'm going to get Cross." The pretty alicorn stood and walked out of their bedroom, arriving into the main room. She looked out the wide windows- it had to be early in the morning, the sun hadn't rose yet. Luckily, unlike her husband, she didn't have a weakness to the opposite time of day.

Goldenbell allowed some of her white magic to her horn to serve as a light. She began to climb a tall staircase that led to one of the palace's tall towers. It was one heck of a walk, Cross lived at the very top, preferring his privacy.

After she scaled the huge staircase, she knocked quietly on a simple wooden door.

"Coming." Call Cross from the other side.

The white unicorn emerges from the room. He was clearly tired, his normally neat red mane now in stringy clumps.

"Yes, your majesty?" He asked.

Goldenbell smiled at his respect. "I'm afraid Embane is sick. I checked his temperature, his fever is pretty high."

Cross nodded slightly and walked back into his room, which doubled as an infirmary, and levitated various potions and herbs into a bag that was hung on a desk. He slung the medicine bag over his shoulders and started to walk down the lengthy staircase, not waiting for Goldenbell.

The alicorn followed Cross, and soon they were back in her bedroom.

"Embane?" Cross called, standing at the door.

Embane barely opened his eyes, he had gotten worse. "You can come in, Cross. I don't mind."

"So what is wrong, Embane? What are your symptoms?" Cross said, trotting to him and kneeling beside him.

Embane sighed. "I'm very tired. Goldenbell says I have a fever, apparently. I just wish you ponies would let me sleep. " He murmured the last sentence under his breath.

Cross groaned like an annoyed parent. He pulled a potion out of his bag and sat it in front of Embane's muzzle.

"Just drink this. It will deduce your fever and help you sleep." Cross said simply, walking out of the room. Before he left, he stopped in front of Goldenbell. "Here- take this if he wakes feverish, let him drink some more."

~

Silverfox yawned and pulled herself out of bed. She hated getting up early. According to her, the morning is evil.

But, work had to be done. She stumbled to her desk. Only a few letters sat there. Good, Silverfox thought, is a slow day. She lifted up a lemon-scented one and opened it. She scanned through it, it was well written, but.....the many,many sex scenes kinda took away from it. There wasn't even any plot! The rest of them were average. Silverfox only found 2 or 3 Mary Sues, and one of them was a stallion.

Satisfied she was finished, Silverfox trotted down the hall and to the kitchens, hoping to get some early breakfast.

As the entered the large dining room, she saw Cupcake, the lead chef, siting at the long table.

"Cupcake? You're not cooking breakfast? You are aware Embane, Goldenbell, and the rest of the nobles are coming down to eat in about 45 minutes?"

Cupcake looked confused. "You haven't heard about Embane?" She said.

My breath caught in my throat. "What?! I just got up a couple minutes ago, what happened?" I asked.

"He fell ill early this morning. Cross and Goldenbell have been up with him since then. I doubt they will be eating anytime soon." Cupcake said.

"That's horrible! But...can I have something to eat?" Silverfox asked sheepishly.

Cupcake rolled her eyes and the earth pony trotted into the kitchen. She emerged with an apple. "Here." She said simply, tossing it to the hungry unicorn. She caught it with her magic and began to munch on it.

She quickly remembered the whole deal with Embane and started running to the throne room. The grand room was dark as usual, even though the sun had already rose. Silverfox went to the room behind the throne, Embane and Goldenbell's room. Panting from her run, she knocked on the door.

Goldenbell answered her, opening the door enough so her head could fit through.

"Yes?" She said tiredly. The normally calm alicorn now was visibly weary, her mane hung down messily in her face and her eyes drooped.

Silverfox got her breath back. "I just wanted to see if Embane was ok."

The weary alicorn put on a smile.

"Sure. Toxic's in there too. He might wanna see you, too."

Goldenbell nosed open the door, leading Silverfox in. Toxic was lying beside Embane, who was lying on his side. Cross sat off to his own, his head on his bag of supplies.

Silverfox rushed over to Toxic.

"Toxic? Is Embane alright?!" She asked.

Toxic sighed. "I don't know...This morning, Mother couldn't wake him up...he seems to be trapped in a nightmare."

Silverfox leaned down a looked at Embane. The alicorn's eyes were clenched shut and sweat was plastered against his face. Every once and a while he would groan or make a pitiful sound.

Silverfox frowned and trotted to Cross. The napping doctor opened his good eye.

"Yes?" He said quietly.

Silverfox sat beside him. "So how really is Embane?" She dropped her voice so Toxic and Goldenbell wouldn't hear, "Is he going to die?"

A light smile played on Cross's mouth. "It's gonna take a lot more to kill Embane that that." The unicorn frowned. "But I was reading through my medicine books earlier, and I think I found what is aliment is." Cross leaned in. "This is just a hypothesis, so don't get to excited. I believe Embane isn't ill in the physical sense- it has to do with his memories and dreams. The book said the fever was a side effect. The only cure it listed was for some pony to actually go into his dreams and fight whatever is tormenting him."

Silverfox smiled, shuffling. "So this 'some pony' is me, right?"

Cross shook his head. "No....But if you are willing.."

Silverfox nodded. "Let me talk to Toxic. I think he may want to go."

Silverfox kneeled beside the younger alicorn. She quietly explained what Cross had said, and Toxic looked shocked.

"I will go. For my father, and I can't let you go alone." He said.

The three ponies took their plan to Goldenbell, who nodded understandingly. The white alicorn looked at Cross, her eyes wavering.

"If you believe this will work, then go on."

While Cross went to his room to retrieve the book, Silverfox and Toxic prepared themselves.

"Cross says we will have to fight, so I'm gearing up. You should too." Silverfox said, attaching a knife strap around her.

Toxic simply sat down. "I think I am just gonna nap until he gets here...I mean, I have my magic to fight with right?"

Cross entered Embane's room holding his book with magic. The white unicorn also had small bag attached to his foreleg along with his medicine bag.

Cross glanced at both of us. "Oh yes, I forgot to tell you. I'm coming with you."

Silverfox groaned. "Sorry Cross, but Toxic and I need to be on our guard when we fight. We can't be watching some squishy-medic."

Cross suddenly dropped the book. He tackled Silverfox before she could react, holding her down. He put his horn firmly on her throat, a harsh gleam in his eyes.

"I can hold myself in a fight, missie." Cross growled.

Cross got off Silverfox and picked up the book. While the shocked unicorn caught her breath, the doctor was flipping to the page.

"Goldenbell, can you cast this spell on us?" Cross said, his head turning to the alicorn, who was laying next to her mate.

The three ponies gathered in front of Goldenbell. She held the book in front of her, studying the spell.

"Every pony ready?" She asked the group.

Everyone nodded.

The white alicorn closed her eyes, light colored magic gathering at her horn. Silverfox squirmed as the magic enveloped her, it had only been a couple weeks since the whole "Demonfox" accident so she was still uncomfortable when a spell was used on her.

There was a sudden flash and the three ponies were gone.

~

Silverfox awoke in a grand palace. The floors were a shiny marble,the walls had silk curtains hung on them, and a huge skylight sat on the ceiling. But the most beautiful scene of all was behind the throne: a majestic waterfall flowed and streamed into various little branches that were all around them. The entire place was mystifying.

Beside her, Toxic stirred.

"Wow." He breathed, taking in the sight. "This place is beautiful."

On Silverfox's other side, Cross pulled himself up. "Kinda makes me wish I had two eyes to take it all in." The white unicorn said, half to himself.

The faraway sound of hoofs brought them back. Toxic shoved his friends behind a large marble column. "There's some pony coming!" He whispered.

The three ponies dared not to breath as a skinny, black alicorn foal pranced across the floor.

Toxic suddenly took at breath.

"That's...That's Father!" He yelled.

Silverfox quickly clamped her hoof over his mouth.

The alicorn foal took no notice.

"Interesting." Cross said. "We are in his memories. This is Embane's foalhood."

Mystified, Toxic followed his father. Embane skipped under the skylight. And plopped down on his haunches, like a cat.

"Faaaather!" The foal's higher pitched voice called.

Silverfox snickered. "He sounds so cute."

She suddenly went silent when a shadow was cast over Embane. A large alicorn lowered himself on the floor with absolute grace. When he touched the ground, he leaned his neck in, smiling. "Hello, son." He chuckled slightly.

Silverfox gasped. Embane's father was probably the most beautiful pony she had ever seen. Like Diamondshine, he radiated a sort of "feminine beauty". His entire body seemed to have a ying-yang theme, and one side of his face was covered by his mane, like herself. His mane and tail were separated into black and white, and so were his legs.

"We need to practice your flying now, Embane." Embane's father said, a cheerful tone in his voice.

Embane childishly groaned. "But I don't want to...."

His father put out a hoof and pulled out Embane's small wing. He tried to mock flying, with a goofy smile on his face.

"See? You are already flapping your wings!"

Embane groaned in response.

Suddenly, the picture whooshed and changed. It was in the same room in the same castle, but Embane was much older, possibly a teen.

Silverfox and her two companions walked through a seemingly full assembly. Hundreds on ponies of all species were father in the room, all watching the throne with the waterfall behind it.

Embane was standing in front of his father, his eyes alight with pride. Embane's father looked at the crowd.

"I, Taijitsu, Prince of Mystic Falls, declare that my son has completed his training!" The black and white alicorn exclaimed. The crowd applauded and yelled.

Toxic walked towards his father and Taijitsu. Sitting on his haunches, Toxic watched enchanted while Taijitsu levitated a golden necklace with an obsidian crescent moon onto Embane's neck. Embane shook with excitement, suddenly nuzzling his father's neck. A pretty unicorn (who looked a lot like Goldenbell) giggled and ran to him.

Silverfox cocked her head. "Wait, what? What's happening?"

Cross shrugged. "I have no idea. What interests me is what this Taijitsu was training Embane for...."

Soon they found out. The scene quickly changed again. But, this was not as cheery. It was a horrifying battlefield, soaked with blood. Ponies of all species, most of them with grievous injuries, fought against ponies made of pure shadow with disturbing white eyes.

Toxic staggered back, horrified when an earth pony was tackled by several of the creepy ponies. They ripped and tore at the unfortunate soul's flesh with surprisingly sharp teeth.

With tears in his eyes, Toxic ran into Silverfox. The grey unicorn nuzzled him for comfort, also trying to avert her eyes from the sight of the pony being eaten alive. But she couldn't- it was like a train wreck, you couldn't look away.

The screams of the dark ponies made the small group look behind them. It was Embane! The alicorn looked about as old as Silverfox was used to seeing him, but he was very violent.

The alicorn roared with battle rage and impaled an opponent that attempted to attack. The dark alicorn took to the air, shaking the blood off his horn. Embane dived towards the growing crowd of shadow ponies crushing and stabbing several of them.

Toxic looked disgusted. "That's one way to use your horn..."

Silverfox and Cross, meanwhile, were impressed. "Wow! He just stabbed those freaky ponies!" Silverfox exclaimed, point a hoof at the scene. Cross smiled too, "I know! I didn't think Embane had it in him!"

A scream cut the air. Embane stopped fighting, worry and shock in his eyes. "Goldenbell!" He cried, taking to the air, searching.

"Let's follow him!" Silverfox said, Toxic and Cross quickly agreeing.

They came upon Embane standing over the limp, smaller form of Goldenbell. As the book Silverfox had read earlier said, she was just a unicorn. She cringed when she saw the wide slash along her stomach.

Embane fiercely protected Goldenbell. The enraged alicorn struck out at anything that got too close, shooting it magic or just stabbing it.

Finally, the enemy ponies got the idea not to bother Embane. The ponies spread away, to attack easier targets.

Seeing it was clear, Embane now out his attention to his heavily injured student.

"Goldenbell...speak to me!" He yelled.

The white unicorn's eyes opened a bit, glazed with pain. "Embane...? Am I going to die here?" She whispered, scared.

Toxic looked shocked. He walked over to his future mother, legs shaking. Silverfox followed him, holding out a hoof to stop him. "Don't worry. Spoiler alert, but she lives, as we all know." Toxic smiled a bit.

Embane, meanwhile, didn't know nor could hear them. Tears streaming from his eyes, his greyish colored magic gathered at his horn. "I don't know any healing spells, that was your field of magic, but I can do this!" Embane shouted, slamming his horn on her bloodied form. She was suddenly trapped in a circle of grey, magic swirling around her. His allies and enemies alike stopped and looked at the spectacle, and as soon as it began, it was over. Goldenbell dropped to the ground. She quickly got to her feet, only to be shocked Embane had turned her into an alicorn.

"What?! Embane, what did you do?" She said, confused.

Embane kneeled to the ground. Goldenbell was quick to shield him, attacking everything in the area with magic.

"I saved your life....by making you immortal like me. And this way, our love could last forever." Embane managed to stutter out.

"So that's why Goldenbell is an alicorn..." Toxic thought out loud.

Embane pulled himself up and put on a tough face. "Let's win this war."

The scene changed again. Silverfox was getting used to this.

Embane and a stark white unicorn with a long mane were battling it out. Their horns slammed together, causing sparks and an echo that rolled across the plain field they were fighting in. The two dueling ponies were in a large, white bubble and the war on the outside had ceased. The two sides, with Goldenbell in the front, watched nervously.

Cross sat on his haunches. "I guess we might as well just sit and watch these two fight." Silverfox and Toxic shrugged, sitting beside him.

"Just give up Nightmare! If you surrender, I won't have to kill you!" Embane shouted, blasting the white stallion away, making him hit the side of the bubble.

"And live the rest of my life alone and hated?! NEVER!" Nightmare screamed, his voice cracking.

Silverfox cringed. This was not how she imagined the villain Nightmare. It almost looks like Embane is the bad guy, getting thrown around like that by him, she thought.

"Fine." Embane murmured. "I gave you your last chance." His eyes glowed with power and he lunged at Nightmare. The unicorn surprisingly ran, dodging every blow Embane attempted to make.

Finally Nightmare decided to play offense, striking out with beams of red magic. Embane simply blocked it with his wings.

Nightmare stopped to catch his breath. A very bad idea. Embane took this opening to attack, running at Nightmare. Embane stopped, his horn tip a hair length away from Nightmare's throat. The white stallion's chest heaved, realizing how close to death he was.

"Again, I don't want to kill you. And I'm not. I am going to banish you, teleport you to a place unknown. I have no idea where you will go myself, or in what condition you will be in. Understand, Nightmare?" Embane said in a calm voice that was on edge with anger.

Nightmare nodded his head as much as he could, then swallowing.

Embane's horn glowed with magic and Nightmare let out a scream as he was dragged into a swirling portal.

For the final time, the scene changed. But, this was just an empty white room with seemingly no end in sight.

Embane was in front of them, bound with rope.

"Father!" Toxic yelled, only to be stopped by Cross.

"Toxic, I wouldn't move so rashly. We have reached the end of the memory part. Those were Embane's finest memories. Remember when I said we might have to fight? Well, I think we got to that part...."

Embane struggled in his restraints, trying to say something through the gag.

A dark shape materialized behind Embane. The alicorn turned his head is its direction, a look of sheer dread on his face.

"Prepare yourself!" Silverfox yelled, whipping her knife out. Cross and Toxic immediately got into fighting stances.

The dark shape soared towards them, engulfing Embane. Then, it formed into...something. The creature was horrifyingly confusing. It most certainly wasn't a pony, but more of a pulsing mass of limbs and a tail. A long, serpentine head snaked out with red and green eyes. It opened its mouth and roared, showing off an abnormally amount of teeth.

Silverfox's jaw dropped, her ears going back also. "What...is...THAT?" She yelled at Toxic, who was as confused as she was.

"I think that's the...thing that has been tormenting Embane. Once we kill it, our mission will be complete." Cross informed her.

Toxic flared out his wings. "I'll scan around for a weak spot." Toxic took to the air, searching for a weak spot. Suddenly, the creature's long tail came soaring at him and slammed into him square on the chest. Toxic screamed and crashed into the ground.

"Toxic!" Silverfox yelled, rushing to her friend, Cross right behind her.

Toxic groaned at Silverfox's touch.

His ribs and chest ached. He was pretty sure he broke something.

Cross put his horn on Toxic's chest, performing a healing spell. He felt instantly better, and staggered up.

"Did you see anything Toxic?"

Toxic shrugged. "Maybe we should aim for the tail. It seems to like attacking with it."

"Good enough for me." Silverfox said.

The three ponies all charged at the monster, going for its tail. Cross distracted it by running in circles around it. The creature blindly slashed at the quick doctor unicorn, but to no avail.

Meanwhile, Toxic summoned a blade of magic on his horn and flew above his desired spot. Gritting his teeth, the alicorn zoomed towards the creature's tail, cutting it off. The severed limb fell inches away from a shocked Silverfox, who let out a small scream.

The creature roared in pain and rage, widely slashing and stomping at everything. It managed to cuff Cross on the head, knocking him out and sending him flying. It raised a claw to finish him off.

"Don't worry, Cross! I got you!" Toxic yelled, soaring to the doctor and holding him securely with his hoofs. The creature's claw scrapped against an empty patch of space.

Toxic struggled to fly with the weight of the older doctor. He managed to get back to Silverfox, who was shooting magic beams at the creature. Toxic laid Cross behind her and focused on attacking.

"What...?" Cross said, quickly getting his bearings and standing up.

"Good. You're awake." Silverfox said, firing another beam of magic at the tailless creature.

Toxic turned to face the two. "We need to cut of its head- that will kill anything."

Silverfox laughed sarcastically. "Let me just ask it to sit still. I'm sure it will comply."

Cross's eyes widened. "We could do just that! You know, like a distraction. That will give Toxic enough time to pull a sneak attack."

Silverfox shrugged. "I guess that will work."

A snarl from the creature brought the plan into reality. Silverfox and Cross ran in front of it, teasing and calling names at it, causing the creature to slash madly at them. Toxic flew behind it, trying to be as silent as possible. He summoned the magic blade to his horn, then sliced at the neck, cutting the head off cleanly. Before the head even hit the ground, the monster was dissolving. Eventually, it was reduced to a liquid, dribbling away, revealing an unbound Embane crouched on the ground. The alicorn was a bit wet, but other wise unharmed.

"Father!" Toxic exclaimed, running to his father, sitting beside him. Embane smiled tiredly, nuzzling his son.

Silverfox gazed at Cross. "So we are done?"

Cross nodded. "Yes, I believe we are. Embane should wake up any second now and we will be returned to our bodies in the real world."

Cross was correct. The blank, white world slowly started to fade out, dissipating quickly. Silverfox felt a spinning in her head and near instantly lost consciousness.

"Silverfox, wake up." Toxic's voice echoed in her head. She groaned and opened her eyes. They were still in Embane's room, all sitting in front of him. The Prince himself was awake, too, though he was laying down in the same position.

Goldenbell trotted to the ponies, a look of relief on her face.

"Good, you have awoken. I was so worried....you were gone for hours." The alicorn poorly hid a sob.

Cross got up and looked at the sadden Princess. "No need to worry anymore. Embane is fine. I would like to prescribe that you all- Silverfox and Toxic included- go and get some rest. I will ask Cupcake to send some food to your rooms." He made his way to the door. "Now if you mind me, I'm going to go update my medical journal." The doctor was out the door.

Embane sighed happily. "At least I will get breakfast in bed, right?"

Goldenbell smiled and sat next to her mate. "More like dinner." She teased.

Silverfox, feeling a bit alone, said goodnight to Toxic and went on up to bed. As far as she knew, the alicorn family slept all in the same room that day.

End of Story 2