Flare of Hope

For the memories of warmer days may yet melt the frozen bindings of the beast and thaw the hero's frozen heart, should the immortal son become ensnared by the inner demon's frigid grasp.

Freezing temperatures: check. Nice, natural setting: check. No need for illusion spells: sold. Perfect place for a honeymoon. Well, not for most ponies. Prince Flare, however, always saw things a bit differently. Where most would take a vacation to a tropical setting, Flare always preceded the colder areas. Ironic, given the nature of his magic, but it is what it is, and there was no protest from his new bride, so there they were in "sunny" Manechorage, far to the North. It was a rather small settlement nestled in the Northeastern Mountains. It was rich with culture, and different kinds of food, and was not far away from a large ski resort. The thought of going skiing had crossed the prince's mind once or twice, but then the thought of a pony on snow skis kind of ruined it for him. He was perfectly content to wander about the small town with Star, and his personal guard duo. He wasn't too excited about them having to tag along, but his mother made an ultimatum. It was either they tag along, or she would let Twilight test a polymorphic spell on both of them.

So, as the three of them trotted down the street, Flare was starting to get slightly antsy. Everywhere they went, they were surrounded by delicious looking food... and he wanted to try it all. It probably didn't help that he had just gone through his second moulting, which magnified his normal hunger. At least this time, Cadance wasn't here to steal his snacks. "Ooh! Can we please get a snowberry smoothie? It looks so delicious!"

Star groaned. "Flare, you don't have to ask for everything, you know. Just go get one. But don't come crying to me when you start to get fat."

Flare laughed at the thought. "You know I don't get fat, Star."

"Fine," she replied. "I hope you get indigestion."

Flare laughed again, as he pranced toward the smoothie stand. "Like I have to worry about that!"

A little more than an hour later, the group was back in their room, and Flare was seriously regretting all the things he had eaten that day. "Ooooooh... Why did you let me do that, Star? How could anypony wish this on anypony else?"

"I warned you, didn't I?"

"Shut up, Star."

Meanwhile, in Canterlot, Princess Luna had just raised the moon, and was on her way to the main hall to begin her duties, when Shimmer Blade stopped her. "Your Highness, there is an important visitor here to see you."

Princess Luna was a bit suspicious to the whole matter. "Then have them meet me in the main hall."

"Your Highness, it's Twilight Sparkle. She says it's urgent."

"Then why isn't she in the main hall, where she normally meets my sister?" At this point, Princess Luna was extremely suspicious for two good reasons, but she was sure that she could handle what ever was thrown her way. She sighed at the guard. "Very well. Lead me to her." As the guard lead her through one of the winding corridors of the castle, the princess remained on alert. "So, Sergeant Blade, how is your sister, Corporal Steel?"

The guard continued, not turning back, once. "She is well, your Highness."

"Yes. I would assume it to be a tiring duty, guarding my son."

"I couldn't imagine doing it, myself."

"Halt, Imposter," Luna shouted, as she hurled a detaining spell at the guard, only for it to fizzle away on impact. "What are you?"

The other pony laughed, as the skin dripped from its body, revealing a deep maroon Alicorn with flaming black eyes. Suddenly, dozens of smaller, pitch black unicorns were surrounding the princess as the Alicorn simply smirked. Within an instant, Luna found herself being wrapped in a thick black detention sphere, and she couldn't break through it. Just as the last bit of the sphere was forming, she heard the Alicorn speak. "We are the coming storm."

It was late at night, and Flare had finally fallen asleep, with Star cuddled up next to him. It was a peaceful and serene night. The kind you would only find in areas nearly untouched by urban areas. There were no party ponies galavanting down the road, no aerial guards flying overhead, no heavily armored guards trotting down the halls with their armor clinking every which way. Just pure silence, a clear view of the Northern Sky, and a beautiful mare by his side. Flare was in heaven. If only he weren't asleep.

Flare dreamed of a calm, relaxing beach, walking side by side with Star, and looking out at the sea. He loved the sea, and would love to go to sea again, but he loved Star more. The two of them continued walking, until suddenly, the soft sand turned into hard stone, and Flare found himself in a vastly different landscape. The stone surface he was standing on was a mountain... Only sideways. He looked around, surrounded by other sideways mountains above and below him. And there was no Star. One thing that seemed ominous was the giant moon. And the image of the Mare in the Moon.

"What the fuck is going on, here?" Flare looked around frantically, trying to find some explanation for the sudden shift.

A voice rang out in Flare's mind. "Flare, it's me. I need your help."

The stallion's eyes went wide. "Mom? What's going on?!"

"I was deceived and captured by one of the Shades. You must return to Canterlot immediately! I don't know what they're planning but it's not good. Do not tell your guards that you are returning to Canterlot. They are not who they seem. You and Star must abandon them immediately. You must travel by hoof. They will sense your power if you teleport, and they will spot you immediately if you fly. Go to Ponyville. I will guide you as best as I can through your dreams. Go, my son. The fate of Equestria depends on you once more."

Without warning, Flare was rocketed from his dreams, just as his bedroom door opened. He closed one eye, as he watched one of the two guards creep into the room. The room went dark again, until the light from an invisible horn lit the other side of the room. Flare watched as the light from the horn shot at Star, beginning to wrap her in a glowing cocoon. Flare was not about to let that happen. Within a split second, Flare had thrown the blanket off of himself, and directly at the assailant, wrapping the pony's face in the blanket.

The pony struggled to remove the blanket from its face, just barely succeeding before being struck by a blue bolt of pure energy. The pony was sent flying into the wall, hitting it with a heavy thud. The sound of body hitting stone, and bones cracking was more than enough to get the other false guard's attention, causing her to run into the room. When the room went dark again, Flare lit the room with a cool blue flame, which dispelled the illusions around the assassins, revealing them to be two pure black unicorns with glowing red eyes. Flare was about to send another powerful bolt for the second assassin, when the first one quickly rose to its feet, and tackled him. The second assassin was poised to strike Flare, when a silver energy beam slammed it, vaporizing the pony instantly.

Flare looked over to the bed, and attempted to get up, only to be knocked down again by the assassin. He looked up to see Star fire another beam. "Get off my husband, you evil slut." The assassin turned with just enough time for the words "oh shit" to cross her mind before she was turned to ashes by the beam of pure energy.

"Flare. Why didn't you tell me your mom could dreamwalk?"

"Just found out, myself, babe."