Chapter 12: Revelations

Twilight stood alone in the blackness once again, a subtle laughter echoing around her. She jerked her head in every direction she could, trying to find anything to look at. The laughter was getting louder, closer, Twilight growled in frustration and turned on her hooves. She set off at a gallop to escape the sound, but the faster she ran, the closer it seemed to get. She spun on her heels and tried a different direction, with still the same result.

She continued on for a time, perhaps hours, maybe days, she was unsure. Yet still the laughter echoed in her ears, with a primal cry she threw her head back and screamed; "Shut up!!" Twilight fell to the ground and clamped her hooves over her ears, only to pull them away immediately, as the laughter was two times louder in her head. Twilight pressed her forehead into the ground, panting heavily and shaking her head. The voice was otherworldly, it felt like matter rather than sound, surrounding her, suffocating her.

"What....do you want?" she whispered, looking up despite the fact that she could not even see her own muzzle in the blackness. "What do you want?!" she yelled at the void, desperate for an answer. The voice ceased laughing, and she could almost feel it contemplating her question.

"I want you gone...I want you to leave...You are not welcome here. This is my domain." the voice purred.

Twilight scoffed, "But you keep bringing me here, if you want me gone so much, just leave me alone." she spoke matter-of-factly.

The voice chuckled, and the sound sent shivers down her spine, "You know nothing." he hissed, and Twilight jumped, for the sound felt as though it were right by her ear. She felt something run across the width of her shoulders and gasped, "Perhaps I do not speak of the dreamscape. Perhaps I am referring to your physical form, the real world. You are the Destroyer, I have been watching you for many decades...you were never a threat before." he whispered, "But now...you've come too close for comfort. Your dreams were a warning, but you didn't listen did you?"

Twilight furrowed her brow, "Who are you? If you fear me so much, why not just kill me?" she asked, turning to her left, where she last heard the voice.

"If only it were so simple...you'd be long dead, Destroyer." the voice said in a tone that suggested boredom.

Twilight nodded, that seemed logical, then she furrowed her brow, "You didn't answer my first question, I don't know who you are, therefore, I cannot avoid you. I'm here for reasons far more important than myself. Otherwise I'd turn tail and run away from here as fast as my hooves could carry me. But I can't do that, my friends need me, Tyrande needs me! I'm here to save Azeroth, I'm here...to stop...why am I telling you this?" Twilight trailed off to question herself.

The voice chuckled, "...to stop an Old God? Oh, Twilight.....Twilight, Twilight, Twilight..." he drawled, and if she could see him she'd bet he was wagging a finger (or claw, or maybe even tendril) at her, "...I've known your purpose all along. But you don't seem to understand that it is indeed a personal matter. It always has been." the voice felt as though it had suddenly gripped her shoulders and was whispering in her ear. Twilight tensed, letting out a shuddering breath out of fear and apprehension as chills ran down her body. "There was a Destroyer before. He was the cause of all of this, many eons ago. You may not be him, but your destiny is the same, this has always been about you. You just never realized it." he seemingly pulled away from her.

Twilight breathed shakily, "How so?" she asked, genuinely curious.

The voice was silent for a time, but she could hear the smirk in his voice as he spoke again, "I think that's enough chatter for now, you'll be waking up any moment. But make no mistake about it, Destroyer, you will not succeed if it's the last thing I do." the voice hissed menacingly and Twilight gasped as she felt the wind pick up, beginning to carry her away like her first dream that had involved the mysterious being.

"Succeed in what?" she cried, desperate for an answer.

The voice chuckled, "You'll see." he said ominously, then, as if he remembered something, spoke again. "Oh, and Twilight?" the voice said almost cheerfully, "The unicorn is only the first to suffer for your sake, I'll make sure of that." he chuckled.

Twilight's eyes widened at the threat, insults to her person she could handle, but when anypony she loved or held dear was threatened..."You bastard!" she yelled. When there was no response she growled and began to thrash violently in an attempt to free herself from the wind.

"Twilight?" the blackness faded away and Twilight jolted out of bed with a start. Shining jumped back and eyed her curiously, "Are you okay?" he asked, handing her some breakfast, which consisted of Darnassuin Bleu Cheese and a slice of toast with Moonberry jam. The sun was up, she guessed it had been for a few hours, and it was shining as bright as it could in the thick, dusty atmosphere of Silithus.

Twilight sighed, "Just a dream..again." she rubbed her forehead with a hoof and looked up at him with a strained smile.

"Want to talk about it?" Shining asked, preparing to sit down.

"No, not now anyway, maybe when we get to Cenarion Hold. How's Rarity?" Twilight waved a hoof to stop him and stood, taking a bite of her toast. She stretched and headed outside, towards one of the larger huts in the outpost. They had arrived just as the sun disappeared behind the horizon. And the sentinels there had gladly granted them beds, food, and a healer for Rarity.

"The healer said she should be fine." Shining said, entering the larger hut with her and directing her to a cot that contained the sleeping Rarity.

Twilight pressed the back of her hoof against Rarity's forehead and nodded, "Her fever is gone." she sighed. She then stilled and glance downward before taking Rarity's hoof in hers and stroking it in a matronly fashion, "If Tyrande were here she'd tan my hide." Twilight chuckled.

Shining smiled, patting her shoulder, "No, I don't think she would. You aren't the one who endangered her, and in the end, you didn't stop until you found her. I think Tyrande might find that noble, rather than neglecting."

Twilight hummed in contemplation and looked up at him through her lashes, "You really think so?" she asked, in a tone that suggested she was afraid of the answer.

Shining grinned wider, "I know so." he pressed a brotherly kiss to her forehead and turned to leave, "I'll be with the others, let us know if she wakes up." he said over his shoulder. "Or if you...need anything."

Twilight nodded, "Alright." she turned back to look at Rarity after he left, thinking about what had been said. Yes, perhaps Tyrande would not believe it to be her fault Rarity got hurt. But she couldn't get her mind off of that voice, it's threats..."..the unicorn is only the first to suffer for your sake, I'll make sure of that." Twilight shuddered at the recent memory of the voice. Thoughts of Shining Armor, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack being hurt alongside Rarity, or even worse, made her cringe and shake her head.

"I won't let anything happen to any of you." she whispered. She jumped shortly after and looked down at Rarity's hoof when it moved suddenly.

Rarity shifted, grimacing at the slight sting she felt in her side. It was nothing like pain she felt the last time she had been conscious, however, and she was able to bear through it quite easily. Then she stopped moving and twitched her ears, she was not in the jungle. The sound of birds and insects was nonexistent, and the only sound she heard was the howling of wind outside. Opening her eyes she was immediately met with a mass of purple sitting before her face, "Rarity?" it asked, and she recognized the voice as Twilight's.

"Twilight?" Rarity murmured, blinking to clear her vision, finally the room came into focus and she realized she was in a small healer's hut.

"How do you feel?" Twilight asked, fetching a pillow and helping Rarity sit up so she could prop her up upon it.

Rarity groaned as she lay back against the new pillow, "Tired, hungry, sore...you name it." she chuckled briefly, then cut herself off in a strangled gasp as her ribs spasmed with the movement, "Ow..." she grimaced, looking up at Twilight with a smile to show she was alright.

"Probably best not to laugh for a while." Twilight smiled and giggled slightly, standing to prepare a plate that consisted of basic Darnassian breakfast foods. "Here, you should eat." Twilight handed her the plate and sat beside her on a chair. "You're lucky the Pterrordax didn't puncture a lung, or your intestines." she said.

Rarity glanced up with a nod, more focused on the food before her at the moment than the 'what ifs' of her injury. She took the plate with a word of thanks and dug into it greedily, for she'd had no food in her saddlebags when she was taken. "Where are we?" she asked, looking at the window, the view didn't account for much; a simple, dull, brown mountain wall was all she could see.

"Silithus, this is just the outpost, Cenarion Hold is only a thirty-minute walk from here." Twilight explained.

Rarity nodded, thinking back to Un'Goro, had they needed to go out of their way to find her? "Where was I? When you found me?" she asked tentatively.

"There was a small river at the entrance to Silithus, you were right in the middle. Excellent aim, I must say." Twilight grinned and pat Rarity on the back, "It's good to see you're ok. I'm going to go tell the others you're awake now." she said as she left.

"Alright." Rarity sighed, shuffling down further onto the cot and pulling the blanket over her chest. The entire group returned moments later to smother her in questions and hugs, all of which she accepted happily.

Twilight lay in bed that night and stared at the emerald she always wore. They were going to leave the next morning for Cenarion Hold, as Rarity's healing sessions had progressed well enough for travel, and they would find more experienced healers and even a moonwell at the Hold. Twilight lifted the forest-green gem and caressed the surface with a hoof, admiring how smooth it felt. Sleep was not welcome tonight, for as much as she wanted answers, she did not want to encounter that voice to receive them.

Twilight lifted her head and looked at the cots surrounding her, all of her companions appeared to be asleep. She sat up slowly, removing the blanket and swinging her hooves over the edge, gently touching the floor and tip-toeing out the door. Once out, she simply walked a few meters and sat down, looking up at the night sky. There was a distant planet visible she could see, just a dark, slightly blue orb in the sky. The moons were glowing softly, but they were not quite full, and the stars were shining bright.

The wind blew her mane back from her face and she closed her eyes, leaning into the breeze. It was calming to feel her hair whip about, the cool wind caressing her face so unlike that of the winds in her dreams. When the breeze died down momentarily she opened her eyes slowly, inhaling to let out a deep sigh...she let out an ear-splitting scream instead. It was pitch black, like in her dreams. She scrambled backwards on her rump, sucking air back into her lungs and feeling her limbs go cold. In a panic, she jumped to her hooves and spun around, trying to head back into the hut.

She heard voices and felt hooves wrap around her shoulders shortly afterwards. She began to shriek in fear, thrashing violently until she felt one of her forelegs strike something. When her assailant let go she scrambled to run...and succeeded in running straight into a wall. Twilight began to panic, her chest tightening and her limbs tingling as she leaned against the wall. Her breath came in short, wheezing gasps, which quickly turned into hyperventilation. There were voices, but they were muddled and she couldn't make out what they were saying, only that they were getting closer.

Twilight could feel that her eyes were open, and although she couldn't see she could easily bet they were shrunken into pinpricks and wide as possible. Another hoof touched her shoulder, she yelped and lashed out with her good hind leg, not striking anything she turned to kick in another direction. Still nothing. With a cry of frustration she dug her hooves into the ground and charged her horn, channeling magic through the ley-lines at an alarming and dangerous rate.

Twilight unleashed the arcane explosion, expecting to repel whatever had touched her, but she couldn't tell if it had any effect, as she was too busy focusing on her own pain. As soon as the magic had surged from her horn she felt an intense pressure behind her eyes, burning through her skull like daggers. She could feel the magical conductors of her horn spasm and cause her body to collapse with the effort of the spell.

Twilight clamped her hooves on her horn and applied gentle pressure like one would do to a headache in an attempt to ease it. Her teeth were grit, and she had not finished her panic attack, hence she was gasping heavily for air. There was a muffled voice, and Twilight perked an ear towards it, listening intently. It kept repeating something, but she couldn't understand. She heard soft hoofsteps next to her head, but she was too spent from her panic to react, then there was a sensation on her forehead. Somepony was gently tugging some of her forelock, she knew it well, a gesture she instantly recognized from her foalhood years.

"Twily?" the voice was slightly clearer now, and Twilight turned to look at the source, despite the fact that she couldn't see him.

"S-Shining?" she sobbed, startling herself with the fact that she was crying.

"Twilight, you need to calm down, relax." Shining's hoof pressed against her shoulder and gently rolled her, Twilight complied and rolled, as a result she felt him lifting her up. He had likely sat on his haunches to accommodate her, and now gently pressed her cheek against his chest. "What happened?" he asked softly, stroking her mane.

"The darkness...I-I...I can't see!" Twilight sobbed, pressing her muzzle into his chest, inhaling shakily.

She felt him stiffen, "What do you mean, Twily?" Shining asked, his voice laced with worry.

"He's inside my head...he takes over during the night, I can feel it." Twilight clutched at her brother in desperation, her ears flattening against her skull in fear. She heard her horn begin to fizzle as the ley-lines healed themselves, but then a cold substance encased her horn and the magic died away. Twilight reached a hoof up to touch it, it was metal, encrusted with gems around the base, and made to fit the average unicorn horn.

"Don't worry, Twilight. It's just an inhibitor, you can take it off anytime. We just don't want you to hurt yourself, that blast was out of control you know." Shining said assuringly.

"Did I hurt anypony?" Twilight asked in horror, she hadn't truly realized what she had done, a blast of that magnitude could have incinerated somepony.

"No, you remember my talent?" Shining asked, and Twilight nodded, he got his cutie mark in magical shields. No doubt he had cast one around her to contain the blast.

"I'm sorry..." she murmured. Shining patted her shoulder and she felt herself being hoisted to her hooves.

"Can you walk to the healer?" he asked.

Twilight looked in the vague direction of his voice and nodded, despite the face that her limbs felt like jelly, and her head swam with dizziness. Shining carefully led her along, she could just barely make out the sound of plate-clad hooves following them. "I'm sorry...I'm sorry...I'm sorry..." she whispered in a mantra.

"Shh..." Shining hushed her and helped her onto a cot. Afterwards she felt foreign hooves ghost over her coat and gently grasp her cheeks, turning her head from side to side.

"Fetch me that vial." a feminine voice commanded, and Twilight heard the scuffle of hooves, along with the clink of a bottle before a sweet smell was presented to her muzzle. "Can you drink this, dear?" the voice asked sweetly, prodding her lips with the vial's mouth.

Twilight hummed in response and gulped down the sweet liquid, gasping as a warmth spread through her body and colors suddenly swam into her sight. She became dizzy and fell backwards on the cot, landing softly on the pillow. She shook her head and blinked rapidly before everything sorted itself and she was staring at the fire-lit ceiling of the healer's hut. Twilight looked to her right, focusing on Shining and the healer, who was a mint-green, earth-pony mare with a kindly face. The mare smiled, "Hello, Twilight, can you see me now?" she asked.

"Y-yes..." Twilight wheezed out.

"Shining, please get some water." she pat him on the shoulder and he scrambled to obey her. "I don't believe we were introduced yesterday, I'm Emerald Remedy, but you can just call me Emy." Emy checked Twilight's pulse and then gazed into her eyes.

"What...what happened?" Twilight asked, looking around, Rarity was staring at her in both curiosity and surprise, Shining handed her a water skin and she drank it heartily.

"Well after scaring the whole camp half to death and punching AJ in the face we hoped you could tell us." Rainbow entered just then and approached her, her tone - albeit teasing - was not masking the concern plastered across her face. "How you doin'?" she asked.

"I punched...A-A-Apple-what?!" Twilight exclaimed, with a groan she lay back on the cot and threw her foreleg over her eyes, "I'm sorry everypony...I don't know exactly what happened. It was like...a living nightmare." she explained vaguely. "How's Applejack?"

"Ah'm fine." the orange mare approached from the left, and Twilight saw she had a slight swell of bruised flesh on the base of her jaw. "Ya just barely got me, Twi." she assured with a smile, "No hard feelin's. Ah know ya were jus' scared."

Twilight nodded, "I'm still sorry about it, but I'm glad I didn't truly hurt anypony worse than that." she smiled briefly when those surrounding her smiled. "What was that drink you have me, Emy?" she asked the healer.

Emy looked down at the vial, "I had a small tincture of moonwell water..." she explained.

Twilight nodded, "Thank you." she said with genuine gratitude, and Emy nodded before she went over to examine Applejack.

"Twilight, do you want to talk about anything?" Shining asked, approaching and placing a foreleg on the cot. Twilight opened her mouth, but paused and looked around, having felt the curious eyes of her other friends and the healer. Shining followed her gaze, "Alone of course." he said, helping her out of the cot and leading her out of the hut. Rainbow Dash and Applejack stayed to chat with Rarity, respectfully obeying their wishes.

"Where's Pinkie?" Twilight asked, she hadn't seen the pink mare since she left the hut for her...'breath of fresh air'.

"She was apparently in the outhouse at the time, you scared the shit out of her...quite literally." Shining chuckled and Twilight burst into laughter, promptly losing control of her limbs and toppling over from the effort.

"Oh sweet Celestia! Shining I don't think I can take jokes after something like this!" Twilight sighed, wiping a mirthful tear from her eye as he gave her a hoof to stand. They had just entered the main hut, so he led her around the other beds until they reached her cot. Shining chuckled and helped her up onto the bed, Twilight lay down and groaned as her muscles slowly - and painfully - relaxed. He hoisted himself up onto the cot across from her and sat patiently, waiting for her to speak first.

"He spoke to me last night..."Twilight murmured, and if it weren't so silent, Shining might have missed her words, "...he is afraid of me, apparently." she sighed, hoisting herself up and leaning on her foreleg shakily. "I mean...that's what I wager, from his words and such."

"Afraid of you?" Shining wondered aloud.

"Yes." Twilight nodded, "He said its my destiny...er-I mean, something is supposed to be my destiny."

"Sounds familiar." Shining murmured.

"What?" Twilight looked up at him curiously.

"Theradras said something similar didn't she?" Shining reminded.

Twilight blinked, pondering his words, What did she tell me again? "She didn't elaborate, but she spoke of a prophecy. She said it is why they wanted me to kill C'Thun rather than Tyrande or another world leader. But...wait...prophecy?" Twilight's eyes widened, then narrowed in thought, prophecy, destiny, the voice calling her by a title she had never heard of: Destroyer. If there was a prophecy about her, and this mysterious voice said it was her destiny to harm him...He even said he would make sure I didn't succeed, my mission is to kill C'Thun! she thought frantically, "The voice...it...it..." she gasped, sitting up and pressing a hoof to her chest.

Shining, who had been watching intently and listening carefully, had also begun to put two-and-two together as well. He had gotten up and approached her, "Twily? Twilight, it's ok, look at me." he turned her chin to look into her eyes, widened with panic. "Do you think that perhaps, this Old God is responsible for your nightmares? These horrid...spells you've been experiencing?" he asked.

Twilight gulped, it made sense, after all, that the voice in her dreams would cause her more trouble and pain the closer she got to his domain. And she was in his domain now. Why had she not realized it sooner? The voice is C'Thun...the voice belongs to him...but...why me? Why, out of all the ponies in the world, why me? she asked herself. "Yes. " she croaked out due to her tight throat. "It's him...it's been him this whole time! Forty...years! Forty damn years!" she yelled, seething and slamming her hooves on the cot. Her horn sputtered, blocked by the inhibiter, otherwise she might have sent something flying.

Shining sighed and looked to the side, before pursing his lips in contemplation and leaning down, Twilight looked at him curiously as he came back up, horn glowing. "Did you ever learn what this was for?" he asked, holding up the amulet Theradras had given her through his telekinesis.

Twilight looked at the jewel in surprise, it almost seemed...alive, as if it were beckoning her to touch it. She surprised herself with the fact that she hadn't given the gem much thought, but now her interest was piqued. She reached for the amulet and carefully examined it in her hooves, "No, but, I don't know how I can, Theradras doesn't seem to be able to talk to me." she murmured.

Shining exhaled through his nose, nodding. Then he thought of something and perked up, "There is an up-side to this." he said.

Twilight raised an eyebrow at him, "What on Azeroth could possibly be good about this?" she asked indignantly.

"If we kill him, your nightmares end." Shining stated confidently.

Twilight blinked, "I hadn't thought of that." she whispered.

Shining smiled, "Maybe you should try wearing that amulet, who knows what it does? But...maybe you'll find out?" he suggested.

Twilight looked at the turquoise gem and pursed her lips, "Perhaps..." she shrugged and slipped the necklace over her head, feeling the weight of it settle comfortably on her chest.

"Feel anything different?" Shining asked, peering at her curiously.

"No." Twilight replied, "Feels like...well, wearing a necklace." she sighed.

Shining frowned, opening his mouth to say something when Pinkie, Applejack, and Rainbow entered the room. "You guys done talking? It's really late ya'know." Rainbow flew across the room and landed on her cot, sinking to her belly with a sigh.

Shining snarled inwardly at the interruption, but felt his eyelids droop at the thought of sleep, "Uh..y-yeah, we're good, right Twily?" Shining looked to his sister questioningly, it was probably time to call it a night after all.

Twilight smiled and nodded, "Thanks for the talk, Shining." she said, reaching for his shoulder when he began to turn away and hugging him warmly. "I'm glad I have you with me, I don't know what I'd do without you." she whispered.

Shining relaxed after the initial shock of her instigating affection, returning the hug willingly. "I love you little sis'." he murmured back, "And don't worry, we'll make sure he gets his just desserts in the end." he winked at her when they parted and Twilight grinned.

"Right." she nodded, laying down to go to sleep, "In the end." she whispered to herself before sleep claimed her again.

A soft, fuzzy warmth surrounded Twilight, she opened her eyes and looked around, gasping as she took in her surroundings. She was standing on a ethereal, starry, glowing pathway, it led on for miles in either direction. The pathway was surrounded by spacious blackness, filled with billions of bright, white stars, blue nebula, and slow-spinning galaxies. "W-where am I?" Twilight murmured, looking around, she appeared to be alone.

A sudden voice filled her ears, but it was most certainly not C'Thun. It was soothing, low, and feminine, each vowel echoing unnaturally as she spoke, "Twilight Sparkle, here at last." Twilight jumped and spun around to look at the source, a large, near-black pony filled her vision. She gasped as she took her appearance in, she was tall, taller than Shining Armor, she wore glimmering silver boots, torq, and a pitch black crown sat in her forelock. Which was the only part of her mane that stayed still, taking the appearance of actual hair. The rest of her mane and tail billowed about behind her and looked as though it were a window into outer space, nearly mirroring their surroundings. Her eyes were a brilliant turquoise, but they were gentle and soft, almost motherly, lidded with a sky blue eyeshadow. Twilight took notice of the fact that she had both large, majestic wings, and a long, spiraling horn.

"Princess Luna?" Twilight gaped, hardly believing her eyes, how many nights ago was it that she had doubted her existence?

"Hello, Liberator." Luna nodded her head respectfully, approaching the somewhat frightened mare. "I have waited long to finally grace your sleep, young one." she said, placing a calming hoof on Twilight's head.

"W-what do you mean? Why haven't you come into my dreams before? Why do those nightmares keep plaguing me? Why..." Twilight was cut off by a gentle pressure on her muzzle, looking up at the alicorn with a questioning gaze.

"There is time for questions, but they will only come if you let me explain myself." Luna smiled, looking at the young mare with a somewhat admonishing amusement. "To answer your first question, the Old God has long held your mind, shrouded it in a darkness I cannot break, no matter how much I have tried. Believe me when I say, I have been trying to reach you for much of your life." Luna looked at her apologetically.

Twilight tilted her head in confusion, "But...aren't you a goddess? A deity? C'Th-He...is a god too, does that mean he is a more powerful god?" she asked.

Luna shook her head, "No, Twilight, perhaps we are worshipped by some, but we are not gods nor deities, either way you put it. The Old Gods are gods only in title. Although they may have immortality, and god-like powers, a true deity is all-powerfull, perfect, just, and all-knowing. We alicorns - along with the Old Gods - are not such in any way." Luna explained, and Twilight nodded. "He may not be a true god, and I am not a goddess, but he is powerful indeed. And, I'm afraid to say, more powerful than I. The power of the Old Gods is only rivaled by the Titans. And - although the Titans have long ceased interfering with our world - they have left behind a piece of themselves. It manifests in a mortal being of their choosing, said mortal is meant to control, or more preferably, destroy, the Old Gods. They call him or her the Liberator, and the Old Gods refer to them as Destroyers. There have only been two Liberators in the history of Azeroth, an earth pony stallion named Fire Lash was the first. He lived more than fifteen-thousand years ago." Luna continued, looking at Twilight to gauge her response.

Twilight blinked, "I....I'm the second." she said tentatively, it was not a question, but Luna nodded.

"He fears you, Twilight, he fears you with all of his being. And he will do anything to rid the world of you, but there is a catch, he can only kill you if he's seen you. You've seen him try without, felt him try to control you, haven't you?" Luna asked sympathetically.

Twilight looked down and nodded, "Yes." she mumbled.

"Did he succeed?" Luna asked.

Twilight pondered somewhat jokingly, "No." she giggled.

Luna smiled, "He also has another disadvantage, he cannot see you from afar, the Titans engineered you that way. Different Old Gods have different methods of attack and have been outwitted with different counter spells, but he in particular is cursed in this way. Otherwise Old Gods would kill a Liberator as soon as they were born. The Titans kept you safe...however, they were only thinking of the physical plane. As I said, a true god is perfect, all-knowing, they were not gods, and they were not thorough, dear Twilight. Your mind was not protected from him." Luna explained.

"I know, I figured that out myself." the young unicorn pouted, then thought of something, "But...if he is more powerful than you, how are you here?" Twilight asked suddenly.

Luna reached a hoof down and tapped the amulet around her neck, it was the only thing the dream plane had conjured for her to wear, the rest of her clothing and the emerald she usually wore were gone. "Theradras may have been under his spell when she wore it, but that's the idea. If it was under his control, we would be able to manifest a counter spell against his magic. Like an antidote. This is a shield against him, Twilight, it's why she wanted you to have it. If you'd been wearing it sooner, I'm loathe to inform you that you would not have had nightmares. And, I would have been able to reach you sooner." Luna said.

Twilight gaped at the gem, then back at Luna, "Are you serious? All this trouble because I couldn't just try on a necklace?" she sputtered, sudden frustration with herself rising.

Luna raised a hoof, "Calm yourself, child. Turmoil can threaten the dream plane, hence you will either cast me away from your mind or cause yourself nightmares. Take caution."

Twilight took a deep breath to calm herself, "I'm sorry." she muttered.

"Well we aren't perfect are we?" Luna asked with a smirk, Twilight scoffed and nodded, smiling widely. "Now, you must remember one thing when you confront him." Luna's tone and her features took a serious turn.

"Yes?" Twilight perked her ears.

"Do not gaze into his eyes, no matter what, do not return his gaze!" Luna warned, "I fear the utmost of dire consequences if you do, explain this to your companions as well. It wouldn't only effect you."

Twilight pondered and nodded, "Alright, I will do my best to avoid his gaze. But how will I defeat him? How did Fire Lash defeat Old Gods?"

Luna smiled, "You'll know when you face him. You'll feel the power of the Titans swell in you, and you'll understand what you need to do. It's in your nature after all." the majestic alicorn stood to her full height and sighed, "It is nearly morning, you will awake soon, I must go. You will have no dreams after this, good or bad, just a restful sleep. I'm sure that will be most welcome." she gently stroked Twilight's forelock with her plated hoof and turned on her heel, "Good luck, Liberator." Luna looked back over her shoulder to bid Twilight farewell before she continued walking and the atmosphere slowly condensed into white.

Twilight awoke softly, blinking the sleep away from her eyes, she rolled to look at the window and saw the sun just coming over the horizon. She rolled back and snuggled into the pillow with a sigh, a smile gracing her features. For the first time in years-the first time in decades, she truly felt rested, she truly felt at peace. Twilight looked down at the turquoise amulet and stroked the cool surface tenderly, until her happy thoughts were interrupted with one sudden realization.

The thought sent shivers of both fear and a strange assurance down her spine, her limbs tingling in apprehension. The word itself felt both strange and welcome on her tongue, "I'm a Liberator..." she breathed.

Author's Note

Finally some answers eh? We're climbing to the first crescendo in this story

Luna! Bout damn time you showed up eh? And we have cracked the case about Twilight's nightmares, now...onward! To Cenarion Hold, and perhaps even to spoiler spoiler spoiler, spoiler spoiler, spoiler spoiler, & spoilers *stops typing and glances at words*
Oh...looks like the story doesn't want you to know that, I've been censored.

I made an arts for this chapter: