Author's Note

*Dodges rotten apple* Yes I know! I'm sorry I lied, I said next chapter would be out by the end of last week and I just got it out today, more than a week late. But...I have a very good excuse, heh...I was most certainly not caught up reading a most intriguing fanfiction for most of the week....heh...hehe...no of course not!
*Gets smacked with a tomato, falls to the ground and faceplants*
Nnngh! Have a Pinkie Pie?

Art by me. And by the way, Pinkie's mace is much simpler at the moment, as she has yet to defeat R.....oh...spoilers...hehe!

Journey to the Lift

Chapter 8: Journey to the Lift

Twilight barreled into a quillboar by her shoulder, having stopped his primitive weapon with her sword. The beast squealed in surprise, and she quickly turned her horn towards him before he could retaliate against her attack. Her horn began to glow a dangerous red, firing a bolt of fire straight through the quillboar,who promptly keeled over dead. Twilight's ear twitched as another squeal sounded behind her, she spun around, still gripping her sword through telekinesis and sliced the approaching enemy in the chest. This one was larger and obviously stronger, as he only gripped his chest momentarily before he cried out in a rage and raised his hammer for a blow.

Twilight smirked and charged her horn, just then an invisible force swooped down and pummeled the brute to the ground. Rainbow's silvery, see-through appearance faded as she ripped her daggers from the quillboar's back. She grinned up at Twilight with a wink before she spread her wings and leapt into the air once again, her ethereal appearance gradually returning. Twilight saluted briefly with a smirk and turned to find more enemies, noting that the nearest pony to her was Applejack.

Applejack was currently tucking and rolling along the ground, dust flying as she pushed herself upright on her forelegs and bucking her adversary in the back. A sickening crunch followed, likely due to the force of her kick and the fact that she wore solid, plate boots. Applejack gripped her axe with her hooves shortly after defeating him and spun to block the next attacker's staff. The current quillboar muttered under her breath and the staff glowed with electricity, Applejack yelped as the blue light traveled down the metal of her axe and shocked her. She dropped her axe with a gasp, baring her teeth and bringing her armored forelegs up to block the following blows. The quillboar began to mutter again, and swiftly cast a spell at Applejack, which apparently caused the ground to sprout roots to hold her victim in place.

Applejack grunted as the thorny roots twined around her legs and pulled her to her knees. She looked about desperately as the quillboar approached, pulling a crudely forged kris from her tattered clothes. Suddenly the rooted mare was enveloped in a purple glow and the roots dissipated. Applejack jumped to her hooves and charged straight at her surprised attacker, a fireball assisted and blasted her in the face. Applejack finished the spellbinder off and turned to Twilight, nodding her thanks to the Mage for casting a counterspell. Twilight grinned and ran to help Rarity, who was struggling with a brute of a quillboar, as they seemed to have many of the hulkish ones.

Shining noticed more quillboar coming and grimaced, Rainbow was picking them off from the air, but she could only do so much. He thrust his shield into a nearby quillboar's face and sliced at another with his sword, both fell, one knocked out and the other having been disemboweled. Anypony could see that they were slowly being overwhelmed, but Shining was striking each quillboar that managed to come in range of his sword. He glanced behind nervously to see that they were being pushed back until they were nearly touching flanks. He bumped into Twilight, who was focused on casting a spell, and the arcane blast veered off it's course and smashed into the ground instead. "Shining!!" she cried out accusingly and cursed.

"Not my fault!" Shining shot back, pushing his attacker back and thrusting his sword through its stomach. He heard Rarity yelp behind him and he finished off the next quillboar to advance before turning to see what had caused her distress. She was battling another spellbinder, gritting her teeth as her hind hooves dug into the ground in her attempt to win the current battle they were in: pressing their staves together in a pushing contest. Apparently her cry was merely from the fact that she hadn't expected the blow from above to her staff. Shining charged up his horn and fired at the spellbinder, who fell back in surprise at the sudden interference. Rarity took her chance and threw her dagger at her attacker's chest. She spun around with a grateful sigh of brief relief, silently thanking Shining for his assistance.

Rainbow was swooping down at the enemies from her place in the sky, picking them off one-by-one. However there were many, and she could barely keep track of how many were still swarming the camp. There had to be more than thirty of them. She noticed Applejack stumble, and Twilight was bumped, catching Shining off guard and causing them both to fall to the ground in a tangle of limbs. Rarity was casting bolts of holy light as fast as she could, and Rainbow was slicing at quillboar as she flew by. And yet there seemed to be almost no dent in they're numbers. Rainbow was preparing to drive her dagger into the head of a quillboar that was advancing on her two still-tangled friends, who were working to extricate themselves.

Suddenly, an unknown voice cried out: "DUCK!!" everypony, including Rainbow Dash, dove to the ground in instinctive reaction to the words. There was the sound of something fizzling, and a loud thud shook the earth as a glowing hammer made contact. The encroaching quillboar were blasted back by the impact, but the group of ponies remained untouched. There was a second, lighter thud, along with the sound of plate and chain mail clinking against itself as a mare leapt over the now-stirring ponies and fetched her hammer.

The mare in question was well-built, as if she had spent her entire life in battle, and she wore many golden plates on her body. A short, blue skirt made of thick, separate, leather strips stuck out from under her flankplates. She wore a golden headpiece that also had two long, thin horns, seemingly coming from her head, but that was not the case as she was an earth pony. "The odds are stacked a little better against you now aren't they?" she swung her mace around tauntingly at the quillboar, a confident smirk gracing her features as they charged.

The group of ponies had recovered from the dive onto the ground, and now helped this newfound ally to beat back the boar. Shining's jaw dropped as she leapt in the air, calling out a grossly exaggerated battle cry before she brought the hammer down on a quillboar's head, a loud crack resounding at the contact. "No way!" he muttered, "It can't be...", when the mare's gleeful, sapphire eyes met his he knew without a doubt. "Pinkie Pie?" he gaped.

Pinkie grinned, swinging her hammer to smash an approaching quillboar without breaking eye contact. "It's been a while!" she called over the sounds of the battle.

"You're telling me!" Shining called back with a grin, grunting loudly as he pummeled an attacker with his shield. "What are you even doing here?"

Pinkie jumped over a pile of quillboar corpses and went back-to-back with the warrior, "You know me...I could never stay put for long." she kicked a quillboar in the face and cried out ferociously as she did, twirling the mighty hammer in her hooves in a second taunt to her attackers.

"You didn't finish training?" Shining was able to talk more quietly, but he too made sounds of effort and ferocity when striking his foes.

"Please! I've been training since I was an itty-bitty-twinkie-pinkie!" Pinkie laughed, murmuring words that caused her weapon to glow brightly, she yelled as she smashed it into the ground. Yellow cracks in the earth reached out like lightning, striking any quillboar within range of the holy circle that had been induced beneath her hooves.

Shining nodded in approval, "I see you've got some new tricks up you're sleeve." he looked to Pinkie, who blew a thick, pink curl of her forelock out of her face with a smirk.

"And it would seem you've got some new friends." she smashed a quillboar that was leaping at her from behind in the face before Shining even noticed the beast approaching.

"They're retreating!" Rainbow signaled, landing amongst her now heavily-panting friends.

"Everybody ok?" Twilight gasped, conjuring water with some effort, even though she mainly stuck to using her sword during the battle, she had still used a lot of her mana and was ready for a good night's sleep.

"Yes!" came everypony's reply.

"Except some of us just bathed..." Rarity grumbled, sighing at the dirt and blood now staining her clothes and coat.

"I think we have you to thank for our victory against the quillboar...miss?" Twilight approached the pink, grinning mare who stood before them.

"Pinkie Pie." Shining answered for her, "We knew each-other at the academy."

Pinkie smiled, draping a foreleg over the stallion's shoulder casually, "Indeed we did. And who do I have the pleasure of rescuing?" the mare - despite her first impression of a seemingly overly-bubbly personality - had a very warm and inviting demeanor about her, and gently shook the hooves of each pony introduced to her.

"I'm Twilight Sparkle, Shining's sister..." Twilight began, and the usual response ensued.

Pinkie's jaw dropped and her eyes widened in disbelief, "No...no way!" she grinned, "Shining, you have a sister?! Do you realize how crucial this information would have been at the academy?" she sounded as if she were scolding, but she turned back with a teasing smile and hugged Twilight as if she'd known her all her life.

Twilight shifted under the uncomfortable and uninvited hug, she looked to Shining and mouthed: No personal boundaries? Shining burst into laughter, shaking his head. Twilight gasped as the bone-crushing hug finally ceased.

Pinkie blinked as she parted from the unicorn, Strange, I don't believe I ate any bad rations lately.... she wondered to herself when her stomach clenched and gave the sensation of nausea when she touched Shining's sister. But the paladin put her thoughts aside and smiled, "Any friend of Shiny here is a friend of mind, and with any sister of his likewise." Pinkie pat the bewildered unicorn's shoulder before moving to meet the next pony.

"Celestia! She has quite the grip, that armor doesn't help either." Twilight approached Shining and rubbed her skin where she had been hugged. Shining smiled and nuzzled her, she jumped and looked up at him in surprise, "What'd you do that for?"

Shining shrugged, "No reason, just glad we managed to survive that attack. I didn't know the quillboar numbered so many." he began to walk towards the camp they had made and proceeded to feed the fire that had been partially doused by sand.

"The Tauren have had difficulty keeping them in check..." Twilight straightened her blanket she had lain on the ground and checked her saddlebags to see if she had been looted at all.

"If it weren't for the orcs blocking the Ashenvale borders Tyrande would be able to help." Shining nodded, "The Tauren are no allies of the Alliance, but they aren't necessarily enemies either, and if they asked, I know she would likely not hesitate."

Twilight nodded, laying on her stomach atop the thick blanket, having brushed the kicked up dirt from it and taken off her constructing gear. "Indeed....she would likely..." she began, cut off by a yawn.

Shining noticed and smiled, "Are you tired?"

Twilight shook her head, "No. No...I'm just..." she started to excuse the yawn, but she didn't have a good excuse, so she simply blushed and flattened her ears when Shining chuckled.

"You go ahead and sleep, we'll take care of the camp." he handed her a thinner blanket to use for warmth, and she sighed in resignation.

"Thanks." she mumbled, laying her head over her front legs and stretching her hind legs down the length of her blanket. She was nervous about sleep, she didn't want to face the nightmare again. But she knew that she was only going to deteriorate from a lack of sleep, so Twilight closed her eyes and focused on her breathing. Inhale...exhale...inhale...the soothing motion swiftly lulled her fatigued body to sleep.

Rainbow approached Shining and sat beside him by the fire. "She's always been so tired, but she fights sleep whenever she can. The fact in itself that she barely fought you is...out of character for her." the prismatic-maned mare sighed, casting a concerned glance at her maternal figure.

Shining nodded, "She's a mystery..." he began.

"Who is?" Pinkie sat beside Shining with a sigh on his opposite side, taking off her plate boots and airing out her pink hooves.

"Twilight, she's a...troubled mare." Shining muttered.

"Oh? How so?" Pinkie looked over at the sleeping mare and realized he was right, she could sense a dark shadow hanging over the unicorn. It was as if light was choked when it was around her, Perhaps that's why it felt so strange to hug her? she wondered. As a paladin, she was in deep tune with The Light, and darkness was easily detectable by such practitioners, along with priests. She'd have to have a chat with the priest of the group to see if she felt the same dark energy as she herself did.

"She has nightmares." Rainbow explained.

Pinkie pursed her lips, "I see." she eyed the now deeply sleeping mare.

Applejack and Rarity, who had apparently been washing and refilling water canteens, strode back into camp and fixed their possessions, being mindful of their resting friend. "I'll take first watch." Rainbow volunteered, "I need a buddy for it, both sides of the camp need a lookout." she stood and waited for a fellow volunteer.

"I'll do that." Pinkie twirled her hammer expertly and smiled, patting Shining on the shoulder as she stood.

"Alright then, I'll be waking Shining and Applejack for the second watch. Goodnight everypony." Rainbow grabbed a bread roll she had stored in her bag and went to sit dutifully on her haunches on the western edge of the camp. Pinkie grabbed a bowl of the soup that Shining had started and made her way to the eastern side of camp.

There was a whimpering sound, and Shining's ears perked, he blinked awake groggily and lifted his head from the blanket. It was still about two hours before it was his turn to watch the camp with Applejack. The whimpering sounded again, and Shining looked over his shoulder. Twilight was shaking, he could see it in the dim moonlight, she made pitiful, high-pitched whines as she was - no doubt - having a nightmare. Shining stood, shaking briefly to free his hair from it's matting at his side, before he quietly walked over.

Twilight whined, and tears glittered across her muzzle, her hair was sweaty and tangled. Shining sighed, leaning down to nuzzle her behind the ear, "Twilight?" he murmured, giving her a gentle shake with his hoof. In response Twilight murmured louder, now thrashing as if she were trying to get away from Shining's touch. At which he grasped her shoulders and shook her slightly harder. "Twilight!" he said quietly, but sternly. Twilight yelped suddenly as her eyes opened and began to adjust to the darkness. Those violet eyes were glittering with unshed tears, and her bottom lip quivered as she stared into Shining's eyes. "It was just a dream, Twilight. You're safe...nopony can hurt you now." he whispered, returning her stare without falter.

Twilight grimaced as she began to sob, she reached out and clutched at her brother as if he were her only comfort in the world. Shining smiled sadly and returned her embrace, sitting on his haunches to better accommodate her shaking body. "Why....?" Twilight whispered.

Shining sighed, "I don't know why these dreams haunt you, Twilight...but I'll always make sure I'm here to chase them away." he stroked her mane gently and motioned for her to lay on the blanket. His sister sniffled and obliged, curling up her legs and looking up at him expectantly. Shining knelt on his forelegs beside her neck, laying his haunches up against her back. Reaching over her neck, he gently pushed her head to rest on his forelegs, while his own stayed resting on her neck. There was a gentle twinkling sound as he pulled the blanket over their bodies.

Twilight sighed and snuggled closer to her brother, just like they had when she was younger during storms and the lightning scared her. Feeling somepony's body beside her own, a warm, rhythmic breath blowing her fur down every few seconds made her eyes droopy. Within minutes she was falling to sleep, but not before murmuring: "Thank you." to her brother.

"I love you little sis'...." Shining smiled, nuzzling her before he closed his eyes. But hoofsteps approaching shortly caused him to abandon thoughts of sleep and he reopened them. It was Pinkie, "Oh...hi.." he sighed.

"I heard her cry out..." Pinkie smiled sadly, approaching the mare, "She suffers from the influence of a darkness I've never felt before. It's as if...as if The Light itself shrinks away when near her." she placed her hoof tentatively on Twilight's shoulder, so as not to wake her. Pinkie quickly pulled her hoof back, as if burned, and glanced at the mare in disbelief, "Worse at night it seems..." she murmured, rubbing the sole of her hoof.

Shining observed the interaction with interest, "What type of darkness?" he asked, his brow creased with worry.

"I suppose I've never really believed in such stories, but they say such powers were only wielded by the ancient enemies of the Titans." Pinkie sat beside Shining and glanced warily at his sister.

"You mean the Old Gods?" Shining asked, thinking about their quest.

Pinkie scoffed, "Those abominations are hardly worthy of such a title, they are beings of pure darkness and do not deserve to live in this world." she spoke with venom in her voice towards them, as if she knew them all personally.

"How do you know about them?" Shining asked out of pure curiosity.

"As a paladin I have been taught to recognize any and all forms of dark magic. They are no exception." Pinkie waved her hoof dismissively.

Shining nodded, laying his head atop his sister's neck, "I just hope it isn't such magic, I dare not think of what that influence could mean."

Pinkie nodded sympathetically, "Perhaps not, but we must be cautious, such darkness attracts other darkness. She may not know it, but it may be her fault you were attacked today. Quillboar have never attacked in such numbers before." Pinkie sighed, wondering about Twilight's name, that was also the name of the vile cult devoted to the reawakening of the Old Gods and the destruction of all on Azeroth. Perhaps that was not coincidence? "I'll tell Rainbow to let you sleep, Twilight needs your company." Pinkie stood and pat Shining on the shoulder with a reassuring smile before she trotted back to her watch-post.

Twilight shifted, not wanting to wake, but her mind was overruled by the sounds of the early morning, and she reluctantly opened her groggy eyes. The sun had just barely come up over the horizon, slowly making its way into the sky. Twilight twitched her ear and listened to suddenly present sound of somepony breathing beside her. She lifted her head with some difficulty, as her companion had lain his head across her neck, Shining... she relaxed at that. Yet at the same time, she felt uncomfortable, as if accepting her brother's comfort was a weakness.

Twilight shifted her legs out from underneath her and attempted to lift herself onto her forelegs. Shining awoke with a start as his head began to slide from its resting spot. "Twily?" he murmured sleepily, looking around in confusion.

"I'm here..." Twilight was stretching her legs out, pops sounding from her joints after having been curled up all night.

"Did you sleep better?" Shining asked, joining her in her stretching motions.

Twilight grimaced inwardly, even though she had been much more comfortable, she didn't get an entirely restful night's sleep. But not wanting to make him feel bad, she smiled at him warmly, "Yes, indeed I did." she fibbed, biting her lip as she turned to slip back into her more uncomfortable gear.

Shining grinned, "Thats good, perhaps I'll keep you company more often if it helps." he nuzzled her before trotting over to his blanket and assorting his belongings.

Twilight nodded, a stab of guilt wracking her heart for lying to him, but she knew that there was truly nothing they could do for these nightmares. The only thing she could do was hope that one day they would go away. Easier said than done. She proceeded to repack her blanket and wake the camp, prodding for everypony to get ready to leave.

Whereas Shining Armor was thinking of what Pinkie had said during the night. It did seem, after his experience journeying with Twilight, that bad things tended to happen to her. And Pinkie had said that whatever darkness was haunting her mind would likely attract trouble. Such torturous magic made him shiver, he could only imagine what Twilight was going through. It didn't seem like it was necessarily the nightmares themselves that bothered her, more the fact that they occurred every night for over four decades. No doubt that in itself, even if it weren't dark magic, would drive anypony insane. Shining cast a worried glance at his sister, who did not seem to be bothered this morning. But then again, she was always good at hiding her true feelings....

The group set off shortly after packing up camp. There was not much to say, as it was a hot day and nopony was truly in the mood for speaking. The air was muggy, despite there hardly being much water in those parts, and the sun beat down harshly upon the traveler's backs. Every now and again they stopped for a drink or to simply rest they're hooves. On the second to last stop, Shining sat beside his sister, who was studying the map, and offered her water. "Oh no thank you..." Twilight smiled assuringly and went back to her observations.

Shining nodded, "How have you been today?" he asked, gesturing to her scarred leg.

Twilight glanced down at the limb and shrugged, "It's more of a slight discomfort now than stinging needles. I'd take it over the latter any day." she reached a hoof down to massage the muscles of her thigh, grimacing slightly as she did, "Though to be honest, it's still kind of bruised."

Shining smiled briefly, "How about the limping, does that get irritating?"

Twilight pondered that question for a moment, "I suppose so. I don't really try to notice."

Shining pat her shoulder, "I see. Well, we should probably get going, there are only so many hours before sunset."

Twilight nodded and stood, rolling the map back up and placing it in her pack. "Right. Lets get a move on everypony, we want to reach the Lift by sunset." she trotted back onto the road and led the group south once again, checking her map every so often just to be sure she knew the landscape.

The Great Lift was guarded by two Tauren, both of which had a steadfast gaze to their eyes as they observed the road ahead. The Tauren looked peculiar to say the least, they were quadrupeds, like ponies, only they had a more bovine appearance. One of the braves was a bull, and the other a cow. Both Tauren wore primitive leather armor, ornamental feathers and carried sharp, decorated axes. Twilight approached them cautiously, even though their race were members of The Horde, they tended to be pacifists and allowed Alliance to roam throughout their lands. "Excuse me?" Twilight cleared her throat, placing her hooves tentatively on the dirty path.

The female brave looked at her with curiosity shining quite obviously in her chocolate eyes. Her coat was white and mottled with large, flaxen patches. Her flaxen mane was partially braided and pulled back to spill down her neck. "Greetings, elf." she stepped from her post and glance back at her companion, who smiled at her briefly before resuming his steadfast gaze on the road. "What business have you here?"

Twilight smiled cautiously, "I am on my way to the Mirage Raceway, my companions and I would appreciate use of The Lift." she explained, bowing her head respectfully.

The brave observed her quietly, looking past to see her friends, who had respectfully - but hesitantly - put weapons away and were either avoiding eye contact or poking the ground with their hooves. She nodded, even though the Barrens were Horde territory, it was not forbidden for members of the Alliance to use the Lift, as it was the only way to get through to the Thousand Needles. "The Lift is - of course - open to you, but I would not advise traveling through the Flats at night."

Twilight nodded, "Yes, indeed not. We shall be camping here for the night." she gestured to the open space on the left side of the posts the braves had been guarding. It was simple dirt on the left side, the right had been occupied by a tipi, supplies, and a space for a campfire, which had obviously been used often.

"Then sleep well, weary travelers, Earth Mother watch over you." the Tauren smiled warmly before she turned on her cloven hoof and resumed her post, swishing her long, thin tail that was graced with a small tuft of fur off the tip, the same flaxen color of her mane.

Twilight turned to her friends with a smile and motioned for them to follow her onto the blank space that overlooked the canyon. They made camp shortly, Twilight and Shining taking first watch, mainly because she insisted. She had meant to watch the night before, but as she had fallen asleep and nopony bothered to wake her, she didn't get a chance. As much as she needed the sleep, she was terrified of it, preferring to stay awake whenever it was possible.

The sun had set only moments before, and the group was prepared for nightfall; blankets spread and a warm fire crackling away in the middle of the camp. Applejack made a simple stew, having had the most cooking experience out of them all. They shared a few jokes and embarrassing stories, most of which were told by Rainbow and Pinkie. And after everypony had eaten they went to their respective sleeping spots and went to bed, as tomorrow was another long day of traveling and possibly fighting.

Twilight sat at the western side of the camp, gazing at her surroundings lazily. There were only two fronts from which anypony could sneak upon them, as the south side of the campsite overlooked the canyons of Thousand Needles, and the east side was blocked by mountains. She was deep in thought, about what in particular she couldn't truly say, as her mind was running from subject to subject before she could register what she had been thinking of to start with. Twilight inhaled deeply as she stared at the other camp, the two Tauren braves seemed unfazed by the travelers on the opposite side of the road. She, on the other hoof, was slightly wary, although the Tauren were - for the most part - neutral, she couldn't help but be suspicious of anypony who was not of the Alliance. It was simply out of experience that she distrusted them, but she knew they would not attack them in the night, they had no reason to, and they seemed friendly enough.

"You seem distracted." Shining's voice startled Twilight and she jumped to her hooves rather unsteadily.

"By Luna! Shining, don't sneak up on me!" she scolded, holding a hoof to her chest in relief.

"I've been standing here for the past five minutes, Twi..." Shining smirked.

Twilight groaned and facehooved, she had let her guard down through her trail of thought, "I'm a mess today."

"It's understandable, you've got a lot on your mind." Shining sat down with a deep exhale.

Twilight moved to sit beside him, not close enough to touch, but close all the same. "I shouldn't let things like these nightmares get to my head, but it's harder lately. Since when do I have a hard time around strangers? I felt fine around those braves this morning, now I can't stop feeling like they are going to backstab us. Am I being paranoid? Or is it just that I feel tired and jumbled and I'm not thinking straight? Perhaps the fact that they are Horde gives me reason not to trust...." Twilight began to ramble.

Shining blinked, he couldn't really understand what she was trying to say, but he comforted her anyways, "I think it's ok to be suspicious of strangers, Twily. I doubt it's because of your nightmares, you're just thinking too much is all. You know how dangerous that us." he ruffled his sister's hair affectionately before pulling her into a hug.

She smiled briefly at the statement, "Maybe...I'm just...weary, and I don't want to go to sleep to fix it, because I know it won't help. I feel like there's a weight hanging over my head all the time, but I can't understand why or what is causing it." Twilight murmured, not bothering to fight against the affection of her brother. She had given up on fighting comfort, there wasn't much reason to anyways.

"Well one day you will, and all these worries will end. Until then, Twi, you need to relax and take life one day at a time. Stressing over the matter is only making things worse." Shining stood and helped his sister to her hooves, "It's time for the next watch, I'll wake Applejack and Rarity. You go lay down and try to get some rest." he pushed her gently in the direction of her bedroll.

Twilight walked hesitantly, turning to look over her shoulder at Shining, who nodded and gestured for her to keep moving. She sighed and moved over to her sleeping spot, removing her more uncomfortable clothing and sinking to her belly. Twilight stared at the fur on her hooves as the gentle wind blew it to and fro, studying the way the light filtered through it. She was so transfixed that she jumped when Shining dropped to his knees beside her, pressing his back against hers. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you." he nudged her gently before he lay his head down with a sigh.

"It's fine." Twilight smiled, curling up and closing her eyes in preparation for what she hoped in vain would be a dreamless night. "Goodnight, Shining."

Goodnight Twily." came his response, and then silence descended upon them as night took its course and they fell asleep.

It was dark, this wasn't the nightmare, but was it a dream? "Hello?" Twilight called into the darkness, there was no response, but suddenly she felt a presence. Her fur stood on edge along her back and nape, and there was an unnaturally cold wind. "W-who's there?" she asked, voice faltering momentarily.

"Destroyer..." a voice whispered quietly. It sounded ancient and somewhat terrifying, and Twilight shivered as the sound seemingly caressed her fur in an uncomfortable manner.

"Who's there?" she called out again. No response, but...wait...laughter, echoing laughter. Twilight yelped as the wind picked up and her hooves no longer touched the ground. Her tail and mane whipped about in the air, tangling around her legs and horn until it felt like she was suffocating in her own hair.

Twilight jumped, her eyes snapping open. Her breathing was erratic, and the way the air felt so cool against her forehead suggested she was sweating. Shining was still asleep, but she took no comfort in his presence, she shivered violently. Who was in her dream? It was no less a nightmare than her other dream, but not the one she was used to. "Twily?" Shining's voice mumbled.

Shining had felt her begin to shiver, and she still was, her body shook as thought they lay on frozen ground. Yet he was warm, and the night was not cold. Twilight twitched an ear in his direction, not answering his call as she shivered again, but Shining could tell now it was out of fear that she shook. "Are you ok?"

Twilight shook her head, "No...no I'm not ok..." she whispered.