Chapters Dear Princess… Chapter 1
“The Nightmare has come and gone,
The cold winter has all been wrapped up,
All the autumn leaves have all fallen from the trees,
The Grand Galloping Gala has already passed,
Peace and harmony have flourished in Equestria.”
“It has been many moons since last this one has laid eyes upon this village has is not?” one Unicorn questioned himself as he trotted around a small town admiring the structures around him “it seems thy land has changed since last this one saw, but that was more than a thousand years ago.” His black coat, mane, and tail almost completely shrouded him in the shadowy moonlight, but the prominent red stripe down the center of his mane and tail were very unmistakable; the stallion’s name was Erebus. He continued his walk through the darkly lit town the lights in all the houses had been turned off and it had seemed that everypony was asleep… well, it seemed like it. Out of the darkness a voice was heard, “I’ve never seen you before, who are you?” the voice made Erebus jump and then he then ran off behind a house that was off the path he was walking. Erebus had concealed himself using his magic to escape the scary candy scented noise. After catching his breath he wondered off to find a hiding spot to fall asleep. Erebus wasn’t exactly known for being sociable but, what he was known for is the story that’s about to unfold.
It was now morning the sun was high and the birds were chirping, Erebus had continued wondering around the town now with the townsfolk trotting about, but he used his magic to render himself intangible. He soon felt hungry and remembered he hadn’t eaten last night because he got scared off. He wondered around till he found and apple stand an interesting mare had been working at this stall she was an orange pony with a long yellow mane and tail which was tied off at the end. Her cutie mark seemed to be appropriate three red apples. Erebus approached the stall still unable to be seen he then took an apple from a barrel. It’s not every day you see an apple start to float by itself and then get eaten, “hey” the orange pony called out to the now core of an apple but like before the yell had made Erebus tense as the core fell and he bolted off to hide again. Ponies gathered around the core and poked it with a stick to make sure is wasn’t going to fly off again; “it’s cursed”, “haunted”, “bewitched” words fluttered back and forth between ponies, but in the end no one had known Erebus had been behind it.
Erebus had now found himself over by a large tree that upon closer inspection was a library. He found a sign on the front lawn that read Twilight’s library having a fancy for books he welcomed himself in. it seemed empty, the librarian must have stepped out for a moment just what Erebus liked, solitude he began searching the shelves and picked out several books to read and then took his leave with the books in tow. After finding a nice shady spot to sit he began reading while completely invisible to everypony around him. It had gotten dark out and Erebus had completely lost track of time meanwhile other ponies have found traces of his doings, it has seemed that the librarian was not too pleased that her books were borrowed and word spread of a thieving ghost, a search party was then formed and had begun to search for this so called ghost. It had seemed one of them was a competent Unicorn for she had tracked him with a magic tracking spell. Erebus was hard to pull away from a book so he didn’t notice when three ponies had snuck up behind him.
Day had now broke out and Erebus had at one time contemplated leaving Ponyville, but now since he has found the student of Celestia his curiosity is getting the better of him. He returned to the library to return the books he had borrowed and to hopefully acquire some new ones, to his surprise he found that the librarian was none other than Celestia’s student Ms. Sparkle. As he slowly entered he saw her still asleep as Erebus returns the books he wonders if she had stayed up all night pondering about his whereabouts. Upon closer inspection of the books around the library he noticed that there were higher level magic books “so it seems that she is skilled as well” he muttered to himself then it got eerily quiet… “Now!” a loud shout then boom the next thing Erebus can remember is he got tied up and a ring had been placed around his horn. He soon realized his magic had been nullified and was confronted by the ponies from the night before plus a few extra.
Dear Princess… Chapter 2
“Wait a minute you mean to tell me that your teacher was Luna, the Princess Luna” Twilight had said looking for a logical solution to what she had just heard, but before she could continue a baby purple dragon entered the room with a piece of rolled up parchment. What is it spike can’t you see… wait is that a letter from Celestia?” Without letting him respond she levitates the note closer and began reading it. She then lifted her head “what is it?” A couple of her friends asked “it’s a notice, the Princess is looking… for you Erebus, it says we are to bring you to Canterlot as soon as time permits” she then looked at her friends and then back to Erebus.
The train ride turned silent as everypony just stared out the window this went on for a while until Twilight turned to Erebus.
The train pulled into the station and the doors swung open making Erebus’ heart skip a beat his nerves were being grinded to the core, he got up out of his seat along with the rest of the crew as thoughts started filling his head; what was Luna like now, did she even remember him, what would he say to his old mentor, etcetera. As the seven of them trotted through town escorted by two of Celestia’s royal guards, Erebus looked around and saw the faces of many royals who looked like they were shunning him but little did he know it wasn’t him they were shunning but his companions after a certain accident at a certain gala. Finally at the front gate of Canterlot Castle Erebus was visibly shaking at this point and the door swung open to reveal… no one, it was empty a third guard walked up to the other two and whispered in his ear then left “it seems the Princess wants to meet you in Princess Luna’s bedchambers, right this way please” as he changed direction and headed through a corridor to the left the continued down a long hallway and finally ended at the base of a spiraling staircase “The Princess’ room is at the top, please don’t keep them waiting long” then the guard took off.
This was it, at the top of those stairs were the Princesses of Night and Day, Luna and Celestia, it has been so long since Erebus has seen either of them. Erebus was now shaking so bad you’d think he spent the night locked in a freezer then the seven of them had finally made it to the door “you ready Erebus” Twilight said looking back at Erebus then a couple breathing exercises later he nodded, Twilight then opened the door. As the doors swung open there stood the radiant Princesses who peered over at Erebus “girls” Celestia had started “let us give Erebus and Luna a personal moment alone” to which the six fillies nodded and started back down the stairs with Celestia in tow “good luck you two” Celestia had stated as she closed the door leaving Luna and Erebus now totally alone. “Erebus oh we are ever so glad to see you again” Luna said running over to Erebus who had at this point curled into a ball, Luna stared at him then turned her head away “we understand if thou still harbors resentment for what we hath put you through” Erebus raised his head to her words.
Dear Princess… Chapter 3
It was Erebus’ first night on the job and he was very excited. He entered Luna’s chambers to see that she had been still asleep, but was not surprised she was always like that he just smiled and started looking around for tasks. First he went to feed the nocturnal animals, as he got there he found that there was already someone else was already doing it. “That’s alright” he thought “just one less thing for me to do” and he walked off. The next task was watering the night flowers there were several moon flowers in the garden, but like before someone else was already there watering the flowers. Erebus’ heart sank with the thought that the tasks he was once entrusted with were now easily given to somepony else. Now struck with a feeling of uselessness he decided it was time to head back to Luna’s chambers, upon returning he found that she has awoken.
“Day 1, I am so thrilled that I was chosen above others for this grandiose position. I can’t wait for all the amazing things I will get to see and learn while I’m here.” “I was so happy back in times of old” he thought to himself and he skipped ahead a few pages.
Erebus reeling in agony as he dropped the book and the dark memories flooded back, he then lost concentration causing the cleaning utensils to fall to the ground all around him. Luna had returned shortly after and saw a quivering stallion staring off as if in a trance. She quickly rushed to his side and saw the book that he had read and embraced him saying softly in his ear “worry not, for the nightmare is over and shall never return.” Upon hearing the kind words spoken by the one he had always cared for and admired snapped Erebus back to reality and reassured him of Luna’s return and permanent stay. Seeing how Erebus was once again ok Luna released him and steeped back to say something to show she was never going back to the darkened state that was Nightmare Moon. “Erebus I know it must have been a great strain on thee to with stand such torture that I once bequeathed to thee. But I should say that I may have read your journal while you were out and I rather enjoyed the final entry.” After so long Erebus had forgotten what the final entry was and Luna opened the book to the final page.
Erebus awoke at the dawn of the next night, but this time Luna had gotten up before him and already raised the moon and begun to put up the stars. He pondered what his tasks for the evening were for he had finished cleaning the nights archive room what could the Princess have need for him tonight, Luna entered the room as Erebus was in mid-thought.
Dear Princess… Chapter 4
Erebus had been working on his “Important” task now for a week and he was starting to feel… underachieved. He understood full well that these tasks were important but just not requiring of his particular skill set, he would go talk to Luna at day’s end.
Luna made sure no one was following then she aimed her horn at a section of bookshelves and charged her magic, at first it didn’t seem to have any effect. Then the entire room started changing colors from its usual stone gray to vibrant hues of dark blue and purple, Erebus was in awe of what was occurring around him and Luna just gave a bit of a smirk. Then small white dots littered the ceiling and began to almost glimmer.
Everything was blurry at first; as he lay there on the floor waiting for his eyes to adjust his mind wandered around theories of what this dreamscape was going to be like and what kind of mysteries would he stumble upon. He rubbed his eyes in anticipation as his vision came into focus, to his surprise the room in which he was in looked identical to… the room he was just in. Either Canterlot and the Dreamscape have the same architect, or the spell didn’t work. He looked around for Luna but she was nowhere to be seen. “Luna, where did thou go?” Erebus called out but he got no response. He walked around a bit in search of any sign to where he was, if he was even anywhere at all. He also wondered if this was a test given to him by Luna, but surely the Princess would have appeared before him and told him of such… right? Erebus had begun walking around the small archive and noticed nothing out of the ordinary. “Have I really been transported to an alternate realm?” Erebus said aloud to himself quite quizzically. Even though he wasn’t addressing anyone he had hoped that someone would have heard him and responded. Though Erebus had thought of leaving there was no exit door, so he was forced to wander aimlessly. Erebus grew quite bored with just walking around and figured while he was here he could kill some time by reading one of these old books, and who knows maybe he might learn something new. After surveying the area he decided on the first book, it was a sort of curious book as it was the only one on its shelf. The curiousness of the book only increased as Erebus looked it over; it was bound in red leather, its spine was warped, and the faded gold lettering was nearly illegible. It seemed to almost hymn as Erebus held it in his hand beckoning him to open it and gaze upon its many secrets. Beams of light shown as he opened the cover, it felt as if it was scanning him over but before he could do anything it was over. The once blank and yellowing pages begun to fill with words and pictures, it was then that Erebus knew what he had stumbled upon and took a second look at the cover to confirm his suspicions. He was right this was no ordinary book, the faded gold lettering turned to a smoky black as the title now became legible. It had only been one word and it shook Erebus to his core as he stared at this one word “EREBUS.” These were the records of his dreams.
