Nightmare Dove Arc

Amorphous black fog draped its way across an enormous white landscape. It rolled and expanded ever outward, flowing both south and north indiscriminately. Further to the west, however, it thinned somewhat, rollicking over light green shades of grass and revolving around a tall, imposing figure. Its horn darted out past its blue shaded mane, pointing toward a vast, empire spanning blue half-sphere. The thinner fog ahead of the figure lurched forward and distorted itself up along and against the sphere, gradually growing larger as it spanned the circumference. The figure grinned its sharp white teeth as the fog climbed the sphere, and the fog behind it rolled on.

The Mane Six entered Canterlot Castle. Its massive doors bellowed shut behind them as they followed the group of guards along various marble-stone halls and hallways, leading them to a rather spacious circular room at what could be approximated to be the center of the castle. The soft orange glow of the setting sun twinkled in through overhead windows. Luna and Celestia awaited them, sitting beside one another at the far end of a large round table. "I'm glad all of you arrived safely," noted Celestia. "However, we have little time to spare for pleasantries. We must commence our strategic assessment now if we hope to prevent catastrophe."

"I heard Illusion's and Nidra's account," said Twilight, seating herself across from Celestia. "But I'm still not sure I have a full grasp on the situation."

Luna motioned a knowing hoof. "That is fine. We know very little as well, though before your arrival a group of guards managed to gather more information. It doesn't give a complete picture, but it will likely prove useful to us."

"This bed is... adequate," stated Nidra, standing beside the guest room bed and pressuring a hoof into its mattress. "I shall accept sleeping here, if only for tonight."

Prince Illusion sat himself at the food end of the bed beside hers, watching over his friends who had spread themselves about the room. Prism Bolt and Golden Delicious chatted enthusiastically over an old toy chest, while Turquoise, Anthea and Candy sat around a small, plastic table; one of many leftovers from Starburst's and Night Light's early years. The three talked and laughed like in their old school days. Starburst kept her eyes pointed down beneath her at the edge of the room near the doorway. A sullen look was in her eyes, but she sat close enough to Illusion that she seemed involved with him and Nidra. A purple claw tapped against the top of Illusion's left hoof.

"Lulu," said Claire, standing at his bedside. "I think it's time you told us what's going on here." She cast her eyes back to Starburst; the orange pony's eyes drooped lower. Illusion looked over his other friends as well, all of whom seemed to have slowed in their cheery conversations he'd wished to die out naturally after the picnic. His and Nidra's jet-lag had been excuse enough for them to return to the castle and resume the mood while he and Nidra regained their energy and prepared their speeches, but Starburst remained as dreadfully somber as when they'd left. He placed his hoof over Claire's, then raised his head high.

"Excuse me, everypony," he started, prompting everypony's head toward him. "I believe Nidra and I are both finally prepared to divulge the information. I will tell you what happened two days ago." Starburst and the rest of the group perked up and rounded themselves about the foot-end of the bed. Nidra sat aside Illusion's right bedside, while Claire moved herself beside Starburst, who had trained her eyes desperately on Illusion. He cleared his throat into his paw, then inhaled.

"The day after the best young fliers event, our mothers received word of a harrowing spectacle. Our scouts observed that a dense, black fog had swallowed the entire city of Manehattan, and seemed to be extending itself northward. From its path, we predicted it would next arrive in Rainbow Falls. Nidra, Father and I formed a unit to confront it before it arrived, but we were late. From our chariots, we could see the fog flowing into the city. The guard ponies pulling my chariot quickly brought me down, and we tried to evacuate the citizens to the train station, but attempting to pull them from the fog proved to be a mistake. My squad became enveloped themselves, and we lost them to it."

"Yes," sounded Nidra. "And while Prince 'Bleeding Heart' over here continued throwing guards at the big pile of smoke, I landed shortly thereafter and tried to study and gain intelligence on it. Closer to it, I could sense something. A sort of... subconscious, as mom calls it; the part of your mind that remains awake while you sleep. I recognized that stirring motion within and activated my dream-walking spell to try bridging the gap into its mind. I managed to enter, but... W-Well, dream-walking is difficult, and I don't quite know how to completely see into pony's dreamscape. I was making progress though! If you hadn't distracted me by getting sucked in yourself..."

"We lost Nidra as well," continued Illusion. "And I, 'Prince Bleeding Heart', was drawn in while trying to pull our guards from the miasma." Illusion drew his eyes down. "First, it broke our horns, snapping them at the base and drawing out our Alicorn magic. Then, it flowed into us. These... negative feelings. It was like walking through a six foot layer of oil; everything--even breathing--felt heavy, and painful."

Nidra bit her lip at the memory. Illusion frowned.

"Father," he continued. "Was engaged elsewhere, at the fog's peak, but rushed to our aid regardless. He'd materialized a giant fan to engage our rescue, and succeeded, but--" He sighed, then took a moment. "Dad seemed... averse to this form of magic. Draqoneus magic is chaotic and vibrant, but the magic the fog contained was consistent and unyielding. It seemed to drain him, simply by proximity. It took everything he had to teleport us both out, but not himself. A group of our back-up battalion carried us to safety. He's still there now, underneath that foreboding blanket."

Silence punctuated the room. At last, Starburst stepped to the foot of the bed.

"Do you have any news of Dove?" she questioned. "My mother... she said something about her. Do either of you know anything?"

Nidra and Illusion exchanged glances, both their faces in skewered, awkward sympathy. Nidra seemed to lose the exchange, then looked back to Starburst.

"When I connected to the subconscious," Nidra reluctantly began. "I couldn't make anything out. It was just white. Just white, bright nothingness. But, as I pushed my magic, I managed to quell the distortion and bring things into focus. Then, below me--very, very far below me--I saw... Dove..."

Starburst blinked at her. Nidra stammered her weight a bit.

"She was laying there, in the void. Just her, and her shadow beneath her. It looked like she'd been there for a while. Her eyes were glazed over when she looked at me. She said my name, and seemed to recognize me, but her shadow... it moved all on its own. It chased me and, between it and Illusion's yelling, I lost my concentration and lost track of Dove. And then I was captured."

Nidra exhaled, feeling some weight lift from her shoulders, then Illusion turned to Starburst next.

"When we described it to our mothers, Luna believed it was similar to her own Nightmare, and that the fog and creature creating it are somehow outward manifestations of Dove's own internal strife. We can't be entirely certain though."

The weight that had risen off Nidra seemed to plant itself right on Starburst. Her shoulders sank low, and her head lower.

"It's all my fault," she said, her voice cracked by her tears. She tried wiping them away, but they kept coming. "T-Three days ago, I found her in the Everfree forest at night. She was... banging her horn against a tree. She said she was trying to break it--and I tried to stop and help her but--she pulled her vanishing act on me, and I couldn't find her."

She continued weeping. Prism planted his hoof forward. "What?!" he shouted. "Why didn't you tell us?! Why didn't you tell me? We're Dove's friends too y'know!"

"I'm sorry," Starburst squeaked. "I just--I thought she'd hate me if I said anything."

Prism motioned to shout again, but paused, then closed his mouth to a frown and looked away. Starburst tried to wipe away her tears, and suddenly found them slowing, as well as her hard breathing. Her face seemed to relax from its constrictions, and she noticed a luminous, soft green light cast along the rug laden floor. Above her, Anthea's calming spell diffused its soothing glow throughout the room, forming over their heads as a light green hellebore flower. Prism felt his tensed muscles slacken, and the rest of the room relaxed in the scent of flora and the soporific hues. Anthea smiled and, with her eyes closed in mild concentration, retracted the spell into her horn. She reopened them, then looked vaguely around.

"Is everyone okay?" she asked. Prism exhaled.

"Yeah," he responded. "Thanks, Annie. And sorry, Starburst."

Candy trotted around from Turquoise and placed a hoof on Starburst's shoulder. She leaned down a cautious smile, to which Starburst wiped her eyes and attempted to softly smile back. Del looked to the open windows.

"It's gettin' a mite bit late," he pointed out, drawing attention to the fading orange glow and the sinking sun just barely poking over the horizon. "But... I don't think I'll be going home yet. Got quite a while 'fore I need any of my chores done."

"Same here," seconded Prism. Turquoise raised his wings slightly.

"I think I should spend the night," he said. "I don't feel comfortable leaving you like this. I should be there if you need anything."

"We should all stay the night," suggested Claire, raising a hoof.

"Haauugh!" Candy gasped. "Do you know what this means...?" Candy started, gripping a slightly misty eyed Starburst under hoof. Starburst smiled approvingly back at her, and Candy raised her free hoof high above her head. "Slumber party!"

"So, what yer sayin' is..." Applejack began, resting her front hooves on the regally dressed round table. "This thing Dove turned into is gettin' faster?"

"Yes," answered Celestia. "When we last gauged its trajectory and velocity, we estimated it would be only three-quarters of the way through the Crystal Mountains. But we were wrong. It seems to grow faster the more magic it absorbs. Our returning scouts confirmed that she has been near the Crystal Empire since morning."

Applejack pivoted her head to Twilight, who appeared calm despite the bead of sweat rolling down her neck.

"I'm sure they're fine," Twilight stated, somewhat to herself. "They have Cadence's love and protection spell and my brother's shield spell. If they hold out and wait for us we can save them."

"Prince Valiant Heart shall be helpful as well," Luna mentioned. "His Alicorn magic and high status in the guard will certainly benefit their battle."

Applejack shook her head. "I wouldn't put too much faith in that. I got it on good word he's been on leave for a while now, outside the Crystal Empire."

Twilight smiled knowingly, then turned to Princess Celestia. "Princess, you said you estimated that Dove's course would lead her through the Crystal Mountains. Does that mean you know her destination?"

"Maybe," Celestia said. "The cloak of fog flowing behind her seems to expand continuously. She has already taken Manehattan and Rainbow Falls, and her current path has curved her through the Crystal Mountains. While it is possible she may continue forward or veer off further North, if her goal is to expand her fog and break more unicorn horns, she will most likely follow the coast, and continue until she has outlined all of Equestria."

"But that would mean--" Rainbow suddenly interjected.

"Yes," Celestia quickly responded. "All of Equestria will be submerged in fog. It will travel inland until it reaches Canterlot, and as it consumes more magic, the fog will grow faster." Luna stamped a hoof down.

"That is why we must stop it now," she stated. "The preparations have been set, and our carriages have likely finished packing. Follow us to the carriages and we shall soon disembark."

Luna and Celestia rose from their seats, as did their companions. However, as Celestia moved to leave with her sister down the far corridor, Twilight quickly approached her side and halted her.

"Have you contacted Trixie about this?" Twilight asked as the others walked ahead. Celestia shook her head, then turned with Twilight to walk behind their compatriots.

"The last report of her whereabouts placed her somewhere near Las Pegasus," replied Celestia. "We've stationed search parties in and around that area, but we haven't the time to spare awaiting her arrival."

Twilight rubbed beneath her chin. "Traveling around unaware of her daughter's location... I don't think I could bare it. They did always make a point to write and meet together monthly though. To tell the truth, I was always kind of jealous of how open they were around each other whenever we saw them, but--maybe that was just a rouse too."

"I can't say for certain," commented Celestia. "However, I doubt Dove would create such a rouse in the first place had she not genuinely wanted for her mother and friends to be happy."

"But look where that happiness has gotten her! Alone, and probably scared, and confused. Friends should be there to support your happiness, not leech off it."

"Spoken like the true Princess of Friendship," spoke Celestia. Twilight smiled wryly back at her, and Celestia raised her head. "If this plan is to succeed, we will need your wisdom and expertise. Trixie may not be there to reach her daughter, but if you understand Dove, we should be able to reach her, and save her, ourselves."

"R-Right!" said Twilight with attempted optimism as they exited the long hallway and found their friends readying themselves atop different chariots. Twilight ascended hers, set aside Celestia's, and the two shared a final look.

"Have confidence, my faithful student," Celestia encouraged.

"I will, Princess," returned Twilight. "For Dove, for Trixie, and... for Starburst."