Chapter Three:
World of dreams

After their short conversation, Fluttershy managed to get Issac back into the bed to rest and avoid any further injury.

As he lay in the bed, Issac though about everything that had happened in the past few hours. He wondered if the Orrison's were alright or if the legion had gone back after them after he was taken by the river. In the end he knew there was nothing he could do about it now so he laid down to rest, watching as the sun began it's slow decent towards the horizon.

"Well I suppose there are a few worse places I could be right now." Isaac said to himself as he slipped back into sleep's embrace.

In Canterlot, at the royal castle, the two sisters of the day and night began their usual routine of lowering the sun to make way for the moon and the night. Luna watching her charge climb above the horizon, it's visage bringing back memories of long ago, long before her banishment.

It had been months since her return, and yet many of her subjects still saw her as something to be feared. Luna had tried many things in that time to try to seem more approachable, yet it seemed the only place that had accepted her so far had been the small community of Ponyville.

Because of this, the princess of the moon was loosing hope of ever being truly accepted.

As Princess Luna took her seat atop the dais to begin the night court, the banners in the room changed to match her mark and her colors, the spells woven into their fabric signaling that until sunrise, the land of Equestria was under her protection. Thus began the night court.

"Sargent Cold Wind, are there any who seek an audience with me this night?" Luna asked the Lunar guard by the door, though she already knew his answer, it was always the same.

"No your majesty, my apologies, it would appear that everypony left at the end of the day court once again." The guard told her somberly.
Luna let out a defeated sigh as she looked to one of the court windows. "I suppose that I should have expected that by now. Very well, I shall attend to my duties in the dream realm, please inform me in the unlikely event that somepony decides to seek my council." The princess informed him as she closed her eyes and her horn glowed a faint blue. "Yes princess." Cold Wind answered as her loyal guard continued their vigil.

Dream Realm:
As the nocturnal ruler floated through the realm, she looked over the many dreams of her subjects, calming those she came across in distress with a simple application of her power. 'Is this truly all I have been reduced to now? A sort of comfort blanket for our ponies while they rest?'

Luna thought as she moved further and further from the anchor point of her physical body, but as she did, Luna felt the tug of something unknown. 'Strange, it seems to be coming from nearby the Everfree.' Answering the call, princess Luna made her way through the realm of unconscious minds towards her target.

'What have we here? This is quite unusual, I hath never seen a mindscape such as this.' Luna thought as she observed the oddity before her.

'It is as if two minds are joined together and sharing the same dream.' Applying a small amount of her magic, Luna attempted to try to get a feeling for what this individual might be dreaming of, though she never expected what she sensed as her power penetrated into their mind.

Terror, complete and utter terror mixed with so much sadness and pain.

'What in the name of the stars...' Applying more magic, Luna bent the dream to her will, allowing her access.

As Luna was finally able to enter the individual's mind, she was absolutely shocked by what she saw. Everywhere she looked, Luna saw death and destruction, but not of her subjects, furless beings lay as far as the eyes could see, each suffering from some mortal wound, most already gone into death's embrace. 'What madness is this?' Somewhere nearby, Luna could hear the sounds of battle.

Following her ears, the princess came upon even more unexpected sights. Armored soldiers facing off against fierce looking beasts, and behind those beasts women and children fleeing from the scene. Luna assumed that these beasts were the ones responsible for the destruction she had seen. That was until they were cut down by the soldiers who proceeded to chase down the ones fleeing and began mercilessly butchering any they caught.

"Wh-what is this?" Luna said aloud, horror clear on her face.

"My nightly hell." She heard somepony answer from behind her. Spinning around, her eyes fell on what appeared to be a young male of these strange beings.

"I'm sorry miss, but I don't think you should be here, you're obviously not a part of my nightmare." He told her.

"Who are you?" Luna asked as she studied this one, the fact he was aware of her obviously meant he was the dreamer.

"My name is Issac, might I ask yours?" Issac introduced himself as he looked into her eyes.

"I am princess Luna of Equestria, ruler of the night." Luna responded.

"It is nice to make your acquaintance your majesty." Issac bowed then stood again. "Not to be rude, but I really must insist you leave, my friend doesn't like others intruding on his territory." He informed her.

Raising an eyebrow at the young male before her Luna responded. "And who might your friend be that he assumes he can force me to leave?"

Her question was answered by the very deep growling behind her back, making Luna turn around very slowly.

And come face to face with the largest wolf she had ever seen, easily standing as tall as the burning house it was standing beside.

"Oh..." That was all Luna could get out before she felt an immense power force her back to her own body, causing her to open her eyes wide and inhale deeply.

"Princess? are you alright your majesty?" The guard by her side asked.

"Y-yes, I am fine, I just..... I must speak to my sister" Luna answered, obviously quite shaken.

"Yes princess, I shall have her informed right away." He said as he saluted and made his way to the entrance of the throne room.

"Thank you Cold Wind, and have the kitchen staff bring me some tea would you?"

"Yes my princess." He answered.

Author's Note

We're back ladies and gents, after a very long hiatus, everything's back on schedule!