"Can't escape... Can't escape..."
Princess Luna woke up with a jolt. As soon as she realized it was just a dream (well, more like nightmare), she let out a breath of relief. Why am I having these nightmares? she thought to herself.
These dreams were constant. Whenever she would fall asleep, she had this dream. Every night she went to sleep. Even in the daytime, she would see... it.
But she had no idea what this could mean. Ever since she had began to grow jealous of her older sister, Princess Celestia, these dreams were in her mind. But she didn't know why. What could they mean, exactly? And what was that thing that she kept seeing?
The truth was, she didn't know.
It was a shadow, that always haunted her mind every night. It looked like a pony, yet, it had no official form, it seemed. In all of her dreams, she never could see the image of it clearly, but she could always see glimpses of it. Whenever she turned around, she saw it, but only for a second. Just as it would appear, it would disappear.
Luna was growing frustrated. What in Celestia's name was that thing? She could not figure it out, and it was angering her so.
And now, the dream had returned once more to haunt her.
Princess Luna knew she could probably tell no one about these dreams; not her subjects, not the Royal Guard, not even Princess Celestia. She wished she could, but she just couldn't. What would they think?
She sat there in bed for awhile, wondering what to do, when a voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Princess Luna!"
That's when she remembered; today was the Summer Solstice, the day when she and her sister would give a royal speech to Canterlot. Luna slapped herself in the forehead. How could I have forgotten?
"Your Highness, it's time to get up." Princess Luna recognized the voice to be Midnight Streak (though most ponies called him "Streak" or "Midnight"), part of the Royal Guard, and one of the most highest-ranked guards in Canterlot.
"I'm coming!" the princess called back as she flung herself out of bed. She picked up her crown from the bedside table by her bed and placed it on her head, and stepped towards the door. She opened the door to find Streak in a tuxedo and raised an eyebrow. "What's with the, uh, formal attire?"
Streak blinked. "Didn't you know, Your Highness? All the guards have to dress up formally for Royal Speeches."
"Oh, um, yeah.. Right..." Luna uttered, completely confused. When did that rule apply to the castle? She shook her head. Never mind that.
"Well, I should be going then," she said, trying to break the few awkward moments of silence. She pushed past Midnight Streak and trotted out into the hallway while the young guard followed behind her.
"So," the princess said as they walked along. "When does the ceremony start?" She knew she probably sounded like a fool to ask, but she couldn't help but wonder.
"At two o'clock, Your Highness," Streak answered.
"So in an hour, then?"
He nodded. "Well, fifty-seven minutes, to be exact."
"Well, then I should hurry and get ready," Luna stated. "I can't go looking like this for the ceremony." Getting ready hadn't occurred to her when she was already in the room. Most likely because a stallion of the Royal Guard was at the door. Not too mention, of high rank as well.
With that thought in her head, she trotted back to her room, leaving Streak alone in the hallway.
