Black Gates: Fallen

“Um… Hi?” Twilight said uncertainly, not fully grasping where she was. The tall armored man in front of her wasn’t anyone she recognized, at least not instantly. The sword pointed right at her throat didn’t really faze her at all, what with her being in a dream. Dying would just wake her up, right?

“Who are you?” The man growled out.

Despite the anger and the slight muffle his helmet provided, she was able to fully recognize his voice.

“Arkantos!” She said happily now smiling a little bit.

“Who. Are. You.” He repeated coldly.

“I-it’s me Twilight Sparkle! I… I’ve come into your dreams to help you get ove-” Twilight was cut off.

“Twilight Sparkle? I don’t know anyone by that name…” He scoffed, pulling his sword slowly back. “What are you?”

“I’m a unicorn… y-you and I talked for a while… t-this is just a dream!” She explained quickly.

“Dream? No, there’s no wa-” He was cut off completely and stepped back, though he wasn’t fast enough to prevent her from touching him. Her hands touching his cheeks. It was then that she realized she was robbed, and it definitely wasn’t anything any sane pony would wear. At least, if they were out in public… or not a monk or scholar of some sort.

She shook the thought from her head. “Yes. This is just a dream.”

Arkantos froze up and she saw those nearly magically charged brown eyes staring down into hers for a few moments. “Explain.” He said curtly.

Twilight glanced around, seeing no other option she gave him the shortest explanation she could muster.

Meanwhile in the Real world:

“Luna… what exactly is going to happen if they… ‘die’ in the dream?” Celestia asked.

Luna was quiet as she focused on some way to penetrate into Arkantos’ dream. “Dreaming isn’t exactly… ‘normal’ sister. It’s mostly magical in nature at least from what I’ve been able to deduce. Their souls are… thinly connected to their conscious. I firmly believe it’s impossible to fully sever that connection… at least for a physical being like myself. Most times if you die in a dream or nightmare, you’re snapped back to reality. Forced awake from the end of the dream, or in some cases another takes its’ place. But… Nightmare Moon is a symbiote of nightmare energies. I… I have a feeling she severs the connection between soul and conscious just enough to slip in. Blocking her target from control and taking it for herself.”

Celestia nodded slowly. “And… if we’re capable of shutting down whatever body she claims?”

“We could in theory save whomever was taken over. Are best hope is that they are able to stop her. Our second best is that she takes control of the human.” Luna’s horn began to light up as she found a connection.

“And… if she takes Twilight…” Celestia sighed, already knowing how horrible that could end up.

“We may never get her back.” Luna finished. “We won't lose her, Sister. I won't let it happen.” Her eyes snapped shut and she fell completely silent.

In the village of Asare:

Twilight was hopeful that he'd understand what she said.

“Impossible.” Arkantos spat out, glaring at her. “If it weren't for more pressing issues, I'd have you imprisoned for such a bold faced lie.”

“I'm not lying! Think a little! You've been having nightm-” Twilight was cut off as a shimmering figure that she recognized appeared in the tent. Now Arkantos’ sword was aimed at her throat. “Princess Luna! What are y-”

“Time is short. Nightmare Moon has infested the human. You are NOT safe. You need to find and destroy her in order to wake up. You cannot, CANNOT fail lest we lose either of you.” Luna stated firmly, turning to look at the wide-eyed human whose whole body was quivering at the raw might of her magical energy. Before she could speak they were thrown away from her as a barrage of magic hit the tent.

Luna was blasted out of the dream, leaving Twilight and the now lucid Arkantos flat on their asses.

“W… where the he-” Arkantos’ voice trailed off as he recognized his surroundings.

Twilight was sputtering and coughing out dust. “Oh gods…” She mumbled, trying to gather herself.

“Twilight! Throw up a shield NOW!” Arkantos scrambled and threw himself over her just as her shield went up. It was reinforced by rock and earth as Arkantos added his own magic to the mix. Immediately a barrage of arrows and magic hit the shield.

In the moment they just stared at each other. Arkantos was dumbfounded that she was here, and Twilight was shocked by the news that Luna had delivered.

“Protect the Prince! We need more Magi here now!” A muffled voice was heard.

Twilight’s magic fell and her breathing speed increased. “W… what th…”

The earthen shield around them fell and Arkantos helped Twilight stand, forcefully making her stand behind his towering form so she’d be safer.

“I’m fine! I have Seratis with me!” Arkantos shouted, glancing back to Twilight and nodding.

She threw up a shield around the two.

“Go, I want the magi defending the militia! They’re about to fall under attack!” Arkantos barked.

The men nodded and ran off, several knights approached. “We’re with you, Prince!” They saluted, drawing their weapons.

It was then that it finally sunk in for Twilight. Prince. He was a prince?

She stared wide-eyed at him for a few moments.

“Go, form a circle, we may have some berserkers already sneaking around to get a swing at me. Fan out!” Arkantos ordered. As soon as the knights vanished he turned to Twilight, there was an honest fear in his eyes. One unlike anything she’d ever seen… almost like he knew something more.

“Y-you’re a prince?” Twilight asked quickly.

“That doesn’t matter right now! Seratis died in the battle! And from what I can deduce…”

Twilight’s face blanked. “They see me as… H-how did he die?” She saw the look on his face. “Arkantos… h-how did he die?” She repeated a pit of dread slowly growing in her stomach. “Please… t-tell me.”

“I WILL NOT let you die!” Arkantos growled. “Listen to every word I say, and stay close unless I say otherwise and you WILL get out of this alive.”

“W-what a-about you? I came in here to help yo-”

“I DON’T MATTER HERE TWILIGHT!”