Twilight watched in awe from her little bit of safety as the soldiers before her formed a shield wall.

Arkantos looked back to her for a moment. She felt a bit safer, knowing he was going to watch over her.

“Form up! They're going to try coming through the windows! We have to hold them off, supports going to be arriving in a few minutes!” Arkantos barked as he drew his sword. Twilight prepped one of the few offensive spells she knew well.

“Ark. Once we're out of this, remind me to learn a hell of a lot more offensive magic.” Twilight said.

“When we make it out, I'm going to teach you some things myself. One can never know too much magic.” He laughed, his blade igniting, and a shield of rock forming over his free arm.

Twilight saw the first window break, and she fired. Immediately she heard the ripping of flesh and bone, she wanted to vomit at just the sound, let alone the sight of the severed body tumbling through. She had managed to hit his blade, and it had just torn through the man.

“Right! Form up on the flank!” Arkantos ordered.

Now he fired off a few molten shards, the sizzling and scent of burning flesh caused Twilight to gag.

“Hold it back! When we're safe you'll have time to think, for now just act!” Ark said, “Get behind us! After that attack they're going to try to bust the wall down!”

Twilight ducked behind the towering wall of steel.

“Sire, how do y-”

“Even with a leader these fools still behave like raging animals. They don't use tactics, only numbers. But here… HERE WE WILL BEAT THEM! The Empire will stand!” Arkantos growled, clenching his sword. It hurt to speak these words, but for their sake they had to be said. “FOR A THOUSAND YEARS! WE WILL NEVER FALL!”

These men even if it was just a memory that was being twisted and changed into a horrible nightmare, held a reverence for Arkantos.

“Stand firm against this swell, for soon they'll see a hurricane!” The winds whipped to life at his voice. Twilight's magic joined his, the swell of violet energy made the winds look like something incredibly dangerous. “Just stay close to us, and you’ll make it out of here alive.” He said.

Twilight nodded, though her reaction was lost as the horde poured in.

Instinct didn’t allow her to stand by and watch… or was it something more then instinct? She didn’t know, all she knew was now… she had to fight or they’d all die here. She shuddered at the thought of Nightmare gaining both of them.

She swept up a discarded sword, though she didn’t know how to use one right then, her quick learning and watchful eye she able to quickly deduce a proper stance to fight, and soon with both magic and sword in hand, the wave of what she could only now assume to be demons incarnate, with their bodies soaked in blood, and the skulls some wore as helmets, was beginning to falter.

“Keep it up!” Arkantos shouted.

The clash of steel, the scent of burning flesh, and the sickening sound of sword and spell tearing through human flesh. There was a desperation in the way the one soldier nearby drew a weapon she’d never seen before.

If the violence and hellish dreamscape wasn’t startling enough for Twilight, the boom the gun let off caused her to stumble back, opening her up wide as she was slightly dazed.

In that opening one of the warriors charged towards her. She’d faced what might have been her death many times, but Nightmare Moon, Discord, Chrysalis, even Sobmra, didn’t have that look of pure unholy lust in their eyes. It was as if this man felt nothing but hatred, and wanted nothing more then her to die.

Twilight tried to catch herself, but the warrior was far too fast, he tackled her to the ground and swung wildly at her.

Twilight’s magic managed to guard most of her body. Though a few of the wild slashes cut into her stomach and chest. She gritted her teeth and managed to find a grip on the sword once again, and in a moment of clarity, she drove it straight through the warrior’s skull. The searing pain and adrenaline shut down any sense of guilt or regret.

Arkantos now saw what had happened and created a wall of flame to at least temporarily hold the horde back. He threw the dead warrior off of Twilight and picked her up. “Shit, are you alright?” He quickly examined her body. She hissed slightly as his hand touched the worst of the few wounds, one nasty (but otherwise stable) looking gash on her stomach.

“J-just… a-a few…”

“Stay behind me… Damn it… damn it all…” Arkantos muttered.

“Don’t worry! I’m not bleeding too badly and I know a bit of magic that’ll help with that!” Twilight assured, though she winced as the pain slowly came back.

“Then use it!” Arkantos snapped. That’s when they noticed something, the sound of the horde retreating. “No… No they can’t be retreating so quickly… DAMN IT!”

Twilight’s eyes widened as she felt something incredibly familiar fast approaching.

“W-what are we going to do sir?” One of the soldiers asked.

“We retreat to the cathedral.” Arkantos growled out, he threw his sword to one of the men and swept Twilight up. Both relieving her of the waste of energy to stand, and her pain as suddenly all pressure was let up from her stomach and chest. He carried her over to the nearby bar and drew a dagger.

Twilight’s eyes widened.

“This is going to hurt. A lot.” Arkantos said apologetically. “We don’t have time for you to prep a healing spell.”

Twilight gulped.

“You men…” Arkantos began.

The soldier he had thrown his sword to already understood. “We’ll hold whatever’s coming back for as long as we can.”

Arkantos nodded slowly. He cut the robe from Twilight’s body and threw it at one of the men. “Two of you, make a dash for the old home camp. Make sure their leader sees you doing it. Lead her away.

Two of the men nodded. “We’ll do it. Gods be with you Prince.”

The soldiers moved into position, several of them moving out into the street. The last two dashed out the door making a loud clamor.

“AFTER THOSE TWO!” Nightmare Moon’s voice boomed.

“NO YOU DON’T!” The leader of the soldiers growled out. Soon the sounds of battle raged outside of the bar.

Arkantos took in a deep breath. “I’m sorry.” He breathed, their eyes met for a moment.

“It isn’t your fault.” Twilight assured quietly.

“Yes… It is.” Arkantos mumbled. He grabbed a nearby sword, “Bite down on the hilt.” He put it into her mouth.

It tasted horrible but she had no other choice. She bit down hard and closed her eyes tightly.

Arkantos summoned a flame to each of his hands and mumbled out a prayer to whatever was listening before applying a primitive suture to Twilight’s wounds.

Meanwhile:

All of Twilight’s friends had gathered in the hospital and were around the bed she was currently comatose in.

So far there had only been a scant few changes in her heart rate, but now there was an incredible spike. Several nurses and doctors rushed in.

“What the hell’s going on?!?” Rainbow Dash questioned.

“We don’t know!” One doctor responded.

Now they noticed under the blankets a growing red splotch.

“W-wha…”

The docotors quickly removed the blanket and were utterly shocked to see the gashes on her body, all of which looked to have been delivered by a sword.

“WE NEED ANTI-SCEPTICS IN HERE IMMEDIATELY! GET ME A SUTURE KI-” The doctor was cut off as they saw scars beginning to form on her body, as though they were being sutured magically. “W-what the hell?”

“Damn it! She’s more powerful then I thought!” Luna shot up, “I need to go in there! They’re going to die if I don’t!” She attempted to get to Twilight’s bedside only to have Celestia’s magic slam her down into the chair again.

“NO! YOU WON’T GO IN THERE! NONE OF YOU WILL!” Celestia growled. “Watch their bodies! If any injuries appear tend to them IMMEDIATELY! We need to give them as great an advanta-” Celestia trailed off.

“S-sister what are you thinking?” Luna mumbled quietly, all of the ponies in the room were shaking a little.

“Luna. Feed Twilight magical energy. Rarity you need to do the same.” Celestia said quietly.

Luna’s eyes widened. “No… No we might overload her, and if Nightmare gains control of Twilight, then both Rarity and I are as good as hers too.” She shook her head. “That’s even mo-”

“If the dream world is able to affect their waking bodies, then they need help. But we can’t give her any more options to jump to… One death by her hands is too many.” Celestia said.

“What of the human?” Luna asked.

“He’s naturally attuned to fire magic. As am I. You’d do nothing but hinder him, cool his body off and leave him crippled. Rarity’s magic would be worthless for him.” Celestia gulped.

“Sister…”

“If it means getting Twilight out… I’ll give him a bone. I’m going to give him magical access to my sun.” Celestia slowly strode out of the room.

Meanwhile:

Twilight was trying to bite back tears as Arkantos slowly carried her through alleys and abandoned houses to the safety of the fortified cathedral. “I’m so sorry… It had to be done. I can’t risk losing you…”

Twilight couldn’t even speak, it hurt too much to breath. But, she knew he’d done it to protect her, to make sure she didn’t bleed to death.

“We’re almost there… I’m sure there will be someone who can give you anything to help with the pain…” Arkantos assured, though his voice was shaking. “I’m sure…”

Twilight muttered quietly. “D… D-don’t… w-worry… I-it’s just… j-j-just a little pain…” She gave a weak smile.

Arkantos forced a smile back, she saw tears in his eyes. “Shut up, will you?” He asked. “Just… breath and try to force the pain from your mind.”

Twilight nodded weakly, and fell silent again.

“We… we both just need to survive… Then we can worry about… everything else…” Arkantos murmured.

Author's Note

Okay... I couldn't pass up that little trope.

I've been really busy recently and only just got this done!

There's going to be a few more dream world chapters. These are going to be more of an experiment... I'm going to try to write a mixture of drama, action, and slight leanings towards romance... You'll know which chapters will include what with the chapter titles.

I also have a bit of an issue... coming up after all this I will be explaining more of the culture that Arkantos is from so if you have any ideas for gods or aspects of gods... do let me know!