The sun was setting, only to be half-seen over the horizon. Fang and I approached the door of the Golden Oaks Library. I knocked a few times and waited. Fortunately for me, Spike was still home.

“Oh, hello, Spirit,” he greeted. “Why aren’t you at the party?” Spike asked, stepping off to the side to let us in.

“I couldn’t stay for long. I’m not used to all the attention. It’s not really my thing,” I explained as I shut the door behind me. “Anyway, I just came to get the electricity spell tome.” Looking around, I found that it was still on the table. Untouched since I was last here.

“Um, excuse me, there is something else here for you,” Spike informed me. Looking over at him, I saw that he was holding a scroll tied with a red ribbon, bearing the royal seal.

“Well shit,” I muttered, levitating it over to me and unrolling it. “Let’s see what it is this time.”

Dear Prince Spirit,

Yes, I did call you just prince to tease you. Now, I’ll get straight to the point. I need you to come back to Canterlot. Luna’s request really, but while you are here, there is an important lesson that I forgot to teach you before you left. Please arrive within the next day or two.

Sincerely,

Princess Celestia.

“What a troll,” I giggled.

“What?” asked Spike, looking puzzled

“Oh, nothing. She just teased me at the start of the letter is all,” I answered, incinerating the letter with a purple flame so that not even ashes would remain. Though, it does make me wonder what Tia and Lulu would want. “Spike, could you send a reply for me saying that I’ll take the train first thing tomorrow?”

“Sure thing,” he responded.

“Thanks. Fang and I will leave now,” I told him as we made for the exit, taking the spell tome with me.

Fang followed behind as I practically toppled through the front door. I levitated the spell tome onto the coffee table in the living room.

“I don’t know about you, Fang, but I’m tired,” I told him.

Fang let out a yawn in response.

“Yeah, I thought as much, but first I need to think about whether or not to take you with me to Canterlot tomorrow. Maybe I’ll have Keria-” I was interrupted by the door opening. Looking over, I saw Keria walk in.

“Perfect timing,” I thought.

“Hubbie,” she addressed, making me blush a little. “Why did you leave the party early?”

“Sorry, I had things to do,” I told her. “Speaking of which, I’m sorry to tell you that I have to leave for Canterlot in the morning.”

“Why is that?” Keria asked, sounding curious but a bit sad at the same time.

“I don’t know,” I answered. To sum up the letter I received, both Celestia and Luna have requested an audience with me.”

“May I see it?” Keria requested.

I slowly shook my head. “Sorry, but because Celestia decided to tease me by addressing me as a prince, I had to burn it,” I explained, making Keria giggle at my answer.

“That does sound like something she would do,” she commented.

“You are not wrong there,” I told her. “Can you do me a favor in the morning?”

“Sure,” she answered enthusiastically. “What is it?”

“Can you take Fang and see if Fluttershy will look after him?” I requested.

“Sure thing, Hubbie,” she answered, almost making me flustered.

“Thanks. I’m going to bed now,” I told her. “I need to wake up early if I want to catch the train,” I yawned.

“Okay, I’ll be up there shortly,” she told me softly before I started ascending the stairs.

When I went in. I went straight for the bed. Taking advantage of Keria not being there yet, I dispelled the illusion over my wings to do a full-body stretch. Every joint that popped was like a detonation of relief. When I was done, I was so tired that I passed out in as soon as I was under the covers.

I found myself walking through a series of ruins and debris. In hopes to learn where I was, I pressed on further into its depths.

As I ventured deeper, I discovered a myriad of corpses. However, it was the condition of the bodies that troubled me. Many of the corpses I came across were horribly mangled and dismembered. Others had been battered so severely that their broken bones had ripped through the skin and left exposed. Possibly the most horrific were the bodies that had been skinned. Deep and jagged cuts signified that they must have been alive during most of it.

This had me come to the conclusion that this wasn’t the aftermath of a battle, but a sadistic slaughter.

What was most crushing was that I recognized some of the corpses.

Applejack, who will never kick another tree. Rarity, who will never levitate another sewing needle. Pinkie Pie, who will never throw another party. Fluttershy, who will never help another animal. Rainbow Dash, who will never flap her wings again. Twilight Sparkle, who will never read another book. Silent Taste, who definitely won’t be serving my usual tea anytime soon. Keria, who was ever so sweet. All of them, butchered.

Of course, I knew it was a dream. I knew it was a dream when I caught sight of myself. Not my reflection or myself in the third person. I knew it wasn't really me, but it was something that looked like me.

I found it standing on a pile of bloody rubble. I approached it from behind, but despite how cautious I was, it still noticed me.

It turned around and gave me a hellish grin, the likes you would see on the devil himself. “Well, hello. How do you like my playground?” it asked me, gesturing a hoof around the carnage surrounding us.

My mind went escape how horrid it was, but I didn’t want to make an enemy any sooner than I had too.

“I’d say you did a thorough job with the place,” I answered. “From the looks of it, they didn’t even stand a chance.”

“Thanks for noticing,” it chuckled with all the candor of a lunatic before snapping upright to a prim and proper posture. “Oh, where are my manners? Please forgive me, I wanted to reintroduce myself now that we are face to face.”

“Reintroduce?” I thought.

Taking another look at him, I did see some differences in our appearances. The tips in his hair hung in the air as if to defy gravity. His eyes shined with a brilliant gold that seemed to glow from depths not possible. Lastly, the cutie-mark he bore was exactly like mine, except for his burned with the same infernal gold of his eyes as well.

“My name is Infinite,” he told me. “I am the being you created when you gave your heart to the darkness.”

“Heh, talking about facing your demons,” I commented, taking the chance to be a smartass.

Infinite shook his head. “No. it’s not like facing your demons but rather facing yourself,” he corrected me.

“Seems this guy doesn’t appreciate my humor,” I thought.

“That is why I can’t dismiss you from this dream,” I heard somepony say.

From behind me appeared Luna. “Because it is as much your dream as it is his.”

“I’m glad someone understands how this works,” Infinite stated. “Though, I do believe you know that Spirit and I are more intimately connected than that.”

“Your assumption is correct,” Luna replied. “I’m curious as to why you haven’t been attempting to take back control.”

“Ah yes, now there’s a good question. I’ll just say that I agreed with an acquaintance that his life might have enough hell on its way as is,” Infinite answered. “Maybe more than he can handle himself.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” asked Luna.

“I guess you’ll have to wait and see for yourself,” Infinite stated, fading away.

“Sorry for interrupting your dream,” Luna said, turning to face me. “But it seemed like the best opportunity to see how bad the darkness in your heart really manifested since….” she trailed off.

“Since what?” I asked, cranking my neck to look her in the eye.

“Well, Twilight and her friends had a nightmare of you after seeing what you became on the afternoon you fought Discord,” Luna explained.

“That would explain why they used to be on edge whenever they were around me,” I thought.

“Sorry, I must leave you now. We will see you in Canterlot,” she added before she left the dream.

Unfortunately, that’s when things went to hell.

The sky went black with the darkest of storm clouds. The rain that accompanied them consisted of blood. The blinding bolt of lightning that struck me sent searing pain through my body as I began to melt and scream.

I woke up with Keria on me. Her claws holding onto my shoulders as she shook me.

“Wake up Hubbie, plea-” Keria was yelling, but she froze as soon as we made eye contact.

Looking at her face, I saw that she was in tears with worry and concern. Before I could do anything, however, she snapped back to reality.

“Hubbie!” she cried as she took me into desperate embraced.

“Um, did something happen?” I asked.

I felt her nod her head on my shoulder.

“You started screaming in your sleep suddenly, and your body looked like it was in pain,” she explained, removing her head from my shoulder and placing her face in the tuft of fur on my chest. “I was so worried, so I started trying to shake you awake. Hoping-”

“Shh,” I interrupted, placing a hoof on her head. “I’m alright, it was just a dream,” I told her.

She released a few more sobs before speaking again.“Those must have been some pretty intense night terrors. Please, tell me what they are,” she requested, her face still buried in my chest.

Sadly though, I shook my head. “Sometimes it’s better to remain unaware,” I told her. “For now, we need to get back to sleep.”

We laid there for some time. For how long, I wasn’t sure, but then I realized that she never responded. No demands for answers or calls for worry. Concerned, I lifted her head so I could see her face.

She was passed out.

“Must have cried herself back to sleep,” I thought, slowly putting her head back on my chest. I wrapped my forehooves around her and tried to go back to sleep.

Before sleep could take me, holding Keria cast a new bevel of thoughts to wage against. Mostly it was a reflection of dedication to me. I had been distant to her. Okay, I’m pretty much distant with everyone, save a trusted few. But now with Keria… I realized things should be different. Different how? I didn’t know. All I know is I don’t want her to be frightened for me, certainly not frightened because of me.

Looking down again, I pulled her in a little tighter, hoping to feel what should have changed. Nothing came to me but sleep.

Author's Note

Thanks to EmptyPlotFiller for editing.

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