Night of Dreams

Night of Dreams

Ch 1. Friends

Twilight awoke to the hissing of rain against the leaves and windows of the library, a gentle wind rustling the branches and making the building breathe as if it was alive.

Which, upon second thought, It sort of was.

Twilight loved the Library. It was her home and passion all in one. In a quick motion she got up and made up her bed sheets, her horn glowing as she used her magic. Once the job was done she trotted to the stairs, leaving behind a neatly set bed that appeared unused, besides a faint glow and sparkle fading from the fabric.

Everything was set for today's meeting with the Mayor about some new books Twilight wanted to order, and they had planned the meeting for some time in the afternoon, but now she would have to wait until the shower of rain had passed.

It was just like the weather team to do something unexpected like this.

She paused for a moment before heading downstairs to smile at the balled up blanket that hid Spike.

She was proud of him, scared of the responsibility he represented, but always warmed by his presence, as a constant help and friend. Plus he helped with the library, which was an added bonus

Her thoughts drifted to her other friends as she made breakfast and resumed reading her book where she had left off the previous night, chapter 12 of Trial Transportation and Teleportation.

Applejack had been busy harvesting the apple trees before the rainy season to make sure they wouldn't be damaged, Rarity was trying to keep up on her orders for winter clothing and blankets whilst making time for her winter shopping spree.

Pinkie Pie was working on a great party for the upcoming winter season, Fluttershy was caring for a bunch of animals who had come down with colds, and finally Rainbow Dash was keeping the rain from turning into a full blown monsoon. For a pony who was the pride of the weather team, she really needed to be more attentive on the job.

All in all, Twilight hadn't had time to hang out with her friends in several days, and all the cleaning and chatting with spike was getting repetitive.

<ΩΩΩ>

A few hours later, Spike got up, hungry for a jewel or two. The pair ate breakfast together, managed some light reading and then tidied up the library in silence, except for a few moments where they offered normal greetings and short conversation.

All was well, even if they didn't talk excitedly, they were in sync.

<ΩΩΩ>

The mayor arrived just after the rain broke, and the trio had a short lunch, chatting about town affairs, gardens, books, and local politics. The last subject seemed to more trouble than it was worth to Twilight , but Mayor seemed thoroughly interested. After half an hour of light small talk they managed to reach an agreement, and Twilight got the permits she needed to purchase new books for the library.

Shortly after the Mayor left, Spike coughed up a scroll, which appeared out of thin air in a burst of green flame. Snatching it out of midair, he coughed a few times to clear his throat before going to get a drink of water. Twilight waited patiently for him.

“I never see it coming!” he remarked before unfurling it, “It's so annoying sometimes!”

Twilight rolled her eyes.

“It's Princess Celestia, Checking to see if Princess Luna is in Ponyville.” Spike said, with a tone of confusion.

“Are you sure she isn't telling us that Luna is on her way?” Twilight asked, trotting around to get a better view of the letter.

“I'm sure, she is asking if Luna is here, I suppose we could check, it wouldn't hurt.” Spike replied, rolling up the scroll and looking out the door.

“I don't see anyone running in fear. And a princess turning up anywhere is a big event, somepony would have said something at the least” The dragon scratched his chin “But the rain could be blocking out the screams of fear...” he muttered

“Cut that out spike.” Twilight chastised him. “I think we made some real progress last time she was in town.”

“Before or after she banned nightmare night?”

<ΩΩΩ>

After searching the town magically and by hoof, Twilight reluctantly had to send a letter back to the Princess, informing her that her sister was nowhere to be found. Which confused Twilight quite a bit.

“Why wouldn't Luna tell her own sister of her where-abouts?” she pondered aloud.

“Maybe she needed some time alone, I know a single house can get cramped after a week or two.” Spike retorted, earning himself a pillow to the back of the head.

“They have a whole castle, and I've never seen them upset at each other since Luna's return.”

Twilight settled herself back into her book, but was having trouble focusing on the text. Lunas disappearance was bad enough, but if Celestia herself was worried, then things had to bad.

<ΩΩΩ>

“No message yet?” she asked Spike a bit later, for at least the third time.

“You'd be the second to kn-”

And with that he burped another scroll, rolling his eyes. “Darn it!”

He unrolled it and his concern showed like a beacon to Twilight, who rushed over.

“I, Princess Celestia, Request the presence of Twilight sparkle and all of her close friends at the Canterlot Castle at their soonest convenience.”

They read in sync, Spike following it up with “Something must really be wrong. How soon do you think you can get to Canterlot?”

Twilight tapped the book she had been reading. “This will tire me out but I can get us all there this evening. I'll go get the others.”

Before Spike even had time to reply, Twilight was off, rounding up her friends and getting them to promise to meet her at the library with traveling packs and supplies.

<ΩΩΩ>

By the time they had all arrived, Twilight was already panting with exhaustion, a purple door stood in the middle of the room, closed but shimmering with power.

“Ya'll sure ya'll be able to hold the door up for us all to get through?” Applejack asked, worried at Twilight's already exhausted appearance.

“We could always catch the next train.” Fluttershy suggested in her timid voice “That is...erm...if you don't mind...”

“It would take too much time, the Princess asked us to the castle as soon as possible, I think it has something to do with Luna. That is why I came looking for her earlier.”

Twilight took a breather, sipping some water. “If everypony is ready, we should go."

Focusing her magic, Twilight unlocked and opened the shimmering door they stood before, and within the door frame a fuzzy image of the royal throne room appeared.

One by one, every one of her friends, and of course Spike, filed through the door, and she went last, the portal vanishing with a pop and shower of sparks, Rarity was closest to her when she arrived, and moved to prop Twilight up on the other side.

"We're here." Rainbow dash said triumphantly, as the Princess strode out of a side door and greeted the troupe.

"Thank you for coming at such short notice, will you be ok Twilight?" Celestia asked, a look of worry on her face.

"I'll be fine, princess." Twilight replied in an upbeat voice.

Everything would be okay, now that the Princess could tell them what was going on.

<ΩΩΩ>

Everything was not, in fact, okay.

Luna had gone missing, no notice and no letter.

Celestia had shown up on the royal balcony to raise the sun, and Luna had not been there. For a while, Celestia waited, hoping her lost sister would return, but so far she had not heard from luna at all.

She was worried that something might have happened, and even more frightening, she was having trouble keeping the sun up, as it was setting early already, when it should only be time for dinner.

All of this was explained in calm tones, but an undercurrent of panic ran through the group. Last time they had known where Nightmare Moon was, and what to do, now Luna, or Nightmare, was nowhere to be found.

"The elements of harmony, I must ask each of you to carry once more." Celestia said, concern filling her features.

"But where should we go? We must search all of Equestria!" Rarity said, looking exhausted at the thought.

"Each of you will be searching a different part of Equatria, with as many guards as I can spare. Rainbow dash, you will be searching the skies over the major cities, with the wonderbolts."

Rainbow Dash had to restrain herself from celebrating.

"Ok cool, yeah." she said, playing it off as a cough.

"Rarity, you will be searching Canterlot and managing the public image, to keep ponies from panicking when... if I am unable to raise the sun."

Rarity bowed, happy she wouldn't have to search the mountains stone by stone.

"Fluttershy, you will be searching the Everfree forest and the mountains."

Before Fluttershy's squeek of terror escaped her, Celestia continued.

"Along with a full contingent of guards."

Fluttershy smiled shyly and bowed as well.

"Thank you."

Celestia nodded back.

"Applejack, you will be traveling to Applelosa and Manehatten, looking for any sign of my dear sister."

Applejack bowed as well, looking quite determined.

Celestia turned to pinkie pie.

"Pinkie, you will be preparing a welcome home party for Luna, for when we find her."

A moment of happiness, and a carefree smile crossed Celestias face before turning to the last of the group.

"Besides those places, there is nowhere else Luna would have an attachment to, except for ponyville, where she originally returned from the moon."

Princess Celestia turned to finally Twilight.

"I want you to go back to Ponyville, take Spike, and please, let me know if Luna has been there."

"You can count on me." Twilight said, before sheepishly bowing to the floor.

"I don't think I can do the transport spell again... could you arrange a train?"

Celestia nodded. "I'll have a train ready in an hour. Rarity, if i could talk to you about how we are going to calm the citizens."

Rarity and Celestia went off to a very posh room with other important ponies, and left the other five friends to talk among themselves.

"The Wonderbolts guys!" was the first comment, of course from Rainbow Dash.

"Ah know, at least ill be able ta see mah relatives again, this is bad though. Plants cant grow without sunlight, Y'all, this is really bad." Applejack said, extremely worried.

Twilight stayed silent while the rest of the group chatted about weather, crops, and how cold it was going to get, all she could think was a question. That Spike generously asked for her.

"Why cant the Princess track her sister with magic?" The little dragon piped up.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes.

"I'm sure shes not allowed to. They're like, sisters seriously."

Spike shook his head. "Normally Celestia could have sent us all back, instead of using trains. We've seen her just 'poof' from place to place before”

An awkward silence fell, finally broken as Twilight began walking towards the room that held the small meeting going on. The rest of the group stayed behind, looking quite confused.

The beat of her steps sounded like a clock counting down to Twilight, and the possible answers in her head scared her.

Finally she opened the door and peered in.

"Yes Ms. Sparkle?" One of the other ponies asked.

"I need a moment with the Princess. Now." She said calmly but firmly.

"Excuse me for a moment." Celestia bowed and left the meeting, beckoning Twilight with a nod to a side room.

Once inside, Celestia calmly sat, and waited for Twilight to explain herself.

"Are you losing your power?"

The question was blunt, with a hint of panic and fear in the question.

Celestia bowed her head.

"I have enough power to attempt to raise the sun once more. Then I will be unable to perform any magic."

Twilight stared, mouth agape, getting ready to go into full on panic mode.

"But I've seen you do magic at night before, I know you can! whats going on?" A few hairs on Twilight's mane twisted out of place, giving her a frazzled look.

<ΩΩΩ>

"This is not a natural night, Twilight Sparkle. And before, raising the sun was simple. Nopony was fighting back." She explained, still supremely calm.

"How are you not freaking out right now?!" Twilight shouted, her mane looking more disheveled by the moment.

Celestia stood and drew Twilight into a motherly hug, brushing her hair back down with one hoof.

"I am the Princess of Equestria. Right now my people, especially you, need an anchor in the storm. Regardless of what happens, I must be that anchor."

Twilight looked up to her lifelong tutor.

"Arent you afraid?" She whispered.

"Oh, terrified. But I must not show it, and nopony can know. Or they will become afraid as well."

Celestia looked sad. So very sad and tired.

"I'll leave you to get back to your work."

Twilight said, disengaging herself from the comforting hooves.

"I will. But Twilight, do not be afraid for me. I will persevere, as surely as the sun will shine."

Under current circumstances, these words of parting were less than comforting, but Twilight took them to heart.

<ΩΩΩ>

"The princess needs to conserve her power." She lied upon returning to the group.

Applejack narrowed her eyes but didn't contradict her.

"The trains should be ready now.... I guess this is goodbye."

Her friends all gathered around, embracing one another and talking of how soon they would all be back together.

"Listen sugarcube. Ahm sure ya had a good reason ta be tellin fibs, but it still unsettles me."

Applejack pulled her aside to give her a quick scolding.

"It wasn't really a fib... The princess is running out of power, but I don't want everypony to panic."

"We heard ya shoutin." Applejack said, with a raised eyebrow. "We sorta guessed what was goin on anyhow."

Twilight hung her head.

"I'm so lost Applejack! The princess has always been our guardian, if I couldn't do something, I could always count on her to help me."

"It's called leaving the nest." Rainbow Dash chimed in, the chatter having died down as the two ponies talked on the side.

"Every Pegasus has to do it. You don't learn to fly by sitting around waiting for it to happen in the comfort of your home. But you've got more than enough friends to help you if you need it."

Dash smiled, her charismatic determination and optimism was infectious, giving Twilight a strength she had been afraid was lost.

"Alright then."

With a pop, Twilight summoned the elements of Harmony, doling them out like sweets. Odd really, given how they were the most powerful forces in the known world. Though quite possibly only able to be used by this close knit group of ponies.

"I don't know how much they will help, but they can't hurt."

"I don't get one." Spike said grumpily.

"Sorry, mines taken." Dash said, with a grin.

A ripple of laughter echoed through the main hall, warming it a little against the coming night.