Author's Note

From Decrepit Birth's album Diminishing Between Worlds.

Prelude to Conception

A bright gradient of white light congealed, voiding out the corners of Twilight's vision. Her body felt stiff, though she retained a fair degree of control.

"Where...Am I...?"

The Alicorn examined her surroundings. She appeared to be in a cottage. It was relatively spacious compared to Fluttershy's. The only possessions in her immediate field of view were two beds, a set of spears, a small kitchen area, and a doll with an uncanny resemblance to the equine race.

"Eerie..." she thought to herself, oblivious to what was in store. All illusions of security were torn to shreds the moment she turned her head. "What...!?"

Next to a long wooden table, three humans converged. The first was a man of average height and build. He had curly, reddish-brown hair and glasses. The second was a woman with short, light blonde hair. If Twilight hadn't been too distracted to notice, she would've assumed it was his wife. The pony's attention was fixated on something far more sinister.

"An open wound...!? Why is she bleeding...!?"

Twilight's gaze focused on the third individual - their daughter. The child's arm leaked red life energy as her mother and father attempted to mend the break.

"Is she okay!?"

The princess's words fell upon deaf ears. She caught a glimpse of something outside the window.

"Wolves...I should've known..."

Twilight passed by the family. It was already clear her moral support was beyond their reach. The only other option was a direct...Or rather...Indirect...confrontation.

"Horn, don't fail me now..."

She galloped toward the door...

Twilight shot up in a cold sweat. Her breaths were labored and heavy. She gathered her bearings.

"It was...All a dream...?"

A branch clanged against her window, startling her into a defensive position. She sighed upon discovering the noise's source.

"I really need to stop reading scary stories before bed."

The princess of friendship rolled off her mattress, stretching her limbs to prepare them for use. She exited her room, heading for the other side of the castle.

A glass of water helped clear Twilight's head. She rinsed her face in the bathroom, staring into the mirror.

"The terror in her eyes...It felt so real...I know it's probably nothing, but...I'd better consult princess Celestia, just in case..."

Twilight met with her friends for tea the next morning. Rarity held little reservation regarding her physical condition.

"Twilight, are you feeling all right? You seem rather...deprived."

"I didn't sleep well," the Alicorn admitted, "I had a strange dream that kept me up all night."

"What kind of dream?"

"It was about Earth."

"That's a name I haven't heard in quite some time."

"Forget it. I'm sure it's nothing."

"I believe that as much as my tail being made of feathers."

"It's just...I was in this weird place. It looked like Fluttershy's cottage, but bigger. There were people there. I think they were a family. The youngest had a wound on her arm that looked like a bite mark. It looked like she'd been attacked by a wolf."

"I suppose that would make for a rather frightening experience."

"The emotions I felt coming off her are impossible to fake..."

"I'm lost."

"What I saw was too vivid. It didn't feel like a dream. It was more like a..."

"A what?"

"A premonition..."

"I think you're reading a bit too deep into this. Unicorns and Alicorns have possessed magic for millennia. Not one of them has accurately predicted the future - at least, not past Luna's return anyway."

"That's true. Still, I have to check in with the princesses, just to be sure."

"If you feel so strongly about it, it stands to reason I can't persuade you otherwise."

"You know me and paranoia: peas in a pod."

"Thanks to your little episode, Sweetie knows better than I."

Twilight blushed in embarrassment. She'd have to apologize next time she saw the filly.

Upon returning to her castle, Twilight packed a small satchel of supplies in the event something unexpected occurred. When it came to confrontation, she found it best to err on the side of caution.

"Take care of things while I'm gone." she instructed her brother.

"I have a bad feeling about this, Twilight. I really think I should go with you."

"I'm worried, too. That's why I need you to stay here: in case something happens to me. You're the only one who can maintain the castle in my absence. When I'm gone, you'll be the new prince. Equestria can't afford to lose the elements again. You understand, right?"

"No title's worth you dying over..."

Twilight wrapped Spike in a tight embrace.

"I'll be fine. If anything happens, I'll come straight home."

Spike responded by encircling his arms around his sister. He wasn't happy about potentially putting her in harm's way, but it was at least comforting to know she had an escape plan.

"I love you, Twilight..."

"I love you, too..."

Not keen on wasting time, Twilight teleported straight to Canterlot. She materialized in front of Celestia and Luna's castle. The guards were overjoyed to see her.

"It's a pleasure to see you again, Ms. Sparkle!"

"Likewise," Twilight replied, "Unfortunately, I'm here on rather urgent business."

The guards grew serious, tensing in preparation for duty.

"Understood. You're free to pass."

Twilight nodded. She pushed the doors open.

As it turned out, Celestia was away on diplomatic business when Twilight arrived, leaving Luna as the sole counselor.

"Sorry for disturbing you." Twilight apologized.

"Not at all. From the look of things, you're worlds more distraught than I."

"That's what I wanted to speak with you about. Has anything...Unusual...Happened on Earth recently?"

"Unusual?"

"Something like overwhelming surges in energy?"

Luna placed a hoof to her chin.

"Nothing I can remember...Except..."

"Except...?"

"Well...Not long ago, we detected a momentary anomaly in space-time. It disappeared just as soon as we discovered it. We thought it was simply a glitch. However, hearing your concerns is causing me to rethink our assessment."

"Did it feel malevolent?"

"That's the strange part. It was the exact opposite."

"That's not surprising. When I last visited, things operated fairly similarly to Equestria, save for technology."

Luna shook her head.

"That's not quite what I mean. This power...It felt more like an invisible shield, like it was trying to protect someone."

"A shield...?"

"Perhaps you should come with me."