After my nightmare and encounter with Luna, I returned to my slumber, hoping to get a peaceful night of rest. Oh, I should have known that would never happen to me. For now, something else wished to speak.

“Laurence.”
Once more, I found myself in the void. However, this time something was different. The void was ever slightly aglow, with a pale, bluish-green light. Now was not the time for admiring Odeon’s redesign though, as I still needed to know how I got here, and why.

“Odeon! Why am I here?!”
“I am impressed Laurence. You have quickly adapted to this new world, and have even rescued some of them. Not to mention, you somehow managed to find one of the great ones, long thought to have been lost to the void.”
“ While I am glad to impress you, and show you that I am deserving of this second chance, that does not answer my question.”

“Your success has made me wonder though. Who else from your crumbling town deserves the chance to be redeemed once more? I then realized that you once had a good friend. One who had stood by you until his disappearance that fateful night. One who’s devotion to saving lives was second only to you.”
“Are you saying…”
“Yes, young Laurence. The holy blade shall arise once more.”

With that I awoke suddenly. The shock from his words still echoing through my mind. Ludwig, the holy blade, one of the best hunters to ever live, and my best friend after Gehrman disappeared, was returning. I had to speak with Celestia. As I exit my room, I notice that the sun had just started to rise, indicating the time to be around 6 in the morning. That means that within the next few minutes, she will most likely either head to the dining room, or to her throne.

I decide to check the dining room first, as I believe that raising the sun must make one famished. I was rather hungry myself, so it wouldn’t hurt to go there, even if she isn’t there. As I walk to the dining chamber, I notice that several guards give me nods, or waves. I of course reciprocate this, and am glad to know I have landed in such an open place. In Yharnam, most people would just grunt at each other on the street. After another minute of walking, I finally arrive.

I open the doors, and a delightful aroma hits my nose. I smell sweet syrup, the greasy salty smell of bacon, and can hear what sounds to be eggs cooking on the griddle. Celestia is sitting at one of the tables with her sister, Twilight, and a strange pink pony I have never met before, sitting next to a white one with a blue mane. I quickly grab some breakfast and head over, as Celestia waves me over.

“Good morning my friends, how are you all doing?”
Celestia, Twilight, Luna and the mysterious pair all offer the same answer, saying they are good.
“Who might you two be? Friends of Celestia?”
“I guess you could say that. My name is Mi amore Cadenza, but I prefer Cadence. And this is my beloved, shining armor. “
“ A pleasure. ”
“And Celestia is my aunt. Who might you be?”

“My name is Laurence, and the pleasure is all mine. “
After we introduce ourselves to each other, we begin to eat, making various small talk. From this I learn that not only is Shining Armor Twilight’s brother, but Cadence is her old sitter! I also learn that Shining Armor is the captain of the royal guard, and that he is extremely talented at not only combat, but defensive spells and tactics. After this enlightenment, Luna looks at me.

“Laurence, might we inquire how thou art doing after your nightmare last night?”
“I’m Doing rather well. I have grown rather used to the nightmares at this point.”
A sad look appears on Luna’s face, before quickly being replaced by a determined look.
“Well you won’t have to worry anymore. As the princess of the night, it is our duty to ensure our subjects have pleasant dreams. And thou art no exception.”

I smile, thanking her again for helping me.
After breakfast, a request to speak with the princess’s for a minute more, to which they agree.
“Thank you princesses. I wish to do two things. One, I wish to request a chance at joining your research teams. Not as a director or supervisor, or anything like that, but as a researcher.My purpose in life has always been to the pursuit of knowledge to benefit everyone, and I would like to achieve that here.”
“We do have some researcher positions available. It will be hard, seeing as there are no records of your credentials in equestrian, but I believe you and will see what I can do. What else did you wish to speak about?”
“Someone else is coming.”

“After Luna helped me with my nightmare, I had a vision. I was in a void, bathed in a blue-green light. A formless voice called out, and began to converse with me. He spoke of how it was now going to give a second chance to someone else. Someone I knew. Someone I trusted.”
“Is it this Valtr we saw in your dream? Or maybe that Gehrman fellow?”
“No, it is someon else. One of the best warriors from my home, and a scholar that I taught myself. One of my best friends, Ludwig, the holy blade.”

“This is concerning news.”
“What do you mean sister? Should we not be glad to meet yet another from Laurence’s home?”
“Yes, but it also means that this formless creature has access to creatures minds, and can speak directly to them, bypassing dreams altogether. You will not be able to stop it if it decides to attempt to corrupt our ponies.”
“True, but from what Laurence has said, this creature only wishes to give second chances to those that deserve them.”
“Yes, but what if it’s lying? What if it’s making an excuse just to open up a door into our world, letting untold nightmares in? ”

“You are right sister. From what I have seen in Laurence’s dreams, the creatures from that world make a manticore seem like a large kitten. But, if we are careful, we won’t have to worry. Besides, Laurence’s friend is a warrior, like us! With his help, We should be able to easily kill any beasts that manage to escape.”
“I hope you’re right Luna.”
And quietly, I hope as well.

After our brief conversation, I walk out, and notice a what appears to be a black pony enveloped in a sudden flash. I smell a burnt odor, as if a bug had been caught of fire, and It looks as if the air was distorted from a sudden shift in temperature. And the color of the flash was noteworthy as well. It was a bright green. Something was spying on us, but what?

Author's Note

Happy Easter! I hope you all enjoy this chapter, as well as exited for what is gonna happen next! Leave your criticisms and thoughts in the comments.