Harmony at Mind

Chapter 3: Dream Maze

Question: Why do ponies draw carts for other ponies who are riding in those carts?

        Ahzek Ahriman stood before the train station. The peace in the facility relaxed his battle senses, and even his precognitive thought. He turned and faced his former brothers. This was where they would bid farewell. Someday they would reunite. This journey into the unknown was his fate. He knew Tzeentch had no power here. This was a different dimension only accessible by lesser beings.

        He said, “By brothers, this kind mare has led us here. I am afraid we must depart, this is my destiny, I will go into the grey and do what I have to, I will return, for now scatter, don’t worry about anything.”

        One sorcerer exclaimed, “Why are you leaving us? We’ve followed you for ten thousand years. You have given up haven’t you!?”

        Ahriman replied, “No, my brother, this is My destiny, just be grateful you’re part of it, I know Tzeentch has no power here so, we HAVE achieved our goal: mastery of the universe. And goodbye my brothers, see you around.”

        He boarded the train as hastily as he stated that last sentence. The door shut and that was thought the  last time the Prodigal sons would see of Ahriman.

        Ginger Grace said, “Wow, looks like he left you for dead...what’s his story?”

1 hour later

        The former chief librarian sat on a bench after handing over the ticket. His eyes looked to the sunset. What would happen to the Prodigal sons while on his leave? Would they become a warband? Would they commit suicide? Well, at least he had most of the books memorized during the walk to Manehattan. The reading of scripture was remarkably easy due to his “gifts”.

        His new body was still unfamiliar, he didn’t know how to use his tail nor trot. The sunset was beautiful, casting a sight one would only see on Prospero or ancient Terra. He had saved and damned his legion on the Planet of the Sorcerers, but such was the act of Tzeentch, always plotting, even against his own minions. Ahriman was not a pawn.

        A tear fell from one of his eyes, nostalgia, his childhood on Terra. Running through the streets with buddies, pulling tricks, and studying in the great Temples of the Achaeminid empire. Sleep took him.

        Ahead, there was a street, one paved in permacrete, and here and there were tall buildings. This was his childhood home! His senses picked up something behind him, in the alley way, was it Iswa, and old friend who had lived on the streets? He ran in his pony form to that very alley, running through the various streets and vendors, somehow all the people ignored him. He saw a squad of Thunder Warriors run past, off to their next battle in a distant nation. He found something. It wasn’t Iswa, or Cyrus, nor Phosis. It was a blue horse, with wings and a horn. Looking at it’s eyes it was a mare, with a crescent-moon mark on her flanks.

        She was looking around admiring the architecture of Terra during the days of the fifteenth. But suddenly the ground rumbled and the sky turned black and blue, and white, blazing from the warp energies. Chains sprung up from the permacrete, glowing red chains wrapped around her hooves, and around her walls portals, webways appeared. She was stuck in the Maze of Tzeentch!

        Ohhh, this is bad, Ahriman thought to himself, even for him this was unknown territory, even though his fate was sealed he began to run off into the nearest entrance.

        Princess Luna didn’t know what happened, one moment she was admiring such alien architecture in a stranger’s dream, the next red chains were around her hooves, searing the flesh away. She was dizzy, suffering unbearable pain. Her very head felt as if it were being smashed open like a watermelon.

        “Oh, you are a pretty find, I’m surprised I couldn’t foresee our meeting. Tell me, my child what brings you here into my maze?” said a charming voice.

        Luna’s eyes finally opened, in front of her was a raven formed creature, blue, wearing robes lined in gold. It’s eyes were an ever-changing color wheel of blue, red, and white.

        “Foul daemon! I have no intention of being here, set me free, or I WILL end you!” Luna angrily said.

        “My dear child I will free you soon...” said Tzeentch

        There was a wind blowing, and her head felt like it was about to implode, tears streamed from her eyes, tears of begging and tears of mercy. She had never felt so violated in her years.

        “Farewell, my child.” concluded Tzeentch. And the chains of torment loosened and Luna fell from above her wings were useless, her head throbbed so much that couldn’t even use her magic. She began to black out on the immaterial ground.

        When her eyes opened, there was a dark room around her. Was she still alive in the palace? Then there was a shadowy figure before her. It wasn’t that “thing” that had caused her so much suffering. No, it was a helmeted figure, blood red eyes, and horns about the helmet. It wore blue armor emblazoned with taboo symbols, it wore a robe and held a black staff. In its pocket was a book of some sort. It resembled the Book of Harmony, one that Princess Twilight possessed, but instead of an equine skull, there was a blank cover.

        “W-w-w-who are you?” she faintly asked.

        “My dear, question is who are you to invade my domain?” it asked cheerfully. Odd.

        It continued, “since you are my guest, I am Ahzek Ahriman, chief librarian of the THousand Sons. Er... formerly. Now, your turn.”

        “All right Ahriman, since you haven’t killed me and are healing me with your magic, we are Princess Luna of Equestria, I rule alongside my sister Celestia.” said Luna.

        Ahriman helped her on her onto her hooves.

        Ahriman asked, “Well, then how did you get in my dreams?”

        “Okay, so I detected a different dream signature on a train heading to Ponyville, so I decided to check it. When I entered that dream, I was here, it is in my duty as nocturnal ruler to watch over my subjects’ dreams.” answered Luna.

        “Haven’t I seen you before, this morning in that palace?” he asked.

        She replied, “Yes, indeed! You were that armored alien! You look like you are out of place in this land.

        “You are correct, could you help me?” said Ahriman.

        “Depends on what it is, but We shalt do our best, but I must go.” Luna’s voice began to trail off, “meet me in Can-” there she cut out of Ahriman’s dream realm.

        “Shit!” he exclaimed.

        He awoke, the train was still moving, and dawn had just broke. And there was a sign at the window.

        Ponyville, Population: 689

        Ten minutes later he found himself off the train. He could feel his boots on the ground. But no he had no boots for he had taken the form of an equine. In front of him there was an armored horse. After ten millenia of warfare, he recognized that as a guard pony, not a professional soldier like he was, formerly.

        “You, sir come with me.” the guard blankly said, his voice had little emotion, what kind of indoctrination was this? He hadn’t met a soldier in ten thousand years as blank as this.

        Ahriman reluctantly went with the guard although he could have taken out the whole town himself, this was his fate, and Tzeentch once again was now upon him.

        After walking with the guard he had found himself on a carriage, drawn by a few other guards themselves. What in the Warp was this madness!?

        Second chance to explore this new world blown, shit. Now he was on a second transition.

        “My good sir, where exactly are we going?” Ahriman asked.

        “Canterlot, the Princesses request you, some sort of interview they want, hell if I really knew.” he replied.

        “Another question, why is this cab drawn by others of our kind?” he asked again.

        “What, you’ve never seen a cab before, the only other alternative is flying, and we don’t have wings.” said the guardpony.

        Aach! Ahriman thought to himself. How primitive are these creatures, surely, I pity them for their lack of technology. I guess I’ll have to do something about.