Dreamquake

The beast lunged forward, teeth bared, and eyes burning with hunger. Twilight let her eyelids slam shut, not wanting to witness her approaching demise. Her tears flowed, her skin burned, and she could smell the stench of decay heavily upon her demonic executioners breath. But the pain of jaws enclosing around her head did not come. Instead, the sound of glass shattering filled her ears, and a glittering cascade scattered about the room. Suddenly a huge weight was lifted from her body. The agonizing paralysis faded abruptly. Her eyes flew open. The horror was still merely a few feet ahead of her, but it's gaze was no longer trained on her. Now, it glowered menacingly at something behind. She craned her neck, wordlessly rejoicing in being able to move freely once again.

Now, standing in front of a newly destroyed window, surrounded by fragments of glass, was a pony. A stallion to be specific, just slightly taller than herself. His dark indigo coat shimmered in the moonlight streaming into the terrible place. His long unkempt mane and tail were both a deep sea green, with icy blue streaks in color. His flank was marked with a wand; a moon on it's top and a star at it's base, all surrounded by a light blue cloud. A rigid horn, like her own, extended from his forehead, and his large flint grey eyes shot daggers at the nightmare threatening her life.

The creature roared out deafeningly at the newcomer. Twilight could only gape at the stallion who so boldly stood up to the abomination. The hero leapt forth, moving to Twilight's side in one large bound. As he landed, his horn flared to life, a sphere of light appearing around the bony appendage. Emanating from his horn a wave of violet energy flooded through the room. As she was bathed in the heavenly glow Twilight felt the ache in her bones, the weariness in her legs, and the horror in her mind being soothed. Twilight's eyes grew heavy with a thick drowsiness, staying conscious under the cascade of magic was becoming more difficult each second.

The monster however gave a much different reaction. The horrid beast gave an agonized shriek as it's shadowy form began to dissolve away like sugar in water. It reeled away from the pair of unicorns, it's nightmarish red gaze burned with hatred and frustration as it was pushed further and further back from them. The rest of the terrible forces haunting the library, the black smokey tendrils, and pillars of jagged stone, all shrunk away from the assault; the light burning them from existence. The stallion wielding the consecrated light gave a push forward; the sphere of light projected from his suddenly pulled itself together, condensing into a solid white beam projected at the monstrosity, The beast was thrown backward, its slowly diminishing form sent crashing into a far bookshelf. The tree house quaked violently with the force of the impact. Under the focus of the beam, the creature's dark form was burned away at a greatly increased rate. It gave a pained howl as it's body seemed to split apart, forming a rift at it's center around the beam of light.

The now fragmented cloud of shadows quickly bore down on the two, it's dark form regaining strength once free from the embrace of the light. The stallion wretched his head to the side, dragging the beam with it; burning a trench in the bookshelves and walls in an attempt to hit the attacking beast. But, the creature was too agile for them, it easily dodged around the attack. The stallion continued firing his beam at the target, even as it closed into it's own attack range. Twilight saw the bony tentacle materialize out of the beast and lunge for a deadly attack before the stallion could. She swallowed hard and with renewed strength leapt forth, tackling the stallion down, just as the tendril whipped the air where his head was moments before. The two rolled away from the beast, who tracked their movements with angry red eyes. They came up to their hooves a few feet away. This close Twilight heard the stallions raged breathing, and saw the shake in his weakened legs. His spell had rejuvenated her, but sapped all of his own strength, she realized.

"We've got to get out of here!" She shouts to him, her voice shaking slightly. His eyes seemed glazed over, he simply stared at nothing for a moment. But, after a precious few seconds he turned his head to her, nodding.

"I can unbar the door but-" He began but was cut off, as a shadow wrapped tendril lashed past his head. He turned to face the door to the library, now blocked by a wall of darkness. "Just keep it off me!" He shouted forcefully.

Twilight swallowed hard, her eyes locking on the shadowy monstrosity, which now had it's own gaze tacking the stallion. She nodded fearfully, but stepped forth "Hey you, over here!" She yelled at the demon with a faltering tone, to no avail however. The stallion raised his horn, a sphere of light once more surrounding the appendage. The beast brought a pair of it's tentacles to bear, ready to slay the hero. Twilight clenched her eyes shut, once more feeling the swell of power flowing through her body. She struggled to maintain balance within herself, focusing the energy into her own horn. It was a difficult task, one strangely unfamiliar, but unpracticed all the same, as she felt much of the power dissipating like air. She opened one eye slightly, noticing the horn on her head swathed in an aether glow. She took aim on the unsuspecting beast, and let loose the force pent up in her implement.

A beam of brightly colored energy streaked towards the creature, letting loose a loud hissing noise. The attack slammed into the beast, just as its tentacles lashed out. The monster howled in pain as it was thrown backwards, and it's assault thrown off-course. The stallion had let loose his own beam of energy, the focused laser burning into the shadows covering the exit. The shadowy beast turned it's hulking form now on Twilight, with it's burning eyes once more directly upon her she could feel the burning under her skin, the paralysis, and the throbbing in her skull returning. It was weaker this time, but it was draining her resolve quickly.

"Is that... the best... you can do?" She taunted through gritted teeth, the creature snarled in anger. The glow in it's eyes seemed to intensify, as did the agony searing Twilight. "Agh!" She shouted, falling forward. She risked a glance over to the stallion: his magic had burned through most of the barrier. She looked back at the beast, grunting as she pulled herself back to her hooves. The creature seemed surprised at her sudden pain tolerance, rightfully so, even she was surprised by it. The howl of wind flooded into the place, drawing the attention of both Twilight and her demonic foe. She felt the searing pain lifted with the beasts gaze.

The door to the library was now held open, freezing wind and rain now pouring in freely. The stallion merely stood there, on the verge of collapse from exhaustion. Running purely on reserve energy and hope, Twilight sprinted forward. As did the beast, it's shadowy form rocketing towards the helpless stallion. But, Twilight was faster, she brought her body into the stallions, tackling him out of the doorway and out into the icy elements. The two rolled out into the grassy lawn outside, tumbling end over end. The wind and rain chilling her to her bones, the feeling was intensified by the cold sweat matting her fur.

Twilight's eyes flashed to the doorway as a cascade of shadowy limbs ripped through after them. She gave a shout and rose to her hooves, but before she could escape a voice called to her

"Wait!" The stallion said from the ground, Twilight looked at him confused. "It can't follow us out here." She looked back to the doorway. As the shadowy forms exited the library, and the rain began striking it's dark flesh, it screeched in pain. Tendrils of smoke rose up from it's form, where the rain had burned into it like acid. It spent only a few moments in the agonizing environment before slinking away back into the dark. When the creature had fully retreated back into it's den, the door to the place slammed shut behind it. And, Twilight was left staring at the strange red symbol branded into the door.

The stallion chuckled slightly, relieved to have escaped that place. Twilight could only stare and listen to the thunderous beat of her own heart. The stallion stood slowly, rising up next to her. "Are you alright?" He asked her in an exasperated tone. She looked at the stallion, and he saw the tears running down her cheeks, mixing with the downpour already set upon them. He looked up to the weeping dark grey sky, and then around to the gloom and fog. "Let's find some shelter, there's a little cottage on the outskirts of the town that's safe." He said solemnly, Twilight nodded.

The two trekked through the village slowly, their aching bodies preventing them from moving any faster that a slow trot. They passed by dozens of buildings, some with great gashes torn in their roofs and some missing entire chunks of the building all together. Twilight noticed some of the buildings with the same red marking on their doors as the library. Most notably a tall building painted a lovely violet, with a sign that read "Carousel Boutique" in marvelous curving letters. She didn't need any encouragement from the stallion to not go near that building even though it had seemed so familiar to her. The relentless downpour and rending gale had not let up in the slightest, and soon enough the two began to leave the town behind. The rows of buildings began to grow thinner, replaced by rows upon rows of tall trees. Some of them had been blasted apart by lightning strikes, others simply clawed at the sky with dead, leafless branches. Mud from the beaten path was now well caked on the bottom of Twilight's hooves, and her eyes were growing to heavy to bear.

But, after a time Twilight could spy their destination. Resting on a hill, across a small bridge, was a two story cottage. Hedges and a dark green roof made the home look like another tree house.As they approached she noticed that the door was free of the red marking, she was still wary of entering though. The stallion's horn began to shimmer, as did the handle to the cottage, the door slid open with a loud creak. The stallion motioned for her inside with his hoof. She entered hesitantly. Inside the sounds of the storm were muffled, but the rain pounding on the room and windows was still audible.

Inside the cottage was much less damaged than the place where Twilight had first awoken in. It was dark inside, but a fireplace in one of the walls was lit, and the dancing flames served to illuminate the room just enough to see. The roof and floor was free of holes, even the rain was unable to get in. The majority of the furniture was intact, a large sofa and small table at the center of the room. A slightly battered rug coating the wooden floor. On the far side of the room was an entryway into another room, and beside it a staircase leading up. The only real damage that could be visible was the large collection of cages lining the room. Varying in many different sizes , but all of them had been destroyed, all appeared to have been ripped open by some outside force. As she looked at them Twilight felt a chill run up her spine, there was a pattern amongst them, none of them had claw or sharp teeth marks, but rather blunt objects and flat teeth had been used; she was not mistaken however, they were all ravaged by one larger creature.

The stallion slipped into the home beside her, while she was simply staring uncomfortably at the litter of cages. "Well," he started "make yourself at home." He finished in a tone like he didn't know what else to say. Twilight had no response. "You know doubt have questions." He said looking at her, a stern look on his face. She nodded slightly. "As do I." He motioned to the sofa. Twilight made her way to the couch, letting her weary body crash down upon it. She sank into the fluffy cushions, her eyes felt heavy, sleep beckoned to her. But, she needed answers, and she wasn't going to rest until she got some. She puled herself up sharply, into a lazy sitting position. She noticed that the stallion was no where to be seen.

She looked around for a moment, then saw him emerge from the far room carrying a tray covered in randomly assorted items in his teeth. His blunt, flat teeth, suspicion brewed and Twilight's eyes traveled downwards. Hooves, not claws, perfect smashing tools, her eyes slid back to the cages.

The stallion set the tray down gently on the table, it was covered with a number of bowls filled with oats, hay, vegetables, and fruits. Twilight noticed her hunger for the first time, she almost doubled over from the wave of painful nausea that struck her guts. She eyed the food intently. "Go ahead, you need to eat." The stallion said letting his own body fall limply onto the couch next to her. Twilight looked at him, he had a warm look behind his steel eyes, but also weariness, greater than her own she could see. After a time of studying his features, his soft almost feminine cheeks and jaw, his deep indigo coat that seemed nearly black in the firelight, and his dirty green and blue mane, she reached out and took a bit of fruit in her hoof. Still starring at him, she brings the food to her mouth slowly. He stares back, an amused look on his face, as she takes a bite. Juice and flavor floods her senses, she swallows hastily, her eyes turning madly from him to the food. She begins take hoof fulls of anything within reach, and devouring them hastily, she had no memory of ever tasting food. She knew she had, but it tasted so much sweeter than she could have imagined.

For a few moments of ravenous feeding, and nearly choking twice, the food on the tray was gone. Twilight breathed deeply, savoring the feeling of food in her belly, she felt much more tired now. "Do you know your name, where you are, what's going on, anything?" The stallion asked nervously, Twilight had forgotten he was there. She looked at him surprised.

"No," She finally answers "I mean I know my name but not much else, I was hoping you could fill me in on that." She corrects, her voice equally as nervous as his. A pained look is plastered on the stallions face when he hears her words.

"Then you're the same as me." He looked away from her.

"But, you know about this place, you seemed to know your way around. So, you must know more than me."

"I didn't just wake up." He said looking back to her "It was a great many sleeps ago that I awoke. I was alone, I thought I would always be alone. I've had some time to learn a few things, but I still don't remember anything before I woke up that fist time." His voice was thick with sadness.

"But, you remember your name right?" Twilight asked , he nodded "Then what is it?"

A slight smile parts his lips "My name's Stardust, it feels strange to say it. I never have, but I've always known it." He stares into the fire like he had forgot about her, a look of nostalgia in his averted gaze. "What about you?"

"I'm Twilight Sparkle, and... it's a pleasure to meet you, Stardust." She doesn't know why but that felt like the right thing to say.

Stardust chuckles a bit to himself. "Twilight Sparkle," he said, as if testing the taste of the words in his mouth "two names? That's strange, should I have two names?"

"Aren't Star and Dust two names?"

"No I don't think so, I'm pretty sure it's just one name." He laughs. Suddenly his expression turned grim "I'm sorry Twilight Sparkle, but I have to do this." He said turning to her, she looked at him confused. "Shadows, darkness, the library," He began saying softly, Twilight's heart started to beat rapidly, terror wracked her mind, but she couldn't explain why. "eyes of red, monster, the symbol... the symbol!" His voice picked up volume. Twilight was thrown into a panic, she was sweating bullets. Her mind was invaded by images of the hellish nightmare in the library, of the beast, the shadowy demon, and that burning rune in the door. She screamed, and tried to pull away from the couch. That creature was here, she knew it, she could feel it. Stardust threw his hooves around her, preventing her from escaping.

"No, let go! It's going to find me!" She shouted, feeling tears well up in her eyes.

"Twilight, it's okay! It isn't here, your safe." Stardust said soothingly. She still struggled, her heart beating rapidly. "I'm sorry, I know it's frightening, but you're safe now. That creature, it makes you forget... about it." He said, she looked at him, wild fear and curiosity burning behind her eyes.

"What?" She asked, in a terrified yet amazed tone.

"If you're not around it, you start to forget. That's how it gets you, if you escape the first time, then you're bound to forget it, then you end up stumbling back into it's trap." He explained with venom in his words

"How do you know that?" She asked still in disbelief.

"It happened to me." He said silently "The first time you remember it, as you can tell, it's paralyzing. And, I almost didn't make it out alive."

"I see, I'm sorry." She said remorsefully, not knowing what else to say. Her fear had all but dissipated now. She was distrustful of this, but she couldn't help but believe it. She had forgotten all about her encounter with the nightmare almost immediately after leaving.the place. The memory had not left her completely, it was just pushed to the back of her mind, like it was the least important thing to her when it should have been the most. Twilight looked down, and was startled to see Stardust's hooves still wrapped  around her, holding her in place. He followed her gaze, noticing as well. He gave a startled gasp, letting go and sliding away quickly. Twilight too slid away, her cheeks flushed crimson. The two kept their eyes averted for a time. They sit in silence, with only the storm outside offering to the conversation.

"I... go into town sometimes, just to look at the symbols on the doors. So I don't forget again."  Stardust continued trying to move the discussion.

"What does it mean... the symbol?" Twilight inquired

"It's how it marks it's territory, or how they do. There's one in every house marked with that symbol." He said bitterly. "Or, maybe it's just one, but it can move between the places, I don't know..." He answered, trailing off. Twilight yawned noisily, and rubbed her eye with a hoof. "Tired?" Stardust asked, looking at her and raising an eyebrow.

"Very, is there a bed I can use here?" She asked smiling

"Yes, upstairs, past the large bed in the middle of the room. It's a guest bedroom, branching off of the main room, I think." He replied with a chuckle. She nodded wearily, and rose from the sofa.

"Then I think it's time for me to... sleep." She said, a yawn breaking her speech.

"Agreed, I'm quite sleepy myself. It's been a long day. We'll talk more tomorrow." The two shared silence, as they both recalled the events of what had happened. After a while, they made their way up the stairs. Twilight's eyes felt too heavy to keep open, and her aching limbs too sore to carry her. The upstairs was dominated by a wide window just above a large bed. At the far side of the room rested the slightly open door to the guest bedroom. Twilight wasted no time in reaching the place of rest. She heard a cushioned crash from behind. She turned quickly to see Stardust sprawled out on the large bed, the sound of his light snoring already reaching her ears. She turned back and pushes the door open softly.

She entered into a barren room, decorated only by a small bed, and a desk. The desks surface was covered in a scattered assortment of paper, scrolls, ink wells, and writing quills. The room looked familiar to her. Too familiar. It took a moment, but Twilight soon realized it's identical to the room she awoke in. Even down to the chill of the place. She came to the conclusion that all bedrooms must just look the same. She shut the door quietly behind her, and made her way to the bed swiftly, her hooves clicking eerily in the sudden quiet. Just as before the sounds of the storm were silenced in this dark, windowless place. She created a soft red light with her horn, the task of which was child's play compared to the other spells she had cast today. She used the magic light to navigate to the bed.

She let her body slump down raggedly unto the bed. The scarlet blankets and soft sheets embraced her. Just as she was ready to put out her light and sleep she noticed something odd. On the desk, one of the letters had writing on it. She squinted her eyes trying to decipher the writing from her, but eventually uses her magic to levitate the closed envelope over to her. Bathed in magenta light she could make out the words written on the front of the envelope: Twilight, the word was written in dark in, and curving letters. She quickly peeled back the fold with her spell, inside was a piece of parchment. She drew out the paper, it had been folded neatly. Her burning curiosity gave her no other choice but to unfold, and read the note. But, on closer inspection of the paper, she only became more frightened, and confused.

find the gate find the gate find the gate find the gate find the gate find the gate find the gate

find the gate find the gate find the gate find the gate find the gate....

Twilight placed the parchment back on the desk, realizing it was the same phrase running down the entire page. The words swam in her exhausted mind. She kept thinking of how hastily they had been written, it was obviously written by someone not normal, or in trouble. But, what frightened her most was the fact that it was addressed to her. Stardust couldn't have written it, he only just recently found out her name. Ideas that made little sense, and only helped to confuse her more dance about like the rain in her head. Her mind continued to run through endless possibilities, until the stream of thought stopped. Her violet coated chest rose and fell rhythmically, letting a haze of silver mist escape her lips as her breath was visible in the cold, and the purple mare slept troublesomely.