Monsters!
The purple unicorn broke into a full-on gallop, weaving around trees and boulders, the chill of the wintry air searing her sore lungs. Where did all of these creatures come from? She risked a peek over her shoulder, only to be greeted by a horrid sight: dozens of massive dragons flying low over the canopy above her, and several bi-pedal creatures sprinting after her, not far behind – they were covered in spiked black and red metal armor, and wielding wicked, jagged blades. She forced a little more speed from her muscles, returning her gaze forward, just as she tumbled from the cliff's edge.
Shivering, tossing and turning in her bed, Twilight Sparkle awoke with a shrill cry, her forehooves tossing the blankets aside as she sat up, panting. After taking a few moments to get her bearings, she let out a sigh of relief, wiping the cold sweat from her brow. "Twilight, are you okay? You were screaming in your sleep."
Twilight looked to her right, and a small purple and green dragon was standing next to her bed, a worried expression darkening his features. "Yeah, I'm okay, Spike. It was just a nightmare." The unicorn looked out her window, smiling at the blue skies and bright sunlight peeking through the leaves of her tree-library. "It's all downhill from here, today." She hopped out of her bed, a purple sheen of telekinetic magic enveloping her hairbrush as she approached her dresser, smoothing out her bedraggled mane.
The events of the dream, as she climbed down the stairs to the main library, began to weigh a little more heavily on her mind. She'd never seen monsters like the ones in her dream, save for the dragons, and they certainly weren't the kind of thing her mind would randomly conjure up… So, what made her mind create them? She shook her head, focusing her thoughts on her studies: a bit of brushing up on Star Swirl the Bearded and his various spells would make things better. Twilight sat at her desk in the library's main lobby, flipping open a book and scribbling down notes.
Only a few moments into her studies, and Twilight found her thoughts wandering off to the dream again: the seven-foot monsters clad in spiked armor, their eyes glowing a deep crimson as they slowly closed the gap between themselves and their quarry - the dragons swooping overhead, flames and clouds of ice and snow billowing from their jaws…
A shudder passed through her, and she stood from her seated position by her desk, sighing. "Spike, I'm going out for a little while. Organize the spare room's shelves, would you? I won't be able to get around to it, today." Spike agreed, and Twilight pulled on her saddlebags, trotting out the door. Her hooves clopped on the dirt road as she made her way out to the Everfree Forest, the sunlight quickly dimming under the dense forest canopy. Twilight glanced about, being extra careful to not touch any Poison Joke. After a pleasant ten minute hike, she arrived outside Zecora's hut, and knocked on the door a few times with a hoof.
The door swung open, revealing a zebra mare with aquamarine eyes, clad in gold jewelry. "Who is this knocking at my door?" A smile crept across her face when she looked down and saw Twilight, "Twilight Sparkle, what are you here for?"
The unicorn scratched her hoof at the dirt, biting her lip. "Well… I had a rather strange nightmare last night, and I was hoping you could help me figure out what it might mean."
Zecora just smiled, gesturing for Twilight to follow her inside. The zebra made her way to the fireplace, removing a kettle and pouring its contents into a pair of cups, dropping a straw into both. "Since your night was fraught with screams, I will help you to dissect your dreams."
Twilight nodded, producing a quill and a bit of parchment from her saddlebags, along with an ink well – she'd set each on the table with her telekinesis, before dipping the quill into the ink well and drawing a rather crude sketch of the bi-pedal monsters that were chasing her in her dream, along with a separate drawing of their weapons. "I dreamt I was being chased by a dozen or so of these… Things, and over two-dozen fully-grown dragons. I can't even begin to imagine what would have made my mind conjure these creatures up, so what do yo- Zecora?"
The Unicorn looked over at the zebra alchemist, to find the mare's smile replaced with a look of grim recognition. "Quite few stories I have heard, most of which I'd thought absurd. Of demons who devoured souls, of ponies, stallions, and even foals. The stories called them Daedra, dear Twilight, and they were monsters you'd wish not to fight."
The purple Unicorn canted her head, blinking, a frown creasing her muzzle. "But… I'd never heard of Daedra, until just now, let alone seen them. I'd certainly remember reading about them – what do you think put them in my dreams?"
"Twilight, dear, I wish I knew – the solution to your problem, I haven't a clue." The zebra frowned, sipping at her tea. "Perhaps the answers you seek, are in one of your books – an antique?"
Twilight smiled, shaking her head. "Not one of mine that I know of – but it couldn't hurt to have a second look. Thank you for your help, Zecora. Stop by and see me at the library, sometime! It's always good to have educated conversation." The unicorn stood to leave, packing her quills and her drawing, and left Zecora's hut. She sighed as she trotted down the dirt path, her focus wandering off to the flora surrounding her – trees and ferns in many lovely shades of green, flowers in every color of the rainbow. Even the fauna was lovely – beautiful white birds sat in the high branches of the trees, foxes darted in and out of bushes… Twilight sighed, smiling softly to herself. She did enjoy the Everfree Forest, as long as she could keep away from the Cockatrices and Manticores.
The young unicorn, once back in town, immediately made a beeline for her library, opening the door with her telekinetic magic. "Spike, we need to go over my books for anything on 'Daedra', okay?" The purple dragon, who was up on a bookshelf ladder, nodded and climbed down.
"Sure, Twilight. I'll be in the spare room doing a bit of digging around, if you need me." Spike scurried off into a small room lined with bookshelves, leaving Twilight in the main lobby of the library. She shook her head, smiling and glancing over to her desk, her smile quickly fading from her features.
"Spike, did you put this book here?" Twilight slowly approached her desk, eyeing the dark red leather-bound book that sat there – the cover depicted an arch with jagged shoulders, and a circle in the center. Odd.
The baby dragon meandered back into the main room, hopping up on a stack of books to have a look at the leather-bound tome on the desk, shaking his head. "No, I've never seen that book before. What is it?" He reached over to open the book, but Twilight batted his hand away.
"I'm not sure. It wasn't here when I left this morning. I wonder how it got here?" Twilight unbuttoned the clasp holding the book closed, the binding on the book crackling quietly as she opened it to the first page, skimming over the text. "'A Treatise on Daedric Princes.' Interesting…" Twilight's voice faded off as she focused on her reading, a small smile creeping across her features.
Spike rocked back and forth on his heels, twiddling his thumbs before hopping down from the stack of books, making his way up the stairs. "I'll be taking a nap if you need me." The unicorn didn't even acknowledge him, too lost in her research to hear anything other than the steady beating of her heart.
Several days later, Twilight Sparkle was again at her desk, sipping from a cup of water as she re-read the Treatise, obsessing over one chapter in particular. "Clavicus Vile, one of the seventeen most powerful Daedric Princes, best known for… Granting the deepest desires of those who summon him? Hmm…" The purple unicorn took another sip of her water, writing down notes on a bit of parchment next to the book. "Invoking Clavicus Vile is very simple – you need only pray at an altar of his likeness, and offer a significant amount of gold." Twilight turned the page in the book, her eyes focusing on a sketch of Clavicus Vile's bust. "That doesn't look too hard to make…"
The knocking at her front door didn't even garner a glance from the unicorn as she continued reading, her eyes scanning over the sketch of Clavicus for a second time. Hmm… "What if…"
Her door burst open, and an orange-coated Earth pony marched in, frustration furrowing her brow. "Twilight, y'all've been cooped up in here fer days – we ain't seen hide nor hair o'ya fer darn near a week! Come out ta Sugarcube Corner – everypony's gettin' together for Gummy's birthday party. Or did y'all forget?" The mare adjusted her cowboy hat, blowing a stray strand of blonde mane from her face.
Twilight shook her head, not even bothering to look up from the book as she turned the page and jotted down a few more notes with her quill. "Not today, Applejack – this stuff is too fascinating for me to just up and walk away from."
Spike padded down the stairs from his bed, sighing. "She's not gonna listen to reason, Applejack. She's done nothing but read that book and write in her notes for the past four days. She's hardly eaten or slept! Maybe if you had something to persuade her a little more…" That last bit was said with a wink and an impish smirk, and Applejack nodded back to the young dragon.
The orange mare reached down into her saddlebag, gripping one end of her lasso in her teeth. "I was worried it'd come t'this, Twilight. But, you're gettin' outta this stuffy ol' library if'n I have'ta drag you out!" She swung the lasso at the purple unicorn, the loop being yanked tight when it dropped around her legs. Applejack pounced on Twilight, hog-tying her like a professional, unable to help but grin at her handy-work. "A'right, Spike, I'll meet'cha at Sugarcube Corner."
The purple dragon nodded and made his way out the door while Applejack grabbed the extra length of rope, cheerfully dragging Twilight Sparkle behind her. "Applejack, let me go! I haven't finished my notes!" The unicorn thrashed and wriggled, trying to escape her binds, but to no avail. After a minute or two of struggling, she simply gave up with a sigh, allowing herself to be dragged to the other side of town.
Inside Sugarcube Corner, everypony was having a good time on the dance floor, mingling by the punch bowl, or eating sweets by the buffet table – except for Twilight Sparkle. The young mare, while mingling with other guests, was giving only her divided attention to the party; her thoughts kept wandering off to the book, to Clavicus Vile, and to the Daedra that still haunted her dreams.
"Twilight? Twilight? Twilight!" The mare snapped out of her trance, returning to her attention to the white unicorn mare with whom she'd been conversing. "Twilight, dear, those bags under your eyes look simply atrocious – haven't you gotten any sleep at all?"
Twilight shook her head, yawning. "Not really – I've been too busy studying lately to catch any real sleep. And when I do, it's nothing but nightmares, so I've been trying to avoid it."
Rarity flipped her purple mane out of her face, sighing. "Dear, you really must get away from those awful books of yours; they're probably the reason behind your nightmares. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must go take care of a fashion disaster on the dance floor." The white mare wandered off, shouting at some mare dressed in a garish party dress out on the dance floor. "You! Yes, you! In the hat!"
The purple unicorn sighed, shaking her head as her thoughts wandered back to the book and the Daedra, idly sipping at a cup of punch when an idea sparked in her head. A devious smile crept across her muzzle as she quietly sneaked off into the kitchen when nopony was looking. Once she was out of sight, her horn glowed brightly right before she was enveloped in a flash of white and purple light, teleporting back to the library.
"Hah! Nopony keeps me from my studies!" Twilight grinned, trotting cheerfully back to her desk and continuing her notes on Clavicus Vile, re-reading the section on summoning rituals. The unicorn stopped, a small smile stretching across her features as she opened up a drawer on her desk, withdrawing a bag of bits. Her rainy-day fund: roughly five-hundred bits. With her notes and money in tow, the unicorn trotted over to the horse-head bust in the center of the main room, setting the books and money down on the floor.
Her horn glowed a bright purple, and with a flash of light, the bust on the pedestal transformed into the likeness of Clavicus Vile. The unicorn smirked, placing her offering of five hundred bits in front of the bust and stepping back, kneeling down until her horn touched the floor.
With a flash of white and red light, the bust vanished, replaced with a small creature that stood on two legs, only about four feet tall, a pair of curved horns jutting out from his forehead. He was clad in what looked like fine furs and cloth, and a grin smeared wickedly across his impish features as he reached down, hefting the offering of gold in his hand.
"Well well well, what do we have here? In all my millennia, I've seen many things, but being summoned up by a unicorn? Well. This is certainly a first." The Daedra snapped his fingers, and the gold offering vanished, the creature stepping forward on the pedestal. "Tell me, dear, what kind of deal can old Clavicus ma-" BANG BANG BANG BANG! The front door shuddered as one of Twilight's friends banged on the wood with their hooves, attempting to get Twilight's attention.
"Twilight! We know you're in there! Stop hidin' an' come out peaceful-like, or I'ma get mah rope again!" Applejack shouted, preparing to buck down the front door.
Just before her hooves impacted the door, Clavicus snapped his fingers, the walls, doors and windows shimmering with a pale red light. The door didn't budge under the force of Applejack's hooves, or even make a sound – he'd magically barred the doors, windows, and soundproofed the room, pulling the curtains shut with his magic.
"Let's not get distracted, shall we? After all – you paid a lot of gold for my presence. Please, dear, tell old Clavicus Vile – what is your heart's deepest desire?" A grin slowly peeled across his face, venom dripping from his words.
Oblivious to the eager maliciousness behind his words, Twilight smiled up at the little demon, scratching at the floor with her hoof. "Well… Knowledge. I want to know as much as physically possible. About everything."
Clavicus simply grinned, perfectly aware of Owluiscious peeking through a gap in the curtains outside of a high window. The owl flew back to the rest of the gang, hooting loudly to try and get their attention. "Well, my little pony… I think that's within my capabilities. I can offer you a chance to gain limitless knowledge about the entirety of the universe! Is this what you wish?"
Twilight nodded, grinning eagerly. "Yes! That's perfect!" She stood on all fours, giddy as a schoolfilly. Clavicus snapped his fingers, disappearing, leaving behind only the pony-head bust on the pedestal before Owluiscious returned to the window with Rainbowdash and Fluttershy. Twilight felt cold, and suddenly her entire world went black.