Dusk Darkhelm
The golden eyed stallion removed his regalia while he lingered at his arched bedroom window, peering mutely at the Everfree Forest and the village which he and his new students patrolled earlier in the day. An expressionless visage adorned his features, as he turned his gaze to the blue, cloudless, evening sky.
A few birds soared above the castle spires, ponies and other creatures ventured about the well-lit paths of Canterlot's many streets and Celestia's sun was settled rather low, among the mountains in the distant west. Yet this was a veiled calm, swathing a clandestine worry, in all of the available princesses and the meticulous knight.
He glanced at his helm while he seated himself upon the pristine white covers of his bed and recalled the events of that matter. It had been another morning of practice when a missive was brought to the stallion with a greyish-blue mane, tail and goatee of a village under scrutiny by some terrible force. The Captain of the Night Guard was swift to act upon such a detail after being told of the true fears of the princesses and awoke the other knights from their practice within the dreamscape.
It was an examination of their dealings with their deepest fears and regrets. From what he had seen of their honest reactions and the manner in which they dealt with such things, it had been significant and an excellent occasion for only the third day of such endeavors under his tutelage. Yet unfortunately, that is where the glad tidings end, Dusk imagined, once again staring at the rapidly setting sun.
It too seemed saddened; a little dimmer from the circumstances at the moment.
A couple of knocks at the door brought the contemplative and uncomfortable silence to an end. He sighed, flicked his tail as he stood tall and stepped to the floor, strolling toward the entrance. "Come," he admitted.
The door was surrounded in a dark blue light and swung open, revealing the Princess of the Night, still wearing a stern and focused countenance.
"My lady," he spoke, drawing his aura into his horn and placing his helm atop his greyish-blue mane, prior to bowing low out of courtesy. "My apologies, I did not believe that it was you."
"I see. Is there another dark blue alicorn that you are waiting for then, Dusk Darkhelm?"
He heard the touch of teasing in her voice, but did not glance at her from his bowed position. "No, Your Highness, I do not anticipate any to arrive at my door, except perhaps you if you have need of my abilities."
"I visit if I have need of thine council or thine company," the princess corrected. "Rise, Ser Dusk. Thou art not required to bow before thine princess, certainly not at this moment." Dusk cleared his throat and lifted himself to regard her properly, finding her smiling sadly at the unicorn. "Truthfully, it is thy turn to heed my council, if thou wouldst permit it."
"Princess Luna, yes, of course. You may speak of anything to me; yet I do not understand what you mean to council."
The alicorn stepped closer to him, growing a smidge sterner, but no less compassionate as she shut the door behind her. "I know you, ser. Do not presume that you may convince me that you do not suffer. Your students worry for you and asked for my council upon your return to Canterlot Castle." Dipping her head, the dark alicorn meandered to the full length window, Dusk turning around to see her pause before it, peering out for a moment. "I have also seen their improvements from your training," she remarked, turning her beautiful teal eyes to his. "I was right to place you as their teacher. The friendships that your students have fashioned shall only further your efforts."
The stallion inclined his head lightly in respect, not expecting her to disregard the ancient tongue that she normally used for this. She appears to have learned a bit from Princess Celestia and the citizens of Canterlot. "You are most generous to say."
The Protector of Dreams only smiled brightly and wandered nearer, garnering his golden eyes quickly. "Why do you not accept my compliments?"
"I apologize, Your Grace. You are kind to give them, but I do not think that I deserve such praise."
"Why ever not? No creatures died today and your deeds led us to understand a little of what these ancient creatures fear."
Shaking his head, Dusk Darkhelm turned from his savior's sight and ventured around her to stare through the window at the hills and waterfalls nearest to the castle, once again removing his helm to show his blue mane and placing it upon the floor ahead of him. He plopped his backside on the purple carpet. "I was foolish. I put every creature at risk, including my students. Hundreds could have perished. I have proven myself unfit to lead in such a manner."
"Yet none have perished, ser," Princess Luna lectured, her voice growing slightly louder as she kept her place beside him. She peered from the windows as well, remaining on her hooves by his left side. "Do you believe that you should always be correct in your judgement of the circumstances?"
"Yet that little filly from the village," he managed, still maintaining his tone despite his body's desire to allow the tears to fall. I can still see the fear in her yellow eyes.
Finally, the alicorn seated herself beside the dark stallion and levitated his helm so that she may appraise it. "Yes, the little filly that you saved? Your colleagues mentioned such an act of selflessness while we conversed; however, I fail to see why such a matter would cause you pain."
"I hesitated," Dusk admitted, dipping his head in sorrow at the admission and the memory. "For a moment, I was uncertain; of what, I cannot say. Yet I was. While my students struggled with those creatures, I almost failed to rescue a helpless filly from a premature death."
A hoof graced his shoulder, clad in the royal insignia of the Night Princess. He immediately drew his eyes to her, silencing himself in order to hear her with rapt clarity. It was few and far between to feel any sort of physical contact with the dark alicorn and when she did grant him such ministrations, nothing else appeared to matter. She looked upon him with a serene smile. "You are too difficult upon yourself. If you did not act as swiftly as you did, hundreds certainly would have perished. Do you believe that I have not made a few mistakes along the course of my life?"
"Princess, I am sorry." Twirling about in his seat, the stallion bowed his head, finally presenting Princess Luna with his true emotions. "I did not mean to compare my dilemma with yours. Please forgive my disrespect and for reminding you." He felt his helm upon his head, except that she positioned it on his head with the back of it shielding his gaze.
"There is no need to apologize, Ser Dusk," she remarked with an unusually gleeful giggle, while Dusk twirled the helm about atop his head in order to view her once again. "You did me no disrespect after all and I have never forgotten what happened," the Protector of Dreams soothed, her fore hoof yet remaining upon his shoulder. "That time where I was plagued with the memories of my betrayal has long since passed, but it is always a reminder. Regardless, I am present for you and your benefit. You must remain dedicated, confident and caring, because that is who you are. Every pony in Canterlot and beyond will have need of you when the time is upon us."
"I will try, Your Highness, as I promised when you granted me this position."
"Such a thing is all that I may ask of you, my dear friend. No one except for my sister knows of my mind like you do. I am glad to have befriended a stallion as gallant as you, Ser Dusk, truthfully."
His mouth hung loose for a moment, disbelief filling him, before the Lunar Princess shut it with a touch of blue light. I do? You are? Dusk Darkhelm mumbled a few incoherent words, before garnering his nerve. "The honor is mine, to simply be trusted by you." Luna beamed in response, settling her hoof upon the carpet. "Thank you, Your Grace, for correcting me. Yet I fear that I am not the only thing on your mind; if I may assist with that in compensation."
She chuckled in answer. "I imagine that it is only proper that you know my heart as well as I know yours. Yes, there is an issue." Dusk Darkhelm peered at her while the dark alicorn rose and strolled closer to the window. "This ancient foe is performing experiments on Equestria, to test our ponies' resolves and the swiftness of our responses."
He swiftly stood and trotted to her right side, seeing her regard him again. "Princess Luna?"
"It concerns my sister and I greatly what must be occurring within other realms throughout these perilous times. They do not possess the same sort of aura that ponies do. We have not heard of any deaths from our neighboring nations, thus Celestia and I are hopeful that our warnings were heeded to a sufficient extent. Your rapid action bespeaks of strength, which these creatures shall certainly comprehend. We do not abandon creatures to perish, whether they be pony or otherwise."
"I have hope, Your Highness. Our allies are strong. Have you sent letters pertaining to their new found weakness?"
"As I bid my sister and Discord farewell, she spoke of sending a message of this fact to each nation that she could. If nothing else, they shall possess the knowledge; yet I fear for those who possess a limited amount of magic."
"Could Discord not supplement the forces of those without such defences, my lady?"
The alicorn prickled at the question and shook her head. "I do not trust Discord with such matters. Celestia seems to find him amusing, yet from how he acted when Tirek arose, after Fluttershy and the others had reformed him, I am only further convinced that he is not to be trusted for long. As he has spoken, he does grow bored."
"Princess, why did you rescue me that night twenty-seven years ago?" he inquired, stepping in front of her. "How did you even know from such a distance that I was alive?" She didn't respond, only turned her head away and concealed her face with her flowing mane. "Please, Luna," he said urgently, without any royal title. It shook her into returning her eyes to him. You always told me that I didn't need to call you Highness or Majesty, but until now I have never called you by your name. Dusk's countenance was solemn, but focused. "I must know why."
After a moment, the princess closed her eyes and sighed with a bow of her head. Raising it to him again, she opened her eyes. "Dusk Darkhelm, you were much the same as I was before I was banished. You were frightened and alone and under much strife. I may have been imprisoned, yet I could see within pony's minds even so and your mind, your suffering at being alone broke my heart."
He blinked in surprise, a light rose tinge to his cheeks from what she did for him, even when she was still suffering on the moon. "I don't know what to say."
"Hm, I believe that that may be the first time for such a thing from you, Ser Dusk. You always had a response to my council or teasing. Very well then, do not imagine that I have forgotten of what we spoke. You have agreed to grant me access to your mind, to discover what still plagues you and why you avoid dreaming."
The dark blue stallion smiled uneasily. I fear what you will find within, Your Grace; yet I did agree under pain of your disappointment. "I assure you, princess, I did not forget. It is simply a matter of nerves, yet I am willing if you are prepared to uncover my past."
"I am. I have been prepared to aid you for most of your lifetime, have no doubt. You are dear to me. However, before that, I would like to ask you of what you think of Discord."
"Hmm?" he asked in a bit of a daze. After what she said and the faintest touch of pink on her cheeks when she called him dear, he nearly stopped listening. Shaking himself from the surprise, he answered her. "What do you mean, Your Highness? He is our ally, for the nonce at any rate. Despite his mistakes, he afforded the final piece which allowed your saviors to defeat Tirek. He aided Starlight, Trixie and the changeling Thorax to defeat Chrysalis and free his race. Do you know why he requested to be returned to stone shortly thereafter?"
"I do not. He has indeed performed some unusual deeds since Fluttershy befriended the Chaos Spirit. Yet it does not forgive what he has done in the past and what he may have done I deem unforgiveable."
"What do you believe that he has done, Princess Luna?"
The Princess of the Night exhaled after a moment of quiet, almost being shy as to what she was thinking of. "Whether it is so or not, it is as you stated, of course. For the nonce, Discord is our ally. Now, come along, prepare yourself to accompany me within your own memories and guarded imaginings."
With little else needing to be said, Dusk inclined his head, removed his helmet and strolled around her to settle on his bed to the left of the window, facing the door. He knew by this moment that the lunar alicorn only ever expressed her ability when the pony was comfortable or already asleep. I am not yet absolutely ready to experience this, yet I do know that it hurts my lady to not attempt to restore my lost memories and quell my haunting dreams.
By the left side of the bed, Luna stood, posed as properly and elegantly as she always was. She no longer held her gleeful smile. Instead, she merely appeared concerned for his safety, eyebrows raised only slightly. "Are you ready, Dusk?"
Dusk? She has never called me by merely my first name. This must be quite a serious matter for her as well. Not knowing how else to answer, the Night Guard simply dipped his head, placed his helm on the bedside table on his right and tried to smile in a reassuring manner. "Yes, Your-…yes, Luna; I imagine that I am as prepared as I am likely to be."
"The feeling is mutual, I assure you. Yet it has always weighed upon my mind that you still suffer despite my Night Guard protecting you for all of your life. I think that it is time to help you in your restoration in a similar way that the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony saved my life."
Merely nodding, his smile grew a tad. "I understand. You are my greatest friend as well, princess." The mare flushed softly, clearly not anticipating such a comment from Dusk.
"Well, I believe that if we are friends, you no longer have to call me princess or any other honorifics. I have tried multiple times to tell you that it isn't necessary. Now, rest your eyes and I shall aid you in returning to your slumber."
The Captain of the Night Guard did as he was bid and swiftly, but peacefully drifted into sleep.
The sounds of fires blazing and destruction quickly entered his perked ears. The smell of burnt wood and grass filled his nose in a most unpleasant fashion. Dusk stood at the entrance to what was once a peaceful and prosperous town outside of Canterlot, now seeming devastated by smoke and embers.
Clouds of ash obscured the afternoon sky and all around his students were helping to cover the fires. The citizens of the town were thankfully all evacuated to the sanctity of Canterlot long before, but not before panic started these unfortunate accidents. The air was hot and dry and some of the grass on the west field was still bright and being quenched, but that was not the knight's largest concern at the moment.
Ironsides cast aside a hefty strike from the seven foot tall ice creature before them and Lady Spellfire flung the beast heavily into the ground. "Ser Dusk! These creatures have no weakness. What are they?" the white stallion asked with sword and shield in his aura, turning to him.
"Settle, ser; every creature has their weaknesses," the Night Guard replied, holding his own equipment in a spell, "it is merely a matter of discovering what that weakness is. Remain calm and use your new abilities of observation and strength of mind."
"Yes," the red mare replied, remaining vigilant beside False Step, Slipstream and Twin Lightning, "we have to stay focused and save these ponies before whatever these things are take what they want."
"Being the fastest amongst our available group," the orange eyed pegasus spoke, crouching and displaying his wings dramatically, "I'll distract them while the rest of you test these things for any kinks."
Dusk dipped his head. "Very well, but maintain your distance. Remember what I taught you."
"Change your pattern constantly and never repeat the same motion or strike consecutively." The pegasus briefly glanced at Spellfire, who nodded worriedly in her spell forming stance, before he returned his eyes to Dusk, Ironsides and Dream Waker. He smirked. "I'll try not to figure out what they fear before the rest of you."
"Dusk," a familiar, yet oddly located voice echoed in his erect ears. He twirled around amongst his students to see the Lunar Princess standing with one foreleg ahead of the other, behind him. "You are asleep; these events have already occurred."
The others shouted loudly and galloped around the dark unicorn, while he raised an eyebrow. Yet he calmed his mind and thought about what she was saying. Dusk Darkhelm exhaled and removed his helm, remembering that he had placed it next to his bed before finding himself here. Her dark blue eyes betrayed nothing as he regarded them and within moments, he nodded. "I remember. This is not what we wish to see during our time within the Dreamscape."
"No, Dusk," Luna spoke, sauntering nearer. "We wish to reveal your past and how you were raised." The princess turned for a moment to look at a pair of thatched roof cottages ablaze. She shortly returned her vivacious teal eyes to him. "I need you to think of the dream that you told me about days before; if we may view it from a detached fashion, perhaps we may garner valuable details."
"Oh dear, am I too late to attend this elegant little soiree?" Once again, a peculiar voice entered the stallion's perked ears, but this time it was peculiar for a different reason and Dusk knew immediately who had spoken. Discord swiftly appeared to the right of the Princess of the Night, balloons and confetti cascading to the singed grass as he entered theatrically. "Ta da! Did you miss me, Luna?"
"No," she said immediately with disdain and disinterest. She didn't even turn to him, keeping her eyes on Dusk.
The Chaos Lord flinched. "Oh, you are so cold, Luna. Perhaps I can warm you up before we journey to the center of this stallion's mind." He snapped the fingers of his lion's paw, producing several dozen blankets and pillows around the alicorn and even a life sized version of Discord as a plushie for some reason that Dusk did not understand. Peering at her with a pleased countenance, the draconequus crossed his arms. "Well, are you warm yet?"
She enveloped the blankets and pillows within her aura, her eyebrows furrowed purely a touch; a change in expression that Dusk imagined the Spirit of Chaos failed to note. Swiftly, Luna tossed them in an elaborate sequence at him.
The blankets swirled around his body, tangling him in colorful, disorganized and irregularly shaped fabrics, the overly fluffy pillows striking him squarely in the face. The unicorn watched as Discord shut his eyes to the assault, before the troublemaker peeked at Princess Luna through squinted eyes after a few moments of silence. As the Captain of her Guard turned to the princess, he could almost feel the reason for why she disliked the Spirit of Disharmony so much, but found it escaping, barely apart from his understanding.
Our experience in the Dreamscape together appears to be different from my experiences alone or with my students, he reasoned as Discord lifted himself into the air and began to spin. The fabrics and pillows wrapped about him followed, promptly garnering speed and velocity and creating a tornado of mismatched and horribly tacky fabrics that meandered off of him and away from Dusk's sight behind some trees. Her mind almost seems to be joined with mine somehow, perhaps because we both know how to control the Dreamscape, but I would not intrude on her memories uninvited.
The Princess of the Night, now free of the draconequus' distasteful designs, strolled forward, head held proudly, to twirl and stand at Dusk's side.
Discord, on the other hoof, shook himself a bit, landed and exhaled in frustration. "Well, that is what I get for trying to be friendly."
"What art thou doing here, Discord?" the Lunar princess demanded, vibrant blue mane flowing. The unicorn glanced at her, noticing how she returned to her ancient vernacular.
"What does it look like I am doing?" he answered incredulously. "I am here to help you."
Dusk raised an eyebrow in disbelief, quirking his head to find her with the same expression on her face.
Discord threw his hands into the air with a huff and caught them with two other hands, throwing those away after too. "Oh, fine. Celestia asked me to help you uncover what happened. I want to help, believe me, but come on. Luna really is colder than an igloo in the Crystal Empire mountains on the coldest day of the year. Oh, I do wish I knew why. Perhaps a song would help or a test of mine."
"If you do wish to assist us, I suggest that you refrain from trying to be funny," the dark blue stallion offered. Celestia's jokes at conferences aren't as bad as this.
"'Trying to be funny'? I am the funniest creature I know."
"Yes, well, funniest creature that you know, Princess Luna does not seem to appreciate your humor and she won't always be throwing something soft like blankets and pillows at you in response."
As the Chaos Spirit continued ranting, the two ponies turned around to converse in secret. "Ignore him, Dusk," Luna told him. "Whether or not we want him, he is here. If my sister asked him to help you and I, she must have her reasons. I trust her at least. Instead, we need to focus on your past."
"Understood…Luna," he hesitantly answered with a nod, making the mare smile a bit. "I will however need a few moments of silence while I remember the start of that dream."
"It will be my pleasure, ser." Luna lit her horn and quickly taped the draconequus' mouth shut, surprising the creature terribly in the process. After a time of vigorously attempting to remove the magic tape with his hands, Discord crossed his arms, slumped and plopped himself dramatically on the grass. "I believe that that will suffice."
"Remind me never to tell you a joke," the unicorn quipped.
"I do not mind jokes if they are funny. Tia's are fine. I simply do not like terrible ones."
Oh my goodness, it is another chapter, after such a long wait.
I am elated that I took the time to finish this one. I quite like Dusk and the other characters that I fashioned for this part of the story. His students may only have been in his dream for a moment, but they will have more time to speak and fight, do not doubt that dears.
Does anyone have a favorite character of these? I honestly like Spellfire quite a bit. She knows how to keep her opponents guessing about her strength and what she is capable of. Her relationship with False Step will also be elaborated upon in later chapters and the others, like Slipstream and Dream Waker will have more development too.
Thank you for being so patient and I truly do apologize for taking such a lengthy while to write this.