Dear reader,

I'm afraid I can't sleep.

The moonlight is shining in my eyes. Pulling the blankets over my eyes and turning away doesn't help – then I'm facing Wing Noirs door. The dream from last night kept haunting me. He was the first pony I really met, but that doesn't matter. I trust him; we're friends. Our friendship means something to him – I'm absolutely sure about that.

But where would I be if he weren't friendly? Am I really so naïve? Yesterday, and all the other days I've been here, he turned out to be a true friend. I felt safe around him… I don't know what that feeling means…

My thoughts are going in spirals, but I just couldn't stop thinking about it. Then again… he's hiding something. But if he would do something to me, he would've done it ages ago! So, yes, I can trust him, even though he doesn't tell the whole story. I mean, who set me up to think he wouldn't be trusted? Mörk! A bad guy! A shadow, claiming I had murdered my parents! And I should believe him!?

Then again… I do trust the first one to be nice to me, and what if they weren't?

Oh, come on! I need my sleep!

I noticed the moonlight had moved. Even though my vision was blurred without my glasses, I still could see that the moon was full.

Oh, Luna, help me, I prayed to the moon, in the hope that she would come just like the first time. Finally, after a while, my eyelids grew heavier and at last I fell asleep.

The dream began in the dead field, the sun burning on my back. The grass was yellow and the lone tree that stood there was dead, its trunk almost black from the heat. The sun grew hotter and hotter, until it hurt. I tried to run, to scream – but I couldn't. It was as if my legs were glued to the ground.

Then, I could just make out the voice of… somepony. I couldn't hear who it was or what it said, but the moment I heard it, I felt my surroundings change. It was as I went back in time. The grass became green and soft, the tree that stood there grew back into its former glory and grew lots of leaves. Its shade stretched so far that it covered me, protecting me from the hot sun.

I recognized the tree. It was the tree where I woke up. The big, old oak tree, stretching up so high, it made me feel so small. It wasn´t bad, however. It made me think of my first day… of Wing Noir. He was my best friend. I smiled, thinking of him.

A vile laugh echoed through the fields. I tensed up when I recognized his voice.

Mörk.

Several trees shot up from the ground, blocking all the sunlight, making it really dark. Not just night-dark, but really-scary-dark. I shivered, because by blocking out the sun, you block out the warmth too. And that made it at least a few degrees cooler and counting. But what really worried me, was that I couldn't see the old oak anymore. I don't know why – but I felt a lot less secure.

There was that voice again. I couldn't hear what he said, but it was vaguely familiar. A faint shimmer caught my attention the moment I heard it. I tried to lift my hoof, but I couldn't. I squinted my eyes to look better.

It was… a cart? No – a wagon! It was the same wagon I spend the first night in! I lifted my hoof again, and this time I succeeded! I walked to the door, but there I stopped. The laughing entered my head again and in the doorway stood… Mörk.

I tried to back away, but I couldn't. Something stopped me, and I believe it is him. His eyes were so black – not just his irises, but what was supposed to be white was black as well – or at least a very, very dark grey. His manes were like black fire, burning at his head.

At that moment, the other voice could be heard. This time I could hear whose it was.

Wing Noir.

He was calling me to wake up.

I saw Mörk putting a sour face, but immediately it was vile again. It truly scared me. I heard a loud bang high above me and a yell.. I couldn't see what it was, but Mörk was grinning even wider now.

I saw something coming down. It floated, slowly, like a feather in the wind. But it wasn't a feather. It was a hat. I recognized it as Wing Noir's hat. It landed right in front of my hooves. I could smell his scent all over it… and something else I couldn't place It was too dark to see it well, however.

As if on cue, Mörks grin got wider and wider while some branches high above me gave way to let the sun in. I looked back at the hat.

It was covered in blood. Noir's blood.

I screamed now, really, really hard. I staggered backwards, shaking my head, shutting my eyes tight, hoping it wasn't true. Mörk was laughing, and abruptly stopped to point at me and hiss, "This is all your fault."

I cried, hoping for it to stop. And finally, finally, I woke up. Above me hovered Wing Noir, his eyes big with concern.

"Civ! Are you okay? You were screaming really loud."

I shot up, panting. He landed next to me.

"Ci- oof!"

I whimpered, and before I could stop myself, I hugged him while crying my eyes out – but he hugged me back. I pulled away when I was a little calmer. I blushed, wildly.

"Sorry…"

He blushed too. "I – it's okay, Civ. I know how bad those nightmares can get…"

I looked away, my cheeks burning.

"Are those nightmares… Are they always the same?" he asked, curious.

I shook my head. "No. This one was really different. It was good and bad at the same time. I know it sounds weird, but.." I sighed. "It's so hard to explain… But there is this Mörk, who, I think is, causing all this."

Noir frowned. "Who is Mörk?"

I shrugged and shook my head. "I don't know! That's what I'm trying to find out."

I breathed in, shakily, and sighed. "I don't know if I can take any more of these sleepless nights."

Noir nodded. "Maybe Shadow can help. I mean, he is a teacher after all. He read a lot of books, I'm sure he's got something about dreams."

I sighed. "I hope so."

I sat up on the couch, and Noir landed next to me. He put a reassuring hoof on my shoulder and smiled.

"You can always tell me anything, if you want to."

I smiled. "Thanks. I… I really appreciate it."

Outside, the early morning rays made the stars fade away. The moon was gone and the sky was beginning to show beautiful morning colors.

Wing Noir yawned. "I think it's too late to go to bed now…"

I sighed. "But it's still too early to get up."

Noir thought for a moment. "How about… we go watch the sunrise?"

I frowned. "How?"

He smiled confidently. "Well…"

He opened the window and flew through it. He landed on the window-sill and reached his hoof to grab mine.

I hesitated; Noir smiled.

"Come on, Civ. It'll be fun."

I still wasn't really sure about this…

"Do you trust me?"

I looked into his golden-brown eyes. I breathed in, nodded and grabbed his hoof.

He flew me up to the roof. He smiled when we landed.

I looked around. From here, you had a clear view from the sunrise – and what view it is…

"Well? What do you think?" Noir asked.

The view was breathtaking. The buildings, to the east, were colored beautifully in several kinds of pinks, purples, oranges and yellows. The snow on the mountains that surrounded the valley were like gold. The valley that stretched to the west, was beautifully lit by the sun that just reached the point where we could see it without anything standing in the way.

"It's… It's amazing!" I exclaimed.

He snickered. "When I had a bad dream early in the morning, my mother would take me up to the roof too, and show me the sunrise. She said, that it was the best way to make you forget a bad dream."

I smiled. "Yes. It is the best way."

And so, we sat there side by side, until the morning colors had faded away and the delicious smells of breakfast reached our noses.

About breakfast.

Well, breakfast itself was… a bit tense.

There was a loaded silence hanging above the kitchen table. Shadow wasn´t really enjoying breakfast, or so it seemed. From time to time I saw him glaring at Water Word. I wonder what that´s all about. There wasn't any meaningful conversation either, only some statements like what we are going to do today or what we would like to do or what we should do.

There was some need for groceries, however. Apparently, we were low on apples (even though I could swear I saw a whole bunch of apples in the fridge). Water Word suggested Shadowflame to get them.

And so, at eight he set off to go to the nearest store that sells good apples. That would be a fifteen-minute walk to the shop, and fifteen minutes back – or even more, if the traffic lights were against you.

Now, this all happened about two hours ago. It is now five minutes to ten, and, well, we are getting a bit worried.

I mean, sure, it can take a lot of time to walk there. It could be busy in the shop… But even then, he would be back within the hour. But two whole hours…? Even Noir became a bit uneasy. We're just sitting in the living room, the three of us, reading or doing nothing.

The clock on the mantelpiece stroke ten times. Ten o'clock; two full hours have passed. When the last strike has faded away, Water Word chuckled. "It seems Snipit did his job right."

Snipit? I frowned. "Who is Snipit?"

Water Word stood up, facing us. "Children…"

He took a deep breath. "And in particularly you, Civviq Writer…"

Wing Noir tensed up.

"I'm sorry."

He put off his sunglasses, which revealed neon blue eyes. Hi His horn glowed neon blue as well, wrapping his body in a blue glow. His coat began to change from blue to black, and his mane and tail became neon blue. Even his cutie mark changed, into two katana swords: one made of silver, and one made of… carbon, I think. Something grey.

Wait. What?

When his transformation was complete, he lit his horn once again and a blinding fla

Okay.

My head hurts.

But still… Wait, I'm writing?

Okay. Okay.

I can't see a thing… Where are my glasses? Oh, there they are.

Okay. Now I can see something.

Apparently, I'm in a room… It's a round room. I'm lying on… a rug… It's soft, it tickles… it's grey, like the stones. The room is empty, well, except for the rug, of course. There wasn't a single piece of furniture.

The color of my saddlebags stand out against the dull colors. Yellow, with orange. Not exactly a fashion statement – but it's a great saddlebag.

The orange lid was open, but nothing was taken. It still had a map, my spare quill and a sack with a few bits in it I set apart. There were also a few apples… I wonder where they came from. I strapped my saddlebag back on my back.

The room is lit by torches. There aren't any windows. There… There is no door?

Great, I'm trapped. I'm at the mercy of the one who teleported me here.

Also… Where's Wing Noir? Did something bad happen to him? Why isn't he here with me, I mean, that Carbon Copy has teleported him somewhere as well, right? But why not here?

Oh… Why? Where is everypony? Why did they take me here?

I bit my lip to stop the tears from falling. I knew there was no means of escape – but that didn't stop me from panicking and crying and oh what am I doing…

Take a deep breath.

And breath out…

I close my ey

-es.

My eyes.

And now I'm somewhere else entirely.

But all my belongings have travelled with me, so that's a great reli

…And I almost dropped the quill when I realized exactly where I was.

In a hall.

With lots of …creatures… staring at me.

The only thing that breaks the silence is the scribbling of my quill so I think I'm stopping now…

To the Faithfullest Follower of our Dark Lord Mörk, and our current leader, Black Heart,

We are truly regretful to report that we have failed in capturing our First Attempt, Civviq Writer.

However, in the moment that she was teleported away, we have succeeded in capturing her friend, Wing Noir, and one of her allies, Carbon Copy.

I believe the friend will be useful to us, serving as bait. And maybe we will be able to turn him to our side, like his father before him. I believe his father, Aile Noir, is trying to persuade him now.

Until further notice, we will continue informing you of our findings.

Your faithful servant,

Leader of the Second Division

Head Mare of Alpha 1

Supervisor of Actions

Betelgeuse