A/N: I apologize for the delay. I ended up losing my writing device, but I am back now; hopefully nothing bad will happen like that again.
August: the month of my birthday. So expect the next chapter after this to be uploaded around or possibly on my birthday just like with the chapter "Twenty-One". This will be a long chapter, but the next one after will be shorter. I will explain my reasons in the next chapter.
Alright, I am pretty excited for a few things this month besides my birthday. Being able to go and see Smashing Pumpkins/Marilyn Manson tomorrow, Van Halen on the 7th, Slipknot/Lamb of God on the 8th and last but not least Motley Crue in concert on their farewell tour on the 22nd. I also have more reason to be excited before my third semester of college begins. Fan-Expo. I bet you can find out who I'll be meeting. ;)
Review Response Time! (Don't worry mr234scott, I already replied to you.)
sonic3461: Thank you so much. :)
Owldusk: Thanks. It was an honor to meet Peter Cullen for the first time, but not only that: Cranky Doodle Donkey's voice. He really liked my art of Cranky, and I can swear it felt like I was meeting Tabitha St. Germain for the first time all over again. Anyways, in regards to Nightmare Moon and if she'll earn a title: She will earn one, but she'll share the kingdom of Canterlot alongside Celestia and Luna.
jvs12: Thank you. :)
Raven 105: When they get married of course. I am planning something like that, probably after a few to couple chapters after this big 'three-part' adventure that is just about starting.
billykilly: You're about to find out. :)
4theworldman: Everything is... or is it?
Guest: I know you're desperate to see something new, but just please be patient.
steve03: Moondancer is a character I've thought about putting in another chapter after the three-parter; so I am in for that idea definitely. I'll probably do 'Amending Fences' for this story after my hiatus. (Honestly, that episode was pretty good.)
Princess Luna's POV
The air felt gradually warm for such a final night to end a long summer. I could tell by the last of this air with the small-rising temperature in the degrees that it was the coming Autumn bound to happen shortly. The view of Canterlot's streets below my tower is a wonderful sight as the moonlight I brought forth shed light to the fellow subjects of my sister Celestia. The moon's light dances about them, with some still awake, with the other half of the Canterlot civilians going back to their homes for good rest.
It had been a great final day after their debates on the taxes being lowered by the council of Canterlot. Quite busy for the last day of summer, you could say; but it is what it is here in Canterlot as the co-leaders' duty. It's quite a relief after having to have signed all those bills to certify that I, or my sister have confirmed or agreed mutually or not about the terms of the bill before letting it pass.
Other than having my mind on the various politics of bills, taxes to be paid by the major budget of Equestria, anything that is common for our own well-being of how well we run the land; I had my mind set on my friend Brayden.
It's only been at least a few weeks that have passed since the changelings invaded Canterlot yet again in an attempt to rule Equestria just like the last time. Both I and Nightmare Moon had been comforting him, as I myself could sense that he was having nightmares of still being under that spell of hers that turned him and the Song of Order against us. The first few nights after that required loads of restraining and assurance that it was only a dream. He'd still be in complete panic about the queen coming back to kill him. It cannot be possible for her to return though as she knows by far that he'll send her back to that hole in the desert that is the Badlands.
After the first nights of him being driven into fear in those dreams, the haunting of that guilt has begun to stray from him though sometimes he'll just get so quiet in his dreams. Nightmare is good at talking to him about the issue though and we know very well that he is slowly healing from the trauma thanks to our wise words. He doesn't really dream of the changeling queen or her children anymore, just mostly sits by himself in the realm of sleep, in deep thought about it though.
I could feel myself growing tired with a bit of a yawn. Now you would probably be thinking that I can be asleep during the day and awake mostly at night as many of the other ponies would say, but my answer is no. That is not entirely true, as I sleep like any other pony here regardless of what my status would be told like among society. Awake or not, I can still get access into the dreams of anypony in their time of need.
I turn my head away from the view of Canterlot's now quiet streets. An owl could be heard hooting with those crickets chirping a sweet tune at night in their harmony. My eyes glance upon the moon among the tiniest glowing stars for those brief moments as I knew I would be wishing the celestial body I controlled a good night with silence there. Then the eyes slip away when I turn around, trotting straight out from the balcony indoors; entering the tower where I slept.
I was back inside that same room when I used my left back hoof to close the door behind me on my way back in. The door behind me closes shut, and I observe my room for those quick moments.
The laboratory was still there on the desk, remaining pretty much inactive at the moment as I wasn't testing out anything or doing experiments on potions of the sort. I already know that is where I found 'it' before Celestia took it from me after I told her everything. She trusts me that I will keep it secret and that in time Brayden will know the meaning of this vial and the mystery behind it.
On my right, my bed is there with the sheets having been washed and dryed this morning by the maids who we have the honor of having to dedicate their lives for us by helping us out. My hoof treads onto them, giving it a gentle rub. It feels much better and feels right with a good amount of softness in there; it actually feels like the fur of a cat but it isn't. Some will argue that it feels like a blanket, but you could say that it would be both the same feeling either way.
My two front hooves are the first to slip under the sheets with my back hooves coming in last. For those few seconds, I take the time to make myself as comfortable as I could possible under the sheets. Then I put myself into a position facing my eyes upward to the circular window close to the spiral ceiling, filled with the images of twinkling stars and nebulas from the views of the universe.
From out of that window, I can see the moon's blessed light shining down from the night filled atmosphere alongside the stars, some bright and some afar from us. I myself was one who looked at the celestial body when there wasn't really anything else to observe at to get some sleep. The stars help very little, but it is better than nothing.
For a while I am staring up at the stars and moon, paying no attention to how my eyes were starting to slowly close up. By the time I close my eyes, I can still hear the warm air outside just gently blowing against the windows and the door to my tower's balcony. There is occasionally the sound of guards trotting with that armor of theirs regardless if it is gold or not outside of my door and down the steps of the tower.
The sounds start to fade and I already knew that I would be lulling myself into the realm of dreams where I would make my connections to everypony when they were sleeping. Each door in the realm was a way into that certain pony's dream depending on what each doorway looked like according to their interests or cutie mark.
It all came to me now, with those white glowing paths that resembled the stars of the night sky, shining brightly but as it was the world of sleep, anypony can look at them out of their own curiosity without going blind. Looking straight at Celestia's sun though? That is a totally completely different story from my point of view and I think even my sister would agree with me on that.
During the fact that there was a sign of a nightmare, any door would be aglow with a black mist seeping out from their doors as the Tantabus I created would be warning me that it was a nightmare occuring based on their guilt or desperation. Reminded me of having to visit the dreams of what they call themselves the 'Cutie Mark Crusaders', and just almost recently have visited Apple Bloom in her dream while her fears grew relating to her desperation and wish for a cutie. Her cousin Babs Seed living in Manehattan at that time was finally able to get her cutie mark that isn't an apple-related cutie mark, and that might have triggered her fears if she was to get a cutie mark not related to her interests. Such consequences as insulting her family name and being thrown out because of it, even though they would never do anything like that. Anypony would have to be heartless enough to even disown an innocent filly, but that won't happen on either mine or Celestia's watch.
I can feel my four hooves once again touching the glowing surface below, and they hold no hard burden. My eyes observe left and right among millions and millions of these doorways and at any moment, there would be the sign of a nightmare that I would go in to deal with, but surprisingly all would be silent and peaceful in their dreams again.
I continue down the pathway of doors until I found Brayden's door floating there once again like every other night, but there is no dark mist seeping out of the edges, so I assume that this might be a good dream he is having tonight, which I am very proud as this might be the occasion of him being able to finally control his guilt about being under the changeling queen's spell. I am proud of my friend, and grateful that he is still with us even to this day.
A speck of darkness with only the smallest touch of red could be seen in the distance, separated from the other doors in the realm. In the mystic crystalline ambience, my ears are perked up, picking up a sound coming from there. It sounded more like strong wind blowing from afar like the kind of weather that resembled a grand storm. It wouldn't be possible for hurricanes like that to cross into Equestria as that is more in common with the Southwestern part of the Zebra lands across from the sea.
My curiosity is piqued again, and I can feel myself trotting right towards it whilst skeptical feelings of what could happen next are starting to get to me. The more closer I trotted towards it, the more louder that this wind-like sound came to me and bigger this speck would come out to be. Winds like that sounded less like a hurricane though and the sound clearly was deciphering itself to my ears as I listen on. The feelings inside me linger on.
The area of sky blue began to darken the more closer I became to this strange cloud revealed before more in the realm. This was something that I couldn't understand, nor know if this was made out of a nightmare or not: but I continue on, with the realm's endless void become darker and turning into a black endless fright that I am not afraid of as of now, but I fear that I will be if I knew what was going on.
The sky became black and infinite, like if there was no more light to balance it. The wind is picked up to what seems to be a deafening roar of what it would be like for a thousand hydras roaring in your face at the same time. I think you can understand what that might be like, or being in the centre of a twister is another idea for that.
The red cloud within the black gave off an uneasy stench. I do not have any idea what rests inside that cloud, but by the Tantabus with us I don't even think it can detect something powerful like this in the dream realm. I move forward letting the red cloud make contact with my own hoof. It doesn't seem to affect the hoof in any way, plus I don't feel any pain being conflicted towards me.
Strange, really...
I trot with haste into the red cloud, passing past the border, with the black skies still covering up above me high past the red. I can see that of the same color below my hooves, except it displays a more lava-type of path under me as if it was invisible glass that I had been stepping on and didn't even know it. I can't really describe too well on the smell of the air: it is quite strange beyond anything that I recognize.
Ahead of me, I can see a shadow moving about bouncing all over the red and black covered area as if the black might already be making it's first choice of attacking me, none are coming for me though. But the roaring of wind had started to clear up inside the cloud by the time I was down past the invisible path. To my surprise, all I can do is stand there in shock for what things I were witnessing below past my hooves.
Down in that now fiery spiral, I can see the flames below and the many winged beasts inside shadowed, swallowed by the eternal flame that couldn't possibly be from Tartarus itself where many monsters and Lord Tirek are imprisoned for the worst crimes against the enchanted lands of Equestria after all. Many were roaring and there would be more flames to fuel the great pit of fire down below. I still find myself frozen and unable to move, by the time I recognized their shape. They were dragons, but my senses could fear that they were not of the regular blood of the usual arrogant Equestrian dragon.
My senses could tell that these were savages beyond measure. Fierce dragons with sharp teeth, bound with a hunger for blood. The fiery pit began to open more and I knew very little what was happening next when the invisible path broke off.
I can feel myself making my fall down into the pit, watching as the dragons are keeping an eye on me to prevent my wings or magic from breaking it. Their eyes were now visible and close for me to see their slit reptile eyes, stalking onto me as weak prey, but I am not afraid, well that is when I've gone into the spiral.
I can find myself being twisted and turned around the fiery whirlwind, unable to control my fall. I am practically almost afraid that I will end up touching the edges of burning flames to bring harm to myself. It is completely impossible to find where I came in. The flames look ever so fast at the speed I was accelerating. The fire looks like lava at this rate. Images start to form inside the flames when I look at them.
The first image that pops up in through the fire and flames is that of what is Canterlot itself... or what used to be Canterlot. A lot of the castle had been destroyed by the looks of it and it was to my own horror that blood was being spilt and shed by what I assume were what those beasts I laid eyes upon on the top of the spiral. But it wasn't the end of those various images as more were coming into appearance from the flames of terror.
More images come in: there is the destruction of Ponyville down from the wrecked Canterlot, burning ever so endlessly while these winged creatures circle the skies above and some landed, feeding. I am forced to look away, I just cannot stand to see the look of our subjects being devoured alive. Few are struggling to run, but are crushed. More images came of the other cities resulting in the same consequence as Canterlot and Ponyville, with more skeletons to be lying about. Cloudsdale itself had practically been torn apart as nothing but clouds were that of its remains.
Another one comes after that and it is what seems to be that of dark red skies covering through the atmosphere high up. The moon could be seen there, but I notice that it is starting to turn blood red in its color. Below the bloody moon, I can see a dark figure lying down on the ground, and seemed rather tall. I can assume that this figure is dead well that is until I could see the horn upon its head. It's hard to decipher if it was a male or female, so that I will never know.
I take a look down the spiral, seeing the shadow start to emerge out as a tall, slender figure similar to the size of Brayden. I can tell that it was a female by the looks of it, and those wings she had behind her. I could not see too well on how she looked as she was kept in all shadow to prevent me from knowing who it was herself. Her head turns and can see the red eyes of hers shine brightly at me with a look of what seems to be a glare coming for her to be bound at me.
With that, I can see at least another image pop up into my head as part of all of this. It was the interior of an old room made completely of stone, little light would be shown in the dark but I knew what I saw upon the pedestal in the center of the room. Placed on it was a dust-worn black book that seemed like it was made ages ago before the time of Equestria's but at an unknown time.
I knew very well what it looked like though, and I have little time to answer that question. The shadowed figure took out at least two sharp but yet long looking blades and charged forward at me, covering me up in complete darkness. I was on the verge of waking up, but it wasn't over yet as I can hear a name being whispered in the now-silence.
"Mortem..."
I woke up from the dream realm back into reality with the panicked gasps that I have done by my own gain. I was finally free from the grasp of what seemed to be a nightmare that I myself managed to have. But how did that... how did something like that breach right into the dream realm.
Thank goodness that this darkness didn't spread just yet to the doors of everypony. The last thing I currently want to happen is for everypony to experience the same kind of Tartarus, no it's not even a Tartarus but more solely unspeakable for anypony's eyes. Those images displayed in the dream, they don't even resemble a dream at all.
My panting becomes calmer by each second that passes. My mind is still crazy about what happened in the realm, and regardless when I finally calmed, I knew I had to confront Celestia about this immediately.
I can hear the door to my room opening, and I can tell that it's my royal guard who was standing outside during the entire sequence when he probably heard me awaken with a loud gasp of fright from all that.
"Princess Luna, are you alright?!" He says to me almost immediately, sounding very concerned for my well-being.
I let out a bit of a sigh and look to the door guard. "It was a nightmare," I said to him. "I need to use this evidence from what I found in the dream to inform Celestia at once."
The guard bows to me. "Yes your highness," He said to me. "I believe that Princess Celestia might be in her bedroom, so it is advised you keep quiet. Abruptly waking her is most rather something that will startle her awake."
"Thank you." I ended up saying to the guard as he dismissed himself from my room and back outside to stand and guard until the hourly change. I trot outside behind him, as I needed to get out from the tower downstairs.
I trot past him, making my way down the steps while I can see the cosmos displayed upon the walls of the tower as I descend downward, seeing the nebulas that according to what I had studied were few like the Eagle Nebula or various others similar to that: but there was also the Pleaides. The galaxy we were in could be seen at the edge of it, far from any other system though here and Earth are in the same galaxy system so no wonder I could bridge a connection there in ethereal form while still in the dream realm.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, my horn ignites and my aura covered the door, watching I move forward towards the two opening doors out of my star-tower. I walk past the arch leaving what seems to be the grand view of the cosmos and close the door shut behind me, allowing myself to hear the shutting door echo throughout the empty hallway at night.
My hooves pace onto the carpeted floor in the hallway. Silence is of the most to be heard, but out of them I still hear the silent winds of the new autumn blowing away at the glass windows. I continue trotting down the halls, passing by the marching guards moving about that late at night. I check the position of the moon in the sky through those glass windows. I can see that it had moved while I was sleeping, so by how it touched the western part of the skies, it was probably 2 or 3 in the morning.
I make a turn to the hallway that holds the door to my sister's throne room. I ignite my magic and watch as the large doors open up when I got closer by each step of my hooves. I can suspect that Celestia is in there right now, but I wasn't too surprised by where she was.
I close the doors behind me and notice my sister standing there, observing all of Equestria from outside that window on the left side of the room. Her eyes stare out there, and she holds a look of worry on her face which I suspect she might be thinking about... 'it'. I trot up closer towards her, still determined on giving her evidence on what I saw in my dreams.
"Sister..." I call out to her. She turns her head away from the window's view point and her eyes are turned to look at me. "I bring some grave news."
Her full attention is turned towards me by the time I had announced there was news for her. "I am listening." She says to me, her ears perked up and listening hard when I trotted closer to join her.
"I just came out of the dream realm just a few minutes ago, and what I just saw inside was quite terrifying that not even I recognize anything like that before..." I paused for a few moments, still remembering those beasts of the fire and the long drop into the spiral of flames. The smell of ashes inside were the worst part as normally you don't smell that stuff as you're always connected with reality. "How did something like this come into my dreams, showing the events of Equestria engulfed in flame and ruin?"
Celestia's eyes were closed and she turns back to the view of Equestria, emitting a sigh from her mouth. "You are not alone on that Princess Luna," She tells me. "I too have seen these in my dreams. But it was like you said upon Tirek's return. It is a vision of the future bound to happen if we do not act quickly upon it."
"But how?" I ask, knowing that these beasts look terribly stronger than us.
"In the visions, we could all see the same black book in the pedestal, lying there to collect the dust of the ancients," She says to me, still looking out across the lands there and beyond. "Before I awoke, I could hear a whisper calling out the name of the 'forbidden' place."
"Mortem?" I whispered as I knew that name should never be spoken out loud. The name itself causes panic among our society for those mentioning it.
She nodded her head. "Yes Luna," She said. "This made me realize by that black book there that it is one of the books of the Dragon Queen."
I look confused. "I don't get it though, we found the books already. They're being kept in the forbidden wing of the Canterlot library. Besides nopony but us can access it ourselves." I told her, knowing very well that the eight original books found throughout the ages were kept in there safe and sound from the rest of Equestria's own eyes from peeking at the knowledge of evil written in there.
"It seems like we may have missed one over the passing years, resting in that hidden fortress of Mortem," She replied to me, her voice sounds ever so concerned. "Nopony has ever gone there and made it out alive, and even I would forbid it. But at times like these, it is absolutely necessary that I ensure a good organized team to get into the darklands and find the ninth black book in the fortress there."
"The stench of death there will kill them though after an hour." I stated, knowing how poisonous the air would be. "And no unicorn would ever enter there. The second magic is ignited, the single individual alone is a target for being devoured by the monsters lurking in there, winged or not. Not to mention that there is an ever-watchful spirit there, informing others should the alarm be risen silently by that."
"This team though, will be important for the sake of Equestria's protection," She said. "I will be sending in Brayden with a few other ponies bound for adventure to find it. The author of a book I read told that it would lie in the mountain cliffs, so the stench below probably won't be a problem, but I still hold concern should it rise above."
"You're sending in Brayden?" I exclaimed with a bit of a hushed tone. "Why?"
"He will go in with the organized team, but I cannot allow him to bring the Song of Order. The second he ignites it, he'll already become a target." She told me, and trots away from the window, joining me. "We have no other choice but to send him anyway. I will write a letter to Princess Twilight immediately and notify her that she and Brayden must come to Canterlot at once in the morning..."
"They can't come here on an empty stomach." I confirm, knowing that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
Celestia had a face that does give off the expression of 'you don't say' and she brings out a quill, dipping it in an ink bottle and then beginning to write on a parchment, returning that face to look tired. "Don't worry sister, they'll already be here by the time they're done breakfast."
I do surely hope that my sister Celestia know what she is doing, sending Brayden into the heart of danger even though he himself was a victim of danger weeks ago. I know that she can be right most of the time, but I hope this is for the right and not of the wrong. I have no choice but to agree with her.
Equestria will be safe, especially after Brayden made his promise not to hurt anypony as long as he lived. "And Luna?" She asked, turning her eyes off the paper to look at me. "I'll be informing a few others to join up with him on the trip, this will be a challenging quest for them yet."
Brayden's POV
The next morning...
The train car doors of the Friendship Express open up and I can see the conductor in front of me, trotting outside to wait for other ponies to come in or out of the train cars. Accompanied alongside me is Twilight, trotting beside me when we made our way off the train and onto the station grounds of Canterlot's rail system.
In case you're wondering how I got here to Canterlot on such a short notice, it was because Twilight recieved a letter and somehow I am involved with this as it feels like an abrupt invitation. But I don't mind that, the princesses can be a bit hurrying to get things over with, so I don't really get as much time to talk to Celestia, and sometimes Luna can be busy as well. Nightmare isn't a princess yet, though her alicorn body says otherwise. I just don't really know what to title her as though I am not of royalty.
I woke up this morning feeling refreshed than ever before, Fluttershy had been waiting for me downstairs with breakfast ready. Hell, she even made me my favorite breakfast dish which were over-easy eggs and buttered toast. After finishing, I cleaned up my dish and that's when Twilight came in. She told me that both me and her were needed in Canterlot at once. I don't say a word to object against it, as I know this must be of importance regardless. We made our way back to Ponyville to the train station there and I am already practically here in Canterlot as of now.
We step off of the platform and started to make our way towards the castle. My eyes perch about to see what is happening in the grand city today. I can see the aristocrat ponies walking about and trotting about how their day was. I don't think they appreciated my presence as to them, I am 'country'. They turn their noses up and go 'hmph' to look more superior, but I just ignored them as they only want to see me overreact most likely. If Blueblood told them anything about me in rumor... never mind.
Donut Joe's shop could be seen across the city's main square as I pass by. As early the morning was, ponies would be gathering into the shops to grab a bite to eat with what I suspect looks like coffee, but again I could be wrong as it could be cocoa that I can see in those ceramic cups of theirs they'd drink out of, as I could see through the solid glass-paned window.
The both of us continue through the streets on our way to the castle, we saw a few familiar faces along the way like Fancy Pants and Fleur Dis Lee. But of course I could also see Prince Blueblood out there, trying his best to throw an insult in my own path. I could hear him mutter still that I should be banished into the Everfree Forest permanently, but this doesn't bother me as it's typical for that jerk to call me out as scum.
Twilight has her hoof gently placed onto the top of my right hand. On occasion during our walk to the castle, my brown eyes would turn to look at her. Those beautiful violet eyes of her own would look right back at me, and a warm smile would beam right from her mouth. The hoof still felt the same in that good way, feeling soft like a blanket on a winter's night. Whatever Celestia would have needed, Twilight would be there by my side to join me if this is involving me after all.
A few minutes of passing by other recognizable faces in the city came and went as soon as we finally could see the two royal guards of Celestia standing at the double doors to the castle. The both of us went forward, with a trustful look from the guards knowing I was coming by the informing of Celestia herself telling them in the first place.
Pushing the doors open, we head right into the main hall of the castle, seeing the recognizable stained glass windows of Celestia and Luna. The framed glass resembling the princess of the night could be seen on the right side of the hall with Celestia's resemblance on the left. The two cutie marks of the sun and moon were drawn out and resembled in the middle section of the windows.
Nightmare Moon could be seen, standing there at the top of the steps in the middle of the stairs waiting for us. I suspect she herself would escort us to the throne room where Celestia and Luna are waiting for us. I can see the small specks of light that represented stars on her wavy mane, resembling to be like Luna's, but hers was more tinted darker than Luna's usually would be.
"Nightmare," I acknowledge to her, feeling my feet going up one step at a time for the stairs towards her. I can see a mild smile upon her face, knowing she is really happy to see me once again. "It is good to see you."
"It is good to see you too Brayden," She said to me, then turning her eyes towards Twilight. "Princess Twilight, are you well?"
I turn my head to see Twilight nodding to Nightmare's question. "Yes Nightmare Moon, I am well," She says to her. "But at the same time I am rather confused... why would Brayden be important for this meeting with Princesses Celestia and Luna?"
"I never really heard anything of the importance to them as I only heard them talking about it briefly this morning," She says. She joins both of us, being next to me on my left side. All three of us make our up the ride side of the stairs to get to the throne room for there forward. "It piqued my curiosity and from what I heard... they might be sending him on a quest somewhere. That's all I heard really, but whatever this place might be; I hope it's not too dangerous where somepony would keep him hostage."
"I know exactly how you feel right there," I could hear Twilight say on my right side. "Having your cutie mark taken from you and replace with an equal mark is already enough to make it seem dangerous."
"I don't think you told me the entire story about that." I stated.
Twilight lets out a bit of a soft sigh, as I know she is remembering what happened in that village she and her friends visited while I was away in the mirror world. "This town had all their cutie marks stripped from them and all were doing the exact same thing, unaware that their talents were brought down all thanks to a powerful unicorn named Starlight Glimmer." She had explained.
"Starlight Glimmer?" I asked. "That almost sounds like she would be related to our friend Sunset Shimmer."
"She isn't though," Twilight explained to me. "She brought us to the cutie mark vault. She used her own magic, but tricked us from using it by a stick she found to remove our marks until we agreed to live with them and go by their rules. We didn't though, all thanks to Fluttershy she exposed her as she hid her real cutie mark. We got the cutie marks back in the end."
"And what happened to that thief?" I questioned knowing that I wouldn't trust Starlight if she brought harm onto my friends.
"She ran off," She just simply states. All three of us had gone off the steps and into the castle hallways. "Ever since, none of us have ever seen her presence; so I can safely assume is that she is thinking about what she did to us. She mostly will be feeling regret, but when she is ready; she'll come out and apologize to all of us for all she had done."
"She'd get banished from Equestria should she bring mere harm to anypony," Nightmare said. "If she gets anywhere near you, run away as fast as you can. We cannot risk anything bad to happen to you."
I nod my head in agreement. "I would keep as close an eye on my friends as well, as I know she'll probably try to have her revenge on them." I said to Nightmare, turning my head and eyes to face her.
"Other than that, everything else happening in Equestria has been fine really until now with the news of you being required immediately," She said. "I just hope it won't be that bad."
All three of us were eventually at the very doors of Celestia and Luna's throne room. Nightmare Moon herself, goes forward, using the magic of her horn to cover the doors with her aura. The doors swing open and the both of us follow her into the throne room where I know two of our other good friends are waiting.
Celestia was positioned alongside Luna by the stained glass window of Nightmare Moon's defeat by Twilight and her friends back when she was still Celestia's student before her evolution into a princess. Ah, the memories... Hearing my footsteps coming in, their attention on what is happening outside is diverted towards all three of us, looking relieved a few moments later on for that we have arrived.
"Princess Celestia, Princess Luna..." I could hear Twilight say beside me. Both of the co-leaders of Equestria trot away from the last place they were and join up in front of us. "Why did you send us here? Did something bad happen? Is it Tirek himself?"
"No Twilight, it's not Tirek." Celestia spoke out with assurance in her voice to keep her as calm as possible. "The reason I have called the both of you here is for something of importance for this quest I mentioned in the letter I sent you last night that we are need for the sake and safety of Equestria itself."
"Well, what is it you need?" I ask, this quest coming to mind.
Celestia paused and all of us were silent. None of us had even spoke a word for a few minutes, but rather just stare at one another during the silence. It was probably to assure that no other pony even the royal guard was going to hear this perhaps. The silence would lift at any moment, and then with Celestia's sigh. The silence was broken by the time she starts to explain the meaning of the quest mentioned in the letter.
"Long ago before the banishment of my sister Princess Luna and after the first defeat of Discord, the both of us made the discovery of at least eight of them in existence. These eight we are referring to as the black books of the Dragon Queen." She was explaining to us while we listen carefully. "Most of the work written inside were too evil for any other pony to read and they can only be deciphered by us alone, as any other eye will be turned blind by it. None of us are affected by the dark spell of the black books. Little did we know there was a ninth and final book after all."
Princess Luna continued from there to explain after Celestia said all that she could say. "The books foretold the events that past of her life here before the Pre-Equestria and of her defeat at Whinnepagos, the floating isle in the middle of the oceans before its collapse into the sea, never to reform again as all it is now is rocks and wet dirt. If anypony is lucky, they can see the ruins of a lost civilization there. Last night, both of us had a vision in the dream realm of the terrible things bound to happen which we suspect is the queen's return to Equestria."
"I don't understand though," I said with question in the tone of my voice. "What is the Dragon Queen? Or rather, who is she?"
"The Dragon Queen from these books are described to look very human like you are. She had been here long before your own birth. She is a terrible being, bound with a hatred on Equestria, and though she targeted alicorns... it's no doubt she'll seek out every form of us. Earth pony, pegasi, unicorn... alicorn. She'll target them as to taste the fiery wrath from her army of winged beasts." Princess Luna said to me. She trots forward, placing her left hoof onto my shoulder. "I couldn't see her actual form in the dream I had as she was more shadowed, but I fear bad things to come our way."
"Where is the ninth final book located?" Twilight asked, noted by me that she was talking to Princess Celestia.
"Over the years, we found the books in different locations. The last one now revealed to us is in a place we were surprised to even send Brayden into." Celestia said, before saying the name of the forbidden place in a hushed tone. "Mortem..."
Twilight was quick enough to get defensive and I knew she wasn't going to see me go there. "No," I can hear her say. "You are not going to send him in there among with those beasts. I'm not going to allow that."
"Twilight," Princess Celestia said to her, in a way to keep her as calm as possible. "We have no choice. Neither of us want to send him in there to find it either. But you do not have to worry as he will be with a team alongside him to help find the ninth black book and return it to us at once."
"I'll take the risk," I said to them knowing Twilight will be worried about me getting in harm's way while there. "I'll bring the Song of Order with me to defend myself and find the-"
"No Brayden, I am afraid you misunderstand," Princess Luna said to me. "You cannot bring the Song of Order with you this time. The second you ignite it, too many of them will consider you a target and you'll be overwhelmed in no time. This team is special, and both Celestia and I will let you know where the book is."
"The book is resting inside the mountainside by the interior of Mortem. It was revealed to be a very lost fortess hidden in there for some time," Celestia claimed. "You must get in there with the team, find it and then bring it back before the monsters inside the darklands are aware that you and the brave choices of ponies invited are there."
"The fortress..." Twilight said, knowing that me and her talked about it before in that same kind of hushed tone. "I read about it... so it is true after all. I'll go with him and make sure that-"
"No, Twilight." Princess Celestia finally said. "You may have gone on risky paths before, but this place isn't for you. An alicorn alone igniting magic or not is an easy target for any in there to go after you immediately. I cannot risk you going."
"But Brayden-" Twilight managed to get out.
"You can't come with him, it's simply too risky." Luna spoke out in defense of Celestia's statement on what she already told her.
The doors open behind us, and all of us turn around. From there I could see a few recognizable faces stepping into the throne room and I can safely assume that this is the group I will be with for the whole time I am there on the journey to risk more danger yet again as ever on the occasion.
I can see the recognizable pegasi from the book series that both Rainbow and Twilight would be reading, Daring Do among the group with the others being Bon Bon, Sonata Dusk who looked really happy to see me. The last one that I recognized myself was my other friend, Sunset Shimmer herself.
"Sunset, you're here as well?" I asked her.
"Yes Brayden, by the time I got Celestia's letter, I was surprised I would be with you and a few other for this journey. Most of the details were already explained to me." Sunset says, before her eyes turned to Celestia herself. "Princess Celestia..."
"Sunset Shimmer," Celestia acknowledges her by her name. "It is good to see you again after the years that have passed."
I was Sunset trot forward towards her past teacher and she drops down, bowing before the princess of the sun. "I want to apologize for all of my actions back when I was your student, I truely never meant to do anything of the sort or go against you." I heard her say.
Celestia lets out a giggle and places her hoof onto Sunset's chin. Her hoof gently moves her head upward to have her previous student look her in those eyes of hers. "Sunset, everything is all behind us. I understand clearly that you never meant to do those things either, and we can put them aside." She said in that calm tone of hers she always spoke in when she was happy and content.
"You forgive me?" Sunset says, still unsure if it is true or not.
"Yes Sunset," Celestia says to her. "I forgive you. I am willing for the both of us to try starting our friendship again."
Sunset gets back up onto her four hooves. "I won't let you down next time Princess Celestia." She said to her.
"I certainly know that you won't let me down." Princess Celestia says. "There is no time to waste though. You, Brayden and the rest of the team must catch the next train from Canterlot to Appleloosa at once. From there, an agent from Canterlot will be waiting for you at the station with buffalo escorts to get you to a close enough range from a side entrance to the darklands."
"Good luck to you Brayden," I can hear Nightmare Moon next to me. I turn around and can see Nightmare's face looking concerned for my own safety while I am gone. "I mustn't ask for much from you... but I will. Please be safe."
I open my arms up and gently wrap my arms around the neck of Nightmare gently, giving her a warm, friendly hug. I can feel her soft hooves around my waist and her head past by me. "I'll be safe and return back safe and sound Nightmare," I said to her. "I promise you that."
The hug lasted for a few moments, and then the both of us separated after that. I could sense that Twilight behind me would want to wish me good luck as well, so I turn myself around behind. She is trotting upward towards me, and she holds a face of despair that I have to go into danger again.
"I'll return with the book in my hand and you'll be there when I come back right?" I asked her.
She threw herself onto me, wrapping her hooves around my neck. I began to hold her in my arms and give her that gentle and romantic hug that the both of us would share if that time would come. "I'm sorry if I'm being that way..." She says to me, sounding really worried. "I just worry that you'll end up getting hurt or killed. I don't want that to happen."
"I can't assure that I'll get hurt," I said to her, my nose gently rubbing hers. "I can tell you this though. I will be back and you'll be able to see me again. It's not like you won't see me again."
I move my head forward and close my eyes, gently pressing my own lips onto her soft and smooth lips. I can sense that her eyes must be closed and the both of share a romantic kiss. This felt more like assurance that I will always think of her no matter how far I am from my special somepony in the risk of dangers. It always feels like heaven when I hold Twilight in these arms of mine, kissing her. She was personally to me like an angel.
The both of us release from the kiss and I hold onto her for a few moments. Then, I place her back onto the carpeted floor. The both of us gaze at one another in the eyes for only a short bit of time. However, the insistance of Princess Celestia came along and I knew that there could not be any more time to be wasted.
"You must go at once," Celestia commanded to all of us. She looks all over us. "I know you're scared to enter the darklands, but it is crucial that you retrieve the book in order for Equestria to be safe, should the Dragon Queen come back. And I recommend not opening the book as the evil text written as part of it can blind you permanently."
"Everything won't be a problem in the end," I can hear Bon Bon saying. "If Twilight and her friends can do it, we all can too."
Celestia nods her head in understanding. "Good luck my little ponies, good luck to you Brayden. May the power of friendship keep you safe in these dangerous times." She told all of us one last time before we turned to those double doors.
Nightmare Moon does the honor of opening the doors for all of us to leave the throne room. I was positioned myself between both Sunset Shimmer and Sonata Dusk. By the time we're already on the train, I can ask questions on how they were doing. For Daring though, I wouldn't want to bother her except in important need. You know how she can be as somepony who works alone. After that adventure in the Ring of Destiny book she was reading with Rainbow Dash a part of it, I guess she can put her work alone stance aside for one of these times to ensure that this book is found.
Now we're on our way to the darklands of Mortem, the forbidden place down in southern Equestria. For all the times' sake, I hope that we will survive this and be able to live to tell the tale. And even then, let us hope this book isn't too hard to find in this hidden fortress buried in the mountainside.
With a few friends at my side, I just hope that this will be a success after all.