Chapter 7:
Dark Visions, Tales Of Doom, And A Great Evil
After Twilight and her friends have fended off the Dark Armies from attacking the temple and Twilight and Sunset explained everything that has happened with Flash, The Mane 6, The Princesses, and The Guardians, all gathered in the ain room at the pool of vision to discuss the attack that has happened on the temple tonight and find Flash Sentry.
But they were having a little difficulty finding where Flash has gone. Even trying to find Flash with the Pool Of Visions was difficult for them as well. They all had a feeling of dread and that there was a darkness coming, and Flash leaving the temple and this attack must be a sign.
"Find anything yet, Luna?" Twilight asked, hoping the Alicorn Of The Night had found something.
"I'm sorry, Twilight. But I can't seem to find where Flash has gone…just darkness," Luna replied in defeat, feeling that Flash leaving the temple is a bad sign.
"Wait, Flash and Darkness. Aren't they the same thing?" Spike asked, scratching the back of his head.
"Hold on, what's this? Something is coming into focus. This is particular," Luna said, sensing something happening within the Pool Of Vision.
The Pool Of Vision shows a picture of an ancient tree in a forest and standing at the base is Twilight and her friends looking at it, which may be foretelling the future.
"What do you see, Sister?" Celestia asked, wanting to know what Luna saw in the Pool Of Vision
"This is curious, I see Twilight and her friends at the base of a great tree amidst a lake of mist and gloom," Luna said, showing everyone the picture in the Pool while being fascinated by what she is seeing.
"Wait a minute. A tree? I've seen that tree before, in my dreams! Only they felt more like nightmares," Twilight said, recognizing the tree but slowed down as she realized what she just said.
The Guardians, Mane 5, and The Princesses were surprised that Twilight recognized the tree, but they were also surprised that she kept it a secret instead of telling them.
"Twilight, you've been keeping secrets? What else have you seen in these dreams of yours?" Celestia asked with a slight firmness.
"I'm sorry, Celestia. I thought they would go away, but they only get worse," Twilight said, feeling ashamed of herself for keeping her dreams a secret from her mentors and her friends.
Celestia placed her wing around Twilight and said, "It's alright Twilight. Just close your eyes, relax, and think,".
"And remember this, 'Breathe Your Courage In And Your Fears Out'," Gaia added.
Twilight did what she was told as she closed her eyes and breathed in and out slowly as she remembered what she saw in her dreams. Her mind flashed, and she saw something that she has seen before, and it frightened her.
"In my dreams, I keep seeing a mountain draped in shadow and carved in hate. An Alicorns' face of stone, beneath where the sun meets the moon and where life meets death," Twilight said, describing what she saw in her dreams.
The Mane 5, The Guardians, and The Princesses, however, have a look of shock and horror across their faces for they knew the place Twilight is describing. A place they hoped to never hear of again as it was named after the one creature more powerful and evil than even Slash…
"Cliffbore, you don't think she's talking about…," Applejack asked, turning to Cliffbore after realizing the place Twilight is describing.
"I'm afraid so…The Mountain Of Dreadmane!" Cliffbore replied, having the same feeling as lightning flashed and thunder roared.
"Aaaah! What was that?!" Pinkie screamed as she jumped into Rainbow's arms in fright.
"Wait, there was another. But it was like I was seeing into the past, present, and future all at once. Then Starswirl appeared and told me about somepony called 'The Oracle' and that's when I saw the tree. And while we were fighting the intruders, I had another vision. I thought I saw my mom and myself as a filly," Twilight said, as a look of shock appeared on the older alicorns' and her friends' faces.
"Another mountain? Your mother? And yourself as a filly? But that's…," Rainbow Dash started in disbelief, feeling shocked and confused about hearing another mountain and Twilight's mother.
"Impossible!" Storm Heart said, also in disbelief.
"Yeah, no kidding, How can you see the past, present, and future all at once?!" Spike asked, missing the point.
"Starswirl? As in Starswirl The Bearded?" Rarity asked, hoping she didn't mishear Twilight.
"And The Oracle?" Marina asked, being fascinated and hoping she was hearing correctly too.
"What? Don't encourage her!" Spike said, but they acted like he didn't say anything.
"I can't believe it either," Gaia said to her fellow guardians.
"Neither do I. I haven't heard that name in ages," Voltwing agreed.
"Nor has anypony. But it cannot be a coincidence that Twilight just learned of him…," Inferno said, astonished that Twilight was the only one to be able to contact Starswirl and hear about The Oracle.
"Indeed, this is fascinating," Celestia said, also astonished of what this could mean for them.
"Celestia, what's going on?… Who is the Oracle?" Twilight asked her mentor, curious about whom the Oracle is.
"The Oracle is an ancient Alicorn of Time who holds immeasurable wisdom of Equestria and magic," Celestia explained, which interested the others.
"While we have only heard stories from Starswirl. In fact, Celestia and I even had our doubts about the legitimacy of the legends and tales. And now I am left to wonder," Luna continued.
"As we are all. But if it's true, it is unsettling that the re-emergence of the Oracle would coincide with the attack on the Temple," Cliffbore said with huge worry after knowing all of this.
"True that. But let's not forget all the other visions Twilight's been having," Storm Heart added with the same tone.
"Yes, very. Tales Of the Oracle are often interwoven with the Tales Of Doom," Luna said with her eyes widened, thinking that something has to be done.
"Oh goodie, I was hoping we wouldn't have to go through more of the night without any more doom!" Rainbow said sarcastically in annoyance, knowing this is just going to get worst from here on out.
An hour later, after the talk within the main room, Twilight and her friends were on the balcony of the Alicorn Temple looking at the early morning sky to see what's happening, and saw what appears to be the rising sun and moon slowly coming together as an eclipse just like Twilight said happened in her dream.
The Sun and moon were even closer than Twilight last saw them, which gave her dread. All the Alicorns were feeling the same, for they knew a darkness was coming, and it's only a matter of time before something worse comes.
"Well Celestia, looks like you and Luna's suspicions were correct," Inferno stated, looking at the early morning sky where there's barely any stars to be seen.
"It's only a matter of time, and we all felt it. A great evil is on the horizon," Voltwing said, looking at the sun and moon with great concern.
"Perhaps, but we mustn't rush judgment, my brothers and sisters," Luna said, trying to calm everypony down.
"Luna's right, this evening has brought about many unexplained things," Celestia said, agreeing with her sister.
"But we may not have time, my brothers and sisters. The Sun and Moon are almost at an eclipse that we know for certain," Marina said, looking at the sun and moon coming close together while feeling a little bit scared on what's to come.
"Indeed, we must prepare for the worst. The Eclipse Of Infinite Darkness draws nigh," Gaia said, feeling the fear for the worst to come at the surface.
"Um, what does nigh mean?" Pinkie asked Twilight in a whisper, wondering what the word means.
"It means coming soon," Twilight replied also in a whisper as Pinkie nodded her head in understanding.
"Well, if that's true then I'm out of here!" Spike said, crossing his arms.
"Yes, and it appears your instincts, though faint of heart, are true, young dragon. It appears the danger has not passed yet nor are we safe here anymore," Cliffbore said, looking down at Spike before looking around the temple.
"Yes, this recent attack is most likely the first of many to come. The forces of the Storm King know of the Alicorns' return and of Twilight's existence. Which means they will not stop until they witness her demise," Storm Heart said, also looking around and seeing the much damage on the Temple before looking down at Twilight.
"That doesn't sound good. Does it?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"I'm afraid not, Rainbow Dash," Luna replied.
"I'm afraid they are right. As uncertain as things are, none of us remained idle and…watch our worst fears unfold before us," Celestia said, looking over the ruined temple while feeling sad that they have to leave like this, but for their own safety.
"So what do we do now?" Rarity asked, wondering what the plan is now.
Celestia has an idea on what to do, it may not be much, but it could help them all prepare for what's to come.
"I'm afraid there's only one thing we can do. Voltwing you, Marina, and Storm Heart head to the Yakyakistan and Mount Aris to learn as much news you can," Celestia said, facing Voltwing, who nodded in agreement.
"Cliffbore, you, Inferno, and Gaia will head into the Dragon Lands and the Changeling Kingdom and warn everyone of the darkness that's spreading in Dreadmane," Luna said, turning to Cliffbore and giving him instructions for him, Inferno, and Gaia which they understood perfectly.
"Luna and I will go and gather the other leaders of Equestria to discuss the safety of our citizens and try to search for Flash. These are dangerous times for our allies and for an Alicorn to be wandering about," Celestia said as Luna nodded in agreement.
"You're right about that, Celestia. May our ancestors look after us all and keep us safe in these darker times," Luna said, praying to the ancestors for protection and guidance.
"What should my friends and I do, Celestia?" Twilight asked, wanting to know what her assignment might be.
"Twilight, you must travel down another path and seek the tree from your dream and learn more about your hidden past," Celestia replied.
"Yes, if the stories of The Oracle are true. There might be hope for us and our world, yet," Luna said, bowing her head down.
"Can my friends come with me? I might need all the help I can get," Twilight asked, requesting her friends to come with her on this quest to find the tree.
"Very well, my student. And I think I know where to begin with your task," Celestia said, granting Twilight's request as everypony looked out into the view together, getting ready for what's to come for this is a next step for the Infinite Eclipse to begin…
Author's Note: This is where Twilight and her friends quest begins, and hopefully may their quest help them stop the Eclipse Of Infinite Darkness.