I awake.

Last night was interesting.

There was a festival going on, Nightmare Night. The children dressed up as they do on Halloween back home, in funny costumes. The saying is that Nightmare Moon comes down from the moon every year to eat up the people, and their candy offerings help her not to eat them.

Somepony told me that Princess Luna used to be Nightmare Moon, when she was exiled to the moon for 1000 years.

Exiled? Why?

My stomach aches. I think I ate too much candy last night. And drank too many Equestrian "adult beverages". Those Pinkie Screwdriver things are GOOD. So, yeah. I'm hungover. As a pony.

I slowly drift back to sleep.

Then, I start to dream.

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I'm sitting at a large room, decorated like a castle, with many a pony sitting around the table. They start to speak.

"Eclipse. Wake up."

"Go see the princess, Eclipse."

"Eclipse, Princess Luna needs you now."

"Sire?"

"Eclipse. Awaken."

"Sir Eclipse, I need you to wake up."

"Eclipse... Wake up."

"Sir, please wake up."

"Eclipse, wake UP!"

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The last voice echoes in my mind. That was odd.

I groan as I awake.

There is a white pegasus standing at the door of my bedroom. He's wearing a very regal uniform, with gold trimming. Another Royal Guard. He stands high and proud. He bows when I look at him.

"Sir, I am sorry to have awakened you, but her Majesty, Princess Luna, needs to have an audience with you, my lord." He declares while standing upright, again.

"Tell her I'll be on my way." I respond groggily.

"Yes, my lord." He replies.

"And, sir?"

"Yes, my lord?"

"Why are you calling me 'my lord'?"

"You are of great importance now, sire. You are the-"

"Yeah, yeah, the chosen one." I clear my throat. "You are dismissed."

"Yes, my lord."

"And stop with the 'my lord' crap, it's annoying me."

"Yes, my-... sir."

"Good."

I get out of bed and look in the mirror. I look horrible. My eyes are baggy, and my hair is a total mess. Not to mention I seem hungover, which I am. I go into the bathroom. The bathroom is very large, has white tile with fleur-de-lis gold trimmings. I step into the bathtub, which has a shower, as well. There's some soap on a soap holder, brand new, a loofah and a washcloth. I take a short shower, trying to scrub my... body very well with the loofah. Surprisingly, I'm getting the hang of these hoof-things... whatever they're called. I step out and try to dry myself off, dropping the towel on the floor every 5 seconds. These things are hard to use, these... hoof... things.

I step out of the bathroom, and put on a royal collar, as instructed last night by the Royal Guard who accompanied me last night to my quarters. It has a dark spot as the centerpiece, surrounded by streaking light. That's an Eclipse, all right. I sigh.

I guess that's my name now. Eclipse. At least it sounds catchy, more or less.

I step outside my quarters, and the same royal guard is waiting there for me.

"Her Majesty is waiting for thee, my lo- sire." The Guard states.

"Just call me 'Eclipse', man." I suggest

"Yes, si-... Eclipse... sir."

"We'll work on it.

"Yes... Eclipse."

"Better."

I walk down the hall. Large beautiful stained glass windows line the hallway. They seem to depict ponies doing acts of greatness.

"What are the stories behind these stained glass windows?" I ask.

"This, sir, if of Princess Luna returning to the Earth after the Elements of Harmony destroying Nightmare Moon. This one here is of the Elements of Harmony destroying Discord once again. This next one is about the Elements of Harmony themselves; who they are and what they represent." He explains.

"They? The Elements of Harmony are ponies?"

"Yes, sire."

"Eclipse."

"Sorry... Eclipse, they are the new embodiments of the Elements, Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Pinkamena Diane Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash. They destroyed Nightmare Moon and Discord with the Element's combined power."

"Thank you."

"Anytime, sire."

"Eclipse."

"Yes, Eclipse. Sorry."

"It's OK."

We arrive at the chamber door of Princess Luna.

"I will wait out here for you, si-... Eclipse."

"Thank you."

I knock on the door with my hoof.

"Enter." Princess Luna says from the inside.

I slowly open the door, and I see the Princess sitting in front of me.

I bow, and look up.

This is the first time I really notice her.

She's beautiful.

Her mane flows in the wind as the breeze picks up. She looks at me with those beautiful teal eyes. They're so dark... mysterious... sad... loving... it's just about everything you could think of. She's... wonderful.

I clear my throat.

"You requested an audience with me, my Princess?" I ask.

"Yes, Eclipse. I have a gift for you. It is something of great importance. But..."

"But, what, your Majesty?"

"This is something between us both, you understand, Eclipse? I shouldn't be giving these to you. No one, and I repeat, No one should know you have these in your possession."

"Of course, my Princess."

"Under no circumstances shall you ever show these to another Pony, unless it be me."

"Yes, my Princess."

The purple glow appears around her horn again, and she brings a heavy book towards me.

"This is the gift, Eclipse. Use it wisely. You are to read it, and understand the words in this book, you understand?"

"Yes, Princess."

"Euclideon!" She calls outside.

A Royal Guard walks in.

"Take this to Sir Eclipse's chamber. And do so quickly." She instructs.

"Yes, my Princess." He replies as he takes the heavy book away.

"You may leave now, Eclipse. I hope this gift will help you in your path." She says.

"Yes, my Princess." I reply.

"May the Gods bless you."

"And, you as well, your Majesty."

"You may go now."

"Thank you, your majesty."

I walk back to my chamber and see the book sitting at the desk. I read the title of the book.

"Deorum Libri."

I open it up with my hoof. The cover is heavy. At about the third page, I see the words:

"Book of the Gods:

A translation of the 'Veteris Volumina'(Olden Scrolls) of the Gods."

Huh. "The Olden Scrolls."

This should be interesting.