(AN: On a vacation in Canada, in a hotel a few blocks from Niagra Falls. Also, the folks went out to the casino, leaving me free to use the laptop. Keep in mind, I'm writing this from scratch. Why? Because I can. Also, be warned of random cutting from setting to setting. My mind kept wandering.)

I opened my eyes to a shadowy corridor. There were doors to either side of me, and torches that barely helped to light up the path. It was cold, and I could see my breath in front of me. I didn't seem to be injured, but was nonetheless disoriented. Where in Equestria was I?

I started walking forwards, but was met with a stone wall within 10 seconds. The same result when I walked the other way. So, I was stuck, and the doors on either side wouldn't budge. I put an ear to the door on my left, and heard a soft clopping sound (As in a pony walking, not the other kind). It began to get closer to the door.

I put my ear to the other door, and got the same results; a pony or hoofed creature making its way towards me. Soon enough, I could hear their breathing without having to strain my ears. "Hello?" I called, scared that one of those creepy monsters from Amnesia would pop out of nowhere. "Shadow? Is that you?" I heard a familiar voice call me. "Fire Storm! It's me!" I yelled back, desperate for some company. The door to my left opened to reveal the pegasus mare, her expression the same as mine: scared and confused. Then the other door opened. "Guys? Is that you?" Fire and I turned to see a very scared looking Dusk Star. The poor unicorn looked like he had seen death, and was still running from it.

We group-hugged, and looked around us. "Both ways are a dead end," I said, breaking the silence. "There's no way to-" Before I could finish, a huge tremor shook the ground and walls around us. We clung onto each other for dear life, unsure what was happening. I felt a faint breeze coming from behind us. Dusk broke off and began walking towards the source, Fire and I trailed right behind him. Where there was once a wall, stood a huge two-door entrance. It was lit faintly by two torches that held blue fire. Fire tried peeking through the crack between the doors when WHOOSH! they opened wide and a unknowable force pulled us in.

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Back in Ponyville...

"Are they gonna be okay Twilight?" Pinkie Pie asked, a concerned expression on her face. Fluttershy calmly went up to the three unconscious ponies and put a hoof on their necks, checking their pulse. "They're still alive, thank Celestia." She confirmed, and began to tear up. Rarity went to comfort the shy pegasus. "It's okay dear, they're probably too exhausted from fighting the Ursa, remember?" The fashionista said, stroking the pink mane as an attempt to bring up her friend's spirits up. "I hate to burst your bubble there, Rarity." The aforementioed pony looked up and saw Twilight using a spell on Prince Shadow. "They have fell asleep, but their dream isn't normal. They're experiencing the same dream, seeing everything all together. And it's all too real." The ponies just looked at the purple unicorn, not really understanding. She rolled her eyes and explained, "They're all in a dream powered by some strong dark magic, and if they get hurt or die in that dream, they might not wake up. EVER." A chill went down all six mares' spines as Twilight finished explaining.

BLAM! A burst of magic exploded next to them, and in which revealed Princess Luna, her eyes filled with concern and anger. She approached the group of ponies, "How are they doing?" Luna asked, her eyes looking at each of the fallen ponies. "Their alive, Princess. But..." Twilight began, not knowing how to say it. "Somepony has meddled with their minds." Luna finished Twilight's conclusion. Luna approached Shadow's limp body, and aimed a spell at his head.  After a few seconds, she said, I'll have to take all three to Canterlot. I'll meet you there when you've all recuperated." She teleported away, the three unconscious ponies flashing away with her.

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Back in the Royal Canterlot Palace...

Celestia was just about finished her daily audiences and political cases and requests, and was about to close the court when Luna flashed in with three limp ponies. The Princess on the Moon had tears  running down her cheeks. "Celly," She began, beginning to let out a few sobs. "We have a big problem." The elder sister finally recognized the three bodies as those of Dusk Star, Fire Storm, and Prince Shadow Blitz.

Celestia called for several unicorn guards to bring the three bodies to the Palace Infirmary. She could see how Luna's gaze followed the three ponies being drifted away on rolling beds, and how her eyes lingered mostly on Shadow Blitz. Luna looked to her sister, and ran into her embrace. They were scared, and only hoped that the prophecy they learned wasn't mistaken.

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I looked around to where the mysterious force dragged us to. Dark walls surrounded us, and a single path led forward and to a right turn. I always hated mazes. I swear I could hear evil laughter in the air, but it could've been my imagination. We began walking and made the turn. The path was much wider, and better lit by more blue torches. "I hate to say it guys," Dusk began, "But I'm pretty damn scared." I responded, "Aren't we all brony?" We all gave a weak chuckle. Then Fire looked to me and Dusk, smiled and said, "Don't worry, as long as we're together, we'll be fine. So, let's put our best, bravest hoof forward, together!" We all put our right hooves forward, when I thought, "Hey haven't I seen this situation before?"

Suddenly, a strong gust of wind blew our way, and then, WHOOSH! more walls of darkness came between the three of us, branching our maze into different paths, just like the Mane 6 against Discord. "I really should have seen this coming." I said, facehoofing. "Don't worry!" I heard Dusk off to my left. "We'll just find our own ways out of this crappy maze." I laughed at his remark. "Thanks, Dusk. I needed that one joke today." I heard nothing in response. "Dusk?" I called. Still no response.

It appeared that they had already went ahead, and began to walk my own path. After 10 minutes of uneventful walking around, I started complaining. "Stupid Evil Mare pony, stupid maze, stupid exercise...STUPID FREAKING BORING MAZE!" I started yelling out of pure paranoia. "Hehehe, boring you say?" I heard the evil mare's voice say. I shook it away out of anger and made my next turn into a huge room brightly lit by a huge chandelier. The walls closed loudly behind me, almost trapping my tail. I looked around the room; it was covered in blood and pony skeletons and rotting corpses. I saw a dark figure in the middle of the room turned away from me. It raised its head, revealing a horn. "Yo Dusk, is that you?" Then its wings began to extend. "Umm...Luna?" I guessed. It began to turn, and I could see it was almost covered in spiked armor, most of it was covered in blood. The creature then smiled, and spoke in a familiar voice, "Like what you see?" I immediately recognized that voice, and finally recognized the creature. It was the nightmare apparition I had, and now it was here, AND READY TO KILL ME. He lunged at an alarming speed, and once again, I couldn't sit idly, yet couldn't move at all. I looked up to see him before we made contact, and knew I was in for the fight of and for my life. "Oh...buck me." I said before we collided.

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