“But before we do that,” Twilight exclaimed, stopping herself mid-step. “We really should check out what these machines are for. I feel like they might be important somehow.”

“They look like the lightning generators Twilight used to play around with,” Spike answered, prodding one of the half-assembled devices. “A bit more compact though.”

“You don't think she was trying to electrocute the dragon somehow, do you?” Twilight asked, gesturing towards the slumbering creature.

Spike shrugged. “Dunno.”

“You check that side, I’ll get this one. Look for any notes she may have left behind,” Twilight exclaimed.

“Sure thing, boss lady,” Spike replied, snapping off a lazy salute.

The two of them split up and swiftly got to work searching their surroundings for any manner of clue. It was a surprisingly difficult job, as Twilight’s previous incarnation was not exactly the most well-organized pony around. Thankfully it didn't take long for the notes scattered across multiple tables and tucked into books to be assembled into something close to complete.

“Have you come across anything talking about infusing spiritual energy with electricity?” Twilight asked.

“A couple things. They were mainly on that table over there,” Spike indicated, gesturing to the one covered with various partially complete devices strewn across it.

Walking over to it, Twilight quickly gathered up the loose notes until she had what appeared to be a step-by-step breakdown on what the devices did. Not only that, but it also explained how they were able to work, as well as what manner of effect they might have on the target.

“Wow,” Twilight muttered.

“What is it, what do they do?” Spike asked, walking over to the table and peering over the unicorn’s shoulder.

“They electrocute the soul,” Twilight replied, pointing to a particular paragraph.

“What, how?” Spike replied.

“I’m not wholly certain as to the exact mechanics, but one of my previous incarnations figured out how to infuse necromantic energy with electricity,” Twilight answered. “It should be like mixing water and oil though.”

“So… how does this help us?” Spike inquired, starting to pace. “Could we set it on a timer and use it to help us when we infiltrate tall, dark, and ugly’s dream?”

“We would need to create some kind of timing mechanism ourselves, and I am not a skilled engineer,” Twilight remarked with a shrug.

“But what about-” Spike began.

The nightmare rose up out of the shadows and waved an ethereal hoof in the air.

“Oh, that's right. You may not be able to come with us while we attack his mind, but you can stay back and if need be, activate the device!” Twilight exclaimed. “Great thinking.”

The nightmare bowed low, humbly accepting the praise.

“So do we have to do anything else?” Spike pressed.

Twilight shook her head. “It's already hooked up, and we shouldn't need to do anything except hit the button.”

A shadowy hoof hovered over a silver circle set into the base of the device.

“Exactly,” Twilight stated. “But wait until it looks like we’re in trouble before you use it. I can tell it has some charge left, but not a lot, so we can't waste it.”

“Great work!” Spike exclaimed. “Now we got an ace in the hole just in case things go sideways.”

“Indeed. Now I just need to set up the protection circles, prepare the sleep spell, and get everything into position,” Twilight declared. “That should be enough to create an emergency exit, should we need to escape.”

Spike pumped a clawed hand in the air. “Alright, let's do this!”

“Annnnd, there,” Twilight declared, chucking aside her piece of chalk.

“Do you really think all of these defensive wards were necessary?” Spike asked.

Twilight blinked and looked around to the numerous runes and magical circles she had prepared. Some strengthened their minds, others their bodies, and one even produced breathable oxygen should someone attack them with gas.

“I might have gone a bit overboard, but it should give us the edge we need. We are, after all, hitting him on his home turf after only receiving a single day of training,” Twilight declared.

“Well, when you say it like that, you make it sound like we don't even have a chance,” Spike grimy remarked.

“I wouldn't say that,” Twilight replied. “If worse comes to worst, I can still tear his soul out while in his mind. That should give us some kind of leverage.”

“Let’s just hope it never comes to that,” Spike murmured. “At least you got that emergency exit spell all set up. I don't wanna get stuck in some dead person’s head.”

“Exactly,” Twilight declared before sitting down at the center of the many circles. “Now then. Let’s begin, shall we?”

“And remember, try to remain quiet and unassuming for the first little while. The longer we are able to move through his dream undetected, the better,” Spike stated as he plunked down across from the lanky undead.

“I haven't forgotten,” Twilight exclaimed, glancing over to their shared draconic foe. “I’m assuming you are ready as well?”

The nightmare gave them a confident nod from across the room, its shadowy form remaining right next to the device.

“Alright then. Brace yourself, Spike,” Twilight warned as she summoned a small beacon of magic to the tip of her shattered horn.

As they waited for the spell to complete, Spike struck a meditative stance, his legs crossed and head hung low. His entire body relaxed, even as Twilight’s magic grew strong enough to be seen even through his closed eyelids. The energy twisted suddenly before shooting into Spike’s chest, harmlessly connecting the two before growing another tendril.

This time it flew across the room before hitting the true dragon square between the eyes. The second this happened, both Spike and Twilight collapsed, knocked out in an instant. To any outside observer, it would look like the pair had simply fallen asleep rather suddenly, while they felt something far different.

To them there was a split second where they knew they were asleep before they both experienced the odd sensation of falling. It lasted only a second before they landed on something that felt hard and slightly warm, unless you were Twilight that is.

“Owch,” Twilight cursed, quickly extracting herself from the rose bush she had appeared upon.

She flailed briefly before managing to accidentally get away from the many thorns poking her oddly fleshy sides. Spike, however, simply picked himself up and dusted himself off, only to find that standing felt weird in a way he couldn't quite describe. Then their eyes met, and they both were struck by numerous questions that neither had the answer to.

“Why do you look like-”

“Where are-”

“How are you-”

They both stopped, and Twilight extended a hoof. “You go first,” she offered.

“You’re alive. Or at least you appear to be,” Spike stated.

The dragon’s statement was quite true, as Twilight did indeed appear to be among the living once more. That, and she was a lot shorter too, further diminishing her otherworldly appearance. Indeed without the lanky limbs, unnatural height, or piercing eyes, the pony appeared almost normal. Her fur had even lightened, as had her mane and tail, which was now a much more pastel coloration.

“And you look like an old dragon,” Twilight pointed out.

Spike extended an arm curiously, studying the much longer and much pointeir digits that sprouted from his hand. Not only was he no longer bipedal, but Spike was also much larger and his features were far sharper than before. Wings extended from his back, and his dull, slightly rubbery head fins could now likely cut through flesh with ease. His scales were also harder, darker, and stronger, covering the young drake in a layer of thick natural armor.

“That I do,” Spike muttered.

“Augh, I’m so short,” Twilight murmured as she looked up at the much taller Spike.

“No kidding. I feel like I could carry you around like a handbag,” Spike exclaimed with a snicker.

“Yeah yeah. Laugh it up while you can,” Twilight groused.

“I would. But we got a job to do,” Spike replied.

Twilight cleared her throat. “Right. Let's look around first, then if we can't find our way to the target, I’ll use the spirit-seeking spell.”

“Can you even do that inside of a dream?” Spike asked.

“It's a necromancy spell, and besides, I believe I can,” Twilight replied.

Spike grinned. “Oh, that's smart.”

“But seriously,” Twilight began, lowering her voice to barely above a whisper. “It should work, but don't count on that.”

“Yeah yeah,” Spike dismissed. “Let's just get going before he finds out we’re here by pure chance.”

“Okay,” Twilight agreed.

They both slipped away from the bushes and began to look around, attempting to find some manner of civilization or sign of habitation. Which wasn't difficult, given that there was a very wide road paved with black stones only a dozen metres to their right. They didn't initially investigate this landmark, however, as they were busy inspecting their more immediate surroundings.

Twilight’s attention was focused almost completely on the strange trees which grew high overhead. The titanic plants resembled the ones she had seen in Nebula’s dream, though without the winding stairs and houses built among their boughs. Their trunks were also slightly darker, and the grass which grew on the ground below was much taller, sporting an oddly bright emerald sheen.

Saplings were almost completely non-existent, as were bushes or really any other plant which wasn't either a redwood or grass. The small, rocky rise that Spike and Twilight had landed on was one of a kind and stood apart from the rest of the forest. Which was almost perfectly smooth, as if someone had taken a giant level to the land, flattening the entirety of it.

Although at first glance it seemed as if noone was around, that assumption was quickly proved false when the pair heard the sound of wings. Though distant, they were able to look up and find that a pegasus with a grey mane and white coat was pushing a cloud through the treetops. The mystery pony had no cutie mark to speak of, and went about their job at a slow, robotic pace.

“Should we hide?” Twilight asked.

“Where would we go?” Spike replied simply.

Twilight frowned when she realized that the only possible hiding place was amongst the tall grass. Without any real options, she continued to look a little closer, hoping to find something which may help her search, only to immediately scamper back around the bush when she saw a dragon stride confidently into view.

Standing at over twenty feet in height and sporting a pair of wings almost a city block in length, the monstrous creature towered over the surroundings. Including its small host of pony slaves which were pulling along a cart loaded with an enormous crossbow the size of a ballista. Most were earth ponies, though a trio of unicorns stood at the head of the small procession, levitating aloft several giant fans they used to cool their master.

The dragon, though clearly intimidating in its size and strength, had a dull, glassy look in its great golden eyes. Each step made the ground tremble slightly, and its hot breath caused small plumes of smoke to occasionally rise into the air. Yet despite all that, the dragon seemed empty for lack of a better word, its head staying perfectly straight as the beast marched into the woods.

“This is a really complicated dream,” Spike remarked.

“No kidding,” Twilight admitted.

Together the pair watched the dragon and its entourage pass them by and slowly walk down the black stone road. After they were a significant distance away, Twilight and Spike trotted out onto the path, glancing back the way the dragon had come from. There they saw the familiar sight of distant structures with wide open spaces separating the large buildings.

As they approached the odd collection of dwellings, Twilight noticed that there was more traffic coming their way. There were also more ponies out in the forest, tending to either the weather or the woodland in a more direct fashion.

Some carried watering cans, others cut grass or trimmed the distant branches that spread above the cloud cover. A third group worked to keep the skies clear, allowing those who walked the forest floor to enjoy the warm, sunny day. It was idyllic, as if the pair had stepped not into a dream, but some kind of diorama where everything was artificial.

“Is it just me, or is this all kinda creepy?” Twilight muttered.

Spike shivered. “Totally. It's all too… orderly.”

“As if someone had planted each individual blade of grass so it was perfectly distanced from its neighbor,” Twilight replied.

“And there is no repetition either,” Spike pointed out. “Every tree is unique, every pony and dragon an individual. Except the cutie marks.”

“I’m not sure ponies had them before the coming of the alicorns,” Twilight exclaimed.

Spike opened his mouth to offer some kind of retort, only to fall silent. “I did not know that,” he admitted.

“I can give you a history lesson later. Right now I think we should head towards those buildings,” Twilight declared.

“Sounds like a plan,” Spike agreed.

The duo continued on, walking ever deeper into the strange wood. Their heads constantly turned, searching for some sign that they were going in the right direction.

As they drew closer to the first draconic abode, Twilight felt an odd sense of deja vu. She quickly realized that she had seen this structure before, or at least the rotting bones thereof. She couldn't quite place where or when that had been however, so she put it out of her mind for the moment.

The style of the building was the first thing to strike the mare, as it resembled the imperial architecture prominent in Central Canterlot. The towering white pillars held up enormous roofs tall enough to house three or even four floors. Yet here there was only one, the dragon’s titanic bulk forcing their homes to reach truly mammoth proportions.

Each of the complexes resembled a tiny fort, with walls flanking its exterior and obscuring most of what lay within. Noone had bothered to close their wide oaken gates however, allowing Twilight to peer within the first of the villas. There she saw an enormous garden tended by young female earth ponies who delicately pruned individual leaves that had dared gain their master’s ire.

Twilight could also make out what looked like a small lake, though its placid nature and flat sides indicated that it was actually a pool. One managed by several pegasi who were kicking the contents of a cloud into it while a pair of lithe white drakes stood nearby. After several more seconds of rain, one of the reptilian creatures nodded, stopping the flow of water and allowing them both to enter into the water.

Movement caught Twilight’s eye, and she noticed that the nearby grass had changed, becoming a small field of golden wheat. More earth ponies overseen by a single unicorn tended to the abundant grain, their gazes distant and their movements robotic. As Twilight looked a little closer, she noticed that other villas had similar fields, some of which were dedicated to grazing animals.

Sheep, pigs, and cows munched on a slightly less shiny grass, dully moving about the fields with empty gazes. Around these sections was no fence, nor guards. Only the odd shepherd, or herder stood patiently, watching their charges closely. It was obvious to Twilight that each of these small compounds were one part farm and one part palace, catering perfectly to their owner’s many whims.

These homes also varied in size and shape, though they kept roughly the same dimensions. Whether this was due to each dragon having a similar social standing or level of wealth, Twilight couldn't be certain. Either way, not a single of the dragons lived in squalor, only varied levels of opulence befitting the most wealthy of Canterlot nobles.

“This is weird,” Spike muttered.

“Agreed, though what specifically are you referring to?” Twilight replied.

“This dream seems more like a memory. It's so detailed, yet we haven't seen hide nor hair of our assassin,” Spike exclaimed, gesturing to the open landscape. “If his figments are this complicated, then he should be nearby.”

“I don't sense anything,” Twilight exclaimed.

“Exactly. Either this guy is stronger than we anticipated, or we’re being watched,” Spike whispered.

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “You don't think that's possible, do you? Wouldn't it be obvious if that were the case?”

“He is an assassin,” Spike pointed out.

“True,” Twilight admitted. “Either way, let's hurry. The quicker we find Luna, the quicker we can get out of here.”

“Then you’ve abandoned the hope of getting the words?” Spike asked.

“I’m not sure. Either way, a part of her soul is trapped here, and should it be freed, it will make raising her easier,” Twilight replied.

Spike gestured to the road. “Set the pace. I’ll be right behind you.”

Twilight didn't utter a sound, merely giving her assistant a nod before taking off at a sprint, her tiny hooves clacking against the stone road. The pony reminded herself that she was not in fact alive, nor even corporeal at the moment, thus she should not tire. Even with such an obvious and logical thought ringing in her head, Twilight still felt like she should begin to slow.

Thankfully, this urge was pushed aside, and together the pair ran onwards, their gazes focused on the path ahead.

As they traveled deeper and deeper into the strange wood, they saw many odd but unsurprising sights. Some were fairly normal, such as a dragon painting a brilliant watercolor of what Twilight assumed was his home. Others were slightly odd, like the drake who had assembled his pony slaves in a field and were forcing them to engage in contests of strength.

Those were the tame scenes however, as they also saw far more debauched actions occurring in and outside the walls of the villa. Ponies swallowed whole, others used against their will in acts of a sexual nature. It was clear that few dragons cared for their living, breathing possessions. Those more uncomfortable moments were swiftly ignored by the pair who did their best to put such instances out of their mind.

Though even with the reminder that these people weren't real and had likely been dead for aeons, it didn't quite negate the sting of the dragon’s cruelty. The most uncomfortable part was perhaps the casual nature of it all, as some of these events occurred in broad daylight or in the presence of other dragons. It was clear to Twilight that this was socially acceptable, at least in this part of the dragon empire anyway.

“Can you just suck this guy’s soul out already?” Spike whispered after passing a particularly nasty dragon who was whipping a slave to death only a dozen metres away.

“We have to at least make an attempt to free Luna and find the words,” Twilight replied, though her tone contained little enthusiasm.

“I guess,” Spike muttered.

“Let's just keep moving. I think I see a city center up ahead,” Twilight pointed out.

The mare was at least partially correct, as four villas sporting towers and other defensive structures had been built at a crossroads. Two of them had open courtyards, one of which had younger drakes sparring within while the other was likely a trading post of some kind. The outpost was quiet as one might assume, with its owner asleep, and a tall white unicorn standing behind a nearby counter and working in his master’s stead.

“Hold on a sec,” Twilight murmured, slowing to a stop.

The open air shop was a curious sight, though its esoteric goods and strange artifacts didn't hold Twilight’s attention for long. The sudden clang of an enormous sword stopped Twilight dead in her tracks and prompted her to turn around. There she saw two dragons, one blue, the other black, locked in an intense duel, their blades repeatedly clashing against one another.

These attacks were swift, deadly, yet they rarely followed all the way through, as if they were more worried about chipping their weapons than landing a decisive blow. Even still, Twilight could tell that the combatants were incredibly skilled and could likely cut down an entire battalion of royal guards without issue. Their massive size coupled with unrivaled strength made the dragons incredible foes, and that was without even considering their unique brand of magic.

The fight didn't last much longer, with the darker of the two suddenly throwing his sword straight at his foe. Obviously confused, the azure drake side-stepped at the last second, leaving him open for a flying tackle. In an instant the slightly smaller black dragon had his enemy pinned with a great muscled arm around his neck.

“Do you yield?” taunted the winning dragon.

“Damn you to Tartarus, you cheating bastard,” muttered the blue dragon.

“So is that a no?” retorted the other, squeezing a little harder.

The defeated creature sighed. “Yes, I yield. Though I would be remiss not to remind you that such tactics would earn you very few points in the professional circuit.”

“And I must remind you that I desire no such accolades,” replied the darker dragon. “Now then, perhaps we should get a…”

The drake trailed off as his gaze swung over to Twilight, immediately causing the undead mare’s non-existent heart to quicken. For a moment the world stood still, and Twilight considered abandoning the mission before things could take a turn for the worse. Then the dragon smiled, his empty eyes latching not onto Twilight, but something behind her.

“Brandy. To celebrate the occasion,” he finished.

“Are you sure you don't need medical attention? You trailed off for a second there,” remarked a snarky drake who had been watching from the sidelines.

“That was close,” Spike murmured, hastily trotting away from the scene with Twilight close at his heels.

“I am really starting to hate this place,” Twilight added.

“Agreed,” declared Spike.

Twilight barely heard this however, as she was busy glancing over her shoulder, watching as the group of dragons crossed the road. Laughing and chatting amongst one another, they looked every bit the friend group out for a bit of weekend revelry. Each one of their eyes were glassy, and their movements were as robotic as the slaves, yet a seed of worry remained in Twilight’s heart.

“Can we please just use the spell now?” whined Spike as he extended a hand out over the increasingly hilly landscape the pair found themselves in. “Everything is just as detailed as it was an hour ago, and this road goes on forever.”

Twilight sighed. “You’re right. The only bit of information we’ve managed to gather is that this assassin has an excellent memory.”

“I mean, can you even be in that line of work if you lack such a skill?” Spike pointed out. “Plus he's been dreaming for like a bajillion years at this point.”

“Let’s just hope using it doesn't backfire in our faces,” Twilight exclaimed.

“I mean, it's not like we can get anymore lost,” Spike exclaimed, waving his arms out at their surroundings.

“Just be ready to move,” Twilight declared.

The dragon stayed silent as Twilight conjured her magic. He used his time by studying the lands they now occupied. Not only was it bumpier here than where they had started, but most of the plants had changed as well. Gone were the massive, towering trees whose canopies extended above the very clouds.

Here things were more chaotic, with nature having been allowed to take its course, provided it was a good distance from the road. Which had remained perfectly maintained for their entire journey into the seemingly endless woods. They had seen no road signs, though Spike was beginning to think that the stones beneath his feet were informing him of his destination.

He couldn't understand the language, but it was becoming apparent that the rocks were spelling out a single word every few miles. This was likely the name of whatever town or city that would soon emerge from the formless mass of green that covered the horizon.

“Alright, here goes,” Twilight muttered.

Spike watched as his companion clutched her forehooves against her chest before suddenly thrusting them outwards. The small orb of crimson light she had kept hidden immediately shot down the road, vanishing in mere moments. The pair waited with bated breath as the red string it left behind shifted and twisted before becoming still.

“Can anyone else see this?” Spike asked, pointing to the lingering spell.

“No?” Twilight replied with a shrug. “I’m not entirely sure, to be honest. Dreams are different.”

Spike frowned. “Then let's pour on the speed.”

“Could you maybe carry me?” Twilight awkwardly inquired.

Spike rolled his eyes. “You know you can't tire in here, right? Your body doesn't physically exist, you know.”

“I know that logically, but I just can't seem to get past that,” Twilight stated in a slightly defeated tone.

“Alright, fine, hop on,” Spike exclaimed, crouching low next to the mare.

Who awkwardly climbed atop the dragon’s back, careful to keep from stepping on his delicate wings. Once astride the larger creature, Twilight shifted her weight so it was focused closer to his spine, hopefully making it easier on him. This seemed to work, as it took Spike only a few seconds to find a position which felt comfortable to him.

“Hold on tight,” Spike exclaimed before leaping forward.

His form was initially quite poor, and his movements a bit too jerky, yet despite that the dragon was easily able to become airborne. Evidently his belief had compensated for his lack of experience, and it wasn't long before they were soaring high above the ground.

Twilight, meanwhile, was busy doing her best not to freak out and was reminding herself that none of what she was experiencing was real. An effort made more difficult by the fact that Spike’s wings pumped constantly, the dragon rapidly speeding up.

“Are you sure we should go this fast?” Twilight shouted over the rush of wind.

“You're right. We’ll never get there in time!” Spike replied. “We should go faster!”

“Wait, that wasn't-” was all Twilight could mutter before she was nearly knocked from the dragon’s back by a powerful gust.

Clamping down around him with all four hooves, Twilight clung to the reptilian creature with all her might. Thankfully her panic was short-lived, as soon it all started to feel oddly natural to her. Soon Twilight was even glancing about her surroundings curiously, noting that they had begun to change.

The occasional hill and slight rise were now so constant that the road was the only flat surface even visible. The foliage grew thicker, the undergrowth sporting more woodland critters and buzzing insects, both of whom avoided the sole path through the wood. The reddish strand connecting them to the distant bit of Luna’s essence remained straight and true for several minutes before turning slightly to the right.

Spike stayed focused however, remaining above the road while he continued to fly. During this time they saw only a few other creatures, the majority of which were part of some manner of trade caravan. The tall, proud-looking bronze dragon at their head was draped in finery and stood at the fore of nearly a hundred ponies.

These poor enslaved creatures were bound together with chains and overlooked by a single short green dragon wearing armor. Carts containing foals and the elderly trailed behind the main bulk, pulled along by the strongest earth ponies. The sight was an uncomfortable one, but at least they all had the glassy-eyed looks that the other figments had.

Even still, a small part of Twilight couldn't help but be tempted to free them of their bondage. If for no other reason, then to see what would happen should the dream be altered. Thankfully the mare didn't have long to muse on the possibilities, as Spike soared over them, leaving the caravan far behind.

The only others who they saw travelling along the road were lone dragons who had, for whatever reason, chosen not to fly. Either way, they didn't even glance in the duo's direction, allowing Spike and Twilight to ignore their presence entirely.

In time the land changed even further, devolving into a deep swamp that grew increasingly chaotic. Pools of stagnant water gathered at the edges of nearby ditches, their contents murky and occasionally dotted with dead or dying vegetation. It was at this point that the red string began to curve more to the right until becoming an almost perfect forty-five degree angle.

“Now what?” asked Spike after slowing to a stop. “I don't see a path or anything.”

“Well, this is a dragon whose occupation is less than savory. It makes sense for his abode to be off the beaten path,” Twilight countered.

“True,” admitted Spike. “So we follow it then, right?”

Twilight hummed thoughtfully, but eventually nodded. “Yes, but go a lot slower. This may be a trap.”

Spike set off without uttering another word, weaving through the treetops with remarkable ease. Now without the ever-present road to guide them, the pair were forced to follow the string, or at least Twilight did. Spike mainly focused on ensuring they didn't crash, trusting the unicorn to point him in the correct direction.

“Hold on,” Twilight warned. “I think we’re coming up on something.”

Spike slowed, but didn't stop, his attention fixed on the mass of darkness looming not far ahead. His curiosity now piqued, Spike willed himself higher into the air, allowing him to see above the treetops. There he found himself only a few dozen metres from a giant wall of stone that stretched from one horizon to the other.

“Woah,” Spike muttered, screeching to a halt mid-air. “What is that?”

“It looks like a wall, only natural,” Twilight exclaimed in shock.

The almost completely blank expanse of stone which sat before them did indeed appear to have been produced through natural means. Though its sheer size and length made it feel as though it were the creation of a giant so massive that it could pluck islands from the ocean. Regardless of its origin, the wall of stone was several miles in length, and was so tall that some low-lying clouds impacted its side.

“Do you think it's based on a real place?” Spike asked.

“It almost sounds like this Cliffsdale place that Rainbow Dash mentioned, but before it was turned into a city,” Twilight replied. “Though I can't be certain, as I haven't actually visited it or seen any pictures.”

“Let’s just keep following the string,” Spike offered.

“Good thinking,” Twilight agreed, glancing down to the magical anchor.

The long filament bent downwards, drawing their attention to a hole near the base of the cliff. After landing in front of it, the pair could tell that this was definitely the place as the opening was wide enough for a dragon to pass through comfortably. It was also fairly nondescript, with the only real indication of its purpose being the image of a small dagger scratched into the spot above the entrance.

After giving one another a glance and a shrug, the two dream walkers continued inside after Twilight hopped off Spike’s back. For the first few minutes, the cave seemed natural, with rocky outgrowths making progress difficult. Then it split, with one passage going up and to the right at a steep angle while the other veered off to the left before dropping sharply.

A quick glance to the thread told them that the one to the right was the correct way to go. Making their way further inside, the pair found that their path was made increasingly difficult with the addition of more obstacles. Sharp turns, deep drops, and sudden inclines became the norm, along with multiple crossroads which split off in all directions.

It was a maze, and one that they would have easily become hopelessly lost in if they didn't have the red string to guide them. With it leading them, they were easily able to traverse the difficult terrain, eventually coming to a stop after a particularly long drop.

“Oof, that was a big one,” Spike murmured.

“Yeah, no kidding…” Twilight held up a hoof. “Wait. I think I see something.”

“What is it?” Spike whispered, crouching low to the ground.

“It looks like a trap,” Twilight remarked.

The unicorn peered intently at a thin silver string stretched across the tunnel, its ends invisible through some unknown means.

“Do you think it would actually hurt us?” asked Spike.

“I don't know. Let's see if it even works,” Twilight replied.

After taking a few hesitant steps back, Twilight threw a stone at the string, only to be surprised when it bounced right off. Not only did it fail to trigger, but the string also bent far further than what should be possible, as if the dream didn't know what to do with the change.

“I think that's part of the memory,” Twilight reasoned, stepping up to the string and stepping on it firmly.

Spike’s panic died the second Twilight removed her hoof and revealed that the string had simply snapped back into place.

“Next time warn me before you do that,” Spike hissed.

Twilight chuckled and shrugged awkwardly. “Sorry, Spike. I just had to know.”

“Yeah yeah. Just don't do it again,” Spike retorted.

“Right, of course,” Twilight agreed.

The pair continued on once more, this time keeping an eye out for any other trap which may impede their progress. Though they found plenty more of the offending contraptions, none seemed able to be triggered, and soon they began to ignore them. Or at least they tried to, as they soon became so common that they couldn't go more than a dozen feet before seeing another.

“Wow, this guy is paranoid,” Spike remarked.

“I mean, he is an assassin,” Twilight pointed out.

“Still,” Spike exclaimed, rapping a claw against something hollow. “A fake wall hiding a fake hallway filled with traps. That's next level paranoid.”

“I’m just glad that they can't actually be triggered. I don't even want to know what that passageway filled with creepy statues was supposed to do,” Twilight exclaimed with a shudder.

“Probably come to life and get ya. Classic dungeon stuff,” Spike replied.

“Remind me never to play D and D with you,” Twilight retorted.

“Hey not every single one of my statues come to life, just most of them,” Spike shot back.

Twilight rolled her eyes. “Let's just keep going. I don't want to even imagine how awful this place would be if the traps were real.”

“True,” Spike remarked.

Walking deeper into the caves, the duo slowly became aware of the vastness of the network they now stood within. Criss-crossing caverns occasionally forced them to stop and inspect the red string of magic a little closer. Thankfully with the spell as their guide, it wasn't hard to distinguish where they should go after a few seconds of consideration.

This repeated several times as they made their way ever further into the earth until finally they stopped at an underground river. The tunnel it inhabited was narrow and likely would have made access difficult for a full-sized dragon. However, it was just spacious enough for a young drake and a now normal-sized unicorn to walk side by side without falling into the water on their left.

“I don't think it's much further,” Twilight whispered, glancing down the winding cave.

“Then let's hurry,” Spike encouraged.

The unicorn nodded and took off at a swift trot, barely even taking note of the complete lack of traps. With hooves pumping, Twilight ran with all the haste she could muster, Spike remaining close at her side the entire time. It wasn't long before they entered into a much larger area, one with a ceiling so high above them that it was difficult to even see.

What wasn't difficult to see was the strange home built from black stone in the center of the area. Though its numerous gargoyles, metal accents, and overall spooky appearance was eye-catching, Twilight looked elsewhere for the moment.

She didn't want to be blindsided by the dreamer of course, so she glanced to the left and right. When no immediate threat was discovered, Twilight went back to inspecting her surroundings, choosing to finish with the house.

The first thing that struck her was the carefully maintained stone floor they now stood on, and the way it was almost perfectly flat. Even the river’s path had been cut into a square trough which fed into a small pool near the draconic mansion’s north side. There it split into two smaller, more shallow ravines that proceed to trickle down to a short cliff and fall off the other side.

The small misty waterfalls were impossible to see from their current position, but Twilight could hear them at least. One thing Twilight could see was the much larger and much more natural river rushing across the other side of the cavern. This impressive body of water surged from left to right, appearing in a hole in the cavern wall before disappearing into a second one. Along its banks were several blackstone pillars that went all the way to the ceiling, ensuring that it didn't collapse and that the river didn't overflow its banks.

Or at least that's what Twilight assumed their purpose was anyway, as she couldn't quite be certain.

“Hey look, a door,” Spike pointed out, gesturing to their immediate right where a pair of metal doors were set within the wall.

Blank and featureless, they sported no handle and had no obvious way of getting past them without simply teleporting past. Twilight put that out of her mind however as she was busy looking at the final structure present within the cavern.

These two buildings were built against the wall to their left, their appearance much more normal, at least compared to the draconic mansion anyway. Made from wood and sporting several windows, Twilight could tell that they were some manner of storage space. Stacks of building supplies, including cut stone sat atop pallets, waiting for the master of the abode to have need of them.

“Don't worry about the doors. I’ll handle them,” Spike offered.

“Why would you both…” Twilight trailed off when she noticed that her spell was directing them past the strange metal doors to her right.

Spike didn't hear his companion’s muttering, and, immediately after reaching the entrance, rose up and spat into his palms. After rubbing them together, the drake then twisted his arms so the back of his hands pressed together. He then lurched forward and rammed his claws through the metal barricade as if it were little less than butter.

“Hrrrngh,” Spike grunted, his muscles bulging with effort.

The entrance shuddered briefly before beginning to bend and warp under the dragon’s incredible strength. After several more seconds of struggle, an opening just wide enough for the pair to pass through had been created. Spike then gave the doors one last pull before taking a step back and wiping the sweat from his brow.

“Alrighty. I think that's as good as it's going to get,” Spike declared.

“Let's hope so. Because I certainly wouldn't be able to help you,” Twilight exclaimed.

“Ladies first,” Spike offered, bowing low and extending a hand in invitation.

Twilight rolled her eyes and carefully clambered through, for once quite happy that she wasn't quite as tall. On the other side she came face to face with another stone door, this one far less intimidating, though it too bore no handle. To her left and right were several square indents within the wall, ones which presumably connected to yet another trap of some kind.

Spike joined her a second later, immediately walking up to the stone door and triggering several pressure plates in the process. Nothing happened however, and the four indents remained sealed as Spike walked up to the stone barrier blocking their path. With a mighty kick, the dragon knocked the barricade down in a single strike, sending hunks of rock flying all over the place.

“Easy peasy,” Spike declared with a smirk.

Twilight shook her head as she walked past her companion, entering into a narrow hallway that opened up into a much larger room. There was also a door on either side, though the string drew her straight forward, not to a side passage. So Twilight put the odd traps and secondary rooms out of her mind and made her way into what appeared to be a prison of some kind.

A dozen cages extended to her right while on the other side stood a wall of empty jail cells. Illuminated by torches and containing no amenities such as a bed or even a toilet, the cells appeared to be either under construction or made by someone particularly cruel. Either way, they weren’t of concern to the pair who turned to the left and walked towards the sole normal door in the room.

There they found that it was unlocked, and the wooden entrance swung open with minor prompting, allowing them to peer into a torture room which would make even the cruelest demon blush. For on the other side rows of knives and other blades the likes of which Twilight had never seen before covered the walls. Other implements of torture were visible, but Twilight didn't care about that, as something far more important lay in wait for them.

“Luna?” whispered Spike.

Twilight blinked and gazed down at the silver slab which sat at the center of the room, or to be more accurate, that which lay atop it. For there rested an alicorn with such dark fur that she was barely even visible at first glance. Her eyes were closed, and her limbs strapped to the table, securely binding her in place.

“I don't think so,” Twilight replied, catching Spike by the shoulder.

Spike’s brow furrowed, and he looked a little closer, noting that the helpless mare did indeed appear slightly different from the alicorn he knew. For one, she wasn't nearly as tall as the night princess, nor did her mane wave in some unseen breeze. The most obvious difference however was the fact that she had neither wings nor horn, and indeed never seemed to have had them in the first place.

There were no scars from their removal, only a flat forehead and smooth back, though what that meant Twilight wasn't certain.

“That can't be her, can it?” Spike asked.

Twilight looked down to the string connecting her to this strange version of Luna. “Seems like it.”

“Huh. So now we just gotta bust her out, right?” Spike inquired somewhat hesitantly. “I mean, it can't be that easy.”

“I have little doubt that freeing Luna will set off some manner of alarm, and no doubt prompt him to attack us,” Twilight replied, rubbing her chin. “Though perhaps we could use this to our advantage.’

“By knocking the stuffing out of him and using his confusion to enter his subconscious where we’ll find the words?” Spike exclaimed.

Twilight nodded. “Exactly.”

“I’ll get started on the metal thingies then,” Spike offered, already going to work.

With a firm tug, the dragon tore one of the restraints clean off, chucking the useless hunk of metal behind him. While Spike continued with the next one, Twilight walked a little closer and lightly prodded the slumbering mare in the side.

“Hey, wake up,” Twilight whispered.

“Hrngh,” groaned the Luna look-alike.

“You gotta wake up. We are breaking you out,” Twilight declared.

“And… there,” Spike exclaimed as he tossed the final cuff over his shoulder.

“Hurry. We can't stand around for long,” Twilight stated a little louder this time.

“Wha-what,” murmured Luna, her eyes flickering open and looking around the room before finally landing on Twilight. “What manner of deception is this?”

“No deception. We’re busting you out of this place,” Spike declared, waving a clawed hand at the no longer bound pony.

Luna’s eyes opened wide, and she looked at her two saviors with confusion. “You can't be serious. This has to be a trick, or one of his foul games.”

“No games. No tricks. We used dream magic to enter his mind in an effort to free your soul and steal the knowledge he has locked within his head,” Twilight exclaimed.

Luna gaped silently, glancing from Spike to Twilight and back again. “You aren't lying.”

“Nope!” Spike stated. “Feel free to save your thanks for after we return to the waking world.”

“You fools! If what you’ve said is true, then you’ve likely wandered directly into that fiend’s trap!” Luna exclaimed, leaping from the table, only to immediately stumble.

Twilight caught her before she could fall, wrapping a foreleg around the other pony’s shoulder.

“Relax. We know it's a trap,” Twilight whispered.

“It's always a trap,” Spike added.

“But we need you, and thus here we are,” Twilight declared.

“You don't understand. I’m just a fragment of the true Luna’s soul. I’m not actually her!” cried the pony, her hooves gripping Twilight’s cheeks and forcing their eyes to meet. “I’m not even real!”

“You sure sound real,” Spike pointed out.

The Luna fragment growled. “You don't understand. A spirit can't just float around out there; it will get eaten by the worldsoul. In order for you to even save me, you would need to tear free my essence from that twisted serpent before somehow grafting me onto yourself.”

“Is that it?” Twilight asked. “I thought it would be more complicated than that.”

The earth pony alicorn guffawed at such a statement. “That's it? Such a thing is impossible!”

“Nah. Dusk here is a master necromancer. Right, Dusk?” Spike remarked, jerking a thumb towards the unicorn.

Twilight didn't reply in the traditional sense, as she was already working her magic on the Luna fragment. Already Twilight’s hooves were beginning to glow, and a strange ethereal energy emerged from her chest and coiled around her forelimbs.

“Imposible,” scoffed Luna. “Necromancy can't be used in…”

The mare trailed off when Twilight suddenly thrust her hoof into the fragment’s chest, only to emerge once again a second later. Only this time she held a bloody metal spike which she hastily tossed aside.

“But you can't anchor me. Though reduced, I am still part of an alicorn. If you tried to contain my power, you would surely be destroyed,” the fragment declared.

“I’ve been doing that for months already,” Twilight replied.

“What do you--h!” shouted the fragment before being unceremoniously pushed into the unicorn’s shadow.

Rather than hit the ground, the partitioned section of Luna’s soul fell completely into the darkness cast by Twilight’s body. She emerged a second later, hooves scrambling for purchase at the edge of the light, desperately heaving herself back up. The short dip had a strange effect on the mare, as she was now a blank, featureless mass of black whose only distinguishing feature were her sharp teal eyes.

“Is that really your soul? It was… horrible,” the fragment muttered.

“What? Horrible? Why would you say that?” Twilight questioned.

“It was like the patchwork assortment of a hundred other living things, each one cruelly mashed together to create the facsimile of a true spirit. Like the mad stitchings of some crazed doctor,” Luna replied with a shudder.

“What do-”

“How about we have this conversation later, huh?” Spike interrupted, gesturing to the room they were still standing in. “You know, when we aren't in the mind of a crazed draconic murderer.”

“Curious,” whispered a strange masculine voice. “I believe I’ve been robbed.”

The Luna fragment gulped. “Oh, no no no. He knows we are here. You have to leave right now!”

“Not until we find what we’re looking for,” Twilight declared.

“You don't understand!” shouted the other mare. “If he catches us, he’ll be able to consume your spirit and finally awaken from his long slumber. We need to go before that happens!”

Twilight pushed the shadow pony aside and pointed a hoof at Spike. “Make us an opening. Spooky here will help you as best as she can,” she barked.

“Are you sure about this, Dusk?” Spike asked somewhat hesitantly.

“We need every advantage possible to save Ponyville and we still have both our ace in the hole and our escape route. Now let's go!” Twilight yelled.

Spike nodded and sprinted ahead, making his way back into the cavern with both of his companions close on his heels. The second all three of them had exited the side passage, every single shadow in the room suddenly streamed towards a central point. In moments the gathered darkness shifted, becoming a familiar black dragon complete with bright eyes and an unnaturally wide smile.

“Well well well,” he muttered. “Would you look at what we have here. If it isn't the play things I saw earlier and your new friend?”

The shadowed Luna hastily stepped behind Twilight, her entire body shaking as she barely resisted the urge to cower in terror.

“We are nobody’s play things!” Spike angrily declared.

“All the world is a dragon’s plaything. You should know this better than most. Or at least you would. If you were a true dragon, that is,” declared the assassin before snapping his claws with a loud clack.

In an instant Spike had been returned to his normal form, only now he wore the outfit of a maid.

“That is much more suitable attire for a slave such as yourself,” remarked the killer.

“Spike is no one's slave!” Twilight declared, eyes flashing dangerously.

The dragon scoffed. “His entire race is a slave to ponykind. Just as you ponies were made to serve us, they have been created to serve you.”

“Cut the long-winded nonsense and tell us what we want to know!” Spike shouted, claw jabbing at the other dragon’s chest before hastily tearing the maid outfit apart.

“Oh, but where is the fun in that?” replied their foe with a smirk. “You passed my trials so well it seems only fitting that I give you a headstart before I swallow your souls and return to the waking world once more.”

“Yeah, yeah, we get it,” Twilight interrupted. “You're a big evil monster who is going to do terrible things should he get what he wants. Now how about we skip the part where we knock some sense into you and you just give us the information we seek.”

“You're a confident one, aren't you? Luna here was confident once, and look how much that has changed,” declared the assassin.

Twilight turned to find that the shadow pony had shrunk down to barely a foot tall and was desperately hiding behind the unicorn.

“What are you doing? Now's your chance to get revenge!” Twilight hissed.

“It won't matter. He’ll just beat me again, and this time he’ll stop using me to syphon more of Luna’s power and just eat me,” murmured the other pony.

“Well, if you’re not going to beat the stuffing out of him, then I will!” Spike exclaimed.

The black dragon cackled mirthlessly. “Come then. Show me what passes for fury amongst your misbegotten kind!”

“With pleasure, you edgy loser!” Spike replied.

If you want to read the next updates for my biggest stories at the begining of the month rather at the end, or want to get a commission from me as well as access to patreon exclusive content, and the chance to submit story requests every month, head over to my patreon!

Join me over on patreon and get instant access to exclusive content and early looks at new stories, patreon only stories and other great stuff! Check it out!
Or just join the discord to ensure that you dont miss an update.
This update was made possible by the wonderful support of readers like you: John, MestreJ, Starless, Gear Change, DioKyo, Tacocat598, Canary in The Coal Mine, Ceepert, Doomgoey, Tiwake, Vigilant Watch, Joshua, Nfreak, Facinus, M, John, Rhys, Corey, Blade Tech, Mephia, Peter, Apollyon, Nightwing, 浩民 簡, Hannibal, Dragon's Sheperd, BeenMcsqueen, Mop Hop, Dale, Xvos, Nathan, Octavia and Lowbar, Lich lord krosis, Prysm, Mike, Astor, Travis, Soundtea, Menthol Qtip, Craig, Mirvra, Ivar, Pacsik, Kali, Makani, Steven, Fiamgoku, free, GruB, Todd, Megatyrant.