In darkness he stood. Exhaustion washed over him, greeting him with its unwelcoming sigh. Left, right, forward, and back. Darkness. All around him was a black void of nothing. Fear spread out into the darkness leaving his sorrow behind. His thoughts were a mess just as he believed himself to be. He could feel his very pulse slowly becoming faint.

From the darkness, two jagged eyes formed as if made by flames, a darkened mist passing through it creating a visual chaos. Its form finally came into view, its torso still incomplete as it had been before. Its third eye began to appear. The darkened mist of its body no longer looked... incomplete. No longer fragile or unstable. This was new... Its form was outlined by jagged armor-like metals. Its gaping mouth and eyes were clearly visible, shadows no longer ran through it, its eyes themselves felt like if they were singeing him to the bone with its blazing stare.

He couldn't move. Couldn't run away. He couldn't feel a heartbeat anymore like if his heart had completely come to a halt. He began to realize that this wasn't a void of darkness at all. This was the world...

As if a grasp had let go of him, he swung his head downwards heavily. He was trying to breath, but the fiery air singed his lungs. Below him, a small pure white circle remained. Was this all that remained of the world? It suddenly grew into white shards all around him like that of a compass rose as he stood in the middle of the wide shards, glowing intensely white. They began to grow in an intense light, it took him a while to adjust to the brightness. As he did, he saw the monster from before backing away as if ready to take a blow. It took him a little to realize that the white glow wasn't from the shards... it was from him.

One of the being's claws pointed towards him. A wave of fire burst from it and filled the darkness. Before it could hit him, he awoken.

The pastel colors of his room's ceiling came into view, the soft green colors soothed his worries as he heaved painfully from his chest. His heavy breath and the beads upon his forehead signified that he had somehow miraculously survived the day before. He sunk his head into his pillow again, and took one deep breath before he finally calmed himself down. He felt the gauze strapped all around his body where he had bled from but now ached.

"You're finally awake." A warm concerned voice called out to him and before he knew it, he was being smothered in his mother's embrace. "I'm so glad you're okay!"

"A-ahhoow. M-mom I'm okay!" He said painfully, making the concerned mare worried as she pulled back. "Ah, its nothing, it just hurts. Guess I'm not ready for your tight hugs."

"I'm sorry..." She began before being reassured it was okay with Illuminous' smile.

He finally noticed his weighed down forearm. To the other side, he spotted the Pegasus mare sleeping soundly against his hoof, making his hoof numb as she placed her body onto it. It was warm, and decided not to bother pulling it out of her way. His attention quickly turned to the red patches on her back, smoldered and dry.

"What happened?" He asked the mare who had one of the most intense warm smile he'd even seen.

"Oh-uh, I don't know much of what happened but Dove arrived suddenly with you on her back. It nearly broke my heart when I saw you that way."

So it was true, the red on Dove's back was his blood... She had carried him all the way home?

"The poor thing was exhausted carrying you all the way back." Luna stroked Dove's mane with her hoof. It truly showed that Dove was exhausted, she was still breathing hard even in her sleep probably from running.

"How long have I been out?"

"Half of the half an hour dear. Surprisingly, you recovered faster than I had dared to imagine."

Illuminous looked over at Dove. Without thinking, he stroke her mane as well, putting on one of the warmest and joyful smile that he'd ever have. She mumbled lightly, almost aware of his caress.

She opened her eyes slowly, sleepily trying to focus on the two figures before her that were having a conversation. All while a hoof passed over her mane, stroking gently easing the the headache she had gained from the effort from before.

"You seem to be enjoying that, given your smile."

"Huh? What?! I-I uh... No I just..."

"Its okay dear, I think you should focus a little harder on her though, you didn't even realize she woke up."

Illuminous looked over to Dove, who he was still gently caressing, her emerald eyes gleamed at him both in wonder and some unknown affection he had never seen before, subtle and almost delicate.

A warm feeling surged in him, and suddenly, her eyes became watery, more and more so until she finally cracked and she embraced him with an unbreakable hug. She began to whimper, cry almost, in a high pitched girly way. Illuminous was completely baffled, not by how he felt at first seeing her eyes again, that feeling of joy turned into something he couldn't understand. Not by the affectionate hug she was now smoldering him with, which felt nice...

He had never seen or even heard of Dove having a weakness, muchless crying. This was new to him. Dove had never cried before, not in all the years he had been best friends with her. Her crying was really... sensible, fragile, girlish and high pitched, subtle even.

"D-dove. Are you okay?"

The mare didn't respond to him, instead she dug her face into his chest, still whimpering. He began to stroke her mane again, to see if it calmed her down. It seemed to work as it stopped almost as soon as he had began to do that. She mumbled unintelligible words. He reached downwards and placed on of his hoofs gently to her chin, slowly pulling her upwards to meet his gaze.

"Dove, is everything alright?" He asked reassuringly.

She was beginning to tear up again until she pulled away from him and looked downwards.

"You made me worry...I-I... I thought you weren't going to make it... I was scared..."

"Come to think about it, I also thought I wasn't gonna make it." He laughed warmly, trying to cheer up her mood.

She looked up at him, frustration already visible on her expression mixed with the tears that were beginning to dry and the ones she rubbed out of her eyes. "You idiot." She punched him on the shoulder which made him retaliate in pain. He was still sore. "Oh... I'm sorry."

"Don't be." His reassuring, warm smile nearly left her stunned, but she began to smile too. He kinda liked for her to be the way she had been, caring and crying for him, but he found it was better to see her happy, her smile was never beaten.

He froze as he heard a satisfied, content and amused sigh from his mother. She had seen and heard everything. He had completely forgotten that she had been there. He felt it... he felt the teasing and the jokes coming up.

"Aww, she got to hug you much more than me. Well I'm not one to know, maybe Dove's hugs dull your pain or my little Illy is just too big now to get hugs from me." Luna said in a sarcastic tone.

He shivered, it was just as he predicted. He looked over at Dove, her face was covered by her long mane completely hidden from view. He looked over to his mom, he froze up even more to see her playful evil expression, ready to taunt him even more. Before she even got to utter another word, Pip burst through the door, panting from what seemed like a fast trek back from a far place.

Pip took a second to look at everyone and regain his breath.

"What happened?" Dove was the first to ask.

Pip who still tried regaining his breath, shook his head. Dove's instant reaction was a shocked and almost angry even. His mother stood serious now too. What was happening?

"What's going on?" He asked Pip in a serious, unnerving tone.

"Well... Illuminous you see..." Pip tensed up and let out a deep breath, calming himself again. "You didn't pass..."

"W-what do you mean..." Illuminous didn't care about being a knight, but for some reason, he felt a deep disappointment.

"You didn't pass the trials..."

"But why?!" Dove surprised him with her sudden outburst.

"The trial general was inspecting your whole run and in the end, he voted against you passing. I suspect it was that grey pony who did this, I found him talking to the general... but what really happened Illuminous?"

"I guess I just wasn't cut out for it." He sighed as he sunk his head into his pillow.

"No, what happened? Why were you bloodied and near to death when you came out?"

"Like I said, I guess I just wasn't ready for the challenges."

"The other contestants weren't even touched muchless hurt. Something happened, no pony had ever perished or got hurt in there. Why didn't you leave if you were bleeding so badly? Where was your potion?"

"Huh... oh uh... I didn't have one."

"What do you mean? Every contestant was supposed to receive one in case of emergencies." Pip showed the need for answers as much as Luna and Dove.

"The mail mare who was delivering them from before had ran out when she got to me, so to make it up to me, she had given me a muffin."

"That explains that part, but why were you so... bloodied?"

"The first trial required for me to jump onto rocks, there was a too large of a gap to jump on one and I had ended up slipping and cutting my back deeply on the end of it."

"Huh." Pip pondered in his thoughts. "The first losing contestants had fallen in too, they drank the potions before they hit the floor though."

"When I got out, I ate mom's cooking. To be honest, that helped me out a lot, probably saved my life too. Thanks mom."

"I'm glad that they did, but if you hit your back only, why were you injured everywhere?"

"I had trouble along the way as well. There were some dense woods and I had accidentally ran into the Tuturin, the spirits of the forest. They began to attack me. I remember that mom told me to stay away from them since they were soul eaters and I tried to sneak by, but... I-uh... I alerted them somehow and they attacked me."

Luna looked downwards a bit in shame. "Well, I only said that to keep you out of danger from the woods back when you were small. Tuturin are actually passive gentle spirits. They don't even hurt flies muchless eat souls."

"Then why did they attack me?"

"Their favorite food are baked goods and will do anything to get them, even if its to attack a pony who is running away with them. I had thought they would be adding them to the competition, so I gave you magically enhanced cookies that the Tuturin wouldn't have been able to sense at all."

"Wait... didn't you say the mailmare gave you a muffin?" Dove asked him.

Illuminous sighed and laughed mildly amused. "She unintentionally messed me up twice. They had hit me with many of their spears and when I was about to be killed, they only retired from their attacks when I threw away the muffin."

"What happened afterwards? The spears alone couldn't have been the only reason why you were so..." Dove's teary eyes began as she had said that but quickly controlled them. It seemed seeing him near to death had affected her badly. He almost felt bad even if it hadn't been his fault... and after all, why did she care so much...?

"Illuminous?" Pip said, startling him as he finally realized he was staring a little too long at Dove.

"Oh uh, well afterwards there was the mountain area. It wasn't difficult to get up or anything, the only thing was that big grey pony who caused an avalanche on purpose for it to hit me."

"That coward! Another player lost because of an avalanche too. He was only mildly hurt since he'd taken the potion earlier than it hit him. Few bruises and scratches. The doctor there was tending to him I remember."

"I found refuge under a steady rock that stood out of the side of the mountain, I wasn't able to get under it fast enough though, a lot of the debris that hit me were the small sharp rocks." He placed his hoof on his forehead remembering how one cut him deep. The pain had been unbearable. It wasn't sore at all and he didn't have a scar. "Huh?"

"The doctor who was tending to the other pony had left before you had gotten out, so I took you to Miss. Luna." Dove responded shyly.

"I used to study a lot back at Canterlot castle before I met your father. I would spend ages in an enclosed library just reading. I wasn't entirely new to recuperation magics. It was safe to say that you were indeed in grave danger. I almost burst down crying when I saw you."

"Was I truly that badly hurt?" He wondered.

"You were a complete mess my friend. It looked like you turned from white to red, not to mention all the sweat." Pip placed his hoof on his shoulder and he flinched in pain, making him pull it away. Illuminous hated being fragile like this. "Dove didn't care though. She didn't even have second thoughts of carrying you, bloodied and all the way back to the house."

Dove punched Pip in order for him to shut up. "You were heavy you know..." She whispered under her breath.

"How badly were you bleeding then?" Luna asked him.

"Bad. After I crossed the mountain, I found a river running down into the ocean area and I washed it all off."

"What were the challenges in the third area then?"

"I tried using my satchel to get past, but the spirits attacked me, they looked like piranhas. Their scales were sharp and also their teeth, they cut me several times but they weren't sharp enough to cut Dove's hoofinwork. I... lost it though... I'm sorry Dove..." Luna had already pulled up some sort of book onto her attention before he'd finished.

"It's okay..."

"No its not...!I-I'm sorry Dove... really I am. It probably took you a long time to finish it and I just went and got it ruined." His sudden outburst left the mare staring at him. What was it about her look he found odd about? Deeper shades of red maybe?

"R-really its okay Illuminous. It was no big deal as long... well as long as you're still alive..."

Illuminous sighed. "Yeah..."

"How did it get ruined if you said the piranhas didn't even hurt it?"

"They backed off when I was out of reach and disappeared into the depths, but this huge one took their place. A greater spirit. Its scales were much sharper and I fell onto them as I fell when he lunged at me and shredded the cloth like nothing."

"They are passive spirits though... how would they... why would they...?"

"That was what I thought. I saved myself by riding as bait on top of the greater spirit."

"Wait... didn't you say you washed your self in a river? Did the river lead to the ocean?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Most spirits are generally passive, but when they taste or smell blood, which must be in big concentrations of it, they grow out of control. Even the tamed ones seemed to be hazardous if they suddenly lashed out."

"What about the last part of the trial?"

Illuminous thought for a little while. He didn't know if the worm-like things had been monsters or spirits, but that wasn't what was bothering him. The visions of the past still haunted him every time he dared think of them and it showed, the fear burning bright in his eyes.

"Illuminous... is everything fine?" Dove asked, her concern broke through her embarrassment. "What happened on the last trial?"

He broke out of his trance only to see everypony staring at him in concern. "Oh-uh... on the last trial, there were these flying lizard things."

"Flying lizards? You mean Draco?" Luna said, pulling up yet another book, studying up on them. "They are wild spirits of the plains. Only appear at night though. Unless provoked by the deep iron stench of blood..."

"I knew it, well I was weak by all the blood I lost, so I wasn't very fast when trying to run away from them. They began to bite me. I was horrified to tell you the truth, I thought they were going to eat me alive." He looked at his body, unable to see anything from the gauze they had wrapped him in. He tried moving a little, still sore and in pain. He felt the gauze on his flank as well. "Huh?" He said again, shaking his flank to feel if it was the gauze or bed sheets.

"I had to concentrate in stopping the blood loss and heal you with my magic, somepony else did the hoofs on wrapping." Her playful voice told him everything. He didn't dare look over to where her voice indicated. He knew all too well, but he was far too exhausted now more than ever after remembering past events, he didn't want to stress it more.

He felt his heavy eyes grow weary, making him yawn loudly.

"Did anything else happen? That couldn't be the only reason why you were so badly hurt." Pip wasn't inconsiderate or annoying all the time, but when he was, he did it on purpose. Well, either way, this called for a special occasion, he guessed that Pip was only wanting to know.

"Well... there were these worm things, I don't know what they were but they nearly killed me too."

"What worms?"

"They were massive, and blind too. I figured out they were following the scent of my blood and saved myself by making them crash together."

Luna stood in deep thought. "There isn't any worm that fits your description Illy."

"I saw them with my own eyes, two of them, they were huge, the size of watch towers! They somehow swimmed through the earth as they would come out from everywhere."

Luna's expression was a bit worse for wear as was Illuminous'. "There is nothing in Equestrian history that even resembles something of the sort. The biggest worms are earth worms seven inches long, insects alike to them are centipedes and they hardly grow big enough to be a foot muchless a watch tower."

"Wait, you said that they nearly killed you? So they were aggresive?"

"Yeah, almost got eaten too, I had to hold its mouth open with my entire body, its mouth lined up with sharp teeth that cut me all around my sides. I figured that they were after my blood when some of it dropped into its mouth and it made of sound, like it enjoyed it or something." He said, placing a whoof on his sides.

"The deepest and hardest wounds to heal were at your side. They were more than fatal, and there was some black substance in them too. If what you are telling us is true, then something like that must exist since that substance didn't fit anything I've ever seen or even heard of. I will have to talk to the commander about this." Luna placed a hoof onto Illuminous' hair and stroke it gently, trying to comfort him.

"Yeah... they crashed against each other and their teeth cut them apart. They went back into the ground and I was too weak, so I just dragged myself out of the arena as fast as I could." Illuminous looked over at Dove and smiled at her warmly. "That's when I saw you. I was worried that if I would have died in there, I wouldn't have gotten to see you one last time, but I was happy that I did." He kept smiling, not realizing what he just said and what he was just doing, until finally, he laughed meekly, and thought of something to continue it. "Worried that I wouldn't see any of you."

"Wow Illuminous, you survived through all that?! C'mon, thats pretty amazing. Everypony else didn't even got harmed since nothing like that happened to them. I think that race course wasn't meant to do that." Pip stated what everyone had been thinking.

"Of course, the Knight's Trials were designed to be like Equestria's environment and difficulty. Truth being that Equestria hasn't seen such violent measures, the trials are based off that and everything in there was supposed to help you. I wasn't worried at all that you would fail because of that. It seems like I had been wrong. What is strange is that all of this happened to you and you only." Luna explained.

"Maybe it was that big pony's fault." Pip said.

"That can't be it, the commander and the trial masters would never put the life of a pony in such danger no matter what the cost. Every spirit that Illuminous encountered was supposed to be friendly and helpful or completely unresponsive and tamed, the tuturin were meant to guide you out of the forest and the ocean spirits were to help you get across the sea. I hadn't thought that even if they did consume or smell the blood of anypony, they would go into such a dangerous frenzy, they are tamed trial spirits held at peace by very strong amounts of magic. All the unicorns who create the stage are previous masters of the mage trials. The worms however, were new to me, and I will have to talk to somepony about them." She continued. "Although Pip, you might be partially right. Illuminous was supposed to win if he crossed the finish line. It could be that the general could have been convinced in some way."

"Yeah, I heard him saying something about being disqualified for using the satchel Dove had given him and also for finishing late." Pip added.

"That is injustice! How could he do such a thing?! Didn't he see Illuminous?" Dove spoke up with assertiveness.

"Yes bu-"

"Hold on you two, this is no time to discuss this." Luna pointed one hoof to Illuminous whose eyes were closed, a pained expression on his face. She pressed a hoof to his forehead gently. "He has had a fever all this time, its amazingly lucky that he even recuperated so fast from such dangerous injuries, let alone wake up. He'll need some rest."

Both Pip and Dove nodded queitly and they got up, ready to leave him to rest. Pip yawned and stretched his tired legs, Dove following beside him, looking just as tired. Luna kissed Illuminous on the forehead and pulled up his bed sheets to tuck him in. She walked out as quiet as noise could ever get. She walked down the stairs, believing that the Dove and Pip had already left, and to her surprise, she found Dove waiting for her at the door.

"Miss. Luna... what will happen to him? You even said it yourself, there was no telling what could happen even if he was healing up that fast." She asked, worry clear in her voice.

Luna smiled and closed her eyes, she placed her head over the weary yellow Pegasus in an embrace. "Don't worry dear, he'll be fine. I truly believe that he will be able to pull through." She whispered. "And please, enough of the formalities, call me mom." Dove smiled at her kindness.

"Thanks Mom." She said under her embrace.

Luna snickered and said one word. "Law." With that, she walked over to her room to read, as she would not be able to sleep with Illuminous in such a condition.

Dove didn't understand that last word, but it didn't matter. She trailed behind Luna and followed her to her room.

"Won't you get some rest dear? Your parents must be worried."

Dove shook her head. "I asked Pip to tell them where I was. I don't think I want to leave...you know... with how things are." She shied away after saying that.

Luna looked at her with an interesting smirk, making her even more timid. "Well, I understand, I would have done the same in your position." She smiled warmly.

"Thanks for understanding mom." She said back.

"More than you would know." She snickered again. "Also, in."

"Huh?"

"You should go take a bath my dear, you've gone through a lot today."

"Oh," She looked over at her coat which she had to twist her head to see. It was covered in the dry blood of Illuminous. "Yeah, I guess I do." She said meekly, preparing to leave to take a bath.

"If you want to, you can sleep with him for tonight. I would but I'm a bit too large and I would just be a nuisance." Her devious smile still remained.

"I-I..." She left without saying a word, leaving a trace of her reddened cheeks. Dove knew well not to argue with Luna as she was never beaten in her crazy antics. Although what she was saying was reasonable and... well... okay with her.

Luna laughed silently to herself, although she didn't understand well what they truly felt, it was fun at least for now. She sat back, pulled up her glasses and a book, tucked herself in, and began reading.

Within the reads, she couldn't help think of what the future might hold, not for her, but for them, and also the trio of friends. She understood well she could not deny fate, and even if she didn't want to let go of him... he would do so no matter how much she could try. That was the nature of things. Since the past, on that day when everything stood still, when the world became grey for the second time, she knew all too well, there could be nothing she could do but to support. Maybe... just maybe... it always hurt a little more every time she reminisced about the past, what was done was done, she could only be glad that Illuminous was in her life now.

The ancient magohany wooden floors squeaked loudly in the silence, each pressing hoof like a thunder storm as her nerves so much made her believe. Her sane mind loudly yelled that he was a heavy sleeper, but her heart and gut yelled louder. Such was the way of the stubborness that ran through her blood. Her unending nerves drove her to insanity with each step, especially crossing his door to the room that stood square center in the hall just before the bathing room at the end of the house.

Although she had been friends with Illuminous for such a long time, Dove had not once slept over. She had been to his house many times, waking him several others, and eating many more (as Luna had not let her go without a meal first). She didn't know what to expect, what to do at a sleep over... with a colt. She had many friends, been to several sleep overs, but never with Illuminous. What made it worse was Luna's last comment...

She shook the thoughts out of her head and quietly opened the door, letting her hoof gently glide in the air after her grasp of the doorknob was gone. Thoughts echoed through her mind, their presiding rule on her consciousness making her stand in silence, looking into the beyond as scenarios latched onto her imagination and day dreams, the sort she needed less of right now which ultimately helped her pull out of them.

She sighed, still stressed about all that had happened yesterday. She dropped her weary body and soul into the porcelain bath tub with luke-warm water.. Things just changed within a matter of seconds. She knew well in her heart that if Illuminous had become a knight, he would have to leave... She was worried from the start, to be honest, she didn't want to lose him at all, but she had already decided that within her heart, all she could do was see him go. To help in anyway she could, and that was her goal. She didn't doubt Illuminous passing at all, she knew well that he would pass but now... now it was just... With the possibility that he could... die... it was too much. Too much for her to handle. Too much to bear and she wanted to stick by him even if it meant not eating or sleeping. Although exaggerating a bit, that's how she honestly felt. What bothered her most was not the fact that he was to die but that... she cared so deeply and she didn't even understand why.

After drying herself clean, she brushed her mane, struggling to hold the brush that didn't even have a handle for her hoofs to latch on to. She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled at her large bang. It was useful at times, very useful. She opened the door quietly, making way into the corridor. She quietly made her way over to Illuminous' room door. She stood by it in silence not knowing what to do. She began thinking that it would be better if she just slept on the couch. Those thoughts were quickly pushed away when she heard him.

The odd grumbling made her freeze. Did he hear her? She gently placed an ear on the door and tried to hear more carefully. He kept making noises as if he was in pain. She didn't hear footsteps so he couldn't be coming to the door. She quickly and quietly made her way towards Luna's room down stairs. She opened the door, Luna still reading her book and pulled it down to see her. Dove didn't have to utter a word, her expression could tell more than her words.

"Is he alright?" She asked in confirmation.

Dove nodded her head, turning back urgently signifying for her to come. They both entered the room quietly as they possibly could. Illuminous had his eyes closed, the grumbling still continued.

"What's going on?" Dove asked in a hushed voice.

"He is fighting it." Was all Luna managed to respond to her. Luna's serious expression kept Dove from asking further, no matter how much she wanted to.

Luna's horn began to light up. She placed it on Illuminous' forehead and she closed her eyes along with him. All Dove could do was stand by and hope for the best. It sickened her almost.

A little later, the noises stopped and Illuminous went back to sleeping well. A lunar insignia was cast upon his forehead.

"What is that?" Dove asked in wonder.

"Its a sweet dream mark. It takes away bad dreams for a little while and hopefully they don't return. I made it myself, you know, my cutie mark and all." Luna replied, her weary smile bright and playful.

Dove couldn't help giggle under her breath. Luna was always in a happy mood no matter how bad the situation, and that was a contagious attitude coming from her.

"Dove, I need you now to sleep with him. Watch over him. I'm not sure if it will last, so please keep close to him as much as you can and come and tell me if he starts doing that again." Luna asked seriously. Dove replied with a quiet nod.

Dove forcefully slipped into Illuminous' bed alongside him with Luna on her tail, tucking her in and kissing her on the forehead as well. Too bad, so much for sleeping on the couch. This was a serious request and she needed to treat is as such if she wanted to accomplish it.

Luna didn't make a single sound as she left. Dove stood in the darkness, unsure if she could go to sleep. She heard the quiet panting of Illuminous' breath. Her feelings were mixed, both anxious and delighted. She turned her body to face Illuminous who was upright, his back against the bed. Her hooves were much warmer on that side. It wasn't the bed's warmth... She pulled her hooves closer to herself.

Still asleep, Illuminous turned his body towards Dove sleeping sideways. Dove wanted to move, but he was so close and her hoofs were too packed in next to his body, his forehead right onto her's. One movement could mean awakening him, and she did not want that... even it meant feeling his warm breath to hers. She took small short breaths, as best as she could to not let him feel it. Her face was becoming increasingly hot. She couldn't turn her gaze from him.

The soft sound of howling winter wind lulled her to sleep as the frost begin to line the edges of the window. The warmth brought her to sleep, her tired eyes meeting a soothing haven.

The wave of fire drove him to his knees. They were intense, harsh and cruel. Yet they did not scar him, nor did they hurt him. The beast screeched loudly with multiple voices, all dark and beautiful at once. What was this thing? Illuminous wanted to back away, but it was like the light was an invisible wall. His hoofs didn't help either.

"Darkness Incarnate." The voices sounded out. Illuminous smoldered the sound by pressing his hoofs tight against his ears. They were loud, unbearable and ear-shattering.

It repeated itself once more more loudly. He couldn't stand it. He let out gasps of pain. From the fire wave, a few fires remained before him, they were intensely hot. The white light grew more intense, the sound more horrifyingly loud, the fire hotter and singeing him from within. He couldn't stand it. It was all just... too much...

Suddenly, he felt all of that just... wash away... He opened his eyes. He stood in the middle of storm. Cold rain began pouring to the side of his cheeks. This felt... familiar... The rain was soothing, cold and refreshing. His eyes grew weary from the heavy raindrops soaking him wet. This was a relief, but he couldn't help wonder what had happened.

From the distance, he spotted a small pony. He walked slowly over to the figure. The yellow coat and caramel mane looked very familiar. The small wings on the back of the pony looked like small stumps. He knew this... this was back when he met Dove... back when they had become best friends, when they were small.

He involuntarily stood over the small pony, her back facing him, small whimpering coming from the soaked Pegasus.

Sure enough, the pony looked up to meet his gaze. She had been crying, he could tell, under the cold rain that stung at every drop. They stood in silence, water rolling down the back of his head and off the side his face, falling onto the small Pegasus' ears which twitched each time it would, acting as an umbrella. He gave her a warm smile. She rubbed the tears out of her eyes. He lifted a hoof out to her and she took it without question or word.

He placed the small filly over his back and ran to the nearest shelter he could find; a small wooden shack that had been left out for the construction ponies, filled with tools and other wears. He placed his weary body against the wooden walls, tired from the running, he was cold, the water would make him sick but...

Beside him the small filly lay asleep, her small panting brought him a little joy. Its true, he had helped her. Back then, she had cried because her family had moved in from Cloudsdale, she had friends she had missed, memories that were now lost. In time, he helped her, all through her time in Levan, the town his mother had founded and named after Illuminous' grandfather. They became best friend and for years it stood that way... but... things were beginning to blur out. Why would he dream of her... why after one of those dreams? He couldn't understand it. He only understood the joy of seeing her face... happy and joyful that his presence was bringing.

Luna placed down her book, a smile on her face. She was now ready to go to sleep. Her smile was becoming increasingly more deviant. She giggled under her breath knowing what she had just done.

That wasn't a sweet dream mark at all. That was a dream transfusion. One she developed long time ago thanks to a crazy pony with crazy goals and antics with even crazier magic. She saw... saw the glow around him. She knew well that Dove could not see it. She did it out of desperation but it turned out more interesting than she initially believed it so when she gave Dove the task. The dream transfusion was to erase nightmares and somepony else's to bond together their dreams. This type of magic she could only do with the help of Illuminous, and what was better was that she could spectate it all. She chuckled to herself again.

We shall see how tomorrow will be. She told herself in her head, her smile still bright as she dozed off.

Luna opened her eyes only to stare into the face of a yellow Pegasus that sat by her, reading the book she had been reading the night before. She yawned once and rubbed all sleep from her eyes.

"Don't mind me Miss. Luna, just reading." Dove responded as she saw Luna looking at her.

"Well dear, how long have you been up?" Luna asked as she looked over to the sun, noticing that it was barely turning morning. "Usually, I'm the first to wake up."

"You do this all the time?"

"I do indeed. You know, specializing in all that is the night, that including dreams. I don't need much sleep." She responded.

"Hehe, right."

"And what are you doing up so early?"

"Oh I-uh... well I didn't sleep so long, my dream just suddenly ended and I tried falling back to sleep but..."

"Hmm?"

Dove felt her face become red a little. "I couldn't fall asleep again so I just got up."

"Must have taken you a while... and what did you dream of?" She asked, interested as could be.

Dove's face was steaming, was she just guessing or did she know?! Thankfully, she reacted quicker than her face and managed to walk off, hiding her face behind her hair. "I-I uh don't remember it anymore. I'm starving though."

Luna kept the silence for a little while. Dove could feel her devious eyes piercing through her emotions like she did reading a book with a matter of importance. "Oh that's right, you hadn't eaten anything since yesterday, I'm so sorry my dear, I completely forgot."

Luna got out of her bed and walked past her into the kitchen. Dove successfully gulped down the feelings and walked behind her. Minutes later, Luna had baked a fresh bread and picked some of the beautiful daisies that were overgrowing sitting on the ledge of the window, the sun shining bright on them, and made them into a daffodil sandwich.

"Thank you."

"That won't be enough."

"Huh?"

"I need you too..." Luna stopped in the middle of her sentence, looking straight at Dove. Dove looked at her too, baffled by what was happening. "I need... I need... I need you to make breakfast and give it to Illuminous. I must go get some errands, ya see those flower pots?" Luna pointed at the several lined up empty pots that once held daisies. Dove nodded her head. "I must fill them. Be back in a few." She said as she trotted out of the house and into the snow.

Dove sighed and thought of what to do. She smiled and laughed and began tossing flour and pantries all across the kitchen, baking and cooking.

She carried the enclosed platter in one of her hoofs and opened the door by standing upright and pushing the door. She walked to the night stand and placed the platter there. Dove placed both of her hoofs on Illuminous.

Her face became hot again... he was so warm...

She snapped out of it and told herself she needed to wake him up. She pushed him once slowly, ending up with her face becoming hot again. Dove began to get frustrated at herself and took her anger out on Illuminous violently shaking him awake.

"Ow ow ow." He said waking up suddenly to the soreness of his ribs and the yellow Pegasus that scattered backwards, her reddened face as if she had not expected for him to wake up to her violent shaking.

"I-I'm sorry! Are you okay?!"

He yawned and looked around. "I'm alright. Where am I?"

She flinched at the sudden question. "W-what?"

"Where am I? Who are you?"

Dove's eyes shrunk in horror. Could... could he have lost his memories? She had only read of this before and didn't see it as a big deal... but now that it was happening... all those years of friendship... all those times... She began to sniffle, her eyes watering up.

Again, she was much to oblivious to Illuminous' jokes and antics. Like mother like son.

"Hey hey hey, calm down, I was only kidding Dove." He said, which prevented her from actually crying. He smiled warmly at her. He noticed between the watery eyes, the smile that was forming. His smile faded into a baffled look. Why did she look so... cute?

Suddenly, her smile turned a hundred and eighty degrees around and became a frown, the top of her head slammed into his abdomen which was the sorest part of his body. He didn't need to gasp for air since he sensed that she was going easy on him.

"Ehe, I guess I deserved that didn't I?" He said as he rubbed that back of his head with his hoof, sitting up right on his bed now.

"Y-y-you idiot." She said lowly, turning her face away from him. He laughed warmly for a little which mixed her feelings between frustrated and somewhat happy. The relief of knowing it was just a joke... was priceless. "Miss. Luna made you breakfast... so at least eat it."

"Oh." He said looking around and finally spotting the closed tray.

He took off the metal lid off of the tray and saw pancakes covered in honey syrup and butter on top, a mug of watered down light coffee like he liked, and....... a muffin....

His face told all sorts of things, and most of them were utterly hilarious. Dove couldn't help giggle under her breath seeing his face.

Illuminous sighed. "What sort of cruel joke is this?"

At that very moment in time, Luna walked into the room. "What joke do you mean?"

Dove gulped, now Illuminous would know that she was the one who made the breakfast.

"C'mon mom, seriously? A muffin? That's just cruel."

Luna turned a serious look over at Dove. Dove's face told her all she needed to know. She turned her serious face back at Illuminous. "Oh I'm sooo sorry, I totally forgot what happened. Woes me." She said sarcastically. Dove let out an inner sigh of relief.

"Yeah well... not cool!" He said, his frustrated expression biting into the muffin and sipping his coffee. Dove and Luna laughed together.

"Are you feeling okay?" Luna asked

"Yeah why?"

"How was your sleep?"

"Funny you mention it, I was dreaming of back when I met Dove. That had never even crossed my dreams before."

Suddenly Dove turned away. Luna turned an interested stare back at the covered pony. Oh this was precious indeed. She didn't want to be too mean. "Well, they often say that ponies who are sick end up dreaming of their past." This was fun, she could feel Dove sighing in relief again. "That is why you, must stay in bed for couple of weeks. You're grounded mister."

"Aww but but..."

"No buts." All of them laughed warmly at the sudden joke. Luna walked over to him and kissed him on the forehead. "In all seriousness, you can't move about the way you are. You need time to recuperate. Rest easy dear."

Illuminous nodded. "Thanks mom." He said, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

Luna walked out of the room, Dove beginning to follow her.

"Wait... Dove." Illuminous said, completely halting her steps.

"Yes?"

"I just wanted to say... thanks..."

She didn't understand him, all she could do was nod at the sudden thanks. She walked out of the room, letting him be as he ate the rest of his food.

He watched the sun rise and fall, sunrise and sunset. He watched as the moon sang beautiful phrases of an earth-bound melody engraved on the earth, ones that he was yet to find.

Sitting on his bed made him a little lonely. Pip visited him for a few hours, him asking how the trials were in detail. The conversations were upsetting, but he did not rule it out, his company was fun to say the least as he would make jokes to cheer him up and they would spend hours just making up nonsense. Dove walked in shortly after and then his mom and suddenly, it was happy, if only for a while.

When everyone had gone, he sat upright in the silence, listening well to everything around him. The howling of the wind, the aching moans of willow tree outside his window, to the ceiling fan that spun slowly to keep things fresh. He didn't feel like sleeping tonight. He turned his gaze from the fan over to his cupboard beside his bed. The small picture of Dove, him and Rose stood. He hadn't heard of her since he was just a small colt. His mom always told him that she had left to go help the establishments in the new lands. He missed the times when it was all of them together...

He sunk his weary soul into the comforts of his bed. His mind was encumbered with thoughts, all troublesome. He couldn't make it to be a knight... he did not have a cutie mark... he no longer had school and his life all seemed too plain. That wasn't the real problem however, he felt a need, a need to... to understand his dreams... the need to know why all of this is happening, to find his aunt... he needed answers, he needed to live...

He hated these thoughts. Thoughts of self-pity. Truth being that he felt useless. He wasn't particularly good at anything besides construction since he helped out a lot around the town, but... he didn't want to be a construction worker. It was okay, he just didn't feel like it was his calling.

His heart was always more attached to the world itself. He'd spend his lonely days grazing through the forest beyond, the one his mother had always told him to stay away, but he was stubborn and he couldn't keep away. It wasn't danger that brought him, honestly, he was terribly afraid of danger and avoided at every step, he was careful.

He could call it a calling was what the Everfree forest brought him, but even that didn't quite suit it. The need to know... why... This frustrated him, he disliked mental fatigue. It was inevitable though, images... an all too blurry past. He could hardly remember the times he spent with Rosemary, his aunt. To be honest, he could hardly remember her image at all... but he could feel happy times... and some awful...

Then there was Dove. Something inside told him certain things that he used to do before were now out of question. He barely managed to pull off that scare in the morning without breaking down from anxiousness. It was a pressure... things had changed... ever since the trials, everything had changed...

He could sense danger. It was his gift. He had avoided danger times and times before because of this 'sense'. An anxious feeling of impending doom. That is what he had felt all through the trials. That is what he still felt up to now... he could feel something was terribly terribly wrong, but nothing presented itself since. His dreams... he didn't want to think about it but he had to confront them sooner or later.

His dreams were blurred images. Things he had yet to understand. They were like surreal subtle dreams, like waking up to realize whatever had happened in the dream was not true. This was different though, he would wonder even after he would wake up if anything was true or not. This had only started recently... the tides of change were beginning to form he could sense, but they would bring with them something beyond the most horrid dreams he dared dream.

It had only been the day and his mind had already been filled with dread. It showed too, he had been asked multiple times over by his mom and friends what could possibly be wrong. He did not know so he could not give an answer, just a fake smile and a little patience and attention. All but Pip could see right through him, he saw as the two mares left with worried expression no matter how warm or how bright of a smile... it was still empty... and they knew.

He could not hide from his mother, and he was beginning to think that the same was forming with Dove, in more subtle ways.

This repeated for another two days. Feelings within him were driving him insane... the dreams continued only to be washed away by some unknown force. He kept dreaming nightmares, washed away into memories of good times spent with Dove. Although nice, he feared dreaming any night in fear that the horrid dreams would completely take over if the good ones were to fail. He couldn't take it anymore...

A sudden thought overcame him. A decision... He didn't want to even dare think of it but... it would just not go away.

He would have to leave his home...

After everyone had left, he pondered deeply of what this could bring. Restless hours deciding. It was a possibility, one that came with consequences he couldn't bare, although, there were things he had to understand... and he wouldn't be able to find the answers staying here... it hurt to say it, it really did.

He thought of his mom... how she would miss him... how he would miss her... He thought of Pip, all the times they had shared and how inseparable they had become. He thought of Dove for a little while and tried to completely brush her away. He wanted with almost every fiber in his body to go... and she... well it was tough to say.

He sighed and turned his head towards the moon. The silver light flowed smoothly onto every surface of his bedroom. A gentle, soothing, and cool breeze swayed the curtains lightly and kissed his cheeks making him shiver. It was at these times that the decision towards leaving was strongest. It subtly called to him until it was madness itself.

As he had been staring out into the night's domain, his eye caught attention to a small flicker of light. His ears twitched, the sound of bells distant but close, it was coming from the direction of the small light. He heard the galloping of hoofs, he saw the flicker of light move rapidly down the road. What could it be? He heard the front door of his house spread open along several others. A blurry shape was visible, it was an earth pony carrying along his saddle two bells and in his mouth, he carried a lantern. It was near to the middle of the night, why would he be causing all this frackus? More importantly, why was everyone getting out of there homes to follow this strange hurried pony.

The flicker of light ran through the viewing distance of his window and he heard the galloping stop close to the front of his home. It seems the pony was waiting for everypony to arrive. He understood now. It was a messenger pony, but why so late at night? If he focused well enough, he could only hear muffled voices speaking, one was his mother's. The urge to know compelled him to slowly crawl out of bed, sore and aching. He felt his bones... shift. Pain is all he could feel, but he needed to know.

He sneaked into the balcony as quietly as he could. Due to his medical condition, he needed to stay in bed no matter what. If his mother found out he was doing such a thing as to get out of bed, he would be lectured, or worse, not be lectured and have to live with the guilt of disobedience. Doesn't sound harsh then, but his mom had awful methods of making him feel guilty. The balcony was to the side of the roof covering the main entrance, siding towards the main road. He crawled quietly and as least painfully as he could towards the edge, the voice was clear now, but the pony had difficulties talking. Apparently the messenger pony had been running a great distance as he tried catching his breathes, occasionally gasping loudly. He saw the other townsfolk appear out of their homes, all carrying lanterns in there mouth and approaching the front of his home were his mom and the messenger were conversing. He hid himself at the edge of the balcony closest to the corner for the shade to coveted him in darkness. Although the edge of the roof did not let him see where they were gathering, he could plainly here everything. He didn't see a single child, everypony who was coming were adults.

"Now calm down, tell us what's going on?" He heard his mother ask.

"Well," he took one last deep breath and regained his voice "I have very urgent news that all of you must be aware of. As some of you might well know by my insignia, I am part of the seventh order crusading knights, those who seek to tame new lands... or at least I was." The change of tone was alerting... this was important alright... but it wasn't good news. He sensed it already.

"What do you mean?" He heard the voice of another mare speak out.

"We got attacked... some didn't make it. We know not of how horrible the threat could be, some of us disappeared little by little until we were just a few and when they finally appeared, we could only run away... I have been venturing through the woods, running since the crack of down to alert any pony I could find." Illuminous flinched. This was more horrible than he'd imagined. Was this pony speaking truth? Could there really be an impending doom over the town?

"That's horrible! What are we going to do?!" Some of the ponies began to panic.

"Fear not, my companions should arrive shortly. Thankfully, we had Mystic Dawn by our sides. With his help, we managed to contact the princess and aid will arrive shortly. As for us, we shall, along side the royal guards, fend off any threat that remain. Please do not panic, rest safe." Everyone began to chatter, some nervous and some anxious awaiting the arrival of protection if this doom was to come.

Sure enough, several other ponies made their way into town. Most of them had chain-mail under black woven shirts as uniforms. They were from the knights... The crusade knights nonetheless. One in particular was a silver white Unicorn wearing a lavender drape. His mane just as white, his hair spiked at its edges as if subtly kept in place by high forces of magic. His white hat hid his eyes. Illuminous wondered if this was the 'Mystic Dawn' the messenger had mentioned.

He knew these ponies well. They were among the most elite crusading squads in Equestria. For something like this to happen... it was a tragedy on the highest degree. Then the words his mother gave him were brought back. "The trials are tested by Equestria's nature." A fear ran through him... what if this menace was worse than anypony could imagine? What if Equestria wasn't ready for something like this? Illuminous quietly ran back to his room as quickly as possible. He was glad to be out of that predicament, he felt warm, as if a fever was beginning to approach. He lied down on his bed, covered himself, and thought of all that had just happened. He couldn't leave now could he? A huge sense of... something, began arising within him. Everyone in the village was in danger...

He bolted up right on his bed. He... he wanted to protect everyone. He had to do something... This could be his chance, but it could also mean his demise... he would need to leave though... tonight. Leave without a trace. His mother, with the circumstances that now lay ahead, would never let him venture with the threat now on hold. His friends wouldn't let him either. He needed to... he needed to... he needed to leave...

He stressed his body as he began packing all essentials into a small rag that he folded it up into a small sack. His mother had left. He understood that she had left to talk to the knights. This was his only chance. It pained him to do such a thing, but he could not leave a letter either. It was best this way. He tossed the small sack over his shoulder containing a week's worth of food. He put on the scarf his mother had given to him... Illuminous wouldn't have been able to part without it. Nor could he with the pin that was attached to it.

It was now midnight, and he needed to move quick, sticking the shadows since the moon was bright out tonight. When he walked out through the back door, the cool fresh breeze that passed through him made his heart pound. He was actually going to do this. He didn't know if this was dread or anxiety, but he felt his body ache with stressed pain. He understood well that he still wasn't able to leave now in his condition, but it was now or never. His mother hardly slept at all, she was a light sleeper and had sense far beyond normal. She would be able to hear him walk out the door from her sleep. This truly was the only chance he had.

He planned it out while he had gotten ready. The path towards the colonies in the regions was simple. There was the main road which lead towards Canterlot if you just went straight west. On the western part of the road, there was a cross turn where it would lead towards the mountains in an arch formation and also ran through the Everfree forest. That is were the messenger had originally ran through. If the threat he spoke of was the way he had been coming from, then taking the east route, which was another way towards the colony in the woods, would be the better option since the road there was only covered by light woods, eventually crossing to the Everfree forest for a small bit before entering the first colony. It was like going around the problem.

A lamp post lighted the road in a orange glow as he passed it with care, trying to be as quiet as possible. He was passing several homes were ponies had already gone back to go to sleep and he was beginning to approach Dove's and Pip's house. He had to make it fast out of there... his emotions still ran nearly dominant in the situation.

Incidentally, he stopped in the middle of one of the lamp post. His head spun and he felt sick. He closed his eyes to ease the sickness out a bit. The fresh breeze was only making it worse, his cold eyes began to felt sickening sticky and his fever began to burn through the cold, the two forces clashing. He felt like throwing up, but he needed to go.

"Illuminous?" A familiar voice called out to him. He froze, afraid to open his eyes, still feeling horribly sick. He had been caught...

"Illuminous dear, what are you doing out so late? You look terribly sick, weren't you supposed to stay in bed since you were gravely injured by what your mother told me?" At that, he opened his eyes to realize that it had been Dove's mother, the long curled hair at the ends and yellow mane closely resembled her.

"Sorry to be bothering Ma'am."

"None at all dear, but please tell me what your doing out so late? You don't look so well."

"I'm suppose to uh... be picking up something very essential from Cornelious' rock farm. I hadn't gone in a few days and forgot to pick it up sooner."

"At this time dear?"

"Oh-uh... I-uh..." He needed to make up something, anything, this was an easy getaway.

Right as the idea had come up in his mind, a voice he had desperately didn't want to hear came into clearing. "Cornelious asked me to tell Illy to go pick it up any time soon before he set out towards Canterlot to sell his merchandise. He just forget is all, don't worry about him."

"Oh, hiya dear, what a lovely night you've managed to bring us tonight. Oh I didn't know, hope Cornelious is careful with all that's going about."

"Its all fine Betty, I'm sure the guards will escort him safely. We'll talk about this later, I'm sure you feel awfully sleepy."

"Now that you mention it... I kinda am. Anyways, see you tomorrow dear."

"You too."

With that, silence was all that remained after the conversation between Dove's mother... and his... He was trying his best not to pass out from the fever or the nausea. How would he explain himself now? The silence remained for a little while, until finally something was said.

"Ah, glad to see you again little sis." This voice... was different. Who could it be? So... graceful... regal... He didn't dare open his eyes.

"Glad as you are to see you too." He heard an embrace. What was going on?

"There are many things we must discuss after such a long time. Although there is something more important now I see?"

"Yes, certainly we should sit down for a while, catch up on the old and new. Right now though... I have to take care of something..."

Illuminous gulped silently to himself. Just when he thought his luck had stretched the thinnest, two more voices joined the fray.

"Miss. Luna? Illuminous? What are you guys doing out here?" Pip's voice called out as he came forward and everything stood in silence except for the trotting of two ponies.

"Princess Celestia!" He heard Dove nearly shout. He heard them bow in respect. Princess Celestia huh...

This was driving him insane. He wished so terribly bad right now that this could all be just a dream. A horrible dream he could wake up from. He felt all the questioning eyes on him. All the attention centered on him. Surrounded by ponies he didn't know how to deal with. Sickened and troubled.

The silence was unbearable with all of them standing... as if they were expecting answers.

"What is it that you want to hear...?" Illuminous mumbled lowly, getting no reply and silence was all there was. Him still afraid to open his eyes.

"Is it, why am I out here? Is it... why do I have a bag full of things and out in the middle of the night?" Still no reply.

He opened his eyes slowly and looked at the ground, blurred and moving. He was feeling like passing out, but something was preventing him.

"I can't answer any of that... because I don't even know myself..."

A small pleased giggle came from his mom. He baffled by what was happening. He looked over to her first... a warm, crying smile on her face. Tears were beginning to swell in his eyes too...

"You remind me so much of him... so much of your father."

"Huh?"

"He was so reckless, so head strong... always with a need to do something. I knew this day would come." Luna approached him and she hugged him, still crying onto his shoulder. Illuminous was thoroughly confused...

"Like your father's image indeed." He heard the regal voice say as he cried onto his mom and Luna onto him. Princess Celestia had been watching all of that. He hadn't even taken a proper bow. Suddenly, he felt his nausea end and all sickening feelings. His mother slowly pulled away from him, tears still staining her cheeks, but a warm smile nonetheless, of both joy and sadness.

Illuminous turned to Celestia, she too had a seemed like crying but instead, upheld a saddened smile. He bowed to her.

"Wait... so you knew?" He turned to his mother.

"I always did." Luna responded to him.

"But... how?"

"I am your mother after all, and I love you with my fullest extent, there isn't a thing that could slip by me. You are so alike to your father... when you were born, you were my bundle of joy, my living hope and my faith that all would be for the better. I know that I couldn't keep you from going... Your father told me before he left, that he wanted you to find who you are, that there could be nothing that would stop you from it, but only you could learn from yourself."

"He believed in you, just as his father had believed in him, Sir Levan was a great pony, and your father rose up to be better. You know just as well as I that a new age is falling before us bringing darkness with it. Illuminous, we need you to be brave, we need to stand strong, protect those you love. You have a great potential, you truly are special." Princess Celestia spoke.

"Then why didn't I pass the trials?"

"You don't need a title to prove what you are worth, you don't have to prove yourself to anyone. You are special, and it is I that I ask of you now to be strong. For times ahead will be too. Protect everyone. Please."

"I will."

"Um..." Illuminous turned around to follow Dove's voice. In her hoofs she held a brown satchel.

"Wait... is that...?"

"I knew you were going to need this, so I rebuilt it for you."

"I asked Dove to watch over you, so she will accompany you." Luna spoke up

"Wait, are you sure? Would you actually leave here?" He turned to Dove.

"I can't turn down a request from Luna." Dove responded.

"I will join along to mate." Pip spoke up after being quiet for so long.

"Wait you too?"

"Of course! You need a sidekick right? A companion! Maybe we'll discover our cutie marks together that way!"

Illuminous was overwhelmed... they were actually doing this... for him?

"Thank you..."

"I'll always stick by your side mate, we are best buddies are we not?" Illuminous couldn't help smile at his remark.

"Please take care Illuminous. Promise me you'll come back. Promise me you'll never forget me." Luna turned to him.

"I could never forget you mom." He hugged her and she gave him a kiss on the forehead.

Luna leaned close to his ears and whispered quietly into his ears. "Promise me you'll find her..."

Illuminous didn't need to know who she was speaking about. He knew all too well already. He nodded.

The sun was beginning to rise, Celestia raised the sun with her magic, the snow turned an orange hue.

"As long as we're under the same sky, we'll always be together." She hugged him one last time and watched the trio leave into the eastern road. She had told him that ever since he was small. She sighed. Equestria is faced with grim times... and only he can bring order, only Illuminous could light the path. Something he had yet to discover.

He was her beacon of hope, the legacy that lives on. In these dark days, they need a hero... she couldn't tell him... about the life that awaits him... about his father... about everything that he truly is. She could only hope that he would find himself before it all could be too late...

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Guess who did over 50 million errors. Me. Anyways, I finally finished it! ^^
Special thanks to DoctorWhooves. :3

Songs that cheered me up to help me finish: Stardust Speedway