Chapter 12: Dream Reaver

(…………………………………………………………………………………………)

For Isaac, the unicorn’s lecture on magic was a complicated affair, like trying to solve a jigsaw puzzle when you didn’t know what the picture was. It didn’t help that she was a complete obsessive-compulsive when it came to explaining how it all came together in the fundamentals, principles, rules, and applications. She made magic seem more of an exact science and not the mystical force that existed beyond all reasoning like it was in fairy tales. Every single little detail, from the major and minor, had to be explained, extrapolated, and reinforced. Like listening to a dry audio reading of a history book, and he hated history.

The whole time Isaac had a grave frown plastered on his face. He hadn’t thought that magic would come with so many rules and restrictions. After thirty mind-numbing minutes of this he’d had enough.

“Ok, just give me the short version? You’ve caught my interest, but we are in a hurry.” Actually he ‘d lied, he wasn’t at all interested in all this magic mumbo jumbo except where it applied him and building his plasma cutter.

“Isaac, I’ve studied magic my whole life. Magic is about making something happen that you want to happen, happen. It’s not just some random event or unexplained force, and magic is different between ponies. About a quarter of the books in the library are about magic and research into the field. I’ve almost read them all and for your information I have been avoiding the intermediate and advanced theories altogether. This was the short version. ” Twilight paced with an ever thinning layer of patience.

“Then make it the short-short version.” Isaac crossed his arms with finality.

Twilight puffed her cheeks at that thinly veiled insult and disappointment for the lost the opportunity to share her vast intellect with someone who needed it. It was going to take some time to get him to open up to magic that was for sure. Reluctantly she attempted to simplify it a bit more for her alien student, but still gave him quite an earful. He wasn’t going to get off that easy.

“Ok,” Isaac held his head then slowly traced his hooves down his cheeks, “I think I have it now. So let me just summarize the basics. There are three types of horses,”

“Ponies.” Twilight snapped, correcting him for the fifteenth time.

“Whatever,” Isaac waved her off, “three types; earth, unicorn, and pegasus. All three have magic powers that arise from different places in their bodies. For unicorns it’s in their horns, pegasi in their wings, and earth in their hearts. The three also have magic in their hooves which allow them to handle small items as if they’d had fingers.”

“Not exactly,” Twilight corrected again, more calm this time, “As you can imagine we unicorns don’t use our hooves very often since we have horns. The use of hoof magic is more commonly used by earth-ponies and pegasus ponies. For example,” Twilight walked over the kitchen window and opened the curtains to show the simple town outside, blanketed in the dying rays of sunlight.

“All of Ponyville was founded only by earth-ponies and it was years before any unicorns or pegasus ponies moved in. What do you notice most about the town, Isaac?” She looked on keenly.

He walked to her side and observed the even length of Ponyville’s main street. The friendly atmosphere had taken on a more ominous feeling as he watched a handful of ponies wandering aimlessly, like lost phantoms emerging at dusk. He ignored them and studied the town, specifically the architecture of the buildings. He wasn’t sure as on what to look for in this world of bright pastel colors and sentient ponies. Comprising the town was a multitude of structures of all shapes and sizes. Each one was a unique work of art unto itself with different layouts and color schemes.

Realization hit him like a bolt from the blue. Despite all their differences the buildings were made out of natural materials like wood and hay, with metal a nonexistent part aside from the street lights and a few odd fixtures. Then there was the solitary existence of DJ Pon-3’s store. It was made of red brick and cement, adorned with all kinds of artificial materials like glass and electrics. It was the only one of its kind, and it was home to a unicorn.

“If it was all built by earth-ponies then they seem favor simple and natural materials.” Isaac answered with as much confidence as he could muster.

“Exactly,” Twilight gave pleased smile, “specifically organic for earth-ponies to grip it with their hoof magic. Wood, hay, plants, and even food, although it’s considered impolite to eat with your bare hooves since we walk on them all day and they do get dirty.”

“Yeah, kind of like humans eating with their feet.” Isaac offered to a light chuckle from Twilight.

“Yeah, that could be difficult for your kind.”

“Oh it is.” Isaac agreed though he’d never tried such an odd activity before.

“Anyway, this is what makes earth-ponies great at being farmers and working with the land.”

“Then what about the earth-pony with the hour glass tattoo we bought the clock from?” Isaac disputed, unless she was about to argue that the clock was made from plants, then this train of reasoning was useless.

“Of course there are exceptions to this rule from time to time,” Twilight hadn’t missed a beat, “one of his parents was probably a pegasus.”

“So now you’re saying magical skill is a genetic trait as well?” Isaac hadn’t thought of that before and oddly it made more sense to think of it that way.

“Yes I am, but that’s a topic for another time. Now can you see that large cloud on the horizon over there?” Twilight pointed to a single distant cloud in the night sky which appeared to be wrapped in strands of Christmas lights.

“That’s the famous city of Cloudsdale built from clouds by pegasus ponies.”

“That’s a city? On clouds? That sounds like a dangerous idea even if it could be done.” Isaac scoffed at the absurdity of it all. Twilight just giggled at him.

“I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s true. In Cloudsdale the pegasus manufacture the weather using cloud machines and rainbow pools. Only pegasus ponies can use their hooves to walk on clouds and it is that principle that also makes them better adapted at using their hoof magic to tinker with machines and non-organic things. Earth-ponies and unicorns can’t walk on the clouds, not even that clockmaker; we’d all just fall through unless I cast a very special spell before hoof.”

“So the pegasi are the engineers of the air? I like that, still how do they keep the machines up there or stop the clouds from falling apart? Do they use some sort of anti-gravity field? More magic? Are you honestly telling me you can build cities out of water vapor?” Isaac felt his blood pressure rising at the idea of such a literal raping of the very laws of physics and of the engineering sciences. It was impossible, it had to be.

The closest to a floating city on Earth was when a starship had to make planet fall. It was a rare sight because starships were too heavy to be aerodynamic they had to use massive anti-gravity fields to suspend them in the sky. It usually meant the ship in question was heading for decommissioning and dismantling because of the massive amounts of power that was required.

“If Rainbow Dash was here she could explain it better than me. I guess you were lucky when you became a Pegasus with a little practice you’ll be a natural in using hoof magic in no time.”

“You know this would all be a lot easier for me if you found a way to make me human again. I don’t really want to stay a pony forever,…um, no offense.”

“None taken, still things have been crazy today. I’ll try to find something while I research this plasma you talked about,” Twilight had a wide smile while clapping her hooves in excitement, “besides, I want the opportunity to study your species up close and ask lots of questions about your world and this shockpoint technology. I want to learn as much as possible.”

“Just find the spell.” Isaac groaned, about to head back into the main foyer when Twilight stopped him.

“Oh, one last thing I forgot to show you,” she moved in close almost to the point of violating his personal space and raised her left arm at him, “touch my hoof.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t worry it’s just a little demonstration.” She smiled assuredly. Unsure what was about to transpire Isaac placed his hoof against hers, the moment he did he felt something like a mild spark of static electricity.

“Now try to pull away.” She challenged and Isaac obliged by retracting his arm only to find that Twilight was pulling back against him and their hooves remained connected. She smiled knowingly as he tried again and again to no avail.

“I can’t, is it you doing that?” It was as if she had a kinesis module built right into her hoof and was holding him prisoner with it. It was rather freaky to see himself being the one pulled around. He folded his ears back and gave a mighty yank and managed to drag her across the entirety of the kitchen floor, but still the connection remain, as solid as ever.

“All ponies can grip another’s hoof.” She released her hold on him, much to his panicked relief.

“One time I nearly fell off a cliff and Applejack saved me by gripping our hooves together like that.” Twilight turned away in embarrassment as she remembered another similar, more recent, incident while subconsciously rubbing her head where she’d been stricken.

“It’s sort of like how you saved me,” she grew silent as she struggled to express her gratitude, “Um…I don’t know if I ever properly thanked you for saving my life back in the mines.” She nervously played with her bangs.

“So…um…thank you.”

“No problem, I’ve seen too many people lost to the necromorphs.” Isaac replied with a sad frown, “Just don’t make a habit of it.”

“I know, I’ve already had enough bad luck with falling off cliffs and ledges to last a lifetime.”

“Or two in your case.”

(…………………………………………………………………………………………)

Isaac and Twilight returned to the main hall of the tree library. To their shared disbelieving wonderment they found Pinkie, Spike, and Sweetie Bell had been busy occupying themselves with a round of pin-the-tail-on-the-pony. Somehow the tail was stuck to the ceiling with super glue, Spike was covered from head to toe in needles, and Pinkie was jammed inside the oven which at this moment was hanging perilously off the top of the stairs. All of Isaac’s equipment was scattered about like carnival confetti, a scene of inexplicable chaos. In the center of it all was Sweetie Bell looking very guilty, ashamed, and gloomy, but mostly guilty.

“Umm…sorry.” She whimpered.

(…………………………………………………………………………………………)

After a quick cleaning up, Isaac began his preparations for building the plasma cutter while Twilight searched the bookshelves for transformation spells and chemistry. Everyone else watched with rapt fascination as Isaac worked his engineer skills, except for Sweetie Bell who was condemned to observe from a dozen feet away.

The basic concept behind a plasma cutter was fairly simple. An inert gas, in this case ionized plasma, was pumped into a firing nozzle, called a plasma torch, and ejected outward to pass through an electrical spark which ignited the plasma into a bolt of superheated material that could burn through or even blow apart its target.

Armed with his newfound knowledge Isaac started by drawing outlines of various shapes on the oven’s light metal case. The outlines, when cut out, would form the body of the cutter. He then dismantled the appliance in order to get at the interior chamber where the actual cooking was done. This heat resistant metal was perfect for forming the head of the cutter where the superheated plasma would be fired. The shapes were cut and with the assistance of Spike’s fire breath the metal was heated and making it more malleable and easier for Isaac to fold the sides into the needed structure.
While the transformed metal pieces cooled, Isaac dismantled the small clockwork motor. The rods, springs and hinges would be used to form the trigger assembly, in addition to the ejection system where spent ammo packs could easily be catapulted from the top loaded magazine.

The sewing machine was gutted for the small electric motor and larger gears. These would serve the dual purposes of providing electric current to ignite the ionized plasma in the firing chamber and, with the addition of a secondary switch, would allow the head of the cutter to rotate at a ninety degree angle giving a horizontal and a vertical firing position.

The final step was to solder the electrical cords, laser diodes, switches, and capacitors onto a circuit board (that had originally belonged to an audio mixer system) and connect it to an internal power supply. Then the two halves of the device were screwed together tightly to seal the deal. The flashlight from Pinkie Pie was mounted on the body using electrical tape and the ammo counter was made from a stereo’s volume display.

The final result was a jury-rigged tool that that was better suited more for pony use than human. In his modified design he had to install a larger trigger, remove the guard, and make the body of the tool a little longer than normal so his hoof could fit. When he eventually became human again it would be simple affair to revert it for use by a human hand.
It wasn’t perfection, but damn it was close.

He surprised himself, he’d though it would have been impossible to build a cutter with the stumps for hands he had. The magical qualities of pegasus hooves had helped, it was still not the same as having an opposable thumb and fingers which were far better suited for this kind of precision work. Five digits were better than one; a hoof was too big, imprecise, and limited in what it could hold. Fingers were more precise, could fit into smaller places, and could hold onto far more. At one point he’d been forced to ask Sweetie Bell for help. He needed to use her unicorn kinesis to help fit the smaller springs and circuits into the more confined spaces of the tool. Thankfully there was no repeat of her earlier disaster.

This plasma cutter was special, it meant something to him. He wasn’t just building a tool to dismember necromorphs with. It was a deliberate endeavor to restore a part of his humanity and a reminder of the world where he’d come from. He felt a deep need to make it official so he signed his name onto the side of the new weapon.

“Property of Isaac Clarke,” the inscription read. All that was left to make now was the ammo.

(…………………………………………………………………………………………)

“I don’t have a way to make the stuff you wanted,” Twilight proclaimed to a deeply disgruntled Isaac, “I did find a good alternate,” she levitated a book over to him, “take a look.” Isaac peeked into the books worn pages. He briefly skimmed the instructions, finding some of the terminology confusing.

“Liquid Schwartz?”

“Other page.”

“Fire vapor: a red gaseous ingredient essential in the brewing of the hottest of hot sauces and the red stripes in rainbows?” Isaac’s disposition soured like a lemon. No way in hell was his cutter going to be shooting rainbows. Pinkie hopped in with a mighty laugh.

“I tried it once and I was like, ‘spiiiiicccyy!’ Because rainbows are very spicy, like really spicy. I like some hot sauce on my cupcakes, they are so good. I wonder what a rainbow on my cupcake would be like. Ohh, ohh, Twilight you have to show me that recipe later.”

“This is a really bad idea.” Isaac interrupted, his foul mood deepening.

“Am I just full of bad ideas then? You’ve been arguing with me all day about my magic. This is the best compromise I could find between a magical solution and a chemical compound that matched your specifications.” Twilight felt herself getting rather hot under the collar.

“I’m still not sold on the whole ‘magic’ thing and now you want to put it in my tool?”

“Do you have any better ideas?”

“Well, no, but…! Fine I’ll give it a try, but if it explodes in my face...” Before he could finish delivering his ultimatum he was drawn to a rather rambunctious snigger echoing behind him. Pinkie, Spike, and Sweetie Bell were crouched around his weapon and writing on it.

“Hey, hey, hey, what are you doing?”

“I’m writing my name.” Sweetie Bell cheerfully said with childish delight as she finished inscribing her signature onto the side of the Plasma Cutter just below Pinkie and Spike’s.

“It was your idea silly,” Pinkie laughed while hopping all around him, “now when you’re blasting away zombie ponies, slaying the undead, and laughing at the ghoulies it’ll be like we’re right there, helping too. Y’know cause that’s what friends are for, helping each other.”

“All right everyone just back up!” Isaac stopped Pinkie in her rambunctious bounding as “What’s wrong?” Pinkie asked, concerned.

“It’s getting a little too touchy-feely in here and I need to get some fresh air.” He scowled as he left through the back door, slamming it behind him.

“Geez, does he always act so grumpy all the time?” Spike crossed his arms defiantly, “I mean, seriously, what’s his deal?”

“Don’t worry about him, Spike. I know what he’s going through.” Twilight reasoned, “It’s not all that different from when we first came to Ponyville. I know he’ll come around eventually.”

“Oh, he must be upset cause I haven’t thrown him a ‘Welcome to Ponyville,’ party yet.” Pinkie reasoned.

“A party is your answer for everything.”

(…………………………………………………………………………………………)

It was not because Isaac was in a foul mood, quite the opposite. Although a negative disposition was part of it, the sudden surge of emotions he’d felt had overwhelmed him and driven him to seek a way out. The naive innocence these ponies exuded, the way they treated him as an equal, and the genuine care and concern they showed for him. He wasn’t ready for it. Then they ruined his Plasma Cutter, well, not really, but they were only trying to be friendly. He didn’t deserve their amity it only drove his paranoia. It was sick, he was sick.

He pushed these thoughts away. What he wanted right now was to relax somewhere he could be by himself for a while. When he’d first arrived at the library he’d never have guessed that there was a miniature garden hidden out back. Four pony-sized rectangular plots of land had been upturned and were being used to grow several types of herbs. The purple unicorn probably used them for cooking or as a light snack since some of the leaves had teeth marks.

Beyond the garden and past a few quaint abodes he found himself standing at the boarder of the town. Laid out before him was an endless field of green grass with a lazy river meandering its way through. The sparkling night sky and incredibly bright moon overhead gave the terrain an almost mystical aura of limitless possibilities. As he walked out further from town he trailed the river bank closely so as not to get lost. The soft soil felt good under his hooves and the crystal clear water looked so clean it was probably good enough to drink, although he didn’t feel brave enough to test that idea. Back on Earth most rivers were too contaminated to even swim in and the clean ones were heavily guarded. Approaching within a hundred yards of a clean reservoir could get you shot on sight.

The sun had long since retreated beneath the horizon and Isaac continued his walk in the country side enjoying the feeling of the night breeze as it washed the fatigue from his body. High above the stars twinkled with a supernatural gentle light. He’d forgotten how long it’d been since he’d watched the stars planet side. He’d spent most of his adult life traveling between the stars and yet it was only when he could look up at them did they truly shine like diamonds.

He lost all track of time and later stopped and looked over the river bank into water. His reflection was clear in the moonlit water. He’d had a whole day to get used to his new form and nothing had changed since he’d woken up, apart from the black eye.

“I never pegged you as the vain type Isaac.” Spoke a smooth, confident female voice. Isaac instantly recognized the owner of that voice judging from the condescending attitude and the ‘total bitch’ tone. It belonged to a woman he had never thought he’d ever see or have to suffer the company of again.

“What the fuck do you want, Kendra?” Isaac scowled at her, his loathing to deal with her. Across the river on the other bank the object of his hate stood with her hands on hips.

She was a human of moderately tanned skin, dressed in the same CEC computer technicians’ uniform she worn at the moment of her death. The gray colored synthetic fiber undershirt and military green cargo pants complimented her brown hair, tied in a pony-tail, and equally brown eyes filled with humor, not contempt.

“Isaac, Isaac,” she spread her arms wide, “it’s been a long time since we last saw each other. I see you’ve changed a lot since then, going for the equine look, huh.”

“Get the fuck back. I know what you are,” Isaac seethed. This thing in front of him was an abomination, “you’re just the Marker trying to screw with my head again. It won’t work this time!”

“Got it in one, Isaac,” Kendra stepped onto the water’s surface, “that’s not why I’m here though.”

“Then why are you here!?” He stepped back. He wasn’t afraid, but the greater the distance the better since he had no weapons or armor to protect him. He was just a pony now; with wings he didn’t know how to use.

“This is just like you Isaac, always so angry. I should say you’re pretty cute as a pony.” Kendra took a second step and slowly walked across the water’s surface, slowly working her way towards him. Her footsteps never disturbed the water’s surface, nor did she have a reflection.

“And you made a pleasant crunch when you were splattered all over the wall.”

“You enjoyed my death, didn’t you Clarke? You probably thought, ‘finally the bitch is dead. She got what she deserved.’ Am I right?” she said, rather blasé about it.

“You fucking betrayed me Kendra. You sold me out for EarthGov. I brought that nightmare to an end, but you took the red Marker from the pedestal and tried to abandon me on that godforsaken planet. I don’t think anyone deserves to die like that. Still I didn’t lose any sleep over yours.” The closer Kendra approached, the more he retreated.

“Maybe, but that is in the past. I am dead, but what about you Isaac? When are you going to tell your new friends the truth?” She was now on his side of the river, hips swaying seductively with each foot fall.

“What are you talking about? I have no friends, it’s all just business.” he rebuked.

“You’re lying. Do they know that you’re bat shit insane? That you hear voices and see dead people. That you’re a murderer!” she yelled that last word and Isaac visibly cringed.

“You’ve killed so many necromorphs you’ve grown tired of it and want to find more satisfaction. So you started killing anyone who got in your way.”

“Fuck off Kendra. I had no choice, but you lead Hammond into a trap and shot Dr. Kyne in the back. You should take a long look at yourself first.”

“Remember, Isaac, who you shot through the throat with a javelin gun. Tiedemann was already dead, drowning in his own blood, and you relished your victory. Standing tall over him like a king before executing him.” Kendra pointed at him accusingly, her voice dripping in disgust. “Don’t deny it Clarke, you enjoy the killing like I do. Love the moment when you can snuff out another’s life with a well placed shot or a screwdriver in the head.” She kneeled down to look him directly face to face.

“How about the two hundred souls you willingly sacrificed to the necromorphs. Did you forget that it was you who removed the power cell and opened the blast doors? You allowed them to be slaughtered by the necromorphs in order to achieve your own ends. You might as well have pulled the trigger yourself.”

“The Marker needed to be destroyed. Nothing else mattered and I don’t need to justify it, not to an apparition of a Marker. Where ever you are I’m coming for you. I’ll destroy you like I did the others!” By now he was screaming so hard that his throat hurt.

“So confident, but what do you hope to accomplish now? A pitiful, broken, human in a weak pony body, though now that I think about you don’t have to worry about that awkward cross species thing.” Kendra crooked smile split her face and she reached out with her hand as if to stoke his mane.

“What are you getting at?” Isaac side stepped with a jerk.

“Face it Isaac, Nicole is dead and you’re not getting any younger. I know men your age love to bag the young naïve school girl. Or maybe you prefer the city dweller fucks the farmer’s daughter ending. I know you love playing the knight in shining armor that saves the princess in another castle.” She tried to touch him on his muzzle, but he jumped back and then spit in her face.

“This whole place is just another hallucination so you can screw with me? It’s rather funny that a Marker was so desperate to stop me it would resort to using children’s cartoons and one made for little girls too” Isaac laugh at Kendra.
“Maybe it is all illusion, maybe not” she wiped her face, “that didn’t stop you from having fun before. So why not go all the way. Find yourself a one-night stand or a suitable fuck buddy and if you don’t like them, kill them afterward. Go ahead Isaac you can’t deny your urges.”

“You’re fucking sick, and I’m not going to listen to this. I’ll break out of here soon.” He turned and walked away. He didn’t run because it was pointless. Surprisingly she didn’t follow, but continued to goad him on.

“You can’t keep running forever Clarke. Eventually you’re friends will figure it out and they’ll lock you up. Clarke? Clarke!!”

He didn’t look back and drove himself to remove all thoughts of Kendra. The killing, yes, he had killed more than just necromorphs. Maybe that made him a criminal in some people’s eyes, still he hadn’t wanted to. Had tried to avoid it at all costs or had he? He couldn’t deny that a small part of him had enjoyed watching Kendra be crushed under the giant tentacle, especially after what she’d put him through.

Then there were the ponies. He didn’t think that the Marker was really responsible for them. He was still on the sidelines as to the question of their existence. They seemed too full of life to be fake but too anarchic to be real. Yet, they had treated him well and they were smart and funny in a way. Since he now had the body of a pony…

“No!” He berated himself, “This is exactly what the marker wants me to think. It wants me to turn against my nature and make me something I’m not. I won’t give in to that crap.”

He wanted to launch into a full rant when the chime of a large brass bell rang out nearby. He stopped and listened to the magnificent clang as it traveled clear and flawlessly through the night sky. He counted eleven rings and turned to face where they’d originated and saw he was near a large clock tower. The very place Twilight was scheduled to meet that friend of the princess’.

(…………………………………………………………………………………………)

When Isaac had stormed out the back door he left a rather rough silence in his wake. Twilight shook her head in dismay, hoping that he’d eventually warm up to them and stop being so miserable all the time. She checked the time on her wall mounted clock which showed that it was nearly a quarter to eleven.

“Ok you two,” she cooed to Spike and Sweetie Bell, “it’s getting awfully late. Time for bed.” Neither of the children offered any resistance against her as Spike gave a sudden deep yawn.

“Can I watch Mr. Cutter use his weapon in the morning?” Sweetie nearly nodded off where she stood.

“Of course you can Sweetie Bell, but right now its bed time.”

With Spike resting comfortably in his basket bed and Sweetie sound asleep on Twilight’s bed the lavender unicorn returned to the main hall where she’d hoped to continue her work uninterrupted. She retrieved the book with the fire vapor recipe and retreated to the basement to start brewing a batch of the compound. Or she would have till there then came an anxious knocking at the front door.

“I know where Fluttershy is?” Burst in an almost hysterical Rarity, eyes wide, and covered in sweat from sprinting all the way from the hospital.

“You do?” Twilight froze what she’d been doing, “Did Angel tell you? I thought you were going to tell us when he woke up?”

“Oh good gracious no, the last thing the poor dear needs is a crowd of hysterical fillies overwhelming him with questions?” Rarity took out a handkerchief and began clean her face, “No, no, Twilight dear, the little darling was in such a terrible state of mind it was best that the one pony with the best grace and patience attend him.”

“If you say so. So what happened to Fluttershy?”

“A most scandalous even has befallen her.” For just a moment Rarity’s voice broke. The fine cultured tone stopped and Twilight heard the fear inside the white unicorn, “Fluttershy’s been abducted by a pony and some diamond dogs and the despicable curs have taken Ditzy as well, oh it’s so horrible.”

“A pony helping diamond dogs, who?” Twilight gasped, absolutely stunned. Rarity might have just told her that she wasn’t a real a unicorn. It was just unfathomable. Rarity leaned in close, eyes dancing amongst the shadows, looking for an unseen listener.

“Secret Cherry.” she whispered.

“The Mayor’s secretary?” Twilight instantly had her mouth filled with Rarity’s hoof.

“Sshhh,” Rarity cautioned and released the bookworm.

“I just saw her earlier today, she was having some sort of argument with Mayor Mare. Still, why would she kidnap two pegasus ponies and especially Fluttershy? Neither of them have the magic to find gems?”

“Twilight, darling, the hows and whys don’t matter now. Our friend’s well being must come first. Angel was able to follow them to the gates of their lair and now we must warn Applejack and make haste. Afterwards we can have a little chat with Cherry.” Rarity’s face was becoming flushed with anger.

“Fluttershy and Ditzy must be absolutely terrified right now and judging from the way the dogs treated Angel and the other animals I fear the worst may have happened.” As if to bolster her words the clock in the library began to toll the hour. Eleven chimes pierced the tense tranquility of the room.

“Ok,” Twilight plopped the book down next to the cutter, “Pinkie go tell Applejack what’s happened and then get ready to head out. Rarity, Sweetie Bell is upstairs in my room. Go take her back home and we will all meet back here at about one.”

“Okey dokie loki” Pinkie cheered and bolted out the door, seemingly unfazed.

“Twilight, we can all be ready in half that time. Why the hold up?” Rarity inquired.

“I’ve got a…meeting to attend at midnight with someone sent by Celestia who may be able to help.”

(…………………………………………………………………………………………)

Twilight galloped her way through the empty dirt roads. Obscuring her way through the bright night was a crisp cold fog that had suddenly and quickly had blanketed the town. The thick eerie cloud relentlessly obscured her vision and chilled her to the bone. It was defiantly not normal to see such weather in this time of year. Her destination was the clock tower atop the hill at the west end and she had only a few minutes left before midnight. She was all packed up and ready to go and rescue Fluttershy, she just had to get this meeting out of the way.

Within minutes she had arrived at the base of the clock tower. It was a twelve story high structure adorned with a single brown gabled roof and a yellow painted exterior. It was one of the oldest buildings that still stood today, the silent hands of the massive clock and the brass bell had watched over the town for many generations, tolling the hours in solitude as the years passed.

She’d come to know this lovely building well over the past year. She was fascinated with the machinery that drove it, spending many a lazy afternoon taking notes on how it all worked together in harmony. Tonight, however, it was accompanied by another familiar sight; a gray pegasus stallion sitting next to the door.

“Isaac?” Twilight slid to a sudden stop, “What are you doing here?” He didn’t respond, his head lowered to the ground. Twilight warily approached him. It looked as if he’d been sitting there for awhile judging from all the moisture that had settled onto him.

“Next time you should try reading secret messages in private. I want to talk to this friend your princess mentioned.” He interposed himself in front of the door, blocking her way. He seemed so much bigger in the dark and the way the moonlight was reflected by his blue eyes and the dew in his coat. It gave him a mysterious and deadly guise and there was a hint of insanity that played his expression. She felt her throat constrict as if caught in the birth of a scream. She was seeing a whole new part of him, he was something else now. He seemed darker, merciless, and it frightened her. She sucked in a lungful of air.

“No,” she snapped at him trying to push away the fear, “the princess said I needed to go alone!”

“I don’t care what she wants.” His dismissal was immediate and full of scorn.

“I do. She is my mentor and has absolute trust in me that I will respect her wishes.”

“She’d not my princess and I hate to do this to you, but I need answers. So,” he slowly treaded towards her, his hoof steps deliberate and unfailing. Twilight bit her lip, would he really hurt her if she refused him? She was paralyzed, frozen, as he approached closer until their muzzles were inches from each other, “either you take me with you or you don’t go at all.”

(…………………………………………………………………………………………)

Although the tower was twelve stories tall only the last four were dedicated to the clock itself with the first eight just a spiral staircase. As the two of them ascended stairs the metallic grinding and clicking of clockwork gears grew louder and louder as the wooden stairs creaked and moaned in protest beneath them. Twilight had insisted that Isaac lead the way since having him behind her would’ve been extremely uncomfortable. Half way up she had a change of heart.

She’d been so terrified of him a moment ago, and then when she’d agreed to his terms it was like a snap of a hoof and his aggression had deflated like a ruptured balloon. He’d seemed so little and full of regret over what he’d done. He’d apologized a second time and she had tried to pass if off serenely. Now, in a peculiar way Twilight felt glad that Isaac had insisted on coming. She felt that there was something off about this meeting, there was an aura of unease tonight. The weather, the secrecy, and every other crazy thing that had happened over the last two days, it just made her feel truly safe to have a friend tonight.

The smell of hot oil and grease permeated everything around them. The clockwork mechanism was so loud it was hard to hear herself speaking as the gears tumbled and worked against each other. There were ladders and scaffolds that allowed access to the myriad levels and parts of the machine. Next to the stairwell was the machinist shop where the tools and spare parts were available when the great machine needed maintenance or repair.

Twilight poked her head inside this room to see if anyone was there. In a far corner she caught a feeling of magic being cast and saw a unicorn stallion sitting at table levitating a drink to his lips, eyes closed. He was partially obscured by the shadows but she could tell he was a lithe pony about her age or maybe a few years younger. His light yellow coat was faded as if from a critical and unhealthy lack of sunlight and despite his youthful appearance his mane was silvery gray and coarse looking like that of a pony four times his age.

“Hello?” she cautiously called out.

“Come on in Twilight Sparkle,” His voice was the sound of smooth music, calm and filled with a beat that was hypnotic, “I see you brought Isaac with you. That was to be expected.”

“You knew I was coming?”

“Of course I did. I know a lot about you.” His horn had begun to glow with a sudden display of great magical power. White energy run off his horn and as he gathered the flows of energy to him effortlessly weaving it to suit his purpose and then released a cone of magical power that quickly adhered itself to the walls of the room, filling in the cracks and crevices. The moment the spell was complete the room was completely silent, the sounds of the clockwork machine no longer audible.

“Wow,” Twilight mouth dropped, “that was an amazing spell.”

“A necessary precaution,” the unicorn said, “no sound will pass through the barrier we can talk freely.”

“About the Marker?”

“That, among many other things.” For the first time he opened his eyes and looked at them. His irises were the color of teal, the richest colored eyes she’d ever witnessed. Light danced over the infinite darkness of his pupils, those cat-like slits. Twilight found herself dashing in full retreat, slamming into the opposite wall. Those eyes held her there she’d faced only one other who had eyes like that. Her voice froze and she was breathing hard. To confirm her fears he arose to his full height and flexed a pair of wings, he was an alicorn.

“Who are you?” Isaac sternly asked, put off by Twilight’s flustered reaction.

“Now…that’s not appropriate for you to know right now.” The alicorn frowned in displeasure at the question. His teal eyes captured Isaac in their infinite depths.

“Who are you?” Isaac repeated, more insistent. The alicorn placed his drink on the table before gesturing with his hoof.

“Who decides that the work day is from nine to five instead of eleven to four? Who decides that saddles with emeralds will be in style this year and rubies next year?” The alicorn then smiled wickedly.

“Who draws up the boarders, controls the currency, decides your cutie-mark, handles all of the decisions that happen transparently around us.”

“I don’t know” Isaac shook his head, looking rather confused.

“Aaaaaahh,” the alicorn slowly exhaled. “I’m with them, same group, different department. As for my name call me Dream Reaver.”

“Pleasant name.” Isaac said cynically and felt a shiver go up his spine.

“U...um,” Twilight stuttered half way recovered, “I don’t want to be rude but I noticed that you don’t have a cutie-mark.”

“As it should be. Think of me as the collector of unfulfilled wishes. Ambitions lost and dreams that were never realized. I gather lost memories of young flowers that never truly blossomed.” Reaver blinked as if suddenly remembering something.

“But you didn’t come here to listen me talk about myself, you want information. Information that only Celestia and I can provide.”

“How well do you know the princess?” Twilight inquired.

“I’ve been with her since the beginning. Ten thousand years ago when we first discovered the original Black Marker.”