"Verity comes on swift wings."

   I opened my eyes after hearing distant whispering.

   "What happens when the wings flap?"

   Lifting my head while looking around, I just blinked quizzically at my surroundings. It was not my room or any part of the palace, at least no part I knew of.

   "Beware the wings."

   "Hello?"

   I got up and eyed around the strange room, seeing nothing. "Is someone there?"

   "Wings."

   The whispers stopped. I raised my eye brow in response. Strange voices, peculiar surroundings, unfamiliar location, it was all uncomfortably original.

   The massive room's construction was unlike anything I had seen, made of a cloudy glass material or a near translucent stone, like if marble was clear yet had some white murkiness to it.

   Massive pillars towered throughout on both sides, also made out of that material. Light purple banners decorated each pillar. Each banner had two symmetrical decorations waving around a white circle with a snowflake inside it.

   It was not an Equestrian banner, which worried me slightly. "Just where am I?"

   A large throne sat about one hundred feet away from me.  

   I lightly nibbled at my thumb inquisitively. "A throne room?"

   I wondered whom that throne belonged to.

   Yet another underhanded surprise was cast by fate's hand, sweeping me away into the unknown. I remembered going to sleep, then waking up somewhere else seconds later. Perhaps the girl was playing a trick on me, or maybe I was dreaming?

    Something else was weird. The place felt warm and funny, like I was being gently tickled all over. My feet were getting the brunt of it. Bending down to touch the strange floor, a warm static charge rushed up my hand upon contact. I recoiled my hand, eyes widening in wonder.

   "Crystal?"

   I eyed around the massive construct. "No way, there's so much of it!"

   Glass is not a great conductor of magic. In fact with given thickness glass can actually insulate certain types of magic. Crystal is a totally different matter. It is a near perfect conductor of magic and certain types of crystals resonate magic naturally. It was all completely carved out of pure resonating crystal, the rarest kind of crystal.

    "What's that?" I squinted at countless dark strips tunneling deep under the crystal floor. My eyes following their pathways, I noticed them networking throughout the entire throne room.

  Torches were lighting down the wall behind the pillars. It was weird they were not lighting with fire or magic. The dark strips trailed from the floor up the wall and connected to each torch.

   "Light bulbs?"

   All of it was very fascinating. "Metal networks as wires, magic and technology, who are they indeed?"

   My mind kept drawing blanks and it frustrated me. I hated not being in the loop all the time.

   Sunlight beamed from the back of the room suddenly. I shielded my eyes with my hand. Squinting through the light, I saw a massive iron window a ways behind the throne.

   "Hey, a window! Maybe I can see where I am?" I walked briskly towards it.

   The whole throne room shook violently, followed by a deafening boom. The massive window imploded, pelting the area behind the throne in crystal shards and bits of twisted iron. I lost my balance and fell to my hands and knees.

   I scrambled to my feet, then ran down yards of hallway towards the once beautiful window.

   The huge pane had shattered into countless shards that crunched under my shoes with each bound. What iron holdings and frame that remained was warped into a contorted and melded mess, as if a bomb shell went off.

   I reached the window and froze.

   A massive black cloud blotted the distant sky. Lightening storms arced off its voided mass and an inferno was raging inside. Sounds echoed in the air from the cloud's direction, like faint whispering.

   A huge burning city charred below my feet. I saw movement on the small streets. Figures amassed from buildings and ran away from the cloud. I heard screaming and yelling from below.

   The cold wind dried my eyes. The cloud was coming at the city against the wind. It boggled my mind.

   The clear background however was captivating. Beautiful green grassy highlands rolled over as far as my eyes could see to my left. To my right was a mountain scape with snowcapped peaks and rocky hills leading up to the mountain base. Rivers snaked and small lakes dotted the visible grasslands.

   Two mass clusters of moving things formed at the city limits on a large hillside clearing near the mountain scape. One shined silver, like metal reflecting light. Above them were banners. It was too far to see the emblem. The other side was coloured blackish gray and resembled insects or ants swarming down a hill.

   In the darkening sky, countless shining dots flew in clusters. Scattered with the silver dots were massive flying creatures. They looked like Dragons. When huge bolts of fire or lightening launched from each creature, it proved me right.

    What looked like a swarm of angry bugs flew right towards the silver dots and Dragons. Each shot soon exploded in the air. Huge chunks out of the bug swarm disappeared in blast waves that rippled the air in circular distortions.

    Before the ground lines contacted, lines of fire and arcs of thunder shot from the silver side making mini detonations on the insect's side. They poured over one another, silver flashing over chitin gray, melding and reforming into formations.

   Four huge towers of crystal and steel were spread out over the burning city. Each tower had large spinning crystals swelling with white hot energy hovering just above them. Beams of energy burst out of each tower and hit the cloud in one spot. Chunks of dark cloud blew apart with an explosion of heat and electricity.

   The cloud swelled and consumed one of the towers. Flashes of lightening flared from inside the blackness.

   Black lightening arced from the cloud at different points, striking the two hovering crystals on the other towers. Turning pitch black, the crystals glowed a deep purple and green then detonated, pulverizing the towers into dust. A shockwave heartbeats later sent me flying ten feet back.

   I landed hard on my back, grinding between the floor, glass shards and bits of iron. Grimacing in pain, I got to my feet shaking with adrenaline.

   Reaching behind my back and touching it, I painfully withdrew and eyed my blood covered hand. It was no dream, I had somehow been sent to a warzone. I had to get away. I saw huge ornate doors at the other end of the hall, like the ones in Canterlot. I ran towards them hoping they lead to an exit.

   The ornately carved doors burst open suddenly.

   Gasping, I skid across the floor then hid behind the throne. Fortunately, I was not seen. Quickly moving to the left side of the throne, two Unicorns walked by me. That meant I was still in Equestria. I was so relieved.

   One Unicorn had eyes that glowed a blue aura. His coat was a night dark colour and he wore silver armour with a red cape lined with white fur attached, very much like a king's cape. On his head glittering was a silver crown.

   The other Unicorn wore bulky silver plated armour that hummed lightly. A metal pack was attached on the back, while a faint blue light beamed out of a single opening on top of the pack. He had a gray coat and had a mane of solid crystal clusters. That flabbergasted me to no end.

   The dark Unicorn shot a glance at where I hid. I  quickly ducked to avoid being seen. The magic surging from his body felt like a wave of warm static. It was almost over powering.

   "My Emperor?"

   The one in the bulky armour looked at the empty spot behind the throne. "What did you see?"

   I huddled closer to the throne.

   Should I let them see me? After all, I am lost.

   An explosion boomed. The Emperor turned his sight to the broken window.

   "Never mind it, Arcturus."

   I watched him walk towards the window, while Arcturus followed. "Now, report."

   "My Emperor, Prism towers three through seven are lost, with districts Rigal and Vega turned into dust."

   He hung his head down slightly. "Along with two Prism Legions and nearly twenty thousand citizens, your Majesty."

   The Emperor gritted his teeth.

   "Rigal and Vega? In such a small time frame...."

   He looked to Arcturus sternly. "Could the Graphs not track this massive force before hoof?"

   "The Prismgraphs claimed it just appeared through a sudden warp in the mass spectrum. There was no tracking it until it was too late."

    The Emperor sighed while closing his eyes. "We cannot assume anything. Sound the evacuation Immediately. Pull back our forces to cover the populace."

   "But Emperor, where will we take them? Dark clouds are attacking the entire Empire on all sides. There is no safe place nearby we can retreat to."

   "No, not nearby."

   He pointed a hoof out the window. "The far northern keep over the Crystal Mountains in the green oasis, the last haven."

  "Yes, of course. Its prism shield should still be operational...."

   Arcturus put a hoof to his mouth. "We can use the underground metro system to evacuate with little to no loss of life."

   "Go then."

   Arcturus gave the Emperor a surprised look. "Pardon, Majesty, you are not coming?"

   "I am afraid not."

   He glared at the looming void over the ruined city. "I must stay."

   "But, your subjects still need their Emperor! Now in all their times of dearest need-"

   "Do not argue with me! The Crystal Empire holds its weakening life upon yours!"

   I recognized that name. I heard of the Crystal Empire once from Twilight. The deep pain intensified, as blood trickled down my ravaged back. Concentrating was getting harder.

   The Emperor turned sharply. "Go now! Save what is left!"

   Arcturus bent his head down and dashed in front of the Emperor as the cloud drew closer. "I swore to protect you, even if I die a thousand deaths! I cannot leave!"

   "Foolish foal!"

   The Emperor's horn glowed. A blue aura enveloped Arcturus sending him flinging towards the throne.

   "You may be a Prism Guard, but this force is far beyond your power."

   He turned his head towards the Prism Guard laying on the floor, eyes glowing blue. "Tell the Four Kingdoms of this threat...and inform the Librarian."

   "The boy, Sir?"

   Arcturus stood up. "What could he do this Empire could not?"

   "If there is any hope left, it can be found with the Librarian and his friends."

   The dark cloud consumed the eastern districts whole. "Your Emperor commands that you go! Send the warning, save this world!"

   "As you wish."

   Arcturus bowed his head. "I will not fail."

   "And when you meet him, tell him I was wrong."

   The Emperor eyes shed a single set of tears. "That I am sorry."

   "Of course...."

   Arcturus wept inwardly. "Sir, may I be outspoken?"

   "Come now, Arcturus, you need not ask such things."

   The Emperor smiled at him. Rays of sunlight beamed from the window over the Emperor, silhouetting his form in brilliant light. "Speak."

    Arcturus grimaced and gritted his teeth. "I have always secretly thought of you as the father I never had. I love you, Sir, with all a son's being."

   The Emperor's eyes widened.  "I remember when you came to me as but a pup, now you stand a full grown colt."

   He slowly closed his eyes, overshadowed with sadness. "I have nothing left to teach you, my son."

   Arcturus's grimace deepened.

   The Emperor turned to the window, watching the looming dark consume his Empire, his people, his hopes and dreams, but he did have one last bright light to offer the world. "It is a father's duty to protect his only son, even if he should die a thousand deaths. Run, with a father's love and blessing."

   "Per omnia saecula uincit, Pater." Arcturus turned then bolted towards the doors.

    (Forever onward, Father)

   The Emperor's streaming eyes glowed an intense blue. "In aeternum, Custodiam Prismatis."

                                                                                   (Into eternity, Prism Guard.)

   That was hard to watch. In a way I felt what Arcturus did. Unlike him however,  I actually had a dad, but he was not what you would call a role model. I always tried my best to keep my sister as independent as I could, while always being there when she needed me.

   Father however? He was the kind of person who thought he could shield his children from pain and exposure to the world. By his own device his children were victims to the usually naïve parent's-know-what's-best cliché, when of course it is the child that suffers the parent, not the parent that suffers the child.

   I quickly leapt behind a pillar before Arcturus could see me while he ran for the exit.

   Peeking over the pillar, something nudged my shoulder from behind. Nearly jumping out of my skin, I held my mouth with both hands to silence myself. After turning sharply, I saw Luna standing right there with me.

   She waved her fore hoof. "Hark, Argyle-"

   I put my hand gently over her muzzle, while shushing her with my index finger over my mouth. Her eyes widened at my sudden action, then narrowed on me. 'Mhff mfff mofff!'

   Shock at my brash action ran up my spine and I let her muzzle go while blushing embarrassed. "Sorry, but you have to whisper."

   She shook her head. "Very well."

   I turned then leaned over the pillar's side, to watch that situation unfold further.

   Luna quickly recoiled and gasped at the sight of my bloody back in the electric lighting. "Argyle! Th-"

   I turned my head with haste, putting as much emphasis on a mute Shush as I could.

   She huffed, then whispered, "Thou art hurt badly, in thy own dream state no less."

   Dream state? Is she implying....

   I blinked a few times. "What do you mean?"

   "Tis not possible in thy own dream state, especially so vividly."

   I tilted my head. "You mean to tell me I'm actually dreaming?"

   Luna slowly nodded.

   "Of course, tis why I am here. Twas no easy venture either. Thy mind is liken to a shell. The first night thou slept I tried this very thing. Twas to no avail."

   She scrunched her nose at me. "Never hath my ability to visit a dream state been denied success. Thou art a most curious kind, Argyle."

   Worry went up my spine. "That is not good."

   Cold chilled my left arm, but carried no wind or breeze with it. I knew that cold.

   Oh, no.

   I looked back at the Emperor. Luna leaned with me to see what was going on.

   She gasped when she saw him standing there. "Nay, it simply cannot be. Of all the possible fiends, how canst thou be dreaming of him?"

   I was going to ask her what she meant, but something horrible interrupted my chance.

  Voices came from the flaming darkness outside the window. "Finally we meet, Emperor."

   A dark form walked from the cloud, a humanlike figure. Darkened tattered clothing slithered and moved on its own over the creature. It smiled at the unflinching Unicorn, its teeth a dark yellowish colour and both rows looked like sharpened fangs. Its eyes glowed like crimson embers and Its hair a dirty black.

   "By the moon, what manner of beast is that?"

   Luna shuttered. "I hath never felt such evil."

   "Yeah."

   I rubbed my arms. Goosebumps formed on my skin. The cold got worse, so cold that I swore my breath should have shown, but the air was deathly still and unfogged by my breath.

   I knew that cold, but that was far worse. My hair stood up and my skin crawled as it sapped the health from the very air. Luna and I were in big trouble.

   The creature walked around the room. The crystal floor beneath it cracked and darkened with each step. Small dark crystal shards shot up from the floor under its feet. The crystal was reacting violently to it. I wondered why.

   This was it. He had failed his subjects, his Empire and possibly the world, but he would succeed at least in buying Arcturus the time he needed.

   The black monster, it was everything the Spectrum Cura feared, a true manifestation of pure negative magic. Why it chose a bipedal form like the Librarian was strange, but it was not exactly a situation you could assume anything in.

   The horrid creature, black of soul, darker than the shroud of despair, stood before him smirking. Its glowing eyes burning into him, he readied his mortal being for the last stand, the last requiem of crystal and steel. Perhaps Sombra could begin to forgive himself for his arrogance, his failure?

  The beast turned sharply, smiling. "Allow me to introduce myself."

   It bowed.

   "I am many things, but my name is Mael."

   Mael stood upright. "There is not need to retort, I already know much about you, including your nearing end."

   Sombra gritted his teeth. This was it.

   "Tell me, little pony."

   Mael walked closer to Sombra. "Is this statement true or false?"

   Sombra blinked, not sure what game he was playing. "What?"

   Mael put his hands behind his back, then leaned closer to Sombra. "Is this statement true or false?"

   Sombra almost gaped. He wondered if the creature had powers to induce madness by simple presence, or if it had actually asked him a liar's fallacy? After one month of brutal fighting, losing nearly all of his home and millions in the process, instead of the final epic he prepared himself for, it wanted to debate philosophy?

   "You destroyed my Empire, killed millions of my subjects, only to ask me a paradox?"

   Mael thought for a moment, then nodded. "Pretty much."

   It was so beyond absurd. Sombra muttered to himself, but loud enough to be heard. "Why?"

   "I was bored. Now answer my question."

   He leaned forward, tilting his head and staring at Sombra with his right eye. "Or do you not possess the answer?"

    "It is a paradox. There is no true answer."

   "Wrong."

   Mael wagged his index finger at Sombra. "Try again."

   Sombra shook his head. "What, is logic devoid in your world?"

   Mael laughed. "Logic is a mortal thing, metaphysical illusions of mortal recognition on structure."

   Sombra wondered what kind of insane garbage that was. "Logic is the philosophy of reasoning, for separating deductive from the inductive. That has no premise, therefore no conclusion can be given, a paradox."

   "The Universe has no need for logic. Life transcends all things." Mael slowly paced around Sombra.

   Growing irritated, Sombra countered by pacing to his left. "Define life."

   Mael stopped, then held out his open palm to the sky. "Nihil definimus."

                                                                              (Define nothingness)

   "How can you speak the Imperial tongue?"

   Mael just smiled. "I speak what is understood."

   Sombra was no stranger to the dark arts. Black magic had always been at the heels of good since the beginning. That creature, whose home a pocket of pure blackness and negativity, had more power in the realm of light than what was thought possible.

   He could simply understand a language by hearing it. Sombra knew he was in for the fight of his life, but wondered if even he could challenge such a thing.

   "Tell me, my little pony, do you think the other ponies running down the secret metro systems could answer my question?" Mael grinned.

   "You dare not touch them!"

   Sombra stepped forward. "Your fight is with me!"

   Luna narrowed her eyes. "Nay, tis not right."

   I looked at her. "What?"

   "King Sombra, was no caring ruler, but an evil tyrant. I do not understand."

   "Well, here he's an Emperor, so maybe this is a different Sombra?"

   Luna shook her head. "Nay, I could never forget that face."

   "Perhaps he was not always a tyrant then?"

   Luna sighed. "Twould seem as such, but I require more proof."

   Mael crossed his arms. "True or false?

   Sombra felt his subjects had just reached the rail way. He needed more time.

   Mael tapped his index finger on his arm. "Tick, tock, Emperor."

   Sombra thought about it, then let out the slightest of smirks. What if he would turn the tables on it? "The smallest positive integer not definable in under eleven words?"

   Mael grinned. "Now, if I were to answer that, then you would know the answer."

   That insane beast was playing Sombra's sanity for a spindle. The monster's humor was obvious. It knew no answer was possible, a final mocking torment, like the one month war was not brutal enough.

   "Give up?" Mael raised his eye brow.

   "Do I have a choice?"

   "Play, or give up are your choices, but if you cannot answer I end it."

   An idea hit Sombra. he thought perhaps insanity was the answer. "It is falsely true."

   Illogical, insane and it made no real sense, it was perfect.

   Mael shrugged. "Not bad, you're half right."

   Half right? Sombra wanted nothing more than to blast the beast back into oblivion. "What goal do you have? What is the point of your existence?"

   "Life needs no excuses."

   He tilted his head. "Surely, you did not need one when you were born?"

   "Born? What bore you?"

   "Nothing."

   Mael reached his arms wide out, hugging the air, then started spinning like a ballroom dancer around the room while laughing. "Glorious nothingness!"

   Sombra stomped his fore hooves on the floor. "How is that possible!?"

   Mael stopped spinning a few feet away from Sombra. While being dipped and held in the air by nothing, staring upside-down, he smiled. "Life needs no excuses."

   With Sombra rattling inside his own head, Mael eyed around the throne room. "This place is so drab."

   Once he clicked his fingers, music began playing.

   Sombra's ears perked up. He knew that music from somewhere.

   "Ah, yes. You know this music, do you not?"

   Mael smiled. "You should. This was from your last ball, before our little game started."

   The Crystal ball, every year Sombra held one and all where invited to join in dance and feast. There were no low or high class in the Crystal Empire, just subjects of equal stature and their Emperor. That was also the last time he saw the Librarian with his curious friends before they returned to the Four Kingdoms. That was one month ago.

   Mael extended his gray hand out to thin air. "May I have this dance?"

   Hand gripping nothing, he cradled emptiness into a perfect ballroom form. He danced, spinning and bounding while humming the ball music chiming around the room to himself.

   Sombra's eye twitched. That was it? The dark force that would bathe the world in dark magic? A dancing, bounding, humming, insane, bipedal oddity that seemed no more threatening than a court fool?

   No, he saw the miles of corpses, the burning cities, the dead forests, the corruption. That creature was playing a final mind game on him, before it finished its job. He would not fall for it.

  Mael let his head back while he stepped seamless circles with his invisible partner. "Let loose, Sombra. Embrace nothing!"

   Sombra could not help but laugh. He had no need to fight or outsmart the creature to buy the time he needed. Mael was doing a fine job by himself.

   Standing and waiting for the moment Mael would finally attack, ghostly silhouettes appeared around Sombra, incorporeal tables and bowls of punch with food and cakes. Ghostly crystal ponies of all walks of life were dancing, eating and laughing all around him. Mael was bringing the Crystal ball back from its past.

   I gaped at the spectacle. "Amazing."

   It was really quite beautiful. I eyed at the doorway yards down the room, wondering if the events would cover Luna and I if we made for the doors.

   I got Luna's attention and pointed at the ornate doors. "Think we can leave without getting noticed?"

   Luna shook her head.

   "Nay, we art in thy dream, remember? We cannot merely about and leave."

   She frowned. "Normally, I wouldst tell thee to face thy nightmares, but due to the nature of this dream I dare not advise it."

   "Yeah, getting hurt in your own dream is not a good sign."

   Luna nodded. "Correct."

   "Then what do we do?"

   "We have not a choice, but to watch and await."

   Mael danced and faded into the crowd. "Enjoy yourself in this final hour!"

   Eying around the room to find Mael, Sombra focused on four figures near the punch table. The Librarian and his friends stood there, eating, laughing and drinking punch. Deja vu loomed over Sombra heavily. He was reliving the last Crystal Ball. He walked up to them, just as he did before.

    The Librarian noticed him and waved. "Hello, Sombra."

   It was just a ghost of the past, not really the Librarian, but whatever bought him more time he would take. He nodded, like he remembered doing. "Well met, Librarian."

   The Librarian smiled. "Please, call me Alastar."

   Next, Starswirl, Sombra believed his name was, should say how much he was enjoying the ball right about....

   "I must say, never have I been to a royal festival such as this."

   Starswirl sipped on his drink and giggled. "You might dare say I am having a ball."

   The green one, Clover was her name, groaned. "Guess who has the weakness for punch?"

   Alastar laughed. "Careful, Starswirl. You know how that stuff hits you in the mornings."

   "Fear not, friends."

   Starswirl hiccupped. "I jus need to go a little zlower."

   Clover sighed. "Oh geez, he's completely hammered."

   Gala giggled. "What a little mess you are."

   Starswirl went to take another sip from his cup. A blue aura surrounded it, taking it from his weakened grasp.

   "You have had enough, Darling." Gala put the cup down on the table.

   Starswirl laughed, then stumbled when he tried to move. A white aura surrounded him, freezing him in place. "Oh deer. I do believe you're right."

   "Conjunctions? Yeah, he's had enough." Alastar laughed.

   Starswirl smiled sheepishly at Sombra. After clearing his throat, he put his focus on speaking clearly while the room spun around him. "Apologies, you're Majesty. Liquors happen to be my one true weakness."

   Clover nodded. "Yep, two classes and he's gone."

   Gala shook her head. "Such behavior is ill suited for a gentlecolt."

   "Good that I'm no gentlecolt."

   Gala waved her fore hoof at him. "Oh pish posh, do not degrade yourself."

   Recalling the event, Sombra agreed with Gala.

   "You can tell a lot about a colt after spirits."

   He smiled. "I find you suitable for the title."

   Starswirl wondered if he really had too much of that wonderful drink, or if the Emperor really complemented him. "Thank you, your Majesty."

   Sombra lightly laughed, remembering being amused yet annoyed that his complements always surprised others, like he was some kind of iron hoof ruler of little gentleness. "Please, all of you, call me Sombra."

   "Sure."

   Clover smelled her glass. "Hey, Sombra, what is this stuff anyway?"

   She gestured to her glass of punch.

   "What you smell is our Spiced berry wine."

   Sombra remembered sipping from the cup he had, but no cup was present that time. "The brewing process takes nearly a year for the flavor to set right, so it is seasonal only to this festival."

   Starswirl got to his hooves, shaky but able to stand. "It's divine."

   Alastar agreed. "Oh, we can tell, Starswirl."

   The others laughed. Sombra smiled, watching what was then just company of new friends from distant lands, but a future time later would be his only hope for his people. He could have died right then and still had hope, hope in them.

   Mael froze then eyed around the room. "What is that?"

   Sombra snapped back to reality as the room froze still. The ghostly figures froze with it, including his four friends, like time stopped flowing. He eyed around trying to find Mael.

   "It feels like, confidence...in something?"

   Mael appeared from behind the Librarian, walking around the four mages while staring at them curiously, then at Sombra. "Something has rekindled your will."

   Sombra frowned. "What are you talking about?"

   "Is it some other race of power you recalled? The Dragons? The Griffins?"

   Mael leaned in closer.

   "The Four Kingdoms, still no?"

   He smiled.

   "Ah, something you recognize here has done this."

   His two fingers walked up the Librarian's shoulder, while he coyly asked, "Now, I wonder what that could be?"

   "They will save this world from you."

   Mael smirked.

   "To shroud nihility."

   He reached toward the roof then closed his gray palm.

   "To smother life, how romantic, such mortal hope."

   He pointed with his thumb back to the group. "They must be quite something then."

   "They are the best."

   Mael hung on the Librarian's shoulder. "Strange that I share in his likeness, is it not?"

   "You chose that form."

   "Like how you chose yours when you were born?"

   Mael tilted his head.

   "How narrow of you, to assume life is linear enough to give you the choice?"

   He wagged a finger at Sombra. "Tut, tut, tut. You can do better, Emperor."

   Sombra felt outwards. He could no longer feel his subjects in the city. He sighed in relief. He had done it, but redemption is a bittersweet thing and holes were still left unfilled, revenge being next.

   "You preach about life and your utter understanding of it, yet you treat it like a game, a disposable commodity."

   Sombra narrowed his eyes at him. "You are a lie."

   "Life needs no excuses."

   Mael blankly stared.

   "I cannot end life. Life is eternal. Mortals young and old die, yet the planet bears no tears, nor stalls its seasons."

   He leaned closer. "Do not be so vain. You are but a simple result of life, no more. I know you, Sombra."

   "You know nothing."

   "I know your hatred, especially for yourself."

   Mael paced around Sombra.

   "I know how you blame yourself for this, for what had to be, but in the dark you wanted to see it, to see me."

   He gestured around the room. "To see this."

   "No." Sombra shook his head.

   "I hear it, scratching, needing, battering on the walls you built to shutter it away. I hear it. You fear it, the dark? Two purposes, one goal, opposite sides. Who are you?"

   Sombra furrowed his brow. "What?"

   "You know what you want to believe, but you know not the dark, light dweller. Easy as it is to turn from the dark blinded by light, the other shrouded in pitch can see only the glare. Little mortal, who are you? Why have you done this to your own?"

   Sombra wondered what mind game was being played on him. He almost panicked from the sudden onslaught of self doubt, though it was not the beast causing it, something deeper was. "No, I would never-"

   "Hurt your own? Why? The Universe does not recognize good nor evil, only mortals have such. What does it matter? Death, life, details nothing more. Life goes on, yet death needs life. They are one and the same. You know it true. You feel it, do you not? You feel who you really are?"

   Sombra shut his eyes rejecting the chill up his spine. "Liar!"

   Mael smiled. "Lie, or truth, both span from one origin, your origin."

   Magic welled up from the floor, surrounding Sombra in a blue aura. "Silence!"

   A wave of blue force burst from Sombra, striking Mael.

   Mael hardly flinched, his muscles tensed holding him upright, while his gray hair flowed backwards. The crystal pillar behind him cracked in several places.

   Mael cracked his neck twice. "Denial bears no teeth to truth's sting."

   Sombra felt the cold bite his soul. He had to shut that beast up, no matter what it took. He used his magic to add to his speed, dashing side to side faster than the eye can blink. Closing in on Mael, he cast a pressure wave once he was hooves away from Mael's side.

   The force caused the gray flesh of Mael's left side to flex and stretch like loosely knitted linens. Mael flew with velocity into the air, then before hitting a pillar he disappeared in a cloud of black.

   Sombra eyed around.

   "Show yourself, Monster!"

   The cold was getting worse. His fear was crawling out of its cage. He had to hurry. "Let us end this!"

   Mael stood behind Sombra, tilting his head at the curious mortal. Mortals and their hope, a simple result of impulse ignorance, inviolable denial, sacrosanct from truth. He saw in him nothing but fear.

   Such a linear thing, such a breakable thing, he would make it see, make it squirm with clarity. "Very well."

   Sombra dashed around, while something fast waved over his head. Mael turned while Sombra tried to get behind him. Throwing another fist out, Mael twisted his foot down and brought his other leg up. In one sweeping motion he caught Sombra in the side with his leg.

   Grunting, Sombra spun upwards taking flight towards the ornate doors, hitting and skipping on the solid crystal floor like a flat rock on water, then slowing to a roll and stopping on his side.

   Mael moved off and on his feet with air like ease, then close in on the Mortal with flowing grace.

   Combat was an expression of life, where in mere motion more is said than a choir of scholars. Instinct was the host of this dance, this ballet of flesh and life. Mortal verses Being, finite collides infinity, terminable rusting to perpetual.

   Standing near Luna, I moved to help Sombra.

   "Argyle!"

   Luna stopped me by putting her hoof on my shoulder and tugging me back. "Nay, do not interfere."

   I shook my head at her.

   "What? He needs our help Luna!"

   I tugged my arm back, releasing it from her grasp.

   "If this is my dream, then I can do what I want. Stay here if you don't like it." I would not be the kind of person who'd just stand and watch someone die.

   Unjust killers are scum, but those who just stand and watch are worse than scum.

   I took a few steps, before something purple enveloped me, pulling me back off my feet and sitting me down on my bottom just behind Luna.

   Surprised and irritated, I struggled to get free from Luna's magic. "Luna-

   Luna put her hoof over my mouth.

   "Mufff!" I stopped struggling when I saw the look in her eyes.

   She just stood there, horn barely glowing and hoof over my mouth, staring at Mael and Sombra fighting. She was afraid. A being as powerful as her was reluctant to even move. That worried me deeply.

   I sat there tied down in a light purple glow, hoof over my mouth, who knew where that had been or what it had made contact with, watching the two powerhouses go at it. Relaxing back into the wall, I realized why Luna was so upset, or rather, I felt why.

   There was so much going on just in the air. It was like I was inside a tornado. Metaphysical wind blared and ripped at the still air in the throne room. Hot, cold, static, pressure, I even felt emotions not my own stirring. It was overbearing, so much happening at once. I gaped, never feeling anything like that before, let alone thought it physically possible.

   Luna saw my expression and let her hoof return to the floor. "Mage battles, manifestations of the mind, engagements of intellect and imagination made into physical form."

  I looked up at her. "This is insane. I...I had no idea."

   "Put simply, mage battles are won by outsmarting thy opponent, since magic is controlled by intellect and willpower."

   She shook her head. "I dare not interfere, not yet."

   Nodding in agreement, Luna and I watched the two fight tooth and nail.

   Sombra slid and bounded on his hooves over the wet crystal floor. The water spell he cast reduced the floor's friction, increasing his speed so to better keep Mael at a distance. Mael had him beat in strength, but his speed was superior. Sombra was waiting for Mael to cast anything with electricity at him. He had a little trap for the beast planned.

   The mortal was doing well, as well as Mael expected. The liquid trap obviously set for him was amusing. The trick increase to his speed was a stroke of brilliance, for a mortal. Mael wondered if he should just throw some lightening to see the Rube Goldberg trick Sombra had in mind in action. Smiling, Mael threw an arc of lightening at Sombra.

   Mael fell for it. Sombra smirked while his horn glowed. He had connected the water to himself, ensuring it would obey any command he gave it. The puddle of water enveloped Mael, while catching the lightening attack. The water sparked and boiled from the heat, while Mael received the full one point twenty one gigawatt wave of energy.

   Most amusing, if not a bit obvious. Mael was thankful for the free bathe though. Bathes were hard to come by in nihility, not that a being like him needed one. He waited for the right moment to fade away to catch the mortal off guard, since that trap would have vaporized a lesser being.

   Nothing with flesh could survive such blunt energy. Sombra waited for Mael to burst and ash away. He stopped himself, thinking that was no ordinary creature. He would likely fake death to have an opening for attack. Smirking, he chose to wait for Mael's move instead.

   The Emperor was no fool. Mael smiled, wondering if he should end it, or play some more. He was no fan of lengthening the inevitable, so he sighed and faded out. It was time to end that little game. For a mortal, Sombra passed the test quite well.

   The boiling water steamed away and Mael no longer was there. Sombra closed his eyes and waited. Anything, changes in the air, pressure, a gut feeling, Sombra would feel that beast out. Something ticked, like if a pin fell on the floor. Sombra's eyes opened while he flashed.

   Flashing behind Mael, a bolt of lightening arced off his horn and tore a hole through the beast. Gore and fleshy matter splattered over the floor. Mael had the audacity to look surprised as he stumbled.

   Sombra smiled. "Not bad for just a mortal, right?"

   Mael smiled and burst into a blot of dark smoke.

   "Not at all." whispered into Sombra's left ear, cold breath chilling it.

   Sombra's eyes widened, stunned he couldn't feel that Mael had been behind him the whole time.

   While Sombra turned to counter, Mael landed a jab right into his nose with blinding speed. Blood spurt from it as the force launched him off his hooves. Landing, he tried to get back on his hooves while sliding on the floor.

   Mael was waiting for him undetected from behind again. He landed an uppercut under Sombra's belly, lifting the Emperor high enough to kick. Expertly raising and delivering, Mael's kick sent Sombra flying down the hall.

   Down the hall, Mael stood hand extended and plucked Sombra out of the air by his neck. Raising Sombra higher off the ground, he let go and jabbed three more times, once in Sombra's face then twice in the gut. Falling a few feet, Mael held his palm open at Sombra. A wave of force struck the Emperor, sending him flying and impacting against a pillar with a metallic clunk.

   "Et ideo finitur."

  (And so it ends.)

   Mael smiled and closed in for the final gesture.

   "And so it shall remain."

   He picked up Sombra by his armoured collar, raising him at eye level. "There is much you do not see, Mortal."

   Thoughts flooded Sombra's mind, strangely most of them about Arcturus. Ever since he took him in, that foal had always been by his side. Arcturus was the closest thing to a son Sombra had and he cursed himself for not realizing it sooner. Sombra thought what a fool he had been.

   When Arcturus approached him as but a homeless half starved pup all those years ago, it seemed the true foal was the one upon his throne.

   Sombra smiled through his bloodied teeth. Arcturus, his son, he had a son. He was never so happy in all his life. He finally had a son.

   "Per omnia saecula uincit, Imperium, Filius meus."

   (Forever onward, my Empire, my Son.)

   "Let me show you." Mael's cold hand chilled over Sombra's eyes. Blackness ebbed from it.

   Sombra felt like his life was being eaten away. The warmth in his body grew cold and something deep was clawing up from his inner mind, something spiteful and hungry, something he long feared and fought to control his whole life.

   Mael would not end him. The fate he was to suffer was far worse.

   The light in Sombra left. Mael let him go, letting Sombra fall to the floor and twitch a few times.

   Mael waited a few seconds. His foot started tapping after a minute. "How long do you plan on resting?"

   Sombra's eyes shot open, then he got up to his hooves. His once brilliant blue eyes glowed an aura of dark green with dark purple edges. His beautiful horn was twisted and changed.

   "How does it feel?" Mael paced around Sombra.

   Sombra remained silent, eyes staring forward as if in a trance.

   Mael stopped and leaned closer to look deep into Sombra's dark eyes. "Anyone in there?"

   Sombra's eyes focused on Mael. "...."

   "Not very talkative this one."

   Mael leaned back, hand on his chin.

   "I think I broke him. Mortals are so fragile."

   He smiled, then snapped his fingers. "Tell me, what is your purpose?"

   Sombra's blank features twisted into a devilish smile.

   Mael nodded.

   "Ah, very good."

   He turned on his heel then walked towards the exit. "Follow, King Sombra. There are many great works yet to be done."

   Sombra's smile quickly melted back to a blank stare. He followed Mael.

   As they both walked towards the exit, Mael froze pointing a finger in the air.

   "Oh and before I get carried away, both of you can join in at anytime."

   He tilted his head back so I could see half his face. "I would hate for you to feel left out, Argyle."

   A cold shock burst up my spine.

   That's not good.

   Mael stared right into my soul, eyes trained into mine. I had been observing with half my face exposed from behind a pillar with Luna. Sombra was also staring right at us, but his expression was blank, unfeeling.

   Fear burned in my gut, my mind screamed for me to run, but I knew it was all over. Nothing short of God himself could've saved us then.

   "Darkest of nights."

   Luna turned tugged on my shirt. "Student, we must away!"

   Mael turned, then pointed and wagged a finger at me. I was frozen in place, despite Luna calling for me to run.

   Mael suddenly walked around the pillar I was behind, his finger tapping his lips. "Tell me, boy, is this statement true or false?"

   My muscles finally loosened. I stepped backwards with every step Mael took forwards. "You tell me."

   Mael smiled. "I asked first."

   I grabbed Luna and pulled her away from our compromised hiding place. She took off with me as we ran at full sprint towards the throne.

   I turned to see if he was behind us. Luna tapped my shoulder. Turning back, I saw Mael sitting on the throne. I wondered how he could do that, disappear and reappear just like that, without flashes or discharges of magic.

   He must know a technique that allows him to teleport on will alone, without forcing changes in nature with magic, incredible.

   "Something like that, yes." Mael smirked.

   I furrowed my brow. "What?"

   Can he read minds too?

   "No, thankfully."

   Mael got up and suddenly was standing feet away near my right. He gestured to me. "Well?"

   I gasped and took a few steps back, then shrugged. "Um...what?"

   My mind was too distracted with trying to find a way out.

   Mael laughed. "Is this statement true or false?"

   My eyes went side to side, thinking about the question. So much was running through my mind at once, it felt like I was in a haze. Then I wondered why should I play along? It was my dream. "If I were to answer that, then you would know the answer."

   Mael smiled and laughed.

   "Clever, flame against flame, but sadly, I do know the answer."

   He frowned. "Back to square one for you."

   Luna shifted around to my left, thinking about her options and whether or not escape was possible.

   I narrowed my eyes at Mael. "Hmmm. I'm having a hard time taking something inside my own mind as a serious threat."

   Mael raised an eye brow.

   "Oh?"

   He pointed his finger at me. "Then why do you bleed? Mortal dreams bear no teeth to flesh."

   "Away, Dark one!"

   Luna stepped in front of me eyes glowing, trying to protect me from my own nightmare. "Do not threaten my student!"

   "Threaten?"

   The air around Mael chilled to a degree that burned and numbed my skin. "The truth is no threat."

   She waved a hoof at him. "I sayest once more, back away, or feelest my wrath! The Princess of the Night forewarns thee!"

   Mael crossed his arms.

   "The last Alicorn that stood against me faired no better than Sombra."

   He pointed his thumb at the emotionless Unicorn behind him, who just stared on blankly. "She like him was royal, but only a Princess of her time. I am sure you met her before. I know your sister has."

   Luna stood her ground but her body language spoke volumes. She was afraid and that started to eat at my confidence.

   Sombra walked up and stood next to Mael, staring up at him.

   "Yes?"

   "...."

   Mael looked at Sombra, then to Luna.

   "Granted."

   He backed away. "Just leave Argyle alone. He needs to think about my question."

   Sombra stared at Luna, then blinked and grinned. "Scream."

   Luna bared her teeth, her eyes glowing bright. "Tis thou who shalt scream, Beast!"

   If we fought, it would be to the death. Luna had more to lose then me, so I shielded her instead.

   Mael raised an eye brow. "Interesting."

   Sombra tilted his head to the side quickly, a get-out-of-the-way gesture.

   I swallowed my heart back into my chest. My fear turned face and my fist clenched. "No."

   Sombra gritted his teeth at me.

   "I'm a Human. Even better, I'm an American born Irish Prussian and adept wizard. War flows through my veins."

   I humorously smirked.

   "You shall not pass."

   I gathered raw energy in my hands. "Fight me at your own peril."

    Sombra's features went blank again while tilting his head at me.

   "Very interesting."

   Mael suddenly stood between Sombra and myself.

   "A zugzwang."

   He crossed his arms, then sighed. "How monotonous."

   I turned my gaze to Mael. "Leave my dream and never return."

   Mael stroked his chin with his hand thoughtfully. "Hmmm, tell you what, answer my question and I will."

   "Luna, run." I wanted to buy her some time to get away, even if it were mere seconds.

   "We cannot." Luna shook her head.

   "Don't be stubborn. Your people need you. I'm the odd man out here as I will only be missed."

   I pointed a finger at the exit. "Now, go."

   Mael sighed. "She is telling the truth, Argyle. This may be your mind, but this is my dream and I wont let her."

   "What?" I was hoping that didn't mean what I thought it did.

   "It's simple, two consciousness tied together, one dies the other will follow."

   Mael smiled and wagged a finger at Luna. "Tut, tut, tut. This is why you should respect other's privacy."

   I turned to Luna. She nodded her head. If I died, she would with me, and Mael was not going to let us leave.

   I hated being right sometimes. "Damn. Then I will just need to kill you and Luna should wake up, safe."

   "Kill life? Not you too."

   Mael robbed the bridge of his nose. "Why must you Mortals be so consistently predictable?"

   I opened my mouth to retort.

   "Anything is predictable if you can read minds."

   My eyes widened. He literally plucked the words from my mouth.

   "No, Argyle, mortals are just that predictable."

   Mael paced around. "Freewill, pifff, what a joke of a gift, especially since you have not the knowledge to use it. All Mortals do is imprint and copy from other Mortals. They have no originality, just different versions of the same thing, expecting new things to come from it, then they point the finger when nothing changes. The few Mortals that are original must feel like they are surrounded by children."

   I did not need the lecture on life. "What's your point?"

   Mael smiled. "Simple, is this statement true of false?"

   He was starting to annoy me.

   "I have nothing to prove to you. I will not answer." I crossed my arms.

   He frowned.

   "Do not be so uptight. You already know the answer, so just say it."

   He stepped closer. "Just let go and embrace endlessness, Mortal."

   I wondered why my anxiety or shyness was nowhere to be found. I should have been cowering or wanting to curl into a ball.

   I'm inside my own mind, so intuition and reason hold true here.

   I smiled. That monster was getting me at my best. "You're incorrect."

   "Excuse me?" Mael stopped.

   "This is my mind and my dream."

   I pointed a finger at him. "You are the intruder."

   "Oh? How can you be so sure? How do I know if that statement is true or false?"

   "This is my mind. Life is not so simple here."

   Mael grinned like I just made his day. "Correct."

   I just shook my head at him. "If I answered, then leave, like you said you would."

   "Very well, but before I do."

   He pointed his finger out at me. "I must introduce you to someone."

   "The wings, they flap. Do you not hear it?"

   Mael's gray hand chilled the air around it. I stood there watching it draw closer.

   "Heed me and beware them."

   I wondered if that was Mael whispering. I would not put such insane banter passed him. I was the master of my domain and I was not going to run.

   In fact, I was slightly curious and wanted to see just what Mael was up to. "What are you doing?"

   Mael smiled. "An old acquaintance of yours awaits."

   I raised my eye brow. "What?"

   "Student, get away from it!"

   Luna ran towards me, but Sombra walked in her way.

   She snorted. "Out of my way, Beast!"

   "I have this under control, Luna." The cold hand just inches away felt like someone was dangling a block of dry ice over my face. It annoyed me.

   "No, not like this!"

   Mael's eyes brightened. "Let us see the real Argyle."

   My eyes widened when I realized what he was doing. His finger was just over my skin. I was too late.

   A hand grabbed Mael's hand out of nowhere to my left, pulling it away from me.

   Mael smiled. "Ah, there you are."

   I looked and saw a large coat armoured in metal plates. It reminded me of the trench coats worn during the World Wars back on earth. It was modified, but it still mostly retained the old look.

   "Zounds!"

   Luna asked wide eyed, "How is this possible?!"

   "It can't be...."

   I held my breath. I had seen him before. "You're late."

   The figure was staring right at Mael. "A mage is never late, Argyle. He arrives precisely when he needs to."  

   He was hardly a boy over nineteen. His hair and eyes were brown. The magic he emanated felt warm and gentle, yet powerful and deep, like the difference between a calm lake inside a meadow and a raging tsunami inside a typhoon. It countered Mael's cold and harsh aura, melding and resisting it, while Mael's resisted back.

    Mael teased. "Your platitudes are still dull, Librarian."

   "Librarian?"

   Luna's ear twitched and she looked like she was seeing a ghost. "Tis a lie, must be."

   I wondered what Luna was talking about. It was almost like she had seen the Librarian before.

   "I am the result of my time."

   The Librarian let Mael's hand go and moved to the right slowly. "Mael."

   Mael pointed at himself. "Tit for tat, I am simply the result of denial."

   They both stared into one another's eyes, reading each other like books.

   "I believe an I-told-you-so is in order, Librarian."

   Mael pointed at me. "I have business with him first, so wait your turn."

   The Librarian said to me, as he pointed to the broken window, "Quickly, Argyle-"

   "Butting in line? How rude."

   Mael lifted his hand and shot a pulse of energy at him.

   He backhanded it out of the air with a ward spell. It curved then exploded somewhere down the hallway.

   Mael laughed. "Still fast? Not bad for a relic."

   "Let them go, Mael." The mage pointed at me. "He's just a boy and has no value to you, neither does the Alicorn."

   "True for the Alicorn, however, the boy has much to learn."

   He stared at the Librarian, then sighed and threw his hands in the air.

   "Oh, very well, to our business first then." Mael snapped his fingers. A blot of black formed around him. I heard sickening sounds like flesh tearing and bones snapping.

   The gray flesh on his back began parting in two places and two crimson eyed pony like monsters crawled their way out of his back. Both looked like they hadn't eaten in months. Their gray thin leathery skin showed the half exposed ribcage and shoulder bones. The one on the left twisted around and cracked its neck awkwardly, snapping it back into place. The other did the same with its arms.

   That was the most revolting thing I had ever seen.

   "Eat."

   "So, hungry." The left one eyed Luna, myself and the Librarian. "Three mortals I see, all meals for me."

   The right one smelled the air. "Much sweet love covering such bitter hate."

   "Must feed."

   "Devour the hate."

   "So much hate."

   "Feed on it."

   "Never hunger again."

   Both monsters laughed.

   "Horrible."

   Luna's eyes were wide. She walked next to me, pulling me closer with her wings. "Beside me, Argyle."

   The two creatures burst into ash. The thin cloud fluttered in the air. It thinned out more as Mael absorbed the ashes through his skin. His gray form pulsed and grew from respectable to muscular. The air filled with bitter cold and the crystal under his feet reacted more violently.

   I knew any attempt at helpful intervention would only be getting in the way. Luna knew it as well. We had no choice but to watch on, useless.

   Mael shot a bolt of energy at the Librarian. The Mage sprinted into the bolt, white energy glowing in his hands. He split the attack in two by striking it with his palms together. Letting his hands free, he swung his arms wide open.

   In a twisting motion he punched Mael with blinding speed. I heard and felt the force behind the impact in my chest. Mael launched backwards spinning in a helix, hitting a crystal pillar behind nearly shattering it.

   Mael appeared airborne behind the Librarian, landing an equally powerful blow to the head while descending. The Mage stumbled, but quickly countered with another brutal blow to Mael's abdomen.

   With a perfect mix of magic and raw natural strength, they engaged in hand to hand combat, punching, countering and parrying, while casting and dodging near point blank spells. I felt each blow that landed. Spots glowed and puddled in the hallway with each spell missed, or blocked by warding shield.

   Mael landed a blow that pushed the Librarian off balance. Braking his enemies defense, Mael landed five more punches with unbelievable speed and power. The Mage grunted, as Mael grabbed him by the head, lifting him feet off the ground.

   His hand glowed for a split second before detonating in the Mage's face. The shock wave sent the Librarian flying at such velocity he hit the throne taking the top part of the solid crystal head board with him. He landed near the back of the throne, unmoving.

   Mael crossed his arms. "Hmmm, has time-"

   The Librarian flashported in front of Mael catching him off guard.

   With a swirling ball of white energy in his right hand, he punched Mael right in the diaphragm. The ball of white expanded on impact, blinding everything in light. When the flash cleared, the Librarian's arm stuck through a melon sized hole where Mael's middle torso used to be.

   "He ran the beast through!" Luna looked on with astonishment.

   "It's not over yet."

   I told her, "I would not feel safe until he turns into ash."

   I looked to my left and saw Sombra, a few feet to my right, standing there.

   That surprised me. I stared at him confused. He looked up at me for a few seconds, then went back to watching the fight, emotionlessly.

   Luna and I looked at each other and I just shrugged. She however was not very happy about his proximity.

   I watched as the Librarian lifted Mael off the ground while retrieving his gory arm from the hole, letting loose bits of pulverized insides and a stream of dark blood. He grabbed Mael by his head with both hands as he fell. Tiny creatures crawled out of the blood pool and scattered away.

    Luna stomped on a few that crawled her way. "Repulsive monster, kill it with haste!"

    Mael grinned, blood streaming from his mouth. "Quid pro quo."

                                                                         (This for that.)

   The mage yelled. Lightening danced and arced over his arms. A huge wave of light and heat engulfed the right side of the throne room. The light cleared. He stood alone with his arms extended, electricity buzzing in the air around him. Glowing embers fluttered and ashed while a very thin dark smoke stained the air.

   Luna said nudging me to move, "Now, Argyle. Run to the window!"

   I sprinted to the twisted iron frame with Luna right behind. I couldn't see anything outside the window, no massive burning city, neither a hellish warzone, just a blot of black nothing.

   The Librarian walked over towards us. Each step made an auditable crunch and squelch of metal as his armoured boots gritted on bits of window scattered about. "Quick, you two need to leave here."

   I eyed around. "Did you kill him?"

   "No, if anything that pissed him off."

   He turned his back to us, as the air began to burn again. "Damn, he's already regenerating."

   "What?! There's no way!"

   "Tis a creature of great power, Argyle."

   Luna looked on with angst. A very unpleasant aura was turning about fifty feet away from the Librarian. As the room was darkening, the electric lighting started to flicker.

   "Silence and listen."

   Desperation was clear in the Librarian's eyes. "Behind you is the intrusion point. Look to the window. Clear your mind and imagine your bed room at the Palace."

   I could see the crystal floor crack and dark crystal clusters shoot up. "How do you know about the Palace?"

   The Librarian turned his head and clenched his fists, as the dark aura was swirling. "No time for that. Just get going."

   "But wont Mael just interfere?"

   The Librarian shook his head. "Think, this is your mind and this is your dream. That window is were Mael intruded on your dream and you must fix it to escape."

   "Of what magic caused this happening?" Luna looked forward very concerned.

   The room was creaking and groaning, as the swirling mass began to take shape.

   "Probably the dream curse someone put on him. It opened a back door into his mind that any with the knowledge could enter. If I were you, Argyle, I would try to find who that someone was."

   He stood straight and walked a few steps towards the dark mass. "You know what to do, now go quickly."

   Luna and I walked briskly to the ruined window.

   "Tis nothing but pitch black."

   Luna pointed at it. "Thou must will it clear, Argyle."

   I tried to find my calm in the midst of a thousand voices arguing at once in my head. All the stress and chaos surrounding had finally caught up with me.

   I cursed at how typical the timing was. "I can't think straight."

   I shrugged, trying my damnedest to think a clear picture.

   "Remember thy basics, Student."

   Luna walked closer. "Focus, visualize-"

  I heard an explosion and turned as did Luna. The mass had burst into the inner part of the room. The Librarian had his arms sprayed out casting a shield blocking the whole side of the room, containing the explosion of dark magic.

   "What's the hold up?!"

   He yelled, "You are out of time!"

   "I concur."

   Red eyes burned in the darkness as it formed humanlike again. The air distorted and bent around him. It reminded me of the distortion affect around a singularity.

   Mael lumbered forwards, the room started to reform on his side. "Has time worn on you, Librarian? Or are you playing hard to get?"

   I watched creatures and twisted forms spawn from the darker corners. Red eyes opened on his body and all over his side of the room. It was the most terrifying thing I had ever seen.

   "Flay me to oblivion and I will return with oblivion as my slave. Burn me, I will ash reborn. Poison me, I will awake cured. Cut me, I will bleed until healed. I am life everlasting. I am Mael, truth incarnate."

   The Librarian opened his coat and grabbed two scrolls from inside, then mumbled something.

   "Those already? We have yet to encore." Mael lightly laughed, His side of the room laughed with him.

   "You sure you want to really fight?"

   The Mage arched his eye brow. "You'd lose."

   "There can only be victory in defeat."

   "It does not have to end like this. There's another way."

   "Curious, what I wonder?" Mael put a finger on his chin in thought.

   "I will give you one last chance, leave this world alone and return to yours. It is the only way this will end."

   "Oh? Life is not that simple, Alastar."

   "Very well. You asked for it."

   He frowned, "Bend and break."

   The locks on the scrolls burned off into ash with a flicker. The scrolls opened. The runes on the inside glowed red, igniting the scrolls. The paper burned and the runes were left floating. His coat fell to the ground, showing his well toned upper torso.

   The runes arced and danced around him. Each one etched into his bare skin and cooled off to its natural ink colour. His body covered in runes,  the air around him stirred. His magic changed, power heightening to a point that I was numb towards it.

   Luna just looked on speechless.

   "You took everything from me."

   Alastar rasped, "You took my friends from me, my home, everything."

   "They were irrelevant."

   Mael looked saddened to my surprise. "They held you back."

   "They were my family!" The air around him lit up and swirled like a tornado of energy.

   Mael shook his head. "In time, Dear one."

    "Why are you just standing there?!"

   Alastar yelled back at us. "I said get a goddamn move on!"

   "Sombra."

   Mael smiled, "Kindly see them to the door?"

   The Librarian's eyes glowed white and flaming plasma flowed in tears from them. "Heads up!"

   He cast a bolt of lightening at Mael, while he was distracted. It hit him square in the nose.

   Mael recovered then yelled, "Rude indeed!"

   Both titans charged each other and fought in feats of magic and raw strength.

   Luna and I ran to the window, then Sombra flashported in front of us blocking our path.

   "My goodness, what a pain."

   I waved my hand to the side. "Go away!"

   "Beast, I had quite enough of thou!" Luna's horn charged, then a beam of energy shot towards Sombra.

    He nearly dodged it, but his left cheek caught the brunt of the spell. The whole left side of his face tore off, revealing his jaw bone and bare facial muscles. "Ow."

   Luna snorted. "Thou art faster than I thought."

   Sombra's cheek started to heal. The missing flesh molded anew over the wound.

   Creepy, this is not going to be easy.

   Gritting his teeth, Sombra shot a bolt at Luna.

   She dodged it. A flash lit up to my right, Sombra's horn glowed and a thunder bolt caught Luna off guard. It all happened so fast. Luna quickly cast a shield before the bolt hit her side, it burst into a bloom of heat and sparks. She grunted, hooves skidding on the floor from the force of the hit.

   I held my hand out, worried about her. "Luna-"

   "Stay away, Student."

   Luna returned the attack, running forwards, horn charging. Sombra flashed, then was gone. Luna froze, waiting. She flashported behind him, heartbeats before Sombra appeared to my far left. A bolt of energy flashed from her horn, hitting him and sending him flying without even a yelp or grunt.

   He disappeared, then flashed above Luna, kicking her horn in full force as he fell. She screamed then stumbled as if knocked dizzy. With a burst of raw force from his horn, Luna flew backwards spinning in the air and landed hard on the cold crystal floor, unmoving.

   "Luna!"

   Sombra looked at me, emotionless as ever.

   "You...." So many emotions were stirring inside, I did not know what to feel. Hate, shock, fear, take your pick it was in there.

   "Argyle...."

   Luna lied on the floor to my left, her eyes barely open. "Save thyself, thy -ugh- teacher commands it."

   Sombra's horn glowed a sick dark green as he stepped towards me.

   Home, take me home, I don't want to be here anymore. I don't....

   My hands shook as my anxiety finally took over, knees feeling weak, head fogging up. I fell to my knees as my stomach dropped.

   Sombra snorted. "Weak."

   "Fight."

   Cold chilled up my spine.

   "Survive."

   The cold ebbed away my fear. I defied Sombra as I got to my feet. "No."

   Sombra shot a bolt at me.

   "No." The bolt hit something invisible in front of me. It could not penetrate and just exploded in sparks.

   I slowly stepped forwards.

   I felt like I could conquer anything, no fear, no anxiety, no shyness, just resolve and purpose, a euphoria of strength.

   Sombra narrowed his eyes while tilting his head, confused. He let more bolts fly. Each one hit without any success.

    "No." Bolts of energy deflected and burst off somekind of shield protecting me.

   Sombra actually stepped back, then cast a wave of fire that consumed the air around me.

   "Argyle!"

   I walked through the flames, parting open a pathway. The flames cleared, ground around me glowing with a cold path beneath my feet.

   Sombra looked like he was seeing a ghost, "Impossible!"

   My eyes unblinking, words not my own came out. "Feel truth."

   Sombra built up more power in his horn.

   I flashported under him, my hand on his chest.

   "What?!"

   All I could visualize was nothing, nothing standing. "Feel death."

   "No, stop!"

   Raw emotions alien to me poured out of my hand and in a flash of light a hole tore into his chest. Blood, organs and bone blew out of his back side like a blunderbuss of gore, spraying the other half of the hallway in red splatter.

   He fell to the floor with a wet plop, legs flailing wildly while twitching. His bewildered eyes glared at me, then twitched and rolled into the back of his head as he stiffened and passed away.

   His body flickered, burning from the inside out. The embers ashed into a pile, then took to the air with a breezeless wind. The ash cloud disappeared into thin air.

   Luna was on her hooves, looking at me with a distraught stare. "Argyle...."

   The cold leaving me, fear returned. I could not look at her. I just walked to the window. Blood splattered in streaks across my face, I tasted the iron.

   What the hell is wrong with me?

   "Hark, tis clear!" Luna pointed a hoof at the window.

   Somehow, it was no longer an ink blot. I saw my room.

   I was sleeping and Luna was standing feet to my bed's right side with her eyes closed. Hope returned. I finally could leave that nightmare.

   I noticed Luna's head turn. I looked behind me and saw the Librarian fighting Mael. Two sides of pure magic melded and arced. Words could hardly do that sight justice.

   Luna yelled at me, "Quickly, we must away!"

   A wave of force raced at us. The Librarian appeared with a flash and a shield formed around Luna and me. He stood with a swirling pool of magic under his feet. Half of the runes on his body where gone. He was panting steadily.

   He looked at me. "Argyle, listen close. I can only give this advice. Follow your heart, its secrets will guide you and look to time for the answers. I wish I could say more, but no time."

   "Ebb and flow, how do you stop it?" Mael loomed forward. The hideous room behind him crept along with him. The room chuckled and whispered to itself in a thousand voices, like it was alive.

   The Mage told Mael, "Attrition."

   Mael held his fist up. The nightmare behind him silenced.

   "You cannot ware an unstoppable force." He crossed his arms. The eyes on them tilted to look at the Librarian.

   "Like you said, flay you and you will return, but I will always be the one that flays you again." Alastar smirked.

   "Time wears all things, yet I feel not the test."

   Mael flicked his wrist. "Onward with your lesson then."

   The whole other side of the room swarmed and melded right at us, laughing manically while parts snarled and yelled. It was pure madness.

   "Sorry guys, but you really need to go."

   The Librarian smiled at us, then pointed his palm in our direction. "See you soon."

   Luna and I were blown back clean off the floor into the window.

   I felt a solace, like I had lifted a great burden from my mind. I blacked out, falling into the window.

   I gasped, while shooting up from my bed. I saw Luna to my right, eyes open staring at me with a smile.

   "Well done."

   We made it.

   I sighed while I rested my head on my palm.

   "Canst thou rise?"

   "I think so." I got to my feet. I felt fine, in fact, I felt great.

   Luna looked at my bed. Her eyes widened. I turned to see what she was. The sheets had streaks of blood on the cover I lied on.

   "Turn around. I must look upon thy back."

   I blinked, then lifted my shirt. She inhaled deeply when she saw my back.

   "As I thought."

   "Don't tell me...."

   I reached to touch my back, then recoiled in pain. I felt raw open cuts where I was cut in my dream. "Well, that's not good. How is this possible?"

   "Sit, I shall healest thee."

  Open cuts were prone to nasty infections, so I nodded. I sat on my stool near my writing desk. Her horn glowed and a wave of tingling warmth washed my back. It felt rather nice.

   "I should get cut more often."

    Luna chuckled. "I wouldst advise against that, as next time I will present a bill."

   I laughed.

   Minutes passed and Luna gave the okay to rise. I put my shirt back on.

   "Listen, Student, we must talk." She looked at me uneasily.

   Perhaps, it was just time. Perhaps, the universe just has a way of exerting things in cycles. Regardless, I knew I couldn't hide the demons in my closet, especially from Luna.

   I exhaled then nodded my head.

   "Alright."

   Sitting down on the stool, my arms were crossed, expecting things to go sour. "Ask away."

   "First, the dreams, how many hast thou experienced?"

   I stared at her for a few seconds, not sure if she was confirming what she knew, or if Celestia hadn't told her anything. I knew Celestia knew, since Twilight sent whole letters about it.

  Why she would keep such important details from her sister?

   "Three of that kind I think, but mostly about things I couldn't stop."

   She sat down. "Explain."

   I took a breath in. "It was different every night. Once I ran, but woke up before it caught me. Then I tried to fight it, but woke up before it killed me. Then one night, I had friends helping me, but it killed them and I woke up while it laughed."

   "Hmmm, go on." Luna studied my every word.

   "Another night, I tried to talk to it. Surprisingly it talked back. I asked it what it wanted and it just opened its mouth. All I could see was twisted teeth. In its mouth I saw things. Things I can't explain. Like the words it spoke were pictures not sounds. I woke up, while it smiled at me." I let my head fall into my palms, while my elbows rested on my knees.

   "Yes, black magic indeed." Luna closed her eyes in thought.

   "So, your sister not tell you about this?"

   "What?"

   Her eyes shot open. "What dost thou mean?"

   I rested my chin on the backs of my folded hands. "Twilight sent letters to her, after I told Twilight about my dreams. Everything I just told you, Celestia already knows."

   Luna scrunched her nose in confusion. "Nay, that has little sense. Tia is not like that."

   "Are you sure?"

   "Of course."

   She got up. "I think I knowest my elder sister."

   "Like you knew how I was coming to the palace?" I raised an eye brow.

   "Well...." Luna looked side to side, obviously looking for an answer.

   "Wait."

   I held my hand up. "She didn't even tell you that?"

   "My sister is no liar." Luna waved a hoof, dismissing the thought.

   "Obviously, this begs to differ." I had my hand to my mouth in deep thought, wondering if secrets were a trend for Celestia.

   Luna narrowed her eyes at me. "Takest care in thy next choice of words."

   I rolled my eyes. "Luna, you have to see how strange all this seems. Even in your state of denial, Celestia is hiding things from you."

   That seemed to hit a nerve in Luna.

   Her eyes started to burn with frustration. "My Tia is not capable of such. She is sweet of nature and-"

   "I'm sure she said the same about you, before Nightmare Moon nearly destroyed everything." I cut off her detailed attempts, while I leaned forward.

   Luna's indigo colour turned a tinge of red. "Do not speakest what thou hast no understanding of! Thou knowest nothing of me!"

   "And you know nothing of me!"

   I got up from the stool. "I have a little sister back home who needs me and probably will never see me again, but you didn't think about that, did you?"

   I was rather shocked at my brashness. I never had outbursts, on top of that I felt no cold, so it was all me. I noticed something incredible. My anxiety was gone, my shyness gone.

   It did not help that our temperament was so thin, it seemed like we would just explode in each others faces, but I had control that time and was not repeating the same mistake.

   "Then why did thou accept?"

   Luna pointed a hoof at me. "My sister was hardly twisting thy arm."

   "That's complicated." I crossed my arms defensively.

   "Enlighten me." She frowned.

   "There's this, girl." I paused to gather my thoughts and think about how I should have put it.

   "Girl?"

   Luna put a hoof to her chin in thought.

   "No females of thy kind live in this land, only pony...."

   She paused, then  looked disgusted. "Argyle, that is foul!"

   "Huh?" I looked at her confused for a second. I was thinking of how to explain how I got to Equestria to her, but she had another ideas, gutter ideas.

   "What?!"

   I blushed and waved both my hands quickly in dismissal. "Oh, no, no, you got it all wrong. It's this little girl you see-"

   Her expression went from disgusted to horrified.

   I face palmed hard in frustration. "Ugh, no, damn it! It's this dark creature that manifests itself as a little girl! That's how I got here!"

   Luna blinked a few times. "Wait, a creature of darkness ported thou here?"

   I sighed in relief. "Yes, she brought me here and has been hounding me ever since. She claims that some kind of storm is coming. I dunno, devour the Sun and Moon kind of thing?"

   Luna's eyes widened and she trotted very close to me, desperation in her eyes. "What?! Thou art certain of this?"

   I slowly nodded my head yes.

   She knows what I'm talking about?

   A sudden deep thought riddled her features. She looked to the floor, eyes swiping side to side. "Then, tis true. He was the one Starswirl aforementioned."

   "Who?" I leaned forwards, hoping Luna could shed some light to my situation.

   "Later, Student. For now, I must ponder a plan." Luna walked towards the door.

   I face palmed.

   Why do I even get my hopes up anymore? Wait, plan?

   The picture of Twilight putting a note in my pocket flashed in my mind.

   "Luna, wait."

   I ran over to my dresser. "I might just have a plan."

   Luna walked behind me and peeked over my shoulder. I looked through my coat pocket where Twilight had put it and sure enough there it was.

   "Pray tell, for what art thou holding, Argyle?"

   "It's a note Twilight gave me after the meeting yesterday. She was rather upset when she gave it to me." I opened it and read the following hastefully written words.

Argyle, when you read this, I would've let the others know what's going on. So, this is to bring you up to speed.

        Something's wrong, I mean really wrong. What happened at the Palace was not how Celestia and I discussed it would via letters before hoof, so I'm sorry about that. I know how important going home's to you, so I promise we will help; however, I'm just not sure what's going on. It's not just the Princess, but other ponies are starting to act weird as well.

        We'll talk about this later, I'm short on time, can't write much more. I feel like every turn I make here's watched. So, I'll convince the others on visiting you Tuesday morning. In the meantime, don't upset the Princess and be on your best behavior. Finally, it'd be best to keep this from Luna as well, so Celestia wont find out about any of this. Besides, she looked very upset when I walked passed her to talk to Celestia, so stay downwind.

        Twilight.

   "Twilight Sparkle, hiding from her teacher? Very odd."

    Luna shook her head. "And what, dost she thinkest me a snitch?"

   I slowly looked up from the paper, my gut filling with worry. "Um, Luna, what day is it?"

   "Tis Tuesday, why-" Luna froze while her mouth dropped.

   There was a knock on my door. Luna and I cast suspenseful looks at it. It burst open, then a very familiar pink mare bounced inside the room.

   "Hey, Sparky!"

   Ahh, hell.