World of Discord (RP)

[ArtVeigar]

Ilias noticed the pony was distracted and hasn't even listened to her question at all. But without even changing her expression, she asked again - "I asked: who are you and what are you doing here? I'm sorry if I'm being rude, but it's just part of the protocol." - Again, her voice was gentle, and she surely didn't mean any harm. Of course, if the pony didn't either.

[Shadechaser]

Shadechaser thought for a moment. "Who... am I...? ...I... am a ...lonely shadow... lost in the dark times... I am here for answers, yet I don't think I have any real connection to the life..." Shade seems to looks beyond, and unfocused. "When the dark finds the truth... If the light begs for mercy... If the Six are found... If they come to realize..." Shadechaser seems far in thought. Then Shade looks to the sky. "When all come to gray... When all choose to stay..."

[The Wandering Magus]

In the midst of the Dragon Lands, as the "night" passes, Bleyd meditates.

*****

A gentle, yet authoritative, voice spoke from within the chamber.  "Ilias, it is fine.  She is known to Avalon.  Chrysteel, this is the hippogriff of which you spoke, is she not?  You may speak with her now.  Shade, exile of Oblivion, it remains your choice alone what path you choose.  Destiny has set before us a hope and potential, but it is your choice whether to act upon it.  Please, Shade.  Will you not come in?"

-----

As the Queen of Changelings awaited the answers, she turned and spoke softly to the two other guests.  "I see that you are weary and eager for rest.  These changelings will show you to your rooms for tonight.  May your dreams be sweet and full of joy, here in the Hidden Land."

The changeling guards bowed low to Asterian and Super Nova.

[Omega_Khaos]

Chrysteel bows to her mother. [glow=navy,2,300]I will be but a moment. then i will retire for the night to come.[/glow]
Chrysteel heads out seeking llias. she finds her quickly as she steps from the building to see her questioning our guest the shadowed one.
[glow=navy,2,300]Ah there you are llias. I have been meaning to get your forest patrol report. I also see you have meet one of our guests. When you are done here, please go and see mother. I think she has something to talk to you about.[/glow] Chrysteel says gesturing to shade.

[Shadechaser]

Shade starts to think on the offer. "As the dark find a place... the meaning may come to... yet when the place is from a wrong direction... the meaning never comes... As the dark seems to have faded from my mind... The offer seems so... that my mind cannot figure what to do beyond helping the greater good... of life here in Equestria... If I can help, I will do so." Shade then looks to the sky. "If I ever find a path that means more than wandering about..." Then to the tapestry. "If it means following the path... never seen..." She closes her eyes. "If the dark never calls... I can never feel the knowledge of the shadows... But when the knowledge is from the sight... from the physical touch that the light shows... the knowledge comes through so much like a river flowing down stream..." Shade looks to the instruments in the room. "If I even know how I got that object..." Shade starts calmly looking around for a shadow.

[ArtVeigar]

"I understand, your highness. And I'm sorry, Princess Chrysteel. I was about to report when I found this pony wandering, and I just followed the protocol." - Ilias answered both the queen and the princess, with a voice full of respect. Then, she turned to the pony. - "I'm sorry for troubling you. If you know the Queen, it only means you're a good pony. I welcome you to our great city of Avalon! If you ever need any help, you can always count with the city's guards. - She gave shade a big smile. - "But now, if you excuse me, I need to finish my duties. I'm Ilias Lightbringer, and I wish you a nice day." - After bowing to the pony, she turned to the chamber where the others were.

"Your Highness. Princess Chrysteel." - Ilias kneel before both of them. "I've finished the patrol of the forest and I'm ready to report."

[Omega_Khaos]

[glow=navy,2,300]Well....I am glade you are not hurt either. present your report when ready. Also please I am not a full princess yet. Call me Chrysteel.[/glow]
Chrysteel says to llias.
[glow=navy,2,300]Mother is glade to know you are okay. The edge of the forest has been getting more troublesome as of late. I feel and believe 'it' also knows what is coming. I would also like it if you were with mother's escort tomorrow. We leave in the morning once our guests have had time to rest. I also will be going. We are going to see Tiamat, The Dragon Queen.[/glow]
Chrysteel explains to llias.

[Shadechaser]

Shade says, "If I knew... If only I knew..." Shade looks to the doorway to this land, which seems not in line of sight. "If the shadows know what is happening..." Shade looks in the direction of the meadow. (Also seeming to be not in line of sight.) "If the dark can energize my body..." Shade then looks to her hooves. "I should just have a good walk in the shadows..." Now to the sky. "...to keep an adequate amount of energy." Shade then returns her sight to the direction of the doorway. "I don't want to rest my mind... If I do so, the world may just take a turn for worse..." Returning her sight to the sky. "Not like there is anything worse than waking up to a world unknown to your mind..."
((Correct me if I am wrong on the line of sight.))

[Asterian Starfall]

Asterian bowed deeply before the royals, magically doffing what was left of his ragged burlap cloak. When he had risen, he glanced at Super Nova, saying, "It was nice to meet you... All of you. Alas that this moment must end."  He sighed passionately as he walked over next to one of the changelings designated to be his guide. As he followed him away from group, he looked back and couldn't help but wonder if he might be allowed to stay in the land forever...

It seemed to him like he most certainly would.

[ArtVeigar]

"Yes, the forest is becoming quite troublesome... But even if some chaos is appearing nearby, it's still nothing that really threat us. They are still far from reaching this Paradise." - She smiled, proud of the strength of her home even at these chaotic times. - "And I'm honored to be assigned such a mission. You can be certain I'll do my best!" - It was hard to contain the excitement in her voice. - "Now, if you excuse me, I'll formaly report to the captain, as usual. He must be worried, as I'm never this late." - She waited for her permission to leave.

[Omega_Khaos]

[glow=navy,2,300]Thank you llias. When you are done with that, please make yourself ready for tomorrow and get some rest. You are dismissed.[/glow] Chrysteel says.
After llias has left. Chrysteel looks to Cadance with worry on her face.
[glow=navy,2,300]Mother with the chaos this close, do you think it wise to leave without proper reinforcement of the fields? Without you the fields will weaken over time and the chaos will find our home. What can we do to keep our home safe, mother?[/glow] Chrysteel asks.

[The Wandering Magus]

The Queen looked sadly upon the work of centuries, the paradise she had helped to build with her own hooves, the home of countless swarms of her beloved Children.

"It... it is a risk that must be taken, Chrysteel.  This prophecy is the world's last hope for finally defeating Chaos.  Countless lives have been lost to keep this faint light of hope flickering.  Avalon... Avalon may fall in the terrible battles to come.  Even I myself may fall in a moment of weakness, battling the Six Minions..."

She closed her eyes, breathing slowly to calm herself.  "...In a dream, I saw fire raining from the sky.  Everfree burned, Avalon shattered as I and my last Children took our stand, the rest either fallen or fled to the farthest corners of the Earth.  With the last of the Changeling magic within me I sent these followers far away, so that Avalon the legend, and Cadance the Queen would endure.  Then, as Mi Amore Cadenza, I was forced to fight one who was once my most beloved foalsitting filly and her heartbreaking companions.  A Traitor, broken from countless impossible choices pushed upon her.  A being of Rage, who hated the world because of a lie.  A Greedy mare who hoarded the treasures of the world, trying desperately to fill the hole in her heart left when her friends and world were torn away.  A Liar who feared the truth so much that she was determined never to face it again.  A daughter whose 'father' only ever taught her to be Cruel, whose poor, deluded mind thinks that inflicting pain is the only way to show everyone, including her own mother, that she loves them.  A Tragedy, bereft of hope and friendship, who only lives from day to day because there is nothing left to die for."

She spoke so calmly, even as tears rand down her face like little rivers, forming a puddle in the shape of a broken heart on the floor.

"We fought, with magic and skill, until every one of them lay defeated on the battlefield, with Discord alone remaining.  But at the last moment, my words somehow broke through.  My dear foalhood friend... my dear Twilight Sparkle... she was back... and... and in my moment of weakness..."

She opened her eyes, blinking once to dry them, and tried to smile.  "I am sorry.  It was, after all, only a dream.  But it was not only a dream.  Neither was it a prophecy.  I think, it was a message.  A message from Harmony, a message from the universe.  I do not think that the knowledge I gained about those Six is false.  They are still inside, hurting.  Especially the mother."

[Shadechaser]

As Shadechaser heard the story, she couldn't figure out all, but one thing. [glow=purple,2,300]When the light never fades... as the night truly stays... the hope never goes... even when no pony knows... When the late comes soon, what do we do? As the light stays in sight... Where all the darkness never blight... As the end comes for the night... we truly see the hope and light.[/glow] Shade looked to the meadow. "If this is an emotion that I cannot grasp, the darkness may have left for long, yet still control my mind... As darkness fades in know... Time will come to truly go. When time splits in two... the great knew... where to be... so they could see... What has come, for the life of numb." Shade starts to walk to the meadow. "If the truth comes to... call to the shadows... you'll know who."

[SuperNovaNightmare]

Nova knew it was rude to eaves drop, but he couldn't help it. He had a foreboding feeling that the forest and Avalon burning would be his fault. Not entirely, but still his fault.

"I..I...I can wrap my head around this. What will I do when he finally wins, where will I be, and who will I hurt."


Nova thought. Just the idea of his Evil Spirit wining over him gave him chills. So many innocents, hurt just because of him. He knew it was foolish to think the way he was, for it was never said specifically what caused the fire, but still. He looked down at his necklace, almost forgetting about his pet. "Once I free you, there will be many things we must discus. Many, many things I wish I didn't have to, but there is no choice, to much is a risk."

A wave of sorrow overwhelmed Nova. He quietly snuck out of the building, and slowly freed his pet from his stasis. He made sure every word to the release spell was precise, for he could not bear to think about what might go wrong. Soon, his pet, El Chupa was lying on the ground, curled in a ball.

"Wake, my friend, you are finally safe." Whispered Nova in his pets ear.

El Chupa slowly uncurled, and began to stretch, just as Nova taught him to. Nova was prepared in the event he had to put his pet into stasis, and taught El Chupa how to stretch, without hurting him self. El Chupa soon grew happy to finally see his owner, after so long, and tackled Nova, and assaulted him with a endless barrage of licks.

"I'm happy to see you too, buddy!" Whispered Nova, trying to get El Chupa off of him.

Once free, he came close to his ear, and whispered.

"Listen, there is somethings I need to tell you..."

After a long and tearful conversation with his pet, they slowly walked around the corner and rejoined the others. He could feel the heartbrokenness in his pet. He hoped it never came to that, so did his pet, but they both understood what must be done in the event that Nova does loose control. Nova forced himself to hide away his sorrow, he didn't want to concern his new friends about his "personal problems". He could of sworn he heard his Evil Spirit laughing in the depths of his mind. He vowed from now on, he would meditate more then ever. He vowed to strengthen his mind, turn it into a iron fortress. And vowed to never, EVER, let his Spirit win.

[Omega_Khaos]

Chrysteel looked shocked at what her mother was saying. She was reminded of her dream from 3 weeks ago. A dream that happened after a large part of the rebellion was lost to those 6 corrupted ones.
[glow=navy,2,300]Mother..........I need to tell you something.........You weren't the only one to dream of something like that. I lost allot of friends three weeks ago and it hurt me dear. I.......I........I found something in the midst of the fighting. It was a crystal tear.[/glow]
Aurora holds up a silver crystal tear. It has the mark of a pink butterfly in it.
[glow=navy,2,300]I had a dream that night. It showed a battle against the 6. a pink and silver chrysalis, 6 orbs that glowed in the chaos trying to shed light and A key to open a way to hope and love's union as one power. I don't know what it meant but this butterfly was on one of the orbs, and a light had called out for help. [/glow]
Chrysteel looks like she is about to shed tears aplenty. She was reminded of her worst fear.
[glow=navy,2,300]What should i do mother? I am at a loss on this dream's meaning. I do know that it was not one of my normal dreams. It felt to real for that. I found myself in a chrysalis the next morning after the dream. When I came out I looked as I do now. The chrysalis itself was pure pink. My last one was pure silver. I wander what that could mean.[/glow]
After saying what she said, she looked completely drained. It seams she really needs to sleep now. She sets the crystal tear near her mother before saying,
[glow=navy,2,300]Mother before we leave tomorrow, I would like to make my ascension to princess official. Until then I think I will sleep soundly. I want you to keep the tear mother. Goodnight mother.[/glow]
Chrysteel heads off, after that, to her room to sleep. She only made it to the door before collapsing asleep on the floor.

[Asterian Starfall]

Asterian had heard the sorrowful words of the Queen just out of the corner of his ear, followed by her daughter's explanation of her dream. He slowly walked back into the room and said to Queen Cadence, "If it is any consolation, I have had dreams of similar meaning." He took a deep breath and sat cross-legged, as if meditating. He conjured three glowing fireballs and slowly began to rotate them around one another. The exercise seemed to calm and focus him as he continued...

"When all had come to pass... When all had fled and all had given up hope, I stood amidst the Ruined City as they appeared. The original Six, each of them wearing a necklace, save the Element of Tragedy. Scarred, beaten, but not broken, I shouted out, 'In the name of all things good in this world, fight me!' Some of them just laughed; other appeared like they could care less. They sent in their first, the Element of Greed, to combat me. We circled each other for what seemed like millennia... The spinning orbs grew a soft golden color and began to beat in rhythm with his breathing, rising and falling with each breath. "I fought best I could, but had only just managed to best her. Then the others looked back at me with a... look on their faces. Surely it couldn't have been hate; they didn't like one another, did they? I knew I was fighting a losing battle if I stayed, but... I just couldn't leave her there just so she could go back to Him. I summoned a smoke screen and fled, carrying her on my back, but then the Tragic One shot some sort of spell at me and knocked me to the ground. I remember hearing His cackling voice and her saying something... Was it 'Oh my stars, darling! Run!' She must have been talking to me, but I was too weak to try and run. My eyes fell shut and I knew no more.

He snapped his eyes open and the flames vanished with a small whip of the wind. "My Queen, what you say about the Six is true; I know it in my heart. They are still there, hidden behind day after day of torment and suffering." He yawned again and rose from his position, bowing deeply before Her. "I would speak further but as I understand we have a long journey ahead of us, and I am rather weary from all that has transpired. Indeed he was exhausted. His legs shook and he swayed slightly where he stood. The effect of Chrysteel's spell had finally worn off, and the feeling of many sleepless days and nights had caught up with him. "I suppose now I will retire for the evening. Good night, my Queen."

[ArtVeigar]

Ilias turned out to leave the room after performing a final bow to the Princess and Queen. But just before she went past the door, Queen Cadence started telling her story. Ilias froze, and couldn't go away before hearing everything. The Queen's words weighted the knight's heart, and the thoughts of the Queen's dreams in her head made tears start to form in her eyes. And as soon as Chrysteel started to speak about the tragedy of three weeks ago, she couldn't handle it anymore. She left the room, tears flowing down from her eyes. She tried her best to wipe them out, with six words repeating inside her head. "I won't ever let that happen. I won't ever let that happen. I won't ever let that happen..."

***

After recovering her composure and reported to the captain, Ilias made her way to her room, at the quarter's female sleep rooms. It was small, but had everything anyone needs in a room. She took out her golden and silver armor, put the spear to rest at the side of her bed, and lied down. She couldn't stop thinking about the Queen's words and what was to come. She had heard of the prophecy before, and right now, she could give everything to be one of the Destined Ones, to be at the Queen's side until the end. She started to think about the ones she wanted to protect, and thoughts about her adoptive parents filled her head. Her father had already retired from the guards, and is now leaving with his loved one, the one she is proud to call "mother", inside the Avalon. She started to hope to see them the next day, to say goodbye before leaving. And with these thoughts, she finally fell asleep.

[The Wandering Magus]

The Queen bowed a last time to the guests and her Children as the meal concluded.  Slowly, each was led, shown or carried to their sleeping quarters for the night, or simply walked or flew there themselves.  Some rooms glowed softly like starlight and moonlight, others were still and dark.  Some rooms were larger, some smaller, each according to the guest's comfort, the land itself in Harmony with its inhabitants.

A sort of "night" fell upon Avalon, one of the only places left in the world where "night" and "day" had meaning.  Sleep came, slowly or quickly, but always gently, upon all who needed it.   Some may stay awake, but for those that slept, it was calming.

And as they slept, more often than not, they dreamed.

*****
*****
"RUN!  I'LL HOLD THEM OFF!" shouted Twilight as Poison Apple limped desperately towards what the unicorn prayed was an exit.  She turned and snarled as her sadistic "Master" casually rounded the corner.  "THIS IS IT, YOU TYRANT!  I WILL NEVER BE YOUR SLAVE AGAIN!  I AM TWILIGHT SPARKLE, ELEMENT OF MAGIC, AND I-"

Snap.

"-am ready to serve and obey, Master."

-----

"Please don't run, PLEASE!  I promise, I PROMISE I'll make it quick."

"Shut up, Traitor."  "We'll never back down!"  "Unlike you, we're LOYAL to-"

Traitor Dash later returned, shaking and sobbing, to her Master's throne.  He smiled with false reassurance as he stroked his claw through her rainbow mane.

"[glow=red,2,300]Good girl.  Seems I won't let Sky Ocean fall into the Valley of Spikes after all.  But now I have another task for you, my traitorous little pet...[/glow]"

-----

"Oh, why certainly, darling, thank you so much for offering!"

Stone ground against stone as the puppet poured nothing into the stone teacup.  A blue aura brought the empty cup to the white unicorn's mouth as she mimed drinking.

"Thank you, darling.  Such a shame none of the others can ever appreciate such lovely diamonds, isn't that right, Tom?  Of course it is.  They only see 'dirty rocks'!  The nerve.  Makes me so... inelegant, sometimes, when I have to... dirty my hooves for you, my pretties."

The thousand years' worth of dust and grime seemed not to bother the Element of Greed as she continued sitting in the windowless room, surrounded by an eternal Gala that only existed in her mind.

-----

"Wait!  Don't hurt me, take my daughter, do anything you want with her, just don't hurt me!"

The pathetic stallion was holding a little filly in front of him.  Of course.  He was probably LAUGHING on the inside.  Laughing.  At everything.  Did he think this was a joke?  They all did.  They ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS A JOKE!  But the fillies understood.  They knew the pain.  They knew... Anger.

"Did this stallion hurt you?"

A nod.

"Did he... LAUGH at you?"

A teary, ANGRY nod.

"Well, why don't you sit here with me and watch.  And I'll make sure that he doesn't laugh at anyone, ever again."

The filly cheered as the grey earth pony vanished from the screen, reappeared behind the stallion, and grinned savagely.

-----

"p-please... f-fluttershy-"

"My NAME is FLUTTERCRUEL, IDIOT!"

"i-i-i know you're in there... please... remember..."

Fluttershy couldn't close her eyes.  She couldn't stop her body.  She could only silently think, i'm sorry.  i'm so so so sorry.  i do remember.  but there's nothing i can do.  i'm sorry...  this will hurt...

Her "daughter" turned and smiled into the cracked mirror on the wall.  "See, Mom?  See how much I love you?  Daddy was right all along.  Time to be CRUEL!"

-----

"An' Ah TOTALLY am gonna end yer lives now.  Ah AIN'T 'ere just 'cause Big Banana Discord needs ta see me goin' into a house.  An'... Ah don't need no blood t' show 'im.  Ah ain't sorry at all."

The fillies smiled back.  "it's no problem at all, Saint Liarjack.  thank you so much."

Tears came to the grey mare's eyes as she dirtied her hooves for appearance's sake.  "Ah want y'all t' wiggle 'bout an' act alive now.  An'... t-there's hope, Discord will fall someday, everyone's gonna be happy real soon, an' all this is just a bad dream...... an Ah'm not sorry at all..."

They obeyed, lying still for the mare, and silently thanking her for her kind, Kind lies...

-----

Muffins.  Muffins everywhere.  Muffins in my heart.  Muffins in my eyes.  Muffins in my body.  Muffins, muffins EVERYWHERE!  A thousand years!  A thousand years!  It never stops!  The crows, the crows, they're always hungry!  I'm the muffin!  They want me!  They want to EAT ME!

Loving, grey wings shield me from the crows.  Mommy never stops talking to me.  Mommy keeps walking for me.  Mommy keeps crawling for me even when they hurt Mommy.  Mommy never stops treating me like her daughter.  Mommy tells me i'm alive.  Mommy tells me to hold on, just hold on, two thousand more years.  Mommy counts each lap.

One quadrillion, three hundred and twenty five trillion, four hundred and fifty three billion, two hundred and twenty one million, seven hundred and ninety one thousand, six hundred and seventy one.

Seventy two.

Seventy three.

I'll hold on, Mommy.  I'll hold on for you too.  I want to hug you so much, to cry in your wings.  When we finish these laps, I'll keep walking beside you for my sister too.  I promise I won't hate muffins, because Mommy loves muffins.  But I'm her special muffin.  And nothing that mean snake-thing says or does will change that, not even making me into a muffin.  Mommy's the most Loyal Mommy in the whole universe.

Seventy four.

-----

I don't know how long it's been now. Master Discord sometimes messes with my perception of time. Sometimes it feels like eons, and others -if I didn't have clear memories of LiarJack's little sister growing up and dying of old age (after Scootaloo died as an adult mare defying master) I'd think it all happened yesterday. The Elements of Chaos seem to have rendered us immortal.

I'm informed by My Master that some foalish ponies in Ponyville are trying to practice magic. Duty calls. Time to show these little ponies that Magic Is Tragedy.

-----

Mah name's Apple Pie.  An' at the moment, things don't look too good.

Magica... Caster... everypony... all th' Virgacorns...

Them Six Minions 're standin' about Big Banana Discord.  Lady Desire is twitchin' t' grab more rocks.  Saint Liarjack's comfortin' Traitor Dash, poor mare.  Miss Cruelty... ya don't wanna know.  Same goes fer Miss Angry Pie... why auntie?  Because Big Banana Discord said so, that's why.  An' Miss Tragedy... same as always, Ah guess.

Oh... Miss Cruelty an' Miss Pie's lookin' at me.  Finders keepers?  So this is how it ends.  It's... it's funny in a way.  Never thought this is how Ah'd end, but hey, what's the fun in makin' sense?

"[glow=red,2,300]WELL!  LOOKS LIKE YOU LADIES CERTAINLY CLEANED HOUSE![/glow]"

Ah couldn't help it.  Even with Miss Angry Pie right here.  Ah laughed.  Why?  ...Ah guess it's 'cause it's funny.  No really!

Well, looks like it's Miss Pie then.  At least she makes it quick.  Huh?  Oh, they're arguin'.  At least Ah get a few more- oh, so Miss Cruelty's impatient.  Here comes the sword.  Was nice talkin-

"[glow=red,2,300]STOP AT ONCE![/glow]"

...Ah'm not dead?  What's tricklin' down mah face?  Oh... what's goin' on?

Big Banana Discord's suddenly in front of me.  Standin' upside-down on the air.

"[glow=red,2,300]You laughed?[/glow]"

"Yeah."

Miss Tragedy looks curious.  She never DOES 'curious'.  She ain't never had any emotion.  She asks anyways.  "Why?"

Ah told 'er the truth.  "Hey, even in the darkest of times, ya have ta find somethin' ta laugh about!"

Big Banana Discord chuckled too.  Miss Pie's real mad now, but he doesn't let her do anything.  He just tells them to go back to the castle.  Miss Cruel tries to argue for a bit, but it doesn't work of course.  He's lookin' at me again.

"[glow=red,2,300]You, dear, remind me of a mare I knew who was very fun to have around,[/glow]" he said, lookin' at Miss Angry Pie.  "[glow=red,2,300]Just keep on smilin', girlie![/glow]" He gave me a weird signal with his claw, Ah think th' dragons call it a thumbs-up. "[glow=red,2,300]What's your name?[/glow]"

Ah think for a moment, wonderin' what all this is about, but hey, Ah'm dead anyways.  "... Apple Pie."

"[glow=red,2,300]Apple Pie?[/glow]"

He starts laughing.  Saint Liarjack's jaw drops to th' floor.  Ah guess Ah don' really look much like an Apple, but hey.  Family's big.

"[glow=red,2,300]Oh that's rich! So rich! Kiddo, you've made my day! Live and be happy and all that tripe![/glow]"

He snapped his fingers and mah bones were healed.  There's still a scar on mah forehead where Miss Cruel's sword was.  So... Ah ain't dead?  Ah reach up an' touch it, blinkin'.

"[glow=red,2,300]Consider that little nip there from Fluttercruel a reminder of when you made the king of chaos laugh![/glow]"

He claps, his claws makin' a sound like a whole audience clappin'.  Well, that's what mah Pa used to say.

Miss Tragedy gives me a strange look as they leave.  Ah can't help but smile a bit.  Even in this world, that little bit o' Laughter helped me out, just as it always did.

*****
*****

[Asterian Starfall]

((I am going to presume that was the time-skip.))

The young stallion marveled at the room he had been led to. It was like something out of a dream world for him; this was the place he had envisioned staying in when he asked to be a citizen of Avalon. Starfall, with barely enough energy left, bathed for the first time in months, enjoying just being able to sit in hot water. His teeth were clean and flawless, for he cleaned them often with herbs he had found in the forest daily. With a passionate, relaxed sigh, he collapsed on his bed and feel into a deep sleep instantly...

-----

Asterian awoke to the soft glow of what he believed to be sunlight. He had slept better that night than every other night put together, or at least so it seemed; between the lack of disruption of the sun and moon, the proper bed, and the peace and quiet of the land, he wished it never had to end. The unicorn got up and looked in the mirror, soaking in the details of his complexion. He ran his hoof slowly down the scar that raked across his left, but completely unscathed, eye. He said to his doppelganger, "I swear by all that is good left in this world I will not fail. I will not fail."

He stepped back and reached for his ragged cloak, pausing slightly to look at it. After having been in a proper house, bed, and given a decent meal, he couldn't help but laugh a little at the state of his attire, if indeed it could be called that. He donned the cloak and sighed -- half exasperated that his cloak wasn't what he wished for, half grateful that he had it. He stepped outside into the morning air and sat down looking up at the skies. How lucky he was to be here, and how lucky he would be, he could only wait to discover.

[SuperNovaNightmare]

     Nova slept rather well, for the first time in, well quite some time. He would have been tossing and turning, if it wasn't for his Evil Spirit taking all the anger and rage out of the dreams, which was about ninety percent of what they were. Nova only got glimpses of each passing dream. Most of the important parts were taken away, because it was mostly filled with rage. Nova got out of bed, and walked over to the mirror.

    He saw his pet curled up over in a corner, still trying to shake the effects off. Nova then shifted to get a better look at his scars. The jagged spikes of obsidian had grown slightly, but in a strange direction. The far end of his spikes did not grow, yet the rest had started to continue their way, and a light curve was apparent at the end of the spikes. Nova then took a look at himself. He was amazed to see how much he had changed.

    He was once a lonesome, yet courageous youngling, and has turned into a blazing stallion. He never stopped to think about what he would look like when he got older, but many features resembling other Nightmares started to show. His upper legs and lower neck began to grow the obsidian plating that all male Nightmares had. He had grown considerably in size, he was a little over twice the size then when he was a youngling.

    Nova took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled. He saw El Chupa start to stir, for he lifted his head and turned to his owner. El Chupa was far darker that before, and had grown as well. His claws were like small scythes, and his teeth like razors. Yet he was kinder then he last remembered.

"You really have changed... and so have I."

Thought Nova.

"We both have important responsibilities now, so we must not show any weakness. We must show that we are not some toy to be played with, but honorable protectors."

    Nova decided to meditate, to help strengthen his mind. He would continue to until he was called upon. He did not want to appear rude, but it was important to him to keep a strong mind, and a stronger will. He has to be able to fend of agains his Spirit. He has to show no weakness. He has to be strong.

"I have to be..... BRAVE!"

He thought.

"I have to be STRONG!"

"I HAVE TO BE..."

He took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled.

"Calm"

He whispered.

Nova then grew silent, and did as he said. He was soon in a tranquil state, keeping his mind clear, and was being calm.