private Equestria: The World of Hate and Misery(1x1)

[Mr. Critical 434]

They both continued watching the dream. Twilight looked happy with John. Spending the whole day in a library that was their home. There was a knock at the door as two other ponies came in. A large muscular male with a white coat and a pink alicorn holding a foal. They all began talking and laughing. But soon after, it would not last. "Oh no. I know this part."Nightmare said sadly. The dream itself began to melt and the two ponies and dream John faded away. Twilight was looking terrified as she stood up. They were in a castle now and looming over the purple princess was a massive centaur. His horns scraped the ceiling as his red face looked down on her with piercing yellow eyes. On his head was a black crown with a white horn in the middle. This was Lord Tirek, Nightmare's husband and King. The creature filled the entire room with his presence as he pointed to a window. Twilight could not help but leave to see what it was. Outside, she could see her home and land set ablaze as fire rained from the skies. The cries and screams of the ponies below filled the her head as they soon echoed through Johns. There were so many of them, so much so Twilight fell to her knees.

[Shadow Dancer 111]

Hearing the cries of all those suffering shook me to my very soul I was between anger and sadness, but both strengthened my resolve to see this to the end, and do what ever it took to bring Tirek down, whether it was imprisoning him forever or killing him, I would physically make sure that he stayed down for good.

[Mr. Critical 434]

The dream soon began to crack and shatter. A sign that Twilight had awoken. The two were back in the white void as Nightmare stood over him in her purple bath robe. "Take what you have learned to heart John. It shall serve you well in the long run. Now, I suggest you wake up. There's a crying mare that could really use a shoulder to cry on." She gave him a wink as she snapped her fingers. John was now awake in his tent with Aaron. In the background, there was some soft crying from somewhere close by.

[Shadow Dancer 111]

I got up walked to the source of the crying to see Twilight in her tent weeping, the sight of it breaks my heart and I walk up to her worried about how much that dream really hurt her, I was just watching it and it shook me to the core. I put my hand on a shoulder and ask, "What's wrong Twilight?" Hoping I could help her in any way possible.

[Mr. Critical 434]

Twilight let out a yelp as John came into the tent with her and Fluttershy. Wiping away her tears, she looked back to John in a fake posture of confidence, though it was not working. "I-I'm fine John. Just... go back to bed. We have a long walk in the morning and you need your rest."

[Shadow Dancer 111]

I looked in Twilight's eyes my worry clear in my own eyes, "I'm well rested already, but its you I'm worried about, so please don't lie to me, your quite bad at it. So please tell me whats wrong Twilight." I hid how much it pained me to see her like this as best as I could but it could still be seen by anyone that payed enough attention.

[Mr. Critical 434]

Twilight laid down on her sleeping bag. "I had... I had the dream again. I stood before my home ablaze as I heard my subjects screaming in pain and agony. But... it wasn't all bad. The beginning was a lot of fun and the... worse part wasn't even in it." She looked over to John. "In the end... a dark crystal pony scewers me as I see my brother and sister in law decapitated before I die. I worry about them constantly. The thought of them being surviving or being dead is driving me mad. I can accept if they are dead, but the either or is driving me insane."

[Shadow Dancer 111]

"Then at the first chance we receive we need to find the answer to your question, or you will not be able to focus and from what I understand you need to be as focused as possible to do this or to even be able to help your friends effectively so when we can we answer your question. Okay?" I replied the words I was saying feeling right to me.

[Mr. Critical 434]

Twilight envelops him in a hug, crying lightly. "Thank you... thank you." She held onto him for a few minutes. Letting it all out.She cried for a few minutes until she let him go. "S-Sorry. I just needed that. Its been so long since I've heard from Shining or the Empire in general. But... if you are serious about helping me, I guess we can alter our course. We can take Fluttershy with us. I'm sure we can help her recover on our travels."

[Shadow Dancer 111]

"Yes I'm serious  about this, we all need to be in top shape if we have to divert a little to do so then fine, your a friend, that just what friends do. We help each other." When I said friend I felt like it was a cheapening of our relationship with each other, that there was more then friendship I knew she felt this way due to the dream but I myself was conflicted, I felt like there was something more but also I felt like it was premature and irrational. you cant just up and love someone after three or four days. 

[Mr. Critical 434]

blushing, she leaned in and kissed his cheek. "I mean it John. Thank you. You're a great friend and I value your friendship and your company. You're a true gentlecolt." As she spent more time with him, she had a few perverse thought of her and John, but immediately pushed them back. "W-We should get Aaron up. Its almost sunrise and if we're heading to the Crystal Empire, we should get moving fast."

[Shadow Dancer 111]

my cheeks lit up like a Christmas Tree when she kissed me, but I soon returned to normal and nodded, "Yea we should wake Aaron up." With that I quickly made my way to Aaron and woke him up, "Dude get up we have a change of course, its something that Twilight needs to settle with herself."

[Mr. Critical 434]

Aaron stirred in his sleep. When he was touched, he shot up and yelped in fear. He looked over to John and blushed nervously. "S-Sorry. Nightmares. U-Um... lets get to... lets help twilight." Aaron got his clothes from inside his sleeping bag and got dressed. fifteen minutes later he was standing outside the tent and sat Fluttershy by him as John and Twilight packed up.

[Shadow Dancer 111]

"So Twilight what is this Crystal Empire like, where is it and anything in particular that would help us there that you know of?" I asked just like always not wanting to be caught unprepared. I also held a small hope that I would not have to use my instinct again in a fight and in the end kill another, even though I was doubtful that I would be able to avoid a situation like that.

Edited July 4, 2014 by Shadow Dancer

[Mr. Critical 434]

"Well, it reappeared four years ago and my B.B.B.F.F. and sister in law went to protect it from Sombra before he was Tirek's general. It was the last known location of the resistance before it was over run." Twilight paused as she with held more tears. "Nopony has heard from it since. Soon after it was taken over, The New Crystal Empire rose. It's Sombra's own nation for his obedience to Tirek. Its a place for the rich to frolic while their slaves do all the manual labor. Its also where I lost my hoof when I was following a lead to one of my friends. I came out empty handed. less than empty handed actually."

[Shadow Dancer 111]

"So I imagine we may have to take another train to the location and try to find indications of your brother and sister in law, and if possible maybe another location of one of your friends, and it is in one of the head honcho's cities. This will be interesting." I tried not to think about what some of the rich mares and stallions probally did to their slaves behind closed doors. 

[Mr. Critical 434]

"Yeah. Thats probably not going to happen." Twilight said as she put the tents away in the bag. For one reason, the tracks to it have all be cut off. So no pony goes in or out on hoof. Second, ponies saw us break Fluttershy out of that breeding dungeon. We're all wanted criminals now."

[Shadow Dancer 111]

I sighed "This will be one hell of a walk, also like you said were going to be hunted. It would be easy to hide in a cloak if we had actual fur and did not look too different from ponies, for that we just hope they see what they expect and not notice that we are the wanted criminals."

[Mr. Critical 434]

"Yeah. Sorry guys but we can't fit in this one together." She said with a slight giggle. It was time to leave as Twilight looked into the skies and found the sun rising in the fields. She found which way was north and began on their way. Aaron picked up Fluttershy and they continued onward.

[Shadow Dancer 111]

I hid a slight blush at her joke, but quickly regathered my wits and followed after her, on the next leg of he journey to save this world from Tirek. I had further time to think on what I felt about the mare in front of me, even I had to admit that I had a bond with her that had started to develop over the trials we faced into something more but my issue was if it was love or not. I quickly pushed the thoughts aside for now before they were noticed. 

[Mr. Critical 434]

The four walked north. Avoiding major cities and staying close to the tracks and going into small towns. They stopped a few times to sleep. Two days had passed as things had gotten colder. Aaron managed to make small swipes from other ponies until they had enough bits to get some winter gear. Just when things were getting colder. 

[Shadow Dancer 111]

"Damn cold wasteland, this shit makes a country mile seem like a casual walk to the store. Thank God for the winter gear, and for Aarons skills in theft." I laughed "For all my bitching I must admit pick-pocketing is a valuable survival skill and I'm glad I went to Boyscouts." I said to keep our minds busy on something else but the cold 

[Mr. Critical 434]

The four trekked through a blizzard. The cold was stinging and Aaron tried to keep the mare he carried close to him. Twilight walked with a bit of a limp. Her metal prosthetic hoof was a lot to handle, even with the protection on the right hoof. The Blizzard seemed to get heavier as they moved on. The sun was setting fast as they got closer and it was getting harder and harder to move on.

[Shadow Dancer 111]

"Lets keep close or we will all get separated if possible keep some kind of contact with someone!" I shouted over the blizzard "Aaron I think I preferred the Ice cream blizzard from Dairy Queen over this, you?!" I said chuckling a little at my little joke.

[Mr. Critical 434]

Aaron was a bit behind but he heard that quip. "Boo, that joke was terrible and you know it!" Aaron had to shout through the blizzard. He didn't want to hurt his feelings and he enjoyed a good joke now and then, but he was in no mood for such. He was cold, hungry, and he was worried about the paralyzed, pregnant mare he was carrying with him. "We need to find shelter!" Twilight shouted as she came closer. Aaron heard this as he began to look around and he saw a stroke of good luck. It was a cave that they could hide in. "There!" he pointed at the cave.