Into Uncharted Waters
#40 of The Lost Element
What a gloomy day... Even now, more than two weeks after that disaster, my heart remains heavy. And now, our friend once more lies on the verge of death with likely no way of saving him. Although... It was most resourceful of Twilight to search the journal entries that James wrote for more clues. I have indeed forwarded her findings to Nightmare Moon. She continues to search tirelessly through the archives for any clues as to what this deadly ailment is that plagues our friend, bless her soul...
I could barely tend to my duties, my heart was so sick with guilt and fear. Thankfully, Luna volunteered to cover for me for the time being. We really must install two extra thrones to accommodate my two sisters... Although more often than not, my thoughts drifted to Nightmare Moon. Was she making progress in her search for the cure?
With a heavy heart, I made my way through the palace towards the royal archives. Such a vast array of arcane knowledge being stored there... Surely she must have found a lead by then. However, upon arrival, I noticed something...off about the place's appearance.
Ever since she began to search for clues to what was ailing James, Nightmare Moon would always leave quite a mess behind. Books, tomes, and scrolls stacked high in the aisles she had scoured for information, much to the irritation of the castle's servants. Only this time... There was no sign of activity. Not a single book was strewn about the chamber. No wayward scrolls having been left unfurled. Nothing. Where was she? Nightmare Moon has been adamant in her search for the source of her friend's poisoning. She would not give up the search now.
I decided to venture into the throne room to speak to Luna. And I indeed found her busy reading over some of that wretched paperwork while seated upon the throne. She was quick to notice my approach and spoke with a smile. "Good afternoon, Celestia. All is well here."
"Yes, I see that..." I began to speak while trying to ease into a conversation. "Well... Were you and Nightmare Moon able to visit your friend in his dreams last night?"
Luna sighed with a profound frown on her face. "We tried, sister... We truly tried. The storm that clouds his dreaming mind was too fierce for us to get through. Nightmare Moon may have been fortunate enough to endure it long enough to reach the other side two nights ago, but neither of us succeeded this time... Truly, something is striving to keep us away from him."
I was hardly surprised. Nightmare Moon spoke of unseen blades mangling her body as she pushed through such a maelstrom two nights ago after she awoke. "I see... Well, where is she as of now? Have you seen her?"
"Is she not in the archives?" Luna replied while once more looking through the papers she had been provided.
She did not know? If there was one pony who had been maintaining near constant contact with our sister, it was Luna. "Well...no. I already stopped by there, but I saw no trace of anypony having visited today."
"Hmm... That is perplexing. I cannot imagine anywhere else she might... Wait..." Luna said before pausing and giving me a rather grim gaze. "Celestia. You don't suppose she is searching THAT chamber, do you?"
I felt my blood chill. Of course... That chamber. I immediately rushed for the door. "I will check immediately. And thank you for minding the throne for me, Luna."
Even though I know this journal will never be seen by eyes that are not mine, I must keep the details of where and how I reached my destination hidden for the sake of global security. The chamber was narrow with a few bookcases lining the walls with the pathway leading into a small alcove complete with a table and glowing crystals adorning the curved walls. And indeed, there she was. Nightmare Moon stood with her back turned to me.
Just seeing anypony in this chamber left me feeling anxious. There was knowledge in those walls that should not be allowed to leave. And I made my presence known with a shout. "Nightmare Moon, what in the heavens are you even doing here?! You know as well as Luna does that the spells contained here must never be allowed to be seen by our people again!"
My sister did not face me, but her voice bounced off of the walls before her and reached my ears regardless. "Of course I know what this vault contains, Celestia. So many mistakes and sins that must not be repeated. There was no other place I could think of that may hold the clues to his suffering. I have been monitoring his symptoms closely and Twilight Sparkle was most helpful in providing greater insight. I am more in tune with the dark arts than most, sister. And they seem vaguely...familiar. Surely, the answers must be here!"
I could certainly see the wisdom in her words. But even so... I could not see how it could possibly be relevant to whatever was afflicting him. "I certainly cannot fault your thinking, but... The vast majority of the spells that are contained here were developed during the 'Era Before Time Began to Flow'... There is nopony alive...or free who has any recollection of how to even cast them!"
Nightmare Moon was quick to counter my claims. "That may be so... But you have seen what has been happening to him in Ponyville. Something is slowly killing him... Poisoning him... Turning his heart's fondest desires into a lethal venom that flows through his veins! And the more I have delved into these tomes of dark arts; I have felt myself drawing closer... I swear that the answers are somewhere around me. His time is on the verge of being cut short and I will never settle for it! Do not forget, sister. Discord was still up and about during that dark time so long ago. By this point, I would not be surprised if this has all been his doing."
Discord... Again, I felt my heart grow heavy at the mention of his name. A part of me refused to believe those words. I did not want to believe that even he, as twisted as he was, could do something as cruel as this. "Yes, but... Surely he would never... Discord would not be so cruel as to..."
"Sister... I know you still long for the days where he was still that kindhearted jovial fool who relished in spreading laughter and excitement wherever he went. But those days are long gone. He lived and died a monster. And no happy memories will change that fact." Nightmare Moon said to me while I saw her beautiful yet unnatural eye gaze over her shoulder at me before she turned her attention back to the tomes that likely laid before her. "And I would be willing to gamble my crown that he..."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cfzj80iNLc
I soon noticed that my sister had fallen silent. Why? What had forced her to hold her tongue? "That he...what? Sister? You were saying?"
I drew somewhat closer so as to hear her better. But as I did, I heard a growl from my sister as she seemed to bow her head. "Discord, you wretched fiend..."
Her words of anger filled me with a certain excitement. What had she found? "What did you find? Did you discover the cure?"
The sound of a book being loudly closed reached my ears before my sister turned to face me with a most determined glare in her eyes. "I believe we have entered, as the modern term is called, overtime. This 'Ultimate Game' of theirs has not yet been decided."
"Ulti... No... You surely are not implying that they..." The name of that competition filled me with a wretched dread. Twilight and her friends had mentioned that James brought about Discord's end with something he referred to as the 'Ultimate Game'. Surely Discord did not...
Nightmare Moon took a few steps towards me while she spoke. "I should've suspected this from the very start. James may have backed Discord into a corner somehow, but Discord never went into a confrontation without an ace up his sleeve and this time was clearly no different. Likely an ace set into play with his dying breath. He is planning a reversal, sister. That demon still has his hooks in our friend's heart and mind. And as things stand, he may very well just have the last laugh."
My mind became filled with a haze of anxiety. To think that even from beyond the grave, Discord would... I felt myself becoming lightheaded. I cannot recall the last time I had felt so stressed. "You mean he seeks to drag his foe down with him, even from beyond the grave? What would he gain from this? Discord would never..."
My sister placed her hoof upon my shoulder and gave me a hard shake to grab my undivided attention. "Sister, compose yourself! You know full well that the friend we knew is long gone! He drowned himself in chaos to the point where even in death, it consumes him! He would not sit by idly and allow a mere mortal to sever his grip on his world! Surely, it is nothing more than an act of spite. Something to stab the victor in the back once victory appears to have been claimed. And yet... Some of these writings are too...unclear..."
Her words imparted a nameless fear into my heart. What else had she seen? "Unclear? In what way? Has the text faded or been smudged?"
Her eyes showed confusion. Even fear. "Perhaps here and there, but that is often the case with these ancient forbidden tomes... But it is also rather difficult to decipher what I can make out. But from what I am able to see... As things stand, I would not be entirely surprised if once this 'Ultimate Game' ends in Discord's favor that he may yet return to us."
I simply could not fathom such a phenomenon... How could Discord possibly return from the grave? His body was cremated and scattered to the winds days ago! And even then... Can the dead ever return to the world of the living without cost? Regardless, Nightmare Moon began to pass me in the narrow aisle. "I must go now. The six bearers must know what it is that has afflicted our friend and what must be done to save him. Time is not on our side. I will gather the Elements of Harmony before I depart as a safeguard, just to be wary."
I said nothing. My mind was swimming with so many thoughts. What in the world did Discord do to him? What would happen if we could not save our friend? But before I could think much longer, I noticed a lack of a sound. Nightmare Moon had come to a stop a short distance behind me. And soon, her voice reached my ears. "Celestia. While I was largely speaking from conjecture... And even if that possibility is small... Knowing that Discord may yet return, this may be your one chance to stop me."
The possibility of seeing him return... I felt my heart sink. I would have to choose. A friend that no longer exists, or... The memories, as faded as they were, made me smile. Such a wonderful era... But knowing that those days came to an end far too long ago... "You force me to make an impossible choice, Nightmare Moon... To choose a friend from long ago, or to choose a friend whose bond with me is only starting to bloom..."
I heard my sister speak once more, though with a voice that oozed a powerful sense of longing. "He was my friend at one time too, after all. I still retain Luna's memories of happy days. The grand feasts we would partake in with chocolate pouring from the walls and pillars that tasted and felt like basted roasted carrots... The looks of wonderment and calls of laughter and cheering from the common folk whenever he would make his rounds to spice up an otherwise uneventful day... Those were some good times... But in the end, he drifted from us and embraced only chaos to fill his heart and drown his sorrow. But now you must choose, Celestia. Your old friend, or your new friend."
I did not take long to decide. I have long since come to understand that I must focus on the present while not getting too swept up in my feelings for times long past. Even if I do falter in that way of thinking at times. With a slight smile of hope and a long sigh, I turned and looked over my shoulder at my sister. "My days of friendship with Discord ended long ago, sister. He was indeed my friend once, but as he was when we last crossed paths... Go, Nightmare Moon. Do whatever you must to save our friend and the herald of humanity's return."
"I will. Have faith, sister. I will return with words of triumph. And be certain to send word to Twilight to gather the other five bearers of the Elements. They will likely be needed for this." She said with a confident smile before disappearing at the end of the chamber.
As Nightmare Moon begins the steps to finally bring this dark time to an end, I am here in the royal garden while trying to keep my hopes high. The message for Twilight has been sent. I know not what it is she found, but she clearly knows what to do. Please... Let this crisis end soon.
At last... The end is in sight! The clues that Twilight Sparkle found and alerted us to were nothing short of the key to the cure. Discord... You thought we would not find your little parting gift, did you? Leaving little breadcrumbs for us to find, taunting our friend through a veil over his eyes, turning his source of joy into a source of agony. Truly your vilest work yet.
Of course, there is no reason to celebrate just yet. Knowing what the problem entails is one thing. Actually tackling the problem is another entirely. Rather than make this crisis simpler, this revelation has only caused this predicament to become even more complicated. And the only remaining means to tackle it is not without risk.
I had to gather the Elements of Harmony before I could depart. While I was doubtful that the requirements to use them would not be met, they have proven themselves instrumental to victory time and again. Perhaps just having them with us would be enough to give us a push towards success.
I trotted down the Hall of the Elements without much fanfare and inserted my horn into the vault's lock slot before casting the spell to open the Elements' resting place. Just to be certain that they lied within the jeweled box that stood before me, I opened it and peered inside. Cleansed of the blood that stained them roughly two weeks ago, the six Elements of Harmony rested inside.
Placing the box in a satchel I had hanging from my side, I turned and began to trot back down the hall. But before I could reach the other end, I paused when my eyes glanced at one of the stained-glass windows that lined the walls. The window that depicted the days when Discord had free reign over the world, toying with his subjects as if they were mere toys to be broken.
I felt such a bitter wrath fill my heart as I beheld the crooked depiction of this world's former king. His demise was truly terrible and not something I would have wanted to witness, but I still felt nary a shred of pity for the monster before me. At last, he was gone forever. But he still left one last festering plague in the body and soul of the one who finally ended his tyranny for good. And I would not dare allow him to have the last laugh.
"May you rot forever where your twisted soul ended up, you beast. Your time has ended. And I will not allow you to leave a scar on your final victim." I growled at the image laid out before me before turning and hurrying down the hall. I could not allow myself to be distracted for long. His time is nearing its end... I had to hurry!
I leapt from Celestia's chamber's balcony and spread my wings before swooping through the air towards Ponyville. I would arrive in mere minutes at such speed while I rapidly descended towards my destination. The air was heavy with moisture while the sky was dark and gray. Rain would fall soon. Almost as if the very weather itself could detect the turmoil that was building.
I promptly arrived at the local library and home of Twilight Sparkle and quickly barged inside. Or I would have if the door had been unlocked. Not wishing to waste time, I peered in through the nearest window and used the teleportation spell to make my way inside. "Twilight Sparkle! Are you here?!"
"Who?" I heard a soft voice from nearby speak. When I turned to look, I was greeted by a rather quaint sight. Perched upon a podium carved from a tree stump set just to the left of the window beside the front door was none other than a little barn owl who eyed me constantly.
Charmed and temporarily distracted from our plight, I approached the owl. "Well, hello there, little fowl of the night. Would you happen to know where I may find Twilight Sparkle?"
"Who?" The owl replied briefly. I suppose I should not have been surprised. Owls are incapable of actual speech.
"She is not here, is she? Did she recently depart? And what of her little dragon messenger?" I asked while taking note of just how quiet the entire dwelling was. Was there truly not a soul left in the entire library?
This time, the owl merely shook his head from one side to the other. "No, I see... Very well. I hope you do not mind my company until she returns." I then began to pace and think, doing whatever I could to pass the time while praying she and her friends would arrive soon.
I did not wait long before I heard the front door click before it opened. And as soon as it did, I saw them. Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie. And it was Pinkie Pie who detected me first. "Huh? Nightmare Moon? How'd you get in?"
"To one skilled in the art of teleportation, a window is but a portal to pass through. And...are you well?" I explained while taking note of her rather...dark coloration. Her mane and tail seemed long and flowing instead of frizzy and light.
"Oh, she always gets like this when she's depressed... But...you wanted us to gather here? Princess Celestia sent us a message saying that you needed all of us to get together at my place." Twilight then asked while looking noticeably confused, but she then suddenly gave me a hopeful gaze. "Wait! The messages I found in those journals! Did you get them?"
"I did, Twilight. And it was a most brilliant breakthrough. It helped me narrow down the search. I found it. I know what is ailing him." I replied while smiling proudly. Truly, it was a good feeling to know that the cure was within our grasp.
At my words, Pinkie Pie's mane and tail suddenly returned to their natural frizzy forms while her overall coloration seemed to brighten back to normal as she gave me a most surprised stare. "Really?! We can save him?!"
"We can. But first, we... Wait... What are you doing?" I asked in return as she suddenly seemed to hunker down while grinning rather ridiculously broadly as her body began to shudder. Even Twilight seemed to notice something was not quite right and began to back away nervously.
A few seconds later, there was a sudden burst of bright pink smoke before the sound of a loud impact rang out through the room. When I glanced up, I saw a rather laughable sight. Pinkie Pie had...well...rocketed herself right up into the ceiling and flattened herself against the ceiling before gravity finally caught up to her about ten seconds later where she fell to the floor with a thud. With a truly embarrassed frown on her face, she began to rub her head while Twilight and I howled in laughter at the absurd result of her excitement. "Owww... Remind me to never do that indoors again..."
Minutes later, there was a knock at the door before it suddenly burst open. Standing in the doorway with the bearer of Generosity standing behind him was Twilight's little dragon assistant. "I've got Rarity, Twilight!"
"Thank you, Spike. I really hope you weren't in the middle of something when Spike came to get you, Rarity. It's really urgent." Twilight replied while Spike approached her.
Rarity then approached the center of the room and spoke, "It was no trouble at all, Twilight. I only had some touching up to do on a few orders at the time anyway. Mitta will be tending to any customers that show up, not that I'm expecting many due to the impending downpour." She then turned to me and asked, "Ah... So you did wish to see us, your highness. What's the occasion?"
Before I could even say a thing, Pinkie Pie rushed over to her before I could even blink. "I'll tell you what! She found the cure! James is gonna be OK!"
That look of elation in her eyes. It was as if she did not know how to properly process them. Rarity then turned to me and asked, "Truly?! You... You found what is poisoning him?!"
I lifted my hoof to silence her while making certain to not show a single smile. "We will discuss it once all of you have gathered."
"Ah, of course. They will need to hear this too." Rarity replied with a nod before glancing towards Spike while in noticeably better spirits. "Spike? Would you be a dear and go prepare some tea for us? It's been some time since we've all had to gather for a meeting like this."
"Yes, ma'am! I'll be just a few minutes!" The little dragon child said before rushing upstairs and out of sight.
Several minutes later, he emerged from the stairwell with a tea tray held above his head. Several teacups were spread out while steam wafted from its spout. But before he could say anything and the sound of thunder rumbled outside the library, the door burst open to reveal none other than the bearer of Loyalty looking slightly drenched. "Phew! Barely made it! I found Applejack and Fluttershy! Come on, girls! You're gonna get soaked!"
She then rushed inside and set her hooves upon the floor while the bearers of Honesty and Kindness trotted in after her while also looking partially wetted down by the beginning of the downpour. "Yeah, we know, Rainbow. Good thing ya found us when ya did!"
Fluttershy was quick to look at me, her eyes filled with such profound sadness, but also curiosity. "Oh... You're really here... Why did you need to see us?"
I glanced around at the six mares as all eyes fell upon me. Well, all but those of Spike as he focused on pouring the tea in the eight teacups. With the tension becoming unbearable and with time not being on our side, I began to speak. "I asked you all to gather here because of how much you have been wanting to hear this. I found it. I know what is poisoning our friend."
While the bearers of Generosity, Magic, and Laughter did not show much response, the bearers of Kindness, Honesty, and Loyalty gave me looks of absolute shock. Fluttershy then asked, "Wait... You... You mean it?! You know what's wrong with him?!"
"Well, spill the beans! What's got its hooks sunk inta 'im?!" Applejack then asked while sounding noticeably anxious.
I decided it would be best to explain exactly what it was and how it came to be before I revealed the more difficult parts of the subject. "Well... It is as I suspected. It is the result of a curse that was cast upon him. Most likely during Discord's final seconds that even James' armor could not repel. And it is a most fiendish curse indeed."
"Wait... I thought curses don't even exist... Are you sure of this?" Twilight asked during a lull in my speech.
I turned to gaze at her and replied, "A curse is simply a form of magic, Twilight. And what our friend is suffering from is indeed a curse."
"But...whatever does it do? And who in their right mind would even think of crafting such an evil spell? Surely even Discord would not weave such an evil spell..." Rarity then asked as Spike began to silently pass out the tea. He likely was simply too young and naive to firmly grasp the weight of the situation.
While I sipped from the teacup with there being a noticeable taste of honey in it, I proceeded to explain. "I do not know. Possibly an ambitious and naive pioneer in magic in times long past who knew not what it was he was tampering with. As for what it does... In layman's terms, it turns the sources of the victim's greatest joy into sources of pain. Of course, the pain is not enough to completely turn someone away from what they love. They pine for what they desire, yet any attempt to acquire it results in physical and mental agony. The curse eats away at the victim, slowly breaking the victim one day at a time."
With a sigh, I spoke the heaviest segment of the curse's nature. "In the end, the victim loses the will to live. And as a result of that... The victim dies."
The air fell silent. Nopony dared to speak. Although in the end, it was Pinkie Pie who spoke first. "Well, what're we waiting for?! We've gotta get over there and break the curse!"
"But that is the catch." I retorted quickly to prevent them from rushing out the door. "This curse CAN'T be broken."
The looks of shock and despair that filled their eyes... I did not want to place any greater layers of sorrow upon their shoulders, but I could not withhold any details from them. Regardless, the bearer of Loyalty rushed over to me and practically yelled into my face. "Are you kidding me?! This is what you called us here for?! Just to build us up and then say there's nothing we can do to save him?!"
"Let me finish." I growled at her as my irritation began to fester with her outburst. Reluctantly, she backed away from me with a frustrated and tearful glare. I then spoke while gazing at them all, "As I said, this curse cannot be broken. However, it can be slain."
"Slain... You mean...this curse is alive?" Twilight Sparkle then asked while confusion was clearly seeping into them.
"In a sense, yes. This curse does everything in its power to break its victim's will. It sees, it hears, it thinks. It knows what is happening, both in the real world and within the victim's dreams. It knows how to tempt its victim before crushing its hopes when the victim least expects it. There is no way to cure this vile curse, so the only way to remove it is to destroy it where it lurks." I explained while feeling the tension rising ever further.
"Then... We can save him, right? If we just go to where this curse is, we... Where is it again?" Fluttershy then asked while sounding both puzzled and hopeful. She clearly could not comprehend such a complicated and fiendish curse.
My next words were sure to frustrate them to no end, but they needed to be spoken. "It is hiding in a place only the victim can reach. It festers deep within his psyche, which is why it is able to physically interact with him on the dreaming spectrum. He alone is the only one who can destroy this demon. And even then...he may fail, for this curse is likely far from defenseless."
"There's no easy way to do this, is there?" Rainbow Dash asked as a nameless fear bloomed in her eyes. Her stance became unstable with stress. "There's gotta be a better way... He's already been through too much pain... I don't want to see him risk anything else..."
"I wish there was, Rainbow Dash... There truly is only one way to dispose of this curse, even though I wish it were simpler than this. However, to hopefully turn the tide in his favor..." I said before using my magic to open the satchel that hung from my side before levitating the jeweled box within out into the open. "I have brought these along."
Applejack was quick to recognize it immediately and instantly smiled. "The Elements of Harmony?! Why didn't we think of that?! They've always helped us come out on top in the end! Good thinkin', yer highness!"
I was quick to lift my hoof to silence her. "Not so fast, Applejack. You know full well that four of you cannot even be in the same room as him, so your Elements cannot even be used. I suppose we could blindfold him as you have done before while also keeping you silent, but considering the curse's awareness of your presence... I dread to imagine what it would do once it detected the presences of all six of you with the Elements of Harmony. Perhaps it would kill him on the spot. Who can say? Regardless, we simply cannot afford to risk it."
"Oh... Well... Whatcha bring 'em along for then?" She then asked while her friends indifferently sipped from their teacups.
Indeed. They could not actually be used in his presence. "I brought them along because... Perhaps... Just maybe having them nearby may cause things to flow in our favor... Hm? You there. Spike. Are you well?"
The dragon child seemed to be gagging over by the podium that the little owl was perched upon. "Ooogh... I feel a big one coming..."
At those words, he belched loudly with a plume of green fire being emitted from his maw. The smoke that came from said flames quickly compacted in the air before suddenly bursting into the form of a small cardboard package. Twilight seemed rather puzzled by this and asked, "A package from Princess Celestia?"
"Ugh... I don't know why she doesn't just use the postal system to send these bigger parcels." Spike grumbled while he seemed to remove a slip of paper that was affixed to the top. However, he then called out to me after glancing at it. "Hey! This is for Nightmare Moon!"
A package for me? From my sister? Well, she did know where I was. "Truly? Well, what does it say?"
Spike then looked at the note again while speaking aloud its contents. "Dear Nightmare Moon... You forgot something."
"I did...?" I muttered while I raised an eyebrow. Spike was then quick to use his claws to open the box before leaning over the side and lifting something out that I recognized immediately. "Of course... Bless you, Celestia..."
"Awesome helmet! Wait a minute... Isn't this James' helmet?" Spike then asked while holding the helmet above his head. Indeed, it was the helmet that completed my beloved's suit of armor. And set into the helmet's forehead section was none other than the polished white form of the Element of Humanity.
"All right! Now all seven of them are here!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed before she trotted over to the door. "Let's go! We're bound to beat that curse now!"
"Indeed. Let's be on our way. But since it is raining rather heavily outside... Why not take the express route? For all we know, he may only have hours to live." I asked whimsically as the tension in the air became filled with optimism. With the levitation spell, I took the helmet from Spike's grasp and had it rest within the grasp of my wing.
Rarity seemed to smile faintly while she used the levitation spell to gather up the emptied teacups and set them upon the tea tray they had been provided on. "Indeed. And it should save us some much needed time while keeping us dry... Twilight? Would you care to do the honors?"
"Sure, girls. Spike, please watch over the place while I'm gone. This is a very important task and we cannot stay." Twilight replied while she turned to Spike as we gathered close to each other.
"Uh... Sure. I don't really know what's going on, but good luck!" The dragon child replied while giving us all a supporting wave. Twilight then began to focus her magic to cast a spell. And seconds later, there was a bright flash before I found myself standing in what seemed to be the lobby of the local hospital. And standing behind the receptionist's desk... I believe it was Nurse Sweetheart?
"Hm? Where did you all come from?" I heard the nurse say from behind the receptionist's counter. She must have had a magazine or clipboard over her face to not notice us appear before her.
Rarity then stepped forward and spoke, "So sorry to bother you, Sweetheart. We need to pay a visit to James' room. It's absolutely vital that we see him now."
"Oh, I'm sorry... I'm afraid he has directly requested that he not be receiving any visitors. I'm afraid I can't let you see him." The nurse replied with a melancholy frown. Indeed, the curse was weaving its vile tendrils through his heart. Time was short. If he had begun to refuse to see those who once brought him joy, then he truly did not have long for this world.
I decided to step forward and motioned for those with me to remain silent. I then gazed at the nurse with a most stern glare. "Nurse. As Princess of Dreams, I hereby decree that we are to be allowed to see James. Do I make myself clear?"
I understand that she was merely trying to protect her patients and honor their wishes, seeing as how she was clearly reluctant to comply. Regardless, she soon nodded. "All right... He is in room G5."
"Thank you..." I heard Fluttershy say quietly before we began to head down the hall to the left. We did not go far before coming to a room that seemed to have one of the hospital's night watchmen positioned just outside the door.
Noticing us approaching, the guard turned to face us. "Uh... Good afternoon, your highness. Can I help you?"
I once more handled all verbal interactions. "Yes. You are dismissed. James' request for visitors to be denied access to his chambers has been revoked. We will be entering now."
The guard could clearly see that I was not jesting in the slightest and bowed before walking past us. "I understand."
"Before you go..." I added before the guard could get too far. He turned to look at us while I began to speak. "Please inform the hospital staff that we are not to be disturbed under any circumstances. If they see his vital signs disappear from the mainframe, they are to not intervene."
"I... Well, I'll make sure they get the message, your highness." He replied before continuing down the hall.
Once it was just me and the six bearers outside his room, I turned to face them. "Now then... Which of you are able to go near him without the curse triggering any painful feedback?"
"Just me and Twilight." Rainbow Dash spoke up while she and the bearer of Magic stepped forward.
I nodded at them before facing the other four. "I see. As for the rest of you... I do not want to see you leave. Is there somewhere nearby where you can wait?"
"I guess we can wait in the cafeteria..." Fluttershy said in barely more than a whisper. I could tell that she truly wanted to be there, even though she knew full well that she could not.
"Very well. Wait there for us to come retrieve you. We are not to be disturbed until then. Understood?" I then said while taking note of their stares. They were so desperate... So fearful of what may soon happen. I wish they could be there with him.
Pinkie Pie let out a long sigh while she and her three friends began to walk further down the hall. "All right... Please... Make sure he'll be OK in the end..."
At last, it was just the three of us. I turned to the bearers of Magic and Loyalty. "Are you ready?"
Rainbow Dash merely nodded while Twilight Sparkle spoke with a sigh. "Yes... Let's get this nightmare over with."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-4ZsYp6Slc
The blinds over the window to the left of the door were shut. We would have no interruptions. I pushed the door open and... Something was wrong. It was the exact same lifeless presence I felt within his dream two days ago. The only sound to reach my ears was the conspicuous beeps coming from his heart monitor. The only light in the room was coming from beyond the window's blinds. The room was far too dark.
"Let me turn the lamp on." Twilight said while she seemed to move to the right side of the room. When she stopped before the bed, she reached out and seemed to tug on something. Soft light was cast around the room from a small elegant porcelain lamp. And there he was. Motionless before us with a black mask set over his eyes. He did not speak. Did not even acknowledge our presence.
Rainbow Dash stepped forward and gently patted her hoof on his exposed arm. "Hey... How're you holding up, big guy?"
I was certain that he was not asleep. And yet, he said nothing. Not a word of response. Not even a turn of his head. Twilight then stepped forward. "Here... Let me get that mask off. He needs to see us."
With the use of her magic, Twilight lifted the mask from James' face and cast it aside. As I expected, his eyes were barely open. Even when greeted with the faces of two of his dearest friends, he did not respond at all. The same lifeless gaze when I saw him before.
"James... Do you see us? You remember me and Rainbow Dash, right?" Twilight spoke in futility as Rainbow Dash stood by her. Just like before, he said nothing. His eyes did not even seem to glance at them. It was...haunting. The curse truly had finally broken him.
We could not have any interruptions. I turned my gaze to some sort of metal panel on the wall above his bed. Some sort of cable was connecting to it from the bed. It was likely wired into a mainframe of sorts to constantly monitor his vital signs. To insure that nopony would arrive to interrupt the process, I used my magic to pull it from the wall. And as expected, a voice soon called from the intercom on the wall. "Who's there? Why have you disconnected the patient in room G5 from the mainframe?"
I approached the device on the wall and spoke into it while pushing in the button to speak. "Nurse Redheart, this is Nightmare Moon. I have disconnected James to insure that you will not be able to read his vital signs and send somepony to check on him. He must not be disturbed from this point forward."
"Not check on him?! This goes against hospital protocol! We need to be there for him if something goes wrong!" I heard her object from the other side. I understood that she meant well, but his well-being was truly out of her hooves by that point.
I pushed in the button once more to speak. "Redheart, listen to me. Your patient's salvation is not within your power. As he is now, only I can insure that he survives this affliction. Under no circumstances are you or any other member of the hospital's staff to enter this room until I emerge from it. That is an order. Do I make myself clear?"
For a moment, there was no response. I could understand her doubts. They had worked so hard to find a cure for his deterioration and were clearly fearful for his well-being after so many violent attacks on his body and mind from the curse. But soon, I heard Redheart finally speak again. "I understand, your highness... I will make certain that nopony is to enter without your consent."
"Thank you, Redheart." I said into the intercom before looking back at the two mares behind me while they stood by their friend.
"So... Uh... What do we do?" Rainbow Dash asked while looking noticeably uneasy. I was hardly surprised. This was not a crisis they had ever been presented with before.
"I need to speak to him first." I replied before stepping forward. I stood above him, his empty eyes glancing over at me. With my magic, I took hold of his bed sheet and pulled it entirely off of him. But when I did... His body... It looked so weak... Ravaged.
"Oh my god..." I heard Twilight whimper while bringing a hoof to her mouth as she seemed to hold back tears. "It really is eating away at him..."
Rainbow Dash nearly looked and sounded panicked. She turned to me and asked, "Are you sure you know how to fix him? And are you sure he'll be able to take it?"
I too was feeling some doubt over this approach. It would not be without risk, even though it was the only possible way by this point. I turned my gaze from the two mares and directed it towards the man before me. "James... Please listen. I bring you good tidings."
He said nothing, but his eyes never looked away from me. And so I continued to speak. "I know what it is you are going through. Forced to remember times you wish you could forget. Filled with agony when you see or hear those you long for. So desperately wishing to reach out and hold what you lost, knowing you can never reclaim it. I know what this is, my friend. You have been cursed. A final foul act by Discord himself."
Much to my surprise, even the mention of Discord did not rouse any emotion in him. "And yes, I know of the means to lift this curse from you. But beware. This is a curse that cannot be broken. It must be slain, for it is alive. I am sure you have seen cues that only you could see. Words or sights that taunt you. I can help you overcome this, but only you can remove it from your mind."
Twilight then stepped forward and asked, "Wait... Surely we can do something about this, right? He shouldn't have to do this alone..."
"I wish there was another way to do this, Twilight Sparkle. But only he can reach the curse where it has taken root and we cannot follow." I grimly explained with a heavy heart. I know they wanted to be with him so desperately. They could not bear to allow him to face this evil alone after having nearly lost him already.
"Why... After all this, we can only stand back and watch?! This isn't how we've always done things, you know! We've always been there for each other!" Rainbow Dash spoke up loudly in protest, clearly frustrated with being helpless.
I did my best to explain this predicament to each of them. "And I know that such a means has never failed to bring you victory. But this time... To dispose of the curse, I must send him into a deep trance, sending his very mind into the depths of his subconscious. A place that can never be reached voluntarily, yet is accessible only to him. And from there, he must find a way to send the curse to its grave."
However, Twilight did not seem so sure. "But...what if he fails? What if the curse comes out on top instead?"
It was a thought that had not crossed my mind. The tome I found the truth in spoke nothing of what may happen when the victim tries and fails to destroy the curse that plagues them. I merely bowed my head and sighed. "I... I do not know... But still...it is our only chance to set things right. Either we try, or his demise is assured."
I then turned to my beloved and asked, "You know what must be done, James. But will you do it?"
We all looked on and listened. What would he say? After a brief moment, he let out a raspy sigh and spoke with a hissing whisper. "I have no preference..."
His words lacked any soul in them. No life... No will or drive to stay alive. But before we could reel from them, he then added, "But if you want to try, I won't stop you..."
The two mares beside me smiled sorrowfully, as did I. But Twilight and Rainbow Dash then took a step forward with Rainbow speaking, "Cool... But before that... Uh..."
Twilight began to speak as well, though I could see tears building in her eyes. "Just in case... Just in case this happens to be the last time..."
They held out their arms for an embrace. They were afraid. They knew that this may very well be the last time that they will ever speak with him. And it did my heart good to see him slowly lift his arms. They practically crawled over him, tearfully holding on as if they would never let go. It was then that I decided to remind them of what we had brought with us. "One last thing, my friend. You may need these."
As the two bearers climbed down from his bed, I lifted the box from my satchel and opened it to reveal the Elements of Harmony from within. Twilight then asked, "Wait... We can't use those unless Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity are with us."
"I know." I replied before bringing them forward with my levitation magic. "But even so... I am certain he would appreciate having a part of you with him."
One by one, I placed the Elements upon his body. The Elements of Honesty and Laughter were clasped around his ankles. The Elements of Loyalty and Kindness were worn around the wrists, albeit loosely. The Element of Generosity was properly attached around his neck. And lastly, the Element of Magic was placed upon his head. I knew he could never hope to use them, but that was beside the point. Maybe, just maybe, having them with him would do...something to keep him safe.
I heard a snicker from nearby and saw Rainbow Dash covering a grin with her hoof. "Wow... Uh... You look kinda... I don't know what you look like, but those look pretty good on you. Although I think the Element of Magic looks better on Twilight than on you."
"Well, yeah... It's meant to fit its bearer and not someone else." Twilight replied with a smirk while the mood in the room had brightened slightly. James seemed completely indifferent to his new attire with the only other clothing he was wearing being a pair of blue shorts.
"One more thing." I said softly while using my magic once more. The helmet that rested upon my back floated forward and soon rested upon his belly with the Element of Humanity facing him. "I believe this is yours."
James silently reached out and placed is hands on the sides of the helmet as if to hold it. He gazed directly at the beautiful white form of the Element of Humanity. It was during this time that Twilight Sparkle seemed to look into the cardboard box that was beside his bed before looking at him. "James... There's one piece of paper left... Do you want to use it before...you know...?"
His response was quiet and brief. "All right..."
I am writing this to pass the time while James writes out what may very well be his final journal entry. We have no possible knowledge on what he may find in there once I send him on his way. And does he have the power to actually overcome this curse once he personally encounters it? One thing is for certain though. Wherever he ventures, James will soon be heading into uncharted territory and there will be nothing we can do to assist him. Am I sending him into a trap to meet his end? Or is this his only means of salvation?
By the stars, I pray I do not regret this choice... My love, please... You must survive. Please, triumph over this vile foe. For me...
They are here. Twilight Sparkle. Rainbow Dash. Nightmare Moon. They say they can cure me. Make the images and noise in my head stop. Make things go back to the way they were.
I used to feel happy when I saw them. Now I feel nothing. I feel numb. Cannot think. Nerves burned too long and too hotly to feel anything but hollowness. Things will never go back to what they used to be now.
Maybe this will be my last entry. Maybe not. It does not matter to me anymore. The Elements of Harmony and the Element of Humanity is with me. Not that they will do anything for me.
That is all I feel like writing. Nightmare Moon looks ready to cast her spell. I hope the pain stops. Hopefully I will not wake up again. Goodbye.