>Faint sounds slowly rouse you from from your restless dreams.
>You sit up in your bed, rubbing the sleep from your eyes and pushing the lavish covers aside.
>Nightmares.
>Again.
>The darkness seems to fade as your eyes gradually adjust to the pitch black room.
>You tell yourself that monsters in the dark are not something a grown man should be afraid of.
>And yet, fear finds its way into your mind despite yourself.
>This is Equestria after all.
>A strange world practically teeming with the unknown and supernatural.
>No, shadowy creatures do not warrant your fear.
>Not when a very real monster is no doubt lightly dozing away in her own room just down the hall.
>The very same monster that still holds you captive in this fortress, ever since you first entered this realm.
>Still, a quick once over the room would do wonders to soothe your frazzled mind.
>You sluggishly inspect your opulent surroundings.
>A year ago or so, you'd never have thought you'd be living in such luxury.
>Antique, mahogany furniture almost shines with fresh varnish.
>Velvet and satin drapes hang above your window, hiding the moon's light.
>Striking paintings, all depicting a certain dark and regal form, grace your walls.
>Custom made silk pajamas hug the soft contours of your body.
>One might think that this room accomodated some honored guest or visiting diginitary, if not for the iron bars on the window.
>Once again, you wonder why Queen Umbra would keep you prisoner, and yet shower you in such opulence.
>Stories the ponies told of your captor from what little time you spent with them resurface from your memories.
>Tales of deception, deceit, manipulation, and torment.
>They make you shiver, despite the posh blankets you lay under.
>And yet, in all the time you spent as her prisoner, the Queen had never really treated you unjustly.
>She'd mocked you, belittled you, and once or twice, even shamed you.
>But she had never really...
>...hurt you.
>Perhaps this is all just an elaborate ruse to gently lull you into a false sense of safety?
>But to what end?
>That is a question you've yet to find an answer to.
>That is no doubt the source of your persisting nightmares.
>You sigh and wonder about your uncertain future.
>Regardless, there is nothing you can do.
>You've nearly completed your midnight inspection of your room.
>Already, you can feel the comforting embrace of sleep tug at your weary eyes and body.
>Everything thing seems to be order.
>That is, until your roving eyes reach the closet.
>Your heart nearly skips a beat when you fail to find your own in reflection in the mirror that should be hanging agaisnt the closet door.
>Instead, you see only darkness, the closet door agape and slowly swinging wider.
>Your subconscious mind frantically seeks at and grasps for rational answers.
>Surely, you must've left it open.
>Surely.
>You swallow your fear and get out of your bed.
>As quietly as you can manage, you make your way across the room.
>Time seems to slow as your hand reaches for the door handle.
>Gingerly, you softly close the door, shutting it with a barely audible *click*.
>You release your breath and a wave of relief washes over you.
>You turn around and find several indistinct ponies in black suits surrounding you.
>Before you can react, a black bag is swiftly slipped over your head.
>You're knocked to the ground and your limbs are bound quickly and quietly.
>Even through the black fabric, you can see a magical glow envelope your body as you are lifted up and and placed on the back of a large stallion.
>"We got him! Come on, come on! Let's go!" An unseen pony calls out.
>The stallion underneath you starts running.
>You hear the door open and realize your in the castle hallway.
>Your cries of surprise are muffled by the suffocating black cloth against your face.
>You struggle against your bonds, not to escape but out of discomfort.
>A hoof pokes sharply at your ribs.
>"Quit it! We're here to rescue you, you doofus!" A voice whispers, low but urgent.
>You comply and settle for trying to jostle into a more comfortable position.
>You also try and recall the castle's layout, trying to visualize the route your rescuers are taken.
>Down the hallway.
>Descending the four flights of stairs.
>Past the Great Hall.
>Into the Throne Room.
>And finally through the main doors.
>A chill wind brushes against your exposed skin.
>Moonlight falls against your covered face.
>You realize your rescuers have reached the Inner Courtyard.
>Is it possible?
>Is your freedom finally at hand?
>The stallion carrying you halts suddenly as if in response, knocking the breath out of your lungs.
>Your entire party seems to have stopped, as if frozen in place.
>You try speaking, only managing to mumble into your bag.
>Silence.
>Not even the wind dares to break this stillness.
>Then suddenly, a deep feminine voice cooly rings out.
>"You have something that belongs to me."
>Her.
>Queen Umbra.
>You are dropped roughly onto the hard stone ground.
>You aren't sure what happened next.
>Flashes of light flare up, nearlying blinding your already obscured vision.
>What sounds like thunder from directly above roars around you.
>Vague shadowy forms flee and scurry about around you.
>The chaos is over nearly as quickly as it began.
>Once more, silence, stillness.
>A magical cloud the color of polished ebony surrounds your body.
>You hold your breath.
>Of course.
>Of course she'd be victorious.
>In the end, she'll always win.
>You're gently levitated up and carried away, your arms and legs still restrained and the black bag still around your head.
>Umbra had always made sure to let you walk about on your own accord.
>She had never used magic on you.
>Odd, you think.
>This magic.
>It almost feels...
>...caring.
>After a short time, you're placed down and your back set against the trunk of an elderly oak.
>The ropes around your hands and feet slither away like frightened serpents.
>Slowly, almost tenderly, the black bag is lifted away.
>The first thing you see are the two deep, ruby red eyes of Queen Umbra, the arrogance and authority that typically resided within them instead replaced with earnest compassion.
>She is lying down perpendicular to you, her unadorned forehooves resting against your chest.
>Never in a thousand years could you have predicted what she would say next.
>"Are you alright? Did they hurt you?"
>You blink, dumbfounded.
>"Oh, please say something. Please tell me you're okay!"
>Umbra lowers her head and gently nuzzles at the small of your neck.
>Her soft hair, black and wild from disturbed sleep, brushes against your cheek.
>Rich scents from exotic perfumes fill your nostrils.
>Umbra looks back up at you and meets your gaze.
>Tears tug at the ends of her immaculate eyelashes.
>Softly, she says,
>"Please."
>"Please never leave me."
>You stare at her, your mind still frozen in shock.
>After a brief moment, your expression softens.
>You smile at her and nod.
>Umbra returns your smile, the joyfilled expression lighting up her typically dark countenance.
>She lays her head against your chest, content with feeling your heartbeat.
>As you feel hers.
>You lean back against the tree, looking out at the castle grove.
>Moonlight shines against the surface of the grove's pond, creating a motionless pool of still silver.
>Cicadas hum and sing around the both of you.
>You know that never again shall the nightmares return.