The Crystal Spire [Dinky]

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It was the ugliest place you could imagine. A perfectly flat, grey slate plain, as far as you could see in every direction without a hill or ripple to liven the landscape, except where great jagged chasms opened up like gaping jaws, impossible to see until you nearly stumbled into one and plunged into the mouth and down into darkness, forever. Overhead, a burnt-orange sky swept scraggly black clouds across its arched surface like a veil, as though it couldn't decide whether the cloth or the face of the sky was worse. There was no sound except the lonely soft whistle of a sharp wind with a bitter taste. And ahead was The Crystal Spire. If it had been a lovely tower, it might have looked more lovely still, for its ugly setting. It wasn't. Made of dull black crystal, stairs spiraled around the outside of the tower, circling upwards and occasionally stopping where the crystal of the spire melted away into an open-air platform, supported by pillars. and connected to a new flight of spiraling stairs that began on the far side. From the ground, you could count at least six such platforms, though you could not see what was on them... before the tower melted out of sight into the infinity of the poorly colored sky. It would be a long way up.

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It smelled like nothing. Absolutely nothing. Dinky didn't like it here. She could only imagine how the little filly who was somewhere within this place was feeling. It felt so lifeless. It wasn't cold... It was more like... When Dinky was trying to go to sleep, and she couldn't get comfortable, and all she could do was stare at the ceiling in silence. It was kinda like that. But worse. Alright Dinky... You can do it. You're in another filly's really creepy dream, and you need to save her from it, but you can do this. She nodded to herself and swallowed dryly. She could do it... She could... Wow, that was a lot of stairs... How long was it gonna take to get up there? Wasn't there a balloon she could take? Or a pegasus she could ask to ride up... It was only her. She was alone in this dream. She wished it was like her dreams. Her dreams were lots of fun. A lot brighter, and, there was that one dream where she was an alicorn... That was a cool dream. Dinky sighed, and started her ascent.

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Stairs Stairs Stairs, and no easy way up. But at last, if Dinky persisted, she would reach the first platform, and find probably one of the last things she expected to see. Candy. Candy Everywhere. It littered the entire surface of the platform except for a narrow path across to the next flight of stairs. Taffy in rainbow colors! Fruit drops! Chocolate bars, marshmallows, toffees, caramels, bon-bons, Chocolate covered fruit and nuts! Mints of every softness, texture, and variety! Bubblegum and lolipops! Gummy-ponies! Jelly Beans in more flavors than surely there were ponies! If Dinky looked hard enough she could probably find everything she could imagine. But she wasn't alone. Gazing at her silently from across the space was an enormous red dog-like creature, bigger than a wolf, and with a much longer tail. Its long tail gave off brilliant red diamond sparks, and swished, like a watchful cat's. It was the only part of the canine which moved. The creature gazed intently, and, it seemed, a little hungrily at Dinky, waiting to see what she would do.

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When Dinky entered, she couldn't believe her eyes. That was a LOT of candy! Like, not a normal filly's idea of a lot. This was a LOT! Like, fifty times the, a lot, of a normal filly's a lot. Maybe even a hundred times. Though part of her wanted to stay here forever and try every type of candy she could imagine, she remembered the poor filly who was having this dream. She had to save her! Dinky ignored the candy, and noticed the creature. It was like Winona... A really, really, really scary crystal Winona... Oh, she didn't like the way he was looking at her. It was the way her Momma looked right before she chomped into a muffin. What could she do? Should she just walk up? Should she try to find some way around? There wasn't any way that she could see... Oh no... Dinky slowly inched forwards.

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The canine looked from Dinky, to the candy, and back again. "Little one..." it began, and swished its tail, making more red-diamond sparks fly. "Little one, you are tired and hungry, aren't you? That was a lot of stairs. Eat and rest. There are many more stairs yet to go. Are you not thirsty? There is a fountain of juice, just over there." The creature gestured with its long thin muzzle. "There are soft cushions over here. You need not fear. Eat, drink, and rest." The canine, for its part, spoke in a simple, clear voice, yet its mouth didn't move, and the voice seemed to come from inside Dinky's head, more than from outside. It gazed at her, seeming curious and friendly now. Except for the fact that it remained blocking the stairs with its great size, it was just a giant, friendly puppy.

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~Plot Intervention due to lack of activity from Snow.~

As the large canine looked steadily at the little filly, Dinky did indeed begin to feel like she would like to get a drink of juice. Edging towards the fountain, she found it running with cool, sweet, blue raspberry juice. It stained her mouth, but it was so delicious that she didn't care. The more she drank, the more she wanted to drink. If it wasn't for the fact that her tummy felt like a water balloon, she probably would have tried to drink the whole fountain.

The large canine looked on, seemingly unconcerned, and swished its tail whenever Dinky gazed at it, sending up another cloud of dizzying red-diamond sparkles. Suddenly, Dinky became aware of a huge puff of cotton candy, big as a dragon and as soft as a cloud, just behind her. It was even orange and pink, gold and neon red, sunset colors. Slowly, almost naturally, the idea dawned on her that this would be as close as a unicorn filly could come, to snuggling on a big puffy cloud.

No sooner thought than acted upon, Dinky waddled over to the spun-sugar cloud as quickly as her bulging belly would let her and threw herself upon it. She sank into the sweet, fruit-scented fluff and never even noticed the way it closed back over her again. She was cuddled, cradled on every side by softness, and if she had even one more thought for the other filly in this dream, she was unable to shake off the heavy sleep that overcame her.

When it was sure that Dinky was good and truly asleep, The Cadmean vixen got to its feet and studied the puff with the foal inside. She grinned, craftily, and with a swish of its sparkling brushy tail, melted the surface sugar of the cloud, leaving a faintly transparent, thick candy shell. The presence of the little interloper troubled her. It was time to check on the next dream.

[Topaz Dream]

Topaz had awoken from her sleep in which she dove into Compass Roses dream. She hadn't moved from the bed yet, the waking from the dream being different this time. She thought she saw Sombra. She thought the King had led her to the foal. There is no way that he had... It didn't make sense... Finally she stood, and stretched, working the few muscles that had been unused for... however long she was in the dream. As she walked around, her eyes fell on the two foals. One she knew. Lazuli Rose... She worriedly walked over and sat between the two beds, looking between the two fillys. She placed a gentle hoof on Lazulis side, a soft smile on her face. Come on, Lazuli. You're going to be alright. You have friends here. Helping you. Just listen to your friend and wake up." She said, looking to Dinky, placing a gentle hoof on her as well. "Please bring Lazuli back. She's counting on you. I have faith in you... You can help your friend." Topaz wasn't too sure if talking to the two outside of the dream would do much of anything, but she didn't want to sit around doing nothing and worrying. This brought some comfort to her, and she was hoping it would help. A short while later, Topaz found herself requested to help the Crystal Pony and her friend. Things were taking far too long. As she woke into the dream, she looked about the grey landscape. It was nothingness incarnate. No scent, no sound, no real feelings. She willed herself forward toward the black spire and worked her way up as quickly as she could. A determined look crossed her face. She was being trusted with /another/ foal to save. But this one had the added worry of the second foal being trapped as well. She couldn't mess this up. She had to do everything she could for her friend, and her friends friend!

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Nothing had changed, unless the sky had become a little more muddied of orange, the wind just a little more bitter tasting and dry. The landscape certainly hadn't improved any with time. Yet the first platform, as Topaz reached it, was as starkly contrasting as ever, with its mountain of delicious candy and juice. Soft cushions seemed to be begging the crystal pony to take a rest, just for a moment. so many stairs! The juice from the fountain could clearly be seen, sparkling and shimmering, to be Crystal Berry juice. The scent from the sugary candy would have overpowered the willpower of any pony. Of any pony who liked candy, that is. There were, however, two great differences in the space as Dinky had seen it, and the space now as Topaz viewed it. The great red canine-creature had gone. But in it's place, guarding the stairs, was a cocoon of spun sugar in which the form of a sleeping foal could just possibly be imagined.

[Topaz Dream]

Topaz reached the top of the stairs, looking about. She had almost overlooked the spun sugar cocoon when she noticed something that seemed to be vaguely pony shaped inside. She looked around for a way to get into it to get the pony out, taking a look about the area quickly. Blueberry Juice fountain, mountains of candy, soft cushions... Had it not been for Topaz's mind telling her that the consequences of failing this would be dire, she would be right on top of those cushions, and out like a light. But she had to help the two fillies. This wasn't going to be as easy as finding Compass was, she was certain of it. After not finding much of anything to cut the cocoon open with, she returned to it, placing a gentle hoof on its face. "Hold on. I'll get you out..." And with that, she was about to bite down and tear at it, but she paused. This was a dream. She could find anything she wanted, right? She imagined a pair of scissors, cutting through the candy shell holding the filly. And imagined the filly coming to her. That would be the first step of saving the filly, right? Getting her out of these bindings? That is, of course... if this was one of the fillies she was searching for.

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As soon Topaz envisioned them, the shears came into existence, fading in as though they had been waiting for her all along, to call upon them. They dropped at her feet, as solid and strong and sharp as anypony could wish for. Almost eagerly, They went through the candy-shell cocoon with a curious sound of crunching and cutting. it all seemed so simple, though it was taking a bit of work. The smell of sugar seemed to become stronger slowly, and the air a bit dryer, too. That fountain, splashing in the background with its juice, sure would be refreshing. At last, however, if Topaz persevered, Dinky would at last detangle and slip free, to slump across Topaz's back with a sleepy groan and a gurgle. She was heavy, extremely heavy, and it seemed nothing the crystalline mare could do would wake her. That left Topaz with an equally weighty choice. Would she carry this heavy foal up the next flight of stairs with her? Or would it be better to leave her behind and come back for her on the way down?

[Topaz Dream]

Topaz carefully adjusted the sleeping filly on her back, giving Dinky a light nuzzle, making sure she was alright. Aside from being a little heavier than Topaz expected, she seemed just fine. She looked around, not seeing Lazuli, but seeing another set of stairs. Topaz looked at the sleeping filly on her back, then to the cushions, then to the stairs. Most ponies would place the sleeping filly on a cushion and go up the stairs, but Topaz couldn't bring herself to leave the little unicorn behind. She trudged on, climbing the first few steps and pausing, rebalancing Dinky so she didn't fall, and so she didn't weigh Topaz down too drastically. Hopefully, seeing Dinky would help Lazuli realize this was a dream, and that her friend was hurt. That would be enough to wake Lazuli up, right? Helping a friend?

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Unfortunately, it didn't get any easier for Topaz from this point on. Dinky was still extremely heavy and limp, and threatened to slide off the crystal Mare's back at the least opportunity. The stairs wound up and up, and were completely open on one side- hopefully nobody was afraid of heights here! At last however, the stairs ahead led to a doorway. This next platform was walled in. If it was anywhere near as pleasant as the the one below, with candy and fountains, surely it would provide a welcome rest to the weary stair climber, if only for a moment. But it was not to be. The moment Topaz stepped in front of the door and looked in, she would see Him. The cursed one. The dark dread that had terrorized the Crystal empire. The shade that always haunted some small corner of every Crystal Pony's dreams. King Sombra! He muttered dark curses to himself, pacing back and forth upon this room which, apparently, was his lair. He did not instantly see Topaz. He appeared to be busy, going over papers and writing. Perhaps, if the crystal pony turned about and left now, he would never even know she had been there...

[Topaz Dream]

Topaz peered in and almost wanted to cry out when she saw Sombra. Her shade darkened a bit and she lowered her head, about to turn and head back down the stairs. She didn't want to cross Sombras path... As she turned and placed her hoof on the top step she paused, shaking her head. No... This was just Lazulis nightmare. Even if it was going to be the scariest thing she did. She carefully placed the Unicorn Filly on the landing at the top of the stairs, took a deep breath and lowered her head. Slowly, she walked into Sombras quarters, pulling a rag from her pocket, and waited, keeping her head down. She didn't dare interrupt his talking. Just another day in the castle, she's here to clean. That's what she would tell Sombra when he asked her business here. She wouldn't mention Lazuli, hopefully she'd be able to find the filly and get out without too much of a problem.

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It was a funny thing, but, because Topaz seemed to believe King Sombra would expect her to be there to clean, as she did, every day, Dream-Sombra also seemed to believe it. When he finally noticed the crystal mare, with her rag, he scoffed and rolled his eyes, but didn't immediately come out blasting. He motioned her to come inside with a rough jerk of his head. "Very well, slave." he intoned in a low, menacing growl, "But do not be all day about it this time." After which, he seemed to take no more notice of Topaz, going right back to his cursing and muttering and writing, with occasional pacing. As long as Topaz appeared to be doing her work, he too no further notice of her at all. Once the crystalline pony was in the room, she could see the doorway leading out to the landing on the other side and... of course, more stairs. all she had to do was work her way over there! "What is this?!" Sombra growled, suddenly. On one of his rounds of stomping about, he had noticed little Dinky on the landing. He towered over the little filly now, before turning to glare at Topaz, as though it were her fault. And then... with an evil smirk, he took a hoof and nudged the sleeping filly, rolling her right to the edge of the landing. Dinky snored on, oblivious. One more nudge, even a breeze from the wrong direction, and the little filly would go right off the edge and plummet all the way down, surely to her death.

[Topaz Dream]

Topaz looked to the ground even harder, as if trying to look through it, when Sombra spoke to her. She loosened up slightly when he believed that she was here to clean. Once he looked away, Topaz smiled lightly. She had beaten him... Kind of. Now, she just had to get across the room to the next set of stairs, climb up, and find Lazu.....Ohno. She glanced over when Sombra noticed Dinky. Topaz tensed up. Sombra looked at her, and started pushing the filly toward the stairs. "NO!" Topaz shouted at him accidentally. That wasn't good, The King was going to drag her off... He was going to punish her.... But... This was a dream. She had just made shears appear out of nowhere. And She was there... She was there when Sombra was beat... This wasn't really him, right? Just a nightmare. A Nightmare that was ready to kill an innocent, sleeping Foal. Topaz threw the rag to the floor and glared at Sombra, moving over and putting herself between the Tyrant and the filly. "No. I w-will not let you h-hurt anypony else. Y-you've beat us, you've r-ruled us with f-fear. I refuse t-to be afraid of a m-memory any longer. Y-you've got no p-power over me, Sombra. And I W-WILL NOT let you h-hurt this Filly." Her eyes narrowed as she pulled Dinky a little away from the edge of the landing. "D-do you have a p-problem with that?" She asked, keeping her gaze firm on the king before her. Hiding her nervousness well.