The woods near Canterlot is a place where no one can touch you. Some ponies may find their way back, most cannot. There is barely any light on the forest floor and is, therefore, dimly lit. Cain Graywood, a lonely traveler, is one of them inside this forest. He has been traveling around Equestria for as long as he can remember. He needed to get away from people, the hurt that others may inflict on him may make him do the same to them. He just wants to be alone.
Just recently, he has entered the forest. The lonely theme of the forest makes him feel just as lonely as it. He felt secluded. Days past by and these days started to stretch to weeks and then stretched into months and then stretched into years. Cain’s age has grown throughout this time. His energy has been growing less and less through this time. He needed to stop being a nomad; he needed a home.
His search thus began for a good place to settle down, something like a retirement home from his long and tiring job. Luckily, the path that Cain was following was a path that went outside of the forest. He followed the same path and finally came out of the forest. The sun’s rays were intense, and it was so long since he has seen the fullness of the sun. His eyes started to adjust and right in front of him, a couple 10 miles ahead, Canterlot sits.
Cain has never been to Canterlot before. It was grand and luxurious, nothing like he has ever imagined when he was smaller. Quickly, he wanted to settle down. He walked around the place and found a quant little home. He bought it just in time for night’s darkness to shine over the world. Cain was tired and once he reached his bed, he fell like a light.
A few hours in his sleep, the dream kicks in. His mind was moving and turning and it suddenly stopped. He was in the dream world. Cain was, once again, walking around the place finding out what just happened and, more importantly, where he is. While walking, he noticed something in the distance. It looked like a figure. He couldn’t point out what exactly this figure could be, so he moved closer. It looked like a pony. Closer and closer he walked towards the shadow. He could now distinguish the pony. The pony had a mane and tail that held the night and sprinkled with the stars in the sky. It looked beautiful. This pony had wings, a horn even! An Alicorn was in his dream? Cain searched his mind to find out who this pony was as she seemed familiar. Suddenly, his mind snapped to one thought… Luna… Luna… Princess Luna! It was most definitely Princess Luna! Oh, how beautiful she was he thought. Never in his life before did he feel like this. From what he has heard, he was never really attracted by Luna before. When he came closer and closer to her, he started to feel that way. It was odd how this worked. He was confused, but he knew only one thing, to follow what he loves at the present.
Days and days passed and the dream kept recurring. This same dream just kept happening over and over again. As each night came by, he started to grow more and more into Luna.
Ready for another night of sleep, Cain started to close his eyes. He was once again transported to the land of dreams. However, it didn’t seem the same way as it usually started off. This was quite odd for him. Confused from what happened, he started to examine his surroundings. As his eyes started to focus, he was able to see what was around him. Apparently, he was right outside a house. However, it wasn’t just an ordinary house. It seemed like a house made for royalty. Cain thought it would be a waste not to check, so he went inside. Upon entering, he saw that it wasn’t a house. It was actually a grand castle, an area of the castle where Luna usually stays when she is about to head out to scout during somepony’s dream. She was about to head out to look around Cain’s dream. Cain stepped closer then the floor creaked under him. Luna looked at the direction the sound came from and saw Cain.
LUNA: “Hello, Cain, I’ve been watching over your dreams to see if everything is alright,” said Luna.
CAIN: “Oh, no problem, Princess! I do realize that your job is very important.” exclaimed Cain.
LUNA: “Thank you for your understanding. Please have a seat.”
Cain sits down and started to get comfortable. Silence filled the air as both of them just stared blankly at each other.
LUNA: “Cain, it’s been getting lonely here. Night after night I do the same job. Don’t you know what I mean?” said Luna.
CAIN: “Uh… yes, Princess. I’m pretty sure that you are very busy every night especially with a job as important as yours.” Cain said nervously..
LUNA: Why don’t you stay here? I’ll take a break as well to entertain a guest.”
When Luna said this, Cain thought he heard a bit of a tone different than what he would normally hear from the Princess. He was not sure if she meant what Cain was thinking about at the moment. Even though this would happen anyway, he was still quite shy of showing his love towards her.
CAIN: “I’m sorry, Princess. I have to go though. I still am not so sure where exactly I am in this dream of mine.” Cain said hurriedly while telling the truth as he really wanted to know what was outside.
LUNA: “Oh, but you must stay. After all, wouldn’t it be nice to stay in one place for once?” Luna said calmly.
Cain agreed that he was rather tired of all this traveling even in dreams, yet he promised himself that he wouldn’t travel as much as he did before. He then stayed.
CAIN: “I guess I can stay for a bit.” Cain said honestly while placing his hoof behind his head.
LUNA: “That’s wonderful!” Luna happily said.
During this time, Cain found out how wonderful Luna was. She was just unimaginable to him. She was everything that he could’ve asked for. He couldn’t describe how much he loved her. Soon after his stay at Luna’s place, reality started to suck him back into their world.
Cain wakes up face on the floor.
LUNA: “L-Luna?” Cain looked around .
He later realized that he was back in reality and not in his own dreams. Cain was disappointed that it had to end so abruptly. He was enjoying that very moment so much that he was able to spend time with Luna. However, he had to face the fact that without the dreams in his life, he would never be able to meet Luna in real life. She is simply too hard to get to especially with all the guards by her place. He yearned for sleep since that day and his need for wanting to see Luna more grew more intense. He needed to be with Luna forever.
There were rumors of an alchemist who lives somewhere in Canterlot. He asked other ponies if they might’ve seen or heard of the alchemist’s whereabouts. Luckily, he was able to find someone who could tell him where he was.
Inside the alchemist’s shop, there were bottles of potions, books, cauldrons, bottles, and vials. There seemed like there was no one there. He rang a bell and someone in an old, long, faded robe. He had a musty aroma as well. He didn’t look that old however. He looked quite as normal as everypony else.
ALCHEMIST: “May I help you?” said the alchemist.
CAIN: “Uh, yes. Do you have some sort of poison that I could use?” Cain said.
ALCHEMIST: “Ah, yes, I do have a lot of those. Are you sure though that you would want it? It could cause dangerous effects.
These effects aren’t certain as well. My poisons are very unstable.” the alchemist warned him.
CAIN: “Just give me some poison. I’m sure I want one. I'll take the risk.” Cain said with conviction.
ALCHEMIST: “All right. Just be warned that I am not responsible for whatever that will happen.” the alchemist says as he fades into the shadows once more.
Later that night, he sat down by his bed. Thinking of what could happen next. Either he would drink it and never wake up, or he wouldn’t drink it and he had to live only every night to live with Luna. He wanted Luna so bad in his life. He was truly in love and that this shouldn’t separate them. He had to do it, for love! Cain drinks the poison then prepares to go to sleep.
CAIN: “Sleep brings us together, eternally, I shall sleep for my love. To be with her forever.” Cain whispers to himself as he falls into an eternal sleep.
Cain’s eyes open wide. He wonders if he was in a dream. Looking around, it seemed like it was already morning. He goes outside and sees the day just like every other day. Everypony was busy, working, walking along the busy streets of Canterlot.
It’s not possible, he thought. How could this have not worked? I’m not dreaming. I’m still in reality.
