The Power of Potential

Blank Flank returned to her cave flustered and on edge from her time spent with Twilight, but also strangely satisfied. It had been a long time since she had spent any amount of time with another pony that didn't end in disaster, and it was refreshing to meet somepony that was her equal in intellect. And, as uncomfortable as the social interaction was, the mental stimulation was...exhilarating. She smiled as she checked her stash of books and prepared for sleep. And as she slept, she dreamed.

*****

Blank Flank found herself suspended in the swirling blue dreamscape that had become so familiar to her over the years. This time, she was balancing at the centre of an immense cosmic spiderweb. From her position, she felt like she could see the whole universe, with each strand of the web extending out from the epicentre into different dimensions, locations, and times. She could go anywhere, do anything. Horns, wings, and cutie marks didn't matter here. She shifted her travelling cloak to a more comfortable position. It was strange, but even in her dreams she wore her cloak, so strong was her instinct for secrecy and self-preservation. She kicked gently at one of the strands. It hummed a rich, warm tone in response. She tried another one, and it twanged strongly, but not unpleasantly. She tried two at once, and the harmony made the fur on her neck tingle with excitement.

She thought about which direction she should take, kicking various web strands as she thought. Some places looked bright and inviting, while others looked dark and mysterious. Still others looked downright dangerous and forbidding. She turned around slowly as she perused the different paths. Suddenly, she noticed a figure flying towards her through the swirling dreamscape. The figure landed on a strand with a gentle thwang, and balancing carefully, made her way to the centre. As the figure approached, Blank Flank could make out a pair of the most beautifully sculpted wings she had ever seen, then a long, spiraling horn. Her hooves sparkled with silver, and though her coat was indigo, it shone with an ethereal glow.

“You are a most intriguing pony,” Princess Luna said, with a hint of a smile. “I am Princess Luna, Ruler of the Night and Keeper of Dreams. I have been watching your dreams for some time now, and I feel the time has come that we become acquainted.”

Blank Flank narrowed her eyes. “Forgive me, Princess, but why in Equestria are you interested in me? I can take care of myself, and I don’t need pity, royal or otherwise. I already told the nosy librarian in Ponyville as much, and I say the same to you. Go back from wherever you came from, and don’t bother me anymore. Please.”

Luna took a deep breath. This is going to be harder than I thought. “It is not pity I offer, but guidance. I have felt the power of your dreams, but have never observed them. I admit, I do not even know your name, place of origin, or cutie mark. Even in dreams, you wear your cloak as though it was a second skin. You are secretive at a time when others are usually at their most vulnerable. This, among other matters, interests me, and I wish to work with you, and guide you to the potential I know you have.”

Blank Flank sighed and willed herself awake.

*****

“Did you know that you levitate when you sleep?”

Blank Flank’s eyes snapped open. A kindly, regal-looking indigo face was looking down at her with bemusement and fascination.

Blank Flank scrambled to her hooves and adjusted her cloak. “How dare you spy on me like that!”

Luna stepped back. “It was the only way I could penetrate the depth of your dreams far enough to make contact with you. Your mental strength is astounding!”

Blank Flank was not amused. “Can I be done being your science experiment now? I thought that crazy pink Ponyville stalker was bad enough, but you - you are something else!”

Silence hung in the air.

Luna sighed. “This is going rather badly, is it not?”

Blank Flank relaxed into a wry grin. “Definitely not the best first impression.”

“Shall we try again?” Luna eased herself onto the grass, folded her wings, and looked at Blank Flank expectantly. “I do not expect to win your trust in one night, but rest assured, I am not your enemy. Give me a chance to make amends, and if you wish, we will part ways.”

Blank Flank closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then opened them. She lay on the grass facing Luna and shrugged. “I suppose I could allow you that. Besides,” she smiled, rolling her eyes, “sharing all my deep dark secrets twice in one day will be a new record for me.”

Luna smiled back, then became pensive. “I, too, bear deep dark secrets of my own, not the least of which are those concerning my time as Nightmare Moon. I was prepared to tear the world apart in my hate and rage against all I felt was unfair. I still have...consequences...left from my previous life that haunt me every day, and which I hope to rectify one day.” She shook her head and smiled again. “Now then. Let us begin with proper introductions.” With mock formality, she stuck out her foreleg and said, “Greetings. I am Luna.”

Blank Flank returned the mock formality with “Greetings. I am Blank Flank,” and joined her hoof with Luna’s. Before Luna could react to Blank Flank’s name, she felt a strange surge of power flow from her body into Blank Flank’s, and watched in astonishment as a pair of wings and a horn equal to her own began to grow on Blank Flank. Suddenly Blank Flank pulled her hoof away and the additional extremities shrank away.

“You...you...how did you do that?” Luna sputtered.

Blank Flank shrugged. “And that’s not all I can do. But perhaps I should start at the beginning. I am entertaining royalty, after all.”