Dreams of Love

"Aaaaand there! Done."

Kaelen wiped the sweat off his brow as he finished placing the strings of his latest instrument in place.

"That wasn't too bad." He sighed, "I just hope it works."

Kaelen stood up from his workbench and stretched his back, "It should work. Twilight did say I had a solid design. Lyra too."

He picked it up and looked over it a few times, "I'm not sure what Ponies will think about this. But I think Anoushka Shankar would be pretty proud to own this."

Kaelen had been in Equestria now for about six months. He was found with his clothes torn up just behind Zecora's hut. Nobody's quite sure how he got there though....

He quickly locked up the instrument in a make-shift case, picked it up, and walked out of his backroom workshop.

Soon he was out in the streets of Ponyville, the park being his final destination.

Once he had arrived at the park, the only thing one could call 'different' there would be Pinkie Pie barreling past him, screaming something about a 'Welcome Wagon'.

Shrugging it off as Pinkie Pie, he continued on his way, and soon found the spot he was looking for in the park. A small hill under a tree, perfect for what he had in mind for this evening. Upon coming closer to the tree though, he saw what was probably the source of Pinkie's excitement: A Pony.....a NEW Pony.

First off, she was a Pegasus. She was also white, pure white. Her mane was a dark shade of Purple, and it was positioned to cover up her left eye. He couldn't make out her eye colour, as he was still too far, and she had them closed anyways.

He sighed, "Tomorrow's gonna be fun." And continued his walk over to the tree. The closer he got though, the more he noticed things. Like the music, was she playing an instrument? A quick glance and listen told him she was playing the Tibetan Bowls, using her hoof, instead of a stick or brace like he'd seen most ponies use....then again he'd only SEEN one pony use them, more like one Zebra, so he didn't really have any background knowledge.

Knowing  from past experience that most prefer you not to talk during this, Kaelen simply sat down down in front of her, who he guessed hadn't noticed a him since her eyes were closed, crossed his legs in the lotus position, and began meditating.

I came here to Zen. He thought to himself, So I might as well...

He didn't have to wait long for the pony to finish, as they had stopped minutes after he started meditating. They probably noticed another presence nearby. When the bowls finished ringing, he opened his eyes, and found himself being stared at cautiously by the pony, who he now knew had misty golden eyes.

After a few seconds of this little staring match, Kaelen decided to end it, or he would've if the pony hadn't have spoken first.

"....Hello." Her voice was quiet, as though she didn't wish to scare something, and deep. He wondered if it was naturally deep or if she was doing that on purpose.

"Hello." he responded calmly, "I came here to Zen...I saw that you were and figured it would be okay if I joined you... It...was okay, right?"

She smiled calmly, "No, it's fine. I noticed you when you sat down, but I didn't feel like disturbing your little session either, so I played for a bit longer."

Kaelen was surprised by her answer but didn't show it. She had noticed him? He hadn't made a sound...

"Thank you. What's your name?"

She held a hoof over the Bowls in his direction, "Dream Weaver. Your's?"

Kaelen grasped the hoof lightly and shook it, "Kaelen. Kaelen Hails." he released her hoof and she brought it back down.

"A pleasure to somepony else who enjoys Zen. Not many do."

He shook his head, "Unfortunately no, you're right."

Dream smiled sadly at him for a moment, before something dawned on her, "Oh right. You came here to Zen, and I noticed you setting something down. What is your Zen instrument?"

"Oh right," he turned around, opened the case and pulled it out, then he showed it proudly to her, "It's an instrument from my world called a Sitar."

She trialed her eyes along it slowly, "....Amazing...can I hear you play?"

He nodded, "Of Course. I'm starting out with a slow song first, before moving on to a more fast paced one. Sound good?"

"Sure." Dream was happy, she had not been in this town for over a day and was already talking happily with somepony....who was male.

Never thought I'd see the day when I'd be this comfortable around a male.... She thought.

He grinned, "Okay then. This is just to make sure it's working." He started to play.

It was a simple tune, not even a tune really, it just sounded calming.

I like it. She allowed a small smile on her face, and looked him over, which Kaelen was unable to notice as he also had his eyes closed.

He was, from what she could tell given that he was sitting, decently tall if he stood on his hind legs, which was probably how he walked. His skin was slightly tanned but still ever so slightly pale. He had straight, shoulder length hair, which was brown, but it had a very slight hint of red to it, the bangs were a sapphire blue, and they also covered his left eye. His arms were decently muscular, though they were most likely much stronger than they looked.

There was really nothing special to say about him (To us maybe the hair.) to anypony else. But to Dream, he was the best male she had ever met, simply because she wasn't scared of him. She didn't know why, didn't care why, but she didn't feel any fear towards him. And that alone was making her want to simply lay her head in his lap and zone out, with him simply sitting there, running a hand through her mane.

She blinked multiple times to clear her head.

What was that about? I don't understand it I just met him.... still...it was a very nice thought. She let her smile grow larger and her eyes close, as she let herself think of it, content to enjoy the bliss her mind was gracing her with.

Soon he finished the impromptu song, and opened his eyes to look back at. And found Dream to be sitting there with her eyes closed, and a blissful smile on her face.

"So?" He began, making her eyes open and focus on him, "What'd you think?"

Dream needed a second to sort her thoughts out, "It was wonderful."

Kaelen grinned, "If you think that's wonderful. Tell me what you think of this one....oh, you might want to keep your eyes open for this one, it makes it even better."

Dream nodded, "It sounds like this is going to be a bit more fast faced."

"A lot more fast paced at certain spots. But it's still a good Zen song." He took a few breaths, closed his eyes, and began to play.

Dream was watching his hands with her utmost attention fascinated by their movements, and how he was doing this with his eyes closed...it baffled her.

After the first break in the song (At 2:30 in the song). Things really seemed to pick up. And it was amazing to watch, but it was a couple dozen seconds in (At 3:15 in the song.) that she was a little more amazed. It sounded as if somepony else was playing the back strings and he was playing the front. Yet he was doing all of it with ONE finger! And she became even more shocked when he sped up what he doing to a seemingly impossible speed, there was a continuous sound from the back string, yet the front string was playing a noticeable tune as on top of it. And still somehow with only ONE finger strumming....suffice to say her jaw dropped.

And for the rest of the song her jaw remained in that dropped position, because after that part, his hands never really slowed down too much.

When the end of the song finished, Kaelen opened his eyes to find a very awed Dream staring at him with her mouth gaping.

"How did I do?" He grinned.

The words made Dream snap out of her little trance, "That. Was. Awesome! I didn't think it was possible to move your uhhh...whatever those things are called, that fast! I didn't even think ANYPONY could move anyTHING that fast!"

Kaelen smiled, not many ponies aside from Twilight and some of the local musicians (Lyra, Octavia, and surprisingly Vinyl), ever gave him much praise, "Thanks...." He looked up at the sky and frowned, they were dangerously black, and thunder could be heard slightly, "I should be heading back home now...."

Dream's smiled dropped almost violently, "....what?"

He got up and put the sitar back in it's case, flipping the locks up so it wouldn't accidentally open, "Yeah. I have to get up early and look for a job.... And the rain looks like it's about to come down hard." He looked back at her with a sad smile, "Maybe tomorrow evening?"

Dream was fighting hard not to let her lower lip quiver, unfortunately she couldn't do that as well as keep her eyes from watering, "C-Can't I stay at your place?"

"Why?" He was confused, "Don't you have your own place to live?"

She shook her head, and Kaelen suddenly remembered something.

She just got here a couple hours ago, idiot. Of course she doesn't have a house yet, town hall closes at six and that's where you buy a house.

"I...suppose you can take the guest room."

She perked up a bit, "Thanks...you're sweet." She had to fight off a wide eyed blush from what she just said.

Where did THAT come from? She thought.

Kaelen though was not so lucky in the blush department, he had to turn his head to hide it. He picked up his Case, "Let's go." And walked off. Dream following close behind, after quickly stacking her bowls and placing them in a a bag she had behind the tree, she trotted over to him.

When they reached his house, it had been lightly raining for about five minutes and was starting to get worse, he pulled out his key and unlocked the door.

I swear to god if Pinkie's in my house.....

He mentally grumbled as he opened the door. And thankfully, Pinkie was not here. He tossed his keys in a bowl beside the door and headed towards the backroom.

Dream stood in the front hallway and shook herself dry before noticing the towel beside the door, which she used gratefully.

Meanwhile, in the backroom, Kaelen was having a little mental argument.

Why did you say yes to letting her sleep here?

I wasn't gonna just leave her out in the streets.

You keep telling yourself that. We both know you like her.

I do not!........maybe a little....

I think we both know it's more than a little.

Okay! I like her a lot. But she's not gonna be part of one of my little 'perfect world' fantasies.

......What...kind of....'fantasies'?.......Describe the one you want the most.

........Laying on the couch, on a stormy night in front of a fire, with her lying on top of me, simply listening to the rain with her head on my shoulder, while I run my hand through her hair.

......That's actually a lot better than what I was thinking.

What were YOU thinking?

...A looooooot of screwing.

You've been talking to the wrong head...again. We both know I prefer cuddling to sex.

But you wouldn't appose to it correct?

.....No, no I would not....but we both know I would never push that upon somebody.

True, True.....

He set the case in his back room and walked back out, closing the door behind him.

Is there a problem with that?

Somebody down South might have a problem with that, but I don't.

So.....what do I do?

Give into your feelings a little. Allow yourself to accept her advances, make small ones of your own, you know? Nudge Nudge. You'll get there eventually.

......That's actually really good advice.

Well duh. I'm your heart, what did you expect? It's my job to make you feel love.

.......True.

With his little mental tirade over, he glanced back at Dream. Who was standing there waiting for him, "Can you show me to my room?"

"Yeah it's this way." He said, and proceeded to head up the stairs to the second floor, Dream following right behind him.

"The bathroom is right there." He pointed to a door.

"At the end of the hall is a closet with extra sheets." He motioned in front of him.

"And there's a mini fridge in the guest room as well as mine. Your's will have a couple bottles of water and some crackers. If you need anything else just knock on my door and ask."

Dream nodded and he continued, "Here's your room."

He opened the door and revealed a simple room painted an off-white, with wooden floor boards, a dresser, a medium sized closet, and a two Pony bed.

Dream stepped in and set her bag down in the corner, she turned to him, "Thank you, Kaelen. You've been, so kind to me and have asked nothing in return." She sat down and held out her front hooves.

Kaelen understood what this meant and kneeled down in front of her, wrapping her in a small hug.

Neither wanted it to end, they would be happy to simply sit in the other's arms. But they both knew better. Dream had to fight the urge to nuzzle him, which she almost managed, but at the end when he pulled back she couldn't help but stretch her neck for a little more contact, that's when she nuzzled him ever so slightly, probably not enough for him to notice, she hoped, she prayed. She didn't want to ruin her chances to an advance that she made too soon.

Kaelen stood up straight again and smiled softly, "You're welcome. I'll leave you to yourself." And with that, he left, closing the door behind him.

Dream sighed, the rain was starting to come down hard. This was gonna be a loooong night.