Dream On
“Princess!”
Luna looked up from her desk, which was littered with all the important documents of the week. Her Captain of the Guard was in the doorway, panting and sweating, as though he had run a great distance. His wings were unfolded, as they often were in the presence of the Princess. Couldn’t be helped, she supposed.
“What is it, Captain Judo?” her voice was powerful, but finessed. All business.
“Changelings, milady. They’ve invaded the Capital!”
“What?!” Luna stood up from her desk, whipping off a pair of sunglasses. Judo Chop continued his report in a cold sweat;
“They’ve got mecha, Princess, and they’re approaching fast. If something isn’t done, they’ll destroy the city!”
Luna whipped off another pair of sunglasses.
“Not on my watch.”
With that, the Princess of the night rocketed through the ceiling. She didn’t feel too bad; it was only a patch job from the last time, and they hadn’t even put the boards in straight. Someone would receive a reprimand for that, but not now.
Now was coward killing time.
The changeling armada indeed had many marauding mecha menacing the moonlit metropolis. The machinations were of mediocre make, but made a move at the Mare of the Moon much like managers at meager motels might. Her Majesty mocked their mean maneuvers, meanwhile motioning for major minstrels to play music at a maximum, not mellow, but melodramatic, as if meant for murder, but merciful, not malicious.
“Mmmm...” Luna licked her lips, anticipating a glorious battle.
One of the contraptions dared to approach her; it was painted as though it were piloted by an officer. Without a second thought, the Princess of the Night took the new pair of sunglasses from her face and flung them at the offender. They shades exploded on impact, engulfing the target and his entire battalion in glorious blue flame, and matching smoke, which spelt the name of the warrior Princess: ‘Luna.’ At that time, the band began it’s song with a crack of the drumkit and a ripping guitar riff.
This drew a smirk from the defender of Badflankia(Capital city of Impresstria). Yes, this battle would be glorious. Not lengthy.
The citizens of the fair city cheered in awe and admiration as their leader proceeded to dispatch all of the invaders. For it mattered not how many foes she faced; they were no match for her bodacity.
Some she destroyed with her magic; some she outmaneuvered and sent flying with a mighty flap of her majestic wings; others she simply battered and broke with her own four hooves. The leaders shouted, trying to persuade their troops that they could win by sheer numbers, but Luna saw the terror in the faces of the soldiers. They knew as well as she did: this had happened before, and it would happen again.
A few of the enemy wisened near the end, fleeing back to parts unknown. Luna could have pursued them, but who would return to challenge her next time if she wiped them all out?
The Princess, seeing that her work was done, glided back down to earth, where her adoring subjects awaited. Mares, stallions, and foals alike screamed for her attention, waving fervently and generally making a ruckus. The band played a victory march, and dancers twirled and shook to the melody. A reporter rushed up to meet Her Majesty, and began to speak excitedly.
“Princess Luna! You just trounced the Changeling army! What are you going to do now?”
Luna opened her mouth to speak, but no words came. Instead, the laughter of a maniac drowned out her attempt to vocalise.
It started slow and deep, a chuckle from the back of the throat. Then it grew in volume and pitch, until even the music and the roar of the crowd were drowned out. It sounded so familiar... where had she heard it before?
The cacophonous laugh filled her head, and filled her with fear. What was she afraid of? She couldn’t place it. Luna wanted to wake up, but she couldn’t. Nor could she scream, or cry, or run away. All she could do is lie down in her cold sweat, and wait.
* * *
Luna awoke at around seven o’clock (in the evening). It was a little late for a winter day, but she doubted anypony would mind. She got up and dressed quickly, and headed out to meet her sister on the balcony.
Celestia stood there frowning slightly, as if she couldn’t decide to be disappointed, concerned, or annoyed.
“Sister,” she said, apparently deciding on a combination of all three, “I have been waiting for hours. Have you overslept again?”
“It was a good dream, that is all.” Luna replied. She hated it when Celestia treated her like a child. They were both over a thousand years old, after all. But Celestia was still the older sister, and older sisters worry about younger sisters, and the ones who care most, worry most. Celestia cared for her sister deeply. Celestia paused, thinking before she spoke.
“You have always had interesting dreams, Luna. I don’t doubt that this one might have been better than waking up, at least for the moment. But...”
She hesitated, unsure if she should say what she had planned to. She quickly resolved to carry out the full sentence, steeling herself for what could be a harsh response. “But in the past, you have always prized every hour that I gave you for the night. A... a thousand years ago, you would have called me a tyrant and a miser if I had suggested shortening the night by even a minute! Now...”
“Did you prefer it that way?” Luna asked indignantly. “Now that I am content, do you miss the monster?”
“NO!” Celestia checked her tone, worried she had said that too hastily. “No, sister...” The elder embraced the younger in her titanic, snowy wings. “I love you deeply... please never leave me with that... that Nightmare, ever again.” Luna was surprised. The Sun Princess was usually reserved; even with her faithful student, her emotions were limited to muted versions of compassion, confidence, and, if the situation warranted it, disappointment. This... this level of feeling was a rarity. It reminded her of when they were phillies.
Celestia emerged from the impromptu hug, with a single tear on her face.
“I am simply concerned, sister. When I...” Celestia fought back a second tear. “When I had to send you away... I never wanted you to stop loving your night! It is your masterpiece... it is what makes you who you are.” Those words made Luna glance away at her flank, where the symbol of the moon was. She certainly wasn’t hiding a teardrop of her own, of course.
“I...” The smaller alicorn took a moment to collect her thoughts. “I am deeply moved by your words, sister.” She turned to face Celestia. “I did not mean to frighten you... it really was a magnificent dream. That is all.”
Celestia smiled. Luna touched her sister’s hoof, as if to say, “Thank you,” but said nothing. Instead, she turned to her work, and the moon raised to the horizon at her bidding. The older pony left the younger to her work. Celestia was satisfied... for now.
She would get a real explanation later.
Luna was relaxed now. She liked the power that she felt raising the moon; who wouldn’t? But now she was getting to her very favourite part; placing the stars. Each was unique, but also a part of it’s constellation. Similarly, the constellations were beautiful pictures in and of themselves, but the larger piece of art that they formed together was nothing short of breathtaking. A jigsaw puzzle of light and darkness. Luna loved to work the stars. She loved it more, even, than her fantastic dreamscape. The midnight-blue alicorn gave pause to that thought.
She loved this. She loved her waking hours, her sister, and indeed she had grown to love the ponies of Equestria as she never had before. She had even met some whom she considered true friends.
So why couldn’t she wake up?
* * *
Luna walked down a dim, lonely and poorly cobbled street. The only light came from dull lamps to her left and right, which flickered on and off at random. She looked up, but her eyes found no stars.
And no moon.
Luna was beginning to be frightened, but as her eyes darted back and forth, she saw a small gathering of ponies. She felt compelled to go be with them, although she could not have said why. There were only a few of them; maybe six or seven. She vaguely recognised the faces... what were their names?
It did not seem to matter. A white pegasus with green and purple hair, who seemed to be in charge, looked around at everypony, as if giving orders. Even though no words were spoken, it was obvious to Luna. In fact, it was clear to everypony; they were searching for It, and they didn’t have much time to find It.
The group split up, which seemed only logical to Luna. She wandered around the dusky streets, asking anypony she met about It. But she encountered few ponies, and fewer still would speak to her. They were all too concerned, so they said, (or rather, so they seemed to say,) with what was over the hill to bother with It. How could Luna think about It when there was that fabulous, beautiful thing over there?
But she was sure, It was very important indeed. Perhaps more important than anything had ever been.
One stallion became angry with Luna when she asked. He began to yell and curse her, and his already red complexion became the deep colour of blood. Luna should have showed some backbone, but instead she retreated. Something about the noise made her ears burn, and her eyes water. The shouting became intertwined with a sounding bell in the distance, and Luna knew she was out of time, that she would never find It. The din became more and more dense, joined by a deep rumble and the roar of a ravenous lion.
A figure of deep blackness rose from over the hill, and Luna could no longer run. The darkness swallowed her whole,and muffled her pleas for help.
* * *
“Princess? P-Princess Luna! Somepony come quickly!”
Luna was only half-aware of what was happening, but with those words, a blinding flash filled the room for an instant, freeing her eyes from the unholy slumber. Luna looked up, and her sister was standing over her.
“Luna? Sister! What is it? What’s wrong?” Celestia’s voice was rich with love, but also fierce; if anything or anyone had hurt her sister, they would burn with Sun-fire.
Luna got up slowly, and tried to shake the tiredness.
“What... what has happened? Have I overslept again?”
“Have you--” the Guard who had sounded the alarm began, still shocked at both Luna’s state of weakness, and Celestia’s display of passion. He was not used to seeing the Sisters like this. “P-Princess Luna, you were... crying! You were calling for help, I--” he was not used to any of this. “--I thought you were in danger.”
Luna’s thoughts took a moment to catch up with the situation, but eventually she realised what has happened.
“Indeed perhaps I was.” It was all she said, but she gave Celestia a very particular look, one that the latter recognised from their youth.
“I will attend to my sister,” she said, with a tone that could have been lodged at all of Equus. “Leave us.”
The guard obliged, seeming more than happy to escape the situation, and Celestia’s magic closed the bedchamber door behind him. Then the Sun Princess’ face softened, as did her heavenly voice.
“What is the matter, Luna? Was it--”
“A nightmare.” Luna answered, eager to get the experience off of her chest. She explained the whole dream in detail, and Celestia did not interrupt her sister once. Luna was in tears from the beginning of her tale, and Celestia cried on the inside to see her beloved sister like this.
“When I spoke of the monster, it was in jest,” Luna concluded, “But perhaps I should not have mentioned it at all.” The younger looked up at the older with a desperation she had not felt since her liberation back in Ponyville, nearly three whole years ago. “I am scared, Tia. I used to love my dreams, but now I am not sure if I will wake up the next time I sleep.”
Celestia embraced her sister, wiped the tears away, and took a moment to think.
“What do we do, Sister?” The question was unnecessary, of course. A test of sorts, to see what Luna’s answer would be. A thousand years ago, Luna would have been offended and hurt, but now she knew; this was only Tia’s way of caring for her, like checking a temperature. Besides, the Princess of the Moon knew the answer.
“We must seek out help... from those we can trust.”
“Do you have anypony in mind?” Luna thought for only a second, and answered her sister coyly:
“A few.”
Author's Note
Tell me what you think.
If you like this, please tell someone about it, I need an audience to keep me motivated, or I'll never finish the damn thing.
If you don't like it so much, tell me why, and I'll take it under consideration.
Anywho, I intend to have a new chapter every couple weeks, so long as school doesn't get in the way.d
A Little Help from my Friends
A Little Help from my Friends
Fort Book had not seen such carnage since the old days, back in the Non-Fiction Reference Civil Wars. Pages were strewn across the grounds; an autobiography lay on a nearby stretcher with a broken spine, waiting for a medic to come to his aid.
Twilight knew what must be done.
Colonel Spike tried to stop her from going out alone, but she would have none of that. She was a grown mare, and she knew the risks. She trotted out, past the hardcover walls, and found the remainder of her troops, struggling against the insidious enemy; Commandante Ignorance bellowed threats at his own troops, and insult at Twilight’s.
Nevertheless, General Sparkle’s very presence on the battlefield was enough to give her forces a much-needed boost. The unicorn shouted a powerful battle-cry, and the books surged, overcoming Ignorance’s imps and devils. Twilight herself defeated many enemy troops, rubbing them out of existence with a flash of purple, aiding her sentries.
Suddenly, a laugh was heard in the distance, somewhere between a chuckle and a giggle. It drew Twilight Sparkle’s focus for a split second, just before the end.
* * *
Twilight awoke to find Spike tossing and turning, a piece of parchment near his bedside. That was normal; he often delivered Celestia’s mail in his sleep. A year ago, that sort of thing would have woken Spike, but the little dragon was maturing very rapidly, and his digestive system was much stronger and more stable than it had been.
Twilight got up, soothed the little one, tucking him back into bed, and then turned her attention to the parchment. It was probably a request from the Princess, but why? Had Discord escaped his stone prison again? Had the Changelings come back for revenge? Had they failed to defeat King Sombra? Had it all been a trick? What if--
Twilight stopped, and remembered Cadence’s letter.
“Just take a deep breath...” she said to herself, “And... relax.” she exhaled, and picked up the parchment with her lavender aura. It was still dark, so she lit a candle. There, as she expected, was the Royal Canterlot Seal. She broke it, and was surprised at what she read:
“Dear General Twilight Sparkle,” the letter began, written in official calligraphic script, “Having observed your bravery on the battlefield, both here and at the adorable Fort Book, and in consideration of our friendship, I hereby request your assistance in a most important matter. Please, extend this invitation to Colonel Spike, as well as the following ponies:
Applejack, Apple Bloom, Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, and Fluttershy.”
You will all find that the train is already waiting at the station, so please come as soon as you are able.”
My dear sister and I will explain more once you arrive, as the matter at hand is somewhat sensitive.”
It was signed “Princess Luna”.
Twilight was confused, and she felt her nerves trying to reach her again. The last time she saw Princess Luna was when she was being tested by Princess Celestia, and the Ruler of the Night had not seemed entirely well then.
Was she angry? Was she sick? Did this have to do with the test? What was going on? Why didn’t Princess Celestia write the letter? Why did her friends need to come along? And why bring the phillies? Who--
Twilight caught herself again, but not before she had worked up a sweat and begun chewing at her hooves. She focused on one thought, and one thought only.
Princess Luna was a friend in need, and she wasn’t about to let her down.
“Spike?” Twilight went to the dragon’s bedside once more. “Spike, wake up. Princess Luna needs us, and we’re going to help her.”
This earned only a grumble from the youth.
“Spike, please? The train is already waiting for us, and we still have to wake up all of our friends, and tell them what’s going on.”
“Ugh... can’t... can’t it wait ‘til morning...” Spike was only muttering, but Twilight knew he was awake, and only stalling as he always did. He just needed motivation.
“Spike, we are not arguing about this. Now, I need you to help me gather the others, and you should start with Sweetie Belle and Rarity--”
Spike was out the door in less than a second, as fast as his little dragon legs could carry him. Twilight smiled, pleased that her tactic had succeeded. She went in the opposite direction, towards Sweet Apple Acres, while she skimmed the letter again.
There was nothing adorable about Fort Book...
* * *
Luna fought to stay awake until her allies arrived; she was used to long days full of restful sleep, not frenzied nightmare nights. Celestia had no such trouble; having to remain awake both day and night for nearly a millennium, and still present the cheery exterior ponies expect from their loving Princess of the Sun, made this seem like a filly’s slumber party. All but the most trusted guards and viziers had been dismissed; Luna’s condition could indeed be something more serious than simple insomnia, and the sisters agreed that a low profile should be kept until more was known.
The most-trusted guard entered the bedchamber tentatively, and brought good news.
“Twilight and the others have arrived, Your Highness.” his voice was strong, but reserved. Luna smiled at his formality. The guard traditions of solemn duty had not changed much since their earliest days.
“Thank you, Shining Armour,” Luna directed her smile at the white stallion. “But please, remember that you are family now. ‘Your Highness’ is far too formal.”
Shining Armour smiled a coltish smile, one well practised from a devious youth.
“Twilight and the others have arrived, Princess Luna Selena Ilargia Menulis Manen.”
Celestia giggled, but Luna only rolled her eyes. The most trusted vizier joined her in that gesture, drawing mock innocence and shock from the Captain.
“He is like this all of the time?” Luna asked.
“Oh, no. He’s much worse at home,” Cadence replied, soliciting a laugh from all three alicorns in the room, as well as feigned hurt from her beloved.
“Well!” Shining said, in his best wounded tone, “I’ll go greet Twily. At least she appreciates me!”
Actually, Twilight Sparkle would probably have been on Cadence’s side, and Shining knew it.
At first, the room outside was chaos, with Twilight’s
“Shiny! What are you doing here? What’s wrong with Princess Luna? Why did she ask for us?”
And Applejack’s
“What in tarnation is goin’ on? What’s any of this got to do with mah sister?”
And Rainbow Dash’s
“Is the Princess in trouble? Is there another threat against Canterlot? Lemme’ at ‘em! Just give the word, and ZOOM! BANG! No more badguys!”
And all manner of hoopla in the same vein. Eventually, Shining Armour had to yell over his sister and her friends:
“QUIET!!”
“And then the fox said, Ring-ding-ding... oh, sorry!”
Good old Pinkie Pie.
“Princess Luna wants to explain the situation herself, and she’ll be out in just a minute,” Shining Armour turned to fetch the Princesses, and added, “I’m glad she’s explaining; it’s a little weird.”
Luna stepped out not a full minute later, and gazed upon her friends, the ones who would help her. If, indeed, they could. They all had a reason to be there:
Fluttershy was kind and understanding, which Luna knew would outweigh her fear when it counted.
Rainbow Dash was loyal and brave, and never backed away from a challenge.
Pinkie Pie was undaunted by the bizarre, in fact she seemed to revel in it; embody it.
Rarity was inspired and creative. She would think of solutions nopony else would.
Applejack was an unshakable tower of strength. She would do whatever was necessary to help those who needed her. Whatever was necessary... a thought crossed Luna’s mind. She would consider it later.
The children--Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo-- were so bright and unmarred, and their innocent, imaginative souls would prove powerful. Scootaloo’s already had.
Twilight Sparkle... she was probably the foremost expert on magic. On friendship. On almost everything. She was also probably the reason Luna stood as she did; among friends and family, not enemies and slaves.
Yes, if any ponies could help her, it was these.
Luna drew in a breath, and explained her troubles uninterrupted. Nopony said a word, and even Pinkie and the kids remained completely silent. When it was over, they all had their own questions, but Luna had few answers. The Princess knew only that her own dreams were becoming an enemy to her, or at least an obstacle. One that must be overcome, at any cost.
Twilight looked from one friend to another, and they all came to their conclusion silently. Twilight spoke for the group, a true leader. She reminded Luna of her sister in this way, as in others.
“Of course we’ll help you, Princess.” Rainbow Dash chimed in,
“Yeah! Just tell us what to do, and consider it done!” with a half-serious salute.
Luna smiled, but it was not a hopeful smile.
“Friends, what I am about to ask you is unlike anything you have ever done. And it may be very dangerous. I would not ask--”
“Pardon me, yer majesty,” Applejack interrupted, “But we knew that from yer story of what’s happened so far.” The farm-pony was strong, indeed. That might be more important than any of them realised. “... an’ Ah think Ah speak fer everypony when Ah say we’d do anything to help a friend.”
“Hear, hear!”
“Yeah, totally!”
Luna smiled again, and this time even blushed.
“Then... to work.”
* * *
The plan was simplicity itself. Luna would sleep; and her friends would invade her dreams. Perhaps invade seems like a strong choice of words, but the subconscious is very unfriendly to change. And, no matter how much you may like them, ten ponies barging into your head while you sleep is definitely change.
Luna’s dream-walking spell was actually fairly simple to learn. Simple, at any rate for the avatar of the Sun and her mythically gifted student.
Rarity’s magic was just not quite strong enough, and of course Sweetie Belle could barely manage any spell at her age. Add a few pegasi and earth ponies into the mix, and needless to say another method of entering the mind was required. Celestia had thought of that, and her solution was crazy. So crazy, it just might work. Digging through her treasury of long-forgotten spells and artifacts, she had rediscovered a set of several materia gemstones. These she presented to Twilight Sparkle, who immediately guessed her mentor’s plan, and--
“OHMIGOSH! Princess, are these what I THINK they are?!”
“Yes, Twilight Sparkle, these are--”
“The Luminosa Symphony Crystallinam! I thought they disappeared centuries ago!” This drew a chuckle from Celestia.
“They did. I took them for safekeeping, and nopony has seen them since, until now. Now, Twilight what I have in mind is--”
“A harmonic arcane multi-tether, acting as--”
“A Whistlian replicator enchantment?”
“Ooh, yes! That’s brilliant Princess! But... will I be able to do that?”
“Perhaps, faithful student, you could. But it would not be easy, which is why I decided we should collaborate.”
“Collaborate?”
“Of course. Our combined knowledge and powers should make short work of it, don’t you agree?”
“Uh.. Of course!” Twilight had to recover from that one. “Ooh, I’m going to create a high-level dual enchantment with Princess Celestia!” A girlish squeal followed, as did more than a few blank stares. Few ponies could follow the two’s conversation, even if they did understand the words (and few did).
Twilight and the Princess prepared spell and counterspell, and taught the latter to Shining Armor, in the event that something should go irreversibly wrong. He and Cadence would monitor the endeavor from the outside, and handle the day-to-day operations meanwhile. Spike would be aiding them, as Luna said:
“You will be doing what you do better than anyone, O squamous little friend; helping others stay in one piece.”
Spike was a little disappointed not to be going into somepony’s dreams, but truth be told, he was also quite relieved.
That left ten ponies on the “drop team”, divided into four sub-groups. They would enter through the four realms of thought: Intuition, Sensation, Logic and Feeling. The four groups would rendezvous in the core of Luna’s mind, gathering evidence and setting her mind at ease, then exit via the counterspell and reconvene in the physical world. That way, they left plenty of room for error, and they would be relatively safe. A simple operation.
Simple, that is, in theory.
Author's Note
Sorry it took so long, and I promise we're almost back into the jokes and randomness. I can get away with much more in the dreamworld. Please, if you got this far, leave me COMMENTS. Likes and Favorites are all well and good, but I would like to know WHAT it is you like about this story. Or, what I'm doing wrong. I'm literally writing this as you read it, so your comments could very well mean big changes in the direction I'm taking this... thing. Also, comments help reassure me that you actually read what I've written, and didn't just hit the Like button when you saw a picture of Luna.
Okay, I love you, bye-bye!
