Chapter Five: Dreams and Reality

I suddenly felt the urge to open my eyes, even though I was still very sleepy. When I did, I looked around to see I was still obviously in Lyra's living room. However, something wasn't quite right. Everything looked and seemed the same in the room, but it all had a strange blur to it. A moment later there was a subtle clanking noise that came from the front door, making me jump in surprise. Strangely, when my gaze fell upon the door and the path leading up to it, my vision cleared up perfectly.

"What is wrong with my eyes right now? Did Lyra roofie me or something?", I joked to myself.

I focused on the door again and decided to go over and investigate the noise. When I got up and walked over, I felt really light and slow, like I was drifting through water. Or, like a dream. 'No, that can't be what's going on here, everything is too real and in the right place. Then again I never had a lucid dream before. Maybe that's what's happening here.', my mind went on trying to deduct a valid reason for the strange sensations I was getting from my surroundings.

I slowly walked through the doorway, and what I saw next ran horrid chills down my spine. Ponyville was absolutely annihilated and engulfed in flames. Houses were in splinters, smoldering craters were everywhere, and it was so cold and dark. I then looked to the heavens and my heart dropped. Half of the moon was where it should be, the rest was obliterated across the night sky. I fell to my knees, pain in my heart and tears in my eyes, never taking them off the moon. "Oh my god, this can't be right, what the hell happened?!", I screamed angrily.

"Thankfully, nothing yet.", said a strong yet soft voice behind me.

I whipped around too see Princess Luna walking up from out of nowhere. "Luna! I-I mean Princess, wha- what happened here?!", I stammered, startled by her sudden presence.

"Good evening Archangel. Like I said, nothing yet, nothing in reality anyway.", she replied in a strangely calm manner.

"Reality? What do you mean, why are you so calm? Does this scene behind me not disturb you?", I anxiously asked.

Luna looked beyond me for a moment then returned her calm gaze back to me with a slight smile. "It does indeed disturb me, but perhaps you should take another look."

I slowly turned around to see the horrible image once more. It wasn't there anymore! There, instead of Ponyville, was just the night sky filled with stars and a now, fully intact moon over a wide open field of grass. I went to turn back again but Luna was now sitting right by my side looking off into the night as well. "This is all just a dream isn't it. Please, just tell me it is Your Highness.", I pleaded.

"Indeed it is. And please, you may just call me Luna, I tire of all these royal titles. It's nice to simply enjoy the night as just another pony once in a while.", she said sounding much less like an intimidating goddess.

I took a deep breath, sat down and gazed off into the night with her. "Alright, as you wish, Luna. So let me get this straight, we and all of this, are in my dreams right now?"

"Yes." she said quietly.

"Please forgive my feeble mind but, if it is just a dream, what were all of those horrible things I just witnessed and why did they feel so real?", I asked, now wanting to make sure it all was in no way real.

Luna then turned to me, a mild look of concern on her face. "Normally I would call it a nightmare, but that would be an understatement. What you just saw was a manifestation of your absolute worst fear. It's more like a premonition, it isn't real yet. However if you were to let that fear consume you and your mind, those horrors could become a reality for everyone. Archangel, there is a message in every dream. The message here, is that you must not doubt and give up on yourself, you must not let your actions be fear-based. I see the love you have for this world, hold on to that. Let that be your strength and resolve in the coming trials."

"That was all fear in my mind? Damn, I'm usually not afraid of anything, but I guess I can see how I let my love for this world become a fear of losing it all, and how that could hold me back. I should have known I'd be prone to that of all things. After all, in my past life I didn't have a worry or fear in the world, but I ended up losing everyone and everything I loved. But, my love for them and for all of you will forever be my source of perseverance.", I said staring off into the stars, one lonely tear running down my cheek.

Luna noticed my expression and moved a little closer, placing her hoof on the top of my hand, surprising me. "I'm truly sorry for your loss Archangel. As you may know, I too know how it felt to build a great life in love and happiness, then lose it all. Only...I was the one to throw it all away.", she said, hanging her head and looking away before continuing. "You are a very strong individual despite your hardships, I can see that, and everyone else soon will as well. You are here for a reason, you have already proved yourself a hero just yesterday. I received word of the incident with carriage, those guards owe their lives to you."

She was still looking away, but I found myself stuck, really staring at her for the first time since I'd been in this world. She was stunning, her image made only more divine by the moonlight bathing her in its soft white glow. And for once I didn't feel like I was just staring at another pony, I was caught on another living being that was caring, kind, and breathtakingly beautiful. And now that I thought of it, she was my favorite pony from my younger years. I was beginning to feel something deep inside myself, a feeling I hadn't felt for ages.

I finally snapped out of my entranced stare and found my words. "They don't owe me a thing, after all, that is my purpose here. To save lives, and to be a hero anyway I can. I'd do it for anyone. Also, I have to thank you, for how much you believe in me. It helps me, a lot. And Luna, for the record, I don't think it was all your fault or doing, you know, way back then. If what I saw and know is what really happened, then I believe an outside source is at least partially responsible. I just can't make myself believe it was all you, it doesn't seem right. Jealousy can make monsters out of us, but not like that.", I stated, taking a chance and placing my hand on her hoof.

Luna seemed slightly taken aback by my sudden actions and words. I was beginning to think I might have offended her, but to my surprise she just looked at me and smiled brightly. "No one, has ever said anything like that to me, with the exception of my sister. Thank you, you don't know how much it means to hear that. I still carry that horrible memory with me every day and night, but hearing that you, a new person and opinion, believes better of me, makes it hurt a little less."

"You're very welcome, I'm glad to hear that. It's good to believe in each other. It's a great strength I feel we will need in the future. By the way, and this off subject, but I have to say this is the longest and best dream I've ever had.", I said smiling back, hoping to bring the conversation to a lighter mood.

Luna perked up, now seeming intrigued. "Oh? And what exactly made it that way?"

"Well for starters, it just feels so real, yet more amazing than reality. This place is beautiful, and being here with you is-", I cut myself off before I said too much too fast.

"Being here with me is what?", she asked cocking an eyebrow with an interested smirk.

I panicked for words, I couldn't just tell her how I felt out of nowhere. What, was I just gonna go and tell the goddess of the night, hey I really like you and think you're divinely beautiful? Hell. No. "I'm sorry. I just meant to say that it's quite an experience, with it being real now and all." Nice save...jackass.

Luna chuckled softly. "I'm sure it is. I'm curious though, what did you dream about in your past life?"

"That's a good question. Well when I was young, before I stopped having dreams altogether, I would dream of simple, happy things. Things like being here in Equestria, not as a hero or anything like that, but just living here, enjoying life itself. Or things like seeing all the great sights here, meeting famous ponies, and seeing the princesses too of course.", I said with a grin.

"I see. Is that all you dreamed about?", she inquired unexpectedly.

"I guess so, I mean it was a long time ago so it's hard to recall everything. Why do you ask that though?", I queried, curious of what she was getting at.

Luna looked to be in deep thought for a moment then explained. "It's just a curious thing. You see, the energy you have bonded with seems to negate and nullify most magic we have. For example, my sister and I tried to stop your fall when you arrived here, but our brute force spell was useless against your energy. Also, from what I could tell of your aura, it seems to protect you both outside and inside, to include your mind. It's absolutely impervious. However, I happened to notice that it reaches a calm and soft state when you are happy and at peace with your surroundings, or whoever is with you. Now I obviously have to use magic to be here in your dreams. So the only way I can imagine that I could possibly be here is because, you wanted me here."

Damn, I should have known better. She's a demi-god, I should know it's probably a little hard to hide things from her. She's been around a little longer than I have. Regardless, I had to find a way to come clean without dumping all my true feelings. I definitely didn't want that, considering I wasn't even sure of them yet. So I just laughed it off. "Okay. Okay. Guilty as charged. Back then I used to wish you would visit me in a dream, just like this."

"And what about now, does this wish finally feel granted?", she asked, seeming almost excited at my answer.

"Well you are here aren't you?", I joked.

Luna shook her head and smiled. "I suppose I am, aren't I?"

We both shared a laugh, then began to gaze into the night sky again, not saying a word.

After a few moments of silence I remembered a question that I always thought would very interesting to ask the princess of the night. "Tell me Luna, what do you dream about? What wishes do you have?"

To my surprise, she appeared to be caught off guard by that for a second. She then let out a short, nervous sounding laugh. "Me? Oh, I don't really dream, not anymore. I just visit others' dreams mostly. And, I don't really have any wishes that I can think of."

"Oh, okay. I see.", I said, not buying it. That was a very strange reaction from her, but I didn't want to pry.

Suddenly, the whole dreamscape distorted for a moment and I felt like I was being dragged away. I quickly looked at Luna for an explanation. "What was that?!"

"Don't be alarmed, it's just your natural time to wake up. Before you go though, I must say this was an enjoyable experience and a pleasure speaking with you Archangel. I'm sure we will think of more curiosities to exchange with each other for next time. Also remember the messages and warnings, and what you need to do for yourself. I look forward to us meeting again. Goodbye for now.", she calmly said with a smile.

"Alright then. I will not forget, and the pleasure was mine Princess, until next time."

Everything was black in an instant, then I realized a second later that it was just my eyelids. I opened my eyes to find myself exactly where I went to sleep last night. Still on Lyra's sofa. Celestia's sunlight was now starting to creep over the horizon. "Trippy.", I muttered.

Strangely, even though that was all a dream, I still felt like I was up all night. So, I laid back down and decided to sleep in for a while. That wouldn't be a problem...would it?

~~~

Luna sat on her bed in her dark room, in deep thought about the night she just spent with Archangel. It was a wonderful new experience for her to say the least. She didn't really let on that she felt that way, but she just wanted to keep things somewhat professional. She genuinely did enjoy his company, and the things he said were so encouraging. It was uplifting to have someone besides her sister believe in her for once. There was a thing or two she couldn't get off her mind though. He was acting a bit strange, like he was hiding something. Nothing bad, but something he wasn't comfortable with.

And that question towards the end, why did she choke? She acted like a little filly about it. But why, why did he, this strange and different creature, cause her to lose her goddess-like bearing. Yes, she believes in him, hopes the best for him, and even cares for him. But is there something more? Her thoughts plagued her mind until she decided to just fall back into her pillows and go to sleep. Before nodding off, she gazed out her window towards Ponyville one last time.

"Why do you make me feel the way I do?", she whispered.

Author's Note

Here's a shorter one finally. I've got like no time for anything these days unfortunately, so my writing suffers. Anyway let me know how I did. This chapter's purpose is to show a beginning love interest. And I love how Luna plays with dreams so yea! R&R