Chapters My name? I don't have one. I've never had a name exactly, and I never did. But I'm going to explain this, I'm dreaming. I've been dreaming for as long as I can remember. I don't know what is even real anymore. But I've been hearing this in my dreams. I heard little rhythmic dull beeps, and a few voices from somewhere else.
"He's never...wake..." said one voice
"Oh my Go...I'm so sorry..." another replied.
What is that voice sorry for? I just usually ignored them, to me...they're not important. For some reason, I had some knowledge from somewhere. For example, how to 'walk', and how to 'speak', and other things as well. I wandered in a world where it seemed endless, and beautiful. It fitted exactly what I thought of, which was regular to me. I imagined a cloudy sky, an emerald green field, and a tree house, then the world blurred for a moment, then appeared as what I imagined. I looked into the cloudy sky, seeing the stars that bright up this world of mine and decided to reach them. I flew up to the white points in the sky and looked closer. Tiny smooth round rocks circled around a bright yellow star, and one seemed so familiar. I shook my head...this wasn't real at all. I flew back to my little world and climbed up to my tree house.
Luna has been through dream worlds...after all, she was the princess of the night. She watched over the ponies and fillies in their realms, observing them with watchful eyes. Eventually, she would soar down, have a chat, help out, and then leave. As she came back to the real world, something caught her attention. She looked up at the stars and saw another dream realm, a humongous one. Curiosity took the lead and she entered the realm and suddenly, a bright light flashed before her and fade away just as fast to reveal the world around her.
The realm was very simple, a green field, cloudy skies with streaks of light pouring down to the ground, with soft wind sweeping her face. A tree house was in the center of the wide and vast field, with a creature on a swing staring at her. This creature had a simple white shirt and pants, with whitish like skin, and black flat hair with eyes the color of sapphire. It wore a simple pair of white shoes. The creature stared at her, with curiosity flowing in it's eyes.
"Hello." Luna greeted.
The creature continued boggling at her in awe.
"What's your name?" she asked.
The creature simply shook its head.
"You don't have a name?" she asked again.
The creature shook its head at her question.
Luna pondered this for a moment. So this creature doesn't have a name? It must know at least a few things.
"Are you a boy, or a girl?" Luna continued with her questions.
This time, the creature began writing in the air as a glow followed its finger.
I'm a boy.
The writing eventually faded away. Luna pondered with her new information she just gathered. This creature is a boy, and it doesn't have a name, so what else can she figure out about this creature? She used magic designed to find the origin of things and found a tiny emerald link right above the boy. She approached the boy who didn't even try to back away from her. Instead, the boy touched the link and the link grew into a screen.
"We'll, that's interesting. Nopony can interact with magic in their dreams." Luna whispered to herself.
The screen showed a room, probably one of the rooms in a hospital. On the bed was the boy itself, and next to it seemed, to be it's parents. They'd seem to be sobbing over him...but for what exactly? A few minutes later, a doctor came in and informed them.
"I'm sorry...but, this boy's never gonna wake up from this coma."
Luna fast forward the little image, and eventually stopped to where the creature was still in the bed, but for how long? Luna zoomed in the calendar she saw next to the bed.
2023
She rewind the image and looked at the calendar again.
2012
She rewind the calendar to the year the boy was born.
2000
This boy has been in a coma for twelve years? Luna closed the screen and stared at the boy with new concern. This boy showed no twinge, no emotion, and no sign of sadness whatsoever. And yet, he always seemed happy no matter what. Luna decided to have a bit of a conversation with the boy, and so she began.
Huh, that's weird...no one appears in my dreams unless if I want them to, especially not a giant blue horse. And now she seems she's going to say something again.
"In your dreams, what do you consider yourself?" the blue horse asked me.
Huh, I have a lot of things in my mind that I like to be, but I know they are all impossible to achieve. Oh well, she did ask...and I figured out it was a she...so I better tell her.
I traced a few sentences in the air, this time with a white glow.
A boy with a powerful imagination. In my mind I consider myself as a protector of this universe.
"Well, you do have a powerful imagination there." she praised.
I smiled at the praise she just handed to me.
When she was about to say something else, another voice echoed in my realm.
"Sister, it's time to come back to Equestria." the voice commanded.
This thing had a sister?
She frowned as she realized that our chat was cut short. She turned back to me, with eyes telling me that she will come back. Her majestic wings on her sides shot open and she flew off unto the horizon.
Luna snapped back to reality to find her sister glaring at her in the Canterlot Castle, right next to her bed where she rested to enter the dream realm.
"Sister, you've been in the dream realm for quite a long time there. Tell me, where were you exactly?" the sun goddess questioned the lunar goddess.
Luna was a little suprised at her question. She slightly lowered her head, covering her face a little.
"Well, I saw this really huge dream in the sky, so I thought I should go there and check it out. But in that dream realm was a lonely creature that's been in a coma for a very long time. I just thought about comforting it, you know?" Luna confessed.
Celestia curled her lips a little as she thouht of something.
"Lulu...is it alright if I come with you to this dream realm you speak of?" Celestia asked.
Luna was shocked to her sister's request, but she smiled to mask her suprise.
"Of course sister. But when do you want to go?" Luna replied.
Celestia pondered with her question.
"Tonight." was all she said before she went back to her royal duties.
Who was that blue horse? Throughout my entire time in my realm, I've never thought this much about things before. But eventually, I gave up on that lingering thought and decided to occupy myself, just in case if the blue horse comes back. I though about the valley of my realm filled with beautiful and brightly colored flowers, and the world bended to my thoughts. The valley of grass was filled with flowers of every color of the spectrum, with the tree as the center of attention. I smiled and sprinted around the field, scattering petals in every direction, then falling down to the ground. My grin widened as I thought of another way to have fun. I jmped into the air and stopped the flow of gravity making the petals float back up again. I shot myself across the field with a powerful blast of wind and landed on another set of flowers, making the petals explode beneath me. But my joy was about to be confronted.
The grass around me started to turn blood red, and the sky became pitch black. The tree slowly lost its leaves, turning into a dead part of my once beautiful field. Only a circle of my field remained around me, like a shield. But then something rose up from the ground. It seemed like me...but wasn't exactly me. It was a he. And all of the clothing is he wore was black, and he had no eyes, instead a bottomless void were in his sockets, flowing with blood and black liquids of corruption. His teeth were long and were like spikes hanging on flesh. His back splits open, with tentacles with blades made out of bone lashed out.
This...is my nightmare.
Celestia has finished lowering the sun below the horizon, and Luna was finished raising the moon above the sky. Luna walked up to Celestia.
"Are you ready for this sister?" Luna warned.
Celestia nodded with no worry in her face whatsoever.
"Alright, then let us do this." Luna sighed.
"Dream scape." Luna whispered.
Luna's horn was enveloped by a dark blue aura as the spell activated. A bright light filled their eyes as they begin to seep into the dream realm. After a few seconds, the light faded away, revealing bubbles of dreams of every living thing. But one standed out from all the rest. In the sky was a giant dream realm, the biggest one Celestia has ever seen. But something was wrong, even Luna knew about that too. The bubble was dark red, and whipsers emanated from the bubble...whisperes of sorrow, anger, fear, and sadism.
"Something is not right. The dream realm didn't look like this when I saw it." Luna had a face of great concern.
Celestia already knew that. The whispers were negative and the realm almost looked like it was corrupted on the outside. Celestia ran to the realm for no reason, with her sister shouting at her not to go in, but she didn't care. She jumped into the dream realm and her eyes widened as she looked at the world around her.
The realm was a grassy field with the color of blood. The sky was pitch black, not even a single point in the sky. In the middle was a tree, dead...with wilting flowers slowly turning to dust. Luna was right behind her, with the same amount of worry on her face.
"Look. Over there." Luna pointed out.
She turned her head and saw two figures in the distance. One wore all white, the other wore all black. The black clothed figure had no eyes, instead...and endless void was in its eye sockets, with blood and corruption flowing down, like tears. The smile was jagged and sharp, perfect for shredding and consuming his victims. Tentacles made out of decaying flesh potruded its back, flailing around with blades made out of bones. And for the first time, Celestia was afraid. The dark and gruesome creature radiated a godly caliber, even Luna was afraid of it. The other creature radiated the same caliber, but in a more gentle way. Celestia looked down to its feet and saw emerald green grass in a small circle. The two creatures stared at eachother, then charged.
I'm tired of fighting. I'm tired of fighting off these nightmares...twelve years of fighting that never stopped. I was tired of it, tired of it all.
I want to wake up.
For as long as I can remember, I fought these nightmares that invade my realm and their hope to destroy my happiness. The horrid creatures are self aware, they aren't mine to control...which means they happen all by themselves and I can't stop them by will.
The nightmare tried to pounce on me, but I rolled out of the way just in time and created a sword in my hand. I slashed at the nightmare with no hesitation and it roared in agony, and for a moment...the world suddenly brightened up back to my creation. But it stopped just as fast, going back to the dying field it is now. I jumped back and pointed my finger at the nightmare.
Celestial arc.
A beam of pure light was shot directly at the nightmare as it took the hit and was engulfed. The beam faded away, revealing nothing. I raised my eyebrow...nightmares never go down easily. I was tackled by the side and I felt something sharp cutting me open. I looked and saw the nightmare slicing up my flesh and eating it. I was afraid...and nightmares fed off fear. But then the nightmare was hit by a dark blue beam, and it flew off me. My body healed instantly as I stood up again, looking up at the nightmare. But before the nightmare could recover, a giant golden magic blade pierced the nightmare, and it stopped moving after a few seconds.
The realm quickly came back to life as the nightmare faded away, making the flowers and the stray petals regian life, and the tree got its leaves back, the sky was no longer black.
I turned around and saw the blue horse again, this time...with a new companion. The other horse was white and a little taller than the blue one. That horse must be her sister...and yes, I did figure out that it was a she.
"Are you alright? Are you hurt?" the white horse said with a big concern in her eyes.
I shook my head as a response.
"What is this creature sister?" the white one asked the blue one.
"I don't know. When I first saw him, I thought he was just lonely. But after that...thing showed up, I don't even know if he even gets peace." the blue one explained the best she can.
The white one looked at me, with even more concern...and this time, worry.
"Tell me, what was that thing?" The white one asked for answers.
I wrote I the air as a golden glow followed my finger.
A nightmare.
Luna and her sister had their eyes widened to the size of dish plates. That was a nightmare?! It looked more like a demon, even the power it gave off was related to a demon! Luna stared into his eyes, seeing a sad, and wanting glow in them.
"What is it that you want?" Luna asked.
The boy wrote again in midair.
I want to wake up.
Luna already knew about this. The boy wanted to wake up because he didn't want to face those nightmares anymore, he just wants a peaceful life without anything harming them whatsoever... that's how every sentient creature wants their life to be.
"Umm...sister? Can you tell me more about this boy?" Celestia questioned.
Luna looked at the boy once again, who is still staring at her with shining curiostiy, looked back at her sister, and began.
"This boy was born in the year two thousand and and somehow went into to a coma when he was twelve years old, and for twelve more years it stayed in that coma."
"But it's physical form is still the same, even after twelve years." Celestia added.
"For that reason...I don't know." Luna shook her head.
"But can we help him out?" her sister reasoned.
Luna placed her hoof on her chin, thinking of a way to help the poor boy. Suddenly, an idea popped in her head.
"Maybe we can transport this boy to Equestria and heal him." Luna planed.
"But, what are we going to do with him after we heal him?" Celestia spoke about the flaw in her plan.
Luna just shrugged.
The two goddesses approached the boy, the boy showed no sign of worry at all to them.
The two lowered their horns, while Celestia's horn glowed a golden aura, Luna's horn glowed midnight blue.
"Healing rift." the two goddesses muttered.
Ribbons of light swirled around the boy, and the boy started to levitate into the air. The ribbons grew larger and spun daster, covering the boy from them. Eventually, the ribbons formed and merged together into a giant bright sphere, and then...the sphere exploded in a bright color spectrum. After the lights faded, the boy was gone.
"Realm shift." Luna whispered.
Their visions became blurry for a moment, and they found themselves back in reality, where the sun was still just a few feet from the horizon.
Celestia walked away instantly to perform her duties, while Luna walked to her room to find the boy again. The boy seemed to be fully awake, and confused too. He completely looked like what he was in his dream, white clothes, eyes the color of sapphire, and black hair. He turned around to see her, where he placed a small smile on his face, and Luna smiled back.
"Welcome to Equestria." Luna greeted.
So...my new name is Dream? Pretty cool name if I say so myself. It has also seemed that the purple unicorn is named Twilight, I think there was a movie named Twilight and a few memes of it on the internet.
"Can you talk?" Twilight asked me.
"Of course I can. I was about to talk anyway." I snorted at her.
Twilight gasped in all out surprise like the entire castle just got hit by a bomb.
"Anyway, I'll be going now...if it's alright with you three." I said shyly.
All three ignored me as Twilight walked to the direction of the library, Luna went back to her room, and Celestia sat on her royal throne. I took that as a yes and slowly walked away, making myself look as casual as possible. I wandered in hallways and rooms, until I found myself what seem to be the training grounds. The soldiers of this castle where bustling in and out, running on track fields, slashing with medieval weapons at straw dummies. I walked across the training grounds, with a few pony soldiers stopping to look at me, only to be yelled at their drill coaches. All of them, except for one...who was giving me an icy stare. For some reason, that soldier felt very familiar, almost like he has been with me my entire life and I never noticed. He was a light brown pegasus, like most of the others, but he had a pair of white eyes, but not the pair that showed that he was blind. His mane was a pale yellow. I continued staring at him, searching for a memory that included him. But he was then yelled at his drill coach and he ran back to the crowd. A white unicorn approached me, and I looked back at him for a while.
"Uh...hello." I greeted shyly.
"Hey, it's nice to meet you." that was very unexpected.
"I was...just wandering on my own and, I was wondering if...I could choose a weapon." I spoke.
"Of course." he smirked, suspiciously.
I walked to a stack of weapons, each one that seem to take my interest. But the thing is, I'm only familiar with the sword since that was the only medieval weapon I've tried. I picked up the sword...it was actually a lot heavier than I expected. I swung it a few times, which was super difficult, and I was already beginning to sweat. I looked up and saw a few of the guards smirking and snickering at me. But the thing is...I didn't care. I was immune to insults, and mockeries. I smiled at them, and they were suprised of my positive attitude, how I had a great amount of determination within me. I continued slashing the blade until I could no longer, and panted...beaded with sweat. I still had the happy attitude smothered across my face, where it caught all the ponies off gaurd. But the world seemed to fade away from me, and soon...everything was black.
"Uhhh...is he alright?" Shining Armor walked over and took a closer look at Dream.
Other ponies edged closer to the boy, occasionally poking him with a stick, which was kind of awkward. Catalyst Blast, the pony that stared at Dream, was the one who was the closest to him, glaring down on the boy. Catalyst glared a bit longer, then placed his hoof on Dream's right eye. Ponies looked at him, then Dream as he stood still, asleep. Catalyst took his hoof away, and frowned...disappointed.
"Captain, I need to take Dream to the princesses. This is critically important." he urged his commander.
Shining Armor bit his lip in confusion, but then nodded, allowing him to go.
Catalyst Blast picked up Dream and placed him on his back, and trotted off into the castle.
Catalyst went to the Grand Hall, and approached the sun goddess, but bowed in respect first before getting closer. Celestia immediately noticed Dream in his back, and spoke.
"What happened to Dream?"
"Dream wore himself out in the training ground, but this isn't the reason why I'm here. I'm here because I need you to use a memory restoration spell, and a mind delve." Catalyst explained.
"And how do you know this?" Celestia raised her eyebrow.
"Because...because...*sigh*, I looked into his memory, and saw that all his memories are shattered." Catalyst confessed.
Celestia didn't look suprised at all. In fact, she looked like it was normal for her to see a pony with this kind of ability.
"Very well then." the sun princess nodded.
Celestia closed her eyes and her horn glowed a golden aura as faint yellow tendrils sprouted from Dream, and gently seeped into her head. She opened her eyes, which now glowed white. And she stayed still, with only her steady breathing showing evidence that she's okay. Catalyst sat down next to them, on gaurd...waiting for this to be finished.
The brightness in Celestia's vision faded away, revealing an empty , and dark mind. Celestia walked around without making the slightest footstep sound. As she wandered, she began to notice colored fragments floating in midair. She continued wandering, and the number of fragments started rising, from a few, to a sea of fragments.
"These must be his shattered memories." Celestia whispered to herself.
She decided to use the memory restoration that Catalyst told her. Once again, her horn developed a golden aura and she pointed to one fragment from the bunch.
"Restoration." Celestia said.
Suddenly, random fragments began piecing together, forming a rectangle. Bit by bit, the repairing memory glowed brighter and brighter. Eventually, all the fragments were placed together and the memory was fully repaired. She played the memory, but what she saw, rocked her to the core.
She was inside a laboratory, where what seemed to be scientists seemed to be inside a room, filled with buttons, panels and switches. But that wasn't what shocked Celestia, what shocked her was the boy, now known as Dream, was in front of them, in a water capsule. Wires were attached to his spinal cord, restraints were on his wrists and feet, making him look like he's floating, wires also were connected to his chest, and his face was covered by a mask. Somehow, Dream seemed to be breathing just fine, but is he feeling pain? Celestia's mouth hung as the scientists pulled a switch, and volts of electricity shot through him, making him twitch madly.
"Stop!" Celestia ran to the scientists.
She attempted to pummel at the scientists to stop Dream's pain, but she passed right through them, and only tumbled in front of him. Celestia sat on her rump as she watched Dream suffer in vast pain. Finally, Dream began to scream in agony.
"Subject X-289 has responded. Now initiating release...remember, this is critical that the subject's life support must be carefully removed." a female scientist warned.
Celestia watched as the water in the chamber was slowly drained, while two scientists stood next to a medical bed right in front of the chamber. The glass slid to the side, and the restraints were deactivated, and Dream flopped onto the bed, motionless as a rag doll, with the wires still attached to his back and chest. Fortunately, the wires across Dream's chest were instantly removed before he fell, showing the needles inside those wires, but he was still bleeding heavily on the bed. Medics rushed over and put massive gauze pads and bandages, strapped to his body with tape. Celestia watched, then almost puked when the medics began to slowly remove the wires from his back, revealing his organs and his spinal cord, dripping with blood and slowly pulsating . Medics immediatley sewed the skin on his back, as he lay there, almost as if he died already. Celestia walked closer as she stared into Dream.
It's just a memory, there's nothing you can do to change it. Celestia reminded herself.
And yet, it felt so real...almost like she was there. Suddenly, her vision started to brighten and soon she faded away from Dream's shattered memories.
Twilight Sparkle was finished her featured studying, and she just came out of the not well lit library with a set of books rotating around her as she gathered multiple pieces of information. As she went inside the Grand Hall, she realized that Celestia was on the floor, unconscious...while Dream sat in front of her, with a dull, but icy glare...with one gaurd next to him. Twilight ran to Dream, and almost crashed into him.
"What just happened to the princess? Tell me! Tell me! TELL ME!" Twilight yelled desperately.
Dream didn't looke fazed at all, due to the fact that Twilight practically just shrieked five inches fom his face.
"Celestia used a mind delve on me while I was unconscious from training. Because he told her to." Dream grunted, eyeing at Catalyst.
Catalyst smirked darkly.
Suddenly, Celestia's eyes fluttered open as she slowly stood up again. She was about to say something, but Dream cut her off.
"Don't. Ever. Look. At. My. Memories. Ever again." Dream gritted his teeth as he pointed out every word.
Celestia understood, but tears flowed through her eyes.
"What did you see in his memory?" Twilight asked.
Celestia stopped sniffing immediately and spoke.
"I saw him...in a laboratory, inside a water capsule. With wires inside him that extended from his body. He was in pain, so much pain. But they released him, and he seemed lifeless. He was bleeding heavily, and he seemed that he was dead." Celestia sniffled a little.
Dream turned away and heaved a sigh. All the ponies in the room gawked at the information Celestia just gave out. How can a little boy survive all that and still have a happy personality?
"What she saw was my first memory. I was part of an experiment that had little chances of survival, but I surpassed. That's all I'm saying, unless you like going insane if you like to experience the rest of my life." Dream said that like it was a joke, but everyone knew he wasn't lying.
"But I do have one question." Dream added."How did Catalyst know I had shattered memories? Oh, and when Celestia restored my first memory, all the others were immediately restored, just to let you know.
Twilight pondered on that question. Suddenly, the answer flashed in her mind.
"Well...Catalyst Blast is actually an experiment. What we did is inject alicorn DNA into him, what were doing now is using a time lapse to see if the alicorn DNA would activate."
"But there's a little voice in my head that keeps nagging at me. And it goes like this." Catalyst began.
In the Age of Dreams, the Star Child shall descend to this earth and unlock the Key.
His Nightmares shall roam, but his light shall stop them.
The world the Star Child is bound to will never perish, but will be eternally protected on his own mind.
"Wait...that seems to connect to something." Twilight began.
"I remember that the experiment we made was called Project Key, specifically created to see if we can mix our abilities with different species. So far, it's still in progress. But what's Star Child?"
Celestia saw Dream's eyes widen as he heard the words Star Child.
"Dream, is there something you know about this...Star Child?" Celestia questioned him.
Dream masked the confusion from his face.
"That's called Project Star Child, the first Project to figure out how to give me abilities. So they gave me the abilities of the gods. I am Project Star Child."
I hated it when Celestia forced me to experience my memories, it brought too much grief and sadness to me. I merely sighed as I walked away, with my back turned to the ponies that now see me differently. I wandered around again and found myself inside a...beer cellar? There were different kinds of alcohol on the neatly ordered shelves, from liquor to vodka, about every type. I've always wanted to try beer before, so I ripped open a box, popped the can, and chugged down. My face buzzed as the sour alcohol flowed into my stomach. Is this what people like today, because this sh*t is horrible...but somehow very addictive. I chugged a few more beers against my will, making my cheeks feel hot.
Suddenly, I lost it.
The world seemed to slow down, and I stumbled out of the cellar, making weird moaning noises as I go on. Somehow, I seemed aware of what I was doing, but I can't stop myself from doing anything. I think Earth's law is I can't drink until I'm 21. And I might be 13. But you know what? I do not give a damn. I made a very sloppy beeline to the door and pushed open to find myself in the Grand Hall again.
Celestia was looking into deep space as her thoughts raced in her head. What's gonna happen to Equestria if threats appear because of him? Will the world accept Dream for who he is? The questions kept invading her head as time passed. Suddenly, a pair of doors flew open, getting everyone's attention. It was Dream, but he looked like he just woke up, and seemed to be slouching.
"Umm...are you alright sir?" a waitress began.
Dream lazily eyed the waitress.
"Y-yeah...I'm fine, you don't n-n-need to worry right...now." Dream said sluggishly.
Dream slammed onto the floor, with foam developing in his mouth and his eyes rolled up to his head.
"Get him to he medic room." a soldier ordered.
Two ponies immediately walked into the hall, put his twitching body on a cot , then walked to he medic room.
Oh man, my head...it hurts so much right now. My eyes opened again to find myself, to what seemed to be a hospital. For a moment, I thought I was in a hospital on Earth...until I replayed the memories, the ones that shouldn't exist, were in my head. I sat up to find an IV bag, with a needle attached to my arm. I relaxed as two nurses entered the room.
"Seems that you had an overdose of alcohol." one nurse explained.
"You're gonna be fine as long as you don't do that again." the second nurse finished.
I nodded and pulled out the needle from my arm. The pain in my head was now a dull throb as I walked back back to the Grand Hall.
I immediately regretted my decision.
Just a few yards away, was something that I never wanted to encounter ever again. It was the machine that the scientists used on me. But this time, different varieties of miniature slicing tools were inside a hole, ready to cut my back open. Celestia and the residents of the castle stared at the machine in confusion, wondering how it got here. But I was both confused and afraid. My heart raced as my instinct told me to run, but a question in my head kept me from doing anything. How is this tjing here? It should be back on Earth, doing absolutely nothing! In the corner of my vision, I saw the two sister and Twilight staring at me as I took short, rapid breaths...and slowly taking a step back.
"Dream, what's wrong?" Luna asked me.
All I managed was to say were two words.
"...The Machine."
"What's 'The Machine'? Is it the device in front of us?" Luna pointed to the Machine.
"Celestia...you saw the Machine in one of my memories, tell your sister about it." I demand.
Celestia was already turning to Luna, with eyes full of deep pain from seeing my suffering.
"The Machine is what Dream was literally, attached to when he was still in Project Star Child. For some reason, it gave him extreme pain if he didn't respond to the scientists that operated it. He was eventually removed from the Machine, and he was bleeding heavily. But I didn't finsh the memory since he stopped me." Celestia explained.
My focus was still on the Machine as she explained to her sister. But I was caught off gaurd as wires lashed out at me and wrapped around my arms and began pulling me toward it.
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH! HEEEELLLLLP MMMMMEEEEE!" Dream screeched as wires tangled onto his legs and pulled him faster . Celestia jumped off her throne and used her magic. A familiar golden glow surrounded Dream as she tried to pull him away from the Machine. But somehow, the Machine gained more power and began to slowly pull Dream, despite the effort Celestia was using. Twilight and Luna supported her and attempted to pull him away. A magenta and dark blue aura piled above the golden one. But no matter how much they tried, the Machine overpowered all three. Luna looked up at Dream as he struggled to break free, with tears pouring as she realized that it's hopeless. The other rwo repeated what she did and all three released their magic grip as the Machine dragged Dream closer. The soldiers tried cutting off the wires, but couldn't even scratch them. Eventually, they were swatted away from another set of wires that lashed out from the machine. Soon, everyone gave up in saving him from his cruel fate, they lowered their heads in defeat, already mourning for the boy. But then, Dream's voice echoed around the room.
Don't cry. Don't worry. Please...don't be sad.
All the ponies looked up to see the boy's eyes glowing white, and the Machine stopped. Dream looked blankly into space as his voice echoed.
Please...don't be sad. his voice repeated.
Suddenly, his body began to glow white, and the Machine broke apart, leaving only a few scraps and wires. His body glowed brighter until it shined brighter than Celestia's sun. A powerful blast of wind knocked the ponies off their hooves. As they got up, the light faded, revealing Dream inside a crater that spreaded throughout the hall.
A medic rushed over and put her ear on his chest. The crowd was silent as she continued for a few more painful minutes.
"He's alive!" she cried.
The crowd boomed in pure joy as the news gave an incredible amount of morale.
"We need to get him to the medic room for a checkup. " she added.
More medics rushed over as they carried him off on a cot, with smiles of happiness.
Ugh...what just happened? Oh wait, I remember the Machine...that horrible Machine. I must've also passed out from fear at the last second. Oh well. My eyes opened automatically to find myself once again in the hospital...and for a moment, I thought that I was back on Earth only for a moment. A few nurses and Catalyst showed up right in front of me, followed by Twilight and Luna. Unfortunately, I think the nurses actually are liking me, occasionally looking at me, give me a faint smile, then returning to work. I get uncomfortable around girls.
"Well, I was actually impressed by what you did." Luna praised me.
"I did what?" I questioned her.
Luna's mouth crashed to the floor, while Catalyst sighed.
"Either way," Catalyst eyed Luna."it was interesting how you have defeated the Machine."
"Uhh...how did I defeat the Machine?" I asked.
"Well, you sort of glowed...then you created a bright light, knocked everypony off their hooves with a blast of wind, and you layed unconscious on the floor. But you did some collateral damage in the Grand Hall, there were no injuries though." Catalyst said.
"But that's not the reason I am here." he continued."The reason why I am here is because I gained a new ability...and I need you as a subject."
"Whoa whoa whoa. I didn't say I could be your lab rat." I grunted.
"I didn't say that. It's only for a moment." Catalyst spat.
Catalyst approached me as I lied down on the bed. He put his hoof on my chest, and he closed his eyes. His hoof gave off a warm green glow as I watched his face. He smiled for a moment, but was replaced by a grim frown. Once he opened his eyes, he began to talk.
"Well, it seems you have more potential than you look." Catalyst smirked.
I tilted my head.
"What do you mean he has more potential than he looks?" Twilight and Luna said in unison.
Catalyst turned to me and began.
"Remember that Dream is a project known as star Child?"
All three of us nodded.
"Well...it seems when I looked one of his memories... Sorry Dream, the scientists thought that he was a failure. What they didn't know, is that he was a success. They just did not know how to unlock it." he finished.
"Wait...so Dream has abilities, but they're sealed inside him?" Twilight spoke.
Catalyst nodded.
"Well, let's get to work then." Luna said.
Dream hopped off the bed and questioned Catalyst.
"How do you even know that I was a success?"
"One of my new abilities is I can see the DNA structure of living organisms. I can also tell if the structure isn't normal." Catalyst explained.
The group wandered into the library and began searching for books, while Dream sat there and waited.
After a few hours of waiting and searching, Twilight found something.
"Hey! I think I found the book we're looking for!" Twilight cried.
Twilight teleported back to the group, with the book in her magic grasp. The group, stared into the pages as she turned the pages.
"Ah, here it is. Contents of forgotten or mythical magic." Twilight cataloged.
"Uh...what does that exactly mean?" says Dream.
"It means this section of the book contains the details of magic that was either considered a myth, or ones that were forgotten long ago." Twilight summed up.
Twilight flipped through a few more pages and found a different spell. On the top, the page spellPotential.
"This spell can help me figure out what abilities Dream has. It's easy to use and doesn't require lots of energy, so this isn't going to be difficult." Twilight explained.
Twilight's horn glowed immediately as the spell activated. Suddenly, Dream flopped to the floor, unconscious...while the other three were unaffected. Dream's body began to float in midair, as a holographic symbol phased behind him.
Suddenly, seven circles appeared in front of him, with one in the center. Each circle had two sets of color, splitting them in half with the palette, while one of the circles had the same color.
"What are these things?" Twilight began to question.
"These are probably the powers that Dream contain." Luna answered.
Luna approached the orange circle first. She pointed her horn towards the circle, and her horn glowed dark blue.
"Unlock." she whispered.
A bright line of light shot from her horn and touched the orange glowing circle. Once the line of light was gone, two arcane circles replaced the empty circle.
Everyone gasped as they comprehended what their seeing.
"Arcane circles are only used to enhance magic to a certain point." Catalyst then looked at Dream." Then how is this boy able to hold such power without it tearing him apart?"
Luna gulped as she unlocked the second circle, revealing ones that are completely different.
"What are you doing?" a voice spoke behind them.
All three turned around to see Celestia as she observed them, with eyes that could melt steel.
"Umm...were just figuring out a...few things." Luna tried the best she can to look brave.
Celestia just shrugged and continued to spectate. A few more beams of light shot from Luna's horn, and all seven circles were unlocked.
"Fire, explosive, wind, energy, earth, metal, ice, water, soul, dark, poison, thunder, and light." Celestia listed. "Why are these arcane circles here anyway?"
The truth instantly hit her in the head, like a giant block of iron.
"Are these the abilities that Dream has?" she spoke.
Twilight slowly nodded as she continued watching the events unfold.
Suddenly, the fourteen arcane circles went to the center and began to fuse together, then a different circle appeared.
Four life forms detected five yards from Star Child. Please register. a feminine voice echoed from the circle as it glowed.
All four ponies raised their eyebrows as they thought of the word 'register'.
"Oh...I get it now. It means that it requires our identification." Twilight exclaimed.
"My name is Twilight Sparkle...this is Catalyst Blast, Luna, and Celestia." Twilight pointed to each pony in the room.
Life forms registered. Now activating Aegis Core.
The circle suddenly flashed in a bright light, then fading away with a bright blue sphere. The sphere immediately fused into Dream...and he finally woke up. For a few moments, he didn't say anything...then he threw his arms up into the air.
"WOOHOO! I FEEL AWESOME!" Dream screamed at the top of his lungs.
Dream then accidentally launched himself into the air, and crashed through the roof of the library, giving a ray of bright light. Eventually, Dream crashed to the ground, motionless. The four ponies walked over and took a look at him. He seemed to be bleeding from his nose, but Catalyst shrugged it off.
"I'm sure he'll be fine." Catalyst walked away.
The other three pretended to not notice and walked away, whistling and looking ignorant.
I woke up again to see myself in the library, with a giant ray of light shinig down upon me. I somehow felt...different, so to speak. I felt more alive, and happy. My face was in pain, so I looked down to find a drop of blood slithering down my face. I wiped off the blood and walked outside the library, pretending that I was never there. I walked into the Grand Hall...with the most unexpected thing in the world, and the ponies were staring at it too.
In the midde of the Grand Hall, was a bright, yet able to see through light. In the middle of that light stood seven familiar beings, each one looking almost like me. They stared down at me, with limitless power in their eyes. They stared at me for a little while longer, then at the ponies. In the middle of the confusion, the seven divine beings floated down. Suddenly, the light faded away, revealing the details. All seven of them had the same skin color, and hair style as me...but the eye color and hair color. The first one I saw had eyes that were blood red, the second had icy blue eyes, the third one had neon green eyes, the fourth had pale blue eyes, the fifth had eyes mixed with turquoise and emerald green, the sixth had eyes that almost seem like gold color, and the sixth one had bright yellow eyes. Their hair was different...the third had black hair, just like mine...only in a darker tone, while the others had, while the first had white hair, the second...silver, the fourth had light blue hair, the fifth...yellow, sixth...orange, and the seventh...gray.
"Do not be alarmed. We do not mean harm to this earth." the first being spoke in a suspiciously calm tone.
"What are these things? And why do they look just like Dream?" Celestia whispered under her breath.
"No...they shouldn't exist." a voice quivered.
Celestia turned around to see Dream, who was down to his knees...crying in confusion and happiness. Celestia slowly walked over to Dream, while the seven entities had their eyes on her.
These beings have more power than me, my sister, and my most powerful unicorns combined...no, wait...they have the power to match a god, each one of them. Celestia thought grimly.
Celestia eventually realized she was right next to Dream, she lowered her head and whispered to him.
"Dream, do you know about these beings?" Celestia muttered to him.
"...Protectors of Creation." Dream quivered.
"You are right Creator. We are the Protectors of Creation. " the fourth being said.
"Who is Creator?" Celestia whispered to Dream.
"Me...I'm their Creator." he whimpered.
"HOW ARE YOU THEIR CREATOR?!" Luna yelled at him using her royal Canterlot voice.
Dream winced a little, and the seven beings tensed. The one with gold hair snapped his fingers, and an arcane circle appeared right below her.
"You shall not harm Creator in any way." the sixth being said like every word is a threat.
"It's alright Nova...they're friends." Dream replied.
"Wait, can you tell us who they are?" Celestia said.
Dream cleared his throat.
"The seventh being is Aero, master of the wind and energy. The sixth is Nova, master of fire and explosives. The fifth being is Terra, master of earth and metal. He fourth is Spirit, master of the soul. The third is Anarchy, master of the dark, and poison. The second...is Tundra, master of the ice and water. And the first, is Genesis, master of light and thunder." Dream explained.
"Wait..I saw those fourteen arcane circles when we were unlocking your abilities. Why are these seven beings representing those fourteen elements?"
"Celestia...do you remember the final circle that Twilight unlocked?" Nova questioned.
Celestia reeled back as her said her name, but she forced down her suprise and nodded. Anarchy began to speak.
"That was the seal a therapist forced Creator to make...locking us away. So we were forced to stay dormant, until the time is right. But back then, therapists didn't have this kind of technology back then, so they make their patients create a barrier between reality and fantasy. But when Twilight unlocked the final seal, she unleashed our Creator's inner power."
"The ability to make fantasies of his imagination real." Celestia finished.
Suddenly, the seven divine beings had their eyes opened a little wider.
"New objective from Creator. Create Olympus and the Cygnus solar system." they said in unison. The bright light from earlier started to glow, surrounding them.
"Remember this Creator." Genesis reminded. "Your power now resides with both day and night...you now no longer have limits."
And instantly...they disappeared.
A few minutes ago...
Catalyst was writhing on the bed, in agony. Twilight Sparkle gritted her teeth as she restrained him and attempted scans simultaneously with her magic. Luna walked into the room.
"What is wrong with him Twilight Sparkle?" Luna asked.
"I don't know! He doesn't have any anomalies...internally and externally." Twilight panicked due to the lack of knowledge.
Almost like he just died...he stopped moving, then stood back up, comepletely silent. The two waited, eventually getting a response.
"Sigma Core activated. Beta system...active." Catalyst said dully.
Luna puts a hoof on his back, she asked,
"Are you alright?"
Catalyst shook his head and blinked a few times...then looked at the two in confusion.
"What happened?" he asked them.
"U-uhh...nothing." Luna lied."
Catalyst nodded and simply left.
"Celestia, may I ask you a question?" I asked her.
"Of course Dream, what is it?" she said
"Is imagining considered the same thing as dreaming?" I spoke.
"Yes it is. Both imagining and dreaming are pretty much the same thing." Celestia answered.
Then Celestia came up with another question.
"Tell me...why did those seven beings call you 'Creator' and why are they so powerful?"
Dream sighed and explained.
"Remember they said Twilight unlocked the final seal, and they said that they unlocked my inner power? They were talking about the project Star Child...you know, the project that I'm from. Those seven circles were unlocking my power, and giving back my imagination.
It seems that my power is to create, and use other powers. So, both my mind simultaneously created my Protectors and gave back my imagination. They called me Creator because in my mind, they originated from me. The other reason why they're so powerful is because almost all of their essence is from a god...which in this case, me."
Celestia nodded as she listened intently.
"Anyway, I'll be going to the training grounds." I then started to walk away.
Suddenly, one final question popped into Celestia's head.
"Wait! How did you get into that coma when Luna found you.?!" she shouted to me across the hallway.
I turned around and answered.
"My nervous system was decaying!"
I found myself in the middle of the training grounds, thinking about how my powers should work. Then an idea struck me...let's try thinking about a sword and see if it appears. Since everyone is ignoring me, this shouldn't be hard since I can't work under pressure.
I began to think about an awesome and powerful sword. Suddenly, arcs of light swirled in front of me, catching everyone's attention. A weak blast of wind destroyed and scattered the arcs of light revealing the blade that I thought of.
The blade was floating in midair, waiting for me to grasp it. I reached out and grabbed the hilt, the magic that held it afloat disappeared, but my grip didn't falter. It was amazingly light. I swung the blade, using almost no effort at all.
"Now...what shall I name you?" I asked myself.
"I know, I'll name you...Apollo." I concluded.
The sword immediately gained a light blue lining around the blades, radiating some heat. I got confused and swung the sword at one of the dummies. The dummy was sliced from the torso, then immediately setting on fire. All the ponies gasped as I did something else.
The same ribbons of light swirled around me, then revealing a set of armor with metallic wings on my back.
"Well...this is very impressive." I muttered to myself.
The wings seemed like there were a part of me, responding to my mind by moving. I liked this armor...so I decided to wear it for a while, but I had to contract my wings because the entrance too small. Once I was inside, I spread my metal wings again...that's also when the other ponies inside freaked out and began scrambling away from me. I walked into the Grand Hall, and the same thing happened...except for Celestia, who figured out what I was and began asking.
"Dream, why are you scaring my subjects?"
"Is it really that scary?" I replied.
"Apparently it is." Celestia sighed.
I was slightly embarrassed so I made the armor and the blade disappear in a flash of light. Suddenly, I saw something in the corner of my eye.
"What is that?" Dream said, pointing to a small plastic bag filled with flour.
Celestia took notice as Dream walked over to the flour on the floor.
"Wait, you shouldn't-" it was too late.
Dream picked up the bag and opened it. He eyed the bag in all directions, but then made the mistake of sniffing it. Dream dropped the bag, then started shaking violently and ended on the floor, with his eyes rolled up and what seemed like urine leaking from his pants, and foam began developing in his mouth.
Twilight walked into the Grand Hall to find him lying down on the floor, with a small bag of white powder next to him. She went closer and levitated the mysterious bag of powder, and began examining it, then looking at Dream...then back at the bag.
" Cocaine." was the first thing that Twilight said.
Twilight used her magic and burned up the bag, with no trace of it whatsoever. Then she levitated Dream and went to the hospital.
I opened my eyes to see that I'm inside my dream realm, inside a room with nothing inside. I walked around a little, and stepped on a pad that blended in with the floor. Suddenly, the walls began to lower...revealing something I never wanted to see.
The room was built for a psychopath, the one thing that conquers my fear of death. Tables were filed along, with medical tools and diffwrent weapons of toture. Blood was splattered across the walls...while some messages were written in it.
You can't escape me.
So much pain.
Help us.
These were only the few of the messages. A small tug on my shirt caught my attention, revealing a boy that looked just like me, the only difference is that his eyes were red like blood.
"Creator...do not be afraid. I am a gift from Genesis." the boy spoke.
For a moment I was confused...until I realized what he actually is. A part of Genesis, given to me to protect my body and mind...just in case. Basically, he is a second layer of defense and attack. I nodded in acceptance.
"You won't be able to wake up if you we don't become one first." the boy added.
I nodded again. I stretched out my right hand, and he stretched out his, we grabbed our palms and brought ourselves closer...both of us staring, eye to eye..
"Let us be one. Share our harmony, our happiness...our power. Let us be one. Humanity synchronize!" we chanted.
The room instantly glowed in a blinding light. And my realm of fantasy soon faded from existence.
I found myself inside a one room clinic, instead of the hospital. Right on a chair was Twilight, who was shocked at me for some reason.
"What?" I spat.
"Y-your eye." she stuttered.
"What about my eye?" I asked.
She didn't need to answer me. I instantly hopped off the bed and looked at myself in a mirror next to the door. My eyes widened to see my left eye.
It was red.
"Hmmm...this seems slightly different than the first time I got this." Dream said.
"What?! This is your second time?!" Twilight exclaimed loudly.
"Yeah...the first was actually temporary." Dream confessed.
"Anyway, where is Catalyst?" Dream asked.
Twilight didn't say anything.
"Oh well...I'll find him him later." then Dream left.
Twilight sighed in relief. She casted her magic and a mirror appeared, seeing one of the unicorn scientists inside a laboratory.
"How's Catalyst doing?" Twilight questioned the scientist.
"He's not doing too well. His temperature is rising dangerously." the scientist informed.
"Have you done any DNA scans yet." Twilight added.
"We're doing that right now, it may take a few minutes because we need multiple samples of DNA." The scientist answered.
Twilight nodded and dissolved the mirror and went after Dream.
Meanwhile in the laboratory...
Catalyst was strapped to a table, his limbs shaking uncontrollably and panting heavily. One scientist was taking a few syringes and taking blood samples. Another scientist was monitoring his vital systems through multiple scanners. One of the scientists finished collecting blood samples and placed them in petri dishes. Then he placed them under a microscope and observed the DNA.
"Huh...it seems like the alicorn DNA is taking over."
In response, Catalyst moaned in pain. Suddenly, Catalyst's body jerked upward as he screamed in agony. He then began thrashing around as something began to grow from his forehead. It slowly grew upward, as the skin morphed with it. Once it was grown about four inches above his face, the skin made a spiral mark around it. Once it was over...Catalyst was heaving air.
All the ponies in the room had their mouths drop to the floor. A scientist released him from the straps and he flopped to the floor, conscious but motionless. He was still the same, but mostly different. His wings were a little bit bigger, a horn was now protruding his head, and his cutie mark disappeared. He managed to slowly get up. He began examining himself, then noticed that his cutie mark was gone and he now gained a horn on his forehead. He gasped in suprise and looked at the scientists in worry. The scientists nodded calmly and opened the doors for him. And then he began walking to the Grand Hall.
I weaved my way to the Grand Hall and approached Celestia, and somehow knew what was on my mind.
"You're wondering where Catalyst is?" she guessed.
My eyes widened a little in suprise.
"Well apparently he's not-" Celestia didn't finish her answer.
The entire room went silent...with only a set of hooves making noise. Everyone in the room, including me, was turning our heads to see Catalyst, but only in a different form. He almost seemed normal...until we realized that he now has a horn on his head, and the weird butt symbol was gone. Then I remembered to ask a question about the butt symbol.
"Celestia, what is the weird butt symbol on all the ponies?" I began.
Celestia almost about to make the offended face on me, but she stopped herself and answered.
"Well, the weird symbol on our flanks are called cutie marks. Cutie marks are supposed to represent our special talent. Ri now Catalyst Blast doesn't have a cutie mark because his talent was now changed. And since he's now an alicorn, that means his special talent will be in magic."
Eventually, she began to notice my red eye.
"Dream, what happened to your eye?" Celestia gasped.
"Oh..it was just a gift, I'll explain in time." I stalled.
"Anyway, we should let him start training with magic." Celestia said.
Celestia hopped off her throne and I walked beside her. Catalyst noticed us and had a worried looked on his face. Once we approached him, he began speaking.
"My name is not Catalyst anymore isn't it." Catalyst was looking worried and sad.
Celestia and I stared at eachother for a few seconds, then looked at him again.
"Well...since you gained a new form, you should be named something else." Celestia was trying to cheer him up.
Horny should be his name. I thought as a mischievous crept onto my face.
"What is it Dream?" Celestia's voice brought me back to reality.
"Uh...nothing." I lied.
We all guessed a few more names...then Catalyst came up with the perfect one.
"How about...Delta." Catalyst said.
Both the sun princess and I nodded, accepting his new name nad his new form.
I was in the middle of the training grounds once again, with some of the soldiers staring at me...like a crowd. I placed my palm on my left eye. I knew it was red, and I knew it was a gift from one of my Protectors...but I never actually used it. I've kept that to myself...even when I told part of the truth to Twilight. I sighed and began to concentrate, searching inside my consciousness. I continued my scan, looking at the regions of emotion and knowledge...but no luck. Eventually I looked into my sub consciousness and there it was. It gave out a massive aura of power, but it also held anger and rage...to a point where it seemed it was angry at all of existence. I reached out to it, and suddenly, it gave me new power. Memories of endless slaughter and incredible power flooded my mind, at the same time I saw and felt how to fight like them.
"Blood Lust." I whispered.
A blade suddenly materialized on my hand, except this time it came from a red sphere than imploded once it touched my palm.
I dematerialized the blade in a sphere of darkness, and tried something else.
"Ion Armor." I whispered.
Holographic copies of my imaginary armor appeared around me. Then the images were enveloped in a bright blue light. Once the light dissipated, it revealed the armor in the exact anatomy...then they began clinging onto me until it was complete.
Ponies around me began staring at me in curiosity, then moved their vision to the white unicorn.
"Sorry if we haven't greeted each other correctly. My name is Shining Armor, captain of the Royal Guard. And you must be Dream I suppose." he introduced himself.
I nodded, but Shining Armor diverted his attention to my armor.
"This is a strange armor you're wearing, what's it called?" he asked.
"Ion Armor." I said.
"Well, exactly how-" my ears suddenly went deaf.
My eyes began wandering around, looking for the source...but a static voice echoed in my head.
Help...me...I...need flesh. it whispered.
I instantly knew what it wanted.
It wanted me.
I dematerialized my armor and nulled my senses. Once that was done, I suddenly stabbed my eye with my finger, with hot blood spraying everywhere...making ponies scream in terror around me.
I made my finger rip through the flesh that kept my eye in place, and then felt the end of my eye socket. I placed the rest of my hand on my eye and pulled as hard as I could. Pieces of flesh were trying to keep my eye in place...but then was brutally ripped apart by the strength I enhanced, I even made the remaining veins snap in half, with also a little bit of my face. I threw my eye on the ground and materialized a hammer, then smashed the eye as hard as I could. It flattened like a pancake, except with blood exploding from all directions and then...demonic worms were slowly slithering away. In disgust, I created a flamethrower and burned all of the demonic worms until all that was left was a grain of ash.
"What just happened?" says a voice.
We all turned our heads to see Delta and Twilight staring awkwardly at my empty eye socket, and one person that looked exactly like what I dreamed about.
"Who are you?" Dream questioned.
"Don't you remember?" said the twin like boy.
Dream's eye suddenly lit up.
"Wait, aren't you Rage?" Dream guessed.
The boy now known as Rage simply nodded.
Dream noticed that his blood was all over the floor...so he whispered something to himself, and the blood inched back into his eye socket by large amounts...then the raw tissue regenerated back into and eyeball. Rage looked like he's seen this done before, while the ponies around them had their mouth opened extremely wide, as if their waiting for a water melon to be shoved down their throat. Suddenly, Rage disappeared in a pitch black hole in the ground, and Dream's left eye was red once again. Twilight was the first to recover and told Dream some news.
"Dream, tell me...how would you like to decorate for this year's Grand Galloping Gala?" Twilight said.
Dream made a face that looked like she just offended him.
"What?" Dream gawked.
"Oh I forgot, you don't know all of our accustoms yet. Well, the Grand Galloping Gala is a yearly event where ponies all around the world can go if they have a ticket. Though...the crowd is mostly made of high class ponies, and there aren't many middle class ponies." Twilight spammed her knowledge.
"So...it's basically the world's largest tea party?" Dream summed up.
Twilight blinked.
"Yes...sort of?"
Dream placed a gentle smile across his face.
"Well...I'll make sure they get something they'll never forget." he beamed.
I sprinted into the hallway and teleported all of the ponies to the entrance. Then they stared at me as I created a transparent barrier, then started the real work. I imagined how my version of the Gala will look like. Chaos ensued as the structures features and a bunch of other stuff as they took place. Finally, after probably five minutes of intense planning...I began my project. I pointed at the floor as it began to disappear, leaving a bottomless pit in the ground. But I was still standing, mainly because the floor has now became five feet of clear glass. I added a second feature, a circle was right below my feet, with moving parts.
I actually don't know what it is for, even though everyone who enters the Gala will have this under their hooves...but I'll just say that it's a data circle, used for gathering data, processing data, encrypting data...anything that a computer could do, this circle could do better. But I added another feature to this circle...I can use it as a weapon, by copying data and giving it a physical form and launching it at my targets, while it can also create weapons and enhance them. For a moment I almost added angels to support the roof instead of a pegasus...well I had to add the pegasus columns for this world's sake. I created holographic sentinels for information uses. I rose up my hand and I moved Celestia's mighty throne to the left...and rose up from the depths of nothing, was Luna's throne on the right. I snapped my fingers and to banners unfurled themselves. The sun and the moon...in their correct sides. I replaced the roof with symmetric coloring, including the walls in beautiful symmetry. I did one final major detail, I pointed at the floor where I was in front of the two thrones and created a podium large enough for me to stand on.
Now to add some minor features.
I pointed at each column as multiple square speakers were created inside. The sound of the speakers will not falter due to me making the sound being able to travel through all types of solid matter. I raised my hands up to the roof and more data circles appeared...this time, giving off a gentle and warm light. Then, I placed the tables in the center of the rooms in rows, while I had my own a few feet behind the podium.
I am finished.
I released the barrier and looked at the ponies as they rushed into the room with wide eyes, like a group of kids on their first field trip. Even Celestia...who usually has a calm face had her eyes bulging from her head, while Luna was occasionally ordering the chefs to prepare the food, then staring at my work for a few minutes. While I was sitting, watching as the ponies did their jobs...many questions were buzzing in my head. Ever since the seal has been broken, I have gained divine power, I can now do anything I want, without the fear of death...but why am I here? I looked at Luna and Celestia as the question rung in my head, I know that they sended me here...but what can I do now, since I gained such power? The answer was right inside my head.
Protect them.
I see why now. Their military power is only medieval, so comparing to Earth's military...they don't stand a chance. Unless if I'm underestimating them, after all...they do have unicorns, which have the ability to use magic, and the pegasus who can control the weather. But there are things out there that can even crush the most powerful armada. Then what will stand up to those beings? Me, my Protectors, and the Olympus itself. I designed the Protectors to gaurd any developing planets and civilizations, while Olympus takes down any warlike civilization that will eventually, or now pose as a threat to the universe since they have superhuman abilities, godlike technology, and an endless armada. They can switch purposes too, or they can do both...this includes me too. Suddenly, my mind went dark...thinking about how I could destroy this species and create something else with their flesh. I began creating darker thoughts...as they descended deeper into my dark fantasies. Eventually, my mind has gone far enough, I gathered up my will and brought my mind back to reality. I wandered around mindlessly around the Grand Hall, thinking of what to do next. That's when I remembered what to do.
I need to get ready for the performance.
The sun was beginning to set on the horizon as I sat under the Tree just outside the Castle in the garden. My mind began to slow down as my eyes became heavy, telling me to sleep. I tried to fight off my weariness, but the warmth of the sun made it impossible to stay awake any longer. I closed my eyes and seeped into my dream.
I saw myself inside the castle, performing a slightly different role. Ponies around me smiled in happiness as I made their wishes come to life. But as they smiled, the walls behind me exploded, creating instant chaos as their wishes faded from reality. The scene changed as I saw the world around me...burning and everything in rubble. In front of me...corpses of the innocent laid before my eyes, including Luna, Celestia, Twilight, and Delta. Amongst the horizon, an army forged it's way towards the castle in all directions...with a menacing laugh rippled through the shattered world. I opened my eyes back to reality, where Twilight had her hoof on my shoulder. Her mouth was probably about to speak until I woke up.
"Hey, it's almost time for the Grand Galloping Gala to start, are you ready yet?" she says.
I nodded grimly...it was already night, with the moon high in the sky, I followed Twilight...thinking about my little nightmare as I sneaked around the castle with Twilight to my custom made entrance. I peeked outside the door, to see Celestia and Luna greeting all the ponies attending the Gala. I didn't want to interrupt them, so Twilight and I waited as we peeked behind the door.
2 hours later...
"Twilight?" I turned my attention to Twilight as she chewed on a few cupcakes...when she lost interest on the first hour.
"Yes?" Twilight's voice was muffled as she chewed on another cupcake she stuffed in her mouth.
"How long is this going to take?" my body began to slouch.
"Don't worry, the last of the guests should be finished greeting the two about now." Twilight placed another cupcake in her mouth.
As if right on cue...Luna began announcing.
"Welcome to this year's Grand Galloping Gala!" Luna declared.
The crowd boomed in cheer.
"Well...I should be with my friends for now, I wish you good luck on this one!" Twilight left me in order to join her friends.
"If you were wondering how we were able to do this all in one week...let me tell you, we didn't do this." Celestia exclaimed to the crowd.
The ponies started whispering to each other in wonder of who could do this in one week.
"But to tell you the truth, this person did all this in one day." says Luna
Half of the ponies oohed and awed in wondering what person could do all...this in such short amount of time.
"Let us make sure that he feels welcome to our world." Luna then raised her hoof to me.
"Well...it's time to start." I told myself.
I created a data circle on the floor as I enveloped my body in a graceful light, making myself more unearthly than I usually look. I made a slight poke at the door, and it flew open...directing all of their attention to me. I slowly stepped forward as the data circle follow me...I hopped onto the giant podium that I somehow regret placing here because it looks weird. The light around me faded as I place my hands behind my back. The ponies stared at me as I forced myself to take a bow.
"It is a great honor to serve under the holders of the sun and moon." I don't know why I said the whole 'honor' thing.
"I am Dream...creator of Olympus and seer of worlds." I made half of the stuff up.
"Now, in order to let the event begin, I need all of you to stay calm...is this alright with all of you?" I say." What is this? "
Some of the ponies whispered to each other of what I might do, but most of them agreed.
"Alright...let us begin." I announced.
I raised my hands in the air.
"Engage Universal System!" I exclaimed.
Data circles began to flash beneath the ponies, surprising them. The circles began levitating them as a bluish light glowed from them. The light flashed brighter and brighter, and suddenly...they were gone.
I knew what was going to happen. I turned around and saw Luna and Celestia as they looked at me with serious faces. The two slid off their thrones and stood behind me.
"What did you do to our subjects?" Celestia was the first to say.
"Don't worry," I responded. "I put each one of them in a custom made pocket dimension, except for Twilight and her friends...and people who have good connections with each other."
Then I remembered something.
"Hey...do you two want to be part of the Master System?" I asked them.
"What is this 'Master System' you speak of?" Luna began.
I mentally face palmed.
"Well...to explain it simply, the Master System was created to be the ultimate monitor and commanding unit." I explained.
The two sisters took in the information I gave them and nodded at me.
"Good," I said. " Let's begin."
I pointed at the empty Hall, then traced a circle in a light blue glow.
"Activate Master System...trio!" I shouted.
A giant symbol appeared behind us, with transparent wings that were huge.
Data circles repeated the process that happened to the guests. The circles began to keep us afloat, then shining the bluish light upon us, then eventually disappearing.
Celestia and Luna were extremely confused of what just happened. To them, it seemed they've just been teleported to an alternate dimension...but what actually happened was they're now inside a web like world, with the realms connected together by strings of immense energy. In front of them was Dream, who seemed to be observing all of them, one by one in a dome of holographic images. The two sisters approached him, but he started talking like he knew they was there the entire time.
"Hey, may I tell you something?" he asked, not taking his eyes off the multiple images.
"Umm...yes?" Celestia said.
"Can you implant the instructions to the other guests since the instructions are implanted to your heads?" Dream said.
"Don't worry...the instructions of how to copy those memories are in your head as well." Luna entered the holographic dome and saw that his eyes were moving a thousand miles per hour.
Luna walked out of the holographic sphere and explained to her sister.
He's monitoring everything at once...so he's busy. Luna mouthed.
Oh...that explains a lot. Celestia responded.
The two princesses looked into their memories to see if anything was out of the ordinary...and they found something, a memory that wasn't supposed to be there. For some reason, it felt very familiar, almost like it was in their head throughout their lives, except they knew that this memory is foreign. The two sisters ordered simultaneously,
"Computer...activate profile Gamma-829."
Two pairs of arm like mechanisms appeared out of nowhere and aimed a camera like device at their faces.
"Initiate." they commanded.
The camera devices suddenly flashed a bright light, temporarily revealing their nervous systems. After a few more seconds of the light flashing in their eyes, the light dimmed and a message appeared as a hologram.
Memory instructions copied.
Would you like to send to all 3,000 guests?
On the bottom laid a check mark and an X. Luna eyed Celestia, not knowing what to do...but Celestia knew what needs to be done. She walked to the hologram and pressed the check. In an instant, multiple streams of energy flowed into the web like structure, shining brighter than the glowing strings. Luna zoomed in as she stared into the pocket dimensions. The guests were either confused, afraid, or just stared into deep space. Some of them even tried pounding on the walls, thinking they can escape this universe. That's what they did until the files seeped into their brains harmlessly. Their faces were dawned with realization as they began to look around them in awe and wonder.
That's when the chaos began.
Ponies in each dimension began creating structures that were obvious, or sometimes unique. Some were even fighting each other with super powers, while others were a little...naughty. Meanwhile, Dream...who has been quiet for a while, was pale from seeing the...naughty...images.
"I...need to get lunch." he said before disappearing.
God that was gross! I think I just scarred my mind a little, oh well doesn't matter. I managed to keep my food in my stomach as I stumbled over to my food, and ate as many hotdogs as I can, trying to get the disgusting images out of my head. After I managed to stuff myself to satisfaction, I sat down on the giant podium...listening to the soothing music that echoed throughout the room. For a moment I thought I heard some buzzing like noises coming from outside, but eventually faded away as I stood up. Curious, I peeked out the windows...and saw small shadows moving in the distance, and they seemed to be getting closer. I gained a greater amount of curiosity as I ran out of the Grand Hall and stopped myself at the Garden. I looked up, and millions of little black dots swarmed across the sky. But the one that stands out of all of them, was a giant green glow that pierced the darkness. I squinted at the glowing light, but some thing was coming towards me. I flipped barely in time as a greenish beam merely came in contact with my shirt, dissolving a little bit of the sleeves. I sprinted as fast as I could back to the Grand Hall, and activated the Master System.
"Computer, engage system lock down." I commanded
A low vibrant hum filled the room, signaling me that the process is complete.
And just like in my little nightmare, the walls exploded behind me...but I am prepared to face whatever it is.
A creature stepped forward from the rubble. I stared blankly at the creature, confused. It would've been cuter if it didn't look so threatening. The fur it had was black, and the hooves had holes everywhere, like cheese. Fangs were sticking out of it's mouth, and had insect wings on the side. The eyes were like a snake's, which was the color of emerald and the hair reminded me of seaweed. It also had a crooked horn sticking out from it's forehead. I wanted to go easy on this creature, due to the fact that I don't have a good reason to fight it with all my might.
I raised up my hand as three spheres of immense energy materialized, orbiting my hand. I hurled the spheres at the creature, and it managed to dodge easily by teleporting in a short distance, a few yards before me. Huh, so it can use magic, and it's not mindlessly stupid. I calmed myself and began to question the creature.
"What are you exactly?" I wasn't completely sure if this thing can talk, but I gave it my best shot.
"I am Chrysalis, queen of the Changelings." it responded.
So this Chrysalis is the queen of the so called changelings , then why are they here?
I questioned her again,
"Tell me, why are you here for?"
"We are creatures that feed off of love...and it seems that this world has more love than any other planet we've invaded." Chrysalis licked her lips, showing off her forked tongue.
Somehow, I don't want to figure out what love their talking about.
"I am sorry, I cannot allow you to do that." I materialized a blade and pointed it at her.
Chrysalis seemed a little surprised that I can materialize weapons. But she recovered from her slight shock and fired more shots at me, but I managed to put a force field just in time. But I put my force field down too early...Chrysalis immediately took the opening and fired the same beam of energy, which hit me directly in the chest. I wasn't able to null my pain in time, as it put me in shock. The pain was too much for me to handle, and I slipped away from reality...with the haunting laughter of Chrysalis being the last thing I heard.
A huge blaring sound filled the dimensions as words orbited around them. A dull male voice spoke, repeating the words over and over.
WARNING! WARNING! ALPHA COMMANDER HAS LOST CONNECTION TO UNIVERSAL SYSTEM! COMMENCING EVACUATION! SHUTTING DOWN ALL SYSTEMS IN 5 MINUTES!
"W-what's happening?!" Twilight began pacing in one place, feeling tense.
"Something must've happened when Dream was in the Grand Hall." Luna summed up.
"But how do we evacuate all of our guests?" Celestia reminded them of their second problem.
Luna knew what to do.
"Computer...activate emergency evacuation protocol F-45." Luna ordered.
In a flash of light, the guests began disappearing, one by one. At the same time, the little dimensions were destroyed after the guests were evacuated. Eventually, it came down to them...and the process repeated itself. Once everybody left, the system self-destructed, then it seized from existence.
Luna, Celestia, and Twilight had their mouths gaping open as their vision cleared. Dream was lying on the floor, with a small pool of blood, slowly growing. Standing in front of him was Chrysalis, who was laughing her head off. Celestia clenched her teeth in anger. Chrysalis noticed her face.
"Ah, hello Celestia...it's been quite a while." Chrysalis smiled evilly.
"What are you doing here Chrysalis?" Celestia growled.
Chrysalis walked over to her, eye to eye. Chrysalis began to talk,
"You want to know why? I've been planning to take revenge on you ever since Mister Shiny and his mare friend casted me and my army out with a shield." she flicked her tongue at Shining Armor.
Shining Armor, who was in front of the crowd, shivered in disgust.
"Don't think I'll allow you to do that." Clestia's horn was charged up with a golden glow.
Chrysalis chuckled.
"Don't you remember? You lost to me when I first fought you." Chrysalis reminded.
The princess remembered immediately...the memory pained her.
"Don't worry sister, I'll help you this time." Luna stepped in front of her sister, ready to take on Chrysalis.
"I'm in." Twilight spoke as she walked over.
"I'm in too." Delta jumped in the way of all of them, in a fighting stance.
"Delta! You know you don't know battle magic yet!" Twilight informed.
"I don't care! Either with magic or without it, I will fight with all I've got!" the crowd cheered and decided to join the defense.
Guards eventually took nearly all the space, only leaving a small circle for Dream.
Tension rises as the two armies waited for a move to happen. Eventually, a pony yelled,
"Attack!"
The two armies then charged at each other.
The room was complete chaos. Ponies around were going crazy at fighting, from physical combat, to magic, to flipping tables...sometimes they even catapult themselves at their opponents! Meanwhile, the changelings tried to swarm them, but the mane six and Delta made sure they didn't do that. Except for Fluttershy, who was crippling in the corner of the hall in fear. Both of the princesses were blasting the changelings form the sky, causing them to die in a bloody, green explosion...at the same they were dodging the blasts of energy Chrysalis launched at them. As the fight went on, the ponies were slowly wearing out, while the changelings kept replacing their spots.
They were outnumbered by the thousands.
"There's way too many of them to handle." Twilight informed, then turning to see that half of the guards and citizens were unconscious and too beaten up to fight, including Delta.
The princesses were too distracted to pay attention. Chrysalis charged her horn up and shot a massive arc of energy at them. The two were engulfed by the massive beam of green energy...and everyone could hear the princesses scream, even when the arc emitted a blaring sound. The morale of the ponies went downhill as the arc of intense energy faded, leaving the princess unconscious.
The two goddesses have been defeated.
Chrysalis let out an evil laugh, then smiled viscously as it signaled that she had won.
Meanwhile in the dream realm...
My eyes opened to see myself in a simple white room, with furniture that was harmonious in color. The door was on the left, so I slid off the bed and opened the door. It was sunny, with half of the doors made of glass. It Looked like a condo, the ones that you find in Hawaii. But as I admired the house, going around rooms and seeing the beach outside, a man came inside the house.
"Ah, there you are." he had a soothing voice.
He had a white skin and gray hair, mixed with white. He also wore a white toga, like a roman. His skin barely had any wrinkles, but I decided not to question it. For some reason, I really trust this man...it's like he's the most perfect father for any kid. He walked outside, and I followed him. The sun was high in the sky, making the sea look lime green. The man sat down on a chair, and I sat next to him...with no regret whatsoever.
"Please listen child, I do not have much time to talk with you." all my attention went to him.
"I want to apologize." he said.
Well, that was sudden.
"W-what do you mean?" I asked him.
"I never knew that half of your life would be filled with pain." he says sadly, like he was the one who did it.
I suddenly knew what he meant. Half of my life I felt pain and agony, I was a lab rat to Project Star Child.
"But there is a reason why I did this to you." he added.
I suddenly realized who he was...but I'm not sure if he's him.
"What was I designed for?" I questioned.
"Your fate was to be a god." he answered.
I was utterly shocked.
"How am I supposed to be a god? I don't even have all the power to be one!" I shouted as softly as possible.
"You were designed to be one." he said.
"But that's not enough proof." I lowered my head in regret of my god like power.
"I do have more proof. You have more heart than any other person I've watched, and your will is unbreakable. Throughout half of your life I watched over you, and your faith never faded. You have everything you need in order to be a god."
Suddenly a bell rang inside the house...I looked back, but he didn't.
"That's all the time I have, it's time to wake up." he spoke, not turning around to look at me.
My vision started to have spasms and it slowly brightened. I had one more question to ask.
"Tell me, who exactly are you?" I tried to stay as calm as possible.
He turned his head to me.
"I am..." but my hearing went mute and my vision turned completely white.
You know what you must do. a voice rang in my mind.
Everyone froze as a tall figure stood up. It was Dream, but for some reason he looked...odd. His face seemed obscured by a shadow, except for his mouth. He looked at the pile of unconscious bodies laying on the floor, then at the two princesses, the at the changelings and Chrysalis. He lowered his head as started slowly walking to the army of bug like creatures, making the entire room eerily silent. He stopped in between the two armies and whispered something faintly as arcane circles appeared above the princesses and the other ponies. A soft and soothing light beamed out of the arcane circles, and everyone watched as the light healed the wounds of the ponies and restored their energy. As they stood up, they began to notice Dream as he stood in front of the changelings, comepletely unharmed.
"I am giving you a chance Chrysalis, leave this planet and never come back." Dream offered.
Chrysalis clenched her teeth of hearing the truce.
"Be gone little creature! This isn't your fight!" Chrysalis
Dream began to put on a sadistic smile as he heard the insult, calling him a litte creature.
Dream zoomed towards her and gripped her throat with incomparable strength. He lifted Chrysalis off her hooves with ease, while she desperately tried to loosen the grip...slowly losing air. Dream brought her to his face and said out loud,
"Oh, but I already have."
Dream threw her like a rag doll, but she managed to land on her hooves and shouted with authority,
"Take this creature down!"
Changelings swarmed all around him, but none of them was even close to touching him. As they dispersed, it revealed that Dream didn't even need to move a finger to kill them, because all of the changelings that were unfortunate were brutally ripped apart. The green blood was across half of his face as the abnormal smile grew wider. Instantly, the heads of all the changelings in the sky exploded, covering the land with blood and brains. Chrysalis was now afraid of Dream, he just killed her entire army without even lifting a finger.
"Leave." he growled.
In fear, Chrysalis extended her wings and flew back to her home planet as fast as possible, hoping that he won't destroy her next.
The crowd cheered for him as he snapped his fingers and the entire world was repaired in an instant, including the castle. Dream turned around and did a graceful bow, making the crowd louder. By the time they were finished, each pony went up to him and thanked him for what he's done. After that, all the ponies hastily rushed out of the giant door and went home. Everyone was so tired tonight, and so they went off to bed and slept, except for Luna...who watched over the land in it's sleep. As she looked over the land, a question formed in head.
"What don't you open to us Dream, even though I respect your privacy...why don't you reveal what's giving you pain so we can help?" she whispered softly.
The world was silent once again.
I was the first one to wake before everybody, leaving me and the Night Guard early in the morning. Or so I thought. As I wandered aimlessly...I found Luna beginning to use her magic to raise up the sun for her sister. As I stood behind her...with her not knowing my presence, I began to form a thoughtful question.
How powerful exactly am I?
"Hello Dream, it's good to see your up and early." Luna turned around to see me.
I was caught off guard for a moment, but I immediately recovered. I smiled inwardly, feeling happy to see this world at peace once again.
"Luna, can you tell me how powerful am I...I'm not sure of myself." I asked her.
Luna stayed silent for a while, but then answered me.
"My sister says that you hold the potential of a god, but you seem that don't know if you can handle it. It's because you first started as a regular boy, but you've always dreamt of being a god. But now, you're unsure about yourself...because you know that gods have unlimited potential." she answered.
"That's correct. I can destroy this world only with a thought...even create new life on my will. I can literally do anything." I responded.
"My sister also mentioned that you have these so called 'Protectors of Creation'. Who are they to be exactly?" it was her turn to question me.
"I don't want to talk about it right now."
Luna didn't say anything after that.
"Anyway, I'll be visiting Delta to see how are things going for him." And I left the moon goddess alone to preform her duties.
Delta woke up early, walked into the library, and began to read basic spell books because it was an assignment that Twilight gave him. He flipped through the pages, soaking up the information as he read for what seemed like hours. A sudden knock on the door startled the alicorn as he continued his research. He closed the book and and walked over to the door, with a small candle levitating next to him, surrounded by a pale blue aura. He's already figuring out the basics of magic, so he managed to levitate the flickering light with some effort. He placed his hoof on the door and pushed, and he found Dream standing before him.
"Oh...hello Dream, you scared me when you knocked on the door." Delta began to do a few steady breaths, and calmed himself.
Dream gave an embarrassed smile and began,
"It seems you are doing good with your magic." Dream pointed at the levitating candle.
Delta took that as a praise and smiled in appreciation. But Dream then frowned.
"Listen, something has been weighing me down in my head...but I don't know what it is. Can you help me find out?" he asked.
Delta nodded at the request.
He walked over back to a shelf and found a certain book that might help him.
"Here it is." Delta floated the book out of the shelf and dropped it on the table.
The title read:
Psychological magic for beginners
Delta flipped through the pages, and found the perfect spell.
"Emotion dive." Delta started looking through page.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Huh, this shouldn't be too hard." he pondered.
Delta aimed his horn at Dream as the pale blue aura glowed again. In an instant, a small, colorful arc pierced his head harmlessly. A small halo formed around the arc, floating above his forehead.
Now here comes the hard part. Delta thought.
He began branching his senses out, searching for anything out of the ordinary. But there was nothing wrong. Delta frowned a little and canceled the spell, with Dream staring at him.
"Did you find anything?" he wanted answers.
Delta shook his head slowly.
Dream just smiled.
"That's okay...it doesn't matter for now." Dream then walked away, leaving Delta in the library.
But that's when something went wrong. Delta almost forgot that the Emotion Dive spell sometimes leaves a few emotions if they are hidden...but he was reminded about it now. Unbearable pain coursed through him endlessly as he rolled on the ground, clutching his head. But the agony immediately stopped, leaving him panting heavily on the ground. Delta stood up again and regained his posture...then began to think to himself.
Why is Dream feeling pain? Is it because he misses his home, or because of something else? I'll have to answer that later.
Celestia nearly rocketed out of her bed as she realized she was late on her schedule. She galloped as fast as she could...until realizing that the sun was already up. Celestia just stood there and blinked for a few moments, then reconsidered of who else could do this...her sister, Luna. She regained her composure and walked into the Grand Hall like nothing crazy happened. She looked to her left and saw Dream staring at the murals that stretched arcoss the hall. Quietly, she walked over to him and pressed a gentle hoof on his shoulder.
"Is there something you want to know about?" she asked him.
Celestia could still feel a gentle power glowing off of him, just like when they found him.
"Tell me, what is this about?" he pointed to a mural where Twilight and her friends had used the Elements of Harmony to purify her sister, Luna from her own corruption, Nightmare Moon.
"It is about how Twilight and her friends harnessed the power of the Elements of Harmony in order to purify my sister from her corruption." she answered.
Dream absorbed the information quickly and walked before Celestia continued, which was fine with her...she never really liked talking about how she banished her sister to the moon.
I walked around aimlessly around the hallways and somehow ended up on the highest part of the Castle. It was designed like a watchtower, peering over the city below like a hawk. I leaned on the balcony and felt a pang of sadness on my chest...for some reason. I started to have those pulses of emotions ever since the Changeling invasion incident, and it made me feel guilty. I sprouted feathery wings as I fell off the tower and glided into the city. As I descended into the city, ponies looked up at me and gasped...then they ran into any building close to them and hid. Apparently, this was an entire district that didn't go to the Gala for some reason...they were probably busy or something. I floated down to the district and wandered to a bakery, where the customers and employees were behind the counter, eyeing at me. I unfurled my wings, making me look powerful yet kind and caring. I turned around and my heart crippled...in front of me, outside the alley, was four fillies staring at me, two boys and two girls...all four earth ponies were boggling at me with wide eyes. They appeared to be homeless, with painfully thin bodies and slightly sunken faces. They were in an unhealthy state, dirty, and exposed wounds. My sympathy went sky high. I grew my hair to cover my right eye...just to make sure that nobody freaks out on my red eye, and marched into the bakery. I made a small chest full of bits to pay for the pastries and dropped it on the counter. I materialized a basket and scooped up all the bread and some bottles of milk. The employee of the bakery didn't complain...he snatched the chest and ran off. I walked outside and dropped the basket in front of the homeless fillies. Their eyes gawked at the bounty I just handed to them, then back at me...with a twinkle in their eyes, telling me that they were thankful. They dove in and wolfed down the bread in a matter of seconds, which surprised me, only a little. They guzzled down the milk bottles...then tilted their heads at me.
A new idea came into my head.
"Anarchy, I need you now." I ordered.
A large pool of darkness appeared onto the ground and the shadows were stretching towards the pool, as if it was a magnet for shadows. A figure slowly levitated out of the circle of darkness...revealing Anarchy himself. He had a massive claymore strapped to his back, and he had his arms crossed. His Symbolic Wing Structure was floating behind him, while his eyes had a gentle yet sinister shine.
"Do you need my assistance Creator?" he questioned.
"Yes. Take these children to our house, and make sure that nothing on our planet comes to harm them." I commanded.
"Yes Creator." he said.
Before the fillies could react, Anarchy wrapped them in a gentle hug. The pool of darkness enlarged and he sunk into the darkness with the fillies. I didn't worry though...nothing will harm them during midnight shadow teleportation. I teleported back into the castle in a flash of light, with the guilt now off my chest. A wide, happy grin spreads across my face as I strolled happily across the Grand Hall.
But something instantly ticked me off.
"Rage, can I have a chat with you for a second?" I did my best to keep the anger in my voice controlled.
Rage appeared out of nowhere and had the nerve to ask,
"Is there something you need Creator?"
Anger bubbled inside me as I clenched his face in a tight grip...hearing his skull crack as I strengthened my grasp on him.
"Now answer this...WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME!!! I shouted as loud as I could, catching the attention of all the ponies in the room, including Celestia who was sitting on her throne and Twilight, Luna and Delta who just entered the Grand Hall.
"I-I didn't do anything Creator...I swear by the oath of Olympus." he managed to say.
"DON'T GIVE ME THAT SH*T!!!" I hurled him across the Hall and teleported to his location just as he collided with a wall. I stomped on his chest as I heard all the ribs inside him shatter.
I pummeled him with merciless kicks to the head as he did nothing to stop me. Rage was probably in too much pain to do anything, but that didn't make me falter. Everyone in the room watched as I started to fling his motionless body everywhere, blood erupting from his mouth like a geyser. Mercy slowly seeped into me as I did more bone shattering moves to him, eventually...regret was inside my head. I don't know why I feel so angry...I just did.
But my answer came to me.
I remembered back when I was still in the hands of Project Star Child, where some vague and faint memories still lingered. Pain erupted through my head as the memories became clear...of how I escaped.
No...I will not be him...not again.
"Spirit, are you there?" I whispered.
A large orb of energy appeared before me as it glowed a soft light. After a few seconds, the orb imploded and Spirit materialized from the remaining ribbons of the orb.
"I am here Creator." he said.
I was tired of my Protectors calling me Creator.
"Spirit...don't call me Creator." I face palmed.
Spirit just blinked. Then he figured out what I said.
"Oh...uhhh...sorry." he looked down as he apologized.
"It's alright, just call me Dream." I accepted his apology.
He eyed at me as he continued to keep his head down, giving me a pair of unnecessary puppy eyes.
Another idea came into mind.
A tiny link appeared and hovered in front of him, and he gave me a confused glare. I approached him and touched the link. Spirit's body began to hover in midair as a data circle moved up and down his entire being, like it was scanning him. A data circle appeared on the ground as the one scanning him disappeared...then ribbons of blue light circled around him as he glowed. A pale blue sphere surrounded him like a shield, then the ribbons of energy was absorbed into his sphere. The circle imploded, entering him...and his body touched the ground.
All of a sudden, the other six Protectors phased into the Grand Hall.
Genesis was about to eat a sandwich, judging by his position, until he was transported here. Terra had a little potted sapling on his head, and was now bouncing in place...the plant somehow repeatedly landing on his head. Aero was the first to recover...and this is what he said...
"HOLY CRAP!!!" Aero began having a massive panic.
I face palmed...I grabbed Aero before he could run around mindlessly, I snatched him and gave him a glare that could melt titanium. Aero stopped squabbling around, and stared deep into my eyes.
"You're afraid." was the first thing that came out of his mouth.
Something clicked inside me.
"N-no...I'm not afraid." I quivered.
"But you are." Aero corrected me.
Something was rising inside my mind, taking over...I can feel it. I can feel tears beginning to stream down my eyes. I knew what it was, it's over...I'm afraid...and that's what he wants.
Luna, Celestia, Twilight, and Delta are looking as Dream seemed to have a mental breakdown...but more extreme. He lowered his gaze, tears trickling off his face onto the ground. Dream brought himself down to his knees and continued to cry, and the attention of all the ponies. Delta decided to help calm down Dream from his fit.
"Hey Dream, are you okay...is there something you want?" he tried to sound a gentle as possible.
"I don't think you should do that." Genesis stepped in front of him, his expression darkened.
"No, just let him." Terra walked over to Genesis.
Genesis sighed and made way for the young alicorn. Delta heaved a breath and approached Dream again. But the moment he was a few meters away from him he felt something wrong about him. Just by the atmosphere around him told Delta to run as far away as possible...no... don't even get near him or look at him. But Delta ignored the warning and decided to hand a caring hoof over to the crying boy.
"Shhhhhhhhh...it's okay." he managed a weak smile.
Dream immediately stopped making sobbing sounds and stood, towering over the little pony. He outstretched his hand, and Delta placed his hoof on the gesture. Dream softly squeezed his hoof and slowly raised his head.
He's smiling.
A wide, scary grin was stretching across his face, while the tears continued to stream down his face. His eyes showed fear, but his face showed sadistic pleasure. Dream materialized a knife and slowly raised it to a stabbing position...aiming for Delta's heart. Delta tried to escape the death trap he just walked into, but Dream had an iron grip. Delta closed his eyes and prepared for the end as Dream thrusts the knife forward.
Nothing happened.
Delta opened his eyes to see that the knife was only an inch from his face. Delta felt his heart race as the knife slowly crawl toward him. But Dream stopped the knife from piercing his skin, but he was shaking uncontrollably...almost like he was fighting something inside him. Dream started to sob quietly again and did something unbelievable. He flipped the position of the knife towards him and stabbed himself, blood spewing all over the alicorn's face. The quiet sobbing became screams of agony as he clutched his head...looking up at the sky, almost like he was pleading for mercy. Dream let go of the pony as he continued his fit...which let him escape back to Twilight and the rest.
The two princesses felt fear crawl up their hearts.
"Uhh...what's happening to him?" Luna gathered up her courage and spoke.
"I'm sorry...you can't do anything to help him. This is his fight." Nova answered her question.
The two swallowed their fear. Even though Luna had done this before, it was never done to this level.
Everyone continued to watch as Dream fought whatever was in his head, eventually committing suicidal acts. Twilight felt like throwing up when Dream tore out his heart with his bare hands, the blood erupting like a volcano. But the rest of what he did was too brutal to even describe. Eventually, Dream knocked himself out due to the energy he used...making the room quiet from his fight. The four cautiously walked towards, afraid that he'll spring at them and cut their throats. Celestia was a little rude and kicked him a little. Dream shifted his position and groaned as he opened his eyes and saw. Sudden happiness dawned onto his face as he launched onto them and tackled them with a bear hug. Tears flowed from his eyes once again as he began apologizing.
"I'm sorry...I-I'm so sorry...please, forgive me." he pleaded throughout his cries.
Celestia was the first to act.
"It's alright, you're safe now." Celestia cooed as she began stroking his head.
The other three ponies took apart and gave him a hug, speaking kind words to the boy.
To the boy who is a god.
Where am I? My vision was having spasms as my eyes began to open once again in a long time, showing me details of a roof. I felt a soft mattress on my back, even softer than the one I was on. My senses returned to me, sending me a vast amount of feelings. I felt warm and very comfortable, the air smelled fresh, like a garden and little bit of a bakery. I slowly stood up and began to look around. The room was huge, big enough for a party, there was a mirror on one side of a wall and the bed was a mix of purple and blue, and big enough for more than two people, on the other side was a balcony, showing a town below. My eye spasms stopped and everything came to focus. I heard footsteps approaching from behind me and I turned around. It was the same blue horse from my dreams, how was this possible?! No living creature has ever been able to go into another person's dream! I gave her a smile to calm my nerves, and she smiled back at me.
"Welcome to Equestria." she introduced me to her world.
I opened my mouth but no words came...I guess it's been a long time since I used my actual voice.
"T-thank you f-for...uh...helping m-me." I praticed.
"It's alright." she took my praise.
"B-but I...was w-wondering...what's y-your name?" was my fist question I spoke in a long time.
"My name is Luna, and my sister is Celestia." she replied.
Finally, I figured out how to talk by observing how Luna speaks, and began talking.
"Is it alright if I can go out now?" I asked.
Luna nodded.
I hopped off the bed and my face met the cold floor, leaving a bruise on my face.
"Oh my, are you alright?" Luna trotted over to me as I rub my face.
"Yeah...I'm fine, it's just that I can't exactly remember how to walk." I managed to stand up and put my arm around her body, which made me feel very uncomfortable.
"Would you like me to help you get around?" Luna offered.
I nodded slowly, and she smiled faintly. Luna trotted slowly to the door, where I held her to help me guide my way through.
We crossed over hallways and rooms, as Luna pointed out what is what. My awakening mind was able to process everything she said. Soon, we made a beeline to a giant door embroidered with silver and gold. Luna opened the door with a dark blue glow that came from her horn, and it showed me the biggest room in the world. The room was bustling with activity, with horses scrambling all around the vast place. On the walls were what seemed to be glass murals, with different pictures, representing what might be this world's history. In the middle of the room was a velvet red carpet leading to a throne, where Luna's sister was sitting on, looking high and mighty.
But it seems that my presence has disturbed some of the horses. They stopped their daily chores and boggled at me with their unusually huge eyes. A ball of nervousness developed inside me, so I hid behind Luna with one eye poking out from behind. She seemed to notice my actions and chuckled softly.
"Don't worry, all the ponies here will get used to you eventually." Luna tried to cheer me up.
I don't know exactly about that statement, but it's worth a shot. I also noted that these horses are actually ponies.
Luna slowly walked over to her sister, eyeing at a few of her subjects as they stared at the boy. Some of the gaurds took notice of the boy, a few tried to approach him...but Luna was beside the boy, so they understood that everything is taken care of.
Celestia noticed of the boy next to her sister, who seemed to be hiding from the other ponies.
"Is that the creature you were talking about?" a voice asked.
Celestia forgot that her number one student was next to her. She turned around and gave a warm smile.
"Yes, there he is." Celestia pointed to the boy.
"It's a he?!" Twilight gawked loudly.
The boy suddenly shrank behind Luna. Twilight realized what she did and looked away and made a little whistling tune. Luna was next to her sister, including the boy, who seemed to find more courage and decided to look a little more visible. But Twilight couldn't contain her curiosity over him, because the moment he stopped hiding behind Luna, she pounced right in front of him and he jumped back in suprise.
"What's your name?" was the first thing she asked.
The boy was about to open his mouth, but it seemed that Celestia was gonna answer for him.
"He doesn't have a name."
Before the conversation ended, Twilight gave another question.
"Then why don't we name him?"
The two sister looked at eachother, then at the boy, then at Twilight. After another round of seconds, they agreed. Twilight clapped her hooves excitedly as she immediately began brainstorming.
"How did you find him?" Twilight asked Luna.
"We found him in his dream, in a coma that he was in for twelve years." Luna explained.
After a few minutes, Twilight inhaled randomly and began to talk about her decisions.
"How about, Coma?" Twilight began her list of names.
The boy gave and expression that said are you f***ing serious?
After a few more hilarious, and slightly offensive names, Luna thought of the perfect name for the boy.
"How about Dream?" she brainstormed.
The three ponies gave nods to the name Luna made up and a few murmurs of agreement.
"Then it's settled, from now on...you will be known as Dream." Celestia announced the name to the boy.
The boy smiled as he accepted his new name...and at the same time, a new destiny.