Dream Scape

Quick Author's Note: The title comes from my friend's reaction to Rarity charming Spike into giving up his fire ruby. Not because any of the characters are cheating on each other because there isn't any shipping yet, accept the shipping to the moon anypony that complains this is moving too fast.

Quick Pre-reader’s Note: I have been about as useful as a box of hay these past few weeks, I am ashamed to say. I have responsibilities as a pre-reader, and moreover as a friend. I’m truly sorry for any frustration I’ve caused in Digit’s readers, and most importantly in DigitDaemon. I’ll be at his house tonight, pertaining that he still invites me, and I imagine he will “rip me a new one,” as the saying goes. Know that I am incredibly sorry, and that it took a bad head-cold for me to realize it.

~~~~~

Dream Scape woke up with a terrible headache, this is odd, I don't think I drank anything last night, or for the last three years even. He got up out of his sleeping bag and to his chagrin discovered he had been using a small rock for a pillow. However, all these things were forgotten as he climbed out his tent; there by the fire bowl stood the gorgeous and beautiful Trixie. Her hair was flowing in the mid morning breeze and her eye's glittered like amethysts in the mid morning sun.

"So I was thinking…maybe you could use that magic of yours and boost Trixie's confidence a bit?" Trixie cooed.

"Well...I don't think that’s such a good idea. Like I said it can be very dangerous if I don’t do it right…”

“Well that’s too bad, you wouldn’t want to help out a filly in need?” Trixie asked, brushing up against Dream Scape as she passed him. He slowly turned and watched as she sauntered towards her trailer.

“So…pretty…” Dream Scape muttered in a daze as Trixie stopped to open the door; she was even more beautiful than Celestia.

Trixie poked her gorgeous head back out of the trailer, “So about that magic, what do you say?”

This time Trixie’s proposal was met with no resistance, “Yeah…just hold on, a second.” Dream Scape began channeling magic through his horn while simultaneously searching his desire filled mind. Self confidence isn't an emotion, but what is it that brings out self confidence? Pride… that's it. Pride in your work. He carefully transferred pride into his horn and slipped it into Trixie's emotional "bank". However, as the last of the carefully measured emotions receded, hefelt something else travel with them…a dark seed.

Having completed her plan, Trixie dropped the illusion she had used to persuade him.

"Hey, you cheated!" Dream Scape said in shock with a hint of anger.

"It's not cheating, it's being resourceful. Plus, if you had paid attention, you would have obviously seen the inconsistencies that are present in such a large illusion," she countered.

"I suppose, but I must undo it. There was something wrong with the spell, it didn’t feel quite right at the end."

"I'd say it worked perfectly, Trixie feels more confident already."

"Are you sure?" Dream Scape asked with a look of concern

"Trixie is sure she is not harmed." Trixie replied indignantly.

"I suppose we will part ways here; I need to get to Manehattan by night fall today."

"I am heading to Daww'troit, It's just a few hours down the road, so I think I will take my time packing and enjoy the natural atmosphere."

"Very well then. I suppose we might run into each other again one day."

"I look forward to it."

Dream Scape started down the path to Manehattan, he had quite a trek ahead of him. Manehattan was almost twenty miles from Ponyville. He had covered a good six miles of that yesterday afternoon, but fourteen miles was still a long walk. However, unlike the road to Trottingham, there was no danger of timber wolves or manticore attacks. As he walked along the path, Dream Scape noticed that today was yet again beautiful, just like yesterday had been. However, unlike yesterday, his mind was clear. I guess I just needed a relaxing night out in the country. I  should definitely  do this more often.

Dream Scape made good time getting to Manehattan. He was crossing the city-line just as the sun was dipping under the horizon. Most didn't notice it, but he could have pointed out that the moon seemed reluctant to rise above the earth. It's the same shape as Nightma-- I mean Luna's cutie mark…is she afraid people will think she taking over again...? He continued to make his way down the busy streets filled with ponies of all color. The buildings were covered in huge billboards advertising everything from Colt-a-Cola to natural horn enhancement. I guess some people don't realize that our horns are made out of the same stuff our hoofs are.

He turned the corner and at the end of the street was the Stage Show Theatre. Bit of a redundancy. Dream Scape walk through the theater door and was immediately embraced by the theater's owner.

"Dream Scape! It's great to see you. How are you lad?" asked the owner exuberantly.

Dream Scape had first met Jollygood Show while in college; he had offered Dream Scape a job after seeing him practice in his speech class. Dream Scape had been forced to decline because the travel time between Canterlot and Manehattan was too great. However,  Jollygood had generously paid for his last year in college (he was the most successful theater owner in the city after all), and hooked him up with a more local job. He also pointed out that jewelry shop on fifth and Broadhoof, but there’s nothing I can do about that now. After college they had stayed in touch;  Jollygood had always been happy to give him a performance slot when Dream Scape needed the bits. One could later say that Jollygood Show made a good investment in helping Dream Scape

"It's good to see you too Jollygood, how's Marque?" Dream Scape replied as he pulled out of the bear hug.

"She’s doing great. Don't tell her that I told you, but I'm going to be a father in seven months."

"That's great! Congratulations to both of you. I hate to ask for favors, but I'm running out of money, and was wondering if you could give me a few show slots while I was in town?" he asked.

"Oh, it's no trouble at all. I couldn't turn down the best story teller in Equestria," Jollygood offered graciously.

"I‘m not sure I deserve that title, at least not yet," he replied sheepishly, "Actually, I'm here to look around the library. I heard something about the mayor of Trottingham being dismissed. do you know anything about that?”

"Funny you should mention that. I heard from my cousin that he proposed that Luna would be indefinitely suspended from the throne. Celestia sure did chew him out for that, something about those kinds of proposals causing the Nightmare Moon incident a thousand years ago. If you want more Information you should hit up the library, they store all the legal records past one hundred years of conclusion plus all the rejected propositions."

"Thanks, I'll probably be heading there after I find a hotel," the gears in his head visibly turning.

"Just don't spend too much time there, I know they are open twenty-four seven, but you‘re working from ten to five tomorrow."

"Yes sir." Dream Scape gave a mock salute as he left the theater.

After Dream Scape reserved a room in the Striped Mane Motel he headed over to the Royal Library Manehattan Branch. He walked up to the colt at the Information desk.

"Hello sir, how can I help you?"

"Well," Dream Scape glanced at his name tag, "Conrad, would I be able to find any Royal Court documents from around a thousand years ago?" Dream Scape asked.

"If whatever you‘re looking for still exists we have it here. Is there any particular subject?"

"Anything involving Luna, or possibly the Moon."

"Alright then, feel free to sit at any of the tables in the viewing room. I will be over there in just a moment with your documents.

Dream Scape took a seat in the viewing room and was just about to start contemplating how long he would have to wait, when Conrad returned holding a single folder.

"I'm not certain that this is what you want, but until recently it was classified. The princess ordered it to be declassified along with Trottingham's mayor‘s dismissal. I'll go get the other documents while you look at that."

"Thank you," Dream Scape replied eagerly, along with the mayor's dismissal, this sounds very promising. He opened the file and started reading. 'Case 178-95, Daww'troit residence petition for improved crop cycles', How would they do that? The only way would be to... 'residence propose the permanent removal of the night from the celestial cycle.' Oh my, I thought some of my stories were ridiculous, but this is just insane. No wonder Luna became Nightmare Moon. 'proposition under consideration but the consideration was crossed out and replaced with, 'Denied date: 4/23/1006' That's the day after the first Nightmare Moon incident.

~~~~~

(Longer and better thought out) Authors Notes: Parakalo not only are you always welcome at my house, I am also not mad at you. Yes it would have been nice to get this about a week earlier, but you still do a unparalleled job of editing and for that I can not thank you enough. Trust me without his help you would have just read 1,600 words of caveman speak.

As for the rest of you bronies, thank you for once again returning to read my work. If any of you have suggestions to make or critiques on my story don't hesitate to comment. Or if you just want to leave a witting remark or tell me I'm doing great, that works too.