Chapter 5- White Rabbit

Planet: Equus
Locale: Royal Archives
Date: Quintilis 7, 1001 AB
Local Time: 12:01 PM

"I can't believe it! There is not one single book on what partook during Discord's reign!"

A book covered in a lavender aura was tossed across the aisle.

"We have ONE book. One book that can't even be backed up anywhere else." An exasperated Twilight said, sitting back on her haunches. She and Princess Celestia had scoured the archives searching for something, anything, concrete on what happened during the reign of Discord. Much of what they found was obscure legend or myth about how Discord was the Spirit of Vengeance of some human sorcerers or some penultimate evil released by humanity and their evilness, and the harmonious ponies sought to bring the humans to harmony by ‘domesticating’ them.”

"It's okay Twilight. We have other things to worry about for now." Celestia said. "Let's get lunch then you may return to Ponyville."

It was true; Celestia had other things to worry about. The Changelings had gone completely off the grid and then there was still Discord on the loose. So far Discord has caused no harm. But that was what worried Celestia, after he got out the first time he immediately started to cause havoc, but this time I he just left, gone into thin air.

Then she got a letter from him. 'Something' else had requested his audience. Was he being cryptic or was there another deity that needed or wanted to discuss some things with him. If so, did she need to worry?

She tried to suppress those thoughts. She'll cross that bridge when she gets to it.

After their meal, Twilight went to her room to pack her belonging before heading to the train station. This time, Celestia was going to walk with her to the station, which Twilight thought odd. Usually Celestia would simply meet her there or say her goodbyes from the palace.

"So, Princess, if I may... why are you walking me to the train station?"

"Well, I haven't gotten to spend any time outside the palace in the last week. I also thought I might give our guests a stopping by. I haven't heard from Dr. Hooves in close to week, so I'm guessing their condition hasn't changed much. But I figure it can't hurt." The regal pony responded.

"Will I get the chance to examine them?" Twilight said a slight blushing coming to her cheeks.

"Perhaps another time. They are remarkable though."

"What have you found out about them?!" a sparkle in her eyes, as per usual for Twilight.

"I'll send you a copy of everything that Dr. Hooves has so far." Celestia chuckled at her student's enthusiasm for knowledge. Maybe her star student will pick up on somethings she, her sister, and the doctor missed. It couldn't hurt either; Twilight already has knowledge of these exceptional humans. Perhaps they can learn something from these 'terrans.' It wasn't long before she was snapped from her thoughts.

"Goodbye Princess!" Twilight said as she bowed.

"Goodbye, Twilight. I shall correspond with you soon." She returned to her student, acknowledging the bow.

Planet: Equus
Locale: Canterlot Hospital
Date: Quintilis 7, 1001 AB
Local Time: 2:10 PM

Celestia was musing in her mind as she walked the halls of the hospital, heading to the ward that housed her human guests. The guise to the public was that there was a remodeling of the old wing and so far none questioned the official story. She approached the doors leading to the ward and the guards there opened the doors for her as she walked inside.

She was greeted by Tender Hooves, "Your Majesty! I wasn't expecting you." As the mare bowed, "Is there something I can help with?"

"Actually I was just stopping by to check on things and to see if you had any new revelations. I was also in the area."

"Well, I haven't found out much more. But what puzzles me is why they were affected so greatly when our humans were hardly affected at all. The ones in the castle suffered from mild headaches and dizziness, but nothing remotely on the scale of a coma. What made them so susceptible to the magic of love? They were almost as susceptible as the Changelings." said the doctor, with a hint of unease in her voice.

"I'm not entirely sure, to be truthful." Celestia responded with a tone of voice more like a question than an answer, that bit of information never occurred to her until it was just brought up. Love magic wasn't supposed to harm those without evil in their hearts, and these humans were affected quite negatively. "Anything else to report on?"

Tender Hooves chewed the inside of her cheek in thought for a moment before answering. "I'm not entirely positive, but I think one may be coming out of his coma. His heart rates and breathing rates have changed, as well as his eyes responding to light."

This was good, Celestia thought to herself. Hopefully a conscious human could dispel much of the 'fog' surrounding the mysterious visitors. And hopefully, they were peaceful. But Celestia wasn't going to be an optimist in this regard and will order a doubling of the guard upon return to the palace.

"So you think he's coming out of his coma?"

"Yes." was the answer from the doctor.

"Good, if he's entirely coming out of his coma there will be a chance he will have dreams."

"How do we know if humans can even dream?" asked the doctor.

"Let's just say that dreams are common in sentient creatures, and these humans are capable of conversing. This is a sign of both sentience and intelligence. And if they dream, Luna might be able to acquire some insight into them." Celestia said as she made her way towards the door. "I'll let Princess Luna know when she's awake. I'm returning to the palace, notify me of any changes. Have a nice day doctor."

Tender Hooves bowed and acknowledged her liege before returning to her study.

Planet: Equus
Locale: Royal Palace
Date: Quintilis 7, 1001 AB
Local Time: 6:00 PM

"Ah, you're awake!" Celestia said as her sister entered the dining room.

Luna sat down at the table, eyes half lidded and mane disheveled, before looking over at her sister, "Why art thou in such a chipper mood?" She then proceeded to use her magic to grab an assortment of pastries from the serving trays.

Celestia set her tea cup down before clearing her throat. "You'll be excited at the news I have."

"Do tell, Tia."

"One of the humans is coming out of his coma." The alabaster alicorn said rather gleefully.

Luna paused the buttering of her toast and stared at her sister before blinking a few times to make sure her ears were functioning properly. "Wait... so they shall be awake?"

"Maybe, if not they should have dreams that you may be able to observe."

Luna continued the buttering of her toast while she contemplated this news. "This is joyous news!" was all she managed to exclaim after a few moments of silence. Her rather bleary attitude she entered the room with changed rather suddenly at this revelation as her sister could hear her quietly humming to herself as the midnight blue alicorn ate her breakfast.

Celestia finished her meal and stood up from the table. "Lulu, I'm going to be in my study. I'm sure Twilight Sparkle has written me and I'd like to respond in turn. I also have some other correspondence from some of the other nations that I should stop procrastinating on. Have a good time with your Night Court."

Luna hated Night Court. All the few nobles that did come in merely complained to her about Celestia not bowing to their every whim. And even then, the throngs, or lack thereof, meant Luna spent much of her time reading books than being a 'guiding light' to troubled ponies seeking guidance or arbiter in disputes. Thankfully it was considerably shorter than her sister's Day Court. Luna closed her night court at 9 PM every night to assume the mantle of Princess of the Night and Guardian of Dreams.

Tonight was going to be different.

"Captain Night Stalker?" No sooner had Luna called out than her Captain of the Noctem Custodi as she knew it 1,000 years ago arrived, seemingly anticipating her beckoning.

"Yes, your highness?" He asked after bowing.

"I shall visit the hospital tonight. I wish to cancel Night Court." She said as she stood up to go make herself presentable to the public.

"Is there anything else you may need assistance with?"

"Nay, I wish to take a break from the boredom of Night Court is all, Captain. You are dismissed." And with that her Captain of the now named Lunar Guard was off to ensure the cancellation of Princess Luna's rarely used Night Court.

As she trotted back towards her bad chambers a hundred thoughts were racing through her mind. Humans native to Equus didn't dream, how could they be sure these were any different? If they do dream, can she even view them? If she can view them, can she alter their course?

So many questions were now tumbling through her mind that her joyful trot turned into a nervous gait.

Planet: Equus
Locale: Canterlot Hospital
Date: Quintilis 7, 1001 AB
Local Time: 8:00 PM

Dr. Hooves was closely monitoring the human known as Dietrich. Since the ponies didn't have EKGs or other modern medical technology, the staff on hand to monitor the patients was considerably larger; with nurses coming in every half hour to monitor the human's vitals. And this time, during the periodic checkup, she noticed something.

His pulse had grown stronger and increased slightly in tempo, he was no longer comatose.

Quickly she checked for more signs of him coming out of his coma when she heard a soft knocking on the door. A nurse intern had opened the door and stuck her head in, "Princess Luna is here to see you, doctor."

"Can you send her in? She will want to be here for this." She quipped back before using her hoof to open the soldier's left eye to see if he had any rapid eye movement or dilation in the pupils.

And his pupils reacted to the light, shrinking down. He wasn't comatose anymore.

Doctor Hooves was inwardly jumping, barely containing herself when the Diarch of the Night walked in. Tender promptly bowed and came up to say something, but was beat to the punch, so to say, by the Lunar princess.

"Judging by how you appear to be on the verge of exploding with joy, I can only surmise he is in deep sleep instead of a dreamless coma?"

"Yes!" The doctor blurted excitedly before covering her mouth with her hoof and giggling, "I mean, yes your highness. He might awaken any day now."

"Do you think humans dream" Luna asked.

"W-what do you mean, princess?" The doctor was caught off guard by the sudden question.

"Do you think these humans are capable of dreaming?" Luna asked once more.

"I... I suppose so... I mean, I'm not entirely sure. I think you'd be the best at finding out, however, your highness."

Luna chewed the inside of her lip in deep thought. She went from staring off into the distance to focusing on the face of this one human, Dietrich Steiner. She wondered who this man was and what brought him here. Deep down she was afraid. So far these four humans had almost entirely shattered everything the ponies thought they knew.

Perhaps, humans weren't the dumb animals ponies treated them as. Clearly ponies weren't alone in this universe. And the technological level of these humans had shown how backwards ponykind was, having stagnated in 4,000 years with little to no technological breakthroughs and only a few magical ones.

In 2,000 years, the Griffins had caught up and passed the ponies in technology; utilizing an invention they called a 'steam engine.' While the minotaurs have almost caught up with the nation of Equestria in terms of technology as well, and they did it in just under a millennium. The Saddle Arabians had mathematics and medicine far beyond that of Equestria. Only the Afrikaans, the Zebra, Gazelle, and Antelope nations were still lacking in technology compared to Equestria. If wouldn't be long before that changed though at the rate they were making breakthroughs.

"Um... princess?"

Luna was snapped out of her train of thought.

"Are... are you okay?"

"Sorry, yes. I was just in deep thought. I wish to attempt to view his dreams if he is having any." Luna responded as she slowly approached the unconscious human, never once averting her gaze from his face.

Unlike with ponies where she could feel the ebb and flow of dreams just by being in their vicinity, she could tell this human was dreaming. But it wasn't a gentle ebb and flow like a ponies dream; it was a raging swirling river, a hurricane of emotions and thoughts.

Luna wasn't going to be able to simply ease into the dreamscape with him. She was going to need to take a more direct approach. So she closed her eyes, charged her horn, and touched the tip to his forehead.

She wasn't prepared for what would happen.

"Why are we out here? It's our weekend off... the fuck. I goddamn hate the Army..." A younger looking human complained, looking like a younger Steiner.

"You didn't hear? Planet is supposedly under attack by some unknown 'alien' force." another young looking human said while rolling his eyes with sarcasm.

"This is fucking bullshit, this my recovery day..." The younger Steiner said, rubbing his temples before putting his helmet back on.

"Recovery day from what?! All you do is viciously attack your liver." The other young human, whose uniform read 'Bannon' snarked.

"IT MUST BE PUNISHED!" Steiner yelled enthusiastically before changing subject. "Anyways, you know who we're 'providing fires' for?" He finished the last part off raising his hands and bending his fingers downwards in quoting fashion, voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Nope, not a clue..." Bannon said, while performing a task on some rather odd object; putting small bags into large brass cylinders before closing them off with a large green cone.

"Welp then..." Steiner said stacking the completed objects.

Luna had no clue what the objects were, but the soldiers were preparing rounds for a hot fire mission.

With the last of the objects assembled Bannon and Steiner sat down to rest on the struts of a large drab metallic object with one end being a long tube ending in a knob with holes.

"Fire mission! Fire mission!" An older looking human soldier yelled as he ran up the hill. "Charge Number Three, impact fuse!"

"Fire mission! Fire mission!" Bannon and Steiner replied in unison while another human called out in reply, "Charge Number Three, impact fuse!"

Steiner grabbed a round and announced "Number One ready!" Sergeant Vargas, the older man, looked into what appeared to be a small telescope on the side of the cannon before stepping back and yelling, "Fire for effect!"

The cannon belched an earth shattering roar, as Luna covered her ears. She was in the middle of it all and the humans couldn't see her. She also noticed the more time she spent in his dream; the more she came to understand the odd objects and what was going on. The object with two struts and a tube was called a ‘cannon.’

But she could tell she was viewing a nightmare from his past.

She could almost taste the fear coming off the young soldiers. They just came to the realization they were at war and were fighting it radically different than what she could have ever even imagined. They fought using guns, tanks, cannons, and aircraft. War was also no stranger to this race.

She counted out thirty shots fired in two minutes before the guns went quiet. Allowing her to soak up and understand more of what was occurring.

"You hear that?" asked Private Bannon.

"Hear what? All I hear are bells..." Private Steiner replied, looking at Private Bannon who grabbed his rifle and pointed off in the distance.

"Shit...SCATTER!!!" was what came out of everyone's mouth at the sight.

Luna's ears lay down and her eyes filled with worry as she looked around her with panic. All the human soldiers had dove into small holes.

She looked up to see a strange craft approaching from on high as it launched a large green projectile straight at her. She was frozen in that spot as the object neared her.

Luna was jolted out of the dream by the blinding explosion. The dream felt so real to her. She could smell the gunpowder. She could feel the dry, dusty wind. The planet's sun was beating down on her. The dirt was soft under her hooves. What was more worrying was the lack of explanation needed to convey meaning and description.

The human’s dreams were teaching her.

The longer she was there, the more knowledge she seemed to absorb from her surroundings. She just understood that the large green object was a M252, 105mm pack howitzer that fired a high explosive shell with a range of 16 kilometers. It worked utilizing a chemical propellant called 'gunpowder' in a similar fashion to Griffin 'firepowder' used by the Griffin Firelances.

She exhaled slowly and clenched her eyes trying to calm herself back down. She was tired, so very tired.

Luna had never been so exhausted from walking one's dreams. Even active participation in a dream such as banishing a nightmare in a foal's dream wasn't nearly this taxing. And all she did was view a past experience he was reliving.

"Oh, I apologize, your highness. I didn't realize you were awake." An orderly said as she was coming in to get the periodic pulse on the human.

"What time doth thou have, nurse?"

"It is four in the morning your majesty." She said as she took the temperature and pulse of the sleeping soldier, leaving shortly after.

"Thank you." Luna responded as she noticed that Doctor Tender Hooves never left the room and was curled up in a small ball on the empty hospital bed with her tail obscuring half her face.

She walked over to the doctor and gently nudged her, awakening her. "Dear doctor. I have some news."

Tender sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, "Yes princess?"

"I could view his dreams."

The doctor was suddenly jolted awake upon hearing this. "Please tell me everything!" She excitedly exclaimed.

"I will, but I am going to retire early. It was... an exhausting experience to say lightly. It was also an experience unlike any other. I would like to invite you to the palace later in the day for dinner. I shall enlighten both you and my sister at the same time over a meal at 6PM. Have a good day, dear doctor."

Tender Hooves bowed and Luna nodded in return and with that, she walked out of the room to return to the palace. The moment the princess of the night left, Tender Hooves crawled back on the bed to resume her sleeping.

Princess Luna's flight back to the palace was spent in contemplation of the events occurring in the dreams and how such a transfer of knowledge was capable. She had never experienced such an occurrence any other time. Dream walking also never exhausted her so much, either. But deep down, she couldn't wait to tell her sister, after many hours of sleep, that is.

That thought brought a small smile to her lips.

Author's Note

Oh, I rushed the latter half. So much idea. I had to get it down before passing out. So please notify me of anything that needs to be fixed.