Sweet Dreams, Luna

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3

Chapter 1

The Sun rose, as it always does, over the lands of Equestria. Its warmth and radiance filled the land, from the streets of Fillydelphia and Canterlot to the prairies of the Great Equestrian Plains. In one such prairie, curled up in his small tepee, slept a young earth pony. Dreamcatcher slowly opened one eye as the light of dawn slowly broke through the entrance to his home. Like every pony, he loved the magnificence of Princess Celestia's sunrises. For once, though, he wished she could tone it down just a little.

"Oh Luna, couldn't you have stayed for a little longer?" He mumbled quietly, "Oh well, since I'm already up…" He rose slowly from his bedroll, stretching luxuriously. He stopped as he remembered what had really woke him up; not the beauty of the sunrise, but the shadows of his dreams. Dreamcatcher shook his head. Once again, he had had those strange blurs of images which had plagued him his whole life. His father, Spirit Speaker, had claimed that these disturbing dreams were actually "blessed prophetic visions". Being the tribal shaman, this declaration hadn't really surprised Dreamcatcher. However, time had proven his father right. Time and time again, his dreams had come true. They had been useful, helping the tribe to avoid dangers and survive harsh times, but sometimes Dreamcatcher got awfully sick of the disturbing images. It was just too much for the simple earth pony.

Shaking himself fully awake, he stepped out into the early morning sunshine. His eyes slowly gazed out across the Great Equestrian Plains, the home of his people since the birth of their tribe. His gaze slid to the warm, tan tepees scattered across the Navapony encampment.

"Good morning, Catcher! Sleep well?"

The quiet words came from a unicorn slowly approaching with a basket of corn floating above her. Dreamcatcher grinned, "Good morning to you too, Walks-with-Dawn! Jeez, the crack of dawn and your already up and working?" She returned his smile, as she carefully lowered the basket, the glow of her horn dimming.

"Well, someone has to, and I should live up to my name. Besides," she cast a glance at the eastern sky, "I love the return of the sun. The night just seems so dark, as if it has something to hide. The day is radiant and hopeful!" Dreamcatcher glanced at the cutie mark on her chocolate brown flank, showing a sun rising over a green hill.

"Yeah, I guess I can see that."

"Eyes off the flank, Catcher."

"It was the cutie mark, I swear."

"Uh-huh," she smiled and rolled her eyes, "like I've never heard that one before." Her expression turned sober, and she looked him in the eye. "You still didn't answer my question though. I asked how you slept." Dreamcatcher frowned, his eyes downcast. To any other pony it was a simple pleasantry, but with him it was a serious question. Walks-with-Dawn's face turned concerned at his expression.

"Another dream?"

"Yeah, but... it wasn't mine this time."

"Then whose? One of the tribe?"

"No, not one of ours this time." Another of Dreamcatcher's "talents" was the ability to experience other ponies' dreams. His affinity with sleep and dreams had earned him his name, as well as the simple dream catcher adorned with two red feathers that served as his cutie mark.

"I think it was a vision, actually. It was weird… I saw a small dark figure, lying asleep. It- she was trapped in a nightmare where another shadow tormented her. Suddenly, she woke up screaming, and a figure of light appeared and embraced her. Then I woke up." Walks-with-Dawn frowned, and then opened her mouth to respond when a bright red flash collided with Dreamcatcher, sending him into the basket of corn. He looked up at the pony lying on top of him, and groaned.

"Sweet Celestia, couldn't you at least wait 'til I eat before you hit me, Sunray?"

The red Pegasus smiled apologetically, "Sorry 'bout that, Catch. Just warming up for the day. Saw you talking with Dawn and thought you could probably use a break from her nagging. Colts before fillies, right?"

"Well, since you have so much energy Sunray," Walks-with-Dawn said, eyeing him mischievously, "you can help me gather up this corn while Dreamcatcher goes to see his father."

Sunray groaned. "Why do I have to do that, and why does Catch have to talk with his dad?"

"He had another vision last night, and you did just knock the corn over."

"Well, technically Catch was the one who hit the basket…" Dreamcatcher shot Walks-with-Dawn a thankful grin and quietly left them to argue. While he didn't really want to, he knew he should go see Spirit Speaker. He knew the most when it came to visions. As he wandered over to his father's tepee, he heard what sounded like an argument going on inside. What the hay? Who's arguing at this hour?

He stopped dead when he saw who was making such a ruckus.

Inside the shaman's tepee stood three ponies. One was Spirit Speaker, and another was Sunray's mother, Chief Sunblaze. Dreamcatcher didn't recognize the third pony, only that she was dressed in fine town-pony robes.

"Absolutely not!" Sunblaze shouted, stomping her hoof. "That young pony is a valuable member of our tribe. His abilities have helped us in many ways…" She trailed off when she saw Dreamcatcher step in.

"Uh, hi dad. Sorry if I'm disturbing you all, but, well, I had another one of my dreams." The unknown unicorn turned to him and smiled.

"Ah, so this is the one I was told of! It's a pleasure to meet you, young sir! My name is Melody, and I am serving as a personal envoy from Princess Celestia. The ruler of the sun has need of your unique talents, young Dreamflasher!"

Dreamcatcher sighed. It was way too early for this. "It's Dreamcatcher. Catcher. Dad, what's going on here? Why does the Princess need my help?"

Spirit Speaker glanced at the bubbly messenger, then turned to Dreamcatcher, "My son, it seems that the Princess has a problem relating to your particular abilities. Specifically, it's about Princess Luna; it seems our young ruler of the moon has been having-"

"Nightmares?" Dreamcatcher finished softly. "I don't understand, what would scare a Prince-" he stopped. His dream suddenly made sense to him. Chief Sunblaze and Melody blinked with surprise, but his father merely smiled and nodded. "It was in a dream I had last night." Dreamcatcher explained, "I saw somepony having a nightmare and wake up screaming. I'm guessing that was the Princess?"

Spirit Speaker nodded, "That's right. Normally this wouldn't cause such a problem. Princess Luna oversees the dreams of slumbering ponies, but apparently she's struggling with her own. These bad dreams are beginning to interfere with her ability to do her duty, and are making her somewhat reclusive-"

"Perfect!" Melody interjected. "Since you seem to understand the situation, we can leave all the sooner. We'll have to stop at Ponyville on the way, and-"

"I said NO! Dreamcatcher is part of our tribe, our family. His abilities have been vital to our survival as a tribe at times. He isn't some walking anti-nightmare charm!" Sunblaze stomped her hoof firmly.

"Don't you see this is the princesses we're talking about? You would leave Princess Luna to suffer?"

"Ladies?" Spirit Speaker asked softly.

"I'm very sorry for our princess, but I think she can deal with some bad dreams."

"How dare you!?" Melody cried, "No pony has the right to deny the royal princesses!"

"Um, ladies..." Spirit Speaker attempted again.

"Even when it endangers the livelihood of our people!?"

"ENOUGH!" The two ponies stopped and stared at Spirit Speaker. He calmed himself, and then spoke quietly, "This decision is about my son. Neither of you has the right to make the choice for him. This decision lies on him alone." Dreamcatcher stared at his father, put off by his statement. Leave his home? Why would he want to go off to Canterlot?

"But... what can I do? If Princess Luna takes care of dreams, and she can't stop it, then what good am I?"

Melody seemed at a loss for words there, but Spirit Speaker raised an eyebrow "Catcher, if a pony is in conflict, wouldn't you want a mediator to help?"

"Well, yes, but what-"

Spirit Speaker cut him off "If Luna is having internal conflict, wouldn't it be best that somepony else give a fresh perspective?"

Dreamcatcher paused, considering it. His father had a point. "I didn't consider that I guess." His thoughts drifted back to his dream, to the shadowy figure crying out in torment. If he could help... wasn't it his job to do so? The young stallion raised his head and spoke firmly to his father, "Dad, thank you for giving me this decision. I really would rather stay here… but you always told me that a pony's first duty was to help others whenever he could. If I can ease the princess's suffering in any way, then I will go".

Spirit Speaker nodded, "I agree with your decision, and wish you the best of luck. I know you will do your best." Sunblaze looked at them, defeated, and sighed.

"Alright, I won't stop you, but I still don't like this." She looked sternly at Dreamcatcher, "Please be careful, young Drea mcatcher. Take care of yourself, understand?" The shaman threw her a comical salute.

"Got it, captain!" His grin slowly faded. "I-I guess I'd better go pack."

__________________

Dreamcatcher went over everything in his saddlebags. He had everything he needed: food, a small foldable tent, his tools for making dream catchers, flint and tinder, some money for expenses, and his own personal dream catcher. With a heavy heart he shouldered his pack and stepped out of his tepee. He was taken aback upon seeing the crowd that waited for him outside his home! He hadn't realized that the whole tribe had gathered to see him off! As he stepped forward, his friends and family all started chiming in encouragement. Some ponies gave him advice for the road, and many simply hugged him and said goodbye.

He sighed; This is what happens when I agree to weird requests to strange ponies. Rolling his eyes, he muttered quietly to himself, "You're the one who agreed to this, pushover." Last to say goodbye were his friends and father. Walks-with-Dawn put up a brave face, but Dreamcatcher could see she was on the verge of tears. He hugged her gently and the tears rolled down her snout.

"You be careful alright?" She said in a trembling voice. "I… I didn't want you to be burdened with things you don't need, so I made you some of my way bread and drink mix. I hope you like it." She sniffed as she placed the food in his pack.

Dreamcatcher chuckled and patted her shoulder lightly, "C'mon Dawn, I'm not dying, I'm just going away for a while. My stars, you're acting like I'm going to the moon." Stopping, he added, "Which I guess isn't totally untrue." Dawn giggled at that and wiped her eyes.He patted her hoof reassuringly, "Don't worry, I'll be back soon. Even faster if you keep cooking like this!" She smiled through her tears at him.

"Stop staring at my flank."

"Who me? Never." Dreamcatcher grinned impishly, making Walks-with-Dawn laugh quietly.

Sunray just stood there and fidgeted. Finally he muttered, "Here, take this. It's always brought me luck; maybe it'll do the same for you." He tossed Dreamcatcher a necklace from under his mane. It was his favorite possession, a beaded necklace with a single gold feather at the center. "I'm not very good at goodbyes," he said, staring at the ground, "so I'll just say good luck. You better bring that necklace back. And maybe some sweet little Canterlot mare while you're at it."

Dreamcatcher gave him a wry grin, "Please, you'd just steal her too. I can't get any mares while you're around." He shared a brohoof and hug with Sunray before turning to his father.

Spirit Speaker gazed in his eyes for a minute, then spoke. "I see you are determined to do this my son. Know that I am proud of you, and that we all wait to see you again. Take this with you," he said, pulling out a bright, feathered tribal tomahawk in a worn leather sheath on a matching belt. "It has kept me safe for many seasons, and I know it will do the same for you. I love you Dreamcatcher; please keep yourself safe." Dreamcatcher nodded and hugged him.

"I will, I promise." He turned to the tribe. "Goodbye everyone! I'll be back sooner than you probably want, so enjoy the peace while you can!" That elicited a small ripple of laughter from the crowd, and Dreamcatcher turned to the road and waiting Melody. She looked at him sympathetically, and silently took the lead. Dreamcatcher didn't look back…

__________________

Several days passed in quiet journey. The grasslands of the Equestrian Plains that bordered the San Palomino Desert eventually gave way to trees and temperate forests. For the most part, the young Navapony fared better than the mare beside him. Clearly this city-pony wasn't used to prolonged travel. Dreamcatcher's unicorn campanion seemed relieved to leave the hot prairie behind, but the going was still slow. But that didn't bother him. After a nomadic life on the plains, a few days of relaxed walking were nothing. Catcher tried to engage conversations, but Melody stayed quiet for the most part. More than once, he noticed her simply watching him, as if looking for something. Finally, he spoke up one night as they made camp, "You know, staring at me isn't going to speed up this journey. If you want to say something to me, just say it."

The bright green unicorn paused, weighing her words, and then answered "I just wanted to apologize for doing this to you. Pulling you away from your family, I mean."

Dreamcatcher chuckled, "Thanks for the sentiment, apology accepted." He gave her a shrewd look, continuing "But that's not what's really bothering you. Just spit it out already."

Melody looked away for a moment, then said "I don't get why we need you. No offense, but these are the Raisers of the Sun and Moon we're talking about. What can you do that they can't? I just don't see why Princess Celestia requested you. And on top of that…" She looked at him curiously, "I don't get your 'powers'. You're an earth pony, so how can you use magic, assuming of course this IS magic?"

Dreamcatcher glanced sideways at her. "Ah, I get it. I was wondering why we were taking this trip on hoof rather than use a pegasus carriage. You're supposed to see if I'm the real deal." He sighed and leaned back on his haunches, "Well, I'm afraid I don't have good answers to your questions; I'm not sure why Princess Celestia called for me. I've never even met her, so I wasn't aware she knew of me. My dad's met her though, maybe he mentioned me at some point. As to why I'm needed? Not sure. I'd think Princess Luna would be better at banishing a nightmare than I would. As to my talent, there's not much to say.. My family has always been shamans in the Navapony; the job went from father to son. We've all been earth ponies, and each of us has had a talent of some sort. For example, my father says that he can talk to the spirits of our ancestors for advice, hence his name. "

Melody looked into the campfire. She spoke quietly, "Could you show me? Your, uh, powers I mean."

Dreamcatcher grinned. "Why not? Just do me a favor and don't think any bad thoughts, I see enough of others' nightmares already."

"Got it. Soooo… what exactly do I do?"

"Just fall asleep. I'll see you on the other side."

Later that night, Melody was fast asleep, snoring quietly. Dreamcatcher, who had been staring up at the peaceful night sky, quietly got to his hooves and placed a small dream catcher on her mane, and then went back over to his own tent. As he yawned and his eyes grew heavy, he focused his thoughts on the sleeping pony nearby. He felt his cutie mark tingle just as he faded into sleep…

Slowly, he felt his mind leave his slumbering body, and with a strange falling sensation, he slowly slipped into Melody's dream. It was always an odd feeling, like falling into a pool of caramel. Next thing he knew, he was standing in a busy city street.He looked around himself, musing. So this must be what Canterlot looks like. He noticed that everything was subtly warped, as if the colors were just a shade too dark or bright, no doubt a result of Melody's own perspectives. He looked around and saw the green unicorn sitting at a café, sipping tea. He cantered up to her, "So, do you recognize me?"

She looked up at him and smiled, "Uh, hello sir. Have we met before?" Dreamcatcher grinned.

"I'll take that as a 'not yet'. And yes, we've met. You came to find me in a little camp out near the San Palomino, remember?"

"Wait… are you… whoa, Dreamcatcher! Sorry, I didn't recognize you for a second there."

"Yeah, I bet, seeing as you're not lucid yet."

"Huh? Lucid? What do you mean?"

Dreamcatcher rolled his eyes. "Where are we Melody?"

She gave him a puzzled look, "We're in Canterlot, obviously. Dreamcatcher, you're acting kind of weird."

"Think, Melody. When did we reach Canterlot?"

"Whaddya mean? We were traveling, and then… and then…" She trailed off, staring at him confusedly.

"We haven't reached Canterlot yet. We're asleep, Melody. Remember, you asked me to-

Melody's eyes widened with sudden realization. She finished "-show me your powers. Oh, oh wow! We're asleep! You're in my dream!! This is too crazy!" The ground around them began to shake. Melody and Catcher looked around as the buildings began to crack and tremble.

Dreamcatcher said sharply, "Calm down, Melody! If the host gets too excited in lucid dreaming, you'll shatter the dream!" But it was too late. The entire city crumbled and crashed down around them in a cacophony of sound. Dreamcatcher woke with a start. He glanced over at Melody, who was on her hooves, shaking with excitement.

"Wow! You ARE for real! Holy Sun and Moon, that was awesome! You can do that whenever you want!? That's so cool!" She paused and took a breath, "By the way, what's lucid dreaming?"

Chapter 2

The rest of the trip passed uneventfully. Melody was completely fascinated by Dreamcatcher's explanations on dreams, and the journey quickly passed with conversations on lucid dreaming, the fall phenomenon, the reasons ponies dream, and so on.

"Okay, I get how a large shock can wake you up, but I still don't get this issue with lucid dreaming.'" Melody was saying as they slowly meandered through the trees of the Everfree Forest path.

Dreamcatcher replied patiently, "Think of it as a defense mechanism for the mind. The things ponies dream up can have unearthly beauty or be utterly horrifying. While bad dreams can scare a pony, the pony's mind is still blocked from experiencing it raw. Basically, when you're dreaming part of your awareness is still asleep, keeping you safe."

Melody frowned, "I guess that makes sense. But why would anypony imagine something that might hurt them if they saw it lucid?

The tan Navapony cocked an eyebrow "Who knows? The minds of ponies are strange things. I don't pretend to understand them. Also...you're assuming that everything you see in a dream is from your mind alone."

The urbane mare's eyes went wide. "Wait, what!? What else would it be?"

Catcher grimaced "Are you so sure that Princess Luna was responsible into turning into Nightmare Moon alone?

Melody's face clouded, "Of course! She admitted it herself! What else could it be?"

At that moment they crested a hill, and there sat Ponyville, active and bustling in the mid-afternoon sun. The sight of the small town put their conversation on hold as Melody exclaimed, "We're here! Wow, in record time, too! This is great, now I just have to find Twilight Sparkle and report in, then it's off to Canterlot with you!" She looked over at Dreamcatcher, who had a look of muffled shock on his face. Melody cocked her head, "What's the matter Catcher?"

He replied in a subdued voice, "The biggest town I've ever been in was Appleoosa. There's so much activity here…"

Melody laughed "Oh dear, if Ponyville has you city-shocked, you're in for a bad time when we get to Canterlot." With that trotted on down towards town, with her new friend in tow. Their first stop was Sugar Cube Corner. Melody ordered a couple of milkshakes, and sat down at a booth with a weary sigh.

"Oh horseshoes, I've been walking forever. You'll love this; Sugar Cube corner has the best milkshakes in all of Equestria. Whenever I'm in town, I always stop by for one."

Just then a bright pink pony bounced up to their table with a couple of milkshakes. "Here ya go! Two super duper awesome chocolate delight milkshakes!" She took one look at Melody, and gasped. "MELLY!! How have you been!? We haven't seen you in ages! Well, not actual ages, cuz that would be crazy long and we'd all be like, really oldandIwouldhaveagoofybeardactuallyIwonderhowI'dlookwithabeardohbutweneedtocelebratehowaboutaparty?"

Melody giggled and replied, "It's great to see you too Pinkie Pie! I know, I don't visit nearly enough, but I'm kept so busy in Canterlot. And as much as I'd love a party, unfortunately me and Dreamcatcher here need to go see Twilight." Pinkie looked over at Dreamcatcher, and her eyes widened. She started trembling all over, then jumped in the air with another, louder gasp.

"A NEW PONY!?"

With that, she turned and zoomed out the door in a blur of pink. Catcher sat there, more than a little confused. Melody laughed, "Don't worry, that's just Pinkie Pie being… well… Pinkie Pie. Knowing her, she's going to try to throw you a party."

"Yeah… right", Dreamcatcher replied, his eyes far off. Melody nudged him playfully, "Hey, you alright?"

"Uh, yeah" he replied, "I just feel like I've seen that pony before." Melody giggled again, "I highly doubt that if you're not sure. She's not exactly a face you would forget. C'mon, lets go see Twilight." The two of them walked over to the Ponyville library, with Melody pointing out the places of interest in the town as they sipped their cold milkshakes. When they finally reached the strange tree-house, what sounded like a heated debate was going on inside.

"Oh, c'mon Twi, can't you just try?"

"I said NO! Besides, would you even know how to coordinate four wings at once?"

"It's just two more wings, right? Besides, more wings mean more speed!"

"You're forgetting the extra muscles and bones needed to support more wings, and the increase in your metabolic rate for maintaining their use! I'd have to rewire your whole body system!"

"Uh, Twilight?" The two ponies looked over at Dreamcatcher and Melody as they entered. A blue Pegasus with a rainbow colored mane drifted to the ground, disheartened. The other pony, a purple unicorn, heaved a sigh of relief and walked over.

"Hi, Melody. I'm glad to see that you're back okay. So this is the earth pony that we've heard about, huh?" Twilight looked at Dreamcatcher for a long moment, before shocking them all by greeting him haltingly in native Navapony, "May the sun smile on you, Catcher of Dreams. The name I am given is Sparkle of Twilight."

Dreamcatcher jerked back, shocked at the unexpected sound of his native tongue, before giving the customary response in Navapony, "May the moon light your way, Sparkle of Twilight. May the day and night bless our first meeting."

"I pray that my speech is found acceptable in your presence."

"Don't worry, you speak the language fine. A little formal, but that's normal for one who is learning." To the other two ponies, it seemed that the two of them were speaking gibberish. Dreamcatcher reverted back to Equestrian Standard, "Where in the hay did a pony here learn our old tongue?"

Twilight smiled, saying "I have a whole bookcase dedicated to Equestrian dialects! I could show you if you want! We have a fantastic series on native Griffon, but I'm struggling with the pronunciation! Maybe we can add to the Native Equestrian record while you're here and-" she noticed the tired looks on Melody and the pegasus's face. Blushing and coughing, she continued "I'm so glad you decided to come Dreamcatcher, I know this must be an inconvenience to you. Oh yeah, this is my friend Rainbow Dash," she said, pointing a hoof at the blue pegasus.

Rainbow fluttered over and held up a hoof to Dreamcatcher, "Wassup dude. So you're the pony who's supposed to play doctor to Nightm- I mean Princess Luna?"

Dreamcatcher grinned and gave Rainbow Dash a brohoof. "Yep, that's me. Are you the Rainbow Dash? The one who did a sonic rainboom at that flight competition? I have a Pegasus friend back home who went to that. He was raving about it for weeks!"

Rainbow puffed out her chest and grinned. "Yeah, that was pretty awesome of me! I didn't know that they were talking about it all the way out in Appleoosa!"

"Well, I don't actually live in Appleoosa, but-" Dreamcatcher cut off, staring hard at Twilight and Rainbow Dash. Why the hay did they seem so familiar? It's like he'd seen them before, but he just couldn't place where. Twilight grew concerned at his baffled expression.

"Uh... Dreamcatcher? Are you okay?"

Suddenly he exclaimed, "That's it!! Why didn't I see it sooner!? You two are wielders of the Elements of Harmony! You two are the Loyal Rainbow and the Spark of Magic! And Pinkie Pie was the Laughing One!" He looked around in sudden excitement, "That means the Ever-giving Beauty, the Quiet Heart, and the Honest Strength are around here too!"

Twilight looked stunned, "You know about us? I didn't think that what happened would have gotten out to where you live!"

"Well, we heard about the return of the Elements, but it took a while to get to us." Dreamcatcher replied, "But I saw you all before that in a one of my dreams about eight months ago! I saw six figures shattering a dark shadow, and these figures were wearing the Crests of Harmony! Those were the names that I heard in my dream for each of you!"

Twilight did some calculating in her head. "Eight months ago, huh? That was right before we met and went after Nightmare Moon."

Melody bounced excitedly, "See? He really can do these things! I didn't believe it either until he entered a dream of mine during our journey!"

Twilight pondered this, her eyes distant. "An earth pony that gets visions of the future and enter other's dreams... How is that even possible? It's like Pinkie Pie's twitches, it makes no sense! Unless... could it be that earth ponies have a kind of magic too? It would explain a lot of things! Maybe something tied to the earth itself...Somepony really ought to look into this." She shook herself, "Ack! Where are my manners? Anyway, Princess Celestia wrote to inform me that a carriage will come tomorrow to take us Canterlot. Until then, you can stay at the Ponyville Inn, free of charge. I'll introduce you to the others later."

Just then, there was a loud banging on the door. "Twilight, open up quick!" Twilight opened the door and an orange earth pony with a blond mane and wide-brimmed hat rushed in. Twilight inquired, "Applejack? What's the matter? I thought you were with Fluttershy taking care of her bunnies."

Applejack explained between breaths, "Ah was, but then Ah heard this awful howlin' noise comin' from the Everfree Forest. I told Fluttershy to stay put while ah checked it out, but ah couldn't find nothin'. When ah went back, Fluttershy and the bunnies was gone!"

Twilight gasped, "Oh no, we have to find them quick! Rainbow, get Rarity and some of the others! We need search ponies!"

"Don't worry Twi, ah already called on Rarity and Pinkie Pie, they'll meet us soon. Ah reckon I could get-"

"Wait a minute!" The ponies turned at Dreamcatcher's outburst. He thought carefully before speaking, "You said you heard howling, which means it's probably a predator, right? He turned to the cowpony, "Ms... Applejack, was it? Could you describe this howl for me? Was it a high or low pitch? How many voices were howling?"

Applejack turned to him in surprise, "Uh, forgive mah askin', but just who the hay are you?"

Twilight cut in, "AJ, this is Dreamcatcher. He's the one that Princess Celestia sent for."

Applejack blinked, "Uh, well, Ah think it was a high pitch, and ah think ah heard maybe six or seven different ones."

Dreamcatcher tensed, "Oh hay bales. I didn't know they'd live so close to bigger towns! Um, ladies, we may want to hurry!"

Twilight nodded to Applejack, "Lead on AJ!" With that, the three rushed out the door, with the other ponies right behind. Rarity and Pinkie Pie joined them on the outskirts of Ponyville, and together they galloped to Fluttershy's house.

____________________________________________________________

As they made their way to Fluttershy's house, Dreamcatcher checked the ground for any signs of disturbance or tracks. Applejack ran up beside him.

"So, Mr. Dreamcatcher, ah take it you know what those little varmints ah heard are?"

He glanced at her, "Well, it sounds like coyotes. We see them from time to time where I'm from. They have a higher pitched howl than other animals, and they tend to stay in small groups. They're mostly scavengers, but they'll go after weak prey when they can."

Applejack sighed. "That's Fluttershy and the bunnies all over. Consarnit, ah'm an awful friend, ah shouldn'ta left them like that."

Dreamcatcher glanced at her before replying, "You were trying to protect them. I don't see how you're at fault."

Applejack smiled at him, "Thank ya kindly Dreamcatcher. Yer mighty kind to say that."

Just then Dreamcatcher paused, staring at the ground intently. He pointed out to the mares several small tracks, obviously made by the bunnies and Fluttershy. They led off the path and into Everfree Forest, and the stallion frowned as he stared at them.

"By the spacing... it looks like they were running."

Rainbow Dash bolted into the air. "Twilight, I'm going up top. Maybe I can spot them from the air."

Twilight nodded, "Alright, but be careful Rainbow Dash. Watch out for wherever those coyotes might be." Rainbow Dash saluted smartly and darted off into the sky.

The purple mare took the moment to turn to the other ponies, "Alright girls, this is where we stick together. I suggest we make a circle, facing outwards. That's what cows do when they're bothered by large predators like these. When we find Fluttershy and her bunnies, we'll pull them into the middle of the circle."

Dreamcatcher nodded, "Good call Ms. Sparkle. My people use the same tactic. Coyotes are cowards; they won't go after prey that stands together."

Applejack spoke up, "Uh, Twilight, ah'm a much better kick with my hind legs. If'n ah turned around-"

The Navapony answered instead, "No! A flank is an open target to coyotes. The goal here is to scare them off, not fight them."

"Sorry ah asked."

That's when Rarity piped up. "Sounds like a plan to me. But what if one of us gets separated by these ruffians?"

Dreamcatcher looked at Melody for a moment, then answered "If that happens, I'll try to distract them away from you."

"But won't that mean those meany mcmeanypants' will go after you?" Pinkie Pie piped up.

Catcher reassured her, "Don't worry; I can outrun a few coyotes. Celestia knows I've had plenty of experience." With that, they turned to the trail and resolutely stepped into Everfree Forest. Every now and then, they heard a howl, and over time they seemed to draw closer. The ponies clustered together, with Dreamcatcher and Applejack in the lead, following the tracks.

Suddenly Rainbow Dash poked her head through the foliage. "I found them! They're trapped by the coyotes near the east rock face!"

The ponies threw caution to the wind and sped towards the rock face. Sure enough, there the coyotes stood, crouched in a half-circle around the little yellow pony and her charges. For her part, Fluttershy stood in front of the bunnies, shielding them with her body. One coyote had gotten too close, and was locked in place by Fluttershy's Stare. However, the other coyotes were creeping up on the sides. Or at least they were until the ponies hit them from behind. Rainbow, Applejack, and Catcher charged into the midst of the pack, dispersing as they did. Rainbow Dash sent two of the canines rolling as she struck them from above like a diving hawk. They pulled themselves up and lunged at her, but the speedy pegasus easily dodged their attacks, all the while hammering at them with her hooves and wings.

Applejack pivoted on her front hooves and neatly bucked one coyote into the bushes, an act that caused two others to turn and rush her. The farmgirl smiled and stood casually as they darted towards her, only to neatly jump over them. The startled canines turned around, but their slow reaction gave AJ the time to grab one and slam his head into the dirt, dazing him. the final coyote let out a viscious snarl and snapped at the blond pony, but she pranced away from his fangs. With a deft movement, she pulled out her lasso and looped it over the predator, before drawing it tight. The surprised coyote let out a yip as it fell to the ground, hogtied. AJ placed a triumphant hoof on its side and exclaimed, "And that righ' there is how you rope up a varmint!"

Dreamcatcher charged straight for the two closest to Fluttershy, and slammed into the one locked in her stare. The coyote cried out as it fell, with Dreamcatcher following it to the ground. With the canine underneath him, he reared up and viciously brought down his forehooves on the canine, illiciting a yelp of pain.

"That's called a hoofcheck,furball!"

It was at that point that it's partner jumped on Dreamcatcher, taking him to the ground. But the Navapony was quick to respond, twisting onto his back and kicking out with all four hooves. The strike caught the coyote straight in the chest and knocked it back off him. Catcher jumped to his hooves and stood in between the predator and the gentle yellow pegasus. He drew his tomahawk, and faced down the last coyote. This one was larger than the rest, clearly the alpha male. The creature clearly hadn't expected such a fight, and the tan earth pony took advantage of it's confusion to rush in, the bright flash in his teeth flashing in glittering arcs. The animal snarled and jumped at him, only to find that Catcher had unexpectedly dropped to the ground. As the beast soared over him, the stallion brought up the sharp axe, leaving a long slash in the canine's fur. As his adversary stumbled in pain, Dreamcatcher spun and bucked the coyote with all the power his hind legs could muster. The alpha fell back from the force of the blow, before shaking it's head and snarling at the impeding stallion.

All this commotion was interrupted by a massive howl from deep within the forest. With a low, echoic sound, it reverberated through the trees and made the ponies' tails stand on end. The second the howl began, the coyotes, in unison, ran off whimpering into the forest. Just then the other ponies showed up and gathered around Fluttershy.

"Man, those mutts didn't know what hit 'em! That was SO AWESOME!" Rainbow Dash cheered.

"Haha, ah reckon they heard their mama callin' and were done getting their backsides tanned!" Applejack agreed, brohoofing Rainbow Dash. She turned to the Navapony, "Hey, good work Dreamcatcher. You sure were mighty useful back- Catcher, what's wrong?" Dreamcatcher stood stock-still, then flinched as the howl sounded again.

"Oh ponyfeathers," he said quietly.

"What is it?" Twilight asked, sidling up beside Dreamcatcher. "Is it another coyote?"

"No, that's not a coyote…" Applejack replied as another howl echoead around them. "Ah've heard that sound before! That's a timber wolf. EVERYPONY! Get in a circle NOW!"

The ponies immediately did as told, with the battered Fluttershy and bunnies in the middle. They just got in position when it stepped out of the trees. The timber wolf was massive, larger than Dreamcatcher, larger even then Big Mac at Sweet Apple Acres. It's wooden limbs were pallid and unhealthy, and the few leaves on the tree creature were brown and red. It bellowed an earthshaking roar, and stepped forward. Dreamcatcher immediately stepped away from the other ponies and tried to draw the creature away.

"Catcher, no! Get back here with us!" Twilight urged quietly. Dreamcatcher crouched low, tomahawk in teeth, and circled around the wolf, waiting for the obvious attack. The wolf looked at him, bared its fangs… then staggered drunkenly. Its head slowly turned back to the circle of ponies, and with a pronounced stumble it slowly stalked towards them. Dreamcatcher panicked right then. What the-? Wolves don't stagger! Wolves don't operate alone! And they definitely don't ignore a lone pony and go for a herd! WOLVES DON'T DO THAT!

He lunged at the wolf to get its attention, and this time it turned and snapped at him. When it did, Dreamcatcher saw something that made his blood run cold. This wolf's normally sharp, amber eyes were bloodshot red, and foam dripped from it's maw.

This timber wolf had rabies.

Chapter 3

"I've got him distracted! Now might be a good time to RUN!" Dreamcatcher yelled to the circle as the crazed wolf stepped towards them.

Twilight yelled back, "What, and leave you with the wolf?!"

"This wolf has rabies! If he bites you, you won't live out the month!"

"Rabies!?" The ponies all blanched at the word.

Rainbow Dash darted up and away, "You ponies go back, we'll take care of this!"

"But what about you two?"

"GO!!!" with that the ponies broke and ran back to the trail, except for Rainbow Dash and Dreamcatcher.

"Rainbow, see if you can distract it, but stay out of range!"

"Got it!" The blue Pegasus darted back in forth in front of the wolf, yelling insults.

"What's wrong, you big stupid mutt? Can't you hit me? Am I too fast for you?" The wolf swayed as he tried to follow Rainbow's movements. The blue pegasus rushed in and slammed a hoof into the wolf's jaw, but the rabid animal barely registered the attack. He snapped at RD, forcing the mare to retreat back into the air. Dreamcatcher darted in behind it and slashed at its legs in an attempt to hamstring it. The wolf turned with amazing speed and nearly caught him with a savage bite, but he pranced out of reach at the last second.

"Careful Rainbow Dash, he's a lot faster than he looks!"

Rainbow nodded her understanding, and began circling the wolf at high speeds. The creature seemed dazed, and the second Rainbow Dash broke off, Dreamcatcher was there, his tomahawk flashing. The wolf snarled in pain as the blade edge left a long gash in the bark of his flank, and his attention shifted to Dreamcatcher. The Navapony's eyes narrowed as the canine rushed at him with a sudden burst of speed. Just as he reached the stallion, he sunk his head and snapped low, at Catcher's feet. The earth pony barely managed to jump in time, landing solidly on the wolf's back. The predator bellowed in rage and shook himself violently, sending Catcher flying.

Rainbow Dash had taken advantage of this melee to gain altitude; altitude which she used to her advantage as she dove straight at the wolf. At the last second, she pulled in her wings and curled up, effectively becoming a pony cannonball. This cannonball struck the wolf with the meaty thud of flesh against wood, and the wolf was sent sprawling. Audible cracks were heard when he hit the ground, and when the beast staggered back to its feet, the ponies could see multiple broken branches of it's body. Dreamcatcher sidled up next to Rainbow Dash, and the two ponies stared in shock as the timber wolf began to stumble towards them yet again.

"What in the hay does it take to keep this thing down!?" RD yelled in exasperation.

Dreamcatcher muttered, "The wolves where I come from are naturally very tough. I dunno about these wooden ones, but I'm guessing they're just as hard to deal with. They can take a lot of punishment before retreating, and a wolf that's gone mad with rabies wouldn't even notice the pain it has!"

Rainbow Dash tensed as the wolf approached, "Great. That's freaking wonderful. So what do we do? We can't keep dancing around it; one of us'll get bit eventually!"

Dreamcatcher sighed and replied, "Yeah, you're right. I think we're gonna have to kill it."

Rainbow gasped, "What? Is that a bit much!?"

The stallion grimaced, "I don't want to, but a creature with rabies is a threat to everything around it. Ms. Rainbow Dash, you take to the air. See if you can distract it for me. Catch it's attention, and make it turn to the left. When you do, I'll come in from the right."

"And do what?"

Dreamcatcher's brow furrowed in disgust. "Do my best lumberjack impression... "

Just then, the wooden canine's eyes managed to refocus on them, and it began another shambling run that closed the last bit of distance between them. Rainbow Dash galloped forward to meet it, before rolling to the left at the last second. The wolf ignored her, instead going straight for Dreamcatcher. The Navapony managed to roll the right just in time to evade the canine's slashing fangs.

Rainbow Dash growled in exasperation, "Come on! Follow me already!" Jumping into the air, she swooped towards the wolf, coming so close that her wing brushed it's ear. The wolf spun at the sudden contact, and it's gaze followed the reckless mare. As she made another swoop at the wolf, she got a little too close, and the beast reached up and swiped her with its thorny claws. Rainbow Dash cried out and fell to the ground, her right wing bent irregularly. The wolf's burning eyes focused on the fallen pegasus, and it lunged forward, foaming mouth agape.

"Not today you piece of firewood!!"

It was in mid-lunge when Dreamcatcher hit the wolf with a stunning tackle that carried them both into the bushes. Rainbow Dash staggered to her hooves, as the bushes shook with snarls and cries, from both wolf and pony. She heard a terrible crunching sound, and Dreamcatcher cried out. Then the bushes went still.

Rainbow Dash staggered forward weakly, "C-Catch? Dreamcatcher? Are you okay?" At that point, a long mournful howl rose from the bush. The blue pegasus fell back with panic as the timber wolf emerged from the bush… or more accurately, the wolf's body. Dreamcatcher crawled slowly out after pushing it off him.

"Rainbow… I could use some help," he whimpered weakly. His entire body was covered in scratches, and he had several bad gashes in his side. The mare rushed over and helped him to stand up.

"Are you okay?" She asked shakily.

"Yeah, he didn't bite me, these are all claw wounds," he mumbled painfully.

"What about the body?"

"...Anypony need some kindling?" Dreamcatcher managed to snark before his vision faded, and he blacked out.

_______________

"We can't move him in this state! What good is he to the Princesses bleeding and battered?" Is that… Melody?

"I know, but we can't leave the Princesses waiting any longer! They were expecting him yesterday!" That… sounds like Twilight…

"Are you crazy, Twilight!? That wolf nearly tore him apart! It looks like he got in a fight with a thorn bush and lost!" That's definitely Rainbow Dash.

"True, but Princess Luna is suffering as well, and a gentlecolt simply does NOT keep a mare waiting." And there's Rarity.

Then a new voice spoke up, albeit very softly, "Oh no, you can't just move him! He's still much too weak!"

"But darling, we have a place to be, and it is so rude to be late! Let's at least check to see if he's woken up yet."

"Wait Rarity, you mustn't! He needs his rest to recover. If you aggravate him now, his wounds could reopen and get worse!"

"Oh, Fluttershy, you're simply overreacting dear. I'm sure a strapping young stallion like him is more than recovered."

Dreamcatcher slowly cracked an eyelid, and looked around at his unfamiliar surroundings. He was lying in a large comfy bed in a room practically covered in animal care items. Birdhouses, food bowls, and animal books littered the room. The stallion slowly examined his body, noticing that his wounds had been cleaned and bandaged at some point. Just then, the door opened and Rarity gracefully stepped into the room.

"Oh good Mr. Catcher, you ARE awake! I just came in to-"

Just then the yellow pegasus flew in, landed in front of Rarity, and Stared at her. "He is my patient and you. Will. Let. Him. Rest."

Rarity withered under the mare's Stare and slowly backpedaled, "Oh, uh, of course Fluttershy. It is your house after all, hehehe. I'll just leave him to sleep then."

Fluttershy turned and saw Dreamcatcher looking at her. "Oh no, I'm so very sorry we woke you! I was trying to let you rest, but I'm afraid we got too loud."

"It's all right," the Navapony croaked, "Really, I feel a lot be-", he stopped coughed, his mouth painfully dry.

Fluttershy bolted out of the room and returned with a bowl of water in her hooves. "Here, drink this." As Dreamcatcher gulped down the water, Fluttershy fidgeted for a moment, then spoke up. "Um, I just wanted to say thank you for helping the others save me and Angel Bunny. You risked your life to save us when you didn't even know us, and it's gotten you is hurt." She looked at his bandaged form and tears sprung in her eyes.

Dreamcatcher lowered the bowl and cleared his throat, "Hey, don't worry about it, miss... Fluttershy, right? Really, don't cry, I'm glad that I was able to help." He glanced down at the bed he was in, "Uh, sorry about bleeding on your sheets and stuff…"

Fluttershy wiped her eyes and smiled. She stroked his mane gently, "Now, now, you just focus on getting better. I'll take care of everything else."

Why do I get the feeling I'm being treated like a sick pet? "Um, okay." Catcher replied lamely. "Uh, where are we? And how did I get here?"

The cute pegasus said softly, "Well, after Rainbow told us to run from that poor wolf (poor wolf? Dreamcatcher thought), we came back here to drop off the bunnies before coming back for you two. But as we got ready to leave, Rainbow Dash showed up with you on her back. You had such horrible injuries, why, I had to take care of you immediately!"

Dreamcatcher painfully pushed himself into a sitting position, "Where is Rainbow Dash? Is she alright? Her wing-"

Fluttershy gently raised a hoof to his mouth,speaking as if to a wounded animal. "Don't worry, she's fine. You can see for yourself later. For now," she cooed, "you need to get more rest." With that said, she firmly pressed him back into bed and quietly left the room, closing the door behind her. Dreamcatcher leaned back in the bed, and feeling the pull of sleep on his aching body, he gratefully closed his eyes and succumbed.

________________

The next day Dreamcatcher awoke feeling refreshed, if a little stiff. He slowly got out of bed and gingerly put on Sunray's necklace and the tomahawk from where they hung on the bed post. He heard the other ponies downstairs and as he descended the staircase, Applejack poked her head out of the kitchen and grinned at him.

"Well, howdy sugarcube! Now don't you don't look like a regular ol' war pony! Have a seat; we'll bring the food out in a jiffy!" Dreamcatcher looked down at himself. He thought he looked like a mess, swathed in bandages, but he sat down with the other ponies at the wide table.

Melody leaned towards him, her face scrunched with worry. "Are you okay, Catch? You've recovered alright?"

Dreamcatcher shot her a wry glance, "Next time you ask me to follow you somewhere, remind me to punch myself really hard."

Rainbow Dash burst out laughing. "Melody, I thought your job was diplomacy! I think your approach needs a little work!"

Dreamcatcher looked over at the speedy pegasus. "How's your wing doing Rainbow Dash? I hope it's not still bothering you."

Rainbow Dash held up her bandaged wing for him to see, "Naw, its fine, just strained. I'll be airborne in a day or so, just you wait and see! By the way, you gotta tell us how that fight went down! I didn't really see what happened, but I bet it was awesome!"

Dreamcatcher smiled sadly, "I'm afraid there's not much to say. I wish I didn't have to do that. We Navapony believe that all life is fleeting and precious; to take it prematurely is a sad thing." Just then Rarity walked up to Dreamcatcher with a glass of orange juice.

"Really, Rainbow Dash, could we not discuss that during breakfast?" she said reprovingly to the pegasus, before addressing the earth pony. "Here you are Mr. Dreamcatcher! I'm sure you must be thirsty. Um, I also wish to apologize for my previous behavior. It was so inconsiderate of me to barge in on you when you were recovering, and I'm terribly sorry."

Dreamcatcher took a gulp of orange juice and replied, "Hey, it's all good. Don't worry about it, I was barely conscious anyway." Rarity flashed a knee-weakening smile, and that was the point when Applejack and Fluttershy came in with breakfast.

"Soups on, everypony!" The orange pony declared. "Now Catch, we got apple fritters, apple pie, apple tarts, apple pancakes, apple toast, apple bagels, apple strudels, and mah new creation, Applejack cereal!"

Twilight picked up some of the cereal and chewed it. "Uh, no offense Applejack, but these are shaped like circles, not jacks. And they're cinnamon flavored; they don't taste like apples."

Applejack shrugged, "Details, Twilight. Ah made 'em, so ah'm gonna call 'em Applejack cereal!" The other ponies laughed and dug in to the spread. For the next hour they ate and talked about each other's pasts and homes. The ponies were fascinated to learn of Dreamcatcher's nomadic tribe, and they stared in mild disbelief as he explained his "talents". Dreamcatcher himself was surprised at hearing of their lifestyles. As a nomadic pony, the idea of living and working in one place was just strange. Nevertheless, he enjoyed the time with his new friends. You know, I could get used to this. Maybe I'll spend some more time here in Ponyville later.

Twilight looked at the clock on the mantle and signaled to the other ponies. "Well ponies, it's time to get going. The carriages will be here any minute, so go get your things. Dreamcatcher, I have your stuff all here with mine."

Dreamcatcher sputtered for a second, "Wait, you all are coming to Canterlot with us?"

Rarity nodded, "Of course darling, we wouldn't pass up a chance to go to Canterlot with a new friend!"

Dreamcatcher looked at Twilight, "But what about your library, and the other ponies' jobs?" Twilight smiled, "Don't worry, my dragon assistant Spike can manage the library, and the other ponies have found others to take care of things while we're gone. Now let's get going!"

___________________

Just a few minutes later they were on pegasus-drawn carriages, soaring towards Canterlot. As the crossed over the city, Dreamcatcher looked down at the multitudes of bustling ponies, completely dumbfounded.

Twilight looked at Melody with a puzzled expression. "He's a little overwhelmed by big cities," Melody explained. "His tribe is pretty small, so seeing this many ponies is a new experience to him. Don't worry, he'll get over it in a sec."

The carriages arced upwards, above the ramparts of the Royal Canterlot Castle. They circled once, then landed in a small stone courtyard, where a dark blue unicorn with glasses and a clipboard waited for them.

As they got off, Dreamcatcher turned to the pegasi, "Thank you for your help in getting us here." One of them grinned at him and replied, "No problem bro." The unicorn bustled them into the castle, where attendants grabbed their saddlebags and took them to the rooms they would be staying in. They were then led down a massive hallway towards the royal throne room. As they entered, a brazen fanfare sounded, and a pony stood up and announced their arrival. Dreamcatcher's eyes were going everywhere. This was a huge change from his little tepee in the plains. The hall itself was easily as large as his whole camp, and everywhere he looked there was impressive gold ornamentation. The vaulted ceiling rose high, and beams of sunlight shot through the windows that made up much of the side walls. Hanging from the ceiling were mulitiple banners, each one depicting a crescent moon inside a radiant sun, the royal emblem of Equestria.

He gazed up at the royal thrones, where the two Rulers of Equestria sat, crowned in light from a magnificent stained-glass window behind them. One sat tall and proud, her white mane seeming to radiate its own light. Her mane and tail were a mass of warm colors that billowed out to the side, as if by a breeze. On her head gleamed a golden crown, and her hooves and chest were adorned with shining regalia. Princess Celestia smiled down at the guests, her expression radiating warmth and light.

Next to her, not as large, but still equally beautiful, sat a deep blue alicorn. Her hair glistened with what Dreamcatcher thought at first were dewdrops, before he realized with a jolt that such wasn't the case. Those lights… those are constellations. His attention focused on the alicorn who must surely be Princess Luna. She sat next to her sister, but her stance was more stiff, as if she were unsure how to act. She wore regalia similar to that worn by her sister, but hers was a deep obsidian color as opposed to Celestia's gold. She was a good bit shorter than her sister, maybe an inch taller than Dreamcatcher himself. She peered at the ponies with aqua-green eyes that seemed to carry a lingering sadness. For a moment she and Catcher's eyes met before she quickly glanced away.

The Princesses stood up, and gracefully approached the group. Dreamcatcher could do nothing but stare as the royal sisters approached, and was only half-aware that everyone around was bowing low. He recovered slowly and bowed as well.

Celestia smiled gently at them, "Rise my little ponies, there's no need for pretense here." She looked at Dreamcatcher with a warm expression. "Young Dreamcatcher, it is a pleasure to finally meet you, and thank you so much for coming all this way to help my dear sister. I understand that you have had quite an ordeal already since beginning your journey. I am deeply sorry that my request has brought you such harm." She glanced at his bandages with a remorseful look on her face. Dreamcatcher was caught off-guard by the concern of the equine monarch.

"I-it's no trouble, your Highness; I'm glad that I can be of service. Forgive me for coming so late." Celestia lowered her head and gently touched her horn to Dreamcatcher's head in a silent benediction.

"After what you've gone through to come here and help my sister, I am deeply in your debt." She said gratefully.

Princess Luna stepped forward. "Allow us to add our thanks as well," she added royally, before visibly catching herself. In a quieter voice she continuedm "I appreciate you coming all this way just to deal with my little problem." As she said that, she smiled, but when Dreamcatcher looked at her, he saw anger flash in her eyes. Princess Luna turned to her sister, "Forgive me sister, but I'm feeling tired. I think I will go and try to sleep again."

Celestia nuzzled her sister. "Of course, Luna. I'll take care of our friends here. You go and get some rest, dear sister." Luna turned away and slowly walked down a side passage as Twilight began talking to her teacher about her studies.

Dreamcatcher interrupted them, "Excuse me, your Highness. Would it be alright if I had a word with Princess Luna alone?" Celestia frowned, but nodded.

"Of course, but why do you wish to do that, my little pony?"

Pinkie Pie spoke up, "Because he wants to know what's making Princess Luna such a grumpy grouchytail! She's being nice on the outside, but on the inside she's all frowny faces!!" All the ponies, including Celestia, stared at her with surprise.

Dreamcatcher nodded absently, still staring after Luna, "Good eye, Pinkie. That mare has her mane in a twist over something. Uh, forgive me speaking so bluntly, Princess."

Celestia smiled, "Believe me Dreamcatcher, I never begrudge a pony for speaking their mind. And it is best that you two get to know each other anyway." Dreamcatcher nodded his thanks and went down the hallway that Luna had passed through. Celestia turned back to the others. "So, my little ponies, what are your opinions on our new friend? Do you think he can help?"

Rainbow Dash exclaimed immediately, "You bet your hooves he can! He's a little weird, but he seems solid to me! Anypony willing to fight for his friends is okay in my book!"

Rarity nodded. "I haven't seen his abilities in action, and he's quite primitive, but he's willing to do what he can to help others. I believe that he will try his hardest."

Applejack hesitated, then spoke: "Ah don't mean to be rude, but ah'm not sure. He's a fine pony, but to be honest ah ain't seen him do anythin' you can't Princess."

Pinkie Pie giggled, "I think he'll be okay. Maybe if he threw Luna a party, she'll feel better. Oooh, or maybe a joke! Jokes always make ya feel better!! Wait, I got one! So, a frog and mouse walk into a stable…"

Fluttershy scuffed her hoof on the floor, "Well, um, I don't know much about dreams, but he was kind enough to help me and Angel Bunny. I-I believe that he'll try his best."

Twilight pondered the question carefully. "In the end, it all comes down to these abilities of his." She said finally. "Not that I don't think he'll try his hardest, but it all depends on how much power his 'talent' really has."

Celestia smiled at them. It was just as she expected. "How fitting that each of you would give an answer befitting your Element of Harmony. For myself, I think he can help. Now," she continued briskly, "how about you all tell me what you have been up to for the last few months. Twilight's messages are so sparse in the details, and your adventures sound so exciting. Why, I'd bet they'd make a great show!" Twilight blushed and stammered an apology as they all left for Celestia's private lounge.

________________

Dreamcatcher didn't have to look very hard to find Princess Luna's chambers. The mare left an aura of troubled energy in a wake that even an earth pony like Dreamcatcher could feel. As he approached her door, he thought over how he should address the princess. What if she's sleeping? Should I really wake her up? Maybe I could leave a note or something. Finally he muttered, "Screw it," and simply knocked on the door. There was no response from the other side. He knocked again and called out, "Princess Luna, its Dreamcatcher. You know, the one Princess Celestia asked to help you? I was wondering if I could talk to you for a second." Still no response. Dreamcatcher's eyes narrowed. No one falls asleep that fast. Especially if they're afraid of recurring nightmares. She's avoiding me. He turned around as if to leave, then abruptly bucked the door loudly with his hind legs.

Finally Luna opened the door, "Such impertinence! Was that necessary!? Do you normally go around kicking other ponies' doors!?"

Dreamcatcher shrugged, then winced. Ouch. "Nope. But then, we don't have doors back in my tribe," he said pointedly.

Luna sighed with frustration, then opened the door wide for him to enter. "Look, I'm sorry if I seem angry, but I'm tired of my sister's 'consultants' telling me how my dreams mean I'm repressing childhood memories, or that I'm suffering hormone imbalances, or that I'm just being too negative. I'm tired of being treated like some fragile doll that'll break if touched!" The princess realized she had raised her voice, and quickly went silent.

Dreamcatcher stepped inside the room, and was quickly struck by its beauty. The room itself was round, with a soft, deep blue carpet and a black domed ceiling that twinkled with stars and swirling nebula. Around the walls were several lamps that let off a dim, comfortable light. Off to one side was a huge bookcase packed with ancient tomes, and a small yet luxurious desk. Next to this desk was a plush seat, angled at the moment towards her bed, which in itself was of a monstrous size. The huge piece had a multitude of pillows that all but covered the soft blue silk sheets. There was a window, but at the moment it was covered by deep purple drapes, which darkened the room so that only the lamps produced any light.

Catcher felt himself becoming drowsy just by the ambiance. He shook himself and eased into the soft seat facing her bed. He was still sore from his fight with the wolf. He responded nonchalantly, "Oh, great, because I'm way too tired to do that." Luna looked at him with surprise as he continued, "I've had to leave my tribe, travel for a week on foot, get mauled by a wolf, and travel several thousand feet in the air on a Pegasus carriage." He grinned at her impishly, "Frankly, at this point, all that sounds just more tiring than I can take. Besides, doesn't all that bowing and scraping get annoying?"

Luna wasn't quite sure how to respond. No other pony had ever spoken to her in such a way. It was like he was speaking to an average pony, not a princess! And she couldn't help but agree with his statement, despite the earth pony's complete lack of respect for royalty. She had thought the same thing many times, but whenever she brought it up with her sister, Celestia had just laughed, "Luna, don't you think I've tried to stop it? No matter what I do, these ponies always end up acting like that! I gave up trying to persuade them long ago. Besides, it seems to make them happy, so what harm could it do?" The princess sighed. She hadn't found that to be a good excuse at all, but her sister was almost always right.

Luna shook herself, realizing that Dreamcatcher was still waiting for a response. She said quietly, "Um, then… How did you intend for us to address each other?"

Catcher shrugged, "Well, can I just call you Luna?" The princess froze for a moment. To hear somepony besides her sister or Twilight say her name with such familiarity was… strange. Very few ponies had ever used just her name, even before her banishment. It was always "your highness" or "Princess Luna". She narrowed her eyes, remembering whom she was talking to.

"You- why are you acting like this? Is this some new therapy Celestia's consultants have made up?" she asked suspiciously.

Dreamcatcher tilted his head, "Stars above, you really don't like them, do you? If they annoy you so much, why not just talk to somebody else about it?"

Luna looked him exasperatingly, "Like who, exactly?"

"Oh gee, I dunno, your sister for one. Or maybe your friends?"

"My sister has enough troubles with running a kingdom, and here in Canterlot I don't..." Luna stopped, the irritation in her face melting into sadness. She turned away from the young Navapony. "I-I do not wish to talk about it, alright? Now if you don't mind, I need to get ready to raise the moon, so if you could please leave..." Dreamcatcher said nothing as he departed. He stood outside her door for a moment, listening her stifle a sob, then quickly made his way to Princess Celestia's lounge. He knew what Luna had been about to say:

I don't have any friends…