I opened my eyes and shook the sheets from my limber frame as I woke up again from the startling nightmares. They always start with me in Maretopia, which is weird since I have never seen it before. I imagined it as a glowing city, with ponies crowding the streets, getting to and from their jobs. All of the building were regal in design, and all were in neat shape. I also believe that there is an especially tall building near the middle of the city, with a giant dome. This building seemed to be more regal and elegant than the others, if that is even possible. Then the real nightmare begins. The skies begin to darken, and the air suddenly becomes cold. A large, brutish shape lumbers through the market, exclaiming: " I shall set you FREE! In a perfect world!", over and over. I could hear the other ponies around me whispering: " Is he mad?", and "This is already a perfect world!". The large unicorn looked around at the discontent faces, and exclaims louder this time: "I WILL REMAKE THIS CITY IN MY OWN IMAGE!!". This drew more discontent faces, and even some angry ones. Here is where the nightmare gets the worst. The streets begin to crumble into black powder, and the regal buildings turn to an ugly brown mush. The entire city shook, like an earthquake. The unicorn's horn started to glow, and the ground became moist, not unlike mud. the buildings shook and started to slowly retreat into the ground. While the buildings sank, all the ponies became fleeting, attempting to get to the highest ground possible. Some went to the roof, others fled the city altogether. The city's demise was inevitable, and everyone knew it. As the final buildings sank beneath the surface, the unicorn did one last thing. He used the last of his power to harden the ground, and grow a great forest around it. As the trees started to grow, black lightning struck the unicorn, and then the nightmare ends.
I walk to the window, which, luckily, is not too far from the bed. I look out at the fast ocean of trees beyond my humble abode. I look at the special greenery, and the vibrant colors of fall. I watch the blue skies, and the wonderful puffy clouds. I turn away from the beautiful scene, and walk to the door across the room.
"Hey Shadowbolt! You awake yet dude? It is time to get moving!" A voice is heard from the kitchen.
I sigh, know that he was right, and reply back: "Yeah! on my way down, Cantermick!".
I open the wooden door, and walk the few feet to get to the kitchen. On my way out the front door, I grab some hay, and leave the house, until I remember that I need to grab my bag. Damnit! I think. I re-open the door, quickly rush to my room, and grab my beige bag and head out the door, this time for good.
As I get to work, my boss, the dean, comes to me with an odd request. What is it now, more fights in the cafe? Then dean here apologized severely for the inconvenience. "There is a pegasus in your office wanting to speak with you, and you only. He threatened to tear down the school if you don't come."
I mull this over, and decide almost immediately that I will indeed go to speak with this odd pegasus. "On my way..." I reply to the dean, then I quickly and carefully maneuver my way through the crowded halls to my office, which unfortunately, is at the end of the hall. When i get there, an odd, large pegasus with a biker vibe, opens the door for me, and invites me in. I find this extremely odd, but apparently he does not. I slide into my desk chair, near the middle of the office, and offer him the seat on the other side of the desk. He accepts the offer, but does not sit down.
"Now, what did you need Mr...." I start.
"Names are not important right now, I have a job for you, and you will take it, because you have been having the nightmares too."
I stare at him stunned, because I have not told anyone about the dreams, and the only way he would know that I have had them, is if he had had them too.
"You also?" I ask.
He does not acknowledge the question with an answer, he just gives his head a bit of a nod, and begins to tell me what I must do.
"We must go to find the lost city of Maretopia, It is needed, and I think the only way of finding it, is if we search for the oldest known record for the city, and we might be able to find out a general location."
"Wait...We?" I ask in confusion.
"Yes, you, and me, maybe another for a week or two. Finding Maretopia will not be easy, but it must be done. And as soon as possible."
"So where is the oldest known record of the city then?" I ask, hoping for a good answer.
The pony just gives a demonic smile, and says: "Wait and see...".
