Through the Cavern

"Knock it off, ok?" Shining Armor said, blushing with embarassment "I haven't gotten a chance to have a game night with the guys in ages. This the only way I'm able to play."

"Sorry, dude...I just was NOT expecting to see...this." Ricky said, gesturing at the group of stallions. They all wore ridiculous costumes, with plastic-looking weapons on their belts.

"Yeah, well, you'd think that with all the hard work I do, I'd be allowed to have a night to hang with my friends." Armor sighed "But, that never happens."

"I think your guard duties would be far more important than playing a silly game, Shining Armor." Luna said "However, I understand your frustration."

"Woah, 'silly game'? I think you underestimate the awesomeness that is Oubliettes and Ogres, your highness." One of Shining Armor's friends stepped forward. Luna gave him a blank stare "I don't believe you're helping his case much."

Ricky just shook his head "Well, whatever floats your boat. So, are you after some kind of treasure or something?"

"Treasure?" Shining mused, then turned to his friend "Hey, 8-Bit, are we looking for that, here?"

"I thought we were looking for a princess." 8-Bit said, scratching his head "Poindexter?"

"Seriously? You guys never let me come up with any of our missions, what makes you think I'd know now?"

"Hold on, I've got it somewhere..." The fourth stallion searched his bag, then blushed "Um...I think we might have a problem, guys..."

"You lost the instructions, didn't you?" 8-Bit said bluntly, Poindexter doing a facehoof in agitation "We've been down here for HOURS..."

"Technically, I left them behind...so no. No, I didn't lose them."

"Don't try weaseling, dude. I'm NOT in the mood for it!" 8-Bit slowly began advancing on his friend. As this went on, Ricky leaned close to Luna.

"Um...is it just me, or is this really pointless?" He whispered. After a moment, Luna nodded "Yes. I must admit, their ideas of dreams are somewhat...lacking."

"Yeah...think we should move on?"

"That would be an appropriate action, yes." Luna drew herself to her full height "Adventurers!"

"Yes, your highness!" Shining Armor and his friends snapped to attention, while Luna rolled her eyes in annoyance. Beside her, Ricky stifled another laugh.

"For the love of...I will not stand for pointless bickering! Frankly, I am ashamed of you four. You have a quest at hand, and you have strayed from it. Now, pull yourselves together!"

"Right!" Poindexter gave a clumsy salute, turning to his friends "Alright, men, move out!"

"Hey, who died and made you oubliette master?" 8-Bit complained, which prompted the others to start chiming in angrily.

"Quickly, while they're distracted!" Luna whispered, and Ricky nodded, closing his eyes. The wind sounded, and the voices of the arguing gamers faded away.

***

Squinting, Ricky tried to make out his surroundings, but it was far too bright to see anything. He could, however, hear multiple colts and fillies laughing and yelling. Luna, on the other hand, was nowhere to be found.

"Hey! Move it, ugly!" Ricky ducked, barely avoiding the two Pegasus colts who had dive-bombed him.

"And you're too old for Flight Camp, stupid!!"

"Flight Camp?" Ricky wondered, looking arouund. It was then that he realized that he was high among the clouds, and in a panic fell backwards.

"Careful!" A voice came from behind him, but he saw no one there. The voice sounded familiar, however...

"Rainbow Dash?" Ricky asked slowly, recieving an exasperated sigh in reply.

"Obviously! Dang it, hold on..." She came into view, or at least a much younger version of herself did. Ricky was taken aback at this.

"Dude! Are you...did I travel through time? Where's Princess Luna?"

"No, Fluttershy just has an annoying habit of reliving this place. Luna's with her under the bleachers right now." Rainbow explained, fluttering her tiny wings. Ricky nodded "That makes more sense. Why does she dream of this place? Doesn't seem so bad."

"She got picked on constantly here. For a lot of things," Rainbow added, beckoning for Ricky to follow her "She has a real hard time letting go."

"Ah, gotcha." As they walked, they passed many young Pegasi performing drills and various exercises. Some of them stopped momentarily to watch Ricky go by, while others just ignored him.

"Muffins, you're up!" Ricky stopped to watch the younger Derpy glide towards her target. Upon seeing him, she did an abrupt double-take and missed, crashing into a nearby pillar.

"Don't worry, somepony always gets her to the nurse." Rainbow said "It was pretty much a daily occurence."

"Really? Ok, then...so, why did Fluttershy get bullied? Nothing wrong with her in my opinion." Ricky asked, ducking to avoid more ponies.

"She's a bit of a weak flyer, for one. She's also kind of a doormat. I'm surprised you never noticed."

"If I did, I never mentioned it." They came upon the bleachers, where Ricky could hear soft sniffling alongside Luna's soothing tone.

"Now, dear, are you really going to let this ruin your whole week?" Ricky watched as Fluttershy timidly raised her head "B-but they were all so cruel..."

"Come, now. You have so many wonderful qualities about you, and those bullies know it." Luna said, and Fluttershy shook her head, tears building up in her eyes.

"They're just going to keep doing it, though!" She whimpered "I'm terrified to show my face here.."

"Come on, Fluttershy! Do we really have to go through this again? I mean, we already know how this is gonna play out!" Rainbow said "So, why don't we dream about something else, ok?"

Luna stared at her dryly "You're not helping at all."

"Least I'm trying..."

Sighing, Luna turned to Ricky "It looks like this is going to take a while. You might as well look around for now."

"Ok, cool. Just come grab me when you're ready." Ricky turned to go, Rainbow Dash flying ahead "Come on, I'll show you the rec area!"

Following her through the camp, Ricky had no idea where to look first. The fact that nearly everything was made of clouds was amazing enough.

"So, how long does it usually take for Fluttershy to calm down?" Ricky asked, to which Rainbow shrugged "Beats me. It has a tendency to vary. Longest was an hour."

"Damn...so, it depends on the bullying, then?"

"Yep..." They approached a large building with a sign reading 'Recreation Facilities', and Rainbow pushed the door open "After you."

Ricky found himself in a brightly lit room filled with game tables, sofas and vending machines. There were a couple of ponies playing what looked to be air hockey, but he couldn't tell.

"Well, here we are. It's pretty chill here." Rainbow flew over to the soda machine and stuck a couple coins in. She grabbed a can and tossed one over to Ricky, who caught it with ease.

"Thanks. So, you can just come here when you want? What about scheduled camp activities and all?" Ricky took a sip, startled at how good it was. Glancing at the label, he was stunned to find that it was hay and berry flavored.

"Nah, but this is a dream, remember?" Rainbow landed next to him "So, we may as well make the most of it."

"I guess, yeah." Ricky took another sip "I wonder how Derpy's doing? She took a pretty hard hit back there."

"She's probably ok. Like I said, she was always clumsy. And I guess I always kind of gave her a hard time for it." Rainbow said sheepishly "She means well, sure, but it can be really frustrating."

"I guess that's why she like...um, never mind, actually." Ricky said quickly, but Rainbow gasped sarcastically "That was YOU?!"

"What? Oh, for fuck's sake...how many ponies know about that?" Ricky groaned, wanting to vanish. Rainbow shrugged "Oh, chill. Not that many...well, me, Rarity, Spike..."

"Ok, I guess that's..."

"...Lyra, Bon Bon, Twilight, Big Mac, Cranky Doodle Donkey..."

"OK!!! Jeez, is no secret safe in this town?" Ricky shook his head "How did you find out, anyway?"

"It was after you left Rarity's when we played Truth or Dare. Derpy would not stop raving about you, and how jealous of Bon Bon she was for getting to kiss you." Rainbow tossed her can in the bin "I mean, what can I say? The girl's hot for you."

"Well, flattering as it was, I kind of had to turn her down." Ricky said, blushing slightly.

"Oh, I know that. She was pretty down the day after Nightmare Night." Rainbow cocked an eyebrow at him "I'm not one for for romance and junk, but you oughta make it up to her."

"Right, like I'm gonna take dating tips from a kid-OW!"

"This is a DREAM!!" Rainbow said angrily "I'm still an adult, I just...don't look like it."

"Sorry...didn't have to kick me, though." Ricky muttered, rubbing his shin "So, what do you suggest?"

"Ask her out to dinner or something, as friends. You know, make her happy."

"Ok, I guess that'd be okay...you know, I still don't understand why she likes me. I mean, apart from that night at Rarity's, I've only ever talked to her when she delivers mail."

"That's just it. You're one of the only ones who DOES talk to her. Most ponies treat her like an outcast. Kind of like you were back in your world." Rainbow said, quickly adding "Twilight told me."

"Well...you know what? I'll do it. When I get back to town, I'll ask Derpy out. Hell, I may have been an asshole back home, but I'm definitely not one here. I'll-"

"THERE you are!" Luna entered the rec hall, Fluttershy in tow. She was no longer crying.

"Sorry, I shoulda told you where I was taking him." Rainbow said, flying over to her friend "So, feeling better?"

"Oh, yes. Princess Luna was wonderful to talk to." Fluttershy blushed, turning to Ricky "S-sorry for not saying hello before, Ricky."

"It's cool, I understand. You had some issues to work out. And I guess I kind of had one too..." He glanced at Rainbow, who gave him a quick wink. Fluttershy looked confused.

"Um...ok, I guess...I'm sorry we couldn't visit properly, but..."

"Do not fret, Fluttershy. We must on our way, anyhow." Luna walked over to Ricky "Are you ready?"

"As I'll ever be. Thanks again, Rainbow, I'll do that first chance that I get." Ricky closed his eyes, hearing the familiar rush of wind.

***

"OW!!!!!" Ricky held his elbow and began swearing a blue streak "Son of a...!"

"Oh, relax. It was only a bookshelf."

"Still, what kind of person would leave a bookshelf next to a dream portal?" Ricky fumed, looking around angrily.

"Well, there is one name that comes to..." Luna began, but was interrupted by a loud voice.

"Oh, thank Celestia you're here! Quick, we don't have much time!" Twilight ran up to them, her mane askew "They're in here, and they're destroying EVERYTHING!!!"

"A nightmare!" Ricky thought, both excited and nervous.

"Right! I will rectify this situation!" Luna said, charging forward. Ricky braced himself for the worst...