Chapters Dreaming Of The Other Dimensions
Twilight and Flash walked down the halls of the elementary school. The white painted, cinder block walls were pasted with artwork from the children of the various grades. The better ones being mostly from the older children. As the grades decreased, one could see the difference in the quality. Fairly passable depictions of families gave way to what Twilight called, "shape people', those gave way to stick figures, and finally squiggles at the end. Bulletin boards with various announcements, photos, and rule reminders were hung at regular intervals. It was all things the two had seen half a dozen times as they made their way to Nova's classroom.
Flash took the handle to the classroom door and looked at Twilight. They both breathed a deep breath. It was the type of deep breath taken by some about to embark on something dangerous and was just trying to steady their nerves. They nodded to one another, Flash opened the door and they both walked in. Nova was sitting alone in a corner near the coat racks. Her teacher was standing in the middle of the room, keeping an eye on her. Nova looked both depressed and defiant. Her teacher turned to look at Flash and Twilight as they walked.
Twilight and Flash said hello in their friendliest voices possible. It was the voices of people who know something bad is about to happen but hope if they act nice enough; maybe things won't go as bad. Nova's teacher just glared at them.
"She did it again," the teacher said in that voice that rumbled with anger and frustration.
Twilight and Flash exchanged worried looks. Flash said he'd go over and talk to Nova. Twilight pinched the bridge of her nose and rubbed it.
"So, what exactly was it this time Ms. Shapton?" Twilight asked; sure he really didn't want to know the answer.
"She levitated another student," Ms Shapton said in the same rumbling tone.
"Oh no," Twilight moaned in frustration.
"Mrs. Sentry, this makes the third your daughter has done something magical at school. I understand she's young. I understand her powers come from you. I was there at Cantorlot High when Sunset Shimmer turned into a demon. And, as then, I vowed to keep these things a secret. BUT; I can not do so if she keeps doing things like this. Children talk Ms. Sentry. Luckily, parents don't believe them. However; if enough students keep saying the exact same thing; they at least get curious and want to check things out."
Twilight both shook and nodded her head at the same time. "I know, I know. We've had this conversation with her before. We try Ms. Shapton; we really do. But, she's only five; and you know how five year olds can be." Twilight really was at the end of her rope. She was worried what would happen to her, to Nova, if any news about her abilities came out. The human track record with magical beings wasn't good. She and Flash tried so hard to explain to Nova what the stakes were if she used magic in public; but like most kids, she just wouldn't listen.
"I understand Mrs. Sentry, Twilight," Ms. Shapton's tone softened. She liked Nova. Nova was one of her best students. She was far and away more advanced than all of her peers. She had talked numerous times to the principle about moving Nova up a grade; but she also knew if she couldn't get a handle on her powers, things wouldn't turn out well. She wasn't mad, just extremely concerned.
"Hey honey," Flashed said softly as he got to where Nova was sitting. He looked down lovingly at her. She was his pride and joy, the reason for his smile, the song in his heart. He loved her more than anyone or thing (and considering how much he loved Twilight; that was saying something).
"Hi daddy," she said in a voice full of sadness, frustration, and a touch of fear for what would happen.
Flash kneeled down in front of her and took her chin in his right hand. "It's ok kiddo. Mind telling me what happened?" Flashes voice was sweet, low, and full of comfort and love.
"Jimmy called me a booger-head," she said softly. Then with a voice that was a little louder and far angrier, she said, "I'm not a booger-head!"
"No, you're not." Flash was a bit mad now. Sure, name calling was something children did. And as far as childish insults went, that wasn't too bad; but this was his daughter and no one talked to her that way.
"So I kinda picked him up without using my hands." Her voice got lower and lower as she finished her sentence and she looked down at the table as she finished.
Flash looked around to make sure no one was looking, raised his right hand with the palm facing forward and whispered, "High five."
Nova smiled a large, joyful, smile and slapped her father's hand so hard, the sound of the slap echoed through out the classroom. Twilight and Ms. Shapton looked over to see what was going on. Flash and Nova both blushed and Flash pretended to scold the girl while she pretended to be contrite.
Twilight shook her head in disgust that her husband wasn't taking this seriously. She went to look back at Ms. Shapton but she was gone. What! Where'd she go? Twilight thought to herself in fear. She went to ask Flash what was going on but he and Nova were gone too. Soon the class room was gone and Twilight was alone in an autumn forest at night.
She was also a pony.
Twilight started running frantically around, looking for a clue, any clue as to what was happening. She was frightened, her husband, daughter, all gone and here she was in pony form in a spooky forest at night. Her heart beat faster as she ran screaming for Flash and Nova.
"Twilight! Stop! I'm here."
Twilight stopped. That voice; it wasn't Flash, it wasn't Nova, but it was familiar. It was -PRINCESS LUNA! Twilight then realized she was dreaming. All this was nothing but a dream. She looked over her right shoulder and saw Princess Luna approaching.
"I heard you calling out, so I came," Luna spoke as a mother comforting a child. "What is it my child?"
Twilight lowered her head. "I was dreaming about them again," she sighed in embarrassment and sadness. "Flash, Nova, they all seemed so real. I don't know. Flash I understand, but the girl, she's always the same, well, she appears as different ages, but it's always the same person. I don't know."
Luna's heart broke for Twilight. How could she tell her that those weren't dreams but memories of a future that no longer exists? Since having time reset, all the events she lived through in that alternate timeline never "officially" happened. But they were still there, deep in Twilight's subconscious. Not just the memories of what did happen but what would have happened. Twilight made the choice to come back of her own freewill; but knowing what she left behind, having that weigh on her every day for the rest of her much longer than she could ever imaging, might be too much.
"The girl is what your heart wants her to be." It was one of those sentences that didn't actually say anything; but sounded really profound. She hated saying them because she knew they were meaningless; but they did serve a purpose on occasions like this.
"I know," sighed Twilight, not feeling any better, "But why always her? Why not a son sometimes or a boy and a girl? Or . . ."
"Twilight," Luna said sympathetically, "she is what she; for your dreams are your dreams. Sometimes the only deeper message in your dreams is that this is what you wish would be."
Twilight looked at Luna unconvinced. "My life has changed so much. I wanted nothing more than to bury myself in my books. Then I just wanted to be a normal person, I mean pony. And when I became a princess, I didn't know if I was ready and I went on to not only believe I was; but I wanted even more responsibility."
"And you now have that; Princess of Friendship," Luna gently goaded.
"Complete with castle." Twilight tried to make it sound like a joke but there was a ruefulness behind it that couldn't be concealed. "I have a title, friends, everything. But I feel like I'm still being called back to Earth. I'm torn. I shouldn't be. I mean, he's a different species, we've only really ever known each other for four, five days? - that's barely enough to form a crush. But I can't help it."
Luna walked over to Twilight and stood beside her. "The heart feels what it feels. It can not be reasoned with, debated, persuaded; it just feels. But, and I know this better than anyone, when the heart is allowed to rule over the head and we give ourselves over to our own desires, good things do not always follow. In fact; very bad things can come of it. It doesn't change or even help what you feel; but it can help how you deal with those feelings."
Twilight raised her eyebrows. "I guess. I guess I'm just lonely." Twilight got a very quizzical look on her face. "Princess Luna, how come you and Princess Celestia never married?" Twilight couldn't believe she never thought of that question before. It was a question which now seemed of the upmost importance.
Luna was very quiet. There was a look of quiet sadness that came upon her face. "With great power, comes great responsibility; which demands great personal sacrifice." Luna shook her head and then flashed Twilight a smile. "I have my sister, I have the citizens of Equestria, and I have you. That's more than enough to replace a husband."
"And children?" Twilight asked in equal parts fear and hope.
"You are all my children my dear. Now, let us go for a dream fly." Luna spread her wings and began to fly off. Twilight decided to join her and flew off after her.
Author's Note
This is going to be a short, 3 part story. Next chapter will involve Celestia and Luna and the third will include Celestia and Twilight. This will be one of a couple short stories to fill in the gap between "Mountains" and the next Long form story. Basically to wrap up any lose ends from the first and set the stage for the second. So hopefully you like.
Dreaming Of The Other Dimensions
Debate Of The Sun And The Moon
Princess Celestia sat on her throne awaiting her sister to come so they could change the night in to day. Her sister was running a bit late, but just a bit. In all the years her sister had been back; she had never missed a turn over. She made sure she was always on time and never to give the appearance of her not wanting to lower the moon. So ashamed was she of her past deeds as Nightmare Moon; she went above and beyond what she needed to in order to avoid any appearance of backsliding.
The doors to the throne room opened and Princess Luna walked in. Celestia noticed immediately that there was something different about Luna. She walked with an agitation, her head hung down, and she did not look at Celestia. She seemed distracted. Celestia was immediately worried.
"Sister?" she asked.
Luna shook her head. "Let us do the turn over then we shall talk." Her voice held a slight amount of anger in it. Clearly she was agitated. But since she said she wanted to talk afterward, Celestia decided not to press the issue.
Together both Princesses walked out on to the balcony and stood side by side. They closed their eyes and their horns lit up. Slowly the moon set and the sun rose. Night gave way to day, darkness gave way to light. Once the turn over was complete; the sisters walked back inside.
Once inside, Luna spoke. "I would have words with you in private. Please send the guards away that we make speak with complete candor."
Celestia was concerned. Her sister's voice was a mixture of anger and sadness. For her to ask for the guards to be dismissed was unusual and with her current tone of voice, potentially dangerous. But as she thought earlier; her sister had been a model Princess since returning, so she decided to give her the benefit of the doubt. She looked at the guards and motioned for them to leave. They bowed and left. Celestia then turned to Luna with a look that said, ok, so now what?
"It's Twilight. She's been dreaming again of the other realm." Luna's voice was somewhat softer but there was still an accusatory tone to it.
Celestia shook her head in sadness. "Just of the boy, Sunset and the Sirens; or of the full other timeline?"
"You already know that answer." Luna sounded much angrier than she actually was. It wasn't anger that propelled her but concern for Twilight and Equestria as a whole. "She dreams of what happened and what would have happened. She see's herself as married to the boy, having a daughter, Nova is her name, she dreams of the others, she . . . dreams."
Celestia turned around and walked to her throne. "And what would you have me do dear sister?" She addressed Luna, but she was really asking the universe.
"Talk to her Celestia. Explain things to her. She might not like what she hears, but at least she'll know." Luna was almost begging her sister.
"Twilight is to take over your position Luna. It is you who should speak with her." Celestia knew that was a cop out. It made her sick to even say it. But she rather say it than actually talk to Twilight. Like Sunset before her, she had come to see Twilight as a daughter; but unlike Sunset, she had met and exceeded her expectations. She cared so much about her, that having that talk with her, broke Celestia's heart just thinking about it.
Luna raised her one eyebrow in a look of both disgust and amusement that the great Celestia would cower so from her responsibility. "So I take it you've been making plans to talk to Sunset?" Celestia turned and looked in anger at Luna who continued. "She might be my replacement, but she is your student. She looks up to you and is closer to than anyone save her parents; and even that's debatable."
"And if she doesn't like what I have to say? Wants to go back? Then what?"
"She made the choice once Celestia; she'll make it again." Luna found it strange and somewhat unnerving that she was the one comforting and trying to get her sister to do the right thing.
"She made that decision surrounded by the bodies of the dead. It's easy to choose the right thing when the horrors of the wrong are all around you."
"You still told her what she was giving up. Even the best pony would find it hard to make the right decision knowing the alternative would be a perfect life for them. She still chose to come back even with that knowledge. And you know as well as I do she'll have to go back eventually. The trials are not over yet. Both she and Sunset have tests they must face alone and together before they ascend to the Throne. Is it not better she knows exactly what she is in for instead of having her go back and be tempted again?"
"But that is it, I can't tell her what she is in store for. Can I? This is beyond even my will. The goddess energy is not with us anymore. Partially, but it's already started moving on to Sunset and Twilight. To fill them in a little, even a little; could corrupt them."
"Tell her what you can. But please comfort her. Give her piece of mind or at least what you can. You know what she's going through. I might have started going down my dark road, but I was still paying attention. I know you loved a human. Star Swirl had to go get you from the Earthly realm."
"And I've never forgiven him for it!" Celestai said bitterly.
"But you came back. You defeated me and saved Equestria. If Twilight is to ascend, she must be allowed to know the cost and to know that it is a cost that has been paid before, paid by you."
Celestia sat down on her throne and looked down at the ground. Her time as Princess was coming to an end. Her days of guarding against the dark forces were almost over. It was something she couldn't even look forward to. Until Sunset and Twilight passed their final tests, she would still be called upon to make the hard decisions. And once they did, it meant she and her sister would die. She was overwhelmed but sadness and anger at the unfairness of it.
Celestia looked back up at Luna. "I'll talk to her. It is still my duty."
Luna nodded. "I know this is not easy. I wish I could do something to make this easier for you; but I can't. All I can say is that I am here for you."
"I know dear sister, I know. And that means the world to me. Now go to sleep, you need your rest. I have a feeling Twilight will be needing you again tonight."
Dreaming Of The Other Dimensions
Twilight awoke from here tormented sleep. While the dream flying with Luna helped, she was still gripped by a sense of loss. She knew that they were just dreams. Figments, shadows of her mind; born of a wish to have someone she could not have; but by Celestia they seemed real. More real than her life in Ponyville right now.
Here house, her beloved "Golden Oak Library", was gone. Destroyed by the monster Tirek. She did have a castle now (a big, empty, soul crushing castle) and a mission; to spread friendship across Equestria. She even got to go on missions, like to that town where everyone had the same cutie mark. She liked those, the away missions. She could lose herself in them and block out the dreams. Here, she always felt alone. She had even taken to bothering her friends and doing all types of volunteer work just so she would not have to spend time here, alone, with the dreams.
How odd it was that she should feel so caught up and drawn to a boy ( a boy who wasn't even her species) she had only known for what? - five days total; maybe six. Funny how she couldn't keep track. It was hard to even separate out what was real and what was dream. It all seemed to fold together into one seamless whole. She walked from her bed to her balcony to look at the new day. Maybe that would cheer her up.
She looked at Ponyville below. The town's folk were busily walking to and fro; going about their daily business. She didn't know if she envied or felt sorry for them. They were so caught up in their own lives, not knowing, not even dreaming of the wider world(s) that were out there. She had seen the bigger picture, traveled to another dimension. That knowledge was both intoxicating and fearsome. They worried about house and hearth. She worried about the total destruction of their planet. They were ignorant but at peace. She had knowledge but overwhelming responsibility. One against the other she supposed.
Something caught Twilight's eye. In the sky, something was approaching. As it grew closer it looked to be a Pegasus. Then she saw it had a horn. It was Celestia. She was flying to her; on her own. She had no guards or carriage. Twilight thought this was extremely strange. She became both nervous and excited as to what this visit might mean. Hopefully another field trip away from this castle.
"Princess Celestia," Twilight said and bowed as Celestia touched down.
"Twilight. May I please speak to you inside?"
Celestia sounded as though she were trying to mask a great sadness with forced happiness. This made Twilight very nervous with all the excitement from before leaving her. "Sure Princess, come on in," she replied with great concern.
As soon as they got inside, Celestia began to speak. "Luna told me about your dreams and I wanted to come here in person to talk to you."
"Oh," Twilight said confused. "I appreciate the effort and you coming here in person Princess; but they're just dreams."
A rueful smile flashed across Celestia's lips. "You dream of the boy; no? You dream of him and your child and your house and career and your friends."
"Yes," Twilight replied; still confused and a bit ashamed. How much had Luna told Celestia? How much had Luna seen? Oh what if she had seen one of the more "intimate" dreams she had about her and Flash. Twilight started to blush.
"Twilight, I love you as a daughter. You and Sunset Shimmer." Celestia sighed in deep pain at mentioning her former protégé. "I never had children. But that doesn't mean I never loved. In my youth, I traveled. Not here. No, not here. I traveled to other dimensions. That portal, the one which opens to the human realm, that's just where it stopped. I stopped it. I went to so many different places, seen so many different things, heh, had so many different bodies. But Earth was where I stopped it."
Twilight was even more confused. Celestia wasn't talking like her normal self. Her speech was broken like she didn't know what to say and was trying to figure that out as she spoke. More than that, Twilight was wondering what the point of this story was. What was she trying to say?
Celestia continued, "You read about the Roman Empire I assume?" Twilight nodded. "I was there," Celestia said. "In what the humans call four sixty. The empire was on it's last legs. It was cracking from within and being besieged from without. Maybe not the best time to go exploring, but I had been to much more dangerous realms and survived. I thought I could do so here.
"I was walking along a country road when I was attacked by bandits. I fought them off as best I could. A lot better than they expected." A satisfied smirk came upon Celestia's face. "But there were too many of them. Things could have gotten bad if not for . . . him." Now a look of pure joy came to Celestia's face.
"His name was Justinius. He was a general in the Imperial Army. Oh he was handsome. Tall, tan, bald on top but that just made him look more manly and battle worn. He came to my aid and then I came to his. He was so surprised to see a woman stand back to back with him and fight off our attackers.
"Afterwards, we began to talk. He asked me where I had learned to fight like that, who I was, where I was going, and the like. I played as coy, but still tried to be as honest as I could. He told me who he was and all that and asked if I would mind accompanying him for a while. That 'while' turned into three months. Oh, I guess I should have said moons. How quickly am I drawn back to their tongue." Celestia laughed. She laughed at her word choice and how those long ago events still held such sway over her.
"I would have stayed. I wanted to. He even asked for my hand in marriage. Oh by the gods I can still swear I feel his arm around me at nights." Celestia was almost in tears now. "But I couldn't. We were attacked by Barbarians one night. His unit. I accompanied him on his missions. We where over run. Men, dying all around me. Then, out of no where, a portal opens up and Star Swirl, the not yet bearded, comes and pulls me through. I begged him to save Justinius; but he refused. I ordered him and he simply said that there were duties and responsibilities that outweighed even a princesses orders. I never really forgave him. Even after I understood why he did it; my heart, part of my heart, will always hate him for that.
"Had I stayed, had I not come back, Equestria would have fallen. Fallen to my sister; fallen to a countless other threats that came to destroy or conjure. Being a princess comes with great power, but also great responsibility. Do you understand?"
"Yes," Twilight said at first then shook her head. "No. I mean, you were the only Princess for a long time. But there's four of us now. Princess Cadence is married to my brother, you and Luna are free to marry now, I mean, if you wanted to. And, I mean, I don't know. I guess I get what you're saying. But I always got that. I knew from the first things between Flash and I could never work out; but that doesn't make it any better does it?"
Celestia walked over and nuzzled Twilight. "No, it doesn't," she said softly. Then Celestia looked Twilight in the eyes. "Twilight, you have grown so much. I can not begin to tell you how proud I am of you. You have a destiny ahead of you far greater than you can realize. But to meet that destiny there are trials and tests ahead of you that you must face."
"More than what I've already done?" Twilight asked in disappointment and dread.
"I'm afraid so. And I am also afraid I can not elaborate more. But . . . I can say . . . your time on Earth is not over and you will see Flash again."
"But if I can't be with him; what's the point?" Twilight asked in anger and frustration.
"To have what I never did; a chance to say goodbye."
Celestia's words hit Twilight like an asteroid striking the planet. Suddenly she saw her mentor in a whole new light. All those years, centuries, she must have been carrying this crushing sadness with her. And for the longest time; that of banishing Luna, her sister, to the moon. How had she held up so well? Twilight was barely holding up now.
Twilight bowed her head, walked over to Celestia, and nuzzled her. "Thank you Princess. Thank you for caring about me and being here for me."
"You are welcomed Twilight," Celestia said with pure tenderness and affection. "Now I must go. The guards can not I'm gone. Stay strong Twilight. The future belongs to you." Celestia then took off out of Twilight's bedroom and flew off.
Twilight watched her as she went. She loved that Celestia would do something like this for her but she still felt alone. Oh well , she thought, maybe Fluttershy needs help cleaning her animals .
