You are Hazel Bell. You are an awesome quest heroine who just recruited a new member to her (AKA your) quest party, which is what your new friend (moreso that you're her friend, but... mutuality makes both statements true) Sky Blue told you to call it. She also said "Thanks for saving my life, Hazie!" You let Sky call you that name ("Hazie") because that's what your friends choose to call you. You accept her as a friend for whatever reason, and, because you are friends, you help her find this thing called the Heart of Joy, which was lost in this place called the Blue Ravine, for a period of time called six-hundred-sixty-six years.
You, realising that the quest ahead is difficult, consider yourself lucky to have not one, oh no! Not one! But TWO of your best friends to help you! And let us not forget the meaning of the phrase "lost place" because that is exactly what the Blue Ravine IS! Or... WAS!! Or... wait, has it been found? You look around and see that your other friend, whose name I, the Storyteller, just HAPPEN to know, is none other than... the one... the only... ICY!!! (You know exactly who I mean, Hazie. Don't deny it.)
Your best friend Icy, whom you've known longer than Sky, (you know I mean me, sister!) transformed into a unicorn upon crossing over (this is a Crossover fic, ain't it?) to this universe. He was about the average height and weight for a unicorn, but his magic skills were anything but average! His first spell, just as his name suggests, was a flame spell. Such a spell was needed to enlighten the darks of the night and black myst.
This "black myst" thing, as your friend Sky calls it, is a demon. A demon who united you three... which was probably the only nice thing any demon of his nature could ever possibly do. Do not mistake his kindness for mercy: Italosafimerod is anything but merciful. And only kind as a way of giving his foes (you and your friends) some false hope... which you may or may not mistake for real hope. Don't be fooled, Hazie. Your real hope comes from us, your friends, for love is the fluid that beats through our collective hearts!
There is one thing that you do that you'll never forget: Falling asleep! It was midnight where you were, and so the three of you all rest together, sleeping under the starlit midnight sky. Something wonderful happened that night. You, Sky, and Icy all had the same dream!
"Starlight Falls." Sky said, not seeming to mean anything. "That's where we all are, my friends!"
"What's where we all are?" You ask, not sure you heard Sky right.
"Starlight Falls." Sky repeated, this time to you directly. "It's a place where dreamers can refresh their energy and clear their minds. We're lucky to have gotten here."
"Why's that?" Icy asked, though there's no way he could have been more than half listening. "It looks just like an ordinary dream world: Stars in the sky, a ground made of them, and..." He started to notice something... different about this dream world: There was a waterfall made of stars. "...is that waterfall something... rarely seen? I know I would have remembered dreaming about a waterfall made of starlight!"
"That's no mere rarity." Sky replied. "It's something that only happens when Aurora needs for it to. She's the one who told me about the Dreamscape, and she's trying to protect it using what she learned from Princess Luna!"
"The what?" You ask, having never heard of the Dreamscape. "I know what you said, just... not what the Dreamscape is." You add, just to make sure Sky understands you.
"The Dreamscape, my friend, is basically a method of sharing dreams with one another, like what we're doing right now." Sky explained. "Every dream is part of the Dreamscape, and some dreams affect the real world. It's almost impossible to know which ones, though, so don't ask me if you want to know! I'd ask Aurora, but I'm not sure if you've even met her... She lives in the Forever Forest."
"The Everfree Forest?" You ask, not sure if you heard Sky right. "Does she live with Zecora?"
"Not even close." Sky answers. "The Forever Forest is an eastern forest that's protected by a magical enchantment known as 'Darkening Dendrons' and only a pony named Rose Forest can lead you through there. Quite different from the Everfree Forest, Hazie."
"Oh." You say, not knowing what else to say. "What were you doing there, Sky?"
"Me?" Sky asks, pretending not to know. "My friends and I were on a quest for these mythical objects called the Aurora Hearts, and..." Sky thought for a second. "...Wait a minute! I'm still on that quest! I had almost found the Heart of Joy, but, as it turned out... Shadestar found it first!"
"Who's Shadestar?" You ask. "And why does it sound like you hate him?"
"Shadestar's an enemy of mine if I ever had one!" Sky answers. "And... he loves but one thing: Power. I have every right to hate him. He's evil, and there's no way he can be reformed. Believe me, I've tried!"
"Sounds like a force to be reckoned with." Icy interrupted. "Who were these friends of yours, Sky Blue, and what separated you?" He asked.
"They were Reznor, Zillie, Lucian, and Geno," Sky answered, then she paused for a second before saying, "and... nightmares separated us. Shadestar dreamed of fear spirits, which then became real in our dreams, turning those into nightmares. Aurora must have done something to save our lives, but... whatever it was she did couldn't unite us... It's all thanks to this lovely little filly right here," (she gestured to you) "that I'm even alive. Well... Her and Aurora."
"That sounds like some kind of..." You started to say, then, after searching for and finding the right words, you continued. "...an awakening experience!"
As if by magic, the three of you all wake up and see the ground below you finally in broad daylight! And... it's blue.
"I believe I found what we're looking for!" You exclaim, loud enough for everypony to hear you, despite your friends being right next to you. "It's the Blue Ravine! That's probably where one of those... Heart Thingies is, and... there's probably some kind of mystery that awaits us!"
"I love a good mystery as much as the next pony, but..." Sky started to reply, but... she was afraid to finish.
"We're going and that's final, Sky!" Icy replied, wanting to help his friend Hazel no matter what the cost may be. "What are you afraid of? Fear can not kill you... probably."
"Let's go into the depths of the Blue Ravine," you say, as if to encourage us to follow you... not that we'd need to be encouraged to do that... probably. "for who knows what mysteries lie waiting for us?"
The three ponies (Hazie, Icy, and me, Sky) went down into the ravine: Sky flew down and you levitated yourself and Icy with your awesome magic. Then you looked ahead and saw nothing but darkness...
South! You see the light, and its shine tells you to go south! And... you have nothing better to do than find your friends, who may also be gathering towards the light, so... it's a win-win situation, you win twice!
Sure enough, you see a shadowy figure of a pegasus, as if Sky were right behind the nearest rock! "Hello?" You call out, wondering if it is indeed Sky Blue's shadow you see.
Unfortunately, the shadow is not of the pony you thought it was of. It turns out to be a complete stranger's shadow. The stranger introduces himself as Enigma Flare, and... changes forms into an unfamiliar unicorn: Aurora Flash.
You've heard stories about her, but... you've never believed any of them were true until now. If only the pony who told you those stories, your friend Sky Blue, were here to introduce you to her. To tell you why she disguises herself, and... to comfort you when you're nervous.
Aurora sees you just standing there, and so... she speaks again, this time in her true voice, which could simply... banish all fears from anyone who hears it. She says to you this "Why hello there, lost dreamer! I apologise for the intrusion, disguise, and dishonesty of mine, but... you can rest assured that your friends are still safe. You must be the one called... Hazel Bell. I knew it from your dreams. I am Princess Luna's student, and she's teaching me the ways of the Dreamscape. She says it needs young dreamers like you and your friends to save it every time evil befalls... and so... I must tell you... Don't be afraid to be afraid, but be watchful of your fears... lest they consume you. Your eyes say you must see your friends awake, but your heart says you must fall asleep and meet you in a dream. I can arrange such a dream for you, if you so wish."
If you'd like to fall asleep and dream about your friends, click here.
If you'd like to stay awake and keep looking for them, click here.
