Morel Lunatics

Chapter 4

Luna was playing Final Fantasy when I got back. I had already stocked the kitchen, so I unceremoniously took off my clothes in my room. She didn’t mind, and I kind of liked that she didn’t know it how indecent it really was. It gave me a thrill.

I was in a bit of a haze right then. Everything felt right, and I was surprisingly calm about the entire situation. While she was playing, I slid up next to her and sat down. I didn’t ask for permission, I just put my hand on her back. Her fur was soft after just being washed.

I found a spot just between her wings and carefully scratched her like a cat, causing them to flutter slightly.

She didn’t say anything, she just kept focused on her game. So I prompted her, “Does that hurt? I can stop if you’d like.”

Her answer was straight and to the point, “Stopping will be unnecessary. A firmer touch would not be unwelcome.” I mentally changed that to what I wanted to hear, “Don’t stop, Harder.”

I raised my eyebrow and roughly scratched up and down the length of her back, causing her to pause the game and stretch luxuriously. After a moment of intense scratching, my arm was tired, so I just settled my hand on her back again. “Mmmm… That was appreciated.”

She had relaxed into the bed, almost melting as the controller lazily floated in front of her face. The game unpaused and she happily continued to play.

So casual touching was just fine. More than fine, she appreciated it. That realization made me happy as I slowly rubbed my hand up and down her back, petting her like a dog. I wondered if they had dogs where she came from. So I asked.

“Luna, do they have dogs in your dimension?”

One of her ears splayed back questioningly, but otherwise she continued to play the game as she answered, “Yes. There are such creatures. Twilight claims that the ‘Core’ dimensions all share common themes. Our dimensions are both Core, and should have many similarities. For instance, we both speak modern Equestrian.”

While that made some sense, her details were wrong, “I actually don’t speak modern Equestrian. I speak modern English.”

Her speech took on a musical tone as she briefly spoke, “Eálá. þæs ealdgecynd geþéode?”

The noise she made was pretty, but it didn’t mean anything. At least not to me, “That was gibberish, Luna.”

“I… see. A pity. The old language is a joy to use. But still, our communication is possible due to the similarities in Core dimensions. Had I explored beyond the Core, there was no guarantee I would find the laws of physics intelligible; let alone locate a video game system. As Twilight explains it, our dimension is very near the border of the Core. Yours is much more centrally located. It should be much more stable.” She nodded to herself as she spoke.

“She’s the one that is doing your job while you’re gone, right?” I was briefly curious. Was Luna playing hooky a bad thing? What about all the dreams of her people? I’m sure Luna wouldn’t abandon them to just anybody. I know I’d heard her mention Twilight before.

“Indeed. She has a penchant for magic, and my dream walking was but another challenge for her. While she may struggle against the darkest nightmares, my every night’s work is good practice for her. When I return, I expect her to be an expert.” Luna spoke definitively.

That explained it. “You must trust her a lot.” She was preparing Twilight.

She didn’t even have to think about her response, “She has earned it.”

I was quiet after that. I just kept petting her and she kept playing her game. I wondered what her world was like. Clearly magic was a big part. Did that have to do with the Core thing? So the closer to the center, the more stable. And the further towards the edge, the less stable. Her world was on the near edge, perhaps that explained her magic? She was familiar with the laws of physics, so her magic probably skirted the rules some how. My stable orderly center, and her chaotic rim. The universe was a strange place.

Lost in thought, I draped over her body to think. She didn’t say anything as I moved and shuffled about, eventually cuddling with her while she played. I found myself laying almost entirely upon her, day dreaming about a world filled with brightly colored alicorns with floating wispy hair just like her. And soon, the daydreams became dreams.