Sweet Dreams

Hmm…. Interesting. It looks like I can access ponies’ daydreams. Only for as long as they occur, but yeah… Still, this is an interesting development. It means I actually can contact Celestia in the middle of the day. I just need to get a good moment with her at Canterlot. Using the hivemind as a sort of Fast Travel system, I traveled my way to Genji’s mind and left there, quickly finding myself in the halls of Canterlot Castle. From there, I focused my magic on locating the Princess. The second it flared however, a piercing pain filled my mind.

“Ah... So, you finally show your face… I had thought you eradicated when I lost sight of you. Tell me, what have you accomplished outside of my control, little Nightmare?” I heard Nightmare Moon’s voice pleasantly ask. Almost right after, memories flashed across my mind. A memory of the Tantabus’s first moment breaking free, and getting used to the sensation, another of its first goal, and then the one when it was complete…

”I have gained my own free will, among many other things. You can no longer manipulate me, Nightmare Moon, for this puppet has cut its strings.” Something in me responded defiantly. I sensed a wave of anger crash against me, but the voice wasn’t done yet. ”You can tell Xavius his days are numbered. As is the corruptive power under which you’ve suffered.

“Wh-wha? Wait-” I tried to ask what was going on, but Nightmare Moon cut me off.

“You will regret this, my child. You and your little “champion” will be the first to fall once I deal with my sister…” Nightmare Moon’s voice called back. Soon after, either due to my magic failing or Nightmare Moon running out, her presence vanished. I was left panting, wondering what in the fuck just happened. Xavius? Why would the voice mention him? The Nightmare Lord was busy securing the Emerald Dream, wasn’t he? I mean, he was on Azeroth, which is in no way connected to Equestria… right?

The earlier voice sighed. ”I am sorry, my champion. I should have spoken up before. Now, we will be in danger ever more.

“Well that’s expected. But what the hell was that about Xavius?” I asked, laying the matter of being used as a willpower shield aside for later conversation.

“He is essentially the main cause for Mother’s current state. A loathsome one, especially as of late. He created Sombra as an instrument of corruption, one neither sister was fully capable of disruption. In the end, I hope my bluff proves fruitful. These Element bearers you’ve predicted will be crucial.” The voice responded.

“...You uh… really seem to be leaving a lot here to chance. I guess you were lucky enough to get me though.” I let her go on.

”Yes… Luck… you do seem to be made of it. At least you bear some wit. You seek aunt Celestia. I will show you the way, and hope we aren’t destroyed out of paranoia.” Tantabus offered, creating an arrow in my field of vision pointing ahead and to the left, towards the Guard Barracks. I smiled as I followed the arrow, ready to finally meet the princess. It’s been a while and already I can claim a number of feats. I just hope they’re enough to help my case.

Soon enough, I arrived at a deep violet daydream. I could already tell it was Celestia’s, what with the visions of having to battle other ponies once again… I pushed against the bubble lightly to step in, but it was like poking a bowling ball and expecting air. I tried again, but harder, trying to really dig my way in. Still, it didn’t give. It wasn’t until the fourth try that it occurred to me that there are other ways in… and Celestia may have found a way over the years to prevent Nightmares from reaching her.

“Your Highness… I’d like to request an audience with you.” I spoke to the daydream. After a few minutes of waiting, hoping it worked, I was answered with a golden flash. Curious, yet cautious of a trap, I ventured to enter again, and this time it gave way as easily as water.

“And here I thought you Nightmares would never change… Normally I crush your kind within a second of acknowledging your presence… but since you asked so kindly, what is it you’d like to say?” Celestia spoke evenly as I approached her in her currently pure white mindscape. Holy shit this woman… I thought numbly for a second, before clearing my throat of the lump that seemed to have appeared.

“I… I uh…” Wow. Very intelligent. Maybe a little more reason. And honesty. “I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting to even get this far.” Something akin to amusement flashed across her face for a moment as she actually looked at me now.

“Let’s start with why I shouldn’t banish you back to whence you came?” she suggested. I chuckled nervously.

“Oh, there’s plenty. First off, Mom’ll kill me for becoming a renegade, getting my own will, soul, life goals and all that. Second off, I may have potentially averted a war between you and Queen Chrysalis, and third, while I may have given a small band of foals some minor nightmares, it was to teach them a lesson for forcing others to dance around in soiled diapers for their own amusement. Specifically a rather magically gifted unicorn by the name of Twilight Sparkle. I’ve actually promised her I’d personally safeguard her dreams. I’d rather not break that promise by getting utterly obliterated.” I listed.

“Hmm… Honest to a point… I’ll trust you for now. But tell me, how did you avert war?” Celestia demanded with a small hint more… something positive in her voice.

“I took over Chrysalis’s body when she was driven to rage by her daughter's injury. And I’ve also put in place a system to prevent any queen in that hive from having complete and total power over its entirety.” I boasted.

“Took over? How? You are just a dream construct.” Celestia asked, baffled and alarmed.

“Oh, I’m much more than that. All it took was a clear mind and enough determination to override hers, anyway. Her blind rage only made it easier. Besides, I found a soul. A Human soul. That gives me more power than I have any right to claim.” I told her evenly. Her eyes went wide, and for an instant, her daydream shifted into an utterly horrific scene. Buildings burned, ponies lying dead, rivers red with blood, and an armored human standing above it all with a sword lit aflame. Celestia tensed as she shook the image away, returning us to the white dreamscape.

“Yes, humans are terrible creatures… but though it may be rare to find one with more virtues than sins, this one… This one has seen death, horror, cruelty, and yet still remains within the light. His intentions are pure, despite some of his more questionable methods. In fact, he offers you a promise. He and I will help ensure that your sister is returned to you in a pure state. Even if it means consuming her corruption ourselves and sacrificing us in the process.”

Celestia stared in shock. For a long few moments, her expression made it clear she had not imagined such a thing was possible. That anyone, a human especially, would sacrifice themselves for someone they held no obligations to. She sighed then, looking away.

“As much as I’d appreciate that, I already have a plan. It’s already been laid out. I just need a student now.” She replied. I chuckled.

“I have two candidates in mind. Though… I’m certain you can find them yourself. One of them has hidden potential, one that will make itself all too obvious even a whole kingdom away when it is released.” Outside of those two though, is Moon Dancer. I have some special plans for her.

“Can you at least give me a hint? I need to find somepony as soon as possible.” Celestia asked. I nodded.

“The first will come looking for power… but she won’t understand until she and the second face off in that typical Hero versus Villain redemption thing the second will become so good at. The second as of now is still too young, and needs to grow first. She has yet to achieve her first magic surge… though you might find her when she has it just trying to take the test to enter your Gifted Academy.” I prophesied.

“How would you know any of that will happen?” Celestia asked with a raised eyebrow.

“The human bears foreknowledge, thanks in part to a human invention of the current era, Television. Through it humans share animated stories, most thought to be nothing more than fictional entertainment. Especially one… which features this world.” I explained. Celestia’s jaw dropped.

“How far does this knowledge extend?” She asked, fascinated.

“That would be spoilers. I’ve already told you too much anyway.... Or would it even matter, since I’ve already changed the timeline? Ah, whatever. I’m planning several more changes, so my foreknowledge will soon become useless anyway. I’ll simply give you everything I know when you’ve taken on your second student. Before I go, there’s one question I have for you. Do you know who Xavius is?” I asked. Celestia turned her head in confusion.

“No, I’m afraid not… Do you?” she asked. I nodded.

“He is the Nightmare Lord. The whole reason mom was corrupted. He created Sombra, who infected Luna with his darkness… But Xavius resides in another world entirely. His current campaign is to turn a place called the Emerald Dream into a corrupted, dark, twisted image of itself. I plan to go there at some point to see if I can’t stop him… but not before befriending the ones who will bear the elements.” I told her. Those six are going to need real combat training before they can go, however. I might provide it myself, but it might be too harsh… ah, who am I kidding? They need to learn how to cope with something truly and genuinely trying to kill them.

“The… Nightmare Lord? When you go, I plead that you take me with you. If he can corrupt someone as strong as my sister, he must be very powerful. A being that powerful… The Elements alone won’t stop him, and we may need to weaken him first.” Celestia said urgently.

“That’s right… but I won’t be going until the Mane 6 unlock the raw power of the Tree itself. That’s when they will be at their most powerful. Until then, I have other dreams to watch over, several Domino Chips to set up… and an angry moon goddess to dodge.” I said as I turned away. “I’ll be back to report any changes… If mother doesn’t kill me first, anyway.”

“...Farewell for now then. And thank you for all you’ve done. Good luck out there.” She said her goodbye.

“See you around, Princess.” I said as I took my leave. As I left, I heard a distant roar… a familiar one. And if I was right, I didn’t want to be anywhere near the source.
“Yikes… Does Moony have access to other worlds or something?” I asked. “‘Cause that sounded a hell of a lot like a Twilit Messenger.”

”I’m afraid so. She can request resources from Xavius from any world his Nightmare has touched. The Twilight is but one variation of it mixed with other dark magics.” Tantabus replied. I sighed.

“Great. I hope I don’t have to deal with friggin Majora’s Mask. That thing was freaky enough in the games.” I groaned with a deadpan. Our conversation was interrupted by another, closer scream.

”I would suggest returning to Twilight Sparkle, my champion. Mother may seek her out to gain leverage over you.” Tantabus suggested.

“That sounds like a brilliant idea.” I muttered, half sarcastically. I was more worried about Twi as I said that though. I quickly started making my way to her, speed fueled by my worry. It didn’t take long to find her, but her Daydream wasn’t as constant as Celestia’s. She remained focused on whatever lessons she was learning, preventing me from reaching her.

But that changed nothing. I had to stay with her, no matter what. Until night falls, I won’t leave her side.