Chapters Starry Oath and Summer Radiance would spend every day together, only separated when they had separate classes, and would end their days by having dinner and finding a secret place to kiss and hold each other. It turned out that even the natural occurrence of sleep did not keep the young lovers from being apart.
When they drifted off into the serenity of sleep, their minds would transport them to a strange land. It was a landscape of endless soft, rolling grass. A lone oak tree was the only thing around, and it supported a white bench swing off its branches. On the horizon was an endless cloud formation building like a summer thunderstorm, consuming the air and becoming a behemoth as far as the eye can see, but would never arrive. Over their heads, the usual blue sky was gone, replaced with the stars above; each star illuminated in the clear night sky. There was no noise, only the plucking of a harp that became the natural ambiance, no player in sight.
It was in this paradise they made together that they would spend their time asleep, continuing where they left off. They would continue to make out, this time on the bench instead of a dark corner of their school. Even if it wasn't "real", the memories of how their lover felt, how their tongue felt, and the smoothness of their skin kept it real enough for them to continue.
On that particular night, Starry Oath's hand went from Summer's knee and slowly went up to her thigh, While the other tried to slip up her white button up shirt, both trying to reach the goal that was Summer Radiance's body.
"It's not that kind of dream," Summer giggled as she broke off their kiss and moved his hand away from up her cream colored skirt and white shirt.
"No, it is not," a booming, feminine, voice said.
Both lovers jumped back, nearly falling off the swinging bench, holding each other in surprise. In all their time dreaming together, they never had a visitor to their paradise, until this fateful day. The woman towered over them, her eyes and hair were a vibrant blue, like her regal dress and crown. The two young lovers knew who they were facing.
They were being visited by the Princess of the Night, Princess Luna.
"You, children! It is clear that you two are lucid dreaming, how do you know such dream magic?!" She bellowed, her angry, echoing, boom struck fear in the couple.
The normally assertive Summer began to shudder, her eyes beginning to tear. "I-I-I-I-I-"
"I taught her, many years ago," Starry Oath confessed.
Princess Luna's attention turned to the young man in the cream sweater vest, white button up shirt and matching cream pants
"And how did you learn, youngling?"
"I wasn't taught, I was born with it," Starry answered.
"I see…. Well you two, end this dream now. We will have a little talk when you are awake."
***
They, along with their peers were woken by the dawn bell, the giant tower that held the iron bell could be seen from any spot in the City of Canterlot. The bell meant the start of their day, so they had to be up and ready for the routine.
Both Starry and Summer woke up in their underwear, in their gender separated dorms across campus and divided by a wall that can only be crossed by going through the large, three-story campus that was locked at night. They looked on as their peers were also in certain states of undress, getting their clothes ready for the day.
They grabbed their clothes, nicely folded and stuffed in the chest in front of their beds. Both genders went to their respective showers as a unguided mob, where they stood in line, waiting for one of around twenty showers to open up so they could get their morning wash in.
Each person would come into the shower stalls in their underwear and would come out In a fresh uniform. For the men, it was cream colored pants, tie, and sweater vest. Included were their brown loafers, black socks, and white button up shirt that went under the vest. For the women, it was the same, with the pants being replaced with a cream pleated skirt with black pantyhose.
After the showers was breakfast, where any socializing between the guys and girls began for the day. The school itself was one of the oldest buildings in Canterlot, across town from the castle that was built millennia earlier. Its archaic stone and marble halls and rooms have stood the test of time, and was still a wonder even for being thousands of years old.
Even if the halls and the exterior were still the archaic marble that made it legendary, the inside of the place had undergone many renovations to keep up with the times. The massive cafeteria in the basement was a modern, bright room with enough 'hip-looking' tables and chairs to meet the demands of thousands of students.
Starry Oath waited in the impossibly long line ahead of him, and sighed, probably only having ten to fifteen minutes left to get food and have his breakfast.
As he was lost in thought. He felt and heard a playful slap to the back by the tin tray they gave out for the food.
"Well aren't you so cute looking all serious?!" Summer Radiance said as she went in front of him.
They shared a quick kiss, and she turned around, giving Starry the opportunity to hold her in his arms as they waited for the line to finally move. Star felt the wetness of Summer's long, brown, hair press against his chest, no doubt wetting the sweater vest. He didn't care, her mint shampoo was enough to keep him in bliss.
They only had enough time to find the first table that had space and to quickly devoured their food. Using one hand for their fork, the other to hold each other's hand. Most days they would have time to eat and socialize, but that day it would have to wait nearly until lunch.
The few hours they spent apart was tough for the both of them, having to learn advanced magic while not being allowed to use it, at the same time wishing to talk to and hold one another. They got their chance in the class before lunch: Chemistry.
They would hold hands, study, experiment, and share kisses, all while learning. Even with how happy they were together, There was still the issue they needed to clear up.
"So, do you think we will be in trouble," Summer said as they worked on their experiments. Their clothes were covered with a thick, white apron while wearing safety goggles.
"I don't think we will be, besides I don't think it is illegal to lucid."
His assumption was put to the test, by the way of the intercom that instantly came alive.
"Starry Oath and Summer Radiance, please report to the headmistress' office"
As they walked down the halls to the headmistress's office, they were in worry. Normally, the marble walls and soothing art would calm any student that wandered the halls worrying about a test or classwork, but when you were walking for possible expulsion, it wouldn't be able to claim you.
Nothing would.
"Oh man, my dad will kill me," Summer Radiance lamented as they walked alone down the hall.
"We'll be fine," Oath assured her as he put his arm around her. "Whatever happens, we have each other, right? like in grade school."
"Yea," Summer said as they shared a quick kiss.
The arrived at the headmistress's office, took a deep breath and one last kiss before he opened the door for her. The headmistress was waiting for them on the other side of the door. She was tall, old, and had a menacing look. She looked down at them and pointed to the front door behind them.
"You will be taking a ride to Canterlot Castle, the princesses would like a word with the both of you.
They bowed their heads without emotion and started to head to the carriage, not before being stopped by the clearing of the headmistresses throat
"It's not my place to ask, children. But what did you do?"
Starry Oath and Summer Radiance looked at each other and shrugged. "We got caught lucid dreaming"
The headmistress gave them a weird shook her head in disappointment before closing her door.
"We'll be fine, huh?" Summer glared.
"If there was a rule against it I didn't know!" Starry replied
"Great, if we get expelled I'm going to painfully kill you, you know this right?" Summer said, her piercing glare was always murder for Star, who always wanted to see his girlfriend with a smile.
"And your father won't?"
"We will both murder you at the same time. You know what happens to people who can't finish Celestia's academy!"
"They go to regular school?" Star asked.
"This is serious! I'll probably get disowned if I am expelled!"
"I think you're overreact-"
"Finish that sentence, and I will castrate you," Summer snapped. She started to walk faster in anger.
"Listen!" Star hollered as he grabbed her by the wrist to stop her. She puffed her cheeks and looked away, clearly annoyed.
"I know this looks bad, but we have to stay positive. Worst case scenario we can always say ignorance and we will get a slap on the wrist."
"I know, but…" Summer choked, starting to tear.
"Like I said, we still have, and will always have each other. No matter what, you got me."
"I know,"
Starry oath brought her in for a hug, and then a quick, but tender peck. They turned and saw that every class was at the windows, watching them in their embrace.
"Ready to go?" Star asked.
"Yea" Summer said as the walked to the waiting carriage, their hands clasped tightly together.
***
Any worry was gone by the time they made the carriage ride across Canterlot and to the castle in the middle of the city. It was large, it was spectacular, and it stirred the soul to whoever saw it, and they would be a small amount of people who would walk in its regal halls.
Star and Summer walked through the halls in amazement. Moved by the regalness and its splendor. It made them forget for a fleeting moment that they were staring down expulsion.
The burly valet that escorted them from the castle to the throne room stopped in front of the golden doors, his hands ready to let them in.
"when you are ready,"
"Oh man," Summer said.
"Right?"
"Can we just walk back to the academy and best try to ignore everyone of authority?"
"Sadly no, but like I said. No matter what we stick together,"
"Alright," Summer said as they shared a quick kiss. They entered the throne room which was mostly empty, save the two golden, towering thrones at the end of the room. They walked in and realized that Summer Radiance's parents were waiting for them.
Summer's mother was lanky and was worried, while her shorter, chubbier father was ready to attack Starry Oath, even if he didn't know why they were called to the throne room. In front of the young couple were the Princesses; magical, immortal, and beautiful. Celestia's smile was assuring, while Luna's piercing glare made them shake inside.
"I assume you know why you are here?"
"Yes, Princess," Starry answered.
"How did you learn how to perform lucid dreaming?"
"Yeah, Summer, how did you learn that devil magic?" Her father blurted.
Luna cleared her throat.
"S-Sorry, princess. I just want what's best for our daughter," he replied.
"And my type of magic isn't best for her?" Luna said, her glare became more intense.
"I-I'll stop while I'm behind," he stuttered.
The attention all turned to Summer. Star grabbed her by the hand and gave her a warm smile, a reminder that they still had each other no matter what. She cleared her throat and began "Starry Oath taught me in grade school when we were very young."
"And how did you learn at such a young age?" Luna asked Star.
"I didn't learn. I knew how to my whole life, and as I kept dreaming, I got better and better at it."
"I see," Luna answered. She looked up at her sister and nodded as if they already had made their choice.
Celestia rendered her judgment from there. "Starry Oath and Summer Radiance, you are hereby removed from my academy and - "
"You son of a bitch!" Summer radiance's father bellowed and charged at Starry Oath. Summer raised her hand and created a baby blue bubble that surrounded herself and Starry Oath, preventing her father from entering.
"Dad, stop!"
"Ever since you met my daughter you have been nothing but trouble, and now you ruined her future!" He continued.
"As my sister was about to say, we feel that the both of you would be a better fit into my academy instead of Celestia's, seeing how her academy does not fit the level of magic you both contain."
"With all due respect princess, I wanted my daughter to graduate from Celestia's Academy. Only those who are successful have the white rings when they graduate from the Academy.
"I don't know about that!" The voice from the door shouted. The voice instantly struck fear in the heart of Summer's father. The man was wearing an all black suit, sported older, peppered hair and a million dollar grin. Summer recognized who he was because her father wouldn't stop talking about him: the CEO of the company he worked for.
"Business Sense, how do you do!?" Princess Luna cried out in excitement. Business Sense continued his way in the throne room.
"Oh nothing much Luna, I heard you needed someone to convince that your academy is as good as Celie’s. No offense."
"None taken, you were always a charm to have around," Celestia giggled.
"Likewise," he said as he turned his attention to Summer's father. "Oh! You're Double Entry! You work for accounting, right?"
Double Entry shuddered. "Y-Yes sir!"
"Well, I like to see you as passionate about your daughter's well being as your work, but not cool on dissing on the alma mater, man."
"You went to Luna's academy?!"
"Yes," Business Sense said as he played with his black ring, his 100-bit coin cutie mark was the centerpiece of his diamond and gem encrusted class ring. "The academy is a well-kept secret, seeing how I can use dream magic to influence potential clients and convince top talent to stay, to name a few... In fact, nearly all of the top execs in the business world are graduates of the Academy, which helps know who to trust. Get it?"
"I.. I didn't know,"
"Well now you know, so I can trust you to continue to be a supporting father now that your daughter has the golden ticket to whatever job she wants?"
"Y-Yes."
"Perfect." He said as he turned to the young couple. "You will be fine additions to the brotherhood and sisterhood of dreamers. Welcome!"
"Come, children" Princess Luna commanded once Business Sense made his way home. Summer's parents had left, of course with hugs and a few hundred bits of “spending money”.
From the castle, they left in Luna's black and dark blue carriage through the city. Everyone stopped to bow, and every so often she would stick her hand out of the semi-transparent dark blue curtains to wave, especially if it involved a small child.
Summer Radiance and Starry Oath were silent the whole time, unsure of what to say. Their hands were still clasped together.
"So what now?" Summer asked, finally breaking the awkward silence of the ride.
"A few things, my child. I will go through them when we arrive at the academy."
The hand holding turned into his arm over her shoulder, and she was resting her head on him, watching the city slowly pass by them.
***
The carriage arrived back at the front of the academy, the classes that were there when they left were long gone, replaced with a new batch of students for the same lesson. The new batch of students looked on as their Princess of the Night stepped out of the carriage, accompanied by two students, which peaked their curiosity about them.
As before, Summer and Star were holding hands, walking down the halls of the academy right behind Luna. Anyone in the halls bowed to her, which made going through the semi-crowded halls easier.
"As students of my academy, you will do your daily classes with the rest of the student body, but at night you will have a full course in the dream realm. You will be asleep a half-hour before your peers, and will be up half-hour before them, which will give you early access to the cafeteria, right after your showers, which are in the new dorms that you both will occupy away from the general body."
"Sounds like a good deal," Summer smiled
"First in the showers and first to eat? Where do I sign up?" Star added.
"I knew you would like those arrangements. Now we will get you settled in."
They went into a familiar room, the uniform room. Uniforms of all sizes were there, be it school uniforms or athletic uniforms. The man behind the counter was old, he was cranky to everyone, except two women that were important to his life.
"Morning Princess, what brings you to this decrepit corner?!" he said, with a smile reserved for his two princesses.
"Morning. These two students need the black uniforms, enough for two weeks."
"Right away!" the old man happily said, disappearing to the back and rounding up the clothes. Their names were already given, so he knew our sizes
"Wait, wait! I like the clothes I have" Summer protested, preferring the white and cream uniform instead of the black and white ones that were their new uniforms.
"You see, child." Princess Luna said with a rare grin. "The good guys wear black."
At least one pair was given to them, the rest would be waiting for them in their new rooms. But, it was time to change into their new uniforms.
"It's time to change, children," Luna said, her hand gesturing to the two stalls, with a brown heavy curtain as its door.
"We could just change in the same stall, what says you, Summer?" Star asked seductively. Summer giggled, Luna glared at him.
"Okay, nevermind," he said as they both disappeared in their own stall.
"Hey summer, you're not mad about all this, are you?" Starry Oath asked as they were changing, their conversation having to go past the wooden wall that was their stall.
"Not as I was before, and I wasn't mad at you, I was just mad at the whole situation. I seriously thought I was going to lose everything I worked my entire life for," she replied.
"You mean everything your father made you work for?"
"Basically, yes," she giggled
"It feels surreal now," Summer added "I mean, I was raised my whole life to be in this academy, only to be told you're going to another one, and that one is better for your potential position to boot!"
"Oh yea, I remember those days. You couldn't go out to play because you had to study for the addition test, which was a guaranteed a plus for you even if you didn't study!"
"Yea. Again, surreal."
Star made a record scratch noise and continued "Freeze frame. Yep, that's me, you're probably wondering how I ended up in this situation."
Summer began to laugh. "Stop!"
With his best impersonation of Summer, he continued "This is me, Summer Radiance, and my goofy boyfriend by the name of Starry Oath. We were two kids doing kid things, making out, going to school, and then bam! We are now wearing goth school clothing and play dream maker."
"I swear I will hurt you!" she yelled.
"Coming this fall!" he shouted as he began to sing. "We're the kids in Equestria, oh-oh-woah! We're the kids in Equestria oh-oh-woah, everybody lives for the music-go-round. "
"Okay! That's it!" star hollered as she ran fully clothed out of the stall and charged into his. He was still shirtless, but that didn't stop her. She couldn't stop laughing as she started swinging at him. He can only have his hand to protect him as Summer continue to swing, hitting him in his arm or any part of his chest not covered by his arms. He fought back and wrapped his arms around her to keep her arms pinned to her side. They calmed down from the roughhousing and started to kiss and giggle between those kisses.
Luna cleared her throat, interrupting the couple.
"Sorry, princess," they both said.
"I'm not upset, I understand young love, but we must hurry before lunch!"
***
In their new uniforms, which was the same design as Celestia's sweater vest and pant/skirt uniform only black, they went to the top floor of the main building, which was restricted to normal students. When they entered, they were surprised. It was a rotunda with many doors. The only open room in the rotunda was the two bathrooms on the other side.
"Instead of the barracks-style sleeping arrangements, you will be sharing a dual room with a partner. Bathrooms with their own shower stalls are in the front and a wreck room at that door where you can relax after dinner with your peers. We will organize the rooms to have you room with another student of your proper gender." Luna said.
"Princess? Star and I were thinking that we want to share the room together." Summer asked.
"We did?"
"Shut up!" she said as she gave him a playful shove.
"Child, you must understand how uneasy the administration and I will personally feel about it," Luna said.
"I understand princess, but I feel that we would be more compatible staying together than someone we barely know."
Luna sighed," very well. But, keep in mind: if you end up expecting, you will no longer have a place here in the academy, both mine, and my Sister's,"
The Class of the Dream Academy
True to Luna's word, they managed to get to lunch early, albeit lunch was still going on. but, they still were fifteen minutes earlier at the lunch line than they usually would be. They had their lunch, which for Summer was a salad and Star it being the largest burger he could find, with french fries.
"You're going to get a heart attack if you keep eating unhealthy," Summer complained.
"Yea, but with how good these things are, they will be worth it!"
As soon as they turned from the meal line and to the cafeteria, they already saw it. Weird looks, most of them looks of disgust.
"Is it me or are we getting some death glares?" Star asked.
"Na, you really think people judge harshly based on their clothes? it's the current year, no way people are that shallow!" he said.
"I think you're a bit naive on this," Summer said.
"If I am then I would not be the slightest bit surprised."
If there was a group they wanted to see, it was their small group of friends. They all grew up, played, suffered together for years. They all knew each other hopes, their dreams, their secrets. They were the ones that brought Starry Oath and Summer Radiance together and made them a couple. They wouldn't be who they were without them.
"Gusty!" Summer called out to the only other woman in the group, sitting on the lap of her childhood boyfriend, Swift Bolt. They had an air of sophistication and high maintenance to the untrained eye, but was a sweetheart to their friends who wouldn't judge based on their clothes
Or so they thought.
Gusty Surprises’ smile that they knew for years turned into disgust the second she saw them,
"whats with the black?" she asked.
"It's a long story," Summer said, still keeping her enthusiastic smile as they sat down with their three other friends.
"Gee, Swift Bolt, do you feel like changing tables?" Gusty Surprise asked her boyfriend.
"Yea, what about you Dapper Spark?" they asked their other friend, the only single person in their group.
"Sounds right to me!"
The three got up with their trays and started to walk from the table.
"So where we are going?" Star asked.
"Uhh, we were hoping just the three of us, we have things to talk about."
Summer grew concerned. "Like?"
"Who we can replace you with," Dapper said as they walked off.
Summer and Star were numb, losing their friends in less than a minute. They sat at the table and looked at their food in disbelief.
"No, no, no, no," Summer whispered in grief as she had on hand over her eyes, the other on the table.
Star looked on as his girlfriend was in distress, losing the one thing that kept them going, their friends since childhood.
"Hey," Star said as he reached out and held her hand. She locked her fingers with his rather tightly, her heart in pain. "We still have each other, and that all that matters, right?"
She looked at him with her red watery eyes.
"Don't leave me, Summer, you're all I have and the only one I would over love."
"D-damn straight, star. You're nothing without me," she shuddered with a laugh, dealing with her loss and his love at the same time. "Let's eat and talk to Luna about this after lunch."
"Agreed."
It was then a paper plane came in and landed on the edge of the table, and slid all the way to them, stopping against the clasp hands of the couple.
Summer broke off their hand holding and read the note.
"come to the corner of the lunch room.
-your new friends."
They turned the corner and saw the table off in the corner, away from the general cafeteria. They turned to each other, shrugged, grabbed their trays and took the walk to the table.
***
The contrast between the table in the corner and the rest of the ones in the cafeteria was like day and night, or the only light at the corner was dimmed down unlike the bright lights of the rest of the place, be it intentional or a sense of irony.
When Star and Summer stood in front of the table, they had four pairs of eyes staring back at them. Each one has had one thing in common: they were also wearing the black uniforms. One of them stood up. She was about their height, blond, blue eyes. She was extremely beautiful, which gave summer the instant question of what she was doing there and not in modeling.
"Greetings," she said. "You must be the pups that Luna told us about."
"Yes," Star answered.
"Good to finally meet you! The name is Shielded Faith "she said as she extended a hand for them to shake. Star and Summer sat their tray down and both reach out to answer it with their own shake. They sat down as Shielded Faith still stood.
"Welcome to the dream academy!"
"Thank you! Where is the rest of the academy?" Summer asked.
"Just us!"
"Oh," Star said in disappointment.
"I guess that's a good time to introduce them!" Faith nervously laughed.
"This is pip gear, or pip," she said, pointing to the smallest person in the group, and with his baby face, it was easy to figure out he was also the youngest at twelve years old.
"Welcome!" Pip said with his Trottingham accent, which made Summer melt.
"You're accent!" she said in joy. "Say tomato!"
"Tomato?" Pip answered.
Pip's proper voice made Summer squealed in delight.
Faith cleared her throat, snapping Summer back to attention.
"Sorry," she said.
"It is alright," Faith smiled. "We have the fang brothers: meet mighty fang and enigmatic fang. It was hard to see that they were brothers, one being taller than the other, or the fact that the taller one was more muscular than the lanky sibling. Mighty Fang was the younger brother, but the sizes told a different story. He also had a charming, and boyish demeanor, while Enigmatic fang's permanent scowl and black, spiky hair with a red streak told the rest.
"Welcome!" Mighty grinned. Enigma kept his frown and glared at the two newcomers.
"Thank you!" Summer grinned. Star and Summer began to eat their lunch, the food a bit colder than they liked, but they kept eating.
"Saw what happened with those three, though we can at least say hi," Pip said.
"Thanks," Summer said, "They were our friends since we were kids, so it's still sinking in."
"Maybe if you learned to not pick shitty friends, that wouldn't have happened." Enigma snarled.
"What?" Summer asked.
"You heard me, stop sucking a friend choosing."
Star immediately stood, "why you talking to my girl like that?! you got a problem?!"
Enigma grinned, knowing that he had baited them. It was short-lived, however.
"Enigma, stop it!" Faith barked.
"Alright," Enigma shrugged, his 'gotcha' grin still not leaving his face. In fact, even while Star and Summer got acquainted with their new classmates, the grin did not leave Enigmas face, which was met with the death glares of both Star and Summer.
Although their old friends brought Summer Radiance and Starry Oath together, it was Star, in fact, that made them into a group in the first place.
It all began one night, during a birthday/sleepover. Because of earlier drama and people flaking, Gusty Suprise's party that was supposed to be her entire third grade class became only five students. Star was the last one to arrive, due to having to walk the hour trek from the orphanage to Gusty's house in the more affluent neighborhood.
Star gave three knocks on the door and heard the sound of someone running in the house. The door swung open to an enthusiastic Gusty, hoping that maybe her small clique of friends finally showed. She looked at her classmate and frowned.
"Oh, come on in," she sighed.
Stars smile did not fade when he walked in, a ragged bag with him that had his pillow and a change of clothes.
Gusty lead him to her room, which gave Star a faint taste of the proverbial silver spoon by walking down the hallway of Gusty's mansion. After what seemed like an eternity, she leads him to her expansive room. It was about the same size of the room he slept in the orphanage, with a hundred other boys his age. It astounded him that all that space was just for her.
In the room, he saw his classmates. There was Gusty's boyfriend Swift Bolt, the most popular kid in the third grade. It was only natural the most popular boy and girl in their grade would be in "puppy love". There was their "acquaintance" Dapper spark. They were not close friends, but more of their 'person they know who would give them the homework answers and test answers in exchange for not getting bullied'. He was nice enough to be around, just weird when he got in his information tangents.
Then there was her.
Star had a crush on her the moment he laid eyes on her the first day of third grade. Summer Radiance was beautiful, she kind, she was perfection… At least for Star. Starry Oath was charming, he could even talk his way out of a paper bag. But, when it came to talking to Summer, any charm he would have broken down. He froze when he saw her and began to panic internally when he realized he was spending the night with her.
They had their whole night of activities: pizza dinner, telling stories, gossiping about their teacher and other students. By the end of the night, Gusty had forgotten the clique that abandoned her, and made stronger bonds to the four other people in the room, even with her boyfriend.
A knock on the door and a command by her mother all but ruined the night.
"Oh well! we have to do this again sometime!" she smiled as an army of butlers and maids walked in with their pillows and blankets. Although a few were to walk out with the excess blankets and pillows, she asked them to drop them off anyway and made a large bed with the massive amount of blankets.
It was then, that Star's courage came up.
"We don't have to end this, by the way."
"What do you mean, Star?" Gusty asked.
"Okay, everyone lay down side to side, let me be in the middle."
It was weird, but everyone laid next to each other. Star was the last one in the middle.
"Hold each other's hand, and close your eyes."
"What is this?" Swift asked as well.
"you'll see."
They listened to him and held the hand to the people next to them. They closed their eyes as Star did his work. The five opened their eyes and were taken aback.
They were no longer in Gusty's room when they opened their eyes, they were in a carnival that was active, and it was vibrant.
It was also empty.
"What the heck?!" Dapper hollered.
"We are in a dream. You know how we can do all kinds of magic? I can create, edit, and enter people's dreams," Star explained.
"So you can do dream magic!? I bet you go on all sorts of fun adventures!" Summer yelled, looking around in excitement and wonder.
"I have to, I use it to not think about being in the orphanage."
Summers smile melted to a frown for a second, but it came back. "Well, let's go!" she happily commanded, grabbing Star by the wrist and dragging him off to the nearest, scariest roller coaster she can spot. Star's heart wouldn't stop beating as she dragged him. Gusty and Swift held hands and followed. Dapper was the last to follow, still looking around in wonder.
***
The time between the dream and morning felt like forever, and when they woke up in the morning, they were refreshed and happy.
"Wow, that was amazing!" Summer announced.
"It's cool, thanks!" Gusty said with a thumbs up.
After a large and succulent breakfast, they packed up their things and headed home. Everyone else had a carriage to take them home, except Star, who would have to take the hour walk back home.
Summers carriage arrived and was waiting for her to get on. As she tried to get on, she saw Star starting his walk home. She immediately called out his name and ran up to him.
"Yea?" he asked.
She reached up and kissed him on the cheek, which made Star as red as a tomato. His heart was pounding as well, and he felt light headed.
"Thank you for yesterday…. C-can you teach me?"
"Teach you to dream?"
"Yea! I always never have time to myself, because my parents make me study and do 'their' activities. Piano lessons and fencing are cool, but not fun! So maybe I can get to do what I want to do with dreams."
Star didn't give it a second thought. "Yes!"
* * *
"Summer!" Star hollered at his girlfriend. They had just settled into their new dorm. It was better than their cramped barracks by a long shot, and plus they got to spend more time together, which was what they wanted. Everything was separated: two beds, two desks, and two storage chests. It was like they were living together, but there was no time to sleep because that was used to learn.
She jumped up out of her chair in surprise. She took a deep breath to look at her lover. "Holy shit you scared me."
"Sorry. Hey, ready to go?"
"Is it that time of the week already?" Sumer said as she got up and looked out the window of their room. It was a breathtaking view of the city at sunset, now that they were staying in one of the tallest spires in the city.
"Of course, I always love this part of the week!" He said.
She got up and from her closet, she picked out a white fleece coat for the night, while star went jacketless.
He smiled as they held each other's hand, and stepped out of the dorm for their weekly dinner/date.
It was a simple thing once a week: they would have dinner at a restaurant instead of the cafeteria, have ice cream, and end their night walking in one of Canterlot's many parks
Although they had time for the dinner and ice cream, because of the new schedule they couldn't walk the park, which was a small sacrifice for what they were told awaited them.
"Where are you guys going?!" Shielded hollered from the break room.
It turned out that because of their isolation and the stigma, the dream academy classmates usually did things together, as a tight-knit group.
"Dinner. We usually go out on the town once a week," Star explained.
"Yea, the shops always offer discounts to students, and we like to try them all at least once!" Summer added.
Their new classmates looked unsure, as if Summer and Star were breaking some unspoken rule. As the leader, it was only right that Faith spoke up.
"Mind if we all go with you?"
The two lovers looked at each other, and with their stare they made up their mind.
"Sure!" they both said at the same time.
Their new classmate's eyes were lit as they scrambled to their rooms to get ready. They still had a few hours left before their lesson, so they had time.
As they waited for their new friends to get ready, Star and Summer shared a quick kiss.
"They may not be the friends we grew up with, but at least they understand us" Summer commented.
While the regular students of the academy were enjoying the last of their day, the students of Luna's dream academy were ready to continue their day. Each one was in their pajamas and ready for bed when Princess Luna arrived. She proceeded to check each room. Give a hello or comment on their progress on their day classes, and move on. It was usually quick and the speech for each student lasted a few words, but she had to stop at Star and Summers room.
"When allowed you to stay in the same room together, this is not what I meant" She scowled. Normally, each bed was separated clear across the room. In Summer and Star's case: they were together, and the couple was holding each other, ready to sleep.
Star came to their defense. "Well technically, we are not having sex, so..."
Luna was emotionless as she used her magic to move the beds back together, the two lovers separated as well.
"We will no longer have this issue, understood?!"
Star and Summer signed and nodded. The last thing they wanted was to get into a fight with Luna on their first outing as part of her class.
"Close your eyes, children. See you in a bit," she commanded.
Summer and Star obeyed, and closed their eyes as Luna walked out of their room to the rotunda. She closed her eyes as well and began to float, from the tip of her fingers six golden string began to extend, and right into the head of each of the students.
***
"Starry Oath? Summer Radiance?" Luna's voice said over and over. The two heard her, but was unsure what to do?
"Maybe they died in the transition?" Enigma asked.
"Impossible, never heard of that ever happening," Faith replied.
"Someone just poke them with a stick already!" Pip shouted.
"For the love of everything, children! Open your eyes!" Luna shouted.
Star and Summer did. When they did, they were taken aback. They were no longer home but in an empty white room. They Were in their pajamas, but everyone else was not.
Faith was in a brilliant, black metal armor like a knight. her sword and shield were also black.
Pip was in a leather jacket and jeans, reminiscent of the steampunk style with gears embedded in the clothes. He had a vast armament of black wood revolvers in various pockets on a two strap bandolier.
Enigma was in an all black skin tight suit. His weapons were two daggers with red handles.
As for mighty, his armor was a blast from the blast. Black chainmail covered in black fur. His claymore handle and blade was black as well.
Luna, However, remained unchanged.
"Sit back, class! We will have to break in the newcomers!" Luna commanded.
Behind the four students, a hexagon pillar started rising, allowing Luna's original four students to sit down on them and ride the "seats" to the air.
"What is this place?" Summer asked, amazed by the nothingness of it.
"This is the white room, child. This room is our classroom, and it is where we prepare to enter the dreamscape."
"This is nice, when do we get the cool clothes!" Star joked.
Luna's face became stern, but it turned to a smile.
"You both are one of the top mages in Celestia's day classes. It would be only fair if you both are our mages for our studies." Luna announced.
"Personally, I would rather see Summer fight with nothing at all, can that happen, princess?" Star joked.
"Shut up!" Summer said as she gave him a playful shove.
"I cannot do that request, but I will at least make your outfits…'cool"
She raised both hands at them like a mummy in an old horror film, as soon as she did, Summer and Star was consumed by a midnight blue ball. When it was over and they were visible, they looked at each other and hollered in excitement.
They both looked like they were headed to the club more than to war. They had tight leather pants, a metal studded belt. Their leather button up shirt was black, as well as their jacket.
They were also identical.
"That's odd, usually everyone's style would be different."
"Whats with the black?" Star asked.
"I told you, children, before: the good guys wear black," Luna smiled.
"Mages in a dream world? How does that work?" Summer asked.
"This class is not as adept in magic as the rest of the student body, as I said. You will play a support role, but you can be attacking from time to time if the need arises," she said.
"That doesn't sound like fun," Stair complained.
"No, but I guess we should start with the basics: So, have you ever wondered how you managed to dream together?"
"Telepathy?" Summer answered.
"Yes, and no. What you two did was a direct link."
"We did it with a few other people as well, how can that be explained?!" Star added.
"its called an orgy!" Enigma shouted.
Shouts of laughter erupted from the classmates in front of them.
"How did you do that?" Luna asked, the information of their party being new to her.
"We held hands, and I dreamed us to a carnival."
"I see. Dream magic by contact. It's a primitive form of dream magic. At least you learned to crawl before you walked." Luna said.
"Thanks?" Star said.
"Hey, Princess! My ass is getting sore over here! let's start breaking these two newbies in!" Pip yelled out.
Everyone else started hooting and hollering in agreement. They were getting restless, not wanting to deal with waiting any longer.
Luna turned her head around and gave them a smile, which was enough to quiet them down. After that, she turned to the two lovers.
"Looks like your classmates are getting restless! I guess we will have to learn from your past at another time. So, shall we start your basic lessons?" Luna asked in glee.
"Now! The first thing you must learn is the dream world itself,"Luna started.
"Humanity has used what they see in daily life in dreams. Those get saved in the great dreamscape, along with others who dreamed of the same experiences, locations, and people. Those people have also dreamed of other things, which connects it all together. Since our species have been in nearly every corner of time and place, you as a dreamer with full consciousness of what you are doing can transverse nearly anywhere in time and space. The caveat is not anywhere where humans have not been so you can't go back to the time of dinosaurs."
"That's wicked," Summer said.
"Yes, it is 'wicked', child. Even I am still learning about dreams and dream magic every day for as long as I have been around. It is the next great frontier of human discovery."
"what else can you tell us?" Star asked.
"When you go to these worlds, you will encounter many like yourself, those who transverse the dream world. You cannot tell what they look like, but you will feel it. Previous members of the academy will be your mentors and will assist you at certain scenarios, in exchange, you must do the same for the future generations as long as you are still alive."
"When you are traversing the dream world, always have someone with you. You do not want to get in a fight alone with a dream eater since they hunt in packs."
"Luna? What's a dream eater?" Star asked.
Luna had a wry smile on her as she looked at the young couple.
"Right, I assume you have not run into one?"
"Don't think so," They both answered.
* * *
It was a mere instant, the bright, white, room disappeared and they found themselves in the middle of a dark alley. The smoke in the air and the brick walls reminded the couple of the Victorian times of Canterlot.
"Oh man, the proverbial dark alley, this will be fun!" Summer joked. Her classmates were standing on the rooftops overlooking them, their stoic gaze not changing.
"This is not a fun lesson, children. This part will save your life," Luna answered.
"What do you mean?" Star asked.
It was then they felt a presence of dread arriving, which made the young couple hold hands, darting their eyes around trying to find the source of the dread.
"You see children, we are not alone. Every time you venture into the dream world, you must be on the look out for the dream eaters."
"Dream eaters?" The young couple asked at the same time.
It was then that a black humanoid creature jumped out of the shadows, scaring Summer and Star nearly out of their clothes.
The creature lunged at them, causing them to hold on to each other and close their eyes, anticipating in horror what was about to happen.
"Open your eyes, children," Luna commanded.
When they did they were still holding on to each other, but back in the white room. The creature was mid-air and had stopped a few feet from the couple.
"This is a dream eater," Luna said with a slight tinge of disgust.
"Look at it, this abomination will be your biggest problem when transversing the dreamscape."
Star and Summer split and started to walk around the still creature. It was black, no eyes, large, sharp fangs, white boils all over its body, and its hands and feet had claws and webbed feet. They both looked at each other and nodded
"We have run into these before." Summer said.
"You have?" Luna asked. "usually dream eaters tend to leave a blank spot in people's dreams."
"I-it was a long story, and I'm sure you don't want to be bothered with the details. But we have dealt with these before," Summer said, while she went up and held Stars hand, giving him a loving smile.
"This creature is male, but there are female variants with busts. These things are the root cause of people dying in their sleep, a secret that must not leave this class."
That revelation made Star and Summer's eyes perk up.
"wait, that's why? these things?" they asked
"Yes, unfortunately. You see why the elderly and the young sometimes die in their sleep? It's because they can't run far."
"I see," Summer said as she continued to study the dream eater, her lover still holding her hand tightly. "So, why do they do it?"
"They feed off of people's nightmares, which is harmless enough. But, if desperate, they will start chasing down people in their dreams to juice it out of them. But, they also know that simply killing that person and eating them in the dream will also suffice. Needless to say, humans will die in the physical world since the consciousness is destroyed in the process. "
"Fuck," Star said under his breath. "we dodged one hell of a bullet then."
"Which is why we have dream academy students, to keep them at bay, right?" Summer asked.
"Correct. By secretly training generations of our species' best and brightest, we can keep the dream eaters numbers down to a minimum. We can't overly destroy them as a group."
Luna closed her eyes as if she was receiving a message. She opened them up and smiled.
It looks like that's all we have for tonight, children. "Before you all go: remember to keep your training only to yourselves. Do not tell friends, family, not even my sister. "
"Why?" Star asked.
"I just told you that dreams are real and the idea of dream eaters eating and what they are capable of. I cannot allow my people to go into a mass panic and refuse to sleep. That will upset the balance of both here and the physical world. Until then, you have a few hours to go wherever you like!"
Star and Summer looked at each other and held each other's hand "Our spot?" Summer asked.
"Of course!" Star said as they both disappeared.
Luna had also disappeared, leaving the rest of the class to themselves.
"They got scared of the dream eater back in Victoria, should we be worried?" Pip asked as the seats started falling down.
"Everyone has been scared of their first dream eater encounter. There's no worry needed," Faith replied.
"Sure hope so, we can't fail because of these two." Enigma snarled.
"Give these kids a chance, brother. You were like them too, remember?" Might added.
"Whatever. Where do all want to go?"
"Undisclosed car hop in the fifties?!" Pip asked.
"You just want to rumble with the greasers, don't ya?" Enigma smiled.
"You know it!" Pip replied.
