DIRECT CONTINUATION FROM Σίδηρος

Blue Syringe

Luna steps closer and says, "Blue Syringe, I'd like to ask some questions."
Realising my efforts to escape were futile, I said to her, "Let me go first. I refuse to talk to any pony like this."

Luna makes a face of confusion and then says, "It is not my intent to imprison you here. You just lack the ability to manipulate yourself within the dream realm. Here, I'll bring us to a place where you should be able to move."

I feel a rushing sensation, though I cannot feel which direction I'm moving, and I am brought to a violet hued room.

Looking around this, I don't know the best words to describe this grand chamber. I am met
with a large princess sized bed, which seems fitting, and several tables all designed to embrace the night.

I'd wager most things here are probably worth more than my flat.

As the feeling of rushing stops, I can feel the pressure of the ground on my hooves.

"You should be able to move around in this environment. I wouldn't suggest trying to leave the room, though. The dream's ability to adapt to you gets weaker as you get further from me," Luna's voice echoes behind me.

I give a nod as I try to comprehend what's going on.

Logically, I should be terrified. I don't know what Luna can do but evidently her power in dreams is absolute, but I only feel relaxed at the moment.

Concerning contrast.

Luna walks around me, points to a broad lounge chair, and says, "Will you join me? I can't imagine you'd want to answer some questions standing there."

I nervously trot over to the admittingly comfortable chair and try to make myself comfortable.
Luna takes a seat on a sofa across from me and says, "well, I hope you feel relaxed enough to answer some questions now."

I gulp a nonexistent lump of saliva, very odd feeling that, and say "I am not obligated to give you answers, I am not sure what's going on here but if you are trapping me in my dreams so you can come get me, I want out of this now,"

"Of course not. Equestria affords its citizens the right to silence proudly. I assure you, though, I cannot work out where you are using dreams, and I cannot even stop you from waking up. Even my ability to find your dreams in the future will be limited. I only understood who you were by the avalanche my friends had described. It will mark your consciousness for the next few nights, but after that, without knowing you more than a pony, it is nearly impossible for me to find you again," Luna explains.

"I am not sure my answers will be all that useful then," I say. "I assure you I won't tell you where I am and I can't imagine you'd care for much else."

Luna waits until I finish my sentence and says, "that saves the need to ask them then, but that isn't what I care about. I am fairly confident that with the element's help, we will capture you soon and we can bring you back on the path to redemption. I've read the notes on what you've done before. I know that there is a good pony trapped behind a deluded goal."

Okay, wow, Luna that genuinely stung. Felt like I disappointed my mum.

I then say, trying to hold back the emotions felt, "what then?"

"The spell that you have based your spell on, what do you know about it?" Luna asks.
I blink a few times and say, "ummm… Not much. I think some researchers used it on some earth ponies and turned them into puppets. That's all I discovered when I was doing some research. The information about them was hard to find."

Luna frowns and says, "So to the best of your knowledge, the spell came directly from the pre-unification period and the unicorn researchers created it?"

I get a confused look on my face and say, "yes? Where else would I have gotten it from?"

Luna straightens up. "I assure you, that isn't possible. I personally ensured that no copies of that spell remain. Their tomb remained untouched when I ventured in and there were no paper scraps left."

What? That cannot be right. I went through that spell with a fine-tooth comb. By all definitions, it in its original form did everything that the researchers were doing.

"Where did you find the copy of the spell?" Luna subsequently asks.

"The restricted section of the Canterlot library. I was granted access to the section as a foal."

"Very well. I shall confirm your assertions. Aside from all the questions you were expecting, that's all I needed. I thank thee for the generosity and hope we get the chance to talk more after your redemption," Luna says.

"That's the second time you've mentioned me being redeemed. I am well aware of the consequences of Necromancy. I'll be executed." I say, some slight venom coming in on the last word.

"Then you've evidently not read enough," Luna says while standing from her chair. "Capital Punishment is forbidden in Equestria. It has been since the unification of the tribes. You are at no risk, at least from us, at being killed. Now I believe that there is some tea and cake waiting for me and I wish you a good night. "

I try to stand from my chair and ask more, e but I find my mind being overcome with darkness.

I wake up on the cave floor, and instantly, I can feel leg hurting

I miss the dream realm; it was comfy

If I had enough time, I'd love to work out what on Equestria was going on. I wonder if I have a copy of the original spell at home, but even then I am stuck in the middle of a mountain range, and if I don't start moving, then I am doomed.

Well, not doomed apparently, if what Luna said was true, but I am going to be taking that with a grain of salt and I think I might need to talk to a lawyer, though finding one that wouldn't immediately turn me in for asking.

I'm not sure how I'd feel if it were true, there would be less threat to me if I am caught, but that doesn't stop the issue that if I am caught, then I won't be able to bring anypony else back.
That, in my mind, is the bigger threat. If I give up now, then I've wronged those that I couldn't save.

I stand up from possibly the most uncomfortable bed I could have slept in and head back into the valley.

I'm about three hours' walk from the cave now and I'd describe my surroundings so far as… boring.

I'd hate to be living here. Give me a warm alcove with a stack of medical textbooks to leisurely browse through.

So far, all we have here is a multitude of rocks, stones and even more exciting boulders.

Though I think I see a different colour peeking out behind the mountain range in front of me.
I walk at a faster pace. My leg still hurts, but the cut itself has healed and I've worked out just the right amount of numbing agent needed to mostly ignore it.

After a few minutes, a sparkling blue is reflected on the rock faces as I find myself face to face with a lake.

I have a quick glance in my bag to check my water levels and my medical supplies. I probably could do with some more water and I have enough bandages to reapply them if I were to have a quick dip.

Which I thoroughly need. I've been traveling without a wash for about nine days now if we count the travel time needed to get to the village first.

I put my bag on the ground and took off my very warm jacket. I'm pretty sure this is going to be freezing, but with the sunlight and if I can dry myself off fast enough, I shouldn't be at risk of hypothermia.

Starting off, I take the water bottle from the bottom of my bag and fill it up from one of the side streams leading into the lake with some iodine tablets to ensure that it's safe to drink.

After ensuring that the bottle is tight and secure, I slide it into my bag and then take a step into the water.
Well freezing is an understatement. I thought that my flat's shower could produce some cold water, but for flank's sake this is unbelievable.

I wash myself quickly, sadly, no soap, but that's probably good for not destroying the ecosystem here, and after dipping my head under the water for a few seconds, get out and lay in the sunlight.

If any guards who were looking for me spotted me, then I'd be screwed, and it's not like I can really pretend to be anypony else, my wash-out hair dye has mostly faded away and my cutie mark is recognisable enough that I can't really get away with it.

Luckily, I've not noticed anypony since yesterday, so either they are still coordinating or my tactic of heading a different way than expected has allowed me some time.

I lie on the now soaked stone for five minutes as I feel my coat get a layer of warmth

Wishing I had more time, I stand up and put my coat on after attempting to wipe myself down with my old bandages

I wish I had something else to get me dry. My old medical teacher would scream at it, but I'm pretty sure they weren't that dirty, and I used the other side.

I put on my coat and put my improvised bag onto my back.

Well, I suppose I should get going.

Author's Note

I am hoping that people aren't getting bored with Blue's adventures through the mountains.

This chapter has been a bit more thoroughly checked and put through several grammar checkers.

Oh and we hit the third cycle of perspectives! Amusingly the second cycle took a year whereas the first took like seven years, I am very sorry to anyone still reading from back then.