The Dreamwalker

I opened my eyes in a familiar bed, yet it wasn't my own. Still on the adrenaline rush, I shot upright, and immediately regretted the movement. My shoulder lit ablaze with pain. I looked down to see blood seeping through my shirt. The wolf had left three long scratches across my chest, along with a bite mark on my left shoulder.

It was at this moment that Starlight bolted up beside me. I hadn't noticed her laying in the bed until now. She looked over at me, and saw the growing splotches of red in my blue shirt, creating deep purple stains. She also registered that I was beginning to turn pale. Without saying a word, she ran into the bathroom. She came back with a roll of gauze, and a bottle of what looked to be antiseptic.

My already ruined shirt was ripped from my body by a teal haze, and the white roll of gauze began wrapping itself around me. The gauze had been doused in antiseptic, meaning it burned as she put it on. It took everything I had not to yell in pain.

Eventually, I wore what could have been a new shirt, consisting entirely of gauze. It only covered my upper torso, and left shoulder. I leaned against the headrest, and looked at the mess I had made. There was blood all over the sheets, which looked to be of an expensive variety. Exactly what one would expect to find in a castle.

"Sorry about your bed." I mumbled.

"It's fine. I'm just glad you're okay." Starlight responded.

"We're okay. You were there too." I corrected.

...

"So, what do we do now?" I asked.

"I should probably tell Twilight about what happened. She'll want to know about this."

"What should I do?"

"Stay put. You look like you could use the rest."

Before I could argue, Starlight left the room, closing the door behind her. I was left alone, in a place I was only vaguely familiar with. I only sat for five minutes, when the doorknob twisted again. I looked over expecting Starlight, but instead saw what I guessed was a small, bipedal purple reptile.

"Hey Starlight, can I-" He started. We both froze upon making eye contact. He seemed to be just as afraid of me as I was to him.

"Uhh... hello." I gave an awkward smile, and a slow wave, trying not to spook him. It didn't work. He slowly backed away, and once he was out of sight his footfalls sped up. Strangely, I felt like I recognized him. Maybe I had seen him in Starlight's memories?

It only took another minute or so for Starlight to get back, with Twilight in tow. When the princess came into the room, she spent a minute looking me over. I was the first of my kind that she had ever seen, and she was fascinated by the opportunity to discover a new species.

"So, you're Nate, huh?" She asked.

"Am I not what you were expecting?" I poked.

"I'm not sure what I was expecting. I suppose I thought you would be a pony, or at least some form of equine." Twilight informed me. Just then, a purple head poked around the doorway.

"You may come in, Spike. He won't hurt you." Twilight assured him. He inched his way around the doorframe, but refused to travel any further. Starlight suddenly stiffened, remembering something important.

"How long until we have to leave for Canterlot?" She turned to Twilight.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you: there's been a change of plans. Princess Luna is coming here. She should arrive by... right about now! I have to go get ready!" She sped out of the room, Spike trailing close behind, using this as his excuse to get away from me.

"What happened to me being the center of attention?" I joked.

"The princesses tend to take priority." Starlight justified.

"I've never met royalty before. This'll be new for me." I told her.

"Just try to be respectful and you should be fine. Oh, and it's polite to bow when you first meet."

"I'll keep that in mind." I used me hands to prop myself up farther, and let out a pained groan when I felt the vise tighten on my wrist.

"Are you alright?" Starlight asked.

"Wrist." I reminded her, holding up my right arm. It had begun to show heavy bruising. I had really done a number on it.

"I can help with that, if you're okay with it." She offered.

"How so?"

"I've got a spell to dull the pain, and allow it to heal faster. I would still avoid using it for the next day or two, as it takes time to heal fully." She informed me.

"Don't see how that could hurt anything. Sure, go for it."

"Just hold still for me. This might feel a little weird."

I did as instructed, and my wrist was gripped by that same turquoise aura I had seen before. I didn't move a muscle, but my arm left it's place at my side, and lifted a few inches above the bed. As she predicted, I felt a tingling inside my lower arm. It almost felt as if it had fallen asleep.

About thirty seconds passed when she let go of my hand. Though the aura was gone, my arm continued to feel like it was on pins and needles. Though the feeling was mildly irritating, when I lightly pressed down on the mattress, I didn't get the spike of pain that I was expecting.

"Did it work?" She asked.

"I guess it did. That's incredible." I complimented her. "I still don't think I'll ever fully comprehend all this magic stuff."

"You've already cast a spell. How do you still not get it?" She inquired.

"I didn't grow up around it. This is all so new to me."

"I'm sure you'll figure things out if you hang around long enough."

That was when I realized something: if Starlight had brought me here, I had nothing left connecting me to my own world. I had no way to get back. Did I even want to go back?

"Maybe." I humored her.

I swung my legs over the side of the bed, and was surprised when they smacked the floor. This bed was much lower than I was accustomed to.

"What do you think you're doing?" Starlight shot.

"Getting up. I'd like to look half decent for the princess, and you just ripped my only shirt off."

"Oh no, I don't think so. You're hurt, and you need to get some rest."

"I've got a few scratches. It's nothing."

"It's not nothing. You lost quite a bit of blood." She insisted. As if proving her point, I stumbled during my attempt to stand, and nearly wound up on my face. If Starlight hadn't caught me, I might've added 'broken nose' to my list of injuries. She pulled me back to my feet, but didn't force me back onto the bed, like I expected her to. She seemed to be relenting.

"Can you stand?" She checked. I gave a nod, and she let go. I started to topple again, but used the wall to catch myself.

"I thought I had to stay in bed."

"You persisted on getting up, and I wasn't going to fight you."

"Thanks."

I worked my way to the corner where she tossed my shirt, and slowly bent to pick it up, still using the closest wall to support myself. I unfurled it, confirming that it was totally ruined. It went from blue to purple, and had multiple tears on the front half. I would have to find something else, or go shirtless. I briefly contemplated the latter, but decided that it would be better to have something to cover myself. These ponies might not have clothes, but they do have a coat of fur. I was completely bare.

"Do you have any blankets not stained with blood lying around?" I queried.

"In the chest at the foot of the bed." She said from the bathroom, which she had migrated to during my quest to find my shirt. She must have been preparing for the princess as well.

I crossed the room unsupported, and was pleased when I made the trek without loosing my balance. I flipped open the box, and pulled out a purple blanket matching the color of Starlight's mane. I draped it over my shoulders like a cloak, and called Starlight.

"Is this okay?'

She poked her head around the bathroom doorway and examined my makeshift article of clothing. After eyeing me up, she shrugged and nodded her head.

"I guess that'll work. It's not very formal." She mused.

"Well I'm willing to bet the shirts here aren't designed for humans, so unless you know an outstanding tailor who'd be willing to throw something together last-minute, this is the best I can do."

"Actually, I do happen to know somepony who could do that, but there's not enough time to get there, make a shirt and get back. Twilight said Princess Luna ought to be here any minute."

"Then you're going to have to deal with me looking like this." Though it was a harsh choice of words, we both found the lightheartedness behind it.

After a few minutes, Starlight came back out, and walked to the bedroom door. She motioned for me to follow her, and we stepped into the hallway. Though I was no longer connected to Starlight, I was still vaguely familiar with the castle. I followed her down a few halls, and into a room with decorated tree roots for a chandelier, and a single round table in the middle of the floor. It was surrounded by seven chairs, all made from some kind of crystal. Two of the chairs were occupied. One by Twilight, who had claimed the seat with the same mark that she had on her sides, just above her hind legs. Spike sat in a small chair beside her.

"Glad you two made it on time. I thought Luna might beat you here." Twilight teased. Spike still refused to make eye contact with me, but he didn't try to run off. I had to find a way to show him I was harmless.

"Nate insisted on standing on his own, which wasted a few minutes." Starlight threw me under the bus.

"Whoa, hang on! Don't you pin this on me! You're the one that took forever in the bathroom." I retorted.

"I would have been in there sooner if I didn't have to keep you from falling on your face." She justified. Seeing I wasn't going to win this, I gave in.

"Alright, maybe we would have been better off if I wasn't quite as stubborn. Sorry."

"That's okay, Nate. You were on time, and that's what it really comes down to." Twilight forgave me.

"Hey, while we're on the topic: shouldn't somepony meet Princess Luna at the door?" Starlight pointed out.

"I'm on it." Twilight stated. "I was just making sure you got here, first." She rose, and left the room. When she was gone, I turned to Starlight.

"I've been meaning to ask you something."

"What's up?" She smiled.

"What are these?" I pointed to the mark on her side.

"You mean my Cutie Mark?"

"Your what mark?"

"My Cutie Mark. That's what it is. Haven't you ever seen one before?"

"Nope."

"Well, I guess only ponies have them, and you've never seen a pony before." She reasoned.

"What is it?" I pressed.

"It represents the pony who has it. It symbolizes their unique talent. They're all different, depending on the pony that earned it."

An image popped into my head. I had seen it during my time in Starlight's mind, but I was afraid to ask about it at the time.

"Why did I see a few ponies with grey equal signs?"

"When did you see that?" She asked, the concern in her voice spiking.

"When I looked through your memories."

"Oh." She relaxed. "That's a long story. Remind me to tell you about it later. We have to talk to the princess now." Just as she said this, I heard Twilight and a new voice conversing in the hallway, getting closer. It was finally time to answer some of my biggest questions.