Owen sat solemnly in the train with numerous people around him minding their own business. He glanced down at a book he was holding and couldn't quite make out the words. They all merged together and became distorted and fuzzy.
I didn't want to read anyway.
He put the book back into his bag and sat, staring at his feet as the train bumped along. He glanced up and all the passengers of the train were gone. Instead of the people who were previously sitting on the train there were misty ovals floating around. Owen stood up and walked over to one of the floating mist holes. The fog cleared away and it showed a small child sitting at lunch with a peer. As Owen looked closer the friend faded away leaving the one child alone.
I don't want to see this.
Owen’s thoughts echoed in his mind but no words came out of his mouth. He walked away from the projection to a different one. The mist cleared to showcase a new vision. This time it showed a young teenager laying on his bed sobbing. Owen remembered the time he was yelled at by a neighbor for being too old to trick or treat.
Stop.
He thought to himself again but more memories, all showcasing miserable events of Owen’s past, started appearing. The time when he was kicked off the soccer team, the time he tried to learn the violin but was ridiculed for being the worst player in the class, and the time he forgot his lines in the big high school play. All these memories and more formed inside the train. Noises growing louder and louder came from all directions. Owen panicked and started tearing up. He sat on the floor of the train hiding his face in his hands.
Make it stop! Why is this happening to me?
Suddenly all the noise stopped. Owen turned around and saw a creature. It was a deep shade of blue and stood tall on all fours before him. He backed up in fear but the creature spoke up.
“Do not worry Owen, everything around you is a dream and I mean you no harm.”
A sudden realization came to Owen and he was able to freely control his thoughts and actions.
“Who are you?”
“I am Princess Luna but you don't need to worry about that.”
“Why are you here then… in my dreams?” Owen asked.
“Those visions of your past,” Luna said. “They're hurting you.”
“Yeah, I noticed.”
“Do you know why these memories haunt you Owen?”
Owen contorted his face in thought and then said solemnly, “Because I always mess everything up.”
“Owen… I need you to see, that what you say, it isn't true.”
“What do you mean it isn't true? Of course it is! Didn't you see all the memories?”
“Yes, I saw all those memories. They looked painful.”
“Exactly.” Owen replied.
Princess Luna looked at Owen and said, “I need you to look at the bright side of your memories. Not everything you have done has been a mess up.”
“Why should I even bother listening to you? You're just some weird dream horse thing.”
“I can prove that I'm real and that you should hear my advice.”
“Okay, go ahead, figment of my imagination.”
Princess Luna stood up tall and the tip of her horn started emitting a blue light. Slowly the surroundings of the train melted away. The environment was replaced by a wide sweeping landscape beneath Princess Luna and Owen.
“Woah!”
Owen looked around and could see far into the distance. He saw mountains, forests, a castle, and a handful of towns and cities.
Luna calmly said, “Don't become too frightened.” before plummeting Owen and herself downwards.
They swept across the landscape and up into the castle. After passing through many corridors and past many doors Luna and Owen went into a room with a rather large door. Luna pointed to another horse looking creature laying down on a bed and said, “This is my sister Celestia, and outside, is the land of Equestria.”
“What in the world?”
Luna lit up her horn again and suddenly her and Owen were in a hallway somewhere in the castle.
“I need you to believe that you are more than a failure Owen.”
“What do you mean? I can't just somehow magically be good at things.”
“No, but you can learn to be great.”
“Ugh, that is so cliché. Everytime I try and pick up a new hobby I'm awful at it and even though I try and try it never works.”
“Remember when you tried to play the violin?”
Owen frowned and sarcastically said, “Yeah, I definitely remember.”
“I want you to try again.” Luna stated flatly.
“What?”
“You heard me. Tomorrow after you wake up and eat some breakfast go get that violin out from your closet and try playing it.”
“First of all, how do you know about that? Secondly, I am trash at the violin. I gave up for a reason.”
Luna's horn lit up and the scene around them changed to an all too familiar place for Owen.
“Why are we here?”
Luna remained silent and pointed. A young boy sat in a chair with a violin.
“This was before that concert.” Owen recalled.
The boy began to play the violin in a swift graceful manner. The notes that issued from the instrument were beautiful and clear. Owen sat watching in shock. Luna lit her horn again and they were brought to a stage.
“Oh no.” Owen said.
The audience was filled with people and stage lights shined down on the orchestra. The conductor signaled everybody to start playing and so everyone did. The boy however, began to panic. His foot shook and his wrist twitched. The notes coming from the violin this time were offbeat and sharp sounding. Every head in the audience turned towards the boy until he finally stopped playing and ran off the stage in tears.
“You see,” Luna said while teleporting herself and Owen into a starry void. “You were amazing but you cracked under pressure.”
“I can't deny that.” Owen replied while looking at the ground.
Luna pushed his chin up with her hoof and stated, “You can't let your past bring you down. I learned that lesson myself and I think it's time you learned it too. So what do you say? Will you try again tomorrow?”
Owen gently smiled and answered, “I will. I'm going to get out that old violin and try again. Thank you for helping me when I needed it princess.”
“Thanks for trusting me Owen. If you ever need help again I'll find you in your dreams.” Luna said before fading away.
The next day Owen woke up and stretched.
That was a weird dream.
He glanced at his whiteboard and saw the words, “Better get practicing! -Luna.”
Author's Note
Short story I decided to write because it sounded like an interesting idea.