Being Brave Part I

It had now been 12 days since Cory ran off into the woods, and things weren't getting any better for him. Though he was able to trap an insect here and there, ate an occasional handful of grass, and found a way to drink from a nearby stream without getting sick, it still wasn't enough to sustain him. He had lost a dangerous amount of weight and was now barely able to walk. He felt incredibly ill and lost almost all ability to talk, with the exception of a few grunts and mumbles. To make matters worse, he had a bad allergic reaction to all the pollen floating in the air, causing his eyes to swell up and his skin to break out in rashes.

But this was the least of his problem. As Cory wandered aimlessly through the thick pine, he started to hear voices. At first it sounded inaudible, but then he could translate it as mocking laughter. Then, he started seeing images, images painful memories from the past. They all looked like they were laughing at him, teasing his gawky structure and short stature. Soon after, they turned into what looked like ponies with masks for faces, all pointing their hooves at him and mocking his insecurities. He wished he could fight them back, but he didn't have the strength in his body to do so.

"Pleafse. Leaf Mei Alonne. Pleafse." He mumbled through his tired mouth. "Bwat Di I do?"

He covered his ears as he limped in the other direction. But due to his weak condition, he didn't look where he was going and tripped over a very sharp rock. The impact tore open his pants and shoe and made a big, bloody gash down his right leg and foot. As he screamed out in anguish, he got mad. He threw his torn up shoe against the ground and started pounding his chest. Then he began punching himself in the chin, slapping himself across the face, pounding himself in the stomach and kicking with his knee to the forehead. He was angry. Not just at everyone around him, but at himself. Why did I come here? he thought. I have no purpose here. Those two were right. I've reached my limit. Finally, he smacked himself against a tree and landed flat on his back. He looked into the night sky and closed his eyes, hoping it would be the very last time.

But it wasn't.

Cory woke up to find himself in a flat desert like terrain. Strangely, he felt healthier and more able to walk. But there was nowhere to go to but the empty landscape that lied ahead. There, off in the distance, he could make out a building that turned out to be his old school. It was neatly polished, symmetrically aligned by the brick and untouched by a single speck of dirt. Oh, the painful memories he had there. From the detentions, to the grueling P.E., to the merciless rules carried out by the principal. A fit of rage fell across his face. He picked up a stone from a pile he found next to him and started violently throwing at the school. He didn't care if he got caught. With every scream he made and stone that crashed through the window, he felt justice was being served to this god forsaken prison. He continued this savage act until his arms were numb and his hands were red. Then, as he collapsed to his knees in exhaustion, he heard an angelic, female voice.

"A warm welcome to you Cory." it said. This startled him as he jumped to his feet and tried to figure out where it was coming from. All he could see was the school and a large full moon rising over it.

Without warning, a large blinding light burst through the school windows as it blasted the building into a million pieces. Then, as the dust settled, the light took on the form of what appeared to be a winged Unicorn. Her coat was a deep navy blue. Her mane and tail were like a million stars flowing against a silk curtain. She had finely crafted shoes on her hooves, which led him to question as to whether it hurt or not. On her thigh was a tattoo of a crescent moon against the night sky, which perfectly matched the pendant she wore around her neck. Cory scooted himself back in fear and astonishment at the sight of her as she approached him. He had never seen a specimen so beautiful and yet so powerful. It was like staring into the face of the heavens.

"Do not fear me Cory." She said softly. "I do not wish to harm you."

He approached her with awestruck eyes and a bit of shame in his soul. It felt embarrassing for him to present himself in front of something with so much allure and beauty. But despite his hesitation, he walked towards the winged unicorn, wondering what she will make of him. After all, he was a mess.

"Who....Are....You...?" he asked.

"I am Luna, The Princess of the Night. Thus it is my duty to come into your dream."

Cory was confused. "Dream? But it seems so.."

"I can assure you, the only things real here are you and I.." Luna responded. "But that is not important now. I have learned a great many things about you since your arrival. I know you've had a sad past, that you've been constantly tortured verbally and spiritually by your peers, and that you lack many skills most of your kind tend to have. But above all, you desperately want to be loved."

"But...But I don't belong here!" He responded. "I'm not supposed to be here! How should I.."

Luna placed her hoof against his mouth to calm him down. "Let me explain." she said.

"Long ago, a young colt just like you lived a life of fear and isolation. Though he tried his best to fit among the crowd, it always ended in disaster. He died alone and scared because he did not find the courage to seek help from friends."

"So?" asked Cory.

"Whenever a form of this world is no longer alive, the the other form can enter it as they please."

Luna gently placed her wing around her back as if about to cradle him.

"I think you now know what must be done."

"If you're gonna say go back and face my problems forget it." Said Cory. "Because with all due respect, I've faced my problems every single day of my life."

Luna thought for a moment.

"Then it is time for you to tell your problems, and I know of six amazing friends in Ponyville who will be willing to listen."

"But what happens if they..."

"Discuss your problems Cory." Continued Luna "Only then can you truly be brave enough to conquer them."

Cory stepped back as the dream world around him began to disappear.

"Be brave Cory." Said Luna as she vanished amongst the terrain. "Tell your problems."

Cory opened his eyes and found himself once again lying on the forest floor and barely able to move. Just like the day he arrived, he could only open with one eye, and was very, very hungry. From off in the distance he heard a soft, snow white like voice.

"Where is he?" it said. "Did you find him?"

Eventually, he felt two squirrel paws tufting at his hair. With his only working eye he made out what looked like the face of a yellow Pegusi with a light pink mane staring right above him.

"Oh, you poor little thing." She said "You need help right away."

She carefully, lifted him up with her hooves and off the forest floor. It was at that moment he lost consciousness.