Princess Luna, warden of dreams, demigod of the unconscious mind. She stands before the door to the dreams of a human. This isn't your usual human, she reminds herself. Humans are transformed as they pass the barrier between their world and Equestria, but often retain a transformed article of clothing. The article in question is usually a favorite jacket, maybe a hat, always something that defines the human that crosses over.

Usually though, it was never anything more than one or two items. Almost never was it a device, or something other than cloth. This human, however, appeared fully garbed, fully dressed...

...and fully armed.

The human surrendered without a fight to the guard, their masked face keeping their emotions secret to even the most empathic of their army. It was the mask that threw many of the interception force for a disturbing loop. Maybe upon a flat surface, the half smile, half frown of the mask would seem almost comical. On the elongated snout of a pony though, the mouth looks lopsided, the eyes missmatched, the ears malformed. Everything about the face makes even Luna's most trained night guard shiver with disturbed thoughts.

The mask alone would throw up red flags for what the human was in their past life, the full suit and unit patches further made the guard suspicious. Luna had seen magicians from the human world come wearing tailed coats, but many a businesspony came wearing something much simpler, more modern. Tailed coats weren't the usual fashion for humans, especially not one as extravagant as the one this human wore. The pants were further confusing, as no human had come wearing pants as of yet.

Pants were not unheard of to Luna, the minotaur wore them during formal occasions. Even some ponies wore them, though emphasis should be placed on 'some'. It was not common enough to be written off.

From the outfit, one would gather this is not a civilian. Many of the humans who she has met come with fantastical stories of 'superheroes' and 'supervillains', whether from first hoof experience or their world's modern mythology. This human matches the descriptions of those 'supervillains' perfectly. Right down to his massive arsenal of weapons.

five of the human ranged weapons called 'guns', ranging from the small 'handguns' to the disturbingly long 'sniper rifle'. These weapons were quickly confiscated from the human upon being brought in. He has yet to make a move against them, but everything about this human puts up flags in Luna's head.

Upon the suspected villain was also a truly disturbing number of knives. From heavy headed throwing knives, to cikle style blades meant to stab into the flesh and hold on. From this alone Luna knew they were at least dealing with a mentally unstable being, surely capable of using at least most of these weapons.

That finally brings Luna back to the present. Beyond the imaginary door lays the mind of the human, the human they needed to confirm the stability and... Moral standing of. Beyond this door could lay in wait the cruelest of dreams, the most disturbing of nightmares, a white room with but a table and two cushions...

There he was, sitting with his elongated legs cross on the cushion, a nice looking set of shot glasses and a bottle of what looks to be a foggy white wine. The fact he was human in his dreams made sense to Luna, many didn't start seeing themselves as ponies until they had accepted the fact they would never see home again. Many never saw themselves as ponies within their dreams. What surprised her, was the setting at the table clearly for her.

"Sit, if sake isn't your style I can always switch to whisky. I was never a fan of sake, though Lupin distilled it as a hobby and I could never say no to sitting down with him to speak through the differences between Western and Eastern society." The man says, waving to the seat across from him. "Something about taking in a culture foreign to you while talking about your own makes for interesting conversation."

"How did you know I was coming." Luna curtly replies, taking the seat cautiously while eying the presumed alcohol with barely concealed suspicion.

"When looking at the entrance to my subconscious, you technically are already within the space. I haven't slept properly in centuries, this is the closest thing I can sustain without shutting everyone off. Though that itself comes with complications that I'd rather not incur." He replies, pouring Luna some of the 'sake' he mentioned. Alcohol is not a prevalent thing in equestrian society. It's seen as unhealthy, and generally not a wise thing to partake in. Saltlicks weren't seen in a much better light, but that was a recreational activity steeped in tradition from long before her time.

"I shouldn-" The man raises a hand to stop Luna's objections.

"This is still a mental landscape, you will not suffer any ill effects of alcohol while here."

"Ho-"

"Everyone who has ever interrogated me asks why they should partake in the drinks I have. I never had a good answer until today." He looks up, a gleam behind his barely visible eye. "Neither of us will be affected by the drink today."

Luna takes a breath, this was the human's plan. To knock her onto her back hooves, to make her unsteady. She needs to steady herself. "What-"

"You may call me Slender. One day I may give you my true name, but that name holds a power over me you're not allowed to have."

Luna growls, how does he do-

"I have been interrogated many, many times. I know what questions you want answered, what questions you don't want me asking, and how to avoid the questions that would lead to my death. You are not the first, you are not the cleverest, the only thing you're the first to do is..." He leans forwards, somehow she can tell he's grinning under that mask "Is actually enter my mind."

She's stunned into silence, she doesn't know what to do now, aside ask one final question.

"Will you give all those answers willingly?"

'Slender' blinks behind his mask, then begins laughing. The laughter of someone who tries to have full control of everything, and yet didn't expect this question to be asked. "You surprise me, most would try and force my name out before just asking other questions. Most would try and trick me. You are not most, you just ask me nicely to comply!" He begins laughing again.

Minutes pass before he finally calms down enough to speak once more. "Very well. Might I know a name I may call you by, or shall I just call you 'Apollo' for the mark on your haunch and your strangely colored mane?"

"If you think that to be a fitting name, then I suppose I have no reason to refuse your nickname for me. Afterall, if you will not give me your true name. Why should I give you mine?"

That line makes 'Slender' snicker once more. "Very well, dearest Apollo, shall we continue talking?"

"We shall."

Author's Note

I don't have any real plan for this. Next chapter will probably be some philosophical shit about 'what is evil'.