Chapter 3

If there’s one thing I need to make a mental note of during my time here in this world, is to never EVER let myself be part of any teleportation spell. I mean, I can fly and run at top speed for crying out loud and this teleportation of theirs just made me feel extremely nauseous and even pass the hell out. I opened my eyes and expected to be laying on some bed but instead I found myself floating in mid air in some starry void. I looked around to see more of the void which made me very confused since I didn’t know where the hell I was. I looked down at my body and saw I was still wearing my clothes and pack while I reached back to see if my Amp was also still there. After thinking about what had happened in the past few hours I came to the conclusion that I was somehow dreaming of a starry void.

“Yup, definitely not teleporting again that’s for damn sure,” I grumble.

Suddenly, I felt a presence behind me making me turn my body around and look up. A moon seemed to appear in the sky and it looked like some sort of gateway as the presence I felt grew closer and closer as I saw a silhouette of someone fly through. The figure flew at me at top speed making me try and get on the defensive but it crashed into me making us spin around in mid air.

“Thank the stars you’re ok!” I looked down at the figure to see it was Nightmare and she was burying her face in my chest with her arms wrapped around me.

“Nightmare? How’re you in my dream?” I ask as she looked up at me with tears in her eyes.

“When we teleported at the castle you collapsed and I was so scarred you wouldn’t wake up. Celestia and Luna had you placed in one of the guest rooms and I begged them to let me look after you until woke. I waited for over an hour but you didn’t show any signs of waking up so I used my magic to enter your dream,” Nightmare explains.

“Huh, well that was considerate of them,” I said with a smirk. “Wait, you said you entered my dream? As in, is this actually you I’m taking to?” Nightmare smiles as she releases me and nods.

“Not only do we have the power to move the moon but we also have the power to watch over peoples dreams as they sleep. This is indeed my physical form you are seeing while your own body is still unconscious in the real world,” Nightmare said.

“I see, well I’ll definitely be still feeling that nausea I felt before I passed out. Damn near came close to emptying my guts out for a second there,” I grumbled making Nightmare’s eyes widen.

“You were on the verge of disemboweling yourself?!” She shrieked with a horrified expression.

“What? No, I meant I was about to vomit,” I said relaxing her mood. “Have you ever heard of exaggerated word play?”

“In my defense I have not been accustomed to how people normally speak to one another nor am I familiar with any crude exaggerations they use,” Nightmare deadpans.

“Oh…” I said now feeling like an ass. “Sorry about that.” Nightmare smiles as she floats over to me and hugs me to which I return.

“It’s quite alright, I could never stay mad at you Ax,” Nightmare said looking up at me.

“How can you not? There may be a time where I might say or do something that would cause you to think otherwise,” I said.

“I wouldn’t really care to be honest, because you gave me something I never would’ve expected to receive had you not arrived in this world,” Nightmare said.

“And what’s that?” I ask. Nightmare leans up and kisses me on the cheek again before laying her head on my chest as she hugged me tighter.

“You gave me a chance of redemption and my first true friendship,” she answered.

“Well, I mean I only said and did what I thought was the right thing,” I said sheepishly.

“It seems you’re also quite the modest one, Ax,” Nightmare giggles. “So tell me, I’d like to know what your home world is like. You look and speak like us but you have no magic yet you have such interesting powers. Do all of your people have abilities like you?” She asks.

“Not exactly, most of my world has no one else besides me. You see I was actually given my powers by some strange man I met before I got here. I guess you could say I’m the only Conduit here in Equestria,” I said.

“I see, is there anything else about your world that is similar to ours?” Nightmare asks.

“That depends, do you know what a car is” I ask and she tilts her head already giving me my answer. “Then my world and this one would be much different than each other.”

“Interesting, what about you Ax? What did you do before you came here?” She asks. I was about to answer when the starry void around us began to change. Soon we were standing in front of a house I quickly recognized, making me frown.

“Ax? What’s wrong?” Nightmare wonders.

“This…” I sighed. “This is my old home, it seems I’m dreaming an old memory,” I said as I watched a car pull up in the driveway and saw my old man. “And that’s my father, judging by the clothes he’s wearing and the season it is I know exactly what this memory is,” I said as I watched my dad trudge to the front door.

“Axel Rickert! Get your ass out here right now and explain why the hell you weren’t at school today!” My dad yells as he slams open the door. Nightmare and I walk in after my dad as we gaze through the walls and see my younger self. I couldn’t have been older than 10 as I stared up at my dad with a scowl as my dad glared at me.

“Is that you?” Nightmare asks and I nod. “You are so small, yet you look quite displeased. Why?”

“You’ll see,” I said emotionlessly.

“Why do I gotta go to that stupid school?!” My younger self snapped. “Those kids always pick on me and the teachers are always making me look stupid!”

“Maybe if you paid more attention in class you’d have a better experience! And just because you’re not having a fun time means jack shit to me! Now I gotta take you back to your school so you can keep being enrolled otherwise you’ll be expelled!” My dad yells.

“School is stupid! I hate it! I don’t wanna go back!” My younger self said, stomping his foot.

“You forget, you little brat,” my dad said grabbing my arm. “I don’t give a shit what you do or don’t wanna do. So you’re gonna come with me back to school so you can at least get a decent education for that piece of shit you call a brain!”

I watch as my dad yanks my arm and into his car despite my protest. Nightmare seems to glare at my dad for how he treated my younger self and I place a hand on her shoulder making her turn to me.

“You shouldn’t get mad at my old man,” I said. “I was the one at fault in the first place anyway. As you saw I was in fact a brat who always caused trouble every chance I got. It was like this throughout the rest of my elementary and middle school years. Then I entered high school and it all became much harder,” I said as the memory faded and changed.

Soon we were in front of my old high school and I again knew what memory it was due to the season and time of day. I led Nightmare through the campus and entered a building I knew to be the principal’s office. I saw my younger self again and I was older now, about 15 or 16 to be exact. I was sitting in front of a large desk all by myself waiting for the principal with a look on my face that said I did not give a fuck whatsoever. Soon the door opens and I see the principal walk in with my mother and she had the classic disappointed look in her eye as she sat down next to me.

“Axel, I’ve spoken to your mother and-”

“Ax.”

“Pardon?” The principal said surprised I cut her off.

“I said my name is Ax, not Axel. Axel is a dumb name and I hate it. And I know what you tow were talking about out there, I’m not as stupid as I look. If you’re expecting me to apologize then you can forget it, asshole got what was coming to him when he kept bugging the shit out of me constantly,” My teen self shocking the two of them for my language.

“Axel please! That was very rude!” My mother lectures.

“Oh you think that’s rude?” My teen self snaps. “Try telling that to the kids who always give me a hard time just because I always wear a beanie. They always give me shit over the most retarded bullshit and no one here does jack about it. And I told you my name is Ax, not stupid Axel!”

“Axe-” I glare at the principal as she catches herself. “Ax, please be reasonable. You broke a students nose and his parents are insisting you apologize or it would mean suspension.”

“I’d rather take a bullet to the knee than apologize, asshole deserved it and I ain’t saying shit!” I said making my mother scowl at me.

“Your mother should be supporting you in this endeavor,” Nightmare said. “You were clearly the victim in this ordeal, no?”

“In a way, I guess,” I shrugged. “But that doesn’t excuse the fact I broke some kids nose for something I honestly would have handled better. However you did have a point earlier, my mother should have indeed had my back yet she didn’t. Neither me mom or dad ever really supported me in times like this. It was mostly my fault for my shitty behavior but it’s times like this where I kinda wished they would’ve at least tried a little harder to have my back. All they really cared about was how they looked in front of other parents through me. This may surprise you but this isn’t my first offense, in fact I got into many other kinds of trouble before and after my suspension but I still managed to graduate no thanks to my parents.”

“You make it sound like you were an outsider in your own home,” Nightmare said pityingly.

“In a way I guess I was, but this all doesn’t compare to when I moved out,” I said as the memory faded again. We were in front of my house and I saw a car parked in front that I recognized as one of my old roommates cars. I saw my last self walk out with 2 large duffle bags and I looked to be 20 years old now. Soon my mom and dad came out and watched me put the bags in the car but my dad still had that scowl on his face.

“You better rethink this right now, Axel,” my dad said coldly.

“I don’t have to listen to you or Mom anymore,” was all I said as my past self returned to the house to get the last of his belongings.

“Sweetheart please,” my mother begged. “We know we haven’t always been there but to move out so soon?”

“Oh spare me the woa was me bull crap, Mom,” I spat. “If you really cared then you would’ve supported me for all I’ve done instead of shooing me away and caring more about your damn image.”

“Don’t talk to your mother that way,” my dad snapped. “We raised your as parents should have, and now you want to throw it all away?”

“Raised me?” I hissed and glared at my parents. “RAISED ME?! THAT’S A LOAD OF HORSE SHIT AND YOU FUCKING KNOW IT! YOU BARELY GAVE ME THE TIME OF DAY, NEVER TOOK MY SIDE, FORCED ME TO APOLOGIZE FOR STUFF I NEVER DID, AND YOU HAVE THE GALL TO SAY YOU RAISED ME?!? WELL YOU KNOW WHAT?! FUCK YOU AND YOUR SHITTY PARENTING BECAUSE I’VE BEEN ON MY OWN SINCE DAY FUCKING ONE! NOW GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY WAY!” I screamed shoving them aside with the last of my luggage in my hand.

“If you leave now, then don’t ever bother coming back!” My dad barks as my mother sobs. My past self paused for a moment and then looked back at my dad with a scoff.

“Then I guess this is the last we see of each other, Frank and Trisha,” I said, calling them by their names and stepping into the car.

I watched as I drove away with my roommate and my parents watched as my mother continued to sob. The memory fades as we were met with the same starry void and I look down and clench my fists. I was trying so damn hard not to crack a tear since this was something I never wanted to remember. Nightmare must’ve seen my discomfort and wrapped her arms around me bringing into a hug.

“You seem like such a gentle soul, yet you have gone through so much heartache,” Nightmare said while rubbing my back. “And you haven’t spoken with your parents since?”

“No, aside from the occasional glances at any social media they were on I never bothered to contact them. Frankly I still don’t give a damn if I didn’t, if they wouldn’t bother to contact me why should I?” I said dismissively.

“Do you miss them?” She asks.

“I’m not sure,” I admit. “After that falling out I hadn’t spoken to them ever since. I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t know about me being gone until much later.”

“Would you…like to go back if given the chance?” Nightmare wonders.

“Honestly, I don’t know,” I said looking at my hands. “I didn’t really have much back in my world. Yeah I had friends I made over the years but they never really stuck around. It all feels like I’ve been on my own most of my life.”

Nightmare frowns and rests her head on my chest as we continue to hug each other. She’s so warm when I hug her, not to mention she’s a very beautiful woman.

“I know what it is like to be alone, Ax,” Nightmare said. “But just know that you shouldn’t feel alone anymore now that you’re here. I will always be by your side so that you never do.”

“Thanks Nightmare, I appreciate it,” I said with a smile. The area around us starts to distort around us making me arch a brow and Nightmare releases her grasp around me.

“It appears you are about to wake up,” Nightmare said as she fades away. “I’ll see you in a little while.”

I nod as she fades away and my vision soon begins to darken. I don’t know what waits for me when I wake, but I’ll soon find out.

I woke up to the sounds of birds chirping as I slowly opened my eyes. Naturally, I thought everything that had happened so far was just a dream and I was in my apartment laying in bed, dreading to get up and deal with the shitty customers at my shitty job. Only as my vision became more clear, I noticed the bed I was laying on was a lot more comfortable than my usual creaky one. I blinked and noticed I was in an entirely different room and I felt something on my chest. Looking down my eyes seemed to bug out as I saw Nightmare, as beautiful as ever, laying on my chest with her arms wrapped around me. Now it wasn’t the face that she smelled like fresh pine in the wilderness, but the fact that she had her breasts pressed against my side which made me blush up a damn storm. Back home I’ve had my share of relationships but they didn’t last due to either the girl being a complete Stacy, Debbie, or sometimes even a Karen. Yes, I admit it, I’m a virgin but so what? I wanna save my first time for someone I truly love so sue me but that’s not important right now.

I slowly inched my way out of Nightmare’s grip, careful not to wake her, while also trying not to cause her breasts to press more into me. Unfortunately I had my hopes up too soon as she then pulled me back towards her making her breasts press more into me making a certain someone downstairs wake up.

For the love of god, please don’t come out! I plead in my head.

Nightmare seemed to finally stir from her slumber as she slowly opened her eyes and looked up to me. I gave her a sheepish smile as she looked down and saw she was still hugging me which made her eyes widen and jump away and straighten her dress out.

“Oh my goodness!” She yells while also fixing her hair. “I’m so terribly sorry Ax, I should have stayed in the appropriate distance. I-“

“Whoa, whoa, slow down Nightmare,” I said, waving my hand while also trying to calm my blush down. “It’s fine, you don’t have to be so frantic, I’m not mad at you.”

“You’re not?” She asks shyly.

“Course not,” I said as I stood up from the bed and stretched my limbs. “In fact, despite the surprising awakening, I feel pretty well rested. That bed sure is comfy, hell of a lot more than my old bed that’s for damn sure.”

Nightmare sighs and smiles as I stretch my body. I looked down and noticed I’m only wearing my pants, hoodie, and socks. I look around the room and notice my pack, Amp, chain, vest, beanie, and shoes all huddled beside a small table with my personal belongings like my phone, wallet and earbuds on the table. I walk over to my stuff and grab my vest, though I noticed something different about it. When I held it up in front of me I saw that the star on the back was tilting a little to the right which made me arch a brow since it should be level and even.

“Huh, that’s weird, why’s it look like this?” I wonder to myself. Shrugging it off I put it and the rest of my clothes on while slinging on my pack and Hopkins my Amp to it and wrapped my chain around my wrist and tuck my belongings in my pocket. Satisfied with my clothed being back on, I turned around to face Nightmare who was patiently waiting for me. “So, wanna head out and explore?” I ask.

Just as she was about to answer we hear a knock on the door which made me roll my eyes and walk over to answer it. When I opened the door I was greeted by a young woman wearing a maid's outfit. She had short light brown hair and chocolate brown eyes as she smiled up at me and gave me a curt bow.

“Good morning, sir,” she greeted me. “Her majesty, Princess Celestia, and her sister, Princess Luna, have requested your presence with them as soon as you’re able, along with your guest.”

“Did they now?” I said. “Did they say exactly when I should go and see them?” I ask.

“Well,” she said, tilting her head. “Not exactly, but I would advise you go and see them-”

“Then I’d like you to relay a message to them,” I request cutting her off. “Please tell them I’d like to do a little sightseeing with my friend before I have my official meeting with the. See, I’m new around here and I’d like to get used to my new surroundings with my friend. I understand it’s important to listen to what they say, since they’re Princesses and all, but sometimes I like to live for the moment instead of being cooped up inside all day.”

“But Princess Celestia-”

“Will get over it,” I said, again cutting her off. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some touring to do.” I looked back at Nightmare who was giggling a bit at my little monologue. “Shall we Nightmare?” I offer holding out my hand. She smiles and grasps my hand.

“Thank you Ax, I’d love to,” she replies. I nod and we both walk past the bewildered maid and out the room. I take in a deep breath of fresh air and notice we were in a sort of tower as I took in the sights of the fancy city. This place looked like it could put the ritz of London to shame it all looked so fancy and clean. Though as I looked down I saw some of the people walking about and noticed that some of them had their noses up in the air which meant that there were a few snobs here and there.

“So what shall we do first?” Nightmare asks me.

“Hmm, well we could walk down and see the city but I feel like we might run into more of the staff on the way down,” I said as I glanced at Nightmare with a smirk. “Would you like to fly down?”

“Fly?” She repeats. “But you do not have wings.”

“Have you forgotten already?” I tease as I step back. I close my eyes while activating Video and a pair of digital wings appear from my back making Nightmare gasp.

“My stars, I forgot you could do this,” she said in awe as she gazed at my wings.

“Oh there’s more I can do with my abilities, Nightmare, but we’ll save that for a later date,” I said.

Nightmare nods as she too spreads her wings and we both take to the skies. At first I was a little nervous about flying since this is my first time flying on my own, with wings no less, but I actually felt more calm than usual. As we flew I took in the sights of the city and admired how clean it was, probably cleaner than my own bathroom back home. We eventually make it to the center of town and land on the side of the street. Some of the people stare at us a little surprised but when they see Nightmare they scowl at her and I notice she is a little uneasy.

“Hey don’t worry about them,” I said reassuring her. “I’m sure they’ll eventually warm up to you once they see that you’re no longer the same woman as before.”

“I hope you’re right…” Nightmare said.

As we walk I feel something grip my hand making me look down and see Nightmare was holding it. I blushed a little at the action but let her hold on since she needed me to stick by her since the residents always shot her the stink eye. Nightmare and I soon come up to what looks like an open park with a bunch of benches and walkways all around. I smile as Nightmare kneels down to smell the flowers and take in the sights as she never once lost her smile during our walk.

She’s got quite the smile, I think.

Soon we stopped to take a little break and sit on a nearby bench. I take off my sling pack and set it beside the bench as I sit down. I extend my legs and cross them while leaning back and hang my arms out while Nightmare sits close to me while she has her hands in her lap.

“You enjoying yourself?” I ask.

“Yes, very much so,” she said smiling. “The world has changed so much since my banishment. It's hard to believe this is still Equestria.”

“This is why you should look forward to the day when the people accept you more,” I said. “That way you can choose to see the rest of the world as you see fit. I may not know too much about this place yet but I’ll be sure to stick by your side.”

Nightmare smiles at me and then leans on my shoulder. I decide to do something bold and reach over and wrap my arm around her while stroking her hair and she hums in content.

Maybe things won’t be so bad after all, I think.

“Well, well, well. I heard a rumor she was back but I didn’t expect her to actually be in Canterlot.”

Me and my big mouth… I groan as I glance over to the voice in question.

A douchey looking man comes strutting towards us with two beef head guards following behind him. This guy’s hair must have so much gel in it, it seems to sparkle in the sunlight even though there were a few strands of hair hanging out in the sides. He wore a pristine suit with a bow tie that looked like it was begging to get dirty, he seemed to keep it so clean.

“And who might you be?” I ask.

“You should watch your tone, peasant,” the man snaps. “That’s not a way to speak to me, Prince Blueblood.”

“You’re the Prince?” I ask, not convinced. “I thought the only rulers were Celestia and Luna?”

“That’s Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, peasant. And I’d advise you keep that in mind the next time you address my Aunts,” he huffs.

Oh this guy must be a real card around here, I think sarcastically.

“Now then,” he said looking at Nightmare who had an irritated look in her eye. “I don’t know why my Aunts insisted you stay here in Canterlot but I suppose it’s that good nature of theirs always preventing them from doing the right thing, but not me.”

“What exactly do you mean?” Nightmare accuses.

“I am here to bring you to the dungeons where you shall spend the rest of your days where you belong,” Blueblood said snapping his fingers as the guards start to advance on her.

This ticked me off but I paused for a moment. I could just let this happen and watch Nightmare beat the shit out of them and maybe this prick, but that would probably set a bad example on her part and make it harder to convince the public that she means no harm. Not wanting to let Nightmare get involved, I could also step in and take care of these guys but that could also make me look bad in the face of the public.

…

Yeah, fuck this guy, I think.

I stood up while unraveling my chain while activating Video. The chain glows and a digital longsword appears as I hold it out in front of Nightmare in front of the guards.

“Take another step, and you get hurt,” I warn. “Bad…”

“How dare you threaten royalty?!” Blueblood shouts. “Take him and the witch at once! I declare they will be imprisoned with no food or water until further notice!”

The guards obey by charging while brandishing their swords at me as I take my stance. One tries to slash at me but I side stepped and slashed him in the back making him wince as he tumbles to the ground. The other tries to tackle me but I jump in the air doing a front flip as I kick off his back and land on the ground. The other guard recovers and I’m caught in between the two as I hold my digital sword in my hand.

“What are you two waiting for?!” Blueblood snaps. “Take him down this instant or you shall be the ones to suffer the consequences!”

Both guards charge at me at full speed trying to slash at me from both sides. I smirk as I crouch down and summon my digital wings and jump high into the air, dodging each attack leaving them and everyone around in a shocked state. I backflip and land but they again charge at me with their swords raised. I’m not sure how but I was able to read their movements pretty easily and was able to either dodge or block their attacks. I punched one of them in the face as I kicked the other in the side then cartwheeled to the side and roundhouse kicked one in the head making him topple over the other. Taking this opportunity I quickly step up to the downed guards and raise my hands in the air. My hands glow all digital as three swords appear in mid air with the blades pointing downwards. The guards panic as I thrust my hands down making the swords plummet towards them. Instead of impaling them as everyone expected the words pierced the ground around them at hairs length, subduing them into the ground.

I sighed as I stood up straight and glanced over at Blueblood who had a very funny looking shocked expression. I deactivated Video and flicked my wrist, wrapping my chain again as I walked over to Blueblood. I stared deep in his panicked eyes, menacingly as he started to cower in fear.

“You think that just because you’re related to Celestia, and that you have some dumb royal status, that you can choose to walk all over everyone whenever you want? Well I got news for you pal, I’m not someone you can order to jump and I’ll ask how high and neither is Nightmare. She’s my friend and she’ll always be my friend, no matter what this new world throws my way.” I stated proudly. “And in case you’re wondering, my name is Axel Rickert, I’m the first Conduit of Equestria.”

Author's Note

Ax… IS BACK! Thanks for hanging in there for this story’s return!

~WurkyWilk has left the building…