What Do Humans Dream About?

It was early in the morning over the city of Canterlot, and right now Luna was all giddy, like a school filly. And the sight of the midnight alicorn in such a state was really testing Celestia’s poker face, since her muzzle was scrunched up as she’s trying not to laugh at the adorable sight of her sister. However, Twilight Sparkle and her friends, weren’t fairing that much better, as they were just barely containing their own laughter at Luna’s adorable antics.

“Luna?” Celestia said without letting out a snicker escape her lips. “What’s got you so, excitable, today?” Luna finished her little teetering session in her chair at the dining room table, she elaborated on why she was in such a good mood.

“Well sister, remember how I’ve been unable to peer into Anon’s mind, so that could see what it is that humans dream of?” Luna asked her sister, who nodded. Her mirth subsided as curiosity started to take its place.

“For the past four months since our little human friend came to Equestria, I’ve been trying to enter his mind when he’s asleep, but something keeps me from doing so. HOWEVER!” Luna exclaimed causing the seven mares to flinch back. “I have managed to forge a new form of my Dream Walker spell, and it should allow me to finally enter Anon’s mind to see his’s dreams. And, if I adjust the spell properly with the Mind Meld spell I used when you all helped me with the Tantabus, then I should be able to bring all of you in the dream with me.”

The ponies seemed really intrigued by this prospect of Luna’s. ever since Anon was found in the castles library, the ponies have been curious as to who or what he is, but whenever Anon is asked any question he strangely only give half-hearted answers. It’s kind of like Anon is in daze whenever he’s asked questions. Another thing that ponies find odd about Anon, was that he never really seems to react to things as one would expect. Like during the changeling invasion during Cadence’s & Shinig’s wedding, Anon seemed to be completely unaffected by the whole thing, heck, Chrysalis tried threatening him but he just…seemed unfazed. If some creature like Anon can stand up to a raging changeling queen, then he should have some interesting dreams.

“Have you told Anon about this new version of your Dream Walker spell yet, Luna?” Celestia inquired, to which Luna shook her head.

“Neigh sister. I wish to keep it a secret, for it would be a far better surprise when we arrive in Anon’s dream.” Luna stated as she takes a sip of her tea, before taking a quick bite of a blueberry scone, and swallowing it. “So, will you all join me in surprising our dear human friend?”

“I’m in!” Pinkie Pie immediately said as she bounced in her chair, which wasn’t all that surprising.

“Eh why not, this sound like it could be fun.” Rainbow said nonchalantly as she leaned back in her chair.

“I’ve always been curious as to what it is that Anon dreams about, so this should be very interesting to see.” Twilight remarked to herself before agreeing to the idea.

“If it’s not an inconvenience, then, I suppose I’m up for it.” Fluttershy said as she fiddles with her tea cup.

“This does sound like it would a rather interesting idea, so I suppose I could join you all on this little venture.” Rarity said to her friends.

“Well if everypony else is joining in on the fun, Ah suppose I should join in as well.” Applejack finished off the agreement circle of ponies. Everypony then looked at Celestia, who seemed to be thinking about her answer.

“I must admit, I am curious on what it is that humans dream about…” Celestia then looks to her sister. “Count me in on this venture Luna.”

Luna clapped her hooves together in joy, as she begins to tell on how they will go about this dream walking. Once night has fallen, they would all meet up in Luna’s quarters, as she’s not quite confident to use it at range just yet. Now once they’ve all convened in Luna’s chambers, and Luna has casted the spell, they would traverse the dream realm till they find Anon’s dream door. With the plan set, the ponies just had to wait till it was night time, and make sure not to spill the beans to the surprise to Anon.

The group perked up when Anon cam strolling into the dining hall, humming a small tune to himself as he looked well rested. Compared to how he usually looked, which made him look like he’s hardly had a wink of sleep.

“Morning girls.” Anon said to the group, but stopping in place when he noticed Twilight and her friends. “Well this is a surprise, what are you six doing here? Does Equestria need saving again?”

“No, no, nothing like that.” Twilight quickly said. “We’re…ugh, just, visiting! Yeah, just visiting the princess for breakfast.” The rest of the group nodded while agreeing with Twilight. Anon quirked a brow for a second, before continuing on gathering his own breakfast.

“Ooooookay. Well, you girls enjoy your visit.” Anon said as he took his plate of pancakes, scrambled eggs, and mug of coffee with him back to his room. but as he left the dining hall, Celestia, Luna & Twilight’s heighten hearing heard Anon whisper something.

“Ponies are weird no matter what time of day it is.”

~~~~~

Hours have gone by and now it was midnight, well, five minutes to midnight. The ponies wanted to make doubly sure that Anon was fast asleep in his room, before the ponies proceeded with their plan. Luna’s room has been adjusted to house another queen size bed, for Celestia, and six moderate size beds for Twilight and her friends.

“Alright, is everypony ready for this miraculous voyage to the unknown?” Luna asked excitedly, her giddiness from earlier today returning. Causing the seven other mare’s to laugh, snicker, giggle, or chortle.

“Yes sister, I do believe we are ready.” Celestia said as she get’s comfortable in her own bed.

“Then let us begin!”

The seven ponies got comfortable in their beds, and the sleep that was slowly taking hold of them in the past two hours finally struck, sending the seven mares into slumber. When the ponies were fast asleep, Luna was levitated into the air, hovering just a foot off the ground, where seven thin tendrils of light emerged from her horn and made their way over to the others, gently placing their tips on their foreheads.

All eight ponies opened their eyes and found themselves in a starry landscape, surrounded by hundreds, upon thousands of doors. Each one branding a Cutie Mark and a ponies name right under it. All of the ponies who weren’t Celestia & Luna, marveled at the sight before them.

“A wondrous sight is it not?” Luna asked bemusedly with a sly smirk on her muzzle.

“Yeah.” Applejack said as she looked at the limitless amount of doors. “So this is how ya’ll are able to travel from dream, to dream princess?”

“Indeed Applejack. Now, let us see if we can find Anon’s door.”

All of the doors then started to whiz past the group, turning into two blurred lines flanking them. a moment later and the two whizzing rows of doors came to an abrupt halt, and a new column of doors flanked the ponies, but one door has caught their immediate attention. The door bared Anon’s name…but the image above it was, unusual. It looked like the image of Anon’s hand, but it’s covered in a strange haze, what the entire image means no pony could fathom. Putting the image to the side, the ponies opened the door to Anon’s dream…and were immediately enveloped in pitch darkness. The ponies were confused. Anon should be fast asleep by now, so the ponies should be able to see whatever he is dreaming, but everywhere they looked there was nothing but empty blackness. Even when Celestia lit her horn to produce light, nothing changed.

But before any of the ponies could even remark on the experience thus far, they all heard what sound like a heartbeat, and a low far off rumbling. Then all of sudden the eight mares heard some kind of feminine voice, but they couldn’t make out what she was saying, it was as if she was whispering and yet was able to be slightly heard. the ponies tried to focus on the voice, trying to catch what she is saying.

Then all of sudden the mares screamed as a loud thunderous explosion caught them all by surprise, as smoke enveloped everything, and blanketing everything and the eight ponies in the void. Once the ringing in their ears had died down, the ponies looked around and as the smoke cleared away…they found themselves in a barren wasteland. Pillars of rocks and dust could be seen for miles, but what captured the mares attention was the swirling nexus of green lightning assaulting the ground, puncturing the stone floor.

Another explosion sounded, and this time it was followed by the frightful wailing of somepony screaming. And when the ponies turned to look where the screaming came from, they saw Anon soaring out of a enormous cloud of smoke and ash, and was sailing right for the nexus! Acting on instinct Twilight ignited her horn to grab Anon, and pull him to her. But nothing happened! Anon continued to sail through the air, before colliding with the myriad of lightning bolts, each one striking and setting Anon’s delicate skin aflame! Causing him to screaming in pain. Mere seconds of the agonizing assault later, and the nexus of lightning bolts vanished, leaving Anon a burnt crisp on the harden floor, body smoking and skin looking like deeply seared burns. All eight ponies rushed over to his side to comfort him, but they were stopped when the ground shook violently, causing them all to trip, while Anon slowly got up and tried to run.

Then from where the nexus of lightning was moments ago, a giant pillar of fire erupted from the ground, pushing away all of the ponies and Anon away, as rocks & embers scattered across the land. The pillar of fire then vanished as suddenly as it had appeared, and the ponies watched as the flaming shaft turned into a twisting tornado of wind & rocks, sucking in everything. Including Anon!

The man was being toppled and tossed about against the rough rocky surface, tearing patches of his seared flesh off, causing him to cry out in pain again & again. No longer able to bear this sight, Rainbow Dash & Fluttershy flew towards their human friend, pushing past the wind assaulting them.

“Hang on Anon, we’re coming!” Rainbow shouted as she and Fluttershy got closer. And when they reached him they swung their hooves at him, to grab his arms. Only for them to pass right through him! “What!?” Rainbow said in shock as she, and Fluttershy tried again, and again to grab Anon.

“Rainbow I can’t grab him!” Fluttershy cried out as tears flowed from her eyes, helplessly watching Anon’s body be beaten up along the jagged rocks of the landscape. Just barely stopping a few feet away from the tornado, Anon has managed to grab onto some jutting rocks, and tried weakly to pull himself away from the sinister twister, while Rainbow & Fluttershy continue to weakly grab him.

“Come on stupid dream, let, me, GRAB HIM!” Rainbow roared out in frustration.

Just as the rest of the group managed to make their way to the trio, dodging all the incoming rocks being absorbed into the twister, Anon lost his grip, and was pulled into the tornado! The ponies all collectively shouted ‘NO!’ as they watched Anon being dragged down the hole the fiery pillar made. All ponies with wings took to the air, and dove after Anon, Twilight having to use her magic to carry Applejack, Pinkie Pie & Rarity as they traveled for what seemed like miles, as they all watch Anon get swept all over, battering into the sides of the tunnel. Blood and skin being torn from his person, and passing by the ponies, all who know dawned a face of horror.

But once they reached the end of the tunnel, the ponies gasped in terrified horror at what they saw.

Music: Aviators – No One Will Save You.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqdyyxdZ4cQ

Endless waves of lava rode and raised, like ocean waves during a storm. As pillars of fire erupt from the crimson depths, smoke plumes caked the ‘sky’ above the ponies, smelling of sulfur and ash. The sheer heat of the world around was enough to immediately make everypony break into a feverish sweat. Dotting the endless ocean of red lava, were towers and pillars of jagged spiked rocks, all growing with each new wave, and pulsing with veins of fire. None of the ponies knew where they were, but if they had to guess…this was as close as to Tartarus as they can get.

The ponies were knocked out of their stunned state when they heard Anon scream. Looking down the ponies watched as something emerged from the waves of lave, a titanic boat of stone emerged, its head piece that of seven snakes skeletons, with magma oozing from their eyes, and smoke seeping from their mouths. Anon crashed at the center of the boats deck, where the ponies quickly rushed to him, and examined Anon. He was nothing but a battered body, missing large chunks of his skin, with blood gushing from him. Luna & Celestia tried to use healing magic on him, try to relieve the pain he was clearly in, but nothing was working! They tried again and again, but—

“Why isn’t our magic working!” Celestia shrieked as she tried one more time with her healing spell.

The alicorns were stopped, when they heard something crumbling. Looking to the back of the boat, they saw as a large mass of rock slowly broke away, revealing something underneath. And what they saw could only be described as, a monster. The body was like Anon’s, but the skin was rotting clean off the bones, and instead of a human head, a giant lizard-like skull sat. three eye sockets covered it’s face in a twisted way, as the biddy red iris looked squarely down at the group, before four black leathery tongues slithered from the broken maw of the monster. It then rose up showing its rotting innards as a pair of massive black dragon-like wings flared from behind.

“N-no.” the ponies heard Anon say, before scampering away in terror, when the monster reached out with a boney clawed hand.

The ponies rushed to Anon’s side, trying to defend him, but that’s when their eyes were set another new sight. A formation of towering rocks now stood before them, with solid steaming land of black rock laid, as waves of lava crashed into them. but that’s not what the ponies & Anon were focusing on. They were focusing on the swirling flames that were erupting from the cove in the rock formation’s bastion. Plumes of smoke also wafted from the waves, mixing with the flames to create, something. To the ponies it looked like the roaring flames, and hissing smoke were trying to form something. Then from the skies above, several green lightning bolts struck the mass of fire & smoke…and revealed to the ponies another monstrosity.

Now sticking out of the large rock formations, looming over the ponies & Anon, was a towering monstrosity. It’s body was like a dragon, but spikes of bone torn out from its chest, shoulders, and neck. It’s four massive wings eclipsed the very sky of this darken and horrifying world, while it’s long head peered down at the whole group. Six eyes of tainted red & yellow stared down at the ponies, the large nostril of the monster plumed smoke, while giving a horrific toothy grin along its long and narrowed jaw. The monsters neck stretched out from its body, like a massive snake, it’s mouth scooping up tons of lava, mixing with its sickly green drool. When the head was only a few feet from the front of the boat, the monster’s six eyes stared squarely at Anon, causing him to shiver with fear…before speaking in a hollow, yet sadistically playful voice.

“You. Are. MINE! Anon.” The monster then started to laugh so loudly, that it caused the waves of lava to rock the boat, sending the crew tumbling over themselves.

The ponies heard the monster take a quick inhale, before spewing out a stream of fire, which spawned a pack of six black boned wolves set on fire! The infernal beast let out unsettling wailing howls, before literally lobbing their flaming skulls at the group! The ponies couldn’t dodge the attacks, but they didn’t have to, as the skulls flew right through them, and latched themselves onto Anon! the young man cried out in pain as the teeth drove into his bare skin, or exposed muscles, before they heads had flames spew from their clamped maws!

“AGH-ahahahahahah!” Anon cried out as he rolled on the boat’s deck, trying to pry the skulls off him, but only causing more pain.

The ponies finally snapped out at the shocked and horrified state, and tried to help Anon. but like before, nothing they attempted to do did anything, which seemed to only amuse the towering monstrosity as it chortled in delight. The monster then spewed another stream of fire its mouth, creating another pack of wolves which launched their flaming skulls at Anon, causing more of them to clamp down onto his body.

“Get away from Anon!” Twilight screamed as she fired blast after blast at the wolves, accomplishing nothing.

“Leave him alone you disgusting brutes!” Rarity shrilled as she to used her own bolts of magic, but like Twilight, or the others who were either trying to hit the wolves, or pry the skulls off Anon, did nothing!

“Luna stop this, end this nightmare!” Celestia shouted as she fired her strongest magical blast, which phased through everything, not doing anything helpful.

“I’m trying!” Luna cried as she tries to erase this horrible nightmare.

While the ponies were distracted by the wolves, they didn’t noticed that Anon had jumped the ship, the wolf skulls still latched onto him, and was hobbling across the black stone land. His feet burning from the intense heat of the stony surface. The ponies only noticed that Anon was gone, when the wolves jumped the ship, and gave chase after the tortured young man. The ponies left the ship and chased after the wolves & Anon, with Luna continuing to try and end the nightmare.

“There. Is. No. Escape. Anon!” the voice of the towering monster said as the ponies continued to chase after Anon. who was stopped when one of the wolves tackled him, and started to maul him with its claws.

“Get away from him!” Celestia and the six element barriers shouted in unison.

The ponies tried again and again to try and help their suffering human friend out of this nightmare, but their spirits were rapidly being drained as they continually fail to help him. the ground beneath the group rumbled, before breaking, and showing the monsters head emerge from the fiery depths, mouth closed tightly with Anon on the tip of his nose.

“Stop this!” Luna said as she tried to stop the nightmare, as the monster tossed Anon into the air.

“Stop it!” Luna begged as her horn glowed white, while watching Anon flail about as he goes back down towards the monster, whose massive maw was stretched wide open. And just as Anon was about to be lost for good…

“STOP IT!”

Luna screamed as loud in her Royal Canterlot Voice, as everything was enveloped in blinding white light. Seemingly erasing everything…before everything went…black.

~~~~~

“Celestia.”

“Hey, Celestia. Wake up.” the aged alicorn was stirred from her sleep, slowly coming to the world of the living, where she saw Anon looming over her with an awkward smile on his face. “Well good morning sleepy head. honestly Celestia, how could the ruler of Equestria sleep past the time to raise the sun?”

Celestia looked around, and the clock showed that it was 10 o’clock in the morning, but it was still night outside. Her ears then started to come into focus, picking up the clearly panicked voices of the citizens crying out in the city. The alicorn then looked at Anon, her eyes quivering as she slowly remembered the horrible, dark nightmare that she just witnessed in Anon, all the while the young man looked down at her with a worried look.

“Celestia what’s wrong, you’re starting—WHOA!”

Celestia lunged at Anon, wrapping the young man in her hooves and wings, nuzzling into the side of his head. Anon just stood there, stiffen and unsure what is wrong with the alabaster alicorn. The only thing that Anon did was slowly place his hands on Celestia’s back, and began gently patting her.

“There, there Celestia, I’m sure you’ll get past…whatever it is that you’re going through.” Anon said, not exactly sure what to actually say.

“Anon…” Celestia said through her tears. “No matter what you’re going through, you can always lean on me. for anything!” Celestia blubbered as she went back to just hugging the young man. Anon wasn’t sure what the alicorn meant by that remark, so the only thing he could do was comfort the mare, but as he did so, one thought came to his mind.

‘If these ponies have these random mood swing, at all times…I might lose mind.’