Dreamwalker's Tale: The Descent

We stood in the middle of the entry hallway when we popped back into existence. The castle door was a dozen feet away and my stomach immediately lurched a little. I was probably a bit green around the nose as Twilight’s eager smile froze for a second and she pulled me tighter against herself. “Are you alright?”

She obviously knew what was up and that my first impulse was to simply reply with a ‘I’m fine’, which would have been a lie and yet still a viable answer. I would be fine. In a minute or two. I instead forced a shaky smile onto my lips. “Best teleport experience I had in a week. Couldn’t wait for it,” I answered in a slight croak.

It still served well enough to disperse her worries and her smile bloomed to old strength once more. She retracted her wing, for which I was a lot less grateful and levitated my saddlebags from my back to add them to her own collection of goodies. “Now, if we want to solve this conflict in a less violent manner — which we do! —, we first need to better understand what exactly we are dealing with. Somewhere in those saddlebags should be a couple of samples of alloys they commonly used for their technology, as well as a few pieces of cutlery which should hopefully offer us an insight in how they worked metal. And I think I might have managed to snuck in a tiny mechanical device from one of the preserved houses as well. That in addition to my notes and the toolbox Ishmael provided us with should be a decent start to get a better grasp on how they produce their technology, how it works and how it can be powered. The other side of the conflict is a little bit trickier. I do not know for certain if all of the organisms died when the creature did. I hope that the sample I collected is still alive. If so, maybe it has some sort of collective memory and we might actually still be able to save it! Or at least we could study its energy storage ability and maybe figure out what the diamond dogs were planning and how we could substitute a different option. Of course with all this in mind, the first thing that needs to happen right now is for us to sort all the samples and—“

She did not even notice.

Twilight had started talking. And then she started pacing in front of me. And I already knew how this would end. Not to disappoint, Twilight then slowly walked along the hallway, towards the staircase that led down into the cellar. Down to her laboratory setup. And she talked and talked and talked and did not notice. Not the huge grin I sported as I loved hearing her get lost in science, nor the fact that I did not walk alongside her but stayed behind in the hallway.

She was very much ‘in the zone’ and would probably notice my absence in about half an hour, minimum. If she remembered that I actually wanted to help her and she therefore was supposed to have a lab assistant. Which I would not bet on.

That left me plenty of time to do other, mundane stuff. Like actually telling Spike that we were back home.

I still grinned as I walked along the familiar paths. I loved, loved, loved being back home. The scent that permeated the entire castle was soothing. I quickly opened the living room door and found it deserted. Well, except for Owlicious who slept on his perch.

“White Tip?” It took him a moment to react. He seemed quite sleepy himself, which was just perfect. “We’re home, buddy. Do you want to sit down and have a nap?” I turned sideways so he had an easier time both seeing the perch and his friend, and flying off to it if he wanted. And hoo boy, did he want to. He gave me the quietest caw I had heard until now, brushed his little head on my back as a demonstration of affection and then flew over. I smiled as I saw him settle. Owlicious woke up, turned his head and ‘who’d at him just as quietly.

I decided that they would figure it out on their own. I stepped back from the door and closed it again. I had a mission, after all. Searching the castle to find Spike did not take as long as I had expected. It would have been perfectly possible for him to be out. Maybe stocking up on groceries, maybe visiting friends, maybe doing some other errand or chore. But I walked down the hallway and heard soft voices, which surely did not belong to Twilight.

“— sure they can actually do that?” I heard Spike ask in astonishment. His voice was muffled by the still closed door that separated me from the kitchen.

“They can if they so wish to. Which, lucky for us, they rarely do,” Luna replied.

I furrowed my brow. What was she doing here?

The date.

Oh. Ohhh, right. Three days. Had I managed to make it in time? Either way, it was so nice to hear her voice and I hesitated no longer to intrude upon their conversation by opening the door. Both looked up and their faces showed surprise as they saw me enter.

“Hey buddy. Hi Luna. We’re back.”

They were right in front of me within an instant, it felt like. And both hugged me. And with a deep, satisfied sigh, I hugged them back with all my strength while simultaneously melting into their gestures. Spike’s warm scales pressed against my leg and my chest on one side and Luna’s soft coat on the other. My nostrils flared and greedily helped themselves to her intoxicating scent. I’m home, I thought for the umpteenth time. How did it always feel so much more appreciated when I returned from some grueling, exhausting adventure?

“Dude, you need a shower,” Spike chirped up after what felt like a blissful eternity.

He chuckled and I quickly chimed in. “Do I? Hm. I’m pretty sure I almost drowned in an ice-cold bath at least a day ago, or three… hard to tell.”

“You almost drowned?” he echoed in surprise.

“Yeah, it’s… it’s a long story. We’re fine though,” I quickly jumped to disperse whatever worry might form in his head. “Twilight took half the city as samples and is currently down in the lab to unravel the mysteries of the universe. You know. Twilight-stuff. I thought it would be appreciated if I let you know that we’re actually still alive.” He nodded eagerly and I turned to Luna. Her muzzle was so close. Too close to resist. At least I limited myself to a little peck on her nose. She was not here for me, I tried to remind myself. “You’re waiting for your date with Twilight?”

Luna wrinkled her nose in reply and then smiled warmly as she leaned in and gave me a proper kiss. And I had no words for how grateful I was. For her kiss just as much as for Spike’s silence as he ignored the unfolding scene and just let me have this moment. She wrinkled her nose again as she pulled back, but her pretty smile remained.

“That bad, huh?”

“I have had worse,” she giggled. “I came by yesterday in hopes you might make it back in time, yes. However, after Spike told me about your situation, I decided to stay for a few days. In case you needed help.”

I grinned. It was nice to know that the cavalry had been merely a stone’s throw away. It somehow made it easier to deal with all that had happened, even in retrospect. She was there. She had our backs. And no goo or golem or spider would have been capable of posing a serious threat to the Mistress of the Night. “Well, it seems like I failed in the task I set for myself. But since you’re here already, I, uh, brought her back for you?”

She giggled again and nodded eagerly. “So I have heard, yes. And I am grateful for that.”

I noticed how Spike had started to shuffle around a little. He was nervous. Or eager. I could imagine that the direction of our current conversation did not interest him as much as me telling adventure stories. And he probably wanted to greet Twilight as well. So I stepped a little to the side, out of the doorway and closer to Luna. “Just go already.”

Spike grinned from ear to ear. “Thanks!” He was out the door before I could even reply, but came back a few seconds later to hug me once more. “It’s great to have you back!” And off he went again.

I stared at the empty space for a second longer and chuckled quietly. “Right. Glad to be back.” I turned my attention back to Luna. “So, about that date. Mind if I ask about your plan?”

She cocked an eyebrow and smiled. “Not at all. I originally wanted to take her out to see the Ponytones perform. They do have another performance this afternoon, so that part could still fit. I thought a nice stroll through Whitetail Woods after that would be lovely. Maybe a picnic in the evening.”

I furrowed my brow as I realized that I had no idea how late it even was. Apparently sometime before afternoon. I could find out easily, and more importantly: Later. I knew that there were several small lakes in Whitetail Woods. They provided lovely scenery and were perfect for a picnic. That being said… “Are you open to suggestions?”

She smirked. “Let me hear them.”

“We’ve been walking for several days, if I’m not mistaken,” I started my attempt to improve her date. “We had very little sleep and what we did get felt awful. Our food situation was subpar as well and in this entire week or what it was, we did not see much of the sky. So my suggestion would be this: Don’t scrap your plans, but delay them for another time. Go down to the lab, grab Twilight and make her take a shower. Or, you know what? Better yet! Take a bath with her. I will go out and make a couple of preparations and once you’re done, we can maybe finish the day with a nice, quiet round of stargazing? I’m honestly pretty sure that she’d love to have an opportunity to just sit down, relax and maybe doze off leaning against you.”

There was an amused glint dancing around in her eyes as she listened. I did not understand what made her grin until she nodded and asked about a peculiarity I had subconsciously woven into my proposal. “And I suppose neither would you, firecracker? You do sound like you are planning on being there with us.”

I blushed a little as she used my pet name, but her allusion confused me. Did I? I skimmed over what I had said once more and finally noticed it. We can finish the day. Ah well, a Freudian slip. “Right. Sorry about that, I don’t mean to intrude or impose.”

She snickered and shook her head. “Do not worry about that, Dream. I will talk to Twilight, but I do not expect her to refuse the idea. As far as I am concerned, you are welcome. It might actually be a lot of fun to have a proper date with both of you at the same time.”

There it was again, that playful twinkle. I blushed a little once more as she winked at me. Well, if she was not worried about getting jealous, neither was I, I decided. I leaned in and stole a quick kiss from her.

She sighed happily and smiled. “I accept your suggestion. It sounds reasonable and should make for a lovely day and evening.”

I chuckled as I noticed that she did not say anything about our upcoming night. She probably saw those bags under my eyes and could already guess to find those under Twilight’s as well. This night would most likely be spent sleeping off our fatigue.

“Thank you,” I whispered in contentment. “I shall see you two later then.” I tried to steal yet another kiss, but she playfully leaned back in time to avoid me and grinned like a proud filly as she dodged a second attempt. Fine, I playfully grumbled in my head as I decided to be the bigger pony and just left. The faintest ghost of a subdued giggle followed me. It was music to my ears and made me smile.

I retrieved my purse and a couple of bits from my room and exited the castle shortly after.

The intense sunlight needled my eyes. It was a bit painful at first, but once I simply closed them and resigned to just stand in front of the door, things got better. I felt the intense heat of my love’s sun seep into my coat. It was a welcome feeling. I felt connected to her. Reminded of her. And I could not help but smile as I raised my muzzle to blow a kiss towards the sun. “Hey love. I hope you have a good day so far. I’ll make sure to come by soon. Maybe tomorrow, we’ll see. I have a lot to tell you.”

After two, maybe three minutes, I felt sufficiently warmed up. I actually felt a little sweaty, but oh well.

As I walked through Ponyville, I absorbed its atmosphere as best as I could. I enthusiastically waved at Lyra as she was bugging Bonbon about something. She grinned like a maniac as she waved back. I smiled at Mister Cake as he retrieved a few boxes from the alley behind Sugarcube Corner. I greeted Scootaloo as she zipped by. I’m home, I repeated yet again.

I was home. And alive. And decently well. I did not even feel my hooves burn all the time.

A few minutes later I ended up in a waiting line. It moved at a reasonable pace. I blushed in embarrassment as I realized that the ponies behind me kept their distance. It reminded me of Spike’s comment about me needing a shower as well. Maybe I really should have taken one first. But it was too late for that now.

And honestly, I was giddy with excitement. I could not wait to see Twilight’s eyes light up in utmost delight, could not wait to hear her happy noises and see her prance in place. I could not wait to smile and laugh about how messy her muzzle was and how little she cared for such decorum.

The line moved again and I was the next customer.

“Welcome!” The employee greeted me with a friendly but bustling smile. “What can I get you?”

“I’d like to order takeout,” I announced with excitement bubbling beneath a very thin surface. The pony opposite the counter nodded and waited for the actual order. “I’d like to have thirty hayburgers. With fries.”