Transference

As I was sitting there in the nothingness, somewhere in between other ponies' dreams, I noticed a shadow slowly approaching from a distance in front of me.

Luna appeared like a mirage in a dark blue desert. Growing bigger as she came closer. The stars around her seemed to have suddenly come to life, almost cheering, as if they were celebrating the return of their ruler.

She sat next to me, looking in the same direction as I did.

"Something happened while you were gone," I began, not having the courage to look at her then.

"We are aware of the incident," Luna said matter-of-factly. "Including my sister and the Elements of Harmony."

I looked at her, a mix of defeatand shameshowing on my face.

"It is my given task to guide Twilight and her friends to you, tonight," Luna continued while observing my reaction from the side.

I shook my head while looking down at the ground. "I'm not some random new villain, I don't need reforming. It was an accident, I swear!"

The princess seemed amused by my interpretation. "They are not coming with your reformation in mind. My sister made it clear that you are a foreign entity that needed to be" - Luna looked away from me and up into the dreamsky - "freed from this world."

After what Luna had told me when I first came into this world, I didn't need any further explanation of what was implied there.

"Oh, she's sending out a killer commando to remove a potential threat, I see," I said, not showing any emotions as I stated the obvious out loud.

I looked at her, already content with my fate. "I'm sorry. They surely blame you as well for what happened. I should have just died when I was supposed to, hahaha..." My laugh sounded hollow.

Luna frowned, not happy with my artificial reaction at all. "I want you to tell me everything that followed after I left you here alone, in detail."

I wondered what this was about. But since there was nothing to lose, I told her everything. Even the involvement of discord in all this.

In thought, Luna summed up, "You possess the ability to enter the physical body of others through their own dreams, but only for a limited time."

Luna was not looking at me while she started to circle me, still deep in thought.

"The subject will then dream their own interpretation of what happened during the possession, likely through what they had felt, and are also able to perceive you afterwards," Luna further summarized.

Looking at her I just nodded. "I think so."

"Touch me!" Luna commanded suddenly.

Blushing a bit, I just looked at her dumbly. "Huh?!"

Rolling her eyes, Luna came up to me, poking my belly with one of her hooves while closing her eyes.

Nothing happened... oh, that's what she meant, of course.

"As I thought, it seems I'm not affected by this," Luna stated while opening her eyes. "This likely has something to do with my involvement in bringing you here through my dream magic."

Luna looked at me like I was some sort of mystery to be solved.

"There is a possibility that you'll be able to claim a body more permanently should you repeat the process with the same host multiple times. Being able to see you after the deed seems to imply a lasting imprint." Luna said, sitting down again.

My face lit up visibly. Such a promising hypothesis. If it wasn't for the fact of me being obliterated by rainbows soon. I returned to a more stoic expression after the realization of my imminent, and likely final, demise.

"What do you think about Discord," I asked, watching her think. "He said he crafted something with some of your feathers."

Luna shook her head. "I stopped questioning him. It is futile to think about it now. Besides, he's correct, it was out of my own decision that you are here now. And I would do it again."

"Thank you," I said with teary eyes. "But I believe you have a task to carry out, do you not? How much longer do I have?"

The thought of Luna being more or less the reaper of my soul made me more comfortable with the imminent end than it should have.

Not acknowledging my question, she just sat there, watching her domain intensely.

"Luna?" I addressed her before noticing my error. "I mean, Princess Luna?"

While turning her head slowly in my direction, she asked, "What are your desires in life? What do you seek to accomplish? And please, call me Luna from now on."

Surprised by the question, I needed a moment to process it. I then thought about it for a while and decided to show her.

I closed my eyes and imagined my thoughts. They took visible form around us.

There were all kinds of scenes that I wished for. Running in the autumn, while feeling the wind. Having fun with friends and so on. A simple life, a life I barely had the chance to experience myself. That was my main desire.

With shock, I noticed some more mature scenes that I wasn't able to immediately suppress after I had conceived them. They disappeared just in time before Luna turned around, curious about what I was looking at, after noticing my pale expression.

I guess those were some of my more hidden desires as well. I couldn't help it. Surely, I would have died of embarrassment right there if she had seen them.

"I see. You mostly want the life you were denied from living," Luna concluded.

Around us appeared hundreds, maybe even thousands, of ponies, all having their eyes on Luna beside me. Then they bowed to her in unison.

"This is my only desire, always has been. Before and also after my banishment." Luna stood up as she made the illusions of the crowds fade around us. "I want to finally be acknowledged by the masses."

With a warm smile, Luna held out a hoof to me. "I believe, that we could complete each other in our abilities, and make our desires come true, all of them."

Unbelieving, I just looked at her dumbfounded.

"How do you choose? Luna stood there waiting patiently with one hoof still stretched out to me. "Join me or be finally free."

I didn't have to think twice.

The Princess of the Night ensured that the Elements of Harmony completed their assigned task that night.