Chapters “Umm dude.”
“Yes Rainbow Dash?” I said from in her head.
“It’s not that easy to save the world…trust me I’ve tried.” She looked solemnly at the ground.
“You haven’t tried my way.”
She looked back at the bathroom mirror. “And what way would that be?”
“We can try to kill her.”
“Pfft it’s been tried.” She said waving a hoof dismissively.
“Ok you need to give me a serious history lesson right now.”
“Well ok…but it’s not pretty…”
She went on explaining what happened to her home town of Ponyville when the sun never raised. Ponyville declared its independence from the rest of Equestria after Nightmare Moon took over. The town guard kept it safe from ponies who wanted entrance. In the cities food ran out fast and you either left or died there.
Later on ponies started their own militia. Of course Nightmare moon made her own corrupt night empire. 80% of the royal guard fled to the forests to build up their own Resistance force. Of course many ponies joined after the first two weeks of the eternal night. But many stayed within the safety of Canterlot’s walls. The more corrupt joined Nightmare. The militias that formed in spite of both these powerful factions found a way to have their own members join the resistance to learn combat training from professionals. Then they would return and pass on that training to their recruits.
Very soon the entire country was enveloped in a terrible civil war. Many cities that were able to support themselves declared independence from all the other parties and preferred to go it alone. Ponyville was considered Nightmare Moon’s territory because of its proximity to Canterlot. Night guard constantly patrolled the small town.
Thankfully when Applejack returned the first night of the eternal night she decided not to ship out any of the apples to other cities. That turned out a good thing when Nightmare moon demanded half of her crop delivered to Canterlot. The ponies in Canterlot became very corrupt because they were getting better treatment from Nightmare Moon than Celestia. Eventually the only sign that there were once Celestia lovers was the old graffiti art of the sun on walls. Nightmare Moon also put banners of herself all over the city to remind them who rules them.
But no matter how many times she’s tried she could never win the loyalty of Ponyville entirely. Ponyville and Nightmare have an agreement to not bother each other. Ponyville remains a mostly independent city state that refuses to hang banners of Nightmare Moon at the city hall. Nightmare moons attempts to force it resulted in burned banners. She stopped at that and decided it was best for her to keep patrols there instead.
The resistance knew of Ponyvilles unwillingness to cooperate with the moon witch and would occasionally send operatives to get intel from the civilians who can offer it.
But the most important aspect of the eternal night was the food shortage. A small town like Ponyville was able to feed its many members and eventually decided to ban immigration to keep it that way. However the bigger cities either migrated away or died off from hunger until the population was manageable. But the worst hit city was Cloudsdale. Not only was there never any farms in it but all the food and water was imported. With the whole country ‘going dark’ there were no inbound food resources that the city required to keep its citizens fed.
Pegasi either went to another city on the ground, survived in their own tribes, or joined the resistance. Most joined the resistance or made their own tribes because the cities became cesspools of scum and villainy.
Nightmare Moon had other plans for the cities. She demolished what she could and built walls around them. She also put BlueBlood in charge of Manehatten. He gladly accepted because he would love to show the ponies how to respect royalty like they’ve never respected it before. He basically ruled by fear. He tortured anyone who tried to escape or resist his might. The afraid forced the afraid to be afraid after two months. Nightmare left him to do what he pleased and eventually BlueBlood built a force of militia soldiers in Nightmares name.
The food became a major problem. Ponies started growing mushrooms in order to survive. It was a smart move that potentially saved the continent from hunger. Others picked the leaves off of the trees and ate them. That was also a good idea but the trees wounldn’t last too long. The predators went almost unchallenged as the sun would never rise and tell the predators to stop hunting. The prey items were also diminishing which made predators target ponies more and more considering they are the biggest prey item on the list.
‘So basically no one is safe…’ I thought to myself.
“Cory are you there?”
“Yea and call me Greymane.”
“Why Greymane?”
“It sounds cool.” ‘And from Skyrim.’ I thought to myself.
“Dude not the time.”
‘seriously where did this guy grow up? The nut house?’ Thought Rainbow Dash. Only I was able to hear it.
“Sorry.”
“So how do we save the world?” She asked.
“First we need to create a hero.”
“…I don’t get it.”
“It’s ok. I have a plan to kill Nightmare Moon.”
“K-kill?” She said warily.
“Yes. Nightmare needs to die and I plan on doing that to her. But I want to do it when you’re not around. Help me get out of your body. I may be able to manifest myself in this world and haunt her.”
“She’s the princess of the night dude. You can’t scare her.”
“I’m something she can’t touch. So I won’t have any regrets or worries when I oppose her. You however have a body she can rip apart and release her anger on. And I won’t let my host die.”
“NO! You’re in my body so you follow MY rules!” She said actually shouting at herself in the mirror.
“…Ok then. Fair enough. I’ll wait for you to call me or something. I’d like to go around and haunt some ponies for fun but. You come first I guess.”
“Thank you.” She said as if she were in charge. To be honest I will enjoy being in a girls mind. WHAT SECRETS DOES IT HOLD!
And so we began our adventure…kinda. Well actually we didn’t, we actually spent the last three hours playing twenty questions until we got an idea of each other’s character. I was all business no play for a while. Though after a while of talking we went silent. Apparently Dash went home to go to bed. She’s really getting tired of the night sky. I found it kinda boring because it wasn’t black and instead a bit purple. I found that weird but I thrust it into the back of my mind as a perk of this world.
“Ok the time is…oh wow eight? Why am I not tired?”
‘Maybe because of me putting you down for ten hours straight when I slammed into your brain.’
“Yea maybe.”
She went outside and gave the moon a distasteful glare. She flew off toward what I assumed was Ponyville.
Along the way I noticed her night vision was actually pretty poor. Well compared to a humans night vision that is able to find shapes. She could make out the landscape and minor but important details. Anything other than that was difficult for her like seeing the spaces between the blades of grass. In her eyes it was a solid color. I tried to help with that and surprisingly I was able to make out the world better. But I realized the grass was all shriveled up when she took an interest in it.
‘What’s going on?’ She thought to herself. ‘How am I seeing…so clearly?’
‘That would be me.’ I said in her mind.
‘Dude you can read my thoughts?’
‘I thought we went over that…’
‘I don’t remember.’
‘Ok your problem not mine.’
We flew…or she flew in silence while trying to locate something in the town. But after a few minutes of flying she found what she was looking for. A tree with a door on it. I assumed it was a house givin the porch on the second or third floor. I couldn’t tell but the tree was big enough for it to be possibly three stories high.
She landed at the front door and stopped for a moment.
‘Hey Greymane.’
‘Yes Rainbow Dash?’
‘Thanks for the sight; it won’t be as dull and dark now.’ I thought I somehow heard a hint of hopelessness in her voice.
‘Only fair I give what I can to you my host.’ I was personally getting really into the idea of being someone’s ACTUAL spirit guardian.
She went inside the tree house and looked around. Candles were scattered around every corner of the house unlike Rainbow Dash’s. Rainbow’s had at least one or two candles per room. This place was COVERED in candles.
“Twilight?”
I heard a pitter patter of feet hitting a wood floor upstairs and then a figure appears at the top of the stairs.
“Hiya Rainbow Dash!” Said an excited lizard creature that quickly made his way down the steps.
“Sup Spike. Where’s Twilight?”
“Talking to the Mayor about rations again.”
“Oh man no way!” She said with concern. “We’re not having another food shortage? Man I’d do anything to eat something other than mushrooms and old grass.”
“I’d like to give you some gems to snack on…but.” He looked at the ground sadly. “The only one who can eat them is me.”
“Aw that’s ok Spike. I appreciate the thought.” She patted his head to reassure him.
“Hey by the way.” He started. “Why do you need to meet up with Twilight anyway?”
“I have an idea on how to stop Nightmare moon…I’m tired of living under the moon.” She stated with anger.
“Yea I know what you mean. I mean dragons are practically the only thing that can go without the sun. We eat gems that grow in the earth.” He said with a hint of anger.
“Yea I know Spike.” She said rolling her eyes.
‘What’s his problem?’ I thought to her.
‘He has a grudge against the dragons for not helping ponies get the sun back. They said as long as they have their lava baths they don’t need the sun.’
‘Cold, but reasonable…I can see where they’re coming from all right.’
“yea…” Said Rainbow out loud. “Anyway I’ll get going.”
“Bye.” He said with a sigh. “Have a nice…whatever.” I could tell he didn’t want to say night as if it were a forbidden word.
Rainbow Dash looked back at him as he somberly made his way back upstairs.
‘Poor guy.’
‘What are you doing?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Who and why are we meeting this Twilgiht?’
‘To tell them about you.’
‘Oh well I have no way to prove I’m here so we might as well wait till we get that solved.’
‘NO WE NEED TO DO THIS NOW!’
She went out the door and sped off toward the center of town. I frankly couldn’t see what logic backed up her half assed plan. I could tell she was impulsive but seriously? This is just unhealthy!
I couldn’t help but subtly admire the Pegasus. She’s so determined to save the world even when the odds are not stacked in her favor. Shit I even told her I don’t have regrets and worries about what Nightmare can’t do to me and she decides to be a part of it. When she’s the one that has a body to torture.
*SLAM*
I broke out of my thoughts when I refocused on Rainbows surroundings. She found her way to what I presume is town hall or whatever they call the mayors building. I thought this because there was an office with the word mayor plastered on it.
But there were two ponies who look like they just got out of an argument because of Dash’s entry. A purple unicorn and a tan or grey (couldn’t tell in the darkness) earth pony. They both were wearing looks of confusion as they stare at the panting Pegasus before them.
“Umm Rainbow are you ok? Oh no! Did something happen?” Said Twilight.
“Uhh no but I’m going to need you and the rest of the girls.”
I’m not sure exactly what happened. First I was at Town Hall and then I was at the library. Well we were. Twilight’s horn glowed for a moment and we all just phased out for a moment. Rainbow lost focus and regained it unnaturally fast. When I finally realized we were back at the library Twilight was speaking to Rainbow.
“Why do you need us all here?”
“I have an idea on how to defeat Nightmare moon.”
“Rainbow we’ve already tried to defeat Nightmare.”
“But this time it’s different! We’ve got help!”
“Rainbow I don’t think the resistance is strong enough to take on Nightmare moon.”
Rainbow face hoofed and sighed. “Not the resistance.” She deadpanned.
Wow at this point I’m just blown away at Rainbow’s lack of preplanning.
“Well if not the resistance who?”
“Ok bare with me…There is a dead pony in my head.”
‘I’M NOT A PONY!’
‘What? Oh yea.’ Rainbow went to correct herself before she saw Twilight looking at her with the blankest face. It was a stare that showed she was analyzing everything she knew about Rainbow. I believed she’s trying to make sense of Rainbow or something.
“Rainbow.” She said after a few moments. “Are you ok?”
“Yea why?”
“I thought you said there was a dead pony in your head.”
“Well actually he looks kinda like a human but he doesn’t have the pointy ears. And he shows himself as a pony with a grey coat and calls himself Greymane.”
‘Wow Rainbow. You fucked up.’
‘What? I’m telling the truth.’
‘That’s the problem.’
We both put our attention on the purple unicorn. She was staring at Rainbow with the most intense glare. “Rainbow I’ve got too many problems on my hand to deal with you. Just stay here until I get back or I swear I’ll tie you down!” She stormed out the door and when she slammed the door shut there was a pop and a bright light.
‘Jeez what was that about?’ Thought Rainbow.
‘Well you did just present yourself like some sort of mentally unstable pony.’
‘No I didn’t!’
‘Let’s see what I can do to you. I’ve been able to adjust your sight but what else?’
‘Hang on we’re not done!’
‘No but we need to convince your friends that I exist by you doing something you normally couldn’t do on your own.’
‘Like what?’
‘Can you feel me?’
‘Well yea like there’s something inside of me.’
‘Can you push me out but not all the way?’
Rainbow remained silent. Then she started to concentrate…hard. She was holding her breath as she tried to push me out. To be honest it looked like she was trying to fart real bad.
‘What are you doing?’ I said to her mind.
‘Trying to push you out.’
‘You’re not doing it right. You’re trying to use your physical body to…know what I’ll do it.’
I started to move my soul throughout her body to find a location where I can easily reach out and affect something in the world. I made it to her wings and started to feel around. I figured out that her wings seem to channel some sort of power. I reached out to grab that power and when I did Rainbow gasped.
“What did you do?!” she said looking around. There was a buzzing sound coming from Rainbow, and she also was emitting a light.
“Whoa Rainbow…is that you?” Said a small voice from the stairs.
She looked toward the voice to find the lizard that we spoke to before when we first visited the library. Only his eyes were wide with awe and shock.
“Yea why?” Rainbow mustn’t have noticed the glow. Or the small buzzing noise. “What’s that noise?” Now she noticed the buzzing.
“Wow Rainbow…you’re glowing.”
‘Thank you! Thank you! You’re too kind! Vote for Greymane!’
‘What are you on about?’
‘Look at yourself.’
She brought a hoof up to her face and she backed away in shock. Her body was surrounded by a light blue aura.
“Grey…what have you done?”
‘I think I’m controlling your surroundings. Look at an object for a moment.’
She stared at one of the many candles. It quickly went out and lifted itself off the ground. I kept thinking of spirit guides and shamans and their little trinkets that go with their rituals. I also remembered a few games that had different colored fire. So I concentrated energy that I was holding onto the candles string and it burst into a grey flame.
‘Hmm pretty.’
‘How the hay?’ Rainbow thought as she was mesmerized by the grey fire that lit the candle.
‘Hey I think I can change your voice too…say something…now.’
“Like what?” She brought a hoof to her mouth. Her voice was a mix between mine and hers. I was having fun. However our audience was getting terrified.
“AAAAAAAAAH RAINBOW’S BEEN POSSESSED!” He shouted and sprinted into the bedroom. He hid under Twilight’s bed and started shaking.
“Spike wait!” Said Rainbow Dash. She jumped up and flew after him.
‘STOP!’ I shouted in her mind. She flinched and fell to the floor. Only when she collided with it she didn’t feel pain.
Rainbow Dash forgot about Spike for a moment when she realized her tolerance to pain shot up when she started to glow.
‘Hey Rainbow. I’ve always wanted to walk around in your...hooves. If you don’t mind will you help me control your body. I think I’ll take it from here since you’ve already messed up my introduction.’
‘Umm sorry but I don’t like the idea of you controlling my body without me.’
‘Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaassse.’
She didn’t budge.
‘Oh come on! I’m dead Rainbow Dash! I want to be able to feel the grass beneath my feet!’
‘Well…ok fine but when I say you’re done you’re done.’
‘Deal’
We got to work on giving me the ability to control her body. It took a few minutes of working before we realized we both have to commit to the action or I can’t possess her. After a few minutes Spike came back downstairs.
“R-Rainbow? A-are you normal again?” He said when he saw Rainbow Dash.
“Y-yea sorry about the scare Spike. Just know that I was doing that ok?”
“Wait that was you?!” He said.
“Yea don’t worry. I wouldn’t let any freaky powers harm you ok?”
“Ok.”
“Oh but Spike I do have a dead pony in my head. But don’t worry he’s not going to hurt you on my watch.”
‘Not that I would want to.’
“D-d-d-dead pony?” He said shaking a bit.
“Don’t worry he’s cool.”
“I-I hope so.”
“You should go take a nap or something. Our friends are going to talk about me and my powers and stuff soon and expect there to be yelling.” She said with a hint of worry.
‘Wow Rainbow that’s the best foreshadowing I think you’ve ever came up with.’
‘Thanks!’
“Oh ok…I’ll clean upstairs or something. It’s only about…I don’t know, what time is it?”
“I don’t have a watch Spike.” She smirked.
“Oh right. K well have fun.”
“I won’t.” She said with a worried expression.
Spike went back upstairs and started to clean and rearrange the books. Within that time Rainbow and I worked on our possession thing. We managed to get down that I would talk to her friends next time we meet them. While we swopped places I noticed she’s able to read my thoughts now. It was a weird perk with being in control. Not that I minded.
*creak*
“Rainbow we need to talk.” Said a purple unicorn. From what I remember seeing and hearing when I became part of Rainbow the Pegasus Fluttershy and the earth ponies Pinkie and Applejack followed her in.
“Sugarcube we know ya’ll ‘r stressed but so are we!” Said Applejack with a serious expression. “We don’t need another Cloud Kicker in this town and we came to make sure yer ok.” She finished with a genuine look of sadness.
“Yea!” Said the bubbly Pink mare. “Just because it’s eternal night doesn’t mean we can’t have fun!” She said optimistically.
“Sorry to disappoint you ladies but Rainbow isn’t in the pilot seat right now.”
There was a collective gasp from all the ponies except the vaguely yellow one. She eeped which made my heart (or Rainbow’s) skip a beat from the cuteness.
“WHERE’S RAINBOW?!” shouted the purple one.
“Easy girl she’s right here. Don’t worry she’s allowing me to do this.”
“Likely story.” Said Twilight. Each of them were glaring at me except the one with the Stetson who was eyeing me cautiously.
“Hold up.” She said. “it’s tellin’ the truth…” They looked at Applejack and then back to me with a less hostile glare.
“Ok mr…”
“Greymane.”
“Greymane? What kind a’ name is that?” Asked Applejack.
“It’s a family name.”
“Ok what kind of family is the Greymane?”
“Ones who oppose the empire. But that doesn’t matter. I’m here to help you girls out. Well I think I’m here to do that so I will do that. I kinda died to get here.”
“How’d ya die?” Asked Applejack before catching herself. “Sorry is it a sensitive topic?”
“No actually. When you die everything becomes so clear. Like being woken up from a deep sleep. And you are rid of that body you no longer need. It’s an interesting experience. My advice? Don’t fear death because it isn’t the end. It’s just the end of the beginning.”
“Wow that’s…poetic.” Said Twilight. “Hey can we talk to Rainbow?”
“What you need?” Said Rainbow’s voice unchanged by my influence. Everyone recoils at the sudden change, probably expecting more lights or something.
“Wait?! That’s how you guys switch between each other? Boooooorrring.” Said Pinkie Pie.
“Hey we have no control over that!”
“But more lights are fun so I will try to make some fireworks appear out of nowhere next time you hear from me. Or at least give more warning.”
I hovered candles around Rainbow’s body while I talked; each had a grey light. When I finished speaking I gave Rainbow her voice back and dropped the candles. Putting them out when they hit the floor.
‘Dude I didn’t know you could do that without my permission.’
‘Won’t make a habit of it I swear!’
“That’s better!” Said Pinkie.
“Umm Rainbow Dash?” Said the timid Pegasus. “D-does it hurt?”
“Nope. It’s pretty weird but I’m discovering stuff about my body that I never knew I could do! It’s just so awesome!”
“Hey wait back to topic! What does Greymane think he can do to save Equestria?” Said Twilight getting antsy.
“Hey I need some time to think.” I said while I lifted up the candles and lit them with grey light. “Frankly the only option I can see right now is killing Nightmare moon. Or at least figuring out how to grab the elements. Maybe I can haunt her or something but I don’t want to risk escaping Rainbow’s body just in case I ascend.”
“Ascend?” Said Applejack with a raised eyebrow.
“When you die you become a being with great power. You usually go to the afterlife but some have the ability to become immortal beings that reside in the living world. Like deities or spirits. Kinda like what I am now. Though it scares me to leave Rainbow’s body.”
“Yer afraid of leaven’ Rainbow?”
“Yes…I can’t imagine what it would be like without a body to come back to. I’m sorry if this is grim or anything but if Rainbow were to die would one of you host me?” The candles fell to the floor again.
“Seriously?! Do you think I’m going to die?” Rainbow stated with anger.
‘Sorry it’s just a backup plan if you go off somewhere that could get you killed.’
“Likely story bub. I’ve got my eye on you.” She said staring at the ground.
“Rainbow can you keep your one on one conversation to yourself and Greymane. It’s weird to see you talk to yourself.” Said Twilight. Rainbow rubbed the back of her head awkwardly.
‘See? Shut up when I’m talking to you.’
‘I’m going to kill you.’
‘The car beat you to it.’
“Sorry girls. I’ll watch that.”
“So why are we here if Grey doesn’t exactly have a plan?”
“We’re here to commit ritual suicide!” I said excitedly and jumped up with the candles floating around me. Everyone looked at me like I just kicked a puppy. I think I even felt Rainbow’s disappointment in my comment. “Sorry that was impulsive.”
“Please don’t joke about this. We’ve been suffering and starving. We just had to lower the rations so we can get through the winter!”
“Aw hayseed! Not again!” Said Applejack just hearing the announcement.
“I suggest we return home for now. When I have enough information about this world and how unstable it is I will develop the best strategy and the best outcomes of each. When I’m done I will have at least three strategies on how to save your world. In the meantime stay out of trouble.”
I began trotting past them and dropped the candles. Then when I reached the door and turned around to look at them with a sadistic smile. “A new day will dawn the future…” I slammed the door with the same power I used to pick up the candles. I was outside with no light…at all. I realized I must not have been glowing. So what did that glowing do if it didn’t activate telekinesis?
‘I know right?’
‘Shut up and get us home.’
Rainbow made her way back to her place. Of course I couldn’t really argue but I didn’t care. Her body you know? I didn’t want to get in depth about me or them because I frankly lost interest in Rainbow’s friends half way through the conversation.
To be honest you can tell what their character was like just by looking at them. So that’s why I was so rushed in ending the conversation and getting the main points.
“Hey Greymane.”
‘Yea?’
“Can you do that thing with my dreams again and show me the sun.”
‘No.’
“What? Why not?”
‘Because I want to show you the planet of midnight.’
“The what?”
‘wait hold on.’ I noticed Rainbow’s stomach hadn’t grumbled for a while now. ‘why aren’t you hungry?’
“Oh Twilight and a few other unicorns found a spell that got ponies to need to eat less. Something about the stomach and energy using and stuff that I really don’t get.”
Her house was in sight.
“There it is. So want to practice your magic or something.”
‘Or something.’
“Hey what happened to you on our way here? You seem…depressed.”
‘sorry I’m like that.’
“Are…are you bipolar?”
‘No. I’m just a little bored.’
She landed at her front door. And opened it up. All the candles she had that were on when we were here are out.
“Oh pony feathers not again! It took me ages to get a flame up here without the wind blowing it out!”
I didn’t like it one bit. This is usually a bad sign.
‘Rainbow give me control NOW!’
“What? Why?”
‘I feel we’re in danger.’
Immediately I found myself having to balance Rainbow’s body and I quickly trotted forward. I tried something I had a theory about. Night vision. Maybe I can do it. But all I managed to do was give Rainbow the human eye thing. It would do since now I can make out shapes in the dark. I saw a pony nearing the door quietly approaching me. He couldn’t see but he was listening to my hoof steps on the cloud. It made a small poof every time I stepped.
‘Who’s that?’ Came Rainbow’s voice in my head.
‘dunno let me take care of him.’
I tip hoofed away while he slowly advanced on my previous position. I took up position behind him and readied myself for when he makes his move. He didn’t appear to have noticed I moved and believed I was still in front of him. Then he lifted his hoof. He had some blunt item in his grasp. He swung it down and completely missed me.
Then I tried to get Rainbow to glow again. I took the candles that were scattered around the room and brought them around me. ‘oh this will be fun.’ I thought to myself and Rainbow. He spun around and looked at me with surprise and fear.
The candles orbited Rainbow and she had a stoic face.
“Well well well. It seems to me that a new era has arrived where my meat comes to my door.”
‘Dude that’s cuel.’
‘Shh’
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!” He shot off out the door and flew away.
‘How do you like that?’
‘Well now I don’t need to light the candles.’
I looked at the candles and their ghostly grey glow did light the room better than a regular candle. I stopped glowing and gave Rainbow control but still held onto the candles. I placed them around the room where they returned to their original places.
“Sweet. You know I might just keep you.”
‘Thank you I would love to be a part of you.’
“Hey wait! Now that I have light and your eye stuff…maybe I can get back to reading Daring Doo.”
‘Who?’
Rainbow flew up to her room with vigor and fell onto her bed back first. She reached over to a book on the side of her bed and opened it up to chapter 3. She couldn’t see it because it was too dark.
‘Hmm still too dark.’
She got up and flew downstairs to grab a candle. We both noticed that no matter what speed we were going the candle stayed lit. She almost ran into the wall from looking at the phenomenon.
‘Careful Dash. Your body is being shared now.’
‘yea. He he.’
She did the same dive thing into her bed. Only now she was just feeling hungry. She cursed herself for being so forgetful. She rushed downstairs and opened up a refrigerator. How they got that thing on a cloud I would never know. Hold on I can ask.
‘How did you get a refrigerator on a cloud?’
‘its made of cloud.’
‘of course.’
She looked through the fridge. I was stunned. SO MANY MUSHROOMS.
‘OH GOD RAINBOW YOU’RE GROWING SHROOMS!’
‘It’s the only food we have…Shrooms? What do you mean by shrooms?’
‘…never mind.’ I really want to try shroom vodka.
She grabbed three out of the fridge and began nibbling on them.
‘Ugh I never want to see another mushroom again.’
She hastily finished the mushrooms which were terrible and made her way back to her room. Picking up the Daring Doo book again she tried to read.
‘Still not enough light.’
‘Why don’t I try something new.’
‘What do you mean?’
I concentrated on making a ball of energy out of the surrounding untamed energy of the world. I’m still not sure exactly what that energy flow really is but I soon was able to form it into a ball of energy. Rainbow was mesmerized by the spectacle and her eyes never left the ball. That’s good for me because I like to see exactly what I’m doing. I then figured out how to make it glow. It light up the room like a flashlight.
Flashlight?
‘Rainbow does this world have flashlights?’
“Yea why?”
‘Why don’t you have one to use to read?’
“Because it would fall through the floor.”
Seems legit.
‘Wait what about the candles? Shouldn’t they fall through the floor?’
“They’re made of clouds and string.”
‘You fucking kidding me?’
“No. Oh hey thanks for the light!”
I was so mentally fucked over that I didn’t notice I finished the orb of light that light up the whole room.
“Wow it’s pretty bright…like the sun.”
‘Oh this again.’ I deadpanned.
“Hey let’s see you go eight months without the sun!”
‘My only complaint would be the lack of food.’
“Well yea that’s the thing that hit the hardest. No sun is livable but no apples is just…torture.”
‘You like apples?’
“Yea…”
‘Steak for me. That or pork.’
“What’s that?”
‘Meat.’
…
…
“I HAVE A CARNIVORE IN MY HEAD!?!?”
‘Omnivore. I eat plants too but I prefer meat over plants. More protein to build muscle.’
“I feel uncomfortable with you in my head now.”
‘Why is that?’
“I’m meat.”
‘So am I. I don’t see your point.’
“No…well year you’re right but. Ah fine I’ll just drop it for now!”
‘Let’s get back to reading that book of yours.’
“Yea yea.”
She looked at the front page of the book and I read it off to myself.
“Daring Doo and the Mysterious Mythril Amulet”
Sounds interesting enough.
“All right…I haven’t been able to read Daring Doo for a while now. I really appreciate what your doing.”
‘Shut up and read.’
“Hey dude I’m giving you a compliment.”
‘As long as I’m in your body it’s more of a job that I assist you and be as useful as I can.’
“Doesn’t make it wrong to snap at me when I thank you for it.”
Now that I think of it why did I snap at her like that…maybe me being without a body is making me a bit pissy. I should watch out for that.
‘Yea you’re right. I’m just being a jerk but I really don’t know why.’
“I’ll say.”
Daring Doo looks over the bow at the rushing waves that crash against the side of boat. The boat rises and falls according to the ocean surf in an endless belay. Daring Doo was unaware of such philosophical thoughts because she was not as enthusiastic about the sea as her new companion Tidal Wave.
“Are we there yet?” Said Daring Doo impatiently.
“Don’t be hasty miss Doo. Enjoy the ride while it lasts. After all the sea is a very wondrous place.” Said Tidal Wave.
Daring Doo knew flying across an ocean this large wouldn’t be an option. It was untamed so the clouds would likely zap her if she stopped to rest. Not only that but there usually aren’t any clouds at all. So there was a good chance she would have lost energy and found herself in a watery grave. She reluctantly asked a sailor to get her across the ocean. However most boats are cargo vessels and have no interest in adventuring. All except for one ocean explorer Tidal Wave. Unlike the other ships Tidal Wave was the only crew. Which meant paying him would be easy. He was an elderly blue stallion who was in his fifties. Daring Doo would have considered dating him if it weren’t for this fact alone.
Also his breathe smells.
He was a lot like Daring Doo. Wanting to explore the ocean and discover new islands. He alone found twenty land masses. If anypony were to find the Isle of the Amulet it was him. Three days of sailing and they’ve almost run out of stories to tell each other. Almost.
They still find time to talk to each other about their own mortal enemies and how they escape from them. What worried Daring Doo the most is when Tidal Wave’s mortal enemy was the Cracken.
It was a good two days in a half into their adventure and they’ve become anxious to make landfall.
“Land HO!” Shouted Tidal Wave.
“Where?” Said Daring Doo excitedly with wide anxious eyes and a grin so wide it threatened to cut her head in half. (“Wow that’s pretty grim thinking author. Being an ass and writing down things that imply death so early on in the FUCKING story.” I thought to myself when Dash read off that passage.)
Daring Doo spread her wings ready to take flight before being interrupted.
“Hoooo! What are you doing lass? Aint no reason to take flight.”
“But the island is right over here!”
“And this boat is headen straight for it.”
“I don’t like waiting for adventure.” Daring Doo grumbled to herself. Somehow Tidal Wave heard her.
“But we’re heading right for the adventure. Just stay on the boat and conserve your energy. Never know when you’ll need to use those wings in a survival situation. Best to keep as much energy as you can get in an untamed environment.”
Daring Doo understood exactly what he meant. There were times when Daring Doo was out of energy and surrounded by cats. Usually when she was too…well daring she often slips up. But she knows a good adventurer needs to be one at the peak of their potential at all times. That was something Tidal Wave mastered already and Daring Doo was only barely good at.
It felt like months until the humidity of the jungle island reached the ship and warmed the deck. The boat found itself near shallow waters and dropped anchor.
“I’ll see you on the island miss Doo.” Said Tidal Wave.
Daring Doo spread her wings and took flight. She felt the rush of another adventure about to being the moment she set foot on the beach. She anxiously put her first hoof on the island and took in the humid air.
“Ahh smells like adventure.” She was about to start walking into the jungle and start said adventure before a voice cut off her thoughts.
“Hold it miss Doo! I’m coming with you!”
“…Wait why?” She looked back to see Tidal Wave in a life boat paddling over to the shore.
“You don’t think I know how large each island is without exploring it first do you?” He said with a wide grin.
“Ugh fine let’s go.” Tidal Wave made landfall and he brought the boat into the woods and covered it with leaves.
“All righty let’s get a move on!”
Rainbow shot up off the grass ground she found herself on. She looked around and she saw an open field with grass that was three inches high and flowed with the wind.
It was day. But the sun wasn’t alone in the sky.
A massive planet that was ten times the size of the sun was next to it. Only the side that was getting light from the sun itself was visible and Rainbow had to imagine the rest.
She took in her surroundings and realized exactly how expansive and perfectly flat the field was. She stood up on her hooves and looked around.
‘Am I dreaming?’
She heard a distant rawring sound coming from the sky. She looked up to see a strange looking rocket with wings screaming across the sky above her.
“Whoa.”
“That’s a hornet.”
“AH!” Rainbow was so surprised by the sudden voice that she jumped five feet into the air. She looked at the source of the voice and immediately relaxed when she recognized it as the human form of the entity inside of her.
“Hello Rainbow Dash.”
“Sup Greymane. So this is a dream?”
“Yea you fell asleep while reading Daring Doo.”
Greymane turned back into a pony and took a seat beside Rainbow Dash’s take off position. Rainbow lowered herself to the ground and leaned up against Greymane.
“So what’s that?” she said regarding the object in the sky.
“That is an airplane. It’s what my species invented to be able to fly. That is based off a real plane. In fact it is a real plane.”
“Sweet…how fast does it go?”
“Beyond the speed of sound. Or if you prefer faster than you.”
“Pfft nopony is faster than me.”
“You’re right Dash nopony is faster than you…but that machine is.”
She regarded the flying object with interest. While she was watching it Greymane let himself lean into her. They didn’t feel anything for each other. But them being in the same body for so long made it feel unnatural for them to be apart.
“So Grey. I’ve only like, just met you yesterday. Why is it that I find you so important?”
“Maybe it’s because we share the same body.”
“Sure.”
*Thump*
“Well well well what do we have here?” Said an ominous voice from behind them. I turned around to get a good look at what landed behind us and on my way I caught Rainbow’s expression of fear.
“N-Nightmare Moon.” Said Rainbow Dash while grabbing my attention. “Don’t let her know what you are.” She whispered.
“OH what is this? Dreaming of the sun? Let me fix that.” Her horn glowed and she looked at the sky. She was surprised to realize that she couldn’t move the sun. “W-wa wa? What’s this? I’m princess of dreams and night! How is it I can’t change this dream!”
She looked back in anger at the cyan Pegasus only to find she wasn’t there. And the field wasn’t their either. It was a black void with no possible way to tell how far it goes. She franticly looked around trying to find any landmark but found nothing but darkness.
“W-what is this place?”
{b] “This…is my heart.”
“Who said that?!” She shouted angrily.
She spun around and found she was staring at the stoic expression of the grey stallion she saw leaning up against Rainbow.
“Who are you?” she said in a demanding tone.
The stallion continued to look at her with a stoic expression.
“TALK!”
He still stood there. But then he began to morph into a new creature. A terrifying creature. A creature that will haunt Nightmare moon to the end of her days.
He became a wolf with rotting flesh and a hanging eye. Its maw was half rotten and its right cheek was gone and clashed well with the hanging eye. Its rib cage was exposed and you could see its beating dusty and empty heart. What’s worse is that it stood there staring at her. Analyzing her.
Then it did something that would forever haunt Nightmare’s dreams. It stood there for a good few seconds to the point where Nightmare Moon believed it would stand there for eternity.
With a blink of an eye it exploded into movement and rushed toward her. But when it started moving it screamed at the top of its lungs like a mare who truly believes they were about to die. The scream made her heart fill with adrenalin and chill her to the bone. While the sudden burst in speed made a perfect jump scare that allowed the scream to push her nerves to the breaking point. But as it was only feet from Nightmare Moon it leaped into the air to snap at her throat.
Nightmare Moon tried to defend herself with her hooves but the mangled undead wolf disappeared. Not even a warning or a simple sign that it was going to leave. In fact it looked like it wanted to kill her.
Her prey instincts told her to look around for the threat that disappeared and she did just that. For the longest time her eyed darted in all directions. Finally she calmed down and decided it was time to leave.
Only to find that she couldn’t. She was being held there because of something that was holding her here. She thought she found Rainbow Dash’s mind and she wanted to remove the dreams of the sun. She couldn’t be dreaming this herself could she? Clould she?
“Could this all be my dream? No I could control it if it were.”
“Confused?”
“W-what? Yes what is going on!” The stallion appeared behind her and when she spun around and met his eyes…those dark hollow eyes.
“I’m here to offer my demands.”
“And if I refuse?” She said.
His grin took a shape of pure malice and an army of the rotting wolves appeared in a wide circle around Nightmare Moon and the Grey stallion with soulless eyes. The wolves all stood in their motionless and statue like composure unnerved her.
“I will offer you a battle you have no chance of winning.”
Nightmare moon looked around at the monsters and noted that there was indeed an army one hundred thousand strong. She tried to back out of the dream one more time but found she still couldn’t do it. She then tried to bring power into her horn and she couldn’t do that either. She flapped her wings and she fearfully realized she couldn’t take flight.
She looked into the soulless eyes of the grey stallion and fear flooded her system. There was only one course of action she could take.
“What do you want.” She said defeated.
“I want you recognize Ponyville as an independent city state.”
“Never!”
“So be it.”
The wolves screamed and sprinted toward Nightmare Moon.
“WAIT!” She tried to yell above the horde of rotting wolves but her voice was muffled out. Then they stopped only inches from her.
“You say something?” Said the deep voice that dripped with malice.
“Ok…I will let Ponyville do what it wants. I will turn a blind eye to the town as it hangs up decorations honoring the sun. I will even use my presence there only for its safety and not to oppress the citizens.”
The army blinked back to its original position and distance from Nightmare.
“Good good. I see we are making excellent progress. OH and maybe I’ll pay a visit to your castle at some point maybe this week. Or maybe never. But until then keep an open door policy or I will haunt your dreams. And maybe welcome you into my messed up mind.” He walked up to one of the mangled rotting corpses of the wolves and licked ones eye.
Nightmare shuddered in disgust.
“Good bye Nightmare.” Nightmare felt the veil that kept her in Rainbow’s mind lifted and she could feel her body again. Then the wolves charged while screaming their blood curdling scream and she hastily returned to her body.
“AH!” Nightmare Moon shot up from her bed and looked around the room. She let out a sigh of relief and got out of bed. She walked out onto the balcony and gazed at the moon for a few minutes and reflected on what happened in the dream.
‘It wasn’t real…it was just a nightmare.’ She turned around to go back into her room and she found herself face to face with a mangled wolf.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”
“Whoa dude you totally scared Nightmare Moon herself!” Said an absolutely giddy Rainbow Dash. “I bet she’d never butt in on another ponies dreams again!” The field was back and Rainbow’s dream continued without incident. The same object in the sky was there as well.
“The best part about it is that I can go between you and her now. So I can haunt her as much as I want.”
“Hey how did you do that anyway?” She said landing next to the Grey stallion.
“Well when she put herself in our dream-well hold on leme think on explaining this…Ok well you know how easy it is to put your hoof in a bowl of water?”
“Uh yea?”
“Well that’s almost what she did. Only she stuck her head in your mind. I just grabbed onto her head and put a piece of myself in her head like how a piece of me is in you.”
“OH so you can now leave me alone and bother her?”
“Yea something like that. But I can be in two places at once. You know how there are two minds in your body? Well now it’s the other way around. I have one mind in two bodies.”
“Whoa that’s so cool! Can you take control of her?”
“No but I can make her see things. I can do the same to you but I never had a reason too.”
“Wait you could?”
“Yea I mean I do have control over your eyes. All I need to do is concentrate and imagine what it is you’re seeing.”
“I swear if you abuse that.” She folded her hooves.
“You’ll spank me, ok got it.”
“Bahahahahaha!”
“-hahaha!” Rainbow rolled out of bed and hit the cloud floor. “Whoa what happened?”
‘I think laughter wakes you up…well I wouldn’t know but it’s just a hypothesis.’
“Ugh you sound like Twilight right now.”
‘Thank you?’
“Egg head.”
‘Bitch.’
“Say wha? You jerk! I can’t believe I let you stay in my head!”
‘I can’t believe you can’t make good comebacks.’
“Shut up or I kick you out!”
‘I can just go into Nightmare Moon now.’
“Fine stay!”
‘OH? Did I strike a nerve or something? Or does it make you feel left out that she gets a spirit guide and you don’t?’
“Well I kinda like you…I mean your pony form is kind of a 7 or 6 you know?”
‘Well I know you don’t actually love me because I would feel that.’
“Ugh that’s so weird when you do that.”
‘Do what?’
“When you say you ‘feel’ me or something. It’s really creepy.”
‘Well I do feel you. To the tip of your nose to the inside of your vagina.’
“Dude don’t talk about that!” Now I can feel her genuinely getting mad.
‘Sorry but we need to accept the fact that I’m a part of you now. It’s like…getting a wart that you don’t have any cream to get rid of. Wait bad example. It’s like an ear ring. If you get rid of me the hole where I once was would still be there and you’d lose part of your image.’
“Still a bad example.”
‘Shut up, you know what I mean.’
“Umm let’s pretend I don’t.” Her attempt at hiding the grin wasn’t working…I can feel her trying to hide it.
‘Ok here’s a better example. A dog and a pony walk into a bar-‘
“How does this relate to us?”
‘What about us?’
“How you’re in me and all that.”
‘Eww Rainbow you make me feel uncomfortable when you say that.’
“H-hey wait a minute!”
Successfully trolled.
‘HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA! Hey you were reading a book right?’
“Hey don’t change the subject!”
‘Why not? You obviously lost.’
“Oh yea? How so?”
‘Because you’re boring me and I need entertainment. Daring Doo was your favorite pass time so why not adopt it?’
“What?”
‘READ THE DAMN BOOK!’
“Fine fine.”
She got back on the bed and I created another orb of light to give her while reading. She grasped the book in her right hoof and plopped herself on her back and flipped the pages open to the part where we left off.
“Ah we’re here.” Said Tidal Wave.
Daring Doo looked up from her careful steps over the poisonous plants. Her eyes were blessed with the sight of a great pyramid with one entrance. Gold outlined each stone and at the very top was a golden statue of an ape. But the most prominent feature was the entrance. It was held up by pillars and on those pillars were strange carvings.
But there was an army of lifeless bipedal statues. If their forms were real they would look like old mythical human full body armor. It was impressive because they all stood there without any supports.
“What is all this?” Said Daring Doo looking at the statues that surround the entrance in a military line formation. The army itself was large enough to lay claim to the base of another pyramid. But the lack of any supports to keep them upright was unnerving to Daring Doo. Wind should have easily pushed them over by now. But here they all stand untouched by time.
“I ain’t sure lass…Best not stick around.”
“Agreed.”
They went inside and the whole way there Daring Doo looked for traps. While Tidal Wave admired the art.
“How many bits do you think we can get out of all this stuff?” He said looking at the pottery that’s been sprinkled with gold to give it a yellow wavy look. “I’m sure a sailor would love this.” He said picking up the pot.
Daring Doo heard the pot be lifted from its place and she looked over with serious concern. She waited for a trap to trigger but none came. Tidal Wave looked at Daring Doo with a worried expression.
“Are you ok lass?”
“DON’T TOUCH ANYTHING! You could have triggered a trap!”
“Oh. Sorry about that. I was just examining.”
“You know the first time I did that I almost got killed so watch yourself.” She huffed and turned back down the long hall way.
Tidal Wave hung his head low the whole way to the main chamber.
“Something’s not right.” Said Daring.
“What?”
“Why are there no traps?”
“Well why should there be?”
“This is obviously made by ancient unicorns. More advanced than the ones I’ve seen so far. They are well known for setting up arcane traps to ward off pegasi and earth ponies.”
“Maybe they were so advanced they grew out of traps.”
“Nope they are the same as other civilizations. Unicorns banned rune magic in 1,400 B.C. but also stopped putting moonstone in their letters before that. See the glyphs on the walls?”
“Yes.”
“Moonstone is the rock used to form each picture.”
Tidal Wave took another closer look at the glyphs on the wall and found what Daring said to be true. Indeed there was a dirty white hue to the glyphs.
“What do these glyphs mean? Do you know by any chance?”
“No. This art style is nothing I’ve seen a pony make before. And those statues clearly depict a different race of intelligent beings entirely.”
“You don’t think humans?”
“I do actually.”
The rest of the trip was in silence before they came upon the grand mead hall. In said mead hall were old broken kegs and tables. But at the throne laid a golden amulet.
“This is way too easy. Humans are more brutal when it comes to traps. They don’t just make them so they kill you…but they make them so you can either starve to death or be crushed.”
Tidal Wave gulped.
“Yea. Exactly.”
She walked up to the throne and examined the amulet that rested on the cushion. She checked for trip wires but nothing more. A button would have been seen since the amulet goes around the neck. She picked it up and put it in her jacket pocket.
“Well that was…too easy.”
“I hope it will be like this from here on out.”
“Me too…but something feels wrong about this.” She checked behind the throne and tried to push it. She found it was just a fancy chair fit for a king…but what kind of king? It was too small for an alicorn to sit in and looked uncomfortable for any other pony to sit in. Could it have been made by humans?
“Come on miss Doo we should get going. If what you say is true then I would like to know that we can leave or not.”
“Sure let’s get out of here.”
They walked out of the mead hall and into the expansive hallway. They finally got to the exit and the sun’s rays blinded them on their way out. When the regained their composure and could look out into the sea of army statues they stood there speechless.
“Blimey.”
Each of the statues have moved and all of them faced the entrance.
“Creepy.” Said Daring while examining the statue on the right.
Then the closest one on the right sprinted towards them and swung its pike in a downward angle. They both dodged the blow. Daring flew up above the army to see its mass charging Tidal Wave.
“TIDAL WAVE!” She screamed in a vain attempt to warn him of the danger. It would do him no good. Once his eyes were off the current attacker he was struck down by the next one. The wedge of the Pike decapitated his head.
A teary eyed Daring Doo looked away and flew back to the ship.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”
Dash’s story time was interrupted by a shriek of fear coming from Ponyville it was muffled by the distance it traveled.
She rushed to the window and saw Ponyville…and smoke plumes were coming from the buildings.
Walking to school was heartbreaking. I take the train down to Chicago and usually walk three or four city blocks before reaching my collage Flashpoint. Along my way are so many people who are poor and hungry. They’ve lost so much weight that they look like skin and bone while they jingle their cups. It’s heart breaking to see them suffer.
I was studying to become a game designer while they beg for the pocket change the strangers carry. I always oblige when I have the change. But alas I have only so many coins.
I was walking down the street to my collage. I was looking at my iPhone trying to select a good song. Maybe something from an old game I liked. Maybe ace combat 4 or Black and White 2 would be good. I selected the song and looked back up to find myself in the middle of a street. The street was barren for all but cars. People were shouting to get my attention. I stood there dumbfounded for a moment until I looked to my left at the oncoming lane.
*Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-
I knew what happened to me…I can feel myself without a body. But I was falling into an endless abyss.
Falling
Falling
Screaming
Falling
Sleeping
Becoming delusional and confused.
I could feel the universe not know what to do with me. It was confused as if I wasn’t supposed to happen. I then felt a spark of brilliance come from the unknown entity, as if it found a place for me. Then after what felt to me like eons it threw me away. I disappeared for a moment. Like what it felt like before you were born.
Darkness, unknown, and without form.
Until something caught me.
I was in a body that definitely wasn’t mine. And it was rolling on the ground in pain. I couldn’t say I blame her though. When we fused something weird happened and her nerves fused to my soul and we became one being. I could tell she had control. But then memories flooded in and transferred out. Memories of a Winter-Wrap-Up and Summer Sun Celebration. I knew faces she was familiar with like Applejack and Pinkie Pie. I saw all she cared about.
She. We were on the ground. She had full control over her body and she weakly stood up on four legs. I could feel her body and I started piecing a mental image in my head. She was a lot like a horse which my sister rode but she was smaller and had what I believed were wings. One of her hooves came into view as she tried to stand herself up. This confirmed my suspicions.
She stood up painfully and her body felt like every muscle was cramping up. She pulled herself up with a sink and she looked into the mirror.
A rainbow colored mane and magenta eye’s stared back at us. I realized I was going to be living in this pony for a long time. Might as well get used to it. I myself am an art student so I can appreciate beauty and even find it. I’m sure I can find beauty in her.
“W-who are you?” She said with a cracked voice. Then Darkness took us both.
I knew exactly where I was…in the dream world. Only I had the ability to manipulate it. I turned my attention to my left where the pony I saw in the mirror was lying unconscious next to me in the black void.
I’m an art student…I will create a world for her. She’s my host now. She’s my body and my blood.
She’s also in pain. And I must prove to her that I mean no harm.
I started thinking of the most recent project we were assigned to create. One of our own creation. An entire new world that we have to design and create.
The world’s imagery was fresh in my mind so this would be easy.
I started creating sand below her and trees around her. We were next to a cliff face where a waterfall poured into a small lake and turned into tributaries that ran off in different directions to evenly dissipate the water to the entire forest. The forest itself consisted of Pine trees.
The rainbow pony lying next to me began to stir. I remembered she’s a Pegasus and likes to sleep on clouds. So I produced a small cumulus and lifted her body onto it with means that I still don’t know even to this day.
I made sure she was two feet off the ground while I filled in the detail of the world around us. I could tell this was her mind. I can still feel myself in her body. Once I got every stone and rotting log in our environment become part of the scenery I waited for her to awaken.
“Ugh…What happened?” She looked around. She first took notice of her immediate surrounding such as the small lake and the waterfall which had a small rainbow coming out of it. Then she looked at the partly cloudy sky and took note of the mountain range. But when she got to the trees she regarded them with extreme interest. However when she looked at the sky I noticed her longing stare at the sun. I made a mental note to ask about it later.
Her eyes went past me and I realized I don’t have a physical form. Or a visible one at least. I don’t know whether or not I can go up to her and touch her yet. And I’d rather not right now.
I stared at her for a moment…I realized that there was no reason for me to actually make a world for her to walk around in anyway. It was merely an impulsive thing. Maybe it’s because I want to see someone appreciate my work like any other artist. Or I’m fascinated by something walking around in a world I created.
Whatever the reason, we’re here now and we need to talk. I don’t know about what, but I should be…I am dead and she might know why. Even though I already know how.
I turned my attention back to the pony and I noted she left the cloud to study the ground.
“Is this real?” She said out loud.
With that I figured right now would be a good time to show myself to her in some way. I quickly tried to imagine my body but each time I thought of a form I immediately shot it down because it could scare or confuse her.
I settled on just a little orb of light about the size of Navi. Which is an inch and a half wide and tall with the factor of the light aura. However I didn’t have wings when in this form and my glow was larger and it looked like you’re staring at headlights.
It must have worked because she looked directly at me. Fear was the first thing that placed itself on her face. I immediately let myself disappear in worry that she might bolt off somewhere that I may or may not be able to follow.
Once I was gone she hopped back on the cloud and started to ascend above the tree line.
I reacted quickly by increasing the wind speed to hurricane force above the tree line. The moment she felt it she bolted back to the ground.
I went to a game design school. I live, breathe, and eat games. I know how to teach a player simple mechanics. Reviewing some of my knowledge of game mechanics and player development I came to the conclusion that I need to show Rainbow Dash that the light does not harm you.
The best way I could think of doing something like that is having a living creature pass by closely to the light. But then again she already saw my attempted form and if I expose myself again she might…well I don’t know but I can tell she won’t react positively.
So what if I’m the one who approaches the light? What if I turn myself into whatever she is, only male. YES! I’m going to need an avatar to project myself anyway.
I got to work on what I think is cool. Black coat is too much but it is my thing. Grey is more natural and isn’t as intimidating. Should I have a beard? No. glasses? No. Old? Keep my age or close to hers. No something different. Maybe I need a new name and new face.
Ok I got it. I may be stealing form skyrim but my name will be Greymane. I will have a grey coat with a lighter grey mane. My eyes light blue.
I got to work by setting up the scenario. Luckily I have a path going from the clearing with the lake out into the forest. I can appear from the forest and have a light pass by me. Or better yet I can show Rainbow that I control the world by touching the light and holding it in my hoof.
I quickly scanned Rainbow’s body for simple anatomy of a ponies legs. I couldn’t get the image perfect. Then I remembered the tail and decided it should look like my mane. Just like how Dash’s is the same.
She did exactly what I hoped for…a little too soon. She started heading down the path. I decided I’d be best if she comes to me rather than me to her so I don’t seem as intimidating.
Though I don’t know why I’m trying to introduce myself like this. Shouldn’t she know who I am? Whatever I’ll go along with it anyway.
I went around the path and I made the path get narrower and narrower until it was only a meter wide. She couldn’t see this change because it was a curved road and the trees would obscure these changes. I then made it end in a clearing.
I took note of Rainbow’s position in the world. She was heading down the path faster than expected. I worked quickly on appearing in the clearing. Then I thought it over again. She was afraid of the sudden light. What would keep her from running away from it again? Me? No don’t think so. Quickly scrapping the light idea I awaited her.
It took her a while but she eventually made it to the clearing where we watched each other for a moment. She gave me a blank look, then she looked confused.
“Who are you?” She asked.
“How about we introduce each other.” I said impulsively.
“Umm no.”
“Ok I’ll start. You’re Rainbow Dash. I don’t know much more but what I remember from what you and your friends say you’re fast.”
“Fine I’ll play your little game. Your name is Cory. But you’re also very insecure like my friend Fluttershy.” She smirked. “That is until you met…” She half closed her eyes suggestively. “Her.” Then the rest of the memory hit her. “Oh…sorry dude.”
“Nah it’s ok. Anyway you know why I’m here right?”
“…No?”
“Oh ok. Well I’m dead and it appears I’m stuck in you or something.”
“Yea I remember you got hit by something…heavy and with bright white eyes.”
“Well it’s a machine.”
“Yea it almost looked like something the Flim Flam brothers made. Only smaller and a little faster.”
“Hold on a minute. I can only remember faces and names…kinda. How are you able to remember details about me?”
“I dunno. I know things that are important. Or at least all the things I remember are the important stuff. Like you’re not a pony. Can you show me what you look like in your world?” She asked while tilting her head.
Well ok I don’t need to play it safe.
“Sure.” I formed my body back into my human form. I put a tux on me and I had curly black hair. Brown eyes. And just a bit over weight. Not too much though. I stood taller than Rainbow to the point where she had to crane her neck to look me in the eye.
“Cool.” She looked at me with wonderment. “So what is this place?” She said while looking around again.
“White Dawn. It’s a planet straight out of my imagination. Like it?”
She didn’t say anything but looked back up at the sun. Staring at it. “I forgot what the sun looked like.”
I quickly put together a theory. “Were you imprisoned?”
“No. But that sounds better than what actually happened.”
I kneeled down next to her and tried to meet her at eye level. I was still a foot taller than her. “Tell me.”
“Nightmare moon. She was imprisoned in the sun for one thousand years. I and my friends did what we could to stop her…but we.” Tears started to swell in her eyes. “We. WE FAILED! She made one of the elements disappear while we were using them and. And.” Her voice died out and she looked at the ground sadly.
I took my finger and raised her chin so she would look into my eyes. I smiled softly. “I think I know why I’m here now.”
“W-why?” She said tears streaming down her face.
“I’m here to save the sun.” I whispered to her for dramatic effect.
She stared at me wide eyed. “Y-you think you can do it?”
“Yea why not!”
“B-but you’re up against Nightmare Moon! Somepony the elements of harmony didn’t even have the power to stop!”
“Well actually they were forced to stop when one of them disappeared. Do you know where they are now?”
“Nightmare Moon keeps them behind her throne at Canterlot so we can’t get to them…She banished us to Ponyville so we couldn’t go to Canterlot and try to get them. If we try we will be executed for treachery.”
“Hmm. Well better die for a cause than live in oppression.” I said with a smile. She must have thought I wasn’t being sensitive about the situation…not that I was. I’ve already died so there is no reason for me to care what happens to them. However I’d like to think myself a would be hero.
She glared at me as if I just killed her mother. “WHAT! YOU THINK THIS IS A JO-” I cut her off by placing my hand over her mouth.
She was still glaring at me. But I thought it was time for me to end this conversation. I already knew why I was here and what I had to do. However I can’t start my mission until Dash wakes up.
I decided to find a way to end the dream. I looked around at an excuse to just end shit when I saw the sun. I decided that since she likes it so much she’ll fall towards it and die in the dream to wake up. I brought my hand up toward the sun and lowered it towards the horizon.
She looked sad to see it go before her sadness became shock as the trees parted and the mountains started to fall toward the sun. Until there was a whirlwind of light and, well wind. The trees where sucked into the blazing orb and the world began to crumble around Rainbow Dash.
She looked back at me to find that I was no longer there. She looks with fear at the light as the world drops and cracks around her and falls into the burning ball of light. She then began to fall after the broken and destroyed world that I’ve created. She covered her eyes as the light got brighter and brighter as she fell toward it.
Then she felt a burning and her fears grew so intense that she-
“AAAAAAAAAAAAH!” She shot up from her prone position and looked at herself in the mirror with a cold sweat.
“Man what a dream.”
“I’ll say.” Said a voice in her head.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”
“Please stop doing that.”
“umm…sorry?”
“Anyway let’s go save the world!”
