An Alternate Track

[Haven City]

A chariot landed just outside the town in a designated landing area. Jason and Chrysalis stepped out with the latter having Susie in a small saddle carrier. Both of them were wearing winter clothes as it was bitterly cold here. They both started going into town but as they approached the market. Jason noticed a pony walk up to a dragon. “Excuse me, mister, my hot cocoa went cold. Could you help heat it up, please?”

“Certainly,” the dragon said as he lightly blew on the mug with his breath. For a split second Jason could’ve sworn it looked like the buildings behind them went up in flames.

Jason's eyes widened a bit before he shook his head trying to get that vision out of his head. They soon approached the market where they saw the Apple stand. Bubba, Applejack, and her fluffy counterpart Tinyjack stood there. A small bottle rolled off the stand and nearly landed on Tinyjack. For a second the bottle looked like a foot while the fluffy pony looked like a battered and bruised Applejack in Jason’s eyes. Luckily Bubba caught it before it struck her. “Whoop! That was lucky. Oh heya Jason.”

“What brings ya here, sugarcube?” Applejack asked. But as their gazes met Jason thought he saw Applejack’s smile became a look of fear before returning to a smile.

“Uh, I was just visiting. Hey, is uh, Gregory here?” Jason asked almost nervously.

“Sorry pal, he and Andrew left yesterday. Something about an emergency in Canterlot according to the rumor mill,” Bubba said. “They should be back this evening.”

“Okay, good, I guess there’s that,” Jason said as he quickly walked away leaving five creatures in confusion.

“What’s wrong with Mister Wright?” Tinyjack asked Chrysalis.

“Don’t know,” Chrysalis said as she hurried after him.

The two soon found themselves in front of a house. It looked like a cozy home with a garden. But the moment they stepped into the front lawn, a small tank charged out of the bushes with its barrel pointing at the three. “Halt! Who goes there!”

Jason jumped as the tank practically looked like the one that came charging into the school in his dream. “Uh, we’re just here to see Stacy,” he said.

A small window opened and a male voice called. “Who’s out there, Locust?”

“Jason and Chrysalis, sir,” the tank replied.

A few moments later Flash Sentry opened the door. “Stand down Locust, they’re friends.”

The two entered the home where they saw tanks occasionally rolling by them. To Jason it made him feel a bit uneasy despite their small size. “So, they listen to you as well?” Chrysalis asked.

“Well, since I’m her soon to be husband, I’m sort of a second in command,” Flash explained as he led them into the living room.

Stacy was sitting in a chair reading a book from Earth titled Heroes on Hooves: War Horses of The World. She perked up when she saw them. She got up and approached them. “Oh hello Jason, Chrysalis, and you as well little Susie,” she said, giving Susie a tickle on her cheek who giggled. “So, what brings the royal changeling family out this way?” she asked.

“We were just visiting and noticed Gregory and Andrew weren’t here,” Jason explained. “Any idea why they left for Canterlot?”

Stacy immediately frowned. “Oh, I heard from Rainbow Dash that Connie got involved in a wreck yesterday. But last I heard Connie’s coming back with a local passenger train later this evening. Say, you guys want to see something I’ve been working on?” Jason and Chrysalis nodded as they were led into another room that looked like a workshop. “I thought if I were to ever find myself in a battle with my tanks again I would have to be ready so…” Stacy pulled a sheet off a structure that was standing at her height. “I made myself a suit of armor made from bulletproof steel. Pretty cool, huh?”

Chrysalis stared at it for a moment. “Impressive. It almost looks like something my soldiers would wear. What do you think, Jason?”

Jason didn’t reply, instead he stared at the suit with a horrible feeling brewing inside him. The suit looked nearly identical to what he saw in his dream. He could almost hear Stacy’s final words from the dream. “See you in hell.”

Jason snapped his head towards Stacy. “What did you say…?” he asked hesitantly.

“Whoa there, I asked if you were okay?” Stacy asked, surprised by Jason’s demeanor.

Jason immediately snapped out of his trance. “Huh? Oh yeah. I, uh, need to step out,” he stammered as he quickly left the room almost tripping over another tank.

“Hey! Watch it buddy,” it snapped.

“What’s wrong with him? I thought he would be impressed by this,” Stacy said.

“I don’t know. Something’s not right with him,” Chrysalis said with worry. Even Susie had a look of concern.

Jason stumbled outside and placed a hand on his head. His mind was racing with so many thoughts. He looked over at a passing family of ponies only to see them on the ground and bleeding for a split second before he realized they were walking by. He then looked in the window of the house and saw his reflection, his face having a sickening grin. He quickly looked away. “Alright! I’m clearly losing my mind!” he shouted to himself he then noticed the small crowd of creatures watching him. “What are you all looking at?!” he shouted which caused the crowd to quickly disperse.

“Now what crawled inside you and died?” a familiar voice asked. Jason turned and saw Discord approaching.

Jason took a shaky breath, then exhaled. “Oh, nothing much,” he said with a frown, “I’m just seeing acts of horrendous violence everywhere I look, and hearing things people aren’t saying. You know, basic losing my fucking mind shit.”

Discord looked at him with an almost confused look. “Well, I don’t see any acts of violence. Is this coming from a lack of sleep?”

“Hah! If anything, sleep is the last thing on my mind!” Jason said with a bit of a crazed cackle before he took in a few deep breaths. “Sorry. No, I’ve gotten my recommended eight hours, but something’s clearly wrong with me because I’m seeing and hearing things that nobody else can.”

“Okay, you're starting to sound like Rainbow in that cursed fanfic called…what was it? Rocket to Insanity, or something like that?”

“And how the hell do you know about that?” Jason asked. “You don’t have magic anymore, remember?”

“No but those other humans bought mountains of well known fanfics on computers, including this one story where I get attacked by a monster called 682,” Discord explained.

“Never read it,” he said. “Well, as helpful as this has been,” and he emphasized how sarcastically he used the word ‘helpful’, “I’m off to hit my head against the side of a brick wall!” With that, he turned and rushed through the snowy streets.

“Wait! Don't you want…to ...join… oh well, so much for tea with Fluttershy.”

It was just past six when Connie and the passenger train pulled into the Haven City station. Gregory, Andrew, and everyone else aboard disembarked and spread out, heading back to their homes.

Just as the two men got off, however, they were suddenly swarmed by two dragons and three ponies. “Gah! Jesus,” Gregory said as they swarmed him and Andrew, “what’s going on?”

“Why didn’t you call us?” Ember asked, annoyed.

“Call? About going to Canterlot?” Gregory asked.

“We didn’t know where you went, not until Rainbow told us last night,” Twilight said.

Gregory winced. “Yeah…I should have left a note or used the ring,” he said, touching the ring on his finger, the one he had made for him and Ember. “Wait a moment, Ember, you could have teleported to where I was using that ring, remember?” he pointed out.

Ember shrugged. “Yeah, I would’ve, but I get busy as the dragon lord. We also had a bit of a situation here today.”

Gregory frowned. “What kind of situation?”

“Jason came by today, and for some reason he was caught having some sort of breakdown. Even Chrysalis couldn’t get close to him,” Spike explained,

Gregory looked over at Andrew. “A breakdown, you say,” he said, giving Andrew a knowing look.

“That’s never a good sign,” Andrew said before turning back to the group. “Where is he now?”

“He’s sort of hiding away at the sweets shop,” Cozy answered.

Gregory slung his small backpack over his shoulders, then spread the ice wings he’d perfected. “Okay, time to have a chat with our friendly neighborhood changeling king,” he said before shooting up into the air.

“Wait for us at least,” Andrew called out as the others ran or flew after him.

When Gregory arrived at the shop, he walked through the door and looked around. The shop was mostly empty aside from a couple of customers and Pinkie Pie who was watching one of the booths with worry. Gregory followed her eyes, then saw a messy and clearly frazzled Jason sitting at a booth. Looking over at Pinkie, he held up two fingers and mouthed “Two hot cocoa mugs with marshmallows.”

“Uh I think he’s had enough,” Pinkie said gesturing to the empty cups of coffee that littered the floor.

He nodded, then mouthed for tea instead before he walked over slowly to Jason. He slipped into the booth across from him, putting his bag down beside the booth and folding his hands on the table. “Chocolate might be able to be an antidepressant,” he said softly, “but if you’re drinking this much and still miserable, even I know something’s wrong, and I don’t need to use my empath abilities to read your emotions.”

“Geoo away…” Jason muttered.

Gregory reached out with his abilities, feeling just how terrified Jason really was now. He’d felt a bit before, but now he felt the full brunt of it. The utter terror was nearly overwhelming. He took a breath and exhaled. “Jason, talk to me,” he urged softly, “what’s going on?”

“They say it's silent, but I hear it all. The screaming, the fire, my own laughter,” he said, staring into his cup.

“The lifeless bodies strewn all over the town,” Gregory continued, “those you love dead by the hands. My own reflection taunting me.”

Jason perked up instantly. “How did you know?”

“I’ve been having nightmares lately,” Gregory explained somberly as Pinkie came by with two cups of steaming tea. At the door, the others had begun trickling in, but Gregory held them back with a hand. “I see nothing but my power consuming me and turning me into a relentless monster who destroys the world, turning it into my own twisted winter wonderland.”

“How? Is this supposed to be a twisted, overdue side effect of our power?” Jason asked, his hands shaking his cup of tea.

Gregory shook his head fervently. “No,” he said resolutely. “It’s a deliberate attack on you, me, and Andrew.”

“You too?” Jason asked Andrew, who sat next to Gregory now.

“Yeah I dreamt my mind was constantly asking who should I blame for…” he trailed off as he felt like he was about to spill something vital.

“Something in his past that he hasn’t quite reconciled,” Gregory covered for him, giving Andrew a nod. He turned back to Jason. “It’s an attack powerful enough that Luna had trouble breaking into our dreams. Whoever, or whatever, was doing this wanted to leave no trace of their presence. They’re masking themselves as some kind of false Id.”

“How did you piece that together so fast,” both Jason and Andrew asked in unison.

“One,” he began, holding up one finger, “because I know myself better than that. I would never give in and destroy everything I love consciously. Two: I know my own fears, and I know that I have to deal with them in healthier ways than that. Besides, my so-called Id couldn’t answer a question correctly. That was number three. I gave into my fear during the first nightmare, but during my second one, I refused to give my false Id the satisfaction.”

When he was done the others crowded around and learned everything. Everyone present had worry-filled faces. Spike was the first to break the silence. “You guys getting nightmares, Connie crashing, prisoners escaping, and Luna not accessing the dreams of outside? I’m almost afraid to ask what next.”

“Here's an idea, Don’t!” Andrew suggested.

“Jason,” Gregory said calmly, taking his teacup in his hands and nursing it, placing a spoonful of honey in it, “These nightmares we’re experiencing are not natural. If they were, they wouldn’t have begun at the exact same time. Something big is coming, and clearly whoever’s involved doesn’t want us to be a part of it. We’re either a threat or a nuisance.”

At that moment the door opened again and a young mare wearing formal clothes stepped in. She looked around and approached the three humans. “Excuse me gentlebeings, I was just passing by and I couldn’t help but overhear you three were having some problems with your dreams?”

“Yeah?” Andrew said. “Who's asking?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. My name’s Dream Star. I’m a somnologist,” the mare explained. “I know you three are amongst the most magical beings in the land, but I believe I could be of some assistance to your dream coping.”

Gregory didn’t react, but he felt something off about this pony. He didn’t remember her from the town at all. He leaned forward. “Indeed? What kind of help?” he asked, pretending to sound interested.

“Oh, well I often help creatures who suffer from trauma from nightmares or are too afraid to fall asleep. I may have a nice office in Las Pegasus, but just because I’m on holiday, doesn't mean I can't help whoever I find in distress.”

Gregory stroked his chin thoughtfully. According to his abilities, she was telling the truth, but there was something about her that his normal human instincts felt was off. And he’d learned to listen to said instincts. “Well, that sounds interesting,” he said, lying through his teeth perfectly. “Where are you staying while you’re in town?”

“At a local inn not too far away from here down 5th Street. If you want I can help one of you guys either tonight or first thing in the morning.”

“You guys decide, I think my trauma can last another night,” Andrew said.

“We’ll think about it,” Gregory said, giving the mare a friendly smile. “Thanks for the offer.”

“No problem, though, if I may be bold to suggest, I think you sir should go first,” Dream Star said pointing to Jason. “I think royal visitors should be top priority, plus your body language suggests you’re in worse shape than your companions. No offense.”

“None taken,” Andrew said.

“How long are you in town for?” Gregory asked.

“A few days,” she said. “I should be taking the train home later this week.”

“Understood,” Gregory said, “and thanks again.”

The mare nodded and left but just as she exited the door Chrysalis came in with Susie on her back. “What is goin on?” she asked, almost tired.

“Long story short, the three of us are being attacked in our dreams by some sort of powerful magic that not even Luna can breach,” Gregory explained.

“You mean like this Freddy Krueger you humans go on about?” the queen asked, confused.

“Sure, something like that,” Gregory nodded. Turning to the other two, he said, “Do not go see that Dream Star.”

“What do you mean? She seems nice,” Andrew said.

“Exactly,” Gregory said, “emphasis on seems. Don’t you think it’s more than a bit suspicious that someone just happens to show up who can magically help us with our problems. And besides, Haven City isn’t a very well-known vacation spot.”

“True, but it's practically a historical milestone icon, considering the things that happened here,” Jason said.

“I’m warning you all not to go see her,” Gregory insisted. “It’s way too convenient for us. I know of a few ways we can deal with this.”

Jason just stood up and started walking to the door. He stopped only to give Susie a quick kiss on her cheek. “Where do you think you’re going?” Ember asked.

“I have too much on my mind right now,” he said. “I’m not venting it in here.” He then walked out the door.

Gregory sighed and nodded. “He has a point there, too,” he said as he finished off his tea, then stood and looked at his new family. “Don’t go talking to that mare. There’s something off about her.”

Dream Star was walking down the street. It was mostly silent aside from the breeze. She then heard the sounds of footsteps. She turned to see Jason following her. “Oh, can I help you?”

“Listen, I’m a little skeptical about what you said back in the shop, but you think maybe we can just talk,” he said, placing a hand behind his head.

“Of course,” she said. “Follow me. The inn is just up ahead.”

The two eventually made it inside the inn and found a room. Jason was still skeptical but knew that if she did try something he could easily fight his way out. “Would you like to have a seat and maybe some tea sir?” she asked with a friendly smile.

“No tea, thanks,” he said as he sat down.

Dream Star sat down in a chair across from him and had a notepad and quill. “Go on, tell me what's on your mind. This is a safe place and no judgment here,” she said with a warm smile.

Jason lay down with his head looking towards the ceiling. “Well there's not a lot I would say except for my nightmares being about myself going on a violent rampage.”

“Did you have any ill feelings towards anyone?”

“I did once,” he replied, “but I made amends. But it's like these dreams are a sign of something bigger. Like Gregory told me, it's like an outside force is trying to get us.”

Dream Star pondered this as she tapped her chin in a thinking manner. “Hmm…well in my professional opinion these kinds of dreams could mean many other things like frustration, remnants of a grudge that still cling to you, or maybe… a reminder of a mental scar that was self-inflicted.”

Before Jason could ask he then felt something being pressed against his face. The moment he smelled something his eyes immediately became heavy and passed out. Dream Star got off him and pulled out a crystal. “I got him. Get me a portal now,” she said.

“Excellent, and don’t worry about tomorrow. After tonight you’ll be one hundred percent immune to the Windigo powers,” came a gruff voice from the crystal.

A red portal opened up and she quickly dragged Jason inside. “And should Gregory show hostility?”

“Make a fool out of him if you must.”