Lucky Leaves

Clover... awoke?

She was wearing what looked like dark blue armour, complete with a helmet. Around her neck was a pendant with a dark symbol; Luna's Cutie Mark. She also had a pair of shadowy-looking wings, for some reason.

"Huh?" she queried aloud, "Where am I?"

"Did you forget?" Princess Luna said, suddenly appearing. "You agreed to be part of the DreamGuard."

Clover bowed deeply. "Good evening, Princess Luna."

"Merrily met, Clover."

"Huh?"

Luna explained, "When we come together, we say 'merrily met.' When the night ends, we say, 'Merry part; until we merry meet again'."

"It took me a while to get used to as well." a new voice said. "We were all newbies once." This Pony was a Unicorn wearing a blue cloak with what appeared to be velvet moons. She had a pendant similar to the one that Clover was wearing. Under her cloak was an outline of wings.

Luna pointed the figure out. "This is Moon Shadow. My third right hoof, you might say. She's also in charge of painful memories. In the waking world, she's also my protege." Luna smiled. "She'll be observing only, this night."

"Tough being the new kid. Lots to get used to." This figure was a Lunar Pegasus. He had similar -if lighter-looking- armour to Clover's. He had wingblades, with sharp edges. He also had the same sort of pendant.

"And this is Southern Cross." Luna introduced. "He's our foremost combat tactician. He fights nightmares, often by my side, Don't let his shortness of words fool you; he's a stern yet caring individual. He is staying behind tonight, however."

"And I'm cute!"

Luna rolled her eyes. "This is Heart Song. She's the... well, heart of our little group. She's also our Wild Card; our Pinkie Pie, you might say."

This one was an Earth Pony. She was pink with a red mane and tail, done up in dreadlocks. She also had the armour -if a bit heavier-looking- like Clover had. Same pendant. Same shadowy wings.

"She's also in charge of the..." Luna coughed, blushing lightly. "Pink dreams."

Heart Song grinned widely at that. "Pleased ta meetcha. Uh, I mean, merrily met. Call me Hearts!"

The night princess turned to face those assembled. "Everypony, this is Clover Bloom. I told you of her just the other night."

Heart Song sped up to Clover, shaking one of her hooves vigorously. "Oh! The Demon Tamer! Show us! Show us!"

Luna smiled, rolling her eyes again. "Let the mare have her hoof back, Heart Song."

Heart Song did as ordered, leaving Clover's hoof waving in the nonexistent air. After a moment, she helped to stop that, chuckling.

Clover concentrated. "{Nightshade?}"

{I am at your beck and call, mistress.}

"{Would you kindly come out and meet the rest of the group?}"

Nightshade manifested, a miniature Alicorn, looking somewhat like Nightmare Moon. She floated next to Clover's head.

"Why do you look like Nightmare Moon?" Clover asked.

{Because you didn't like me looking like you. Would you prefer to choose my form?}

"Hmm..." Clover said, thinking. After a moment, Nightshade re-formed. This time she had a dark grey coat and a mane of what looked like bluish fire.

Nightshade looked herself over. "Ooooh! I like this." she said aloud. "Still missing something."

Clover concentrated again, a pendant and shadow wings adding themselves.

"About that." Clover asked. "Why the pndants? And why do we all have wings? Not that I disapprove."

Luna nodded. "A valid question. Moon Shadow?"

Moon Shadow explained, "Both for similar reasons. They mark you as a member of the DreamGuard. If you hadn't noticed, they also display your rank."

Clover hadn't noticed. She looked at her pendant again. Above the moon symbol was a blue "3". She immediately looked at the others. Heart Song had a "5". Southern Cross' was "7". Moon Shadow's displayed a "10".

Heart Song pointed to Clover's. "Rank three! Not bad for a newbie."

Clover looked at the assembled group. "Is this all there is?"

Luna tsked. "Clover, I said that Ponies with these abilities are rare. Nevertheless, there are a few more among us. Perhaps you shall met them somenight. Furthermore, having one group of Ponies patrolling the Dreamscape every night would tire them out."

Clover nodded at the others. "Either way, it's a pleasure to meet you all. Merrily met."

"Tonight is your first mission." Luna said. "This night, you shall Walk with me. I shall teach you of the different kinds of dreams. Follow me." So saying, the night Princess spread her wings and flew off. Clover looked at her wings. And, with a little concentration, she launched herself into the air, Nightshade following.

Moon Shadow rubbed at her horn. "Newbies. Always with the hot takeoffs! Sheesh!" She made to follow along.

Clover followed along, her wings flapping lazily in the still-ish air. Luna pointed downward. Below them was the Apple family home, on Sweet Apple Acres. Above four rooms there were two white clouds and two golden ones.

"Gold and white dreams are pleasant. I shoud note, Apple Bloom sleeps under a dreamcatcher. Watch out for those."

They proceeded onward. Now they were over the Carousel Boutique. This one had a white cloud over one and a wavering pink cloud over another.

"Pink dreams are the more... intimate variety. That wavering motion indicates that it's about to be attacked, though! Look; It's already starting!"

The pink cloud was starting to be replaced by a dark blue one. Heart Song launched herself forward. "I got this one! For Glory and Romaaaaaaance!" With that, she dove into the half blue cloud.

Luna facehoofed. "Again, our Wild Card. You can never quite be sure of what she'll do next."

Next, after white dreams all across Ponyville, they were over Rainbow Dash's cloud house. This one had a cloud that was half gold, half green. Luna pointed. "This indicates that Rainbow Dash is having a pleasant dream... but could use some aid. Shall we?"

Together, they dove into that cloud.

Luna and Clover manifested near Rainbow Dash, who was fighting off a group of Changelings. She was quickly being overwhelmed, though.

Luna sped over, knocking one aside, having come as a surprise, along with four others in rapid succession. "Dost thou needeth some aid, friend Rainbow Dash?"

"Princess Luna!" Rainbow Dash greeted, smacking another Changeling aside. "I'm glad to see you! Forgive me for not bowing-" she stopped to give another charger a three hoofed strike. "But I'm a touch busy. But yes, some help would be nice."

Five more changelings charged in, Clover intercepting three of them. She easily smacked two away, briefly being held down by the last. "Nightshade!" Clover called.

Nightshade manifested. "Get away from my master!" she snarled, slamming her hooves into the Changeling's back, then throwing it aside.

By this time, Rainbow Dash and Luna had sent a couple more of them each for a loop, down for the count.

Clover started glowing red, as did Luna.

Rainbow Dash pointed. "Limit Break! You can perform a special move."

Luna looked toward a larger Changeling. She felt words come to her lips. "Finishing Strike: Extreme Void!"

A spike of force impaled the Changeling, taking it down in one shot.

Rainbow Dash squeed. "So. AWESOME!" she exclaimed, grinning widely.

Clover had an idea. She Commanded Nightshade to toss her into the air. When she was up there, she began to spin rapidly. "Meteor Strike!" she called out, streaking toward another group, slaming into the ground and scattering 15 Changelings.

Rainbow Dash called out, "Great AoE on that attack, Clover!"

"AoE?" Clover queried.

Rainbow Dash snorted. "Area of Effect. Haven't you ever played any video games? Maybe some Ogres and Oubliettes?"

"Nope."

A facehoof. "I've gotta introduce you to those. Remind me; You're missing out!"

In short order they'd defeated the majority of the Changelings. One last large one stepped up. Presumably this one was the Big Bad for this one. By this time, Rainbow Dash had her Limit Break charged.

She sped forward. "Righteous Rush!" she called out, a contrail of rainbow stars appearing behind her, what looked like a red shield just ahead. She slammed into the last one, taking it down with ease.

After a moment, the Changelings disappeared into puffs of dreamstuff. Rainbow Dash said, "Thanks for the help, gals. You really saved my hide, there!"

"Not a problem at all, friend Rainbow Dash." Luna said. "'Twas the most fun I've had in AGES!"

Together, the two left the dream, Rainbow Dash waving.

They appeared outside of the dream. Things seemed to have not changed at all.

Luna explained, "Time is subjective here. It's as if we'd only just left. It's a touch difficult to patrol the WHOLE country otherwise."

After that, they went back toward Ponyville proper. Luna said, "You acquitted yourself rather well, Clover. You've passed your initiation test. There's just one last thing."

"What's that?" Clover asked.

Luna pointed to where Clover's place of residence was. "Violet dreams indicate that they're to be shared." Over the house was one large purple cloud. Together, they dove in.

When they appeared, they were sitting in a large hot tub. In it as well were Sweetheart, Bright Eyes, Patch... and also Starlight and Melody! Aloe and Lotus were there too.

Bright Eyes said, a trifle smugly, "Glad you could join us, Clover. Oh, and you too, Princess Luna!"

Together, they bathed for a while, engaging in some light conversation. The Dreamscape was relatively safe... for the moment.