The Dreamer Virus (Sombra's Journal)

by LillyWishes

Rating: mature
Tags: Horror, Adventure, King Sombra, Suicide / Self Harm, Profanity, Violence, Death, Alternate Universe, Princess Luna, Thriller, Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 2051

Sombra's journal of his journey through an Equestria overrun with the dead and trapping more ponies within it every night.

A strange phenomenon has spread across Equestria. Everyone is experiencing the same dream of an Equestria overrun with the dead. Much to the horror of many, anyone bitten or infected in the dream becomes trapped in it, unable to wake up or escape. Those trapped within the dream are fighting to survive and find a way to escape, while those free of it fear every night, wondering if they'll be the next to be trapped.

Published 2025-01-29 19:40:00 UTC
Last updated 2025-01-29 19:40:00 UTC

Good Morning, no....Bad Morning

My first day, if it can even be called that has gone less than well so far. I attempted to sleep but I was restless and every time I would come close to drifting off, I would hear one of those abominations groan or my rubies would go off, zapping one of them after a few moments. I eventually gave up on sleep and just took to seeing what I had here. It's not much in terms of supplies, some canned food, a several flasks of water, some random bottled drinks, a few small packs of dried stuff, and half a bale of hay. I'll use a storage spell to pack what I can before I head off, I don't intend to come back here, but I might also stash some stuff for whoever comes after me. It almost sounds idiotic to be thinking of others like that, but I suppose it's Puzzle rubbing off on me.

I did make it up to the roof and I was able to just barely see Canterlot, though I was also unfortunately able to see I'm on the other side of the Everfree forest from it. I'm a long way from home either way so it seems I'm going to Canterlot. Now I need to decide if I should risk turning into a shadow to travel....if I even can or perhaps go on hoof. Each have their own challenges and advantages. I'm considering a mix of both, maybe stopping in trees to rest then keep going, though I should maybe test to see if I can even transform before anything.

There's a few drops of blood on the page here

It appears I cannot transform at all. I cast the spell and leapt, only to crash to the ground and slice my cheek on a rock. Fortunately, it's not major though it is painful even after washing and patching it. It seems I'll be going on hoof from here. Now I need to plan the best route there. It would most likely be a death sentence to try and go straight through the forest not only because of the dead but also whatever creatures may be lurking within it...if this nightmare allows them. I will admit I find it odd that I haven't heard or seen a single animal in all the nights I've been forced here or since I've been trapped, but on the other hoof forests often go silent when danger is near, I'll have to see as I continue on. For now my main goal will be packing up what I can, prepping this place for whoever comes next, and being on my way to Canterlot.

Author's Note

Hey sorry about such a short chapter. I have a little bit of writer's block and also want to maybe do days where Sombra stops to write whenever he rests or just needs to make an update.

Getting My Bearings

Where, where do I begin in all this? The fact I'm one of the lucky ones? Somehow. The fact I emerged from the darkness watching my own rotting corpse shambling away after some other poor soul? The odd conglomeration of items I found strapped in a saddle bag that was on me? It's practically a blur. I am Sombra, ex tyrincal ruler of the Crystal Empire, now reformed being by LillyWishes, StarHope, WindStreak, SolarBlaze, PuzzleClaw, JoyBubble, DiamondDust, and DawnKeeper. I've decided to start a journal, using the worn one I found in my saddle bag, I was lucky to find something to write with aswell.

Judging from the few clues I've found in the saddle bag, whatever story this twisted nightmare has written for me isn't a kind one. I can tell I've been on my own for a bit, and I left somewhere in a hurry, I fear it may be Lilly and I's home seeing as I found one of our photo albums and a few of my personal effects. I found what I can only assume if where I've been hiding out in an old treehouse, my defensive rubies are everywhere, and in the short time I've been here I've watched them destroy several of them, it's almost satisfying in a grim sort of way, like watching mosquitos fly into a bug zapper, knowing they won't be around to bother you anymore

As for how I got trapped here......I got myself trapped in the nightmare. I didn't mean to I...I had just thought I heard Lilly screaming so I bolted for the sound instead of following our plan. I barely had time to see it was some other poor soul getting trapped before one of them jumped me and sunk its teeth into my neck, instantly everything started to go dark. I did the only thing I could and sent a spark into the air, hoping that wherever Lilly was she would see it and know. I heard the blasted thing chewing on me as everything went completely dark. When I awoke, I found myself surrounded by the aura, and more of the creatures surrounding me, trying to break through the aura, but being unable to due to however it works. I kept myself in the same spot as I knew the second I moved, I would lose the protection of the aura. It took some time, but they finally lost interest and went off after someone else, I don't know who as I couldn't see them. As they were leaving I saw myself getting up off the ground a few feet away, chewed up and rotten and following the rest of the pack. I took that opportunity to run. I'll admit I stupidly ran blindly but I found this place surrounded by my own crystals, so I leapt over them, made them bigger and locked myself inside.

I don't know if I should consider it a blessing or a curse that my magic works here, and in full force it seems. I swore I saw a few wisps of purple flame when I turned my head. I almost wonder if turning myself into smoke and attempting to travel that way would yield results. I don't know where to go from here. I don't recognize this forest at all. I could try and find my way back to the house and...well I don't know what I would do when I get there. Perhaps try and see what this world has done to my Lilly, maybe look for supplies or perhaps my old armor. It won't be much but it's still protection, and it could be a bit better than the leather boots I'm currently wearing.

I could also try and make it to the Canterlot safezone. From what I've heard from the princesses press conferences and public statements. Those who are trapped here and not trapped watching their own rotting corpses shamble about, have a safezone that has been well established in Canterlot. The whole city is a safezone and there are constant pegasai patrols. It would be something at the least. But again, it comes with the issue of me being in this forest with no clue of where I am. For now, I'm going to rest and hope there's some semblance of daylight soon, perhaps I can climb up the tree or even try to get on the roof and get some sense of where I am. Again, that will just have to wait until morning or whatever equal to it there is here.

I just pray that Lilly is safe.

Author's Note

Hey everyone, this is my first anything on FimFiction and the first time I've written something in over a decade, please let me know what you think of it! I would love to hear what you have to say.

Traveling

I have officially started my first day of travel. It took me a bit to get going as I had to find a good place to stash the supplies I wasn't taking to keep them from going rotten too fast or the dead being able to get their nastiness all over them. I packed my bags with everything else, and thanks to Puzzle's storage spell I was able to get a good amount into my bags before I headed off. Which in of itself was a bit of a fight. One of the dead had gotten either very smart, or very lucky and waited until I lowered a ruby to go for me. I'll admit I panicked and only just barely managed to blast it before it could attack me. I've got to remember to keep a level head at all times, losing my focus for even a moment won't end well for me, especially if I want to keep traveling light and not start lugging around some sort of weapon.

In the meantime, it's started to rain pretty hard, so I've managed to climb myself up into a tree to keep myself safe and dry while I wait for it to either pass or die down. Even with the light from my horn and a shield to keep the rain off me, they'll be useless it it's raining too hard for me to see. I found a decent map and a compass in my bag so I'm able to plot out a route and get a good idea of the best route.

Right now I'm keeping to the edge of the Everfree forest and will keep on it until I hit the train tracks, from there I can go towards Puzzle's great-grandfather's place and maybe stop to rest for a bit or even set up for the night if it's not too unsafe. After I rest, I might swing by Sweet Apple Acres and pick some apples then use the old water tower as a vantage point to get a look at Ponyville and see what their undead situation looks like and either head in to scavenge or just avoid it all together until I hit the train station. I can keep following the tracks from there and they'll lead me straight to Canterlot.

I'll have to be careful when I hit the river. The bridge doesn't have much space on either side of the tracks and the railing is on the short side. A fall in could spell the end for me, there's also the small bit of forest by it where I could be ambushed from. Be it by the dead or other survivors. The same might go for the tunnel at the base of the mountain Canterlot sits on. I don't fully know how the dead work here and for all I know a dark tunnel like that could be like a nest for them.

Speaking of the dead I've noticed they're somewhat sporadic in their peculiar behaviors. As I've traveled, the few I've seen have acted like loners, and even snapping at other undead that get close to them, to the point I've observed two snarling at each other over a scrap of meat, a stark contrast to last night when they were grouped up trying to attack anypony they saw. It also seems the rain has some sort of calming effect on them. Several have looked up the tree at me and could care less that I'm here and have just continued on their way. I do know a few rain spells so maybe I could utilize this odd quirk of theirs, once I study it a bit more. If I didn't need the rest I would also study their night behaviors. Anything I can found out about them would be highly beneficial to not only mine, but other's survival.

It almost suggests herding behavior or maybe instincts like the ancient ponies. It was safe to split up during the day and more beneficial that that, then group up at night to help ward of predators and more easily find food, finally being at ease during the rain as it kept their scent hidden from predators and day rain made the fruits and plants they ate stick out more. While I highly doubt they're worried about predation from anything else, it could still be a clue to what has caused all this and how to survive it.