The Mistress of Dreams

The sun set on the horizon hours later.  Twilight was so deep into the book that she had not notice it was already evening.  She took a break from reading to look over her notes.

“Okay.  An out-of-body experience are personal experiences in which a pony is perceiving the physical world from a location outside of their body.  I already figured that part out.  The consciousness of a pony is separated from the body and travels in a discorporate form in the natural world.  But what I don’t understand is how I can enter dreams.”

She continued to read the chapter she left off on.  She reached a paragraph that had captured her interest; she levitated her notepad and quill close to her.  Her eyes widened as she read the sentences to herself.

“In some cases - rare as it may seem - the pony’s consciousness can willingly enter the subconscious of another pony - they can enter their dreams.”  Twilight began writing on her notepad - but stopped mid-sentence.  She levitated the book closer to her.

“Lucid dreaming is a dream in which *you know you are dreaming*** -” her eyes widened at the sentence “- this happens when the dreamer experiences something strange, stops to question reality, and realize they are dreaming.”  The book was right about one thing - she did experience something strange.  Something... supernatural of the sort.

“Continuing on the subject of the subconsciousness mind being infiltrated by an outside source, Shared dreaming, or mutual dreaming, is the name given to the ability to link one’s dream with another pony inside his or her dream.”  Her eyes widened at the revelation.  She paraphrased the sentence on her notepad and continued.

“Just as with lucid dreaming, shared dreaming can occur spontaneously.  There are no records of these extraordinary phenomena, but one pony experienced all of it - *me***.”

Twilight put the book down and let her brain process what she had learned.  This Rain Dancer seem to know her facts, but she was still uncertain.

“This is eerie.  What if this happens again tonight?  I would like to visit more of my friend’s dreams, but... I don’t know.  Rain Dancer and I seem to be the only ones with this... power I guess.  I wonder if I should sleep tonight.”

Knocks echoed across the bedroom; her thought process was cut-short.  She opened the door to reveal Spike.

“Um, Twilight?  Is everything okay?” he asked worriedly.  “You haven’t been down for dinner and I thought something bad happened.”

“Don’t worry Spike, I’m fine.  I’m just really engrossed in this book.  There are so many things I haven’t learned about dre- I’m mean, wind cycles!”

Spike raised an eyebrow at the unicorn.  Wind cycles?  Why would she want to study something boring as that?  Wasn’t that something more on Rainbow Dash’s field?

“Well, there is still some food left on the table.  Imma go hit the hay - later, Twi.”  Spike closed the door and proceeded to the washroom.  Thoughts of uncertainty and speculation poured into Twilight’s mind.  Indeed she was afraid to go to sleep tonight, but this was a once-in-a-lifetime discovery.

“I’ll see how this plays out.  Last night might have been a fluke, or maybe not.  I’m not sure if this happened by accident... or if this is something else entirely.”  She looked at her clock - it was getting late.  She wasn’t sure if this would happen again, but in a few hours, the moment of truth will arrive.  And she will be ready.

                                                                                                     ***

Blackness.  That was all that could be seen.  The blackness was accompanied by the sound of snoring.  Twilight opened her eyes and found that the snores were coming from her baby dragon.  At this rate, she would not be able to sleep in peace.  She made a mental note to find a spell that would silence his snores.  The unicorn stare upon the ceiling, and turned her head to face the moon.  This all happened at midnight.  For some reason, this happened to her; but why?  Twilight stare at the moon some more until her eyes felt heavy.  She slowly felt herself drifting away to slumberland.  She could see complete, utter blackness again.  Spike’s snores decreased in volume, until silence overtook the annoying sounds.  All is dark, all is calm.

Then her horn glowed.

Twilight slowly opened her eyes.  She was floating just a couple a feet into the air.  She looked down and saw herself - eyes closed, horn glowing the same colors from last night.

It happened again.

She stare at her physical body for what could have been five minutes.

“Okay.  What now?”

She floated through the window and she was outside the library.  The moon brightly sat on the sky, shining its rays across the black dome, painted with stars.  The streets were empty, not a soul was awake.  Twilight began her flight across Ponyville.

“Alright, Twilight.  Just like last night.  I think I have an idea of whose dream I would like to go to.”

She flew to the southeast direction of the village.  Sometime later, she stopped at her destination.  Carousel Boutique.  She step down onto the surface, and walked through the door.  Twilight was now inside the clothing workshop of Rarity, her fashionista unicorn friend.  Ponnequins were spread across the shopping area.  Some had clothes, others were naked.  Everywhere she looked, the rooms were decorated with paintings by famous stallions of the renaissance era.  She spotted a huge staircase that lead upstairs.

Twilight finally entered the hallway, which was even bigger than the entrance and room area.  The hallway contained five doors; she summoned her x-ray vision spell to find out which room belonged to Rarity.  She saw a white figure with a pink robe on the second door to the right.  Smiling lightly, she walked through the door and entered Rarity’s bedroom.

The room was sight.  Notes, sketches, accessories, everything clothing related created a chaotic feeling in the blackness of night.  Twilight never knew Rarity could be so... unorganized.  She shrugged those feelings off - she is a fashion artist after all.  She walked over to the bed - only to find another white figure lying next her.  A little white filly with a pink mane.  Her little sister, Sweetie-Belle, was sleeping next to her.

“Aww.  This is just too cute,”  Twilight quietly said.  She took a closer look a Sweetie, and saw she was clutching a stuffed-bunny close to her.

“I would love to see what Sweetie’s dreams are like.  Awww.  Maybe some other time I hope.”

She walked over to the other side of the bed and faced Rarity.  She was wearing that sleeping mask she always had.  Twilight stretched her hoof - then stopped.  She looked up at her purple horn and thought.

“Maybe there is another way to enter a dream.  Let me see...”  Twilight brought her horn closer to Rarity’s.  Hopefully, this won’t wake her up she thought to herself.  Her horn touched the fashionista’s horn and a little spark ignited the magic.  Twilight disappeared into Rarity’s mind.

Meanwhile, a few miles away, a mystical presence also traveled around Ponyville in the dead of night.  The strange force found its way to the library.  A dark-green cloud formulated outside of the upstairs window.  Twilight’s body could be seen, horn glowing that mysterious glow.  The green cloud of magic chuckled to itself.

“So, the power has not pass from her.  Good.  I wonder where she head off to...”

                                                                                                             ***

Twilight appeared before a great hall.  It was empty and quiet, but it was a magnificent sight to behold.  Marble pillars stood bold from each side of the hall.  The ceiling was decorated with abstract art and colors that blended well together.  Lanterns brighten the hall,  which hung safely from the marble pillars.  She continued to walk until she reached the end of the hall;  there was a white stallion unicorn wearing a black tuxedo standing in front of a door, with a large book on a podium.

“Good evening, madame.  Welcome zo Frou Frou Petite.  Are you on ze guest list?” the stallion asked with a fancy accent.

“Oh... Of course.  Well, not quite, exactly.  I was actually looking for a friend of mine.  Her name is Rarity and --”

“Wait za minute... you look familiarr.  Are you ze Twilight Sparkell?”

“Of course.  Twilight Sparkle, the personal protege of Princess Celestia of Equestria,”  she answer confidently.  The fancy unicorn stallion let out a gasp, and then a high pitch squeal that could pierce the ears of those around him in a 15 yards from where he was standing.

“Zis is wonderfull!  Monsieur Fancypants haz talked zo much about you!  I never thought I would actually meet you!”  Twilight blushed at the fancy stallion’s comment.  His accent was so cute.

“Please, Miss Sparkell, right zis way!  Monsieur Fancypants should be here zis moment!”

The fancy unicorn stallion opened the door, and led Twilight into the restaurant.  The restaurant was even glorious than the hallway.  Giant chandeliers hung from the ceiling, giving beautiful yellow light to its patrons.  There was a brown stallion earth pony on stage with a white tuxedo playing smooth jazz tunes on the piano.  The ponies in the restaurant were having quiet conversations among themselves.  Most were seated in groups, giving toasts to each other for no particular reason.  Twilight never really enjoyed being around uber-fancy ponies as these, but she could manage.

“ *I do say, Miss Sparkle, is that you I see?*”  a familiar voice called out.  She only heard that voice once before, but she instantly knew who it was.  She turned around and saw a white unicorn stallion with a monocle and a light-blue mane and mustache.  He was seated with a rather slender, white unicorn mare with a pink mane. He motioned her to come join him.

“Fancypants?  He wants me to... sit with him?”  Twilight asked herself.  The fancy stallion led her to Fancypant’s table.  She took an open seat and nervously smiled at the group of elitists before her.

“Ah, Miss Sparkle, it is so wonderful to see you again.  How long has it been?”

“I say at least several months since my birthday party intercept with your fancy party,”  Twilight said carefully.  She was caught off-guard when Fancypants let out a light-hearted laugh.  She gave out sigh of relief, knowing the stallion was surprising good natured.

“Oh yes, I remember that day all too-well. I say, you looked quite adorable with that plain yellow dress.  And that dance,” Fancypants laughed at the memory.  Twilight blushed at the comment about her dress.

“I have a niece who acts just like you.  I truly believe you and her would have quite a friendship.”

The fancy stallion from before came again with glasses for the occupants of the table.  He then poured into the glasses cider.  Twilight looked around the large room - there was still no sign of Rarity.

“Oh, excuse me, I forgot something--” Fancypants declared.  He cleared his throat and introduced his marefriend.  “Miss Sparkle, this is my companion, Fleur de Lis.  Fleur de Lis, this is Twilight Sparkle, the unicorn I told you about.”

“Charmed,” de Lis said.  She held out her limp hoof and Twilight shook it lightly with her own.  This was how most high-class mares in Canterlot held their hooves when introductions are made.  (Not that Twilight consider herself high-class or anything like that)

“Yes, Lis is quite is the charmer, is she not?  And beautiful as well.  If you ask me, all the mares in Equestria would sell their very souls to Discord to attain beauty such as hers.”

“Oh... yes she is.  Miss de Lis is very remarkable.  How did you two became a couple?” Twilight asked with a mixture of nervousness.

“You know, come to think about it - I hardly remember when and how I met her.  The story I often tell to other ponies is that I was enjoying a nice walk on the beach until I uncovered a magic lamp.  Thinking a genie would appear, I rubbed the lamp, and Fleur de Lis appeared and granted my wishes.  She has been following me ever since.”

Twilight was stunned/confused/shock from the explanation as to why de Lis is always seen with him a lot.  She shifted her eyes to the slender, white unicorn and she was too busy doing sexy poses for an imaginary paparazzi.

“Rarity, please come soon.”

                                                                                                                    ***

At the other end of the restaurant, a bar to be exact, a grey earth pony stallion with a straight black mane, sporting a white tuxedo, drank slowly from his glass of cider.  He stare into his glass when the contents were gone.

“Another glass, sir,” a bartender asked him.  The grey stallion snapped out of his trance and looked at who was speaking to him.

“Sure.”

More cider appeared, and the grey stallion drunk and his taste buds embraced the flavor.

“Cassius, you have to stop thinking about her.  She’s driving you crazy,” the bartender said.

“Kid, you don’t understand.  That mare was everything to me.  We cherished every second, every minute, every hour we spent together.  When I first met her...  when I first laid upon those beautiful, blue irises, I thought she would never leave me.  Now... that’s all I can ever think about.  What could have been.”

Kid the bartender silently groaned at his friend’s sob story.  He took a glance at the sad slop of a friend and couldn’t take it anymore.  He had to add his two cents to the matter.

“Cassius, that was four years ago.  You have to let the past go.  I don’t what the whole story of what happened between you and Miss Belle, but from what I can tell, you two wanted different things from life.  She left because...”

“... I wasn’t good enough for her,” Cassius retorted.

“...You were too comfortable where you were,” Kid answered.  The orange bartender stallion trotted to another customer.  The vague answered stayed with him as was left alone with his thoughts.

“What could have been...”

                                                                                                                   ***

A dark figure trotted into the restaurant.  Her black, silk coat concealed her identity, save for the small, blue strands of her mane covering a quarter of her face from her black beret.  She scanned the room, looking for nopony in particular.  She trotted up to the stallion playing the jazz tunes on the piano.

“It’s been awhile since I heard you play those notes,” the low feminine voice said to the brown piano stallion.  He turned around and smile warmly at the stranger.

“Miss Rarity.  I never thought I see you again.  How long has it been?”

“Quite too long.  Keynote - please play that song for me.  Like the old days.”

Keynote was taken aback by the request.  It’s been a long time since he played that song.  He was hesitant to move forward with her request.

“I don’t know, Miss Rarity.  Ever since you... well, I’m not allow to play that song.  He... never wants to hear it again.”

“Please... just this once.  For me, darling.”

Keynote could not bring himself to play the song, but the pleading eyes Rarity gave him convinced him otherwise.  He reluctantly maneuver his hooves to the keys on the piano, and music began to fill the room.  The song that reminded both of them of the good times when she and Cassius were together.  The song the reminded Rarity of why she left him... and reminded of why she was still in love with him.

***

While Fancypants was continuing recounting the events of how he acquired fourteen billion bits from his self-owned publishing company,  Twilight’s ears perked at most beautiful song she ever heard.  She turned her head, and saw the brown stallion singing that familiar tune she heard when she was young.  Afterward, her gaze was fixed upon the dark figure standing next the singing stallion.

Fancypants ceased his story and listened to the stallion playing the memorable tune.  Fleur de Lis couldn’t help but admire the music as well, the only thing stopping her from doing sexy poses.

“I say... I have not heard that song in quite a long time.  I remember it from my youth.”  His eyes were getting watery from the enchanting melody of the song.  He grabbed a nearby napkin and dried his eyes.  Twilight felt a tingling feeling in her eyes also.  A few droplets trickled down her cheek.  She forgot about searching for Rarity and let the music bring her into bliss.  Fancypants levitated a tissue to Twilight’s eyes and dried them.

“Oh how time goes by...”

                                                                                                                       ***

Cassius sat alone with his thoughts about the mare he loved.  He was contemplating leaving early... then he heard that song.  The song that reminded him of the golden age.  That reminded him of heartbreak.  The song he never wanted to hear again.  Instead of the blissful feeling the patrons were enjoying, anger overtook his heart.  Who dares plays that song when he was around?

“Cassius, everything alright?” Kid asked.  Cassius ignored his question and trotted to whole was playing that forbidden song.

Keynote immersed himself into the music, that the worries of Cassius finding out passed away from his thoughts.  He was about to bring the song home...

“Keynote!”

Keynote was snapped back to reality as Cassius trotted to him.  He could see the bitterness in his face and prepared himself for a demeaning lecture.

“Keynote, what did I tell about that song?  I thought I told you to never, ever play that damn song around me!  If I ever catch you--”

“It wasn’t his fault.  I asked him to play it.  If there is anypony to blame, it’s me,” the dark figure firmly said to Cassius.

“Maybe Keynote here should have had the brains to tell you that the song is banned!” Cassius retorted.

“He did.  I insist he played it anyway.”

“Who in tartarus do you think you are, lady,” Cassius asked coldly.

The dark figure removed her beret, revealing a long, blue, well-groomed mane.  She pushed the part of her mane that covered her left eye, so she could see clearly.  Her blue irises stared deeply into Cassius’ eyes.

“Just somepony whom you used to know.”

                                                                                                                    ***

Twilight, Fancypants, Fleur de Lis were caught in a moment of rapture at Keynote’s music.  Fancypants remained unusually silent throughout the duration of the song.  Twilight took a small glance at the stallion when the music reached its climax - his lips began to quiver.

The rapturous moment came to an abrupt end when a grey stallion chastised the piano player.

“Oh my, there seems to be some indifference,” Fancypants commented.

“Indeed,”  de Lis lated added.

Twilight was disturbed by the ordeal.  The grey stallion was making a scene for no apparent reason other than to show his distaste for a wonderful song.  The black coated figured tried his/her best to defend the piano player, but to no avail.

“I’m sorry, Fancypants, but I need to cut our little meeting short.  I have to prevent a fight from ensuing,”  Twilight firmly said.

“How in the name of Celestia would you do that,”  Fancypants asked.

“By what I do best - lecture him,” Twilight stated with confidence.  She trotted her way to the stage to give the trouble-making stallion a good, old-fashioned lecture.  She slowed down when the black coated pony removed her hat.

“Oh my gosh... is that... Rarity?”

Twilight looked at her white unicorn friend with pure confusion.  Fluttershy and Applejack had grand appearances in their dreams.  Somehow, Rarity seem kind of lackluster.  She expected to see strong stallions to carry Rarity while she sitting on a golden throne.

She listened to the conclusion of the argument without further interruption.

                                                                                                                            ***

Cassius was stunned by the sight before him.   It was as if he had seen a ghost.   His heart felt it was about to give out at any minute.   Four years.  Four, long, miserable years.  There were no words in the Equestrian dictionary to describe a shocking moment as this.  The lump on his throat made it hard for him to create words.

“Rarity... you came ba... why?  Why?”

“I wanted to see you again, Cassius.  I wanted to see what you have done with yourself,”  Rarity calmly said.

“Rarity... you broke my heart.”

“I know.”

“You said... we will always be together.”

“I know.”

“Then... you left.  Why did you lie to me?”

His voice started to crack.  His eyes became moist, and raised his hoof to quickly wiped them dry, so he wouldn’t appear to be weak.

“I never lied to you, Cassius.  I left you because you were content with your mundane life.  I left you because I wanted to pursue my dreams.  To be honest, I left you because you were holding me back.   But in all those years we were apart - I always thought about you.  Every city I have gone to I saw your face.  You were always in my thoughts, my mind... and my heart.”

Cassius couldn’t believe his ears.  A mental breakdown was imminent.  He wanted to tell her off, but he was too heartbroken to do so.  Tears flowed slowly down his cheeks as his emotions ran off course.  He looked back at the audience who had watched the tearjerking scene unfold.  He slowly walked off the stage disappeared from view.

Twilight senses were offended from what had transpired.  She walked up the stage where Rarity stood, eyes widen, almost in tears.

“Rarity...”

“Hello, Twilight...”

The greeting was calm, unlike the feelings of surprise Fluttershy and Applejack had.

“Rarity... why would do such a horrible thing like that?  To the pony that loved you?”

“... Because love was not enough.”

“What do you mean?”  Twilight asked.

Rarity sighed.  If there were any of her friends who wanted to know about her love life, it was Twilight.  She saw this coming two thousand miles away.

“Come outside with me, Twilight.  I’ll tell everything that has happened between me and him.  What has never happened.”

End of Part I