Soul Saga: Catching Dreams

"Well, I'm not exactly sure how to put it Oneiric."

The voice rung unfamiliar to Dream's ears, now that he could actually focus on what was happening around him. It felt like he'd been asleep for hours when he'd finally woken up, unable to see the world around him through the thick bandages and gauze that covered his eyes.

"There's just absolutely nothing wrong with him. I can't find a single thing, outside of the fever. But there wasn't even anything to indicate what caused that either. As far as I can tell, he's just a healthy young colt."

He heard his father sigh with something akin to a mixture of relief and confused defeat.

"He was bleeding from his eyes, Docere. From. His. EYES. Can you honestly sit there and tell me that there's nothing wrong with him after seeing it for yourself? By the twin Princesses, we've known each other for how many years now? You're one of the best physicians I've ever met." There came a short pause, tension thick in the air. "Don't let me down now, Doc. My boys are all I've got left."

There was a tinge of sadness in his father's words, despite the usual fit he was in when he returned home from work. Dream felt it in those words...knew that he still cared, no matter how he acted sometimes. If not for picking up on that tone, Dream would've been completely panicked by the things he'd just heard. Yet somehow, just knowing that little bit of information lessened his fears.

"I know. I wouldn't have believed it myself if I hadn't witnessed it. But I've checked him over three times now and I'm telling you, the colt's in near perfect health, aside from a strained muscle and a small bump on his forehead. Which, if everything is to be believed, he got while sleeping at school when he fell out of his desk?"

"Yes. His teacher will vouch for that. What, are you trying to say I abuse my boys?" Oneiric's voice took on a defensive tone.

"Not at all, friend. I'm just trying to think of all possible angles for such a strange and upsetting phenomenon. It's not every day that things like this happen, you know that. For all I know, it could be some new kind of sickness we've yet to encounter."

"Gods Docere, don't tell me things like that. We both know how bad an unknown bug can be."

Dream shuddered at the thought. There had been tales of such diseases springing up, taking the lives of hundreds of ponies before anyone found a working antidote.

"Am I...gonna die, pop?" Dream finally spoke up, alerting them to his presence once more.

"No! No, of course not! I wouldn't let that happen!" Oneiric rushed over immediately, putting a comforting hoof to Dream's head. He brushed at the colt's mane as gently as he could manage, stroking the bandaged youth. "Besides that, your brother wouldn't forgive me if I let that happen. No, you're going to be all right. Don't you worry any."

The little pegasus did the best he could to nod, attempting to keep his growing list of fears in check. While he couldn't see anything but a world of black at the moment, at least he could still hear and feel. Could know that by the tenderness of his father's touch that even in his typically alcohol-ridden state of mind that he still cared. But what he wouldn't give to not be able to feel anything else at that point. His head still pounded so hard he could physically feel his eyelids pressing out against the wrapping over top of them.

Dream slowly sat up, trying for all intents and purposes to clear his little skull of blood flow even if just for a few moments. His father's presence was close enough to know that the stallion was watching out for his colt in case anything should happen...and that was more comforting than anything else at that point. Mirage was apparently elsewhere at that time or he'd probably have been close by as well. Dream was used to feeling his magical aura around, having shared the same room with him since he'd been old enough to sleep in his own bed so it was easy for the pegasus to know that he was absent.

"Father? Where's big brother?"

"Hey now, don't you worry. Mirage is off at school right now, but he'll be here as soon as he gets out. You were asleep for a while." Oneiric gently patted Dream's head, switching over to a cautious stroking when he saw his son cringe at the touch. "Your head hurtin', little guy?"

"Yeah...it feels like somepony's hitting me with a big stick over and over again."

Oneiric turned back to Docere, giving him a questioning gaze.

"Probably just a post adrenaline-rush induced headache. I'll get something for him."

As the doctor left to find the requested medication, Dream Catcher lay his head back down on his pillow. Of all the things that had happened to him over the years, this new instance was likely the worst. It was more frightening than a lot of instances he could pull out of his short memory, only serving to start a whorl of thoughts that began to spiral out of control. When at last he couldn't take it anymore, he blurted out the biggest question on his mind.

"Dad...what's wrong with me?"

The unicorn stallion quickly shushed him.

"There's nothing wrong with you, Dream. You're just a little colt who's had one too many bad things happen in his short life, that's all."

Dream shook his head slowly.

"No...I mean, why do I sleep so much? What happened last night?" He paused, the biggest question of all dangling on the tip of his tongue. "How did I know what happened to mom before anypony else? What is wrong with me?"

Oneiric could only speculate an answer for the first one, but the rest...they were all left with answers as blank as the look on his face. Still, he sucked in a deep breath and made an attempt.

"Well...I was talking to Doc while you were sleeping. He'd asked if you had any trouble getting to sleep before. When I told him about your sleep patterns...you know, the times you wake up and go to bed? Well, he thinks you might be a Hypersomniac. It just means that you always feel tired. We don't know a whole lot about that condition as of yet...it's only recently been termed; but don't you worry. As long as I'm here, I won't let anything happen to you." Dream felt a comforting hoof come down on his shoulder. "All I can say about the rest though is...I really don't know kiddo."

His father sat back uneasily, though the smile he gave was genuine. He hadn't lied, and the young colt could tell that just by listening to him. It didn't help matters any though. The unanswered questions still bugged him. He had to tell his dad about one more thing.

"Dad...I think I was in Mirage's dream last night."

"What do you mean?" The unicorn asked.

"I saw him in school, fighting with a book. Everypony was laughing at him. But when I showed up, it all went white, and then he looked down at me and said thanks. I woke up right after that and heard him sigh in his sleep like he was happy."

Oneiric chuckled at that.

"Well of course he'd be happy to see you. The academy is a tough place. But I don't think you were actually -in- his dream. Maybe you just caught some magical backwash and saw yourself there."

"It's not just that though. After I fell asleep again...I woke up in this long room filled with beds." Dream continued. "There was an old gray mare there with a blue mane and glasses. She was wearing a white necklace of two ponies touching noses...and she said some really weird stuff to me."

Dream heard his father's breath catch in his throat.

"You know Ivory Charm? When did you meet her?"

"Is that her name?"

He felt the bed shift as his father got up, suddenly feeling a lot more alone in the quiet room.

"Most know her as Grandma Blankie. She runs the local orphanage, so we see her often down here at the clinic when some of the younger foals get sick. But how do you know her?"

Dream shrugged.

"I don't. But she seemed to know me. I was also there in another dream. There was a little pegasus like me sitting in bed. He had his wings all bandaged up, and he was looking at me funny. There was something wrong with his eyes too. You know that little black spot in the middle?"

"It's called a pupil, squirt. It's what lets you see."

"He didn't have those. It felt like he was looking through me. And then he said all sorts of weird stuff too. Something about not worrying about the dest...inish..."

"Destination?"

"Yeah, that's it. It's not the destination, but the journey to get there that's what's important."

Oneiric put a hoof to his chin in thought, looking down at his son. This warranted some investigation.

"Well, he certainly was a smart little colt then. But I'm curious. What did Grandma say to you?"

Dream thought back, trying to remember past the pounding that still lanced his head. It had lessened a bit by now, but it still didn't help matters any. With a little bit more thought, he found the memory and pulled it forward.

"Well, she thought I couldn't see her...but I could. She said I'd been in some accident...and that Mirage was there too. She tucked me in bed, and called me 'Her little Dream Catcher'. She knew me dad. I don't know her, but she knew me."

There came the sound of the door opening as Docere returned, carrying what sounded to be a bottle of medicine. He set it down on the table next to the bed before checking Dream's temperature again.

"Sorry...got held up out there. Seems Midnight Spark down at the Children's Home twisted her ankle. Had to take care of her until Gentleheart could cart her off to a room for rest."

"Doc...is Ivory out there by any chance? I've got a few questions for her." Oneiric asked, a striking determination in his tone of voice carrying to Dream's ears.

"No...Annie Smith brought her in. Said Ivory couldn't make it. Something about having to help out the other two that were involved. They weren't as badly injured, but Annie volunteered to bring Spark down here while Ivory stayed behind. It's amazing how that young filly keeps up with the kids, the farm, and her coltfriend all at the same time."

Oneiric sighed, but clopped a hoof to the floor in determination.

"Will you stay here with Dream until Mirage arrives? I'm going down to the orphanage."

"Sure...but what's the sudden interest with Ivory Charm?" Docere asked, curiosity ringing. Dream knew the answer that was left unsaid as his father walked out of the room and down the hall. "Now what do you suppose that was about?" The doctor pondered aloud.

===D.W.===

The front door to the orphanage stood wide open as the children played outside in the mid-summer sun. Oneiric strode up the front stairs of the bright building, stepping through the double-oak panel doors to the main atrium inside. He hung a right, heading straight for the main office when he was stopped halfway there, finding the mare he was looking for on her way out the office door.

"Oh! Doctor Nights, what a surprise. How is Midnight doing?" The aging mare asked, a bright smile draped gently across her warm face.

"I'm not sure Miss Charm. That's not what I'm here about though." Oneiric held up a hoof to halt her from further speech. "I don't mean to be rude, and pardon the interruption...but I have a few questions I'd like to ask you."

Ivory Charm stood there, blinking awkwardly like she'd just been slapped in the face and wasn't sure how to take it.

"Well by all means Oneiric, if you've got something to ask, ask away. And I've told you how many times before, you silly young pony...just call me Grandma."

Oneiric took the outstretched hoof and moved it to rub his brow in thought as to how he wanted to phrase his inquiries. They weren't just questions you asked out of the blue by any means. These would require some subtlety to keep from arousing suspicion.

"Very well...Grandma. Have you ever met either of my sons?"

"I believe I met your eldest when on a trip to the clinic. Mirage was his name, wasn't it?"

"Yes, he is my older son. But what about my youngest, Dream Catcher? Have I introduced you to him yet?"

The elder earth pony mare shook her head slowly.

"Can't say I've had the pleasure yet. How is the young dear doing? And for that matter, how is his brother fairing?"

A chance to move the conversation into an easier inquisition presented itself in that moment.

"Mirage is doing quite well. He's attending the academy now. Turning out to be just as smart as his mother, Celestia bless her. Unfortunately, Dream's in the hospital right now."

"Oh the poor thing. What happened?" Ivory asked, making her way towards the back of the room past a staircase to the second floor. She stepped into the kitchen, rummaging up two cups before pouring them both some home brewed tea, returning with the cups on saucers. Oneiric lifted his into his magic before he continued.

"Thank you." He sipped quickly, not wanting to be rude. "Unfortunately, he's had a bit of an accident. Nothing too major, thankfully. But he'll be there a while. He mentioned something about a young pegasus he met that told him they lived here. Tell me, do you have a blind pegasus with injured wings living with you at present? If so, I'd like to take him to the hospital. Dream could use a friend right now."

Ivory thought on that for a moment, her tea going untouched as she wracked her aging mind before returning her attention to him with a shake of her head.

"No, I can't say that I do. I think I'd know if one of my foals was that badly banged up. I'd have to make him an extra special blanket to help the little thing feel better. Now...Breezy messed herself up right good about three months ago, but she's since gotten back on her hooves and is actually off at Summer Flight Camp now. But I've never had a blind foal in my care."

Oneiric hit a brick wall there. Nothing panned out, just like he'd expected. But then how...

"Is there anything else I can do for you, Oneiric?"

"Yes...ask around, see if any of the kids here know of a pegasus with those ailments. If Dream had a friend in the hospital with him, I'm sure he'd feel much better. We both know I can't stay in his room constantly, and neither can his brother." Oneiric sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Sure thing. I'll see what I can dig up for you and your little boy. You're always helping me out with my children, after all." Ivory chuckled lightly, finally taking her first sip of her own tea. "Ya know...you and Docere are like the sons I never had. I wish you'd visit more often...make an old mare feel young again."

The unicorn dipped his head at that, a small blush creeping over his cheeks.

"If I could spare the time, I would Grandma. It's been a hectic few months since my wife passed in that accident." He grimaced, the small warmth from the previous moment now replaced with the familiar sinking feeling he got when he spent his nights at the pub. "Keeping up with the boys and work has been tough. I already feel like I'm not there enough for them as it is."

Ivory Charm nodded at that.

"Family first, then yourself. Always remember that." She replied sagely. "If you've ever got time...just try to stop in and say hi every now and again, all right?" She moved forward, setting her tea down on a nearby table before giving Oneiric a hug. "And don't forget, this old mare still loves you like she did the first night you came to live with her when you were just a colt yourself. You hear me?" Her near silent tones betrayed the emotion behind those words. "You've grown up and made me proud. Now let's see you do the same for those boys of yours, all right?"

"I'll do my best." He gave in to her embrace and returned it with a nod.

===D.W.===

Dream sat uncomfortably in the hospital bed, waiting for Mirage to come back from the restroom. It was always so quiet in there when he was the only one in the room. It took all he had to keep from forcing himself to sleep just to escape the loneliness that seemed to dominate every corner of the four walls. Their father had been gone for what had to have been an hour now, making Dream unsure of his decision to tell him about the dreams he'd had. But in retrospect...it was better that the stallion knew. Maybe there was some explanation for them. Maybe they were somehow linked to why he was sick in bed now.

The young pegasus shook his head clear of those thoughts as he heard the door open. The sound of Mirage's hooves clacking against the floor brought his attention back to the here and now as he sat up with a smile.

"Jeeze I'm glad you're back. It's too quiet in here." Dream moaned.

"After all that's happened, I think you'd be the one who'd want to be left alone so he could sleep. Seems like that's what you enjoy doing the most. How many times have I had to pry you from your bed?" Mirage joked as he sat down on the mattress next to his little brother.

"Well, it's not like sleeping did this to me." He shot back.

He felt Mirage shrug as the unicorn dug into his bag for one of his books.

"So what was it that got you all worked up last night?" The older colt asked. "Whatever it was, it was a good thing it did. Otherwise we wouldn't have found out about your eyes until morning."

Dream turned his head in the direction of his brother's voice, reaching out a hoof. After accidentally clocking Mirage upside the head, he leaned over and hugged his older sibling, shaking a little bit with the thoughts of the cryptic dreams.

"Can I ask you something?" He squeaked out.

"Sure...what's up little brother?"

"Did...did you see me in your dreams last night?"

Mirage looked at Dream with an odd glance.

"Yeah, strangely enough. You were at my school. How did you know?"