New Friends and New Enemies

Chapter 8
Dream Man
Thank you to AdmKline for Editing.

And Thank you to all who enjoy the story.

A couple weeks later diplomatic relations had been smoothed over despite some frayed nerves. 'Maybe things can start getting back to normal,' Luna thought to herself as she walked through the castle hallways. Reaching a balcony the princess of the moon felt the warm rays of the sun on her dark body and it felt so good.

Casting her gaze down to the courtyard she saw Markus. He was so... different than what she had expected, not that she had expected a legend to come to life before her very eyes. Markus stood taller than Celestia who with her horn stood roughly six feet two inches. His hair was a dusty brown and he had the most piercing blue eyes she could recall. He grew hair on his face and she was surprised he desired to keep his face clean-shaved as it turned out it constantly grew and could be come rather bothersome.

Right now he was dressed in one of Rarity's outfits minus a shirt she had been paid for. It was a brown outfit, one that matched his hair. For now she watched him performing what looked like stretching exercises the doctor had wanted him to perform to help stretch out his sore muscles. Zecora's treatments had allowed him to fully recover. She noticed a number of guards and servants of the castle watching.

His back as well as his chest were finely muscled. He did have some body fur, or hair, but unlike a pony it did not cover his entire body. Hoofsteps coming up beside her caused her to turn her head, allowing her to see Celestia's approach. With a nuzzle Luna rubbed her face against her sister's cheek. "Evening Tia..."

"Evening Luna, I see our guest has almost fully recovered."

"Indeed. He's been asking questions of our culture, our people, almost as much as Twilight has been pestering him to learn of his culture," Luna spoke softly.

"Has our little in-law of magic been pestering him constantly, or actually letting him finish healing?" replied Celestia with a soft giggle. Luna could see the affection her elder sister had for her student and niece-in-law.

"For the most part." Luna exhaled softly and gave a gasp when she watched Markus take three steps forward and then do a cartwheel three times followed by a flip where he landed on his feet, thrusting his right arm forward in an uppercut.

Shocked at the display Celestia asked, "What are you thinking Luna?"

"Apart from the fact a being from legend has walked into our lives? Wondering if the females of his species think he has a nice flank," Luna said with a straight face.

Celestia could only facehoof as she says, "Luna...you can't be serious, Can you?"

With a playful smirk Luna spoke, "A mythological creature has appeared before us... don't tell me you are not interested."

"Luna what we do is one thing, but this..." Celestia tried to say only to be cut off.

"Celestia, as the Goddess of the Moon, Night, and Dreams most of our subjects already considered me a Goddess of Lust long before I was reestablished with you as co-ruler. You know that, and you know what? If my subjects consider me the Goddess of Lust, who am I to disappoint?" Luna said sticking her tongue out at her sister and began to move off to prepare for the time of night. Thankfully with the new moon to come out her night mostly would be easy.

*****

It was still a couple of hours before the dawn. Luna as the mistress of dreams had gone through a number of the inhabitants of Ponyville and various communities. Most of her journeys were through the dreams of the foals, soothing nightmares and helping them overcome the very things that caused them. Because children were more susceptible to such she spent most of her time helping them. For once things seemed very peaceful. She didn't know how or why but the peace made her uneasy and she could not shake the feeling that the human, that Markus, was the source of her discomfort.

She had resisted the urge to try and enter Markus' dreams both because she was unsure how her dream magic would effect him and to show him the same courtesy she showed to Gilda and her father the Gryphon Ambassador. Nothing could be considered as hostile an act as entering a person's mind. As a result she flew through the air in her astral form, arriving at Canterlot and entered Markus' room. He was sleeping on his back, his breathing steady and strong. With some hesitation Luna began to extend her power to start the merging. Her body began to slowly fade as the energy was transfered into Markus Ordain's body. Slowly sifting through the emotions Luna found herself in the middle of an alien landscape.

What she saw was enough to leave her speechless. If she had thought that Canterlot was impressive, what she saw left Canterlot to shame. She looked down on what was a city of metal and glass shining in the sunlight. Standing on a grass covered hill she could see the center of the city had what appeared to be a central tower that had a slanted top and a narrow spire out from around which were smaller towers, most of them cascading in a smaller and smaller design as if to form steps. After a point the buildings where sharply reduced in height and spread out into a number of what looked like smaller groups of buildings and houses.

The sight of it had distracted her. As the lady of dreams she should have arrived near Markus' location. Her lack of focus was what had let her guard down because what she heard next surprised her.

"I was wondering when you might show up in my dreams."

She turned around to see Markus standing against a tree. Behind him was a dark black cloud representing long buried memories, pain, regret. Things of nightmares long since hidden or resolved. He appeared very much as he did in the waking world, maybe a little taller or muscled. He was dressed in what seemed like a tough fabric with a stone bluish thing to it. His hair was also longer and tied behind his head a pony tail. She had intended to not be discovered and turned her head in shame.

Markus approached her. "I knew it was only a matter of time before you or someone, or should I say, somepony tried to get inside my head," he said without malice. He sat down and looked over the cityscape. "So other then curiosity about where I come from, what brings you to my mind and my dreams?" he asked in a soft voice.

Hesitating she came up beside him holding her place as she stood explaining what she was concerned about. As he thought about what she had to say he exhaled as the wind blew through the area. About how for the last week or so ponies were all having peaceful dreams. Even foals that were naturally prone to nightmares were sleeping easy. In her own words... "It is like the calm before a storm."

After thinking on it Markus voiced his opinion. "That's because I believe it is the calm before the storm. I had heard of your return from the moon as Nightmare Moon, about Chrysalis, Discord, and even Sombra." The words he spoke did not allay the Princess' fear, only confirmed it.

With an exhale he said "I've learned a number number of things, including what Celestia told me about the Blades of Elements. I came to a realization of things when she told me that tale. I just wish she was here so I wouldn't have to explain myself a second time."

Luna smiled, telling him "As mistress of dreams I can easily join two or more minds in dreams. If you will give me a moment." Luna faded from his dream and moments later the form of Celestia appeared beside Luna. Celestia was covered in what was effectively a white silk night gown with gold trimmed lace. Of course she was not wearing her Tiara nor her gilded hoof-shoes.

"Luna!" Celestia scolded her sister, "You could have given me a moment to change my appearance!"

Before she could do anything Markus quickly looked her over. Despite being a quadruped she was very easy on the eyes. "You won't find me complaining," he quipped.

The comment made Celestia blush as she altered her appearance to more of her normal day to day attire. "Do you normally flirt with the leaders of other worlds?"

"Well, one generally cannot be held accountable for what one dreams. I can imagine that Luna here came upon many pony's dreams where she and or you are the objects of their affections." Luna sharply turned her head away as her cheeks darkened even more.

"You always told me inhibitions were much lower in dreams then they are in the waking world. I finally see what you mean," Celestia said turning her eyes to the world in Markus dream. The city behind him was glorious. She could see a number of birds that seemed similar to birds she had seen on Equestria. A number of strange crafts filled the sky - some were fairly box-like, others were like great birds with outstretched wings.

"Is this...." Celestia had asked, when Markus replied.

"Earth? Yes. This is Theta City. One of the twenty-six major cities left on Earth," he told her which confused both princesses. "As I explained humans are a very aggressive race. Many centuries ago, war had devastated our planet."

"What happened?" Luna asked softly as she came to lay down beside him. On his other side Celestia also laid down to listen.

"In a way you can understand think of it like this," Markus said, then collected his thoughts on what had happened. "When the human race began to explore the stars, we began to establish colonies. Think of it as groups of ponies exploring lands across the oceans. They find lands, islands, even continents to colonize."

"I understand, We came to Equestria from distant lands to escape environmental hardships," Celestia explained.

"Well, some of the more distant colonies did gain self-sufficiency. The way they did so was unacceptable."

Celestia and Luna both looked at each other for a moment before Markus explained. "They used slavery which the human government found unacceptable. This brought the colonies into conflict with the Earth Government. The colonies had some war ships built, bought or stolen. They fought and they won their independence. That was roughly twelve hundred earth years ago. It would be like a colony you send across the sea to those islands who can provide for themselves, rejecting your rule, establishing their own government, and any race that was not pony is considered a second class citizen at best and at worst a slave."

The realization of what Markus had explained to them sunk in. Celestia shivered as she listened to Markus continue. "As time went on, Earth Government formed the United Coalition of Allied Systems, or U.C.A.S for short. This was an alliance between various space faring races which established trade agreements and a centralized military command structure in the event of a hostile race attempting conquest from outside the U.C.A.S. sphere of influence."

"So it was an united government?" asked Luna.

"No, each planet and race are self governing. The U.C.A.S. established trade routes and methods of settling conflict without resorting to full scale war. It also helped establish planetary colonies, the rights of said colonies and a process for a colony to gain independence if the colony becomes self sufficient.”

"I think we understand," Celestia said "So what about the independent human colonies?"

"Three hundred years after they gained their independence those colonies had reorganized themselves into the Sovereign Terran Imperium. There had been no contact with them in all that time as the peace treaty had established a demilitarized zone, a large area where neither side would cross as it would be an act of war. They launched a massive invasion, intent on retaking Earth as the seat of power and conquering a large amount of territory. The S.T.I. holds a view that humans are the supreme beings in the universe. Any other race is intended to be a subservient race. If they will not bow down they are to be subjugated if they have value, eradicated if they have none."

Since it was impossible for people to deceive Luna while in the dream state she was able to understand he was telling the truth. The idea of a colony of ponies rejecting their rule and waging war on their kin simply made her shudder.

"The war lasted for the better part of fifty years,” Markus continued “and they did attack Earth. Enough damage was done that the planet's ecosystems were on the verge of total collapse. For peace to be reestablished we had to redraw the location of the demilitarized zone. A lot of planets fell to the STI. Even today conflicts happen and both sides have massive war fleets."

Thinking of how to best describe it he said, "Imagine the political situation being akin to a barn full of sawdust in the air. Then someone walks into the barn with a lit candle."

"That's a bad thing,” Celestia said. “It would cause the barn to explode. Do you know where we are in relation to these governments?"

"Not a clue. My ship as I have explained effectively made a blind teleport. While the energy needed to make a jump is considerable, distance is not a factor in Jump Drive technology once made. I could be on the far side of the U.C.A.S, the S.T.I. or even in another galaxy." Markus slowly stood up as he closed his eyes and the area around them began to slowly shift and change.

"Very impressive," Luna said as she stood up. "I have not seen many who have control over their own dreams." The area changed to a house's large living room with a soft brown plush carpet, a small table in the middle of two couches with a chair designed for a human. The chair looked as comfortable as the couches.

"I learned how to control and influence my dreams at a young age,” he explained. “Please make yourselves at home and we can talk about Luna's concerns." Luna and Celestia moved to lay on the couches as Markus sat in the chair.

"If I recall Luna you were concerned about trouble coming?" Markus asked. He saw her nod and she repeated her concerns to her sister.

"I have to admit I do find it disconcerting, all the troubles recently combined with you drawing the Blade of Forest. I fear something dreadful is to come," Celestia admitted. Normally she wasn't as direct or forthright when it came to these sorts of things but she sensed that if there was to be trouble, he would be center to it. She relaxed as Markus seemed to be thinking.

"I do believe you are both correct. I hope we are wrong, but for the last thousand years or so Equestria has had peace and prosperity before the arrival of Nightmare Moon correct?"

With a soft sigh, Celestia spoke. "Yes. There had been little spots of trouble here and there but nothing that would come close to the trouble of any of these recent events."

Making some orange juice appear on the coffee tables for the two princesses, Markus reached up to pinch the bridge of his nose as he said "The first possibility is that the sword was indeed made by ancient humans and has some spiritual attunement to my race which is how I drew it." Looking at Luna and Celestia Markus asked, "You are not buying that are you?" They shook their heads, levitating the glasses to drink from the straws. "Didn't think so. Most likely there is trouble to come. If what you told me is true, then in order to draw the Blade of Forest, the blades of Earth, Fire, Air, and Water have also been drawn."

"They were not present when you drew the Blade," Celestia pointed out.

"You said the Blade of Forest could not be drawn without the other Blades having already been drawn. That doesn't mean the other blades haven't already been drawn. I would suggest you start looking for the resting locations of the other Blades or the Blade holders because I think the return of Nightmare Moon was simply a herald of trouble to come."

"How could you possibly know that?" Luna asked. She was sure that Markus believed himself to be telling the truth.

Luna and Celestia watched as Markus slowly stood, lifted up his hands up and close his eyes. When he opened them then burned with an emerald fire. The same emerald fire erupted from his hands, joining together as the magical field formed shocking both princesses. The pair of them jumped and moved back from the couches as they watched the emerald flame condensed into the form of the Blade of Forest. The green bladed sword held a green gem in the hilt with a golden guard, handle and a green gem in the pommel.

Markus turned the blade so that the point rested on the ground with his hands on either side of the guard. "When I drew the sword I was aware of it some how. I could feel it in the back of my mind as I laid in bed."

"You told us humans couldn't use magic and that you reacted badly to it," Celestia said. The blade could not kill her or Luna, but it could hurt them. Even in the dream world it was a powerful weapon.

As Markus held the blade the magic of the sword began to once more form around him. He held up his right hand watching the gauntlet form around it. The armor was brown over all, similar in color to that of tree bark. There were three leaf-like blades on the back of his gauntlets in emerald green. Interlocking plates of brown and green formed around him as he spoke.

"I said magic and my people do not mix well. It died out on my world ages ago. Yes, magic can do more harm than good for my people but humans are a very adaptable race. Arctic tundra, scorching desert, forest, mountain, even ocean. Humans can adapt to survive almost everywhere given time. As I have been healed by oils and potions, my body has begun to grow accustomed to the flow of magic. While I am sure I can never cast spells that doesn't mean I can't grow accustomed to magic itself."

Celestia and Luna were clearly nervous. They had had the sword sealed in the vault with the Elements of Harmony both to protect the sword and to protect themselves from being harmed by the Blade. Their fear was clear to Markus as he said "How do I know trouble is coming? You have only my word to take. There's something alive in the darkness. I can feel the power and its might."

Turning to leave Markus faded into the ether of his dreams, Luna and Celestia fading from the dream as Markus woke up.