This is the track I think of every time I come here.
Here. This endless void of space I stand in. It's not empty. It's full of the unconscious minds of everyone on Earth (and maybe other planets). Their dreams spanning the dark abyss; shinning the endless void like stars in the night sky. Yet... I was the only one that was there. That should be there. So why do I feel like... someone is watching me. Someone else is in the Dreamscape... and I can't find them.
Hmm? Where do I start? I guess I could start with my childhood, although that is a little dark and not very... fitting, for lack for a better word, to the deal at hand. So, Childhood: No. Not going to start with that.
Well, let's start with who I am.
Hello! My name is... not really important, seeing as how no one I know even calls me that (and I don't want one of my patients to know my name); so I will tell you what everyone else calls me: Lookout. I don't know why everyone calls me that, but they do, and I really don't care.
I entered the sentence on my page so my patient could see (no I am not an online doctor, I'll get to what I'm doing in a second). I gave her a few seconds to ask me something else. The chat box popped up, and it said:
How old are you?
I quickly typed in the response:
Twenty-seven.
Somehow I didn't need to see my patient to know she was skeptical. I typed in a question:
Where did you hear about me?
It took a little bit for the response:
I saw a small chat box talking about you on one of the sites I go on. Can't remember which one though.
I sighed, this was one naive person, then again, aren't all my patients. I could do so much trouble to these people if I wanted to. Although I won't because I am a ~~good~~ decent human being.
Now, before I go on any further with this conversation, I am going to tell you about what I do.
There is a saying that goes like
...mind over matter.
which I believe was first said by Sir Charles Lyell. (I do my research). Now his meaning of the phrase isn't how I would put mine. My definition is more like J. W. Martin. Although I don't control my diseases through will power (It's amazing I don't, considering how I got my power), I do something much cooler.
I can travel into people's dreams. I don't mean that I simply see their dreams; I enter them, I transfer my whole physical body into another person's dream. Of course I have to go through the Dreamscape first, but that never takes long, and I can't transfer my physical body into the Dreamscape, (only my astral projection) because it isn't a place that can physically exist. It is only a portal to an endless possibility of universes that exist in our minds. I can only transfer my physical mass directly into another person's dream. doing so will instantly create the alternative universe of the dream I am in. This, however, creates another problem; I can get hurt in these dreams; badly hurt. See, the thing about most dreams is that, they are surreal, and they sometimes pose a threat. This was a huge problem in my childhood, since I didn't know that by putting complete focus in the dream would cause me to become tangible inside it. I eventually figured this out, and just kept to staying out of other peoples' dreams, till I could defend myself.
Speaking of childhood me; I should tell you about how I became able to do this. I'm not going to tell you all of how to do it, but I will tell you most of it, except for a few parts. Basically, I just laid in my bed, and thought... for a month (or more). I didn't even stop thinking, when they force fed me food. At the end of that month of just thinking of dreams. I found out, the next time I slept, that I could travel between dreams. Now, enough about my childhood, because I don't like thinking about it.
What's next? Oh, yeah! Defending myself. I never really wanted to carry a gun with me, because I didn't want to use something that could be used just as easily against me. So, while on an adventure with a very eccentric friend; I learned how to sword fight, and how to use a Katana (and knives). I keep one locked up in my apartment just for self-defense, and sometimes I bring them into the Dreamscape with me (there are some things I can bring into the dream world, and some I can bring out, but I will get to those later).
Now as for who I am; my name is pretty unimportant and isn't used very often, but if you really want to know, my name is Jack Gray. I am around average height, have black hair, and blue eyes. That is all I have to say about that.
One last thing about the Dreamscape (at least I hope this is the last thing). Your appearance is not always the same in each dream world. Generally in the dream world, I usually am wearing a red-tinted black cloak, don't ask me why I look like that, because my response is that I have no idea about why this happens. I have yet to figure this out and I don't even know where to start.
Enough about the Dreamscape for now. Back to the task at hand.
WAIT...
One last thing.
I run a small site that helps people that have recurring nightmares. These people sometimes claim that the nightmares have been causing huge problems in their life, such as Insomnia, and other ailments caused by stress. I like to keep this site small, and I will not hesitate to delete it if it gets very popular; which happens pretty much every time I finish helping a person on the site. The way I help people, is by asking what kind of nightmare they have, then I will ask them their name, and what timezone they are in. Next time they fall asleep; I travel across the Dreamscape, go into their nightmare, defeat the problem, then remember something specific to the dream that I will bring up later so they know I was in the dream. After I defeat the nightmare, it stops happening. Naturally, everyone that finds my site for the first time is skeptical. I don't blame them, especially considering that I put in a big effort to keep news on the site at a minimum. Now, this site is a hobby, I do this in my spare time, sometimes. I have other jobs. So I don't get paid for this. I help these people because I want to.
Now, back to the task at hand.
So what do you need my help for? I type in the chat box.
I have been having nightmares I roll my eyes, and say out loud "Really?" In my most sarcastic voice, as if she could hear me. I then realized that was the probably only thing she would have said without me cutting the chat.
Do tell? I type back.
It starts out normally enough; I am walking through Equestria, nothing special going on... WHAT?!!!
I do not go into a person's dream, just to tell them how "Equestria" or any other place they imagine in their dream looks. I have nothing against Bronies, but I just felt that they could get really annoying, when all they want me to do is tell them, what the setting of their favorite show looks like.
I didn't cut her off, because I wanted to see if she had anything worth helping. Turns out she did.
...Then, I walk over to an alleyway and I start to hear whispers that fill my head and become unbearable. She finishes typing.
What do they say exactly? I type in.
She takes a little longer to respond.
I never understand them. She types in. I really didn't need to know what they said.
Just skip that, I don't need to know. However, I do need to know your name. I quickly type in.
My name is Luna. Do you need to know where I live? She quickly types in.
No, I just need to know your name, and your timezone so I know when to travel to your dream. I enter in the chat.
I live in New York, is that good enough? She types in her question.
That is fine, I live in that timezone. So are you about to head to sleep, since it is 11:12 P.M. I asked.
Yeah. Was her one word response.
Well get to bed soon, I will join your dream in, hopefully, less than thirty minutes. I type in.
Okay, Doctor. Was the thing she typed before logging off. Funny, I'm not a doctor, but I have a friend that is.
I got off my computer and went to my small kitchen. It wasn't much, but it was okay for an apartment kitchen. I took out a bottle of whiskey, just enough to make me a bit braver in my dreams. Despite all the requests I had gotten to do so, I never went to Equestria in a dream before. I have seen a bit of the show, and the place looked harmless enough, but I just wasn't sure.
I took out a shot glass and poured some whiskey.
I mean; not everything is always how it seems. What if this girl has some kind of dark mind, and her dream world is just full of evil creatures.
I drank the whole shot of whiskey and slammed the glass down.
Although, there is just something so satisfying about killing someone's nightmare. It made me feel like a... like a... Nightmare Buster. Haha.
I poured another shot of the liquor.
Just need this to help me start.
I gulped down the whiskey in one gulp, and slammed it down again.
I don't drink very often, because of work and other stuff. I usually save it for occasions like this.
I wonder if she looks hot.
I stumble toward my bed and fall onto my pillow.
I began thinking about some of the people I had met when I traveled with my friend. Some were...
I fall asleep.
Something minor about the Dreamscape is that it doesn't have a consistent shape. I can even move it so the gates to the dreams I want to go to are easy to find. Tonight, the Dreamscape looked like a very long hallway with a lot of doors. It was very deceiving, seeing as how the walls were a very bland white, and I knew about the amazing sights those doors held behind them. However, the hallway got weirder the farther I walked in it. While I was walking, I began to play a fitting clip in my head. I don't know how I know the dreams that I want to go to. All I know is that I knew which dream I wanted to go to, and I usually found the right one.
I came to a door that I thought was Luna's dream. I put my hand on the doorknob and began to turn it. However, I felt something, just a sort of goosebumpy feeling, that I was being watched. I slowly looked to my right, unfortunately I hadn't stopped turning the knob, so I only caught a glimpse of it as I was pulled into the dream.
As I was thrown out of the Dreamscape, I was flung onto the hard ground.
The first thing I notice is that the world was very cartoony. I was a little surprised by it.
I decided not to stay on the topic, and instead go looking for Luna. I wanted to go scout out her nightmare before putting myself in danger. I realized that I had no idea of where she would be. I should have asked her where she was when she got attacked.
The only place I know that had alleyways, in the way I'm thinking of, is Canterlot. Which happens to be about fifty feet in front of me. Lucky me.
I began to walk up to the gate, when I realized something, what did I look like. If I was human, the guards wouldn't let something so out-of-place, like me, in. I remembered that I became what ever the dream wanted me to be. I sighed, as I didn't really want to be a pony.
'Sigh, It's for the patient, Lookout.' I think to myself. Besides, maybe I was a Pegasus.
I steal my nerve and decide to walk ahead, I decided to see what kind of pony I was.
I walk to the gate hoping to say 'good evening' to the two guards that are there. As I got close to them, I see one of them drop their spear and run over to me. He seemed to be getting bigger the closer he g... OH MY GOD! HE IS HUGE!
I was so startled that I couldn't even move. When he was right next to me, I heard him say: "Aren't you a cute kitty?"
Cat. CAT!?! This world wanted me to be a cat!!! I would have groaned, if it hadn't been for the giant guard next to me.
"Quick! Get back to your post! The princess is coming!" The other guard barks at the one next to me, causing him to run back to the gate.
I turn around to see a giant, black chariot fly over to the gate. Seeing this as my opportunity to run, I quickly ran through the gate, and into the city.
I didn't take a good look at the city, until I was far from the entrance. I slowed my pace to a trot as I looked at the city lights getting brighter, as the sun got darker. I could smell a restaurant selling some very fine French cooking. I wasn't hungry, but the smell was just driving me wild. I ran over to the restaurant and was immediately told off by the waiter working outside.
"Get out of here! You mangy cat!" He yelled at me.
I'm not mangy, you little... I would have clawed the pony's eyes out, if I hadn't noticed a chef throwing out some food in the dumpster in the alley. I ignored the waiter and went toward the dumpster. When I got close to the dumpster, I jumped up and saw that it was a whole pan of spaghetti, just thrown away. I managed to lift the pan out, and onto the alley pavement.
I was about to dig in to the pan, when I notice a small, green filly at the end of the alley. She looked like she was starving. She looked at the pan, hope in her eyes. Then she noticed me, she gave a quick gasp and backed away.
I felt horrible. I just scared an orphan from food that should have been hers. I started pushing the pan over to her and she seemed to understand. She put head closer to the pan and looked at me curiously. I made a gesture that said; 'go ahead', and she began to eat the food. I didn't mind, it's not like I need the food or anything. I turned to walk away, but was stopped when the little filly gave me a little pet.
Sometimes it was nice to be rewarded for doing good things.
I walked out of the alley and back into the streets. The sun was no longer out, instead it was just moonlight mixed with the bright and colorful, city lights. I kept walking along the sidewalk, occasionally dodging to avoid a pony, when I heard a sweet techno beat.
I began to look for the origin of the music, when I found it; a flashy nightclub. I ran over to it, avoiding any ponies in my way. When I reached the front, I saw that the door was being blocked by a huge bouncer. I tried was going to try walking in, but then I noticed that the inside was packed. I didn't want to get stepped on, so I had to find another entrance.
Luckily, there was an alley to the left of the club. So after walking into said alley, I began to look for a way inside.
There was no way in from the bottom floor, but I saw an open window on the second floor. I jumped on a couple trash bins and managed to get in the window.
The club was looking amazing. There were lights flashing all around. Ponies dancing to the sick beat of the music. But, where was the DJ? I looked around, then noticed that I was standing right next to her. She had a snowball-white coat, spiky-blue hair, and a sweet pair of shades.
I tried to get her attention, but it was way too loud. In the end, I decided to leave. I made a jump, back out the window, and back into the alley.
Sometimes it is sad when no one sees you.
I had begun to walk away from the nightclub and into the city. Well that was fun, but didn't I have something to do? I think it had something to do with...
I couldn't complete my thought over the sound of that beautiful piece of music. It was classical music being played on the... couldn't name the instrument, but it still sounded wonderful.
I walked over to the theater which was hosting the music. It had way to many ponies inside for me to get inside without being seen. No alley for me to go in either. I was looking for anyway that I might be able to get closer to the music, but no way showed it self. I didn't want to be picked up off the street, so I began to jump up the to the rooftops, and maybe get a better view of the city. When I reached the top of the buildings, I looked around to see the magnificent lights. It was just amazing. If only this wasn't someone's dream.....
Oh S***.
Another thing I forgot to mention about my power; was that it wasn't limited to just going into dreams. If I put enough concentration on someone that I found in the Dreamscape, I could not only go into his dream, but I could also go in the area around him. Remember that.
As I was mesmerized by the city lights. I didn't notice the giant black and blue, Pegasus land right next to me.
It took me a bit to notice her, and by notice I mean:
"HELLO TRAVELER!" Her voice boomed right next to me.
That caused me to go flying out of sheer surprise.
"YOU HAVE TRAVELED HERE VIA MY INVITATION" She boomed again.
I was a little more prepared for that one, so I didn't go that far the second time. Then something dawned on me; she said she invited me, so that means that she was Elise, and she just brought me into another universe. I might have traveled outside someone's dream, someone that was sleeping outside of the gate. I wanted to know why she invited me here. But first I wanted to find out who this was.
"Meow." I attempted to speak before realizing I was still a cat. The giant Allicorn (I noticed the horn on its head) made a sudden realization.
"Oh, right. you're a cat. I need to fix that." She began stuttering.
"I'm Princess Luna, by the way."
Please don't tell me...
Author's Note
I wrote most of this at 3 in the morning.
I starred at the blueish-black allicorn, waiting for it to change me into a human. Her horn was glowing blue as she focused her magic.
Luna broke the silence "This will take a while. It's not easy to change something into another species."
Right. Didn't seem to stop you from doing that when I came here.
My vision started getting fuzzy.
Why would you even bring me here, in this form?
A chilling pain ran over my skin.
Are you the one who was running all over my Dreamscape?
I wanted to ask these questions, but couldn't because I was a cat.
Did you miss me, Lookout? I missed you.
Who said that?
Let me help you...
"I almost got it." Luna said.
Suddenly I lost consciousness.
When I came to I felt a beating pain throughout my left arm and onto my back.
When I managed to open my eyes, the first thing I noticed was that I was in the Dreamscape again. The second thing I noticed, was that I was human again.
Why?
Before I could even think of a reason for this, a voice caused me to freeze in sheer terror.
Lookout, Lookout, Lookout, it chided. Its haunting, female voice causing chills up my spine.
Do you really just want to try to explain it all away? Sorry, but that's not happening. its voice sounded like it was coming from the void in front of me.
I sat up and tried to get up, but then I heard it again. It was behind me this time.
You left me Lookout. You left me when you got out. It was right behind me, less than an inch from me. I felt its cold breath on my neck causing the hairs on my neck to freeze. Its voice was so familiar, I couldn't place from where though.
Suddenly, I fell forward on my face. I felt like I just got kicked to the ground.
Why don't you just try to wake up? That's all you did back at the asylum. Oh no.
It couldn't be her. I got rid of that part of my mind. I'm not insane anymore. I'm not!
Oh, but you are. You are very insane. And I intend to make you even worse. words cannot describe how much terror I was in.
I won't tell you who exactly this woman was or what she was talking about, but I will say that this was a part of my mind, from a long time ago, that has caused me so much pain. And I thought I had gotten rid of her along with the rest of my insanity.
I jumped up off the ground and looked behind me. Nothing was there.
You would only kill yourself if you tried. I knew what she meant by that.
She meant that while I was alive, she wouldn't leave me. But I wasn't going to just accept that.
I started running. Running as fast I could. I knew that I couldn't outrun insanity, but I had to at least buy some time to figure out something.
Running away. You must be joking. I heard her voice extremely close to my ear. Her words just bringing panic to my mind.
I felt a sharp pain slice through my left hand as my running faltered. I took a quick glance at my hand, and saw blood running down from a long smooth cut in my palm.
I have had worse injuries in my travels.
And I will make this much worse again it was right behind me.
Another slice, this one on my abdomen. I grasped my side as my running became a fast limp.
This is not going as planned (a very panicked part of my mind thought).
Considering your plan was just; run really fast... This is going just how you planned it. You idiot.
One last slice, this time through my chest. I screamed in pain as my running had slowed to a stop.
At least she wasn't going to psychologically torture me again.
Good to know you can get something right. I felt her appear a little further behind me. I felt her slowly getting closer.
Wake up! I heard her footsteps getting closer and closer.
Wake up! She prepared to do whatever she was planning to do.
Wake up! She was right behind me now. What ever she was about to do, she was going to do it.
I prepared for the worst. Saddened that I would die alone. And I don't even know what Princess Luna was, or what Equestria was. I was about to be killed by my childhood insanity.
WAKE UP! I woke up.
I woke up back in my apartment bed. I hadn't opened my eyes yet, but I could tell that I was lying on my bed. I also noticed that my wounds weren't real because my bed felt dry.
I slowly opened my eyes to see a huge pair of yellow eyes starring at me.
"Oh thank Celestia! Doctor he's awake." I heard a woman's voice say, it sounded very glad that I wasn't dead.
"Of course, Derpy. The man has been in tougher scrapes then some dreams." A very confident voice came from a little farther away. It was British from what I could tell.
"Um, who are you?" I asked the lady that was standing over me.
"Oh, I'm..." She began but was cut off by the British man.
"This, Lookout, is my newest assistant, Derpy Hooves. She is a Pegasus." He said.
I lifted my head off the pillow and looked to see what he was talking about. The lady was wearing a grey jersey and blue jeans. She also had golden blonde hair.
I looked over to my bedroom door to see a man in a brown coat wearing a Fez.
I gave him a puzzled look then got out of bed.
"Something wrong, Lookout?" He said.
I quickly checked all over my body to see if I still had any of the cuts I was given. Nothing.
I stayed silent for a bit, processing my surroundings.
Eventually I worked up the nerve to say something.
"Who are you and how do you know my name?" I asked in a defensive tone.
The man looked like I just slapped him in the face.
"How-what... Lookout..." He was looking for something to say.
"Lookout, after all the adventures we had, you just forgot me?" He said in an annoyed tone.
He sighed "You remember me? I'm the Doctor." He said.
"I've met the Doctor before, and you look nothing like him." I said in a matter-of-fact way.
He cleared his throat and said "I have regenerated since then." He said this in a very serious tone.
I thought about it for a bit and was about to say something else, when he then said "We need to hurry up, so Allons y. And save your questions for later Lookout." He and Derpy walked out of the room, and I followed. I was shocked to see something that immediately destroyed any previous suspicions I had.
In the middle of my living room, was The TARDIS in all its glory.
The door opened to show the Doctor and Derpy waiting.
"Well Lookout, let's go." The Doctor smiled.
I also smiled as I walked in the TARDIS and closed the door.
The Doctor then pulled all the levers, and the TARDIS was off, with us inside.
I couldn't wait to see where we were going. And maybe the Doctor would be able to help me with all what had just happened.
Author's Note
This is where I wanted to end the first chapter.
