Mind-Space Equestria

1.2

Princess Celestia allowed herself a small smile. It was a remarkable sight. Seven mares, three fillies and a baby dragon, all with their mouths open and their uvulas glistening in the moonlight.

‘We’re inside Princess Luna’s mind?’ asked Twilight.

‘Correct.’

‘Ah why?’

‘Equestria is under attack.’

‘Attack? By whom?’

‘We do not know for it is no conventional confrontation. Princess Luna has detected anomalies within the dreams of many ponies. She believes that an outside force has found a way to enter mind-space outside of their own dreams.’

‘You mean lucid dreaming?’

‘Yes and no my faithful student. They cannot control the dreams of others. Think of each pony as a draconequus within their own section of mind-space, even if they themselves do not realise it. Just like my sister, all these intruders can do is influence the direction of dreams but don’t be fooled my little ponies, this is a grave threat. It is why I have sent all of you here. You must jump into the dreams of your fellow ponies and assist them in any way you can.’

‘That sounds kinda creepy if you ask me,’ said Rainbow.

‘And invasion of privacy,’ added Rarity.

‘Hey maybe we can get our cutie marks as mind doctors,’ suggested Scootaloo.

‘Cutie Mark Psychologists?’ questioned Apple Bloom.

‘Uh… Sweetie Belle?’

‘It’s another word for mind doctor.’

‘But why Princess Luna’s mind? Is the Princess under attack?’ gasped Twilight, failing to leap to her hooves with the weight of Rainbow still on her flank.

‘Relax Twilight Sparkle, my sister is safe. Think of Princess Luna’s mind as your home during daylight hours. A sleeping pony will assume that your thoughts are part of their dreams but awake…’

‘They’ll think they’ve developed paracusia.’

Princess Celestia nodded.

‘Uh Sweetie Belle?’ asked Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Derpy and Spike.

‘I don’t know that one.’

‘Auditory hallucinations,’ replied Twilight.

‘Huh?’

‘Hearing voices,’ responded Sweetie Belle.

‘Ah,’ responded everypony.

‘So what do you need us to do Princess?’ asked Twilight.

‘I have little time to explain. I will leave that task to my sister. However, I do wish to make it clear that I want Pinkie Pie to lead this quest.’

‘Ah could you repeat that Princess, did you say Pinkie Pie?’ asked Applejack.

‘You will find that Pinkie Pie’s ah… unique mind is perfectly suited to the task. Twilight, I need you to support her and to make sure that Pinkie stays focused.’

‘But Princess, surely…?’

‘Twilight, I ask that you trust me.’

‘I do but…’

‘I must go. Princess Luna will be here momentarily.’

Twilight watched as the transparent form of Princess Celestia vanished in a circle of light. She wanted Pinkie to lead. Not Applejack, Rarity or Rainbow Dash. Ponies for whom Twilight could understand why they would receive the mantle of leadership. The only pony less suited to the task was Fluttershy and only because she lacked the confidence to lead. Twilight sighed, it could be worse. The Cutie Mark Crusaders could be in charge.

‘My first command as leader is for you all to have fun at my Going into Dreams to Save Equestria Party.’

‘I don’t think that now is the time for a party Pinkie,’ replied Rarity.

‘That’s Captain Pinkie to you missy.’

‘Ah Pinkie,’ said Applejack.

‘Just kidding, you can call me O Captain my Captain.’

‘How about we go with just Pinkie,’ suggested Applejack.

‘Just is a pretty funny title. I like it. Just Pinkie it is.’

‘Equestria is under attack Pinkie, titles can wait,’ said Twilight struggling to get back onto her hooves. ‘Rainbow off,’ she growled. ‘We can’t afford to waste time, we need to get moving.’

‘That is an excellent suggestion Twilight Sparkle. Let us make haste to humph… Nightmare Castle,’ said Princess Luna.

‘Ooh that place sounds scary, is it haunted?’ asked Pinkie.

‘Ah no. Nightmare Moon constructed the castle during her lengthy imprisonment. It was to be the new Canterlot once the stars had aided her escape. It will make a suitable home while you are here in mind-space.’

Scootaloo raised her hoof above her eyes and scanned the distant dunes rolling over the horizon. There was only dust and rocks beyond the magical dome and certainly nothing that looked remotely like a castle. ‘So where exactly is this place?’

Princess Luna smiled. ‘You are standing on it little one.’

‘It’s underground? Even with powerful magic it would take decades of construction,’ said Twilight, slightly in awe.

‘One hundred of them to be exact.’

Twilight paused in mid step, was that a joke?

‘The castle had to be built underground least a certain nosy sister noticed its construction. Just press that rock. I will meet you inside,’ said Princess Luna as she vanished in a flash of light.

Lying amongst a pile of rubble that despite its best efforts looked as arranged as flowers in a vase, sat a crescent shaped rock. Twilight raised her hoof and…

‘Let me handle the stone Twilight, I did grow up on a rock farm after all,’ said Pinkie with a giggle.

‘Fine,’ grumbled Twilight, suppressing the urge to turn Pinkie into a golf ball and shout fore.

Pinkie bounced over Twilight’s head to land on the rock as a puff of magic burst forth from the stone and began eating away at the moon’s surface, transforming the ground into a circle of thick swirling smog.

‘Do you think it’s safe?’ asked Fluttershy. ‘What if it’s a bottomless pit?’

‘You know those things on your shoulders? They’re called wings.’

‘You’ve got them too Rainbow but I don’t see you jumping on in,’ said Applejack.

‘I think Just Pinkie should lead the way, she is in charge after all,’ suggested Twilight.

‘Flutters could be right, Dashie I order you to go first.’

‘Oh come now Pinkie, you circumvent the laws of physics on a daily bases. I’m sure you’d be perfectly safe,’ said Twilight.

Listening to the adults’ conversation made Scootaloo want to flap her wings and go bawk bawk bawk. She would have too if Apple Bloom could just let that whole chicken thing drop. The situation did however provide the perfect opportunity to show Rainbow Dash just how totally cool and brave she was. Unable to squeeze passed, Scootaloo ducked under Rainbow’s tail and wiggled her way through Dash’s legs.

‘What the?’ gasped Rainbow, glancing down to see Scootaloo’s head poking out between her front legs.

Scootaloo’s hooves slipped in the dust as she tried to force the rest of her body through the gap. Deciding to go with brute force, Scootaloo crouched down and launched her rear into the air in an awkward somersault. Scootaloo popped free and tumbled head over heels into the fog-covered hole.

‘Scoots!’

No reply came as the swirling mist quickly filled in the filly-shaped hole.

‘SCOOTALOO!’

Rainbow prepared to leap into the unknown as Scootaloo’s head poked up through the fog. ‘Did you want something Rainbow Dash?’

‘Nah I’m good,’ said Rainbow blowing the mane out of her eyes, ‘Um what are you standing on?’

‘Staircase,’ said Scootaloo ducking back down into the fog.

Lamps hanging above the alcoves cast ominous shadows over the statues of bat-winged pegasi as they sat watching over the spiral steps. Scootaloo felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand to attention as she passed under their gaze. Scootaloo was very glad that she and the other crusaders didn’t have to sneak into this castle. Something told her that the statues in the alcoves would not be so motionless if the Princess did not wish them to be here. Muffled footsteps on the red velvet carpet caused the brave and dashing filly to leap several feet into the air. Glancing behind her, Scootaloo sighed and wiped the sweat from her forehead. Rainbow and the others had finally started their descent.

Princess Luna stopped striking at the stone with her hoof once she noticed the elongated shadows moving along the wall. Replacing her scowl with a smile, she greeted the ponies with a small nod. ‘This way if you please.’

Stepping through the arch, they entered a cavern that made the formally forgotten caves beneath Canterlot look like tunnels for ants. An aurora borealis created from the light of glowing gems embedded in the valleys and peaks of the ceiling rained a kaleidoscope of colours down over the cavern.

‘Ooh I’d just love to get my hooves on those gems. They would make my designs simply dazzle in the sunlight.’

‘I am sure that under the moonlight the effect would be equally as stunning,’ said Princess Luna.

‘Why umm yes they would,’ replied Rarity with a slight blush on her cheeks.

‘It must have taken a mighty long time to dig all this out.’

‘Actually this cavern was filled with ice. All I had to do was melt it.’

‘That explains the lake,’ said Twilight looking down at the motionlessness water far below.

‘You fillies be careful now, there’s no rail on this here stone bridge,’ said Applejack, ‘and I’m pretty sure that Rainbow doesn’t want to fish you all out of that lake down there.’

‘You got that right.’

‘Sure is high,’ whispered Apple Bloom as she kicked a loose stone over the edge and counted the seconds till the kerplop reached her ears.

‘Very high,’ squeaked Sweetie Belle backing away from the edge.

Scootaloo placed a hoof on Sweetie Belle’s shoulder and received a perfunctory smile in return.

‘Don’t worry girls I’d pluck you from the water. I don’t see too well in this light though so make sure you yell nice and loud.’

‘Gees Derpy I was just joking. I’d catch all three of them before they even hit the water.’

‘Gee I’m a dumb dumb, guess I must be the only pony who didn’t get the joke.’

With a raised eyebrow, Dash followed Derpy’s gaze to the trembling Sweetie Belle. Rainbow had forgotten that unicorns and earth ponies often had a thing about heights but surely Sweetie Belle knew that she wouldn’t let anything bad happen. After all rescuing a falling foal would remind everypony of just how totally cool and awesome she was. Derpy placed her wing against Sweetie Belle’s tooshie and with a gentle push, the Cutie Mark Crusaders started following the others across the bridge.

Twilight glanced up at the castle on the far side of the bridge and couldn’t help but wonder if Princess Luna had bought the plans from the Cake twins, whose wooden block creations not only violated every building regulation but the laws of physics as well. Twilight suspected that Pumpkin’s magic kept their creations from toppling to the ground. Half of the castle leaned out over the lake while the rest remained buried in the cavern wall. The visible sections seemed to be nothing more than oddly stacked rooms that leaned further and further out over the lake the higher they went. ‘May I complement you on your unique castle design Princess?’

Luna glanced down at Twilight. ‘You are too kind. I admit that I designed each room as I went, putting my efforts into making each one a masterpiece. Only when I stepped outside did I realise my error.’

‘Actually I kinda like its scruffy look. The ah statues on the other hoof,’ said Twilight glancing at the towering effigies of Nightmare Moon on either side of the castle entrance.

‘Hmm, perhaps Rarity would like the opportunity to alter the castle decor to better fit its new custodians. I am afraid that I am not well suited to the task.’

‘I’m sure that as a Princess your taste is… oh my,’ said Rarity, suddenly finding herself lost for words as they stepped into the entrance hall of Nightmare Castle.

Carved into the circular stone wall of the entrance hall was a mural that told of the longest day of the thousandth year when the stars aided her escape and brought night time eternal to the land of Equestria. To the left, carved effigies of bat-winged pegasi swooped down on ponies wailing as they fled in terror. In the centre, the all-powerful moon filled the night’s sky, embossed across its surface was the face of Nightmare Moon. Her open mouth forming the archway that led into the castle proper. To the right, earth ponies, unicorns and pegasi, even griffons and dragons all bowed before the magnificent splendour of an endless night.

‘It’s… quite a charming mural isn’t it?’ said Rarity.

‘Sure, I especially like the part where all the ponies are writhing in agony.’

‘The mural was created by Nightmare Moon Dash not Princess Luna,’ said Twilight.

‘Yeah I know.’

Princess Luna dropped her gaze from the images she had blasted into the stone when her heart contained only hate and vengeance. So many years lost to fear and anger. This was a part of her mind locked away when the elements of harmony had set her free. Now circumstances were forcing the reopening of wounds still fresh.

‘What are those circles on the floor?’ asked Twilight. ‘I have never seen anything like it.’

‘Circles? Oh yes, if you would all wait here a moment I will return post-haste.’

‘Any idea what they mean Twilight?’

‘Not a clue Spike,’ said Twilight as Princess Luna disappeared through the archway in the mural.

From his perch on Twilight’s back, Spike looked down at the large circular groove cut into the stone. It wasn’t very deep, about the length of one of his claws and maybe two hand-spans wide. The groove encircled a thick layer of glass under which colourful ribbons of light swirled and twirled and played tag with each other.

‘Oh I like that ribbon, purple and white, very stylish,’ said Rarity.

‘Hmm there are ribbons here with everyponies mane and coat colours. Do you think they are some sort of physical representation of our minds in this realm?’ asked Twilight.

Rarity just smiled. Tiny beads of sweat started appearing on her forehead when it became clear that Twilight was expecting an answer. Rarity’s smile grew larger as her eyes darted around the room in the hopes that a dashing stallion would rush to her rescue. It could happen; mind-space was a realm of dreams. Unfortunately, it was not some gallant prince galloping through the archway but a low grating rumble. ‘What was that?’

‘Sounds like a dragon, the Princess could be in danger,’ said Rainbow leaping for the door.

‘It ain’t a dragon,’ said Applejack grabbing Dash’s tail between her teeth. ‘Sounds more like a wooden cart if you ask me.’

Applejack released Rainbow’s tail as Princess Luna did indeed lead a cart into the entrance hall. Releasing it from the spell, the cart rolled to a stop nearby as the Princess levitated out a ceramic tablet and carefully placed it into the top part of the groove that surrounded the ribbons of light.

‘These hieroglyph tablets known as morpheus stones will help attune your thoughts to the mind of the pony whose dream you will join. The first stone always represents a pony’s cutie mark.’

‘Hey that’s Bon Bon’s,’ cried Pinkie.

‘Indeed it is. You may place the other stones in any order. I would suggest leaving a gap of say sixty degrees between each.’

‘Oh no, I didn’t realise that I’d be needing my protractor. What happens if they aren’t correctly spaced? Will this gateway simply not open or will it cause some sort of chain reaction that will unravel the very fabric of mind-space itself?’

‘Twilight, it will do nothing of the sort,’ said Luna barely able to restrain her Canterlot voice. ‘The spacing is purely for aesthetics, it doesn’t actually matter.’

‘Oh.’ Twilight’s cheeks flushed red as her friends politely supressed their giggles. Well except for Rainbow Dash who was doing an excellent impression of Tank, her pet tortoise, as she rolled around on the floor. Rainbow flipped back onto her hooves as Princess Luna placed the next morpheus stone into the groove. The three columns etched into the clay made Dash instantly think of the stadium in Cloudsdale but that didn’t make any sense. Bon Bon was an earth pony, unless Dash was thinking of somepony else, which was totally possible considering that Dash couldn’t actually remember ever speaking to the mare.

Applejack was a little less confused. Earth ponies were skilled at more than just growing food, although Bon Bon hadn’t stuck her as the construction type. The third stone however made perfect sense. Applejack would have recognised it even if she hadn’t played the role of Chancellor Puddinghead’s secretary in the Hearth’s Warming Eve pageant. The sun, a hill, a field of flowers and a field of crops; it was the crest used to represent earth ponies before the founding of Equestria.

Pinkie bounced higher and higher, trying to get a look at the stones in the cart but Princess Luna-no-funsie-pants had placed them all upside down. What was the next one going to be? Was it going to apples? Bon Bon loved apples. Maybe a mountain made of candy? After all Bon Bon did run a sweet shop. Ooh it might even be a dress. Bon Bon liked fashion, not as much as Rarity of course but… Ah musical notes, well that made perfect sense, thought Pinkie as Princess Luna fitted the fourth stone into place.

Fluttershy was not all that surprised when the heart hieroglyph appeared on one of the stones. She umm quite often bumped into Bon Bon at the library, in the ah romance section. Not that they ever said a word or looked each other in the eye. All Fluttershy could ever do was try to hide the blush on her cheeks. Glancing over at Rarity their eyes met and a small smile passed between them.

Rarity turned her gaze back as Princess Luna placed the last morpheus stone into the groove. ‘Oh my.’ Rarity gasped, the involuntary noise drawing the attention of her friends. The blue rose. While unicorn magic could change the colours of rose petals, no earth pony in Equestria had ever grown one from a seed though many had tried. It was the symbol of unattainable love and often appeared as a plot device in trashy romance novels. Or so Rarity had heard Fluttershy say. She of course did not read such filth. It was unbecoming of a lady and she most certainly did not have several boxes of said books stashed under her bed.

‘The morpheus stones are in place,’ said Princess Luna. ‘If the elements of harmony would step onto the glass.’

Twilight, Rainbow, Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie stepped onto the glass, the ribbons of light twirling brightly beneath their hooves. They turned to look at Fluttershy, who whimpered, before taking her place.

‘I would suggest that you try to discover what is going on in Bon Bon’s nightmare as soon as possible. If you sense that she is starting to wake you must return here immediately least you be discovered.’

‘The average pony only sleeps for seven hours, that doesn’t give us a lot of time.’

‘Do not worry Twilight Sparkle. I am confident that you and your friends will prevail. You defeated Nightmare Moon and Discord after all.’

‘Yes but not in less than seven hours,’ Twilight muttered under her breath.

‘Now I want you all to close your eyes and think about Bon Bon. Concentrate on what you imagine the morpheus stones to mean and how they connect to the pony Bon Bon truly is. When you feel the world shift around you, open your eyes and you will awake in her dream.’

Twilight closed her eyes and let the symbols etched onto the stones drifted through her mind, or at least she tried to. It just didn’t make any sense, pegasi and earth ponies couldn’t just teleport by thought alone and she had only ever done it once, when escaping with her spare gala ticket. Every time after that Twilight had needed to cast a spell. ‘There has to be some sort of spell? And how are we supposed to get back once we’re done? Are there morpheus stones on the other side?’

‘Twilight, this is mind-space you don’t need a spell, simply think it and it will be so. To return just turn your thoughts to Nightmare Castle.’

‘But Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie… okay forget Pinkie, can’t just vanish and reappear someplace else. Not to mention that every book I’ve read on the subject makes it clear that you must be able to visualize the place you’re teleporting to otherwise you’ll end up lost or worse.’

‘What’s worse than ending up in the wrong place?’ asked Dash.

‘Materialising into the theoretical magical void between dimensions, never to return.’

‘That does sound kinda bad.’

‘This does seem a rather odd way to get into another pony’s dream,’ agreed Fluttershy.

‘I was kinda expecting Twilight to do some sort of hocus pocus to get us there,’ added Applejack, cringing slightly at the glare Twilight sent her way.

Princess Luna listened as Twilight’s doubts twisted their way into the thoughts of her friends. If Luna didn’t come up with something very quickly, their mission would have to end before it even began.

‘If there was a talisman we could use then I guess that might work,’ said Twilight.

‘Though it is not needed, I can infuse an object with the magic I use to enter the dreams of my subjects.’ Twilight nodded. ‘Very well, Rarity may I borrow your fire ruby, it will make an excellent talisman.’

‘Of course Princess.’

‘If you would all please step out of the circle for a moment,’ said Princess Luna levitating the necklace from Rarity’s neck. Floating the gem above the portal, Luna closed her eyes as the ribbons of light rose up to greet it. They surrounded the ruby and bowed, then reaching out as if to take the gem’s hand they twirled and swirled and slithered a hypnotic dance before doing a backwards somersault and driving back beneath the glass. ‘You may now resume your places,’ she said returning the ruby to Rarity. ‘Simply touch the gem and once everypony has done so, you need only utter the words Demos Oneiroi.’

‘Is it safe having Rarity wearing the gem out in the open like that?’ asked Twilight, ‘It’s not exactly subtle, what if it falls into enemy hooves?’

Luna sighed. She was fast losing patience with her sister’s star pupil. Twilight’s need to understand everything about everything was going to be problematic at best and outright dangerous at worst. Luna would need to speak with Celestia. Perhaps she would have some suggestions on how best to handle the Twilight situation.

‘I could watch it for you,’ suggested Spike.

‘You’d need to come with us to do that,’ replied Twilight.

‘And?’

‘It’s too dangerous.’

‘What if I stay hidden?’

‘I don’t know Spike.’

‘But I could help.’

‘That might not be a bad idea,’ said Princess Luna. ‘This castle has plenty of information and useful devices stored within its walls. Having this young dragon relaying messages and gathering information might prove very useful in dispelling the nightmares.’ It occurred to Luna that there was another very good reason for having Spike travel with them but it was prudent to leave it unsaid, for now.

‘Bringing Spikey-wikey along does sound like a good idea.’

‘I guess so,’ sighed Twilight. ‘Fine but you’d better do exactly what I say mister. We don’t have time to go rescuing baby dragons that get themselves in trouble.’

‘Yes cause we totally don’t have to rescue the one holding our only ticket back home,’ said Dash.

Spike ran over to Rarity, blushing slightly as his fingers touched her soft skin. He removed the talisman and placed it around his neck. ‘Has everypony touched the gem?’

‘Yes.’

‘We good to go?’ asked Spike looking up at Twilight. Twilight nodded. ‘Okay then everypony hang on, Demos O…’

‘Hey I’m the leader. Shouldn’t I be the pony to say it?’

‘Really Pinkie, you’re going to be that pedantic?’ growled Twilight.

‘I don’t know what pedantic means but yep.’

‘Then get on with it,’ snapped Twilight.

‘Oki doki loki Demos Oneiroi.’

And in a flash, the elements of harmony and one baby dragon vanished.