A Faraway Land.

Chapter 5

When We Dream the Dream

I open my eyes while I lay on my back. As I rest on the cold ground. A moment of peace and tranquility fills my body.  A clear baby blue sky above; not a cloud in sight. I laid on my back for some time. I closed my eyes to try and go to sleep. Suddenly the peaceful feeling left. This startled me; the feeling of peace left my body as something else filled the void. It was like all of the blood was just stolen from my body. Maybe the feeling of fear? I have felt fear before, so that wasn't it. I make my way to my feet and I see a familiar sight.

"What am I doing on the deck of the carrier?" As I look around. I see no one, but I did see the same black wall of clouds way off in the distance.

All of a sudden my surroundings change. The clear blue sky was no longer in sight. The black clouds took its place. It started to sprinkle all around me. As the sprinkle turned into a rain, then into a downpour. I saw a very familiar white mist, but this was different from what I remember. I made my way to the other end of the carrier. Walking towards the mist. As I got closer and closer. The mist started to take a form. As I looked closer at the mist. They are taking the form of people, but something was wrong.

I made my way closer and closer to the misty people. Something caught my eye as I observed. I looked down to the right and see the mist changing. I walk towards the changing mist. It was starting to change colors. As I look on at the other forms. None of the other people shaped mist changes. I look back at the changing mist and noticed a familiar face.

"Jessica? Jessica is that you!?" I don't know why I was talking. Something about this setting was off. It was like I have been in this situation before.

When her form was a perfect match. Jessica and the line of mist started to walk down the run way. As I followed her and the mist down the runway. I observe her occasionally bending down to pick up the small clump of rubber. Oddly enough the mist bent down to pick something up. As we made it to the end of the runway. A strong wind blindsided me. I quickly put my hands up to cover my face. When the wind stopped. I put my arms down and saw Jessica and the other mist figures have vanished.

I look at the opposite side of the carrier. I see something was raising from the ground. As it got higher and higher. I was able to see what is was. It was me in my Hornet. I see a group of misty people running over to my Hornet. From what I can tell they are going through my pre-flight. I observe them running from my aircraft. I started to count out loud. 10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... The Hornet launched at me in full force as I stood still. As it was launched. It blew past me at a breakneck speed. Another gust of wind blew past me. Sending the mist off in the distance.

I make my way to an open door on the deck. I look around and it was completely empty. As I stood in one place. Another feeling overtook the last.

"I am alone. Why am I alone? What have I done to deserve this?" As I was standing still. With no hope left in my body. I heard faint whispers. I turned to the whispers and saw a ladder.

I walk over to the ladder and made my way up. As I followed the whispers. I found myself on the bridge of the ship. As I looked around. I see mist in the place of the people. Once again I hear whispering.

"Red Rocket to Avenger..." As the whisper faded into something else. It got louder and louder. "I have some kind of fog out here. I am going to see if I can go around it." As I listened to it. I recognized the voice. I was the one who was speaking.

"Negative Red Rocket. That will set you back. You are ordered to fly above it." A loud but disembodied voice said. Then the whispers came back again.

"Keep an eye on him. The president needs all the information we can get." As the whisper faded into thin air.

"Ave... ... I... maj... problem! Tur... ... emerg... la..." The radio filled with static. I knew what it said. It was me who said it. As I look around to see what happens next.

"Retrieve at much data on his aircraft as you can! Don't mess this up! We only have one shot at this!" The room was filled with a gentle breeze as the mist vanished once again.

I stood in the middle of the room looking at the radio.

"Why? Why would you do this?! It all makes sense!" I yelled louder and louder. "That's why I was the only pilot flying! I was some kind of lab rat!" The room started to shake slowly. "Why... Why! Why would you betray me like this!? Why would my county betray me like this!?" The room shook more violently. As I heard a ringing in my head. "I'm going to kill you!" The ringing turned to pain as I grabbed my head. "I'm going to fucking kill you all!" The room was shaking so violently; it brought me to my knees. As soon as I hit the ground. I was in a different place. It looked like I was in the cafeteria.

All the rage I felt inside me left as soon as it came. I got up slowly to sit down at the closest table. As I sat down. The mist started to returned. This time it only took the form of two people. As I looked on into the mist with a blank expression. I instantly recognized who they were.

"Why did he have to go? Why did he have to die!?" Jessica mumbled as Jacob sat across from her. "Why Jacob!?"

"I don't know why the storm took him, but if I know him like I think I do. James would want you to be happy and live your life to its fullest."

"What are you talking about? I'm not dead! I'm right next to you!" As I remembered what happened yesterday. "I'm in a hospital! I'm in a hospital in Equestria! Don't worry I will be flying back tomorrow. You'll see!" I stopped myself as the mist vanished. That same feeling of ice rushed over me again.

"I'm regret... I am regretting leaving, I regret not saying goodbye to my friends... My family. I regret dying. Am I really dead? " I close my eyes for a moment. When I opened my eyes. I found myself in forest. I walked around for a little bit trying to get a grasp of my situation. Suddenly I hear 3 loud gunshots. I rush in the direction. I quickly find someone on the ground.

"Hey! Are you okay!?" As I rushed to the man's side. Mist started taking form around him. As the mist took its shape. They took the shape of two good sized animals and one small human like creature. As I looked at the mist. The two larger forms where on all fours. As the small one was standing upright. The mist stayed mist as I walked around observantly.

"Is it still alive?" A whisper said. "It's alive." As the small human like thing jumped back.

I slowly made my way around the body. I got to the point to where I can see his face.

"It's... me..." I gave a sigh of relief. "Well I know now that I'm not dead." I jumped back as one of the larger animals rushed towards me. Then they where all around me. They started to drag me away from where I was. As they were dragging me away. I felt something I had never felt before. This was the feeling I wanted to hold on to for all my life. I closed my eyes for the last time. As my eyes closed. It felt like I was falling. With the feeling I had. I didn't care what happened next. While i fell with my eyes closed. I could feel the warmth envelop me.

I open my eyes. I can see a dim light through the wrapping. I moved the blanket off my legs and sat on the edge of the bed. I searched the bandages for a way to take them off. Finding two clamps in the back. I undone them both and started removing the bandage. The light got brighter and brighter. Until what was holding the last bit of bandage fell off. I looked around the room and saw another bed beside mine. The bed was empty, so I decided to get dressed.

I reached over and grabbed my clothes. As I was put on my shirt. I opened the drawer next to my bed. I grabbed my gun, wallet and my phone. As I put them in their proper pleases. I walked over to the window and pull up the blinds. I was shocked when I saw the town. It looked like a tornado ripped through it.

"Well I guess that would explain the livestock around." I looked on in amazement. As I took it all in. "Who dyes a horses coat and mane like that... It's just weird."

I walked over to the bed that I was resting in. I started to look around for my boots. Finding them at the foot of the bed. I grabbed them and sat down. While I was tying my boots. I heard the door open.

"Good morning James! How are you doing this morning?"  Nurse Readheart looked on. "I see you already removed your bandages."

"Ya. I have to get going back to the states. I have a lot of things I need to work out." As I turned around to look. I saw a horse by the door with a clipboard hanging from its neck. "Nurse?  Where are you?" I asked while standing up. As I faced the door. I heard a voice.

"I'm right here. Can't you see me?" The white horse said.

As i looked at the horse standing a couple of feet away from me. I snickered.

"Ha! that's funny..." As I looked on with a questioning look on my face. I started watching the horse in front of me.

"What's so funny?" She asked.

"Jesus! What the..." As I took a few panicked steps back. I tripped over an untied shoe string.

As Nurse Read heart observe me fall. A worried look overtook her.

"Are you okay!?" She asked while walking towards me.

"Stay back!"I yelled while scooting back on the floor. In doing so my head hit the corner of the small dresser by the bed. At that point the dreams I had last night made sense. The two large animals. They where horses. The door of the room swung open for a second time.

"Is everypony okay!?" A light brown horse said; barging into the room. I look on at him while holding the back of my head. He was wearing a white lab coat.

"Doctor Stable... Nurse Readheart?" I asked.

Nurse Readheart started to walk over to me.

"No! Stay back. I'm fine, just give me a minute to collect my thoughts."

As I sat on the ground trying to calm my nerves. Thinking about the dream.

"So Twilight brought me here? I am guessing she is a horse too?" I asked for either one of them to answer.

"Yes. Twilight and Applejack and yes they are both ponies." As the doctor looked on at me with a worried face.

While I was on the ground. I finished tying my boots. I slowly made my way to my feet. While I used the wall for support. I stood looking on at both Dr. Stable and Nurse Readheart. I towered over both of them by at least a foot.

"What is it going to take to get out of the hospital?"

"Lucky for you Twilight already paid for your fee. She is waiting down the hall for you." The Doctor said with a smile.

As I made my way to the door. Dr. Stable held the door open for me.

"Thanks." I said while I walked out the door keeping an eye on him. I continuing down the hallway to see a lavender horse. She had a purple mane and tail with a pink stripe running down the middle. She was sitting in the waiting area. I paused and took a deep breath.