With A Little Help From My Friends

“So how’ve you been Luna? You been alright?” I ask her “It’s been a while since we last spoke like this.”

“I suppose I have been ‘alright’, in a way.” She replied. Two large pillows and a low table materialised between us.

“Well, what’s the ‘in a way’ about?” I ask.

“There is not much for me to do these days. Tia’s made a point of keeping most of the political activities to herself; she only involves me when absolutely necessary.”

“I can guess that doesn’t happen very often, does it?” I ask, she sighed and hung her head as she sat down on the pillow closest to her.

“No… Not at all…” She replied. I sat down on my pillow.

“I know how you feel.” I said in an attempt to comfort her.

“Really?” She asked.

Good going dipshit, you should at least TRY to think these things through before you say them.

“Well… In a way.” I started “I mean; I know how it feels to have nothing to do while everyone else does.” Luna looked at me with a very intrigued look.

“Pray tell, from what experience do you know this feeling?”

“Well, before I came here. I had been kicked out of school. Not really kicked out, I just didn’t do well enough in some important exams and I hadn’t applied to any schools other than the one I was already going to. Their standards were too high for me, and mom wouldn’t let me apply anywhere else. So I was spending that school year stuck at home. Everyone else had something to do. I didn’t. I always told people to enjoy the fact they had some work to do. It’s great to not have anything to do and be able to relax, sure, but it gets lonely and boring. It gets that way really fast.”

Nice save, buddy.

“Why didn’t you do well in your exams?” Luna asked.

“Ehh… Music was more interesting at the time. It was the only damned thing I was any good at. Not math or physics or visual art. Well, I was a good artist I guess. I just lost my passion for it.”

“What made you lose it?”

“Well… A number of things. Everyone always expected me to be amazing at it. See, my grandmother was a really, really good artist. So, naturally, everyone who knew that I was her grandson expected me to be one because it was ‘in my blood’. I was pretty good, but I felt so inferior next to everyone else in my class. Also, this one year I had this teacher who hated me. She always gave my work the third lowest mark in class.”

“Why did she dislike you?”

“I don’t know, jealousy maybe? Let me give you an example. There was this one assignment where we had to do a pen and ink drawing of a scene from a story. Everyone in class handed in some horribly done piece where they didn’t know how to shade properly with this medium. I was the only one who did. So, we’re giving in our work one at a time. She’s looking at all these crappy pieces and I’m hearing her commenting on them saying ‘very good’ and ‘oh excellent job’ as if she’s some kind of kindergarten teacher taking finger paintings to put up on a wall. I bring up mine; she says ‘this is it?’ and gives me this look as if I handed her a blank sheet of paper.”

“That’s horrible…”

“I swear; I wanted to kill her right there. I had worked for hours on it. I had restarted the piece so many times. It was infuriating. There was this other time where we had to bring our paints in for one class. I forgot my paints that class. The art room had paints, so I asked the teacher if I could borrow those for this class. She goes off ranting at me for twenty minutes. I shit you not. Twenty. Whole. Minutes. Telling me about how the art teachers have to buy the supplies for the art room because the art department’s budget was cut and all this crap that I don’t care about. Finally she tells me where the paints are and I go get them. So about two minutes later, this other kid who never handed in any work, let alone did any, asks to use the paints. You know what she said? ‘Oh, they’re right over there’ in the most polite and cheerful tone possible.”

“How dare she! That’s terrible!”

“I left the class when I heard her say that. I took my stuff and left. I had to come back the next week, but still. I really had enough of her. I gave up doing assignments for her. Then I gave up art in general. She made me hate it. I suppose that’s a bit of a silly reason for giving it up, but she did really ruin it for me. Any time I would ask for any help, she would scoff and say ‘isn’t it obvious’ or something along those lines and not help me. If someone else asked for help with the same problem, she would be all sunshine and rainbows to them.”

“But why didn’t you stop taking the class?”

“Mommy dearest wouldn’t let me, simple as that. I was ‘too good at art to drop it’. Well, when you’re getting the shittiest grades in the class even though your work is better than the majority of students in the class, it is pretty difficult to convince yourself of otherwise. Especially when your parents blame you for the shit grades even though they know it’s the teacher bringing me down.”

Luna just sat there, she wasn’t exactly sure how to reply to all this. I don’t blame her. It’s all in the past though. I don’t do art anymore, so I don’t care. I don’t go to school anymore either, so grades are the least of my worries now.

“We can move onto a different subject if you’d like.” I say after a few moments of silence “I’d prefer to.”

Me too, I’d rather not think about that stupid cunt.

That makes two of us.

“Okay, well… Erm.” She replied. She seemed quite uncertain of what to talk about.

Annnnnnnnnd that's three of us. Possibly four if she's lucky and has a second head-voice like you do. Anyway, she can't think of something to talk about? Talk about the weather!

We’re in a dreamscape of pure white. There is no weather!

Ask her anyway!

“What’s the matter Luna? You okay?” I ask.

Talk 'bout dat weather! Come on man! Don't ask about her! Ask about dat fine ass weather! Ask about her sister's ass, I dunno. JUST SOMETHING OTHER THAN HER!!! COME ON!!!

“I… Jimmy, I don’t want you to be… Upset with me, for what I am about to tell thee.” She replied. I chuckled.

“Luna, you can’t do anything to upset me!” I reply “Well, except maybe trying to seduce me. I’ll be a little disappointed if you try that again.”

Oh come on! That would’ve been awesome and you know it! How many people you know can honestly say they were seduced by a princess?!

“Well, if thou insists.” She took in a breath “How have your dreams been recently?”

“My… Dreams?” I asked, she kept a straight face “That’s really what you thought was going to upset me?”

“Please Jimmy, just answer the question.” She replied. She looked quite serious.

“Umm… Well, what do you mean?”

“Have they been good? Please answer me honestly.”

Uh-oh... Lie to her… Seriously. You don’t involve her in your dreams. It’s not worth losing her. Don’t.

But maybe she can help, maybe she knows about what I’ve been seeing.

How in fuck would she know?

If we can communicate through dreams, don’t you think she has some kind of power over a pony’s dreams?

You pose a good point, but still. I don’t think you should tell. Think about the other people you’ve talked about your dreams to. You remember what happened? They freaked out at you because your dreams were fucked up. Don’t tell Luna about your dreams. I don’t care if she wants to know. Don’t fucking do it.

“Well…” I start.

Don’t do it…

“They haven’t been very good at all.” I reply.

Jesus fucking Christ… Look, you know what? Fuck you. I’m leaving. Have fun with this situation. I don’t give a fuck about what happens. It’s your own stupid fault if you traumatise her like you’ve done with other girls. Also, for the record, go fuck yourself.

Finally you leave, Jesus Christ.

“I know they haven’t been good.” She replied “I’ve been watching over your dreams.”
“Wait, why?”

“Jimmy, what you’re seeing in your dreams isn’t good.”

“Tch, well I know it isn’t good! I wake up every fucking half hour out of fright!”

“Aside from that, there’s something dangerous brewing inside you.”

What?

“What?” I asked.

What the hell does she mean?

“What the hell do you mean?”

“Jimmy. I want you to go through that door.” She said pointing with a forehoof to an open doorway with nothing but darkness inside it “I am going to follow you inside so I can fully see what you have been seeing every night.”

Jesus Christ, what the fuck does she mean something dangerous is brewing?! Do you know?

…

Answer me, Goddamnit!

…

Well fuck you too then! Useless cunt.

Luna and I got up from off of the pillows we were sitting on. I walked over to the doorway. I peer inside as far as I can without going in. Inside, it was pitch black, just like every nightmare I had been having recently. It’s how they would always start. I turn to face Luna.

“Luna… Please… I don’t want to go through that tonight… Not tonight… I can’t take it right now…” I say to her.

“Jimmy, I want to help you. But in order to do that, I need to have a proper look at what you have been seeing every night.” She says walking closer to me.

“But… Luna…” I say, looking back through the doorway. Luna turns my head to look at her with a hoof. She embraces me tightly.

“Jimmy, I will never ask you to do this again after this time, okay?” She said as she put her hooves on my shoulders. I looked into her eyes; they reminded me of the calm night sky. It was exhilarating. Something about them made me feel safer.

“… Okay Luna.” I said embracing her “I’ll… I’ll do it.” I pulled away from her, taking one last look into her blue eyes. I turned to the doorway and slowly walked inside.

As I took my last step through the doorway, the light that shone through it suddenly vanished. I turned around to see the same thing that was in front of me, darkness.

“Luna?” I asked with a squeak in my voice “Luna?”

I stretched my arms in front of me in an attempt to feel for Luna as I walked back towards where the doorway had been, or, at least where I thought it was. It felt as though I was walking in place. I stop trying to move from where I was, it was simply wasted effort trying to move it.

Suddenly I heard laughter from my left, it’s distorted and deep. Not like what I’ve heard in my nightmares before. I turned to face it, there’s nothing there. I hear it from behind me. I turn to face it again; I see a pair of glowing red dots vanish into the darkness. Something taps me on my shoulder and I jump, I turn around and attempt to back away from it.

“Do not worry Jimmy…” Luna’s voice said to me “Everything… Will be alright…” Something was wrong. That wasn’t her voice. That couldn’t be her voice. No. It wasn’t.

“What is the matter…” The voice asked. Two red eyes appeared in front of me, the body of Luna with it “Don’t you love the darkness? Don’t you love my nights?” The voice sounded synthesized now. I tried to back away, but something was holding my legs in place “Don’t you?” I couldn’t answer “Well, DON’T YOU?!” She yelled.

“You… You’re… But…” I stammered.

Luna… No… Why did you make me do this?! Why did you make me bring you in here?! Goddamnit!!

“There are only so many times I can tell you to listen to me.” I heard my voice say.

What?! Where’d th-

“But of course… Every time I beg you to listen, your feelings just get in the way.” My voice continued. My mouth was moving as if I was saying it. But I wasn’t “They make you… Disobey me… They make me… Into you…”

What the fuck is going on here!?!?

“And you know what?” My voice asked. I felt myself turn around. In front of me stood… Me?

My hair was longer and spiky. My clothes were badly torn up, the shirt I wore looked like the one Rarity had made for the concert in Canterlot, but the middle of the shirt was missing, which revealed my torso. My body was covered in cuts, most of them looked fresh. The image of me grabbed my face and brought it closer to its own.

“I. HATE. BEING. YOU.” My voice was colder than ice as it spoke those words. The image let go and suddenly I felt something grab my arms. The image of me simply turned its back and walked away.

“I’ll leave you to the one you decided to bring in here. I do hate interrupting conversation.” The image spoke as Luna materialised in front of me again.

“YOU LIED TO ME!!” She screamed “I’LL KILL YOU!! DO YOU HEAR ME?!” I fell to the ground and closed my eyes, hoping I would wake up. She stomped her fore-hooves on top of my wrists. The pain rushed through my arms, my eyes shot open as I let out a gasp. Her flowing blue mane became a crimson red as she stared into my eyes.

“LUNA NO!!” I yelled “ST-”

“I’LL KILL YOU!!!!!” She screamed as her teeth formed into fangs. She arched her neck back and clamped her fangs between my shoulder and neck. I screamed as she clenched her jaw harder, I could feel her teeth sinking past my skin, jerking around inside as I attempted to push her off of me.

She unclenched her jaws from between my neck and shoulder as I gasped in pain. Her mouth dripped my blood onto my face as she peered into my eyes. She arched her neck back a second time.

“NO!! LU-”

I was cut off as Luna’s fangs sank hard into my throat. With one swift yank, she tore open my neck; the piece of flesh that had previously been there was thrown into some corner of this dark void. I felt my body go limp. Everything got cold. Luna stood over me smiling a wicked, blood stained smile. Her face faded away. As it did, I could’ve sworn I saw a glimpse of the real Luna with a petrified look on her face. I heard a long chuckle that echoed throughout the darkness.

“I know it gets a bit cliché, having you done in like this.” My voice spoke. The image of me kneeled down beside me, licking its lips. I could see the image’s blood-stained teeth as he stopped licking his lips and grinned.

“But it seems to be the only way I ever get you to acknowledge me these days.” The image drew a knife from his pocket as he chuckled.

“You’ve met with a terrible, terrible fate… Haven’t you?” He laughed as he held the knife high above his head and brought it down swiftly towards my forehead…

“AAAAAAAAAGH!!!” I screamed as I regained consciousness and tried to push a pony off me who wasn’t there. I sat straight up in my bed. Sweat rolled down my face as I put my hands over my throat.

I told you not to let her in.

WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?!

Hey, don’t look at me man. If she walked into that dream with you, she was gonna be on your mind. Naturally, your fucked-up and might I add, very hateful, subconscious decided to take Luna and use her against you just because she was on your mind. But your dumb ass wouldn't listen to me when I told you not to tell her about the nightmares.

THAT DOESN’T EXPLAIN WHERE SHE WENT! WHERE WAS SHE THROUGH AL-

“Jimmy!” I heard Luna’s voice call from the now open window of my room “Are y-”

“AAAAAAGH!!! NO!!! NO!!! GET AWAY!!!” I yelled as I held my hands over my throat and pressed my back against the headboard.

“Jimmy please, it’s me, Luna. Don’t be scared.” She said softly as she walked towards the bed. I continued trembling in fear as she walked closer as my nightmare’s version of Luna still lingered in my mind. The full moon was completely visible through my window. She stood next to my side of the bed. The moonlight shimmered off her eyes as she looked into mine which were still shrunken in fear.

Dude, chill the fuck out! It’s the real Luna!

Luna put her fore-hooves on the bed. I could see her light smile in the moonlight that poured through the window. She closed her eyes and leaned in towards me, my instincts told me to pull away, but I couldn’t. Her lips connected with my forehead. My trembling stopped at last. My heart stopped racing and my breathing became less panicked.

Smooth move, guy, even I didn’t see that one coming from you. Quivering like a little bitch who just wet themself to attract girls. A bit too emo for my liking, but hey, whatever. It gets you the bitches, so…

She pulled away slowly. Once she was slightly further away from my face, she opened her eyes and gazed into my own. I gave her a smile to match her own. After a moment, her smile quickly turned to an apologetic look as she nuzzled my neck.

“Jimmy, I’m so sorry. I thought I would be able to protect you there. I’m so sorry, please forgive me.” She said. I wrapped my arms around her neck, embracing Luna.

“It’s okay, Luna. You didn’t know that would happen to me, and neither did I.” I replied, I let go of her “What happened to you anyway? Did you just wake up because I had left our shared dream?”

“No, I saw your dream through your eyes. Just like normal.” She stated.

“I’m pretty sure those dreams are just regular nightmares, Luna.” I reply “Well, as regular as they come for me, anyway. I don’t think they mean anything.”

“I am not as certain, Jimmy. But, if that is what you think, I will respect your opinion.” She replied “I must leave this place now. The guards and my sister would be quite distressed to find me missing.”

“I understand.” I reply “Good night, Luna. Thanks for calming me down and making sure I was okay.”

“Anything for you, Jimmy.” She replied as she approached my window. She turned to face me “Good night, Jimmy.” Luna spread her wings and flew through the window.

Well, wasn’t that some shit?

That was indeed some shit.

How much time we got left to sleep?

You really wanna go back down there?

… On second thought, that isn’t the best idea I’ve had all night, is it?

Eenope.

Hmm... Kitchen?

I’m not hungr-

Poof, now you are. Go.

Look, this is why I’m overweight; because you make me do shit like this.

Yes, but we have apple pie. So I don’t give a fuck.

You pose a very strong point.

I stumbled as I got up from my bed and walked to my door. The door was open just a crack. I usually lock the door; I guess I was too tired earlier to even bother closing it.

Aw shit! Ponies be climbin’ in yo windows, openin’ yo doors up! So hide yo weed, hide yo pills, hide yo pornography cuz they takin’ errytang out there!

I nearly sent myself face first down the stairs as I ‘walked’ down them in my groggy state. Matt had warned me about the stairs multiple times for no particular reason, but now it all made sense. I entered the kitchen and took the last apple pie from the fridge and set it down on the table.

“Soooo…” I heard Vinyl’s voice say from the entrance to the kitchen, I nearly had a heart attack as I jumped in fright at the sudden appearance of the white unicorn “Late night visits from Luna, eh? It looks like somepony wasn’t being all that truthful when they said they weren’t into pony sex.”

“Vinyl, she was hardly there for five minutes.” I replied after a deep gasp of air to regain my composure.

“So? You’re a quick finisher, that’s all. Not my problem.” She replied with a grin. I was not happy with that statement.

BAHAHAHAHA!!!! IT’S FUNNY CUZ SHE’S RIGHT!!!

Fuck off.

“No Vinyl, no steamy pony sex happened while Luna was with me.” I said as I got two forks out of one of the drawers under the counter. I sat down at the table and set a fork in front of where Vinyl sat. We took our forks and started eating away at the pie.

Eating cold apple pie with your roomie is the best thing to do when you can’t sleep!

“So what was that about? All I saw was her kiss you on the head and said something about being sorry.”

“Long story, rather not recall what happened.”

“Really? Well I guess my version of the story is better then. You were having steamy pony sex with Luna. I think I’ll go clop to th-”

“You’ll do no such thing.” I replied flatly.

“Aw come on, Jimmy. Lighten up, eh? You know it’s all in good fun. Nopony else is gonna care about what I say.”

“I know.” I said flatly.

“Okay, I don’t like you agreeing with the fact that no one cares about what I say.”

“I know that too. But I still do think that's the case.”

“Screw you, but seriously though, what happened?”

“I was talking to her using our dream link. She had been monitoring my dreams recently. She was concerned because they were all nightmares. She wanted to go into my dreams for some reason or the other. She came in with me, she vanishes, subconscious picks up on my thoughts of her, summons a vision of her to bite my throat out. Wake up flipping my shit. Luna came by to make sure I was okay. That’s the short version.”

“Does the long version involve pony sex?!” She asked excitedly.

“Nope. Only in clop-fiction spin offs of this story that nopony's written yet.” I replied.

“Wait, what?” Vinyl asked with a confused expression.

“What time is it?”

“Uhh, it’s nearly four in the morning, why?”

“Damn, I was hoping for five. Oh well. Anyway, what were you doing up?”

“I heard you scream.”

“What were you doing upstairs?”

“That’s the thing. I was in the basement and I heard you.”

“Nah Vinyl, that’s not possible. Everyone would’ve woken up. Just tell the truth and say you were upstairs.”

“I honest to Celestia was not upstairs. I heard you scream at the top of your lungs. I came upstairs, opened your door a crack and found you quivering like Octy when I…” I quickly gave Vinyl a look she understood immediately “... Touch a specific place on her in certain manner with a special… Instrument. Oh yeah, and Princess Luna was there too. Another thing, why was your door unlocked?”

“I guess I was too tired and forgot to lock it or close it properly, anyway, I'll believe your story for now. But if I go to the bathroom and find ketchup packets under the seat again, I’ll know exactly who did it this time.”

“I told you that wasn’t me last time! You know Pinkie and Dash do that kinda stuff. Even I’m not that childish when it comes to pranks. Come on man, you should know that!”

“I suppose you’re right. It makes sense if it was them. There was a piece of confetti in the bathroom that I could never explain… Anyway, I’m going back to bed. Finish the apple pie if you want.”

“Nah I'll leave this half for somepony else, I’m gonna go back to bed too. Night Jim.”

“Night Vinyl.”

I walked back up the stairs while being cautious of them and entered my room, making sure to lock the door this time. I jumped back into bed and stared at the ceiling and contemplated whether to go back to sleep or not. Eventually, my drooping eyelids got the better of me and I drifted slowly away into a deep slumber…

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Hey guys.

Sorry I'm late, I hope the custom music I made and put in makes up for it a bit. I've got exams coming up on the 11th of May until the 18th, so I've gotta start studying now.

If you're a reader of my other story, I will release the next chapter of that then go into a bit of a break for exams.

Once they're over, I'll have a bunch of time to myself to do more chapters AND real-life PAUL will be with me so we'll be recording MUSIC 'N SHIT for this fic! WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

So yeah, I've got plans, they're just hampered by exams at the moment. HANG IN THERE!!
-Dats