In Ponyville one afternoon, Twilight, Rarity, Spike, Rainbow, Pinkie, and Applejack were on their way to Fluttershy's. Once they arrived, they saw Fluttershy was outside her home with Anton running around with Nick the fox. When they got close, Twilight greeted them, "Hi, Fluttershy. Hi, Anton."
"Oh, hi, Twilight. Girls." Fluttershy greeted.
"How's it going?" Anton asked.
"Not too shabby, Anton." Rainbow answered, as they fist bumped.
"And how's Nick doing?" A.J asked, as she pat the fox's fur.
"Nicky's doing good. I'm making sure he gets plenty of exercise so he can keep his speed up. Foxes are swift for a reason you know?" Anton asked with a chuckle.
"So where's Zayton?" Spike noticed no sign of the second boy.
"Over here!" Zayton called, as he came rushing over, "Hey, guys. I was just chasing after my new pet. He's a slippery little devil."
"You got a new pet, darling?" Rarity asked, as the group looked to Fluttershy.
"Well, since Anton has a pet it wouldn't be fair if Zayton didn't have one. And now he has a little friend to call his own." the pegasus explained.
"So what'd you pick? Something cool, I'll bet?" Rainbow asked.
"See for yourself," Zayton answered, as they saw crawling up Zayton's leg, and all the way onto his shoulder was a brown furred weasel, "Girls and Spike, meet Duke or Dukey if you will."
"It's a ferret!" Pinkie cheered.
"Actually, he's a weasel." Fluttershy corrected him.
"Yeah. That's a cool pet all right.' Rainbow commended Zayton.
"How did you pick such an animal?" Rarity inquired.
"Well, mom was showing me an assortment of animals to choose from," Zayton began, "I looked them all over and I just couldn't really connect with them. Then when I first saw Dukey I looked him in the eyes as he looked into mine, and I could feel this deep connection between us," Dukey crawled around Zayton's shoulders, "See? He truly gets me."
"Well, it's nice to see you have a pet to call your own, Zayton." Twilight admitted.
"And just think, now you can really join us on our pony pet play date." Applejack added.
"Though are Dukey and Nick comfortable with each other?" Rarity asked.
"Are you kidding? They love each other, don'tcha boy?" Anton asked Nick while ruffling his head.
"And Dukey knows not to go into mom's chicken coop, don't you, buddy?" Zayton asked Dukey who nodded his head, "Good boy."
"Yeah. That's one critter we wouldn't want to have on our farm." Applejack added.
"Well, you don't have to worry. Dukey wouldn't harm a feather on a single chicken." Fluttershy assured her.
"Come on, Zayton. Let's take our pets around Ponyville." Anton offered.
"Right behind ya." Zayton said, as he and Dukey followed Anton and Nick.
The ponies watched the boys leave and smiled, until Fluttershy spoke, "So, girls. Can I tell you something?"
"Sure, Fluttershy." Twilight said.
"Tell us anything." Rarity added.
"Well, I know Anton wouldn't admit to it, but there are times I'd hear him tossing and turning while he sleeps at night. And I fear he may be having nightmares."
"If he's having nightmares shouldn't Princess Luna be dealing with them?" Rainbow asked.
"Maybe she is, but he keeps having them." Fluttershy said.
"Did he say what he's been dreaming about?" Applejack wondered.
"No. He hasn't said anything to me, not even Zayton knows about it." Fluttershy answered.
"Anton's probably just thinking about his old problems back in his own world." Rainbow suggested.
"You'd think he would've let go by now." Pinkie noted.
"Some things can't be let go so easily. His aunt and cousin did mess him up a lot." Twilight reminded them.
"If Anton still has a problem he'll talk to us when he's ready." Rarity noted.
"Rarity's right. For now let's give Anton the space he needs," Applejack said, "Besides he's still got Zayton with him."
"You're right. I shouldn't worry so much." Fluttershy said, but still held concern for one of her boys.
That night at Fluttershy's place, Anton was in his room fast asleep. And like Fluttershy said, he was tossing and turning before shooting up and gasping, "Again? That's the third night in a row. Ugh!" he dropped his head onto his pillow. If this dream keeps coming back I don't think I'll ever have a peaceful sleep." he closed his eyes and began thinking about his Uncle Ron whom he could always talk to about his problems when his dad wasn't around.
Suddenly as if responding to his thoughts, the astral form of his uncle appeared before him, "Anton, I could sense you are in distress."
"Uncle Ron. It's been a long time." Anton gasped.
"Indeed. Now what is it that has you stressed?"
"Before I tell you, I think we should get my bro in on this." Anton suggested.
In Zayton's room, the red haired boy was sleeping peacefully, as Anton crept in followed by his uncle. Anton got close to his brother and spoke, "Zayton! Hey, Zayton, you awake?"
Zayton stirred before opening his eyes, "I am now." he groaned.
"Sorry about this, but we got company." Anton said.
Zayton looked at the end of his bed was Uncle Ron, "Oh, Uncle Ron. I haven't seen you since you came last month to see Anton."
"Yeah. The first time I met you. I still can't get over the fact you were actually a drawing Anton drew up." Ron rubbed his own head.
"So why the visit tonight?" Zayton asked, as he sat up in bed.
"Well, Anton called out to me and I could sense he was distressed." Ron answered.
"What's the deal, bro?" Zayton asked.
Anton sighed, "I've been having these nightmares the last three days."
"Nightmares?" Zayton asked, "But isn't Princess Luna supposed to protect us from nightmares?"
"Probably backed up with lots of other kids dealing with nightmares she can't get to mine," Anton theorized, "I mean even she can't get to every nightmare. Which is why we should also try and over come our own nightmares."
"So what's yours about?" Zayton inquired.
Anton explained, "It always starts the same. I'm back at my aunt's place, and then I hear her and my cousin each giving me an order. I ignore it, but my body moves on its own making me do the order I'm told. I'm just running orders right from left, and with a ball and chain bound to my leg making me move slower and unable to get everything done. Then they just insult me and my parents constantly until it becomes too much I force myself awake. I want to move on from them, but they keep weaseling their way back into my head," Duke who was in his little basket bed shot his head up at the word 'weaseling', until Anton spoke to him, "No offense, Dukey." the weasel put his head down and went back to sleep.
"Seems to me personally is you want to continue to keep them around just so you can hold onto this anger you have over them." Ron deduced.
"Keep them around?" Anton asked in confusion, "That's the last thing I wanna do."
"Then why do you still think about them?" Ron questioned.
"I don't know. Maybe it's because I still have more I wanted to tell them or want them to see just how much they've hurt me and my mom. But that can't happen, can it?"
"Maybe it can." came a new voice.
The boys went to Zayton's bedroom window and saw Luna flying right outside, "Princess Luna?" they gasped.
"Good evening, boys," she began, 'I'm sorry I haven't been able to get to your dreams Anton. You won't believe just how many little ponies have nightmares in a single night."
"It's ok, Princess. I know your job is busy." Anton replied, as Ron flew out and hovered beside the alicorn.
"So this is Princess Luna? Ron asked, "I love the shade of your coat and the wave of your mane. Oh, where are my manners, my name is..."
"Don't worry, I know who you are already. You're Ron; Anton's uncle." Luna answered.
"That's me. I've been checking in on my nephew from time to time through meditation." the man explained.
"Interesting. And I thought only my dream walking could travel through the fabric of space and reality." Luna said.
"You can really do that?" Anton asked.
"Indeed, why do you ask?" Luna inquired.
"Because I want you to take me into the dreams of my cousin and aunt tomorrow night. I want to give myself full closure and tell them straight off for their bad behavior. I want them to remember me not as someone they could push around, but as someone who doesn't fear them. Think you can do that?"
Luna seeing how much Anton wanted this and could tell this may be what he needs to finally let go permanently answered, "Very well. I'll inform my sister of the news tomorrow."
"Thank you." Anton thanked her.
"You're welcome." Luna was about to take off, until Anton called her back.
"Wait! Before you go I have to know. Me being here was your doing wasn't it?" Anton asked.
Luna froze up seeing he caught on. But she answered, "Yes, Anton. It was because of me."
Taking Luna by surprised, Anton smiled and spoke, "Good. That means I can thank you for bringing me here. You saved me, Luna. Thank you."
Luna smiled back, "You're very welcome." she took off into the night.
Ron turned back to the boys, "Well, I guess you'll be ok for now won't you?"
"You bet, Uncle." Anton answered.
"I'll catch you boys later. And remember, just think about me and I'll know." Ron said, before vanishing.
"Well, I'll let you get back to sleep, Zayton." Anton said as he walked to the door.
"You gonna be ok?" Zayton inquired.
"Don't worry about me. I'll be just fine," Anton answered, as he left the room and walked back to his own room, while smirking, "Because what I have planned for Rodney and Katrina are gonna make them wish they never talked down on me or my mom."