//------------------------------// // Civilian’s POV 1 // Story: Repercussions // by vortex123 //------------------------------// Dream realm Luna's POV "The moment I have the energy to do so after taking care of all the nightmares, I'm gonna bust into wherever that stallion is, and snap his neck with my BARE HOOVES!" I growl as a do just that with the dream version of him in yet another nightmare, for yet another night. I'm brought out of my rage as I heard a sob. Turning to the source, my expression softens as I look at the child. The child was barely younger then Applebloom, we were at the Canterlot castle gates, and she was currently having a nightmare of Armor trying to kill her. Thankfully I was able to intervene before that could happen, dying in your dreams was very damaging to your psyche, especially after such a traumatic experience. "Princess Luna?" She says with tears in her eyes, wondering if I was really here to save her, an expression I've unfortunately become very familiar to recently. "Yes little one, it is me." I say in a soft voice, hugging the crying child. As the child repeatedly thanked me, I used my magic to make sure she'd have a dreamless sleep. As much as I wanted to comfort her more, I literally had no time, I had an entire country's worth of ponies to help. 'I wanted to be appreciated for what I did while they slept, but not like this, it's almost as if Nightmare Moon had locked me in a nightmare.’ … "Stay behind me!" A stallion tells a mare and a colt, who're hiding behind him, and in front of him was two of the rouge guards. They were in an alleyway, and the guards were blocking the only exit. "I'll take the mare." One of them says. “I'll take the stallion." The other one says. "And I'll take your heads." I said, standing behind them. Before they could react, I summoned a sword, and took the deadweight off their shoulders. The area started to gray, along with the child and stallion. The mare seemed to come to, and started crying her eyes out, and hugged him like her life depended on it. "I…*sniff* I just left him there…he fought off the two while I just took the kid and ran with my tail between my legs! If I had stayed…IF I HAD STAYED AND HELPED HIM, THEN HE'D STILL BE ALIVE!" The mare cried. "I'm sorry…I'm sorry…" I had tried to give her some form of comfort, but nothing I said seemed to register for her, so I just put her in a dreamless sleep. … I had appeared in what looked like a cemetery, with a stallion standing in front of a grave. Before I could do anything, the stallion turned to me. "Princess." He said in a monotone voice. "So you're a lucid dreamer." I stated, to which he just nods. Since I didn't have to deal with nightmares in these types of dreams, I had a little time to talk. "So why make your dream like this?" "Oh, well it's the place my wife was buried, after she was killed by your guard." He says simply, causing me to flinch, these were the most emotionally draining dreams I've had to deal with. Sure it was the guard who killed ponies, but as the princesses, their deeds fall on us as the ones who gave them that power. It's no surprise that many ponies would blame us for what happened. Some would go so far as to disrespect me, but I didn't blame them, only a child would "correct" someone grieving just because they disrespected them. "I know this might not mean anything to you, but for what it's worth, I'm sorry." I say, looking away, then leave without another word. Morning, before Luna’s dream walking and Celestia’s break in A random bakery The baker owner’s POV A was at the front desk looking at the various customers. They were side eyeing almost everypony else, all because of a rumor that had spread, well…it was more of a question that turned into a rumor. “What were the chances that the guard are using magic to disguise themselves as ordinary citizens?” It was apparently asked casually, the asker themselves not even believing it, but only asked due to something in a comic book. But those that heard the question stopped to think about it. That didn’t sound like something the guard would do, the police sure, but not the guard. But killing civilians just to prove a point didn’t sound like them either, but they did. And that lead to another question: “who exactly are in the guard?” For all they know, someone close to them could be apart of them, but never told them. And that lead to “If I make this mare or stallion upset, am I gonna get a spear through the chest?” and “If I figure out one of them in disguise, and I gonna get killed to keep me quiet?” *Ring* I’m brought out of my thoughts as the bell rang, telling me that somepony had entered. Could it be a guard? The pony comes up to me, a nervous look on his face. A citizen who thinks I’m a guard in disguise? Or a guard who’s not confident about acting? “H-hello sir.” The pony greets with a forced smile, which I match with my own. “Good morning sir, what can I get you?” I say, rubbing my hooves. Everypony else had not made a sound all day, so it was somewhat refreshing to hear somepony else talk, though the fact that he could be a guard watered that down. “I’d like half a dozen cupcakes please.” He says. ‘Half a dozen? That’s a bit much for just one pony.’ I think, a little suspicious, then shake my head. ‘Don’t asked questions, just give him his order, so he can leave.’ … “Halt.” A heard somepony say, causing me to freeze, my head pounding in terror. I then turned my head to the source, only to feel immense relief as I saw the guard looking at somepony else. “I’d like to ask you a few questions.” “Alright.” The stallion says nervously, turning to the mare in armor. Now that I think about it, those two looked like the engaged couple who entered my bakery before the incident. “Have you seen anypony acting suspiciously lately?” The mare asked. “No ma’am.” The stallion immediately answered. “You answered that oddly fast.” The mare points out. “Sorry ma’am.” The stallion immediately says, starting to sweat. The mare just sighed. “It’s fine citizen, go about your day.” She says. He nods and continues on his way, the mare just watches him leave, a look of longing in her eyes. I quickly left before she could spot me.