* * * *
Fluttershy felt herself shrinking slowly into the floor, as fire erupted in her cheeks. It was if her fear was melting her in an attempt to escape the piercing eyes that were beating down upon her.
“So, tell us about this dream Fluttershy,” Princess Celestia said, her demure surprisingly calm as she approached the shivering pegasus.
“I-”
A forelimb wrapped around her.
“Yes darling, you simply must tell us. It sounds simply dire!” Rarity encouraged, squeezing her ever tightly.
Fluttershy ducked her head. Her mane slid over her face, as she rubbed her hoof into the ground anxiously.
“Well… it was a silly dream,” Fluttershy squeaked out quickly.
Suddenly, she was plunged in a streak of shadow as Pinkie leaned over her.
“A silly dream?! Luna could have been more injured, or worse. She could have died!”
Pinkie now towered above Fluttershy, her ice blue eyes became more intense, causing the pegasus to become frozen, she stood with her forelimbs raised above her head. Fluttershy’s eyes widened in fear, tears tumbled down her cheeks to escape. As Pinkie grew Fluttershy pushed herself further into the clutches of Rarity. Pinkie, oblivious to Fluttershy’s discomfort, continued.
“Then every pony will look at you in anger and fear, as long as you will live. No pony will invite you to parties. Imagine that, no cake! I couldn't-”
“PINKIE!”
A voice erupted, crashing through the ponies like a tidal wave. Everything went quiet, even the singing of the birds were ceased by its controlling powers, scared to squeak another note to the summer morning.
“That is quite enough of that, don’t you think?”
Princess Luna strenuously rose from the ground, her top lip quivering as she tried to hide her pain.
“I was only trying to say how important it was for Fluttershy to tell us about her dream… And the importance of cake,” Pinkie chirped as she lowered her hooves to the ground.
“Pinkie! Don’t talk back to the Princess like that, its rude.” Rarity frowned intensely before turning her attention to the shivering Fluttershy in her grip.
“Are you alright sweetie?”
Fluttershy raised her head, her silken mane lying across face, covering an eye whilst she wiped a tear away from the other.
“I’ll be fine, it is the Princess you should be worried about.”
Fluttershy rushed up to be with the other ponies that were helping Luna, bowing politely as she made her approach. Luna waved them away.
“Leave me be, I’ll be fine!”
“Are you sure? You kinda did just fall out of the sky... Outta nowhere.” Rainbow dash waved her hooves in the air to emphasise her point.
“What happened to you?”
“Tell us of your dream Fluttershy!” Luna demanded, oblivious to the question just asked of her. Princess Celestia put her hoof on Luna’s shoulder.
“She will sister, but first, tell us of your ill tidings.”
Luna looked up, meeting Celestia’s face that was radiating a sisterly love, similarly to the summer sun that beat its warmth upon the equestria and all in it.
“I am trying dear sister!” She glared at Fluttershy, “Tell us of your dream Fluttershy!”
Luna’s voice echoed as she seemed to be losing patience, she took a few steps toward Fluttershy, her legs with each step trembled growing in intensity, she collapsed mere metres from Fluttershy's hooves.
“Luna!” Twilight glided to be by her side,
“I don't think its best we stay here. Princess Luna needs help.”
“I’m right here little one,” Luna forcefully reminded.
“Right. Of course. Your majesty, we need to help you. We need to take you to a doctor-”
“No!... No time,” Luna strained. “Need to save the other world!”
“The other world…?” Twilights voice faded in confusion.
"The dream world, I can't..." Luna voice barely reached Twilight.
“Ah’ know. Lets go to Zecora’s” Applejack took of her hat, holding it in front of her.
“She can treat the Princess injuries, and she maybe able to help us about this, other world?”
Luna exhaled as she tried to stand, her legs unable to support her dropped her to the floor.
“Luna, let us help you. Please sister” Luna again looked to her sisters eyes, quietly she looked away and nodded.
“Princess, I hope you don’t mind if we use magic to move you.” Twilight suggested.
“That is acceptable.”
With that, three horns glowed like stars, as if they had escaped from Luna’s mane that spread out like a blanket blowing in the wind.
“Ooooh! I can’t wait to see Zecora, I hope she has cake!” Pinkie squealed bouncing in front of the others like an excited puppy.
Rainbow Dash laughed as she watched her friend swiftly speed away.
“Wait for me!”She was about to fly after her, when she flashed a look behind her, hesitating.
“Keep going Pinkie, I will meet you there.”
Rainbow swooped back hovering over Luna, shading the unconscious Princess from the blazing heat.
Fluttershy looked on, Angel on her back.
“What have I done Angel?”
She felt a nuzzle into the back of her neck,
“Thank you Angel bunny, I guess you're right.” The corners of her mouth raised a little.
“All what matters is that Luna gets better, lets go.”
She galloped to catch up.
* * * *
“Hello my friends, I heard the chime. It was getting quiet here, its been a long time.”
Zecora chuckled, pointing her head a little forward to indicate the wind chimes decorated on the trees, now strangely still as the wind brushed it gently.
“Zecora, I’m glad you’re home. Princess Luna needs your help!”
Twilight's horn still blazed a purple light between them,highlighting the curves of her worried face.
“That I can see, why don’t you all come in. I made some tea.”
A pink fluff slowly drifted down between them, soon Zecora was looking into baby blue eyes. A bright grin carved into the ponies face.
“And cake?”
Again, Zecora chuckled.
“Yes Pinkie, I do have cake. I didn't forget this time to bake.”
Zecora’s ears flattened to her head as Pinkie screamed in excitement, charging past leaving a pony shaped cloud in the air, that Twilight battered out of the way with the help of Applejack who was using her hat.
“That's mighty kind of ya Zecora. But, Uh…” Applejack hesitated,
“How does that help Luna exactly?”
Zecora smiled,
“What kind of host would I be if I didn't offer my guests any tea?”
Applejack swiftly put her hat back on her head.
“Uh, didn't answer my question there,” Applejack grumbled.
Princess Celestia’s mane shimmered as she approached the zebra.
“I thank you Zecora for your hospitality. However, I must push that you help my sister.”
“Yes Zecora,” Rarity now strained, her horn flickering, shooting little sparks.
“I'm not sure how much longer I can hold her, and I don’t know about you. But I don’t want to ruin her gorgeous fur,” She gasped.
Zecora stood back, pointing her hoof toward her open door.
* * * *
“And I flew swiftly, bringing down the pile of clouds to the floor, saving the falling Princesses life. I wish I was you guys, so I could have watched the awesomeness,” Rainbow Dash hovered in the centre of the room, using her hooves to act out the situation that just ensued.
“Yes, Rainbow you were amazing,” Applejack glared. “But this is about the Princess, not you.”
Princess Luna led on several sheets that lay thick on the ground. Bandages wrapped neatly around her right hoof, that she stretched out to reduce the pain. Fluttershy was knelt beside her, cleaning up Luna’s wound with Angels help. She did this silently, as Luna's glare followed the others around the room.
Fluttershy's mind replayed Luna’s accident on a loop, increasing her fear of it all being somehow her fault.
“Thank you,”
Fluttershy gasped. Startled, she dropped the bandage from her mouth.
Luna now looked at Fluttershy, smiling.
“I...I sorry-”
Fluttershy quickly picked up the bandage, putting it into Zecoras box.
“For what young one?” Luna looked at the bandage on her hoof,
“You've done a good job.”
Fluttershy blushed,
“Well I… Thank you Princess, but your fall. It was my fault, wasn't it?”
It went silent between them, all that could be heard was the bickering between Applejack and Rainbow,
“I’m only trying to lighten the moment AJ!”
“You mean showing off?”
Fluttershy ducked her head, Luna sighed.
Rarity stood up, and pushed herself between Applejack and Rainbow. Her cheeks ruby with fury.
“Cut it out you two! We are here for the Princess and Fluttershy!”
“Fluttershy?” Zecora glanced over at the two ponies sat on the floor.
“She looks as fine as can be, to me.” Zecora walked up to Luna, who sat up. Allowing her to check the bandages.
“Perhaps things would be clearer if one simply told you”
Luna horn pulsed as she bought a tea filled cup to her lips, sipping it before setting it back down.
Zecora nodded, before slowly sitting down.
Luna sighed.
“As you all know I am the Princess of the Night, and it is my royal duty to quell the dreams of others when they are in distress.”
“Hearing that is still kinda creepy- Ow! Hey!
What did I do?” Rainbow glared at Applejack who nudged her in her side. Her face highlighting her disapproval.
Unfazed, Luna continued.
“Whilst on duty, I felt a major wave of distress coming from Ponyville. So forthwith I traveled to every ponies unconscious minds, including those of Spike. Nothing I could find, yet the distress kept growing in strength pulsating in my mind. Alas, I kept going until I found the final ponies thoughts,”
Every ponies eyes seemed to be drawn to Fluttershy, as if she were the light and they the moths.
“Oh! Oh! Pick me, I know who it is!” Pinkie screeched flailing her front hooves in the air wildly. “Pick meeeeee!” She bit her lip containing her excitement, as her body seemed to shift side to side quickly. Twilight rolled her eyes and smiled.
“Yes Pinkie. Who was it?”
Pinkies lips became unlatched, forming a beaming grin.
“It was Fluttershy! Wasn't it, wasn't it, wasn't it?”
A cake encased in a purple tint was raised before Pinkie,
“Well done Pinkie”
“Woo! I got it right!” Pinkie choked as crumbs flew out of her mouth.
“M...M...Me?” Fluttershy whispered staring at the floor.
Luna nodded, resting a hoof on Fluttershy's back.
“Your mind looked like a sky that had never been tamed by pegasus. It was sending out major signals, they were so strong that when I tried to enter a new pulse was emitted stopping me. I kept on trying, but the pulses kept growing. Eventually, I tried using magic to cut a path through.” Luna hesitated, but continued soon after. “But I was met with a stronger, more powerful force. It sent a shock of pain through me.”
Fluttershy gasped, looking up at Luna. Tears started to form in her eyes, the grief she felt from hurting Luna was building up.
“Fluttershy,” Twilight called, Fluttershy turned to face her. Peeking out through her mane.
“Did you see anything odd whilst this happening?”
“Um,” Fluttershy thought back to her dream. “The storm did seem to suddenly get worse.”
“Pfft. Come on Flutters. A storm,” Rainbow interjected,
“No Rainbow. I think she is right. Luna’s interference with her magic could have made that storm. Hmmm, what happened after Luna?”
“I lost consciousness, the last thing I remember is waking up on the floor in Ponyville.”
The ponies continued to discuss their theories as Zecora remained perched pondering her own.
“Hmmm…” The room filled with silence in anticipation, waiting for Zecoras words.
“Fluttershy’s dreams are guarded you say?
Then there must be a strong magic at play.
Whether its dark, or whether its light, we must determine it by using our sight.”
“With our sight? Come on Zecora, Fluttershy can see, it was her dream!” Rainbow groaned in confusion.
“It is true, but she only sees her dreams at one angle,
and with magic obscuring it, making it appear in spangle.”
“Uh- “Rarity interjected. “This dream doesn't sound covered in ‘spangle’. In fact it seems just utterly dull.
Zecora shot her a side glance, making Rarity jump.
“The spangle is the magic making the dream appear as the creator intended-”
Again Zecora was interrupted
“So Zecora, how do you intend to see through this ‘spangle’?” Applejack inquired.
Zecora stood up and trotted to her drawers, she proceeded to rummage through.Item after item made an appearance, some of which no pony has ever seen. Until finally a grin made flashed on to Zecoras face.She returned to the near table, placing down the object. Every pony gathered. There laid a small oak box, covering it was an intricate painting that only the most talented of unicorns could ever think about completing.
“Its… Beautiful!” Rarity’s eyes shimmered, her mouth agape.
An array of figures danced along the lid of the box, twirling along its edges.
Seemingly in praising awe of the detailed patterns arranged in the centre. Its lines swirling in loops.
“This pattern is of my kind praising the dream world,
we even learnt to collect them and store them,
in orbs which insides seemed to be swirled.”
Silence encased the ponies, as Zecora opened the box.
Inside laid a looped structure, wrapped in string that formed a more intricate pattern than that on the lid. In its centre laid another small loop.
Zecora lifted it out of the box, delicately laying it on the table. At the bottom of the object was an array of blue feathers, each adjoined with a similarly coloured bead.
“Ooo, stringy”, Pinkie chimed.
The object pulsed a dark blue as it was raised into the air, twirling as it did so.
“A dream catcher?” Luna scoffed.
“Zecora, I, the Princess of the Night cannot enter this dream with my level of power. How do you expect this to?”
“Exactly, maybe you're using too much power.
That is why I propose using something lower.”
“Hmm…” Luna glanced off to the side.
“Come on sister, you know it could work” Celestia gave her a sideways look.
Luna breathed out,
“I suppose it could work, it can capture the dream instead of going inside,” Luna frowned.
“But it can be easily interfered by other ponies unconscious thoughts.How do you intend to overcome this Zecora?”
“Fluttershy will stay with me-”
“Woah, woah, woah! Alone? I will stay to to keep her company!” Rainbow swept down next to Fluttershy.
Applejack trotted over to stand by her other side.
“I don’t think that's a wise idea, I’ll stay.”
“Uh, didn't you two listen to Luna? This can be easily interfered. She should stay alone” Twilight spoke before another argument commenced. “I expect it is risky enough having Zecora with her as it is.”
Fluttershy gulped.
“It’ll be okay sugar cube,” Applejack mumbled.
“Can ah’ at least stay until she is asleep?”
Zecora nodded.
“Thank you Applejack” Fluttershy whispered.
Applejack lips lifted, to form a comforting smile.
“I don’t know about you, but I think it is time every pony gets home,” Celestia rounded up the ponies toward the door. Pinkie bounded up to Fluttershy, sweeping her off her hooves and into a warming hug.
"Don't eat too much cake, like I did one time. I thought you could never eat too much cake, but I did. It was strange, the thought of too much cake impossible. Mrs Cake told me it could happen but I didn't believe her."
Twilight and Rarity rushed up behind Pinkie pushing her strenuously as she lounged over their heads in an attempt to take a glance of her friend, "We’ll see you in the morning Fluttershy!” Pinkie blurted before running off, "Oooooh! Rainbow wait for me".
Twilight sighed, then looked at Fluttershy before giving her a hug,
“Goodnight Fluttershy," but like the rest of her friends she turned and left.
Fluttershy was left on the floor dazed. “Goodnight”
* * * *
Fluttershy giggled with Applejack on the bed that Zecora has set up on the floor in the main room. They were chatting about the crusaders latest incident involving sheep, and shearers. The whole thing didn't end well for Apple Bloom’s tail.
“You should get some sleep sugar cube.”
Fluttershy went silent and looked over at the wall were the dream catcher hung above the bed.
“It’ll be alright sugar cube, that thing can’t harm you. I made Zecora pinkie swear remember?”
“I know, I just… there was someone else in my dream Applejack.”
“Someone else?”
Fluttershy looked back at Applejack, biting her lip.
“I didn't see who it was, but I swear I knew its voice. It saved me, and I felt calm listening to it. If it was a nightmare made by a power stronger than Luna, why was it there?”
“Well, as ah' see. It seems to know your worth protecting sugar cube.”
“Hmm.”
“Fluttershy?”
Silence made itself at home between them,
“Fluttershy, what else is there?”
“It called me dear daughter of-”
“Dear daughter of what?”
“I don’t know Applejack I woke up!”
“Then don’t worry about it, now we need to help you Fluttershy. So I think its time to get some sleep. I’ll take care of Angel.” Applejack stood picking Angel up and putting him on her back. Fluttershy curled up under the sheet.
“Goodnight sugar”
“Goodnight Applejack,”
As Applejack left the room, Fluttershy listened to her hoof steps getting quieter, followed by a door closure and voices.
Fluttershy’s eyes followed the swirls in Zecoras ceiling, as sleep began to drag her away from reality.
“I hope your right Applejack.”
* * * *