//------------------------------//
// Day Dreams and Nightmares 
// Story: Friendship Is Sacrifice 
// by militarynut2010 
//------------------------------//

It had been a couple days since I wound up here in Ponyville, two days of working on the farm for Apple Jack and two days of working in town for bits so that I would be able to handle being on my own. It hasn't been bad thanks to the friends I made and my stuff from home. I still was bugged about how my stuff got here as well as who could have brought it here, but I would then shrug it off as unimportant before resuming what I was doing. I was able to get a bit of income from the town bakery when I introduced a couple things from earth, but I would pass them off as treats from my hometown. Today though, I am helping out around the town with the Summer Sun festival, though I am anxious about the idea, knowing what was going to happen, but I knew I couldn't say anything without seeming either suspicious or insane. Walking through the town, I do what I can for the festival tomorrow while preparing myself for the trouble to come. I am so focused though that I run into another pony because of not paying attention. "Oof, god I need to be more careful."

I then hear a voice say, "I am so sorry sir, I did not mean to run into you."

I look up to see a purple unicorn with a black mane and tail that both had a streak of lighter purple in them. "No, I should be the one to apologize, I was so caught up in my thoughts that I wasn't paying any attention to what I was doing."

I then comment, knowing I need to keep up my act for the time being, "You seem new here."

She nods before introducing herself, "I am, my name is twilight and this is my friend Spike, we are here to check up on things for the festival tomorrow, and you are?"

I smile, "My name is Joshua Godby, most ponies here call me either Josh or Joshua, never matters to me unless they keep using my full name."

We share a laugh before she says, "I am sorry, but I need to get going now, I need to find a miss Apple Jack and-."

"Apple Jack? I could lead you to her, follow me."

I lead the way to the farm, going back into my thoughts, but get pulled out of them when Twilight asks, "Um… may I ask what you are thinking about?"

Startled, I look at her before saying, "Yeah, I sorry, it is just that I am worried about tomorrow, I have this bad feeling that something is going to happen tomorrow and I was thinking about what could have me this worried."

She buys the lie before saying, "I see, I guess I can understand that."

Before anything else could be said, we come to the farm where I see Apple Jack bucking trees, I point her out to Twilight before going back into town to continue my work for the festival, it is a while later when I see RD moving a cloud and start jumping on it before going over to investigate. I stifle a laugh when I see the aftermath of her making a miniature cyclone in order to dry off Twilight, I then shout when I see RD start laughing at her work, "Over doing it again Rainbow?"

She looks over to me and grins as she says, "I never overdo anything Joshua! I just do it greatly!"

I simply laugh before watching as Twilight comments about the clouds, prompting RD to prove herself and clear the clouds in ten seconds. When RD takes off, I can't help but to laugh out loud at Twilight's and Spike's expressions from the sight of it. I then step in front of her, waving my hoof in front of her face in order to get her to snap out of it. From there I lead her to Rarity's, but bolt as quick as possible in order to avoid her attempts to give me a makeover. I head over to the bakery to check on things there and wait for the party that I know that Pinkie Pie has set up for Twilight. I settle in among the crowd in a quiet spot, and wait for Twilight to come in along with the others. Once she shows up, I can't help but to be startle along with her by the sudden noise from everyone shouting surprise, and after giving her my welcome, I leave in order to get some space from the crowd. While outside, I suddenly feel that someone is coming before hearing a familiar voice say, "Hi Joshua, got stressed out again?"

I look to see Derpy, and she has her signature cross-eyed look on she looks at me. "Yeah, Pinkie threw a party for the new new Pony, so I took the time to actually greet her before I came out here for the peace."

She giggles before saying, "At least you took the time to greet her, it shows you are doing better."

I laugh before agreeing with her and carrying on a conversation with her.

Later.

I am getting ready for bed in order to be able to get up early for tomorrow. Because of the importance, Apple Jack gave me the day off along with her family. Instead of resting though, I take to practicing my ability to lift and move things things with magic just so that I at least have something to help me in the upcoming fight. As I work, I feel something well up inside me, I don't recognize it at first, but when I do, it surprises me. It had been years for me, I had been through many things and never felt it because of being desensitized by the news and movies that play in my world, but the cold feeling of fear is unmistakable.

Dreams

I am unsure where I am. I look around in this weird place, but all I can see is blackness surrounding me. "You know you won't be able to stop it."

I whirl around when I hear an unfamiliar voice. It is a condescending voice that is taunting and cruel.

"You believe that you can help stop Nightmare moon, and the one who brought you here thinks that you could make a difference is just as much a fool that you are. You will achieve nothing, and will fail and when you do, you will watch as your 'friends' suffer for your failures!"

I am startled awake from a barrage of images hitting me, each worse than before, my waking up combined with the speed they hit me cause me to forget easily, praying that they don't come true.

The next day.

I am gathered with everyone for the festival, I can't help but to, despite my fear, be amazed by the atmosphere given off by everyone. As I enjoy everything, I notice across the room that Pinkie Pie is staring at me, giving me a look that is completely unPinkie Pieish. Before I can go across the room to ask her what is wrong, I hear Derpy's voice, "Hello Joshua, what do you think of everything?"

I see her to my left, I glance back to where Pinkie Pie was but she is gone now, so I turn my attention back to Derpy and reply, "Good, I might go outside in a bit for some relief but otherwise this is pretty interesting."

We chat for a while, my fear and stress fade away to my amazement because of not expecting Derpy to be able to carry on a conversation without saying something about muffins or such. Then the mayor after a while comes in and announces that Celestia is here, causing me to start sweating, knowing that I stand out because of my size combined with when I appeared and my covered wings. When the moment of truth comes, Celestia is revealed to be missing when a laugh that I remember, causing me to tense up, ready to charge at a moment's notice. I watched as a fog appeared on the balcony, and Nightmare moon herself appeared. Knowing that things were going to go nuts soon, I started moving closer to the balcony in order to make the charge. I am close enough that when the royal guards try to attack but fail, I suddenly charge in, ready to tackle her in order to lead her away, only for her to quickly turn and gore me in the side with her horn, then with a simple flick manage to toss me to the side saying, "Stupid fool, you think that you can get the drop on ME! That is so laughable!"

She then takes off laughing while I try to stand up, the injury from her horn combined with me hitting the wall dazing me badly. Derpy and Apple Jack rush to check on me, but stop, I don't pay any attention to them, or the other ponies now watching me, or rather one of my wings that was sticking out from a large tear in my jacket. I simply shake my head, clearing it then charge out, determine to track Nightmare moon, regardless of the injury. While searching the town, I see Twilight and the others heading for the forest, knowing that they were searching for the elements of harmony. Before I enter, I toss my jacket to the side, ready to use my wings to help me make better time. Taking to the air, I follow the six until I see the castle remnants where the elements are at then rush in, only to have to start dodging as blasts of magic are launched at me, prompting me to start weaving around in an effort to avoid getting hit. Despite my dodging, I get hit and sent crashing to the ground. I only manage to avoid a fatal injury by flaring my wings when I get close to the ground, but still land hard enough to cause some injuries. As I try to stand up, a familiar voice shouts, "JOSHUA!"

I look to find Derpy rushing to me, causing me to swear to myself, "Joshua, are you ok? I had seen you rushing here and-."

"Derpy, you need to go now, it is not safe for you to be here and you will only get yourself hurt by staying here."

I don't stay to see what she does as I rush into the castle, coming across the mane six standing before Nightmare moon. Before they can react, I launched myself across the room, charging straight for her, determined to try to help the others. I actually managed to surprise her, my tackle launching her through a wall. I turn to the others and shout, "Hurry! You have to get those things working quickly, I can't hold her off forever!"

I turn to make another charge, only to be tackle and gored again by her. Once she has me against a wall, she starts stomping on me. She then puts her hoof on my throat, choking me as she says, "Now you have really made me angry! Once I finish those little foals off, I will make you suffer in the worse way possible!"

Before she can turn to go for the others, a blur darts in and tackles her, revealing itself to be Derpy. She goes to shout for me, but Nightmare moon launches her, causing her to hit the wall next to me. As she lays there unconscious, I feel shock and rage. Derpy was only there because of me, and was hurt because of me, and for that to happen, my mind overloaded. I turn to a gloating Nightmare moon, power building in me, and unleash with a shout a wave of energy that sends her into a wall. Not giving her a chance, I charge blindly at her, ready to hurt her for what she had done. Right when we are about to collide, she turns her head, her horn hitting mine, causing a flash of bright light and magic to hit me.

When my vision clears, I find myself looking at a reflection of me in my human form. Looking around after checking to see that I really was human again, I am unsure where I am now. There are a number of crystals floating around me, all differing from being clear to pitch black. When I go up to one crystal, a black one, I look into it and see one of my worse memories. I quickly look away and see another crystal nearby and look into it, only to see the memories of what is either a dark blue or light purple filly. I realize that these crystals are memories and that their colors represent how good or bad they were to us. I am about to look into more but I suddenly hear crying. I follow the sound, wanting to find the source when I find a filly, the same one from the memory I seen, laying down, tail wrapped around herself, crying. Starting to cry myself, I go over to her, sit down, and stroke her mane in order to calm her down. She is startled by the touch and darts from me before turning to look at me. When she looks into my eyes, I get the feeling of surprise coming from her before she rushes to me and grabs my leg, saying, "I am so sorry, I didn't mean to do it, it wasn't me that was hurting you."

I bend down and hug her, surprising her before saying in a comforting tone, "Hush little one, its alright, I know it was not you that was hurting me, you do not have to be afraid. I am not angry with you."

"*sniffs* I couldn't help myself, that thing took control of me and-."

The little filly is interrupted and terrified when a demonic voice hisses, "StAy AwAY! ShE BElonGS tO ME!"

I look to see a demonic creature approaching, the thing is a disturbing mass of limbs and flesh, and the sight of it causes both me and the young Princess Luna to feel fear. When I hear Luna's whimpers of fear, I stand strong, knowing that if I don't stand before this monster, then it will continue to hurt Luna. When I see the black crystals start pulling toward it, I remember that this place is My and Luna's mindscape, and focus hard, creating a gun with my mind before saying to Luna, "Get behind me Luna, I will handle this thing!"

As she wraps her hooves around my leg in fear, I open fire on the creature. At first I think that I am doing damage, but then as I watch, I realize that the bullets are simply passing through it, not doing anything. Then a small black crystal shoots forward and hits me, causing me to see one of my memories of A bad memory that had happen to me. Fighting the image off, I start backing up with Luna, unsure how I can fight this creature. Then, the answer hits me when the creature comes into contact with one of the clear crystals, and actually squeals in pain. The sight of it actually being hurt by the crystal, makes me realize that the good memories actually hurt it. I then focus hard, drawing all my good memories in between the creature and us. When the wall is made, the creature actually stops. I think that we have it beat, until I feel it start to force my good memories away. I struggle to keep the memories where they are, but my will and memories alone aren't enough. Getting an idea, I say to Luna while focusing, "Luna, I need your help."

"I-I-I can't fight! I am too scared!"

"You don't have to fight, I need you to focus, I need you to remember everything good that ever happen to you. No matter how big or how small, you need to remember!"

She starts, after I give her a look of confidence, focusing. At first I can't tell she is doing it, but then I see her memories start floating toward the creature. When I see this, I cheer her on, saying, "That's it Luna, you are doing it, keep it up!"

Hearing me cheer her on causes Luna to focus harder, prompting more of her memories to start flowing forward. Eventually, both our memories start to encircle the creature; our bad memories start to get repelled, till eventually we trap the creature. "WhaT Is ThIS? STOP THIS BOTH OF YOU!"

Shouting over the noise the creature starts generating, I say to Luna, "Don't stop, Just a bit more!"

As we focus harder, images start flashing before our eyes, yet my attention is all on the creature. As we bring the memories inward toward the creature, it actually starts to beg us to stop, "PLEASE, STOP THIS PAIN! I WILL GIVE BOTH OF YOU POWER BEYOND YOUR DREAMS! Just stop."

At the last words, I realize that we have it on the ropes, and shout, "NOW LUNA, ONE MORE PUSH!"

Focusing harder than before, we manage to drive the crystals home, and force them on the creature, causing it to scream in pain from the good memories that are hitting it. As we watch, the creature collapses to the ground, dying. Before our eyes, it fades away, leaving nothing, yet causing a majority of the mindscape that had darkened to brighten, free from its presence. We look around, making sure it was gone. "Is it, truly gone?"

I look at Luna, then look back saying, "This part of it is gone, we only managed to destroy its mind. Twilight and the others should be able to deal with the rest using the elements."

"Does that mean you have to leave?"

I give a light smile before hugging her, "Don't worry, once you are completely free it will be OK. I promise you that you won't be hurt."

"Can, you at least tell me your name? You know mine, but I don't know yours."

I blush realizes that but then think, 'She has already seen my true form, so I guess I will go ahead,' "It is Joshua, Joshua Godby."

"Thank you Joshua, I hope I can see you soon."

As soon as she says this, everything suddenly goes white and I suddenly find myself shooting across the room in the castle, hitting the wall hard enough that I feel something crack. I as I struggle to move, I see that Nightmare moon is staggering, only to get it by the power of the elements. When I see this, I collapse, knowing the fight is over. Through the spots in my eyes, I see that Luna is now back to normal before seeing sunlight come into the room. I feel on the verge of passing out, but I turn my attention to Derpy and see that she is dazed, but she is getting up. When she had seen me, she rushed over to me, scared. It isn't long before I see from my head being down a set of white hooves, prompting to look up into the eyes of Celestia. She has a concerned look as she says, "I presume that you are Joshua correct?"

I give a weak a smile and try to stand, only to collapse, prompting me to say, "That's my name, and please, forgive me for not kneeling, but I am afraid that I can barely feel my legs."

Before anything else can be said, there is a blur and suddenly Luna is in front of me, "Joshua, are you OK?!"

I look at Luna with a sad smile before saying, "I am glad you are OK Luna, it is good to see you free of that thing."

I let out a cough, a feeling of weakness coming over me. "I guess that fight took more out of me than I thought."

I then passed out without warning, alarming everyone.

Two days later, Ponyville hospital.

When I start to come to, my entire body is aching. Feeling this, I know I must be either alive or in the other place, but the familiar smells of a hospital tell me that I am quite alive. I manage to lift my head and look somewhat around. When I hear the sound of gentle snoring, I look to my side to see Derpy laying there. I then look down at my body to find that a few more bandages and I would resemble a mummy. Deciding not to put up with laying down anymore, I go to sit up, my body protesting the movement, when a nurse comes in and sees me. She tells me that I shouldn't move yet and should rest a bit longer, prompting me to want to argue, but when I feel a sharp pain, I decide to listen and lay back down. The nurse then checks on me, looking nervous the entire time before leaving the room. The sound of the door shutting wakes up Derpy. When she sees that I am awake, she rushes over to me, asking, "Joshua, are you ok? Are you hurt?"

I stretch my one leg that isn't aching before saying, "Yeah, I am alive, aching, but alive."

"When I had seen you pass out back at the ruins, I thought, I thought-."

I put a hoof on her shoulder before saying, "I'm ok Derpy, I don't let my friends down ever. Besides, a few injuries won't put me down so easily."

She just smiles with tears in her eyes. She looks like she is about to say or do something when the door opens and a blur is suddenly on me, sobbing, "You're OK Joshua, I was so scared that you wouldn't wake up!"

I see that the blur is Luna, then look to see the mane six and spike are at the door with a pair of guards on either side of the door. They practically rush me as they come over to me, shouting and babbling a myriad of things. I try at first to get them to stop and calm down, but seeing that they aren't stopping, I shout, "WILL YOU GUYS KNOCK IT OFF AN TALK ONE AT A TIME LIKE NORMAL PONIES?!"

Thrown off by the shout, they all calm down, letting me say normally, "Please, one at a time, I can't handle multiple ponies asking me things at once."

Apple Jack goes to say what she was thinking but is cut off when Twilight says, "Why didn't tell anyone that you were an alicorn?"

Adjusting myself, I reply, "I didn't want the attention Twilight, with Luna and Celestia being the only known alicorns, revealing what I truly was would have brought on too much unwanted attention, so I hid my wings, though if I could have hid my horn, I would have."

"Why didn't you then, surely you could have used magic to hide it."

I blush, knowing I trapped myself and go to try to make an excuse when a familiar voice comments, "You don't have to lie about that Joshua, you should tell them the truth."

We all look to see that of all people to show up, Celestia herself had shown up. The others kneel, but I once again am in no position to do so. Alarmed, knowing that if she knows what I am, then I am screwed. Deciding that with her there and that they were my friends, I sigh before saying, "In all actuality, I am not even supposed to be an alicorn, I should be a human being but some sort of magic not only brought me here, but had changed me into this form."

Confused, Rarity asks, "What is a human?"

Luna speaks this time, saying, "They were a race that existed here long ago, even before my sister and I, they were an unusual race, resembling hairless apes, yet they stood upright  and were as intelligent as we are. They worked closely with our kind, but unlike us, they had common problems with fighting among themselves and each other. To settle this, they set up competitions that put them against each other or ponies that were trained to fight. We had coexisted with each other well, until one day a plague had hit humanity. It did not affect any ponies, but it did decimate them. By the time the plague had ended, there were only a few humans left. When the royalty at the time tried to help them, they had found that the remaining humans had disappeared, leaving only their work and some other things. At the time, it was one of Equestria's greatest mysteries."

They look amazed before starting to bombard me with questions, only for Luna to shout, "PLEASE, give Joshua a break."

They stop, allowing Celestia to ask me, "Tell me Joshua, what has become of humanity since they left our world?"

I clear my throat at this, then start telling them a summary of humanity at my world, including some of the things that were developed and the wars that were fought, making sure to avoid anything about the show involving them. By the time I finished, they were all amazed by the knowledge of what humanity had accomplished. Then Twilight asks me, "What did you do back home?"

I smile saying, "I was a student in college, though I had no idea on what I wanted to settle on for after college. Unlike ponies, humans don't get cutie marks to show us what we are good at. Despite this, there are those of us who are pretty much Jack-of-all-trades."

Confused, Twilight asks, "What are those?"

I chuckle before saying, "Not what, who. The term is used to describe people who can do multiple things. A few people have called me that, but I prefer just focusing on one thing unless I need to handle different things."

Afterwards, they continue talking with me for a bit, until Celestia asks for her and Luna to be able to talk to me alone. I get nervous again, unsure what they are going to say. Celestia then sits down in a chair next to the bed before saying, "Luna told me what you did for her back at the ruins, and I would like to thank you, you helped save my sister from the thing that was controlling, you along with the others all have my and Equestria in your debt for this."

I shake my head before saying, "First off, no one owes me anything, I did what had to help everyone. Second, Luna, I am sorry if during the fight I had hurt you."

Luna shakes her head before saying, "No, The only thing you had hurt was the creature controlling me, and I thank you deeply for saving me."

I just rub the back of my head before saying, "Like I said, I just simply did what was right, though I have no idea what it was that allowed me to link our minds like that."

Celestia speaks up saying, "That was an alicorn mind link, it is normally used between alicorn couples."

Confused, I ask, "So what does this mean?"

Celestia smiles before saying, "It means that now you two are married in the eyes of Equestria."

Luna and I both burst out, "WHAT," before stuttering and blabbering about it, until Celestia starts laughing. "I am sorry about that, I couldn't resist doing that."

From both of us, "That's cruel,"/"Sister."

She just chuckles before saying, "sorry, but really usually it is only heard of happening between alicorns who have a deep bond, so technically, you two are indeed a couple. I might have to keep an eye on you two."

We just blush as she giggles at us. When they leave town later on to return to Canterlot, Luna actually stops by to say goodbye as well as to wish me well. Soon after, Apple Jack comes in with Rarity, carrying my jacket. Rarity apologizes to me, saying that there is no way for her to be able to repair it, but mutters that I am better off without it anyways. I simply take it and say, "It's OK Rarity, I will keep it even if I can't wear it."

After they leave, I take out of a zippered pocket my iPod, and go to settle in for the night, eager for when I can get out of the hospital. Before I can start to fall asleep, I hear a voice say, "You did well back there, you helped fight a dangerous enemy, and even gave your friends and advantage."

I look to the window, alarmed to find a figure in a robe. The robe completely covers them, and yet, it isn't the robe that makes it impossible to know who or what I am looking at, the figure actually seems to shimmer and its figure seems to change between a humanoid shape and a pony shape. "You don't have to be afraid Joshua, I am not an enemy."

I still feel nervous before asking, "Then who are you, and what do you want?"

"I need your help, there are others who need your help as well, but I am afraid I can't say what I need your help with. Just know that when the time comes, your friends will need you more than ever."

Before I can ask what the being means, I blink and it is suddenly gone. I get up despite my aching body and check out the window, only to find nothing around, I am left confused, knowing there was no way the figure could have managed to climb out the window and run in the blink of an eye. The beings words echoing in my mind, I go back and lay done, eager to get out of the hospital and find out what the being was talking about.