The Things Tavi Says

by shortskirtsandexplosions

Dreamy Things

Author's Note:

I am asked by many ponies—or at least by ponies who are uniquely aware of my "condition"—whether or not I dream in color. The simple answer is, no, I don't. After all, most ponies don't.

Only, for me, the sudden plunge into a monochromatic worldscape is a bizarre sort of... wake-up call. The change is so jarring that—for the first two or three years—I was a virtual insomniac, because every time I started dreaming, I'd become uniquely lucid over my state of mind. Seeing that dreams are a time when a pony's mind should be recuperating, one can imagine how this would present several problems.

Eventually, I became used to the sensation. It takes several years of intense psychological conditioning to gain control of one's dreams. While most ponies would use this talent as a means of indulging in whatever lucid fantasy they could get their hooves on, for me it was simply a way in which I could... seize control and calm myself. Dreaming wasn't so important as simply sleeping, and—for the most part—I've found the whole matter to be altogether frustrating.

After all, what good is a dream—what is the joy or the artistic merit—when all it does is pale in comparison to the vividry one receives in real life?

I don't sense colors like other ponies do. Yes, I've had several doctors and physicians categorize it as "synesthesia" or "chromothesia" or several other remarkable terms. The truth of the matter is that I'm experiencing something so unique and curious that—quite frankly—modern medicine doesn't have an exact classification for it.

Years ago, my mind was opened up to a sense that very few unicorns have been blessed—or cursed—with experiencing. The rest of my neurological functions are simply attempting to... connect the dots, I suppose. It just so happens that sight and hearing are the most attuned to what my mind receives. It's like my nerves are wound tightly around a rod made up of magical leylines, and each time it vibrates with the rhythm of this waking world, my entire body—and soul—is set on fire.

So, indeed, dreams are like stale bread to me. But I'm quite fine with that. When I sleep, I occasionally twiddle my hooves, waiting through relaxing neutral dullscapes until the green hum of the world lulls me back to waking.

And once I'm back on my fetlocks again, that is when I can carve a dreamscape of my own, sharing it with everypony, giving them a slice of the chromatic-audio pie that I've been so richly served.

It's when I can take control of the colors that I feel truly empowered, and it's a far more relaxing thing than sleep. I prefer when my mind is mine to make my own magic with.

Or, on occasion, another pony's magic...

Comments

[RoboRed]

Calming. And dat piano, tho.

That's a bit if an interesting insight into Vinyl's condition. Or at least maybe her interpretation of it.

[Kaijutsu]

Ponies dream in black and white? That's a weird choice. Why?

...

Do most people dream in black and white? Am I weird for dreaming in color??

[Lightning Bearer]

Finally some answers. Though, I still get the impression that she wasn't born with her condition. And, not for the first time, I find myself wondering what relationship, if any, exists between the appearance of her condition and her relationship with Tavi (especially the "life saving" aspect).

[Cotton Fluff]

So, indeed, dreams are like stale bread to me. But I'm quite fine with that. When I sleep, I occasionally twiddle my hooves, waiting through relaxing neutral dullscapes until the green hum of the world lulls me back to waking.

I would imagine just waiting around for hours twiddling her hooves to wake up again would get frustratingly boring if she does nothing with her ability to lucid dream. Especially since she doesn't seem to mind, if not prefer, the waking world to her dreamscapes.

And once I'm back on my fetlocks again, that is when I can carve a dreamscape of my own, sharing it with everypony, giving them a slice of the chromatic-audio pie that I've been so richly served.

It's when I can take control of the colors that I feel truly empowered, and it's a far more relaxing thing than sleep. I prefer when my mind is mine to make my own magic with.

And right there is the reason she's a musician and loves it so.

6316600
I'd agree, the wording does imply this happened later in her life and that she wasn't born with it. It would not shock me at all if "The Event" was directly related to it, although I do wonder what could have been so serious as to cause the kind of damage needed to produce such a condition. We did learn in the previous chapter that Vinyl had to unlock their apartment door. Perhaps crime is not uncommon in this Equestria? I find it hard to imagine Vinyl getting into a situation alone to cause such damage.

6316584
I was curious about that choice as well, I also dream in color but vaguely remember some factoid stating it being a rare thing. I could be wrong though, it's been a while. Anyone know the truth on color dreaming?

[Dustchu]

My dreams suck Dx mostly cause the're always dark... like, its always night time, and nothing happens...
its boring as fuck xP

Awesome chapter, awesome chapter.

[PiercingSight]

I wish I could give you another thumbs up for every chapter that you write.

[remnants]

This was a beautiful chapter

[YoshiFawful64]

Hang on... has the Mane Six tag always been there, or did it just get added?

[dragonjek]

6316584 I think she was referring to the lack of the "color" that she sees; her "sight", so to speak, is that of a normal pony in her dreams, so the colors she sees are normal colors. In comparison, wouldn't that be black and white and drab grey?

[Hobbestc]

6316584 80% of people dream in color. Only about 20% dream in black and white.

http://psychology.about.com/od/statesofconsciousness/tp/facts-about-dreams.htm

[Talon and Thorn]

Interesting that her 'condition' isn't entirely just her brain visualising certain sounds as colour, there's certainly an emotional aspect as well and maybe a magical one as well? She has some sort of constant magic detecting effect going on that she translates as colour? Might explain why the castle looks black to her, is it drawing in or pumping out magic in some way?

[ChaseTheChangeling]

6316584
It's commonly believed that people dream in black and white. Which is weird, as I dream in colour. I think this has been debunked for a while, but they might mean extreme REM sleep or something.

[Revan]

8040697
Agreed, I dream in color.

[King of Kings]

8768651
I, too, dream in color. Of course, my dreams are also always hyper realistic, but that's neither here nor there.