//------------------------------// // To Dream // Story: A Bridge Between Brothers // by Rammy //------------------------------// ബഐബഐബഐ Twilight ബഐബഐബഐ "...and the valiant knight slew the monster and saved the princess..." I closed the book as Spike had long ago fallen asleep curled up up again my stomach. There was no need to read outloud any further I reached down and nuzzled him. He never could make it to the end of my stories. But then again he is only a baby still. "That brings back memories..." "Princess Luna?" I questioned as looked over to see her smiling down at me. Wait... why am I back in Canterlot and why is Spike looking younger... "Am I dreaming?" "Yes, you are." Ah, that explains the jarring change. The last thing I remember doing was pouring over Starswirl the Breaded's journal. I must have fallen asleep at my desk... again. I need to stop doing that. I just hope I'm not drooling on it. "Why are you here?" "I apologized for interrupting your nostalgic good dream but I needed a change of dream after dealing nightmare after nightmare... As you can imagine, I have been quite busy the past few days dealing with all the nightmares from Discord's stunt at the Summit..." It was then that I noticed the bags under Princess Luna's eyes. I still can't believe H.K defended Discord! "That and I was curious as to why your dreams tonight have been better then they have been the past few months..." I blinked at that I didn't realize I was having bad dreams all that much... I mean my sleep had been poor but I don't recall too many nightmares... She must had been ending them in a way that I wouldn't remember... "Spike has been having terrible nightmares almost nightly for months!" "I am aware..." "Then why haven't you dealt with them?" I snapped. " You are the Princess of of the Night and of Dreams are you not?" "Yes, I am, but..." Princess Luna sighed. "I think, maybe, I should show you... You might even be able to help when I have been unable to..." "Show me what?" I questioned, biting back my second question for a moment. I don't know any dream magic how could I help the foremost expert on dreams!? "Follow me." Princess Luna stomped twice and a door appeared. It looked very similar to the Golden Oaks library door minus the candle. She opened the door and began to walk through. I followed "Where are we?" I questioned in awe as I looked about. It looked like we were in the midst of the stars themselves. I looked down to see that even pathway we were standing were comprised of stars. The illusion, however, was lost a bit by a hallway of doors that went on forever in either direction. "A mental representation of the realm of dreams... Each star represent a single dream and the doors you see are the doorways into each dreamer." All of a sudden I felt like I really shouldn't be here. It felt like I was invading the privacy of every dreaming pony... especially with... certain.. types of dreams... even though I wasn't even currently in a dream... I think. At least the doors were nondescript enough that I had no idea who the dreamer could be. Luna merely smirked at my reddening face before she jumped down to a lower pathway that had no doors. "To begin with..." Luna started as I jumped down to join her, "to enter most dreams it's as easy and simple as opening a door. However a pony can resist my entry. When that happens the door will be 'locked...' Sometimes its because of mental damage or being in a magically induced coma... but lately its because there are still many that are worried that I will... that I'm only fooling everypony... that the Nightmare has not been purged from me... So when I encounter a 'locked' dream I merely end the nightmare..." "Luna, I..." I whisper out, but stopped. I knew that Princess Luna was struggling with huge feelings of regret and shame over her actions as Nightmare Moon and to hear that ponies would rather have nightmares then to get help from Princess Luna... but what could I even say to help her when I couldn't encourage Spike? "'Tis okay Twilight..." Luna smiled weakly as she waved my concern away. "I know it will take time for my reputation as Nightmare Moon to fade... I shall endure through it..." I wanted to say more on that but Luna didn't look like she wanted to talk anymore about it so I decided to steer the conversation back to the matter at hoof. "Okay, but none of that explains why you haven't been able to help Spike..." "As you know, not only are dragons resistant to pony magic, but their minds are not the same..." I lost the rest as I noticed the light rapidly fading away and the air(?) or whatever place had become heavy and obsessive. It felt like I was trying to walk through deep water... It was similar to the feeling of a large spell about to be casted. What is going on? What is causing this? I looked over to see that whatever it was was also affecting Princess Luna. I didn't really want to interrupt her but I was really beginning to worry. "Uh... Princess Luna, I don't mean to interrupt but why is it darker here?" "Usually it indicates a very strong nightmare nearby... one that could break free from the dreamer and infect other dreams and given enough power even break the barrier to the waking world... ." Princess Luna explained, coming to a sudden stop. "I can go no further... You must go ahead and attempt to enter Spike's dream alone..." "But I know nothing of dream magic!" I protested. "I don't even know where to begin!" "I will assist you from this side. Once you are inside all you have to do is get Spike to realize he is dreaming. Once Spike's dream becomes lucid he will have control and can eliminate the nightmare himself. Just try and be careful in how you make him aware if you jar him too much it may shatter the dream. There is a limit to my ability to keep dreams stable especially from outside the dream..." I gulped in nervousness but nodded in understanding. Unlike Princess Luna, who was quite confident that I could help, I wasn't so sure. Not only did I know very little about dream magic but this felt was a huge invasion of his privacy. It was one thing for Princess Luna but me? Also this oppressive weight that was pressing down. I didn't see Spike's dream anywhere and I could only assume it would get harder as I got closer... But I had to help so with a deep breath I slowly continued on. It wasn't long before the darkness completely enveloped me. I began to panic a bit as I didn't know where to go now in the complete darkness. I gulped when I finally made out a faint, sickly green light in the distance. In light of how dark it was around and the green glow it was quite creepy and reminded me of the changelings but I had no where else to go so I headed towards it. Soon I could make out the source of the glow, a wall of green flames. It reminded me of Spike's fire... could the entrance to Spike's dream be represented by this wall of green fire? Seeing no other choice I took a deep breath and walked through the flames. ബഐബഐബഐ Spike ബഐബഐബഐ Foolish prey thinking they can stop us! I growled in feral excitement I slunk around the prey town. I could smell where they hid. The delicious smell of fear was overwhelming strong and good. My meal today was going to be extra tasty all that would make it better would be having my claws caked with squishy gore and the smell of iron in the air and the screams. Oh, the screams! I grinned as I snagged a quivering foal from a nearby bush and popped the snack into my gaping jaw, moaning. I couldn't stop myself it felt so good to kill and the meat tasted so good. "Spike!" I knew that voice! NO!!! She can't see me like this no... never! I looked down to see that it was Twilight walking up the road towards me. Why are you letting our plaything out of the hoard!? Insolence! You must teach her her place! "Spike! Please stop!" Twilight yelled out, avoiding my claw. "You are mine! As my hoard you don't have the right to talk back to me!" I roared as I managed to grab her. "Spike! Calm down and think!!" Twilight grunted as she squirmed in my hand before vanishing. How!? my mouth dropped when she appeared back down on the ground. She didn't teleport! She couldn't! I made sure of that long ago! "This is just a dream! Think!" Twilight shouted as she avoided my tail swipe. I roared in frustration. To think that not only would my my hoard escape my grasp but to be so disrespectful to try and talk to me without my permission! "Spike, please!" Twilight begged, floating in the air to look me straight in the eyes. She can't fly... she has no wings and her horn isn't lit... she can't do that unless... My eyes went wide when I realized she was right. No, this is worse! If this was a dream then this is the true nightmare, and worse, somehow, Twilight had entered it!!! I have to get out of here! How!? Did she figure out dream magic!? This is so bad she saw... she saw... I had to escape! But this was a dream, there was no escaping here! The best I could do was wait this out and escape the moment I wake. I hope... "Leave me alone!" I roared sending a bout of flame at her. Twi, please forgive me... "SPIKE!" Twilight shouted as she teleported away from my flames. "You are merely dreaming! You are in control of this dream! You don't have to be the beast!" Yes, I have to be I can't... I thought even as my monstrous form shimmered away to my normal form. Not that it would help, I knew I was just as dangerous and as monstrous in my usual 'baby' form. At least in this form I could hide until the accursed dream ended... I hope... I really hope dreams don't work like in that one issue of Power Ponies... Then I need to flee... "Please stop Spike! I'm trying to help!" I stopped in shock. Twilight is still wanting to help after what she just saw after what I did!? I know this is just a dream but... "But why would you even try to help a beast like me?" I whispered out not daring to look up at Twilight. Suddenly I was knocked back, my check burning. I looked up to see that Twilight hoof was extended. I was stunned, Twilight had slapped me! I could see Rarity doing that but Twilight!? Also, I didn't know you could feel pain in a dream. "I don't care if you are were worse then King Sombra himself!" Twilight growled as she stomped right to me slamming a hoof into my chest. "I will not stop trying to help! You are my number one assistant, a friend, and, in a lot of ways... I think of you as my little brother... Besides this is only a bad dream..." "No, it's not just a bad dream! You don't understand I..." My voice faded out... how can I tell her that... Suddenly I could feel Twilight gently embracing me in a hug. "No, I don't understand what it means to be a dragon Spike..." Twilight softly spoke as she nuzzle my head. "And I may never, but I do know what it means to be your friend. And if you don't get anything out of this know this, Spike, I'm not giving up and neither should you... we will get through this... somehow..." Yeah... if only... somehow...