//------------------------------//
// Shattered Dream 
// Story: A Dream at Twilight 
// by Paradise Oasis 
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Sigh... why in the world did I decide to come here? 

Wow, this party is really jumping; my fellow teen ponies and colts dancing around and laughing, while loud rock music blared out of  Paradise's record player. Several of my fellow fillies were gossiping, giggling, and laughing over on the right side of the room. While several of the colts were over at the food table, happily chowing down on the hamburgers, french fries, pizza slices, and other junk food Button's parents had provided for her party. The room was seriously overcrowded, and it was difficult for me to even move around without bumping into somebody else's flank. 

"Ouch, hey, Twilight! Watch out! You stepped on my hoof!"

"Oh, sorry! i didn't see you there!"

"Twilight! Y'all just totally bumped mah flank! How rude!"

"Oh dear! I'm so sorry, Truly! It's just so tight in here!" 

"Ummm, Twilight? I'm really, really, reeeaaaaly sorry to bother you, but... you're kind of got your nose stuck in my-." 

"EEEEEEK! Sweet Stuff! I'm so sorry! I really didn't mean to do that!" 

Working my way out of the overcrowded living room, I troted into the much more empty kitchen. All the loud sounds and bright lights; I quickly remembered why I don't normally attend large parties.  I had only been to one other during my whole fillyhood, and I made a promise to myself this one would be the last. Trotting over and sitting down at the table, I barely had time to breathe before another filly came trotting up behind me. 

"There you are, Twilight!" Buttons calle out, sitting down beside me. "So, you enjoy my totally wicked party?" 

"Wicked is the right word for it, Buttons." I told l my pink unicorn friend with the blue mane. "All these ponies, all clustered in one place... I'm sorry, but it's just too much for me." I look back at the living room, frowning. "Maybe I should just say my goodbyes, and go home."

"Now wait a sec, Twi! You aren't really giving this party a fair chance!" Buttons protested. "There are plenty of quieter places where you can get away from all of the craziness. And besides, weren't you going to try and talk to Quarterback tonight?" 

I stoped at her words, remembering the whole reason I had come to this part in the first place. Quarterback was in a crowd of admiring fillies, laughing at their jokes and trying to give each one of them a little bit of attention. Buttons motions to Paradise, and the white Pegasus led the football pony away from the large party, and over to where we were sitting in the kitchen. 

"Hey, Twilight! So good to see you, girl!"  Paradise calle out to me, and she and quarterback approach. "Hey, I like, totally told somebody from the party you wanted to see them... and here they are!"

"Hey, Twilight." Quarterback greeted me, with a warm smile on his face. "What's up? I heard you wanted to talk to me?"

I was frozen, speechless. Quarterback is the kind of colt whose beautiful eyes freeze you in place, whose haunting voice draws you in, and whose warm smile makes you melt like putty. Ever since I first started to notice boys, this colt has filled my dreams. And now here he is, talking to the little filly who was always to shy to even say much more than hello. 

"Ummmm...hi?" I nervously muttered, fidgeting with my hooves, and trying to keep my face from turning an even deeper shade of red. "H-how've you b-been, Quarter?"

"Eh, same old junk as always." The colt replied. "Sooo many annoying football games, so many annoying rival teams and their fans playing pranks. But this junk always happens to a player, so what ya gonna do?" 

"Yeah, I-I get ya." I responded, trying to keep my composure. "Say, Quarterback? I was wondering, if you're not too busy after the Dream Valley team trounces Bright Valley, that we could maybe go grab a burger at the Satin Slipper?" 

"Whoa, that's a totally awesome idea, Twi!" The football player of my dreams told me. "But I've already promised I'd go grab a pizza with Gusty. Maybe some other time, huh?" 

"Oh... ok..." I replied, my ears drooping as he trots back to the party. "... maybe next time."

And in that instant, my fragile little heart is shattered into a thousand tiny pieces. No, it's not the fact he just turned me down. It's what  I remembered seeing in his dreams, combined how what he had just said, all but confirmed my fears about Quarterback. See, I'm not allowed to keep the images and memories from the dreams I go through. I almost always forget the dreams I go through the moment I leave... and those few dreams I do remember (like the ones I told you about) I never remember who the ponies in the dream are. Well, Dream Gleamer told me we dream beauties can, just once, hold onto the memories if we really try. Well, I decided to use my one-time 'keep dream memories' card for this special occasion... and great B'zekre I wish I hadn't.  

When I walked into Quarterback's dreams, I expected to find Dream Valley's greatest sports hero. I had always seen him as a dashing athlete, who plays the game and wins for our herd's pride. In my own dreams (back when I still had them), he gracefully plows through the opposing team, knocking them aside without hurting them, carrying the football in his mouth to the goal line.  He then turns towards the crowd, bowing humbly, and thanking them for supporting him in all of his efforts, and that everything he does is for them. I then come bursting out of the stands, galloping towards him, when he takes me in his hooves, and never lets me go. This is how I saw Quarterback.

What I got from his dream, however, was the crowd cheering him on, as he violently smashes his way through the opposing team, breaking bones and shattering teeth, and reveling in making his opponents bleed and suffer. After his touchdown, he then turns to the crowd to receive their cheers to boost his own ego. He is not there to play for them, they are there to cheer for HIM. And oh, I am in his dream, all right; all of the other fillies from school and I race forward, and grovel at Quarterback's hooves. I was so disgusted by the spectacle, I trotted out of the dream before I could see the pretty obviously disgusting conclusion.  

"Twilight, wait!" Paradise called out, galloping after me as I raced towards the door. "What's wrong? Where are you going?"  

Bursting out the door, I ran down the castle hallway with tears streaming down my face. My Pegasus friend caught up with my fairly quickly, however, and flew in front of me to block my path. 

"Let me go, Paradise! I can't stand it! I just can't stand it anymore!" I wailed, turning my head away. "No dreams, no peaceful night's sleep, and now these stupid powers have shown me my first love is a shallow jerkwad!" 

"Twilight, calm down!" She pleaded, putting a wing over my shoulder. "Buttons and I are your friends, we'll help you get through this!"

"How the hell can you do that?! How can either of you even begin to understand what I'm going through?!" I shoved her wing off of me. "I'm just a kid, Paradise! I should be worrying about grades, puberty, and hanging out with my friends! Not chasing nightmares from a horror novel through other pony's dreams!" I scowled at her, my anger rising to a boiling point. "And you! You and Buttons had to bring me to this stupid party, and rob me of the one fantasy I had left! Do either of you know what it's like to see other ponies dream happily, while you are left with nothing at all!?"

"Twilight, please... we only invited you because we thought talking to Quarterback would make you happy." Paradise pulled back, as if I had stung her. "We can't stand to see you hurting like this... please, Twi... don't shut us out..." 

"Don't bother, Paradise. I'm done with trying to feel any type of happiness or joy." I turned away from her, rubbing the tears away with my hoof. "Since I've been  condemned to this living death, I might as well be dead inside, and not feel anything at all!"

And so I ran off, leaving my weeping friend behind me. I ran back to my mom's apartment in the castle, and locked myself in my bedroom, crying for several hours at the cruelty and unfairness of my terrible, terrible fate.