A Cry for Help
by Trick Question
Luna sighed as a familiar cry pierced the murky darkness of the dreamscape.
"It is the third time this week. I fear I must inform Twilight Sparkle again to place this mare into the care of a licensed therapist," said the Princess.
Shrugging off the urge to allow the nightmare to take its natural course, Princess Luna swept her hoof to the side, pulling Roselucks dream bubble into view. From the out#side, the onl#y hint to the dream's contents was the image of a vast plains-scape. Luna# took a deep breath, steeled herself for the job at hoof###, and plunged into the dream.
Oddly enough, Rose's screams for help had already ceased. This was highly abnormal, as typically she would cry out for minutes before Luna would give in and respond. Luna fully expected this dream to resemble the previous Rose-mare in which she was panicking after her barista forgot to draw a humorous image in the foam of her latte. But this one was... different.
For one thing, Roseluck herself was nowhere to be seen. Luna appeared to be standing in a zebra village# with several zebra #### milling about, going about their everyday activities. Apparently Roseluck believed this meant shrinking severed heads and adding ever-more-complex piercings to various parts of their bodies.
Luna briefly wondered if this was racist, but immediately resolved never to discuss the matter.
There were strange sounds coming from the large, central tent. Casting aside her better judgment, Luna wrapped aninvisibility shroud around her form and entered the tent--muttering under her breath, "I am too old for this horseshit."
Within the confines of the tent were four figures#, with a tied-up Rose being one of them. "Mystery solved," thought Luna, as she thanked the Stars for the large strip of fabric currently gagging the earth pony.
The other three #### occupants consisted of the village chieftain, judging by the ridiculous size of his headdress, and two zebra ### mares dolled up with modern cosmetics and disturbingly delicate-looking undergarments which were obviously designed to draw #a pony's attention to a part of their bodies which also held an unexpected amount of detail.
"You are ########## my dear, my newest wife. It's time to learn of your new life," said the chief, his loincloth seemingly possessed by a small ghost. He smiled cruelly as his mares giggled.
Luna wondered if she should tell Roseluck that only certain shamen of the zebra tribe*, but mentally filed the idea with ### the racism confrontation in the "above my job description" category.
(* = I forgot to include the words 'speak in rhyme' here.)
Luna watched, disturbed beyond measure, as the chief removed Rose's gag. The lunar Princess placed her hooves over her ears, but ##### Roseluck merely quivered in fear, apparently too frightened to speak.
That bizarre behavior knocked sense back into Princess Luna's head. # Removing her invisibility cover, she shouted in her best Royal Canterlot Voice###########, "ENOUGH!" Before the zebra could react, Luna froze time and the three zebra no longer moved.
"I am sorry I took so long this time, Roseluck," said Luna. "I did not predict the gravity of your nightmare."
Rose blushed brighter than her mane. "Um, it's okay. You can go," she said.
"I do not follow," said Luna, a quizzical expression crossing her muzzle.
"It's... not a nightmare?" said Roseluck, with a## sheepish grin.
"Oh," said Princess Luna. "Oh! Oh,um... oh."
An uncomfortable silence filled the tent. "So,um,.. would you like to... join us?" asked Rose, her blush somehow getting even redder.
Princess Luna placed a hoof over her face and#### groaned. # Another awkward silence filled the air.
"Very well," said Princess Luna.