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// Nightmare 
// Story: Finding Destiny 
// by grendal 
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                Stew found himself floundering through a vast and incomprehensible acropolis. The architecture, jutted and angled, twisting awkwardly towards some unknown horizon. A faint purply glow emitted from the stones casting an eerie light across the horrifying scene. Somewhere in the distance was a screeching whinny, persistent and unnatural, just on the edge of hearing. There was a vague, almost chant like rhythm to the unholy din that unsettled Stew tremendously. Tartarian flames licked at the preternatural stones of the sprawling city, but rather than emit light they seemed to consume it, sucking in the purple effulgence and leaving in its place only an inky blackness that strained the eye. In the centre of this nightmare city stood a monolithic statue of a grotesque and tortured blasphemy. Unnerving as the landscape was, the truest source of the lone stallion’s fear was not stemmed from it. For barreling down upon Stew with a fury known only by demons and other spawn found in the deepest grottos of Tartarus, was a rancid flabby thing, more abstract in form than material.

                Such a monstrous nameless creature was never meant to be beheld by pony eyes. Despite being a solid it blobbed across the ground, moving like jelly wrapped in a pale-yellow sack. It ignored even the simplest laws of motion changing directions randomly without stopping, lifting its girth on one impossibly thin limb. Its long spindly appendages snaked in a jerky rapped manner, as if it’s bones broke each time it reached out. It had a gaping maw in it’s face, rowed with jagged rotting teeth, from which emitted a musk of thousands of putrid fish and musty clothes. It roared deep and base, reverberating off the walls of the jutting buildings. Each breath Stew took was weighed against that smell, it had to be worth the offending stench penetrating his nostrils and forcing its way into his muzzle, choking him with its nearly solidified stench. Thirteen orbs dotted the thing just above the cavernous mouth. The orbs swirled black and blue, speckled with tiny white spots, as if they were whirlpools of the cosmos. Such beautiful sparkling eyes contrasted uncomfortably with the monster that housed them.

                This slushy horror pursued Stew across the nightmarescape unrelentingly. Stone shrapnel spewed before the monster as it rampaged unimpeded through the acropolis. Running seemed an exercise in futility as each step Stew took was laboured, as if moving through a viscous liquid. His legs bent in awkward directions every time he took a step, and flailed like a marionette when he tried to run. Hiding proved equally fruitless as flabby claws on barely formed hands scratched and stabbed through any crack or crevasse large enough to house the hapless stallion. Desperation ceased Stew by his throat as he stumbled through the twisting streets that folded back in on themselves. Then he saw something which gripped his heart in icy hooves.

                Through some horrid joke a young filly was trapped in this wretched world with Stew. She was misty and ethereal, more sensed than seen. Something about her felt vaguely pink, and she screamed soundlessly at the daemon. Wading through the fear and danger, Stew knew he had to save this filly. Over rocks and around obtuse buildings Stew raced after the tiny pony. The gelatinous demon was nearly upon them. Stew leapt in desperation, hoping to shield the filly with his body. She had to live, he did not know why, but he knew she had to live. Then all was white-hot pain as the oozing horror squelched over Stew. Agony seeped into Stew, penetrating until it soaked into his bones. It was as if he were being dissolved in acid slowly. The torment seemed to last for years, but Stew stayed curled over the filly. She had to live.

                Black smoky tendrils slowly worked their way towards Stew. They were whispy at first, but as more and more reached out and surrounded the stallion they grew thicker, more solid. They gathered around Stew, bunching up like springs then shooting outwards as spikes. The monster emitted a sound of agony that shook the whole of the world. The black spikes continued to stab all around Stew, assaulting monster and city alike. Then all shattered.

                Stew found himself sitting in a comfortable red armchair in a cozy antechamber. A warm fireplace blazed across from him, and a small table to his left held two mugs of hot coco with marshmallows. To the left of the table was another armchair, and in it sat Princess Luna. For a moment Stew just sat and stared at the princess, trying to collect himself. This was not the first time Luna had saved him from a nightmare, he had many. Each time she interceded she brought him to this room, giving him the time he needed to speak again.

In many ways Luna was the opposite of her sister Celestia. Celestia’s fur was white as the pure driven snow, Luna’s was black charcoal. Celestia emitted an aura of peace and compassion, where as Luna radiated power and calculation. Celestia was a warm glow that filled all Equestria with love and happiness, Luna was a guiding light in a pony’s darkest moments. Sun versus moon, perfection versus redemption. But Stew felt it was not the differences between the sisters that caused the circumstances leading to Luna’s transformation to Nightmare Moon and subsequent banishment. Rather, it was that shared love and compassion each sister held for all the ponies of Equestria. A love so strong Luna was willing to turn against her sister in a misguided attempt to be more involved with everypony. Stew could sympathize with that.

                “Y-y-you s-saved m-m-m-me, th-thank you.” Stew finally said. Luna remained silent for a moment as she sipped the hot coco.

                “You know that this is a dream, Stewtary. We have been over this before. Concentrate, and your words will flow again.” Luna’s voice was soft and warm, yet firm like a steel rod wrapped in pillows.

                Stew cleared his throat and focused in on his breathing. When he spoke, it was slow and deliberate. “You’re right Princess Luna, thank you.” Stew loved when Luna dream walked in his dreams. It was the only time he could speak freely with a real pony and not stutter. He wished he could indulge himself, and talk with Luna for hours. But Luna was never there just for small talk. It was pretty clear why she was there tonight. “I spoke with Princess Celestia today.” Stew said, taking a sip from his coco.

                “Yes, I know. She told me that she has given you a choice to either remain here in Canterlot working in the palace, or to travel to Ponyville and seek your destiny.” Luna magiced over some milk to stir into her coco, she didn’t like it too bitter. Luna turned to Stew looking at him seriously. “My sister wishes for you to make this choice on your own, but I am not my sister. The choice is still yours to make, but I will tell you that staying in Canterlot is the wrong choice.” The antechamber flickered, then dissolved away into a forest. “Walk with me Stewtary.” Luna said as trees moved to make a path for her.

                Stew debated just leaving his mug of coco on the forest floor, it was hard to walk and drink anything as an earth pony. But watching trees scurry out of the way of the princess of the night gave him an idea. A horn sprouted from Stew’s forehead, and he wrapped the mug in a magical aura before hurrying after Luna. Dreams are fun.

                “Your sleep is plagued with nightmares of pursuing monsters Stewtary. But I have thought for some time now that it is not monsters you run from, but your destiny. You have grown so afraid of who you could be that you see it as a beast trying to do you harm. Do not run from this opportunity Stewtary.” Luna was setting a quick pace through the forest as she spoke. Stew was struggling to keep up on hoof, so he lifted his legs and began hovering along side the princess.

                Luna always did have tremendous insight when it came to interpreting dreams. She could slice through a nightmare and find the truth within moments after seeing it. Perhaps it was because she had spent so long living in her own nightmare, or perhaps she was just always good at it. Stew didn’t know. What he did know was that her talent was undeniable, so there was no point in pretending he wasn’t scared of his own destiny. Instead he simply asked, “What if my destiny is not in Ponyville?”

                Luna stopped walking and placed a hoof on Stew’s shoulder, gently pushing him down until his hooves were on the ground again. “My sister knows things, more than she lets on to anypony. She says you can earn your cutie mark in Ponyville, so you will earn your cutie mark in Ponyville.” A mist gathered and swirled, forming shapes around Stew. One turned into Fluttershy, another Rarity. Then more came, forming other ponies, some Stew recognized, some he did not. “You will not face this alone Stewtary. There will be other ponies to help you and give you strength.” Another misty figure solified into Mr. Cheesers on top of Stew’s head. “Take strength from your friends, you are not alone anymore.” Luna’s words entered Stew’s heart with such force that he needed to sit.

“I will princess, thank you.” Stew said, looking up into the gentle eyes of the dream walking princess.

                Luna smiled down on Stew, “I have other ponies I must see tonight. I have woven this forest as a safe and pleasant dream for you. Stay in it as long as you would like. But when you wake, remember my words Stewtary. Make the right choice.” Luna soared off into the night sky, disappearing in a brilliant flash of light. Stew looked around him at the ponies as they began to frolic and play in the woods. Fluttershy turned and beckoned Stew to join in the fun, and soon he was lost to the pleasant dream.

                Stew awoke to Mr. Cheesers sitting on his muzzle and beating him with tiny fists. The Stallion shook his head groggily, sending the little mouse tumbling off the bed. “W-what is i-it? It’s t-t-too early f-for th-th-this…” Stew mumbled as rubbed sleep from his eyes.

                Mr. Cheesers was undeterred, he climbed back up the bed and began gesturing sharply out the window. The sun was beginning to peek over the horizon. Stew grumbled unintelligibly and rolled back over in his bed. Pulling a picture of Princess Celestia seemingly from nowhere, animals seemed to do that from time to time, Mr. Cheesers once again began assaulting Stew and pointing at the picture. “I kn-know, I-I know.” Stew was still tired, but the mouse was right, it was time to go see the princess.

                Stew wished he could put Rarity’s suit on again, but pony etiquette was such that you didn’t wear clothing unless it was a specific event that called for it. Besides, he wasn’t entirely sure he would be able to figure out how to put the suit back on anyway, ease for the wearer didn’t seem high on Rarity’s priority list when it came to fashion. Unfortunately, Rarity had thrown out Stew’s cloak as an overly dramatic gesture, and Stew never went out in public without covering up his flank. Stew gathered his meager possessions and placed them in a couple saddle bags, then tied the bags around his flank. It wasn’t perfect, any pony looking closely would still see he had no cutie mark, but it would do. Thankfully nopony ever gave Stew a second glance. Eventually Stew would have to get a new cloak, but after the events of the day before, he was in no hurry.

                The palace was of course very busy again. The Grand Galloping Gala was a matter of days away, so chefs and decorators scurried about preparing what they could. Much to Stew’s surprise Celestia was directing the servants herself today. Aside from raising the sun, Stew wasn’t really sure what Celestia did in her day to day life. It seemed that she would have more important things to do than oversee preparations for the gala though. When Celestia saw Stew, she smiled and waved for him to follow her to a quieter part of the room.

                “have you made your decision my little pony?” Celestia’s voice was soft and melodic.

                “I-I-I h-have.” Stew answered. He took a final look around the room at all the busy ponies. Over the years of his life Stew had many regrets; the time some of the other orphans tricked him into eating poison joke, the day he threw up on his crush, the infamous bell fire. But even as he looked into the happy faces of all the ponies working in the palace he felt sure this was a decision he would not regret. “I-I wish t-to go t-to P-P-Ponyville and f-f-find my d-d-d-dest-tiney.”

                A bright smile split across Celestia’s muzzle as she spoke. “I’m so glad to hear that Stew. I have already informed Princess Twilight of your arrival. Of course, she and her friends will be staying here in Canterlot until after the Grand Galloping Galla, so that should give you time to get yourself situated.” Celestia paused for a moment to give instructions to a passing servant. “Once you’ve reached Ponyville, let anypony know I have sent you to seek the help of the Cutie Mark Crusaders.” Celestia took note of Stew’s confused expression, “They will understand what it means. I believe you have shown great wisdom and courage in making this decision Stew. May that same courage guide you as you continue down this new path.”

                Celestia smiled as the young stallion bowed and thanked her. She even managed a quiet chuckle when Stew bashed into a pony carrying a large ice sculpture of her, causing it to shatter and sending Stew sliding rather ungracefully out the door. But slowly that smile faded away into a forlorn look as Stew faded away into the crowded streets outside the palace. Celestia knew things, more than she let on to anypony.