//------------------------------// // Chapter 12 // Story: Through the soul of friendship // by ShieldStar //------------------------------// Through the soul of friendship Fanfication by ShieldStar 12 Reed woke to the sound of hushed voices and the sight of his room’s ceiling. “Let’s go through this one more time. You and Reed went to the training field for Reed’s morning jog.” Reed shifted to a bit to see who was talking. At the end of the bed all of his new friend stood, minus the Princesses and Early Dawn, deep in discussion. “Yep, But before we left somethin’ had been eaten at ‘im. Somethin’ he don’t want me knowin’. So Ah let ‘im be. Once we’all got to the track, he begun running. Then what ever ‘t-was eaten at ‘im caused  ‘im to trip, were he then stumbled into the combat circle.”  Applejack answered Twilight. “I think we all understand that darling. However were I get confused is the part after.” Rarity interjected. “Um, I think Reed’s awake now.” They all turned at Fluttershy’s statement. Reed sat up. “What time is it?” he ask rubbing his sore arm. “It is just before sunset.” Twilight stepped forward, “are you okay? Can you tell us what happened?” “Ah told all Twi’, He demolished the Combat Circle then gone and blacked out.” Reed sighed, rubbing his temples. “There is a lot to tell.” There was a knock on the door before Reed could continue. A guard stepped in. “The Princesses have requested that Reed be reminded of their appointment at sundown. You are all invited. It is also noted that if Reed is unable to come, due to earlier events the appointment is to be instead held at sunrise. That is all.” The guard said all this standing at attention, she then looked at Reed expectantly. “Thank you, could you return a message?” She nodded, “Please tell them that I plan on being there.” She nodded again and was about to leave, “Uh, question, where is the meeting taking place?” “The meeting is to be held in the Princesses Study.” “Thank you.” And with that the guard left. “I guess we should let you get ready.” Twilight said sounded a little disappointed. “Yeah, I’ll be quick, so we can eat before the meeting.” There was a general agreement and the Mares left. Reed quickly cleaned up, gathered the papers detailing his symbol, and found the mares waiting for him, they all left to eat. After eating the sun was starting to set and they quickly went to the study, Twilight leading the way. When they arrived at the door Twilight knocked. “Enter.” A faint voice called. Reed opened the door, slowly to find the room empty. He stepped in and the ponies followed. Through the windows the sun was setting and the moon roes into the sky and stars began to wink. Once the sun was laid to rest and the moon had risen the Princesses came in through an open balcony door. “Good evening everyone. Shall we begin?” Celestia greeted them warmly. There was a general consent and Celestia floated cushions out for them to sit on, while Luna lit the fireplace. “Before we discuss thou’s symbol, there is a more pressing matter. Reed we wish to discuss of earlier this day. When thou stumbled into the combat ring’s most advanced practice circle and proceeded to demolish it. While I do not condemn the act, it does raise questions of where thou learn such combat and what caused thou’s outburst at the time.” Luna took her seat after say this and look expectantly at Reed.  The other mares sat in a circle, starting with Celestia the order went: Celestia, Twilight, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie, Applejack, Rainbow, Reed, and Luna. “Well, I am not sure where I learn to fight like that. I have sparred with a wooden sword and have learned how to defend and punch, but…” “Y-all fought like you’d been in battle for years and like you’d knew a hay a lot more than wha’ all ‘tis sayin’.” Applejack added when Reed hesitated. “And the cause?” Twilight asked. “A-a dream, then a vision.” “Can you describe the Vision and Dream?” Celestia gently prompted. Reed Cleared his throat, “The visio-, “his voice broke. Swallowing he tried again, but as the vision returned and became clear his throat closed and tears welled in his eye. He shook his head, fighting back the tears and trying to gain control of his emotions. “No matter, there is another way for all here to see.” Luna soothed. “With thou’s permission, we would relive the past through your mind and memories.” Reed took a deep breath and nodded. “Then we shall Begin.” Luna’s horn Glowed and tendrils of magic reach towards Reed. When they touch his temples and forehead, Luna casts a projecting spell in to the center of the circle. They watched from through Reed’s eyes, and Reed relived the nightmare in greater and more terrible detail. Once more a wall of darkness moved accost the land in front of him like a great sand storm. Once again tendrils of darkness reach out and pulled the mass along. Shadow Nightmares weaved in and out of the darkness.  Reed noticed something new, the Shadow Nightmares chased ponies and every so often attacked and pounce a ponies turn them to shadow. Their scream full of terror and pain.  Reed felt a shiver of sharp pain run down his back, but was transfixed by what was in front of him.   The dream switched perspectives suddenly, once again he was in a village and the wall of shadows charged in to the streets. A voice like a rock slide boomed in evil laugher and giggled with the voice of the young; the sound of scraping metal dragged on the gravel of the street.  This time Reed smelled blood, ash and the sharp smell of cold bodies. “You will be my own,” a figure emerged from the darkness, twisted and gruesome. A pair of glowing eyes fix on Reed and board in to him. The figure was humanoid, hands of bone broken and jagged, and a rib cage similarly twisted. The shadows weaved and shifted showing and hiding parts of the mangled body. The figure raised a hand and pointed at Reed. “You will be their dearth.” Reed looked at his feet, there broken and beaten were all his friends. Old and new, young and old, human and pony. Reed fell to his knees, “Nooooo!” he looked up and the face of darkness filled is view. “You cannot save them.” The Dream ended abruptly when a sword of crimson plunged towards Reeds perspective. The spell ended when the nightmare did, with a sizzle and pop. All were quiet, no one moved. Reed looked around, Luna and Celestia were looking at each other speaking with their eyes. Twilight was processing what she had just seen, pinkie pie’s mane had flattened and she stared wide eyed at were the nightmare had been projected. Fluttershy was hiding behind Rarity who look like she might be sick. Applejack was petting her mane looking pale and Rainbow Dash was backed into a corner white as a sheet, even her mane seemed paler. Reed looked back at Celestia and Luna who had seemed to agree on something. Their horns began to glow and there was flash of light. Everything return to the way it was before Luna had Projected the nightmare, and so was everyone else waiting expectantly to see the terror lock away in Reed. “Can you describe the Vision and Dream?” Celestia gently prompted again, ‘play along’ she said in Reed’s mind. Not sure what just happen Reed began again and repeated what was said only moment before. Again Reed Cleared his throat, “The visio-, “his voice broke again this time on purpose. Swallowing he tried again, but as the vision returned once more and became clear his throat closed and tears welled in his eye again. Even thought he had just seen it before him, in a way the terror he felt was worse this time. He shook his head, fighting back the tears and trying to gain control of his emotions, again, the detail were now forever burned in his mind, the broken bones and twisted limbs, and the dark red stain. This time he couldn’t hold back a few tears, and his heart felt like it might burst. “No matter, there is another way for all here to see.” Luna soothed again. “With thou’s permission, we would relive the past through your mind and memories.” Reed took a deep breath and nodded again, but he wanted to scream, No, and run away as far and as fast as he could. “Then we shall Begin.” Luna’s horn Glowed and tendrils of magic reach towards Reed. When they touch his temples and forehead, and there was a long pause. Luna scrunch her face in fake concentration. Then her magic dispelled. “We are sorry, but the Dream is locked away too deep for me to access. Thou must have had a truly terrible nightmare to have had your subconscious lock it away.” Luna looked at Reed meaningfully, and said telepathically, ‘we will discuss it once they have left.’ Relieved that he didn’t have to relive it again. Reed continued to play along, “Oh, ok. Now that you mention it I can’t remember what the dream was about.” “And the vision? Wha’ y’all remember about that?” “I-I don’t know, what I do remember is fear and then I’m not sure.” “Fear can do some strange things. Even warp reality to make you think someone you care for is in mortal paroral.” Celestia nodded and she said this.  There was a short pause of silence, before Luna broke it by asking, “Doth thou have the symbol and its meaning?” Reed jumped a little then stammered, “I-I do, uh, yes here.” He turned to the papers he had brought with him. Reed hands the papers to Luan and Celestia. Celestia and casts a spell on the paper with the picture and the image is displayed floating in the middle. “I will start from the top and work down. The flame cupped by the crescent moon. The first part of the symbol, the flame means Hope, passion, will, creativity, and anger. The flame also represents a double heart, or a double purpose. One for all to see and the other hidden within the colors of the flame. Orange meaning the bright happy feelings, and still cautious. Red for heritage, luck, power, and prosperity. The upward facing Crescent moon. While the crescent moon has a few meanings, and even fewer in the upward position. I have come up with a few of my own meanings. The upward position makes a bowl, to hold something. The doubles as the Meaning of offering (as the flame Symbolize the Double heart the Crescent in this way is offering heart or Core/soul.) The crescent moon is a sigh of wonder, Hope, power, and protection. The Coloring of the upward facing crescent moon the silver blue, both connected to water. This silvery blue is the color of ice and the moon on a clear night. Silver is often the color of the moon and while silver does have meaning, here it is a ward against evil. The pale blue is a mix between White and Blue. White meaning life and purity. Blue here means Wisdom and truth. Mix them together and you get pure wisdom, and life’s truth. Also the white has the effect of bleaching the truth as well as fading it. Meaning the truth can either be harsh and clear or faded to a half truth or as close to a lie as truth can get. The Six Blue line make two objects, a Book and Shield. The Blue as I talked about with the moon means wisdom and intelligence Plus Much more. Refer back to the Crescent moon and the meaning of Blue for more details. A book for me means intelligence and knowledge or well learned. The insides of the book are blank to represents how much more I have to learn and the eagerness to learn. The Shield is the desire to Help and Protect. Empty-ness of the shield represents the opportunities to help and the ability to help anyone, adaptability. The meaning for being the main part of the symbol is that it is my number one goal to protect and learn from all. Also the size of the shield maters because this means how important it is to protect others from harm but to still give truth. This also means the idea of a big heart, or a lot of compassion. The Three yellow stars represent wonder. Yellow represents: power, authority, the intellect and intuition, goodness, light, life, truth, immortality, endurance, cowardice, and treachery. That said the color Yellow has been a big part of my life. There have been times when I have shown all of yellow’s meaning, however distasteful. The three small stars represent of how little I consider yellow’s meaning to be in my life. While the star shines bright show how much the color is a part of my life. I only figured this out after I had finish the symbol. Funny how the subconscious works. The stars also represent the potential for greatness, (like for anyone there is). The Meaning of there being three is for multiple paths, or talents. Another reason for there to be three is the idea of magic, that shimmer, which translates to the act of inventive, adventurous, and being spontaneous. So that is what my symbol means. Did you have any questions?” When Reed had finished his presentation, he was surprised to find only a few in the group look bored, namely Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie. “Fascinating, and you came you with this all by your-self?” Twilight asked. “Well, Yes. There is a book of symbol and there meanings back home but the symbol is all my creation.” Twilight looked more excited and then Crestfallen. “When you say back home do you mean back in your world?” “I do, sadly otherwise I would let you borrow it.” Twilight sighs. And there is a round of light hearted laughter.  Then a thought entered Reeds head. “Um, Princesses is there any way I could buy some cotton cloth, or a way I could work for the material?” Luna and Celestia looked at him curious. “The reason is ask is because…. Well where I come from Humans wear clothes because we don’t have fur. And well I didn’t really pack a lot of clothes when I left home and wound up here. So if there was a way I could get some cotton material and some needle and thread I would be able to make some more clothes from just that.” Celestia nodded thinking. “Hmm, well I am sure we have some material laying around the palace, as for payment though, hmm…Luna what do you think?” “I see no reason thou should pay with currency, perhaps thou could apply thine’s skills in training of the guards? However there is one thing thou could do.” “Of course, what did you have in mind?” “Keep us informed of your dreams and nightmares. While we are the keeper of the dream realm, thou’s mind could be damaged if we were to enter it not knowing how thou’s differs from that of a pony’s.” Luna looked pointed at Reed and he understood, there was something in the nightmare that had worried the Princesses. But from the reaction of the other mares, to out-right share the nightmare was bad and could cause panic and trauma. “Yes, of course.” “Good, as for the training of the guard… we are not sure. We will discuss it with sister and decide in three moons.” “Luna, you are using the old speech again.” Celestia pointed out. “Sorry.” There was pause, and Luna giggled and everyone joined in. After the giggling had subsided Celestia spoke. “Well my little ponies I must rest and judging by the tired eyes I see so do most of you.” At this Fluttershy yawned and quietly excused herself a raised hoof and a small blush. The other mares got to their hooves and said their good nights. “Reed aren’t you coming?” Twilight asked noticing Reed hadn’t moved. “You go ahead Twilight I have one more question for the princesses, about the kind of training I would help with, that is if I were to help train the guards.” “Oh okay, good night then.” And with that Twilight left and closed the door, she felt that something else was going on but couldn’t put her hoof on it. It bothered her all the way back to her room she shared with her friends. As she lay down to sleep Twilight made a mental note to review the meeting and try and figure out what she had missed. Meanwhile back in the study Luna, Reed and Celestia were in deep conversation. “But if it is not a subconscious dream then what did I see?” Luna had pulled up a still projection of the Darkness from Reed’s dream and was studying it as they spoke. “Perhaps a premonition or viewing of possible events? Luna have you seen predictions like this before?” “Like this? No, but is have seen predictions in dreams.” “So what’s the difference with my Dream?” “Power, detail, sound, sent, in short everything. In a pony’s dreams a prediction is rare. When I does accrue they are vague and contain more of impressions. As with yours it is as if we are living it.” “Luna are you saying Reed’s Dreams are as clear as this room we stand in?” “In a way, keep in mind that this,” she gesture to the projection, “Is all I have seen. If all your dreams are this real I can’t say.” “I can, I have in a way a hyper-developed imagination and have, as long as I can remember, had vague dreams until the point just before I wake up. Then it becomes a second life.” There was a long silence as Luna thought on this. Reed took the chance to really look around the study. It was pretty big, a balcony with tall windows, a desk in front of the windows and a desk across from the tall windows. A fireplace took up most of the wall facing the door. In either side of the door was a tall book self, full of books. In the center of the room was a large circular rug depicting the sun and moon in balance, a large number of cushions sat in one corner and a pile of logs in the opposite corner. The walls and ceiling were colored a deep blue with gold filigree the fireplace was white marble and the doors and any other wood was a warm chestnut. The floor was carpeted in a plush maroon with flecks of forest green. “We, I will have to study more on this matter. Reed as before please keep me and my sister updated on any more Premonitions you have.” “Of course Princess.” “Then for now get some rest we can discuss training and clothe tomorrow. I must get my own rest and Luna has night court.” “Yes of course, Goodnight Princess Celestia, Goodnight Princess Luna.” When Reed got back to his room, someone was waiting for him. “Hey, I am your guard for the night. My name is Star Lance.”