//------------------------------// // Chapter 39 // Story: Dreamstrider // by OkemosBrony //------------------------------// My alarm clock starts blaring, pulling me out of the blissful sleep I was having. Why did Princess Celestia have to schedule this meeting so early? She knows Luna and I aren’t morning ponies, none of the Dreamstriders are. I’m still curious as to whether or not that’s something inherent to us or just some weird coincidence. Regardless, this meeting is right at the crack of dawn, which means I have to get up and get ready. After a few tired moans, I manage to roll out of bed and head over to the Dreamstrider mess hall. There’s nopony here because it’s so early for us, so I just grab some fruit and a bagel with jam before sitting down at the large circular table and eating in silence. Once I’m done and the Dreamstrider wing still shows no sign of activity, I head back to my room and into the bathroom to fire up the shower. It’s hard to not fall asleep because of all the nice warm water and steam relaxing me, I’ll admit, but I do manage to stay awake throughout the whole thing. I’m shocked awake as I step out of the shower and am hit with a blast of cold anyways, so now I’m at least alert enough for a meeting with the Princesses. It used to be that I would prepare for a meeting with Princess Celestia by making sure my name and tail were perfect and then psyching myself up in the mirror, but I’ve done it enough now to where I just brush my hair like any other day and just head on out. After making my way through the maze that is Canterlot Castle, I come to Princess Celestia’s private wing. I very rarely come here, but every time I do, I’m always in awe of just how different her wing is compared to Luna’s. This part of the castle is just so much brighter and more welcoming than Luna’s, who keeps her halls shrouded in darkness and rarely uses the space to entertain guests. The guards recognized me as I walked into the wing, but now that I’m coming up on the library she told us to meet her in, the two Guards block the already-closed door with their lances and look down at me. “What business do you have here?” one of them asks. “I have a meeting with Princess Celestia,” I inform them. “I’m Aurora Borealis.” “Do you have an invitation?” “Invitation?” I repeat. “No, she just told me to come here and meet with her. She didn’t give me an invitation.” “No invitation,” he states, “no entry.” “She may enter,” Luna declares as she walks up behind me. Almost as soon as she finishes speaking, the guards retract their weapons and go back to standing at attention. “Good thing you didn’t get here before me,” I tell her as she opens the doors and walks through. “We would have let you in eventually,” she responds as we walk into...well, exactly what I’d expect from a library owned by Princess Celestia. There’s a glass dome over a circular area with some tables, then shelves stuffed with books extending in every direction. I’d love to just try and find the end of this place honestly, because it doesn’t really seem like there is one. Maybe sometime later I can convince Princess Celestia to let me look around. “Good morning to you two,” Princess Celestia chirps as we walk in, bowing her head while doing so. “I trust you both slept well?” “If shorter than I would have liked,” Luna smiles while moving next to her. “You mentioned you had something you wished to tell us?” “Indeed I do,” she nods. “Luna, what do you remember about the Cervine Confederation?” “You know I paid little attention to the other nations,” she groans. “You were always the politician of us, sister.” “I am surprised you show such indifference for them, Luna, for the deer are the only creatures in this world besides ponies who have ever studied the dream world in any real capacity.” I can see Luna’s ears prick up once she says that. “They what?” “While I have not found any information suggesting that they have ever produced any Dreamstriders, many old documents on magic report their expertise in the subject and how some of them have contributed greatly to the field.” “Would they know anything about Shooting Star?” Luna asks, throwing me off guard. I had thought that she was keeping that a secret from Celestia. “They would know the most of any non-Dreamstrider,” she speaks slowly after a few seconds, clearly looking for the right words. “I wish I would be able to provide you with better information, although do not believe that there are any other creatures who would be of any assistance to you.” “And what do you think they could offer us?” I ask. “I mean, if they’re not Dreamstriders, they aren’t able to go into the dream world and search about anything relating to him.” “She does have a point,” Luna agrees. “I know that they are maybe not the best of leads,” she admits while hanging her head, “but they are a better lead than anything else I have found to date, unfortunately. If the safety of Equestria is at risk, I wish to provide you with every potentially profitable lead I find. I will continue to dedicate what time I am able to this, and I do hope that I am able to find something valuable for you. And Luna, if you would simply allow me to fill Twilight Sparkle in on what is happening, this would be much easier. She is a very intelligent mare, and—” “Out of the question,” she cuts Princess Celestia off. “I recognize Twilight Sparkle is a very powerful and intelligent wizard, that is not why I wish to keep this from her. I simply do not wish for word of ths to spread outside the castle walls, nor do I wish to invite Shooting Star to torment her dreams. I ruminated greatly on whether or not to include you in this, and the decision was not an easy one.” “You’re being paranoid,” she replies, her voice now very soft and almost maternal. “You informed me a week ago, and I have not noticed any changes in my sleeping or dreams. Spreading awareness, even amongst those in positions of power, would not be as detrimental as you believe it is.” “You saw what he did to those who knew last time. Should we fail, I want him to have a vendetta against as few ponies as possible.” “Allowing other ponies to work with you lowers the risk that we will fail,” she points out. “I have a nation to run, you have many duties as Princess of the Night, and Aurora Borealis has her duties as the Head Dreamstrider. None of us has the time to be launching a full-scale investigation.” “With all due respect, sister, I do not wish to spread this beyond those who absolutely need to know it. Not only do I not wish to put others in danger, I fear what might happen were word to spread about Shooting Star.” “The ponies of Equestria are unfortunately accustomed to threats in recent years,” Princess Celestia sighs. “While some might panic, they know how to deal with these sorts of situations.” “Not that,” Luna shakes her head. “Ponies still know little of the dream world and my role as Princess of the Night, and I do not wish to frighten them with things that they do not understand. I am still attempting to improve my public image, and I fear an incident such as this would be catastrophic.” “Twilight Sparkle told me of the Nightmare Night you spent in Ponyville,” she comforts her. “The ponies of Equestria hold you in higher esteem than you believe them to. With the advent is electricity and modern technolgy, there are even those who prefer the night to the day! The Equestria of today is not the Equestria of a thousand years ago, Luna.” “I have made my decision. Aurora, I ask that you go to the Cervine Confederation and meet with them. I shall remain here and assist my sister in her search for further knowledge, as well as oversee the Dreamstriders in your absence. You performed well at the Village of Dreams, and I believe that you will be able to easily learn from them.” “It is…” Princess Celestia bites her lip as she appears to be searching for the right words. “It shall be difficult to learn much from them. To start, the Cervine Confederation does not actually exist anymore.” “Then how come you mentioned them?” Luna asks, a slight bit of annoyance in her voice. “The deer are still around. However, the Confederation itself was destroyed a few centuries ago.” She clears her throat, then seems to look off to the side as to not make eye contact with either of us. “However, the reason it will be difficult is that ponies were the reason for that. As such, they are not very receptive to Equestrians in their lands.” “You destroyed a nation?” Luna asks in disbelief. “What happened to the Celestia I once knew, the one who wished for the preservation of all ways of life?” “Ponies destroyed the Confederation, not I,” she corrects. “Settlers entered the area and displaced the deer off the land that is now Manehattan. They warred with the deer and nearly eradicated them, but I had to step in and put a stop to such destruction. While it was not an easy decision, I did not want to destroy the town my subjects had worked so hard to create and allowed them to keep the land. Unfortunately, that act was seen by the deer as one of hostility, and they have refused any formal contact since. They have made it very clear to me that they wish to remain in the areas that they currently inhabit, and they do not want us to approach them. Equestria’s relationship with the few remaining tribes has been one of mutual distance, and they do not seem receptive to changing that.” “They have to understand a threat to the whole world,” I pipe in. “And maybe they’re willing to give this another go. What happened may have been bad, but that doesn’t mean we can’t try and improve things going forward.” “While I too wish for an amicable relationship with the deer,” Princess Celestia starts, “it is unfortunately not that easy. Much of the land now covered by Manehattan was once very sacred ground to them, and they view the growing population as an insult for their way of life. I do think it is worth a visit to them and I cannot stress enough that I want for you to show that Equestria wants to find some way to right the wrongs of the past, although I simply wish to warn you that they may still be hostile towards you.” “From what little I remember of the deer,” Luna adds, “they may be hostile, but not aggressive. My sister makes it sound as though you may be in danger, although you will not be. They will likely attempt turn you away, and unless you do something horrifically offensive or instigate a conflict, you will be in no physical danger. Simply utilize your common sense, and you shall be fine. And please, do try to explain the gravity of the situation to then. Should Shooting Star become as powerful as he wishes, the whole world will be in peril.” “Consider yourself the official Equestrian Ambassador to the Deer Tribes,” Celestia says with her very regal voice that I’ve usually only heard her use around important guests. “Not only will they hopefully listen to you since you are formally representing Equestria, but you will ensure that you shall not be in any danger. While the deer hold deep resentment for our nation and our kind, they are by no means unintelligent. They understand how putting an ambassador in danger would not endear them to the rest of the world and open up causes for military action against one of the strongest nations in the known world.” “Wait, I’m…” I just trail off, trying to understand what exactly just happened. “I’m an official ambassador of Equestria now?” “Should you accept the position, yes. You would still be allowed to reside here in Canterlot, however, as the deer have no centralized government. And even should they in the future, you may continue to reside in Equestria should you wish. If they were to desire an ambassador in their own lands, you would be allowed to step down and have some influence in who the next ambassador would be. Do you wish to undertake this responsibility?” “Well...what would I have to do? I don’t know anything about them, and I’ve never really been into politics. I can imagine there’s somepony somewhere who’d be better for the job than I would be.” “I would wish that you simply be a show of goodwill for Equestria and its ponies. Additionally, you know much about the magic of the dream world, and they will appreciate that. For not having the natural, innate ability to channel magic into spells as unicorns do, they place a great emphasis in studying it and take pride in doing so. Sending you specifically, a mare on a quest for knowledge that they may have, shows that we value their contributions to this world and wish for an exchange.” “You’re also much more interesting than the stuffy nobles my dear sister typically appoints as ambassadors,” Luna jokes. “Ponies may have attempted to kill them through warfare previously, perhaps we should not try to do so with boredom this time.” “Regardless,” Celestia continues, either not noticing Luna’s remarks or ignoring them, “the position is yours should you want it.” “I guess I’ll accept,” I shrug. “Wonderful,” she smiles before walking around the table and standing next to me. “Face me, would you please?” I just look at Luna, and she motions her head towards Princess Celestia. Not really sure of what’s going on, I just turn and face her like she asked me to. “Kneel down,” she orders before I can ask anything. I do as I’m told, and before long, I can sense what feels like a horn on my left shoulder. “As Princess of Equestria,” she begins before moving her horn to my other shoulder, “I dub thee Aurora Borealis, Ambassador of Equestria to the Deer Tribes and All of Deerkind. Go forth and represent Equestria and all of her ponies with pride.” After a few seconds, I swear I can hear the two of the giggle softly. “You may stand up now, Aurora,” Princess Celestia tells me. “So I’m an Ambassador now?” I clarify. “There is a little bit of paperwork, although we will begin that process shortly. What happened here was largely ceremonial, although I have found ponies enjoy it. I believe it is because it makes the situation seem more grand than receiving a letter informing you of your new position.” “And...you just want me to go to the deer and see what happens?” “I will ask that you do at least some reading on their history and culture,” she instructs, pointing at a small stack of books on the table. “I would not want to send you to them without knowing about them, nor would I want to get off on the wrong hoof with them by sending an Ambassador who knows nothing of their kind. While the books are unfortunately old and it is possible that they have changed since they were written, it would at least do well to show you are attempting to act in the way they would wish you to.” “When do you want me to go to the deer?” I ask Luna as I take the stack in my magic and levitate it over to me. “Go whenever you are ready, although please make haste,” she responds. “If studying the deer and doing your Dreamstriding duties simultaneously would be too much work, please delegate to either me or the other Dreamstriders. While I do not wish to pressure you, I similarly do not wish to delay longer than is necessary.” “Alright,” I nod as I look at the book on the top, On The Magyck of Cervynes, which looks like it’s at least a few centuries old. Ugh. Studying for this seems like it’s going to involve some pretty dry reading.