//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Recovery and Dreams // Story: Equestria’s White Fang // by Garnet Naturea //------------------------------// Walking through the halls of the castle, Celestia and the girls are still worried about mine and Luna’s condition. Cadence had little experience with the types of wounds we received but Celestia could tell, the only risk to our lives were if we were left to bleed out. Though, one prismatic pegasus was rather apathetic to my condition, something Cadence noticed by sensing her emotions. It had nearly been an hour after we were taken to the medical wings when the doctor in charge, Dr. Heart Monitor walked out with a clipboard in hand and a proud smile on his face. Looking to the waiting area, he sees Celestia and the girls and walks up to them. “Well? How are they?” Celestia ask quickly. The doctor just gives her a reassuring smile. “Mr. Taurus and Princess Luna are both fine, your highness. Both of their slash marks are superficial and will heal within the night and the two will be up again in the morning. Though I do suggest you make sure they do not do any staining activities for a few days as not to reopen their wounds.” The group sighs in relief at the bit of good news. But he was not finished. “The odd thing I find though, is that the magical signature between the two slashes are near identical. Do you have any idea how that is?” He questions, Twilight stepping up. “During their duel, princess Luna sent a magical blast at Adam, which he absorbed.” The doctor looks shocked by this info. “They probably have similar signatures because it was originally the princess’s own attack that got absorbed then launched back.” Twilight finishes. The doctor thinks for a moment, considering this new data and nods. “Can we see them?” Scootaloo asks, looking up at the doctor with a worried expression. He just smiles and rubs her head. “Of course. We decided to keep the two of them in the same room just so you do not have to go to two separate places to talk to them.” The doctor says, calling up a nurse to guide the group to our room. Room 115. I look away from my scroll and to the door to our room as the others start to filter in. I had woken up maybe fifteen minutes ago and was going through my phone turned scroll. I found it still has everything on it, from my music to my photos as well as some odd locked files. I was going to try and figure them out later. I saw earlier that Luna was in the same room as me and was reading thought an old book. Though I did notice her glancing at me from time to time, or to be more accurate, my bandaged chest and bare arms. Looking to the other, most of them seem surprised to see that we are both awake. Scootaloo wastes no time and claimed one of the chairs on the side of my bed and smiling up at me. “That was incredible Adam! I knew you were strong, but I never thought you would be a match for one of the Princesses!” She says adamantly. “I believe that was quite a surprise to all of us Scoots. Honestly, I didn’t expect to make it as far as I did in that fight, considering I don’t use magic.” I tell her. The others nod to me in understanding, but then Pinkie tilts her head in confusion. “What do you mean Adam? What about that spell of yours that lets you absorb energy and that weird field that showed up around you after you slashed at each other?” She asks, the others remembering as well. “Oh, that wasn’t magic. The field thing was my aura. In Remnant, Huntsman and Huntresses are taught not only to fight but to harness and wield our souls themselves.” The others look to me in shock and awe. “Using a combination of studies, meditation and a few unique scenarios for some, they can harness their souls as a tool. The most common uses for aura is to diminish blows and to heal minor injuries like small cuts.” I notice that Twilight is once again taking notes on what I say. “The whole absorption of energy thing I do is what is called a Semblance. Every person who can successfully harness their aura will eventually unlock a Semblance that is unique to them, like a personal superpower. My Semblance is to absorb oncoming energy through a conduit, mostly my sword. The energy could be kinetic like my sword hitting another’s, energy based, or as we have seen, magical in nature.” The group look to me in surprise and the CMC suddenly think of something. “It’s like earning your Cutie Mark!” They say together, the others seeing the similarities and agreeing. I raise my brow at them. “Cutie Mark?” The group looks to me in shock and are about to go on tangents before they remember I am not from Equestria. Scootaloo come up to my bed and puts on a explainer face. “A Cutie Mark is something that appears on a ponies shoulder and flank when they discover what their special talent in life is. Take Princess Luna.” I turn to her and see a crescent moon in front of a black splotch on her exposed shoulder. “Her special talent is the control over the night and moon.” Scootaloo joins her friends and they show their bare shoulders to me. “The girls and I don’t have our Cutie Marks yet. That is the whole reason we made our club to begin with. We go around and try different things that could get us our marks.” She finishes, the gathered ponies looking to her in surprise at the rather calm explanation from the most daring and troublesome Cutie Mark Crusader. “I see. That is actually really cool. Getting a Semblance just seems overly complicated in comparison. There is one example I know. A girl names Nora Valkyrie who, and I swear this is true, leaned of her Semblance after getting stuck by lightning and not dying.” The others look shocked (ha) for a second before a few, Pinkie, Applejack, Cadence and the CMC, burst into laughter at the thought. “HAHAHA! She-she was stuck by Lightning!?! That is awesome!” Scootaloo says, barely managing to stay in her chair. The others soon join in and laugh a little at the absurd way Nora gained her Semblance. “Well, seeing that the two of you are fine and content for the moment, I think it would be best for the rest of us to leave and get some food while you two rest for a bit.” Celestia says. The CMC are about to argue, before getting interrupted by their stomachs growling like a trio of young Beowolves. The fillies blush in embarrassment and nod to the princess of the sun. Before leaving, the trio give me a careful group hug and promise to stop by before they go to sleep. I just smile to the three and rub their heads before the group leaves. I had my eyes closed with a content smile, so I didn’t notice the glare Rainbow gave me before she left. Luna and Cadence did though. And they didn’t like it. While walking down the hall Cadence suddenly spoke up to Rainbow. “Hey Rainbow, how about you and the fillies go ahead. Your the fastest so you should get them there quicker.” She suggests. The others look to the pink Alicorn in confusion, before noticing she had a slightly worried expression on her face, well hid behind her royal mask. “Yeah. Why don’t ya’ll go ahead. We’ll be there in a few minutes.” AppleJack says. The CMC are slightly suspicious of the mares, but don’t argue with the chance to eat sooner. Rainbow just shrugs. She crouches down to the ground letting Scootaloo climb on her back and wraps an arm around each of the other two before zooming off to the dining hall. Once they were out of sight, the group turned to Cadence, silently asking for an explanation. She just sighs and puts up a silent spell around them to ensure nopony who shouldn’t know hears. “Has anypony noticed that Rainbow Dash has been acting off after the events at Ponyville?” She asks the group, each of them thinking for a minute. “Well, she did seem mighty annoyed during introductions.” AppleJack points out. “Indeed, and she has been uncharacteristicly quiet since we arrived here in Canterlot.” Rarity adds in. The others begin to worry for their cyan furred friend. Cadence nods but continues. “And have you all been seeing how Scootaloo has been acting?” She asks, the others getting confused by what she means. “What do you mean Cadence? Scootaloo has just been acting like herself, just around Adam and not-.” Twilight pauses and her eyes widen at the realization. the others look to her to finish her thought. “-not around Rainbow.” She finishes quietly. “Indeed. Young Scootaloo has been around Adam almost the entire time since his fight with the Deathstalker. She has been by his side during the walks around the castle, she had been riding by his side on the carriage ride here, she even went to Adam when she was scared by all the info he has on the Grimm. And he comforted her like a brother would.” Celestia says in thought, connecting the dots in her mind. The others see what is going on between me and Scootaloo, but don’t see the problem. “Ok, so what? Scootaloo likes having Adam around? Then why is that makin Rainbow act all dark?” AppleJack asks the pink alicorn. Cadence sighs at her. “Don’t you all remember what happened with the Mare-Do-Well plan of yours? Rainbow got legitimately depressed and desperate for attention to overshadow Mare-Do-Well, but turned around and became humbler after she unmasked you all. This time it isn’t some mysterious pony that comes by, saves a few townsfolk and then vanishes. It is an actual warrior that was able to take down opponents she couldn’t and that placed a large amount of faith in a filly to do what is right for herself and to protect others and stays, without mentioning it. She knows she can’t win. And she is worried she will lose Scootaloo as her number one fan and her surrogate little sister because of it.” Cadence explains and the girls worries effectively double. “This could be serious if allowed to fester.” Celestia says in worry. “In the past Rainbow Dash has been to very proud and rather egocentric, so the thought of losing Scootaloo could be seen as betrayal in her eyes.” Celestia shivers and takes a breath. “I do not want to see what happens when Loyalty is betrayed. For all we know Rainbow could become the next Nightmare Moon if left unchecked.” “Well, what are we going to do? We can’t just keep Adam and Scootaloo apart. They have grown very close over the day and we cannot just make Scootaloo spend more time with Rainbow either.” Fluttershy mumbles quietly. The others begin to think as well. “For now we mustn’t act hastily. Right now it is just simple jealousy. But I want you all to keep an eye on her for a while. Should she get worse and actively act against Adam, then we will intervene.” Celestia says, the girls nodding, still slightly unsure. Cadence dispels her privacy bubble and the group continues on, Celestia sending a note to the head chef to serve the CMC and Rainbow before they arrive. After about an hour a pony that looks like a bat comes in and helps Luna stand so she can walk to the window nearby and raise the moon. I watch from my seat on my bed and see at her horn lights up as the sun lowers over the horizon and the night sky takes its place high above us. After she was back in her medical bed she was informed that Shining Armor and Cadence would be taking care of the night court so she can rest. After the guard left, Luna and I just made small talk with one another. She told me about her life with her sister, her transformation into an evil being called Nightmare Moon due to her jealousy to her sister and her sisters arrogance and ignorance, and her eventual return after a thousand year banishment on the moon, where she was essentially sleeping for a century, then awakes for a week and falls back to sleep. I already knew that the girls are the Elements of Harmony but hearing her explain what they are and what they did really puts things into perspective of their power. After out dinner arrived, I began to tell her about my life back home, being an almost straight B student in high school, making all my friends, soccer, Kendo and Judo practice. I also told her about Lex and Nat after fishing the photo out again. She was shocked to learn about Sorano and how, after she showed up and joined our group, we became closer to the point some would say we were family. Our families even spent Christmas together because of us. I then told her a bit about the girls personalities, Luna paying particular attention to my description of Sorano. By the time we were finished talking to one another it was nearly ten o’clock at night. “Well this was nice. We should do this again some time Luna. Just without the injuries.” I joked, earning a giggle from the mare. “Indeed. ‘Twas nice to speak to someone who is willing to really listen to our tale. And your story is very interesting as well Adam.” She replies. The door to our room opens and a nurse walks in alongside the CMC, all of whom looked well fed and ready for bed. “Hey girls. Shouldn’t you all be in bed right now?” I ask, the trio all yawn for a second before responding. “Well, we did promise to come by before we went to sleep. Right girls?” Applebloom says, the other two nodding, making me smile at them. I wave them up and the trio hop onto my bed an give me a group hug, before turning to Luna and silently asking her permission. Luna just levitates the trio to her and hugs them goodnight as well. “Hey Scoots.” I get her attention as they begin to leave. I quickly go though my pockets and take out the photo Featherweight gave me. “Mind holding onto this for me?” She quickly nods and carefully takes the picture before joining her friends and walking back to their rooms for the night. “You really are like a brother to her, in spite of only knowing her for a few hours.” Luna points out. I just chuckle to her. “Well, I did go to the Con dresses as the most spiteful character in Remnant.” I tell her, Luna remembering that this isn’t my original form. She smile and turns to her book. “Safe dreams, Adam.” She says as I cover myself to sleep. “Safe dreams, Luna.” I reply back, my eyes closed and beginning to drift off. I was asleep by the time Luna begins her other nightly duties. Protecting her subjects dreams. Opening my eyes I am greeted by a starry void around me. Looking to myself, I see I am back in my outfit and that I do not have my bandages on my chest. Looking around the space, all I see are stars, the moon above me and a few spinning galaxies past the moon. “Where am I?” I say aloud. After a minute of nothing I just choose a direction and begin to walk, my steps echoing though the void. After what feels like five minutes I find something. It looks like a door. It is two shades of pink and has three smiling suns on the front. Looking closer at the door, there appears to have a dark outline that almost looks like it is pulsating. I don’t get a chance to investigate before the darkness around the the door disappears and becomes more vibrant. A minute later the door opens and Luna walks out with an accomplished smile on her face. She turns and lights up her horn and the door vanishes. She turns with a smile, then notices me. We stay there, staring at one another for a bit before I break the tension. “Umm, hi?” I say lamely. Luna blinks and immediately gets her bearing again and looks to me in confusion. “Adam? What are you doing here and not in your dream?” She asks me. “Well, one: I don’t really know where here is. I just opened my eyes and I was here. Second: what do you mean why am I not in my dream? Am I asleep?” I ask her. Luna looks to me with narrowed eyes. She looks for a minute before her face softens. “Well for the second part, yes you are asleep. The place we are in is the astral plane, where dreams reside. As Princess of the Night it is my duty to aid my subjects with their nightmares and make sure they have happy and safe dreams.” Luna explains. I look past her to where the door she just entered through was. “So I guess the door you came through was someponies dream?” She nods to me. She begins to walk and I choose to follow her. “So you do this every night? Go through the astral plane and aid ponies with their nightmares?” I ask, to which she nods again. After a minute or two we show up and see a pair of doors each with the darkness around them. The first door was silver and grey with the image of a silver spoon on the front. I guess the images are the ponies Cutie Marks. The other door is pink with purple and white stripes in it. It has the image of a screw and baseball in it. I look to Luna. “Do you know whose dreams these are?” She looks to the marks and nods. “The first door is that of young Silver Spoon. She is from a rich family and has a bit of a superiority complex and is also apparently a bully towards the CMC.” That made me glare at the door a bit. “The other is the dream of Screwball. I do not know what to say about that young mare. She appeared in Ponyville during Discord’s escape and is rather chaotic in her ways. Most in the town avoids her and she is rather lonely.” I look to the door in thought before making a decision. I walk to Screwballs door. “What are you doing?” I turn to her. “If I am here in the astral plane, then I have the power to interact with others dream. Correct?” Luna nods to me. “In that case, tonight how about I help you split your work? I’ll handle Screwball’s nightmare, while you deal with Silver Spoon.” Luna looks to me in surprise. “You wish to aid me in my duty of nightmare vanquishing?” I nod to her and gesture to the doors, silently asking permission. Luna bites her lip, before lighting up her horn and providing a bracelet with an aquamarine in the center. “Should you get in over your head, tap the gem three times and I will be there.” She says giving me the bracelet. I nod to her and turn. I open the door and see shadows and a small purple dot. Quickly jumping in I am consumed by the darkness. Opening my eyes again I am greeted by the sight of Ponyville. But it looks wrong. The ground looks like a checkerboard, there are floating pies nearby my spot and the sky is yellow with red polkadots. At least I think it was yellow. All the colours look muted and some of the pies that flew by had evil eyes and razor sharp teeth. “Okayy? Now I know what Luna was talking about when she said chaotic.” Looking around the area, I hear some howls that I recognize as Beowolves and above the howls, a maniacal laugh. I quickly run and soon find the source. There are indeed Grimm here but they appear to be bowing to...something. I looks like if a zoo had access to a gene splicer. It had a serpentine body with a scaled tail with spikes ending in some fur. It had what looked like a deer hoof and a lizard claw for the other leg. It also had a lions paw and eagle talon for hands, finally it had a bat and blue pegasus wing each and a goats head complete with a goatee, and a warped antler and a blue horn on its head. This must be Discord. Only he wasn’t his normal self. His colours had all but been abandoned, his fur and scales turning pitch black and purple and his wings being purple and blue. His goatee and tail being black and looking like the night as well as having what looks like bone plating. Finally, adorning his face was a twisted version of a Grimm mask, his red eyes leaving a momentary trail behind them. Discord was a Grimm Draconequus. (Just add a Grimm mask) Looking at this new Grimm, this guy is all sorts of messed up. I look to the front of him and see a young mare crying. She looks to be a few years older than the CMC and has pink fur and purple and white curled hair. She is wearing a green and yellow propeller hat, a yellow t-shirt and a green vest. She has purple fingerless gloves, a red skirt and one pink and white striped and one blue and black netted leggings. “Ohhohoho! Who would have thought. These incredible monsters of chaos, making me all the more powerful!” Discord gloats, the young mare infront of him still crying and shivering. The Grimm don’t notice me so I just watch to see what will happen for now. “Please daddy! Stop this! This isn’t you! The monsters are making you hurt others!” Screwball yells. I am left shell shocked for a moment at this revelation. Discord is Screwball’s dad? That would explain her chaotic nature. Do the princesses know? I don’t get a chance to think about it as the wolves growl and begin to move to Screwball. She begins to back up in fear of the Grimm. All the while Discord just looks on with a bored and even annoyed expression on his face. He walks next to the Grimm and looks down on his daughter. “Hmph. You really are pathetic. Your only good for being a snack to my new friends.” He says in an annoyed tone. OK, that is it! As the Grimm begin to close in on Screwball, I leap out of my spot and slice through the first three in the way, coming to a stop in front of Screwball. I realize I don’t have my Grimm mask, but I know how to get it. I raise my hand and pass it over my face much like Ichigo in Bleach and summon my mask. Screwball looks at me towering over her in a protective stance and ask, “Who are you?” I turn to her and smile, seeing her eyes were just swirls of purple without pupils. “A friend.” With that I rush forward and slash the Grimm into tiny bits before looking at Grimm Discord. He looks to me in rage and roars. He charges forward and tries to slash me with his talons. I just block the blow and fire my weapon, knocking him back. “Begone Vile Nightmare!” I yell out, suddenly filled with energy and launch a slash though the air and slice the Nightmare straight down the middle. It looks to me in shock before rapidly turning to a rainbow of flower pedal. The pedals surround me and Screwball. After they dispersed, we are not in a dark, chaotic Ponyville anymore, but in a field of rainbow coloured flowers. I sheath my sword and dispel my mask before turning to Screwball. She looks to me in awe and doesn’t respond to me until I am crouch right in front of her. “Why did you help me?” I look to her in confusion. “Why wouldn’t I? You were having a nightmare and I had the power to stop it. It would be mean of me to leave you be.” I tell her. She looks down then to the field around us. “It...was just a dream?” She asks as she picks up a flower that looks to be made of crystal. I go and sit next to her. “It may have just been a dream, but the fear was real. What are you so afraid of that you would imagine Discord as a Grimm?” I ask her. She shakes for a second before I take her hat and gently rub her head. “Take your time.” “I-I am scared that if daddy comes back, the monsters will make him do bad things. During his rule he made a mess and annoyed ponies, but he never hurt anypony. During his imprisonment he made me in his mind so he would have sompony to talk to and play with. After he escaped, the burst of chaotic magic gave me a form. But, I don’t think he noticed. After he was re-petrified, I stayed in Ponyville, hoping to make friends. But I am just to wierd. Then the monsters came by, and I saw all the chaos and destruction they made within a few minutes. If they g-get to d-daddy...” she trails off and begins to cry again. I gently turn her to me and hug her, letting her cry onto my shoulder. We stay there for what felt like a few minutes before she stops and I lift her head, wiping her tears away with my thumbs. “I won’t let that happen.” I tell her resolutely. She looks to me in surprise and confusion. “As a Huntsman, it is my duty to protect the innocent. Your dad may be the Spirit of Chaos, but chaos and evil are two different things. Should the Grimm appear again and try to get to Discord, I will cut them all down, even if they are Deathstalkers, King Taijitus or a Nuckelavee.” I tell her. She looks to me again then buries her face in my chest while saying ‘thank you’ as fast as Pinkie. I let her go and we both stand up. “Well, time for me to go. There are a few more nightmares to deal with tonight.” I am about to leave when Screwball grabs my hand. I look to her and she is holding out the crystal flower for me. I just smile and take to flower, before putting it in her hair just below her cap. “This looks better with you Screwy.” She blushes and gives me another hug before a door like the night appears in front of us. I walk to it and give one final wave to the chaotic earth pony, before walking though and back to the astral plane.