Yona is overjoyed to see Sandbar approach her, he is carrying an ornate amulet in his mouth. From what she read of Pony culture, Yona knew that could only mean one thing. With an expression of sheer joy, Yona stepped towards Sandbar to embrace him, quickly accepting his marriage proposal. But when she closed her eyes and attempted to wrap her forelegs around Sandbar, Yona felt as if she was hugging nothing but thin air. Confused, Yona opened her eyes to find her forelegs passing right through Sandbar. Things grew stranger as Sandbar seemed to walk through Yona as if she were just thin air. When Yona turned around, she saw what was, to her, a most heartbreaking sight.
Sandbar was approaching Ocellus, getting ready to place the amulet on HER. Ocellus said nothing, but tears of joy and a smile on her face served as evidence that she was accepting Sandbar's proposal.
Yona felt her heart break at the scene. “NO!” She cried out, but her protest could not be heard, as the amulet was placed around Ocellus's neck. “NO!” Yona cried again, but to no avail. Then to her horror, Sandbar and Ocellus drew closer to one another, as if about to kiss. Yona was frantically screaming at this point. “NO! NO! NO! NO!”
Suddenly, just before the lips of Sandbar and Ocellus can meet, there is a slight flicker in the air that seems to make everything but Yona briefly distort in a blink. After the blink concludes, Sandbar, Ocellus, and everything else in the world except for Yona seems to be frozen in place. Needless to say, this caused Yona a great deal of confusion.
“So... this is what's been plaguing you for the past few nights, young Yak?” A regal, feminine voice echoed.
Confused, Yona looked frantically around for the source of the voice. “What happened? Who there?”
“Calm down, little one.” In a flash of light, Princess Luna suddenly appeared before Yona. “I must say, I've never entered the dream of a non-pony before, let alone one that belongs to a Yak.”
Yona stumbled back. “Wh-Who are you?”
Luna introduced herself. “My name is Luna, I am the Princess of the Moon, nighttime and dreams, and sister to Princess Celestia. Perhaps you have seen a few pictures of me around Twilight's School?”
“Perhaps... but how... how did Princess pony get into Yona's dreams?” Yona asked, still a little nervous.
“Overseeing the realm of dreams is one of my powers and duties,” Luna explained. “A little bird told me about these nightmares you were having.”
“But...little birds cannot speak,” Yona replied.
“It's an expression, young one,” Luna explained. “It means someone close to you explained your situation to me.”
“What? Who told Princess Luna of Yak's problem? Only one to figure out nightmares was...” Yona's face froze with sudden realization, “Counselor Starlight?!”
Luna nodded. “That's why I'm here Young Yak; Starlight told me you have been plagued by nightmares, but she had no idea what they were about. But now that I have witnessed one of your nightmares first hoof, we can hopefully gain an understanding on how to deal with your problem.”
“You... here to help, Yona?”
“Let me ask you this, young Yak, why is it that you love Sandbar so?”
“Why does Yona love Sandbar?” Yona repeated the question. “...Because Sandbar do so much for Yona. Sandbar good friend; he defend Yak culture when Yona get teased for it on first day, he try to save Yona from Bugbear that Discord unleashed, he save Yona from Cozy Glow by tricking stuffy chancellor, and he cared just as much as Yona when friends build tree memorial. He... he charming and friendly... there not one single reason why Yona love Sandbar.”
Luna only gave a slight nod before she responded with,“I see.” Luna then used her dream manipulation magic to replace the construct of Ocellus, with one of Yona. “Now listen to me very carefully Yona,” Luna began her explanation. “You might expect that I'm going to have you picture a happy outcome, one rested in the allurements of hope.”
This display did indeed make Yona happy, until Luna spoke up again. “But instead, I'm going to bring you to happiness, down a different path.” And much to Yona's Dismay, the construct duplicate of Yona was replaced, with a construct of Ocellus.
“Wh-What you doing?” Yona asked apprehensively.
“Let us assume that Sandbar actually does fall in love with Ocellus, and that she indeed loves him back.”
Yona's eyes widened as she saw the construct of Ocellus approaching the construct of Sandbar. But as the two grew closer, Yona shut her eyes, repeating. “It not real! It not real! It not real!”
“You're right, it's not real. But what if it was? The one you love is in love with your best friend,” Luna explained. “The mere possibility of that scenario seems to upset you just as much as it would any Pony mare, am I correct?”
Yona was silent for a moment, her eyes looking down as she was hesitant to answer, before finally speaking. “...Yes.”
“Would it be any different from how you felt when you thought that Sandbar betrayed you to work with Neighsay?” Luna asked incredulously. “Think about it... at that time, you had no idea that he was planning to trick Neighsay, did you? You took the situation at face value.”
“What? What Luna talking about?” Yona stammered, confused and worried about what Luna was getting at. “Yona would never think Sandbar betray Yona like that!” But inside, Yona knew that during that moment, she did feel something along those lines when the incident occurred.
Luna continued her recap, “You kept denying the betrayal out-loud, actively refusing to believe that it could be real, but deep in the back of your mind, you had a nagging fear that it was real. There was a time where you did believe that it was real as much as you denied doing so out-loud, and that's why you were heartbroken.”
“So...what Yona do?” Yona asked. “Is it wrong for Yona to expect best outcome?”
Luna sighed and elaborated further, “No... what I am trying to tell you is that...You need to expect either outcome, both the best and the worst. Denying that the worst case scenario could happen, is only going to set you down a path of resentment and misery if it does happen. Remember, Ocellus is still your friend; if she and Sandbar do fall in love, you should be happy for Ocellus, not jealous or resentful.”
Yona looked confused. “Yona not understand...it sound like Luna say Yona should not be hopeful. But if Yona expect worst, then Yona have nothing to hope for.”
“Not at all, young Yak,” Luna reassured Yona as best she could. “However, since we now understand the root of your problem, I'll see about procuring some reading materials on this matter.”
Yona could feel a bit of relief in her heart, knowing she was finally getting some help. Yona then emitted a sigh of said relief, but then the dreamscape around her began to fragment and various fragments quickly disappeared. However, Yona was not terrified by what she was seeing, for she knew what it meant.
Luna called Yona's attention for one last time, “Looks like we're out of time to hear about this further young Yak.” Luna then opened a white portal, looking back to say one last thing to Yona before walking through it. “I'll be back when I have more information that can help you. In the meantime, I hope you have sweeter dreams young Yak.”
After Luna Disappeared, Yona's dream came to an end, and she woke up.
Luna left the white portal returning to her room in Canterlot, she had but a single thought in her head upon her return, “Of course, a simple book won't solve this problem, no; I will have to consult Cadence on this. After all, if Yona's problem is a matter of love, then who would be better to seek advice from, than the Princess of Love herself?” Luna then sat at her desk, used her magic to fetch a quill and a scroll, and began to write a letter.
Yona awoke bright and early, feeling well rested for the first time since before her nightmares began. However, her mind was not fully at peace, as she couldn't help but think about the advice that Luna gave her. However, Yona decided to put the thought aside for the time being, and started to get ready for school.
When Yona arrived at class, she found three of her friends waiting for her; Smolder, Silverstream, and Gallus.
Yona immediately noticed that Sandbar and Ocellus, on the other hoof, were nowhere to be seen. Needless to say, this did make her a little concerned, what with the recent nightmares and all. However, her concern was put to rest when Sandbar walked in not long after she had already taken her seat.
“Good Morning, Yona.” Sandbar greeted Yona casually with a smile.
“Good morning, Sandbar.” Yona replied back, giving off a sweet smile of her own.
Sandbar then casually looked around the room, ready to give the same greetings to his other friends, when he noticed that Ocellus was not at her desk. Highly unusual given how obsessed Ocellus was with being the perfect student, “Uh... Where's Ocellus?” He asked.
“No idea,” Gallus admitted.
Sandbar then turned to the others. “Did anycreature see Ocellus this morning?”
“Nope,” Smolder shook her head.
“Me neither,” Silverstream shrugged.
“Ocellus usually not late like this,” Yona replied feeling a little bit of worry herself.
Suddenly, the students heard hoof steps coming their way, causing them to face the door, and see Starlight Glimmer trot into the room.
“Counselor Glimmer?” Yona asked.
“Everyone, I have some rather unfortunate news to share,” Starlight began.
“What's happened?” Sandbar asked with concern.
Starlight spoke to all 5 students, doing so with an air of trepidation “... I regret to inform you that Ocellus has fallen ill with Brittlecoat.”
“Yikes...it's nothing serious is it?” Gallus asked.
“It's...not contagious, is it?” Smolder inquired with a worried look.
“Oh don't worry it's nothing serious, nor is it contagious... Ocellus is just not going to be able to stay in the school for about a week, maybe 2 at the most.”
“Is it alright for us to visit her dorm while she's recovering?” Silverstream asked hopefully
“No, you can't, because she's not in her dorm. She was already brought back to the Changeling Kingdom last night to help her recover as fast as possible.”
“Well then we should probably go there this weekend to make her feel better.” Sandbar suggested.
“Well then it's a good thing that today's Thursday, but we should also think of something to do for her to make her feel better.” Silverstream added.
“You mean like a get well soon party?” Sandbar asked.
“Did somecreature say party?!” The voice of Pinkie Pie suddenly called out as she leapt into the room, through a window.
Starlight rolled her eyes. “Say the magic word, and Pinkie appears.”
“Uh...yes...” Sandbar petered out, never having gotten used to how quickly Pinkie Pie could appear out of nowhere. “It's a get-well-soon party for Ocellus.”
“Oh, those are my favorite!” Pinkie gushed.
“Pinkie... ANY kind of party can be considered your favorite.” Starlight replied, unamused.
“True,” Pinkie giggled. “ANYWAY, just leave it to me kids. Seeing THIS party is going to make Ocellus feel better the moment she sees it!”
That Friday, after school, the Student Six (minus Ocellus for obvious reasons) were already making preparations, helping Pinkie Pie gather supplies for the trip to (and eventual party at) the Changeling Kingdom. They wandered the aisle of the local party store, watching as Pinkie was bolting about, gathering as much as she could.
“Balloons are a super important part of any party!” Pinkie chirped as she gathered a few bags of balloons off a shelf, before darting to another aisle. “Can't have a proper party without a piñata!” She commented, as she plucked a piñata in the shape of a Manticore out of the shelf, and put it in the shopping cart.
The students watched as balloons, ribbons, streamers, hats, napkins, paper plates, plastic cutlery and the lot filled up the shopping cart, piled so high it almost touched the ceiling.
“Uh...isn't this overdoing it?” Smolder asked.
“Pff--naaah!” Pinkie waved a hoof. “Well, once we pay for all this, it's on to the supermarket!”
Pinkie paid the shop keeper with the requested amount of bits, before she lead the students out of the shop, back onto the streets, and into the supermarket.
“Okay!” Pinkie showed everyone the list. “Let's load up on the snack foods! Sweet, salty, go nuts.” The students watched as Pinkie, once again, zipped around the market, loading up the shopping carts with potato chips, corn chips, salsa, crackers, cheese, pretzels, and candy for the piñata. When Yona raised an eyebrow, and took notice of the absence of things like cupcakes, Pinkie interrupted Yona's train of thought by booping her nose to nose. “Don't worry about any baked sweets; Sugarcube corner has us covered for that!”
Naturally this startled Yona, but Silverstream was quick to calm her nerves, with a gentle pat on the back.
Later, Pinkie Pie lead the students to Sugarcube Corner to pick up the sweet treats.
“NOW, we're talking,” Pinkie grinned. “Let's see...” She suddenly zipped two and fro around the shop, snatching up baked goods and putting them into the only remaining empty cart they had. “We got cakes, pies, cupcakes, muffins, anything deliciously baked in Sugarcube Corner's oven is sure to be big at any party!"
The students couldn't help but watch with amusement as Pinkie literally took care of this part of the shopping herself, which wasn't too difficult since working/living at Sugarcube Corner meant Pinkie knew the entire place like the underside of her hoof.
As soon as the cart was filled to the brim with goodies, Pinkie checked their shopping spree bounty. “Let's see... Baked goods, snacks, candy, drinks, paper plates, forks, knives, balloons, ribbons, streamers... Okie-Dokie-Lokie! Kids, I think we've got all we need for Ocellus's party!”
“Here's hoping she doesn't try snacking on any of the food while on the train ride,” Sandbar thought with a nervous smirk.
As the train departed from Ponyville and towards the direction of the Changeling Kingdom, the students settled in for the train ride.
While, Gallus, Silverstream, and Smolder talked amongst themselves, Yona was sitting next to Sandbar, who was casually looking out the window at the changing scenery. She wanted to say something...ANYTHING to him...but she couldn't bring herself to say a word.
“Hey, Pinkie?” Silverstream asked.
“What's up?” Pinkie turned to the young Hippogriff.
“What exactly is the Changeling Hive like?”
“Weeeeeeell...” Pinkie began. “It's like a forest inside of a cave; stone walls and ceilings, but lots of plants to give it a little color! And the Changelings themselves have got a lot of neat activities, thanks to Thorax. They've got dancing, the best soup potlucks, theaters, even arts and crafts! It's a million times better than when that meanie Chrysalis was in charge... Thorax told me all they did under her was hunt and patrol!”
“Yeah, Ocellus told us Chrysalis was rather unpleasant,” Sandbar added. “It sounds like King Thorax has changed things for the better!”
“Oh, you bet!” Pinkie giggled. “You'll really like King Thorax; he's SO nice. He's also got a brother, Pharynx. I've heard he's a little hard headed and a bit more rough around the edges, BUT Thorax says his heart's in the right place.”
“Well, okay,” Silverstream replied. “Hey, maybe the Changelings might want to help out with the party, too! After all, we ARE throwing it for one of their own.”
“Heeeeeey! That's a great idea!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed. “Hehe...Ocellus is going to LOVE this.”
“Ocellus, sure getting a lot of attention from friends...”Yona observed while thinking to herself. Something was bothering her slightly, but she wasn't sure what.
Suddenly she heard Sandbar ask her, “Uh... Yona? Are you okay?”
Yona was briefly snapped out of her thoughts as she looked to see Sandbar quizzically staring at her.
“You looked as though you were upset about something.” Sandbar stated.
“Oh! No, Yona fine.” Yona reassured Sandbar with a small lie. “Yona just... trying to think if Yak brought everything with her.”
“Oh...okay,” Sandbar replied, believing her. As he went back to staring out the window of the train car.
Yona emitted a sigh of relief that the lie worked. Since her mind would now be at ease for the time being, she decided to join Sandbar and spend the rest of the train ride staring out the window with him... all while making secret furtive glances at him.
When Yona, Pinkie, and the others departed the train and approached the hive, they found Ocellus's parents waiting for them on the outskirts of it.
“Oh! Miss Pinkie Pie! Did you and the other students come to visit our daughter?” A light blue male Changeling with orange eyes and a green underbelly, presumably Ocellus's father, asked.
Pinkie simply nodded enthusiastically in response, at a pace that would alarm even somecreature who isn't a doctor.
“Well then... We'll show you the way to her room,” said the light green female Changeling with magenta eyes and a yellow underbelly, most likely Ocellus's mother, opened the doors with her husband, leading Pinkie's group inside.
“Well, you heard them!” Pinkie told the students. “Let's follow 'em!”
Yona along with the others in the group, followed Ocellus's parents through the hive, eventually leading them right to Ocellus's room.
The door opened up, and Ocellus's friends, along with Pinkie entered her room. The whole gang including Yona immediately laid eyes on their Changeling friend, seeing the work of Brittlecoat directly. The disease seemed to live up to its name, as Ocellus's chitin seemed to be covered in cracks, bits of it were even coming off in small pieces. Such a display shocked them all, even Smolder.
“Sandbar, Yona, everyone!” Ocellus greeted. “What brings you all here?”
“Uh... to see you of course,” Sandbar nervously smiled. “So uh... how're you holding up with your... illness?” The atmosphere in the room felt a bit awkward until Ocellus answered the question.
“I know it looks bad, but Brittlecoat is really just... uh...” Ocellus took a few seconds to come up with an adequate comparison. “The Changeling Equivalent of Chicken Pox. I should be fine in about a week.”
“Well okay...” Smolder hesitatingly answered, “But that looks like it hurts... a lot.”
“Well... normally it would, Changelings shed their chitin once every 6 months, but I look like this because Brittlecoat causes the shedding to occur prematurely.”
Silverstream then added her own concerns to the conversation, “Okay, but... it doesn't hurt does it?”
Recognizing that Silverstream wanted to give Ocellus a hug, but was scared to do so, thinking that it would cause her pain, Ocellus reassured the Hippogriff as best she could. “Well not really, there are a lot of Tonics here that help numb the pain.” Ocellus gestures to a trio of small ceramic bottles on her nightstand, they don't look all that different from the kind used to store certain potions. “Without them I wouldn't be able to do anything other than lie down. But with them I can walk, I just have to do so at a very slow pace.”
Gallus was the next to add his take on Ocellus's condition, “Oh, so that's why you had to be brought back here.”
Ocellus nods in agreement. “Yeah, these tonics can't really be found in Ponyville.” Ocellus then noticed the 5 saddlebags that Pinkie was somehow carrying. “Oh, Miss Pinkie? What's all that in your bags?”
“Oh this?” Pinkie looked to her bags. “Just some items...for your get-well-soon party.” She grinned.
“A get-well-soon party?” Ocellus repeated. “For me? Oh....you all shouldn't have...” She blushed, sincerely touched.
“We had to,” Sandbar said, he then approached Ocellus, and gently patted her on the head. “You're special to us, after all.”
This action made Yona raise an eyebrow.“Sandbar never headpat Yona...” plus the fact that Sandbar called her special didn't help matters.
Later on, in the center of the hive, Pinkie Pie and the students set about fixing up the party. As everyone decorated, they began to talk amongst themselves.
“Here's hoping Ocellus loves the ribbons and streamers!”
“Wait until she sees all the sweet candy that's going to be in the piñata!”
“Hope Ocellus likes all the cake, ice cream and sweets we got for the party.”
The only one who was not speaking, was Yona... as she listened to everyone talk about 'Ocellus this' and 'Ocellus that', even Sandbar was talking like that. She tried not to let it bother her...after all, this was Ocellus's get-well-soon party. But Yona couldn't help but feel something inside of her that made her feel a little jealous. Yona was still thinking about her recent dream, along with Luna's words about the possibility of Sandbar loving Ocellus, rather than her.
Meanwhile, Sandbar and everyone else were talking about how they hoped Ocellus liked everything they did for her party. “It just party to wish Ocellus well,” Yona thought, “ but why it bother Yona so much?”
Still feeling a sense of unease, Yona felt the need to mingle in the party to help get her mind off whatever was bothering her, Yona went over to talk to Silverstream, who was talking with some of the younger Changelings, “Um...Silverstream? Yona needs to talk...”
“Sorry; can't right now,” Silverstream said with an apologetic smile, “These Changelings were just telling me about what they do for fun in the hive.”
“Okay...” Yona sighed a little and went elsewhere. She noticed that Gallus was nearby, apparently talking to a tall, very dark green changeling with red horns, and lavender eyes, Yona attempted to talk with him, “Uh.. Gallus?”
“Whatever you want will have to wait Yona, I'm talking to Pharynx.” Gallus told her.
Yona only sighed again and went back to searching for someone else to mingle with, Yona then saw Smolder not too far away and went over to her. “Smolder...”
“Ack! Sorry Yona, bad timing,” Smolder said, “I was just about to have a mini flying race with some of the Changelings.”
Yona bit her lip as she watched Smolder fly off. There was only one creature left to talk to... Sandbar. “Sandbar...Yona needs...”
“Sorry Yona but I can't talk now,” Sandbar said apologetically, “I'm getting Ocellus some cake.”
Dismayed, Yona merely sat down on a nearby bench, left alone to wallow in her thoughts, her thoughts about how Yona was being ignored, this combined with the emotional turmoil that her nightmares put her through, only made Yona slowly feel even worse, and as Ocellus's party went on, Yona's emotions were in complete turmoil as her jealousy spiraled out of control. “It not fair... why Changeling receive so much positive attention, while Yak left alone to emotional turmoil!?” The more Yona thought...the more bitter and angry she became. “Stupid Ocellus... Yona should make her know meaning of suffering!” She thought about how she would confront Ocellus and take out all her frustrations on her. But the moment Yona even thought about that, something in her mind made her stop, as memories of her and Ocellus spending time together, sharing laughs, even the time where Ocellus and Silverstream saved her from drowning. This made Yona snap out of her internal rant. “Wh-What was Yona thinking!? Yona can't hurt Ocellus! She is Yak's friend!” She now felt disgust towards herself. “..some friend Yona is...letting jealousy take hold, and lash out at friend...” She quietly began to leave the party, hoping no one spotted her.
Meanwhile, Ocellus was enjoying some punch, when a strange foul smell caught her attention, such a foul stench could only come from a powerful negative emotion. “Phew...that stink... smells like... wait... is that... jealousy?” Ocellus thought to herself, before looking around the room, sniffing the air to see if she could pinpoint where the stench of jealousy could be coming from. “Who could be feeling jealous right now? And why?” She faced the direction of where Yona previously sat, “Wait... where did Yona go?” Ocellus tried smelling for the scent of jealousy again, “Wait...was that smell coming from her?” She then traced the smell and faced Yona's current direction, just as the young Yak was sneaking off out of the party. “It IS her making that smell! ...but why? I'd better tell Sandbar about this; he's pretty close to her, maybe he might know what's wrong.”
Upon spotting Sandbar nearby, carrying a plate containing a slice of cake on his back, Ocellus walked up to him. “Uh Sandbar?”
Sandbar turned to the young Changeling. “Oh there you are Ocellus,” he then gave her the slice of cake, “here's some cake, if you didn't already have some.”
“Uh thanks... but, Yona just left the party,” Ocellus explained as she accepted the slice of cake.
“Oh, is that all?” Sandbar asked. "She probably just went outside for some air."
“It's not that simple...” Ocellus followed up. “You know how Changelings can detect emotions? Well...I smelled a very bad emotion coming from Yona; it was jealousy.”
“Jealousy?” This had Sandbar's attention. “What's she jealous about?"
“I'm not sure...but I have a nagging suspicion that this might be connected to her recent behavior; how she's been distant and distracted lately, not her usual self. I was wondering if you could go talk to her; out of the six of us, you're her closest friend after all.”
“Well, okay.” Now Sandbar was concerned. “Just what could be bothering Yona?”
Sandbar quietly slipped away from the party, wondering what was going on with Yona. He didn't have to search far though, as he spotted Yona on a cliff face nearby; close enough to get a good view of the rocky landscape, but not too close to be putting herself in danger of falling off.
“Uh...Yona?” Sandbar called out to her. “Are you alright?”
Yona nervously looked behind her, and saw Sandbar right there. How could she face him right then and there? “Sandbar... Yona is fine. Yak just needed some air. Was awfully crowded in party...”
Sandbar remembered Ocellus's words, realizing Yona was in need of some emotional support. “Yona...are you sure you're alright? You've been kind of distant and distracted lately...not to mention, Ocellus said she could smell a negative emotion coming from you.”
Yona started to get nervous at this. “Wh-What? What...did friend Ocellus sense from Yona?” She asked nervously.
“She said that she sensed...jealousy,” Sandbar admitted.
Hearing Sandbar say the word, jealousy, made Yona freeze on the spot.
“Yona...mind telling me what's bothering you and making you jealous?” Sandbar looked at Yona worriedly.
Yona bit her lip. She didn't feel ready to tell Sandbar about her nightmares yet. “Sandbar...it...difficult to explain... Yona just going through... personal troubles. And seeing friend Ocellus get fussed over while Yona ignored made Yona jealous.”
Realizing that Yona needed more than just words for emotional support, Sandbar remembered the happy time that he,Yona, and the others had together during the hooky session they had on their first day of school. Those memories gave him an idea to help Yona out. “Yona...how about some time next weekend....we have an outing together? Just the two of us?” Sandbar asked in a happy yet also kind of nervous tone.
Yona's eyes widened a little, she then started to smile...and her cheeks dawned a slight, barely visible blush. “Y-Yona would like that.”
“Alright then,” Sandbar smiled. “Well, I'd better head back inside. Feel free to follow me.” He began to head back.
“Sandbar...asked Yona out...” Yona felt her heart flutter. “Yak might be able to confess feelings after all!”
With her confidence now fully restored, Yona trotted back inside to rejoin the party.