Luna awoke about two hours before sundown, enjoying a warm bath and a meal before her sister retired for the evening. With a quarter hour to spare, she was preparing herself for the night when a series of frantic knocks sounded at her chamber door. She pulled the door open with her magic to see two guards looking to her with panicked eyes.
"What is the matter?" Luna asked.
"Princess, forgive us, but something is wrong with Eventide."
"What has happened?" She stepped from the room and joined them in the hall.
"We were preparing for the nighttime shift as usual but Eventide failed to show up." The rightmost guard began. "He is never late without prior word so we checked his dorm in the barracks and found him still asleep. We spent several minutes trying to wake him but he remains unresponsive."
"Did you seek the doctor's council?" Luna inquired.
"Yes, Princess." The other guard continued. "He said that Eventide radiates with foreign magical energy; he asked us to inform you immediately."
"I see." Luna nodded. "Take me to him."
The two guards escorted the Princess to the barracks where the other members of her nighttime guard were gathered in worry. The doctor was quick to approach and led her into the small room.
"Princess, I have never seen anything like this." The old stallion began. "I know Eventide's magic and whatever this is it does not share his aura."
Luna stepped closer and observed the sleeping Unicorn. "This magic... it feels similar to my own."
"I have no aid for this." The doctor looked down at him as well. "Can you help him, Princess?"
"He is unconscious, therefore his mind is now linked to the dream realm." Luna detailed. "I should be able to make contact with him." She gestured towards the door. "Please inform my sister of the situation, I will enter the dream realm and see what I can do."
"At once, Princess." The doctor bowed. "I wish you luck."
As the door closed behind him, Luna settled on the floor before Eventide's bed. Closing her eyes, she activated her magic and sent her consciousness into the ether of the dream realm. The bubble of her guard's mind manifested and she stepped into his dream. Luna was blinded by an intense light from above and when her eyes adjusted she discovered she was inside a house. Taking a step forward, she tripped as her hoof became caught in fabric; as she stumbled her ears detected an echoing laughter about her.
"What is this?" Luna looked down at her body, finding herself garbed in a rather reserved dress. "The dream is affecting me? That is most curious." She hiked the skirt of the dress a little higher so she could walk. "And those voices." Looking around her she saw no pony, only a living room furnished with modest pieces; she noticed that the furniture was set in an unnatural manner, as if for a play. As her mind worked to understand what was happening, she heard the door against the rear wall open.
"Oh, you beat me home." Eventide stepped in and a chorus of ethereal hooves applauded his entry. He was dressed in a fine suit more befitting a business stallion than a royal guard.
"Eventide?" Luna looked to him sharply.
"Who else, honey." He laughed. "What'd you do, run home? We just had lunch downtown an hour ago."
"We... did?" Hearing that made Luna realize that she already played a part in this dream.
"You feeling okay?" Eventide approached her and laid his hoof to her forehead. "Not getting a fever are you?"
"No... I am not." Luna assured. "I did indeed rush home." She confirmed his suspicion, not wanting to disrupt the flow of his dream until she could surmise what was happening to him.
"Good." He kissed her cheek and Luna again heard the faceless voices register their approval of the sweet gesture. "I'm going to go change."
As he vanished into the hall, Luna attempted to use her magic to open an exit from the dream. Her horn fizzled and her magic dissipated into the air. "This is no ordinary dream." She muttered to herself. "I cannot influence it with my magic, which means that whatever spell constructed this world is even more powerful than I." Her eyes moved to the front door. "And if the dream version of me returns to this place then Eventide's mind will know something is wrong and may seek to combat me."
"Honey?" Eventide's voice came from the dark void of the hall.
"Yes... dear." Luna answered, trying to play along.
"I was thinking we could go out for dinner tonight." He suggested as he stepped from the hall. "It's been a long week, we should treat ourselves."
"That would be lovely." Luna nodded as he set himself to the couch. "I... need some water, please excuse me." She hurried into the adjacent kitchen which was set up in the same odd fashion. "There must be some way for us to leave this place." She noticed another door against the far wall, quickly opening it and stepping through.
"There you are, sweetheart." Eventide smiled at her from the couch.
"I..." Luna looked back to see that she had exited from the hallway she watched him go down before.
"That new dress looks beautiful on you, Luna." He complemented.
"New dress?" She looked down and saw that she was now wearing a formal, evening gown.
"You've been dying to wear it since you picked it up the other day." Eventide went to her and took her hoof in his. "I love it... almost as much as I love you." He kissed her hoof to the applause of the phantom audience; his eyes looked into hers expectantly and they downturned when she merely stood there. "I said I love you, honey." He repeated.
Luna realized that he was waiting for her to say it back. She returned his gaze with a heavy sigh, knowing that without the ability to use her magic it was clear that the only one who could end this dream was the dreamer himself. "I heard you, Eventide." She answered. "But I do not love you." The voices of the unseen spectators began to boo her.
"Luna... how could you say that?" He backed away from her with hurt eyes. "What is wrong with you?"
"Nothing is wrong with me, Eventide." She shook her head. "This is not real and you know it; I came here to help you but I have no power in this world you've constructed."
"I... constructed... you aren't making sense, Luna." He lowered his head.
"This is a dream." Luna informed. "And not a normal one either, I cannot impact it as I can with the dreams of others."
"No..." Eventide shook his head.
"I thought perhaps another had cast a spell on you, but it is clear that you are in control here and you are the one who trapped yourself here."
"No, I didn't." He insisted. "This is reality, not some dream." The walls began to shake and the voices made sounds of deep worry.
"Eventide." Luna stepped closer to him. "I cannot free myself from this dream, I am trapped here with you and the only way to escape is for you to admit that this is not real."
"It is!" He shouted, eyes filled with tears. "It is real. I live here... with you, and... and we're happy and..."
"Eventide!" Luna stopped him. "Your mind may thrive here but your body is still in the real world. If you remain here then your body will wither and perish, and now that I am trapped in your mind that means that my consciousness will be lost as well."
"Stop it... please." He begged as the shaking intensified. "Let's just go out like we planned."
She went to his side and knelt before him. "Look at me."
"No..." He shut his eyes.
"Eventide... please." She reached down and took his chin, raising his head and looking into his eyes.
"Luna." He managed through a pained sniffle. "P...Princess."
"Yes." She nodded.
"I'm sorry." He apologized, the flower wall paper beginning to tear and flooding the room with the mysterious bright light.
"It is alright." She assured.
"I just... I love you." He confessed. "I love you so much, Princess." Tears streamed down his cheeks as he spoke. "I've loved you from afar since I joined your night guard... but that is all I am... a guard." His face saddened further. "I dreamt of you every night, dreamt that we were together and happy. I love this dream and waking up each morning became more and more painful as I realized that it could be nothing more than that." The furniture began to atomize and vanish as he spoke. "I found a book in the castle library that detailed powerful dream magic, magic like yours that could craft and control a ponies dream and... I just wanted to live in this dream forever." His head went limp in her hoof.
"Eventide." Luna smiled at him. "No pony knows the power of dreams more than I; and I can tell you that no matter how sweet they can be they are no substitute for reality." She rose and pulled him up with her. "I am sorry you have felt such pain over your feelings. You have always been a steadfast guard, one whose dedication and loyalty I have valued greatly and I do not wish to lose you to this fabricated world." She stepped back. "If you truly love me as much as you profess, then please wake up for me, Eventide."
Eventide wiped his eyes and stood proudly before her, saluting as he always did in her presense. "Yes, my Princess."
The pair were engulfed in light and Luna shot up from her spot on the floor. Quickly getting to her hooves, she looked about to see that she was returned to the real world. Checking the bed, she saw Eventide coming around as well.
"Eventide?" She sat beside the bed.
"Princess?" He focused his eyes on her.
"Yes." Luna laid her hoof to his shoulder. "You did it, you broke free of the dream."
"I..." He tried to raise his head but struggled to find the energy.
"Princess?" The doctor rushed in at the sound of her voice. "You were able to wake him?"
"Yes." Luna backed away as the doctor stood over the bed.
"Thank goodness." He sighed.
"She did it!" One of idling guards cheered, inspiring similar cheers from his comrades.
"I'll need to check his vitals and make sure there is no permanent damage." The doctor relayed as he went to work.
"Of course." Luna looked to Eventide who quickly averted his tired eyes from her. She quietly left the room so that the doctor could work, knowing that there was nothing more she could do at the moment.
Luna's mind remained on what had happened all the way until the following night. As before, she readied herself for the evening, bidding her sister goodnight and beginning her rounds. As she walked the castle she came upon Eventide in the west hall, as soon as he saw her he lowered his head once again in shame and embarrassment.
"Eventide." She went to him with a smile.
"Yes, Princess." He forced himself to stand up straight as she approached.
"I did not expect you on duty again so soon, are you well?" She asked.
"Yes, Princess." He nodded. "Aside from some mild dehydration, the doctor said I was fine."
"I am glad." Luna said in relief.
Eventide finally brought himself to face her, his eyes heavy with regret. "I am sorry you were put in danger because of my actions, Princess." He continued. "I... know what I did was foolish and... those things I said to you, I shouldn't have..."
"Please do not put yourself down, Eventide." Luna interrupted. "I know what you said to me was heartfelt and true, know that what I said was just as much."
"Thank you, Princess." He tipped his head. "Rest assured that I know my place and promise to hold myself to maintaining the level of service that you praised."
Luna nodded and continued on a few paces as he stood at attention once more. "Eventide." She paused. "Would you walk with me?"
"Princess?" He looked to her in surprise.
"These halls are long and dark." She looked over her shoulder with a gentle smile. "I would certainly feel safer with a guard at my side."
He smiled but belied a quiet sadness in his eyes. "Princess, you don't need to do this."
"True." She agreed. "But you said you have admired me from afar for some time now. I would like to offer you the chance to do so from not so great a distance. That is, if you still desire such a chance."
Eventide's eyes cheered as he realized she was serious. "I... I do." He slowly walked to her side and the two of them proceeded down the hall.
"This is much preferable to a dream, is it not?" She asked.
"Yes, it is." He admitted, looking to her with a genuine smile. "Honey."
Luna looked up at him with a smirk. "Don't push your luck."
"Yes, Princess." He quickly returned his eyes forward as she started to laugh.