//------------------------------// // 024 - Throw Away Your Mask // Story: Welcome to Distopia // by LucidDreamer //------------------------------// The party was winding down as Prince Akechi led Lorraine over to where Futaba and John were seated, Futaba's Nintendo Switch propped up on a chair in front of them as the duo played a multiplayer game. Wild card was seated casually behind the mare and the bug and highly amused by their antics. Akechi cleared his throat pointedly and the others looked up at him. "Hi." John chirped. Futaba blinked. "Oh, right. We're gonna talk about the thing now." She nodded and began fiddling with her game console to turn it off. "Thing?" the smol bug as he handed her the joycon he'd been using. It was Akechi who answered. "Since we're all here, I thought it would be best to discuss the imbalance of forces in more detail. I won't have much free time after today as I'll be starting my investigation on the Ponyville guards so, you two need to be filled in on the off chance another wild shadow makes an appearance." The Prince scowled. "That hydra you fought was a wild shadow, a mass of naturally occurring shadow magic that achieved conscious thought and took on a form the locals associated with danger." he looked at the group as Lorraine pulled up some extra chairs and Futaba stowed her Switch in the saddlebags beside her seat. "You got lucky John, one mistake and the entire town would have been reduced to ashes." "And you think we don't know that?" Lorraine retorted. "Do you have any idea what it was like watching the person I love physically fight something? I was terrified! I couldn't even look at his injuries without almost fainting! All I could do was spam heals and hope he'd be okay." The prince's brow furrowed in clear confusion. Silence descended on the group for a brief moment. It was Wild Card who spoke first, his voice quiet and calm. "The dream realm is slowly merging with the physical world, wild shadows are escaping their natural habitat and attacking people. People's dreams are also being warped where parts of the real world and dream realm have already merged together." "It's like the two places occupy the same space when they really shouldn't." Futaba added. "These areas are called Lairs and have been sealed off from the rest of the dream realm and only accessible from the real world from midnight to sunrise," Akechi explained as he composed himself. "We can access these lairs and the wider dream realm by using mirrors, however, if we do not make it back to the real world before sunrise, we remain trapped there until midnight of the following day." Wild rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly "We can't enter the lairs but we think you two can." Futaba grinned as she explained. "It totally has to do with the fact that you guys weren't meant to be here, see the gates keeping us out, work because we were all reincarnated into this reality! Fundamentally, we're the same as everyone else but you two just got poofed into this world so on some magical, spirit mumbo-jumbo level, you guys don't register as something the lairs are meant to keep out... in theory." "In the past, The Nightmare had willing followers that worked to keep the realms separated and the shadows calm but after a thousand years of absence, there is no one left to perform those duties," Akechi added. "From what Aunt Luna has told me, The Nightmare needs people to perform such tasks due to the interconnected nature of shadows and people. Should The Nightmare attempt to bring balance herself, she would end up harming people simply due to her nature as the goddess of shadows, a raw cosmic force wouldn't exactly have the tools for the supposed "delicate mortal touch" the task requires. So instead, the goddess teaches others how to harness their own shadow as a tool or a weapon." “So we gotta turn into Persona and clean house, metaphorically speaking.” John asked, raising a brow. "If it were up to me, I wouldn't involve you two in this," Akechi stated. "You have no combat training and little to no understanding of the societal values that fuel those lairs... But we don't have a choice." “Well then, do we have much of a choice?” John countered gesturing at Lorraine and himself. “If this is throwing everything out of whack, and we can do something about it, is it really a question of should we do something?” The smol bug cracked his knuckles. (Causing the doe to wince.) “No, we’re gonna do this.” He paused, blinking. “Just as soon as I get proper training, ‘cause I turned into an angel once and that was with the help of a pair of literal gods.” "You turned into your persona?" Futaba asked excitedly. "We can turn into our personas in the real world, it's how I awakened mine." Lorraine clarified. Akechi was surprised. "You did?" The pegasus moved a wing to hold his chin in thought. "I wonder, if the three of us could summon our personas in the real world we wouldn't need to enter the dream realm in order to get you two caught up." "You're staying in Ponyville for the investigation right? You'd have more opportunities to show them the ropes." Wild said. "I'll stick around too, if I can use my persona in the real world, I can keep an eye out for shadows," Futaba suggested. "Leave it to me!" "I'm afraid I'm going to be busy over the next few weeks but I can try to leave my afternoons and evenings free for training purposes. Assuming Aunt Luna doesn't drag me to some event or dinner that is." Akechi said calmly. “With Luna the way she is now, it’ll be some fancy dinner, or just staying at… wherever she’s staying and vegging out, or crashing at our place for gaming.” John hummed in thought. “All seem valid.” He shrugged. "At least we'll be able to work on stuff," Lorraine suggested. "Luna will probably drag me out to any public events too so we can use that to talk and stuff." "A valid point, however, I'm rather concerned about the general public- not for my sake, but yours," Akechi stated as he looked over at the doe. "You already face scrutiny for housing an... unclaimed male as well as your relationship with John, for a mare to be seen in the company of a stallion who isn't related to her by blood nor in her herd, and especially if the mare already has a suitable partner or established herd... Well, I'm afraid to say that not even your act of heroism against the hydra will help you." The smile Akechi gave was sharp and cruel. "But then again, in the eyes of the townsfolk, you didn't do much of anything, did you? Were it not for the fact that your boyfriend defended the town from attack and has shown to be fiercely protective of you, I daresay you would have been exiled from town already." "Oh, well excuse me for being a coward." Lorraine scoffed. “Hey if they kick us out, we’re claiming the castle in the Everfree. Fuck, I wouldn’t be surprised if the house just up and moved with us.” John snorted. “I’ve never been one to be all that dominant, generally speaking. But getting defensive and protective of those I love definitely brings that side out of me. If Ponyville doesn’t like it that I act like a man, from Earth that is, then fuck Ponyville. I, for one, am really only here because of the friends we’ve made.” "They won't let you leave." Wild Card spoke up, his tone clipped and expression serious. "Ponies keep their heroes on a tight leash." "They see you as something useful John, something to be appeased now that you've shown you will come to their aid," Akechi said icily. "You won't be able to just throw a tantrum and run off anymore. So, they keep you happy and oblivious until the next crisis rears its ugly head." “Greeeaaaat….” John groaned, face-palming and rubbing his eyes. “Told you we didn’t have to fight.” Lorraine commented. “Hindsight is twenty-twenty.” John shook his head. “At least they’ll work to keep us happy…. Ish.” He leaned against the table. “So, training in the evening then?” "When I can spare the time, yes. Wild has his own job to do back in Canterlot so he won't have the time to babysit." Akechi explained. "So, are we just going to ignore the fact that most of Ponyville saw The Detective Prince getting all buddy-buddy with the town's most controversial person?" Futaba spoke up. John and Lorraine looked at each other, then at Futaba. “Which one?” They asked in unison. Wild Card snickered. Akechi rolled his eyes. "Are you trying to get them mobbed? As long as people make a fuss about it, the more trouble it will cause." "I'm just saying! For a guy who keeps people at arm's length, you just so happen to get along with the one female in town every mare and their mother calls a herd breaker behind her back?" Futaba said. "People are gonna talk." "A herd breaker?" Lorraine deadpanned. Futaba shrugged. "From what I can tell, mares who have just one romantic partner all to themselves are characterized as attracting attention from stallions, you know like a forbidden fruit or something because monogamous couples or perfect herds where everyone is treated equally is an unattainable ideal in Equestria." “Huh.” John hummed. “Is there a legal way to take us off the…” He froze. He blinked. “Wait a sec.” His face scrunched up. He looked at Lorraine. “Why… why haven’t we just went to the town hall and just made a herd out of the household? Like, legally we’d be a herd, but nothing would change with anything else really.” "So you would be fine with people expecting you to share your significant other? To have children?" Akechi countered. "The formation of herds and the records listing existing herds and families are publicly available, mares often use these records to determine if stallions or other mares would be beneficial to pursue for the purpose of adding on to their own herd." “But we would be Lorraine’s herd.” John countered his counter. “And Gilda would be a sub-head-mare-thing.” "The head mare of a herd is often the one people watch the most, her herdmates look to her for guidance, she decides which ponies join the herd. The head mare is responsible for any stallions within the herd and is the one who takes the blame when something goes wrong," Akechi explained curtly. "Furthermore, do you truly want that demon you live with to have any excuse to do as he pleases? I may not know the details but hasn't he been attempting to court Lorraine?" "Akechi, the herd thing was just an idea." Lorraine tried to smooth things over. "An ill-advised idea." Akechi stated. “So, keep doing what we’re doing and maybe things will change?” John sighed, visibly deflating. "That's all we can do until the legal system has been overhauled to take consent, of all things, into account." Akechi replied with a scowl and glared at Wild Card as the bat pony started to say something. "Goro, can't you just-" Akechi cut him off, voice dripping with venom as he rounded on Wild. "Shut up. I won't help them with that. I will not drag these two any further into the herding political bullshit that has seeped into every corner of Equestria." "You could make it easier for them. Being courted by royalty would have benefits." Wild pointed out. "He's not wrong," Futaba added helpfully. "You're a public figure, you can solve herd and domestic abuse cases all day but you've made a name for yourself as being one of Equestria's most independent stallions and like it not, mares want in on that." Akechi snorted in dry amusement. "Mares see only a stallion that they can tame. From a legal standpoint, as Princess Celestia's "son", I am free to do what I want in regards to herds, so keep your shipping nonsense to yourselves." "You're no fun." Wild said plainly while Futaba pouted. “So, stick to what’s been working so far. Got it.” John nodded with a sigh. Another night, another conversation with The Nightmare. Lorraine looked relatively calm in the dreamscape made of stardust as the goddess stared down at her. "You want me... to talk to Luna?" "Please?" Lorraine asked hopefully. "I'll mediate." "What is there to say that hasn't already been said?" The Nightmare countered. "We both made poor decisions and the world bears the brunt of the fallout. If Luna wants nothing to do with me, then so be it." “It was only because of Lorraine’s insistence that we decided to speak with thee.” Luna stated somewhat stiffly from next to the doe. “We are willing to attempt to mend-” She paused. “Mend would imply that there are remains to mend. Perhaps, a start over?” The former Night Princess seemed to be thinking aloud. She took a breath and looked at the alicorn made of nebulous clouds and stars. “Nightmare, we understand that we were vain and demanded attention for doing the littlest thing. And we also recognize that we took that demand out on the mortal populace, as well as denied the full breadth of mortals there were to tend to. For there are not just ponies in the world, much as we used to believe. Nightmare, we- no. I wish to work with you. I would say like I used to, but I tended to strain against any rules you put in place. I would like to find my purpose… again.” The small blue alicorn looked quite pink in the face after her stream-of-consciousness word vomit. "...You do not need my assistance with this, if anything, I will only hinder you. Not out of malice, but duty. Do you understand?" The Nightmare said sternly. "I can tell you where to go or what to do but ultimately you will have to choose. Tell me Luna, are you a Princess of Equestria or a Princess of my Shadow Court?" Luna paused, appearing to think. “I am Luna, Princess of Equestria. But, even saying that, I know little of what that means. What does the Night Princess do that the Day Princess cannot?” "If I were to give you command of the night sky once more, how would you use it?" The Nightmare asked. "How would that affect your subjects and by extension, the world?" Lorraine watched carefully, ready to speak up if things got out of hand. “The Moon affects the tides.” Luna hummed. “And seeing its phases intrigues me. It’s constantly changing, in flux as it were. The stars in the sky are now used by many for navigation among other things.” She paused. “I actually enjoyed relearning how the Night is supposed to work.” She let out a small giggle as she tapped her chin in thought. “The Moon’s phases also affect Shadows, do they not? Perhaps that could be advantageous to the young prince.” "So Akechi tried to warn you as well? Shadowmancy and its practitioners need to return soon, before it is too late." Nightmare mused and looked relieved. "It is good to see you finding enjoyment from that which drove you to near madness." Luna blinked. “Were you…” She looked at Lorraine and pointed a hoof at Nightmare. “Was that her being nice?” "She's trying?" Lorraine offered. "I am not the same as I was millennia ago and never will be," The Nightmare stated. "My role as a force perceived as good ended a long time ago. All I can do now is ensure that the benign and helpful forms of Shadowmancy do not end as well... And that those who are associated with me know the risk involved." “You’re not good… You’re… Necessary.” Luna said looking away for a moment. “Was I the cause of your change of thought?” "In the wake of the peace you and your sister heralded, I sought to ease the scars of the dark age with kindness. So long as the balance between the forces of creation was upheld, we gods could do as we pleased..." the Nightmare explained. "People were scared, the things I had to do to end the worst of the horrors the dark age spawned gave rise to some of my most powerful... and dangerous servants. You, Luna, were not born from those horrors, from desperation, fear, despair or fury against the injustice of it all. You were born from the compassion I had for both the living and dead." "So imagine my surprise when my youngest daughter, one whom I've given my time, my power and my heart too, threatens the stability of an entire planet," The Nightmare sighed. "I clearly failed in my duty and we both now pay the price." Luna’s ears flattened. “Before you… possessed me… How… How much did I break?” "You woke up some of the oldest Night Terrors in existence, weakened the astral barrier between realms and vilified Shadowmancy as forbidden magic in every society pony kind has had contact with in the last thousand years. A jarring, near permanent shift to night time breaks quite a lot of things and leaves a negative impression," the goddess said calmly. "After I possessed you? The other gods have worked to keep things functioning without us, they believe the two of us are no longer needed and other so-called gods have risen to power in our absence." "My return was not welcome, but by earning back your power and freeing yourself from my influence, you will be safe from those that wish to control me." The Nightmare said. Luna wilted with every word, until hearing that she was safe made her perk up. “If I’m safe, then perhaps I could be of assistance to those who wish to help mend this world. Such as Lorraine.” She looked at Lorraine. “Every little bit helps, or so John says.” "One thing at a time Luna. You said you were a Princess of Equestria, work to wear such a title and its responsibilities with pride first." The Nightmare suggested. "It's not like stuff will get fixed overnight, it's going to take time." Lorraine added. “Yes. Yes. This is true.” Luna nodded, taking a breath. “You would think that I would learn to be more patient, but that is something that I’m still working on.”