//------------------------------// // ~Chapter 7~The Dreamwalker // Story: To the stars and beyond // by punkrose //------------------------------// Another scratch added to the set as the yellow pegasus ran trough a paticularly thorny bush.She didn't know how long she has been running in those fields,but the answer will be when she will stop being chased. Upon nearly paling at a growl she knew was aimed towards her,she turned to face her pursuer: "I promise to you any king of vegeteable,salad...just don't make it harder!" The beast went insensitive to her pleas.It swinged an enormous paw her way,making her duck in instinct.For the grand finale,it readied itself on it's hidden legs.In the threat to give chase mercilessly.A tree manifested in her vision,just in time. The giant rabbit jumped,sharp claws out,she stood still.When its target flew away,disppearing from view, the beast crashed against the trunk in painful motion.She sat amisdt the leaves and bruised wood,glaring down furiously at the rabbit,her supposed trusted companion: "Bad Angel." The designed didn't appreciate the scold,letting it be known by gritting his teeth and scratching the dirt.Claws dug in the ground,the menace of jumping to cach her,she cowered behind her own mane.And waited,when he...vanished perfectly? Fluttershy let her hoofs slip away from her face as to witness the scene unfolding before her.What she saw was,suprise of all suprises,her savior being a lavender alicorn.The same one from the library,she silently thanked having been nice to her despite the urge to bolt. It returned full force when she noted the princess' expression.Twisted into one of concentration.Catching her eyes,she looked down from the tree.An excuse to check on her rabbit pet,back to his usual size thanks to the mysterious ways of magic. The princess turned to Fluttershy,her etheral mane flotting gently with the motion.Her expression softened considerably: "I think I owe you an explaination." Fluttershy took a sip from her cup of tea.Carefull towards her every movement;the whole ordeal was to not spill it: "So,you are telling me that you accidently walked into my dream the first time by trying to get to your....,"she trailed off,gathering the impossible analysis,"friend's and now want to offer your apologies?" The princess sitting at the other end of the table nodded.It seemed fair in a sense.Her smile turned somewhat awkward,gathering the oddity of this perspective: "As unusual as it may seem,if it does make any sense to you.I noticed you were having a nightmare and tought it was the perfect opportunity to intervene,miss Fluttershy...." "Just Fluttershy is fine,"she shot a warmth smile her way,after all it was royalty who bothered visiting her in her dreams in the prospect of apologies.She wasn't sure she could deserve that.Wait...visit her in her dreams... "But,b-but you're walking into pony's dreams,"she waved with a hoof,still processing the thought,"isn't this just a myth?" "A myth?"the princess tilted her head. "Yes,and forgive me your Highness but the existance of alicorns is as well.Based on the fact that we're in a dream,yoouu could be a part of it?" The princess raised an eyebrow,her inimpressed behavior showing.Her reaction went completly justified to her interlocutor.She wouldn't be all too happy etheir at the perspective that somepony was calling her a product of imagination: "Fine,I'll give you that,"she relented,the pegasus was on edge,"just one more thing,how is it that I manifested in your dreams twice?" Fluttershy's eyes widened in horror.She remembered their all too awkward,at least for her part,meeting at the library.She never ceased chastising herself for leaving those books scatter. "Speaking of that,"Fluttershy delayed,deviating the conversation,"what was that strange rift that emerged all of a sudden?Is it normal in dreams...I mean,"a nearby spoon took her strained habit,twisted and turned in her hoof. "In dreams...well,I'm glad you asked,"she lit up,any excuse to share knowledge was a good excuse,"the rift is a commun process in dream-walking.It appears as a way of an escape for the dreamwalker before it's too late..." "Oh,and what happens when it's too late?"Fluttershy bit her lip in apprehension. "Uh...,it's just a long travel trough the Dream Realm to meet the way again,"The princess replied.It was evident. The yellow pegasus blinked. Her spoon was loose from her cup.The threat to spill an impropriate reaction sprouted,she was at the verge of letting out an imprudent giggle.It all seemed straight out of Spike's fantasy board games.And before the deed could be done,the princess set her attention on Fluttershy's cottage door.All knowing eyes and reserved smiles. "If you want a clearer explanation:the access to a certain individual's dream is peculiar at first,it's the door trough their mind,"somehow the door seemed to have changed,and Fluttershy couldn't put her hoof on what,"this is yours,walking trough it leads to the Dream Realm." Before the princess could add anything,Fluttershy rose from her seat and closed the distance between her and the door in prudent steps. She stopped to brush a hoof against the three butterflies worn on the wooden surface.Pulled in a trance.The design beared a frightening ressemblance to her cutie mark. A step back and she faced the princessShe turned her stare back at the door,back at the princess,back at the door... "There's no way this is the door to the Dream Realm,"she giggled nervously,knocking on the wood as if it would answer her,"you'll see,"-she turned the knob and slowly creaked the door-,"I'm going to open it and find myself back in my garden-...eeek!" Her hoof stepped on thin air as her only encounter was the void.Blackness blinded her eyes and blocked the only way out.The door found itself slammed in brutal refusal before her painting breaths.Her back slowly slid against it. Blurred eyes were lost in the distance,far from the princess' waving hoof to check on her.She looked concerned,it was a start. "I think I just saw the other side..." "That was the deadline of your imagination,"the princess corrected,not insensitive to the pegasus' worries,"I just wanted to show you a visual representation.This wasn't the real entrance...sorry for scarring you?" "Oh no no,that's fine,"the pegasus excused her,strong in authority,it was merely her fault as much,"it just reminded me of a saying:"only the depths of your mind are where your fears reside","she recited,in parallel of her dishiveled state,"from Star Swirl the bearded." "Based on my accounts,Star Swirl never said anything like that,"the princess giggled,melodious,encouraging the pegasus into unwiding in her position,"that must've been you." Fluttershy's eyes lit up for the first time.Enchanted by the idea of it. "Oh,really?"she took her seat back at opposite sides of her guest,"I mean,dreams are the culprits of our imagination,could you make it so that I remember it?If you don't mind of course..." "I'll do my best?"the princess shrugged helplessly. "As for that,"she maimly gestured to the door,fortunately back to normal,"I'm sure I could go on without having to witness this oncemore,I mean if it just responds to your presence."Flutterhsy gave a heartfull giggle as she rose her cup,"Right,Princess...?" "...Twilight Sparkle,"she finished casually for her,like it wouldn't be stuck for a long time,"and not quite because I might return here again..." The tea was out,quite litterally.The big reveal has known better timing than when one was enjoying a drink.Princess Twilight pushed away her own cup,completly misreading it: "Oh dear,"Fluttershy reacted simultaniously,"I think...I should get a napkin..." She was about to get up when her guest reminded her of the obvious: "This is your own dream,you can control whatever you want." Right. The yellow pegasus held a hoof to her temple,giving out a rather comical image.Trying and trying to focus all her will-power on manifesting a napkin trough thin air.The air shifted,annoucing a manifestation.She couldn't suppress her exitement. "Well,this sure is something...,"Princess Twilight began cautiously,"but not a napkin..." Fluttershy's eyes landed on the thenth teapot that just appeared.A tired look washed over her upon her summoning abilities.Her savior striked again,and the coveted object flotted gently above her hoofs. "Oh,thank you Princess Twilight,"the pegasus caught it in her grip,"I have to admit,the prospect of you saving me is becoming quite common..." The pegasus dabbed at the corner of her lip with the napkin,hiding her satisfied smile at the giggle her Highness couldn't help: "...wich is why I won't mind all that much if you kept entering my dreams?Walking in?Dream-walking?..same thing..." The princess's eyes lit up in a subdued suprise.A releived smile graced her lip. "Really?I mean I appreaciate the offer..." "I just have one question left:why would you appear in my dreams?I mean despite the fact that I keep imagining you... "Once again,the pegasus was met by the unamused look of the princess,to wich she could only nervously empty her cup in response.Despite her regal looking appearance,there was something quite natural in the way she acted.This way,getting comfortable to her wasn't of hard tasks. "The spell I cast isn't fully mastered on my side,but I'm working on it,hopefully..."Princess Twilight elaborated.A pang of unsatisfaction aimed towards her capacities. "I'm sure you will!"Fluttershy encouraged,trowing a sidefull glance at a clock hang on the wall.As preticted,her guest caught the motion.She got up,nearly tripping over her own hoofs: "I have to go.My friend will probably be worried-sick about me." Their way hit a mid-end to the door of Fluttershy's cottage.The uncertainity of how one says goodbye in a dream hang above.To even her own suprise,the yellow pegasus took the initiative: "Have a good night...or dream-walking,Princess Twilight,"she dared be bold,dreams just had this effect,"wether you're real or not..." "You're messing with me now,right?"Princess Twilight wasn't out of her "done" expressions.Fluttershy's words just caught up to her,before she even realised her guest was being playfully sarcastic: "I should probably stop talking..." The princess walked out of the cottage,gracing the pegasus' sight with her unfolded starry wings.Readying her flight,a familiar light shone in the distance. "Enjoy your lucid dream,Fluttershy." The pegasus brushed a hoof against her chin: "I can change anything?" "Anything",the latter laughed. Her words held a strong impact to the dreamer.A field shifted and twisted under her mind control,flowers bloomed and splatered under the saturated sunset.Dim lights circulated gently above the ground,caressing the air,interpreted as a swarm of fireflies. The princess let her wings fall to her sides as she witnessed,awe-stricken,the sudden change of view: "It's my favourite place to be when I'm looking for a change of pace..."Fluttershy explained,having approched in a tranquil motion. Princess Twilight kept her eyes locked on the poppy's field,seemingly deep in tought.She made her decision by folding her wings behind her: "You know what?"she addressed the dreamer,"I'm sure Sunburst wouldn't mind if I'm later than usual."