//------------------------------// // ~Chapter 9~Of Haze and Forgotten Spells // Story: To the stars and beyond // by punkrose //------------------------------// Fluttershy set a great deal of concentration.At the edge of motivation,set on summoning the appropriate object,all hopes besides.Solely from memories of its image. "Ah,that's it!"she exclaimed,a volume on arcane magic manifested.Its cover,a dark claret, brought out the strange patterns flooding it. A magenta aura envelloped it and flawlessly carried it above a pond.The book reached Princess Twilight,sitting on a rock covered in moss at opposite sides of the dreamer. She conjured a pair of glasses to put them on her muzzle.And squinted her eyes before the haze embracing the air.The title showed in faithfull frame: "The ways of dream-walking" A badly muffled giggle caught her ear.And she turned knowingly at the pegasus,looking away in the most innocent manner.That didn't escape her. "I can't read from up close without them,"she gestured to her glasses,"having all the archives at your disposition may have something to do with it..." The princess left it hang here,returnig to her lecture.She knew Fluttershy couldn't give by memory its entire content.But its cover immersed in red light emerged a sense of familiarity: "I reconize this book..." "Maybe having a history of spending your free time in libraries has something to it?"Fluttershy tempted,collecting the little informations she detained of the princess. The latter shook ger head,her starry mane undulating in the process. Her mere presence was due to yet another nightmare on the pegasus's side.This time less frightening than a chase by a giant rabbit. No.This time,Fluttershy found herself hoplessly trying to save the frogs of the Greenlit swamp with no success to avail.Grand was the princess's suprise,her magic ready for the worst of fears.She witnessed with the straighest face a few amphibians out of their water environement and a pegasus at the verge of tears. Fluttershy couldn't thank her enough for leaving her opinion die on her lips. "I've read the entire series,that's why it's so familiar."Princess Twilight faced her,"Even though it has been a while since I've seen it so openly..." Fluttershy arched an eyebrow in confusion: "Why would it have been a while?" Princess Twilight vanished her pair of glasses into thin air.And gave a mysterious smile her way,wich Fluttershy wasn't sure she appreciated or not: "You see,dreamwalking has been a touchy subject in the world of magic,invading sompony's privacy and breaking the barriers of the mind...,"she casually developped,to the pegasus' fright,shivering in place. The princess softened,catching her act in place: "Nowadays,you need to give permission if you want somepony to stay in your dreams,wich you did."she pointed at her,"But even with then,only star and moon-related alicorns can practise it...the dreamwalker has to be carefull in the realm,otherwise facing negative aftermaths from the spell." Aftermath? What kind of aftermath? Fluttershy didn't have time to fully articulate her question.The princess' nostalgia immersed her tone.This time unwelcoming by its somber remembrance.It was even stranger. "After some unfaithfull event,"her ears dropped as she looked down at the book,"the concept of dream-walking was locked away from knowledge..." "But then how does it explai-..."Fluttershy cut herself mid-sentence,not daring to voice the realisation that struck her.Princess Twilight nodded,a content smile in her eyes. "Deep in the forbidden archives,I've had to find the entire series.It was much easier since I always had access..."she ceased. The subtle wonder of being so open only caught up to her.And the danger underneath,how this information could be twisted to her disadvantage.She narrowed her eyes. "Don't worry,I don't remember half of my dreams anyways,"the pegasus shrugged. "What is my name?"the question was so simple,yet strained. Fluttershy raised a hoof,with grace and convenance,solemn confidence beaming in her every word: "I don't know." Relief took over the princess,even allowing a small giggle to escape her.Slipping from her narrow hold,the one Fluttershy felt relieved to hear in return.She was still in her good graces. "Not to go back to this subject...,"she carefully interfered,"...but,did you say it was supposed to be as series?" "Yes,this volume...,"the princess levitated the object,from higher mist,"...is the fourth in the collection." "The fourth?"Fluttershy exclaimed,redressing her stance on her own rock,"but then,why would Sunburst give me that?" The princess' advice was most welcome at this moment,but it seemed she left them a thousand years ago.Earth to the Moon.Fluttershy found her having the oddest reaction to it.Almost looking like she swallowed a bug.Well,she was certain they were no bugs on the Moon. "Oh,but don't worry!I will read the previous volumes before beginning this one,"Fluttershy reassured,hoofs waving wildly,before a lecture could ensue. "Actually,it's not it...,"the princess detached,letting out a question she tought would never escape her lips,"who is Sunburst?" "He's the friend I told you about,at least I think we are,"the pegasus raised her eyes in tought,"I found him a job and he let me borrow this book." "Last name?" "I believe it's Shimmer,"the pegasus smiled in reflection of the princess. Princess Twilight let her eyes flicker back to the volume,an amused smile not leaving her.A vague impression overtook the pegasus,she distinguished a breathless mumble from the princess.Bearing a strong ressemblance to "That would exlpain it..." "Sooo,"the yellow pegasus detached,adopting the same expression as her guest,"what about this collection you were telling me about earlier?"Fluttershy pianoted with her hoofs on the rock,letting her curiosity win her over. "Sorry,but not tonight,"Princess Twilight delayed,smiling sorrily,"do you happen to have a notebook of any sort?" Her question took her off guard.But then she understood perfectly,prediction edged on this very moment. "You mean some kind of dream journal?"when the princess nodded approvingly,she added,"I have one deposed my desk right now..." "Perfect!"the princess clasped her hoofs together,"All you need to do is note down your dreams right then before you forget everything...,"she looked up at the sky,her expression losing her previous investement,"Oh well,here we go..." Following her stray gaze,Fluttershy got lighly dazzled by a fierce light filtering trough the leaves.She shielded her vision with a hoof,finding a familiar rift in the sky,preceding the achievement of a certain pegasus' dream,to her contained regret: "Oh." And to add to the process,when she turned to the princess she found her flying high towards the rift.With the intent to leave the place before it ceases to be.The haze suspended on the air sealed her path: "The first thing you need to remember is my name at first,"she declared to the pegasus,"it's Twilight Sparkle,alright?" "Don't worry about it!"Fluttershy assured,blind as the haze beached heavily on them.The last thing she could recall was Princess Twilight's voice echoing,serving as a guide: "Don't forget the journal."