//------------------------------//
// Chapter 28: Ancient Beings 
// Story: There's a Monster Pony Outside My Window 
// by Halira 
//------------------------------//

Sunset Blessing, previously known as Charlotte Gilmore, before that Charlotte Portsmith, and now operating under the name Miss Newman, finally managed to separate herself from her nightmare and go lucid with her dreaming.

Since coming back in time, the nightmares had been intense. She was no stranger to nightmares. It was somewhat a miracle that she didn't suffer from some form of PTSD after all that she had endured in the past twenty-three years. Most of her nightmares were distorted versions of past events. In the past few days, she had found herself helplessly facing Royal Bearing as he tortured her granddaughter, unable to manage to stop him this time. She found herself surrounded by ponies doing horrible things to humans, all while they repeated things she had once said. She had also found herself on the smoke-filled streets of Riverview after the Cataclysm, often chased by the psychopath Poly Glot or watching as he slew her wife over and over again. Even the monstrous form of Bursa had featured in her nightmares, screaming about how Sunset was responsible for the beast's agonizing pain and existence. 

So much pain, so much suffering. She knew she would never forget them. May God grant her forgiveness for her sins, for she could not forgive herself. Twilight wanted her to come to Equestria to get a fresh start teaching magic in Canterlot? Who would attend her dreams? Would Luna be able to maintain the same vigilance? She loved Luna, but the alicorn would never be able to make such a promise. She would stay on Earth.

What was different now was that she was in a time without the wardens to come to her aid when she was having a nightmare. It was rare that they would ever banish a nightmare, that was not their preferred way, but they would join her and help her confront and understand what she was experiencing. The first time sleeping in the past had hit her hard after being forced to confront her nightmares alone, and every time that followed had been its own unique form of torture. 

At least she was free for the moment. Years of practice had given her some control of her dream state. Unfortunately, there was no one to reach out to here. There was no warden to hear her calls, no person with the power to commune with her. 

Well, that was not entirely true. There was one. The first question was whether they were paying attention. The second was whether they would answer. The third was whether she even wanted to try speaking to them. The last question was whether they would even bargain with her if they did speak. Protecting her family was a tall order, which was made worse by her weakness. She needed an ace in the hole if everything else fell through, and there was only one being who could provide that in this time. 

She mustered her courage and sent her plea into the abyss of the near vacant dream realm. The one she wished to reach might not be there. She had no actual knowledge of where they usually resided, only that they came in dreams back in her own time. The wardens were ever watchful during those visits, awaiting even the slightest excuse to repel the intruder. There were no wardens here, and once invited, there was no way of forcing the other away.

It was not long before she felt the overwhelming presence of who she sought.

No concrete form appeared, only two large eyes opening before her. "Greetings, traveler of time. I have been observing your presence for some time, but I hadn’t expected for you to know of me."

Miss Newman smiled, trying not to show her unease with how rude it was for the being not to create a more corporeal form for her to address. "In my time, I know you by the name Triss. How did you know I'm a time traveler?"

"That is a functional address for one with so limited a language," Triss said slowly. "I have seen how you think of yourself, how those other ponies speak of you, and how those humans address you. I see you, pony of many names. I have seen time travel before and the feel of another timeline in a person. You are the first such I have seen in a very long time. Tell me, how are we acquainted, and why do you seek me out?"

"In the future, I was imprisoned, and you beseeched others to petition for my freedom. You thought I was important if Earth was going to stand a chance versus what was to come. I may require aid soon and have come to ask for your help."

"Perhaps we could talk for a while first. It has been so long. The last being I spoke to was…." Triss began, then drifted off. "No, I should not become so invested in you. Your actions are of little consequence to the development of that world, and you're not going to be there long. I can feel how weak the spell holding you here is."

Miss Newman frowned. "Weak is a term very often applied to me; that is why I need your help."

"I’m not averse to assistance, but I do not know how I could help without making the situation you have found yourself in worse. This is only temporary for you; soon enough, you’ll all return to your own time. I don't want to interfere too much and draw earlier attention to that world. That is no favor; that is a death sentence."

"I don't ask for much, just a single surge of magical strength when I need it, just enough to cast a single spell," she clarified. "That shouldn't draw much attention, and I know you have the power to grant me this."

"I do, but you haven't said what you're offering for this. I usually only act to advance my goals, even when the actions are small. Endless eons and unnumbered destroyed worlds have taught me caution. How do you help me?"

She looked the being directly in the eyes. "The Dreamwardens in my time—"

"Dreamwardens, as in more than one?" Triss interrupted, sounding confused.

"Yes, there are six," she answered hesitantly. 

Something akin to amusement could be seen in Triss's eyes. "Such a strange turn of events that my eternal adversary should become split into six. So now I may be cursed fivefold more times. At least it will be that many more to speak with. We are adversaries, not enemies. They are not the result of the primordial I feel slowly forming now, are they?"

"The primordial Dreamwarden does not finish spawning. Their emergence made it cease to be. There was no need for it anymore; the role was filled," she answered. "My eldest daughter, my deceased wife, and the deceased biological mother of my adopted foals are all counted among their number."

"Quite the powerful connections you have. However, the wardens have a different definition of death than you mortals do. How far in the future do you come from?" Triss asked.

"Sixty Earth years."

Triss's shock was so high that Miss Newman could physically feel it wash over her.

"You were not lying to them about your identity? I had thought it impossible. It being a lie seemed the only way to explain it."

"I'm not lying. I'm who I say I am. In less than twenty years, there's going to be a traveler from another dimension, Sunset Shimmer, who comes here and is going to accelerate the rate magic develops on this planet exponentially."

"Very curious that your planet could advance so far in such a short period. I was expecting thousands of your years at least. Magic is in its infancy there, barely registering to our enemies to draw their attention. Outside interference would explain that rapid growth. This world does have an occasional leak that could be exploited to reach it. Earth shall bear special attention then. Proceed with your offer. You have even more of my curiosity now."

She nodded. "The Dreamwardens in my time have concocted a plan to ensure your mutual enemies cannot destroy Earth. It is a last resort plan, a desperation measure, for if everything else fails, but it could grant you the victory you seek. You would have decades more time to prepare than they do."

Triss sat silent for several seconds, and Miss Newman held her breath. 

"You have your bargain, pony of many names. When you are in dire need, I will grant you the power you seek, just one time, no more."

Miss Newman bowed her head.  "Thank you, Triss."

Triss's eyes became more intense. "Now, speak to me of this plan and what it entails. I have waited too long for a victory."





Miss Newman walked out onto the Westoffs' front porch to check on the kids. She wanted to fume at the younger versions of her parents for leaving the girls with neighbors while they cleaned the house. Until the danger passed, none of the three should ever be more than a room or two away. Yes, Miss Newman was at the Westoffs' at the moment, but she had been fast asleep when they left. What were the Westoffs supposed to do if someone came and tried to hurt or kidnap the children while she was sleeping? 

To be fair, what was she supposed to do if she was awake? She was currently magically exhausted, which made her practically useless. Why did she always end up doing that to herself? One of these days, she was going to burn her magic out if she wasn't careful. Starlight claimed she wasn't weak, that she instead had a mental block that limited her magic usage. She liked Starlight. Starlight was a good friend, but Starlight didn't know what the hell she was talking about. Starlight didn't feel what she felt when she overextended herself. At least her human magic still worked, but that didn't give her any ability other than spotting ponies at a distance, at least in practical application. 

At least she had managed to arrange for herself a final hail Mary play if things went badly. 

"Dumbest magical genius ever," she muttered to herself for having put herself in this position.

"You sound like a woman who is being too hard on herself."

She jumped at the voice and turned to see the Westoffs' elderly grandmother sitting calmly on a porch swing on the far side of the porch, looking thoughtfully at her. 

The older woman patted a hand on the seat next to her on the swing. "Come, sit with old Nana. The children are fine. They're playing like perfectly normal kids. I've been watching them. I've also been keeping an eye on the street. I've wanted to talk to you. The children tell such fantastic stories."

She turned to check the girls. They were indeed playing. A further examination of the street didn't reveal anything out of the ordinary. It seemed safe for the moment. 

"I suppose I can sit for a few minutes," Miss Newman said as she joined the older woman on the porch swing. 

As soon as she sat down, the older woman gripped her face and started examining it. 

She jerked her head out of the wrinkly hands. "Excuse you, what are you doing?"

The older woman looked at her with a frown. "I suppose you could be…. You have the same shape to the face, the exact curve of the nose, hair color is a match. Even without what the children said, I would be confident you were a close relative."

"You should take what children say with a grain of salt," Miss Newman replied. 

Nana nodded. "Yes, but that doesn't mean I need to be dismissive. Tell me, what do you do for work?"

"I'm retired," Miss Newman answered as she rubbed her cheeks. 

"And before you retired?" Nana prompted. 

Miss Newman narrowed her brow. "I was a mayor and a preacher."

Nana blinked. "A female preacher and mayor? You're quite the feminist."

"Once upon a time, I was. I stopped thinking of myself that way long ago, but I suppose I might represent that still," Miss Newman replied. 

Nana nodded. "So tell me, what do you use calculus for as a preacher or mayor?"

That seemed an odd question. "I didn't. Why are you asking?"

"Charlotte has a napkin. It has calculus on it and things I don't understand," Nana answered.

That napkin needed to be destroyed. It was a mistake writing a spell on it. She also needed to have a very stern talk with the children about what they said to people. Most would discount it as kids saying the strangest things, but apparently, some listened. Nana was no one of importance, but every believer was one too many. 

"It's nothing. Just something to occupy the child. She is too curious about me," Miss Newman replied. 

Nana gazed at her, unblinking. "If what she says is true, I wouldn't blame her."

"It's just wild ideas she has, nothing more," Miss Newman said firmly.

"About the ponies?" Nana asked. 

Miss Newman nodded. "Wild ideas about ponies and me. A lot has been happening to her lately. She is creating a fantasy to process it."

Nana nodded. "A reasonable explanation, except it is a lie. I didn't mention it to my granddaughter or Wendy, but I saw more than they did the other night. I saw what knocked Wendy and Charlotte into the street. I saw what was in your door when they were saved from that car. I thought I might be imagining things, but then the children began to tell such stories. They seem so fantastical, but I have not gone senile in my old age and started seeing things that aren't there."

Miss Newman sat stunned, unsure what to say or do. She knew her silence was damning, but she didn't have a lie to counter this. 

"Will I live to see such things?" Nana asked.

It took her a second to process that. "I have no way of knowing that for sure. If I had to be honest, I would guess no. Your age…"

Nana looked down, nodding sadly. "I thought as much. The future seems so far away until it sits beside you on a porch swing. I will not speak to anyone about this but make sure my family stays out of this, Charlotte. That is all I care about."

Miss Newman watched the children play and gave the faintest of nods. "I'll do my best, Nana."