If I am not mistaking, I had been in Equestria for three months now, working at Applejack's farm with her and her family. It wasn't terribly hard work, but I did feel a little sore from time to time after a long day's work. But of course, I didn't complain as it was rewarding work. I had regained my strength in my injured ribs, but they still ached a little.
I set down the last bushel of apples for the day inside the barn and sighed. I glanced to the horizon to see the sun dip down to make way for the coming night. I made my way toward the farmhouse in a leisurely pace. I didn't have to hurry to get there, as the ponies knew that I preferred to work until sundown. The Apple family had proven to be much more pleasant than I imagined. Applebloom would of course still ask me a few question now and then, and I would answer them. I didn't tell her any details of when I was in battles, as I didn't want to scare the young filly with what I had done before I came here.
As I walked inside the house, Applejack greeted me with a smile. ”Ah was jus' about ta go out'n git ya! 'S time fer supper.” I nodded and smiled sheepishly as my stomach growled. She just chuckled and walked into the kitchen, where the rest of her family currently were talking to eachother. When I entered, Applebloom turned to me with a grin. I ruffled her mane as I walked past her, emitting a squeak and a giggle from the filly.
I sat down on my usual spot by the table, folded my hands together and said a quick prayer before I started eating. The first time I did that, I had earned a few curious stares from the ponies. After a brief explanation of my religion, they didn't question it any further. We continued to eat in silence. The only talking was when Applejack asked her sister how her day at school had been.
After dinner, I excused myself, walked up to my room and grabbed my coat from the closet. I put it on and walked downstairs again, but was stopped by Applejack. ”So...Yer goin' out for a while again?” She asked with a yawn.
”Yes, but I will return shortly. I'm going to take a short walk around the acres. I feel like I need some privacy right now...” I sighed. She frowned and nodded, but her frown turned into a smile shortly after.
”Jus' don't git lost out there. Ah'm not gonna go out and look fer ya if ya get lost out there.” She chuckled and shook her head. I gave her an unamused glare, making her gulp. I laughed at her reaction as I opened the door on my way out, leaving her standing there with a pout.
As I walked amongst the trees, I held out my left hand so it graced the bark of the closest tree in a gentle touch. I took a deep breath of the crisp early night air. I would often take some time for myself and walk out into the orchard on my own. I could say that it had become a habit. My eyes wandered to a hill a bit up ahead. I walked there in silence, only focusing on getting there.
I sat down next to the tree on the hill and leaned back to it. I closed my eyes as the sounds of the nature around me calmed my nerves, but when the sounds stopped suddenly, my eyes snapped open. I held my breath and looked around. I saw a weak flicker by the base of the hill and sighed while facepalming. “Princess Luna...” I groaned.
The flicker happened again, and a large blue aura appeared. Inside the aura, the princess of the night appeared with a frown. “One day I will surprise you, carolean...” She huffed as she made her way up the hill. Sometimes when I was out in the acres at night, Princess Luna would drop by and talk to me. She had also made a game of trying to scare me. Needless to say, she hadn't won a single time so far.
“Keep thinking that way, princess...” I closed my eyes again. “So, did you want anything, besides trying and failing to frighten me?” I asked politely, but with a sarcastic edge which the princess noticed.
“Actually... I do have something to tell you. With me being the princess of the night, I protect my sister and I's subjects in their sleep. That includes that I can see the dreams of them and help them out of nightmares...” She turned her head away from me, and a distant look appeared in her eyes before she shook her head clear.
“And what does this have to do with me, princess?” I leaned forward.
“I see the dreams of many, but lately I have seen some strange visions of dreams from places I have never seen before. I think it was from your world, as what I saw reminded me of you...” She said with an oddly serious tone. “It was a being, much like you but much younger. He reminded me of you, and the dream must have been about you as you always appear before I am forced to take my leave...”
I knew that my jaw was hanging, but I didn't do anything to collect myself. My son... She had seen my son, and he was dreaming about me. I stood up suddenly, unaware that I scared Luna with my actions. I turned around swiftly and punched the tree with all my strength. My ribs screamed in protest, but I threw punch after punch. A blue aura enveloped me, but I didn't care. I just... I can't... I screamed as my movement was restricted. I struggled against the bonds, but it was to no use.
“Calm. Down.” Princess Luna had turned me toward her, and she was glaring at me. My shoulders slumped and I bowed my head. I felt so helpless... He expected me to return, but... Luna must have sensed my worries. “I think I could be able to help you. I have been able to take ponies with me if I concentrate hard enough. It would only last for about three minutes, if we're lucky. I'm not even sure if it would work, but it's worth a shot.”
"Would you... Would you do this for me, after all I have done?” I asked carefully. She just smiled and nodded. I still wasn't very comfortable with the prospect of magic, but if it would mean that I could meet my boy again, I was willing to do everything in my power to do so.
“I can begin the process as soon as you're ready. Just say so and I will prepare the spell for us.” She walked closer toward me, and her horn was yet again encased in the navy aura I was used to seeing. I took a deep breath and nodded. She nodded back to me and walked even closer. She closed her eyes and leaned toward me, making her horn touch my forehead.
I couldn't explain the feeling, but as soon as it made contact, a shiver ran through my body and I felt my mind being prodded by her spell. I closed my eyes as well, and a sudden feel to sleep made itself clear. I yawned, but stood still. My mind started clouding over, and I was rapidly losing my balance. I fell backwards, but couldn't feel my body making contact with the ground. It was an alien feeling which reminded me of the void where Death sent me here in the first place.
With that, everything slowed down and all I could see was the night sky, and all I could feel was a pleasant warmth as reality slipped away.
I found myself waking up to a warm, gentle breeze. I lifted my hands to my eyes and rubbed them. I felt an unfamiliar warmth and weight on my chest. I looked down to see Luna lying on top of me. I rolled to my left, making her fall off me. I stood up and looked around. We were standing on an open field, and I could see a forest in the distant. I remembered this as being a place where I would take my son when he was younger... We would be here at the field for hours at no end... I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Luna had recovered and stood up beside me, looking around with curiosity.
“Where are we..?” She turned to me. I looked away from her and focused on a distant point where I could see smoke rising.
“Home...” I sighed. Her eyes widened. “I used to take my son to this field to teach him things and play with him when I wasn't working at the farm. A sudden rustle from the other field made Luna jump and I turned my head to just see a blond head hide from plain view. “Stay here and wait for me...” I whispered to her and she nodded. I started walking to where the rustle had been heard.
I cleared my throat and took a shuddering breath. “Johannes?” The rustling ceased immediately. A head lifted from the sanctuary of the wheat which hid him from plain view. He looked at me with wide eyes, but started running toward me. I couldn't stop myself and started running toward him as well. When we met, he jumped up at me and I brought my arms around him in a protective embrace.
“It's you... It's really, really you...” He whimpered and pressed his head to my chest. I ran my fingers through his short, blonde hair. “I missed you so much...” He sobbed and I had to bite my lip and clench my eyes shut to keep myself from breaking down.
“Listen to me, Johannnes...” He moved his head from me and looked straight into my eyes. “As much as I hate to say this, but this... This is just a dream... But believe me, I am truly here with you, and I'll always be here. You... You will grow up to be a brilliant man one day, and I will always be proud of you, no matter what.” I wiped a tear from his eyes with my right thumb with a weak smile on my face.
“I don't want you to leave... Another soldier came along to stay with us... He's mean and is always shouting at me to go away... Mother tried telling him to stop, but he got mad and hit her... I can hear her crying when I go to sleep almost every night when he's not around... He drinks a lot, too...” He looked down at the ground.
I gritted my teeth and a menacing scowl appeared on my face. I embraced him in another hug which he accepted without a second thought. I heard a whistle coming from behind me. I looked over my shoulder to see Luna waving me to come to her. I sighed heavily. “Johannes, look at me.” The boy looked straight into my eyes. “You are my son, therefore you know that only weak men assault women and children, as that is what I've always told you.” He nodded. “The day you are strong enough, I want you to set him straight. Can you do that for me?” He nodded slowly. I smiled and ruffled his hair. “That's my boy...”
I stood up and prepared to leave, but he grabbed my hand. I looked back to him. “You'll... You'll come back to us one day, right?” It felt like I was shot in the heart all over again as I heard his pleading.
“I can't promise you anything, but I'll be damned before I give up... Take care of your mother and be there for her. You are the man of the house now...” I gave him a half-hearted smile. He saluted and turned away, running off to the distance.
As I approached Luna again, I noticed that her cheeks were wet and her eyes were slightly red. She worked her jaw to say something, but I just walked past her. “I assume that you heard everything I said?” She nodded. “Can you take me to another dream? I have some business to deal with...” I growled.
“When we arrived here, I sensed another dream you were supposed to partake in. I can take you there, but you'll only have a minute to spend there before we have to leave.” I gave her a firm nod. A minute was all I needed and more.
The sky above me was tinted red, but was partially hidden by the dark clouds. Everything around me seemed to be darker than usual, but Luna had explained that I was currently in a nightmare, and the only way to end a nightmare was to end what was causing them. I approached a familiar house, which actually was my old home but the facade was rotten and dark. As I approached, I heard pained screams and shouting. I kicked down the weakened door with a powerful kick, making the door explode in a rain of splinters.
I looked around, and it didn't take long for my eyes to settle on a figure I heard was shouting. I stomped over to him, grabbed his nearest hand and twisted it, hearing a bone crack and a pained squeal. I continued to headbutt him right in his forehead while releasing his hand. He stumbled backwards, holding his good hand to his head. The other figure, a woman who I could recognize everywhere stood up and ran to the other side of the room. The man snarled and charged clumsily toward me. The stinging smell of alcohol reached me as he charged. I sidestepped to the right, kneed him in the gut, then elbowed him in the back, making him crash to the floor face first.
A pathetic whine escaped him as he rolled over onto his back. I approached him, lifted my right foot and stomped down on his ribs three times, increasing in force with every stomp. He wheezed for air and barely moved as I positioned myself on top of him and grabbed his collar with my left hand. I threw punch, after punch, after punch. With every hit, his face became a disfigured and bloodier mess.
As I walked away from him, he wasn't moving but I could still hear weak breathing coming from him. I growled and placed my left foot on his neck, pushed down and twisted. A sickening crack rang through the room and with that, he was no more. I spat on his face as I turned away from him and walked toward the woman, who saw me properly in the light for the first time now.
“Gu...Gustafv...” She whimpered, then ran toward me. As soon as her arms embraced me, she pressed her lips to mine. They were exactly as I remembered them, as soft and warm as always. This time I allowed my own tears to flow freely.
A gentle knock on the window made me break out of my trance. I looked over to see Luna jerking her head toward the doorway. I sighed as I knew that I didn't have another choice than to do as she says. I released her and trudged toward the broken door. I placed one hand on the frame and looked back at her with a sad smile. “...I love you...”
With that, I fell into the dark void once again. But this time it felt cold and unwelcoming.
I jolted awake and gasped for breath. I lifted my hands to my face to feel a little wetness beneath my eyes, which I rubbed away with the back of my right hand and sighed. I took a slow look around to see that I was back in the guest room in the farmhouse. They must have found me and brought me back... Wouldn't that mean that they met Princess Luna as well? I shrugged and dragged myself out of bed, put on my coat and walked downstairs.
I decided to find something to eat, and when I was in the kitchen, Applejack turned to me with a grin. “Ya know, if ya like sleepin' outdoors so much maybe we should move yer stuff out there as well!” She teased, but I ignored her and walked past her. I wasn't in the mood for anything like this, considering what I experienced last night... She seemed to understand, as she dropped her playful attitude. “Remember that it's yer day off t'day, an' tha' Rarity wanted ya ta come over as soon as possible.”
I groaned and rested my head on the table I was sitting by. There was nothing wrong about that pony, it's just that she always seemed to find some detail that she would nag to me about. If it wasn't my uniform, it was my hair. Wasn't it my hair, it was my uniform or some stupid little detail... “Fine...” I sighed, finished my breakfast and walked up to my room to grab my hirschfängare.
I knew that there weren't any threats, and I am pretty sure that none of the ponies would dare to approach me in order to harm me, but I was rather safe than sorry, so I brought it with me. I swung the strap to the blade over my shoulders as I walked down the stairs, and when Applejack noticed it, she gave me an unamused frown which I ignored.
The walk into town was uneventful and oddly quiet. No sounds were heard except for a few chirps. It took about twenty minutes to walk to the quiant village, and an additional five minutes to walk to Rarity's shop, seeing as it was almost right in the middle of the town. I walked past a few guards on my way there, as Princess Celestia had appointed an outpost in the small town to defend it from occasional dangers. From what I had heard, the town was prone to attract danger of all sorts.
When I arrived to the shop, I knocked a few times and stepped back. I heard some rustling from the inside and arched my eyebrow. The doorknob was embraced in a light-blue aura and opened. The unicorn who opened the door stood there with a scowl, tapping her hoof impatiently. “You do know that it is rude to keep a lady waiting, right?”
“Yes, of course. I'm sorry for being late, but I had a rough night... Couldn't sleep very well.” She moved out of the way, allowing me to enter. I wasted no time and walked inside. “So... Where were we?” I asked and crossed my arms. She had insisted that she would make me a new coat, as my old one was ripped, dirty and didn't smell very good.
“Well, last time we... Talked about how I would make it.” By talk, I think she meant arguing, as we bickered and never actually agreed to each other's ideas. We had settled it with it being the same colours as my old coat. But she was free to add a few details of her own choice.
May God help me...
“Walk over to stand on the podium, and I will begin taking your measurements.” I did as she said, not wanting to spend too much time with the prissy unicorn. She levitated a small a piece of parchment, a quill and a measuring tape as she approached me. When she went to work, I sighed and focused on my escapades in the so-called dreamscape.
Perhaps I could see them again sometime when Princess Luna visits me again? I would have to ask her that, so that I maybe would be able to keep in touch with them in some manner... I focused on a distant point, not really paying any attention. I felt a gentle prodding to my right thigh and looked over at Rarity, who had a concerned frown.
“Are you okay? You seem to be a little... Oh dear, how should I say this... You seem to be a little distracted by something. Do you want to talk about it?” She placed her tools beside me and sat down in front of me. I looked away from her and to the floor, sighed and looked straight into her eyes.
“You know of Princess Luna's abilities in what she calls the 'dreamscape'?” Rarity nodded. “Well... She came to me last night and told me that she had been having visions from dreams in my world.” I continued to tell her about my meeting with Johannes, which caused hear to tear up. When I told her about the nightmare, I can say without doubt that I had never seen a pony that mad at something. When I finished, she started a rant about a proper gentlecolt would never touch a lady in that manner.
“I understand how you must feel right no-” She began, but I cut her off with a feral growl.
“No! You do not understand what this feels like! My son is trapped with a man that could easily kill him if he desired to do so! My wife is being assaulted day in and day out, and I know that there is absolutely nothing I can do about it! My life is a complete mess, and I am currently experiencing my own personal hell!” I slumped my shoulders and sat down. “I... I just... I just feel so useless right now... They're my family and I can't do anything to help them...” I lifted my hands to my face and sighed. “So, I'm a little on edge right now. I'd appreciate it if we would continue this another day.” I stood up and walked to the door. She didn't do anything to stop me, she just looked at me.
I closed the door gently behind me, and looked up at the clear blue sky. The sun had reached its peak in the sky. I pushed my tricorne so it hid my face as much as possible as I made my way back through town. When I reached the outskirts of the town, I heard panicked screaming and shouting from across town, followed by a roar that would always haunt my nightmares.
“Manticore...”
I whipped around and started running back into town in full tilt. I swerved by the ponies who was running toward me, and leaped over a pony who had tripped when she was escaping. I saw pegasi guards in the sky, shouting orders to eachother. I realized that there was no time to talk to them, as what I had learned fighting the manticore was that they had a lot of brute force and acted on a whim.
Another roar came from it, and this time it came from around the next corner. I thundered around it, almost slipping and falling over but I managed to balance myself again. When I laid my eyes on the beast I had learned to despise, my heart skipped a beat as I noticed the scars where its eyes were supposed to be. ''Well... How about that.” I thought as I lessened my sprint into a jog. This time I didn't have my musket, so this would be quite the challenge. At least I had some Royal Guards with me this time...
The guards were keeping their distance away from it and tried to restrain its area of movement, but they were doing a poor job at that. The manticore was able to evade them and run towards a big tree, which I had learned to be the library where Twilight Sparkle resides... I bit my lip, then started chasing the beast. The guards stared at me slack-jawed. They had probably heard the story of my battle with the manticore... From what I had learned from Luna on one of her earlier visits were that rumors of an alien stronger than a manticore existing in Ponyville were spreading like wildfire amongst the barracks.
Focusing on the task at hand, I sneaked past the manticore who had stopped momentarily. I busted through the door to the library, scaring the ponies inside. “Twilight Sparkle!” I shouted as I entered. I looked around to see that the unicorn I was searching for were there, along with Fluttershy. “Twilight, listen to me.” Her eyes darted from side to side. “This entire library is in danger, as there is a ma-”
“Manticooore!” Fluttershy squealed and hid behind a couch. I whipped around to see that the manticore was stalking slowly toward the library. I turned to the lavender unicorn, who was visibly panicking.
“Twilight Sparkle, can you go to the Sweet Apple Acres and find my musket? And if possible, replace the flint and grab the pouch lying beside it. Go!” She nodded and disappeared in a flash. “And Fluttershy, go somewhere safe, now!” I ran out through the door to the town and drew my sword.
“W-w-wait! I-it's not s-safe!” Fluttershy shouted after me. I turned to her with a manic grin which made her shrink back.
“With Gods help, we want to fight!” I shouted and turned back toward the manticore. The chant my brethren and I used in battle pushed my confidence even further as I drew closer to the manticore.
I slammed my sword to the ground, emitting a series of metallic clangs in varying volumes. The manticore was obviously blind, so it must be relying on its other senses to guide it right. It turned to me with a menacing snarl, and I prepared my stance. It charged toward me, and I was barely able to roll away in time to save myself. “That was oddly accurate...” I scowled. This would prove to be harder than I imagined.
I readied myself again, and when the manticore charged again, I charged back toward it, holding my blade ready. I slid beneath the beast as it passed me, and slashed toward its unprotected gut. A pained yelp followed by an enraged roar came from it as it landed. I stood up and stared at it cautiously. I could almost feel the hate in the air coming from the beast directed toward me. Its ears flicked twice, and it widened its stance. At that direct moment, a flash behind the manticore bought my attention. Twilight Sparkle had returned, levitating the musket beside her and the ammunition pouch hanging around her neck.
When I was focusing on Twilight, the manticore took advantage of my recklessness and charged at me, swinging one of their massive arms in a wide arc. I grunted in pain as it connected with me and sent me flying. I lost the grip on my sword, making it soar away from me. I rolled around on the ground, groaning in agony from the hit. My eyes shot open, and I rolled away just before another massive arm could deliver a crushing blow to my head.
I looked around and spotted my blade lying about twenty meters away from me, and with a split-second deciscion, I dashed toward it and the manticore followed my example and chased me. I leaped toward the blade, grasping it and rolling over onto my back just before I would hit the ground. I thrusted my blade forward, and a high-pitched howl rang through the town, making me grin.
My smile faded as I felt a rising pain emanating from my abdomen, and lifted my head to see that the manticore's tail was thrusted deep into my stomach. I started coughing, and felt a liquid on my chin after every cough. I lifted my hand to my chin, touched it and brought it infront of my eyes to see a thick, dark-red liquid. Blood...
The incapacitated manticore was pushed away from me by a number of Royal Guards, both pegasi and unicorns. All of the respective unicorn horns started glowing, and the manticore, along with the guards disappeared. I looked down to my stomach to see a glowing green liquid ooze from the wound on my stomach as my vision began to blur. My limbs started hurting, and I couldn't move a muscle. “Huh... Poison...”
The last thing I heard or saw before I fell unconscious was several blurs standing around me, joined by mumbling which became replaced with a buzz which was rising in volume every second. When my eyes finally closed and I sank into the welcoming darkness, I sighed. I couldn't feel my body... I couldn't move...
I tried to struggle against the darkness for control, but it was no use. A sudden heat came from the wound on my chest, and it felt like I was floating. I coughed some more as I struggled one last time to fight away the darkness. But as the darkness got full control, I saw a light in the distance. I felt compelled to walk toward it, but my body wouldn't respond and the light faded away and was once again replaced by the darkness.
With one final groan, I finally fell unconscious from the strain of trying to remain in my senses after the brutal attack to my body. It was a warm feeling... It was nice... I could stay like this for a while... I don't have to... Oh, there's that light again... And I can move toward it...