//------------------------------// // Chapter one: Dreams of the Celestial // Story: Dreamstrider: Tale of the Impossible // by Alasdair Edom //------------------------------// Dreamstrider By Alasdair Edom Chapter one It was a normal night, just past eleven. I wrapped up the sleeping dragon, Spike, whispering and almost giggling, "Goodnight my number one assistant". After all, I had gotten used to Spike falling asleep on the spot from pushing himself too much. As he was tucked up, I decided to gaze out my window to look at Lunas night, still in awe of how beautiful the tiny specks of light in the darkness are. Kinda like my name I guess. Feeling much more tired that usual, I decided to skip reading a book and go straight to bed. I woke up the next day and called for spike to wake up, but there was no reply. I decided to go downstairs and have some breakfast. "Where is Spike anyway? He is usually up by now." I let out a sigh, and decided to have a quick walk or maybe even fly around with Dash if she is up. I decided to leave a note for Spike, just in case he wakes up and finds me gone... Then panics. He does love his conspiracy theories. "Alright! All ready to go." And I opened the door to go outside... Except, this isn't Ponyville... I don't know where this is, and I don't think anywhere in Equestria looks like this... Lacking in color, shadows being cast by the towering buildings, hardly any nature to be seen. Where am I? I was frozen by shock, but my curiosity pushed me forward. I took a few steps out of my door... "Hello Princess Twilight" I quickly turned my head to the right, hoping to see somepony so they can explain what is going on... Except I see nopony, just my flowerbed. Confused, I was looking everywhere for the source, for somepony to appear. I can't be hearing things, I definitely heard a voice. After all, voices don't come out of nowhere. "I'm over here" The voice says with a giggle. As I looked in front of me, what I saw was not a pony, to my shock and amazement, but a Silhouette under the looming shadow of these tall buildings. Still being confused from being in this place alone, I stilled again in amazement and even more confusion. With a small laugh, the shadowed figure broke the silence. "Funny, I thought you would be able to guess who, or more interestingly what I am from a quick look. Or, did you miss that book on ancient ponylore and myths?" Still too confused to move, I manged to ask in a polite manner, "You know my name, but I don't know yours?" "I have more than one name, but my name is Dreamstrider at the moment." The strange silhouette replied. "You probably have many questions, and I can answer most of them if you like." "I..." I stuttered, regaining my ability to speak, "Where am I? Where did Ponyville go?" I said, hoping for a reasonable answer. "Well, to be specific, you are still in your bed Twilight. In Ponyville." Still confused, the figure continued, "You are currently asleep, and this place you are seeing is a projection of my memories in your subconscious. Not the most pleasant of places I know, next time I'll do a forest maybe? Or a field... But I digress." Now completely confused, and regaining control of my body, I asked, "But... How?" I said in a very confused tone. The figure softly laughed again. "To save myself some time, Let's just say I can enter dreams just like Princess Luna can, and I can even change or choose what dream it is." Now understanding a bit more, I ask another obvious question, "You said earlier; 'What I am', and you kinda are a strange shape for a pony." "I would think so, if I was I sure would be a strange shape for a human." Human... The term bounces around my head, knowing what it is, but my brain won't accept it. Then... He steps out of the shadows, and I take a step back out of amazement and shock once again. "Surprised?" He says in a friendly manner. I just stand there with my mouth agape. He simply just laughs again, then says, "That look, that look right there is one of the reasons why im here, and I must say, it was worth it." "But..." I say in shock, taking another step back, "According to myth, humans are mean, deceiving and destructive creatures! And how are you here? Or in my head or, WHATEVER! Humans don't even have Magic! So how are you able to be in my mind?! This is not scientifically possible, you are not scientifically possible!" "The same way a certain time-travelling future you turned up one day in your house?" "How did you..." Still cautious, I step backward to retreat to my doorway. How could he know that? Only me, my friends, Spike, and Celestia know about that... "And we are not all like that, just most... Sadly... But as many humans there are harmful there are more that are equally idiotic, and I am neither. Just because I am human in body, does not mean that I hold humans as superior." He says with a sound of discontent. "In fact," he continues, "The majority of humans I hold in very low regard. But your kind, Ponies, I have a very high regard for. "Your magic, your knowledge of the power of friendship, of love and of unity are all traits that most of us don't have. "I truly envy your kind, and I wouldn't do a thing close to trying to hurt you or your friends. Or anypony else for that matter... Your world does not need to become like mine..." Something in his voice makes be believe him, as if that he is punishing himself for already causing enough pain. I begin to relax again, and give up my defensive stance. "But how do you have control over magic, and to this extent? Humans don't have the ability to control magic." "Right you are" he says, still sounding detached. "Story goes that I went to sleep one day and I dreamed that I was floating through the stars, next thing I know when I wake up, there are objects floating all around me, like gravity didn't apply to them." He continued, "It was as if something out there chose me. Me, juts a standard, run of the mill guy to become this, inter-plane walking being." "And so, over time I learned to focus magical energy with my mind, and you get whats here in front of you now, with my 'Celestial Powers' if you like." A little baffled of how this could have happened, I asked, "Then whats the reason for being here? And why pick me in particular?" "Oh that's easy" He says back in his usual soft cheer, just like Pinkie. "When I go to sleep, I can control my dreams the same as I can for yours, but that gets boring since I know whats going to happen, like a machine that I made and I know what exactly is going to happen." He continues, "So, I decided to pick someone - or rather, somepony to talk to since I figured, if I can control my dreams, why not visit others? And due to me taking a liking to your kind, I decided you visit you." "Or, to be more specific, you and your friends." He did it again, just when I thought I was getting a grip on things, he confuses me again. "And my friends?" I say with as much of an understanding tone I can. "Yes, and your friends" He says with a slight laughter... Again. "Remember that time where Pinkie duplicated herself?" Still wondering how he knows all these experiences of mine, I still reply, "Yes I do, she duplicated herself in the miracle pond." "It's like that, but with somewhat more control. Basically I have shards of my consciousness, all just like the real me, talking to your friends, who are also asleep." He continues on, "To what purpose? Just to have conversation, I get quite bored when i'm in the Dream-realm." "And I can review how the conversations went later, in a comprehensible order rather than having six mares all talking to me at once." "Review?" I said in a curious tone, "You mean like a recording?" "Exactly." Well, at least I got something right. But as I think that thought he says, "It will be dawn soon, and when you wake up this conversation will end." Because he can only talk to me if i'm asleep I think... "Can you only enter others dreams?" I asked, wondering if he can do more than just converse in other ponies dreams. He gave a light chuckle, "No my dear Twilight, my powers stretch far beyond the Dreamworld, and then some." Wondering what he meant, I was about to ask him, but before I could I was interrupted. "It will be dawn very soon, and then you will wake. But before then, I want to show you something..." What he did next was unbelievable... In a flash of light, I saw him next hovering a few hooves off the ground, now no-longer a silhouette, but a silhouette of light! Amongst the sounds of energy flowing around hid body, I heard what sounded like suppressed yelps and cries. Whatever is going on it must hurt a great deal. Then he fell to the ground in a muffled *thump*, no-longer glowing from whatever had been going on. But then I saw his body... He had changed form to a pony. To a mare! He, or should I say, she gave another laugh and said, "There is that face again!" Still groaning a little as she got up, recovering from whatever pain she must have felt when she transformed. "You Twilight, are massive fun to converse with." I still stood there amazed, when she added, "I am a Colt, if you like when i'm human, but I can change forms to anything I wish, so when I became a pony, I become a mare because it suits my personality better." "My male body is the one I was born with, but it does not match my personality, so I change to a mare instead of a colt." "just so you don't get too confused." She added. I try to speak but my brain is still processing this sudden event and it seems as if it is disabling my body to use its energy to try and understand this event. She is a Pegasus, her eyes are an indescribable shade of orange mixed with red, her mane and tail stylized in similar fashion to Vinyls, and colored with white and streaks of light creamy gold, and her coat a pale cyan. "I want you to remember this form if you could, it will be useful later." She goes on to say, "I have also shown your friends this which will also be usefull later" "But the sun has risen, and you must wake now." I regain enough composure to say "Wait!" I wanted so dearly to ask more, but it was already too late, the city behind her was shattering to pieces, and I was inexplicably moving back into my house without using my legs. "Until later." she said as the surrounding area shatters to pieces and I drift upstairs into my bed, and as soon as I touch the pillow, I wake. "Ugh... That was some dream..." I get out of bed and cry, "Spike! Spiiiiike!" "Yeuhuh.. wha, what?" the sleepy dragon replied. "Oh good your here, come on Spike! We have work to do!" "Ugh..." Spike says as he gets out of bed and mumbles. It's been a while since I woke up and it's already the afternoon. I think I will go and see what to girls are doing, I really need to take a break. "Come on Spike! Lets go for a walk, get some fresh air and see what the girls are up to!" Spike instantly perks up "Right! Coming!" he says as he rushed down the stairs. No doubt due to his crush on Rarity. I simply roll my eyes, as he jumps on my back and we go outside. I think where to go and the most obvious is Rarity, that might perk Spike up a bit. "C'mon Spike, lets go see what Rarity it doing." As I thought we would, he instantly perked up. On the way there we saw Cheerilee taking her class on a school trip, and Ditzy making her rounds... And misdelivering mail again. Finally we reach Raritys Boutique and we come through the door to find a hard-working Rarity on a designer dress, probably for one of her Canterlot customers. "Hey there Rarity! We were just dropping by for a chat." Looking at her dress she is working on, it being very complex I added, "Or if your too busy we could come by later?" "I am a little busy, but it's always nice to have some company." We exchanged small-talk such as the weather and events going on around town, and this continued for a while until I said, "Well, I had better be going now, see what the others are up to! Come on Spike!" He evidently did not want to go, but I ushered him onto my back, "Spike". He groaned and hopped onto my back. We decided to see if Applejack wanted to chat, or maybe needed some help. When we got there, Applejack was Working hard as usual. "Hey there Twi..." She was clearly working hard, and I didn't want to impede on her day, so I offered to help. "Hey Applejack, looks like you could use a hoof." "It's... Fine sugarcube, not long till I finish this round... Of apple buckin" She replied, clearly exhausted. Not wanting to get in her way, I decided it might be nice to meet up with everyone in their spare time. "Hey Applejack, would you like to meet up later? I'll see if girls can come." "Tha sounds... Great sugarcube, after this here field... I'll be done for the day." "Great!" I replied. "I'll see how many of the others will wan't to come." We agreed on a place to meet up, and I was off. Thankfully, the others were free around the same time, we all turned up at the cafe, around the same time. We did all the usual things, talked about things that happened at work, and sharing stories over a late lunch. Then Rainbow said, "I had the wiiierdest dream last night..." Applejack added on, "Like tha time you saved the Wonderbolt's from and evil mage that wanted to ruin every Wonderbolt's performance in Equestria?" Everyone laughed. Rainbow continued on and said, "No, this one was weird, just plain weird" "I woke up in my room, as normal, when I head a knocking at the door. Pretty convenient that somepony would knock as soon as I wake." "So I opened the door and there was nopony there. So decided to see if they had flown off when I was that i wasn't high in the sky... Instead my house was perched on top of a huuuuge grey, towering building." That's odd... That sound like my dream... "And in the shadow of objects on the roof I saw a weird silhouette, and it told me all sorts of weird stuff. Like how it was a human, and he was bored and wanted somepony to talk to." The whole table went quiet... She had the same dream... Just in different places of that city... "I had that same dream too..." I quietly replied "So did I!" Rarity replied, "I did too." Fluttershy said in her gentle voice. "And I did too!" Pinkie Pie said in her happy tone, and Applejack, "Say what now? We all had the same dream?" "Don't be pulling my wings here, we can't have had all the same dream, right Twilight?" Rainbow asked. "Twilight?" "I don't know how, but we did..." I replied, still quiet trying to understand it all. "I don't know... But do you all remember what she looked like? As a Pony? She said it was important somehow." "Yeah," Rainbow said, "He said that it might be important later." Fluttershy replied, "A Pegasus" "Pale Cyan coat" Rarity spoke, "Orangy-red eyes" Applejack followed in continuation, followed by Pinkie, "Ooh! Ooh! A white mane with light creamy gold streaks!" And Rainbow, "Don't forget done like Vinyls epic manecut!" Then we heard it. That friendly, strong but gentle voice... We heard... Her. "Hello girls." Dreamstrider.