Dreamstrider: Tale of the Impossible

by Alasdair Edom


Chapter six: Secrets made, Questions asked, Answers given

Chapter six

Next thing I know, I'm leaning back on a tree as I return to conciseness with a jolt and gasp, only to be held back by the hoof on my chest.

"Woah, take it easy." I hear the familiar, rainbow colored athlete say in a calm and caring voice, much unlike the coach I remember from a few moments ago.

My vision un-blurring, I can see the outline of another pony next to her.

"You should there until you completely recover, being exhausted to the state of unconsciousness is no minor event." I hear the well spoken voice say with a professional concern.

As my eyes begin to focus, I see a caramel colored doctor with a brown mane... I knew this guy from somewhere...

He's that doctor from when Rainbow Dash broke her wing and was stuck in the hospital, and discovered her love for the Daring Do books.

Wait... Doctor? Aren't they to stay in the hospital and let the... Whatever their called doctors go out and do things like this?

"Doc?" I speak weakly, "What are you doing out of the hospital? Aren't there other ponies who go out and treat patients on-site?"

"One of our medics has the flu, the other is on holiday, so I volunteered to go in their stead." He says in a very matter-of-fact manner.

"But you should be resting, not straining yourself by talking."

I just nod in response.


For about a minute of doing so, my brain enters a sort of 'Recover' mode if you were, because I can't remember anything that happened within that minute.

By the time I had enough strength in me to move, I was given an examination my the doctor, being asked all sorts of questions you would expect from a doctor, except perhaps more equine-related. Obviously.

When he had finished and given me the all-clear, he returned to the hospital.


"You really are unfit." Rainbow says, back in her normal tomboy manner.

I just give a light giggle, "I am surprised myself at how unfit I am, I didn't think I was this bad."

She sits down about a foot from me, and just smiles, "You know, for a first time flyer, your doing pretty good."

"Thanks," I say with much demur, "But I don't think I did all too well, even if it was the first day."


"Didn't do too well?!" Dash exclaims, "You did awesome for the first day!"

I just sat there, retaining my 'Poker face' if you like, as I stared through her to some point in the distance, deep in thought.

"You may not be a filly, but for a first time flyer, you did awesome!"

My gaze returned to her eyes and I smiled, "I'll take your word for it.

"After all, the only flyers where I'm from have to use machines to fly."

She arched an eyebrow, "Machines huh? What kinda machine?"

I sighed as I thought whether or not to show her a hologram, it would be easy enough, and it doesn't use up much magic energy. And I had plenty of that considering physical endurance and magic reserves are two separate things.

Creating an accurate hologram is something I find quite easy because it it's one of the spells I practiced with constantly back on Earth.


"I guess I can create an image based off of my memories using a magical projector contained in a force field."

She just blinked at me, so I decided to explain in layman's terms, "I can show you what they looked like."

"Oh, why didn't you just say so?" She casually replies.

I inwardly shake my head, and then focus at the open patch of grass beside us.

I start projecting a basic jet fighter, I couldn't remember any specific models, in a hologram form, beginning from the ground up, starting with the wheels, then to the base of the plane, wings, cockpit, and so on, until the full image was there.

It was a rather cute size, no bigger than if three hooves were doing a three-way hoof bump. Maintaining its appearance was next to no effort at all.

I could see Rainbow Dash slightly narrow her eyes as she examined the alien device. Well, alien to her.

"Whats it made out of?" She asked inquisitively, "And how does it flap its wings?"

I chuckle at this, but answer her questions before it looks like I'm avoiding doing so, "It's made out of metal, I can't remember what kind though.

"Some form of steel I believe, or aluminium, but I could be wrong."

She looks a bit unbelieving at me for a moment then waits for the answer to her second question.

"And it doesn't fly by flapping it's wings, it flies using the massive engines at the back..." I rotate the hologram to make it easier for her to see, "To push it forward, while its wings are at the right angle to lift it off the ground when it reaches a certain speed."

"But then how does it take-off and land?" She asks in a way that makes answering even her most simple questions feel like the best questions she could ask.

"It needs a long strip of flat, smooth surface, in order to take-off and land." I reply, "So the flyers have to be careful how far they go, because if you run out of fuel and can't land safely..."

I look away from her eyes over to the hologram, "You have to either bail-out, or 'Go down with the ship', as it were."

We sit there for a few seconds in silence, then Dash asked another question, "You said they run on fuel, but how can coal or wood fuel something like that?"

I smile, "There are many different fuels besides wood and coal, but you either haven't found them yet, or they don't exist here at all.

"And besides," I continue, "A: You have wings here, so you don't need these things anyway.

"B: You've got magic which is a universal fuel in itself."

I think at B, she switched off, because she was doing my thing of staring at something, absorbed in yourself. In her case, she was staring at the hologram.

I severed my focus from the hologram and it was gone in an instant, snapping the rainbow maned pony back to reality.

She clears her throat and says in a surprised voice, "Uh... Yeah... Um... It was getting boring anyway."

I let out a hearty laugh at this, masking up the 'Awww' that would have escaped my mouth if I didn't, because she is so adorable.

I honestly don't know what is stopping me from hugging and squeezing her like a teddy-bear.

I let out a sigh as I apologize, "Sorry, almost everything in my world is boring in one way or another, and I can find it depressing looking back sometimes."

I look down at the ground under my hooves as I remember all the dull, and grey things that humans have created. With the exception of a few things, like the universe I'm in now, and I know the human who is responsible for that.

And I am grateful.


But just as I finish that thought, I feel a feathered object curl around me, almost cradling me.

I look up to see Rainbow Dash looking at me with an uncomfortable smile, with her right wing wrapped around me.

I just give her a look of slight confusion, but its clear by my body language, not only my face, that I enjoy being supported like this, and I relax a little.

"I... I once hit some hard times when I was a filly, and I did some things I regret..." Not being surprised by this, but still being sympathetic due to her understanding, I retain a neutral but listening look.

"And it makes be feel bad when I look back, so I know where your coming from."

She looks me in the eyes and adds, "But... don't tell anypony about this?"

I shake my head, "Not a word." I quietly say, in total reverence of this moment, and time itself seemed to slow down to a halt, enjoying every last second of her warm embrace to the full.

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I make my way past the town hall at a slow pace, some of the ponies give me... Shall we say surprised looks? Not everypony is used to their local librarian to be an Alicorn Princess.

Still, I go on uninterrupted, until I spot Applejack's stall as she waves me over.

I suppose I have time for this.

"Howdy there Twi!" Applejack says in a cheery tone.

"Hello Applejack, how goes the business today?" I ask in a formal manner, I was in public after all.

"Goin' just fine here, but ah think I'm gonna be plum-tuckered out by the end of today.

"Say," She continued, "How was Dreamstrider on her first night'?"

I give a little giggle, "No big surprises, besides a harmless mishap with dreaming techniques, and that she changed genders this morning for a bit of fun."

Applejack was more than a bit flabbergasted, "Changed her gender? I thought tha even you could ardly do that Twi!

She regained a bit more composure, "And what do ya mean, 'Mishap with dreamin' techniques'?"

I gave her a reassuring smile and said, "Just a harmless botched attempt to do some complicated spell that probably involved blocking off some parts of her subconscious in order to sleep normally."

"isn't tha a might dangerous?" She asked, leaning in a little.

"Not really," I say, "She, or He, knew what he was doing, so there was very little risk."

I added, "And impressive too, considering she had no teachers or books on the subject of magic."

"Ah think we can both agree on that." Applejack stated.

"But you look like you were goin' somewhere, so you had get movin'."

"Yes, I suppose I was..." I trail off, "Bye Applejack!"

"See'ya Twilight!" Applejack waved as I made my way to the park once again.


I didn't take long as Ponyville never got crowded unless there was a fare of some sort going on. I make it past Rarity's boutique, and into the park.

I started looking around for Dreamstrider as even if she had somehow convinced Rainbow Dash to coach her to fly, he definitely wouldn't be able to fly on the first day.

Just then, a cyan and pale cyan blob on the other side of the park... Embracing each other?

I shake my head in an attempt to clear my vision, but I still see the two blobs of color in the distance.


I make my way over to them and find Rainbow Dash embracing Dreamstrider with her wing, as they sat still as the ground beneath them.

I walk up to them from behind, "Rainbow Dash?"

The Pegasus quickly bolted up and started hovering a few hooves in the air above the spot where she was at. That spot, is where I see a surprised Dreamstrider, slowly making his way back on his hooves.

"We were..." Dash blurted out.

As if on cue, Dreamstrider added calmly, "Sleeping."

Dash momentarily looked at the Cream and gold maned colt who just made the remark, then her gaze turned back to me.

"We were sleeping after our training session, and we must have moved together while we were sleeping." Dreamstrider says in a calm voice, with a hint of embarrassment.

I look questioningly back and forth between the two, Dash making an embarrassed and worried face, whereas Dreamstrider kept a perfect, straight face, besides the hint of embarrassment that was present in his voice.

Almost too perfect, too well-balanced.

I knew I didn't believe them, but I took the explanation anyway.


"Okay..." I slowly manage to speak, "Do you mind if we talk Dreamstrider?"

I see him disappointingly looked down at the ground, and then to Rainbow Dash, who took the opportunity to get out of this.

"Umm... I think I have some weather duties to do, so I think I'll be going." She quickly spoke as she was about to take off somewhere.

"Wait!" I hear Dreamstrider exclaim in Dashes direction, as I give him another questioning look, "Could you pass by the library sometime so we can discuss future lessons?"

Rainbow looks at Dreamstrider, deep in thought as she says, "Uh, yeah. Sure."

Dreamstrider gives her a smile in return.

"Yeah, anyway. C'ya!" She exclaimed as she flew of into the sky.


It was then, Dreamstrider's poker face was dropped, and his expression of anxiety, anticipation, and a great deal more embarrassment than before.

But his voice was still the same, with the exception of a bit of anxiety, "So... That talk?"

"Yes." I say in a very controlled voice, "I need answers, or I might not rest tonight."

A look of worry crept up on Dreamstrider's face, but he managed to hide most of it.

"I need answers of things like, 'How you got here', 'You can't possibly be human', and so on."

He looked somewhat relieved, the I decided to add, "And I'm not going to ask what the real reason why you two were embracing was. I don't wan't to know."


He gave a sheepish smile, but quickly regained his composure, and actually looked rather triumphant.

"The great Princess Twilight Sparkle, Element of Magic, and hungers for answers and knowledge." Dreamstrider says in a confident tone.

"It seems that you are the customer, and I am the library." He continues, "But I will only allow you to borrow so many books at a time.

"You, as a librarian, know this is how the system works."

"Where is this going Dreamstrider?" I ask, still retaining my controlled voice.

"It means, as me being the bearer of knowledge, I can choose who to give my answers to, and how many.

"In this case, I will give you three questions right now, which I am entitled to answer in any way I wish, and after you have asked your three questions, I get to tell you something, anything that I want."

I gave him a puzzled look, "Why would you do that?"

"I don't know." He says shrug, "Just thought it would be a good idea."

At the end of that sentence, he gave something between a huff and a laugh.

"So," I begin, "I can ask any three questions I want, and you have to answer?"

With a nod he said, "Of course, but in any way I wish, so it may not be a direct answer."

He continues with a serious look, "And that answer may not be direct for a reason."

"Fine." I confirm.


"My first question," I begin, "How can anypony travel in between dimensions? It should be impossible!"

He just gives my a sly smile, "I honestly don't know how most of it works, but I would assume it works in a similar fashion to when you teleport.

"Not to mention that I also had to teleport within the third dimension, because our worlds are at different locations to one-another.

"That's all I know."

The science behind it would suggest something like that difficult to the point of impossible, not to mention the sheer about of energy it would take! But the theory made sense, and considering Dreamstrider doesn't know the science behind it either, I take that answer.

"Alright, second question.

"You confirmed when we met that all humans but you have control over magic, how is it possible for a species to survive without magic?"


This question earned another smile from the mystery of a pony in front of me, he obviously enjoyed these question-answering games.

"That's simple to answer," He starts, "We survive because of our advanced technology... Well, compared to yours."

He added, "No offence, but it's something we had to do because of our inability to use magic.

"But you think, 'If there is no magic, how can there be harmony?'. Simple, there isn't."

My eyes widen as he tells me this.

A world without harmony? How could that even work? But I can't ask him something like that with only one question left.

He continues, "Lets see... The last around hundred years there have been two really big wars, a bluffing war that threatened to destroy two whole countries, and there are currently skirmishes in parts of the word over who thinks what is right and so on and so forth, and don't even get me started on politics!

"Bottom line is, there a lot of problems in my world."


Wars? Conflict? Death?

It is to be expected from a world without harmony, but it isn't any easier to think about.


"And your third question?" He asks, "I bet you've been saving the best for last?"

I gather myself and ask my last question, "How do you know so much about our lives?"

Dreamstrider kept a straight face due to him probably expecting this question, but still was looking for answers in his head.


I saw him give a grin and a laugh as he said, "I know the perfect way to describe it."

He continues, "But this time we will replace 'Rife with devastation' with, 'Rife with many a question.'."

I arch an eyebrow at him as he begins to lightly sing, "When your rife with may a question, there lies a simple explanation. Your a toy makers creation trapped inside a crystal ball."


I looked at him with a supremely confused look and he just laughed.

"It's a song I know from back home, I just swapped the lyrics around a little."

"And what exactly does it mean?" I ask.

He looks at me with a smile as said, "It can mean many things, but to me, your answer is clear as day. You just need to open your mind to solve to riddle."

I sigh and look at him, "So you are now going to tell me something of your choosing?"

"Yep." He says as he composes himself for whatever he is going to tell me.

"The road you are travelling down is a dangerous one, If your mind stays closed, then you will lose it. If you keep an open mind then you might make it, but there are many horrors along the way, and some of my fears will haunt you on your journey. If you, and your friends, can return from this without loosing your minds, you will be changed forever and will both see things in a different light, and cherish friendship all the more."


I widen my eyes at this warning, trying to process what I have just been told.

What did he mean by loosing our minds? And his fears will haunt me and my friends? If anything, I am less sure about him than I was this morning.

"May I ask how old are you?" Almost blurt out.


He just smiles in a kind, open manner, "It is technically a question, but not the kind I would put a limiter on.

"I am thirteen."


"So your soon reaching young adulthood?" I ask.

He gives a laugh and says, "Thirteen by human years, I'm not sure if we have different years, but at home, thirteen is barley getting started to being a young adult.

"But from what I know, ponies have a maturing rate much higher than humans, so I guess I am reaching young adulthood."

I tilt my head to one side, "What do you do in all that time?"

He just kept a straight face, "Live your life, and do schoolwork. Every day besides the weekend and holidays.

"Humans spend about... Twelve to fourteen years doing to routine of, get up, eat breakfast, go to school for six to seven hours, come home to wind down, go to bed and repeat."

Even though I am in admiration of the amazing, if timely, school system, I ask, "What could possibly take that about of time to teach?"

Dreamstrider replies in a relativity monotone voice, "Match, science, geography, physics, some more math, some more science, some more physics, and so on.

"When you reach a certain age, you can begin to study what you want, within a few parameters, so you can get better at what you want to do when you get out of school."

My ears perked up, and I asked, "What you want to do? Do you mean what your special talent is? Your Cutiemark?"


He gives yet another smile, "We don't have Cutiemarks where I'm from, no magic remember? But we can choose what we want to do ourselves.

"We tend to be a very all-round species, but the downside is that we don't have a lifelong indicator on our bodies telling us what we are good at and enjoy doing, so a lot of people tend to dislike their jobs."

As I was processing all this new information, Dreamstrider walked up to my side and said, "Come on, lets get back to the library and we can have a rest.

"Celestia knows I need it, did you know I passed out training today?"

I give him a wide-eyed look, "Dreamstrider! That's quite serious! How did it happen?"

He gave a chuckle as we made our way across the park, "It's fine, I'm just really unfit, I guess that was carried over from when I was human."

He continues, "But really Twilight, I would have taken you a bit more seriously if you weren't so damn cu-"

I stop and put a hoof in front of him, "You find me what?"

Momentary silence rules the conversation, then he blurts out, "Okay fine! Your really cute when you get all panicky and your pupils go wide!

"You can't blame be for observing stuff like that."

As I continue to look at him with a strong serious glare, his eyes widen as he back away a step and cowers a little.

"Oh!" He nervously exclaims, "If you thought that I fancy you, no no no! I mean, your pretty and cute, but not in that way!"

He continues as he recomposes himself, "I have a trait of being very loyal to whoever I... Take a liking too, and I already hive an attraction to a certain somebody - or somepony rather, so I'm already locked by my loyalty..."

He takes a deep breath, and looks down tat he ground.

"Even if they never return my feelings..."


I let down my scolding glare, and soften up a little.

"Have you never had a special somepony?" I ask in a curious and comforting tone, but still retaining my serious face.

He instantly picks himself up, and begins walking again with an unstoppable strength and rhythm. And now I'm on the receiving end of a serious look.

"Once, when I was very young, but we lost track of one another." He says in a slightly monotone way, "And I held feelings for someone not that long ago, but I never confronted her with them and kept them to myself, in the simple fact that they were probably the product of loneliness.

"So when I came here, I dumped all feelings for her, and moved on. But I still carry memories of her, because she was one of my best friends.

"And that's what we will remain." Dreamstrider finishes in a very authoritative voice.


I think through this for a moment, then ask, "What of the current pony you... Reserve feelings for?"

He momentarily looks at me with piercing eyes, making me think I had hit a raw nerve. But he answered anyway.

"I won't tell you whether they are pony or a human, but I will tell you that my loyalty lies with them, and I think it will stay that way for a considerable amount of time."

Pony or human? That must mean...

"So you can travel back to your world?" I ask, hoping he won't reject me this bit of information.

His gaze, even if not pointed at me, decreased in its intensity and he appeared to be less defensive.

"Yes," He spoke in a voice now relieved of its monotone, "But I have no intention of going back any time soon."


I just look forward again as we make our way past the Carousel Boutique, and take the rest of our journey in silence all the way back to the library.