//------------------------------//
// L and the King 
// Story: Aslumber (Sanquil Version) 
// by Sanquil 
//------------------------------//

	Luna and Fluttershy entered the Dream Realm for the second time. What they saw surprised them beyond all matters. Expecting a bustling city full of ponies, oblivious to the truth, they were greeted by the exact opposite. The entire empire built on lies of the Dream King, was deserted, as if it was never inhabited.

Trotting down Forsworn Drive in the residential district, the entire place was void of pony life. It was quite unnerving. Fluttershy started to whimper out of fear.

No doubt this is an act by the Dream King. Luna thought to herself. How he managed  to pull it off, though, is a different dream entirely.

"W-what do we do now, princess?" Fluttershy questioned, scared. "There's no pony here."

"Yes," Luna responded, her voice trailing off, as if she, too, were not within the same dream as Fluttershy. "quite."

All of a sudden, an echoing voice rang out, filling the silent air with evil. It laughed a full, hearty, laugh, as if Luna had told a funny joke. The voice continued for several minutes.

"Well, well, well," The king's voice rang out, "it looks like the everything is on the other hoof now. There is nothing you can do to stop me and my plan."

"Heh." Luna smirked. " You haven't changed."

The Dream King materialized in front of the two ponies. "You must be 'L'. I don't believe we've met."

"No," Luna confirmed, "we haven't, but I've been silently observing you over the years since I returned from the Moon."

"No matter." The king dismissed her with his hoof. "I've won, 'L'. Celestia is under my control, along with pretty much all of Equestria. Face it, you've lost. I've hidden all of Equestria from even you, the Princess of the Night."

Luna was quite, and Fluttershy whimpered. After the king said this, Luna's face became a mask, making reading her expressions impossible. The king stared at her, perplexed.

Not quite. His subconscious spoke up after it's unannounced vacation. This time, though, it's voice had changed. instead of sounding similar to his own voice, it had a feminine touch to it. Instantly, he understood.

It's been you. He replied, shocked. His perplexed expression was replaced by one of shock and awe.

"All this time, you've been in my head, leading me on." He said, backing away from the princess. "You've pulled the sheep's wool over my eyes this entire time! That means..." he paused.

"Yes." Luna spoke once more, dissolving the mask that hid her face. Smiling, she looked into his eyes. "I know where my sister and friends are, and stopping us is futile. I'm sorry, Dream Weaver, but this is what must be done."

Darting his eyes between Princess Luna and Fluttershy, fear filled his eyes, tears started to well in his eyes. "NO!" He exclaimed, true desperation showing in his voice. "I REFUSE to give up! I can't be alone again!" He charged, lowering his head, aiming it at Luna. During this, his concentration faltered, and failing. The entire realm started to fluctuate.

On the spur of the moment, all of the ponies trapped within the lower layer of the dream reappeared, as if they never left.