//------------------------------// // Waking Nightmare // Story: No Heroes Part III - For Dreams // by PaulAsaran //------------------------------// Fine Crime jerked awake in the darkness, barely managing to stop his scream. He sat up in the grass, eyes wide with terror, and became perfectly still. Nothing. No scaled pillars, no hungry yellow eyes. He wasn't drowning, he wasn’t tasting blood. He was alive, dry, and awake. He let himself collapse onto the ground heavily, wiping sweat from his brow and tears from his eyes. His hammering heart began to slow… calm… beat normally. His breath finally recovered in a long, deep exhale. But he was still afraid. An entire lifetime of dreams, and still he was afraid. In the dark night he could hear crickets and frogs. He turned his head to note the river flowing not far away, its quick current carrying the waters westward. Water. He didn’t want anything to do with it right now. So he slowly climbed to his feet and walked away, into the nearby woods. His imagination kept playing hateful tricks on him. Was he being watched? Where was it, what was it doing? All his life it had made him squirm, and tonight would be no different. Almost a month since his last nightmare, but it had returned. How bitterly disheartening. Not even a new record. Once he was far enough away that he could no longer hear the river he lay back down and took out a quill and scroll, his horn glowing dimly in the darkness. Dear Luna, The nightmare has returned. You’re suggestion has failed, I am sorry to say. You have come to my aid many times in this matter, and I am grateful, but I can’t keep asking you to come coddle me in my dreams. I remember your words, and I know they are wise, but we both know that facing my fear is not something I can do under normal circumstances. I remain convinced that it exists, but I know not how to find it, so how can I face it? You are the Princess of the Night. You guard us in our dreams. Surely you must know of some other way that I might be rid of these nightmares. I beg you, no matter how extreme it is, if you know of something then tell me of it! I would give anything to not fear sleep. Your eternal ally, Fine Crime He rolled the scroll and pulled out his transmittal potion. He watched the note dissolve in the dark purplish mixture glumly, recorked the bottle and set it aside. With nothing else to do, he lay his head in the grass and prayed that the nightmare would keep at bay for the rest of the night. When he awoke again it was morning, the sun just barely peering over the horizon. He yawned, glad that his sleep had been undisturbed this time, and began preparing for his journey home. Home. That concept still felt rather odd to him. He found the note near the transmittal potion, Luna’s seal set upon the wax. With low hopes he opened it and quietly read its contents. Her reluctant suggestion was not like anything he might have expected. “Hello Octavia.” The mare glanced up from the sheet music in the grass, mildly surprised to see Fine Crime approaching. Why did he always make her feel uncomfortable? But at least he hadn’t sneaked up on her this time like usual. “Good morning, Fine. And how’s Ponyville’s most mysterious occupant?” “I’m sorry to say I’ve been much better,” he acknowledged. He glanced at her company curiously. One was a muscular orange stallion with a grey mane to match hers, lounging on a white deck chair and wearing sunglasses. The other was a white colt with a green mane, who was standing on a stool and trying to play Octavia’s cello. “Ah let me guess: family.” “Indeed.” She stood and gestured to the stallion, who offered a friendly wave. “My big brother, Chalk Board. He’s a professional surfer living in Los Angelicorn.” Then she indicated the colt, who studied Fine curiously. “And this is Harpsi Cord, my youngest brother. They’re visiting for a few days, just to see my new home.” “Who’s this guy, Octy?” Cord asked. “Probably her stallion-friend,” Chalk noted wryly. “What!?” Octavia laughed at Chalk’s typical jab. “He’s just a friend, Cord. A new Ponyvillian, like me.” Harpsi Cord gave his brother a grumpy look, but Chalk was already back to enjoying the sun, so instead he turned and gave Fine a hopeful look. “Do you play music, too?” “If only I could be so fortunate,” Fine answered with a weak smile, “but alas, I lack the rhythm. Last time I tried to do something musical was most embarrassing. No, instead I devote my time to writing.” Octavia rolled her eyes. “He changes jobs about once a week.” “Sounds fun,” Chalk noted with a grin. “It pays the bills,” Fine acknowledged. “I am truly sorry Octavia, but I need to ask a favor. Can I borrow your sister for a moment?” Chalk waved a dismissive hoof without looking back, but Cord didn’t seem so willing. “But she’s not finished reading my song…” “It will only be for a minute,” she told him with a smile. “Right, Fine?” He nodded. “You just keep practicing for a bit, okay?” The seemed to brighten the colt significantly. “You let him play on your cello?” Fine asked as they walked away from the two. “Isn’t it important to you?” But Octavia wasn’t bothered. “Cord is careful enough with it. Besides, it makes him happy. He’s of the firm belief that he’ll be a master cellist, like me.” “Ah. So you’re his icon.” She blushed, but couldn’t help smiling. “…something like that. But what’s going on? You look like there’s something wrong.” He sighed, his entire manner shifting to something… drier. “I have an old burden I’m trying to take care of. I’m going to try to go out of town for a few days, specifically to the Crystal Empire.” She eyed him thoughtfully. “What kind of burden?” “The kind that can make life almost unbearable,” he replied with a tone to emphasize. “I don’t know if I’m going to go just yet, I need to round up a couple… friends to help me.” “So why are you telling me?” she asked. “You seem to disappear for weeks at a time as it is.” “I’m not disappearing,” he explained, “I’m just… keeping hidden. Hiding is my talent, as you know, and I practice almost constantly out of habit.” “Must make it hard to maintain a social life,” she noted skeptically. “You have no idea. But the point is I’m around, just not seen. This time, however, I really will be gone, and I needed you to know.” “Why?” “Because if anything happens while I’m gone, I need you to handle the team.” She paused, processed his words for a moment. “Me?” she asked incredulously. “What makes you think I should do it?” He sat down in the grass and gestured for her to do the same. “Octavia, when I started looking for candidates to join this team, I wasn’t supposed to be part of the team myself. That was a last-minute decision on Luna’s part. When I completed my report I recommended to the Princess that you be named the team’s leader.” Her eyebrows raised in mild disbelief. “I’m flattered, but… what makes you think a mere cellist would make good leadership material? I would have thought you’d pick someone more… dynamic.” He smiled knowingly. “You can be pretty dynamic yourself when you need to be. Anyway, Luna asked me to be the leader instead, largely because in my investigations I came to know all about everypony, and I already have significant leadership experience.” “Uh-huh. Doing what, exactly?” She expected him to throw out another lie, but to her surprise he merely shook his head glumly. “I’m sorry, Octavia. I’m not at liberty to say.” His response struck a chord within her. All of a sudden his changed demeanor meant something to her. She realized he wasn’t using wit and lies… but he also wasn’t being that professionally serious stallion she’d worked with in the Crystal Empire. This was… something different. Had he been using masks all this time? Was she speaking to the real Fine Crime at this moment? She studied him, saw how he drooped sadly, how the weariness reflected in his downcast eyes. He looked as if he were ready to collapse from a lack of sleep. And yet there was also a tenseness in the way he held himself. No… this wasn’t the Fine Crime she was used to seeing. Not at all. “Fine… what’s wrong?” For several long seconds he didn’t answer. He cast those weary eyes upon her, observed her face for a while, and sighed. “It’s nothing, Octavia. Just an old torment, a little insomnia. That’s all.” Well, in a way she could believe some of that. He definitely looked as though he could use some sleep. But she wasn’t convinced. “Fine Crime, you need to learn to trust other ponies. Trust is important for a team to function, isn’t it?” “I know,” he muttered, “but it’s not that simple. It’s not just other ponies I need to learn to trust; I still have to learn to trust myself.” That caught her off guard. What could he possibly mean by that? He went on before she could form a question. “Aside from that, my job – my real job – depends upon secrecy. I can’t talk about it, Octavia, but even if I did I’m not sure you’d understand. As for my problem…” he considered the topic for a moment, “…it has to be seen to be believed. There is only one pony I’ve ever really spoken to about it in my life. I’m sorry, but it’s not something I can easily share, not yet.” She wanted to ask more, but something about his unhappy tone told her that there was no dragging it out of him. She felt that in pressing him she’d be overstepping her bounds. Even so, it seemed as if they’d somehow made progress. What kind of progress she couldn’t be sure, but it felt good anyway. “I’ll try to hold down the fort,” she said at last. “You do whatever it is you need to do.” He gave her an appreciative look. “Thanks, Octavia.” Spike went to the door, glad for a break from spell training with Twilight. He wasn’t so glad to see who it was. “Hmmph, what do you want,” he demanded. “Nice to see you, too,” Fine replied glumly. “Is Twilight in?” “Yeah,” the dragon answered, “but she’s not interested. Oh,” he noticed the pegasus who was just behind Fine, “hey Fluttershy. You’re safe, of course.” Fluttershy stepped forward, but paused to give Fine an uncertain expression. The unicorn gave her a guilty look. “Convince her for me?” A few minutes later and Fine was at last allowed in. Twilight appeared about as happy to see him as Spike did. Fluttershy sat between them, looking no less unsure of herself. “All right, Fine Crime,” the purple mare said with eyes sharp, “what’s so important you had to get Fluttershy to intervene on your behalf?” He sat before her and used his magic to pull out a scroll. “I need your help with a spell. It’s too difficult for me… and I really need it.” She raised an eyebrow. “And why should I help you?” He let the scroll drop to the floor at her feet. “I know we got off on the wrong hoof, and I apologize for how I was before. I was… under a lot of stress. Please, just take a look.” She studied him in her own high-browed manner, but finally sighed and lifted the scroll. She opened it and studied the contents, her eyes going back and forth over the words. And then they widened. “This… this is a really complex request. You want two ponies to be able to use it at once?” He nodded. “One pony to activate the sequence, and another pony to watch that sequence.” She rolled the scroll up and used it to rub the side of her head in a contemplative manner. “Fine… that really is a challenge. Why would you even want to use the Door of Fears that way? And why come to me? There are plenty of mages in the Crystal Empire that would do it. Given what you did for the Empire, Cadance herself might even be willing.” “What’s the Door of Fears?” Fluttershy asked, looking as if she was afraid of the answer. It was Spike who responded. “It was one of the traps King Sombra used to protect the Crystal Heart. When you open it you see your worst fears come to life. Me and Twilight both went through it.” “Worst fears?” the pegasus asked hesitantly. “I don’t know if I’d want to go through something like that…” Twilight glanced at the scroll again, then cast her gaze questioningly on Fine Crime, who had his head lowered unhappily. “Fine, what’s this all about?” Spike made a ‘harumph’ sound. “You really think you’ll get the truth out of him?” Fine glanced at the dragon guiltily, then sighed. He raised his head to give the two ponies his direct attention. “When I was just a foal, before I even had my cutie mark, something terrible happened. It traumatized me, and ever since it happened I have been plagued by the same nightmare. It’s the kind of dream that keeps you awake because you’re too terrified to try sleeping. Princess Luna has tried helping me in the past, but nothing works. The nightmare always returns.” He turned his head away from them now, face filled with shame. “I… I need to get rid of this nightmare. Lately it just seems to be getting worse. Luna says I should face my fears to defeat it, but it’s not that simple. The cause of my trauma is something that can’t be tracked or predicted. I don’t know where to find it.” He was silent for a moment, and Twilight at last spoke up. “I see… so you want to use the Door of Fears to face it.” He nodded, still not looking at them. “That’s very brave of you,” Fluttershy noted helpfully. “But… why do you want two ponies to use the door?” Spike asked. Twilight was already aware. “He wants somepony else to face the nightmare with him.” He dropped to his belly miserably. “I can’t face it on my own. I just can’t. This thing that haunts my sleep is… it’s like nothing you can imagine, and I was just a colt…” Twilight considered him for several seconds. At last she was unable to fight her own sympathetic feelings towards the clearly distressed stallion. “I can try, Fine. You’re right, it’s a tough spell. But again, I have to ask: why do you want me to do it when Princess Cadance could probably do it for you?” At that he sobered quickly, his face growing serious. He stood, as if to emphasize his words. “I want you to be there. I want to make amends with you, Twilight Sparkle, and so I want you to be a part of this very personal thing that I’m going through. Think of it… as a peace offering.” Twilight thought about this for a moment, but then gained a surprised look as Spike gave her tail a tug. He gestured for her to come aside. “Umm… excuse us?” “Are you really going to face your worst fear?” Fluttershy asked as Twilight and Spike walked away to talk. “I mean, that sounds really scary.” “I have no choice,” Fine muttered. “Luna’s tried every trick she knows to help me get over this. It was she who suggested I use the Door of Fears… although she stressed it was a last resort.” Fluttershy bowed her head thoughtfully. “I understand being afraid. I mean, I’m afraid of a lot of things. But you seem to be a lot braver that somepony like me. What could have scared you so badly?” He shook his head. “I’d rather show it than say it, Fluttershy.” “Show it…?” But before he could answer Twilight came back, an annoyed look on her face. “Sorry about that, guys. Somepony needed to learn a lesson in sympathy.” She shot a dark glance towards Spike, who appeared to be nursing a bruised forehead. “I’m willing to help. I understand you’re trying to make amends through this, and it can’t be easy. Besides, it’ll make for good practice. But there’s a problem: the spell is so complicated that I don’t think I’d be capable of using the door and controlling the magic at the same time.” He nodded. “I expected as much. That’s why I want Fluttershy to come along.” The pegasus let out a high-pitched sound somewhere between a scream and a squeak. “M-m-m-m-me!? I couldn’t possibly!” “I didn’t just ask you to come along to convince Twilight to talk to me,” he noted with a weak smile. “I want you to come along and go through this with me.” “No no no, I can’t!” Fluttershy backed several steps away from the two unicorns. “I have enough of my own fears, like heights and dragons. I don’t need somepony else’s!” “I have to agree,” Twilight told him seriously. “Of all the ponies you could have asked, Fluttershy is probably the worst!” The pegasus nodded her frantic agreement. “I know this is a very personal thing you’re asking, and I’m sure Fluttershy’s touched, but there has to be somepony else.” “No,” he countered patiently. “I’m sorry I can’t explain why just yet, but it has to the Fluttershy. Absolutely no other pony will do.” “But there has to be somepony else,” the yellow mare insisted, “somepony more qualified! Like Octavia, you and her get along wonderfully! She could…” He turned to her directly. “Fluttershy, please. If it’s not you, this doesn’t happen. I’m begging you, try!” Twilight glanced between the two of them and added. “You know, nothing in the Door of Fears can actually hurt you, and it won’t even be your fears. Maybe it won’t be so bad.” The pegasus, fear etched on her face, looked from Fine to Twilight, then back again. “I… well… I don’t know…” Fine lowered his head, his voice bordering on pathetic. “Please, Fluttershy. You’re my only hope.” Fluttershy made a whimpering sound as she considered. She glanced at Twilight, but the unicorn raised her hooves; she wouldn’t press the pegasus one way or another. It was in her hooves. She stared at Fine for a few more seconds, struggling, but finally let out a frustrated sound. “Alright, I’ll do it! Just… just promise me it won’t be too scary.” Fine looked up at her in surprise. And then, to both mares’ complete shock, he embraced Fluttershy. “Thank you! Thank you thank you thank you!” Twilight and Fluttershy were not at all comforted by the time the train reached the Crystal Empire. Fine Crime had been asleep when they awoke, and continued to slumber on into the afternoon. They were finally forced to wake him themselves a few minutes before arrival. When asked, he admitted that he’d not fallen asleep until well into morning, having been too scared to try. But, in a bittersweet tone, he was sure to let them know that no nightmares had plagued him. He was quick to add that this did not get Fluttershy off the hook; he was going to use the door, no matter what. Twilight’s brother Shining Armor met them at the station, and brief greetings were made. Princess Cadance was too busy at the time to see them, though she’d promised to do so that evening at supper. “I have to admit,” Shining told them as they made their way through the glimmering city, “compare to your usual visits, this one’s caused quite a stir.” “Really?” Twilight asked. “What for?” “The Door of Fear is something most ponies don’t care to know about,” he explained. “We once tried to get rid of it, but it’s been made in such a way that it’s impossible to get rid of it without doing serious damage to the castle itself. Cadance was completely against letting you use it, and I don’t blame her. It’s dangerous.” That made Fluttershy pause. “D-dangerous? But I thought nothing in the door could hurt you.” “It can’t,” he agreed solemnly, “but that doesn’t mean the mind won’t shut down. Fear can be as powerful as any weapon.” But Fine Crime was not deterred. “I know more about fear than most ponies, I assure you. I deliver it regularly. I know the risks, and I am willing.” “I-I’m n-not sure that I a-a-am…” Fluttershy whispered as she followed behind. “Don’t worry, Fluttershy,” Twilight reassured, “it won’t be so intense for you. If I understand the spell correctly, it’ll feel like you’re watching things happen. You should be like… like a ghost.” That only made the pegasus squeak in fear. “A g-g-g-ghost…!? I don’t care to be a ghost!” “You’ll be a friendly ghost,” Fine Crime told her. “You know, the kind that helps ponies take the safe path, or something to that effect.” Twilight caught up with her brother. “BBBFF, if Cadance didn’t want us to use the door, why is she letting us?” “Because Princess Luna asked,” he replied solemnly. It was Twilight’s turn to stop. “Wait… Princess Luna personally intervened on Fine’s behalf? Why would she do that?” Shining shrugged unknowingly, but Fine answered. “I told you before, Princess Luna’s been helping me fight the nightmare for some time. It’s intensity marks me as a… ‘special case’.” “If Princess Luna thinks it’s okay, we’re willing to let you try,” Shining explained, “but Cadance wants to be there.” Fine thought on this darkly for several long seconds. “That’s… okay. It’s not what I wanted, but if it’s the only way then I’ll deal.” The purple unicorn fell back to a lagging Fluttershy, who looked not just a little scared. “Are you still sure you want to do this?” But the Pegasus nodded, however nervously. “I promised to try, and I will. I just don’t know how much good I can do. I’ll probably be even more scared than Fine…” That night there was a royal banquet honoring the Empire’s hero guests, Twilight and Fluttershy, who helped the Empire recover the Crystal Heart. Fine Crime’s contribution in defeating King Sombra wasn’t mentioned in the honors. The mares were both nonplussed by this; surely his deeds warranted some mention? Twilight in particular thought that finding the Crystal Heart paled in comparison to ending the Sombra threat once and for all. “Don’t make such a fuss over it,” Fine told them. “I don’t need the recognition. This is how things need to be.” “But why?” Fluttershy asked. “You were almost killed fighting him, weren’t you?” “And you took a Sonic Rainboom blast, ground zero,” Twilight added. “I think that warrants some attention!” But when Cadance finally came to speak to them, Fine was the first to address her. “Thank you, Princess, for leaving me out of the praise.” She nodded, formally. Her manner made it clear that she didn’t care for him. Even so, her tone was civil. “You are welcome, Fine Crime. I know that you prefer to keep things… quiet.” She eyed Fluttershy and Twilight and asked in a whisper, “Do they know who and what you are?” “No,” he answered. “They will in time, but for now I think it’s best they didn’t.” “So they don’t hate you?” He didn’t answer. The four of them stood before the door. Fluttershy in particular was pretty confused. “I expected it to look more… creepy.” Twilight chuckled. “Well if it actually looked scary, who’d fall for it?” “I guess that makes sense,” the pegasus admitted bashfully. “Are you absolutely certain about this, Fine?” Cadance asked. He studied the door for several long seconds. He appeared to be wrestling with the question. He lingered… Twilight decided to buy him time by offering some information. “Now remember, we should be able to pull you out at any time. The two of you will be able to see and talk to one another, but for Fluttershy everything will be… different.” “Different how?” the Pegasus asked. Cadance answered. “If I understand the spell Luna provided, for Fine it will feel real, but for you it won’t. There will be a certain… false quality to it. It’s apparently a difficult concept to explain. The point is, you shouldn’t be so easily affected by the door’s effects.” “Which is good,” Twilight added, “because you’re afraid of pretty much everything.” Fluttershy lowered her head a little. “I’m still not sure this was a good idea…” “It’s not,” Cadance threw in, casting an unpleasant glance at the door. “Luna herself thinks so. But it’s the only option left, or so she claims.” “…and that’s why I must do this,” Fine Crime said at last. He glanced back at the mares. “I want to try. Ready whenever you are, Fluttershy.” The yellow mare chewed her lip anxiously, glanced at Twilight and Cadance. Twilight smiled supportively, nodded. Princess Cadance didn’t smile, but she nodded her encouragement all the same. At last Fluttershy sighed and took a deep, self-assuring breath. She stepped up to the door beside Fine. The unicorn leaned towards her and whispered. “Thank you. Just remember: it’s not real.” She trembled even as she wondered how he could encourage her; wasn’t this supposed to be his challenge? “All right, here it goes,” Twilight said, and her horn began to glow. She closed her eyes to concentrate, the horn’s magical aura growing stronger. Soon small sparks began to fly. The Door of Fears started to glow purple. Several long seconds passed with nothing else happening. But then, slowly, fading into existence like a mirage, a second door appeared. It was identical in almost every way, but had a strange fuzzy quality to it. It shimmered, shook like a scratchy projector image, but finally solidified. Twilight dropped into a sitting position, panting from the exertion. “Are you alright?” Cadance asked, worry etching her face. “Y-yeah…” the purple unicorn muttered, shaking her head roughly. “Just a little winded.” Her horn continued to glow softly. “That was about as hard as I expected, but it worked. I think.” “You think?” Fine asked. She nodded. “We won’t know if it has the right effect until Fluttershy uses it. It’s going to be harder to close than I thought, too.” “What do you mean?” Fluttershy asked. “It’s just so complex,” Twilight answered, studying the door carefully. “And while you two are in there the spell will be directly affecting your minds. Canceling the spell means closing the door and freeing your minds at the same time.” Cadance observed the two doors side by side. “I think this will work… but now I can see that there is an added risk. The Door of Fears breaks its connection when the door is closed. It’s automatic. But Twilight is right; the imitation door must be handled more carefully; closing the door without breaking its connection could be dangerous.” The Princess gave Fluttershy a serious look. “You should think carefully about using it.” Fluttershy flinched, hesitated. She turned to Fine, who was observing the door hawkishly. When he noted her look he sighed unhappily. “I’m not so versed in this stuff,” he told her. “If they say it’s dangerous, I won’t argue. It’s up to you, Fluttershy; if you back out, I won’t hold it against you.” She could tell by his expression that he expected her to do just that. He was resigning himself to defeat, and his despair was plain to see. She looked at the two doors, considered the danger. But, after nearly a full minute of contemplation and self-debating, she finally came to a decision. “I said I would help you with this, and I will,” she told him, hoping she sounded more confident than she felt. He eyed her thoughtfully and nodded. His expression was entirely unreadable. Steeling her resolve as best she could, Fluttershy went to stand before the imitation door. Princess Cadance sighed unhappily, but said nothing. Twilight, on the other hoof, appeared proud. “Now remember, Fine has to go in first for the new door to work. If it becomes too much for either of you, just say the word. Remember, we’re right here with you.” Fine glanced to Fluttershy, and they shared a moment of silence. He turned back to the door, hesitated. “Whatever happens,” he muttered, “thank you all for doing this.” The door’s handle glowed, and it opened. Fine fell into a sitting position, his eyes widened, and he became still as stone. “He’s in,” Twilight, announced. “Fluttershy, now.” The pegasus jumped at the forceful order but made herself to open the door. The ground rocked under her hooves, and Fluttershy had to scramble to keep from falling on her face. “Oh no… I didn’t think it would start me here…” Fine whispered, and the quiet horror in his voice caught the pegasus’ attention. Struggling to keep her balance as the world rocked, she looked around to realize she was in a small, cluttered room of wood. It looked like a cabin of some sort, combining a kitchen and a living room and a storage unit into a single space. Everything seemed to be covered in a pale dust, or was it a fog? She couldn’t really tell, but it gave everything a certain dream-like quality. Even the constantly-shifting floor didn’t feel as… solid as it should. It was truly difficult to understand. She spotted Fine, who was himself shaded in that strange white haze. He had slipped on the wood floor and fallen onto his side in a corner, plates and tools smacking into him as the entire room rolled. Fluttershy flapped her wings to hover as close to the center of the room as she could, glad to be free of that constant rocking. “Fine… where are we? What’s going on?” For a moment he couldn’t answer. He seemed frozen to the floor, eyes wide and legs shaking. “Fine!” His eyes looked up at her as she dropped to hover just above him. “It’s okay, Fine. Remember, it’s not real.” “It’s not real,” he repeated feebly. “It’s not real…” He forced himself to stand, his breath coming in short gasps. The cabin rocked and he almost fell; Fluttershy dropped down to help him stay on his feet. “Fine, what is this place?” she asked, eyeing the room. Doors were slamming open and closed, an objects innumerable were sliding all over the place. “Father’s boat,” he answered weakly. Then his eyes went wide again. “Oh shit, that means we’re on the water!” He scrambled, pressed himself against the wall as if trying to hide from something. “No no no, I can’t be here.” Fluttershy didn’t understand why he was so afraid. She tried to piece things together. They were in a boat. That made a lot of sense. Were they in a storm, then? But why would anypony go out to sea in a storm? She wasn’t afraid of this, though; even she wasn’t’ so much of a scaredy-pony as to fear a little weather. Lightning, maybe. But he wasn’t a pegasus… “Listen to me, Fine,” she instructed, “just stay calm! Just think, okay? Think. Stay with me. What’s going to happen next?” “What…?” He stared at her mindlessly for a moment, shaking like a leaf. But then he looked around sharply. “Oh… oh no… we have to get out of the cabin!” He pushed his way past her and started scrambling for the open door. “Fine, wait!” She followed, hovering a little to not have to fight the rocking boat. “What’s wrong?” “We’re gonna sink!” he cried. “S-s-sink!?” That had her attention. She floated above him and tried to guide him against the tottering, wild movements of the floor. When at last they reached the stairs he grabbed the guide rail and pulled himself along, giving her the opportunity to fly outside on her own. Fluttershy immediately realized that something was really off. There was no weather; no harsh winds buffeting her, no rain, hardly any clouds. As far as she could tell it was a pleasant, sunny day. But the ocean – for indeed they appeared to be in one – was raging as if it were in the most powerful of hurricanes! Waves rose tall above her head like giants, water sprayed across the sky. She’d never been over the ocean before, but she didn’t have to have been to know that there was something wrong about this entire situation. And it scared her. “Verity!” The cry brought her attention back to the sail boat, just in time for her to see the mast come sailing at her! She let out a cry and barely dodged, flying back from the boat to safety. The voice called out again. “Verity, I told you to stay below!” She looked down to see a couple of unicorns struggling to maintain control of the boat. The one that had spoken was a yellow-coated mare with a bright red mane. She was looking right at Fine, who was struggling to hold on to the side of the boat. Fluttershy floated down to him just as he caught the side rail and clutched it desperately. He turned his terrified gaze to the couple, shook his head. “Momma, Dad!” The pegasus stopped, turned to stare at the two new ponies. Those were his parents? She flew closer… yes… yes she could see the similarities. He had his father’s muddy coat, his mother’s eyes… panicked, terrified eyes. “Get him below,” the stallion ordered fearfully. “You can’t hold it yourself,” the mare countered, but she was shoved aside. “Get our son, Maple!” Maple fell, gave her husband a horrified look, but managed to climb against the side railing. “Hold on, Fleur, just hold on!” And she began to make her way towards Fine, still trembling near the stairs. Fluttershy flew to Fine, not knowing what to do. Should she try to carry him away? Encourage him? She had no idea. “Fine… Fine we’ll get through this!” “Go back,” he shouted, but his words were aimed at his mother. “No, Momma don’t come over here! Please!” Fluttershy didn’t even see the wave coming; it hit the boat and her at once. She closed her eyes, cried out… and blinked in surprise. There was nothing; no hard hit, no pain, nothing. She didn’t even feel wet. She looked around, saw that she was underwater… but she was still flying? How could that be…? The wave passed, the dull watery noises replaced by the crashing of waves once more. It was like a dream. The door couldn’t hurt her. She remembered Twilight’s words, and though she still didn’t understand she did feel a lot more comfortable after that confusing encounter. She was safe… at least it seemed that way. That meant Fine would be safe too... right? She looked down to the boat and let out a horrified cry: Fine was gone. So was his mother. “Fine? Fine!” She flew terrified circles around the boat; were had he gone? She noted his father still at the helm, soaked and struggling both physically and magically to turn the wheel. He looked terrified! “I’m coming, Maple! Just hold on!” She turned to look where he was facing, and spotted Fine in the raging seas. Heart leaping into her throat, she flew for him. He was frantic, splashing and crashing through the waters. “Fine, swim,” she cried. “Come on, swim!” “I can’t,” he screamed. “I can’t swim!” Sweet Celestia. She dropped down and grabbed him, tried to hold him up, but somehow she couldn’t get a grip on him. It was like trying to grab water. “W-what’s going on? Fine!” He dropped below the surface, and for a moment she lost him. When he came up again, he wasn’t Fine Crime anymore. He was a colt. A tiny foal with a bright red mane, just like his mother’s. He couldn’t have been older than five. “Fine?” Before Fluttershy could really understand what had happened, the colt’s mother was there, holding him tight against the waves. “Don’t worry, baby. Mommy’s got you!” Fluttershy flew circles around them, not knowing what to do. She couldn’t lift the both of them! She dropped down beside them, tried swimming and realized there was no need. She looked into the colt’s face and saw complete terror. “Fine, remember. It’s not real! This isn’t happening!” “Yes it is,” he cried, clutching his mother’s chest. “Yes it is! Momma, it’s happening again!” “I know baby,” Maple whispered, her attempt at comfort lost in desperation. “It’s going to be okay. I promise. It’s going to be just fine!” The unicorn jerked her head about searchingly, her eyes looked through Fluttershy. “Fleur! Fleur, over here!” Fluttershy turned around, noting as she did how her wings didn’t even splash the water. It was like the entire world was made of air. She spotted the sailboat making its way to them and felt a little hope. “Your father’s coming, Fine,” she noted helpfully. “Don’t worry, he’s coming!” “No!” Fine squirmed against his mother. “No, please, tell him to get back!” “What?” Fluttershy turned to see him struggling in his mother’s hooves. The mare didn’t seem to notice. “Momma, swim!” the colt screamed. A wave hit, sent them under for a moment. He came up wet and sputtering, red mane covering his face. “Swim, please!” “It’s okay,” Maple whispered. And then, to Fluttershy’s surprise, the mare looked her right in the eye. “He’ll be okay. Tell me he’ll be okay.” It wasn't in a tone of fear. It was a demand. It didn’t make any sense. This was Fine’s nightmare. Everything up to now had made it clear that Maple couldn’t see her. But at that moment, just for an instant, Fluttershy was absolutely certain that the words were aimed right at her. “I… I…” “Momma, swim away!” The moment was gone, and everything was chaos once more. Fluttershy shook the feeling away and flew higher, going to the father. He was scrambling for a life ring, trying to throw it. He slipped, crashed to the floor of the violently rocking sail boat. “Fleur, look out!” Fluttershy looked up in time to see the wave coming. It was huge, at least triple the height of the mast! It looked almost as if there was something in it, something big. Fluttershy jerked around in horror, knowing the boat couldn’t take something that large. It tipped, began to roll. She saw Maple shove her tiny colt away. And then the mast hit her. Fluttershy let out a horrified sound and covered her eyes even as the wave washed over her, but it was too late: she’d seen. And Fine had seen it, too. He’d been right there… “Oh Celestia no…” The wave passed and she could hear him scream, a scream so loud and terrible she thought it would echo in her mind forever. And then it stopped, just as suddenly as it had begun. The abruptness made her lower her hooves from her eyes; Fine was gone. “Oh… Fine!” She dove, flying into the water as if it wasn’t there. She saw him sinking, tried to swim. She didn’t get anywhere. Remembering, she tried flying and found herself moving towards him. She could see him staring down into the murky abyss, down to his mother who was floating lifelessly below. Fluttershy realized she was crying for him. She was almost close enough to grab the colt when she saw it, and when she did her mind froze. Soft haze or no, dream or not, the thing that drifted within the blackness absolutely terrified her. It was like a dragon… or a snake. Both. She watched numbly as its massive eyes observed Maple, as it opened a scaled mouth full of horrifying teeth and swallowed the unicorn whole. She couldn’t have been more than a crumb to it. And them those monstrous yellow eyes centered on them. Colt-Fine was kicking at the water, eyes blind with a terror. When Fluttershy saw those eyes she realized that whatever fear she felt at that moment was nothing compared to his. This had been a mistake. How was he supposed to face this? He’d just been a colt when it had all happened. A colt against… that? It wasn’t possible to fight! Her heart beating hard in her chest, she grabbed Fine and tried to fly to the surface… but to her horror she couldn’t budge him. This was his nightmare, and his terror was weighing him down. She glanced back and let out a cry; that massive face was coming closer! But the cry revealed a truth; she could still speak, even underwater. “Fine, none of this is real!” She held him close, spoke into his ear. “Fight it, Crime, fight it! You’re not really here, it can’t eat you.” He didn’t answer. He didn’t even acknowledge her. He just kept kicking futilely against the water, fighting to escape the monster. His mouth opened in a watery scream, bubbles erupting from his throat. And that was when it dawned on her: in his mind, it was real. There really was a monster trying to eat him, he really was underwater. And he was drowning. Fluttershy screamed. “Twilight! Cadance! Get us out of here!” She gripped him tight, flapped her wings as hard as she could, but she just couldn’t move him! They were sinking. She looked behind to see massive fangs opening. “Twilight, please!” Fear gripped her, her own dracophobia terror mixing in with her fear for Fine into something entirely new. “Get us out, hurry!” She was in tears. Her wings wouldn’t move anymore; she could only clutch the colt and pray. Then she noticed that his movements were slowing. “He’s drowning! Twilight…” She looked up to realize that they were within the thing’s mouth. “Twilight!” The door closed with a slam, and Fluttershy fell onto her back with a thud. She lay there for several seconds, breath coming hard and sharp. She was alive. There was no monster, no water, no raging waves. She was alive. Fine Crime… She jerked to her hooves, looked to her side; the unicorn, a full-grown stallion once more, had fallen onto his side. Cadance was already there, shifting him onto his back. “He’s not breathing,” the Princess noted worriedly. Fluttershy scrambled to him, listened for a heartbeat. He was still alive. “Come on Fine, stay with us!” She pressed on his chest, gave him mouth-to-mouth, working furiously to rescue him. “Come on… come on…!” “He’ll be okay,” Twilight assured her, but the worry was clear in her voice. “I told you this was dangerous,” Cadance whispered fearfully. On the third attempt to breathe into him Fine finally responded, coughing and sucking in a deep breath. His eyes flittered open, and Fluttershy felt a wave of intense relief… And then, as if he were still in that ocean, the stallion let out a horrified cry and scrambled away from them. He was on his hooves and running, smacking hard into the stone wall. He collapsed, turned about and pressed his back against the wall in terror, gasping for breath. “Fine!” The pegasus went to him, caught his cheeks in her hooves. “It’s okay, it’s over! You’re okay. You’re going to be okay…” He stared into her eyes uncomprehendingly. Then he fell to the floor and broke down, wailing like a newborn foal. “Fluttershy,” Twilight asked, “what in the name of Celestia happened in there?” Fine had wept until he’d fallen unconscious, and now he was sleeping fretfully in a guest room. Outside, sitting around a table, the three mares discussed what had happened. Fluttershy told them everything, not omitting a single detail. “Sweet Celestia,” Cadance whispered, “how does a colt take something like that?” “Very poorly,” Twilight answered unhappily. “I wanted to help him,” Fluttershy murmured sadly, “I really did. I tried… but I guess he was wrong to ask me, after all.” “You did your best,” Twilight informed her kindly. “Nopony could ask more than that.” “But what was the monster beneath the waves?” the Princess asked. Fluttershy shook her head silently, trembling in fear at the memory. “Maybe it wasn’t real.” The pegasus blinked, gave her a questioning look. “What do you mean?” “Fine was only a foal when he lost his mother,” Cadance noted. “What if the sea monster was just… dreamed up in his imagination?” “It would make sense,” Twilight acknowledged. “Nothing of that size has ever been recorded in Equestrian history, at least not that I know of. Maybe he just dreamed up the monster. A metaphor for the sea?” “It’s real enough to him,” Fluttershy told them anxiously. “I don’t know if it exists or not, but in his mind it is very real. But I hope it isn’t,” she added with a shiver. “It looked like it might swallow a dragon in one gulp!” Cadance set a hoof to her lips thoughtfully. “I wonder if this is what caused his condition…?” Twilight and Fluttershy shared a confused look. “What condition?” Twilight asked. Cadance looked to them as if she’d forgotten they were there. “Did I say that out loud? I’m sorry, it was just a thought.” “Wait,” the pegasus insisted, “what did you mean? Is there something wrong with him? Other than what he just went through, that is.” But the Princess shook her head apologetically. “I can’t tell you. I am sorry, I didn’t mean to bring it up. If he wants you to know, he will tell you.” Twilight considered her former foalsitter seriously. “Cadance… you really don’t like him, do you?” The Princess glowered. “No, Twilight, I don’t. I am the Princess of the Crystal Empire, and my element is Love. What Fine Crime does, what he is, what he represents defies everything that I stand for.” “You mean you know what he does for a living?” Fluttershy asked, her curiosity piqued. “And again, I can’t tell you,” the Princess declared in a manner that made it clear she wouldn’t budge on the topic. Twilight was confused. “I don’t get it. You don’t think you still owe him for helping Applejack and Rainbow rescue us, do you?” Cadance gazed at Twilight for a few seconds, clearly thinking hard on her response. “Girls… I know you want answers, but I don’t think I’m the one who should give them to you. All I can tell you is that Fine defies everything I believe in, and yet he is very important for Equestria’s wellbeing, so I support him when I must.” Twilight couldn’t believe her ears. “That guy, important to all Equestria? Seriously Cadance?” But Fluttershy remained silent, head bowed as she considered the Princess’ words. She looked as if she had just solved some sort of puzzle. The door to the guest room opened, and Fine Crime came trudging out. He looked like a wreck, with black mane disheveled and hanging over his face, hooves shuffling against the floor. Fluttershy flew over to him with concern. “Are you going to be okay?” “I haven’t been okay in twenty five years,” he grumbled without looking up at her. He got to the table and sat in a seat of his own, looking about ready to collapse. “You should be resting in bed,” Twilight noted worriedly as the pegasus returned to her seat. He rubbed his face with his hooves and brushed his mane back into place. “If you’d been through what I just had, you wouldn’t be able to sleep either.” Cadance stood abruptly. “It seems that things are okay now. It’s late and I have an early start tomorrow, so I’ll bid you all adieu.” She gave the two mares a pleasant smile. “Good night, Fluttershy, Twilight.” Fine watched her go sourly. “She can’t stand the sight of me.” Twilight winced. “Sorry… she’s usually so friendly.” “It’s not your fault,” he noted glumly, dropping his chin to the table. “Even the Princess of Love can’t get along with everypony.” He eyed Fluttershy, who turned her eyes away from him anxiously. “You wanna ask about it?” “Umm… well, I mean… if you don’t want to talk about it…” Fine made a ‘come on’ gesture with his hoof. “As of right now you know more about my life than any pony I’ve ever met, except Princess Luna. So go ahead, ask.” The two mares shared a surprised look. Finally Twilight nodded, so Fluttershy, blushing and uncertain, spoke. “Umm… how old were you when… it happened?” “Five.” “By Celestia…” Twilight whispered. “…and… how did you survive?” At that question Fine sat up, considering. “What you saw isn’t exactly how things went. It was very precise, for the most part. But I didn’t sink down to that…” He paused, closed his eyes and shivered. “…my father rescued me.” “But I thought you said the boat sank?” Twilight ventured. “It did,” he acknowledged. “We were stranded on the waves for an entire night. When I woke the next morning we were on the beach. My father and I lived alone on an island for three months before getting rescued by a passing trade ship from Nildia.” “Nildia?” Twilight asked. “Where were you when the boat sank?” “The Everfree Sea,” he answered solemnly. “Don’t know exactly where, of course. I couldn’t have pointed out the island to you on a map.” “So your father survived, after all,” Fluttershy noted with relief. “Oh yes. Still kicking in Las Pegasus.” “But what happened to the sea monster?” Twilight demanded. “Surely it didn’t just disappear.” He shook his head. “I have no idea. I saw it sink into the depths, and nopony has seen or heard from it since. As far as I know I’m the only pony to have ever witnessed it… and I refuse to speak of it to anypony because I know I won’t be believed.” “I’m not sure I believe in it,” the purple unicorn confessed apologetically. He nodded. “I know, you’re thinking maybe it’s something my childlike mind imagined. I don’t blame you.” “I believe it,” Fluttershy declared, earning surprised looks from the other two that made her shrink a little. “I… I saw it. I m-mean, I know it wasn’t real at the time. But… but I don’t think you just imagined it up.” He nodded appreciatively. “Thank you for going in there with me.” The pegasus blushed, glanced away meekly. “I… don’t think I was much help.” “That’s not the point,” he replied. “You went in. That alone means the world to me. I’m sure it hasn’t solved my nightmare problem… but we had to try, right? “When you have the time,” he added, sitting back once more, “I’d like you to come visit my place. Both of you.” He nodded to Twilight. “There’s something I’d like for you to see.”