//------------------------------// // The Seventh // Story: Dreamflow // by KitsuneRisu //------------------------------// The Seventh The moonless night sky rippled and shimmered, like the reflection of a pond. Applejack found herself staring upward at it for quite a long time, not really doing anything save for musing about the adventure that brought her here. It was the end of a long, tormented road – one paved with sharp rocks and gravel. Walking over it wasn’t pleasant, but at the end was a peaceful Summer’s day. A day could be shared. And that was the important thing. If there were merely a prize at the end, just for Applejack, then it wasn’t something worth traversing. But it was a day. A whole, bright new day – with a new sun and new rays that would warm up everyone’s hearts. It was worth it. On this night, she found herself outside Sugar Cube Corner, a party raging inside. Silhouettes and nondescript blobs passed by the curtained windows, and it was just as Applejack remembered it on that night one and a half weeks ago. The sounds of a party came through the walls of the building, and it was the only house that was lit up with the solid lights of a brewing festival. Applejack was already outside. The main door of Sugar Cube Corner was the only thing that looked a bit different. It was quite clear what it was. But now was not the time. On her back was a basket. And inside that basket was an oversized muffin. Cranberry. Warm, welcoming, inviting. The stars flashed in the sky, and suddenly, stretching out in front of her was a path that wound its way past white paper trees and landscape bushes, leading toward a point in town that was cut away from everything else. This was the last thing she had to do. The noise of the party faded as she moved toward the hill. Each step made the voices and laughter fade and brought rise to the sound of crickets chirping in the dusk. And soon, there was nothing left. A figure lay on the hill, a shadow that looked up toward the skies, giving the stars her full attention. It was to this figure that Applejack made her way, her heart clenching tighter with each passing step. The view was perfect in its splendour. If it had been anywhere else, the word ‘dreamlike’ might have been a fitting description. But here it was. Perfect. Each star was pricked out of the world itself, each beam of light shining so brightly and passionately that their twinkling dance would have dazzled anyone who stopped to watch. Not a single cloud in the sky was there to mar their existence, and it felt warm, as if she were snuggled up in bed under a blanket on a cold, rainy night. This was how it was supposed to feel. Applejack dropped the basket, the little fiber-woven container settling itself next to the shadow. And then she stepped back. The rest of the night would play itself out. She had left in real life, but this night... this night she decided to stay, seating herself on the other side of the muffin, watching the stars. Why not? An Applejack that wasn’t there left the scene, and the shadow turned its head to watch her leave. And that was exactly when, as the real Applejack expected, the fear would come. And it did. It hit her squarely in the chest and made her stomach curl, but still she sat, forcing herself to look at the sky. It calmed her, eventually. The shadow took her time, and so did Applejack. It felt like another few minutes had passed before a black pool of a hoof made its way across to the basket, shuffling around with it and pulling out the cranberry muffin. Like rubies, the tiny specks of fruit shone bright red and, against the blacks and whites of the baked treat itself, marvelled as some sort of decorative object. Rarity would have loved it, Applejack thought. But here it was, nothing more than a device used to further the night’s plot. It was at that point that Applejack would have felt the sadness. It was the right time. But she also knew that tonight, it wasn’t to come. Because one might leave it to fate, or to the machinations of others, but a trigger was still a trigger, and one trained in the signs... And how could she not be? The shadow held the muffin up to her face, and closer and closer it moved. Applejack couldn’t do much more than watch it go slowly. But she stood up anyway, because the end was here. And she had to get ready to go. All of a sudden, the muffin disappeared from the shadow’s grasp, and reappeared back in the basket, a single bite taken out of it. The shadow itself was moving, shaking, shuddering unnaturally as lines of static broke the clear image of its frame. The depths clouded. It was as if someone had let loose a stream of smoke inside the form, and a thick, grey smog was filling it up like a balloon. The smoke swirled, coalescing, almost alive in its movements, as it inspected the form it was in. And all of a sudden, it happened. The smoke expanded, throwing itself in all directions, fighting form, and thrusting itself against a being suddenly made real. It pushed itself against the darkness, driving it out, and like petals falling from a flower, an explosion of dark, volumeless shards scattered off the figure that was left standing there, the onyx pieces fading before they hit the ground. Princess Luna, in her full form, stood up suddenly, blinking, looking around with wide eyes, before she settled upon Applejack, staring at her with a gaping mouth. Applejack smiled. She could now. She felt the locks come undone. She felt the world lift restrictions. She could do a lot more. She bowed, giving the princess her due respect, pulling off her hat in the process. The Princess was still shocked, stunned, perhaps. And who could blame her? But with Applejack’s final job complete, it was time to leave. She walked briskly, heading for the door, ready to throw it open and return to the other side. But she stopped, halfway down the hill, turning over her shoulder. At least... at least she could make one last promise. “Princess?” Applejack called to her, the princess’ shocked face still very much apparent as she failed to offer a reply. “I have to go now. I don’t belong here. But I promise you, you won’t have to be alone for much longer.” And then Applejack finally went home, a smile on her face.