//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: Dreams and Movies // Story: My Little Luna // by Alcatraz //------------------------------// I feel... strange. It's like floating, but at the same time it's not. I can't see anything, feel anything, hear anything. The weirdest thing is that I'm still here. Wherever this place is. "Help! Where am I? Daddy, save me please!" "Luna!?" "Dad! Where are you?! Why can't I see anything?" "Try coming towards my voice!" Suddenly I feel something pulling me, sucking me back further and further. Into where though? "Luna, where are you!? Luna, LLUUUNNNNAAAAA!!!" I sit bolt upright in bed, still screaming. "LUNA!!" All I hear at that point is a loud thud in the middle of the bedroom. "Luna, where are you!?" Throwing the covers off and jumping out of bed I find the spot where she lay, groaning in pain and confusion. "Urgh, what happened?" Luna groggily asked, clamping her hooves around the base of her horn, which, oddly enough, has a faint blue glow emanating from it. "I don't know, but I won't let it scare you like that ever again!" We pull each other into a hug, holding it for what seemed like an eternity. Before I found Luna, before all this happened, I was, and as far as I'm concerned, still am an introvert. The only times I went out was to go to work, or into town to run a few errands, only speaking to people where it was necessary in the shops etc. Quite often something would come up around the house, and more often or not my parents would accost me about it. I'd try telling them that shouting during arguments would make me feel sick to my stomach. I got on well with my parents, more than others would but we still had "those" moments too. After the arguments we would hug and make up. Hugs. God how I missed hugs. They felt so good, so amazing. Just the embrace itself was filled with love, it felt safe. Hugs are emotional security. Sure, I had my share of friends but we would only have the odd text conversation during the day. We hung out often enough, and it was good to have someone to fall back on. But the thing that I missed most? The thing that I would give anything for? A hug from my mum. Luna and I broke the hug and I turned my head to look at the time. 10am. "Oh wow, it's ten o'clock! The movers are bringing the rest of my stuff from my old home up here. Do you think you can wait in the room for a bit while they drop the things off?" "What for? Why can't I meet someone else?" I kiss the tip of her horn and she giggles. "Just trust me on this. I'll be back soon." Phew, I dodged a bullet there. The movers weren't dropping off much; just my computer, books plus bookshelves, bed, plus a couple televisions and a few nick-nacks that had previously decorated my room such as posters and the like. I sold everything that I didn't need for a bit of extra pocket money. I let Luna out of the bedroom to see everything. "Wow, what's that thing?" She asked, pointing a hoof at the big TV. "If you help me set it up and put everything else away, I'll show you, deal?" "Deal!" A few hours later after putting everything away and hanging the assorted posters in the bedroom, putting the books on the shelves and at last, hooking up the tv and DVD player. I pull out my favourite childhood movie, one I've seen more times than I dare to count. Lion King. Opening the disc tray, putting the movie in and turning the tv on. "Is it magic?" Luna inquires. "Not quite, but it takes you to all sorts of places, places you can only dream of. Magical places of talking creatures from all around!" Shit, I hope she doesn't pick up on that last part. "Oohhh, sounds fun!" Hitting play, we both sit back on the couch to enjoy the film. Luna's gaze is fixed like glue to the screen, oblivious to anything else going on, captivated by the moving pictures, thoroughly enjoying it so far. But these things are short lived. The movie gets to the point of Mufasa's death scene on the gorge. The dust clears, revealing Mufasa's broken body. At this point tears are flowing from Luna's eyes but she says nothing, instead I pull her close to me and drape my arm around her. It's odd, she hasn't grown much in the few months I've had her. It makes me wander how alicorns grow up and mature. Simba slowly makes his way up to his fathers limp body, covering himself with the limp paw of his dad, when Scar shows up. "You big meanie, YOU KILLED HIM!!" Rages Luna, screaming with the almighty Royal Canterlot Voice. "Woah woah woah, calm down! It's not real, it's just a movie!" "But... He makes me so mad I could just..." She trails off, glaring daggers at the cartoon lion. The rest of the movie goes without a hitch, eventually getting to the part where the now adult Simba, Timon, and Pumbaa, are laying down on the grass looking up at the sky. "Wait a minute... That sounds like..." Luna's head turns to meet my gaze, with a smile spread ear to ear. "Oh my gosh, last night when we were looking at the stars, you said exactly the same thing to me!" I let loose with a roaring laugh. "Yes I did, yes I did!" "You're silly for stealing that line from the movie." she retorts. "Aww come on, you're not going to hold it against me are you?" "Of course not, why would I? Besides, it was better when you said it to me." We finish the movie without any more distractions. Luna sheds more tears here and there, but I wipe them away for her like any doting father would. Shutting the tv off I turn to her and say "How did you like watching a movie for the first time?" "Can we watch another one!?" Wow, that was fast. "Sure, but later ok?" "Awwww, but I want it now!" She begs, looking up at me with those big round, puppy dog eyes. Damn it! You couldn't resist a face like that, especially from something as adorable as Luna. So I decided to put on Yet another childhood movie. Hercules. Only now as I re-watch it does one pick up on the inherent jokes, both adult and not, that kids wouldn't pick on. I had had to have my own giggle at them. When Hercules and Meg were walking through the gardens after the show at the amphitheater "Oedipus? That guy had some serious issues!" quipped Hercules. Or when the two little boys were "trapped" under the big boulder. "Quick, someone call IX I I!" Ahhh, you've got to love inside adult jokes! After the two movies and some leftovers for dinner I put Luna to bed early, promising I'll be there soon. Truthfully, I wanted her asleep so I can set up the computer to briefly browse the internet while she slept. The internet is a scary place for a filly. It's been what, over a month since I last logged on? Shit, I got some catching up to do. After sifting through countless notifications, and responding to private messages on Facebook explaining my absence people were sympathetic to what happened and offered their condolences. At one point I glance at the little clock at the bottom right hand corner of the screen. Bloody hell, 1am! I better get to bed, I got work tomorrow! Rather... today? Ah screw it, tomorrow officially begins when I wake up! Venturing into the room, I find it bathed in an ocean blue light emanating from Luna's horn. Woah, hold the phone. What's going on here? I move around to the other side of the bed to see her face, and I can see it being contorted into various faces. She must be having a nightmare. Calmly leaning down I give her horn a kiss and the glow fades away, leaving the slumbering filly with a big smile upon her lips. Quietly getting into bed, pulling the covers up and closing my eyes, and then... OH SHIT, I almost forgot to set my alarm! After doing so only then can I finally sleep comfortably. "Goodnight, my little princess. I will make sure there's no more nightmares for you." It's puzzling; kissing Luna's horn seemed to have quelled the nightmares for some reason. I should do it more often. You know, to keep her safe.