//------------------------------// // A Little Help from my Friends // Story: "Princess Luna and Her Amazing Dream Team!" -or- "I'll See You on the Dark Side of the Moon" // by Graphite Scribble //------------------------------// A Little Help from my Friends         Fort Book had not seen such carnage since the old days, back in the Non-Fiction Reference Civil Wars. Pages were strewn across the grounds; an autobiography lay on a nearby stretcher with a broken spine, waiting for a medic to come to his aid.         Twilight knew what must be done.         Colonel Spike tried to stop her from going out alone, but she would have none of that. She was a grown mare, and she knew the risks. She trotted out, past the hardcover walls, and found the remainder of her troops, struggling against the insidious enemy; Commandante Ignorance bellowed threats at his own troops, and insult at Twilight’s. Nevertheless, General Sparkle’s very presence on the battlefield was enough to give her forces a much-needed boost. The unicorn shouted a powerful battle-cry, and the books surged, overcoming Ignorance’s imps and devils. Twilight herself defeated many enemy troops, rubbing them out of existence with a flash of purple, aiding her sentries. Suddenly, a laugh was heard in the distance, somewhere between a chuckle and a giggle. It drew Twilight Sparkle’s focus for a split second, just before the end. * * * Twilight awoke to find Spike tossing and turning, a piece of parchment near his bedside. That was normal; he often delivered Celestia’s mail in his sleep. A year ago, that sort of thing would have woken Spike, but the little dragon was maturing very rapidly, and his digestive system was much stronger and more stable than it had been. Twilight got up, soothed the little one, tucking him back into bed, and then turned her attention to the parchment. It was probably a request from the Princess, but why? Had Discord escaped his stone prison again? Had the Changelings come back for revenge? Had they failed to defeat King Sombra? Had it all been a trick? What if-- Twilight stopped, and remembered Cadence’s letter. “Just take a deep breath...” she said to herself, “And... relax.” she exhaled, and picked up the parchment with her lavender aura. It was still dark, so she lit a candle. There, as she expected, was the Royal Canterlot Seal. She broke it, and was surprised at what she read: “Dear General Twilight Sparkle,” the letter began, written in official calligraphic script, “Having observed your bravery on the battlefield, both here and at the adorable Fort Book, and in consideration of our friendship, I hereby request your assistance in a most important matter. Please, extend this invitation to Colonel Spike, as well as the following ponies:   Applejack, Apple Bloom, Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, and Fluttershy.” You will all find that the train is already waiting at the station, so please come as soon as you are able.” My dear sister and I will explain more once you arrive, as the matter at hand is somewhat sensitive.” It was signed “Princess Luna”. Twilight was confused, and she felt her nerves trying to reach her again. The last time she saw Princess Luna was when she was being tested by Princess Celestia, and the Ruler of the Night had not seemed entirely well then. Was she angry? Was she sick? Did this have to do with the test? What was going on? Why didn’t Princess Celestia write the letter? Why did her friends need to come along? And why bring the phillies? Who-- Twilight caught herself again, but not before she had worked up a sweat and begun chewing at her hooves. She focused on one thought, and one thought only. Princess Luna was a friend in need, and she wasn’t about to let her down. “Spike?” Twilight went to the dragon’s bedside once more. “Spike, wake up. Princess Luna needs us, and we’re going to help her.” This earned only a grumble from the youth. “Spike, please? The train is already waiting for us, and we still have to wake up all of our friends, and tell them what’s going on.” “Ugh... can’t... can’t it wait ‘til morning...” Spike was only muttering, but Twilight knew he was awake, and only stalling as he always did. He just needed motivation. “Spike, we are not arguing about this. Now, I need you to help me gather the others, and you should start with Sweetie Belle and Rarity--” Spike was out the door in less than a second, as fast as his little dragon legs could carry him. Twilight smiled, pleased that her tactic had succeeded. She went in the opposite direction, towards Sweet Apple Acres, while she skimmed the letter again. There was nothing adorable about Fort Book... * * *  Luna fought to stay awake until her allies arrived; she was used to long days full of restful sleep, not frenzied nightmare nights. Celestia had no such trouble; having to remain awake both day and night for nearly a millennium, and still present the cheery exterior ponies expect from their loving Princess of the Sun, made this seem like a filly’s slumber party. All but the most trusted guards and viziers had been dismissed; Luna’s condition could indeed be something more serious than simple insomnia, and the sisters agreed that a low profile should be kept until more was known. The most-trusted guard entered the bedchamber tentatively, and brought good news. “Twilight and the others have arrived, Your Highness.” his voice was strong, but reserved. Luna smiled at his formality. The guard traditions of solemn duty had not changed much since their earliest days. “Thank you, Shining Armour,” Luna directed her smile at the white stallion. “But please, remember that you are family now. ‘Your Highness’ is far too formal.” Shining Armour smiled a coltish smile, one well practised from a devious youth. “Twilight and the others have arrived, Princess Luna Selena Ilargia Menulis Manen.” Celestia giggled, but Luna only rolled her eyes. The most trusted vizier joined her in that gesture, drawing mock innocence and shock from the Captain. “He is like this all of the time?” Luna asked. “Oh, no. He’s much worse at home,” Cadence replied, soliciting a laugh from all three alicorns in the room, as well as feigned hurt from her beloved. “Well!” Shining said, in his best wounded tone, “I’ll go greet Twily. At least she appreciates me!” Actually, Twilight Sparkle would probably have been on Cadence’s side, and Shining knew it. At first, the room outside was chaos, with Twilight’s “Shiny! What are you doing here? What’s wrong with Princess Luna? Why did she ask for us?” And Applejack’s “What in tarnation is goin’ on? What’s any of this got to do with mah sister?” And Rainbow Dash’s “Is the Princess in trouble? Is there another threat against Canterlot? Lemme’ at ‘em! Just give the word, and ZOOM! BANG! No more badguys!” And all manner of hoopla in the same vein. Eventually, Shining Armour had to yell over his sister and her friends: “QUIET!!” “And then the fox said, Ring-ding-ding... oh, sorry!” Good old Pinkie Pie. “Princess Luna wants to explain the situation herself, and she’ll be out in just a minute,” Shining Armour turned to fetch the Princesses, and added, “I’m glad she’s explaining; it’s a little weird.” Luna stepped out not a full minute later, and gazed upon her friends, the ones who would help her. If, indeed, they could. They all had a reason to be there: Fluttershy was kind and understanding, which Luna knew would outweigh her fear when it counted. Rainbow Dash was loyal and brave, and never backed away from a challenge. Pinkie Pie was undaunted by the bizarre, in fact she seemed to revel in it; embody it. Rarity was inspired and creative. She would think of solutions nopony else would. Applejack was an unshakable tower of strength. She would do whatever was necessary to help those who needed her. Whatever was necessary... a thought crossed Luna’s mind. She would consider it later. The children--Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo-- were so bright and unmarred, and their innocent, imaginative souls would prove powerful. Scootaloo’s already had. Twilight Sparkle... she was probably the foremost expert on magic. On friendship. On almost everything. She was also probably the reason Luna stood as she did; among friends and family, not enemies and slaves. Yes, if any ponies could help her, it was these. Luna drew in a breath, and explained her troubles uninterrupted. Nopony said a word, and even Pinkie and the kids remained completely silent. When it was over, they all had their own questions, but Luna had few answers. The Princess knew only that her own dreams were becoming an enemy to her, or at least an obstacle. One that must be overcome, at any cost. Twilight looked from one friend to another, and they all came to their conclusion silently. Twilight spoke for the group, a true leader. She reminded Luna of her sister in this way, as in others. “Of course we’ll help you, Princess.” Rainbow Dash chimed in, “Yeah! Just tell us what to do, and consider it done!” with a half-serious salute.         Luna smiled, but it was not a hopeful smile.         “Friends, what I am about to ask you is unlike anything you have ever done. And it may be very dangerous. I would not ask--”         “Pardon me, yer majesty,” Applejack interrupted, “But we knew that from yer story of what’s happened so far.” The farm-pony was strong, indeed. That might be more important than any of them realised. “... an’ Ah think Ah speak fer everypony when Ah say we’d do anything to help a friend.”         “Hear, hear!”         “Yeah, totally!”         Luna smiled again, and this time even blushed.         “Then... to work.” * * *         The plan was simplicity itself. Luna would sleep; and her friends would invade her dreams. Perhaps invade seems like a strong choice of words, but the subconscious is very unfriendly to change. And, no matter how much you may like them, ten ponies barging into your head while you sleep is definitely change.         Luna’s dream-walking spell was actually fairly simple to learn. Simple, at any rate for the avatar of the Sun and her mythically gifted student. Rarity’s magic was just not quite strong enough, and of course Sweetie Belle could barely manage any spell at her age. Add a few pegasi and earth ponies into the mix, and needless to say another method of entering the mind was required. Celestia had thought of that, and her solution was crazy. So crazy, it just might work. Digging through her treasury of long-forgotten spells and artifacts, she had rediscovered a set of several materia gemstones. These she presented to Twilight Sparkle, who immediately guessed her mentor’s plan, and-- “OHMIGOSH! Princess, are these what I THINK they are?!” “Yes, Twilight Sparkle, these are--” “The Luminosa Symphony Crystallinam! I thought they disappeared centuries ago!” This drew a chuckle from Celestia. “They did. I took them for safekeeping, and nopony has seen them since, until now. Now, Twilight what I have in mind is--” “A harmonic arcane multi-tether, acting as--” “A Whistlian replicator enchantment?” “Ooh, yes! That’s brilliant Princess! But... will I be able to do that?” “Perhaps, faithful student, you could. But it would not be easy, which is why I decided we should collaborate.” “Collaborate?” “Of course. Our combined knowledge and powers should make short work of it, don’t you agree?” “Uh.. Of course!” Twilight had to recover from that one. “Ooh, I’m going to create a high-level dual enchantment with Princess Celestia!” A girlish squeal followed, as did more than a few blank stares. Few ponies could follow the two’s conversation, even if they did understand the words (and few did). Twilight and the Princess prepared spell and counterspell, and taught the latter to Shining Armor, in the event that something should go irreversibly wrong. He and Cadence would monitor the endeavor from the outside, and handle the day-to-day operations meanwhile. Spike would be aiding them, as Luna said: “You will be doing what you do better than anyone, O squamous little friend; helping others stay in one piece.” Spike was a little disappointed not to be going into somepony’s dreams, but truth be told, he was also quite relieved. That left ten ponies on the “drop team”, divided into four sub-groups. They would enter through the four realms of thought: Intuition, Sensation, Logic and Feeling. The four groups would rendezvous in the core of Luna’s mind, gathering evidence and setting her mind at ease, then exit via the counterspell and reconvene in the physical world. That way, they left plenty of room for error, and they would be relatively safe. A simple operation. Simple, that is, in theory.