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// Prologue 
// Story: Sleepwalker 
// by Subject01 
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Neverwinter is a unicorn with a very tragic past. Born and raised in Canterlot, his parents were materialistic, not caring for him at all, while he was fond of more intellectual pursuits. Neuroscience, dreams to be more specific. He had always had a fascination with dreams as they were often much more enjoyable than his actual life. Neverwinter had the ability to lucid dream at will, always having control over the situation.

On one horrible evening, he and his family came home, from another bout of buying useless junk to discover they had been robbed. His parents, the ponies that they were, were furious, swearing and shrieking in anger and sadness. When Neverwinter attempted to soothe them with the notion that they still had family and each other, that the possessions stolen could not hold a candle to the bond of family, their anger grew into outrage! His father, so rejected this that he, in his rage, kicked Neverwinter, sending him head first into a wall, breaking his horn on impact. After the pain subsided, Neverwinter decided to run away immediately. And he did.

About a year was spent by him on the streets, living off of the kindness of others. So it was until the day that rumors were spread that the Princess was having horrible night terrors in the absence of her sister Luna. Of this, Neverwinter worried. For the Princess could not be expected to rule a kingdom if she cannot sleep. Mustering up all the courage he could, he made his way to the palace to speak with the guards about a potential meeting with her. The royal court had tried everything in their power so, in desperation they allowed Neverwinter to attempt to soothe the Princess' terrors

. The Princess greeted him as warmly as an insomniac could and asked what he could do to help. Neverwinter thought for a while. "what am I actually capable of doing?" he pondered. Finally he said "just let me do something". 

the Princess was not sure what to make of this but said "If you are convinced it will put my mind at ease.". From under his overgrown mane, his broken horn sputtered to life and a beam of iridescent light shone to Celestia's horn, connecting the two. Neverwinter saw the dreams she had been having.

She was trapped in a deep blackness. The only sounds being muffled cries for help and screams. After a long while all sound ceased at once and it brought about a deafening silence much louder than any shriek. Through the blackness walked a pony like figure as tall as the princess. It whispered "Your Fault". Then it was over.

Neverwinter returned to reality. That entire dream having been only a few equestrian seconds. He then spoke more eloquently than he thought possible "You feel guilty about what you did to Luna. You feel somehow that it was your fault or that it was a far too severe punishment to banish her to the moon. You cannot accept reality and are constantly in brief states of denial or anger of your decision and your ignoring of it has caused it to fester. You can't run anymore. You must have some kind of revelation before your mind can be at ease."

The Princess was taken aback but after a long moment of silence said "I have been so blind all this time. To think that ignoring my problems would solve them. For opening my eyes I thank you."

"I am Neverwinter Sleepwalker. Neverwinter for short." he spoke. With that a bright light and a brief burning sensation on his flank signaled his coming of age. A dream cloud had appeared on his flank signifying his affinity with his own dreams and the now apparent affinity for others. The Princess, grateful for his help, gave Neverwinter a room in the Royal Palace, where he would learn magic and basic academia. After that he settled down in Canterlot near the Palace should anyone need assistance. In the age of Twilight and her friends, he is a humble unicorn, living in a small, humble home on the outskirts of Ponyville. No one really even knows he exists. He is quiet, thinking in a very straightforward and precise manner, much like he thinks. They say dreams are a gateway into the mind. I suppose you could call Neverwinter Sleepwalker the Gatekeeper.