“You want me to help you both sell your products in Ponyville?” I asked to reassure.
“Your heard us right, Iwano,” Flim replied. “But not only that—”
“We want you to endorse our product since you’re widely talked about in Equestria,” Flam said. “That way, they’ll be convinced to buy our brand new items.”
“And you must protect us from the Apple family,” Flim added, “especially from dear Applejack—”
“Hold your mouths!” I snapped. “What’s this new scheme along with a new product you two had come up this time, huh?”
Both of them blinked, and then Flam said. “So you’ve heard of us, eh? But this time, we’re just doing what every salesponies do.”
“You better not make me do what Silver Shill had done for you twins,” I warned. “Being in an act and faking your product of its real properties is what I hate. In fact, I bet your new one is another phony like your tonic.”
Behind these Unicorns was a cart stacked with crates, which I presumed their new products were in them.
After moments of silence, Flim and Flam had burst into laughter, which vaguely reminded me of Pinkie Pie. “What’s so funny?” I demanded. “And what are your new items anyway?”
Flim levitated a crate from the cart and placed it between us. Flam gestured me to open it. Once I did, it was filled with glass bottles containing white liquid.
“What are these?” I asked.
“These are our one of a kind ‘Crystal Clear Water’,” Flim explained.
“Believe it or not,” Flam said, “these drinks can cure any illnesses you can ever imagine!”
Now, it was my turn to laugh. That was the most ridiculous thing I’d ever heard!
“This is your tonic all over again,” I scoffed. “I won’t help you endorse or sell your fakes.”
The twins chortled with confident smiles. What? “Are you certain about your guess?” Flim asked as he levitated a bottle into my saddlebag. “Why won’t you try it yourself?”
“I’m not sick,” I replied, although I did have. My iWatch10 held down my sinusitis very well, but for my asthma, not so much.
“Find somepony in town who is sick then,” Flam suggested. “We just want to help the town, and probably all of Equestria.” He suddenly sulked. What?
Unexpectedly, another request had burp out of my mouth. When I quickly unfurled and read it, I gasped again. This wasn’t just any request, but an emergency!
“It looks like a very urgent request from another customer,” Flim presumed, “right, brother of mine?”
“Absolutely,” Flam agreed. “Iwano, I suggest you think first about our partnership as we’ll let you complete a couple more requests.”
“But don’t take too long—”
“For we can give you a fair deal of payment—”
“What do you say?”
“Fine, fine,” I said. “Gotta fly!”
And I flew away to the sky.
Flim and Flam had first appeared in the episode Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 of season two with train-like machinery that was named as the title episode and converted apples into cider through technological processing. The Apple family with the Mane Six had competed against the twin in a cider-making contest in hopes of proving their traditional ways were better, and most of all save Sweet Apple Acres. The salesponies had won in the end though, however when the Ponyville citizens tasted their cider, it tasted awful due to the stallions irrationally speeding up their machine when time was almost up.
The twins had appeared again in the episode Leap of Faith—a Rainbow Key episode of Applejack—in season four whereas they were selling tonic that was said to cure any illnesses or diseases, which was untrue.
They were in general the exact opposite of Applejack—unfair, sly, and relatively but mostly dishonest than the Earth pony mare. Personally, they were my favorite characters due to their nature as brothers and salesponies.
The twins were both tall pale, light grayish olive Unicorn stallions with moderate pistachio eyes and and their manes were moderate red with stripes. To know which was which, Flim had a cutie mark of a left facing apple slice while Flam’s cutie mark was an apple with a slice missing and he had a moustache.
Flam was right that I had an urgent request from another customer—and that customer happened to be one of the Mane Six.
Once I’d arrived in Sweet Apple Acres, I’d immediately teleported inside the Apple family’s house directly into Applejack’s room. I was welcomed by startling ponies and a little dragon. Big Macintosh and Braeburn were inside as well, caring for a sleeping and shuddering Earth pony mare on her bed.
“What’s wrong with Applejack?!” I asked. “Why is she shaking like that?”
“Our guess was that she’s in a strong nightmare that prevented her from waking up,” Twilight answered. “I had messaged Princess Luna to help her. But Applejack’s still shaking, which meant the princess didn’t get the letter.”
“We tried everything but couldn’t find a solution,” Rarity said. “Thus, we heeded for your help.”
It was now getting worst. Applejack started to shriek and violently waving her tough hooves around, nearly knocking her brother and cousin. Whatever nightmare she was in, I’d to stop it. What happened to Luna anyway?
“I can go into her dreams,” I said.
Twilight blinked and shook in disbelief. “What else can you do?” she muttered. I’d expected her to ask that.
As the two Apple stallions restrained Applejack, Braeburn said, “Just do it, partner!”
Immediately, I closed my eyes and relaxed. Luna should know that she wasn’t the only pony now in Equestria that could enter dreams and nightmares. I had a lot of experiences those of others in my adventures. Most of them were wild and scary rather than calm and quiet. It took me a week to train myself using my powers to obtain this unique ability from my experiences with dream-specialized foes.
I hafta help’im!!!
That sounds like her, I thought as I slowly opened my eyes. Putrid cheese puffs, where am I…?
Right before my eyes was a desolated Sweet Apple Acres. The whole scenery was dull and dead. The barn was in ruins and the crops by its sides were all in soot. The sight of it just horrified me to see a great place to become so destroyed. But where was Applejack?
I had my answer when I heard the mares scream. I flew and used my Aura senses to her. When I found Applejack, she was tossing her head around in panic. The whole orchard was withered and was lifelessly gray.
“Applejack, calm down, I’m here,” I said as I landed. “What’s wrong?”
The Apple ignored me and began running away. As I followed, she kept screaming my name albeit the fact I was here. What was wrong with her in this nightmare?
Buzzing noise stopped me from following Applejack. I gasped when I turned around to see the Changeling queen with her devious and salacious smile in front of me. She might be the one causing this nightmare, but why was Applejack screaming my name? I was definitely confused.
Before I could question, Chrysalis sent me flying with a blast. After I recovered in the air as I quickly float, I countered with a fast ‘Thunderbolt’ from my horn. I thought to myself that a Changeling might be a Bug and Flying-type thus I did that, which was crazy. But it was able to vanish her from thin air—what? This didn’t make sense at all, because of course this was a just a dream.
I sensed Applejack in the west part of this place, so I instantly teleported to where she was. When I arrived, she was pulling a gray version of me with a rope around my neck as I walk to somewhere. I thought that myself would choke, but he wasn’t affected and he was too strong for Applejack.
“Iwano, don’t go to him!” the mare warned as her teeth gripped the rope. “Wherever Chrysalis is, I just wanna let ya know she’s out to get you! She’s a liar! And don’t let Dissonance’s words get into ya—you’re stronger than him!”
So Applejack was preventing me from walking to where Dissonance was and warned me about Chrysalis. Was there a connection to all this once we woke up?
I didn’t bother to help Applejack out, so I just follow where they were heading to. After a few meters away from the orchard, my dream self stopped when a black smoke appeared in front of us. After it formed itself into a shady pony still covered in smoke, with red glowing eyes, and sprung dragon-like wings, I knew for certain that that was an incomplete form of Dissonance. This was just a dream and my evil power was still within me, so did it mean that this Dissonance was just a figment of the Earth pony’s nightmare?
“It was your entire fault for betraying Iwano’s trust, Honesty,” Dissonance said. “He was just a friendly Alicorn, but yet you seek to finish not only me but him as well.”
Applejack jumped and faced the smoky Alicorn between him and illusion Iwano. I’d to pay close attention to what was this all about before I could save her. “Ah know what I did was wrong, but I could fix it!” she said. “You knew this would happen, which was why ya were waiting for the right moment. I knew Chrysalis was still a good for nothing Changeling workin’ with ya who’d sought out for Iwano. Ya’ll are conniving hooligans!”
Dissonance snickered. “Iwano will soon find out, Honesty. The truth is inevitable, and can never be hidden forever no matter how clever and friendly you can be to keep it.”
Applejack growled and rammed at Dissonance, but only passed through him since he was smoke. She turned to face him again, only to see him consuming the fake Iwano. The mare screamed and trembled to the ground as she held her head like an insane pony.
Thought that she was somehow in pain because of Dissonance consuming myself, I intervene by blasting him and my fake into absolute oblivion. It was easy since this was just a dream. What was that all about…? Also, I had enough of this.
Applejack and I woke up after that.
“Are you okay?” Rainbow Dash asked as she helped me up from the floor. “What happened, Green Wing?”
“Just fought some nightmare,” I replied. “But Applejack should be fine now.”
“I’m so glad Applejack is all right,” Twilight said. “Thanks, Iwano.”
I nodded. Applejack panted as Braeburn wiped the sweat off her forehead and Big Macintosh went out of the room, probably to get something for his sister. That dream had gotten me puzzled. What were Dissonance and the mare talking about, and what made Chrysalis a connection to it?
After she yawned, Applejack grunted as she held her head again. “I think I have a headache,” she said. “Darn that nightmare and them.”
“Who are they in your dream?” Fluttershy asked.
Right when Applejack was about to explain, she caught my silent shook. She probably didn’t know why, but she lied, “I don’t remember anymore, that dream was too scary for me to recall them.”
“We understand, Applejack,” I said. I then suddenly thought of something. I levitated and brought out the drink Flim and Flam gave me. “Having a headache? Take this then.”
Taking the drink, I was eager to find out if their new tonic would work. Few seconds later, Applejack’s face stopped tensing from, calmed with a sigh, and lay down with a slump.
“Iwano, what is that drink you gave her?” Twilight asked in amazement.
I now believed the twins tried to help the town. “Flim and Flam gave that to me,” I answered.
“What?!” Applejack shot up which startled us. “This is their tonic all over again! You can’t trust those slimy—!”
I went forward swiftly and leaned my forehead against hers as my eyes stared directly at the Earth pony’s pupils.
“Everypony deserves a second chance, Applejack,” I whispered. “Here’s the deal: If they do anything fishy again, it’s my responsibility. Perhaps they’re reformed, like Chrysalis.”
Big Macintosh pulled me away from his sister, probably because he thought I’d intruded her. Yeah, I’d got that feeling of being a protective brother.
“Um, sorry about that,” I apologized. “Okay, Applejack’s fine now. Listen, the Flim Flam Brothers have returned with a new drink—not tonic—called ‘Crystal Clear Water’, whereas according to them can cure any illnesses and diseases. At first, I didn’t believe them. But when your friend took it, I was convinced. They’re probably reformed—now good. And will you excuse me; I have clients to attend to. Thank the twins, by the way, not me.”
I’d teleported away.
I’d meet the Mane Six soon. Obviously Applejack wasn’t convinced yet that Flim and Flam were now good. Well, I couldn’t blame her since she had experiences with them. When I left, my stomach had gotten sick and I’d to stop to barf out standby requests. Alright, I’d go for my next client, Sweetie Drops.
I’d arrived in town square where I saw my client with Lyra Heartstring sitting on a bench—like what a human did. Hmm, that Unicorn was always thought by fans to have an obsession with humans, which was very ridiculous. It was just an animation error or sorts.
“Ayo, I’m Iwano Imagination,” I greeted as I landed to them. “How may I be in service to you, Sweetie Drops?”
“Please, call me Bon-Bon,” she said. Sweetie Drops, or Bon-Bon, was a light apple greenish gray Earth pony mare with moderate arctic blue eyes, and moderate cobalt blue mane with very light fuchsia highlights. Her cutie mark was three blue-and-yellow-striped bows, or wrapped candy. “I want you to cure my friend here. Lyra has been having dreams about, uh, ‘weird creatures’. So I thought you could give her a little, um, therapy on it. She’s also been talking about it for the past few months that it’s driving me crazy!”
“Those ‘weird creatures’ my friend was referring to are called humans,” Lyra said. She was a very light aquamarine Unicorn mare with moderate tangelo eyes, and pale, light grayish cyan mane with white highlights. I’d heard her voice in the show, but in pony, she sounded like strumming string of serenades.
Ponies in town would think Lyra was delusional once she’d spread her belief in humans. Without telling Sweetie Drops and warning Lyra, I’d levitated and restrained her down to the ground with my magic.
“What do you think you’re doing to Lyra?” Sweetie Drops demanded as she tried to pull me away from her friend.
“Trust me in this,” I said while I focused my eyes on the Unicorn’s. When she gave up struggling and her eyes made contact with mine, hers glowed golden because of my stare.
It looked like Sweetie Drops was worried, but her eyes said she was okay with it as long as I fixed her friend. After a few seconds later, I helped Lyra up and her eyes were back to normal and likewise mine.
“Do you still believe in humans?” I asked.
“Humans, what?” she asked back.
Emotion…Peace…Sweetness…Faith…
Whoever spoke in my head started to get a little annoying. But I suddenly had a tiny thought it was telling me something important.
Would you kindly just be quiet for a day or two? I asked in thought.
Sweetie Drops sighed in relief as she hugged Lyra, although the Unicorn had no idea what happened. “Thank goodness she’s cured. Thanks, Iwano. How much does this cost me?”
“Just ten bits,” I answered. “Before you pay, let’s have a little chat about you two.”
Bon-Bon and Lyra were delighted to chat with their new Alicorn friend. The Earth pony owned a candy shop that also sold bowties. The cured pony was a harpist in town who soothed the locals with her instrument. We just sat together under the clear blue sky and talked about each other. I could just take a short break from my odd job.
“Many ponies here are often annoyed of me ‘cause they said I’m too talkative,” Sweetie Drops said. She sounded like one of those complaining teen girls I saw on television and Reality in my school. “I was like, ‘I’m just expressing my opinion, you know?’, and they were like, ‘Bon-Bon, your opinions could hurt somepony so just keep it to yourself, okay?’ I mean, it’s just my opinion. What’s their problem?”
“Uh, yeah, what’s their problem?” I pretended to agree. I turned to Lyra to change the subject. “So, tell me about yourself.”
“Well, I just love playing the harp and Bon-Bon here—my best friend,” Lyra said.
Sweetie Drops snuggled her friend, which I found it gross rather than affectionate. “Aw, you’re too kind.”
“Thanks, as always. I’m not the talkative kind like Bon here—no offense, girl—and I prefer staying quiet. Peace is everything and peace will always find a place even in the most violent hearts, like Bon-Bon here.”
“Hey! Quit it!”
“I’m just kidding~!”
“And Lyra here never found love.”
“Too much info, Bon-Bon. I just want to wait for my special somepony to arrive someday in the right place and the right time.”
“And what place and time to your own specifications?” I asked.
“I wanna face him by a bridge as we stare at each other underneath the twinkling stars. That’d be romantic…” Lyra sighed dreamily.
I remembered my confession with Mari Ming Onette when we were together on a bridge in the night in the Grand Chase world. The emotionless ether technician just made my heart grind its gears that I could really relate to her as a researcher and isolated person in Reality. She and I were still in a relationship.
“What about Noteworthy?” I suggested. “He seems like a nice chap. Why not him?”
“Yeah!” Sweetie Drops agreed. “Lyra, Noteworthy is still single and he’s been your best boy pal since kindergarten; if you still have feelings for him, then go with him—and then confess when the time is right.”
“I don’t know,” Lyra unsurely said. “We’d stopped hanging out because he said he needed space. I don’t know why but I followed him anyway, thought maybe he has issues with me or some important life problem. And I just realized it’s been months since the Ponytones performed in Fluttershy’s fund raising event.”
This made me confirm that Lyra and Sweetie Drops weren’t a couple in the real Equestria. In Reality, fans shipped—or paired up romantically—these two mares, like they’d paired up Vinyl Scratch with the cellist. In my opinion, I liked heterosexual pairings rather than same genders despite them being “cute”.
“There’ll come a time you and him would end up together as a couple, Lyra,” I said. “You’re cute and a harpist. Some stallion should go out with you, especially Noteworthy. Just to tell you two, he and I are quite best buds during my party yesterday—”
Sweetie Drops growled loudly. “I hate what happened yesterday! I thought it was the best party ever dedicated to the newcomer, you, and then everything went all wacko.”
“Calm down, Bon-Bon,” Lyra said which immediately cooled her friend down. No wonder why her voice sounded like strumming strings. “The past is past. Do you have something else to do, Iwano?”
“Why yes, ladies.” I stood up and they followed. “It’s nice having a short chat with you both. Let’s hang out someday when there’s time.”
After I bid them goodbye, I’d gone to my next client who was waiting by Ponyville’s theatre. It made me smile to interact with the citizens of this town, especially if they were famed background ponies of the fandom, such as Sweetie Drops and Lyra Heartstrings.
Should I consider cooperating with the Flim Flam Brothers soon? Hmm, I’d thought about it later. I then thought of the town fearing me. Perhaps they weren’t anymore, I hoped.
The voice in my head had mentioned four words, so why? The more that voice kept going, the more I’d be curious as Twilight Sparkle.
“You’re late” my goldish gray client said as she tuned the strings of her bass cello. It was already 4:30 PM. She was apparently impatient when I was serving many more clients before her.
I tapped the flooring of the opera’s stage we were on. “I’m just one body,” I said. “If I were to return to the Mirror Pond, my clones would just cause chaos again. I can see you’re kinda uptight, Miss Melody. Laugh a little with your fiddle~!”
Octavia Melody rolled her sharp grayish mulberry eyes and glared at me. I gulped. I’d read her mind and heart that she despised me of what I’d done to the town.
She whipped her dark gray mane in disgust of my very weak humor which shined it light tint from the spotlights directing at her like she were a star. To me, she was one, in fact, I idolized her. I didn’t care if she held contempt for the Alicorn, for he admired her elegant beauty with his golden eyes looking at her from head to hoof plus her treble clef cutie mark. Her beauty was equal to Rarity’s if she were to play that instrument of hers.
“Why are you staring at me like that?” Octavia asked.
I blinked. “Uh, forgive me; I’m just admiring how appealing you are with your cello, Tavi.”
“Buttering me with that cheap compliment isn’t enough to make ponies in Ponyville think you’re a friendly after what you’d done yesterday.” She steadied herself on her hind legs with her instrument. “And don’t you dare ever call me by my nickname—since we’re not that close.”
I wasn’t buttering her up, really. I was honest—very honest. Besides Fluttershy, I had crushes on a lot of mares especially this Earth pony. I considered her as my musical waifu for I loved classical music and etiquettes. Also, I wasn’t trying to compliment in order to befriend. I was just being me.
I just smiled. “So, how would I be in service for you, Octavia? I’ll address you by that then.”
“I want you to sing for me.”
“Uh, what?”
“I said I want you to sing for me, Iwano Imagination. I wish to challenge my talent by following the tone of your voice as I play. Oh, can you sing?”
“Eeyup,” I replied with pride. “I’m not only a ruler in my kingdom but as well as a singer. You see, singing is my talent. If we have time together, maybe we could be a duo in a show—you play, I sing.”
“A swell idea, really. But I already have a partner in music, thank you.” Her undertone sounded uninterested. “It’s a yes then? Now sing, if you may.”
Sheesh, I just want to get along with ya, I thought.
For a simple-looking opera house, this place was luxurious in my eyes with its red velvet seats, cinnamon ceiling, red rug flooring, and antique stage. Theatres were my second favorite places; the first were libraries.
“I’ll start on your signal,” Octavia said. “Perhaps this would also be an opportunity for you to please me to be a new friend, if you want.”
Definitely. I didn’t want to sing a song from Reality, so I made up my own.
I closed my eyes and imagined myself in front of thousands of ponies. They were quiet, waiting for the singer to let out his voice. I took a deep breath in order to relax. Albeit Octavia was the only pony with me, she was like an audience in one mare.
Impatient, Octavia asked, “Are you going to sing or—?”
I had begun.
I cannot stand it anymore
That’s why I trembled to the floor
My heart’s pained almost everyday
For that, this is what I’ll say
Please don’t go away from me
Can you use your eyes to see?
I may be mysterious and perilous
Loneliness makes my heart silently furious
My spirit shines as the regal sun
My blackness hidden by the serene moon
I at least want to smile and have some fun
But would this darkness end so soon
Will that one pony come to my life?
Who’d free me from this awful strife?
I’m waiting here with my voice playing
I hope you’re here to hear me singing…
When I finished, I turned to Octavia. She was frozen with surprised eyes and dropped her bow. Yet again, another pony was agape. I wasn’t surprised as she.
Lowering her cello down, she said, “Okay, I’ll compliment you in return then. You’re quite dignified.”
“Thank you, Octavia,” I said. “I often enjoy singing. It helps me express my emotions and ventilate any negativity out of my heart.”
“Was that song your negativity? If so, then I’m sorry.”
“You don’t need to apologize. I’m happy to help and sing at the same time. Oh, and I was really complimenting you sincerely a while ago.”
“Well then I must thank you, Iwano.” Octavia glanced around as if she sensed somepony else. “Do you want a spot of tea?”
A quiet time with Octavia Melody in “Tealove’s Café” was simply divine as were having tea outside. I loved these sorts of times in peacefulness, especially with the cellist.
“So, Octavia,” I said, “tell me about yourself. Maybe we could just get along as acquaintances in the meantime.”
“Nopony else bothered to ask me about myself,” the mare said. “The only pony who knew much about me was—”
“Vinyl Scratch, correct?”
She chuckled. “You do know everything and everyone in Equestria, huh? That’s amazing.”
“Almost everything and everyone,” I admittedly corrected. “I don’t even know everything about you except you’re a cellist, Vinyl’s best friend, and a more dignified pony than I.”
The cellist blushed. “Well, uh, since you said I should tell you about myself, I’ll do so.”
“Brilliant, begin?”
“I am Octavia Melody. I was born in Canterlot. In my childhood there, I was enrolled in a prestigious academy whereas they trained young minds to do the magnificent arts of music. As a filly, it was my dream to learn how to play a violin. I was terrible with that instrument despite months of practice that I’d decided to try others. Sadly I was incapable of any of the classical kinds that I almost gave up. That was when I met my best friend. Vinyl was a delinquent in the academy that teachers often sent her out of class not because of her attitude but her choice of instrument—a turntable. She’d said, ‘Who cares what instrument you play? Just keep finding one until you stay with it forever’. That filly was rather quite amusing that I begun to doubt she was a troublemaker once you get to know her better. She was the one who led me to play my forte. I owned her so much for all that that I wanted to repay her soon someday. Vinyl and I lived together in Ponyville after I’d moved here.”
“I could tell you’re glowing whenever you mentioned Vinyl’s name, Octavia.” I sipped my tea. “You two certainly are the best of friends.”
“Indeed. We do share our differences. Besides her, I do have other friends. Oh! I should tell more about myself to you?”
“Go ahead if you want, Miss Melody.” Conversing with this mare made my heart pump that I sipped on my tea more often.
“Okay. I’m more on the high standards and decency when it comes to galas and balls. In my past time besides playing my cello, read and sing—”
“Hey, I have both of them!” I happily exclaimed.
“Oh, you do? Then we might get along very well, more than acquaintances if I may say, Iwano. Where was I? Oh yes. I prefer quietness and staying clean. I’m also a musical critic to instrument players and singers. I’d rate your singing nine out of ten for your voice is slightly exquisite but your song was gloomy despite its artful and rhythmic lyrics.”
“Thanks for the evaluation.”
“You’re welcome. Between you and me, I still dream of playing the violin someday, but I have no time for it. I can be a little austere and serious when it comes to certain things.”
“I see.” I sometimes imagined that Octavia would look remarkable playing the violin. I was a fan of Lindsey Stirling, a famous violinist in Reality. Octavia and she would likely be the same except with different instruments. “Maybe I could teach you how to play the violin one day, Octavia.”
“Thank you for the offer, Iwano, I’ll think about it. And you can call me Tavi.”
“But we’re not that close yet, right?”
She laughed. “I love a good conversation, too. We are now, Mr. Imagination.”
I felt my heart warm. It was probably from the tea.
Octavia paid the bill of our teas and my service—fifteen bits—and we departed.
Suddenly, I smacked my forehead. “Why didn’t I thought of that?” I asked myself. “I’m so stupid~!”
I used my magic and conjured three clones of myself. Pretty soon, I’d have a buck load of requests thus I made these copies. They were absolutely disciplined and just like me except they’d work as well.
“I need the three of you to work with me,” I told them. “A request will randomly burp out of any of you. If anypony questions why there’re three other Iwanos, just explain why and ya’ll know it. Understand?”
“What about you?” the first Iwano asked.
“I need to take a break. I’ll beckon you three to me for the money once I message the signal, okay?”
“Yes sir,” they said in unison, and flew away.
I yawned. I earned two hundred and twenty-one bits today. I thought I should have a quick nap in my home, thus I teleported away.
Luna wasn’t the only one having nightmares, or so it seemed to be, but not to Celestia.
The white Alicorn soared through the gloomy sky as she gazed down at a wasteland known as Equestria. Celestia knew this was all just a mere illusion, but to her heart it was real. Forests were dead. Rivers and lakes were dried. No other ponies were seen frolicking in this forsaken land. Thunders boomed red in color in the black clouds.
Despite her fright, Celestia remained calm as too curious what was her dream meant.
The princess finally spotted a black Alicorn below, thus she landed near him.
“What is all this?” she cautiously asked. “Are you showing me your foreshadowing destruction of Equestria, Dissonance? It will never happen.”
The black Alicorn turned to face the princess with his glowing bloodshot eyes and said, “This might happen to your land once you don’t stop me. However, you should believe in your mother. Iwano is a threat as long as I’m within him. I’d like to tell you that he’s also a threat to his own kingdom. Iwano was stopped countless of times when he turned dark. I just wish his heart is purely black. If you don’t want this fate, then stop him.”
“No, we’ll stop you! You are the sole reason why he’s like that. We will save him from you, Dissonance.”
Dissonance cackled. “Words are cheap, Celestia. Why won’t you do something, you weak princess? Lauren defeated you and most of your pathetic Royal Guards.”
Celestia fumed but remained subtle. Her patience was broad as sunshine, however Dissonance’s mockery was insulting.
“Would you like to see a princess fly off her pedestal and fight for her subjects?” she asked.
“Ah, things will get interesting soon. But I doubt you as a plus to your forces would help.”
That is why a competition will be held soon, Celestia thought.
“What competition, Tia?”
“…You too can read minds, hm? Sorry, but my counselor had trained me to enhance my mental and thought guard against mind readers."
“Star Swirl was a fantastic Unicorn, yes. Anyway, the games will soon begin, so find as many allies as you can, Tia. You’ll need them, but I doubt they’d even zap me before they have the chance. There’s still the fact though that your mother had defeated you. What pity. I bet you’ve been sitting in your royal pedestal to long that your abilities in combat became rusty, you wisecracker.”
Celestia knew what Dissonance was doing with his words, but the princess as always was coolheaded. Tia wouldn’t be reckless as Luna in both rage and enthusiasm, but there were times when she had to reasonably flare. She remembered how she’d raged against her alternate self back when the mirror world of Equestria had emerged with hers. Although, Lauren now was the only pony Celestia would be angered of.
“Nice try, Dissonance,” Celestia said. “But your words don’t affect me. It’s true I was defeated by mother. On the contrary, I take my ‘rusty combat skills’ as a challenge. I am though curious of why would we stop Iwano since you’re actually the real threat, using him I believe as a tool. I do not care if he had done great crimes in his past, what matters to us is that not only we’ll free Iwano from you but also teach him some lessons.”
“Just like how your Twilight Sparkle did in the past—”
“She’s still learning with her friends.”
“Okay, okay, Tia, you’re becoming stubborn now. What about this? You defeat Iwano Imagination and I’ll surely be gone from your world. No more harm upon your plebeians. I swear that on the River Styx.”
“I have no idea what’s the River Styx. But it feels there’s a certain condition behind that. Care to tell if you want us to be negotiable, Dissonance? Otherwise, I must turn your deal down—even if it means putting you down, too.”
Her enemy gritted his teeth and stared at the ground. Celestia knew there was something behind that deal.
Celestia was right when Dissonance admitted, “…If you defeat Iwano, you’ll not only bring peace to your land but also”—he drew a line across his neck—“Even if I were not possessing him or I were destroyed, Iwano himself is a menace in every land and every world he’d be through.”
“…Wait, what do you mean ‘in every land and every world he’d be through’?” Celestia asked as her curiosity of the newcomer increased as Twilight.
Dissonance smiled. “Ask him yourself, princess. I’ll give you time to think about my offer in the meantime, but I’ll soon visit you again.”
If Celestia were Luna, she’d demand or strangle Dissonance for answers rather than ask Iwano himself—which was what she’d wanted to do. Iwano Imagination is not a threat, she thought. He needs to be freed.
“Fine, I will ask him and think about your offer, Dissonance,” Celestia said. “But don’t think my subjects and I would give in that easily.”
“I know you wouldn’t. Goodbye, Celestia.”
In the blink of an eye, the princess’s sight had gone black.
Tia woke with a start and panted from her velvet purple bed. “I must talk to him soon.”
Celestia recalled what Lauren had said about Iwano. Both of them said the same thing about Iwano, she thought, that he’s a threat. She shook in disbelief. Dissonance and Lauren also did mock her of being weak.
“Dissonance and soon Lauren must be stopped.”
Besides being a leader of multi-universal world, I was grateful of doing odd jobs. A long time ago back in Imaginundia, I’d decided to take a “vacation” from my position for week, gave it to Lentae as a challenge, and I’d gone to do the everyday odd jobs in IW. It was a fantastic experience though I’d felt sorry for weighting such heavy but temporary responsibility on my sister, albeit she was just a vice leader. Doing the everyday life of my citizens had given me the opportunity to interact and get to know them.
To my surprise, I’d earned four hundred and fifty-two bits in one day. Not bad. My clones were doing fine and did not rampage the town in Hawaiian shorts.
I was strolling around Ponyville to relax as my clones lessened my work. Whenever somepony saw me, they’d ask for assistance and in exchange they paid me. It looked like everypony wasn’t afraid of me anymore. What a relief!
“Perhaps I should go back to work,” I said.
“Hey, you’re Iwano Imagination, right?” somepony asked behind me.
I turned and met the DJ pony. “Ayo, Vinyl Scratch,” I greeted. “And yes, I am yours truly. How may I help you?”
“You do remember I requested for your assistance, right?”
I’d first seen this mare from my Entering with Colors performance in my first day in Equestria.
Vinyl Scratch was a yellowish white Unicorn with a strobe moderate cobalt blue mane with brilliant cyan stripes, and was commonly known as the famous “DJ Pone-3”. She wore her signature glasses which was a gradient from dark purple to moderate heliotrope with lighter streaks. Vinyl had her cutie mark—a backward double quaver—during Shining Armor and his friends’ performance in their high school years.
“I’m sorry, I was just taking a break,” I said. “So, what do you need me for, Vinyl Scratch?”
“I want you to be my personal bodyguard for the rest of my gig today. Every time I have one, my fans overwhelmed my other past bodyguards. You think you can handle this?”
“Absolutely, I can do that, which is a piece of cake.”
Courage…
“Alright,” Vinyl said as she adjusted her glasses which slightly revealed her moderate cerise eyes. “Let’s wub this day up~!”
Twenty to thirty bodyguards in my estimation might hold a crowd of fifty ponies. As an Alicorn, I had the magic to cast an invisible barrier protecting the concert stage as the DJ played. And I started to think a “gig” wasn’t enough to describe this whole thing.
I made six more clones to reinforce security while Vinyl’s concert was on as I wrote another letter to my new pen pal. I was back stage, by the way. A while ago I’d pushed back a horde of fans, which was fun.
The beat of the music was so rhythmic with its electronic beats that my hooves begun tapping away as I wrote. Her music reminded me of David Guetta.
Dear Tia,
Let’s have some fun by asking each other a question. I’ll go first: Who was the major love of your life? I promise I won’t tell anypony.
Sincerely you friend,
Iwano Imagination
…Okay, that was a bit personal, but I wanted to get along with the sun bearer.
After I’d sent my letter in flames, I’d heard my name.
“Hey, Iwano! Get your hooves on stage! Yeah…!”
That was Vinyl—calling me to obviously get myself onstage?
When I revealed myself, I was greeted with a roaring crowd. Despite only fifty ponies, they sure could make themselves huge ear-poppers, or were they increased to a hundred, thousands?
Beside me was the DJ with her turntable. “Now, Iwano,” Vinyl said through her microphone. “I want you to jam. You’re kinda like a singer to me since you’d first come to Ponyville, so why not do that again?”
She wants me to sing? I thought. Crowds were silent, waiting for me to let my voice out. I sighed as I gestured to have the mic. The things I had to do to please ponies.
As DJ Pone-3 started the music, I started—
Don’t stare at me with funny faces
I’mma knot your tongues like laces
Honestly I am so lame
Don’t put me in the hall of fame
Just lend me the spotlight for this time
’Cause I’mma have to let out some of my rhymes—
Stay silent!
I see them ponies jammin’ in that club
Drinkin’ cider all night—I thought there ain’t a pub
I feelin’ so afraid to let out my moves
But my heart’s sayin’ that it’s time to kick my hooves
Bam! I shuffle some boys away
And then I got the gals with me and I’m now okay
Get hypnotized
Pulverized
Look at the strobe lights from my eyes
Until you go so very blind
Instead of your hooves raisin’ in the air
You whip your manes back and forth like you all don’t care
That’s all for now so have a very good time
And I promise that I am sweeter than lime!
After that, I’d teleported away.
I knew that was rude, but I felt my hooves shook in fright. Fluttershy had stage fright and was very shy. I on the other hoof could only stand for a limited time in front of a crowd, unless I felt some confident energy.
5:20 PM and I still hadn’t decide if I should partner up with the Flim Flam Brothers. They were very untrustworthy and conned a lot. But their Crystal Clear Water had cured Applejack. Hmm…I might still need to think about it.
As my clones get paid, the bits automatically had gone to me.
The thought of Pinkie Pie and Zecora suddenly crossed my mind…I’d almost forgotten about them. Zecora fainted after she’d recited Dissonance’s prophecy and hadn’t waked up yet, and Pinkie Pie was still recovering in Sugarcube Corner after I’d defeated her as Pinkamena.
I decided to visit the Element of Laughter.
Several minutes had passed and Celestia still hadn’t written back to her new pen pal.
She paced around her study room, thinking of how to answer his simple yet very personal question.
“It’s been a long time since somepony asked me this question, Philomena,” Tia said to her pet phoenix that was perched on a stand near a hearth. “The last one who asked me that was…”
Her trail broke as she recounted her times with her very first love. Celestia’s heartbeat suddenly raced by the thought of Sombra—the good Sombra—who belonged in an alternate version of Equestria through a magical mirror that was smashed forever. The princess’s heart also ached by the thought of Sombra sacrificing himself to save his world and the mare of his dreams.
Celestia sat down on her carpet sullenly. “Oh how I wish to love another once again,” she sadly whispered. She and Luna never found the right stallion that could be with them forever. Discord was immortal, but Tia had no interest with the chaos bringer despite he was reformed.
The princess conjured a pen and quill and begun replying back—
Dear Iwano,
Can we change that subject? Forgive me; it’s just that that it is too “personal”. You probably know who I loved in the past. But since he is gone, I have no major love in my life at this time. If it’s fine, can I ask who the love of your life is? After you answer that, may I know your interests and hobbies? How did you get your cutie mark? How does it feel to lead in your kingdom? Do you have a family or relatives? Who’re the friends very close to you in your home? Did you ever done wrong in your life? If so, could you tell me? Your secrets are safe with me, Iwano. I hope you could understand
Sincerely your friend,
Tia
Celestia rolled the paper and threw it to Philomena, and the letter burned on contact into nothing.
“I hope he could understand,” she said.
I entered her room as I creakingly opened the door and quickly shut it behind me quietly. Pinkie Pie was all tucked in her candy colored bed, with a bandage wrapped around her neck and her left eye covered. The room was dim and only her window provided little light.
I couldn’t help but feel sorry for what I’d done to the party pony. I was cold and too serious to get along with her for I’d despised Pinkie’s talkative and senseless character.
During my fight with Pinkamena, I’d learned to laugh through my pain despite the severity, and had a little Laughter to last longer within me when I’d go through harsh times in the future as I looked back to the happy past to cheer me on farther.
I carefully walked towards Pinkie Pie, as if she’d still be her gory self. When I was finally beside her, I stared at her bright pinkness and cute face for a moment.
“Pinkie Pie,” I said. “I’m very sorry for hating you. You really are a great party pony, and I appreciate your efforts making me happy.” I felt my heart tugged. “I wish I can do something in return…”
Suddenly, I was pulled to her bed.
Before I could scream in a tight loveable hug, Pinkie Pie whispered in my ear, “…Can you hug me?”
I blushed. My breath became hot, my heartbeat rapid, my eyes drowsy, and hooves shaking. Even without this blanket, her hug was warm and sweet as hot chocolate. If only Pinkie Pie were Fluttershy though, I’d be extra happy.
“I’m so sorry, Pinkie,” I apologized. “I should never have said those awful things about you…”
She weakly giggled. “You said ‘Pinkie’. Usually you called me Pinkie Pie. Iwano, that’s fine. I forgive you. I actually saw how sad you are in the inside. I don’t know how I could do that, but I’d always want to make you smile and laugh and have fun. I’m Pinkie Pie, you know?”
I gave her a hug, too. Pinkie gasped quietly. “Thank you…”
We then stared at each other. Her cerulean bedroom eyes were kinda minty in this dim room with her mouth an inch opened. I hugged her softly with my left hoof wrapped around her back while the other on her head. Pinkie’s hooves were around my back tight as her bandages, bringing us closer and felt each other’s exhalation.
It was like…It was like I’d wanted to touch her lips right now with mine…
What am I doing? I asked in thought.
I snapped out as I gasped and pulled myself up away from her with eyes widened. “Um—I, uh…Pinkie Pie—oh,” I stammered. “So, are we cool? I’m sorry; I don’t mean to be rude. It’s just that it’s…um…”
Pinkie remained lying down gazing at me with a small smile, and winked. That unnerved me.
“You can go now,” she said. “See you later, Iwano.”
I didn’t know what else to say, I just teleported away in exit.
I panted when I appeared near Carousel Boutique.
“What was I doing?!” I asked myself. “Iwano, what were you doing with her? You were supposed to just apologize and suddenly you were going mushy!”
I should really control my desire. Pinkie Pie to me was a great pony who could cheer anypony up and always had an optimistic side. Her illogical and eccentric character might be why I was infatuated. Was I really infatuated? Pinkie pulled and grasped me to her hooves on her bed. Did that mean…?
“No,” I firmly said. “That ain’t gonna happen. I’m for Fluttershy, not Pinkie Pie. I’m for Kindness, not Laughter.”
“Hey, are you Iwano Imagination?” Scootaloo asked.
I turned and found four fillies. “Can I help you, crusaders?” I asked.
“Wow, he knows who we are!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed. “He isamazing!”
With just that assumption and now impressed, I thought.
“Well, he is Iwano Imagination after all,” Babs Seed said.
“Mr. Imagination,” Apple Bloom said, “Can we ask you a little favor?”
I was happy to see these four fillies together. This was the first time I’d met them. If Lentae were here she’d cuddle Scootaloo into a pulp. Sweetie Belle was my favorite crusader.
“Of course, Apple Bloom,” I replied. “What do you girls need me in service, hmm?”