I awoke with a start; sweat started trickling down my forehead and back. My breathing was ragged as fear coursed through my veins. Images of the dream I just had sent unwelcome shivers down my spine. I was pinned down by King Sombra; he was laughing darkly at my feeble attempts to escape from him. He would trail his sharp hooves along my cheek, making them bleed under the process. I screamed loudly, hoping someopony would hear me. I wanted the images of the nightmare to go away. I closed my eyes tightly as my body began preparing itself for another day of torture. I knew that today I would get my shot; the shot that kept me from using my lightening power. I don't know what the shot contains, but it weakens my power. I felt so helpless and powerless. I wished my ponies were here with me, but I'm grateful that they are safe.
Suddenly I heard, "She's awake."
I sighed contently. I knew that voice from anywhere. It's been so long since I heard Shining Armor's voice. The darkness that surrounded me faded away, and my wilting heart perked up a little. I knew I was dreaming, but I didn't want to think about it now. I prayed that this dream would last forever, but I knew I didn't have much time. I fluttered my eyes opened and my gaze met cobalt blue ones. I soaked in his features: his silky, blue mane, his round, his concerned expression, and of course those captivating blue eyes. He gave a sad smile while tracing his hoof down my cheek. My heart accelerated from his touch, and I took a sharp intake of breath as I felt warm tingles shooting down my limbs like an electric current was coursing through me. His touch felt so . . . real and alive; I absorbed his touch as best as I could. The dream almost seemed real.
I realized we were both in a jungle; I began to panic. Now, my suspicion of this being
dream was confirmed; my heart turned cold and numb. I loved these kinds of dreams, but they left me heartbroken when I woke up. My bottom lip began to tremble and the false Shining Armor cradled me in his strong arms. He started to rock me back and forth, and I held him closer to me. I didn't care if he was an illusion; it was as close enough to the real Shining Armor. The barrier that I set up between the real Shining Armor and me corroded into dust. I heard him soothe me with his native language, and my heart swelled at the sound of his voice. I was surrounded by his sandalwood scent; I buried my nose into his chest. Oh, I missed this so much, even from the real Shining Armor. I wished HayStack were here too, but I knew that I would suffer more pain when this dream was over. My heart could only take so much.
"Don't leave me, please," I begged softly to the false S.A. I just wanted to hear his voice some more, so I can remember him when I wake up. I closed my eyes shut tightly; I didn't want this to end.
“I won't, priya .I won't," he soothed as I felt him hug me closer. My arms that were around his neck tightened into a chokehold embrace, but he didn't complain.
“How is she doing?" HayStack! I opened my eyes and I saw HayStack kneeling beside us. I drank in his features too: his antique-bronze coat, his ink-black hair, and his golden eyes with specks of copper. More tears streamed down my face; they are both here with me. In dreams like these, this usually doesn't happen. It's either S.A. or HayStack, but in this dream, I get the advantage of both of them.
HayStack gave a strained smile and asked gently, "How are you doing, Pinkie?" I didn't respond; I didn't even want to speak to ruin this almost perfect dream. It wasn't perfect because they weren't real. I banished the thought away; I wanted to spend as much time with them as I can. I wasn't going to saying anything, but something in HayStack's expression made me speak.
"I'm fine," I lied to the false HayStack. I knew if I said those two words, HayStack would relax a bit and I could enjoy the dream.
HayStack wiped away a tear on my cheek with his hoof. I shivered a little because this was the first time he touched me in my dreams. I finally, after three weeks, felt secure and content. The damages that Sombra left in my soul, was now forgotten. My world became brighter: the cloudy, terrifying storms vanished, my dying flowers became green and grew a little, and sun rays were shining through the clouds. My trembling lips turned into a smile as more tears coursed down my cheek. Stupid tears. I can't see them; stop crying. I swallowed thickly as I looked at my two ponies.
"Don't cry, iadala. It's over," I heard Shining Armor say softly Oh, I wish. I wanted to say, but I didn't want to ruin this almost perfect moment. I tightened my hold around his neck in response.
“I'm going to get some water for her," HayStack said as he got up; I felt my eyes widen, "No!" I shouted. "Don't leave me. Don't go away. Just stay here until I wake up," I pleaded desperately. I lifted one of my arms from Shining’s neck and reached out to him. If I let him go away; he will disappear. I felt Shining Armor tighten his hold on me so I wouldn't fall over. HayStack furrowed his eyebrows with concern. "You're not dreaming, Pinkie Pie."
I shook my head in denial. "The false HayStack would say that. No, I am not letting you out of my sight!" HayStack knelt down beside me again and took my trembling hand. His hooves stroked my mane to comfort me. He kissed the top of my hoof and whispered, "We finally saved you," he closed his eyes like he was relieved to say those words. "We were afraid we would never save you, but we did." I felt Shining Armor's chest rumble as he growled. I tightened my arm around his neck and began to stroke the back of his head absently. I miss this too. Haystack continued, "But the task seemed too easy, but we had to get you out of there. We didn't see King Sombra . . ."
I shivered again and stammered, "What do you mean you didn't see him?" I didn't want to talk about King Sombra in my dream. He haunts my dreams as it is. "If he was there, he didn't approach us for some reason. It only took us fifteen minutes to find you," S.A. said tightly.
Now, my brain began functioning. Maybe I wasn't dreaming, but I didn't let my hopes rise up. "How did you find me?" I asked while my voice wavered. "We tracked you with the cell phone, of course," Haystack replied softly. I felt my eyebrows furrow; they were talking to me like I was some scared parasprite. I felt like one. Maybe they could see the fear lingering in my eyes. "It wasn't hard taking the guards down. Like I said, it was too easy, but at least you're safe now," HayStack said as he stroked my mane again.
"Pinkie, did Sombra put a tracking device in you?" Shining Armor asked urgently. "I—I don't know," I stuttered. I tried to remember, but I couldn't. My mind was still thinking I was dreaming. I heard S.A. give a heavy sigh, and he loosened his hold on me. I automatically tightened my arm around him.
"Don't you dare move . . ." I was interrupted by a soft voice. "Where am I?" the soft voice asked hoarsely; it sounded like a mare.
Images of the mysterious mare in my cage flickered across my mind. I gasped, "You saved her?" HayStack looked back over his shoulder without dropping my hand. He turned his golden gaze back to me and nodded. I wiggled my hand out of HayStack's hoof and placed it on his cheek. He closed his eyes and gave a light sigh. "Thank you. I don't know what he was going to do to her, but she doesn't deserve the treatment I received . . ." I drifted off and instinctively looked at my stomach.
My breathing ceased. How? What? I dropped my hand from HayStacks's cheek and touched my healed flesh. I didn't have the amulet on me, so I knew that wasn't the reason for the fast healing. My clothes were still shredded where the wound was and dry blood stained my coat.
"What did he do to you, Pink?" Shining Armor asked; his voice sounded strained. I even heard HayStack stop breathing. Shining Armor's voice brought me out of confused thoughts and disturbing images of Sombra torturing me replaced them. I shook my head violently as I felt my eyes water. "Don't ruin this dream, Shining Armor," I choked out.
"Oh, Pinkie," Shining Armor said in an agonized voice as he held me tighter to him. "And you're not dreaming." Yes, I am. I wanted to argue.
"Is someone there?" the mare asked desperately."I'm going to go check on her," HayStack said softly as he stood up. I started to protest, but HayStack gave me a comforting kiss on the forehead to soothe me and walked away. My eyes were glued to his back as he took a water bottle out of a backpack and strolled to the frightened mare. She was looking around frantically, and she froze when she saw HayStack. I watched him hand the fragile mare a water bottle. The mare hesitated and looked at him with huge minty eyes, confused. She looked around and finally saw me. She stared at me for a moment, and then looked back at HayStack. I heard him saying something, but I couldn't hear. She reached out with a shaky hand and took the water bottle from him. She swallowed gulps of water vigorously.
Then, I realized I wasn't dreaming. The smells and the sounds of the jungle seemed too real. HayStack wasn't fading away as I watched him and the mare talking in low, hushed voices. I know dreams are not this descriptive. Oddly, my body was aching anymore, but I did feel filthy. This isn't a dream, this is real. I stiffened in the real Shining Armor's arms as the thought entered my mind. He noticed.
"What's wrong?" he asked concerned. His hot breath blew on my neck, making me shiver. You. I thought while taking a deep breath to clear my foggy mind. "I'm not dreaming," I whispered to myself. "No," he said cautiously. "You're safe now." Stupid dragon ears.
My body was relieved, but my mind was in distress. This is where I left off when I left him. My soul began to cry out to the real Shining Armor because it wanted him. Now, with all the wounds bestowed by Sombra, it needed him desperately like how a plant needs water. But I belong to HayStack. I belong to HayStack. I repeated the mantra in my head. HayStack can sew me back up, right? Stop it. Don't think about this now. Think about it when you're better. You survived for them and that's what counts. Shining Armor and HayStack need you. Give yourself time to heal. Thinking about this mess won't solve anything. My more logical side cried out.
I felt my tears cease, and I noticed I brought in some inner strength within me. I've now made my decision. It's not what I want, but it's what we need. We need to focus on the task at hand. And I don't think in my condition, I'm certainly not ready for a relationship. Friendship, yes, but more . . . no. I was determined with my decision that I have just made.
"What's wrong," I heard Shining Armor ask again. I looked at my colt and gave a small smile. He searched my eyes; worry and agony ruining the planes of his face. I placed my hoof on his cheek to ease his aguish, and he leaned into my touch as he placed his hoof over mine. He kissed my hoof as softly as a butterfly landing on a flower petal. I ignored the tingles he left on my palm.
"Nothing," I reassured him, but I knew that a lot was bothering me. Just Sombra's face in my mind made me want to hide in the shadows, but I knew I had to be strong for my dragons.