//------------------------------// // Dare to Dream // Story: Orpheus, Thestral Guard // by Majin Syeekoh //------------------------------// Orpheus finally made it to the Palace Gardens, where Luna was waiting expectantly. He shook his head and landed. Luna nodded. “What took you so long?” Orpheus sighed. “Your majesty, not all of us are immortal alicorns.” Luna sharply turned and started cantering away. “I suppose so. Come on, Orpheus.” Orpheus stared at the retreating form of his Princess. Did I say something wrong? He then quickly caught up with her and followed her around the castle. After a series of twists and turns, they had come to a pair of obsidian doors with crescent moons carved into them. Luna opened a door and waved Orpheus in. Orpheus stalled. “Well, aren’t you going to come in?” Luna asked. “But my liege, these are your private chambers.” Luna shook her head. “Yes, I know that! Now come in!” She entered the room. Orpheus shrugged and followed. What he saw could only be described as...uncharacteristically simple. There was a mahogany bed in the corner, which Luna was standing by, and an oak desk beside it. In fact, the only luxuries she afforded herself were the mirror atop a teak vanity and whatever the carpet was made of. He ran his hoof across the carpet, delighting in the soft brown under his hooves. “Do you like it?” Luna asked with a smile across her face. “Yes, quite. What’s this material? I don’t think I’ve ever felt anything like this before.” Orpheus responded. “It’s bear fur.” Oh Luna! Orpheus leapt up and started hovering upon hearing that. “Bear!? Is that even legal?” Luna giggled. “It is when they donate it of their own free will. Now come here. I’d like you to join in my most important work.” “What could be more important than making stars?” Orpheus asked as he gently let himself down onto the carpet, confident that it was ethically sourced. He trotted over to Luna. “You'll see. Now touch your wing to my horn.” Luna then closed her eyes. Orpheus raised an eyebrow. Really? Well, ok. He then gingerly raised his bat wing to touch Luna’s horn. When it connected, he felt was could only be described as his mind pinching as his mouth opened to scream and his eyes slammed shut. When he opened them, he was greeted with a plain of pure white, Luna standing beside him. Orpheus looked around. “What is this?” “This,” Luna said, “is the dream nexus.” “Well, there aren’t any dreams here.” Luna let out a soft chuckle. “Of course there aren’t, I haven’t cycled through the æther yet.” A series of windows then appeared in front of Orpheus’s eyes. “These are the dreams. Windows into the psyche, revealer of the darkest secrets.” The windows then cycled through, showing various scenes of love, fame, and fortune. They eventually settled on a dark nightmare, where changelings were being attacked by a dragon. “Why don’t we try this one?” Orpheus stared at Luna. “This one?” “Yes, this one.” Luna then raised an eyebrow, smiling at Orpheus. “Haven’t you always wanted to be a knight in shining armor?” Orpheus stared at Luna. “I think that would be most inappropriate.” Luna furrowed her brow, looking down, a hoof raised to her chin. “I suppose you’re right, changelings don’t really have a knight archetype…” “That’s not what I meant.” Luna stared at Orpheus. “Then what do you mean?” “Well, Shining Armor is married to Princess Cadance.” Luna stared at Orpheus, bemused. It then hit her, whereupon she smacked Orpheus on the back of the head, Orpheus chuckling. Luna then chuckled. “My, what a foul mouth you have, Orpheus. I didn’t know you had a sense of humor.” Orpheus quickly collected himself. “I aim to please, your majesty.” “That you do. But my point still stands. Changelings don’t have knights. But they do have soldiers…” Luna said, staring at Orpheus while tapping her chin with her hoof. Orpheus stared at Luna’s horn, which was glowing blue. “What are you doing, Princess—“ he started before a blast of magic hit him. Strange, he didn’t feel any different. He looked down only to find that his legs were black, marred with holes. He looked back to find that his wings were insect-like. He felt up the top of his head to find a jagged horn atop of it. “Princess—” he started before cringing at the sound of his own voice, which sounded like two stones scraping gravel together. “Princess, you’ve appeared to have turned me into a changeling.” Luna nodded. “That I have. Now, off you go!” She then smacked Orpheus on the rump, launching him into the dream. What he discovered inside was abject horror as changelings were running across the hive, some hiding behind stalagmites, others running down hallways. Orpheus then heard a low rumble behind him. He slowly turned his head to find a black dragon behind him, clawing and scraping at changelings, smacking them against the walls of the cave. It them locked its eyes upon Orpheus and opened its mouth, sucking in. Orpheus was too terrified to move, never having faced down a dragon before. The dragon then expelled a gout of acid at Orpheus, whereupon he raised his arms and closed his eyes, waiting for the inevitable. The inevitable never came. Strange, I should be a puddle by now. He then opened his eyes to find a bubble of green surrounding him. What’s this? Oh, I’m a changeling. I have magic now. He then scanned around the cave, looking for a weapon to improvise. He found a stalactite hanging above the dragon’s head. Ok, how does this work? Let’s see, focus on the stalactite, and push it down. He then focused his mind on the stalactite, when the dragon took a swipe at him. His training kicked in as he shot into the air, still focusing on the stalactite, which didn’t appear to be budging. The dragon’s tail flew at him, Orpheus dodging down in response. Ok, wresting it didn’t seem to work. He then spat a blast of magic at the base of the stalactite which caused it to fall, impaling the dragon’s head, fastening it to the floor as it let out a final cry of defeat. Everyling present peeked their heads out, trying to figure out what was going on. One of the changelings then shouted, “He’s slain the drake!” “Three cheers for 2014!” “Hurrah!” The changelings swarmed Orpheus as he reflexively blocked, still in battle mode. He was shocked, however, when the changelings lifted him up on their backs and carried him deeper into the hive. He then felt his body warp as he was sucked back into the Nexus, Luna giving a knowing glance as Orpheus. Orpheus stared down at himself to find that he was a thestral again. “Well?” “Well what?” Luna chuckled. “How was it being a hero?” Orpheus thought on that for a second. “It felt...nice.” “Well, I’m glad that you liked it.” Orpheus then felt his mind pinch again as he appeared back in Luna’s room, her eyes still closed. She then opened her eyes and shook her head. “My, changeling dreams always take so much out of me.” She then looked at Orpheus. “Come on, it’s almost time for dinner.” Orpheus raised an eyebrow. “Dinner?” “Yes, dinner. Or dinner for me, anyway. Now come on. Tia and I need a judge.” She cantered out of her room, Orpheus following. A judge? This can’t end well...