Shysage closed all his work, and shut his 'scope' off too.
"I've been doin' this all wrong..." he was thinking to himself.
Suddenly, Summer, sleeping in her room, screamed
"Nooooooooooooooooooooo..."
It was loud and long.
Shysage grabbed the candle next to him, and ran quickly to her side. He first checked to make sure her Cutie Mark wasn't active. A Phantom Alicorn having a nightmare would not be pretty.
Summer screamed again
"Nooooooooooooooooooooo..."
Shysage lay on his belly behind Summer, and put his front leg around her neck and hugged her.
Dawn ran quickly in too at this point. They were neightbors.
"Shysage what's wrong?" Dawn said, she was scared.
"I don't know" Shysage said.
Summer screamed again
"Nooooooooooooooooooooo..."
Shysage put his head right down next to Summer's head and said "Summer, I'm right here."
Summer's eyes blinked open suddenly at this, and she began to sob...
Summer was soon using her front legs to try and pull Shysage closer to her even though he was behind her. She was terrified, and breathing heavily as she cried.
Shysage moved to lay down on his belly facing her, and Summer quickly flipped over onto her belly, wrapped both her front legs around Shysage's neck, and simply clung tightly, with her head next to Shysage's as she cried.
After a few minutes, Shysage said "Dawn I think she just had a bad dream... She should be ok soo--"
"No Shysage, it was a warning..." Summer sobbed.
"Shysage, we need to get this writt--... We need to write this down... Shysage please..." Summer was pleading...
"Summer, as soon as you calm down, we can do that." Shysage said honestly.
Five minutes later, she was just weeping softly, and followed Shysage as he turned the compy back on, and started a new file.
This was Summer's Dream, they wouldn't be using the 'scope'.
They were both soon in Equestria Girls form, sitting together as 'people' on the bench Shysage had made for them, specifically for this.
Shysage could type a lot faster with fingers.
Dawn felt it was safe to leave, and said "Shysage, let me know if I can help at all."
"Thanks Dawn, I really appreciate your concern, I think we are ok for now." Shysage said as she headed out the door.
Summer cried quietly on Shysage's shoulder for a few minutes, then said she was ready to get started.
Summer mentioned that the first three sections were still vividly in her mind, even though happening earliest in her dream, because near the end of the dream, she and Shysage had written these parts down together. She said he would understand later.
Summer asked that they do at least these three sections before doing anything else.
Summer started with what was the first section of her dream, the Equestria Girls at their thirty fifth High School reunion.
Summer's recollection of this first section was incredibly vivid, and Shysage was absolutely amazed at the quiet grandeur of this night. That is, until they arrived in a shattered Equestria.
Still, Shysage typed quickly, and after maybe two hours, and maybe three passes through, Summer felt good about the first section. It really was beauty in the midst of tragedy.
Shysage opened a new file, and Summer started talking about the next part of her dream, which described Summer never making it back though the Portal, and both Shysage and Fluttershy increasingly failing to cope with Summer being gone.
Shysage could feel the pain and heartache in this section, and tears often formed in his eyes.
He also could easily see himself offering to take care of Summer's sister Fluttershy in Summer's absence.
There was no escaping the place the monster's curse played in the beginning of this section; this was a very real concern Shysage and others had even now.
This section only covered maybe a month or less, and ended with the present simply fading away. It was awful.
After maybe an hour and a half, and three passes through, Summer said it was good.
Shysage told Summer this section made him want to cry. He honestly told Summer he had become very attached to her, and this... this would be excruciating for him were this to happen.
They stopped a little while, and just cried together.
The next section was probably the hardest for Summer to recount. Not because she couldn't remember; her retention of this section was very good. It was hard because she came 'home', and her 'home' was all but deserted.
Ponyville was an abandoned ghost-town, and the rest of Equestria seemed the same as well.
Plus, Summer realized she was decades into the future, and it seemed like all her friends were gone.
Still, she found Dawn's grand-daughter, and was amazed to see Dawn's legacy at work in her descendants.
Summer found out about the big bear too, but Summer seemed eager to face him. She was a Phantom Alicorn.
A few passes through, and Summer was happy with it.
The Sun was peeking up now, and Shysage and Summer were both falling asleep. They decided to take a nap.
They got up from the bench, and Shysage turned everything off. Then Summer changed them back into pony form.
Shysage walked into the middle of the main room, lay down on his belly, and Summer lay next to him. They were both soon asleep.
When Shysage awoke in a few hours, he was on his side, and Summer was asleep between his front legs, with her head just below his, and with her back and wings tucked up against his chest.
Shysage didn't move. Well, he reached around her chest just a little with his front leg, and pulled her close. She sighed audibly and contentedly in her sleep.
A minute later, Summer woke up with a start, and tried briefly to roll out from under Shysage's front legs. Shysage just pulled her back.
Summer said quickly and almost apologetically "Shysage I'm sorry... Maybe I shoul-- I just needed to--"
Shysage stopped her "Summer, relax" then he hugged her close again.
After a few minutes, Shysage asked softly "Is this were you want to be Summer?"
Summer began to weep, then she explained through her tears.
"Shysage, in my dream we were married... This erased the problem that the monsters started... ...And I've never been so happy...
"But when I woke up, it was back... ...worse maybe... I'm sorry... I cant help--"
Summer just cried a minute, then said very quietly "This is the only place I've found where it doesn't hurt... Next to you... Right here..."
Shysage hugged her again, and she relaxed.
After a few minutes, Shysage said softly "Summer whenever you need this, just let me know.
Summer just wept softly. "Thank you Shysage... For caring..."
Shysage just hugged her again.
They got up a few minutes later.
"We need to run to Princess Twilight's before we start into this again." Shysage said. Then he added "Are you hungry?"
They both flew for a little while, it was amazing. Summer felt a lot better afterwards. Still, she remembered actually looking at Shysage in her dream, at his coat, mane and tail. She looked again, they still looked very similar. It was a little uncanny.
After flying some, they enjoyed some Oats together.
Next they flew to the Library. They found that it was a burnt stump, they had both forgotten again. They both still cried every time they forgot and came here; so much had happened in this small tree-house.
They were quickly to the Castle. Summer realized that it wasn't very far from 'Summer's tree'.
After a little hunting in this larger building they managed to find Princess Twilight. She was in her much larger Library.
Summer and Shysage both bowed, and Princess quickly brought them up, and Summer hugged her Princess briefly.
"What brings you two here, and... ...hmm... ...looking a little haggard too, is everything ok?" Princess Twilight asked.
"Princess, Summer had a very vivid dream last night, and I wanted to ask Princess Celestia if it would be ok to halt the other projects to get the dream recorded." Shysage explained. "Maybe can you have Spike ask her for us?"
Princess Twilight thought for a minute, probably something along the lines of the Phantom Alicorn having a vivid dream.
"Hmmm..." Princess said. "Summer did the dream have to do with Equestria?" she asked.
Summer nodded yes.
"Summer, did the dream have to do with me and the girls?" Princess asked again.
Summer's eyes teared up at this, and Princess Twilight quickly hugged her tightly for a minute.
"Shysage take the time you need, and I will let Princess Celestia know." Princess Twilight said calmly. "I think I want to see this dream too."
They headed back to Shysage's house, they were quickly back in 'people' form, sitting on the bench, and Shysage turned the compy back on, and opened another file.
Before starting, Summer began weeping softly, and said slowly "Shysage, you asked me to marry you in this part... I've never been so happy... Please be patient with me, I will probably have to stop and cry a lot...
Shysage just gave her a hug. Then he said "I don't think we are in a huge hurry..."
Well, they both cried a lot. Recording this section went very slowly.
Shysage agreed he was an idiot too.
Shysage said he would gladly propose if he could, but from Summer's comments in the dream, it was clear she understood why he couldn't.
They both just cried together a while here.
Shysage also wept openly when Fluttershy arrived. Shysage understood how close these two girls were, er, are.
Overall, as difficult as this section was, at the end of it, the two ponies Summer wanted and needed were back by her side.
And Shysage agreed that Summer's conclusion about the purpose of evil leaders was spot on. If good was trampled, they were happy, regardless of what else happened.
Over the next few days, and really not sleeping as much as they should have maybe, the record of 'Summer's Dream' came together.
When they got to the return train trip back to Ponyville, and their hushed discussion about the role intimacy may have played, two things happened.
First, Shysage had no idea how Summer knew conclusions he had drawn years ago; in some cases she had even used his exact wording. Whether or not this was a primary issue, then or now, this topic reflected a concern Shysage carried, but rarely had opportunity to voice.
He and Summer had certainly never talked about this. Shysage was mystified.
Second, Shysage and Summer again made a trip back to Princess Twilight. Shysage mentioned that some of the contents of Summer's Dream included some rather personal content, and...
Well before he even finished explaining, Princess Twilight said simply "Record everything."
He guessed she would say that, Shysage was a Canterlot Recorder after all, and that was just the way it was done. Shysage just wanted to make sure.
Even so, Shysage realized that this would limit the audience for this record to just the seven sets of Twins, along with Equestria's Princesses.
The part about the big bear was next, and so Shysage and Summer took a break here.
It was late afternoon, and so Summer and Shysage walked over to Summer's Tree, it wasn't far.
They just sat there a while gazing off into the distance.
Fluttershy soon walked up and hugged her sister, and they all sat quietly there and watched the Sun set.
It was very calm, very peaceful. The two most important ponies in Summer's life were right by her side. She hugged them both close.
After it was dark, Summer quietly asked Shysage if she could spend the night at Fluttershy's. 'Sis time' was always wonderful for these girls.
Shysage knew this, and quickly said it was fine. They could resume their work tomorrow.
They flew off, and Shysage flew to his house. He didn't like that it was empty, but he knew Fluttershy was good for Summer. Besides, he knew his focus needed to be on what was best for Summer, and so it was ok.
Shysage pulled in the first file of her dream, and started going through them again. Summer's Dream was very vivid, and they were only maybe half-way done.
Shysage came across the "true friend in the sky" part, and was again mystified. This was Shysage. That's exactly what he was doing while waiting for Summer to run back the day after her abduction. How could Summer know that?
Anyway, after correcting a few typos, Shysage saved his work, and turned the compy off.
Then he lay down in the middle of the floor, and was soon fast asleep.
When Shysage woke up in the morning, Summer was next to him. He smiled, and said "Good morning, amazing mare."
Summer spoke her mind. "Shysage you said --" Shysage just rolled onto his side, and Summer climbed into her 'safe spot', then sighed as he pulled her close. That's all she needed.
Half an hour later maybe, and they were eating Oats together, and were soon doing some fun morning flying. Shysage was shadowing Summer, and he had to ask her to slow down a few times. She was faster than he was. But they both loved flying.
Soon, Rainbow Dash joined them, and the three of them just enjoyed flying around Ponyville for a while. It was amazing and very relaxing.
"Summer, we really need to get back to work" Shysage said softly.
"Aww work..." Rainbow said dismayed. Still, she thanked them for the fun, then flew off.
Summer and Shysage were soon sitting at the compy again working on Summer's Dream.
The big bear was next. Shysage cried when Princess Twilight's hide was deeply gashed... This was just not supposed to happen. Still, she lived, but writing about this was hard.
And Shysage knew that most monsters in Equestria would not feel a fight against the Phantom Alicorn was fair. It didn't matter. The Phantom Alicorn existed to oppose evil, and that's the way it was.
The next section involved communion being restored to Princess Twilight's circle as old wounds were healed, regardless of the cause. This whole process made Shysage cry, restoration was always amazing, and the use of the 'Elements of Harmony' really demanded complete unity.
Even so, Shysage mentioned that he didn't think that extending the Soul-Link beyond a pony and her Twin was even possible. This ultimately didn't matter, it happened in Summer's Dream, so they recorded it.
Princess Twilight being able to walk away from her 'doom' was very moving for Shysage.
Summer mentioned with a smile, that Shysage seemed to be increasingly attached to Summer's Princess.
Shysage just smiled and agreed with her.
The 'Twins Ceremony' was very interesting, and seemed like a good idea. Shysage felt that it would also be easy for such a thing to become stale if ponies let it. It really depended on the ponies involved.
Summer and Shysage's wedding just made Shysage cry. He stopped and hugged Summer tightly, well they both did, for a few minutes.
Still, his and Summer's discussion in her dream about Shysage putting her pleasure ahead of his was also on target, and they had surely never discussed this.
As Summer mentioned in her dream, that was Shysage just applying 'putting others first' into all areas, so Shysage could see how Summer may have arrived at that conclusion.
Sometimes dreams are just hard to explain.
The rest of the dream recorded the rebuilding of Ponyville, and was amazing. An empty Ponyville was a frightening thought.
Fluttershy's courtship especially also made Shysage cry. It was done right, and with the right stallion, he was a good match for Summer's sister.
Shysage knew first hand that it was so easy for sensitive ponies to suffer terrible abuse from ponies/people who weren't nearly as sensitive, and so simply didn't care.
It took maybe five days total, but they got 'Summer's Dream' written down, well typed in, and even made a second pass through to fix any problems they found.
Shysage used the capability of part of his 'scope' thing to print the pages out. It didn't look great, but it was readable.
They didn't even bother having it bound, not yet. Since this work would have a very limited audience, there was no reason for a more polished work anyway.
It was late now, so they both collapsed on the floor next to each other, and were quickly fast asleep.
They both were evidently exhausted, they slept halfway through the morning.
When Shysage woke up, Summer was awake facing him. She looked like she slept terrible.
Shysage just rolled onto his side, and Summer was soon up against him, and began weeping.
"I had a dream about the monsters Shysage... It really hurt..."
Shysage just pulled her close, waited a minute, then asked "Is this helping?"
Summer had calmed down, then said simply "More than you will ever know."
"Summer, don't wait next time. If this helps you, don't wait to ask." Shysage said softly.
Summer just sighed contentedly.
Shysage did too.
In maybe thirty minutes, Summer felt better, and they both got up, and headed out the door for Oats and flying.
Maybe an hour later, they came back to the house, and got Shysage's printed copy of 'Summer's Dream'. It was just a pile of papers, well with page numbers.
While working on the dream, a bound copy of the first volume of Summer's Chronicles had also arrived. They didn't stop to read it because together, they wrote most of it. Besides, reading it again made them cry.
Shysage slipped both 'books' into his shoulder bag, and Summer and Shysage headed to Princess Twilight's Castle.