“What exactly are dreams? What are nightmares?” Asked the stallion with the graying mane.
He stood at the front of a small, crowded room. So crowded, in fact, he had to make sure he didn't spit on the face of the poor pony sitting ahead of him.
"Well?" he asked again. "You all did your assignment, correct?"
A hoof was raised in the back, "Please, go ahead," he urged.
"W-well, Doctor..." started the blue mare, Raindrop was her name. “When we sleep, our m-minds take us through a-all kinds of d-different worlds; which can be made up of r-real memories or even our imagination," She blushed as she finished, some stallions to her right snickered silently.
He chuckled and nodded, "Yes, that's one way of describing how we experience dreams, but that doesn't answer my question as to what they are."
She blushed more.
He continued. "Well, it's no surprise that all ponies have some form of magic; earth ponies like me have surprising strength, pegasi have magic that allow them to fly and control the weather, and Unicorns just have their plain old magic," ponies throughout the room laughed at the last statement, except for some all-too sensitive unicorns.
"This embedded magic is what makes our dreams so special, so vivid and awe inspiring. And, also, what makes nightmares so tremendously terrifying. "
The buzz of conversion in the room stopped completely. Not one pony tried to hide their understanding of nightmares, for each of them had at least once been trapped in a night terror. This is good, thought the Doctor, They're hooked.
"Although nightmares are rare," he continued. "They are a powerful force that can cause severe damage to ponies. Now, still assuming that you all did your assignment, who will be so kind as to list off some things Nightmares can cause?"
Again, Raindrop's hoof rose in the air.
"Nice to know only one pony in this room can read. The floor is yours, Miss Raindrop."
She cleared her throat, "The s-severity of nightmares can v-vary. Some can cause mild h-headaches, that could e-escalate to full bod-dy muscle spasms, the worst reported cases have the v-v-victim......" She stopped slowly.
"Losing their sanity?" The Doctor finished.
Raindrop nodded, "And worse."
A bell rang out, ending the day’s session.
"Don't forget to read your excerpt from Of Mind and Magic; I wouldn't want Miss Raindrop to be the only one I have a conversation with next week!" He reminded the ponies as they gathered their belongings and left the cramped room.
Not long after the last few students exited the door did he hear hoofsteps behind him. "Wow, it's been a while, Remmi," someone said.
He spoke as he turned around, slight annoyance in his voice. "You can call me Doctor Rem, thank to very mu-" He stopped suddenly. It was a unicorn, her light green fur looked familiar.
She giggled. "Forgot your childhood friend already, Doctor Rem?"
The realization hit him hard. "E-easel? Easel Sketch?!" He exclaimed.
"The one and only," She threw out her hooves and bowed, laughing. "Glad the great Doctor Remmi Cycle still remembers us little ponies."
Remmi chuckled. "Last I checked, you were the famous author and illustrator while I was just a professor at this small university."
Easel nodded. "True, but you are renowned as the go-to pony for dreams and nightmares. A bit more respectable than a struggling artists and author of children stories."
"Such crowning achievements we hold," Remmi responded with light sarcasm. He was glad she laughed, it really had been a while since they met.
He walked to the door, locking it as Easel followed through it. Why it was policy to worry about such a bland and tiny space never made sense to him.
"So what exactly brings you to Manehattan?" Remmi asked her.
Easel sighed. “Unfortunately, not a book signing."
I don't like that tone of voice, thought Remmi.
She noticed his concern. "Yeah, this isn't a good thing," She assured him.
"Well, what's wrong?" Remmi asked. He had helped her in tough situations before, but he himself was tight on money. He sincerely hoped she wasn't in any financial issues again.
"Nothing like before," Easel answered, almost as if she read his mind.
They had reached the front of the university. It was nothing grand; just a grassy courtyard with a few benches and even less trees. A cobblestone path led to the gate. The shadow of the building reaching over it like an ominous blanket. Which itself was towered by the city's vast skyscrapers.
"It's....home," Easel continued. "It's happening again."
A chilling sensation stabbed at him. It wasn't possible. It couldn't be. The pain, the memories, the loss; it all flashed before him.
"Why are you here?" He asked again, this time in a much more serious tone.
She avoided his gaze. "The village... everypony thinks you can help.”
"No," Remmi said almost instantly. "Nopony could do a thing last time. I certainly couldn't now. Sorry, Easel, it was nice seeing you, but... please leave."
Now she was glaring at him. "Last time we didn't have what you know now. You can help. And you know it."
"Knowing alone won't help anyone! Just because somepony understands unicorn magic, doesn't mean they can use it, right?" He questioned her.
Easel was silent. "Now, goodbye," Remmi said, turning towards the gate, away from the past, the suffering, the -
"Shewould want you to at least try."
Remmi froze in his tracks. A hot fire began to burn in him. Was it rage at Easel bringing her into this? Or was it sadness, was it the tears building up in his eyes because he knew Easel was right?
"How bad is it?" Remmi asked, defeated, his back still turned to her.
Easel became less tense. "When I left, almost half of the children and maybe two or three adults were affected."
"And how long ago was this?” responded Remmi.
Easel sighed deeply. "Two weeks. Finding you was actually difficult, believe it or not..."
He chuckled. "Manehattan is a popular place. You must have not tried toohard. "
She flinched at his words. A part of him wanted to apologize, knowing she must have panicked, but another held back, wanting to punish Easel for bringing her into this.
"When will you be returning?” Remmi spoke after a minute.
"I leave on the last train today. Here," Remmi turned around, Easel gave him a train ticket. “It’s for tomorrow, noon."
Remmi shook his head, laughing slightly. "How'd you know I'd agree?"
"I didn't," Easel admitted, “But I'm glad you did.”
"Not a lot of time to get ready," he said reluctantly.
"Then you should start right away. I should try and get some rest before the train ride; wouldn't want to be asleep when I get there," Only now did Remmi see the bags under her eyes. He knew she'd been avoiding sleep as much as possible. He would do the same.
"It was pleasant to see you, Easel," Remmi told her.
"Kinda. Maybe next time I pop back into your life it can be under better circumstances," Easel smiled and winked, then left for the gate.
"Bye..." Remmi mumbled as she strode away.
With everything that Easel had left on his mind, Remmi knew he was going to have a hard time with his class. There was the issue of how long he'd be away. If he could even set up something to keep his students busy and on track with the curriculum. Oh Celestia, the curriculum. All the complaints he'd get if he didn't-
“Oof!” Remmi landed with a thud, dazed.
"O-oh! D-doctor! I am so sorry! I didn't s-see you!" Remmi's head cleared up enough to see that it was Raindrop who had collided with him.
"No, no, it's fine Raindrop. I wasn't exactly aware of my surroundings either," Remmi tried to console her as they got off the floor.
"P-please don't take this the wrong way Doctor, b-but now that I've, literally, bumped i-into you... I'd like to talk t-to you about our assignment," she stuttered.
"I'm sorry, but right now isn't a good time, something serious just came up and I have to prepare some things before I leave town," Remmi stopped her.
“O-okay...” was all she could say.
Remmi took a breath. "Actually, I could use your help," Raindrop's eyes sparkled at his words. "Come to my office with me."
Raindrop nodded and followed his pace. They entered the old building and moved through the familiar, but austere hallways. They both stopped in front of a door that had a plaque with the engraving "Dr. Rem Cycle" hung next to it.
As Remmi opened the door, Raindrop spoke. “S-so what exactly do you want m-my help for?”
"Oh, just some things pertaining to class," They stepped into the office. "I figure if anypony can help me keep the class on task while I'm away, it's the one pony who actually does her work," he chuckled.
Raindrop laughed too. "Well, I'm g-glad I can help.”
"Thank you in advance," Remmi said. "This is something I wish I'd have had a few days to prepare for, not a few hours."
Raindrop shrugged. "It's no t-trouble, you and y-your class are the only r-reason I came to Manehattan in the first place."
That wasn't the first time he'd heard that. The interest in the minds of ponies, both conscious and unconscious, had grown since his early days in the field. The growth could have something to do with him, being the first to actively study Nightmares as a disease; one that had to have a cure.
"Well thank you for your intrigue regarding my classes. But, more importantly, thank you for actively participating and paying attention," he responded.
Raindrop nodded, and they began.
They went over their current class progress, seeing what they got through and what still had to be done; what had to be discussed in class, or could be skipped and done individually. Remmi had a few friends and colleagues that he could ask for help. He'd hoped to only be away for a week at maximum, but he still prepared for two months’ worth of classes without his presence.
A short while later, they had enough of a solid plan to keep things in check.
"Well, I'm glad that's settled," sighed Remmi. "Now I just have to get home to get my things ready."
"Doctor, w-where are you l-leaving to? I-if you don't mind me a-asking," Raindrop muttered.
Remmi sighed. "My hometown, Neighbelheim," he hoped Raindrop didn't notice him shiver.
A look of fear flashed in her eyes. "N-n-n-neighbelheim? Y-y-you're from...there?"
Her shock both worried and puzzled Remmi. What did this mare know of Neighbelheim? She couldn't possibly know of its past. Of what occurred there so many years ago, unless......
“What do you know about Neighbelheim?” Remmi asked, his eyes firmly locked onto hers.
Raindrop was shaking now, her breathing was quick and shallow as she spoke. "I was b-b-born there... "
Remmi understood now. It explained why she was so deeply intrigued with all of his lessons. Her determination and her drive; it was the same as his. Now he even saw her stuttering for what it was; a side effect of a torturous nightmare.
"Raindrop...” Remmi started.
"S-s-sorry, D-d-doctor, I h-h-have to go!" Raindrop blurted out, her wings springing to life as she rushed out of the door. Remmi didn't even try to follow her; no matter how hard he'd try, there was no way he'd catch up to a flustered pegasus.
“Dammit," Remmi sighed, sitting back in his chair. "I'm sorry," he said, almost aimlessly.