Chapter 17: Pipsqueak
The Dream After
“...Pipsqueak?!”
“Luna?”
“I think he's coming to, Ms. Cheerilee!”
And I'm thrust back into reality. Funny, reality is a bit blurred.
But the happy feeling, and the stinging pierced sensation in my neck, remains. Oh gosh, I'm so happy I'm positively smiling! I don't think I'd care if the class teased me right now.
“Luna?”
I'm still looking up...but the moon is gone, replaced by a ceiling. Hmm, strange.
“Pipsqueak? Are you alright?”
I look at Ms. Cheerilee and all my classmates. They look scared. Why, did something happen? Ah, I don't care.
One of my filly classmates, I can't say who, says something about someone's neck. Huh, really? Fancy that!
Speaking of necks, something is trickling down mine. But I don't care. Who would have known that...doing a presentation about a show...would be so...so tiring.
I'm...kind of cold...but it’s the middle of the day...weird...I honestly don't care. Guess I'll just lie down here and sleep. Maybe I'll dream again.
…
…
…
What? Where am I?...It’s so dark...oh, right. I fell asleep in class…And I didn’t dream again. Too bad it was a dreamless sleep. But it sure was a long one.
Am I really awake? So why is it so dark, then? Is it...is it nighttime already?
“Ms. Cheerilee?” I call out, barely. Throat dry, sticky...really thirsty. Am I even in school?
What the hay happened? “Muuum!?” I call out. Nothing. Why am I calling out so weakly?
What's in my mouth? Feels as thick as honey berry shot, but it doesn't taste like it at all.
If I just woke up...why am I sooo woozy? Oh wow, I'm on a bed! Whose bed is this? Where am I?
Finally my eyes adjust to the darkness. And I can see that this looks like Luna's room in our shared dream, only...it’s...messy and dirty. There are cobwebs everywhere. Luna should really clean her room. Mum always tells me to clean mine.
“Mum...” I gotta get back to Mum...it’s late...and I'm...not home.
Home...I roll off the bed, only to find my legs give way under me and I plop on the floor.
Get up. One step....at a time...to Mum....to home.
I open the door. This place...like an old castle...Mum...home...gotta get back home.
Somehow, one hoof after another, I make it out of that crumbling place.
Rickety rope bridge...Button would love this...like that stage in that video game, Castle-mania...Just...have to get through...Everfree. Hope...don't run across any monsters.
Almost there...almost...through this forest. Oh no...a timberwolf.
Why, why is it afraid of...me? Or is there something...behind me...something on my face...perhaps?
Hey, Timberwolf...where you goin'? Heheh...silly timberwolf...
Mum...almost there, Mum...almost...home.
Is that...the bridge? Town hall...I'll be home soon.
Sorry, Mum, for being out so late...tired...really cold.
I see ponies. I try to smile at them, but...they look at me as if they've seen the dead. Gosh...is there something on my face? Hope not...hope not...
Hi Lily...Lotus, Aloe...hi...Lucky Clover...hi.
Mayor Mare...hi...hi, everypony. I'm...I'm just tired.
Twist...is that you? Hi, classmate...hi...Rainbow? Hi...hi...
Thunderlane, Rumble...hi...
Mr. & Mrs. Cake...hi...Hi Pinkie, Fluttershshshy...really tired...Yeah, hi...everypony.
Everypony is being so funny....like seen the dead...
...like seen the dead...
Mum, almost home...sweet home.
And there it is...home.
Hope...won't be grounded...
Why is it dark in our house? Only one light...like a star.
I open the door, “Mother...I'm here.”
Mum is...sitting in the dark with nothing but a dim candlelight beside her? Her face wet with tears, staring blankly...at my framed picture. Why?
“Pip?”
“Mum, have you been crying?”
“...”
Mum has the look of everypony I’ve come across to on my way home. “Mum?”
“Uh, yeah, Mum, it’s me.”
“They...they told me you were dead, that somehow you've lost a lot of blood.”
What?
“I was there, in the hospital...You were completely covered with a blanket...It’s been three days.”
“What? I...I'm here. I'm alive. How can I be dead? I just feel a little cold...tired, that's all...but am home now...Mum...am home now.”
“Pipsqueak? Is it really you?” Mum asks as she walks towards me.
I nod. Mum is really being weird now.
“But how...?”
I dunno.
She looks at me, like she’s examining me. Then she smiles. “My Pip is alive!”
Uh, k.
She hugs me. She hugs me tighter. There we go...yeah. That's really tight. Did I mention that I'm cold and tired? I did, right? Wonder if Mum had dinner yet, cuz I sure could have some.
I hug her back as best as I can.
Heh, mothers, right?
I try to take all this in. I honestly do not understand...But...I think I'm starting to. Right here, in my mother’s embrace. Slowly I do...scenes and pictures of that special night fill my mind...and as I do...my heart breaks. With a blank face that's too tired, I cry...
“There there, Pip, you're home now. Oh, my boy! My dear dear boy!”
Really too tired to cry well, but I still do...because I feel sad.
That night! Oh what a night! In my mind I recall how it was. Truly a night to remember. Everypony was happy, including me. I was with my Princess, Princess Luna.
“Mum...” I continue to cry.
“Yes, Pip?”
Then, something happened. The cello music played. And Luna fell asleep, and I fall asleep right next to her. We share a dream. Oh, what a wonderful dream! Luna, a filly. Same age as me...Oh my Luna...my Luna!
...and we play...we play tag...and we dance too...
I smile at the sight of her as a filly in my mind. And she's calling my name!
I...I feel so happy!
“Oh my Luna!” I say with a painful throat and whatever coherent voice I have left.
I move my lips but no words come out. I think I'm just quivering miserably now.
“Pip, why are your tears reddish?” I hear Mum say in a worried tone.
They are?
“Mum...”
She looks at me, troubled. I am looking up, blankly. The moon isn't up there.
“My Princess is a Vampire.”...To Be Continued.