//------------------------------//
// Chapter 15 Dark Skies and Wide Eyes 
// Story: Wayward Hearts 
// by SilverTopHat 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 15
Dark Skies and Wide Eyes

I slept without any concrete dreams, I was in a castle, a barn, making a sandwich, being a talking pop tart, living life as a glass of milk. The chaos was not sudden nor violent but how dreams normally are, smooth irrelevant and pointless only good for passing time. Glitterlamp took a long time to join me, or maybe she was there the whole time but I was far too tired to focus my dreams into anything solid.
Or I was until something like a brick slammed into my brow sending me sailing like a paper airplane. Instantly Chrysalis was standing before me zapping me with her 'pain beam' or whatever the hell is was, anger boiled in me violently.
“You made me look like a fool! I should've struck you dead where you stood!” I raged grabbing at her throat, “And I have to settle for a cheap mimic!! If I ever see you again, I'll be READY!!” I roared as I slammed the rag doll into walls, spikes, belt sanders running at blurring speeds. Even all this suffering was helping take the edge off my anger but it still burned. After each grisly demise or fatal blow the rag doll would simply heal itself for even more punishment. No option of destruction unexplored, no gruesome humiliation undone. Tears poured down my face as everything disintegrated and fell from perception until I was sure I was alone so nothing could hear my cries, disgusted at my own handiwork.

“So weak, stupid, shoulda struck first,” I wept soundlessly, in an instant I was standing to stare into the void and empty my ill-feelings into it; there was always room here. Embarrassed and ashamed for my earlier violent thoughts I turned my attention to Fearbane resting in my hand obediently as if its presence would ease my mood. “It's not your fault Fearbane, I ran blindly into that. And,” I admitted as if confessing something secret. “I wasn't sure what Glitter was going to do. Fearbane, it scares me that she puts so much hope and faith into me. I don't think I can fend off the powers of this world but together, you and I; let's become worthy of that trust.” Fearbane resonated gently in my hand and it felt like it agreed. I looked around at the star dotted, color streams and it formed into Courage's Folly. I stood at the door way the blood and signs of battle was still fresh as the morning I left it. Everything was still and quite, only the forlorn mourning of the wind blowing through the windows was the only sound. A flash of light caught my attention and I tried to look for the source, I twisted again and again trying to find the elusive flashing.
Fearbane twitched in my hand jumping it to my eye level and flashed in my face. The blade then twitched again pointing its edge to the discard journal that we left behind.
“Ar-are you feeling better now?” A voice filled with quiet terror and yet strength to stand against it spoke. I spun around to see Glitterlamp standing in the arch or the door scanning me.
“What do you mean? Oh, yeah. I don't think I'm sick anymore.” I thought a little nervously.
“I saw what you did,” then she corrected herself, “kept doing to Queen Chrysalis. How can you bear to even think of that, let alone for that long.” Her voice was soft but it crashed down on my head like a sledge hammer to an egg.
“I warned you of my thoughts.” I thought weakly but the shame burned within me like acid. “Welcome to Courage's Folly, for what it's worth, resting place of Fearbane and the place Trixie regained her powers.” I explained trying to give details of my adventures of this place as short as possible. I walked over to the journal and it snapped open at my touch to a page with a picture of a pendant. A black alicorn with it's wings stretched out proudly displaying a ruby in its bosom, Fearbane twitched in my hand until the jeweled eye could look at it. The eye shifting in it's glass enclosure gave it a deeper sense of intelligence than what I thought possible.
“Search.” No words were said but it was the feeling that expressed itself.
“I want a reason why you think that,” she struggled with speaking but I was split between Fearbane's want to find this trinket and Glitterlamp's questions. “That hurting others will solve any problems!” I struggled to keep up with the pulling demands. I dropped Fearbane onto the journal to focus on Glitterlamp and somehow explain my shame.
“It's. . . I do. . . the. . .” I struggled to explain but I failed to find the words to explain my soul. “Gimmie a minute, it's complicated!” I breathed deeply and tried to sort myself. How to explain the very core of your nature? True humans aren't little flesh balls of pure violence but even the most gentle of people can turn violent given the right situation. “It's because I care for you. Chrysalis threatened you and I felt that the odds needed to be tipped in your favor.”
“I can defend myself! I managed to live in Canterlot for crying out loud!” Glitterlamp sounded mad but felt, too many emotions but intrigue was the strongest.
“You have a point, you managed to HIDE in Canterlot without me. But didn't you say to your Queen that you're stronger because of me?” I asked trying to be reasonable under this interrogation.
“I did but I did not dream of such anger and misery! You were deaf to my voice as you ripped her apart! Why!” Glitterlamp retorted and yet she was interested on what my answer might be. I tried to read her to find out what she wanted but she wanted my answer, as dearly as water to a thirsty man.
“Life IS a priceless treasure, don't mistake that I don't know that! But what if another life threatens life? If life was a game I'm removing the offending player from the game for unnecessary roughness.” I thought trying to imbue meaning and reasoning to my thoughts. “I have not killed another person or pony in this or any other world. I have only slain demons and animals! There was always a group of noble individuals to dispense justice to such criminals! Those with more passion and patience for such scum than I!” I twisted around unable to stop the flow now and fearing that Glitterlamp might wake up first and smother my violence with my breath. “Fear, sorrow, panic, hate, regret, love, they all can lead to violence! If I didn't care I wouldn't have responded to your fear! I'm not a monster, I swear!”  I found that my breath was catching in my mouth and already I was crumbling down to my knees. “I am a coward from where I came from, more often to watch or walk away from bullies and people getting hurt than to help them.” I explained in a whisper with Glitterlamp looming before me. “I thought this was a dream at first to make myself into a noble hero, so that I could make believe myself into a brave person. I want to take action instead of holding my tongue, but as usual I take things to far! Forgive me.” I pleaded tears washed down my face in quiet sorrow as I waited for the pillow to stop my breath.

Something wrapped around my throat and I accepted the noose keeping my eyes shut and waited for the end.
“I just wanted to know, only monsters have no reasons for what they do.” Glitterlamp spoke gently, already I could feel her magic sooth my mind and calm myself. “I already said we can depend on each other, no matter what. And I really did mean it.” Even though I was no longer afraid I still couldn't stop shaking but I think it was because I was relieved.

The morning came like a rude room mate taking us away from our little moment. Glitterlamp clung to me as if I might disappear if she ever lost her grip. I sat up taking a very sleepy changeling with me.
“No,” she protested. “Not a monster but let me sleep, I'm still tired.” Sleep still grappled with me as well but my stomach was a stronger wrestler.
“Very well, and thank you.” I said giving her a tender hug and a peck on the cheek before sliding from her reluctant grasp then to go down to the kitchen trying to not make much noise. Like the oven, the refrigerator was another thing I couldn't figure out, it ran on sapphires and other dark blue gems but it didn't need an external power source. Perhaps the gems of this world held it's own inherent trait or the enchantment needed the gems. Shaking my head from these questions I nabbed the egg carton and began making an omelet.
Throwing the inner contents of the eggs into the bowl and whipped furiously until the liquid was a frothy yellow. Even though I didn't need to I grabbed Fearbane and practiced my magic to slice the vegetables and mushrooms, it came easier to me this time. I could feel the distance of the knives from hilt to tip as well as the vegetables. I felt like I understood something better but I couldn't place my finger on it. The more I concentrated on what was different the more blurry it became. I even operated the oven in this fashion until I stood in front of it gleefully gripping Fearbane as the burners heated up.
The smell made me impatient but I forced myself to let it finish cooking. Already it felt much like home with dad making omelets and I felt myself fade into memory as the eggs sizzled. It wasn't the meal that made the omelets special but it was that he could flip the omelet a foot out of the skillet without making a mess. The anticipation of the flip, the thrill of witnessing the success, the way that it brought us closer in the mornings, yes, it did start the day out right.
I didn't dare flip them myself. I was too hungry to risk it hitting the floor. I took whatever comfort I could from the memory but it still made me hungry for the company of my family. 
“It's just like those week long camping trips that the boy scouts always insisted on going. Feels just as hot too.” I thought to myself as I slid the omelet onto a plate and take a bite out of it. The only thing it was missing was the cheese. The sun streaked the room with yellow and orange that brightened up the room but felt like it was mocking my lack of cheese by painting the room in its color.

I sat there chewing on the savory, fluffy, and occasionally crunchy flesh of the omelet and decided I wanted another one. While the omelet was cooking on the stove I nabbed an apple and stole a bite from it. The apples of this world was so much sweeter and had a vitality unlike earth. Then again this whole world had a general sense of health and beauty to all of it. The only thing that bothered me was that the whole populace was ignorant of their own home and took everything for granted.
“They even micromanage it! The weather, stars, moons! Isn't there anything here that they don't personally oversee? Hey, wasn't there something I was supposed to do with apples?” I nearly jumped as if burned by fire and skittered to the closest clock. The face of the clock told me it was six-twenty-five and with that I felt the momentary panic wash away as I quickly devoured the omelet and went about getting all my tattered clothes back on my body, the socks were the worst; they felt like crusty, coarse rags but I dared not tempt the burning sands without them.

With Fearbane on my belt, hat on my head and boots on my feet I wanted to tell Glitterlamp I was going but she wasn't even up. 
“I'll be back later, have a good one.” I said to the empty room out of habit. I knew exactly what I was going to do today and I grinned wickedly at the idea. “I'm going to out water Cactai today, the whole frigging orchard even!” Even though it sounded arrogant even to my own ears I felt that I could accomplish such a challenge. I started toward Braeburn's orchard and other ponies came out of their homes full of the same high spirits and energy that had infected me. They all called their greetings and I drank in the wild west scenery like the sweetest of water. I couldn't tell which was brighter: the dawn or everyone's smiles.

Braeburn's orchard was deceptively close to town, there was a natural optical illusion that had made it look like it was farther than what it really was. That, or they really knew how to use every space possible to their advantage.
“Howdy!” Braeburn bursted suddenly beside me making me jump and shy away from him a few steps. “Glad you could make it!”
“Morning.” I replied evenly with a smile.
“Feeling better? Springdew came by the other day saying you were still sick.” Braeburn asked with concern.
“Heat exhaustion, I wasn't used to that type of work in this type of heat. But I'm better now.” I said looking away deflated that it cost me more days than I realized. “Sorry.”
“Being sick ain't your fault! It just happens. C`mon got plenty of trees to water.”

Already the routine was well underway and I just took my place in it. Except I casually gripped Fearbane's hilt and willed the buckets to fill themselves. Just like earlier I could feel the buckets as if they were extensions of my very being. Just seeing them float in my minds eye caused the real world to mimic it. Three buckets floated around me as I went to each tree and poured its cool contents into the dry and thirsty dirt. Each bucket had been wrapped in shadowy darkness that the dawn had trouble scattering but within were flecks of shinning gold that appeared and vanished not unlike how fireflies behave. Almost like eerie phantoms had taken a hold of the buckets to do my bidding and looking down to my blister bursted hands, I didn't want to lift anything.
“`ee `olly! How are ya` doin `at?” Lil Dune asked me with a smaller bucket in his mouth.
“Apparently I had magic this whole time.” I said trying to divide my concentration as I smiled triumphantly at this display of magic. Sadly Lil Dun and Sandie could only speak little snatches of conversation as we passed each other. Wonder and questions shined in their eyes but we both knew that such things have to happen later but their impatience and diligence was contagious. Already I was trying to form a elaborate but true story on how I got this magic.
I wasn't getting tired at all! The other day even rolling an apple across the counter was stressful. I need to figure out what I'm doing different. 
“Maybe I was trying to hard, or even doubting myself. Perhaps I've just accepted the fact that I can do magic through Fearbane, the only downside to it is that I have to keep a hand on it.” Birds frolicked amongst the tree branches singing their songs. The breeze was gentle and didn't kick up any dust into my eyes while not a streak of white touched the clear blue sky.
Yes, it was miserable out. Even though the hat protected my eyes I felt I was stuck in the oven back at my house. The sun beat upon my head like a drummer practicing for next rock show. What little breeze blew hot arid air on me and as I passed Lil Dune and Sandie they were feeling the heat as well but kept going with tired determination that didn't sit well on their faces.

I placed the buckets down next to the well and stopped for at least a drink.
“A rain storm would be great, dark clouds, lightening striking from within itself, cool drops of water, yeah. Yeah! A rainstorm would be awesome right now! It would even help water the whole orchard in one stroke!” I looked around frantically looking with withering hope at the clear blue sky almost as if mocking my day dream. Lil Dune and Sandie came to the well and merely dropped to their rumps panting heavily shoving the buckets they both carried away a scant inch or two.
“H-hey, what's yer thing doing now?” Sandie asked weary and needing a break.
“Such a sad state of affairs if even the kids can't even play.” I thought wondering why she was pointing at me. “Maybe if I concentrated I might be able to carry their buckets too so they can get a break. What is she pointing at?” I followed her eyes til I saw what she looking at.
Fearbane looked as if it were crying, the gem was misted and small tear drops rolled down the blades length into the dry sandy dirt. Close to the eye's surface though was a faint movement like steam rising off the gem. I let go of the handle to rub the moisture off but when I touched the gem it gave me a static shock.
“Ah! Hello there, what's this?” I wondered as I brought Fearbane out of its sheathe to give it a better inspection. Mist certainly did rise off the gem but it rolled off  more than rising but it seemed solid. On a whim I pinched the mist and gave it a experimental tug. As if drawing out cotton candy I pulled out a storm cloud just like I had envisioned just floating a little above my head.
“No way,” I breathed inwardly.
“You're seeing this right?” I asked my little wide eyed watchers.
“Yeah!” They both gushed wobbling closer to get a better look. I looked down at the eye and back at them.
“So,” I started getting their attention. “Who wants watch me make it rain?” I asked with a grin creeping from ear to ear.
“I do!” They both said again eager for the trick.
“Alrighty!” I exclaimed and grabbed a handful of mist and sang whimsically. 

“Rain, rain, come today,
The sun had time enough to play.
Everyone is burnt and hot.
Give us the one thing we don't got!”

And with that I made a mighty tug and clouds gushed from the gem like a fountain and filled the sky blotting out the light. It covered the whole orchard almost plunging the entire area in shadows.
“Dune! Sandie! Cactai, everypony quickly inside!” Braeburn called out frantically rushing to the house. Only when the string to my hat slammed into my neck did I realize that the wind had picked up sharply, but yet it wasn't that bad. A growl like a proud lion rolled amongst the clouds as a fat drop of water hit my forehead. Obediently and quickly Sandie and Lil Dune galloped the best they could to the house. I didn't know where the house was, so I followed the duo.

Rain poured against the windows as Braeburn sat down looking outside worry painted his face. 
“How did this happen!” Cactai bursted raving at the window. “Is this some sort of joke from the weather team!? We don't need their pity!” 
“But where did they get these clouds? I never even heard of them?” Lilly asked looking at the clouds. This was true; the clouds looked like clouds except for one detail. It was as if my Void had leaked out of my dreams to give rain to the dessert.
“Brother! Why can't we go outside and play in the rain? We didn't see any light`nin!” Lil Dune begged Braeburn.
“Those clouds ain't natural. I don't even know if that 'rain' is even water. No, we'll stay inside until it blows itself out.” Braeburn said determinedly.
“But Michael did it! He wouldn't cast a spell to hurt us!” Sandie cried giving Braeburn her best sad puppy dog eyes.

“Then knock it off Michael!” Cactai shouted at me making me jump at the sudden rebuke. “Storms should only be handled by the weather team! You have no idea what you are doing! So stop it!” Cactai stamped her hoof and glared at me. “You ain't impressing anypony.” She growled at me
“Here I thought I was helping water the orchard and doing something good.” I snarled back more fiercely. “I'm not sure if I can 'turn it off' but let me see what I can do, ungrateful whelp.” I went to the door and shrugged past everyone.
“I thought it was helpful,” Lilly said in my defense. “You should be more friendly, Cactai.” I nodded my thanks to Lilly and flung the door open.
“Wait! Don't actually go out there!” Braeburn called out fully of worry but I had already stepped out into the storm. The storm poured down drenching everything making little rivulets in the orchard. I drew out Fearbane and concentrated for the rain to ease up before the farm was washed away. Even from the ground I felt like I had a connection to the storm and I hoped it was strong enough. The wind was harsher making the trees sway dangerously, the rain went from a mild rain to a torrent, lightening struck where ever it willed slithering lazily in the sky before striking the dirt.

“Now to calm the storm, I wanted a gentle rain, a decent wind, only rumbles. What happened?” I thought as the icy rain cut through me like paper freezing me to the bone. It was no accident, this I knew but I didn't want a typhoon! I rose Fearbane to the clouds and concentrated to calm the Void storm. I closed my eyes so that the visual world wouldn't distract me. “Calm gentle rains, sweet cool winds, no lightening, still, calm,” a litany marched through my head as I heard someone yell.
“No! Don't touch him! Get back!” I couldn't place who it was but it wasn't close. The roaring wind calmed down to a whistle, the rain smashed my face no longer and licked it as if to apologize, the  threatening rumble ceased and only the sound of rain was left. I opened my eyes and saw that a pillar lightening touched Fearbane and wreathed the both of us in energy. The white turned to yellow, the jagged edges smoothed out, it moved down the blade, over the gem and down onto my back where it spread out to my tendril like wings. I was too stunned to move and could only watch the events happen around me but the storm was indeed calm, mission accomplished.
“So my magic is finally waking up, huh.” And like a flash of lightening it occurred to me, I'm a Dreamer; is this what happens when I 'wake up?' “Hmm,” I mused but turned back to the farm house. Braeburn looked at me and I noticed that the wings hadn't faded yet.
“There, storms better.” I said gruffly trying to will my wings away. I sheathed Fearbane and the moment my touch left it the wings faded as well. Braeburn looked up to the sky and seemed to be troubled.
“I, don't know if I could ever thank you enough!” Braeburn bursted suddenly trying to shake the water from himself. “The clouds still look unnatural but at least it's not gonna wash us away.” The gentleness and kindness in his voice threw me off balance expecting to get yelled at much like how Cactai did.
“Then,” I stumbled over my words not sure how to feel or act. “I still have a job here?” I asked painfully confused.
“Well of course partner! I've been wanting to get rainclouds here for this very reason!” Braeburn smiled even wider. “Springdew said you'd be a great help. Just didn't know how much you'd be!” Hairs rose on my neck at Glitterlamp's alias. 
“Wait Springdew was here?” I asked trying to not sound worried.
“Yeah, came in on the days you were sick, ya probably don't remember me coming to yer house to check up on ya!” Braeburn said like it didn't even matter, that it was proper to check up on people when they are sick. “I told her she didn't need to work in your stead but she did anyway. Helpful gal she was too.” My body felt like they were turned to lead but my chest felt full and warm.
“She did?” I barely squeaked out. “She bothered to do that for me?”
“Yeah!” Braeburn gushed and I worried that he too can read minds. “In fact I thought it would be friendly if I invited the both of you for dinner tonight!” Another pound was added to my body threatening to crack me in half.
“I had Glitter cover for me? Argh! How do I repay that? Between my self pity and the problems of this world she still makes time for me? Now I got to attend dinner with Braeburn's family. Stick a fork in me!” I thought trying to re-evaluate the situation.
“But I feel like you need to help us clean up the branches that the storm knocked off.” Braeburn said as if to say, I forgive you but your not off the hook.
“That's fair.” I replied as if accepting a punishment. 
“Get back here!” Cactai yelled out from the porch as Lil Dune and Sandie came gleefully splashing in the mud and jumping into the rain cheerful as ever. Lilly came striding out into the rain and seemed just fine, comfortable even.
“Oh calm down Cactai, it's just rain.” Lilly called over her shoulder teasingly. “Or does a little water from the sky scare you?”
“It's not the rain that worries me, it's the nutcase controlling it!” Cactai countered but stepped outside anyway.

I spent what felt like hours picking up broken branches and setting small trees back up to their proper angles. Lil Dune And Sandie however couldn't seem to get enough of me; following after me asking me questions and begging me not to go because Cactai yelled at me.
“Please! I wanna here about the cars again!” Lil Dune begged.
“No! I wanna here about the part with big towns!” Sandie countered.
“Luckily for both of you, they are in the same area.” I answered picking up a branch with magic so I wouldn't run out of breath. “But it's hard to really know what it's like without being there,” I said trying to come up with better descriptions for my world. “Take Canterlot for example, it's a big city. Now imagine like six more of those all over the place.” I said hoping that it was accurate. “And cars look kinda like this,” began drawing a basic car that would rival a kindergartner but they thought it was great.
“Wow.” They breathed in wonder.
“And they come in all sizes, big as carts and faster than trains.” I spun the tale as hard as I could.
“Whoa! Faster than trains!” Lil Dune exclaimed seeing the wonder sparkle in his eyes despite the dark clouds which still persisted, in fact they haven't moved at all. They blotted out the sun so much it was like walking during the sunset.
“I got it to rain but the trees need sun too, maybe if the clouds become see through?” I thought trying to solve another problem I had made. As I finished the thought the clouds turned transparent and the sun stung my eyes suddenly, like someone did turn the lights on.
“Ack!” I flinched at the sudden brightness. “I guess that solves that.” I said chuckling to myself. I saw Springdew/Glitterlamp talking with Braeburn and generally good time. Even though the clouds let the light through the Void still blanketed the sky painting the blue into a black with shimmering stars and ribbons of bending color while showering the ground with water. The water! It was real! Not an illusion or dream at all, real! 

“Yeah, he's here.” I head Braeburn's conversation as I walked closer to toss the stick into firewood pile in the barn. “Yeah he's fine. . . No, the clouds are his doing. . . of course I'll still have him around.” Glitterlamp spoke too softly for me to make out but she felt like the longer she spoke to him the more at ease she felt. “Yeah, he's been here all day helping out around here, look he's over there.”
Glitterlamp came galloping right up to me and looked to the sky and back to me.
“Hey,” she said breathlessly. “I thought something bad was happening here, and you were gone, and I thought,” she had to stop and regain her breath for a moment. “I didn't know where you were and I overslept, I thought you wandered off.”
“I'm fine.” I said rubbing her head. “I was just practicing magic, I even got it to rain but it took a while to get it like this.”
“Yeah, looks like a quiet doom cloud over this place.” She said giggling a bit then seemed to remember something. “OH! I almost forgot, Trixie is here! Well at our house, is that okay?” She asked openly.
“Yeah!” I said looking forward to seeing the unicorn that summoned me here. “It's alright, tell her to be welcome and to make herself at home.” Glitterlamp/Springdew smiled warmly.
“Heya everypony, watering is done, branches are picked up and it's only lunch time! I think we'll let off early today.” Braeburn announced and everyone cheered and went with a bounce to their steps to town. 
“I think we should do something fun today. Where did you want to go?” I asked as we followed the departing crowd to town.
“Are you asking me on a date?” Glitterlamp/Springdew asked mischievously standing a little closer to me.
“If a date means we'll be having a day of fun, then yes, I'm asking you on a date.” I said playfully.
“A simple yes would have worked.” She said rolling her eyes.
“But I would like to see if Trixie is okay first, Ponyville is not exactly close by.” I said now curious on why Trixie might be here,
“Last I checked she didn't want to see me for a long time.”