No, no that was a lie. Pleasant Dreams could not believe her ears. Surely Twilight was simply joking. Friends do that to each other, friends play pranks like that on each other.
Right?
Twilight simply had to be joking. Dreams was sure that she wasn't even able to affect others in a way like that filly had. She had to make sure that Twilight would understand that. But as she opened her mouth nothing really came out.
The devastated look on Twilight's face had made sure of that.
It was a look that screamed distrust, it was a look that told Dreams in very clear words that nothing she would say would be believed.
The little brat had won after all. Within a few moments the future Dreams had been looking forward to was shattered. The small bond of trust gone. There was no doubt about that.
Seconds passed, yet there was no passing of judgement and no feeling of sealing magic touching her. Not even a single word had been uttered from Twilight.
The seconds turned into minutes of uncomfortable silence. When Dreams finally gained the courage to look Twilight in the face, she only saw confusion and determination. Almost too Twilight asked a question that seemed to have burned inside of her.
“Pleasant Dreams, answer me truthfully. Did Fluttershy also follow Brainwave's training?”
Dreams could only nod. Whisper, as Fluttershy had been called back then had been part of the training. And she had completed the training as well. But Dreams could not see how it was relevant.
Unless, well unless Twilight meant that she thinks the training/experimentation done way back then had some kind of influence. That the waves Twilight's spell detected was caused by what ever the unicorn had done to the prospects.
A scary thought, who knows what that magic had done to them.
Was who she was even who she was meant to be? Was she somehow being controlled like a puppet dancing on the strings of a spell placed in her mind years ago? Dreams was suddenly unsure about almost everything. Not even her own thoughts on the subject. She was so stuck in her thoughts that she never heard Twilight tell her that she was going to get Fluttershy and Redheart to be evaluated with the two of them by a professional.
A professional Twilight had already contacted a few hours ago when she had heard Dreams talking about sensing the manipulations of Diamond Tiara. But now that professional was going to come for Pleasant Dreams, Diamond Tiara AND Fluttershy.
For the first time since Twilight's reveal, Dreams had found her voice. A simple question. Something
“So, so what is going to happen to me now?”
Instantly, Twilight refocused upon the thestral, when she noticed a change in Dreams. She was getting scared of being in the same room as an alicorn, who just found out she was being influenced by said roommate. Disregarding the fact she didn't even know she was doing so in the first place.
“Well, you are going to remain here in the library for the time being while I go collect Fluttershy and her partner, to see whether or not they are affected or possess similair abilities you seem to posses. There will be a night guard over later tonight who is supposed to be an expert on these matters. When he gets here we will figure out from where to go to next”
The voice had been calm and there was an clear attempt to sooth Pleasant Dreams as it occurred to Twilight that the more scared Dreams seemed to become the more powerfull her output seemed to become.
Dreams on her part seemed to be a little confused. Twilight had outright sealed the magic of that filly without even consulting an 'expert' and yet she was going to be assesed?
Perhaps it was due her status now. Perhaps it would mean a cover-up or something? All of her instincts told her to run out the library, to flee. She had been amongst the nobles and their rumours for far to long to not know what a government cover-up meant.
Yet the rational part of her mind was screaming to stay. That running will only make things worse.
Gingerly she sat down, praying to whatever gods that would listen that it would not end like the way she thought it would end.
An hour passed before Twilight returned with an obviously worried Redheart and an absolutely terrified Fluttershy. Obviousely, they had been informed of the situation.
The chatter had been few, even the calming effects of Zecora's special teablend had the desired effect of keeping the elephant out of the room.
Fluttershy and Pleasant Dreams where simply terryfied about the possible consequences.
Redheart was simply confused; she had understood the fact that Twilight had learned that both Dreams and Fluttershy had been experimented on by some kind of mad unicorn. But what she did not get was the explaination that Fluttershy of all ponies might have a subcontious effect on those arround her.
She felt fine, no she felt better then ever now that she had moved in with her mare. But was that due to the fact that she was finally able to leave the dump of an appartment she had been living in. Or the fact that she had snagged and bagged what was reffered to, in the tabloids at least, as one of the most beautiful and graceful mares to have ever graced the modeling scene.
Twilight, on the other hoof, was nervous. She didn’t know how much of what she had seen of what she thought to be the 'real' Pleasant Dreams to be true. And of course how much was a blantant lie or possible illusion.
Spike had been sent out to stay with Rarity for the night. It had been decided that it would be best that he was not arround for this. He may be older then most, but he was still a baby dragon. Mature by law of age, but still he had the frail mindset of a foal at times.
The uncomfortable silence was broken when a knock on the door and the consequential entrance of an off white unicorn stallion, wearing the armor of a nightguard. There was something a little off about him. He seemed to be completely at ease, even with an confirmed manipulator in the room.
It was Twilight who responed first. A simple nod was all she got when she aproached him. Not a bow like the others. Twilight spoke,“This is captain Cleansweep. The current head of the shadow hunter division.”
Now that did cause a ripple in the small group of mares. Mostly to Fluttershy and Pleasant Dreams who were now deathly afraid.
Pleasant Dreams had only heard rumors about this specialized group in the nightguard. They where supposed to not even exist! Hunters of those who abused magic or were driven into the worship of demonic entities or spirits. Hunters who were supposed to be above the law itself, trained in forms of magic long since banned.
The unicorn simply smiled, though it never really convinced anypony in the room. It was the type of smile you see from a shrewd salesmen just before stripping a fool from everything he owns.
“No need for introductions princess. I am here merely on consultation base as an expert on mental magic. Now then let us get started.”
His horn glowed only for a moment before it dimmed. He hummed for a second before his smile returned.“Interesting selection you have her your highness.”
The four mares where about to speak up before he raised a hoof silencing them all.
“I would like to speak with lady Fluttershy and lady Pleasant Dreams in private if they would allow me. Do not worry, if I had harm in mind, the damage would already be done. I’m merely trying to establish that my first assumptions are correct for lady Dreams, and perhaps learn a thing or two about lady Fluttershy.”
Throughout his explanation, neither his expression nor the tone of his voice changed even a little bit. He did gain a more genuine smile as he spoke the last part.
“Though I would not be afraid, there is no risk from either for as far as I can tell from my initial scan. They simply are of the wrong typing for it.”
Twilight let out a small sigh of relief. But something did not add up, she was dying to know exactly why her spell had gone off if Dreams abilities where deemed to not be a threat. But she could not ask a question as she saw Dreams stirring.
Still a little hesitant Dreams stood up and walked off towards her still unused bedroom, closing the door when the stallion was inside.
The attitude of the guard-captain changed almost 180 degrees when they where alone. It caught Dreams a bit off guard, while he had been strict and business-like before, the stallion now seemed to be almost gentle and approachable.
“Now then m'lady, I would prefer to cast a more powerfull scrying spell while we do this. But the thing is, a reluctant mind interferes with the scrying. If you allow me to cast it out of your own free will it shall be a lot more accurate. Can I count on your cooperation?”
Dreams meekly nodded, wanting nothing more then to get this over with as swiftly as possible.
Cleansweep brought forth an impossibly big smile.“Perfect then. Please hold still, this might tingle a little bit at first. That is merely my magic channeling itself into your own wellspring. Dont worry its perfectly safe.”
The pain Pleasant Dreams felt was amongst the most escruciating she had ever felt. It felt as if she was being poked by millions of red hot needles, from the inside out. Bitting down and thinking about that it might all be for the better was the only way for her to stop from screaming in pain.
When the pain finally subsided, Dreams could still see the smile on Cleansweep's face.
“Well now, this is interesting indeed. You say you have been tutored by the rogue unicorn Brainwave right? Could you tell me what this entailed? Just tell me what you recall.”
With a sigh, Pleasant Dreams began to recall her tale. About being gathered into a small backroom of the orphanage. The spells, the feelings she had afterwards. Everything she could remember. She was not sure why she was doing it. She could feel no compulsions like she had before, it was just her mind screaming that it was allright. Telling her that it was time to simply talk.
When she was finally done with her story, Cleansweep looked at her with his head slightly sideways. His expression was stating several things. Disgust and confusion where amongst the most prominent and most clear to see.
“Right, this next question may sound odd but I will explain myself eventually. Does others touching you or vise versa affect you in any way? Like changing sleep patterns or cause anxiousness?”
To Dreams it felt like a stupid question. Of course having others, especially stallions, touch her makes her feel anxious! But it was best to anwser the questions truthfully as lies and omissions would only be of negative effect for a possible future.
This type of questioning lasted for nearly 30 minutes. Cleansweep asking questions or preforming spells of various kinds.When she came out Pleasant Dreams was exhausted, it had taken a lot out of her. Both physically as mentally. In his quest to learn about her, Cleansweep had just about opened nearly every scar on her mind.
She looked at Twilight.“Cleansweep wishes to speak to you now.”
Soundlessly, the two switched places. Fluttershy and Redheart had no time to ask how it had gone nor what the strange stallion had been asking. Pleasant Dreams had simply collapsed into her seat. Completely drained of nearly all of her energy.
As Twilight entered the room, she could see Cleansweep sitting on the bed. His eyes where focused on a small notebook he had before him. Most likely the notes from the interview with Dreams.
“So well then your highness, at first thank you for calling me here today. Learned a whole lot of new stuff from my conversation with lady Pleasant Dreams alone. I cannot wait to speak to you and the other couple. But let us get started. Please, please sit down. This should not take long.”
A new piece of parchment manifested in front of him along with a quill and ink. Something he had hidden during his intervieuw with Pleasant Dreams.
“Now then, like I asked lady Pleasant Dreams before I would like to start with a more invasive scanning spell. Do I have your premission to cast it?”
Twilight had already read up a little on these types of scans, no explaination on the effect of a hostile scan was needed. “Of course, I have nothing to hide.”
The spell was less invasive this time, Twilight barely felt a thing. But that could be because this one was developped after the changeling-invasion specificly to detect malicicous influence.
“Good news is, you`ve got a clean bill of health. I cannot detect any traces of direct control. Bad news is that I did find traces of Lady Pleasant Dreams' abilities.”
Twilight was about to say something before she got shushed by Cleansweep.
“No need to worry, I stick by my previous assesment. The influence is harmless. But I'd like to learn a little bit more about how it affects you. So could you anwser me a few questions?”
About ten minutes later and two similar interviews, Fluttershy followed the stallion out the small bedroom. Her face wary and just as exhausted as Dreams' had been when she came out.
Seating themselves, the good captain stood in front of them. A genuine smile graced his face, this time it even reached his eyes.
“I guess I owe a small explaination. I shall start with Lady Fluttershy as she is the most difficult one to explain.”
The attention of the room was now focused on the butter-yellow ball of fluff and feathers being comforted by a glaring Redheart. Not that it seemed to affect the stallion in any way.
“Well Lady Fluttershy is what in proper terms is called a violator.”
That was the cause of getting slapped at full force by the normally so well reserved nurse.
The strike was strong enough to force Cleansweep to the ground.
“You want to run that by me again?”
One could say that both Dreams and Twilight where more than amazed by the sheer strength behind the strike.
“You dare to accuse Fluttershy of all ponies to be something as vile as that!”
Slowly getting up Cleansweep had atleast the decency to look a bit sorry.
“My appologies ma'am, I believe that came out a bit wrong. A violator is merely a very powerfull sub-type of empath who possesses certain secondary abilities.”
With a bit more flair than before the guard captain called forth a large board with three words written on it.
Empath, Manipulator, Telepath.
“These are the three basic forms of any mental spells or abilities. Atleast these are the ones we class all others under. Like I said a violater is a sub-type of empath. A very rare and incredebly powerfull sub-type.”
His eyes became sympathetic when he looked at Fluttershy, something that did looked more then a little off on his usually non-expressive face. “She is also the first recorded one of her type to have survived long enough to even get her cutiemark and unlock the full potentiall of her gifts.”
Ignoring the shocked gasps Cleansweep went on. “You see, violaters are empaths meaning they can sense the emotions of others as if they where their own. Normally they need to focus to feel anything but her type is different. Think of it like flipping a switch to turn a machine on or off. Lady Fluttershy and her kind have no switch to turn on or off. To make it worse, they only feel the negative spectrum. Fear, anger, hatred and so on. Their constant exposure to these emotions of others makes them skittish, fearful and often more than a little paranoid. Many sucumb to the strain their abilities puts on their mind and simply keel over long before their 9th birthday.”
The shock was now even greater then before, Redheart was casually stroking Fluttershy's mane desperate to calm to shaking mare.
“Violaters often become secluded surrounding themselves with animals who lack the complex emotions that cause them harm. And if they are arround other sentient species they often try and make it as pleasant for the others as possible. To prevent them from feeling to many negative emotions. Now you may wonder why ponies with such a large interest in keeping others away or atleast peacefull have such a horrible name? Well its because of their second ability. Your highness, I asume its safe to asume that you are aware of what Lady Fluttershy calls 'the stare'?”
Twilight nodded, she had seen it in action herself. It was able to force a full grown dragon of all things to retreat.
“This is the second ability. Though none has ever been recorded as powerfull as the records of your adventures with the dragon and cockatrice, but that might be due that fact of maturity. This visual ability is something like a last line defence. They can trap those who intentionally seek to harm others in a state wherein they would feel all the pain and grief they have caused in the past. Every single bit of it, at the same time.”
Cleansweep shook his head a little, it was clear that he himself had been exposed to something like that in the past. “You can imagine that somepony would do anything in order to never feel it again. So please miss Redheart, remember what I said about feeling negative emotions. If you really care about her, then try and keep calm.”
A determend nod and a hug with a light kiss on the nose for Fluttershy was all the response the nurse gave.
Cleansweep then looked at Pleasant Dreams, who could not even respond to what she had just heard. It put all the pain and suffering from her years in the orphanage in a whole different light. Her only friend at the time had suffered not only her own pain, but that of many others at the same time. Had the matron known? It could not have been, it should not have been so.
Yet again, she was almost casual in her acceptance of the 'accidental' death.
But before any further thoughts went that way the second word on the board lid up. The word Manipulator.
“Lady Pleasant Dreams is a member of a very wide group known as an manipulator. They are called this because they can influence the state of mind of another being. Many are malevolent in nature, a trait carried through in the personality of their wielders. King Sombra and his enslavement magic is a clear cut example of these types. Though Lady Pleasant Dreams, you belong to basicly one of three good natured sub-types. The most common sub-type actually. Something we have come to call a soother.”
A wave of relief went through Pleasant Dreams, atleast an expert said that she was harmless. Well no, not harmless but good natured. Basicly the same thing right?
“Soothers come in many forms, those in healthcare, like miss Redheart, possess these abilities to a lesser effect. It is a side-effect of their own talents in medical care as it helps them to keep their patients calm. A real soother however is far more powerfull. A mere touch can send somepony into a calm and peacefull state of mind. With no real thought, just calm bliss. And this is where Lady Pleasant Dreams is different. I believe it’s due to Brainwave's tampering with her when she was still a foal.”
The stallion took a deep breath before continuing. “Her abilities are weaker than that of a normal soother, she seems to be unable to completely placete the mind. Instead she calms it to the point that it empowers clear thought and a general sence of peace. But what really sets her aside is that she emits this ability through an aura arround her.”
This caused a little bit of surprised gasp from the others.
“Normal soothers work through touch, they need to be in direct physical contact in order to affect somepony. What I also find very strange, her aura's strength seems to increase in strength the later it gets.”
That in and on its own made sence to Dreams, she had always been told that sleeping with her in the bed had been very restfull. So much so that it had been her special talent, the pillow on her flank specified it as so.
“What I also have learned is that Lady Pleasant Dreams and Lady Fluttershy share a common past. I believe that it was the near constant presence of a soother from a very young age that might have actually surpressed lady Fluttershy's own abilities.”
A smirk and a wink towards Redheart followed. “So keep up the good work m'lady. I am sure you have no problems with snuggling up to her at night am I right?”
That got a few giggles from Twilight and a flustered look from Redheart.
“If that was all, your highness, I would like to start on my secondary assignment. Good luck to you all.”
With those words said, and not even waiting for a reply, Cleansweep simply walked out of the library.
The atmosphere in the room was tense, two mares and their 'partners' had just been given a rather heavy bit of information to digest.
Dreams was both happy and sad at the same time, she had gotten the information she wanted. She was harmless to others. No, not harmless, helpful even. But at the same time she knew that nopony would ever be themselves around her. They would always feel the lingering effects of her abilities.
The explaination also gave some insights to her previous life. It explained why her old master had taken great care to have her arround when making deals or reading important documents, if what that captain Cleansweep had said was true at least.
Her sulking got worse and worse as scenario's started to form in her mind. Scenarios about her accidentally causing major distress, or even catastrophes. Far feched as they might be, they still haunted her. They kept growing in strength and disaster until a set of lavender legs and wings enveloped her. She could hear Twilight whispering. Though she had no idea why the alicorn would even want to be close to her right now.
“It will be alright, we'll figure something out. I promised you a normal life. And I will keep my promise to you.”
Meanwhile at Rarity's, over the past several months it had gotten clearer and clearer to Spike that his dream date with Rarity was never going to come. That didn't mean he didn't like working with her, on contrary he loved it. The white mare had shown herself to have a good sence of humor and an allround nice conversationalist. Far from the gossip queen she had to play for many of her snooty customers.
It also didn't help that she quite often treated him to a gem or two. Spike was far from it to complain. So over the course of months, their relationship changed into that more of a casual friendship and mutual businespartnership.
The partnership was cheap gems for Spike, and an allround assistent and shining dragon scales for Rarity. Spike had not been able to believe how much his old discarded scales where worth to a noble wanting to make a fashion-statement.
Tonight, like a few times before when Twilight needed some alonetime, Spike had stayed over at Rarity's for the night, in her spare bedroom.
This time was different from all the previous times, usually it was a cup of tea and some talking before Spike went to bed. Tonight however there was a third guest. Sweetie Belle had been staying with her sister for a few days. So tonight it was a night filled with boardgames and simple discussions about school. The last game of the night was a game for two, meaning it was Rarity against Spike and Sweetie Belle.
Throughout the games, Spike had not been aware that the filly had been scooting a bit closer until he could feel the soft fur brushing against him. Surprised he looked sideways only to see Sweetie Belle laying her head on his shoulder. Almost cutely snuggling up to him, closing her eyes with a barely audible sigh of content.
The look of utter confusion on Spike's face and the sheer adorableness of the display of her sister caused Rarity to snicker a little bit. She had known the true cause of her sisters' odd behavior for a while now.
“How about we pause the game while I go fix a little snack. I believe you two might have a thing or two to talk about.”
With a wink to her sister and a gentle smile to Spike, Rarity had left the two youngsters alone in favor for the kitchen.
Spike turned to the now almost crimson red filly. “So, what’s up with her all the sudden?”
All Sweetie Belle could do was mutter something incoherent, while blushing even harder. The poor filly tried nearly three times to get the point across to the confused Spike. Untill out of desperation, she closed the gap between them and gently but quickly gave Spike a small kiss on his cheek. This resulted in turning Spike into a gibbering mess of incoherence while his brain tried to figure out what in Cadence's name had just happened.