//------------------------------//
// Epilogue 
// Story: Figments 
// by Half Awake 
//------------------------------//

Scootaloo crept along the wooden hallway, looking left and right as she passed each door. This was trespassing for sure, but she just had to know.

Here. There was no plaque, but she knew it had to be the right one. With one last glance to make sure she was alone, the young pegasus gripped the door's handle between her teeth and pulled backward to swing it open. She was so eager to see the other side that she barreled straight into Princess Luna and ended up on her rump.

“This one does not smell like Apples.” Luna didn't look like she was in a good mood.

“Oh, uh, hey there, Princess Luna.” Scootaloo nervously scratched at the back of her neck while she tried to figure out what to say. “I guess I got a little bit lost.” Seriously? That was the best she could come up with?

Princess Luna stepped through the door and shut it behind herself. Scootaloo couldn't quite help trying to steal a glance as it closed.

“You got a little bit lost and ended up at the doorway to Rainbow Dash's mind? No, I don't think so.”

Well, the truth had worked out alright last time. Maybe if she was lucky, the princess would let her off with a lecture on responsibility or something. “I just wanted to look. I mean, it's Rainbow Dash!” Scootaloo gestured emphatically toward the door. “Her dreams have got to be awesome. I wasn't going to mess with anything, I swear.” It sounded pretty lame out loud.

Princes Luna surprised her by sitting down, right there in the hallway. The alicorn looked exhausted, which was weird considering where they were. She didn't say anything, which made Scootaloo feel even worse.

“Are you gonna to tell her?”

The princess seemed to consider the question for a second. “No, I will not.” Another awkward moment passed. “Ponies’ dreams are private things, Scootaloo. Places where their imaginations can relax or run wild, where their subconscious minds craft fantastic worlds and surreal nightmares.”

Scootaloo relaxed; looked like it was going to be a lecture after all. She suppressed an eye roll – that kind of thing usually didn’t go over very well. It’s not like Princess Luna didn’t go snooping around whenever she wanted, anyway. This was probably one of those ‘do as I say, not as I do’ kind of things.

“Once you notice the doorways between dream realms, you can never stop seeing them. Worse, there are things that will start to notice you.” Luna frowned. She wasn’t really looking at Scootaloo any more, which was kind of unnerving.

“The Dreamsnatcher is real; she is not some figment of our imaginations that can only hurt us if we let her. Such creatures find it easy to move around when doorways are left open.” Her eyes snapped to Scootaloo. “There have been a lot of those lately.”

The accusation made Scootaloo feel a little bit sick to her stomach. “But you’re always there to protect us. That’s your job, isn’t it? Besides, we completely crushed that mirror monster. Everything worked out fine. It did work out fine, right?”

Luna’s lecture face melted into careful consideration. “It is my job, yes. But there are many ponies, and I can not be in all dreams at all times.” She stood back up into that posture she always used to make formal pronouncements.

“You did perform admirably against the Dreamsnatcher. All three of you, in fact. Very few ponies have an aptitude for lucid dreaming, and even fewer can find the paths between dreams without a guide.” Luna narrowed her eyes and pulled her mouth into a thin line. “It would be irresponsible of me to let you wander those paths without protection or instruction.” The princess turned to walk away; apparently the lecture was over. “And it would be equally irresponsible of me to ignore that aptitude. Go back to your own dream and rest well. Be back here tomorrow night for your first lesson.”

Scootaloo’s ears drooped. “Yes princess.” She knitted her eyebrows as her brain processed the sentence fully. “Wait, what?” She had been expecting the princess to forbid her from exploring these worlds, to somehow prevent her from going where she wasn’t allowed. Wouldn’t that have been the easier solution? And more importantly… “What about Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle?”

Luna paused her retreat for just a moment and gave a resigned sigh. “Yes, I believe you should bring them along as well.” A plain grey door at the end of the corridor creaked open to admit her, and closed quickly as she passed.

Another minute passed in the silent hallway as Scootaloo turned the conversation over in her mind. Then, with one last wistful glance at her big sister’s door, she crept quietly back toward her own.