//------------------------------//
// Chapter 4: Pathes Hidden in Dreams 
// Story: Love Made of Metal and Apples 
// by Gearsmash King 
//------------------------------//

Copper Finish awoke near a dirt road. He was confused and had no idea where he was. The road went for a mile in both directions, but it was possible to see what was at each end. In one direction, there was a small town. In the other, a farm. Both ways looked promising, but there were no signs saying what they were or how far. Copper Finish wasn't sure what to do. 

"Okay," he said to himself, "I've got know idea where I am, what to do, and I'm alone." 

After thinking for a moment, Copper Finish decided to go to the town. 

"Maybe," he said, "I'll find somepony who can help me."

As Copper Finish walked, he tried to remember how he got there. Could he have gotten lost and decided to sleep there. He couldn't remember anything, before waking up, except a face. Copper Finish thought as he continued walking towards town. 

"Who is she?" He asked himself. "Why do I remember her and not anything else?"

Copper Finish reached the town shortly after. The town was busy with ponies. There were a lot of shops and houses, there was even a workshop. From a distance the town seemed smaller, but it was huge. Copper Finish was now more confused than before. 

"That's strange," he thought, "when I first saw the town, it looked five times smaller."

Copper Finish walked over to a pair of ponies to ask for help. 

"Excuse me," he said politely, "could one of you help me?"

The ponies looked at him and smiled. They seemed excited to see him, even though he never met them. 

"Oh... My... Gosh!" One pony said. "It's you!"

Copper Finish wasn't sure what this pony was talking about. But was more concerned with where he was. 

"Um..." Copper Finish stammered, "Where am I?"

"Don't you know your own home?" The other pony asked.

Copper Finish was now more confused than before. He still didn't know the name of the town or why he was there. But he was smart, he knew how to get information without anyone thinking he was strange. 

"Sometimes I forget," Copper Finish said, "because I'm so busy."

From what Copper Finish figured, from the first pony's reaction, he was well known. But he was only playing along, because he only wanted to know what was going on. 

"That's true." The first pony said. "Sometimes when you come back to Ponyville, you're usually busy."

"Yeah," the other pony said, "because you're either in Cantorlot, attending to royal requests or you're here working in your workshop." The pony pointed to the workshop. 

Copper Finish was relieved to know where he was. But he wasn't sure why they thought he was famous. Copper Finish knew that he had a workshop in Cantorlot and that he was a royal chief engineer. But, he was never this well known. Also, why would he have a workshop in Ponyville? 

"Well, it's good to be home." Copper Finish said feeling a little foolish. "Thanks for reminding me."

"No problem," said the first pony, "anything to help the Mechanical Hero."

Copper Finish was confused by what the pony had said. He had never been called a hero before. 

"Okay then," Copper Finish said in confusion, "I'm just going to go to my workshop to relax, good bye." He started walking over to the workshop. 

As he went, he heard the two ponies talking to each other again. 

"Wow!" Said the first pony, excitedly, "We actually talked to Copper Finish! Awesome!"

"I know!" The other said, "I can't keep calm!"

Copper Finish entered the workshop and was amazed by what he saw. On the walls were posters and pictures of him. They were all different, each one showed how he had saved ponies and fought monsters. One poster showed Copper Finish and seven other ponies leaning against a big machine that had four crane hoists, a sliding door on the side, and six wheels. The poster was titled "A Vertical Rescue, Done Right." Copper Finish kept looking at all of them, trying to figure out how he did all this. He stopped and looked at two dusty pictures on a workbench. Copper Finish walked over to the bench and blew off the dust. The first picture was a photo that showed Copper Finish dancing with another pony at the Grand Galloping Gala. The other was a newspaper clip with three fillies standing in front of a steam locomotive. After looking at them for several minutes, Copper Finish started to cry. 

"These were taken back when I was happy," he sobbed, "but why do I feel miserable now?"

"Are you sure you were happy?" Said a voice. 

Copper Finish turned to face the visitor. He was surprised by who he saw. Standing in front of him was Princess Luna. 

"Oh, Princess Luna." he said as he wiped the tears away. "Why are you here?"

"I am here to help you out of this dream." She said softly. 

Copper Finish didn't understand what she was talking about. 

"Dream?" He asked. "This doesn't feel like a dream." 

"I can assure you that you are dreaming, observe." Princess Luna said.

She created a small circle that showed the real Copper Finish sleeping in a hospital bed. His special hoof gauntlets and hat were replaced with bandages. There were big bandages covering his neck and torso. He was a mess, but alright. Fire Bolt was asleep in a chair next to the bed. He made a big snore which made "dream" Copper Finish chuckle. Then Luna closed the circle and turned her attention back to Copper Finish. 

"From what I can understand," she said, "this dream has two versions."

Copper Finish wasn't sure what she was talking about. 

"What do you mean two versions?" He asked. 

"In this version," Luna said, "you see yourself as a famous hero. However, you are alone, correct?"

Copper Finish looked around the workshop. All he could see was a room full of posters, tools, and metal. 

"Actually, princess," he said as he lowered his head, "I don't care if I'm famous or not."

"What do you want, then?" She asked.

"I want to fall in love with the mare of my dreams and live peacefully." Copper Finish said as he lifted his head back to a proper stance.

Princess Luna smiled and stamped her hoof on the floor. The room began to spin and change. After it stopped, Copper Finish looked around. He saw a dining room table, where the workbench was. On the walls, the posters and tools were replaced with family photos and decorations. 

"Where are we now?" He asked. 

"This is the second version." Luna said. "What do you think?"

Copper Finish thought before he answered. 

"It's nice," he said, "but it's still not what..."

Copper Finish stopped talking when he saw who entered the room. To his surprise, Applejack walked in, carrying a big apple pie. Copper Finish watched her place the pie on the table and go back through the door. They followed Applejack to the kitchen, where they found her making apple cider on the stove. 

"What I do not understand," Luna said, "is why you did not come here first."

They stayed focused on Applejack as she poured the cider into some cups.

"It seems to be what you wished for." Luna continued. "And yet, you chose to go to the town, why?"

"I..." Copper Finish stammered, "I thought that the town was a better choice because there were more ponies."

He paused and thought for a moment. 

"But," he continued, "even though, there were more ponies, I had no one to share my life."

"Yes," Luna said, "and here you have just that. So what are you intending to do?"

Copper Finish thought for a moment. The first version was what he pictured if he was anything more than what he was. However, the second version had everything he wanted. 

"Well," he said, "I think it's very clear what I should do."

"Then," Luna said, "it is time for you to awake."

She stamped her hoof and everything disappeared in a flash of light.

Copper Finish awoke in the hospital bed and smiled.