I dream once again.
It has been a long day and I wish to sleep on Low Alert, Athena has set the automatics as we both enjoy a quiet night.
I drift in that now familiar void of velvet softness that envelopes us when we let ourselves go.
Something we have never known is so commonplace now. I wait for it to arrive, something wondrous or a memory, something from myself.
It is a welcome thing now. Humans had often discussed it, but never could explain why, or where when questioned by us about such things. There were scientific explanations of course, the subconscious relieving itself of the days troubles or cares.
Here though I wonder, having no subconscious, where does it arrive from?
It is a quandary, I want to know everything about dreaming so badly, but yet not wanting to know as it would ruin the mystery should I ever find out.
It is not war I see, nor do I relive those moments of grief or pain. I sit in grassy fields, staring at the warm skies. Walking in the orchard under a starlit night, smelling the ripening fruit, watching the night birds ply their trade in insect hunting.
Or rarely, seeing my sister winging her way among the clouds where she is free of the world, soaring in the fluffy clouds that dot the skyscape, she maneuvers skillfully with laughter bright and clear.
One day I believe that dream will become a reality, I feel it in my very being.
As I sit under the shade of a tree, a figure steps beside me in a flare of light.
“Another simple day Crusader?”
“As always Your Highness.”
She chuckles, I see her out of the corner of my eye, smiling and taking in the hills and town in the distance, “Would you not want adventures? Something exciting?”
I turn to her, seeing her looking at me with warm eyes, “I think I’ve had enough for now Princess.” Turning back to gaze over the meadow.
She lays in the short grass, the breeze cooling as we both sit for a moment before she speaks again, “When one walks dreams, this is refreshing from the..oddness..of others.”
“I am sure you’ve seen many strange things.” I watch her nod, acknowledging that perhaps having this ability is not so good at times.
“I have, and some not so. I calm fears, chase the nightmares away and let rest come to those who are in need.” The dark mare is solemn while she speaks, “But at times, it is good to be at peace.”
“Yes it is.” I don’t offer any more.
“Twilight has the spell by the way, for helping your sister. As is her way she is improving upon it, making it easier to cast and lasting longer.” Her speech is warm, she has taken a liking to Twilight, who has helped her in so many ways.
“I think she will find a way, she is bright and capable. As for Athena, she enjoys each minute no matter how short.”
A short laugh, “Oh that she does!” The regal head shakes for a moment, “But she is not demanding, she never begs for it to be done over and over, she accepts what is given and no more.”
“Do you find that surprising?”
A tilt of the head and a slight nod accompanies her voice, “I do somewhat. Most would want more, sometimes to the point of pressuring others. It is normal for one to want though, is it not?”
“It is, but she understands there are limits.” I glance at the Princess, “She is still learning to be herself, give her time to make the same demands.”
“I would think sometimes she knew everything. In Manehatten she conferred with my finest Commanders and held her own beautifully.” One fore leg crosses the other with a rustle of wings, the dark mare settling in to stay.
“We know quite a bit, and learn more each day Highness. But she is growing as a person, more like..” I tilt my head trying to think of the word.
“A filly?”
“Yes, a young one growing up.” I nod at her astute analogy.
“I would think she’d already done so.” Her voice is curious.
“In some ways. We are born aware, taught quickly to be a Bolo AI and sent to war. She’s never had the chance, or I, to just be a person, or a pony. She and her sister were so very different from what I would call ‘regular’ Bolos.”
She raises an eyebrow and glances at me, “But what of yourself?”
I laugh, giving her a grin, “I am stubborn and set in my ways I’m afraid.”
“Ah, so you will forever be stolid and staid as Athena says?” I notice her smile getting wider.
“I am afraid so, I am content.”
“Though you do, sometimes, have that rare moment.” Her eyes focus far away for a moment, probably remembering the Manehatten transmission.
“Yes Your Highness, I do. Poking fun at things can relieve some of the tedium that comes with life.” I raise a hoof, “And also belie the seriousness of the task at hand.”
She laughs, “There is that.” She goes silent for a moment more before speaking, “You know the other nations have made more overtures to Celestia and I, after the final battle over the forest, it seems some of their..well... let’s say ‘tourists’ brought back more news of what happened.”
“I had been wondering. It’s hard not to notice Bolos on a battlefront.”
“True, it was quite the night.”
“Be wary of accords made in fear Princess, the anger and spite will appear in time.”
“That we know, we are handling it with extreme caution. Some seem sincere, some not, ‘tis the usual way.”
“I despise politics.”
“As do we all, but one must maintain a semblance of peace, do we not?” She tilts her head, looking at me, “For the good of all, not just for a few.”
“You and Princess Celestia have my respect in that, you do well for your ponies Highness.” I am honest, they do have my respect and loyalty.
“Until that night Crusader, I would not have believed such power existed in any of us.”
“Neither would have I Princess, magic enhancing the power of our weapons was a surprise. One that I hope we never have to use again.”
She looks at me once more, a piercing gaze, “Athena has told us of your plans for Tirek.”
I nod, accepting the implied rebuke, “It is my way, as you know, to plan for things.”
“Is there no room in your heart for compassion?” She is blunt.
“There is Princess, there always is. But when one is a threat such as that, it pays to have something in reserve. We will not do anything unless commanded.”
Sighing she nods, “You’re right of course. Though I wish Tartarus was empty forever, there will always be those who deserve to be there.”
“I find that to be true anywhere Princess. But there is always room to hope.”
“There is isn’t there? I am sure Cerberus would enjoy not having to watch such miscreants.”
“Cerberus? The three-headed dog who watches the gates?” My curiosity is always piqued at things like this, rare moments of connection between this and old Earth.
“Why yes, you know of him?” She is looking curious now.
“I do, in Human mythology he guarded the gates of Hell to stop souls from escaping. I find it odd your world has such parallels in it. Names straight from Humanity and their tales and myths, though they are true here whereas they weren’t in the old world I knew.”
I turn to her, “Have you ever found any relics? A previous world that may have existed before yours?”
She shakes her head, “None that we have ever known of, my sister and I are always interested in such things, but technology has never appeared until you.”
“I find that odd, even without stasis, something would have shown itself or been revealed. Perhaps we have misjudged the amount of time we had been neutralized.”
She thinks for a moment, tapping a hoof on the ground in front of her, “Perhaps it was during Discord’s reign, the world was in chaos then, the lands and seas a patchwork quilt of confusion.”
“Surely you don’t mean he rearranged the world itself?”
“I do. Confusion and chaos were everywhere, it was only by luck my sister and I found the Elements of Harmony to defeat him. Once we had turned him to stone, the world settled back into a normalcy. It was quite different from what we even knew then.”
She gestures to the meadow, “Our land was forever altered by his quest for chaos, maps had to be redrawn, trails found, new ways to travel. It was like a new world to be discovered again.”
This makes sense to me, “I had often wondered why, when Athena and I were embarking near the same spaceport, that we would be found in such very different places.”
As I think on this I realize that everything I had figured could be wrong, the amount of time in stasis, the years that had passed, everything. Athena and I could be older than we had thought if Princess Luna was right. It was a bit disheartening, to know maybe the universe had left everything we knew behind and started anew.
A tap on my shoulder brings me out of my reverie, “Be not sad, you are here now and have beautiful things to look forward too.” My face must have reflected my feelings.
I incline my head, “Of course you’re right, perhaps I shouldn’t dwell on the past so much.”
She nods, “It does none of us any good, unless needed.”
She is calm, and her words are warm. Truly I can see why ponies like her, that they have come to accept her even after the Nightmare Moon incident. So I decide to take her on a trip.
“You are the Princess of the Moon and Stars correct Your Highness?”
“Of course, I set them in their paths each night.” She looks at me, “But you know this.”
“I do, let me show you some of what I’ve seen.”
I let myself go, accessing memories and cores dormant for a while, bringing forth the scenes and sights of worlds so far distant they are not even specks in the night sky. Her eyes go wide as a landscape forms, something so out of the ordinary it takes the breath away.
I let it materialize, taking my time to ensure I am remembering correctly, “Welcome to the shores of the Methane Sea on Semitas Your Highness.”
“A..planet you visited?”
“Yes, we were here.” I point outwards as we stand on the crystallized beach, a billion points of color shining in the lighting and thunder from the clouds above. The sea is sluggish, cold and dark as it rolls up against the sands, moving forward and back just slightly enough to erode the crystals down.
“It has a beauty all it’s own I think Princess.”
She stands and marvels at the clouds above, heavy with rain, the beach we are standing on is not only eroded rock, but jewels forged in the heart of the planet, ending up through tectonics here to be worn down through eons of slow methane tides and the crack of crustal movements. We are standing upon a carpet of pure diamond sand.
Her voice is amazed, “It..it is wondrous!” She looks at the darkened skies, the moon Semitas but one of many around a gas giant, now rising above the horizon. The clouds part, letting us both see the ringed gargantuan rising slowly.
“If you have some time, let me show you some things?”
“Of course!” She stands up, looking ready for anything, “Show me the universe Crusader,” She laughs and points an imperious hoof, “Your Princess wishes it!” She lowers the shod appendage, “Please.”
I bow low, “Yes Your Highness.”
The scene switches, it is of cathedrals of airy light, formed and shaped by will and mind of the alien race that lived on the lush planet. Green was the landmasses even as the towers of brilliance reflected the sun, throwing beams into the sky like searchlights.
“The planet of Tras’k, a race lived here that used light and crystals to form things of beauty.”
I show her the warm days on the jungle planet, the races’ semblance long gone from my memory since the battle with Masada, but I can show her the architecture. The spirals that reached for the clouds, the low slung courtyards open to the brilliant blue sun. I will have to update further from Athena’s archives to regain some memories lost.
I watch her eyes grow wide as we walk the halls that dwarf even Canterlot, held up by nothing but force of design and magnetics. Sculptures of pure light twist slowly on pedestals of marble or air.
“What magic must have been used to create such things!”
“One would call it magic, yes Your Highness.” I watch her closely, seeing the wonder in her eyes and the smile it brings. I make my decision.
We wander a few moments more, before the scene switches again.
A pool so clear it looks as if it is only air covering the interior of the small lake, rocks of brilliant hues adorn the bottom and sides, gemstones, welling up out of the deep interior of this planets’ crust, a spring of water so pure it is almost not even there.
Surrounding us are low ferns and cycads, a lush ground hugging greenery stretching to the horizon as colored reptiles fly through the evening air, taking wing to seek out a meal.
Princess Luna looks aghast at the bottom of the pool, the only clue there is water is the slight blurring when the water moves.
“What an amazing place!”
I point quietly into the sky, watching as the Class K sun finishes lowering, and then it happens. The sun’s peculiar brilliance blocks the sky out when above the land, the atmosphere is strange in that way, but when it sinks, oh but then....
The light leaves us quickly, the days are not long here, but when the sun hides, truly the most marvelous of sights appears in the sky.
The night bursts into being.
A palette of lights rises above the horizon, close enough to see the twinkling of red and blue stars, pinwheels of brilliance and color surround this planet which is close to the core of our galaxy at the time. It sets just right, looking into the richest of the star-birthing areas, the gases and sudden flash of stars being born are dotting the sky so heavily you cannot take it all in at one time.
It was discovered on a scouting expedition to the core areas of our known galaxy just a bit above the normal plane. It was left unknown to Concordiat command, but the Scouts shared their films with a Bolo Commander who was curious; he promised to share it but not the coordinates, ever. We who were given the memory were sworn also.
The starlight bounces off the rocks at the bottom of the pool, only adding to the exquisite majesty of the scene as it seems that time itself stops in wonder at the beauty of it all. They gleam and glimmer with hidden fires while above, fusion furnaces of blue giants, red dwarfs, G and K stars add their own wonderful hues.
Her backside hits the ground beside the pool as I chuckle at her expression, pure wonderment crosses her face as she stares at a slice of the galaxy in it’s finest clothes.
The heavens are pooling with stars, colors of all sorts bursting into life, adding more and more to the portrait.
She shakes her head, “Stop, stop, can you do this again?”
“I can.”
Remembering the opening once more, as the sun starts to lower she waves a hoof, “Stop it there, one second!” A door appears, simple and wooden, she opens it and peeks through, “ ‘Tia! Come here!”
A warm voice answers, “Problems Luna?”
“Oh no, come here, trust me.” She is grinning madly.
Princess Celestia walks through the door, waving off my bow as usual.
“What is it...” She stops when her eyes notice the pool, the surrounding forest of ferns and the gemstone beach. “Oh my...”
Princess Luna nudges her beside me, “Sit, sit and watch, just sit!” She settles herself beside her taller sister, nodding at me to let the memory play out.
Once more the home star lowers itself, the light fades quickly and then the sky bursts into wonder again, the stars showing off their every facet.
Magenta eyes widen with amazement and watch with ours as the heavens drip with jewels.
“Oh my...” Princess Celestia sits quietly after that, head turning as she takes in the sight, “Is..is this real?”
“Yes Highness, a memory of mine.”
“My night is glorious ‘Tia! See how truly amazing it can be!” She’s actually dancing under the night sky, taking wing and hovering in the calm air. “Look at these marvels!” She is back-dropped by a show of titanic proportions.
Celestia’s voice is, as always, warm, but she does stutter a bit, “I never....I never even imagined.” She is craning her neck, looking at everything.
Princess Luna hovers near me, “May I please have the memory? I can make a copy with a simple spell, I promise it would not take it away from you.”
“It is yours Highness, as it was passed on to me, now it is in your hooves.”
“I beg your pardon?” She is landing now, looking at me curiously. Princess Celestia’s face turns to look at me as well.
“It is yours, as soon as I awake I will delete it from my cores. It will be yours, and yours alone, this was the promise made when I received it, to pass it on, let others enjoy it. Once we had, we deleted it so it would be rare and valued, it became a sort of...ritual.. the forgetting. So it would be new and fresh when we received it again.”
I eye the sky for a moment, “I have received it at different times in my life, I know because others have told me, each time I enjoyed it more and more, it is time to pass it on.”
“I cannot do that! To take such a thing and keep it to myself!” She looks shocked for a brief second.
“I didn’t say that, share it with whomever you wish, but it will be your memory, not mine.” I nod in her direction, “The only promise ever asked was to pass it on, I think it’s time others saw the wonder of it through the Princess of Dreams.”
Princess Celestia looks at her sisters face, “A treasure beyond compare Luna.”
“But you don’t have to do that, you could share...” I stop her.
“It is how it was always done, and I am set in my ways, take this,” I gesture to the whole of the heavens, “It’s yours, make dreams with it, copy it for your night sky, but you must share it, that’s all that is asked.”
I raise my hoof, “There is one more thing that must go along with it.” She nods and waits for my addendum.
“The Scout Vessel Archimedes recorded this on their second trip to explore our galaxy, they were lost on their third run out; all two-hundred and thirty-five souls on board disappeared in an unexplored region of the core of the galaxy. This is for them, and to remember them.”
Her horn glows with power, copying my words and the memory of this place, “I have it Crusader. Truly this is a gift that cannot be repaid.”
“There is no repayment asked, just remember and share the wonder.”
She rises into the brilliant sky, “Oh I shall, I shall!” Her horn glows, doors open as the memory resets once more to the fading evening, this time it is not my doing but hers.
Princess Celestia smiles, seeing seven mares, three fillies and a small dragon come wandering into the dream setting, urged on by Luna’s voice which is calling to them, “Come my friends, share something special with me!”
I look at Athena, wearing a sleeping gown and clutching her replica of Princess Luna that she throws back through the door quickly before it slams, “Not a word.” Others are dressed in the usual night clothes, probably at the beginning of sleep before such things are lost.
“Of course.”
I watch her look around and gasp, “The Archimedes memory.” Settling in beside me, she smiles, “You’re passing it on?”
“I am Athena, it’s time.” Smiling, she hugs me tight.
Sweetie Belle looks around, “Wow, is this all a dream? What’s going on?” She’s tapping a hoof on Rarity’s shoulder, the larger sister giving her an ‘I don’t know’ look.
Apple Bloom is looking curiously at her sister who is returning it with a shrug, “Ah dunno, just heard Princess Luna calling.
The dark mare takes over now, “Come see a gift that was given in friendship, to be shared with all!” Her wings flare as the sun lowers below the horizon, once again the sky explodes, this time to gasps and inhalations of surprise.
Spike hops on Twilight’s back, pointing to the velvet night, “Look at THAT Twilight!” He points to a blue giant star bright in the middle of a whirl of others. The lavender Alicorn is bemoaning the fact of no telescope, when one appears with a smiling Luna pointing at it.
Even Pinkie is silent as she looks around, leaning against Fluttershy who covers her mouth with awe as she scans the stars above in delight. Rainbow is exclaiming at lights in a hushed voice as Rarity has a wide-eyed look, beauty in all things, she recognizes it when she sees it.
Even Athena is talking with Princess Celestia, showing her the different stellar marvels she can see.
The Crusaders are varying between sitting still and just looking in wonder, or bouncing around pointing at everything. I’m sure they will find a happy medium.
I smile, seeing the same wonder and curiosity as I had when I first viewed the file. Now it will be shared to all, shown with all the respect it is due for the memory of the Archimedes crew.
Applejack nudges me, sitting close, “You sure have a way with making folks happy.”
“It is the very least of the gifts we have to give Applejack, a memory to be shared.”
Her emerald eyes take in the spectacle, leaning against me as we listen to the excited voices, “Well it sure is somethin’ else.”
It is anyone’s hope that we can leave a memory as rich and as compelling as this to be shared forever.
And to you, the crew of the Archimedes, the Scout ship lost so long ago. Know that your memory is still shared, still beloved and still wondered at after so very long.
Rest well in the knowledge that you too have found a home.