“Dust, I’m really sorry.” I moan as we get to the general aviation terminal in Bozeman.
Dust glares at me, “Loopy, if you apologize one more time…” She leaves the threat unfinished as Irony’s hand closes around her muzzle.
“Love, accept her heartfelt apology.”
Dust grumbles.
Irony gets out and lets Kendra and I out. Irony simply opens the door for Dust, who rolls herself out, landing on three hooves. Her left foreleg was splinted before I had even made it back to the car. Irony keeps a pretty well stocked first aid kit in her car. A holdover from when she was a human Marine, before her change. Dust and I walk slowly to the Widgeon, Dust shrugging off my attempts to help her.
I turn and look back, “You coming, Kendra?”
Kendra smiles at me, then looks at Irony, “I don’t want her to have to do the entire drive alone.”
I look at Irony and at Kendra, then I sigh. I rear up to open the door, only to get a sharp bark from Dust, “I am going to get you flying the way you were in Equestria, Loopy. Use your wings if you want to get higher.”
I look back at my wings and giggle, then take unsteadily to the air as I open the door to the Widgeon. I land inside, folding my wings, then I turn and look at Dust, “Coming?”
She takes a flying leap, nearly landing on top of me, she smiles as I move to the front of the airplane. I flick the power switch with a wing as I move to sit down. Dust waits until I get settled before sitting down herself. She uses her wing and her mouth to get her seat belt on. I wouldn’t dream of helping her unasked now. She finally is ready as I push the button for my own restraints. Soon, both engines are humming as I ask for clearance and receive it. The new tail wheel control working very nicely.
“You know, your kids are pretty awesome, I love what they did.”
Dust is looking around as we bounce across the tarmac, “Yeah, they are.”
I look down, “I’m going to have to apologize to Mischief.”
Dust looks at me, “Why apologize to her? You didn’t do anything to her?”
I sigh, “I hurt her mom.”
Dust inhales, I think she’s about to bust a blood vessel, then I continue, “I wish I had my mom back.”
Dust chokes a bit and starts coughing, I’m able to smile as she uses her good foreleg to hit herself in the barrel, she finally recovers, “I’m sorry Loopy, I’m assuming you are talking about your human mom.”
I nod, “Yeah, there are times I miss her, and I wonder what she would think of me turning into a pony.”
Dust smiles at me, “I have to hope she would be proud. I’ve talked to Kendra, and Dustie. I’m certain she would be proud of the pegasus sitting next to me right now. That gets a smile out of me.
I look up, it’s time to turn onto the runway, I turn the joystick and my plane turns with it, getting a smile out of me, a lot easier than using uneven thrust to turn, I push the button on the wheel, “N-1M6Y, ready for takeoff.”
After a moment, “Roger N-1M6Y, you are cleared for takeoff.”
I push both throttles forward and the Widgeon leaps forward. After a few hundred feet, my tail is off the ground, I lock one eye on Dust as I gently pull back on the wheel, her attention is fully on what is happening. The rough ride of the tarmac stops as the wheels lose contact with the earth, I wait a few seconds and reach up with a wing to retract my landing gear. With a hydraulic whine, the gear tucks itself into the body of the plane.
“Magical, isn’t it?” I murmur.
Dust nods as she watches the ground slowly recede as we climb, “It’s amazing, I used to be able to go a hell of a lot faster than this…” She trails off as I bank slightly to get on course for New Beginnings. She shakes herself, “But this little plane is very responsive.”
I nod, “If you’re not careful, you can get in trouble easily, she’s a bit touchy, but flying her is a lot like being a pegasus, you have to feel the wind, work with it. If you try to fight it, you will be in trouble quickly.”
“Amazing.”
I smile as we fly in silence for a while. Finally Lightning Dust speaks up, “You know, you will be an awesome flyer.”
I look down, “I hope so, I remember some of flying, I remember flying against Discord. I could feel my magic then.” I look over at her, “I can’t now. Why?”
Dust reaches out a wing, “Loopy, you just changed back. You can’t expect to be where you were before instantly.”
I look out at the horizon, it’s a sunny day, actually quite beautiful, “I’m finding I miss what I barely remember, I want to get flying.”
She smiles, “I know a few unicorns that can help you balance your magic. Mischief said she can feel your magic, for her to feel it, she knows you are going to be fast, and strong.”
I sigh, “She hates me now.”
Dust shakes her head, hard, “No, Loopy, she was mad. She probably calmed down once she got home. Her temper is quick, but she will cool off quickly.” She sits back more comfortably in the chair, “I know my Mischief.”
I look down, “I’m sorry, Dust.” Only to get a wing whapping me upside the head, I look sharply at Dust.
She grins, “Loopy, if you keep apologizing, I’m going to keep hitting you upside the head until you understand, I’ve forgiven you.”
I look at her, my ears down, tears in my eyes, “Really?”
She puts a wing between us, laughing, “Yes, Loopy, don’t use the eyes on me.”
***
New Beginnings Control is getting used to me coming in now, apparently. I know the track they want me to take into town. I line up on my approach to Lake Luna, and I steal a glance at Dust as I get over the shoreline, “Water landings are a lot different, hold on.” I warn.
The hull gently touches the water, then the water bites, slowing us down as I bring down the power. Soon, we are coasting towards Dust’s dock, I’m enjoying the water rudder. It makes water navigation quite a bit easier. I pull up and twist the stick to turn so my tail is towards the dock. I reverse the propellers and gently glide to the dock. Sunset Shimmer gallops from the house, along with a brown unicorn with a black mane, Dust huffs as she sees the brown unicorn.
“Ray can’t wait for me to get inside, can he?”
I furrow my brow as I kill the engines, Dust sighs, “Ray is the resident doctor for the family, though he has a practice at the hospital. I was just going to go there, he should be there now…” She watches as ropes magically tie down my plane.
“They care about you, Dust.”
She sighs, “I know.”
She looks at me as she unbuckles, “Well, I’ve already got a tank for fuel for the boat, it shouldn’t be much trouble to add another tank and fuel station.”
I look at Dust as she walks slowly towards the hatch, “Dust, you don’t need to do that.”
She looks back at me, “So, you want to fly to Miles City for fuel every time?”
I shake my head as I flip out of the pilot’s chair to follow her, “That’s not it. I’m going to get my own place. I plan on visiting my own home, too.”
Dust looks crestfallen, after a moment, she sighs, “Loopy, you will always be welcome here.” She hops out the door.
I’m at a loss for words as I follow her, the unicorn stallion is sitting there, his horn alight, his aura around her leg. The splint drops off as he continues working.
“Dust, what have I told you about overdoing it?” He says in a scolding tone.
“It was my fault.” I say quietly, stopping his rant. He looks at me, his blue eyes blinking.
I look down, “I was clumsy, and I accidentally caused one of the wings of her glider to fail.”
Dust opens her mouth, I override her, “Dust says she’s forgiven me, but you need to know.” I crouch down, “I am responsible.”
I find myself getting hugged, by three ponies, I’m nuzzled by Sunset Shimmer and Dust, “Loopy, you need to stop blaming yourself, it was an accident.” Dr. Ray says.
I look at him, “If this were the first time I’ve had to mend Dust after a crash, I would be cross with you. But since this isn’t, I’m saying Dust needs to be more careful, and maybe give up on the hang gliding.”
Dust looks at Ray, “Not going to happen, Doctor.”
He sighs as he pulls away, “How did I know you were going to say that, Dust?”
Dust giggles, getting a giggle from me.
We start walking back to the house, “So, you’ve crashed before, and hurt yourself?” I ask.
***
“Are you sure you want to leave?”
Loopy smiles at the doe, “Yes, Aunty Thistle, we love it here.” She puts a wing around a trembling Nimby, “But we need to find the ponies. Discord couldn’t have taken them all, could he?”
Thistle comes up and nuzzles Nimby, “You two are welcome to stay, as long as you want.”
Nimby steps up, “I’m terrified, Aunty, but Loopy is right. We need to find the ponies that Discord didn’t take.”
Thistle smiles, “You have lived here for ten years, I’ve watched you two grow up into wonderful young mares.” She looks out at the Everfree Forest outside the boundaries of Thicket, then back down at the two young mares, “Keep low, and don’t attract his attention.”
Loopy runs up and hugs the doe, minding her saddle bags, “We won’t. We know Ponyville isn’t what it used to be, so we are heading south, away from Canterlot and Ponyville. Maybe we can find a place that the ponies are.”
“Hold up a moment.” Thistle says softly.
Loopy looks at her curiously as the doe pulls out a small barrel with a strap, she gives it to Loopy, “It’s my old water carrier, may it bring you luck.”
Loopy smiles as she puts it in her bag, the way the deer enchant water to help grow things, in some ways they are better at it than Earth ponies.
Thistle sighs as the plum pegasus moves away, she watches as the two walk sedately into the forest. “May the great tree protect you two.” She murmurs.
***
I open my eyes, was that an engine I heard? My thoughts are confirmed as I hear the sound of car doors closing. I leap to the window, and pump a hoof. Irony’s car is there. I gallop out the door and down the hall, getting to the stairs at a dead run, I spread my wings and leap over the railing, into Dust’s expansive living room. It’s pretty late, so the room is deserted. I use my wings to assist my turn as I head to the entry way. The front door lever depresses as I get close, and I spread my wings again to act as brakes as I skid on the tile.
“Kendra!” I shout as she becomes visible, I leap at her, bowling her over. We end up on the porch, I’m hugging her tightly, she hugs me back.
“I take it you and Dust had a good talk?” Kendra says as she ruffles my mane, I nod. She smiles.
“Ahh, Kendra, did you think helping Loopy fly would stop your training?” A soft voice calls. Kendra looks up.
Moon Shadow steps outside, “I know you have to wait on the next training course, but that’s no reason to not start training.”
Kendra cocks her head to the side, “Already?”
Moon Shadow smiles, “Did you get a good sleep in Irony’s car?”
Kendra furrows her brow, “How did you…”
“How did I know? I’m a Dreamer, Kendra. I watched your dreams, they’ve been rather turbulent, and I think I know why.”
Kendra shakes her head, then looks at me, my ears fall, what did I do?
Moon Shadow comes close, “I think you are a dreamer, Kendra. I’ll be starting you on fundamentals tomorrow, but right now, I need to see if you can walk the dream.”
Kendra looks scared, “I don’t know.”
“What have your dreams been about?” The gray unicorn asks gently.
Kendra shakes her head, “Equestria, Loopy, the Everfree Forest, Nimby. Discord.”
Moon Shadow smiles warmly, “You are attuned to your friend, have you had the same dream as her before?”
Kendra looks at me, then at Moon Shadow, “Sometimes, Mary would tell me about a dream she had, she doesn’t remember many of them, but the ones she does remember, I remember them as if they were my own.”
“You may have untapped abilities there, I thought I had felt that possibility.”
Kendra stands up, “So, what do I do?”
Moon Shadow walks forward, “Follow me, I will show you an easy trick to close out the outside world and feel the world of dreams. Let us see what we can see.”
I frown, “Does it have to be tonight?” I look at Kendra, sleeping next to her has helped me stay sane throughout all of this.
Moon Shadow chuckles, “You’ll miss your friend?”
I nod.
She sighs, “Very well, I’ll show you both how to fall asleep at will, but I will ensure you stay in your own dream. The world of dreams can be dangerous to those who are untrained.”
I smile, “Let’s go to our room.” I gallop up the stairs, Kendra walking slowly behind me.
***
“Loopy, it’s been weeks, are we ever going to find anypony? Maybe Discord killed them all?”
Loopy looks forward as they both fly low, they’ve had to evade about the hundredth patrol of dragons. They found out the hard way that the Dragons are solidly on Discord’s side. They barely made it away, and it’ll be months before Nimby’s tail will grow all its hair back. “Why would Discord kill ALL the ponies, Nimby? It doesn’t make any sense. How can he rule if he doesn’t have anypony to rule.”
Nimby doesn’t answer as they weave among the trees.
They found the remains of Appleloosa. Then they went east and north and found Manehattan. It was also deserted. They knew where Discord spent most of his time, around what was left of Canterlot. They found that out by listening to two dragons talk to each other.
Now they are near Baltimare, you can’t tell time by the sun anymore, it rises and sets randomly. The clouds aren’t pink like cotton candy now, they are purple and spiked. The young pegasi know to stay away from the spiked clouds. For a change, the ground looks actually normal, grass is growing. Though staying on the ground isn’t an option for the pegasi either, some of the creatures that Discord has mashed together tend to roam and think ponies are tasty snacks.
“Loopy, look.” Nimby says as she points forward, Loopy looks the same direction, while a good number of the large buildings of Baltimare have been demolished, she sees something that makes her heart soar, a small garden, that looks well-tended. They both streak towards the small patch of normalcy among the chaos.
“Hello?” Loopy calls out as they land.
“Who’s out there?” Comes a voice.
“Two hungry pegasi.” Calls out Nimby.
A tangerine earth pony pokes her head out of a hole in the wall, she focuses on the two pegasi and shakes her white mane, “Come in, hurry. Discord’s patrols don’t bother with the garden, but if they see a pony…” She shudders.
Loopy and Nimby streak to the hole.
“So, this is Loopy’s dream.” Moon Shadow says softly, the human and the pony are walking among the ruins of Baltimare.
Kendra looks at Moon Shadow, “And I will have the ability to do this? Walk dreams like this?”
Moon Shadow nods, “Yes. You will be the first human that I’ve found with the ability. Dreamers are rare, Kendra. Not Star Crossed rare, but very rare. Luna finding me was a transformative day for me.”
Kendra looks at the ruins all around, “This is Equestria?”
Moon Shadow sighs, “Yes, during Discord’s reign, he upended everything. I’ve walked the dreams of many ponies that have had to live under his rule. I know what Dust says, he was acting as an agent of balance by upsetting our lives, and sending us to Earth.” She looks down, “I don’t know if I agree with her, chaos reigned here. I don’t know why he did what he did.” She finally sits down on the ground, looking up at Kendra, “Though one thing I know for certain, Lightning Dust was dead. Her body was ruined from her flight, and from crashing another twenty miles after hitting the clone of Twilight Sparkle. We took her body home. I delved her body, hoping against hope that some magic might be used to bring her back. She was gone.” A few tears drop on the ground, then she looks up, fire in her eyes, “But a few hours later, she comes trotting in the living room, a big smile on her face, with a story that I had trouble believing at first. Discord brought her back, because she had deduced what he said was the purpose to his curse.”
“Balance, for two worlds?”
Moon Shadow nods, “That is what she said.”
Kendra crouches down to look in Moon Shadow’s eyes, “He did bring her back. That has to count for something.”
Moon Shadow snorts, “Yeah, he did. But again, he did it for his own ends. Who knows what else he has planned for Dust, or for anypony.”
Both are silent for a long moment, then Moon Shadow stands up, the dream fading from around them both, then both of them are standing together, among infinite stars.
Moon Shadow brings the human along as the stars swirl around, she stops them in front of a dream, it’s roiling and clouded, not the pristine light of the other dreams.
“And this, is a nightmare.” She puts a hoof to it and closes her eyes, “And a pretty bad one too.” She gasps, “Oh dear, I think this one is living a nightmare, those are her memories.”
Kendra steps forward, only to be waved off by the gray unicorn, “This is a little intense for you in your current state of training. This little one is being abused horribly, I need to find who she is, and some idea of where she is. Then we can help her far better than just her dreams.” She vanishes.
Kendra wills a comfortable chair into existence. One of the first things Moon Shadow has taught her this night was to control her mind, and her thoughts. Time is subjective in the dream, it has seemed like many hours that Moon Shadow has taught Kendra before they went to find Loopy’s dreams. She thinks about her friend, “I hope you fly the best you can soon, my friend.”
After a few minutes, Moon Shadow appears, a grave look on her face, “We need to wake and get somepony to help her.”
Kendra cocks her head to the side, “A pony? Or a human?”
Moon Shadow looks at Kendra seriously, “Does it matter?”
***
Kendra opens her eyes, Loopy is peacefully snoring on her shoulder, Moon Shadow was curled at the end of the bed. She gets up and stretches, then looks at Kendra, “You wanna join me? I need to tell Dust.”
Kendra looks at the wall clock, “It’s three in the morning.”
Moon Shadow sighs, “It wouldn’t be the first time, Kendra. Trust me on this. Dust will want to know about this.”
Moon Shadow gets off the bed, and Kendra extricates herself from her friend. She looks at the sleeping pegasus, and runs her hand along Loopy’s cheek. She’s so cute. Finally, Kendra follows Moon Shadow.
Moon Shadow starts down the stairs, Kendra walks next to her, “Dust isn’t asleep?”
Moon Shadow shakes her head, “She hasn’t slept much in a long time. She has excuses, but I think it’s a component of what she lost.”
Kendra thinks for a moment, “Her magic?”
Moon Shadow nods, “Losing her magic was traumatic for her.” She looks sidelong at Kendra, “The effects of it are apparent even today. She deals with it, she doesn’t complain.” Moon Shadow sighs, “But it’s obvious.”
Kendra furrows her brows, “Really?”
Moon Shadow smiles, “Oh, certainly. She smokes like a chimney now. For a long time, she only smoked about a pack every week or two. Now it’s at least two packs a day. Ray has cleared out her lungs a couple of times. She doesn’t drink very much, but when she does, she does to excess. I think she’s in constant pain. But she refuses pain medication.”
“Why?”
“I believe she thinks the pain meds will dull her mind, have her in a fog. She would rather deal with the pain.”
Kendra’s voice gets very quiet, “How much pain?”
Moon Shadow sighs, they are close to Dust’s office, she puts a hoof on the door handle, “More than you would ever believe, Kendra.”
She opens the door, and smiles at the pony working by the light of the screens in front of her. Dust looks up, “Moon Shadow, what do you make of this?” She turns her screen and Moon Shadow takes one look, and blushes.
“Dust, what you do in private is for you.”
Dust looks at the screen, then at Moon Shadow and Kendra, then blushes herself. She shakes her head vigorously, “No, it’s really not what it looks like. Let me turn up the sound.”
Dust reaches and turns up the volume on the computer, and cheesy music starts playing, along with the sound of bodies slapping together.
Moon Shadow covers her eyes, “Oh Dear Celestia, it’s worse with sound.”
Dust frowns, “Listen to the pony.”
After a moment, “Oh no, we have to help her.”
Dust growls, “No kidding. I’ve got some messages out. I had Mindy track down where it was uploaded from, and she’s downstairs analyzing the video frame by frame. We’ll get a team going by dawn, we’ll find the poor pony.”
Kendra looks at the two ponies, “All I heard were horse noises.”
Both jerk in surprise, “Oh, Kendra, I forgot you were here.” Dust says. She moves the mouse and the video restarts. “Within months of us coming about, pony porn went from animated and drawn pictures, to real ponies in both pictures and videos. And that’s both professionally produced, and amateur. This video is amateur.”
The video shows a man having his way with a pegasus, she’s on her back, and she’s rhythmically making pony sounds during the video. Kendra looks at the video, then at Dust, Dust smiles, “You don’t know our language, apparently she was told to make horse noises as he was doing what he’s doing to her. She took the opportunity to tell anypony who watches the video what’s going on. Let me translate.”
She restarts the video, “Please… help…me… I’m…kept…in…a…dirty…stall…very…little…food…I…feel horrible….please…somepony…help…me.” Dust finishes with tears in her eyes. She traces a hoof on the screen, “She’s got some old bruises on her. She needs help.”
Moon Shadow sighs, “I actually came here for a similar reason. I was walking the dream…”
Dust sighs, “And you found somepony in need?”
Moon Shadow shakes her head, “A human girl, she’s about six. What is being done to her…” Moon Shadow shudders.
Dust comes around the desk and hugs Moon Shadow, “Always more in need. Do you know where she is?”
Moon Shadow gulps and nods, Dust smiles, “Well, we will just have to rain on their parade too.”
Dust looks thoughtful, “I’ll take Irony, Flash, and Mindy. We’ll get that mare. I think Trixie and Star should go with you. Though I would think you would want Ray with you as well, in case she needs medical help.”
Moon Shadow nods and stands up, Kendra smiles, “Where are we going?”
Moon Shadow turns and looks at Kendra, “Oh, no. You have just started to learn your magic. And Loopy needs help with her magic.”
“But…” Kendra starts.
“No buts, Kendra. Sunset Shimmer will start you on your fundamentals in the morning. I don’t know if helping ponies the way we do is for you. But either way, you need training.”
Kendra looks down, Moon Shadow comes close, then rears on her hind legs, giving the human a hug, “If you really decide to help, we will welcome you with open hooves, after you’ve been trained. You have years of training ahead of you, Kendra. You might find something else that is best for you. Now you head upstairs and get some sleep with your friend. We should be back in a few days.”
Kendra walks slowly to the door, looking back at Moon Shadow and Dust then finally opens the door and walks upstairs.