The dreamscape is someplace that Moon Shadow loves to go. She can see all of her loves here, when they are asleep, but most of all, she is in her element here. Her cutie mark resonates with the world here. This is where she is happiest; this is where she’s at peace. And she’s finding something else out: an apprentice makes a night among the dreams even better.
Kendra looks around. Weeks of intense training during the day by Sunset Shimmer and during the night by Moon Shadow have been bringing her abilities out. She’s pretty good with magic in general now. She had the five thousand piece puzzle put together in under ten minutes, but here… She sighs as the dreams swirl all around the pony and the human standing together in nothingness. After several minutes, one dream ends up between the two.
Moon Shadow looks at the dream, then at Kendra, “Kendra, this is Lightning Dust’s dream.”
Kendra reaches out and touches it gently, “I know. But her dream is calling me for some reason. I don’t think it’s a nightmare.” She trails off as she feels the emotions of the dream.
Moon Shadow smiles sadly, “Sometimes somepony dreams their memories.” She reaches out and touches the dream, “Like now.”
“What’s going on?”
A long sigh from the unicorn, “This is from about twenty years ago, soon after her flight to save all of us.” Moon Shadow is silent for a long moment, then continues, “I think it best for you to find out by watching it yourself.”
With a gesture, both of them are in Dust’s office. Kendra looks around, then at Dust and at the pink unicorn sitting with her. His horn is lit and he is touching it to her forehead. After a long time, he finally sits back, panting a bit.
“I’m so sorry.”
Dust looks at him in confusion, “Star, you’ve regrown lost limbs. You’ve even regrown wings and a broken horn.”
He sighs, “I know, Dust. Your problem is a lot different than those.”
Dust looks through us as the door to her office, then at Henry, “I can only refuse flying with Star Shine so long. We loved flying together. He’s missing it, and to be honest, so am I. Please, Star Crossed?”
The pink unicorn sighs again in frustration, “Dust, this isn’t that simple. When you flew across the nation, at the speed you were going, you overloaded your connection to your magic. In the end, you snapped that connection. I’ve been able to heal unicorns that have burned themselves out in a similar way, but theirs was merely a break in the magical flow. Yours actually produced considerable blowback.”
Dust furrows her brow, looking confused.
Star looks around in thought. Finally, he smiles, “You are an electrician, right?”
She nods, a little unsure.
“Picture this: your connection to your magic is like a thick cable, and I can feel both ends. With other overextended pegasi, I simply connected both ends back together. But in your case, you were pushing yourself as hard as you could. You used even the very last remnants of your magic, unconsciously, to protect your body as you crashed through trees and rocks to very unceremonious reunion with the ground. In other words, you actually burned that cable back towards the source.”
She is starting to look alarmed, “So you…”
He overrides her, “I can’t simply regrow that connection, despite my best efforts.” He puts a hoof on her shoulder, “Your body knows that connection should be there; it’s looking for it, and the pain you feel is because of its lack.”
“So you can’t help with the pain, either?”
He shakes his head. Tears are starting to drip from his cheeks, “I’m so sorry, my friend.” Dust suppresses a gasp as she brings him closer, wrapping her wings around him. Tears start to leak from her eyes as well.
“So, what can I do?” she murmurs.
After a moment, Star Crossed pulls back and softly says, “You need to tell your family.”
She shakes her head, “No. I will deal with this.”
Star Crossed cocks his head to the side, “You were always in the air, before all of this. I guarantee they notice.”
Her tone is firm, “I will deal with this, Star.”
He looks at her for a long time, then sighs, “For the pain, I hate to recommend them, but there are painkillers in the opioid family that might be helpful. Perhaps some of the new synthetics.”
Dust looks at him, “Drugs?”
He nods and explains, “Unfortunately magic, like everything, has limits. Your body is trying to come to terms with serious trauma that it can’t heal. The pain is the body trying to tell you that something is wrong.” Star Crossed sighs, “But it’s something that can’t be fixed, Dust. The most I can do is refer you to a pain management clinic.”
She looks bleak, “And go through life in a drug induced haze?”
Star moves away, around her desk, and hops into the chair, “I’m afraid so, Dust. Unless you want a prescription for marijuana. That actually might help you function better than opioids.”
Dust looks at him for a long time, then shakes her head, “My days of being a stoner are long behind me, Star Crossed. I’ll deal with the pain, then.”
Star Crossed smiles, “I will keep researching, and maybe send a message or two to the princesses back in Equestria. Perhaps they know something I don’t.” He sighs, “But I don’t think simply applying more power will fix this. It would take something else.”
Dust chuckles, “It’s not as though you could use the Elements of Harmony to help.”
Star Crossed barks out a laugh, “I think they actually could heal you, Dust, but I wouldn’t bank on it.”
Moon Shadow looks at Kendra as Star Crossed hops out of his seat and starts to leave the room. In an instant, they are back among the stars, among the dreams.
Kendra wipes her face, “She’s in pain?”
Moon Shadow nods, “Yes, all the time.”
“Did she do any of that? What he suggested?”
Moon Shadow shakes her head slowly, “No, she would rather remain clear headed, even at the expense of the pain.”
Kendra furrows her brow, “And it’s the most when she uses her wings?”
Moon Shadow nods.
“I hate to ask, but would removing the wings surgically help her?”
Moon Shadow’s eyes widen and she takes a step back, “I don’t think she would consent to that even if it meant no more pain at all, Kendra. Dust is a pegasus. While she can’t fly, her wings are as much a part of her as my horn is to me. It would kill her emotionally, if not physically. She wouldn’t be herself anymore.”
Kendra looks down, “I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”
Moon Shadow steps up to Kendra, then rears up and hugs the human, “It’s okay, Kendra. Our customs, our way of life, is different than yours. We are ponies, you are human.”
Kendra hugs Moon Shadow back, “I wish we could help her.”
Moon Shadow looks at the dream, “I do too.”
***
The three little ponies are sitting in their clubhouse, though it’s not in the middle of an apple grove or on an Army base. This clubhouse is still in a tree, but that tree is in Berry Breeze’s back yard. Berry looks out the window at the house, then at her friends.
“We could try tank driving again.” She sighs.
Dizzy looks at her, “Seriously? We snuck onto the base and got into a tank, but I couldn’t figure out how to start the engine. Then Bugle had to find us.”
All three foals sigh.
After a long time, Zap Apple speaks up, “I know, we can go see Irony at the smithy.”
The other two look at her, both blinking, then all three smile, “Cutie Mark Crusader Blacksmiths!” they yell.
The three foals head into town and before long are sitting in front of the smithy. Irony has a smaller setup at her house, but the bigger and better stocked one is in town. They can hear hammering inside. Dizzy smiles at the other two Crusaders.
They get into the small office and find Irony sitting at a desk, a pencil in her mouth.
All three foals’ ears drop, and their eyes widen and they adopt sad expressions, Irony looks up, “Please Miss Irony.” Berry says softly, “Can you help us get our cutie marks in metal smithing?”
Irony looks at them for a long time before Dizzy adds in a little sniffle, getting a chuckle from Irony, “I’m immune to unbearable cuteness, you three. I had to deal with Zed, Mischief, and—worst of all—Dot and Fidget.”
The three foals start leaking tears while Zap Apple moans, “But how are we going to find out our special talents if we don’t try them?”
Irony stands up, then shifts onto two hooves and crouches down before the three, “Just because I said I’m immune to your cuteness, it doesn’t mean I won’t help.” she says softly, “Metal working isn’t easy, but it’s very fun. I’ll be happy to show you the basics. I’ve got some orders I was going to work on today.”
They head into the smith proper, the sound of hammering assaulting their ears. Dizzy looks around, “Why is it so dark?”
Irony chuckles, “It’s so you can see the glowing metal better and gauge its heat.” She moves over to a propane forge and a soft whoosh announces it coming to life. Irony smiles as she pulls out a piece of square stock, “The first thing you need to know about working metal is the metal itself.”
***
Blueberry Muffin stands before the minister. Judging by the look on his face, she’s bracing herself for the worst.
“I’m sorry, but I was unable to convince my superiors to approve your application.” he says softly.
Blueberry freezes for a long moment, then she steps forward, “Excuse me?”
“Your application for asylum is denied. I’m very sorry.”
She translates for the other ponies. Sunshower looks down, “What does that mean?”
The Minister answers, “It means you must leave our nation.”
The ponies all look stricken. Caboose says, “Where can we go, then?”
Blueberry comes over and nuzzles the large earth pony, “We can try Taiwan?”
Mint Leaf steps forward, “Taiwan isn’t very pony friendly, but we can try.”
“Oh yeah, you were a citizen there.” Blueberry says softly. “We will try there. If everything fails, we’ll try the US. Lightning Dust will take ponies in.”
***
“Are you sure you’ve got the spell down?” I ask.
Kendra looks at me, “Yes, Loopy, I can do it.”
I flare my wings a bit as Kendra climbs on my back. “You know, I’ve learned teleportation,” She grumps.
I giggle, “Yeah, but Sunset doesn’t want you trying more than a football field length yet.”
She huffs as I take a moment to feel her weight on my back and how it affects my center of balance. It wouldn’t do to eat dirt with her on my back. I take a deep breath and gather my magic, centering it on my wings, and with a few flaps, I’m off the ground. I look back at her, “See? Easy!”
She grabs my mane, hard, “Loopy, look where you are going!” she calls out. I turn my face forward and go for some altitude. The ponies have established a true Cloudsdale, floating all over the nation, but Rim of the Sky is anchored to the largest hill in the area. I take a slow, roundabout course to get to the level of the clouds there. If Kendra had wanted to spend a few hours climbing the hill, she could have, but she decided to fly with me. After a few minutes, I’m coming in for a landing.
“Now, be careful.” I say as she shifts her weight to swing a leg over. She places one foot on the cloud, then the other as she stands up fully.
She smiles as she bounces a little on the cloud, “I never thought I would ever stand on a cloud.” She murmurs as she looks at the white fluff around her.
I giggle, “I know, right?”
I finally get a look at the city before me. Over fifteen thousand pegasi live here, rather than on the ground. I turn and look back at New Beginnings, then back at the city. It’s amazing.
“How do they…” Kendra starts, then looks at me.
I look at what she was looking at, then giggle, “Fountains, full of water? In a cloud city?” I murmur.
The Grecian columns are how I remember seeing Cloudsdale in the show, but this is amazing. Well defined streets criss-cross throughout the city, along with buildings all over the place. But nearly every intersection has a fountain, or a pool, or some kind of basin full of water, all made of clouds. I start walking down the street. Cloud formed signs are everywhere, advertising all kinds of things pegasi would want.
“This is amazing.” I murmur.
Pegasi are everywhere, walking along the streets, flying slowly around the city, and even playing in the water of the fountains. I watch a mare duck her head under the falling water of a fountain, drenching herself, then shaking the water off and smiling. A stallion jumps in with her, and the two fly around, splashing each other as they get close to the stream of water.
I look back, “Can you believe it?”
Kendra just watches, “If I didn’t see it with my own eyes.” She shakes her head and looks at me, “Pegasi, where they are happiest, in the sky.”
I feel it in my chest: this is where pegasi belong. Among the clouds, up high, away from the trouble of the ground. I sit down heavily. This is why I bought my plane, this is why I was happy finding out I was turning into a pegasus. I am a creature of the air, of the sky. The only way I am truly happy is up here. I find myself sniffling.
“Loopy, what’s wrong? You’re crying.” Kendra murmurs as she kneels down next to me.
I sniffle again and rub a fetlock across my nose, “That miserable bastard.”
“Who?” she asks, her face concerned.
“Discord.” I moan. I point to the pegasi, playing, laughing, “This is how we are supposed to be. I don’t have any memories of this, because I had to live under his rule.”
I’m pulled into a hug, and I wrap my wings around Kendra as I cry, “Life was unending terror. We were afraid to fly because his dragons would attack. We were afraid to land on clouds because they didn’t act how they should.” I moan.
She holds me as I cry for a long time.
“Excuse me, are you okay?” says a quiet voice.
I sniffle and look up. A mare is standing there. She’s pink, with a two tone magenta and pink mane. She comes closer and nuzzles me. “Can I help you?” she says softly.
I paste a smile on my face, trying to make a brave face of it, but Kendra speaks up first, “Loopy here was cursed last. She just finished changing a couple of weeks ago. This is her first time on the Rim.”
The mare nuzzles me again, “Oh, I’m so sorry.” She says, she joins the hug, putting her wings around Kendra and I. “I’m Feather Pinch.” she says, nuzzling me again, “It’s okay, this is how pegasi should live. I hope you spend more time here.”
I sniffle again, I think the tears are abating for now. I pull back, nuzzling Kendra and then Feather Pinch, “Thank you, Feather.”
She pulls back and folds her wings, then winks, “I know how hard it could be. My life just after the curse would have been horrible if not for Mom and Star Crossed.”
I look at her, “You are young, how old were you when you were cursed?”
She giggles, “I was still a blank flank, about six, I think.” She sighs, “Then I grew up in Arizona, until I changed. And after everything, I’m happy now, but it took a long time and some help.” She smiles brightly, “And now I can help others. I love helping others.”
I smile at her, “Like you are helping me, right now?”
She nods, her tail wagging back and forth, “Oh yes. A pony needs help, Feather Pinch is there to help.”
I finally stand up and she comes over and hip checks me, “Well, since this is your first visit to the Rim, let me show you around!”
***26.713014, 124.239605***
This area is known as the Ring of Fire for a reason. Around 90 percent of the world’s earthquakes and 81 percent of the largest earthquakes occur along this region. This day is no different.
Deep underneath the surface of the ocean, in the subduction zone, a large volume of magma shifts, stressing the surrounding rock and causing the two massive plates—the enormous Eurasian plate and the Filipino plate—to shift slightly. The amount of energy released, however, is gigantic. Seismographs in Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines record a quake in excess of 8.5 as the entire planet quite literally rings like a bell to the sensors. Magma is released upwards, and when all said and done, a new island is formed here. A bit over two square miles of volcanic rock is heaved up above the surface. This is not an unknown occurrence, though. Islands have formed and disappeared in this area all throughout history. This quake generates the usual tsunami warnings for nations all over the area, and scientific vessels are prepared to check out the epicenter of the warning. All of that is routine, though this time, it’s a bit different.
“What the hell was that?” Mint Leaf calls out over the roar assaulting all the ponies’ ears.
Sunshower looks down to see an expanding wall of water that is heading away from a dark spot in the ocean. Steam is rising from the source of all the sound.
Blueberry Muffin banks and gestures for her friends to follow. The pegasi carrying their earth pony friends slowly turn as well. And in a matter of minutes, they are hovering above the ground.
“What is it?” Caboose asks.
Helia looks at him, “It’s an island. It just formed.”
Blueberry smiles at her friends, “This is perfect.” She says as she moves forward to land on it. She prances around a bit, “It’s not really that hot… I guess the water must have cooled it as it rose.”
In a few moments, the other pegasi land and the earth ponies clamber off their friends. Caboose trots around, “It’s firm, and isn’t volcanic soil good for growing crops?”
Mint Leave smiles, “It’s the best. Lots of minerals.” She strikes the ground with a hoof “When it rose, it must have had the soil that was the sea floor. We can work with this. Give me a week, and we can start growing food here.” She looks at a couple of the pegasi, “Can you find some seeds? We can grow food here. We can build homes.”
Rainbow Swoop looks around, “You know, this land just formed. It’s not owned by anypony.”
Helia giggles, “Yes, it’s owned. By us! We discovered it.”
They all smile, “We have a home now.” Blueberry Muffin says softly, “We can fish all around here, and we can grow food, make homes, and not have to worry about stupid immigration policies.”
Caboose slams a hoof into the ground, “This is wonderful! Thank Celestia!”
***
I get through the gate for the decorative fence around Dust’s property. A quick trot has me at Dust’s front door. I raise a hoof to knock, then I think for a moment. Dust gripes when ponies knock. I push down the lever and open the door, finding Sunset Shimmer sitting in the living room with Kendra. Both of them seem to be using magic. Sunset smiles brightly at me and I smile back as I move through the living room towards Dust’s office. The door is closed, but not latched. Once again, I hesitate. When it’s closed, usually she has company, and I can hear voices on the other side. I finally decide on a compromise, I knock and open the door at the same time.
Sticking my head through the door, I see Dust sitting at her computer, but nopony else is there. A voice comes over the computer speakers, “Well, satellite imaging shows it’s occupied.”
Dust’s eyes widen, “Ponies.”
The voice on the computer continues, “Mh-hmm, they apparently are the first to find it, but given its location, all three nations really want possession of the island. It’s in a disputed zone and there’s a massive undersea gas field, so mining rights are in play here. Whomever gains permanent control of the island will get a twenty-five mile control zone around the island itself, and in the case of China, they would be able to legally extend the economic exclusion zone all the way from their mainland to the island, cutting off a huge swath of ocean for their exclusive use. So naturally, they have laid claim to the island. Japan and Taiwan have laid counter claims. Normally we would let them fight it out in the World Court, but the ponies are a complication.”
Dust perks, “How so?”
“Satellite imaging has been able to give preliminary identity of the ponies. Japan was considering a request for asylum as they are a mix of Thai, Chinese, and Vietnamese citizens. As you know, none of those nations are particularly pony friendly. It’s very likely they are asserting their own claim to the island, and in such cases, finders keepers.”
Dust cocks her head to the side, “So, why do you want my help?”
“While ponies have well integrated into the US Navy and other branches, it has been thought that military ponies directly affiliated with the US Military wouldn’t be appropriate for talking to the ponies there. So this is an official request from the Pentagon, given your work with us in the past, to help those ponies and see if we can assist them.”
Dust chuckles, “So, the US is going to be a referee, and wants to appear as impartial as possible, so they want non-military affiliated ponies to talk to them?”
“Exactly.”
Dust looks at me, “Hiya Loopy!” She chirps, then she turns the screen, showing me a pony, dressed in navy fatigues with a cap on her head and a gold eagle on her shoulder. “This is the captain of the USS Ronald Reagan, Blue Lagoon.”
Blue looks at me and smiles, “Hi.” Dust turns the screen back to face her, “New friend? Or herd mate?”
Dust smiles, “She’s a friend. She just finished changing almost two months ago.”
“That’s awesome!” After a moment, “So, can you come? I would consider it a personal favor.”
Dust smiles, “I’m happy to join you, but I want to bring some friends too.”
“The more the merrier. I’ll have the 912th airlift wing get a Gulfstream to Baker field.”
“Good.” Dust manipulates her mouse for a moment, then she looks at me, “Wanna join us?”
I nod, “If Kendra can come.”
Dust grins, “Blue did say the more the merrier.”
***
Trixie blinks at the pink face and bright blue mane on her screen, “Oh, hi, sweetie. How are you?”
“Awesome, Mom! You’ll be so proud of me.”
Trixie smiles, “Oh, my little Stormy, I’m always proud of you.”
Lightning Storm rolls her gray eyes, “Funny, Mom, but we are going to have the ion drive working without constant input of power from a pegasus! We have to set up the reaction, but now, once it starts, it can be throttled and doesn’t require constant input.”
Trixie looks thoughtful, “So pegasi magic along with human tech makes it work?”
“You know it!”
Trixie smiles, “I’m so happy, and since I’m supposed to be proud, I’m guessing you figured it out?”
Storm giggles, “Exactly! It will mean pegasi will have to be part of the mission, but less of us than originally planned.”
Trixie looks unsure for a moment, “So, are you applying to go when she actually flies?”
Storm smiles, “Mom, you know this has been my dream. My application has already been approved. I’m going to be aboard for her maiden flight to the moon and back.”
“That’s awesome, sweetie. Have they named the ship, yet?”
Storm shakes her head, “There is a lot of internal fighting about the name. I’ll let you know when it’s figured out.”
“Stormy, you are needed in the high energy test lab.” comes a voice over the speaker.
Storm looks over her shoulder and nods, then back at the camera, “Well, duty calls. Call ya later. Love ya, Mom.”
Trixie smiles, “Love you too, my little one.”
Storm stands up, “And say hi to dad for me, ‘k?”
“I will.”
The connection ends and Trixie puts a hoof on the screen gently, “Be safe, my little one.”
***
Dust leads the way to the Gulfstream G970ER sitting on the tarmac. I look at the brand new airplane, “It’s pretty.”
Dust chuckles, “Back when ponies first appeared, the US Military needed a method to move ponies around the country, especially the 520th, but also pony members of NCIS, CID, and other branches of government. They had a few planes modified to be more pony friendly, stocked them with pony friendly food, and the unofficial Pony Air was born. It’s grown over time, and official transport for ponies and non-ponies alike has been shifted to the 912th airlift wing. This is Pony Air, all grown up.”
I look at the Air Force personnel exiting the plane, two humans and a unicorn. We trot up to them, and Dust speaks up, “Hi there, I’m Lightning Dust.”
One of the humans pulls out a checklist, “Lightning Dust, check.”
She looks at me, “And you are?”
I smile, “I’m with Lightning Dust. I’m Loop de Loop; call me Loopy.” I point over at Kendra, “That is my friend, Kendra, she’s going with us.”
Moon Shadow steps forward, “I’m Moon Shadow.”
The human with the clipboard checks off the last box, “Three ponies, two pegasi and a unicorn, and one human. Fits with our orders, and the cutie marks match. Climb aboard.”