//------------------------------//
// Act 3 Chapter 23 
// Story: Collision Code 
// by SSJRandomMaster 
//------------------------------//

Act III: Collision of Wills
Chapter 23: One Place You’re Safe
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The frontlines was without a doubt the most important and most dangerous position to have in a war. Back home, he’d never see himself standing here, but with everything that had happened to him recently, and having learned the limits of his new body, he couldn’t see himself anywhere else. After all, who was better to lead an attack than a dragon?
 
“Any news from the squad posted down south?” John asked the guard beside him. The human turned dragon watched other guards go about their duties to protect Ponyville. He had to hand it to them, the guards had sharpened their edge incredibly in a very short time.
 
“All is clear in the area,” said the guard, “Looks like the prisoners are too scared to make a move now.”
 
“Perfect, now, join the west squad and await any further orders.”
 
At John’s command, the guard saluted before turning around, making his way due west. But after a few steps, the guard stopped and turned again to face him.
 
“Before I go, I feel that I must say what all the other guards are thinking. They think that you are the one the other prisoners are afraid of,” John didn’t reply, simply standing in place with his arms crossed, a stern look on his face, turning his back on him, “I mean, let’s face it, you might not be the only one they are up against, but the others aren’t you. They aren’t dragons.”
 
Without making a single sound, the guard started to walk closer to John, a near-soulless look in his eyes.
 
“Sure, you teamed up with that green unicorn to fight Lyon, but chances are you could have taken him alone. The Slayer who attacked the Crystal Empire—even with his black magic, there’s no doubt in my mind it couldn’t overcome your strength. And the harpy… come now! If such a frail pegasus could bring her down, surely she would have had no chance against you?”
 
Slowly, the guard reached behind his back, pulling out a jagged blade.
 
“Just think,” he said, “What would the others be like without you?”
 
Never once did John turn to face him, not even turning his head back to acknowledge his presence. When the guard stood at an arm’s length, he raised the blade up high. The blade began to glow red as a smirk appeared on the guard’s face, and then he brought it down with all his might.
 
The tip of the blade sliced through the air as it dropped down on its target, the glow intensifying with every inch. That is, until the blade suddenly halted, met with strong resistance. This came from something that had now wrapped firmly around the guard’s wrists. It was John’s tail.
 
He raised a brow as he stared at the tail holding his wrist, turning to look back at John when the surprise finally hit him.
 
“So what was your plan exactly?” John asked, still not looking back, “Pretending to be a guard, being a major ass kisser and inflate my ego, thinking I’d drop my guard.”
 
Finally, John turned to face the fake guard, looking him in the eye, “And that I wouldn’t know that this was just a dream?”
 
At that moment, any guard and civilian around began to blur, fading from sight.
 
“Interesting,” the guard said. John finally released his wrist, and the guard jumped back, making some distance, “Not many are capable of distinguishing between dreams and reality,” As the guard spoke, his voice became different than before. It was now monotone at best; there was not a single sign of emotion in it.
 
“When you train under the Princess of the Night, you tend to pick up on these things,” said John, “I may not have much experience with fighting in them, but trust me, going into my dreams was the worst choice you could have made,” John extended his claws, readying himself for battle. Even if it was in a new territory to him, he wasn’t going to let that slow him down.
 
“Believe you, me, this was not the dream I intended to visit,” the guard said, getting into his own stance, “But ending you here will deal a mighty blow to your team’s strengths.”
 
With those words, the guard’s appearance changed, a cloak appearing around him as his body began to blur, preventing John from getting a good look at his true appearance. But it didn’t matter to him if he knew what his opponent looked like, so long as he could take him down before he could cause any harm.
 
The blurred opponent charged forward at a great speed, ramming into John and pushing him back into the wall of a building. The wall came crumbling down as dust began to rise from the ground under them. From within the dust, a strike was heard, and the blurred form was launched from within it. It flew for several feet before skidding to a halt, standing again without hesitation.
 
“It will take more than brute force to defeat me. This is the world of dreams, a land created by one’s mind. What made you superior in the real world means nothing here,” he said. But once he was finished, the building he pushed John into began to move, elevating from the ground, and under it was the dragon himself.
 
“We’ll see about that,” said John, throwing the home with all his might. The home soared through the sky, falling down towards John’s opponent. A mere second before the home could hit, however, the blur seemed to strike the ground. And from in front of him a tower of earth ejected from the ground, blocking the oncoming home. The home shattered on impact, its pieces falling to the ground, but the tower standing strong.
 
Before the dust could settle, John exploded out of the tower directly in front of him. Holding both fists up high he brought them down, missing his moving target by a few inches and cratering the ground under them.
 
“You’re pretty good at avoiding me,” said John as he slowly stood back up, “I’m starting to wonder if you weren’t just talking when you said the prisoners were afraid.” John only wished there was someone else around to hear that, but for now, he’d settle for seeing the other guy’s reaction. It never came; he simply stood there.
 
“Exactly what was that comment supposed to accomplish?” he asked, “Make me feel insulted, hurt my pride so that I would be forced to face you head on?” He gave a short chuckle at this, “Trust me, mockery will work as well for you as flattery did for me.” The blurred form began to glow red as the ground around him began to crack and shift. From underneath, two hands formed of dirt and stone erupted out.
 
“Believe me when I say that when it comes to mind games, you’ve chosen the wrong opponent,” the arms launched forward at great speed aiming to grab at John, but he didn’t back down. Instead, he rushed forward, launching his own fist at the first oncoming hand, shattering it on impact. But before he could attack again, the second hand managed to grab him, lifting him from the ground. The earth cratered from the impact, and the force from it was enough to stun him for only a few seconds. This, however, was more than enough of an opening as the hand of dirt slammed its fist down on John, burying him in the process. The prisoner watched for several seconds before finally letting out a sigh.
 
“As I said before, brute strength is not enough to—“ He was cut off by the sound of a voice behind him.
 
“Sorry, but,” John burst from the ground below as he turned to face the source of the voice. John was unscathed from the previous attack, “I’m stubborn that way,” The dragon said with a toothy grin, reaching out and grabbing the prisoner.
 
“Can’t have you running away again,” he said as he tightened his hold, “Still think my way’s no good?”
 
Because of the blur, John couldn’t see his opponent’s face, and because of this he couldn’t see the grin forming on it. Before he knew it, something shot out of the blur’s body. It looked like a clawed hand of magic, purple in color. He wasn’t able to react as the hand grabbed hold of his head.
 
“What the?!” John let go of his opponent, instead grabbing the hand of magic firmly grasping his head. He tried to pull it off, but the hand wouldn’t budge. No matter how hard he pushed against it, the hand wouldn’t move an inch.
 
“It’s useless,” said the blur, the hand of the magic starting to brightly glow, “Now witness what is in store for the rest…”
 
The hand began to move, strengthening its hold. Its pointed fingers began to dig into John’s head, into his very mind. The force of the magic pushed him down to one knee.
 
W-what’s happening?! He could feel it. The hand was trying to reach into his very thoughts, trying to pull something out.
 
“There’s no resisting. Simply accept the inevitable,” a purple aura began to rise from around the two as the head continued to dig into John’s head. The sky began to turn black as the world around them began to crumble.
 
“You’ve lost…”
 
In that moment, John stopped struggling. His eyes locked onto the blur holding him.
 
I lost?  His body began to move, rising until he was standing upright. He grit his teeth as his eyes went slit once again. The aura around them began to flux and became unstable.
 
“You think I’ve lost!?” His eyes began to glow as the world around them began to change once again, returning to its original form. The glow then intensified, a second forming at the base of his head, just under the palm of the magic hand.
 
“Like hell I have!” The glow reached its peak as John let out a powerful roar. The hand suddenly exploded off of his head and sent the blur back from the shockwave created.
 
“Impossible!” yelled the prisoner, trying to regain some traction.
 
John placed his own hand on the spot where he had just been grabbed, letting out a small sigh now that he was free.
 
“So you were trying to get into my head, huh?” he said, looking back at his opponent, “I have to wonder… just what did you plan on finding?”
 
The blur responded by sending magic into his hand once again, it glowing purple, reaching it out at John once again.
 
“You’ll see soon enough…”
 
“I think not!”
 
A bolt of lightning struck through the clear skies as black clouds began to form once again. Heavy rain began to fall as thunder rattled the ground beneath them. John knew what was coming, and apparently, so too did the blur as he began to take steps back. As the rain died down, a portal opened between John and his opponent, and out stepped Princess Luna, clad in armor. Her eyes were filled with rage, and all of it was pointed at the blur.
 
“Princess Luna, you haven’t aged a day,” the blur casually said, but this only served to further anger the princess of the night. She began to walk forward, the ground cracking with each and every step she took.
 
“From the moment I felt the disturbance I had suspicions that it might have been you. But I, for a while, thought it impossible. After the punishment you were dealt and the curse of eternal damnation I believed you’d have understood my message. But I’d be more than happy to deliver it once more.”
 
Luna’s eyes began to glow and her horn flared up in light blue light. The ground at her feet trembled at the display.
 
“This is my realm, and you are not welcomed!”
 
John had to admit, even though they were on the same side, Luna’s overwhelming power was enough to make him tremble as well.
 
“Just as powerful as I remember,” the blur responded, now cautious in his tone, “No doubt you could defeat me in an instant. However, are you willing to break the rules to do so?”
 
John found himself remembering the rules to this game. It was meant for him and his friends to fight the other prisoners. The Princesses themselves (aside from Twilight) weren’t allowed to intervene during the fights or else there would be serious repercussions.
 
“Your master may be watching in the waking world, but here, I am the one who sees all,” said Luna, “I could place you in an eternal sleep here and now and no one outside will ever know of what occurred.” To add to her threat, Luna’s magic was already beginning to enclose around the blur, prepared to do just that. But the blur stood its ground.
 
“Are you sure of that?” The magic stopped moving, “You don’t know what my ‘master’ is truly capable of. Even now, all you know is a name. For all you may know, we might all still be under watch, ensuring that no one steps out of line.” Luna scowled under this, clear signs of struggle to make a quick decision.
 
“Or perhaps I’m bluffing, and if you defeat me now it will all be over. Tell me, Princess, just how many lives are you willing to bet on a fifty-fifty chance?” Luna tightened her fist in rage. If there was one thing she didn’t appreciate, it was being toyed with. But before she could react to her anger, she felt a palm placed on her shoulder.
 
“Let it go,” She turned, seeing John standing next to her, “If ‘Norma’ does somehow find out, then we’ll never be able to counter what she’ll do. So for now, just leave everything to us.” Luna looked at him for several seconds before letting out a sigh, dispelling her magic. The blur then let out a small laugh.
 
“A wise decision,” he said as the blur began to fade, “As for you, dragon, I will be coming back for you in due time.” These were his final words before vanishing from sigh. John knew his words were true, and he’d be better prepared to fight him the next time. But for now, he needed to be sure he’d be better equipped to take whoever that was on.
 
“What am I dealing with here?” he asked, turning back to Luna. She needed a little more time to calm herself after the encounter, but soon, she was ready to give John some information.
 
“His name is Kurama. Someone I’d dealt with long before my banishment…” Luna started, “I don’t know how, but he acquired the magic to enter the dream realm at will and manipulate it. Though certainly not in the scale of my own power, he caused disasters for thousands before I finally managed to stop him.”
 
John rubbed his chin for a moment. Kurama certainly was no pushover, but he still managed to more than hold his own against him.
 
“Just what did he do to them?” he asked.
 
“Nightmares,” said Luna, “ Kurama’s method of attacking those in their dreams is through nightmares. Reaching into the darkest depths of their psyche, Kurama pulls his victims into an endless nightmare. While trapped, the victim would never wake, and the fear they felt was so real that they’d scream in the waking world. To my experience, Kurama prefers those of weak minds, as they were easier for him to trap,” John couldn’t help but gulp at that. He knew now just how close he’d come to escaping that fate.
 
“Three days,” Luna continued, confusing John, “That is how long they could last in that state. The constant torment, the infinite fear, would prove too much for the mind and heart, and so it would give out. On the second night, the victim’s screams will stop. On the third and final night… the victim’s body would succumb to Kurama’s magic, and their life force would fade to nothing.”
 
John felt stress building up as he heard all of this. Three days to live after being put in an endless nightmare. And with Kurama’s ability to jump in and out of dreams, there was no telling who he would attack next. He’d have to wake the others, try and rally them and the guards so they could check the town. Maybe keep them awake long enough for them to find Kurama… even if it meant waking—
 
No…
 
John’s mind paused for just a moment, but as soon as he realized it, his pupils shrank. Kurama’s statement from earlier washed over him like a tidal wave.
 
“Believe you, me, this was not the dream I intended to visit…” Kurama had meant to victimize someone else, someone whose mind was now weak enough to make him easy prey for Kurama’s trap.
 
“I have to wake up!” John shouted, suddenly grabbing on to Luna’s shoulders, Luna taken aback by the sudden forwardness.
 
“Wait, there is still more I—“
 
“There’s no time! You have to wake me up, now!”
 
Luna could see the fear in his eyes and hear the panic in his voice. There was still more she had to say, but she couldn’t. Not now, anyway. She nodded as her horn began to glow, and John felt himself launch out of the dream realm…
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The library had been peaceful since Corey finally fell asleep. He’d not too long ago been moved to his bed by Twilight. Even she found it easier to sleep. The guards’ new patrol had kept everything quiet. Not a single creature was stirring this night…
 
Not counting the dragon who had just tackled through the door to her room.
 
“Corey!”
 
The mix of the door being destroyed and the loud shout was enough to scare Twilight off her bed and on to the floor. Spike groaned from his own bed off to the side, tucking himself in while grumbling to himself.
 
Twilight groaned and rubbed her head before standing to find out who startled her. Though it wasn’t hard to do so.
 
“John, what’s gotten into—“ Twilight’s words were cut short when she saw what he was doing. Standing over Corey, John was frantically shaking him, calling his name.
 
“Wake up!” John shouted desperately, hoping for any kind of response, “You have to wake up!”
 
“What do you think you’re doing!?” Twilight yelled, yanking him back using her magic, “We finally managed to get him to sleep and you do this??”
 
“The next attack’s already happening!” John yelled, “I was attacked in my dreams, but now…he’s in Corey’s!”
 
Twilight’s eyes opened wide as she released John from her hold, turning her attention to Corey. He had just been shaken viciously, yet still he slept. Even if he hadn’t been sleeping well for days, he should have definitely woken after all that.
 
Now she was the one to run up to Corey, trying to get his attention.
 
“Corey?” she asked, “Corey, can you hear me??”
 
No response. It started to sink in slowly. If Corey was being attacked there, in the dream realm, it meant no one could help him. The only pony she knew capable of it was forbidden from helping…
 
“What do we do!?” she asked, turning to John.
 
“Not again…” John said, reaching out and grabbing Corey by the head. Even that didn’t get any response, “You’re not going down again, not without a fight!”
 
During John’s short speech, due to the panic and the desire to help his friend, John failed to notice that his eyes had started to glow once more…