//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 - A Royal Dream // Story: A Gamer In Equestria: Reborn // by The Dark Brony //------------------------------// I found myself in the same cold dark bleakness once again. Sleep seemed to be my only refuge now. I felt...numb. Again for the second time on that day, I attempted to open my eyelids to view the world and my new location but all I could feel was the shaking of skin, a fuzziness in my body, and a non-existent air around me. I could feel and touch the air, but for some reason, the air did not want to touch me. I was unable to interpret the many pieces of information from the moment before I blacked out. All I could think about was the concept of being home in my warm bed with the heating blanket over my head along with the feeling of a good night’s rest. At that moment however, my thoughts and my belief was quickly shattered as a blinding blue light shined on the outside world. It’s powerful glow began to seep through the thin layer of skin that covered my eyes. I tapped the tips of my fingers together with my thumb in random motions, trying to surpass and possibly reduce the numbness in my body. I lifted my arm over my head and placed the back of my hand over my eyes to help shield me from the hostile light. I diligently peaked through the slits that opened lazily and slowly, only to find that the light had disappeared. The large blur that covered my sight of definition slowly began to fade alongside the numbness I mentioned earlier. I put my elbow down on the floor behind me, or what I can assume was the floor, and pushed myself up where I would slouch in a sitting position. I stretched the skin on my eyes back and finally woke up. I could feel a sensation of fatigue in these bloodshot eyes that dug themselves deep within my skull, as if I were pouring soda down a gaping wound and sand blasting it before performing actual medical treatment on it. It was then I sat up straight, brought both hands up under my brow and rubbed the corners of my eyes with each thumb. My brain quickly and immediately backtracked to the powerful light that showed itself in front of me not too long ago. I rocked my head back and forth and searched for the strange supernatural ray of light as my body followed the direction and motion of my head. It was there I realized that there were no floors under me, no walls around me, and no life in sight. There were only stars and dust particles of  supernovas long passed. I panicked, but kept a neutral stare. Was I in space? Everything seemed so blue and dark. The stars that shined brightly lit the area with a white hue, the blue clouds that formed a blanket over the stars moved slowly and calmly...as if a frozen iceberg traveling over water. Nothing was seen...well, nothing that interested me at the time other than the occasional fading stars in the distance. It was quiet and acoustic around me. It was then that I heard the clopping of hooves from behind. I twisted my head and body around to face the sound. A dark blue coat of a large oversized horse was visible and only inches away from my nose. I slowly rose my head towards the sky and saw something that almost blew my brains out of the side of my head. It was Princess Luna, ruler of the night and sky... “Princess Luna!?” I shouted out of reflex. I quickly glanced down into the endless vacuum of space below me and mentally slapped myself as reality came crashing down on me. I wasn’t dreaming! I was really in Equestria! As I leered up at the alicorn, I found her mouth agape and her eyes frozen on my form. She looked almost amazed at how well I pronounced her name. “How did thee know who we are?” She asked between unscheduled pauses. A question I did not want to answer at the moment. I bit the bottom of my lip, hoping the pain would bring me a sensible answer. “Well, I-” “Speak!” She said with more volume in her tone than before. Her wings flared open and stretched out away from her sides, giving the illusion of a more intimidating princess. She wasn’t using the royal voice; No, not at all. It was more of a pitch in volume when she spoke to me. If I told her the truth about how I knew her now, it would only complicate things further. “W-Well I recognize you from... Somewhere?” Hoped that the brief answer I gave would satisfy her curiosity. When she gazed down at me with her teal blue eyes, I could see what looked like… what appeared to be guilt? I awkwardly tilted my head to my right. Luna slowly leaned away with a calm demeanor, shifting her head to the left where she stared out into the open with a misgiving expression. I quickly rose from my kneeling position and stood on both legs. “Uh. A-Are you ok, Princess-” “We are...sorry,” She said, tilting her head towards the floor. “We guest thou wishes answers of what has happened to thyself?” I stood there, in the wide open world we both occupied for a certain amount of time before I nodded my head. “I just want to know what happened to me then.” I agreed with her statement. “I want to know how I got here. Oh, yeah! I also want to understand why I was able to create a sword from nowhere!” “We don’t know.” Her expression was one of bewilderment, similar to mine when I first saw the sword in my hand. It added more confusion than before. I brought the tips of my fingers through my hair and clutched down on my skull. “This is bad,” I turned around to look away from the majestic moon princess. “My parents must think I’m dead!” I felt the soft feathers of an angels wing wrap around my shoulder and over the front of my chest. I was led by the wing over to Luna’s side where I saw a wistful look in her eyes. “We think thou should calm thyself. How would thy know if thine parents think ye gone?” “Calm!? How can I be calm!?” I said, stuttering with dry lips. “I’ve lost everyone I love, this can’t be happening!” With a sorrowful look that blared like a sign on the road, she stared at me. “We know how thou must feel,” She said in a quiet tone, almost motherly like. “But when thou wakes, we would recommend seeing Ms.Sparkle. Yes, this mare should be able to help thee!” By the time she mentioned the name “Ms.Sparkle,” my heart skipped a beat. I knew it was Twilight Sparkle, I couldn’t shake that strong feeling of insightfulness. Like I wanted to tell the readers but I couldn’t. At the time I hadn’t told Luna of the show this entire world was in, so to make matters worse, I had to lie to the princess about not having seen or heard of Twilight before. That was one excuse. “Wait for Miss Sparkle? Who is that?” “That is right! Thou hast not yet heard of Ms.Sparkle.” “I’m afraid not. Although at least, I now know something about the creatures around. Anything else I should know about her? I’m guessing that your dear sister has a bit of a past with her?” Luna stared at me with another one of her amazed looks, her eyebrow raised high and her large eyes expanding like plates. “Mr. Craig, how does thy know so much of other ponies and my sister?” “Some things are best left unanswered,” I said, focusing my attention on the blue clouds in the distance of luna’s world. “Thy could say that there are two things thou should’st know of Ms.Sparkle. Firstly that she is our sisters prize pupil, secondly she-” “-is one of the six Elements of Harmony of which she embodies the Element of Magic.” I quickly realise take note of my Freudian slip and closed my mouth dramatically with my hand. Luan slowly rotated her head in my direction before looking back at the dissolving road we walked on. “Tell us now Craig, how does thou know so much!?” I turn my head in the opposite direction of luna, hoping to avoid the question. “Well you know… This place could be doing this to me and-” “Mr.Craig,” She paused. “This is the dream realm, it is not possible for thou to know of such things thy do not understand. Now, how does thou know of Twilight Sparkle and our sister!?” I keep my head pointed in the opposite direction of the princess. Luna made her way into my field of vision. I quickly turned the other direction when she appeared again, but this time, I saw multiple forms of her, each attempting to look into my eyes. There was a Luna on each one of my sides so I couldn’t redirect my attention elsewhere. “I guess that there is no way of hiding it now?” “I am afraid not Mr.Craig,” I sighed. “Then I guess I better start with what else I know about the Elements before I continue. In all, there are six Elements of Harmony: Generosity, Honesty, Kindness, Laughter, Loyalty and Magic. As I have already said, Magic is embodied by Twilight. I also know that Generosity is embodied by Rarity, Honesty by Applejack, Kindness by Fluttershy, Laughter by Pinkie Pie and Loyalty by Rainbow Dash. They found their Elements when they were trying to stop-” I stop mid-sentence as I realize the outcome of my words. Even though I close my mouth to stop the story, Luna insisted on finishing it. “Us whilst under the influence of Nightmare Moon from trying to create an eternal night...” Her head lowered towards the cold floor, the ears on her head flattened to the side before taking on a sad expression; a look of grievance. Realizing how upset the mare seemed by personal thought, I instinctively decide to encourage the young princess! At the time, I did not know how, though. I had a few Ideas, but some of them involved Luna’s past, some of which could have done the opposite of my intentions? Unless... “Luna?” “What is it?” “Could you please help me by finding a way of getting my guitar into this dream?” Luna’s head drew back, somewhat stunned by the question and or request. “We suppose it is possible, but we do not know if it will be the instrument thou came with?” “I don’t mind, if it’s not mine anyways. I just think I can play a song you may know to cheer you up?” “We suppose it would be fine,” The tip of Luna’s horn started to glow with mystical blue like the ocean and its beautiful beaches. Appearing in a flash of light was a sand brown acoustic guitar, its colors and shape similar to the one I had when arriving here in Equestria. The guitar eased up and down, it was enveloped in the same colored glow as the princess’ horn. The guitar fell into my arms as I smiled with content. “Is this similar to the one thou possessed? Will this work?” I glance at the moon princess with an approving nod and position the instrument properly in my hands and arms. “There’s only one way to find out” I gently tugged on the E string to test its acoustic sound, it hummed with a deep tone, ending with a quiet buzz.  All of the strings seem to be in great condition and perfectly tuned. I adjusted the knobs at the end of the guitar, just to make sure the instrument was perfect for the song I wanted to try. Weird as it was with the sword, I’d never used a guitar but I felt like I knew how to play it? “I think I’m ready,” I said, glancing at Luna with a wide smile. “Is thou certain thy understand this instrument?” “I’m...certain?” I reached the tips of my fingers towards the strings of the guitar and began to play the one song I knew would cheer anybody up. Well, anypony in this case. I then proceed to perform an acoustic version of the Smile Song. After the song finishes, I glance over at Luna to be greeted by a sudden change in personality, she seemed more happy and calm. She approaches me with a smile before whispering into my ear. “Thank you.” “It’s my honor Princess.” I simply reply with a bow. Luna looks back at me with the same smile and laughs. “We are surprised. Thou dost seem a lot calmer than our old friends left us to believe Craig.” “I couldn’t say I’m always calm… wait how do you know my name?” “Our past.” She giggles. “What do you mean?” “Thou will know in due time.” ‘Royalty and their secrets’ I muttered under my breath as ‘What are you not telling me?’ “It would appear our time together has come to a close. We believe thou should wake now.” “Huh?” “We will meet again soon. We can promise.” With that, her form began to fade from the world and dissolve into nothing but the stars. I watched as the dust from her body continues to morph with the blue clouds that circled the spiraling black hole in the self made universe. The last visible limb from Luna, her wings, disappeared and the world faded to a blinding white. I could feel the air on my skin as I wake from my dream. The air, in reality, hit me like a ton of bricks as the wind brushed against my skin. That’s when every color and picture turned black.