//------------------------------// // Prologue (Spike's Dream part 1) // Story: My Little Nights: Journey of Dreams // by Joeyjambo122 //------------------------------// It was fairly normal day Ponyville, near cloudless skies, Celestia's sun shining brightly, Ponyville residents swarming the streets going about their day. A small purple dragon with green spines, underbelly, and green eyes, had watched this from the balcony of the crystal castle he had called home when his friend and surrogate sister, Princess Twilight Sparkle walked up beside him. "Hey Spike" Twilight said. "Hey Twilight" Spike said back. "Spike are your fine with us leaving again to help save Equestria from could be a potential disaster?" Twilight asked with bit of concern in her voice. "Twilight, I told it's fine" Spike replied with a hint of annoyance in his voice. Twilight and her friends Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy just got letter from Princess Celestia and her sister Princess Luna about an urgent matter that requires their attention. Twilight and her friends were formerly the bearers 9f the elements of harmony which were returned to the Tree of Harmony during the battle against Tirek. Twilight represented the element of Magic, Pinkie Pie represented the element of Laughter, Rarity represented the element of Generosity, Rainbow Dash represented the element of Loyalty, Applejack represented the element of Honesty, and Fluttershy represented the element of Kindness. "Well alright, if your sure then, but you can see us off at the train at the train station right?" Twilight ask with a bit hesitation in her voice. "Yeah of course I will!" Spike quickly answered. "I was just worried you might fall apart without your number one assistant around to keep track of your checklists." Spike stated with a smirk on his face. Twilight merely rolled her at his comment before the two quickly headed off to the Ponyville train station and had arrived as Celestia's sun was setting and Twilight's friends were already there. "Hey Twilight! What took you so long? We've waiting for you forever!" A blue colored Pegasus with a Rainbow mane yelled as Spike and Twilight approached the station which was crowded with ponies. "Rainbow Dash, we've only been waiting for bout five minutes..." an orange colored earth pony with a cowboy hat stated dryly with a southern accent. "Like I said Applejack, too long". Rainbow Dash stated back to her friend. Applejack rolled her eyes at her impatient friend. Rainbow Dash was always about speed and sitting still and waiting was agonizing for her. "Hey girls, sorry it took so long but me and Spike were just a king some of my things for when we're in Canterlot" Twilight stated as she walked up the train platform to greet her friends. "Well Twilight it pays to be fashionably late" a white unicorn with a beautiful curly purple mane and tail stated with English like accent. "Oh boy this so exciting, but not as exciting as the author of this story finally having the guts to post his story idea!" A hyperactive pink pony with an extremely curly mane and tail stated as she hopped up and down excitedly. "Uh Pinkie Pie... what are talking about?" Twilight asked with the same thought everypony else at the station was thinking. "Oh nothing important..." Pinkie said as she tapped an invisible fourth wall. All her friends simply stared at her before shrugging it off as her normal randomness. A shy yellow Pegasus with a long pink mane walked up to Spike. "Oh hello Spike, are you coming with us to Canterlot?" she asked in a quiet voice. "No Fluttershy, I'm just here see you and the other girls off." Spike replied. "Oh aren't you going to be lonely up in the castle by yourself?" Fluttershy asked with concern in her voice. Nah... I've gotten used to it since you girls always leave to help save Equestria from a disaster." Spike said in a rather quiet voice. "Oh ok..." Fluttershy muttered quietly. "Spike... are ya sure your alright with us leaving again." Applejack asked, not convinced that Spike was okay. "I'm fine Applejack, really!" Spike answered in a cheery tone. Applejack gave him a look that said "I'm not convinced your okay" but decided to drop the matter. "Well Spikey-Wikey, would mind attending the talent show tomorrow?" Rarity asked "Sweetie Belle is going to be singing in it and unfortunately I won't be able to attend it and support do this rather sudden event..." Rarity said with a some sadness in her voice. "Sure I don't mind Rarity" Spike said without the usual Googly eyes the girls were used when he accepted a favor from Rarity. Spike a few weeks ago had realized that a relationship with Rarity wouldn't work out do to the differences in their ages. The Mane 6 walked onto the train one by one saying their goodbyes to Spike with Rarity thanking him for accepting her favor. As the train departed, Spike watched solemnly as it slowly disappeared from view. This felt like recurring theme to him and though he didn't want to admit it, he was starting to feel like he wasn't needed anymore. He remembered when he and Twilight first moved to Ponyville, it was the thousandth year of The Summer Sun Celebration and Twilight had read a prophecy about Nightmare Moon and The Elements of Harmony. On the eve of the celebration, Nightmare Moon returned, a sight which caused Spike to faint at the sight of her. By the time he had woken up he learned Twilight and her new friends found the Elements and turned Nightmare Moon back into Princess Luna. He started to feel guilty that slept through the whole thing while his friends risked their lives to stop Nightmare Moon. Spike slowly began to realize how much he had been left behind while when went off to risk their lives save Equestria. He had been left behind at the Golden Oaks Library when Discord escaped from his imprisonment, was stuck at a wedding altar during a changeling invasion at Canterlot while his friends rushed to grab the Elements in order fight of the Changelings. He quite recently been had to hide when Tirek attempted a conquest of Equestria and was defeated by The Main 6. All these times all Spike could not help but think how he was unable to help his help just made him feel... "Useless" Spike snapped out of his depression to turn around see who said that. After turning around, Spike came face to face with several mares and stallions with glowing red eyes scaring the wits out of him, and had he been paying attention at that moment, he would have noticed that everything around him was pitch black. "Useless, that's all you are" one the creepy stallions muttered. "N-no... I'm not useless..." Spike said, his voice quivering with fear and hurt. The mares and stallions simply smiled an evil grin. Spike's face took on a look of horror as the group of ponies suddenly dissipated into nightmarish creatures made of smoke. Spike immediately turned tail and ran as fast as his legs would let him with the nightmarish creatures hot on his tail. Spike kept running for what felt like eternity until he suddenly saw a bright light, which caused the demons chasing him to be destroyed by the pure light. Spike smiling, ran further into the comforting light, arms help up in a hugging like motion before he was enveloped by the light completely. ********** Spike opened his eyes to find himself standing in front of large gate, looking around he noticed the land he was standing on appeared a giant floating island. As Spike walked through the gate he noticed a fountain with two dolphin statues on both sides. He also noticed several empty door frames on left and right of the fountain, three on each side before he could ponder this further, a wise sounding voice suddenly started talking to him. "Visitor from another world, welcome." the voice said before continuing "I take it that this is your first time here? An owl suddenly came out nowhere startling Spike, causing him fall backwards. Spike took note of the owl's appearance. He wore a red colored jacket with gold fabric at the end of the sleeves, he wore a small blue button up shirt. He also wore small glasses which Spike assumed were reading glasses and had an air of wisdom radiating off him. "I am Owl" the owl said as he introduced himself I have lived here since..., well, since long before you were born." Owl stated. Spike feeling somewhat more relaxed got up and decided to introduce himself. "Nice to meet you uh... Owl, my name's Spike" the young dragon said as he introduced himself awkwardly, a bit surprised by how simplistic the name Owl was. "The pleasure is all mine young one" Owl said in a kindly voice before continuing "I'll bet your wondering just where here is, eh? "I am actually" Spike admitted trying to figure what was going on. "Well, have the things you when you're asleep ever felt particularly real to you" Owl began to explain. "Have you ever thought for sure that it all had to be something more? Spike thought it over and some things did feel kind of real whenever he went to sleep at night. "A little bit yeah." Spike answered truthfully. "Well that's because what you people think as 'dreams" is actually this world." "A world... of dreams? Spike said with awe in his voice. "Precisely!" Owl answered happily. "This is the Night dimension, the place people make their way to when they're asleep. Owl explained further. "This area here is known as the Dream Gate." Owl explaining were they were. Out of nowhere the owl and baby dragon suddenly heard the sound someone playing a flute. Looking up, they saw the source of the sound coming from an oddly dressed being moving his fingers to what look he imitating playing a flute. The being finally noticed them and flew down to greet them. "Oh, if isn't that carefree little rascal again." Owl noted. The being landed near Spike, taking a moment to examine him. "Hey! The being suddenly blurted out. "Now this one looks interesting! Spike took a closer look at the strange being as well, noting it's almost jester like clothing and blue eyes. The being flew in front of Owl rather rudely before introducing himself "My name is Nights. What's yours? Nights asked him. "I... I'm Spike" the young dragon introduced himself, stuttering a little. "Spike huh? Say Spike. Have you ever thought of flying?" The random question surprised Spike a little but Nights look friendly enough so he answered, " Well I have, but I read in a book of dragons that I found that I'm a breed of dragon that doesn't get wings." He answered in a sad tone. Nights seemed to have noticed his sad tone and before smiling saying "Aw cheer up, I'm sure there's things that wingless dragons can do that normal dragons can't." This made Spike feel better but made a question pop in his head. "Thanks but why did you ask if I was interested in flying?" "Well..." Nights started to answer. "If you Dualize with me, you can see what flying is like for yourself! Want to give it shot? Nights asked holding his hand out to Spike. Spike confused uttered "dual...? "Du-a-lize!" Nights impatiently finished, wording out the syllables, using his finger empathize his point. "Hoo! "Dualizing" allows your bodies to assimilate with one another." Owl explained to the confused dragon. Noticing Spike was still confused, Owl added "Ah. It's probably much easier to understand if you just try it." Owl finished with "Go over and touch Nights. You'll see what I mean." Spike was still confused but decided to take Owl's advice, he walked over to Nights who held his hand out to Spike. Spike slowly brought his hand out and grasped Night's and a bright light suddenly enveloped them both. Spike slowly opened his eyes to find himself floating in the air before beginning to panic slightly before he noticed someone mimicking his movements, he realized it was Nights doing it before managing to ask in his panicked, "Nights, what's going on!? And why am I floating!?" The panicked dragon finally managed to ask. "First off, calm down! Your going to run us into a tree." This calmed Spike down a little bit before uttering out "Okay, but is this what you and Owl meant by Dualizing?" The dragon asked, voicing the obvious question. Nights smiled before saying "Glad to see your finally starting to catch on." Nights started before continuing "Dualizing let's me and other visitor's who come to the dream gate to fuse our minds and bodies into one, mine to be exact. " Before Spike could ask what Nights meant, he noticed he could see through his hand and he realized that he was in a spectra like form. "So does that mean I have complete control of your movements or are you in complete" Spike questioned. "A little of both actually." Nights answered. Owl flew up to them and started to speak. "Now then visitor, now that you and Nights have been Dualized, why don't you try to fly around the plaza to get used flying." Owl recommended. Spike-Nights nodded and flew a laps around the plaza to get the feel of flying down. Once Spike-Nights was comfortable and well rounded, Owl flew up to them and started to talk again. "Good now that your used to flying, why don't flying around the island for few minutes." Owl recommended. Spike-Nights happily nodded and started off to the east of the island, with Nights instructing Spike on to perform a paraloop ability by flying in a circle and connecting the sparkle's radiating off of Night's writs. Nights also taught him the Drill Dash technique. After a few minutes, Spike started to feel bold and attempted to fly under the floating island, but was quickly stopped by a "Hey! Hold it!" from Nights. After Nights stopped him, Nights started to explain why "You see that black sea down there? Nights pointed to the abnormally black covered sea before continuing "Be sure to stay away from it." Nights Warned in an uncharacteristically serious tone. "Wh... why?" Spike asked nervously. "Ah yes! You must never go near the Dark Ocean!" Owl cautioned. Owl elaborated more." It is a world of chaos and void. Hoo! If you slip in, you may never return! Spike gulped at that last part. Slipping into a dark ocean and never being able to come out again certainly didn't pleasant. "Okay, that wasn't bad for your first time! Let's get back to the Dream Gate!" Nights suggested with the other two agreeing before flying off back to Dream Gate. Upon arriving, the duo separated from each other before Nights asked "So Spike, how did you enjoy flying for the first time?" Spike replied excitedly "It was so awesome Nights! Now I know why Rainbow Dash loves flying. It's so much fun!" Nights gave him a confused expression before asking "Who's Rainbow Dash?" Noticing this, Spike replied "Rainbow Dash is friend of my from my world. She's one of the fastest ponies I've ever met. She's a bit brash and reckless, but you'll never meet anypony more loyal to her friends then her." Nights understanding what he said replied "She certainly sounds interesting, I hope I get to meet her." Spike smirked at this. "You probably will considering how often she likes to take naps." Spike causing them both to burst in a fit of giggles. Owl flew over and took notice of a door in one of the empty door frames. "Ho hoo! How curious! The door to Nightopia has appeared." "Nightopia?" Spike asked with genuine curiosity. "That... that red light! That's the Ideya of Courage!" Owl suddenly exclaimed. "Huh?" Confused, Spike looked down and finally took notice of red light emitting from his hands. Owl began explaining "Here in the Night Dimension..." Owl began " there is a world called Nightopia created by the light of Ideya! I see... your Ideya called this door into being." Before Owl could explain further, Nights suddenly bumped him out the way, exclaiming "That's amazing, Spike! Most Visitor's end up losing their Ideya on their way here. But that Ideya creates the paradise known as Nightopia. Let's check it out!" Nights exclaimed excitedly. "A paradise?!" Spike questioned excitedly. "That's right! I'll see you there!" Nights exclaimed before departing through the door. "I do wish that Nights would sit still just for once." Owl lamented before adding. "Oh well. I suppose I'll finish telling you the rest in Nightopia, then. Owl finished before teleporting through the door himself, leaving a bewildered Spike to wonder how he did that before remembering he was in a dream, before departing through the door himself, taking a quick moment to look at the stain glass window above the door, which depicted a mountain surrounded by grass. Spike opened the door to a bright light.