Val yiped as he sat up, his bed flying through the air. “W-what?” he said softly before reaching out to grab the bedpost. He looked over the side and saw Equestria far, far below. He quickly pulled back and wrapped his blankets tightly around himself. He was flying, that was good. But he might fall at any time from his magic bed, that was bad. That was very bad. Bad bed. He grabbed the post again with his hands, peering over the side once more.
It wasn't Equestria anymore, now he was looking down at mountains and rocks, great fields of them and all white. He looked out and it was now night, the stars glimmering in the sky. He peered over the edge again and now he was just a few feet flying above the ground. He let out a scream and latched on, waiting for the bed to crash. Instead, it just kept flying for a few more feet before, finally, began to slow down and come to a stop, landing on the ground gently. He whimpered and huddled up, shaking his head. He looked at his hands and then yelped, jumping back and toppling off the bed with a shriek. “Ah!”
“Are you okay?”
Val looked up and let out a scream, recoiling away as his mother towered over him. He moved back to the bed, shaking his head. “No no no no go away go away, please go away.”
“Val, child. It is us, Princess Luna,” the woman said again.
Val shook, covering his head. However, after a few minutes he slowly worked up the courage to look up and realized it wasn't his mother at all. In fact, she wasn't a drow at all, though the features matched. Her skin was a dark blue and her ma-- hair glimmered like the star's themselves. “We apologize. We believed that taking the form of your own kin would help to comfort you.”
Val whimpered, shaking his head. “N-no. I-I'd prefer pony, please,” he said softly.
She nodded and then, almost instantly, they were both ponies again. He couldn't even tell how it happened, it had been so gradual, and yet so quick at the same time. He couldn't have said when the shift began or ended. But he gulped none the less as he watched her.
“You seem... tense. Does our appearance bother you?” she asked as she eyed him.
“You... I...” He shook his head. “N-no.”
She watched him for a few moments before she moved forward and sat across from him, staring down at him. “Child, there is no need to lie to us. We can see the fear in your eyes, but we swear we mean you no harm. We are here to help, here to heal. Now tell us, what is it of us that frightens you so? If it is Nightmare Moon, we assure you. That is long behind us.”
Val gulped and lowered his gaze. “You... look... like my mother. A little...”
“Miss Cheerilee? We thought--”
“My other... mother. My real... mother.”
The princess was still for a moment. “Ah. We see. Very well.”
Val looked up again and blinked. He then burst into giggles, his hooves covering his mouth. The princess was now the same colors of a swirling lollipop. The colors actually swirled around her. He could only suppress his giggles and laughter for a short time before he fell over, roaring.
Luna sighed. “We are sorry, but this form does often work on the young. Very well. We suppose... this shall work.” Once again she shifted and her form changed. She took the colors of Cheerilee and eyed him. “Is this better?”
He slowly nodded, though he had tears in his eyes. “T-thank you. T-that's... much better.”
She nodded before she moved over, sitting by him and putting her wings over him. “Now, we believe we have much to discuss, young one. We... must admit, it has been long since we have dealt with one such as yourself. But we will do our best to do as we can.”
He nodded and instinctively nestled into the wing. “I ummm... so... what do I say?”
“We are here for you, whatever is on your mind, speak of it and we will listen.”
“What if I say the wrong thing?”
“There is no wrong thing. We are here to guide and protect you. Nothing more, nothing less. We will do you know harm.”
He nodded and leaned against her. “What... if I can't be a pony?”
“You have been one for merely a few weeks. We believe you shall adapt.”
“But I just... I don't... I don't know if I can. I mean I was...” He dug his hooves into the bed. “I was... I was playing a game. A card game. With... with some... friends.”
“That is a very pony thing to do.”
“I kept losing and I was going to summon some kind of monster in order to have Button eaten alive when I finally beat him.”
She blinked a few times, but didn't speak.
“I had it all planned out, too. I was going to make the best deck ever, I was going to challenge him and then, when I won, the monster would be summoned and just gobble him up! He'd be gone, I'd stand alone as the victor!”
She nodded slowly. “We... see. And... did you try this?”
He shook his head. “No. I just... I...” He chewed on his lower lip. “I wanted to. I so badly wanted to. I was thinking... I just... I wanted to make him hurt. To make him suffer. To make him... to make him feel as bad as I did.”
“We see...”
“But then... but then I didn't want him to. I just wanted to win. I didn't... I didn't want to make him hurt from it. I just wanted to win. I was going too far. I wasn't... I wasn't being pony enough. I... I'm scared,” he said softly, nestling up deeper into the wings. He felt so small, resting against this giant winged pony.
The princess watched him for a moment before she reached down and placed a hoof on his head. “Child, you come from a horrible, monstrous place. We... wish we could say that this world would be easy for you to adapt to, but we know that isn't true. But you will adapt to it. However, the scars across your heart and soul will take many years to heal. But there is no shame in that. You have survived a place that would give the stoutest pony many nightmares. A place that... no child should ever have to go through. There is no shame in these scars.” She gently stroked his mane. “You are learning, you are being a wondrous pony. You have empathy for those around you and you have a great desire to be one of us.” She then smiled down at him, her hoof guiding his chin to look up at her. “Most importantly, you have friends. Young Sweetie Belle, Applebloom and Scootaloo. The... interesting Claw.” She then paused. “As well as Silverbelle. They will guide you, help you to be the pony you want. Most importantly, they will support you. Help carry you through life's challenges.”
“C-carry me? I-I don't need any help!”
“We all need help, dear. For sometimes the darkness is... too much for us to bear alone. As long as you have your friends close and try, they will not forsake you. And day by day, you'll feel those pains a little less. They'll likely never go away completely, but they will become gentle in comparison. Small aches and throbs. You also have a mother who cares deeply for you and two princesses who will aid you in every way they can. You are not alone and you shall never be alone again.”
He nodded, the warmth of the wing and her side making him nestle up a bit more. “What... if I... can't do it? What if I mess it up? What if I mess everything up?”
“We all mess up. All the time. Our own crimes stretch from one end of the kingdom to the other. But that doesn't matter. As long as you try, you will always have a home and family. Friends. Those who care for you and will aid you. Now tell me, young Val. What do you want to be? What kind of pony do you want to become?”
He gulped and chewed on his lip. “I... I want... I want to be strong.”
“And what else? What do you want to do with this strength?”
He closed his eyes as he tried to think about it. If he was back in his other home, he knew what he'd do with that strength. He'd hide. Protect himself. Stop others from hurting him. But they couldn't get him here. He was safe. He was protected. He was--
“I want... I want to be like... mom. And you. And... and I guess even that dopey pegasus I almost lit on fire.”
“Oh?”
“I want to protect ponies.”
She nodded and then gave him a pat on the head. “That is good. You're still young, however, so it will be long before you can protect anypony. But think of that. Decide what you want to be, who you want to be. Then never let that go. Cling to it even in the darkest, hardest times. If you do that... then you will not lose it. And you will be happy with the type of pony you become.”
He nodded, closing his eyes, before blinking. “If... I fall asleep, what happens?”
“You dream.”
“Oh.” He paused. “Aren't I dreaming now?”
“Yes. It would be... another dream, I suppose.”
“Okay... that's weird.”
“Dreams often are, child.”
“Will I remember this?”
“Indeed you will.” She paused. “And, in case you are wondering, yes this did truly happen. There is no 'or did it' here. I am the princess of the night and I look over and guide the dreams of the sleeping. It is one of my many tasks. If you doubt this, you may ask your mother.” There was just a hint of annoyance to her tone and he giggled softly as she dropped the 'we' for a moment.
He shrugged. “Oh, it's no problem. I don't see why it wouldn't work, it would hardly be the strangest thing I've seen since coming here.”
She nodded and smiled down at him. “Now then, child. Tell us of anything you wish. Or do you have some questions?”
He blinked and then glanced up. “I ummm... I'm kind of curious about my magic. I'm not... getting any stronger any more. Or at least, I don't feel I am. I haven't learned any new spells and I really think I should have by now.”
“This is a much less vicious realm than you are used to. Your development may slow. As well as the way your magic has shifted. We would not worry. We are sure you will continue to grow as you need.” She then rubbed her chin. “In fact, Twilight has told us fascinating things of your magic. Your abilities for a child are quite impressive.” He preened at the compliment. “It is a shame that a child so young has had to learn them to survive.” That deflated him as well. “They are... dark arts that you know.” A bit of worry crept into him. “But that does not make you, or them, evil. Such dark magic can corrupt, but it can be used for good as well. You just must be careful and remember the pony you want to be.”
He nodded. “Do you know any magic like mine?”
“We have learned much in the dark arts, as has our sister. But it is a magic that we wish to use only in the most dire of circumstances. Though some mistake shadow magic for being...” She paused and shook her head. “In any sense, we have learned some magics like yours. More than we'd like. It does not make you a bad pony, but you must use it very, very carefully.”
He nodded. “That means no using it on other ponies, right? Mom has made me promise. Also, she threatened to take away all ice cream privileges for like a whole year if I do it again. Ice cream! No ice cream! For a year! Can you imagine?”
A look of horror spread across the princess's face and she gave a shudder. “Truly your mother is a most powerful and frightening creature when her wrath has been unleashed. We shudder to think of what other punishments she could bestow.”
He nodded, before smiling. “She's a lot nicer about them than... my other mom was.” He looked up. “What was your mom like?”
Luna paused for a moment, a distant look on her face. She then gave a small smile. “Young Val, how about we discuss your magic a little more? Tell us, how did you first learn your spells?”
“They... just kind of happened. One day I didn't know them and then, boom, one day I suddenly know how to do them. It was just like... well, it was magic,” he said with a little giggle. “It was all natural.”
“Fascinating. Perhaps it will still happen, then. You'll learn another spell before you know it, We're sure. What kind of spell would you like to learn?”
He opened his mouth, but then slowly closed it. “I... don't know. I hadn't really thought about it.” He looked down at his hooves. “I used to want to be like my mom, I wanted to know all the dark magic she had. To... make her proud. But... now it kind of seems like a... waste. Like I...” He chewed on his lower lip and laid his head to her side. “I... don't know any more.”
“We're sure when you discover your new spell, you'll realize it was just what you needed. Something you wanted.” She gave him a little nuzzle. “Do... you feel better, child?”
“Mmmm hmm. Will this happen again?”
“Whenever you truly need us, we will be there for you. However, for now we will likely come to meet you at least once a week if there is no immediate need. Perhaps less once we feel you are doing sufficiently better.” She then glanced back down. “Are you having any troubles in your real life?”
He blinked and then sighed. “Had... some... a little... trouble with the doctors. Just a little. Wasn't... scared or anything...”
“Oh? Tell us about it.”
“Well... just...” He buried his head between them and mumbled into her side.
She gave a soft smile. “We can't hear you when you do that, child.”
“I wasn't... I just...” He looked up. “I-I was fine before! I wasn't scared of them! I mean, I was a little bit and I...” He lowered his head. “Ever since... since I saw... mom... as a pony... it just...” He nudged the ground a bit more. “Other ponies seem... scarier. Somehow. I just... I don't even... Mom said I couldn't... fight them and it just... made it worse... scarier and...”
She blinked, before she reached down and patted him gently on the head again. “It is fine, child. You are...” She paused for a moment, before nodding. “Seeing your mother as a pony has... likely made us seem a bit more real to you. Did ponies exist in your world?”
“Oh, yeah. But there were nothing like this. Unicorns were all like... super up tight. They'd only go around pure beings, supposedly. And virgins. Oh, what's a virgin?” He was greeted by silence for a few moments before continuing. “Well, all super rare and pure. Kind of like mom. I think pegasi were the same way. Never saw any. But ponies were just pack beasts. The normal ones. None of them could talk though, I think. They were all just kind of... there. They lived there. Were there. But they didn't... talk with us. Didn't do this magic. They were just animals. Work animals. Beasts of burden.” He looked to her. “And they weren't colorful, either. This... entire world. It just has this...” He frowned and shook his head.
“What?”
“It... glows. Everything glows. Like... like if everything was...” He frowned deeper and held his head. “When I was growing up, we had these really pretty glowing mushrooms. They were around this pond and they were so pretty. Pink and red and yellow and blue and orange. It's... like that. It's like the whole world is glowing with them. Lit by them. Even at night, it's as if there's still a bright light everywhere. Only when I close my eyes I don't see it and...” He choked a little bit, digging into her side hard enough it hurt. “S-sometimes I think it's all a dream and I-I'm going to wake up and it's going to be over and I'm going to be back home.”
Luna nodded and laid her head against him. “This is no dream. You have felt too much for it to be a dream. You know this. You are safe now. You are free. Those ponies can no longer hurt you and they never will. We have made sure of that.”
He nodded, closing his eyes and relaxing a little bit. If this weren't a dream, she was sure her side would be bruised slightly after that. Still, he was hardly her most difficult dream child. At least he didn't try to run her over with a party cannon. She smiled down at him. “We know things are different now, child. But you will adapt. You will develop and fit your new life.” She slowly got to her hooves and lifted her wing over him, gently guiding him to his feet. “You have... matured much in your short time alive, we imagine your original family had much to do with that. But you have shown great strength in surviving. We've heard you're adapting quite well. Becoming a strong, good colt. One your mother is proud of.”
His face lit up at that. “R-really?”
“Indeed. She dreams of you often. Happy dreams.”
Val squirmed and gave a little giggle. “Yes! I'm the best colt ever!”
She gave a soft giggle into her own hoof. “It is time we take our leave, it has been interesting talking with you, young Val. But before we go, is there anything else you'd like to ask us?”
He blinked and a little red flooded into his cheeks. “Well... errrrrr... there... is one thing...”
“Oh? Speak, child. We will listen.”
“You uhhh... you promise not to tell anypony?”
“Of course.”
“No matter what?”
“Indeed.”
“Cross your heart, hope to die, stick a needle in your eye?”
Luna stared, her mouth falling open. “Such a... violent turn of phrase. Why ever would somepony do that? Would you really make somepony stick a needle in their eye?”
“Oh yeah, they used to do it back home all the time whenever they caught elves. They'd also use metal boots to--”
“Enough!” Luna said quickly, holding her hoof up. “We... cross our heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in our eye.”
He blinked. “But... you... have wings. You can already...” He made flapping gestures with his hooves.
“As it were, a princess' word cannot be broken. We will tell nopony of this. You are completely safe and secure,” she said with a knowing nod. “So tell us, what troubles you?”
“Well... I just... ummmm...” His cheeks turned even redder. “There's... this pony. Ummmm... a little white pony. Err... o-okay it's Sweetie!”
“Oh yes. The young daughter of the Element of Generosity.”
“Who?”
“Miss Rarity.”
Val blinked. “I thought they were sisters?”
Luna blinked a few more times. A list popped into existence besides her and she looked through it. “Oh. Oh dear. That... oh, that poor dear. I thought... I'll have to fix that later... I doubt she remembers. It was a minor dream. But do go on, child.”
Val blinked and then squirmed a little. “How uhhhh... how do you get... errr... how do you ummm... make a pony join you and be your servant?”
Luna stared for a moment. A very long, long moment. In the world of dreams, where time can flow backwards and forwards, sideways and to the wayside, it was as if centuries past. But finally, the elder mare coughed. “Ex... excuse me?”
“Well... errr... if wanted to...” He struggled to think of the words. “If I wanted to create my own harem and have her and a few of the other ponies added to it.” He looked so pleased with himself. “Yeah, that's the words!”
Luna just stared. “I... you... I don't... I...” She struggled to comprehend. “A... a harem?” She wished she could go back to the first question now. It was just getting worse. The ethics of love potions was looking like quite a nice chat right about now.
“Uh huh! I'm going to have a big one! Mom had like, five of them! I heard her talking about them all the time!” He paused for a moment. “What exactly is a harem, anyway?”
The princess couldn't move. Finally, she gave a little squeak. “I... I think this is a matter...” She coughed. “W-we mean, we think this is a matter thou should speaketh with their mother about. A long, long speaketh. We'd best depart. H-have well dreams, young Val.” She said before fleeing, pursued by a strange candy cane bear.
Val cocked his head to the side, confusion etched on his face. “What'd I say?”
------
Val groaned as he rolled over onto his side, his blankets wrapped tightly around himself. He... felt pretty good. Amazingly good, actually. He had the most amazing dream. He slowly climbed out of bed and looked at himself in the mirror, a grin forming on his lips. “Today's the day! Today I form my harem!”
Downstairs, Cheerilee suddenly felt a shudder go through her spine. What the hay caused that?
“Hey, mom?”
“Yes dear?”
“What exactly is a harem?”
She dropped a plate and stared at him, her mouth falling open. Ah, so that's what the shudder was. “I... err... I...” She was a teacher, she wasn't prepared for this! She didn't know how to answer questions like this! What in the world had Luna TALKED with him about? “Errr... you... should... ask... errr.... Big Mac?”
“Oh, okay! What's for breakfast?”