//------------------------------// // Chapter 11 // Story: Becoming one with the Moon // by ParaNomaly //------------------------------// The distant sounds of battle echoed across the war-torn landscape. Buildings in ruins and craters littered the scene in front of me as I sheltered from the debris of a fallen enemy aircraft. I looked around, searching for any enemies that may be lurking in the shadows and waiting to ambush me. I couldn't see much apart from the wisps of smoke snaking out of the ruins of a distant city. I firmly grasped my gun in my hooves and started to walk slowly, constantly looking over my shoulder, paranoid that the people who did this were still around the corner. The stench of death had filled the air long ago; the corpses of men, women, and children laid on the ground, motionless. Their cold, dead eyes still displayed the horror that they witnessed before their life was violently cut short. As I carefully turned a corner I spotted one of them, one of the things that killed everyone. It stood easily seven feet tall with razor-like claws. It had an elongated head with several spikes protruding from it and completely black eyes. Its skin was a dull, ash-gray color and it was dressed in what I assumed to be the standard armor of the invaders. It had a weapon similar to mine, probably looted off of a corpse of a soldier. I crouched down and took a deep breath, aiming the barrel of my gun at the disturbing being. I held my breath in as I slowly pulled the trigger back. "Got you, you son of a-" "David?" Everything around me suddenly dissolved into white nothingness as I turned around to find the voice that called my name. "Oh... Hey, Luna." I said as I watched her descend from the sky and land a few meters away from me with a concerned look on her face. "Are you alright? You seemed to be having quite the nightmare." She looks around, no doubt talking about the ruin and destruction that was once there. "Oh, no, I was aware. I was just bored and decided to fight illegal aliens. No big deal." I replied as I spawned a beach chair and changed the scenery to one of those beautiful tropical beaches. "I figured out that I was dreaming the moment I fell asleep; I thought it was strange since I've never had that happen, so I decided to have some fun. This wasn't the first thing I did. The first thing was a party with all the Playboy Bunnies." I knew she wouldn't get that reference, but that's what I was hoping for. "Playboy...?" "Nevermind that. How did you get here anyway?" "We are the Princess of the Night; we help all of our ponies with nightmares by dream walking." She said with a mixture of pride and what sounded like of sadness for some reason. 'Wait, if I'm her... Or another her... Doesn't that mean I can do everything she can? That means I could dream walk, right?' I thought to myself as I looked at her again. "Could I do the same thing? I mean, I am you… Sort of." I asked her with barely-contained excitement. Not every day you turn into a horse that can invade people’s priva- Dreams! I mean dreams! Well, We suppose you could... But it takes quite a lot of practice. It is not something that can be taught from one day to another." She replied as she seems to look down in thought. ‘Oh boy, maybe she'll show me!’ Before I could say anything else she interrupted me. "We shall continue this conversation later. Thou need to wake up now." What's with her and the 'We' thing? Well, not that I can blame her. A thousand years is a long time. I probably would have forgotten how to speak entirety! I would probably have my own Wilson too... "Why would I-" I didn't get to question why I had to wake up before I was suddenly pulled from my dream and into the waking world. My eyes suddenly snapped open as I let out a quick gasp, clearly not being used to being woken up in that manner. "Goddamn, I'm gonna have to tell her not to do that..." I said as shook my head and sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing my eyes slightly. "How long have I been asleep anyway…?" I stood up and walked over to the window. "Holy... It's already night time! I must have slept for a good nine hours... Better than what I get most of the time." I turned away from the window and admired the room that was assigned to me, and trust me when I said that it gave five-star hotels a run for their money. It had a large bed in the far left corner, many large, curtained windows, and even its own fancy fireplace! The floor was also covered in what looked and felt like an amazingly plush carpet, almost as soft as the blankets! I admired the room itself for a little bit longer, taking in the fact that I was actually in a castle, a castle that's being used and had color! Most medieval castles back on Earth were all a dull gray and were only tourists attractions at this point. But this was on a whole new level! I stopped admiring the main room and went to check out the bathroom, and let me tell you it was one of the cleanest bathrooms I've ever been in. It had a mini jacuzzi and everything! Honestly, eating off the floor here didn't sound like too bad of an idea. I didn't get much more time to look around the bathroom before I suddenly heard the door open. My horse ears were swiveling around to face the direction the sound came from, but I happened to be looking in the mirror when it happened. I almost d'awwd at the sight; I looked cute as all well when I did that, ain't going to deny it. I pried my attention away from the mirror and exited the bathroom. I glanced around the room one last time before turning my attention to the bedroom door. There was what I assumed to be a guard there, same pure white color with gilded armor as the rest of them. He was also a unicorn judging by the horn on his head too. "The Princesses have requested your presence at the throne room, Pr-... Ma'am. I have been tasked with escorting you there." It looked like he had already been told of who I was, thankfully. It avoided a lot of awkwardness. "Well, Mister..." "Private Armored Shell, Ma'am" "Alright, Shell, lead the way." I walked past the door and followed him out, closing it behind me as he lead me through the hallways and to the throne room. Have I already said this place was massive? It sure felt like it. I swear we turned, like, five hundred corners before we finally arrived at the large throne room door, and when I said large I meant really large. It could fit three trucks stacked on top of each other and then some. "Right this way, Ma'am." Armored Shell said as he pushed the door open and gestured for me to go inside. "Hey, Shell, this door is pretty big. You know what else is big?" I still hate myself for making this joke... "Oh! Er, what?" "This settlement that needs your help." Yep, definitely hate myself.