Chapter 3- Adaptation
I hate stairs. More importantly, I hate that the only way out of that tree cave was via a gigantic staircase hewn directly into the rock wall of a cliff. The cave I found myself in was in the very bottom of a ravine, Possibly making it one of the most inconsiderate places to just up and leave someone sleeping.
More inconvenient, was that my 'new' body felt... atrophied. My muscles were all stiff, and no matter of repetitive movement seemed to alleviate that feeling. Trust me, I had plenty of repetitive movement to test that as I staggered my way up those stairs.
I hate forests. Especially forests with no gosh darned trails, or even readily apparent signs of life. Oh sure, I heard birds chirping, and other slightly less friendly sounds as I made my way deeper into this stupid forest. No signs of civilized life. This had to be the Everfree forest, if my guesses were correct. The staircase of pain inducing steps had led out directly next to the decaying ruins of some sort of castle. It looked like it had been abandoned for years, if not centuries. There was no way there'd be anyone there to help me, even if they could. So I headed out into the forest. If I found a river, I could follow it to civilization.
I still hated forests. Precious little light managed to make its way past the foliage of the tree tops far above me, leaving me to tromp around in near darkness. Add to that, there were uncountable bushes and various plants, each with their own numerous ways of causing me pain. Nettles, poison oak of some sort, and other stuff that caused frequent needed stops to use my scepter to heal myself. I even had to pry off leaches a couple times. Not even sure where they came from.
I hated the waking realm. I missed my ability to alter the dream around me, shape it as I willed. I hated how I had no clear idea where I was actually going, victim to the cruel whims of an unfamiliar forest. You might just ask why I didn't fly up and get birds eye view, but that leads into my next point of contention.
I hate my wings. I have little to no idea how to properly use them, and every time I somehow managed to get the right muscle grouping flexed required to stretch a wing out -I had yet to figure out how to open them both at the same time...- it was accompanied with a wave of cramped pain. They both collected grime, twigs, cobwebs and various gunk with an alarming frequency, even in this short period of trekking I already had a few pounds of... stuff weighing down on both my sides. Itched like mad.
I hate alicorns, and by association, unicorns. How the hell does magic work? I continuously attempted to perform any kind of magic, whether it be as simple as levitating a branch to teleporting me out of this damned forest. Guess how much success I had. Absolutely none. I might as well have genuflected with all my will, probably would have had a greater effect. I know I had to have performed some form of levitation or telekinesis spell back in the cave, but for the life of me I couldn't manage to replicate it.
I hate having hair all over my body. Remember how much I griped about the wings? Well being a full body dirt magnet was somehow even worse. I had a midnight hued coat, a dusty purple that crept towards a sharp grey. My tail and mane were a light colored blue, hanging limp and long from the flesh. The coloration was actually reminiscent of the protectors in the brief moment when I had first met her, right after she had succumbed to my temporary trap. Had my seeing her in that state somehow translated into my current appearance? Bah, it was only a coincidence. Her hair wasn't nearly as unmanageably long as mine was. My tail alone was at least as long as my body, if not even more so. Maybe even twice as long. My mane... it reached a few feet backwards past my posterior. I desperately needed a haircut. As it stood, I'd act as an impromptu mop whenever I took a single step. As I currently was, nearly dragging the entire forest floor with me on my little romp.
It kept getting stuck in bushes, too. I had to stop just as frequently to pry loose my stupid hair from random bushes as I did to heal myself. As soon as I found myself a sharp rock, this stupid mop of hair was going the way of the dodo. If I could safely hack it off without stabbing myself.
I hate hooves. You'd think they were a benefit for tromping throughout a forest, what with being a solid chunk of... nail, or whatever. Guess what? A hoof is only a 'U' shaped chunk, relatively small in the grand scheme of things. And the chinks in that pathetic piece of armor was a breeding ground for thorns. I swear, if I was walking on the most perfect yard of grass, a rose thorn or something would still manage to stab upwards into my hoof to make it hurt as much as possible.
Have you managed to figure out that I'm miserable by this point? If not, I haven't been regaling you well enough. Add to all that previous stuff, and I had a pain in my midsection. It didn't go away when I healed myself, I honestly couldn't figure out what the buck was wrong with me.
Maybe something was wrong with my insides.
It was several hours of pulling myself through various greenery later when the sun started going down. The pain in my midsection didn't subside, and I had grown understandably weary as I forced my body onwards.
With sunlight waning in the sky above me, I grew quite worried concerning my wellbeing. Would I fall asleep if I pushed this body too far? If the body perished, would I in turn die regardless if I was still alive within the dream realm?
So I tried to make preparations. As laughably sparse as they were. I covered myself in mud and leaves, in a petty attempt at camouflage. If anything got close enough to look at me the game would be up, but hopefully the mud would help obscure my scent from potential predators. Stars above know I probably looked like a succulent morsel to anything wandering these woods.
The second thing I did was climb a tree. I know, I say it so simply. 'I climbed a tree'. Do you have any idea how bucking hard that is without hands? Or any natural flying abilities to help one ascend? Yeah yeah, use your wings. I know. I tried. Didn't do me a lick of good. Couldn't even get them open. The only good grace I managed to get from my troubles was that for all trouble I had, that just meant anything wanting to come up after me would have just as much difficulty. I made a fair amount of noise climbing up, so hopefully anything that followed me would make just as much noise. Maybe wake me up, giving me a chance to blast it in the face with my scepter.
At least my scepter was still functioning as it should. One good thing to ruminate on, as I fell asleep.
Luna lay curled up in the center of her bed, her tears long spent and forgotten. Now she wore a sour expression, dreading the fresh memories that delving into the dream realm would dreg up. It just wasn't fair. To have somepony she had just met, meet such an untimely end. All he had wanted was to impress her, she had sensed that much in his actions.
He had been rather brash at moments... but she had sensed his desire for validation in his words. He was like her. All he had wanted was somepony to share in his efforts, to see what he had done and look upon it with wonder.
What of his kingdom, of Slumberland? With his absence Luna had returned to find the sprawling dream deserted. No more were there inhabitants that roamed the streets, and even the central web of dreams the king had shown her was gone. Not even the fragments of Discord remained, leaving Luna to attempt to converse with the dream statue of himself. Much as the king had alluded to, the lord of chaos refused to talk with her regardless her verbal prodding.
It was sad to see such a sight so degraded. The once mighty city had been perfectly fine less than a day previous. Now... it simply served as the young kings tombstone. Derelict, empty. Lost.
Luna sighed, drawing the attention of her sister. Celestia had taken to her sisters bedside, in case she needed any signs of sibling affection to drive away her sadness.
"What ails you, sister? Or rather," she continued with a sad glance of her own, "Since I already know what troubles your thoughts, is there anything I can do to help you? I know a warm hug is too little to drive away this burden..."
"Yet a warm hug would feel quite nice at the moment," Luna admitted, opening her wings and gesturing to her sister. She quickly reciprocated, crossing the remaining distance and drawing her sister into a tight hug.
"It's just... I just met him. I shouldn't feel this strongly about somepony I just met, should I?" she asked. "Yet his smile... his demeanor... All I can think of when I reflect on this past day is that I failed him, sister. If I had been but a little faster, just a bit stronger... I might have been able to save him."
"There was nothing you could have done, Luna. What has happened is what was. You could no more blame yourself for... my apologies, I didn't mean to bring that up-"
"Worry yourself not, sister," Luna interrupted, her hug slightly more rigid as she tried to marshal her thoughts. "While... that has not lessened its weight in my thoughts, the years have curbed my emotions on the matter. It was simply a freak occurrence," she admitted with a low sigh, as she sank further into her custom cloud mattress bed. "There was... nothing I could have done..." she trailed off, muttering to herself. It seemed the years had not lessened her sisters affinity for manipulation, as she had fallen right into her trap without even noticing.
"I... I wish to visit the memorial," Luna admitted with a huff. "I don't feel well enough to visit the realms of sleep. Perhaps but a visit will allow me to clear my head."
"Very well, Luna. Would you desire for me to accompany you? A shoulder to lean on, perhaps?"
"Nay... I mean... I believe this to be something I should do on my own. I... I should not tarry. If I put this off for but a minute... I may lose my resolve and return to gorge myself on pie..."
"Yes, quite," Celestia replied, fighting down a blush at thoughts of her own predilections towards a certain confectionery. If her sister ever learned of her recent lusts towards cake, both by itself and for its qualities to comfort... she'd never let her live it down.
"Oh, sister, before you go,"Celestia started, standing up and righting her sister with her magic. "As you no doubt have noticed, our castle of old has long since fallen into disrepair. I could not dare leaving it there to be plundered by adventurous thrill seekers. As such, I had the memorial moved to a safer location..."
I regained mental clarity, drifting in the realm between dreams. I had regained full access to my ego, although it first appeared as it did in the waking realm. I quickly dispelled that form, taking back on my form of previous.
Rolling my shoulders, I was aware that the aches of my day of walking weren't present. Even the pain in my midsection had disappeared.
Looking around, I found myself in a shattered ruin. I looked on my surroundings in sadness, recognizing them for what they had been. My throne room, where I had previously welcomed and communed with my subjects over their day to day activities. No smiling faces were to be had, I couldn't feel even a single mind connected to my dream. What the buck had happened?
"Sir, sir!" I heard a voice call out as I felt a trio of dreams reconnect to myself. "Oh thank goodness you are alright!"
I peered blearily towards the speaker, a smile breaking out over my face as I levered myself into a standing position.
"Mr. Genius. My regards as well, I really hadn't the faintest idea what the repercussions for my actions would be. At least we all seem to have weathered this particular storm..."
"We wouldn'a had to if you just left the waking realm to waking matters," Flip stated sullenly as he walked up alongside his counterpart. "You really gave us a scare kid, what the hay were you thinking?"
Mr. Genius wore a frown at his doubles crass words, but nodded in agreement at his closing statement.
"I... I wasn't thinking. I'm sorry guys. I fear I'm a bit out of out of the loop here," I said, spreading my arms wide and gesturing at the dream around us. "Anything you can tell me I don't already know?"
"Well sir, it's absolute pandemonium!" Mr Genius declared, his spectacles wobbling dangerously on the end of his horselike snout as he fidgeted with his ascot. "All the residents of Slumberland have fled, none believe you... have the power to protect us... anymore..." he trailed off, sheepishly staring down at his mismatched legs.
"Everypony thinks you got killed off by the nightmare," Flip added snidely, chewing at one of his lips. "Honestly, I thought you did too. What happened, boss?"
I stared at Flip for a couple seconds, secretly glad for his crassness. Always to the point. I let out a sigh, as I told them what had happened.
Luna reached her destination, having followed her sisters directions in trepidation. Would seeing... that make her feel any better? It was partly to blame for her fall from sanity, after all. But she believed she had progressed much in her thousand years in isolation. She would look upon the face of her grief, and she would no longer regard it in mindless sorrow. Perhaps the sight of her previous failure would curb the new sting of her most recent debacle?
Luna silently thanked her sister for her actions, having moved the memorial to a more fitting location. She wouldn't have been able to hold back a sob, if she had been forced to witness it within the somber layout of her former castle.
The echoing clacks of her hooves on the stone staircase came to an end, heralding her arrival at last at the entrance to the new memorial. The area was lit with magical lights, a sense of calm permeated the area. Just as well, for this was the resting place of the Tree of Harmony.
It was from this very tree she and her sister had found the elements of harmony, and were granted the keys to defeat Discord and return the lands to harmony. Her sister was right, she would have liked it to have seen the memorial moved here. As it was... this was a fitting resting place.
She was sure he would have liked it.
Crossing to the memorial, her head bowed in remembrance, she started to speak. Her voice cut off however, as she noted the condition of the memorial before her.
It lay in ruin, bereft and plundered.
She turned from the sight, tears threatening to spill from the corner of her eyes. Whether from sadness or rage, she couldn't be sure. There was one thing she knew. Her sister would receive an irate earful for allowing her sons' grave to be pillaged.
"So... you're a fleshy now?" Flip asked, scratching at his head. "How the hay does that work, I thought you were only alive in here or something..."
"I haven't the foggiest. I'm currently making my way through some sort of forest, one I believe to be the Everfree forest. Do we have any maps around? Anything that hasn't been warped by the dream or dreamer? I've been trying to go in a straight line but if I could figure out a probable location I'd feel a lot better..."
"Right away, sir!" Mr. Genius barked out, rushing off to rummage through an adjacent room.
"Ehhhh," Flip muttered, crossing his mismatched arms behind his head, "Not saying this'll be any help, but I know of one town right next to the Everfree," I gave him a look, gesturing for him to continue. "Well, a while back I heard about some ponies setting up camp near the new Canterlot. They called their town 'Ponytown', 'Ponyville' or something. I dunno. Anyway,they should be right on the edge of the Everfree, so if you just keep going straight like you have been you should reach the edge sooner or later. Maybe that edge will be right next to that town."
I gave him a nod, as Mr Genius ran back into the room with his arms filled with various rolled up scrolls. He tripped on the decaying rug, which caused his spoils to go flying.
I let a smile grace my lips at the scene, a yawn bubbling up from my throat.
"Eh... sir?" Mr genius questioned, holding up a scroll. "Are you alright? I got the ma-"
I jerked awake, a spasm of pain arcing through my back. I tiredly stretched out, the sudden transition having been most inopportune. If only I could have stayed asleep for a few more minutes, I could have gotten some truly important information.
Not that Flips wasn't helpful. Now I had a destination in mind, one I would hopefully come across eventually.
Getting myself out of the tree revealed a bevy of scratches encircling the trunk, meaning I had visitors in the midst of my sleep. Wonderful. At the very least, they had departed without a taste.
Continuing on my way, it wasn't long before I stumbled my way into my first bout of real danger.
Screw cragodiles. Stealthy hiding little jerks. I hadn't even realized that I was surrounded until the first popped out of hiding, snapping at my face.
"NYEHABUCK!" I screeched in a less than refined manner. I immediately followed that with "Shazama, paja...ma?" At the most my scepter released a glare of light, causing the cragodile nearest to me to hiss in retaliation.
I couldn't remember the incantation. When I tried to remember words I had only spoken a day previously, all that came up was a confused blur. Shazama, pajama. That was it. Nothing else. I was left at a loss.
So when the nearest cragodile closed in and prepared to crush me between its jaws, you can imagine my surprise that in my terror ridden state my horn lit up. And subsequently surrounded the cragodile in a magic glow, before it disappeared. Only to reappear in a blur of motion as it slammed into two others of its brethren, leaving a trail of devastation through the undergrowth in its wake.
Before the other wildlife overcame its surprise, I decided to abandon my own and take advantage of the accidental magic. I couldn't control it worth beans, but I sure as buck was going to use it to my advantage after the fact.
A few hours later, and I found myself internally complaining about the increasing pain in my midsection. It was even letting loose gurgling growls, making me slightly self aware as to the amount of noise I was making.
I really had to figure out just what the buck was wrong with this stupid body.
Finally, my efforts bore fruits as the forest growth started to thin. I could actually see the sunlight trickling through the treetops, showering the fallen leaves with its golden glow. I finally made my way from the forest, spying a town in the distance.
Bollocks. At least I wouldn't have to traipse through the bloody forest anymore. If I never went in there again, it would be too bucking soon.
As I made my way to the town in the distance, several thoughts ran through my head. 'What am I going to ask' being chief among them, but another question stood out in the forefront of my mind.
What the buck are ponies going to think when they see me with all this forest on me?
Hopefully they didn't mind too much.
I made my way through the town, eyeing the various townsfolk I passed. Most kept their distance, seeing as I looked like I had just crept out of the Everfree. Well I had, but it still hurt.
I finally caved, heading over to the nearest house with the intention of knocking on the door. Sure the house looked a bit odd... but to each their own.
A hoof risen, and brought down on the door let loose with a loud clack. I followed that up with three more, same as the first.
"Coming, just a minute!" I heard from within, as hoofsteps signaled the occupants steps towards the door. It opened, showing me a smiling face, "Hi there!"
Twilight started her morning as she had in days past. With a slight alteration, of course. Now she was living in Ponyville, with all her new friends!
She had spreadsheets, she had checklists, there was just so much stuff she could be doing with them today! And it was all facilitated by an early wake up call, along with a hearty breakfast.
And a total rehaul of the organization system. Seriously, did the last pony here even try?
"Twilight, can we stop?" Spike asked, rubbing one of his claws.
"What? Oh, yes, definitely, take a break if you want, I can probably handle it from here..."
A staccato knock rang out against the wood of her front door, drawing her attention. "Coming, just a minute!" she called out, gathering up a couple books to levitate them up onto a barren shelf. It certainly was better than it had been previous.
She made her way to the front door, wondering who could be calling at such an early hour. Drawing the door open, she smiled upon seeing who was on the other side of it.
"Hi there!" she took a moment to compose herself, taking in the visitor as best she could. "I didn't think you'd be over this soon, Fluttershy," she admitted shaking her head in embarrassment.
"Oh, I'm sorry, should I come back later?" Fluttershy shrunk, hiding within her hair.
"No no no, come in, come in! I was just finishing up here..."
"You look lost, little fella," the hat wearing pony stated, looking at me worriedly. Crud. I had completely forgotten that I might be taken as nothing more than an adolescent. I had barely even considered it. "Hey, where'r yer parents, little guy?"
"Don't have any," I simply replied, watching as his face fell in shock at my statement. "My parents died around a thousand years ago," or so I assumed. Unless they managed to take on some form of as yet unknown fitness program with horrendously effective results I didn't know of...
"What... I don't," the pony responded, his gaze filled with non-understanding.
"Wings," I stated, giving them a ruffle. Discharged a couple dried clumps of... I don't know what in the progress. "Horn," I repeated in the same hollow tone as I tapped a hoof to the referred spiral of bone. "Alicorn. I know you probably don't get a lot of my kind just randomly walking through town, but a general rule of hoof is long life. I'm a lot older than I look, to be honest," I added, watching as he nodded, uncomprehendingly for a few seconds. "I was actually hoping to acquire some assistance, if you would be so kind?" I asked, prompting his beleaguered brain to finally pop back on track.
"Well shoot, let it never be said an Apple threw out a pony on their ear when they needed help, whether they be a wanderin' pegasi..." He looked me over once again, taking in my appearance. "Or even a fancy as you please alicorn. Welcome to our fair town little buddy,"
"Welcome to Aaaaaaaappleloosa!~"
Because screw your expectations. No way am I writing ANOTHER Displaced as having ended up in Ponyville right off the bat. He might make his way there eventually, but for the next few chapters its wild west town for him.
It didn't take me a year, you see!??! I did good! I DID GOOD!!!!
Heehee, that feeling knowing you lot are going to go back and see I added another character tag~
As always, be sure to leave a question for Nemo, and I'll be sure he answers it as soon as the next chapter rolls around!
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Holy shit, now you're just spoiling me! Can I have more chapters less than a year from now? :V
PRAISE BE, IT DID NOT TAKE A YEAR!!!
I hope he ends up traveling lot before ponyville
Nuuuu what have you dooooone!? Beware of Bad Touch Braeburn! Why nut Hollow shades? Eh, you definitely suprised me with that ending bit. (>°3°>)
You faked us out!!!! you sly devil you!!
Wait until canterlot gets a report of an alicorn colt spotted in appaloosa wandering around, claiming to be the king of slumberland.
I did not expect this.
But this is an amazing turn of events.
6966494
Naw, naw... we don't want to cause a panic. Just tell everypony I'm a winged unicorn.
6966443
I had to.
6966245
Did you watch the theatrical version, or the cut down version?
6966564 Hmmm, though physically he 'might' be Luna's son but spiritually be Nemo. Would it be weird to him by when he realizes it, that he is now considered male royalty? we can already see some funny laughs that will happen by his extreme awkwardness of having a body again let alone one not his original species. Though now that we think on it, at worse Luna may have conflicting feelings of rage, motherhood and romance. *eyes turn to pin pricks with a twitch.*
You did good.
Now keep it up, and you can be awesome! And then amazing! AND THEN SUPER AMAZINGLY AWESOME!
Also:
Dear Nemo: how often is dreamland beset by giant, house-eating turkeys?
You have done well.
Well... It's a Ville of Ponies... Close enough, right?
6966591 I suspected it last chapter during the Nightmare's rant, and this chapter only added on to my suspicion, but my theory is that Little Nemo's displacement into the Equestrian Dream Realm wasn't actually the first time he was Displaced...
Ok. Not that I mind, but how the hell did he came out, out of Everfree into the middle of desert/savanna/whateveryoucall"allbrownrocks"aroundyou?
vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/0/0b/Appleloosa_is_braced_for_attack_S01E21.png
Wouldn't Dodge City be more viable option?
vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/a/a4/Map_of_Equestria_2015.jpg
6966801
I took some severe liberties regarding the ley of the land to facilitate my 'bluff'. He did have to pass over the train tracks, and eventually make his way through a desert-y type landscape.
I just didn't have him mention any of that further the bluff.
6966813 I see then.
Walking into totally different direction than he had to. Now that's a bad luck.
6966826
Yep. Well, when he was basically right next to the princess and the element bearers right after he woke up, he technically could have just gone right into the castle and circumvented all his traveling. His misfortune for assuming the castle would be abandoned.
Especially seeing as he had just had a conversation with Princess Luna regarding where the bearers had fought the nightmare...
6966843 Its a movie? Didn't know that. which version do you recommenced i watch?
6966860
The theatrical version is about 100 minutes. The cut down version is about 80. I would suggest the cut down version first, because it seriously does cut down a lot of stuff that kinda makes the movie drag a bit.
After the 80 min one, rewatch the theatrical version to see what all was cut, if you want.
6966867 K ty.
6966702
Ehn, Flip was just trying to help. It's not his fault Nemo had no clue where he was wandering.
Question for Nemo: Has their ever been a dream that was too absurd even for Slumberland?
That forest must be huge to stretch all the way to there.
just noticed don't know if typo but luna said sons? or did you mean just son?
6967705
Supposed to be possesive, not plural. I'll change it later...
EDIT: okay, fixed it.
6967097 Of course, this is Mickey Roony we're talking about here.
This chapter got geographicall flaw. Some people have pointed at it alrdy. His colors are nearly similiar to lunas with some difference in saturation. I dont know its good or bad, it doesnt make his appearance unique.
Question for Nemo: surely you have empathetically experienced hunger when you entered the nightmares of a starving person, did you just not remember? There is a lot of bodily experiences that get translated 1:1 into deep dream activities, i had figured you would be a lot more jack-of-all-trades through borrowing those experiences.
Question nemo what's your favorite dessert
So.....he's no longer human?
why when i saw that did i think of Markiplier?
You got me for good here.
6983678
Aparently he was never human to begin with...
Well at least after the con
Omg I am hooked! This need note views man! Your so getting a follow!