The dream faded into view around me and I was suddenly at the edge of one of the squares in Canterlot. The one just outside the main castle gates, the one with the statue of Princess Celestia on the raised in the middle.
The place didn't look quite like I remembered, the castle looked the same, but the buildings were a bit different. More white marble, more copper roofs, rounder walls. Similar styles to the castle.
Was this what Canterlot used to look like further into the past?
The Square was full of ponies of all kinds, talking, laughing, buying and selling wares from stalls around the edges and filling most of the open square.
Frowning softly to myself, I slowly entered the crowd. This was a nightmare? The sun was shining warm far above and the sky was clear of clouds. A rather nice summer day. No monsters running around, no invading armies or dying ponies. It wasn't coming either, the Nightmare was in full swing already.
Strange.
Where is...
Turning my head I looked at the statue. That was not a statue. Celestia was standing in it's normal place, her wings spread high and wide, her head raised. She wasn't moving a feather, even in the wind. Even her mane and tail were still, like frozen in time.
What.
Frowning I slowly started to make my way towards her and I started to notice things. The closer I got, the stranger things went. Ponies moving a bit faster around me, laughs and talks become briefer the closer I got.
By the time I stood before her, I saw there was a empty space around the large raised marble square she was standing on. Nobody entered it. All around me ponies were... not moving faster anymore, barely even moving at normal speed.
But they were aging. Young ponies getting closer and in a blink of a eye they just turned old and wrinkly and then they were gone. Most that tried never managed to get to Celestia, they just turned to dust, disappeared and was replaced before they even reached her.
As I watched one managed to put his hoof against her leg for a second before he also turned to dust and disappeared. As I watched hundreds, thousands and ponies grew up, become adults and died. Only a few even managed to even touch her and then they were also gone.
She wasn't crying, she was just standing there without moving a feather as she watches the crowd, unable to see me. Her face was neutral, controlled. But it was there... the terror, sorrow, the loneliness. Her eyes...
Pain.
She hated this.
But through it all, she didn't move. She couldn't. Time went on and mortal ponies withered to dust and died and there was nothing she could do to stop them, to hold on. So she stood there, she was their rock, their center point.
This was no Night Terror. It was too... personal for that. Celestia was having a real nightmare.
I hesitated. No Night Terror, but I couldn't just leave her here. She deserved better.
A lot better.
Taking a slow breath, I then tapped my right front hoof against the marble and suddenly we were alone, the ponies in the square dissipated as a circle of light radiated away from me as I solidified the dream and I brought Celestia to full consciousness in it. If I didn't solidify it before having her realize it was a dream there was a large chance it would collapse into nothing. In this case it wouldn't have been a bad thing, but she deserved to know I was here.
Celestia startled and took a half step back as she looked around before blinking down at me, “...Blank Page.” she finally said.
I bowed down for her, “Yes, Princess. I apologize for the intrusion. I was hunting for Night Terrors.”
She folded her wings and carefully stepped down from the raised marble, “I was unaware you were so far advanced in the art of dream magic.” she said softly.
“It turned out to be a school of magic I had talent in.” I admitted, “Your dream felt like it could have been infested. It is not. I... just didn't think I could just leave you to it. You deserve better than that.”
Celestia regarded me for a long moment, her face inscrutable before she sighed, “You may get up, Page. I am not angry with you. You meant well.”
Getting to my hooves, I sat down as I looked around the now empty square, not quite sure what so say next.
Celestia was the one to break the silence, “It is a reoccurring dream.” she finally said quietly, “Not often. Can be months between times. Years even. But it always returns.”
I nodded, “Everyone has those.”
“They do.” She agreed, her mane and tail moving in a wind only she could feel, “It is... a unpleasant one.”
“Nightmares usually are.” I agreed in turn before I looked up at the large alicorn, “I would never tell anypony else anything I see inside a dream. I follow the same code as Luna on that.”
Celestia actually smiled softly, “I never thought you would, my friend.” as she laid down, bringing herself down to my eye level, “Now when I am not trapped in the grasp of the dream, I can see the symbolism in it all. For once, it is quite clear, it fades when you wake up.”
What do I even say to that?
“...You are not alone you know.” I answered quietly after a moment of looking down at the marble ground, “Luna, Twilight Sparkle, Princess Candace. They are as long-lived as you are, Celestia.”
“Feelings of the heart are rarely swayed by logic. And for a long time, I was. It takes... time.” Celestia said quietly, looking down on the marble.
I nodded. She was very right about that.
“I want to apologize again. I'm sorry for intrudi...”
“I'm not.” Celestia interrupted me, “I trust you to keep it private and the dream would have kept going for quite some time. I'm thankful that you stopped it.” before she sighed softly, “I admit, I am unable to do such a thing myself. My abilities for dream magic is... lacking. It is the opposite of my realm of powers.”
“Not everyone is good at everything. Even Princesses.”
That got a small laugh from her, “Too true.”
“How do you feel, Princess?”
Celestia shifted her wings and smiled softly, “A bit embarrassed, but better. Will I remember this tomorrow?”
I nodded, “Of course. Solidifying the dream like this also make it certain you will remember it. And this seemed like a dream you would remember anyway.”
Nodding, Celestia looked around, “Can you change the environment please?”
A small application of magic and will and the dream shifted, flowing out from beneath me until we were laying on the grass in a sun lit meadow instead with butterflies all around, moving from flower to flower, “Better?”
“Much. Thank you, Page.” She said as she looked around, feeling the grass beneath her.
Another small amount of magic and a some more will locked the dream in. She would be having this dream until she woke up. Give her a moment to simply relax.
Getting to my hooves, I sighed softly, “I should be taking my leave then and stop bothering you, Princess.”
“Good night, Page. And thank you.” She answered and got up as well, giving me a small nuzzle between the ears, “Come see me tomorrow once you are awake. I wish to speak to you regarding Sunset Shimmer.”
“Of course. Sweet Dreams, Celestia.” I said and released the solidification of the dream. There was no visual change, but Celestia seemed confused for half a second, her eyes simply gliding past me before she turned and walked through the grass, bending down to smell a flower.
I regarded her for a moment before I turned and walked through a silver circle, leaving her to her dream.
Wow, that's a concept often used, but that was by far the best imagery to get the point across I have seen.
Dawwww. Ty for the sweet dreams. :)
I'm glad that you did not skip the dream. Plus we got some building blocks to dream magic and how it is used. Good job.
-BFBL
Sunset?! Coming back? A chance for redemption??!! Oh Please oh please!!!
Page is going to totally accidentally himself an alicorn and give the sisters a forever cuddle huggle, isn't he?
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Actually, Page beat the crap out of her, stole the tiara back, and threw them both through the portal.
I certainly don't. I've never had the same dream twice in all my life, to the best of my knowledge. Neither has anyone I actually know of. I'm wondering if this is one of those things that really only exist in fiction.
7357538
I rarely remember my dreams but I know of at least two different dreams that sometimes recur on the occasions when I do remember them.
I thought recurring dreams are the subconscious getting caught on something? Trying to tell the conscious mind to deal with it? Like trauma, for example.
I certainly don't have recurring dreams.
To be fair, you'd think having recurring dreams would be a bad thing, as it suggests something is bothering you, whether consciously or subconsciously.
So with Page helping Luna cope with being Nightmare Moon and him being the Alicorn of dreams does that mean Luna never makes the Tantabus?
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I would assume so... The butterfly effect and all that.
But different universes are strange, one can only assume.
Damn it man! I wrote the synopsis for an entire short story like this in my AR fic! Now if I do it I'll feel like I'm copying you!...
Very good chapter.
It's a kinda overused concept, but the way you described the scene and portrayed the concept was very good.
aww a vary sweet chapter vary touching.
screams into a pillow
My body is so readyyyyyy!!!
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I don't remember Page beating Sunset up. I do remember him threatening her, though. In any case, he did indeed shove her ass through the portal.
The word "a" should be replaced with "an".
I feel like that whole section has so many typos and so much awkwardness that IMHO all of it needs to be re-written. I suggest you should use something like:
Another small amount of magic, plus an extra dose of will power, and the dream will be locked in, allowing Celestia to remain in this pleasant dream until she wakes up. A troubled mind like hers would surely benefit from enjoying a moment of relaxation.
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IDK how you found that video, but it was amazing to listen to. Liked.
....that almost made me cry, props to the great Page
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Amazing
It would have been a great time to confide of his diametrically opposite fears of his own mortality...
It would be great if there was a way to brig this kind of aptitude into the waking world, maybe something like illusions or mind manipulation.
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I've also had at least two dreams that I've had on different occasions.
7357538
I have had recurring dreams, typically recurring dreams are nightmares brought on by various types and kinds of PTSD.
Poor Celestia... The dread of a very very long life...
Does the silver portal have the stargate runes?
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Aye that's why they call immortality a Curse disguised as a Blessing. Everyone wants it but really no one wants it at the same time.
Naughty naughty Page. You should know better than to stare directly at the sun(butt). The Moon(butt) might get jealous.
That was macabre but beautifully sad. I don't often say things are works of art, but this feels like it to me.
Given the nightmare leaving Celestia alone in the medow was a weird choice, having some of her loved ones with her would have been nice I think.
We know so far that Celestia had many lovers, but had she ever foals of her own?
There is a completed story on Fimfiction telling us why Alicorns go extinct eventually and why immortality has very strong downsides.
Especially if someone want to have families and their bloodline prevail.
11211062
Indeed, immortal being might have sometimes a bad time perception, but they feel the changes of society and technology more keenly.
Making a good point in 'the past was better in...' further 'the present is better in...'
Because they are the future.