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Luna and the Dreamscape - Episode 1: Timid Star


Hippo

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For a thousand years, ponies dreamed without the hostile environment of an evil presence impeding on their slumber. For it was before then, that Princess Luna was invaded by a nightmare, a nightmare so convincingly terrifying that it transformed Luna, even in her waking hours. It happened over several nights. The thoughts consumed her, it deteriorated her composure and instead of allowing her Princess qualities remain prevalent, exploited her lack of reason and her pride. The stubbornness inside Luna helped the nightmare take over, and Nightmare Moon she became. The Princess was poisoned by a spirit of evil, that which destroys the qualities of a pony and replaces their mind's eye with greed and jealousy.

Today, Luna is enamored of her return, and the love her sister was able to return to her. The elements of harmony proved that Luna was not Nightmare Moon, but was rather possessed by the nightmare during her banishment. She learned what nightmares are capable of, and sought a way to prevent it from happening again, in her life but also others as well. Over months after Luna was returned to Equestria, she studied hard about the dreamscape, attempting to dive into the possibilities. Eventually she was able to enter other pony's dreams. After several experiments, she realized that she was also able to find ways of manipulating what happens in the dreamscape. And one night, when her assistant was sleeping, she entered into their dream to find that they were having a nightmare, one where the pony was told they were fired from their job and no one afterwards would hire them. Luna transformed the negativity into an opportunity, one that allowed the assistant a chance to fulfill their dream positively.

But Luna knew that wasn't all there was to it. There was something else going on. Why did it get to this point? What kinds of problems caused these kinds of nightmares? Luna appeared to the pony in her dream, and after some council, it was discovered that real life issues on her work environment and stress had weakened the pony's ability to push forward in their dreams. After they awoke, Luna made sure her assistant had job security and set her on a two week vacation with regular wages included. From there on, Luna made it her duty as Princess of the Night to protect ponies from their nightmares, but also help them solve the issue that caused them to fall into that state of mind to begin with.

The evening had set it, and the moon was already raised, glowing its reflection on the dew in the plains and dancing on the running water in the streams. Luna had taken care of the usual, and she entered into her dreaming chamber, the room where she meditates on the dreamscape. Luna wrote down a few notes on her table and then sat back in her chair, pillowed from the bottom, soft enough to allow the Princess to concentrate. After a sudden glow from her horn, a few seconds passed and she lost consciousness.

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Timid Star lay in bed, sprawled out under the covers. Boney lay beside him, burbling barks as he dreamed and twitched his paws. He was his fauthful pet dog, having been beside him ever since he was very small. Timid sighed as he slept, descending into dreams. The young colt turned over and twitched as the dream took hold of him.

He was trotting along a busy street, recognizing the cobblestones beneath his hooves. He was in Canterlot, enjoying a leisurely stroll towards the fountain square. It was a sunny day, with a light breeze in his face. Smiling, he looked to his side and saw Boney walking with him, sniffing around. He looked like he always did, brown fur and all. He felt comfortable, levitating an apple to his mouth and taking a bite. "Such a nice day Boney, and not a single mean pony accosting me...", he said cheerfully, passing by Sweet Surprise's place of employment.

Something was amiss though, in the background of this nice dream as he moved in closer to see the sign. It said, "Timid is mean to animals...". Shocked, he shook his head and read it again, but it didn't change. "That's not true... I haven't harmed any animals!", he cried as a darker coated Sweet Surprise came out of the shop and said, "Go away! Go back to your home island! You are an accident waiting to happen!". Being told this by someone he considered a friend was quite a blow and his lips quivered. Boney growled as Timid turned away from the shop, shivering. This sort of dream was certainly becoming more and more common as accidents and mishaps piled up in his memories.

He galloped away from Sweet and towards the castle, hoping for a little comfort from Cadance. Maybe she could help him understand why things were so cold all of a sudden. But the castle was besieged by plates of food floating around. Being reminded of another mishap, this one at the Public Relations Open House caused him to sigh. He had begun to frown as the trays homed in on him, covering him in various dishes. "Oh come on!!! My luck is horrible!", he cried, this sweet dream turning into another nightmare on a dime. He snuffled under the food pile, absolutely embarrassed as he extricated himself from it.

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Luna was unaware of her immediate surroundings, and for a few seconds, allowed her mental projection to take shape. Her breathing and mood directly correlating to her real world set, but with a dreamscape exploration, it would soon change. Luna raised her wings and flew through the dreamscape, finding herself in a thick dense forest, full of exotic plants and animals, but none of them dangerous. In the distance, she could see a replica of Canterlot. But it was no Canterlot. It seemed different. Some of the exterior designs of the buildings were reminiscent of the Crystal Empire, as they were transparent geometric shapes that glittered the edges of the buildings and towers.

And then, it started raining. But it was not raining normally. A hailstorm of trays and dishes with baked goods and other pony treats started disseminating all over the place. Luna plucked one out of the air and it was an eclair. She took a bite of it, and it was delicious. However, Luna spotted a large pile of the food by the castle gates. And then she saw a little pony! Luna pounced behind a bush and observed from a far.

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Timid Star looked all about him, feeling that familiar sense of sadness and hopelessness that hung about him like a shroud when things went pear shaped for him. He felt sticky and filthy, coated in baked goods and other banquet foods. This wasn't fair! Why must he always be tormented with the things that had gone wrong in the past! He turned to his pet dog, Boney and sniffled. "Why me, Boney?", he asked aloud as he ducked another tray. Seeing no other open avenues, he dashed for the castle as some shadowy foals emerged from the dark alleyways.

The trays kept coming as he sprinted away, Boney not far behind him. He heard a loud clang and looked over his shoulder, horrified at the sight. A bear made of fudge had tossed Boney into a wall of trays, Boney yelping in pain as he landed. This brought back the memory of the bear at the Winter Wrap Up and how he had sent Boney in an erroneous attempt at protecting everypony and getting him hurt. Timid was crushed as his pet limped towards him in the hail of trays as the fudge bear roared at them both. Unable to hold it back, he began to bawl as he picked up Boney and ran once more from the troubles harassing him from all sides.

His pulse pounding, he finally got into the small ballroom that he had been inside for the Open House, only to find it full of shadowy foals whispering about him. "He's weak enough, we'll take the medallion... Give us that medallion! Go back home and leave that here! You don't deserve it! Weakling! Your parents are ashamed of you!", they chanted as he reared back to take flight once more. But his way out was blocked a flipped over juice stand, more shadow foals peering over the lip. All hope died as he stood there transfixed in terror. "HEEEEEEEEEELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!", he screamed at the top of his lungs, as the foals closed in on him. The band in the room picked up their instruments and began to play a melody unfamiliar to his ears but fitting for what he was up against.

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  • 2 weeks later...

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Luna follow the pony from a distance. The colt seemed terrified. Luna could tell at this point that the melodies of the current dream had now shifted to the more critical edges of a nightmare, and it taunted it's host with the mental images of frightening memories and discouraging thoughts. Luna wanted to intervene, but was too captivated by what she saw. She wanted to analyze what was making this dream tick. It sure seemed a lot more restless than what she would normally qualify as a nightmare.

Once inside the halls of the crystal castle, she could hear voices yelling at the pony,accusing them of horrible fates and feelings. And when music started to play, Luna knew she had to intervene. The dream had taken a life of its own, and she realized the pony had no control over the dream. Luna was too far to great her subject to face, so she made a door on a clear side of the ballroom. "Come here! Hurry!" The door whispered. When the pony would enter, the door would slam, and the room the door went to was empty and dark.

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Timid stared around him in abject terror, closing his eyes against the nightmare. He felt so powerless against the odds set before him and he sobbed. "Why must this be happening to me?!", he cried out as he opened his eyes once more to face the shadowy foals that were slowly closing off all other avenues of escape. His ears perked up as he heard the whisper over the music. Turning his head, he saw a door that was not there before! A glimmer of hope in his wet hazel eyes, he took a chance and fled to the door.

Behind him, the foals jeered and cat called him for his cowardice. Gritting his teeth, he looked back over his shoulder and shouted, "That isn't fair odds! Of course I'm running away!". As he pulled open the door and walked into the room the door slammed shut on its own! He jumped, surprised, as he looked about him. The room was empty and dark, no real rescue to be had buy at least he was away from all those jeering voices and the memories gone nightmarishly rogue.

Boney whimpered on Timid's back, his ribs hurting much like they did at the Winter Wrap Up. Timid heard him whimper and sighed, laying him down on the floor to pet him. "I'm sorry, Boney... It's all my fault... You are such a good companion despite all the problems we run into...", he whispered, smiling weakly despite how much it hurt his heart to see him in pain.

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The room was dark. No pony would be able to see their own hoof in front of their face. But suddenly, a light appeared in the middle of the room. The light shined so brightly that it blinded anypony's ability to see what was making the light. And on the walls, which could now be seen, showed shadowy figures dancing to an evil melody, one that seemed to resemble from before. "Let me light the room for you, Timid Star." The light that shown bright made a powerful and convincing sound of burst, when it exploded itself. The light's rays rippled through the entire room, and when it reached the walls, the shadowy figures fled in agonizing pain. The light then subsided and with the end of her horn still glowing to light the room, the blue alicorn walked slowly towards Timid and Boney with a warm smile on her face.

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Timid couldn't see a thing in this room and he shivered, afraid of what may be lurking in the dark. But then he was surprised by a light suddenly appearing in the room. It was so brilliant, he couldn't look at it directly nor ascertain who was creating this light. However, he could see the dancing shadowy foals on the walls and could hear a similar sinister tune being played. He began to back away from the light while maintaining his distance from the walls, terrified. "W-what's going on?", he said softly to no one in particular as Boney lay still, pretending to be dead.

He was relieved though, as the light seemed to explode and banish the shadow foals. He smiled weakly as they fled from the walls, their expressions ones of excruciating pain. As the light subsided, he was thoroughly shocked by who was in the room with him. As Luna still lit the room with her horn, he was rendered speechless, his muzzle opening and closing silently. This was completely unexpected to see the Princess of the Night appear in his dream, especially one that had turned so badly for him. It was wonderful, but also scary to see her approach him with a warm smile. She did save him though, so he awarded her with a similar smile, bowing to her.

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Luna allowed the colt to bow, as it was respectful to let him revere her, despite the circumstances. "Are you afraid, little foal? Do you know where you are?" Luna got closer to the foal, put her hoof on the side of his head and supported it up. She could see he was frightened and that he was torn up about something. But what was it? And why was it attacking him in his dreams.

Suddenly, the entire room shook, as if someone was trying to move it. But the jostling stopped after just a few seconds. "Your dream is pretty violent. Would you have any idea as to why that is? Or is this normal?" Luna was concerned. Should this dream be normal, it certainly didn't make it any better. The pony was obviously dealing with some moments of oppression, but she wasn't willing to assume it without Timid providing some insight and opening up to what he was dealing with.

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Timid sighed as she came closer, feeling a little safer now. He nodded as she asked if he was afraid, feeling her hoof against his head in a supporting manner. He didn't know where he was exactly, aside from being in some warped Canterlot Castle. The dream version of Boney faded as he worked up the courage to speak his answer as well. "I'm scared, of being blank for all of my life. I'm also scared that I'll be abandoned by my friends if these little accidents keep happening to me....", he looked away as he answered, ashamed.

He yelped and quivered in terror as the room shook as if it were being moved. That wasn't normal, not in the least! Usually it was only the accidents and errors he had to replay, not something like this! It took everything he had not to cry in front of Luna, as the room stopped shaking. He looked up at her, his muzzle quivering and his ears back in absolute fright and despair. "N-no, n-not like this! It's usually only the difficulties and accidents I've been through that show up! Unless...", he paused, then recalling the fountain square incident. He wasn't the one who trashed it, but he was arrested by some very unkind guards all because of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He screamed and huddled beneath her wing, closing his eyes. "The fountain square arrest! It wasn't me that damaged the fountain! But the guards didn't believe me and jailed me with the adults!". As he screamed it out, shadows of guard ponies materialized from the depths of his nightmare, his nightmare with a life of its own. This was what scared him most, and his dream consciousness soon bore the marks of his rough handling under her wing. A darkened, puffy eye and bloodied snout were the chief marks on him, as well as a few hoof bruises. If things didn't quiet down soon, this nightmare would fall apart as he'd awaken from the fear that this memory would cause to his sleeping body.

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Luna could not possibly believe that all of this commotion was coming from the nervousness about his cutie mark, and how he might acquire it someday. The stages of adolescences to being a big pony was a struggle, but they were never this violent. Luna knew that something else must be happening. And as Luna saw in the helpless twinkle in his eye, Timid seemed to know as well. He shouted about how his guilt of being wrongly accused by guards sent him to squander in jail. What a tragic event. Well, of course Luna would believe him, but this wasn't about the things he did or didn't do. It was about more than that, and his opposition was eating him in his dreams.

Two loud booms came from all four walls of the dark room. Someone or something was trying to get in. And it was trying harder and harder.

"Child!" Luna shielded Timid from the shadows so that her embrace was the only visible thing to him. His eyes were playing tricks on him. "I know what it feels like to be convicted. It is an awful feeling. And to be accused wrongly!? I tell you what you must do. Starting today you must face those facts. Whats in the past is done. Your denial will be your end if you let it control you."

Another heavy boom came.

"Those shadows are not ponies, Timid. They are your fears that tell you your life is defined by the things you do wrong. And because you defend yourself against something you cannot change, it possesses the very being of who you are and who you are to become." Timid was shaking. Luna was hoping that he was listening, as it seemed he just wanted a way out. "You're not a bad pony, Timid. So act like it. From this day forth, you will not dwell on the things of the past, but you will behave in the way you were truly meant to be."

Three loud booms came from the walls.

Luna spoke loudly into his ear, as the noises from the shadows began to increase. "Do you understand?"

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  • 3 weeks later...

He stared at her, grateful to be shielded in such a way from the shadows as two loud booms echoed from all the walls. It sounded like something trying to bash it's way in and eat him alive. He trembled as she explained that she knew what it was like to be convicted, and suggested to just let it all go. Or else it would be the end of him as a pony with great potential. "Y-yes, I'll let it go! If only to make this stop!", he cried out loudly to her as another heavy boom came.

He shivered as she explained that the shadows weren't ponies at all but his own fears that tried to define him by what he had done wrong. Since he was trying to fight what he couldn't change, it would possess him and poison his future, dooming him. Understanding dawned in his eyes and if he could see his reflection, the marks were fading. He wasn't a bad pony, it was just all accidents born of inexperience or just misadventure. He had to act like it or be doomed to a life that was less than what he was made to be. Even as the shadows tried to drown her out and three more booms rattled the room, he heard her question clear as a bell. He understood perfectly, he had to walk away and not let his past bind him. He couldn't discard everything, he just had to learn from it and let it go. Over the din, he opened his mouth and spoke, "Yes, Luna. I understand! From this day forward, I will learn from it, but not let it consume me! Do you hear me, fear?! Take a hike! Let me live my life!!!". Certainly that outburst may have been a little over the top, but it felt necessary.

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The booms on all four walls were continuing their thuds. The walls themselves started to curve concave to its space, giving the feeling the room getting smaller and smaller. Luna turned around and shielded Timid with her body. Her horn glowed as she began to perform some kind of powerful spell, but she held it in her horn for the moment. Luna looked around the room. She was interested in the actual visual appearance of said fear. It fascinated her. It made her wonder if all fear looked the same or if it was different from pony to pony. But came a time when it didn't matter, and the walls started caving in immediately. The walls collapsed and a force emitting every bright light was homing in on Timid and Luna.

Luna looked back at Timid. She had seen something about him in his life that she wasn't sure she wanted to share. But since he seemed ready to rid himself on this horrible nightmare, Luna felt compelled to release the information to him. She gave a serious look at him, her horn still glowing. "Your parents are very proud of you, Timid."

Luna stared back at the force, and released her magic upon all sides that were closing in. The moment the magic hit the force, it disappeared, and so did the walls that kept the room intact. Now present was an empty void. This empty void started to take Luna. Luna hovered with the pulling, and faced Timid, and winked. Luna disappeared, and the light coming from where she went, got brighter and brighter and brighter and brighter.

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