Ch.1 The Everlasting Dream

Yo, names Anon. I'm twenty yea-- Er wait..

 

          I'm twenty one aren’t I? Sorry about that, I lost a good years’ worth of memories a while back, bear with me. Hey, it's not as bad as it sounds, I'd like to think that I obtained something in return. Call it a "drive" if you will. Or force? It's a little complicated. Like I just can't sit still anymore… There's this feeling that I need to do something...

 

          Blast it all, makes my head hurt when I try to figure out what that something is. Anyway, I found that hitting up the gym dulls that feeling... Though it always comes back, especially at night. Like I said, complicated and weird.

 

I mean from my current memory I never really was one to pump that iron. Just never needed it, I thought I looked pretty good back then but MAN! Do I look like a chiseled beast now! Yeah life is going pretty good for me at the moment, people would probably say that I'm in "The Springtime of Youth"

 

Too bad it's about to end.

 

One second you're owning it up in your little lucid dream world and the next second you've got a hole in your abdomen. Ah… I'm kind of getting ahead of myself again. Guess I better start at the beginning I had just managed to pull off entering a lucid dream from a waking state.

 

“So... Let me get this straight. You're a talking purple unicorn pony thing?"

 

"Yes!" she quickly replied. Were ponies really this small? Her head barely came to your waist.

 

"And.. your entire race of people is in danger?"

 

"As we speak!" a hint of annoyance..? Man for a pony she REALLY has like.. this human looking face. It's too round and those eyes are all large and anime like...

 

"And I just happen to be the legendary warrior to save the day?"

 

          Clearing her throat she began, "Yes. Currently Ponyville-- nay, all of Equestria is in peril!" She exclaims, standing on her.. Wow ponies shouldn't be able to stand on two legs and raise their legs in emphasis that way... "The Everlasting Dream has thrown everyp0ny into an unending nightmare--"

 

"Except for you right?"

 

          "Yes, I was able to detect the Everlasting Dream's presence before it befell us. Taking the necessary precautions I cast a defensive spell and began research in my library. We don't have much time, my defensive spell is waning as the number of people under its influence increases."

 

          Man, even for you this plot was cliché; your subconscious must be running out of RPG scenarios... Still, wouldn't be the craziest dream you've had. All blame goes to 4chan. "Well, what are we waiting for little pony? Let's go."

 

          "Twilight, Twilight Sparkle." she corrects you, "And if we're going to take on the Everlasting Dream we're going to need all the help we can get." Her horn begins to glow magenta before giving off a blinding flash of light. When your eyes finally readjust you find yourself in the middle of a wide hallway lined with doors that stretch on for-- Well infinity...

 

          Fuck dream logic. Upon closer inspection you notice name tags on each of the doors, all of them unique. "Rainbow Dash huh?" you mutter to yourself as you read the nameplate. "Hey Twilight, what are we looking for again?"

 

          "Behind each of these doors must be somepony trapped within their own nightmare. Unfortunately we don't have the time to free them all one by one... No, the best course of action would be to use the Elements of Harmony and aid you in defeating this nightmare."

 

"Elements of Harmony?"

 

          "The Six Elements of Friendship...?" Your face was still puzzled, if not mixed with a bit of boredom. She makes sure to give you the biggest "REALLY?" kind of face before continuing. "Me and my friends represent the six elements of harmony;

 

Applejack is Honesty, Fluttershy is Kindness, Pinkie Pie Laughter, Rarity Generosity, Rainbow Dash Loyalty, and I am magic. Our power when brought together has saved Equestria countless times. Now the only hard part is how we're going to find them... A locator spell.. with a bit of-- Hey, where are you going?" she stops as you open up a door and peer inside.

 

"Rainbow Dash is in here somewhere."

 

"What? That's amazing! You have some sort of long range telekinetic power or--"

 

"Nah it was on the nameplate. Let’s go."

 

"Ah..." she follows you in as the door shuts.

 

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You are Rainbow Dash.

 

And currently in the hospital.

 

"I... I... but.. What did you say?" her normal confident voice only coming out in a small quiver, gaping at the doctor in disbelief.

 

"I'm sorry, it looks like you've damaged your spine, even with intense rehabilitation it will be a miracle if you're able to walk without help again, let alone fly."

 

....

 

.......

 

.............

 

"Did you hear me? You will NEVER fly again." the doctor said with a mocking smile that would have gone noticed if she hadn't just entered shock.

 

"NO YOU'RE WRONG! I was just flying--- yesterday! You'll see, you'll all see! I can move just... fine...?"

 

But she couldn't... Her wings lay bandaged and limp at her sides, her body heavy and weak.

 

She would never fly again...

 

Join the Wonder Bolts? She wouldn't even be able to fly up to her house!

 

          With the realization finally sinking in she did the only thing she could do; curl up and cry. As the door to her room swung open she doesn't give notice, not even when a tall bipedal creature steps in followed by Twilight.

 

"Rainbow Dash, I'm so glad we found you! Quick, we have to get out of here, all of Equestria is in danger, we need your help!"

 

"Twilight..? I.....no...." came but a whisper. "I can't help you."

 

"Alright, let’s go, we've go--What? What do you mean? Ponyville is in danger, our friends are in danger! We need you!"

 

"I said GO AWAY! I can't help you... I can't even move my hooves, let alone my wings. Just... leave me alone." she sighed painfully as she turned her head away, the very color draining from her body. "Just leave me alone..."

 

"Oh... So this Rainbow-- what's-her-name? The element of Loyalty eh?" You say mockingly, as you stride over to the gray scale maned pony, bending down to bring her face forcefully to yours.

 

"Eeeh! What are you do-- the buck are you?" her eyes widening in confusion and fear.

 

"That's the question I wanted to ask you! Element of Loyalty? You sure we even found the right person Twilight? Because if this is what passes for Loyalty in this world then there isn't much worth saving."

 

"WHAT? MY WINGS DON'T WORK ANYMORE!" Dash's voice rings out, before going almost silent, "I'm broken... Defective... I can't help anypony anymore."

 

"Oh? So that's as far as your loyalty goes?"

 

"Excuse me?" her ear's perk up slightly.

 

"I ASKED is that how far your loyalty goes. You're just going to give up and stay in this room and rot for the rest of your life? If it were me, EVEN if my entire body was broken, you'd better believe I'd be crawling my way with my face. Your friends don't need your help? She came here because she needed it right?

 

"Bu.. but.." some of the color begins to come back into her though her voice still unsure, "But what am I supposed to do!?"

 

"Stand by her side! Isn't that what friends are for?" You finish, letting go of her face but never looking away from her eyes. Her coat now a bright color of sky blue, her rainbow mane back to its dazzling glory.

 

"I don't need you telling me that!!!" tearing off the bandages around her wings and flying up above your face she looks down at you crossing her arms..

 

"Well look at that, you've got two perfectly good wings right there." you say smiling back at her.

 

          "I.... I do!" and at the same moment the doctor who had been growing larger was now no bigger than a filly, his face twisted in rage. The room begins to warp and seconds later shatters along with the doctor leaving you back in the hallway where you started. "Let's get out of here, we've got some friends to save." then after standing with a puzzled look on her face turned to Twilight.

 

"Where are we?"

 

...

 

          "Oh-- Yes. We're inside of a dream. A nightmare to be precise." she stammered. Amazing, his power was amazing! In just a few words Rainbow Dash was shaken out of the nightmares hold! However the situation was still dire, nopony realized it was a dream and somehow it actually had an impact on them... But, it's not like they could die in here, it was a dream after all, right?

 

          Clearing those thoughts out of her mind she began again, "We've got to find the others and free them from their nightmares."

 

"... and what is that?" Dash questioned gesturing toward Anon.

 

"That is..."

 

"Anon." he stated

 

"Anon, he's a legendary spiritual being from the dream realm that I summoned; he can help us defeat the Everlasting Dream."

 

"Hah, I'm what? I'm just an ordinary human."

 

"Pfft, so this huumon is supposed to save us? Look's kinda weak. Bet he's real slow with only having two legs to run on." commented Dash as she sizes you up.

 

          "Who was it that was just bawling her eyes out? My wings! They're broken! Woe is m--- Gah!" You would be marveling at the glorious jab she just dished out to your gut if it didn't hurt so much. You must have been stepped on by your dog while you were sleeping and your brain translated it into a punch. At least you didn't wake up, kind of wanted to see how this ended. Rubbing your stomach you lightly punch her back.

 

          "Alright, no time for talking, we've got to hurry." Twilight stated as her horn began to illuminate with magic. They may have managed to free Dash easily... But what of the others? They could handle themselves right? But no matter what Twilight told herself she couldn't shake a feeling of dread.

 

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          In the back of Applejacks' mind she always knew that she couldn't replace them. A time would come when the question would be asked. Had to have a plan, had to be prepared for it. She would break it down, tell her the truth. How it happened and why it happened. That even though they weren't here they were still watching over.

 

"Why did ma and pa have'ta die?"

 

There were no plans.

 

No thoughts.

 

No words that she could muster.

 

"Why'd they have'ta die an leave me? Why'd ya let em die?" again she questioned, Applebloom looking up searching for an answer.

 

"Wha.. but.. Why who told ya that?" Firm, that's how she had meant for that statement to sound but instead it was barely a whisper. It wasn't your fault. You were just a filly. It was just the wrong place and the wrong time.. They told you, said it wasn---

 

"Everypony." Applebloom say's as the words kill all thoughts and excuses Applejack had been conjuring. "Big Mac, Granny Smith. Everypony."

 

...

 

No... Big Mac? Even Granny Smith? But... they had told you. Assured you that it wasn't your fault. You just wanted to see the big city.

 

          "Big Mac said that if'n ya weren't born they'd still be here. Ah'd have been able ta meet em." she continues, mockingly. Her words however are now failing to reach Applejack, nothing does as the color begins draining from her she is pulled back to that day in the city. It was your fault... Had you not ran away, had you not wanted to live the big city life. You killed them. You took your sisters parents from her.

 

Applejack snaps out of it as a hoof is placed on her shoulder she turns back for an escape.

 

None is given.

 

Standing there with burning hate in his eye's was Big Mac.

 

"I told you. Told you not to go, warned ya." he spat with an evil gleam in his eyes. "But no, you had to go. Wouldn't listen." Letting go of her shoulder he reaches for his neck. To take off what he had been hiding. What he hid for you. What you did to him. As the yoke dropped from his neck it was revealed. A long gash across his neck, bleeding. It had never healed? No..

 

No..

 

No more.

 

"You brought this on yourself, Applejack! Repent!" roared Big Mac

 

"Give them back... Give back my ma and pa!" cried Applebloom.

 

Repent..? How.. In what way could--

 

"Ya know what you should do, you've known it all along." say's Applebloom in an almost singing voice.

 

"You know what to do. You've always known." Big Mac say's as he throws a rope in front of Applejack.

 

That's right, you did know what to do. It was simple. Picking up the rope Applejack slowly makes her way to the barn.

 

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"A farm huh? Sure are... a lot of Appletree's.. They’re kinda small though huh?"

 

          "It's Sweet Apple Acres... this must be Applejack's dream." Twilight say's as sweat pools from her brow. teleporting multiple ponies shouldn't be a problem but for some reason her head throbbed in pain and her breath came out in gasps. Maybe it had something to do with Anon... She would have to do some tests later. Pausing to recover her breath she continued, "Let's hurry I have a bad feeling about this one."

 

"Already on it!" yelled Dash as she sped off in the direction of the barn leaving a visible rainbow trail behind her.

 

"Wow does she have a fucking jet mounted in her wing or something?"

 

"A what?" Twilight asks as she begins making her way to the barn.

 

"Never mind."

 

You both make your way there at a fast but still slower pace when compared to that speeding bullet.

 

          "Dash? Did you find Applejack?" Twilight calls out as she cautiously walks around the barn. Unlike Twilight you just open the barn door and walk right in. Who closes a barn door? I mean the saying even comes fro--

 

Before you can finish that thought process something barrels into your chest knocking you up off your feet and a good meter back.

 

          "OH WOW! I'm so happy that ponies started showing up! I mean not like they wouldn't, I made sure to tell everypony, well maybe not exactly tell but I left notes though. It’s like, where is everypony today? But hey, I'm not sad or anything, even if everypony is a bit late I'm sure they all just got lost. I should have put up more signs, OH and maybe even a big balloon and--- Hey! Who are you anyway? You're new aren't you? Cause I know everypony and I've never seen anypony like you. We're going to have so much fun and I'm going to throw you a welcoming party! There will be balloons, cakes, apples, and all of my friends I'll--

 

          What the actual fuck? You'd be more angry if you weren't confused and in pain. This pink thing just rocketed out from inside of the barn the second you opened the door. To make matters worse she kept going on about things you didn't understand or care about.

 

"Pinkie Pie..? What are you doing here?" She shouldn't be here, wasn't this Applejack's dream? "And what happened to Rainb--"

 

"Twilight!" As Pinkie dislodges herself from your ribcage you look up just in time to see her collide with Twilight, you're pretty sure you know what happened to Dash.

 

          "Why throwing a barn party of course! And what better place than inside an actual barn? We'll have square dancing and drinks and balloons and cake and fun and OH! Have you met the new pony? He looks a little weird but let's throw a party for him too.

 

          "Not a pony" You comment as you pick yourself up and dust off. Poor Dash... Most likely she got nailed while she was speeding at mach three. Hopefully she landed softly...

 

          "Wow what are you then? And how come you walk on two hooves. What's your name? I'm Pinkie Pie, I'm going to give you a full tour of Ponyville! Have you met Rainbow Dash yet? She's so funny, look at her sleeping in that tree. Oooo your hooves, I can do that too!" She begins to blow on her left hoof.

 

"Er, names Anon.. Huh.. so that's where Rainbow lan-- HOW'D YOU DO THAT?"

 

"Pinkie Pie, listen. I told you, this is a dream, you're asleep, we're all asleep." came weakly from your left, presumably Twilight. Probably just getting up from taking the pink rocket to the chest.

 

"That's just silly, we can't be asleep, we're right here now awake, Hello Twilight! This is a barn party, not a sleep over."

 

"No Pinkie, this is a nightmare. There was a reason nopony showed up to your party. This is a nightmare. We've got to free the others."

 

...

 

          That pink one doesn't look like she'll catch on fast.. Instead of watching Twilight reiterate until she gets it you decide to look over at Dash.

 

Damn.

 

          She had fallen out of the tree while you were distracted and was getting up. You had to hand it to her, she was tough. That or was used to crashing.. Hah! Rainbow Crash, going to have to remember that one later. Genius Anon, Genius.

 

          "And that's what's going on. We've got to hurry up and find the others." Twilight finished as Pinkie Pie stared at her for a second. This time it she definitely got it, or at least you guess on account that the world was shattering around you.

 

          "Well then why didn't you say so in the first place? Let's go!" With the way she's happily bouncing..? Well I guess that's how ponies skip? Regardless she doesn't seem worried. Guess she's the type to do things at her own pace. Poor Twilight, she looks a mix of tired, annoyed, and a hint of defeat.

 

          "Alright, gather up." Twilight ordered, her horn glowing once again. Apparently she found a lock on another one of her friends. You had no idea how she even managed it, though she did try to explain it to you. Something about being linked by blah blah blah.

 

There was a little too much friendship and magic in this dream.

 

"Here we go, be ready for anything." she warned as they popped out of existence.