[i]Tell me, what did you see?[/i]

The fog grew thicker as Princess Luna waded through it. Denser one moment—as if to stubbornly deny her crossing—only to relent and fade away an instant later until she saw the scene before her.

Oblivious to the encroaching fog and the alicorn watching from within it, stood a lone pegasus mare.

She seemed unexceptional. No taller than average. A slender frame and well kept coat. A musical note for a cutie mark. All traits which you wouldn’t make you look twice if you passed by her. However, in her Luna recognised something odd, something wrong, something that made her stand out.

From the shadows, she looked into the mare’s vacant eyes as a spark of fear ignited in them.

[i]I can’t… I mean, I’m not…[/i]

[i]What can you remember?[/i]

She blinked once, twice, and shook her head as if pulled from a trance. Afterwards, the fog receded to show a small, dilapidated room. The only light came from the moon outside leaving the rest of the room bathed in darkness.

She looked around, regarding the room with curiosity. When she moved, so did the fog, clearing any spot she directed her attention, and rushing to fill every void that left her sight. No matter where she looked, the moonlight always followed her.

[i]I’m… home, I think.[/i]

[i]You think?[/i]

Her eyes finally settled on a wall, the light coming from the window had shifted enough to illuminate it.

[i]There was a door.[/i]

She stood in front of it. Looking at it as though she had finally found something for which she had been restlessly searching and yet made no effort to move towards it.

After seconds, or minutes, or hours of waiting, she opened her mouth, though no sound came. Her hooves shifted as if restless, yet she gave no step. Her wings shook and ruffled, as those of a bird ready to take off, but she forced them back to her sides.

[i]Did you open it?[/i]

[i]I tried.[/i]

The mare took a trembling first step towards the door, only to slip. She was taken aback for a second, and tore her gaze away from the door for the first time since finding it.

Luna had to squint, but she believed it to be a photograph. The mare looked at it, past it, as if trying to recognise those depicted in it. After a silent moment, she looked back at the door and threw the picture away. As the fog advanced to engulf it, Luna pulled it towards her, making sure not to be seen.

It was a picture of a group of smiling ponies amongst whom was the pegasus mare.

The doorknob rattled.

[i]I wanted to.[/i]

Her breath became heavier as she walked forward and her eyes widened as though spellbound by the sight of the door. This time, her steps were decisive. So much, in fact, that they trampled over a stack of magazines, which tumbled upon the floor without regard to the oblivious mare.

Luna saw the mare in an elegant dress staring back from cover.

[i]I had to.[/i]

She was galloping, every step full of force. Her eyes were so wide her eyelashes disappeared into her eyebrows, her mouth was hanging open in a way reminiscent of a fish gasping for water. She didn’t think about it twice as she threw aside a large metal case which blocked her path to the door.

Princess Luna suppressed a grimace at the sound of torn strings and cracked wood.

The mare was running to the door with frenzied eyes, leaping into the air for the final stretch as the door itself started to shake.

[i]But then…[/i]

Princess Luna lit up her horn.



“Then you wake up.” His tone was inquisitive, but calm.

“Yes,” she said with a defeated tone. “What do you think it means, doctor?”

The doctor leaned back on his chair, regarding his notes. “Stress, most likely. You feel swamped by your work and are looking for an escape.”

She smiled. “This tour has been pretty hectic, I admit…”

“There you go, Miss Symphony. Just make sure to rest properly, and maybe schedule a vacation after your concerts. However, if the dreams persist, do return, I’ll be happy to treat you.”

“Thank you, doctor.”

“My pleasure.”



In the darkness, withdrawn from reality, Princess Luna extinguished the nightmare from the dreamscape. Sparing no more than a sigh for the creature, she called forth her magic and moved on to the next dream.