Chapter 2
Zoos and Chance Meetings
The night was spent in troubled sleep as the events of the day had been disturbed with bad news. Even my Dreams couldn't make us forget our troubles or Equestria as it would manifest in my void as troublesome rainclouds.
"Now this is rich," Glitterlamp remarked as a cloud showed a small cute store on the corner of Canterlot. "If somepony told me I'd ever fall in love again, I would have chased you out of my store." Then she laughed to herself, a hollow show. "Are you happy to be back to your home? Your family has been really nice to me and I feel the warmth they feel for you directed towards me as well. Such a loving family."
"Yeah, I wouldn't trade them for any other family." I said stretching across the lush grass and staring up into the black sky with shifting stars. "But now I'm back with all my old troubles and more. Sadly none of them can be solved by a sword's edge." I chuckled weakly to myself. "I needed the degree that the college would get me for any decent paying career, now getting it is going to be hard."
Glitterlamp cocked her head to the side. Her Dream self was still the four legged changeling I fell in love with, which struck me a little funny but not unusual.
"Why is that? Can't you try again?" Glitterlamp asked raising an eyebrow.
"College costs money, bits, whatever. And Bits are harder to get here and they mean a great deal more. But yes, I could try again. In some parts of this world friends can be purchased." I answered half paying attention while I twisted the sky into bright green and brown lines.
"Those are not real friends. Their love tastes nasty." Glitterlamp told me sternly. "It's a shame that Bits are more important to life than friendship." She added looking up to the strange sky. "No wonder all those people weren't very friendly at first, but it's okay now! Everyone at work are friends now." A note of satisfaction was in her voice.
"Been getting headaches?" Glitterlamp asked as I rubbed my forehead.
"Yeah, constantly trying to think several days in advance of the myriad of possibilities and what others may do and trying to counter any plans that hinder me." I said numbly.
"At first I kinda did that at work too. Wanna know how I got my headaches to go away?" Glitterlamp offered placing my head on her forelegs. Glitterlamp started to gather up my long hair, which I've been keeping it in a ponytail with a silver rings and capped the end to keep it in place, into her magic and looked fondly down at me. "I didn't think that far ahead. I focused what I could control now and treated everyone as friends and soon they are my friends."
"But-" I started and in the same moment I realized I was using Vengeance's voice Glitterlamp placed a finger on my lips.
"Shh, give it a try first. Just think about that zoo we're going to. Try to rest, if you think all night you won't get much rest. Here, I'll help." The amulet shined green and soon everything faded into a calm warm slumber.
Honestly I hardly remember the Zoo so I only had a few memories of my parents towering over me holding my hand. Well, it was more closer to my wrist than my hand since I liked running off, not because of some mean reason but because there was just so much to see! I was so full of reckless energy back then. It was kinda cute in hindsight, but now I'm cringing with embarrassment at the antics I used to do.
"This is much better." Glitterlamp approved and trotted to the smaller and younger version of me. She smiled just as wide as I used to smile so long ago. "This is you right? You look so happy."
"Ignorance is bliss, as they say." I said sadly. "But yeah, I was pretty cute, I guess."
"And this is the place we are going?" Glitterlamp looking around approvingly still wearing that contagious smile. "We are going to have so much fun!" Glitterlamp clacked her hooves together.
Thanks to my heavy window curtains that could make noon appear as night so I didn't get jabbed in the eyes. However the loud but not shouting voice of my mother shook myself from sleep.
"Time to get up!" The tone was happy but my ears and eyes felt like they had been stuffed with cotton and glued shut. I rose myself from my warm covers sluggishly. I had missed summer here and now I faced the dropping temperature of winter. Glitterlamp however never missed a beat slipping into her socks and shoes using my memories and experiences to see how to tie shoes and adorn clothing. As of late it has been useful and convenient to open myself up like a book and have Glitterlamp glean information about how to act like a normal human, she ditched the clothes she came with said it looked crappy. Instead she wore a plain blue T-shirt, jeans and comfy shoes.
"I'm up, I'm up." I said unconvincingly.
"Dreamer, what's wrong? You were such an early riser back on Equestria." Glitterlamp asked when I wasn't snapping to attention.
"Oh?" I said still hearing my bed call my name. "I don't know why."
"Michael has a hard time sleeping in new places." My mother informed Glitterlamp. Of course she read the journal first and read about my experiences I was able to cobble together. She had a habit of reading the last chapter of any book to see if it had a good ending. Any sad endings and she tosses the book aside never to read it.
I grabbed a cereal box and dumped the dregs of its contents into a bowl and begun to chew the crunchy tid-bits. Courage was at the fridge and quickly made a ham sandwich and deposited it in front of me, then vanished only to appear with milk to add to my dry cereal.
"Thanks," I mumbled.
The car trip was largely uneventful except for Glitterlamp gripping my arm the whole way since the rumble of the engine was new to her. Since it was fairly early, not at day break to when I seem to have awoken regularly in Equestria but I feel like I didn't get enough sleep, the parking lot still had plenty of spaces left. The zoo allowed us entry after paying the fee and Glitterlamp went to meet up with her business partner telling me that she'll be off work around two. It was seven now and as she left my mind's embrace I knew it was going to be OK but even now I felt unnerved by the gap in my head.
"C`mon let's go see something!" My little sister which had turned thirteen in my absence still as energetic as ever. The zoo was massive easily a whole day if we visited everything quickly. The zoo easily covers a few miles but I never asked exactly how big it was, it was just big to me.
"Let's go see the wolves!" My little brother, only being two years younger than myself, suggested happily. Since it was close to the entrance we went to the wolf exhibit. The last time I was here the wolves where sided along with other predators in that same regard. The observation windows were underground in a form of a tunnel while the habitat had no roof. The only thing that separated us from the animals was eight inches of Plexiglas which my dad would boast that,
"The concrete around the window would break before the glass." He would always say it with a little pride since he once worked on the lights here.
The habitats now featured actual trees now and looked almost right out of a painting making you almost make you forget that you were at the zoo. Large bronze plates took up the space between the cage windows giving information on the architect and the wolves to which the cages kept.
"Wow they changed things here." Mom breathed as she drifted from window to window taking in the view of it all. Dad loved wolves so he was enjoying himself with the grace and beauty of the beasts. There were times I saw our family very similar to a wolf pack; we would help each other, care for another and stand together when things got tough. I guess I proved my own wolfish traits in Equestria with my loyalty and determination.
The wolves I now viewed had pups and that was a sight to see. Cute fluffy bodies tumbling about while the proud parents stood watchful. If anything the wolves looked, bored.
"I wish they would actually toss something live in here for us to chase." A wolf barked to another and sighed. I was shocked that I understood it at all. Other wolves began to make little barks of agreement.
"I guess Equestria left us with more gifts than we thought." Pain commented within my head looking amused. "Do you think that the horses here might still have legends of Equestria?"
"Maybe," I softly murmured back.
Sadly the other animals that we visited had little to say or tried to keep themselves entertained with the multitude of toys that staved off boredom. Throughout the exhibit there was pedestals with more information about the beasts we viewed and I felt happy to be back in my world. The glow of light bulbs lighting the rooms up, the heater kicking on as the temperature dropped in preparation for winter. The feel of technology was relaxing as I knew that I was at least I was somewhere familiar and safe in this world, relatively.
That's when it hit me. All of it.
I felt like I was choking and the only things that filled my lungs was acid. I looked about for the cause and found myself only in a crowded hallway with people passing me. A huge door slammed shut within me and the acid stopped.
"Analyzing sensation," Vengeance stated quickly scanning myself and the area. "OK, we opened ourselves too wide that time. Even if they are not aware of their powers this whole hallway may be filled with Dreamers like us."
"Right," I mumbled gripping my head and now annoyed that my empathy is starting to stretch to everyone around me. Another part of me that woke up in Equestria's magic that crossed the portal with me. Soon I stepped back into the brisk Autumn air at the end of the wolf exhibit and wandered around with my family. I stopped in front of an exhibit holding nocturnal and cave dwelling creatures cutely called "Kingdoms of the Night".
I had to see this with Glitterlamp. I'm not sure how she'd react since all her child hood memories are in a cavern system but she seems to be handling surface life just fine. A static shock ran through myself at the thought of Glitterlamp not being comfortable in the sunlight.
"It's not like she was locked in a vault or steel shelter." I chuckled at myself still remembering my post apocalyptic games I'm fond of. "Even if she was, she is strong. Already proven that."
"Pardon?" My dad said not catching what I said. I pushed my sunglasses back to my brow and smiled.
"Nothing, just remembering something." I chuckled still and switched the subject. "Apparently in the other world there were dragons there. Didn't meet one though, let alone ride one."
"That's a shame," Dad said grinning to himself. "would have been one heck of an experience."
"Yeah, when Glitter get's off work I think I'm gonna bring her to this exhibit." I said talking calmly.
"OK, we were planning on eating out when she gets off. What's her favorite food? I haven't really seen her eat anything." Dad asked. In truth, it wasn't that big of a deal, he works night shift after all so he only sees the supper and breakfast meals.
"I don't think she'll care on where we go." I said and smiled. "Truth be told she's nervous on making a good impression on all of you."
"I trust your judgment. You wouldn't grab on to just anyone." The kind eyes set behind his glasses gleamed with mischief. "And I promise to only embarrass you a little."
"Great." I said looking forward to how he'll accomplish his task.
Time flew by as birds and spiders in little glass boxes passed under my ever gazing eyes. I lost track of were I was on the other side of the zoo from Glitterlamp and I was wondering if I shouldn't take flight to show Glitter the Kingdoms of the Night.
"Michael!" My little sister Sally called to me at a really small but decorative train which pulled into a station I overlooked. "Come on! It's gonna leave!" Needless to say I rushed there with all haste. Even though the only reason for her urgency was so that she could get on the train faster so I spent quite a while waiting for it to go again.
The train ride was infinitely slower than the train ride from Ponyville to Appaloosa. The zoo made a strong point of having as much art and plants as they can so to make the zoo look like a garden. The beauty of the zoo's sprawling garden drained me of my worries and concerns to invite me to have as much fun as I can get. The gentle rumble of the tram sent my thoughts back to when I first rode a train and the antics that happened; like eating the pie, Glitterlamp's refusal about sleeping alone. We must have been in love by then, then again it's hard for me to pinpoint exactly when I realized it.
"Ah! There you are!" Glitterlamp called to us waving a hand excitedly to catch our attention. "It was a good sale we actually ran out of stock! And we got a lot of orders!" Glitterlamp positively beamed as the sales pony in her pranced gleefully in her. Her metallic green hair caught the direct sunlight and her smile made my heart skip a beat. "So," she asked rocking from her heel to toes. "What are we going to see first?"
"The Kingdoms of the Night." I said grinning but also nervous. While it might remind her of home I didn't really know too much about her home. Only one way to see if this was a bad idea. "It's not to far."
"That's a shame, my legs are itching for a gallop." Glitterlamp said walking with us. "I don't know how anypony can sit for that long."
The front of the exhibit had two cat eyes staring out into space while underneath its gaze was a long stair case leading down into darkness. It would have been absolute darkness if it weren't for a few dim lights so it wouldn't bother the animals. My family surged forward to read the different informational plates that went with the animals while Glitterlamp and I hung back.
"It's just like home." Glitterlamp breathed. Even standing next to her I couldn't tell which emotion was dominant. Glitterlamp slipped her hand into mine and we followed about seeing the various digging animals. "These are just like the animals that would crawl into my room." She marveled as each species had names and was surprised on how many she never saw before.
"How is it so far?" I asked since I remember this place being my favorite when I was younger. "The bats are not too much further."
"I love it, even though," Glitterlamp squeezed my hand. "It reminds me of my fillyhood, it reminds me of the other Changelings and," she didn't need to say anymore. I felt the twin feelings of trying to enjoy this zoo with worry eating the edges as memories swirled about us.
"I'm still figuring that part out." I said and lead her through out the darkened exhibit.
"I know you are, sorry for bringing it up." Glitterlamp said softly. "Whoa! What is this?" We had stepped through some automatic doors and into a room where the ceiling was three stories up to help simulate a cave setting and how it affects sound. A net was all there was between us and the many bats flying high above us.
"If you think this is amazing I can't wait to show you the aquarium part of this zoo." I said chuckling to myself as we exited the cavern and entered more cave tunnels. Stalactites and stalagmites littered the area and it was more fun to try to find the correct path to proceed. I wasn't worried of getting lost since all I had to do was look to the ceiling for arrows pointing us the right way. Glitterlamp started laughing quietly to herself once I managed to get lost in the small maze of teeth that made this room. A small room carved into the stone enough for two was what Glitterlamp laughed the hardest but she tried to keep under wraps.
"When I was young do you know what we'd call formations like these?" She said wiggling into the small round room.
"A pantry? Erm," I answered and immediately remembered that they didn't keep food around and even if they kept a few ponies around just to feed off of, the image just looked wrong.
"Nah," she said as I squeezed in to see if there was a new addition to this exhibit. Once I climbed in I felt a flash of desires from Glitterlamp and a hand grabbed the back of my head and leaned me in for a kiss. "A kissing room." She said before the her lips met mine. It was different without her muzzle but it was easier, it still made my face heat up and made my heart go berserk.
"Mike! Where are you? Mike?" I could hear my family call for me. "Let's wait at the end and see if they're not already there." I relaxed when they called off the search.
"Let's continue this when there aren't others waiting on us." I mentally promised.
"I'm holding you to that." She mentally flashed an image that made my knees quiver. Glitterlamp just smiled and gave me a wink. I was to stunned to formulate words and I'm pretty sure the sound that came out was,
"Oh, Hell yes."
We went to an Italian restaurant for lunch. It was pretty inside warm orange and reds with green at the edges with the whole theme being summertime. I bet if everything was covered in white snow and cold this would be the place I would want to go into. Menus were deposited before us since any buffets were a little far for our likes.
Of course Glitterlamp didn't order anything which she covered herself with a story.
"No thanks, I had a big lunch at my stand." Glitterlamp waved a hand dismissively. I knew that Glitterlamp already had her fill in that "kissing room" but I didn't begrudge her for it.
"OK, how was your day?" I asked trying to get off the topic of food. Even though I told them that Glitterlamp fed off of love I think they have a hard time believing it.
"It was great!" Glitterlamp announced happily. "There was smiling people everywhere with their children with a person walking around filling balloons, performing magic! It was great and here I thought magic was gone from this world." My bigger sister who hates social events and being in public sharply informed her.
"There isn't magic. Those were just tricks, anyone can do them."
"There is too!" Glitterlamp insisted. "Even if he didn't have any, Dreamer here does!"
"He's not very magical now is he?" Big Sis said in her usual calm way. Her and my bigger brother's favorite game is to make the other person lose their temper. Glitterlamp sat back in her chair with furrowed brows. "See," Big Sis continued. "He used up all his magic already. Now he's just like the rest of us again."
"You're wrong." Glitterlamp stated in a heart beat. "He's still full of magic."
"Prove it." Big Sis purred wickedly.
"I don't have to prove a Luna damned thing!" Glitterlamp hissed and the Alicorn Amulet flashed. "Don't say another hurtful thing today." Glitterlamp commanded. Big Sis looked like she was going to say something but her words got caught in her throat. I placed my hand over my eyes but I felt so proud of her. I myself had a hard time stating my own mind around my siblings since they always critiqued and nit-picked my plans.
Lunch was shaky after that. It wasn't that the conversations weren't pleasant but Glitterlamp could silence any one of us. Like the metaphor for the "elephant in the room" with Glitterlamp's power being the elephant.
"That didn't run out well, did it?" Glitterlamp asked me as the rest of my family piled into the car. I told my dad that I'll walk with Glitterlamp home, let things cool down.
"Eh, magic isn't at all common here. Mind control is as common as grass to changelings but here?" I said for emphasis as we walked around the Zoo barely noticing the animals now. "It's not looked kindly upon. As for my Big Sis? Forget her, she's just naturally mean. But every now and then she'll surprise us with acts of kindness." And finally it looked like we were alone. At least for a little while.
"Do you think she'll be mad at me?" Glitterlamp asked and I could feel a storm cloud gather above her head.
"For a little while," I admitted looking into the sky. "Just shows ya how long Earth has gone without magic. For the record, not everyone likes changes."
"But I thought Dreamers always brought about change." Glitterlamp pointed out.
"They do, but I think I'm the only Dreamer here. Even if they were more, I don't know." I answered rubbing my head. "But don't ask me to perform magic in public, I don't know how people will react to it. But I'll use it if I have too."
"Good to hear it. But," Glitterlamp said winding up for a question with the storm cloud drifting away. "I can still use my magic, right? I don't have to hide, do I?" I totally spaced that little detail. I felt a little shocked at myself.
"Ah," I gripped my hand that bore the white scar on the palm. "I didn't mean it like that. I, we, no. I didn't bring you here just to hide who you are." I apologized then grinned sheepishly. "But we can't just start flinging magic around like it's going out of style either, people might panic and you'll wish it was just Celestia."
"Why is it like that?" Glitterlamp asked me arching an eyebrow.
"I don't know, but I know there are consequences if we show off." I twisted my neck releasing several pops. "I know I got into a Hell of a lot of trouble just because I thought Equestria was just a Dream of mine. I can't do that again."
The silence was held for a while. I didn't think I over reacted but I gotta figure I can't be the only Dreamer on Earth. Then again, I basically told her she has to hide her magic because I'm worried something might happen.
"Hey, no big deal." Glitterlamp said. "Just no magic in public, right?" A little grin on her face.
"Right." I answered relieved that there was a way to perform magic after all. Glitterlamp kept looking to the sky probably expecting a pegasus to fly overhead.
"Wanna go by the gift shop?" I asked since it was only around the corner, assuming I was reading this map correctly. I wasn't. Not even close. Also didn't help that the machine that printed it had an error with this map.
The sun was well enough into setting that the clouds and remaining light was used to paint a picture that stretched from horizon to horizon. I didn't have time to notice the beauty that covered the sky. We finally found the darn store and it was at the end of the aquarium exhibit. The exhibit was the one of the oldest buildings with several additions then I remember. The walk through the place easily took two or more hours. We enjoyed the aquarium the best we could but the lunch earlier damped our spirits a little bit.
"Now that's something else." An elderly man with a cane and a long white beard. A twinkle was permanently stuck in his eyes and all his wrinkles were earned from smiling too much. A little glass jar now held to his ear but his eyes were locked on me. He had plucked the jar from the self and looked to be a tourist. He leaned on a cane and nodded then chuckled as if the jar told a joke. "If you say so. Here." He said offering me the tiny jar full of liquid and some metal flecks within. The jar caught the light and appeared to have a rainbow captured within the glass.
"You can keep it." I said not sure if I wanted to question the sanity of this man out loud, yet.
"Ah! Where are my manners! I didn't introduce myself, and here I am about to hand you something as important as this! Forgive me. My name is Merlin." The old man had more energy than what his body showed as he did a small bow. "And you are a Dreamer! An awake one to boot, now how do you like that." He continued then rose his spectacles from the tip of his nose to look at me better. "A Void Twister at that, don't see your type every day." Then he looked at the jar critically. "Are you sure? Well, alright."
"The Merlin, like from King Arthur's time?" I asked unsure of the claim.
"The one and the same. This," he held the jar to my eye level, "is an Element of Harmony. Loyalty to be exact, and I'm willing to make a bargain with you." The moment I lowered my mental barrier I had held the whole day I could feel the small jar pleading to me to take it. This was indeed a magical artifact, perhaps even an Element of Harmony.
"Go on." I said but in truth I was already convinced of this man's, no, Merlin's claim.
"I will teach you how to travel between this world and Equestria, yes I know of your adventure there. It's good to see those two sisters surprised now and then." He said smiling then got serious. "But listen, boy, there are some bad characters that mean well but want to own the Elements of Harmony. They have two already and you are going to collect all six of them!"
"Deal." I said not hesitating and held my hand out. Merlin smiled and shook my hand but when he touched it a spark zapped between our fingers as we assessed the strengths of the other. Merlin's mind was open on purpose to allow me to see this. His mind was a majestic castle that could hold billions of people and even staring at it I knew there was something he wasn't wanting me to see. What did I look to him? A big nothing? But above all he truly meant me no harm.
"Very good, I'll teach you the spell when all six elements have been found." He said before leaving through the door to outside. "Don't worry, they don't know about you yet. But they will find you, so hide while you can but don't hold back when the time comes." He said with a smile then waved his hand and a swirl of green leafs then he was gone.