Dropping in on Dreams

Selphia looked down at her sleeping body. It snoozed peacefully under her floating spirit. Swiveling around, she looked over the other sleepers in the room. The dream clouds that hung over them were inviting, but she had to be careful. One wrong step could leave her stranded in the minds of the dreamers.

She floated over to Spike's cloud pondering over whether or not she should start there. No, it would not help. I need to explore Ponyville first, she thought.

Her phantom form left through the library's roof. The moon was full, and all of the dream clouds in town glowed brightly in its light by it. She scanned her surroundings, trying to remember what Spike's soul had told her about his friends in her lack of energy. The Carousel Boutique was where it said Rarity lived.

"Perfect!"her phantasmic voice cheered over the rooftops. She flew through the town where the dress shop lay in wait. Once she drifted through the wall of the upper floor, she saw Rarity asleep. She snoozed under an eye mask and seemed to be sleeping very deeply.

Selphia entered the cloud above Rarity's head without thinking twice. On the other side of the white wall, she found herself on the first floor of the shop. It looked bare, but soon Rarity presented herself. She was running about, fixing up a lace here, or repairing a collar there.

"Oh, I must hurry. These dresses have to be finished by tonight!" she said to herself as she rushed around.

To Selphia, the dream was a Reminiscence Dream. But from when? If Spike didn't present himself soon, staying would be a waste of moonlight.

"Rarity! I'm here!" The little dragon's voice came.

Selphia turned and drifted over to Spike to watch the scene unfold before her. She watched as Rarity gave Spike endless chores ranging from simple tasks to muscle numbing feats. The Gem Sprite watched in wonder as Spike completed each job as obediently as the last.

Is Spike nothing but an errand boy to her? Selphia thought bitterly. She didn't at all like the fact that Rarity couldn't see Spike's obvious feelings for her. She had half a mind to find somepony else, but she still had to try for him, even if she knew that turning the mare's heart from that stallion he overheard in the boutique hours before would be impossible.

Outside, the sky was darkening. Spike was now dripping with sweat, and Selphia had lost count of the chores Rarity gave him. Finally, to Sprite's relief, Rarity seemed to be pleased with the progress made and turned to Spike. "You certainly are a gentledragon, Spike. You truly do know how to make a lady happy." She smiled brightly at him.

"So, um, now that the work is done…" Spike started nervously, "Do you think that maybe…"

He never got to finish. A knock that came from the door sent Rarity into a panicked frenzy. "Oh, they're here! Is my mane straight? Are my hooves clean?" She rushed around, picking up small things on the floor and generally cleaning an already very tidy room.

Before Spike knew what was happening, Rarity had started to scoot him to the back door. By now, the knocking was growing impatient.

"Coming!" Rarity called. She glanced at Spike. "I offer you my sincerest of apologies Spike, but I must insist that you leave. These are very important clients and…"

Selphia decided she saw enough. She floated upwards until she broke the barrier of the dream cloud and returned to the physical world. She pondered her next destination.

"Spike's soul said that Pinkie Pie lives near here. After seeing what her dreams have to offer, I can move on to Applejack and then the others", she said to herself. Nodding in self-agreement, she floated through the walls and over Ponyville once more.

Dream clouds filled the inside of Sugarcube Corner. Selphia had to dodge around two or three to prevent herself from accidentally stumbling into the wrong dream. She finally found her intended room, where a pink mare lay asleep for her. Pinkie Pie, as Selphia observed, was a restless, or, in more correct terms, an energetic sleeper. She tossed and turned, spoke, and even danced in her sleep. The Gem Sprite was somewhat nervous to enter the dream cloud of the party pony. Who knew what lay on the other side? Her curiosity and sense of duty soon got the better of her and she broke through the wall of the dream cloud.

As soon as Selphia broke the second layer of the dream cloud, a deafening wave of cheering and music nearly sent her flying back out. After rubbing the ringing out of her ears, she observed that Pinkie Pie was throwing the largest party that Equestria had ever seen. Selphia sure was glad that it was only a dream. She feared that the very fabric of time and space would rip apart from the intensity of such a party in reality. Streamers, confetti, balloons, and the occasional cupcake decorated the air, seeming to rain down from the highest points of the sky.

Selphia searched the massive party for the pony that had started it. She didn't have to look long; Pinkie Pie was zooming from one area of Ponyville to the next, making sure that everypony was partying their heart out just as much as she was. She whizzed past, causing Selphia to flinch.

She floated back up to the sky to find where Pinkie Pie had gotten to. She saw the Element of Laughter had stopped near the library and was talking to Spike, who didn't seem to be having much fun. Her heart jumped. This piece of reminiscence could be what she was looking for!

"Aww, come on Spike! You can still have fun!" coaxed Pinkie Pie.

Spike, sitting on the bench he sat on when he met Selphia, wasn't so sure. "I don't know, Pinkie. I saw Rarity dancing with a colt earlier, after I asked her if she would dance with me!"

Pinkie Pie thought for a second. "Do you want to dance with me?" she asked, leaning forward slightly.

Selphia's ears perked up.

"What?"

Pinkie Pie smiled wider. "Do you want to dance with me, silly?"

Spike stared at her in disbelief. "Why are you asking me that?"

"So you can be happy of course", Pinkie Pie said a-matter-of-factly.

The dragon smiled. Pinkie did always know how to push his happy button. "Pinkie Pie", Spike said standing, "May I have this dance?"

Pinkie giggled. "Oh, you're such a gentledragon."

Now Selphia was confused. Pinkie Pie had said that, but she said it in a friendly sarcastic way. Did she mean what she said? Does this energetic pony have feelings for Spike? Or was she just being a friend, like she usually was when others were sad? The dance they shared didn't confirm Selphia's suspicions. But she was still going to keep watching just in case.

Pinkie Pie danced alongside Spike. It was a very, well, Pinkie Pie kind of dance. No move transitioned evenly with the next, nor was there a set rhythm, yet the two seemed to be enjoying themselves regardless.

"There is only one way to find out if staying is worthwhile", Selphia sighed. She floated away, out of sight. Concentrating, she managed to make herself physical to the dream world, no longer a phantom to the dream world. Hesitantly, she left the alley and walked through the party filled street. She winced at everything noise and movement in a six foot range. She continued to walk until she came within range of Pinkie Pie and Spike.

Pinkie Pie quickly noticed the stranger. She rushed over, causing Selphia to nearly jump out of her skin.

"Hi! You're new aren't you? I'm Pinkie Pie! Wanna be my friend?" the sugar fueled pony said so fast that her words almost became another language.

Selphia blinked away her stare. "Why yes, Pinkie Pie. I would like very much to be your friend."

"YAAAAAAAAAAY!" Pinkie Pie shouted at the top of her lungs.

Selphia cringed. "I am Star Dancer. Charmed to meet you."

"So, you wanna dance, raid the dessert table, play twister, bob for apples, sing, or raid the desert table? Well do ya, huh, huh, HUH?" Pinkie Pie leaned closer until she was nose to nose with Selphia, whom of which was feeling very uncomfortable.

"N-no thank you. I would just like to talk for now, if that is okay." She tried to sound unshaken, but failed miserably.

"Are you okay?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"Yes, I am just somewhat wary. I am not usually in a loud setting." Selphia jumped as a balloon popped behind her. "Is there someplace quieter we could speak?"

Pinkie Pie nodded and took her to her room in Sugarcube Corner. They sat at the table nearest the staircase. A light blue unicorn lay asleep on her bed.

"Whatchya wanna talk about?"

"I would like to talk about the dragon you were dancing with", Selphia replied. The Gem Sprite was still shaking; she didn't know what was going to happen next.

"Spike? Yeah, he was sad because Rarity didn't dance with him." Pinkie Pie cocked her head. "What about him?"

"Well…it was just that…it seemed like you really wanted him to be happy and—"

"I like to see all of my friends happy. I can't stand it when they're sad", Pinkie interrupted.

"Oh, so you don't have feelings for him", Selphia deducted. She added under her breath, "Figures."

"No", Pinkie Pie chimed. She subconsciously glanced toward the unicorn on the bed. That little detail Spike's soul didn't tell her.

Selphia nodded. "Thank you Pinkie Pie, I will see you another time."

Pinkie Pie was going to object, but stopped when she couldn't remember why. Selphia had already reverted back to her ghostly form and erased herself from Pinkie Pie's dream and memories. Once she was outside again, she sat atop Sugarcube Corner and pondered her next move.

"I am getting nothing but dead ends. Perhaps...I will go with my original plan."So, she set out for Sweet Apple Acres. The horizon began to show signs of light, signifying the time she was losing. At this point she would only have enough time for one more dream. Inside the ranch house of the vast orchards, she counted four dream clouds. With the time diminishing, Selphia had to make her choice count. She floated through the halls, looking for Applejack's room.

"…Spike…"

Selphia stopped in the hallway. Peering into the room the voice came from, she saw Applejack's little sister.

"Applebloom?" Selphia looked at the dream cloud. It seemed to be a slight pink in color. That was more than promising.

She took a hopeful breath, and entered the filly's dream. She felt her way through the pink cloud. It was so thick she could barely see the nose on her face. She stumbled through it and fell through to the other side. She caught herself and floated gently to the ground. With the exception of the endless apple trees the dream appeared to be empty. Applebloom was nowhere to be found.

She soared around, hoping to find the filly before she woke up. Selphia didn't have to look for long. She found Applebloom sitting on a hill in front of a magnificent sunset. She floated over to the filly and waited for the dream to unfold. Several minutes passed and nothing happened. Selphia started to become nervous. Her time window was becoming smaller by the second.

Applebloom sighed. "Ah guess Spike ain't comin'." She sadly stood up and began to pack up the picnic she had spread out.

Selphia floated down to her. She wanted to help Applebloom, but it was too near to dawn to risk materializing herself to the Dream Realm again.

"Applebloom!"

The two ponies looked in the direction of the apple orchard. Spike was running as fast as he could across the small valley. He was panting when he finally made it up the hill.

"I'm…sorry…for being late Applebloom", he gasped. He paused to breathe. "…There was a big mess at the library and Twilight wouldn't let me leave until it was all cleaned up."

"Why couldn' Dream Runner help?" asked Applebloom, referring to the new assistant librarian.

"He found out about an unexplored cave near Coltonville", Spike explained, "He's been there for the past two days. We don't know when he'll be back. Anyway, why did you want to meet me here?"

The filly blushed. "Well, 'cuz Ah really, really wanna thank ya fer makin' me feel better yesterday. Diamond Tiara an' Silverspoon were bein' really mean."

"It was nothing, Applebloom. They just don't know a good thing when they see it."

That was all the Earth Pony needed to hear. Slowly she leaned forward and planted a delicate kiss on his cheek. Selphia saw more than enough. Even though Spike's soul told her much about his friends, it did fail to mention a few things. Unfortunately, the Gem Sprite could no longer think about that. A thundering roar blasted from above, followed by the slow collapse of the dream. Chunks of the world around began to fall apart and crumble into nothingness.

Quickly, Selphia shot straight up as fast as she could. Bits and piece of the dream did their best to keep her from leaving, but she managed to dodge around them. The surrounding world started to grow brighter, pushing Selphia to her max speed. She burst through the dream cloud's wall, landing on the other side with a crash. She looked up, gasping, to see Applebloom waking up. Outside, the sun was starting to rise.

"That was too close. I cannot allow myself to be so careless", she choked out.

When she fully collected herself, she flew back to the library. Everypony would be waking up soon, and she wanted to be there in case one of them attempted to wake her up. It was a good thing she told Twilight and Dream Runner she was a traveler. If she didn't get back before they woke up, they might just let her continue to sleep.

She entered her body immediately upon her arrival. Selphia woke up feeling completely refreshed. "That is much better. Now I just have to wait for Spike to wake up. I think I have a decent idea of where to begin my plan…"

She walked down to the first floor, where Twilight was busy opening up the library. She didn't so much as pause in her work when she spotted Selphia. "Good morning. I hope you slept well."

"I did. It was a delightful night's rest. Thank you very much Twilight Sparkle", Selphia gratefully replied.

"You're most certainly welcome. And you can just call me Twilight. I don't mind", Twilight said.

Just then, Owlowiscious flew through a window and landed on Twilight's back. He was carrying a letter in his mouth. "Hoot!"

"Oh, hello Owlowiscious. What's this, you have a letter for me?" Twilight took the letter from the bird and read over it. "Hmm…Looks like I'm taking a trip to Sweet Apple Acres today", she said to herself.

Selphia jumped. Now she had the perfect start to her plan. "Sweet Apple Acres? That was on my list of stops here in Ponyville. Could you guide me there, Twilight?"

"Of course!" Twilight replied happily. "Though, I do have some things to do around here first. Do you mind waiting for a few minutes?"

"Not at all", Selphia replied, "I am in no hurry."

"Okay, I'll tell you when I'm finished." Twilight turned back to the cart of books that had to be shelved.

Selphia let Twilight work and left to explore the myriad of different books that the Ponyville library had to offer. It may have been centuries before she had been out of her gem, but it was eons before she was on the inside of a library. She had almost forgotten how to read! She kept browsing, but didn't immediately find anything that interested her. Selphia then settled her eyes upon a shelf of scrolls. She smiled to herself on the way over. She browsed them until she saw a familiar plate on the lip of a shelf. She grabbed the appropriate roll of parchment in her mouth and carried it to the nearest podium. She unrolled it and smiled even wider as she read the title.

Sympathy

By Pony Unknown

"It is hard to believe that I had written this so long ago", Selphia said to herself. She remembered back to the time when she presented the finished work to Princess Celestia for publishing. It was one of the most precious things that Selphia had ever accomplished. Only four hundred copies were made, so finding this one was a big surprise. She read over her masterpiece, identifying personal mistakes she wished she would have seen when writing it. Once finished with her criticisms, she replaced the scroll. She glanced towards Twilight, who was still pushing books onto their shelves. "Would you like some help, Twilight?"

"No, thank you", Twilight replied, "My help should be waking up any second now."

As if on cue, Dream Runner jumped down from the second floor and stretched. "Good morning, Twilight."

"Good morning", Twilight said, "I have a cart of books for you."

Dream nodded, "On it."

"Chirp!" Tweeted a baby phoenix from Spike's shoulder as he descended the stairs.

"Save some books for us you guys!"

They all set off to work without any complaints. Each had a specific task and together they flowed like clockwork to get the morning chores out of the way.

"Dream Runner, could you finish up for me?" Twilight asked, "I have to go over to Applejack's."

"You bet, Twilight", Dream called over his shoulder. He returned to stacking the last few books he had on the topmost shelf in the room. He climbed back down the shelf's ladder and slid another stack of books on his left wing.

"Thanks", Twilight said, "I'll be back soon."

"See you then."

"Hoot!"

"Tweet!"

"I'll stay here and help Dream", stated Spike.

"Spike, I am going with Twilight. I have something to do before we start today", Selphia called.

"Start what?" Twilight asked as the door to the library closed behind them.

The white pony hesitated. "Well…I promised Spike that I would help him…um…" Selphia started. There was no possible way she could come up with a lie without Twilight noticing, and since Twilight was technically the dragon's guardian, she had a right to know. Selphia looked around, making sure the coast was clear. She whispered, "Can you keep a secret, Twilight Sparkle?"

Twilight nodded, and leaned in closely. "I can…well, most of the time."

Selphia eyed her sternly. "I must be able to trust you to the fullest."

Twilight nodded. "I promise, you can trust me. Even if I have to strain."

Selphia looked into Twilight's eyes. They held the sincerest of looks within them. "Very well", Selphia decided, "I am not who I said I was last night."

Twilight braced herself. "Is that good or bad?"

Selphia took a deep breath. "I am one of the Twelve Emotion Gem Sprites. I am the protector of the Sympathy Ruby." She paused to let Twilight process it.

Twilight wasn't very shocked. She had fought werewolves, dragons, hydras, and many other creatures, so encountering a Gem Sprite didn't come as a surprise, especially with prior knowledge of them. "I've heard of the Gem Sprites from Princess Celestia", Twilight said. "I believe that you are responsible for maintaining the emotions of the world with the help of the Emotion Orbs."

"You are correct", Selphia confirmed, "We also are responsible for displaying our specific emotion to those who need it most. This usually occurs once every few centuries."

"Spike?" Twilight guessed.

Selphia answered, "Yesterday, Spike found my ruby and wanted to eat away his sorrow with it."

Twilight nodded in comprehension. She had noticed lately how Spike hadn't been nearly as cheery as his usual self. She had put it on her to-do list to ask him what was bothering him if it persisted.

"His soul confessed to me how he was in constant rejection from your friend Rarity", Selphia explained. "So I offered him the chance to find love. But there is a problem…he is hoping that I can make Rarity fall in love with him."

"But with Linen that's completely impossible, so you're going through all of his friends for a potential match?" Twilight deduced.

Selphia smiled. "I have already done that. Last night I searched through a few of your friends' dreams, and I found the perfect one."

Twilight moved forward curiously, "Who, Applejack? Is that why you want to come with me to Sweet Apple Acres? You do know she already has a coltfriend, right?"

Selphia was by now beaming. "No, but that's not who I meant…"

"Then who?!" Twilight was so anxious to find out who would be matched with Spike that she had shouted her question. Selphia didn't even seem to notice. She found it enjoyable to toy with Twilight. She even added to it.

"In good time, Twilight Sparkle", Selphia giggled, "In good time."

I would call this situational irony, but we don't know every detail that Twilight doesn't…

This chapter is actually two of the first version's that I made into one whole, with a few revisions. I wrote this story so long ago that my old writing style may still be present even though I did my best to write over it.

Trivia:

Selphia may be an immortal embodiment of emotion, but that doesn't mean she's all-knowing and powerful, as we've seen already.

Dream Runner always puts his duties at the library before his personal interests, hence him helping out before going to explore.