That afternoon, dinner was about to be served at Sweet Apple Acres. Just as before, Thunderlane and Rumble had come over, Thunderlane helping Applejack put together a nice spread for everypony, and Mac and Fluttershy had come as well though the twins were tucked in and dozing away in the living room. The atmosphere was cheery, bright, and uplifting.

Except for the unicorn colt, as he sat between his mom and his honorary sister, Apple Bloom. Twinken was keeping quiet, but doing his best not to look dreary or negative, yet that's how he felt. A part of him knew he was about to do something that might very well be unforgivable, yet all that he'd learned of Granny Smith, Bright Mac, and Buttercup, it threatened to burn up his guts even as he managed to keep it under control to a steady simmer.

As Applejack and Thunderlane served dinner to everypony, Faerie Tail helped them do so, and just when it seemed dinner was ready to begin...

"Hey everypony!" All eyes turned to Twinken, who wore an upbeat smile, "While I was out in town, I saw a sale over at the market and thought that maybe would could try something new. Anypony up for it?"

"Well, sure thing, sugarcube," Applejack smiled at her honorary little brother, "What'cha got for us?"

Twinken glanced over at Granny Smith, who suddenly felt a strange twinge of... anger? Disgust? Whatever it was, it induced a subtle sense of dread that rose up in alarm when Twinken levitated something onto the table, and declared, "Pear butter!"

Almost immediately, the Apples (except Apple Bloom and Fluttershy) all flinched in alarm, sucked on their teeth, and their pupils shrank to pinpricks. Applejack was about to respond, but Faerie Tail and Fluttershy both smiled, the older mare saying, "Ooh! Pear butter? Well that sounds yummy. How'd you get this, dear?"

"Oh, I still had some allowance saved up," Twinken smiled up at his mom.

"Pear butter... well, if apple butter is anything to judge by, I think this will be just as nice," Fluttershy added, "I wonder if the twins might like a taste after they wake up."

"Er- `Shy?" Macintosh tried to speak, but he was cut off.

"Well, I've had pears before and they're a nice snack," Thunderlane agreed, "so why not? I'll try a spread of it on my rolls, if you don't mind."

"Thunder!" Applejack tried to interject, but she held her tone back, not wanting to say something she might regret.

"Ah wanna try it too, please," Apple Bloom bounced in her seat.
"Me too!" seconded Rumble.

"Alrighty, let's open it and-" Twinken levitated the jar and just started to unscrew the top when...

"GET THA' SWILL OUTTA MAH HOUSE!!" shrieked Granny Smith, alarming everypony as all eyes turned to her, seeing her look more ornery than any of them had ever seen.

Unfortunately, Granny Smith's outburst disturbed the twins' sleep and both Sandow and Belle began to cry, causing Fluttershy to utter 'ohmygoodness!' and hurry into the living room to comfort her foals while Macintosh, Applejack, Thunderlane, and Faerie Tail gave Granny Smith looks that varied between disappointing at best to appalled at worst. Apple Bloom was upset, Rumble was intimidated, but Twinken...

Twinken glared at Granny Smith with undisguised contempt.

"Granny Smith!" Applejack said in a tone she'd never taken with her grandmother. "What. In th' Sam Hill. Was that?!"

Granny Smith ignored Applejack and glared at Twinken, saying, "Sonny... Ah wan' tha' jar gone, so git to it!"

"Granny Smith, what in the world?!" Faerie Tail was stunned by Granny Smith's behavior, "All Twinken did was offer some pear butter for us all to try, and you act as though he brought poison into the house!"

"Uh- Faerie Tail," Applejack spoke up, trying to smooth the situation out, "We... don't allow pears in our house."

"What's the big deal, AJ?" asked Thunderlane, honestly bewildered. "I know that you're the 'Apple' Family, but Granny Smith's reaction is uncalled for."

"Well... the Apple Fam'ly's had a long feud wit' th' Pear Fam'ly," answered Macintosh, "So we don' eat th' fruit pears or allow `em in our home."

"But that's ridiculous," Faerie Tail was puzzled and put off at the same time, "Just because you have some silly feud doesn't give you the right to act this way, Granny Smith! Especially not with foals. Why is there even a feud between the Apples and the Pears to begin with?"

Granny Smith said nothing, continuing to glare at Twinken's defiant gaze, while Applejack opened her mouth to answer... only to come up with nothing, before saying, "...Well, uh, a-actually, Ah-Ah'm not really sure. You have any idea, Big Mac?"

"Uh... nnope," Macinotsh shrugged, equally ignorant.

"Then... Ah guess we should ask Granny?" Apple Bloom suggested timidly, and all eyes turned to Granny Smith, who suddenly felt uncomfortable but said nothing.

"Go ahead, Granny Smith." The tone of the voice was sort of alarming to everypony when they realized it was Twinken who'd spoken, as he continued to bore contempt at the old mare, and said, "We're all ears..."

As everypony present gave the old mare an expectant look, Granny Smith felt uncomfortable in her own skin, but steeled her will and retorted, "It was a long time ago! Pointless t' discuss now, an' th' Pears are long gone! So just drop it. get rid o' tha' butter, an' let's all jus' have a fam'ly dinner."

Applejack was perplexed. Her grandmother was clearly refusing to say anything as to why the apples and Pears feuded to begin with. Macintosh had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. Thunderlane felt his feathers shudder. Faerie Tail felt something about this wasn't right, while Apple Bloom and Rumble shared a nervous look.

Twinken however was not going to drop it, for he responded, "Respectfully, Granny Smith... let go of your stupid pride, you old crab apple!"

The others around the table gasped and were on the verge of admonishing Twinken for speaking so disrespectfully. But Granny Smith felt a bitter chill in her nerves as Twinken's words rang a dissonant bell. It wasn't clear at first, as she initially felt similar feelings as to what she was feeling now, before an image formed in her head that she remembered... seeing in her dream last night. A cold dread of realization welled up in the old mare as she thought, Tha's a lot like what mah son said t' me...!

Feeling cornered, angry, and losing her temper, Granny Smith yelled back, "Ah don' hav' t' explain mahself to you! Yer only a young'un, ya couldn' possibly understand!"

"Oh I understand..." Twinken stood up in his chair, continuing to glare into Granny Smith, his eyes glowing red, his pupils dilating, "I understand... that you're a liar. A coward, and a hypocrite!"

"Twinken! Where do you geddoff talkin' to Granny Smith like that?!" Applejack demanded, standing up.

Twinken ignored her and continued to nail into the old mare, "You took me and my brother in, taught us the importance of honesty and being true and good and honorable to our family, to our friends, and to our fellow pony... but you couldn't do the same for your own son on his death bed!"

Granny Smith felt a needle of cold pierce her very being as all eyes and ears were stunned by Twinken's words yet the colt wasn't done.
"Bright Mac made one last request of you... and you didn't do as he asked! So now's your chance, Granny Smith Apple! Tell them the truth! About their parents, about the Pears! Or else..."

Granny Smith struggled to keep her breath even before defiantly demanding, "Or else what...?"

"Or else..." Twinken magicked the door open, "I will walk out that door and leave Sweet Apple Acres and never speak to you again! Unless you tell your grandchildren the truth..."

There was a long silence as everypony present unknowingly held their breaths. What seemed like was going to be a nice family dinner had turned into something ugly and deeply uncomfortable. The old mare and the young colt held each other's gazes, the former trying to stare down the colt she'd come to love like a real grandson. But now, now that love was twisted and soured, as she felt animosity and anger and humiliation. She tried her grandmotherly stare down, something she used to do with Macintosh, with Applejack, and... and with her own son back when he'd been young.

But Twinken held his ground. His posture never gave, his glare did not waver. How dare he speak to her this way? How dare he bring up old hurts she had tried so hard to bury? How dare he...

"Uh, come on, everypony," Thunderlane forced a nervous smile, "There's no need to take this any further. So why don't we all calm down, take a deep breath, and chill before somepony says something they'll re-"

"You walk out tha' door..." Granny Smith's tone cut the pegasus stallion off, sounding cold and bitter as she gave Twinken a look of pain and loathing, "don'choo ever come back."

"GRANNY SMITH!!!" Applejack, Macintosh, and Faerie Tail were utterly disgusted, but Granny Smith said nothing else as she stood up from the table and left the dining area, heading up to her room. Apple Bloom was on the verge of crying while Rumble sought a comforting hug from his big brother.

But Twinken. He stood there in his chair, impassive and stoic, before stating, "Excuse me. I have to pack."

Needless to say, a dark cloud had fallen over Sweet Apple Acres. Twinken was as good as his word, as he magically packed all of his belongings into the magic bag his brother had given him as a Hearth's Warming gift. He was hounded relentlessly by everypony in the house (except for Granny Smith who'd locked herself in her room and refused to come out or speak to anypony). Applejack in particular kept demanding Twinken explain his behavior, but he always responded, 'It's not for me to say', 'Ask your grandmother', and Faerie Tail had to intervene when Applejack started to get pushy. She tried to convince her son to at least tell her what was going on, but even with his mom Twinken refused to divulge the skeletons Granny Smith had in her closet.

Twinken apologized for how tonight had made them all uncomfortable and stated he was going to move into his brother and sister-in-law's castle. To everypony else's surprise, Faerie Tail said she would move there with him too, saying she needed to be with her sons. So Twinken packed his mother's things into his bag as well.

At the front door, Apple Bloom cried, "Please, Twinken, Faerie! Don' leave, Ah'm sure we can work all this out!"

"I'm sorry, Bloom," Twinken was tearing up, feeling awful for the pain he was causing his honorary sister, "But I can't stay here anymore."
"It's alright, Apple Bloom," Faerie Tail gave Apple Bloom a motherly hug, "We won't be far, and I'll still come over to visit."
"Plus, we still gotta help you find your cutie-mark, right?" Twinken tried to smile, but he was upset as well as somewhat ashamed.

Applejack stood away from the door, her back to Twinken and Faerie Tail, refusing to look at them. She was so angry and conflicted, and as much as she wanted to rail into Twinken she couldn't deny her granny's behavior and words had been no less unacceptable. Not to mention it was clear to her that Granny Smith was hiding something, about her (Applejack's) father and the Pear family.

Macintosh stepped forward to give Faerie Tail a hug, "Be well, Faerie, an' thanks for all th' love an' care you've given us since ya been here. Ah hope ya have a happy, healthy foal."

"Thank you, Macintosh," Faerie Tail smiled at him warmly before looking concerned, "How are Fluttershy and the twins?"

"They'll be aw'right," Mac assured, "`Shy took `em back t' our house, wanted t' get `em away from... well, all tha' happened."

Then Macintosh gave Twinken an unreadable look. "Haystack... Ah don' approve o' how you acted t'night, but how Granny Smith acted was no better. Ah wish you'd tell us wha' all this is about, but Ah think yor right; Granny Smith has some `fessin' t' do."

"I'm sorry, Mac," Twinken really was. He loved and looked up to Mac as another big brother, for Macintosh had looked out for him and taught him a lot of things that strengthened the love and respect they felt for each other. "I want to, but... it has to come from her. She's kept these truths to herself for too long, and it's unfair and wrong of her to do so. I- I guess... I don't like that I did this, but... Granny Smith , I always thought she was the best grandmother a colt could ask for, but what I found out...

"I'm sorry for the discomfort it's caused everypony," Twinken sighed, "and I understand if you never want me around here again. But I was proud to be an Apple, even if it was only honorary."

"Whattya mean 'was'?" All eyes turned to Applejack, the mare sighing before turning to face Twinken and saying with a measured tone, "Sugarcube? Ah'd be lying if Ah said Ah wern' so angry with you! Th' way you acted, th' things you said, but Granny Smith's own behavior was jus' as bad. Maybe even worse... ya gotta understand, after our parents passed away, Granny Smith raised us all on her own! She taught us wha' we needed t' know, comforted us when we were sad, Ah'll always have th' utmost love an' respect for her. But t'night... Ah saw a side o' her Ah never knew was there, or... or maybe Ah did know but Ah just din't wanna see it.

"So as angry an' frustrated as Ah am with you..." Applejack surprised them all by pulling Twinken into a hug, "yer still an Apple, an' ya always will be. To the core. Same as yer ma an' brother an' all our friends."

Twinken felt his heart hurt, but before long he and his mom were walking away from Sweet Apple Acres, and never had the colt felt so awful. It was nearly as bad as he'd felt after the incident where his telepathy went out of control during the shared dream he'd had with his friends that turned into a nightmare, but in a different way.

Not to mention he felt bad for how his choice had essentially forced his mom to vacate the home she'd found herself in after her awakening. He'd tried to tel her he was fine with her staying, but she'd made it clear she would be where her colt was, and as much as Faerie Tail was sad to leave Sweet Apple Acres she could see that Twinken no longer felt he belonged there.

And he wondered, would he ever be able to go back?

Although Twinken and Faerie Tail's arrival was unexpected, what really surprised Midnight, Twilight and Spike was that Faerie Tail announced, "We're moving in."

So of course they had questions as to why Twinken and Faerie Tail now wished to live in the Castle of Friendship and not at Sweet Apple Acres. Faerie Tail tried to explain the situation as best she could as kindly as she could, but she couldn't hold back on some details, and how it resulted from Twinken's actions and behavior. Twilight asked Twinken what had prompted such behavior though Twinken was reluctant to say anything or even meet his brother and sister-in-law's gazes.

Twilight was more understanding that the situation was uncomfortable, but Midnight seemed to have a more reserved view of whatever was going on despite saying almost nothing.

"Well... why don't we put together a nice dinner?" suggested Twilight as she led everyone out of the parlor, "Considering what happened, it sounds like neither of you actually got to eat."

"That's sweet of you, Twilight," Faerie Tail smiled appreciatively though with a bit of a morose look in her eyes, "but... I think Twinken and I don't really have an appetite right now. If it's all the same to you, I think we should all turn in and try to get some rest."

"Well, okay," Twilight obliged but couldn't hide her concern. "Spike, we have spare bedrooms, don't we?"

"Oh yeah! I've seen plenty of spare bedrooms, suites, and lounges around the castle since I've been cleaning," Spike nodded, "and I know a couple in the west wing that each have their own bathrooms and walk-in closets."

"Excellent, set Faerie Tail and Twinken up in those rooms," Twilight instructed before readdressing her mother-in-law, "and don't worry about getting lost, Faerie Tail. After a few... well, incidents, we enchanted the castle to aid anyone whose unfamiliar with it via a navigation charm. Just talk to the castle and ask it to show you where you want to go or who you want to see, and it will show you. But it will only work if the place or person you're looking for is in the castle."

"Well, in that case, I think we can handle ourselves," Faerie Tail assured, "Spike, go ahead and rest or whatever you were doing before we got here. We'll be alright."

"Well, if you're sure," Spike shrugged before turning around and walking away, "been wanting to finish that Bronco Busters model I got anyway."

"So... we just ask the castle to show us where we want to go?" Faerie Tail asked for the sake of certainty.

"That's it," Twilight nodded. "But let me do it as a demonstration.

"Castle," Twilight raised her voice a little, as though she were addressing a class, "Please show Faerie Tail and Twinken to the rooms Spike suggested."

The glimmering walls and floor of the castle briefly shined, and then pulses of light ran along those walls and floors straight to Faerie Tail and Twinken, startling them for a moment before it dulled... and they saw trails of glowing hoof prints appear on the floor, heading off towards the hallway to their right. The larger hoof prints glowed the same gentle yellow of Faerie Trail's magic while the smaller ones glowed the same red as Twinken's. The hoofprints' trail glowed in and out in repetition, making an indication that they should be followed.

"The magicks we ensorcelled for this only work if you are a resident or a guest," Twilight explained, "If you're an intruder or otherwise unwelcome in the Castle of Friendship the assist won't work for you and can also be used against you."

"Very impressive, Twilight," Faerie Tail complimented, "Well, come along, honey. It's getting late anyway. Good night, dears."

"Good night, Auntie Faerie!" Twilight said kindly, but both mares had not failed to notice how quiet and impassive Midnight had been almost the entire time since his mother and brother's arrival. much of that time had been staring at Twinken... and seeing indications of ire and disappointment.

"Good night," the sapphire alicorn said in a courteous manner, but his eyes betrayed such a look that it made Twinken twinge.

He followed his mother as they followed the glowing hoof steps to their rooms, which, thankfully, hadn't been very far of a walk. Twinken's room was a little further down and across the hall from Faerie Tail's, but he helped her settle in by unpacking her things from his magic bag. Then she went with him to his room and watched him unpack his own belongings.

They didn't speak much, but Faerie Tail sat on Twinken's bed and patted it, inviting him to sit with her. He did so, and they both sat on his bed in his new room for a long minute... and Faerie tail was about to say something, "Twinken-"

"Mom," Twinken suddenly interrupted, albeit in a respectful and apologetic tone, "I... am so sorry for everything that's happened tonight. Everything was great, everything was... nice! And I ruined it..."

Faerie Tail let her son speak, even as he began to tear up and struggle not to cry, "I- I just... I thought she was- Hic! I can't..."

"I take it you're talking about Granny Smith," Faerie Tail spoke gently, and when Twinken wiped his eyes and nodded, unable to look his mom in the eye, she pulled him into a hug, "I don't understand what's going on, Twinken, and you haven't told me anythi-"

"I dreamwalked!" Twinken confessed, crying now but still struggling to keep his cool, "The night before! I th-thought that Granny- She... she was... I thought it was a bad dream! I thought she needed help... but it wasn't a dream! It-it-it was... bad memories..."

"Bad memor- Ah..." Faerie Tail was starting to get an idea as she let Twinken go and gently wiped away the snot on his snoot,, "She was dreaming of memories... and you saw something in them that you didn't like. Something that... she did that made you... angry? Upset? ...disappointed?"

Twinken hung his head shamefully, not looking at his mom but nodding again.

"Hmm, and that's why you found it hard to talk to her or even look at her at breakfast this morning?"

"...you noticed?" Twinken croaked, when he felt his mom's hoof tilt his chin up to look at her, and he saw understanding mixed with compassion and sadness and a little disappointment.

"A mother always knows when something's bothering her foals," she asserted in a faux official tone, which actually succeeded in getting Twinken to crack a smile. "Baby, I can't imagine what you found out that caused you to... well, do what you did, but in spite of the short time we've been together, I know that you are an amazing, sweet and smart young colt with a heartful of love and wonder and goodness.

"While I don't approve of how you... handled things, I trust that whatever you saw or learned, it must have felt so awful that you just couldn't reconcile it with how you've come to love Granny Smith."

"R-reconso...?" Twinken echoed with a teary stutter, not knowing the word.

"It means that you can't believe the Granny Smith you've come to love and cherish after all this time... is the same Granny Smith as the one you saw in her memories," Faerie Tail clarified, "a Granny Smith who did something that was so bad that you were angry and disappointed. Because you didn't know how to handle what you learned, you got so wound up, and... well, that happened."

Twinken whimpered and buried his face into his mom, Faerie Tail embracing him, and Twinken sobbing with his cheek to his mom's belly, feeling his unborn brother or sister in there, and finding some comfort in that.

"Mom... I was so confused! I still am! I got angry, I- I got... I felt sick! The things she said, the things she did?!" Twinken cried, "I thought if I- If i... if I found out more, it'd help me understand, but... everything else I found out made it worse! I don't know what to do... and because of me, everything's so messed up! It's my fault... it's always my fault!!"

"Sweetheart!" Faerie Tail was aghast, "Why would you ever say something like that?"

"Because it's true..." Twinken's crying seemed to die down a little, but it wasn't so much calming down as it was deflating into depression, "What I did to my friends... when I couldn't stop Trixie from mind-controlling Midnight, or-or help him when he was suffering those bad dreams that he hurt himself trying to get rid of them, when I used my magic against Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon Midnight was so disappointed in me! Or do anything to help when we got stuck in the 'Bronco Busters' comic-"

"Twinken, honey! We all make mistakes!" Faerie Tail assured, making sure Twinken was looking her in the eyes, "Nopony is perfect, nopony is without flaw, and nopony can do everything or handle anything! Your brother and sister may be alicorns, but they still rely on their friends and family to help them and each other with whatever they need to do. Twinken, sometimes bad things happen and there's nothing we can do about it... except what we can.

"Tell me, sweetheart, can you make a decision for someone?"

Snrrking his nose, Twinken hung his head and moaned, "No..."

"Can you be with someone you care about always and all the time?"

Part of Twinken wanted to say yes, but he knew the answer was, "No."

"Can you be there for someone you care about when they're going through troubles of their own?"

Twinken felt perhaps a smidgen of comfort from his mom's words, how her questions pointed out simple yet obvious situations and how one can or can't solve everything, but he did say, "...yes."

"Honey, focusing on the maybes, the what-ifs, the should-have-beens- Those kinds of thoughts will just wind you up and have you spinning around in your own head until you can't take it anymore," Faerie Tail gently laid Twinken to bed and tenderly tucked him into his covers. "So, just... let's sleep on it, get some rest, and in the morning we can get started on working things out. Sound good?"

Twinken looked up at his mom, and though she was giving him a warm smile, he still felt the sickening pit of guilt in his tummy. He managed to force a small smile and nod, so she gave him a kiss on the forehead, and gently whispered, "Sleep well, baby."

After she closed the door on her way out, Twinken was finally alone with his thoughts... and found himself feeling strangely hollow. It was a discomforting feeling, and yet his mind itself felt worn out, so much that sleep came surprisingly easy...

In the library, Twilight found her husband sitting at one of the reading tables, looking troubled and uncertain as he poured over some research notes they'd made during their geo crystal research. Except it seemed his attention was elsewhere. Bringing the mugs of hot cocoa she'd made, she came over to sit beside him, and softly asked, "Midnight, are you okay? You... you hardly said anything at all when your mom and brother showed up."

"...Twilight, did I not do enough?" Twilight tilted her head at Midnight's query, the blue alicorn sighing, "Should I have intervened sooner when he was locking himself away, speaking to nopony for so long?"

"Midnight, what happened... it was awful, to say the least, and something none of us were really certain of how to handle," Twilight leaned against her hubby, and was glad when he rested his cheek on her head and wrapped his wing around her. "I mean, a dream that turns into a nightmare that was confused for reality? Sure, some bad dreams can be intense and terrifying until you wake up and are relieved that it was all just a dream... but this was different. Even Luna wasn't sure of what to do. The Cutie-Mark Crusaders each handled what happened in their own ways.

"I kept tabs on them, ready to lend any assistance I possibly could," Twilight pulled away and made sure Midnight looked at her, "but they dealt with the trauma well, all things considered. Faerie Tail counseled them, helped them process and work through it all, they got all the love and support they needed... but Twinken suffered the worst. Not only because of everything that happened in the dream but also the crushing guilt that he was the cause of it even though Luna and you and me and everyone else involved did our best to assure him that none of us could have ever realized such a thing could happen!"

"He locked himself away, for months..." Midnight looked rueful, conflicted, uncertain as he went on, "As though he'd sentenced himself to isolation and made good on it. I gave him his space, respected his need to handle it in his own way... but when Mom got worried and sad, I gave him an ultimatum to either open up and soon or I'd make him open up.

"Twily..." Midnight gave his wife a troubled look, "Should I have intervened sooner? Was I wrong to say that to him? Should I have gotten him help instead of let him languish in his room for all that time?"

"I don't really know, Midnight," Twilight reached up to caress her husband's cheek, and smiled a bit as how he leaned into her touch, "maybe it would have been better or maybe it would have been worse. We don't know, and what's done is done. All we can do now is be there for him and gently coax him into opening up instead of closing himself off. Again. He's not quite twelve yet, still plenty of colthood for him to enjoy if we can help him find peace with his traumas. I think you're right however, that this time we shouldn't let him isolate himself again, but-"

"TWILIGHT! MIDNIGHT!!!" The library doors flew open, and in ran Spike, still in his nightcap, holding a sealed scroll, "I just got this message, I think it's from Princess Luna!"

"Spike?! A message from-" Twilight tried to say, only for Midnight's turquoise mana to cut her off by taking the scroll from Spike's hand and they examined it.

It had her seal on it, the kind of which Luna reserved for messages that indicated an emergency. They shared a look before Midnight broke the seal and they unrolled it to see only three words.

"'Wake him up'? Who is she...?" Twilight's voice trailed off as a terrible sensation suddenly washed over her, like a cold and frigid breeze, and she somehow knew Midnight and Spike felt the same thing. A subtle yet unmistakable sense of dread.

They shared another look and all realized it as they said together, "Twinken!"

They all immediately rushed out the library and flew through the halls, Twilight levitating Spike onto her back.

"Twinken?!" Midnight called as they zoomed through the castle.

"His room's just ahead!" Twilight said as they passed Faerie Tail's room, the older mare coming out, looking alarmed and noticing her son and daughter-in-law landing in front of Twinken's door.

"What's going on?! I had a bad...!!" Faerie Tail hurried over as Midnight threw the door open and they all gasped as they saw Twinken, floating above his bed, his horn blistering with red mana while he seemed to be asleep yet was moaning and turning as he was aloft. Twinken's things around the bedroom were floating as well, some jerking one way and then another, some spinning, somersaulting, and some suddenly crashing into the walls, and breaking. Seeing her son in tormented slumber, Faerie Tail cried out, "HELP HIM!!"

Midnight furrowed his brows and his horn and eyes both lit up with a pale bluish-white radiance that engulfed the entire room yet Twilight, Faerie Tail and Spike were not blinded, finding this mystic light oddly comforting as the dreadful feeling they'd all felt was quickly forgotten and the objects in the room returned to their proper places, the broken ones being repaired, and Twinken gasped in alarm as he woke up and fell onto the bed, bouncing a moment, looking around in alarm, crying out, "NO! IT'S NOT- I DIDN'T MEAN TO-"

"Twinken!" Faerie Tail hurried over to wrap her colt in another hug, holding him still, rubbing his back, gently shushing, "It's alright, sweetheart... it was just a dream. Dreams can't hurt you... You're okay, you're okay...."

Still shaking, still breathing rapidly, but the embrace and assurance of his mom began to calm Twinken down, and then Spike burped up another scroll, from Luna as well. Midnight took it and read it... and what he read caused his brows to furrow more and glare at Twinken.

"Mom. Step back," he ordered with such a stern tone that Faerie Tail was put off by it, as was everyone else. But Twinken froze at the way his big brother looked at him with such intensity, before Midnight held up the message, "Princess Luna just informed us that your dreamwalking and telepathy were influenced by your bad dreams. You lashed out, and caused any sleeping minds nearby to experience bad dreams as well as instill dread and fear into any mind that was awake."

"I... I didn't mean to..." Twinken shuddered in shame, his eyes tearing up.

But Midnight was drawing the line. "No. No more! No more self-pity, no more locking yourself away, no more avoiding the problem! It's time you faced your demons, as you should have sooner! Pack your bags, little brother.

"It's time for some tough love..." Midnight narrowed his eyes, as he thought of the place he once went to after experiencing his own demons after the traumas in his life.

Next Chapter: 418. Dreamwalk a Mile - Part 4 Estimated time remaining: 4 Hours, 57 Minutes