The dream faded into view around me and I was suddenly at the edge of one of the squares in Canterlot. The one just outside the main castle gates, the one with the statue of Princess Celestia on the raised in the middle.

The place didn't look quite like I remembered, the castle looked the same, but the buildings were a bit different. More white marble, more copper roofs, rounder walls. Similar styles to the castle.

Was this what Canterlot used to look like further into the past?

The Square was full of ponies of all kinds, talking, laughing, buying and selling wares from stalls around the edges and filling most of the open square.

Frowning softly to myself, I slowly entered the crowd. This was a nightmare? The sun was shining warm far above and the sky was clear of clouds. A rather nice summer day. No monsters running around, no invading armies or dying ponies. It wasn't coming either, the Nightmare was in full swing already.

Strange.

Where is...

Turning my head I looked at the statue. That was not a statue. Celestia was standing in it's normal place, her wings spread high and wide, her head raised. She wasn't moving a feather, even in the wind. Even her mane and tail were still, like frozen in time.

What.

Frowning I slowly started to make my way towards her and I started to notice things. The closer I got, the stranger things went. Ponies moving a bit faster around me, laughs and talks become briefer the closer I got.

By the time I stood before her, I saw there was a empty space around the large raised marble square she was standing on. Nobody entered it. All around me ponies were... not moving faster anymore, barely even moving at normal speed.

But they were aging. Young ponies getting closer and in a blink of a eye they just turned old and wrinkly and then they were gone. Most that tried never managed to get to Celestia, they just turned to dust, disappeared and was replaced before they even reached her.

As I watched one managed to put his hoof against her leg for a second before he also turned to dust and disappeared. As I watched hundreds, thousands and ponies grew up, become adults and died. Only a few even managed to even touch her and then they were also gone.

She wasn't crying, she was just standing there without moving a feather as she watches the crowd, unable to see me. Her face was neutral, controlled. But it was there... the terror, sorrow, the loneliness. Her eyes...

Pain.

She hated this.

But through it all, she didn't move. She couldn't. Time went on and mortal ponies withered to dust and died and there was nothing she could do to stop them, to hold on. So she stood there, she was their rock, their center point.

This was no Night Terror. It was too... personal for that. Celestia was having a real nightmare.

I hesitated. No Night Terror, but I couldn't just leave her here. She deserved better.

A lot better.

Taking a slow breath, I then tapped my right front hoof against the marble and suddenly we were alone, the ponies in the square dissipated as a circle of light radiated away from me as I solidified the dream and I brought Celestia to full consciousness in it. If I didn't solidify it before having her realize it was a dream there was a large chance it would collapse into nothing. In this case it wouldn't have been a bad thing, but she deserved to know I was here.

Celestia startled and took a half step back as she looked around before blinking down at me, “...Blank Page.” she finally said.

I bowed down for her, “Yes, Princess. I apologize for the intrusion. I was hunting for Night Terrors.”

She folded her wings and carefully stepped down from the raised marble, “I was unaware you were so far advanced in the art of dream magic.” she said softly.

“It turned out to be a school of magic I had talent in.” I admitted, “Your dream felt like it could have been infested. It is not. I... just didn't think I could just leave you to it. You deserve better than that.”

Celestia regarded me for a long moment, her face inscrutable before she sighed, “You may get up, Page. I am not angry with you. You meant well.”

Getting to my hooves, I sat down as I looked around the now empty square, not quite sure what so say next.

Celestia was the one to break the silence, “It is a reoccurring dream.” she finally said quietly, “Not often. Can be months between times. Years even. But it always returns.”

I nodded, “Everyone has those.”

“They do.” She agreed, her mane and tail moving in a wind only she could feel, “It is... a unpleasant one.”

“Nightmares usually are.” I agreed in turn before I looked up at the large alicorn, “I would never tell anypony else anything I see inside a dream. I follow the same code as Luna on that.”

Celestia actually smiled softly, “I never thought you would, my friend.” as she laid down, bringing herself down to my eye level, “Now when I am not trapped in the grasp of the dream, I can see the symbolism in it all. For once, it is quite clear, it fades when you wake up.”

What do I even say to that?

“...You are not alone you know.” I answered quietly after a moment of looking down at the marble ground, “Luna, Twilight Sparkle, Princess Candace. They are as long-lived as you are, Celestia.”

“Feelings of the heart are rarely swayed by logic. And for a long time, I was. It takes... time.” Celestia said quietly, looking down on the marble.

I nodded. She was very right about that.

“I want to apologize again. I'm sorry for intrudi...”

“I'm not.” Celestia interrupted me, “I trust you to keep it private and the dream would have kept going for quite some time. I'm thankful that you stopped it.” before she sighed softly, “I admit, I am unable to do such a thing myself. My abilities for dream magic is... lacking. It is the opposite of my realm of powers.”

“Not everyone is good at everything. Even Princesses.”

That got a small laugh from her, “Too true.”

“How do you feel, Princess?”

Celestia shifted her wings and smiled softly, “A bit embarrassed, but better. Will I remember this tomorrow?”

I nodded, “Of course. Solidifying the dream like this also make it certain you will remember it. And this seemed like a dream you would remember anyway.”

Nodding, Celestia looked around, “Can you change the environment please?”

A small application of magic and will and the dream shifted, flowing out from beneath me until we were laying on the grass in a sun lit meadow instead with butterflies all around, moving from flower to flower, “Better?”

“Much. Thank you, Page.” She said as she looked around, feeling the grass beneath her.

Another small amount of magic and a some more will locked the dream in. She would be having this dream until she woke up. Give her a moment to simply relax.

Getting to my hooves, I sighed softly, “I should be taking my leave then and stop bothering you, Princess.”

“Good night, Page. And thank you.” She answered and got up as well, giving me a small nuzzle between the ears, “Come see me tomorrow once you are awake. I wish to speak to you regarding Sunset Shimmer.”

“Of course. Sweet Dreams, Celestia.” I said and released the solidification of the dream. There was no visual change, but Celestia seemed confused for half a second, her eyes simply gliding past me before she turned and walked through the grass, bending down to smell a flower.

I regarded her for a moment before I turned and walked through a silver circle, leaving her to her dream.