Young dragons, while not as difficult as Drax, proved to be troublesome sparring partners when coming at Fear in a group, enough to leave him winded if he didn't take time to catch his breath now and then. The dull but colorful whelps zoomed by him, using monkey style martial arts to drive him into a corner.

That happened on more than one occasion.

Even with shadows, it was difficult to avoid getting play-bit by a dragon now and then, though he always tried to keep behind the majority of them. It showed he had work to do when facing off against multiple high strength opponents, but Drax was walking him through some tactics. Always stay behind his enemy, never between. Use all his limbs. When thrust into the air use the opponent to launch off with kicks and use telekinesis like wings to return to the fight. Use shadows as a way to wind around your enemy.

Fear already knew most of that, but putting it into practice against young dragons being trained by Drax himself was... difficult.

That wasn't the only thing Fear had been up to as wings tried to bap him on the head, claws tried to prick his body, and tails attempted to sweep his legs out from under him or conk him on the face. Faith had been busy talking with the dragons and telling them alllll about Dryfield. Gentler entertained himself trying to woo drakainas (and occasionally succeeding, at one point getting his fur completely rustled and messy from a threesome, nearly breaking his hip). And Acrid learned history and a little lava manipulation (it had rocks in it!) from Garyld. During all that time Fear had been finally speaking with his family in the dream realm, making plans, and relaxing with the dragons he'd been trying to help, along with repeating his story against Drax when insistently pressed for it. He didn't like talking about it.

Saway congratulated Fear on beating a dragon, becoming a little more hesitant knowing Fear's luck was going to run out eventually. She called his scar a hero's trophy, but was suitably reminded just how mortal Fear was.

Nyx beamed with pride. Fear had... just about mastered his teachings. There was still practice to do, but nonetheless the ancient stallion was impressed by the young stallion's rapid progress. It made him a little woozy to be honest.

Amelio was as calm as she always was nowadays, but something plagued her and Fear could see it in her eyes. She was drifting away from him. Even as excited as Fear was to tell her all about his progress because he valued her opinion over all others, it felt like she was fading from him. Like a mirage or a figment of his mind. Knowing the others rarely spoke with her nowadays didn't help.

Luna was the best though, becoming giddy and prancing around like a foal. It was amazing the kind of energy that healing and acceptance gave.

“Little Fear, you never fail to impress me nowadays. And I have a feeling your journeys are going to keep doing so.” Luna reached up and ran a hoof through Fear's mane. The colt could make himself larger with his mind if he tried hard enough, but it always left him feeling tired. As is, he barely came up to the alicorn's knee. “Just please be... a little more careful.”

Fear scoffed.

“Fear.” Luna uttered with utter seriousness, glaring at him. “Your recklessness is going to get you hurt. You need to at least consider your options a little more carefully before you go barreling in head first.”

The young stallion narrowed his eyes and pouted, looking off to the side, lower lip jutting out, ears folding back. “Luna, you know I did what I had to do. There was no other way. Danger is imperative sometimes. Necessary to prove yourself.”

Luna rolled her eyes in a wide arch. “And you do not think you could have stood down and waited until he had calmed down for another approach?”

Fear continued looking anywhere but at Luna. “No. Faith's explanation of his personality was accurate, and feeling his soul there was just... no way. He was hurting, and he needed to vent.” He rolled a hoof, twisting it so it faced the ceiling. “Besides, I just keep learning more and more. I can handle anything by this point.”

Luna's gaze was questioning and uncertain, but eventually she spoke again. “Alright, I will trust you.” There was a minor pause between sentences as the mare stewed on that thought. “I finally finished digging in my subconscious memories by the way. I know what the new spell in your sword is supposed to do.”

Fear's eyes settled on Luna's, lips tugging upward. He hopped a little off his forelegs, raising his shoulders and leaning them back, cocking his head and grinning lopsidedly. He recalled what Luna had called the symbol before, what she had gone searching for in her memory. A Sowile, another ancient rune.

“It is an elemental spell, used to bring the power of the world itself into your blade. It can be used in many creative ways, utilizing elements of damage, elements of status, elements of symbolism, elements of detox, healing, protection, venom, anything you can really imagine. So long as it makes up a fragment of the world, you can harness it. I will teach you how.”

Now this was what Fear wanted to hear about! It caused him to tense up, rapt with attention, leaning forward.

“Along with your studies of the flashbang and solar flare, you will need to meditate on the meaning of different aspects of nature. Each aspect of nature, of which there are many, have a specific set of qualities that fit them like a glove. Your quest is to find the qualities that match that slice of nature in order to harness it. A poetic incantation straight from the heart will concentrate its power, similar to all spells. Like fishing, you will be casting a lure in order to drag in a specific facet of life. I taught you what the stars are like, what the sun is like, but now you must contemplate elements of nature.”

Fear glanced away as Luna finished speaking, leaning back and sitting on his haunches, a forehoof coming up and gliding through his mane. He let out a low whistle. “Huh. Okay I guess. Are there any... limits to this? Like what if I think of a bit of nature but it turns out the sword can't wield it?”

Luna's eyes glimmered, her smile reaching untold proportions. “Oh? Is little Fear asking me for explicit help? The colt who says he can do whatever he wants, anything he wants? Can figure out the mysteries of the universe all on his very own?” Luna reached out and poked Fear in the chest.

The young stallion deadpanned. “Luna.” It was curt, a little wild, pulling on times long past and dormant frustrations. “You know that's not what I meant.”

Luna slid past Fear. “You can handle anything by this point, remember little Fear? Your words. not mine.” And with that her body phased out, leaving Fear alone with flicking ears, watching where her body used to be.

He'd be waking up soon. He'd better get to work.

==========================================================================================

Fear's mind wandered while he helped the whelps train again. It was becoming easier and he was getting caught less. It wasn't so much because he was learning anything new, but more because he was becoming more accustomed to applying his techniques instinctively. Gentler had mentioned a famous Abyssinian martial artist once, saying that they didn't fear one cat who knew a thousand kicks, but the cat who had practiced one kick a thousand times.

That was slowly becoming true for Fear. Sure he'd practiced against one opponent many times, and not only that but he'd fought Gentler, Saway, and sometimes Faith. But doing so had made him... complacent.

But now he could focus on his new task while also fighting the young un's. Right now he was thinking about flame. What the element of fire represented. He'd already contemplated different... types of nature. From the insects, to the birds, to actual phenomena in the world, but now he was contemplating one at a time. What did fire represent? It represented warmth, charring. It could cauterize wounds and destroy a forest – Luna had shown him a forest fire once out of his curiosity. Flames could ignite on the simplest things, could melt the strongest of metals, and was capable of evaporating water into steam. It changed the status of its environment through sheer power. Fire was strength. He had refrained from discussing how dragons spouted flames, but he was certain that making them hotter relied on mindset and manipulation of magic.

Fear got back on track. What was flame? Pure energy. It masked itself as a living force, and had all the traits of a lifeform, but that was nothing more than a disguise. Fire was a simulacrum of something greater than itself, a mirror of everything that could be. He was sure other elements must've had that trait, but fire specifically had it too. Fire was meant to be strong, wild, and out of control.

He was meant to invoke it, harness it, control it. Live in harmony with it. Request of it, guide it, and extinguish it with thought alone. Searing flames could both be grown with wind, and squelched with wind. Different types of fire, from what he'd learned from Storm, could be put out in different ways. Oil with salt but not water, wood with water but not salt. Fire was situational like him.

Fear decided he'd done enough thinking, and was ready to try and summon it within his sword. The aspect of flame would be of use.

==========================================================================================

It turned out just thinking about the concept deeply wasn't enough. Saway and Nyx wouldn't reveal the answer, just grinning and walking off when he asked. It was easier than sticking around telling him 'no' constantly. Asking for help from Faith hadn't been very helpful either aside from her encouragement that he could do anything he set his mind to if he kept at it.

“Keep it up Fear, I can tell you're close, just have faith!” And with that the mare gave him a wink.

Gentler was a little more helpful.

“Hmm... well I don't know about your sword.” The cat's arms were crossed, his snout wriggling, whiskers quivering. “But I know in nature there is a hint of every element inside of it. Something that allows it to be influenced. Even in the heart of a leaf back in Abyssinia, if you meditate on it long enough, you can find air, flying, fire, and so many other fundamental aspects within it. From the ability to be cast away by the wind, to the fire of life sprouting inside. Everything is in everything. What you're trying to do is call upon a single force, isolating it inside a bubble and requesting it to follow your command, as you've already figured out.”

Helpful, but not the answer he needed on further experimentation. Trying to pull elements from the world around him wasn't working. But a solution was slowly growing on him, and he decided to ask Acrid about his earth manipulation in order to confirm it.

“My earth manipulation? Well... it's inside of me already. The connection with that force of nature lives within me and I live within it. We are one.”

“Hmm...” Fear rubbed his chin with a hoof, staring at the ground while sitting on his haunches, holding his belly with the other hoof. “That makes sense. I'm thinking maybe it lives within the sword, but I've tried to pull it out forcefully so... maybe I'm missing something integral?” Fear looked up at him.

Acrid shrugged. “I don't know Fear. All I know is my abilities require a keen mind and emotional integrity to control. The forces listen to your will, but if it doesn't think you're a worthy host it won't obey. The reason my benefactors were looking for earth ponies was because they wanted those already at home with earth pony magic. Pegasi may focus on weather phenomenon but earth ponies inherently understand the vitality of all living things.”

Fear was grinning like a doofus, a feeling that he'd figured out the answer to his problem. His sword was, in a way, sentient with a sort of AI made by ponies from the past, and reinforced by those who'd wielded it. Unicorns were adept with mental strength after all. Then he frowned and cocked his head to the side. “Wait, then how are you able to use magic if earth ponies are all about vitality?” Storm had... taught him this before, but it hadn't occurred to him that it didn't make much sense.

Acrid smiled and shrugged a shoulder. “Because Fear, I was experimented on. While I may be connected deeply with the elements, I needed...” The stallion looked off to the side nervously. “Leylines exposed to weather and nature like a pegasus. There was... experimentation, magical surgery, that kinda thing.” He rolled a hoof. “While I may be connected to the heart, the vitality of life itself and the power of the earth, I didn't have the right make-up to fully command.”

Fear considered that, and was certain he knew the answer to his little dilemma by now. All he had to do was meditate.

It couldn't be that easy, right? His options were growing more limited. But because of it, the finish line was in reach.

==========================================================================================

Diving into a sword with one's mind wasn't impossible, but it was very difficult. Without Fear's practice meditating and pushing out his reality, without the experience drifting into the world of dreams, it'd probably be far beyond his ability. But as his consciousness filtered from his mind like a form of sleep, following the path his magic laid out for him, he was able to enter the blade that had a mind of its own.

It wasn't exactly what Fear expected it to look like. Though in all honesty he wasn't sure what he'd expected.

It was an alicorn first and foremost, exactly as small as Fear was, with a rather sturdy, regal looking horn. Powerful, majestic wings curled at its side. It had the same color as Fear's fur, and while its mane and tail had the same curls and twists, it was far longer and far prettier, like one would imagine a prince having. One would expect, with such hair for it to have scars lining its body, but there were none to speak of. Its body was pristine and Fear knew in his heart that was because he'd been maintaining the sword with his positive emotions.

Fear cocked his head to the side a little, or at least what he imagined was his head. He wasn't sure he was really here of if he was daydreaming.

The only marking on the alicorn's body was its cutiemark, a chunk of prismatic ore that seemed more like a high quality three dimensional hologram than a two dimensional tattoo. It seemed to exist inside of its body, and outside at the same time, without bulging outward with actual texture. By far the strangest facet about this creature, this entity, was on its face. It had a mask made of solid mirror, with one n-shaped hole, like a happy crescent, and the other a furious-looking slit. It reflected Fear's face back at him, though it was a little muddled and fuzzy. The mask itself had a pair of spike-like horns protruding from the top, giving it an oriental, though almost European vibe.

That wasn't quite what surprised Fear the most. While he'd always sensed a personality emitting from his weapon, he'd never quite experienced its soul like he could now. He heard various traits. It was royal, tall (despite being so small), and graceful like Luna, with a lingering sense of humor about to the point Fear was certain it'd crack a joke. At the same time, it had Saway's ferocity, the feeling that any second it'd leap at him viciously. A heavy sensation that it was a force to be reckoned with, and it had the confidence of one who'd spent a long time fighting enemies more powerful than it.

Fear wasn't sure if that was him in there or Saway.

It also had Amelio's affection for him, bordering on obsession. It was thick, cloying, and attractive, making him flick his ears at the strange feeling welling up inside of him. A weird feeling, being so attractive to someone you hardly knew. Not altogether unpleasant for someone who'd spent much of his life hating himself, but still a tad on the creepy side. Alongside it was Amelio's proper posture and a twinge of beauty and... something hiding in the shadows waiting to be revealed. Fear noticed after the fact that its mane and tail seemed to glimmer ever so slightly.

Suffice to say, the young stallion was taken aback by seeing an actual figure. It took awhile, but after examining him it finally spoke.

“I did not expect a wielder to ever come before me. I always supposed that I would be nothing more than a tool. Fearei Shatter, I have heard your soul, and I have beeing paying attention to your struggles. I know what it is you seek of me, but I would like to hear it straight from the source.” There was a pause, its eyes seeming to squint as it leaned forward, staring into his soul. “Why are you here?” A hint of curiosity plagued its heavy, deep and charming voice. It sounded as much an alicorn as it was.

Fear was at a loss for words, realizing in hindsight that it also had qualities of himself deeply ingrained. It had his willingness to spur into action at the drop of a pin, the desire to fly to the defense of those who needed it, and it also had a power resonating within it that reminded Fear of himself had he never been damaged but had still acquired strength anyway. A gentle, compassionate spirit. Fear's eyes narrowed, and he asked the first question that came to mind. “What is your name? I don't want to call you sword, and I feel like you deserve to be treated as an equal, not a slave. I may be here to request power from you, but if we're going to work together I want to... know you a little more.”

“It has been a long time since I even thought of such things,” the sword responded with surprise in its voice, leaning away due to being taken aback. It didn't explicitly widen its eyes, but Fear got the impression it somehow was anyway. A figment of his imagination, but a very prominent one. “You always seemed so content with assuming I was some kind of semi-sentient brick. Why start getting to know me now?”

The young stallion shrugged a shoulder and grinned, whipping a lock of hair from his eyes with a hoof. “Well, for one thing, it seems stupid of me to ignore you now that I know there's a figure deep down inside of here. And two, and more selfishly, I want a name to call from now on when I'm wielding you. If that's okay with you? I... assume you're not the kind of creature to just remain nameless due to some past trauma. You don't seem... like you can be traumatized.”

The entity was thoughtful. “You are a considerate stallion, albeit lacking confidence. You have determination, yet you are tentative. While a pleasant quality sometimes, you will need to learn how to regain the strength that was stolen from you so long ago.” The alicorn nodded its head. “And yes, I can be traumatized, but not without extreme misuse by a figure who seeks only to harm the minds of others, and control all they come across.”

A memory flit across Fear's mind of fighting his sister to the death in an alternate timeline, deep within a crystalline cavern, using a solar themed sword that...

“That would be one of my brothers in arms.” Unsurprising it had read his mind, Fear mused. “Though not from this reality for certain. You are a strange existence, Fearei Shatter. I admire you, and I am happy you have chosen to wield me. I am glad that you have chosen your current path. Do not falter, and I shall assist you as much as I am able from here until we must part ways, whenever may that be.” The figure nodded. “As for my name, you can call me Shaybna.”

Feminine sounding, but powerful, Fear thought. Shaybna seemed amused by it. “Um, okay I guess. It's nice to officially meet you Shaybna. Does it have a meaning?”

“I spelled it in your mind the way you would pronounce it. It has a meaning, but I will probably never tell you.” There was a faint whiff of both Amelio's and Luna's sass in that single moment. If Fear could place a gesture to the utterance, it would have reminded Fear of Gentler shushing him with a finger.

“Alright I guess. Shaybna it is. I don't suppose you know how to harness the elements of the world?” Fear's query was expected. Shaybna knew her wielder well, yet... there were always moments for surprise.

“Just call upon me, ruminate on the concept you wish to wield, and I will do my best. It may take most unicorns a few years to learn elemental spells under the majority of circumstance, but due to the magical potential you have infused me with, I have remembered my programmed skillset.” A pregnant pause as Fear stewed on all of what had happened. “Until we visit one another again Fear. I will try not to distract you from your missions.”

“Shaybna, if you ever wanna talk,” Fear began, “you're more than welcome to contact me. I don't want you to feel like you're alone in the world, trapped in this sword, never to leave and see new sights.”

As Shaybna dispersed, her voice rang out. “Fear. You are my eyes in the world. As long as you continue feeding me your emotional presence, I will be content. We are one. And whenever we must part ways, I accept that outcome. There will be others.”

Fear hummed and pulled back from the daydream-like state. He'd be having a nice conversation with Luna tonight.

==========================================================================================

“Fearei, I'm impressed,” Luna cooed, a low purr in her tone as she looked down on Fear with lidded eyes. “I did not expect you to use your skill with meditation on the sword so quickly. You are indeed a quick study. Maybe not naturally intelligent...”

Fear huffed.

“But once given the proper tools, you certainly run with them.” Rolling her shoulders, Luna was cut off before she could continue.

“Well to be honest I had a biiiiiit of help,” Fear emphasized by lifting his hoof up high, then nearing it to the ground bit by bit. “Gentler and Acrid both gave and confirmed the idea for me. I probably wouldn't have thought to examine the sword closer otherwise. They did the real brunt of the work.”

Luna's lips twitched, pulling upward even further. A playful grin danced across her face as she blinked once. “Honest too.” Luna's echo of a heart fluttered. “You remind me of another unicorn I once knew closely, or... maybe not as close as I should have been.” Her hoof twisted upward a bit, and she arched her eyes, smile twisting into a frown for the barest of moments. “It is good that you know where to give credit where credit is due, little Fear, you have certainly grown. I am not sure I should be calling you 'little' anymore, even if it is affectionate.”

Fear was stuck on her other words. “I remind you of someone? Who?”

Luna chortled, head held high. “And like always you hyper focus on what interests you the most.” A sigh escaped her lips. “You remind me of an old friend. Smart, kind, socially inhibited. Always trying to do the right thing, surprising others, going beyond expectations. A knack for magic and managing to slip into the cracks of the hardest hearts like moisture and ice breaking apart asphalt.” Luna shook her head in disbelief, closing her eyes. There was a knowing countenance about her.

Fear considered that with dim eyes, thinking back on who she could be referring to, knowing this was a game. She'd probably told him of somepony like this before, and he was supposed to remember. She wouldn't have such a playful nature radiating from her otherwise. As his eyes looked inward, his mind scanned over every creature Luna had told him about during her time alive. Due to an associative memory, it only took ten seconds for him to alight on the perch that was a name. “Twilight Sparkle?”

Luna shrugged, blushing. “In a manner of speaking, yes. I didn't expect you to remember her, out of all of them. You must have really been paying attention!” Luna was a little chuffed that her game had been solved so easily, and a little embarrassed at having made the comparison in hindsight. It couldn't have been good for Fear's ego, nor was it right to speak so low of the dead. Twilight had accomplished so much. Was Fear worthy of being called similar?

Fear wasn't sure what to make of it, just pushing his lower lip out. “Thanks but... I don't feel comfortable taking titles or following in a pony's footsteps who accomplished so much, whether they made mistakes or not. I'd rather carve my own path. Not be compared, whether for better or worse.” Fear pumped a hoof on the ground, swallowing hard. He wasn't sure why he felt uncomfortable being paired with Twilight. “Twilight was, all in all, a hero. I'm not at that level yet.”

Luna would've let out a sharp breath of air if this were reality. Instead she simply stared at Fear with pity. “Little Fear. It is okay for you to assume the mantle of others, if others bestow them upon you.”

Fear was about to speak, but Luna cut him off with a hoof stomp and a speech.

“You find yourself undeserving of praise. You feel many have given their lives and own well-being to give you a chance at success. You feel like you're a long line of ponies trying their hardest to bring the next generation into paradise. But you feel like you've already messed up, and that you cannot possibly redeem yourself to completion.” Luna leaned to one side and lowered down to Fear's level. “Even at your best, you latch onto my insecurities about comparing you to one of my friends and use it to fuel your own. Without even thinking, you push yourself down in order to not sully the reputations of those who have come before you, whether they have done wrong or not.”

Fear mumbled something under his breath, staring at the ground.

“You are a compassionate bleeding heart, even with the knowledge that you must sometimes kill because there is not enough time for negotiations.” Luna wrapped a foreleg around his neck and pulled him against her chest. It didn't smell, but it felt like grace. An abstract sensation only felt in dreams and by empaths. “Fear. If you really wish, I am okay with you standing on the same pedestal as great heroes of the past.”

The young stallion looked up at Luna with watery eyes. “Luna... I can't. I haven't done nearly enough to earn that kind of praise.”

Luna nodded, releasing Fear and standing up. “In time you will, even if not now. Just please, be softer on yourself. You do not need to do everything under the sun and moon in order to prove yourself to those that love you. You are enough as you are. We all have made mistakes.” Luna shot Fear a teasing grin and pat him on the head with a hoof.

Fear rolled his eyes. It made him feel better, but he was embarrassed. He wanted to change the subject. “You know even after all this time spent with dragons you have told me little to nothing about Twilight's assistant Spike. Why is that? He was a dragon too wasn't he? Were there a lot of dragonborn back then acting as assistants?”

“No, actually. According to my sister that was a special situation. Twilight Sparkle was never meant to hatch his egg, it was merely a test of character to see not only how potential students handled failure, but what they could do with their magic at that time. Whether some would blame the test, the testers, give up, become difficult, or any number of other reactions. There is a reason Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns prioritized a written test.” Luna smiled faintly. “Twilight's manifestation of magic was both an accident, and in a way, also destiny.”

Fear's jaw hung open for a moment as he tried to put that together. So it was one of Fate's constants revolving around the magic of destiny and cutie marks? How they play out just happens to be the same each time?

Reading Fear's expression, Luna responded. “I actually would not know for sure. But I am certain that if she were to look into the Crystal Heart at the time, that would have been her unchanged fate, her default state.” Luna looked off to the side, wondering what the default state for their world was. Had it been this wasteland, or something entirely different? What had gone wrong?

“Anyways, about Spike?” Drax had mentioned bits and pieces about the dragon and his role in history, how he'd been Twilight's assistant but had not been of much help throughout the war. Twilight had apparently refused to let experiments be performed on his scales, or anything else really even if it meant helping Equestria's defenses.

“Right,” Luna returned to the subject at hand. “Spike followed Twilight around pretty much everywhere, and he helped keep her life organized. Oversaw the logistics of her ministry and, along with Pinkie Pie, helped plan occasional get-togethers. Made sure information got where it needed to. Also had a tendency to stand up for her and encourage her in moments where she was holding the world on her shoulders and enduring the backlash from those she'd sworn to protect and serve. Even when all her friends were disconnected from her with their own ministries, he remained. He cheered her up when the atrocities of the war made her weary and grew heavy on her mind. He was a break from all of it, and a symbol of innocence long past.” She hummed. “The most I know about Spike is he went to sleep in a tall mountain soon before the bombs dropped, so he was not able to be with Twilight in her final moments.” There was a pause. “I do believe Twilight was working on something special in her spare time within that mountain, though she did not let me in on it much, if at all. I don't recall. Hmm...” Luna tapped her chin with a hoof, looking up and to the side. “Anyways, Spike is awake now. And hasn't slept since. I have no clue what he has been up to, but I am sure he has been beside himself in grief after all that has happened.”

Fear's eyes narrowed, and he realized he ought to ask Discord if he knew anything about it. He'd been hanging around for a long time after all, doing who knew what.

Luna continued, and Fear didn't expect it. “You know, little Fear. Spike was hurt the hardest out of all of us, but he was also the strongest of us all. Grew up the most, in such a horrid way, due to the evil of the world and its rapid progress. He watched a figure that was not only a friend and a sister, but also a mother, slowly deteriorate as she dealt with the stressors of life, and also dealt with the horrors of war and everything it meant to fight for a seemingly worthless cause. A cause deep down he might not've even believed in due to Twilight confiding in him. Spike gave his all in service to his nation, to Twilight. He was loyal, and never asked for the kind of power those around him wielded. He just wanted to be kind and help others.” The alicorn's eyes brightened a bit, staring at Fear. “It reminds me of who you are deep down, when the trauma is pushed to the side.” Luna pursed her lips and paused. “I am sure that when you discard all of it, truly, instead of just moving past it, you will find a well of strength you never before expected.”

Fear dwelled on that for a moment with glassy eyes. Was that even possible? “I'm sure Spike is still around, and soon enough he'll seize the closure he needs. We're all going to heal, I promise it. Even if it's in death, we're going to recover from all of this and come out better for it, in spite of it.”

Luna's lips twisted into a smile and she couldn't help but admire Fear's determination. A satisfied glint shrouded her eyes. “I think you are truly ready to help me little Fear. Though it might be a little... dangerous. You-”

Fear stomped a hoof. “Ready for what? I'm ready for anything Luna.”

A phantom knot formed in Luna's phantom gut. There was a terrible sense of trepidation welling up inside of her. “You remember the Surreal I told you about, correct?”

Fear nodded emphatically, taking a step forward. “I definitely do!” He squeaked. “What about 'em?”

“They have been causing incessant nightmares for the ponies of the wasteland and, I suspect, even those who are non-equine. I also theorize that the only reason they do not bathe their victims in nightmare eternal is due to the fact they need them refreshed.” She looked off to the side. “They are becoming far more potent than I can manage. They are clearly feeding on the subconscious of others in order to gather power, but for what I have no idea.” Luna's lips pursed and screwed up. “I cannot counter them all on my own at the moment, and I risk destroying myself permanently, especially if they find this dreambubble.” She looked back to him. “I was hoping I could send you into the thick of things in order to scout around, see what you could find.”

Fear grinned with a sense of superiority, confidence returning to the surface, even if it was faux. “I sure can! Just bring me wherever and I'll do whatever!”

Luna smiled faintly, leaning down toward the small young stallion. “Thank you for this little Fear, but please, be careful. They have not been fighting back as much as I am certain they can. I have a feeling they can truly consume consciousness and will do the same to any who get too close to them.”

Fear twisted a hoof and leaned to one side. “I can do it, don't worry. After Drax I should be capable of pretty much anything.”

==========================================================================================

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rwAvUvvQzQ

The journey had been rather short, more like a dual teleportation across the liminal space than anything else. “This is where we must part ways,” Luna stated as Fear got his bearings, looking around then up. “I've traced them to this dreambubble, but I dare not intrude out of fear they suss me out.” She floated there alongside Fear, tapping her horn against him and coating him in a field of dreamkiller. “I will also be removing the spell tying you to my dreambubble for the time being. All you must do is focus on me and call out my name, and one of my copies will find you.” Luna murmured her next part. “Good luck, little Fear.”

And with that the alicorn teleported away, leaving Fear hovering in a black void below a giant prismatic swirl dreambubble, looking similar to ribbon ice cream, but with many more hues. Fear didn't have a chance to talk to Luna again, but in actuality all had been said. He knew she'd needed to escape.

All he had to do was go in, and leave. It'd be simple.

So why did he feel frayed nerves? Fear grit his teeth and plunged headfirst, diving toward the dream bubble at a supersonic pace, the shell approaching at a snail's pace. It just kept growing larger, and larger... until it was all encompassing his view and felt more like broiling sun than a dreambubble. How was this even possible?

Fear just kept going and slammed into the outer rim, slicing clean through as the shell tried to keep him out, the field flexing inward, then popping. The young stallion was in.

And it was insanity at first sight. All Fear could see around him was bright, flashing water crunching down on top of him, smothering him like an oppressive headache, tearing into his soul and making his body shimmer with all the colors of the rainbow and then some. It flickered in his view like the water from Land of Light and Rain, beaming into his eyes and threatening to cause an epileptic fit. Fear held his breath, pursing his lips together in real life and in the dream. It felt real, the moisture and the cloying nature of the water. How it stung his eyes, how it seared into his retinas.

Fear realized the surface was so distant, so far off, he was probably going to drown before he got there.

The young stallion undulated his body under the surface, flailing like a swimming dolphin, his body writhing with sinuous motion that propelled him even faster as his mind took him farther.

His lungs hurt, ached. His muscles throbbed. He didn't dare take a breath in case this water was dangerous in its own right, somehow tainted with the consciousness of the Surreal. What even were they? Fear slapped his forelegs over his mouth as bubbles escaped his snout and drifted to the surface. It seemed so terribly far. Fear's chest spasmed, his larynx and cheeks swelled. His eyes turned bloodshot and his face became blue under the fur. Fear's movements slowed, becoming sluggish and lethargic. Fear's eyes fell to half mast and while he continued moving, his head hurt like Tartarus. Fear reached up for the surface, seeming farther away than when he started. His confidence faltered, and as his eyes widened and bulged out, Fear gasped for air on reflex, his brain telling him that breathing and risking pulling water in his lungs was far preferable to not breathing at all.

The young stallion's eyes rolled up into the back of his head and he jerked to the side, his hindlegs kicking out, lungs burning from the water flooding in. His forelegs swept wildly at nothing, more bubbles escaping his gaping mouth as panic surged through him, feeling his death coming to him.

This was a dream right?

His lungs felt scratchy, like they were getting scraped up. Fear was descending, unable to float in the slightest from the lack of air inside of him. With vision dimming, Fear didn't know what to do. Was he dying in reality too? As blackness encroached, panic being the only thing remaining in his heart and mind, Fear saw the surface rapidly approaching, less like he was ascending and more like the water level was coming down to greet him.

Coming fast.

Too fast!

As Fear slammed into the surface he shielded his face with his forelegs, unable to move very quickly, and was suddenly flying and spiraling through the air, the environment above twisting around him so fast it was dizzying.

Squeezing his eyes shut from just how much whirling vertigo he was experiencing, the nausea creeping up on him quickly, Fear hurled in a spinning arc, both in reality and in his dream as he fell back toward the water he'd just been ejected from.

All Fear could see was sunlight, golden and orange sands, lustrous palm trees, and a Tropico-like palace of sultry, bright and angry colors that incarnated the eyes as much as the flickering hues of the water down below. No clouds. Just blue and purple skies.

Fear hit the water hard, nearly breaking every bone in his body, able to feel his form shudder under the twisting impact, one leg under him, the other out to the side, hindlegs above him. He struggled to right himself and push to the surface, wheezing and hacking out globs and streams of water from his larynx, squirting out and flaring brightly as it mixed with the sea water around him. Fear gasped for air and tried to establish his bearings.

He was close to a white marble dock, glittering like crystal, and it nearly blinded him along with all the other lights and colors. While Fear didn't know how to swim in reality, he was able to do it with sheer will, finding his way to the edge and using a combination of telekinesis and brute strength to haul himself up and out.

Shaking himself off of water, Fear finally noticed the sheer grandeur spliced between the atrocious chromatic appearance surrounding him. The palace would remind him of a temple of worship but also a place where a czar or el presidente might rule, if he had the right context to compare it to that anyway. For Fear it was completely new. The sands looked almost like snow from some angles. If it wasn't for the color it might as well have been that or glittering chalk powder. The young stallion looked around as he walked forward, not seeing anyone to greet him, or that knew of his presence.

The place was empty.

Fear's sixth sense was hardly working. Felt like there was a block. Going through the water and its crushing pressure left his brain feeling more ache than sense. It didn't hurt, but the barrier might as well have. As Fear continued focusing on the area around him, he noticed a keen dissonance in the sounds. While there certainly was noise on further examination, it was a fluttering sensation, as if he were wearing headphones and the direction the sound came from was constantly shifting. It drew his attention around in circles in a maddening way.

And the first step Fear took, as his hoof hit the pier, he nearly slipped as if walking on ice. It was less that it was slippery, and more that the textures underneath him were now moving as if they were on a conveyor belt. It felt incredibly disorienting, and Fear was sure he was supposed to be taken along for the ride, but instead everything was just sliding under him while he stayed in place.

The next step Fear took, as if the world around him was having a hard time loading properly, the young stallion felt as though he'd become bigger, or swollen. It was hard to speak, hard to see. He was sure he was going to throw up again. He had to get out of here fast.

Fear broke out into a gallop toward the palace under the surrealist sky. Nearing was just as disorienting as the moving ground, as it looked farther away than it turned out to be. It was big, but... just reaching out allowed him to touch the door without straining himself despite looking extremely far away. Entering through the door, he found the corridor just inside twisted and turned into place like a living, breathing creature, before righting itself out, allowing him deeper in.

Past that, it became incredibly overwhelming. The lobby was full of ponies(?) that didn't even register Fear's existence. Everything felt like mismatched pieces of a puzzle crammed together. Everyone within seemed busy going about their own business, whatever that was, or maybe they were just relaxing and preparing to head out to the beach? There were sounds flooding the interior, echoing off the walls, everything sounding vaguely corrupted, making Fear clap his ears down onto his skull. Some of it all sounded like repeating stuck records, or radios incessantly switching between broadcasts, making the tone and pitch of every single word, be it in a group or with the employees, asynchronous and discordant. Sometimes unknown creatures slithered out from under couches, around plants, and slipping out of walls like it was nothing, like it was all an illusion. Fear planted himself down on his haunches and tried not to throw up, especially at the sight of the bodies themselves. Teeth and eyes floating out of place, grotesque and overly detailed. Body parts flicking and tumbling about before resetting, sometimes spinning out of place in a strange fashion before reorienting again.

Fear didn't like crowds he wasn't prepared for, and it made him panicked and nervous. Watching more and more seem to come in just thrust a terror upon him the likes of which he'd not experienced in awhile. He didn't know when it'd end, and that unknown punched something through his heart he couldn't describe but sent him into a tizzy anyway.

Bolting into a sprint, Fear ran up the stairs leading to the upper level, going anywhere at random, bypassing someone who was backwards long jumping a few times before zooming up the stairs right past him. First he was ahead, then the other was. Fear's cheeks bulged out and he nearly vomitted. Too many ponies. His flesh was alight, tingling from sensory overload. He swept his head around, diving into another room, passing by more creatures, primarily equines, who had crumbs missing from their bodies, making them look dithered and impossible. A flickering lag surrounded him, making it feel like he was jumping about, and sometimes it affected everything but him, as if the reality was struggling to keep up with him.

Fear squeezed his eyes shut and screamed as he bust through a door he hadn't even seen coming, just suddenly appearing in front of him like it'd rushed up to greet him. His heart hammered in his chest, he could feel it in waking despite feeling entirely disconnected from his form. His hooves trembled under him, and he slammed the door closed behind him, trying to calm down. The world around him, all the furniture and planters in this new room vibrated as if in excitement, some spinning in place and nearly collapsing, or at least appearing as though they should be. Instead they completely ignored gravity while at the same time being beholden to it enough to keep them stuck to the ground. The young stallion's chest rose and fell rapidly, feeling as though he were stuck in a corrupted game full of terrifying glitches. He had no familiarity with such things, so it was all the more horrifying to see the reality he knew and loved being broken down piece by piece until it was nothing but clown vomit.

As Fear finally got his bearings, he noticed someone staring at him from behind a heavy looking iron-wrought desk, fancifully crafted, engraved, and embossed with various godly animals. He then did a double take.

That someone across the desk was Linebreiker, albeit twisted and distorted. “BREIKER!?” Fear shouted in disbelief, lunging forward, not quite snarling. There was a twinge of hope, and a twinge of despair to his voice. Her blonde hair and green body was unmistakable. It was Breiker, even if surreal.

“No.” The figure stated simply. “Not quite.” Its voice was definitely Breiker's, but fuzzy and like it was coming from an out of range radio. Fear could hear it reverberating in his skull. Come to think of it, Fear could not feel her intent, nor her soul. He saw, but he didn't see. “You are merely viewing a mirror image of what you wish to see, Fearei Shatter.” Breiker(?) leaned forward and narrowed her eyes at Fear. There was a much different presence to this mare, so it couldn't be Breiker.

Fear relaxed slightly, then rolled his shoulders and grit his teeth. “You seem to be the only one who can genuinely notice me. Everyone else was far too busy with... other things.” There was a lull in conversation. 'Breiker' was analyzing Fear, Fear was analyzing 'Breiker.' “So if you're not Breiker, and I'm only seeing what you want me to see...” Fear grunted and cringed as he saw one of the figure's legs twist and pop, before it stood up and tossed the desk to the side. It slid over the ground like the maroon carpet was made of ice, and the desk itself was lighter than air, even though it looked heavier than lead. “What are you? And how do you know my name?” Fear took a step back.

“I don't think you've quite earned that information, do you?” The filly-like mare lifted an eyebrow, and faux-Breiker stood there for a moment as its teeth fell out of its mouth in pieces, before a gnarly set of fangs grew out of the gums in their place, dripping green venom onto the ground.

Fear was obviously perturbed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_jgxJRysyA

“Given you are the intruder, I think you should be answering to me. Why are you in our domain? How did you find us? Where did you c...” The faux filly's eyebrows rose and she grinned from ear to ear like her lips had been split apart, its muzzle flattening into a plate-like face. Its teeth were stained with lime green ooze. “You smell of Luna.” There was an aroused tone to the voice, and a full body shudder accompanied it.

Fear backed up into the door.

“I think we'll make an example of you. If you are truly friends with her, then when you don't come back to her she'll learn to stop meddling in our affairs.”

Fear didn't see the attack coming.

Faux-Breiker lunged at Fear, opening its mouth up to unimaginable proportions and biting down on his shoulder.

Fear cried out, lifted a foreleg up, and struck the creature in the temple with as much force as his mind could muster, throwing, shrugging and jerking to the side in the process, throwing her to the ground.

Faux-Breiker laughed in an almost... erotic manner as she collapsed and got back up, wiping her face with a foreleg. No blood was on her teeth but...

The young stallion's form sagged to the side. He immediately felt incredibly tired, like he couldn't keep his eyes open in the dream. There was green goo oozing out the fang marks embedded in his shoulder. Fear quickly swept off the ground and circled around his opponent.

Faux-Breiker slid into the floor.

Fear's mind went on full alert, as alert as he could be in his sudden exhaustion, jaw hanging open. He knew based on methods of prediction where she had not only gone, but where she would appear. His mind made him weightless by flicking a switch in his consciousness like Nyx had taught him, jumping into the air like he was on the moon and building a spell up in his horn. Plasma secreted off the tip in a ball.

Faux-Breiker came up swiftly.

Fear harnessed the light coming in through the window and fired the mini solar flare spell at the ground, right at Faux-Breiker, intending to incinerate her on contact. Things were far easier to manipulate in dreams.

The mare's body became incorporeal and phased right through the attack.

Fear's eyes bulged out, widening.

Faux-Breiker phased through Fear next as he flailed in the air. As she appeared behind him, solidifying herself, she brought an extended hoof out and slammed it into the back of Fear's neck, sending him plummeting to the ground.

Fear crumpled like a sack of powderized bricks against the carpet, and would have a broken neck if this had been reality. Still, he felt a very real ache in the back of his spine, sweeping down through the vertebra. He felt even more tired. His body was starting to convulse intermittently, jerking to the side. Fear quickly rolled out from under where Faux-Breiker was coming down onto him.

The floor cratered under the falling figure.

Fear jumped up with all the strength he had left and threw a bladed hoof at her face.

The mare danced to the side and back, summoning a gladius to her side and holding it with the dream-like powers of her mind, swinging it for Fear's neck.

The young stallion ducked, leaped forward, and tried to uppercut the mare's jaw, only for her to take a step back and swing the sword down where he was. He merely swerved to the side, and lunged forward to bury his stubby horn into the flat face's eye.

Faux-Breiker leaned to one side, realizing he was in too close to hit with the sword. Her hoof came up, bent at the elbow, and punched the young stallion in the ribs (no reaction time for him to dip into the shadows), pulling back in an instant like a sucker punch.

Cough.

Fear's eyes nearly popped out of his skull as he stumbled forward in his overreach, another trembling convulsion pumping through him. Fear knew Faux-Breiker would be coming at him from behind, so he swung around, summoning a sword from his horn and cutting the gladius off at the pass, shoving it off and to the side as it came down on him. The sword shoved out of his horn all the way and he brandished it in the air.

The mare let the first gladius disperse into motes of light and summoned a second, stabbing it forward in a thrusting motion.

Fear ducked under it, stepped forward, and gored her in the chest with his short horn, before bringing the sword around and shoving it through the side of her stomach, pulling free a moment later and doing a spin as she backed up in surprise, shoving out his hindlegs and sweeping her fore out from under her.

He was about to finish her off by bringing the point of the sword and puncturing it through the top of her skull, but his body froze up, and his mind failed him, falling to the ground after one final convulsion.

Faux-Breiker was panting and laughing, pushing up onto all fours and brushing herself off as Fear lay on the ground, consciousness throbbing in and out, one eye hanging at half mast, face tensed up. “Hahaha, what a wild fight. You're not half bad.” The mare kicked Fear in the muzzle, crunching it down slightly, making it shove off to the side. He couldn't make a sound. His inner voice wouldn't work.

Fear was dying.

“I'm surprised it took my virus venom so long to work on you. Worthy opponent indeed. You must have a strong will. No matter.”

Fear closed his eyes. He felt something leaking from his ears. It wasn't blood, it was memories. He was forgetting what had just happened, who this was, about Luna, and everyone he cared about. Oblivion was encroaching, and all he felt was panic. Reality leaked from his skull as his consciousness died, his body smoking like an overwhelmed, fan-less computer.

“Good night and goodbye,” She uttered. “If you have a body in the world of the waking, that venom will make sure you never return to it.”

Everything went dark.

Fear died.

==========================================================================================

This was not the first time Fear had a near death experience. But this was the first time it had been so nightmarish. His consciousness falling through nothingness and being caught in the cogs of reincarnation. It was like a waterwheel and he had to struggle to not let himself fall out of his cup and into a new life. He saw all sorts of creatures being born, and he refused to be the one in his barrel of souls to leave it. He didn't want to lose his memories again, didn't want to be pushed into something entirely new.

Fear refused to give up on this life, crying out for someone, anyone to help him, to pull him out of this experience and give him a second chance. His voice echoed among thousands of sleeping souls waiting for a chance at life again. Fear was rebellious, trying to crawl up and out, trying to get to the top, clawing his way to what he hoped was freedom and not just another dumping ground. Like he was inside a junk yard or a recycling center. The panic was paramount, and he never wanted to come back. He wasn't ready! This wasn't his time! Not his time to go...

Struggling even harder, Fear pulled himself out of his cup. Where was his mother? Had she gone through this? Or had she... Fear understood. Maybe she'd moved onto the real afterlife instead of coming back. A grimace settled over his soul as he squirmed through souls and tried with renewed fervor to scramble to the top of the waterwheel of fate, to the top of the reincarnation process and climb out of death. He was determined. Even as terror spread through him, as regret pierced his imaginary heart from the thought of having been wrong about how good he was, and about how powerless he was without his sixth sense and every other weapon at his disposal, he writhed to the top.

But there was no opening at the top.

“Please! Anyone!? Can anyone hear me up there!? Please help me!” Fear cried out with every vibrant fiber of his soul, screaming with his substitute of a destiny. He was imperfect, he made mistakes. But he wouldn't let it end this soon without a fight!

A voice called out to him, a light peeling open from the darkness at the top. Fear felt a weightlessness of his soul and started to rise. “Fear is in the hearts of everyone, courage is only a response. Change is in the hearts of everyone, inspiration is only a choice.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZGkNjKjt80

Fear not only recognized the voice, he recognized the tone. It was Amelio, and that was an incantation to focus magical power. As his body rose to the light, Fear tried to hasten the process, swimming toward the surface and letting his consciousness plunge back into reality.

The young stallion ended up in the treasure room with Amelio as he opened his eyes and sat up, filled with nothing but light and a single vault door leading outward.

“There is the Fear I know and love.” Ameliofate reached out and stroked a hoof over Fear's wild and crazed face. His eyes were shrunk to pinpricks and he was looking around with little cognizance of where he was, just a vague memory of what had happened, breathing hard. Amelio spoke once more as Fear tried to collect himself. “I know I told you I would bring your consciousness back from the brink if you lost it, but I did not expect you to use the opportunity so soon, brother.” There was a chastising tone. “I cannot believe you would let yourself die so easily. That is not the Fearei Shatter I know.”

Fear could feel the reprimand behind it all, He let out a heavy sigh and fell back against his spine again, looking up at the non-existent ceiling made of light. “Meels. Thank you. I don't know how I lost so easily. I guess I wasn't expecting a fight to break out that fast. Maybe I just didn't want to believe Breiker, even a figment of her, would try to kill me.” There was a pause. “I assume you know everything that happened, correct?”

“Correct,” Amelio stated simply. “It looks like you need a lot more practice, foalish brother.” There was a conniving, teasing simper on Amelio's face as she sat on her haunches, forelegs crossed over her chest.

“Yeah yeah, I know. I screwed up bad.” Fear squeezed his eyes shut, his brain throbbing but feeling back to normal. The venom was gone, that much he could tell. “Damn I cannot believe I have to tell Luna how hard I fucked up just now.” His voice was a low drawl, full of embarrassment. “Ugh.” The young stallion pressed his hooves against his eyes and wriggled back and forth. “Aaaaahg! Fuck!! Fuck all of this! I was so close!”

Ame chortled. “You were not even slightly close, Brother. You did not obtain a single hint of information, and you were bit immediately. You are not nearly as careful as Luna. You need to learn to handle yourself better even without your powers, otherwise there will be a day you are truly helpless.” She reached out and bapped Fear's stomach. “It is especially important because I cannot help you again. I told you that. This is a one time only deal, Fearei Shatter. Take care of yourself better. I do not feel good interfering with life and erasing the mistakes of even loved ones. You are lucky I am merciful.”

Sighing deeply, Fear let his legs flop down around him. “Right. I'm sorry Ame. I didn't mean to force you into that position. I know it's uncomfortable. I really didn't want to be... eugh. Reincarnated when I still have so much to do.”

“Then you will have to learn to be much more merciless to your enemies. There is not always a time to talk and debate. Not always a time to gather information. Defeat, then interrogate. Not the other way around.” Amelio settled down on her stomach next to Fear's side. “So, how did you like seeing your next step in the eternal cycle of life? You impressed?”

Fear was vehement. “I fucking hated it.” His voice was sour and aggressive. “I'm not ready to forget everything and move onto a new life. I don't want to forget all these lessons and have to either learn new ones or learn these ones all over again. I don't want to experience new traumas or old traumas all over again. I am so tired of life, Ame.” A sigh escaped Fear's lips. “I don't want to go back there Amelio. I don't even want to move onto the afterlife, whatever it consists of. Even if it's being reborn in another reality, and not the wasteland, I don't want it.” Before he knew it, a dose of terror was striking and gripping his heart. His eyes clenched shut again. “Whew. Guhh...” Fear held his stomach with his forelegs and cringed, trembling. “I don't want it Amelio.”

Amelio gave her brother a knowing smile. “Then try not to die again okay? This is just another step in your journey to becoming incredible.”

Fear huffed. “Well it's not like even this is going to keep me from taking risks. Our Mom named me Fearei Shatter for a reason after all. She wanted me to be better than her. Helps I got our father's recklessness. I'm not going to let a little cowardice keep me from living up to the ideals of a hero.”

His sister stroked over his stomach absently. “That is the spirit, Brother. I knew it would not keep you down for long.” A knowing smile plagued her face. “By the way, Fearei, I had something to tell you. I have been conversing with the gods of our world, and I have recently met the god of hypnagogic space.”

Fear opened an eye to look at Amelio, wondering where this was going.

“His name is Kioku, and he takes the form of a crow more often than not. He told me the Surreal come from the space he inhabits, though he will not let me say anymore, nor will he tell me much more.” A shrug. “He does not like the surreal, and thinks they are a cancer in the realm of sleep, and will eventually kill off everything even if they do not know it.”

The young stallion sighed. “Well, I guess it's even more important that we beat them into the ground in that case. But for now I don't think I should be doing anymore scouting. I don't know. Luna can't risk luring them into this dreambubble but neither can I keep risking my life in a place I'm not at full power.”

Amelio guffawed. “And what was that about not letting terror grip your heart, Brother?”

“Oh shut up, Ame. I'm just trying to be a little safer. I need to practice fighting without the aid of my empathy more before I do that. If there are going to be enemies that put me on even hoofing I'm in desperate need of either a secondary advantage that's guaranteed, or at least a method of overcoming others despite not being able to see them.”

Ame nodded once. “Sensical, Brother. I wish you luck in your endeavor.”

“Thank you. I'm going to need it.” Fear rolled over onto his side, preparing himself for telling Luna about what happened. Saway's opinion of him was probably going to take a blow.

==========================================================================================

Luna had been terrified when she'd learned of what had happened to her student and friend. She was readily agreeable to him staying on the sidelines until he'd practiced fighting without his usual edge in battle. He might have beaten Solanum but there'd been a strong underestimation in that battle. She'd made sure to voice the thought, much to Fear's chagrin. But he knew she was right. She'd have to start using the illusions of the moon and shadows in order to blind him in their training if he was to grow stronger and increase his ability to predict at a faster pace.

Fear's ego had taken a hit, and while Saway wasn't perturbed by his loss, she'd tried to goad him into feeling worse about himself by telling him it was only a matter of time he'd gotten his ass handed to him. Fear didn't latch onto the bait, knowing better and having grown far more than that.

Nyx promised to help Luna a little more with the Surreal, but it was looking bad. Fear could read it on his soul.

Fear rarely kept his mother's radio on, but him not listening didn't stop important broadcasts from going out to the wasteland.

“He-llooooo children of the wasteland! It's your favorite DJ here with some more news of the recent fan favorite Marvelous Spiral! It's taken us awhile to really go through the footage, but it looks like this is a bonafide hero doing his best to keep the peace between all creatures of the wastes. I have no idea what he was doing in the dragon lands, but it seems he's convinced this remnant to leave their home for broader pastures. We'll see what comes of it all, won't we? Now, into the story of how he did it.”

Fear had been reading his new Creation Myth novel off and on during his off time, in order to fall asleep easier. It gave him ideas for some new spells... if he could only figure out how to replicate the strange source of magic portrayed in the books. Oh well. He was finding himself deeply enamored with the main-main protagonist of the story, a dormant hero of hope in all ways, disenfranchised by his world's current day politics and where life was headed.

Sounded very familiar.

Though, the hero Fear put himself in the shoes of didn't think it deserved to end, oddly enough, and was surprised that the game him and his friends were playing, instead of saving the world, caused it to end. Fear found joy, and relatability in the story of learning about identity, of becoming a hero, of recreating society and the responsibility of trying not to let your efforts crumble around you. A story about learning to depend on others, and about the moment those you depended on failed you.

How did you reconcile the issue?

Fear read on in the book to find out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rxgAh1bnHU

Fun fact! Shaybna is the pronunciation spelling of Skjebne, the Norwegian word for Fate. I actually intend to use this name in my next work, an original effort that isn't fanfic.

Also if I could describe half the terrifying sounds in Vinny's corruptions I would be a great writer.

BR asks Drax: Why did you get so mad you tried to murderhilate Fear to dead? Also why do you have such a fiery temper?

Drax: Haha, nice pun. I get it. Ugh. Hmm... well, really, I didn't originally intend to kill him. I was trying to prove a point. Scare him into standing down and crying for mercy. I knew he could handle at least two attacks, I'd seen him dive into lava earlier after all. I was mostly trying to make an example of him, demonstrate that I wouldn't tolerate disobedience nor dissension. It... kind of snowballed from there until I got so frustrated I was going at him with all my strength. Once he destroyed my Alicorsair I realized he wasn't to be taken lightly and maybe... just maybe, he at least deserved to hear what was paining me. Even after that, he still didn't stand down, the crazy whelp. So I attacked him again, and tried to kill him. My emotions got the better of me sorry to say, and I nearly crushed his throat in one move. I didn't expect him to survive that. I'd gotten tired of his stubbornness. Before I knew it, it'd become a matter of pride. I'm not satisfied with how it went down, but I will admit I'm glad he survived to the end. He taught me a lot about myself, and about the world, with just that fight alone. I know it sounds stupid but... he's a good whelp. Fearei Shatter might be my hero, in a way. We'll see if it remains that way once I get to Dryfield with my family.

Edan asks the squad: What's one thing you would say if you could meet your past self 5 years ago?

Fear: I'm not sure to be honest. I still don't feel like I'm in a super good place, mentally speaking. But... if I had to I'd say, 'prepare yourself for the coming trials, you'll be able to get through them and come out with even more creatures that care about you than you could ever imagine.'

Faith: 'Try not to fret about the future too much. You were always worried you'd be traveling forever even into your senior years, or get killed before you could make it, but... you'll find a real home eventually that isn't a bustling city.'

Gentler: I'd tell myself to get out of your rut. Everything might seem hopeless right now, but you'll get through it and you'll find ponies who give you the inspiration you need to rejoin the fight.

Acrid: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I don't know! I'd probably warn him that he's about to lose everything he ever once knew and to try and cope with it as best as possible! Put even more effort into his training, and maybe live each day a little better so he has fonder memories to look back on!

Shining asks the squad: How do you usually deal with depression?

Fear: Well... hmm... I learned to deal with it by acknowledging and accepting it. I tell myself what I'm feeling, elaborate on why I'm feeling it, and tell myself it's not a reflection of my self worth, or that it's okay to feel this way and let it wash over me. Tell myself I'm not going to react to it because I'm stronger than that. I do this as many times as it takes, and once I succeed, I distract myself from the problem until the emotions pass a little bit more.

Faith: That's an interesting question. I usually deal with it by believing in someone or something greater than myself, and letting that belief consume me until my problems are dwarfed and I can think easier. Then I slowly deal with it as time passes, take it in nibbles instead of biting off more than I can chew.

Gentler: Drinking, drugs, sex. Easy peasy stuff like that. I don't really worry about it so long as it's not affecting my ability to be responsible or making me hurt others. If i can't get any of that, I just try to find something I can control and focus on that. Let that empower me and remind me that I'm not useless.

Acrid: Pfft. Well. To be honest I've dealt with it quite a bit, both before my stasis and after. I usually deal with it by emotionally detaching myself so the emotions hit softer, then I slowly let them pass until I'm ready to connect again. It's better than letting emotions overwhelm you and leave you numb, but it takes a lot of control and it carries risk. Sometimes my detachment comes out as me making jokes to lighten the mood. Other times that's exactly how I detach.