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Description
Returning to my Equestria dreamscape. This was the last dream in my first Ponyville dream arc. There have been many more dreams, sketches and stories after this, but this will end the first story.

The fiery blast that destroyed the Lord of Shadows [link] had completely destroyed the planetarium and taken most of Everfree Castle with it to. In fact later I realized that it was probably a good thing that the planetarium was located about fifty feet underground since that helped initially contain some of the explosion, or else the blast effects on the countryside would most likely have been much worse. As it was we were now sitting in a vast smoke filled shallow bowl about two hundred feet across. Whether because of luck or Celestia's magic where we were resting was free of the hissing, crackling rocks and smoldering debris.

When I finally regained consciousness I realized that was laying on ground and Princess Celestia was sitting next to me. She was no longer glowing but her body radiated an intense furnace-like heat. Overall she seemed to be unaffected by the enormous powers she had unleashed. Unfortunately the trappings of her office had not survived the fiery event unscathed. Her tiara and ceremonial war shoes were now twisted, discolored and in some cases actually melted.

I was still recovering from sensory overload. Spots of colors danced in front of me and my ears were ringing so loud I could barely hear Celestia asking me how I was doing? I was not doing well. I felt very ill and weak. I tried to stand up but just gave up and laid back down where I was. I chalked it up to all the stress of casting the spell and the exposure to its effects.

I started to tell her I was not feeling well when I realized her attention was drawn to something else. In front of us about fifteen feet away in the still swirling dust and grey smoke was a black shimmering veil about ten feet in height by six in width. It silently moved like a curtain blowing in a gentle breeze. Celestia slowly stood up, eying the veil suspiciously. She said nothing as she tried to determine whether this was a good omen or not. After several seconds figures slowly began to emerge from it with timid steps. They were ponies. One by all the missing farm ponies and Applebloom emerged from the darkness. They stood looking around as if they were trying to determine if this was really home or not. Then they noticed Princess Celestia and they cried out in joy and flocked around her. The veil still hung there in the air.

About this time Luna, Rarity, Petina, Applejack and Rainbow Dash teleported back into the what had been the planetarium. For a second they looked around in horror at the destruction. Then they saw us and the other ponies and ran over to our side. Under any other condition I would have felt incredible touched by the reunion between Applejack and Applebloom but at that moment I was starting shake and shiver almost uncontrollably. Seeing my condition Petina immediately came over to my side and tried to determine what was wrong with me.

Twilight cautiously walked over and stood in front of the black veil which was slowly starting to fade when two more ponies emerged from it depths. A stocky charcoal grey unicorn stallion and a sleek golden yellow unicorn mare. It was Paynes Grey and Sunrise. After they emerged the veil blew away as a cloud of black ash.

For a moment they looked around the crater ignoring Twilight then seeing Princess Celestia and Luna they slowly began walking to them. All conversations came to a halt as they approached the two Princesses. Bowing together they looked up at Princesses. For a second they seemed struggle for words as if they had lost the ability speak. Finally Paynes spoke. "Princess Celestia. Thank you for carrying so much to save two foolish old ponies from their own mistakes." Tears began to well up in Paynes's eyes. "And Princess Luna please forgive me for any pain my words may have caused you. I know now how stupid my accusations were at the time." Luna just smiled. I think Paynes words of forgiveness healed many scars in her.

At this point Sunrise spoke up. "We don't have much time, but we want to thank every pony who worked so hard to free us from our imprisonment." Rarity stared at Sunrise with a look of confusion on her face. "Not much time? But darling you have the rest of lives in front of you!" Sunrise shook her head. "No we don't dear. In the land of shadows we were timeless but now that we are back in Equestria a thousand years is catching up to us fast. We will soon pass away here."

"Then why did you try so hard to get back to Equestria!" Exploded Rainbow Dash who was hovering above the couple. "What is the point of you two coming back if you're just going to die! WHY!" Paynes looked up at the glaring rainbow pegasus and smiled. "So we could be together at the end. Death holds no fear for us now, but we dreaded making that journey alone." Paynes turned his head and rested across Sunrise's neck. "Whatever faces us on the other side we can at least face it together." Sunrise looked into Rainbow Dash's eyes and smiled. "Someday when you have met that special pony you'll better understand what we've said." Dash looked away from Sunrise. There was no more anger in her eyes just confusion. "Doesn't seem fair!" Was the only thing she muttered.

At this point Twilight noticed that both Paynes and Sunrise were literally starting to fade and become transparent. She looked at Celestia. "Princess is there nothing we can do? It seems so unfair." Celestia looked down at her favorite student and slowly shook her head. "No there is not. This the way the universe works and not even myself or my sister can change what is about to happen. I'm sorry" She whispered.

"I hate to interrupt things here but Baron is not looking good!" Petina yelled at the ponies gathered. " I think that spell he casted has really screwed him up bad!" Screwed up was a good way to describe my condition. My skin was starting to blister and peel, and bloody sores were forming where patches of hide had started to fall off. When I coughed bits of bloody phlegm came up. I was starting to wonder if I was succumbing to radiation sickness. As the ponies gathered around me Paynes spoke up. "The magic I used to give him his form is starting to breakdown as I fade from the world. His existence here is tied to me. When I die he will not be able remain in that body." Paynes sat down next to me. His form was growing more transparent by the second. "I'm sorry Baron" He said. "For everything you've done for Sunrise and I this is a cruel reward. Without your help we would still be prisoners in that prison of our own making. If giving what was left our own lives could help you Sunrise and I would gladly do it, but alas it would do nothing to stop the collapse of the spell I cast. It is saddens me to see you like this since in many ways I think of you now like a son we never got the chance to have. Thank you for freeing us. I wish I could do something for you but I can't."

"But why am l not in the same condition as Baron then?!" Exclaimed Petina. "Why am I not sick like him?"Paynes just looked at Petina's white unicorn form. "Because I played no part in your journey to Equestria." He stared at her for a moment with a quizzical look. "Whatever mechanism you used to be with us is beyond my knowledge. That is all I can say." Then he rose and went over to stand by Sunrise's side. They wrapped a front hoof around each other then look at our group one last time. "Goodbye." They said in unison, then a strong gust of wind blew through the crater and like dust in the wind they blew away.

For several seconds there was silence, then all at once every pony started chattering about what to do with me. I was starting to convulse so badly Petina had to hold me down. "Less chatter and more solutions!" Yelled the white unicorn. At this point Celestia step forward and lowered her head down close to me. For several seconds she just stared at me then she smiled. "I am certain with your unique and special talent Baron some solution can be found if you're willing to work with me. How about it?" For several seconds I looked at her attempting in my state to understand what she meant. Petina stared with increasing frustration at my confusion, finally she grabbed my head and turned it so she could stare directly into my eyes. "What she is trying to say is if you want to stay pony you can!!!" While her voice was filled with anger and frustration there was something else in her eyes. Genuine concern and alarm for me and my condition. After a few seconds I mumbled yes.

At that point Celestia took charge of the situation. "I need every pony to stand back." Then she looked at me as her horn began to glow. "Now Baron one last time I want you to focus your thoughts as if you were trying to bring one of your sketches to live. Just imagine that your body is the paper. What is very important is have imagine what kind of a pony you are. You'll get one chance so focus." Summoning what concentration I had I closed my eyes and began to weave one final spell. The question was what kind of pony was I? I racked my brain for an answer then I got my answer from an unexpected source.

When I first started having these Equestria dreams, Smudge commented once around the dinner table that she couldn't see me as a unicorn. Instead she thought I'd be a pegasi. When that memory surfaced in my dream I suddenly felt a strange tingling race through my mind and strange warmth washed over me. When I opened my eyes again all the ponies were staring at me with a mixture of wonder, confusion and joy in their eyes. Slowly raising my head I looked at my self. In place of the charcoal grey unicorn I had been I was now a bright blue pegasi with a silver mane and tail. On my flank was a paintbrush with clouds flowing from the tip of bristles. I finally had my cutie mark.

Description
Returning to my Equestria dreamscape. This was the last dream in my first Ponyville dream arc. There have been many more dreams, sketches and stories after this, but this will end the first story.

The fiery blast that destroyed the Lord of Shadows [link] had completely destroyed the planetarium and taken most of Everfree Castle with it to. In fact later I realized that it was probably a good thing that the planetarium was located about fifty feet underground since that helped initially contain some of the explosion, or else the blast effects on the countryside would most likely have been much worse. As it was we were now sitting in a vast smoke filled shallow bowl about two hundred feet across. Whether because of luck or Celestia's magic where we were resting was free of the hissing, crackling rocks and smoldering debris.

When I finally regained consciousness I realized that was laying on ground and Princess Celestia was sitting next to me. She was no longer glowing but her body radiated an intense furnace-like heat. Overall she seemed to be unaffected by the enormous powers she had unleashed. Unfortunately the trappings of her office had not survived the fiery event unscathed. Her tiara and ceremonial war shoes were now twisted, discolored and in some cases actually melted.

I was still recovering from sensory overload. Spots of colors danced in front of me and my ears were ringing so loud I could barely hear Celestia asking me how I was doing? I was not doing well. I felt very ill and weak. I tried to stand up but just gave up and laid back down where I was. I chalked it up to all the stress of casting the spell and the exposure to its effects.

I started to tell her I was not feeling well when I realized her attention was drawn to something else. In front of us about fifteen feet away in the still swirling dust and grey smoke was a black shimmering veil about ten feet in height by six in width. It silently moved like a curtain blowing in a gentle breeze. Celestia slowly stood up, eying the veil suspiciously. She said nothing as she tried to determine whether this was a good omen or not. After several seconds figures slowly began to emerge from it with timid steps. They were ponies. One by all the missing farm ponies and Applebloom emerged from the darkness. They stood looking around as if they were trying to determine if this was really home or not. Then they noticed Princess Celestia and they cried out in joy and flocked around her. The veil still hung there in the air.

About this time Luna, Rarity, Petina, Applejack and Rainbow Dash teleported back into the what had been the planetarium. For a second they looked around in horror at the destruction. Then they saw us and the other ponies and ran over to our side. Under any other condition I would have felt incredible touched by the reunion between Applejack and Applebloom but at that moment I was starting shake and shiver almost uncontrollably. Seeing my condition Petina immediately came over to my side and tried to determine what was wrong with me.

Twilight cautiously walked over and stood in front of the black veil which was slowly starting to fade when two more ponies emerged from it depths. A stocky charcoal grey unicorn stallion and a sleek golden yellow unicorn mare. It was Paynes Grey and Sunrise. After they emerged the veil blew away as a cloud of black ash.

For a moment they looked around the crater ignoring Twilight then seeing Princess Celestia and Luna they slowly began walking to them. All conversations came to a halt as they approached the two Princesses. Bowing together they looked up at Princesses. For a second they seemed struggle for words as if they had lost the ability speak. Finally Paynes spoke. "Princess Celestia. Thank you for carrying so much to save two foolish old ponies from their own mistakes." Tears began to well up in Paynes's eyes. "And Princess Luna please forgive me for any pain my words may have caused you. I know now how stupid my accusations were at the time." Luna just smiled. I think Paynes words of forgiveness healed many scars in her.

At this point Sunrise spoke up. "We don't have much time, but we want to thank every pony who worked so hard to free us from our imprisonment." Rarity stared at Sunrise with a look of confusion on her face. "Not much time? But darling you have the rest of lives in front of you!" Sunrise shook her head. "No we don't dear. In the land of shadows we were timeless but now that we are back in Equestria a thousand years is catching up to us fast. We will soon pass away here."

"Then why did you try so hard to get back to Equestria!" Exploded Rainbow Dash who was hovering above the couple. "What is the point of you two coming back if you're just going to die! WHY!" Paynes looked up at the glaring rainbow pegasus and smiled. "So we could be together at the end. Death holds no fear for us now, but we dreaded making that journey alone." Paynes turned his head and rested across Sunrise's neck. "Whatever faces us on the other side we can at least face it together." Sunrise looked into Rainbow Dash's eyes and smiled. "Someday when you have met that special pony you'll better understand what we've said." Dash looked away from Sunrise. There was no more anger in her eyes just confusion. "Doesn't seem fair!" Was the only thing she muttered.

At this point Twilight noticed that both Paynes and Sunrise were literally starting to fade and become transparent. She looked at Celestia. "Princess is there nothing we can do? It seems so unfair." Celestia looked down at her favorite student and slowly shook her head. "No there is not. This the way the universe works and not even myself or my sister can change what is about to happen. I'm sorry" She whispered.

"I hate to interrupt things here but Baron is not looking good!" Petina yelled at the ponies gathered. " I think that spell he casted has really screwed him up bad!" Screwed up was a good way to describe my condition. My skin was starting to blister and peel, and bloody sores were forming where patches of hide had started to fall off. When I coughed bits of bloody phlegm came up. I was starting to wonder if I was succumbing to radiation sickness. As the ponies gathered around me Paynes spoke up. "The magic I used to give him his form is starting to breakdown as I fade from the world. His existence here is tied to me. When I die he will not be able remain in that body." Paynes sat down next to me. His form was growing more transparent by the second. "I'm sorry Baron" He said. "For everything you've done for Sunrise and I this is a cruel reward. Without your help we would still be prisoners in that prison of our own making. If giving what was left our own lives could help you Sunrise and I would gladly do it, but alas it would do nothing to stop the collapse of the spell I cast. It is saddens me to see you like this since in many ways I think of you now like a son we never got the chance to have. Thank you for freeing us. I wish I could do something for you but I can't."

"But why am l not in the same condition as Baron then?!" Exclaimed Petina. "Why am I not sick like him?"Paynes just looked at Petina's white unicorn form. "Because I played no part in your journey to Equestria." He stared at her for a moment with a quizzical look. "Whatever mechanism you used to be with us is beyond my knowledge. That is all I can say." Then he rose and went over to stand by Sunrise's side. They wrapped a front hoof around each other then look at our group one last time. "Goodbye." They said in unison, then a strong gust of wind blew through the crater and like dust in the wind they blew away.

For several seconds there was silence, then all at once every pony started chattering about what to do with me. I was starting to convulse so badly Petina had to hold me down. "Less chatter and more solutions!" Yelled the white unicorn. At this point Celestia step forward and lowered her head down close to me. For several seconds she just stared at me then she smiled. "I am certain with your unique and special talent Baron some solution can be found if you're willing to work with me. How about it?" For several seconds I looked at her attempting in my state to understand what she meant. Petina stared with increasing frustration at my confusion, finally she grabbed my head and turned it so she could stare directly into my eyes. "What she is trying to say is if you want to stay pony you can!!!" While her voice was filled with anger and frustration there was something else in her eyes. Genuine concern and alarm for me and my condition. After a few seconds I mumbled yes.

At that point Celestia took charge of the situation. "I need every pony to stand back." Then she looked at me as her horn began to glow. "Now Baron one last time I want you to focus your thoughts as if you were trying to bring one of your sketches to live. Just imagine that your body is the paper. What is very important is have imagine what kind of a pony you are. You'll get one chance so focus." Summoning what concentration I had I closed my eyes and began to weave one final spell. The question was what kind of pony was I? I racked my brain for an answer then I got my answer from an unexpected source.

When I first started having these Equestria dreams, Smudge commented once around the dinner table that she couldn't see me as a unicorn. Instead she thought I'd be a pegasi. When that memory surfaced in my dream I suddenly felt a strange tingling race through my mind and strange warmth washed over me. When I opened my eyes again all the ponies were staring at me with a mixture of wonder, confusion and joy in their eyes. Slowly raising my head I looked at my self. In place of the charcoal grey unicorn I had been I was now a bright blue pegasi with a silver mane and tail. On my flank was a paintbrush with clouds flowing from the tip of bristles. I finally had my cutie mark.