FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"Dragon! Seth! Wake up! *WAKE UP!*"

A voice is shouting my name, impelling me into wakefulness. The violent earthquake resolves into simple bodily shaking. As I think about opening my eyes, it dawns on me that it is Celestia's voice, and when I do eventually begin to look I find I am correct. The co-ruler of Equestria, Queen of the Day, is staring into my eyes, horn glowing brightly as the movements she has caused me to endure continue.

"Seth!... Seth, are you there?"

"C'll... ggkhhh..." My tongue has become as immobile as the lower portion of my body, glued to the roof of my unnaturally dry maw and numb from lack of exercise. (Not, many friends of mine would aver, something which is usually likely to occur in my case.) Yet now I simply cannot form words, there isn't enough flexibility in my tongue. So I think, hard, sending: perhaps that less tangible method of communication might still work. {{Celestia?...}}

Her head tilts to one side, as though she is confused or puzzled.

I try again. {{Celestia.}} This time I focus on the images of her I have in my mind, as well as the sound of her voice and the sensation it creates in my mind.

This time she smiles and tension leaves her body. Her ears rotate a little to a position which demonstrates less anxiety. "I hear you, Seth. You are awake?"

{{Wakefulness. Curiosity. Fear. Concern. Anxiety. Puzzlement.}}

"What happened?"

{{Affirmation.}}

"You had an infection. Caused by your body healing, we think. It seems to have started near your trauma site." She lowers her head and bows, quad-style, kneeling a little like a horse trained to dressage. "We did not realise. We thought it was simply a clean break, but evidently when you landed some stone pierced your shoulder. It was a small wound and covered by your mane, and very close to the spinal trauma." She pauses to sigh. "We are sorry, Seth."

{{Forgiveness. Understanding.}} I try my tongue again: it is still not back to full operational capacity. {{Forgiveness.}}

"You are very kind."

I sense touches on my back, on my shoulders, and glance around. Two ponies, a stallion and a mare, are concentrating on my shoulders. -- And, when I look down, I can see something glorious: the first twitch in my tail, a whisper of a flick across the ground. Glee takes hold, and I do my best to control the usually uncontrollable. I succeed in making it curl into a loop, though I can't do my simple trick of tying it into a knot. Still, the joy is undeniable and irrepressible: I can move my tail again. I am grinning widely as I turn back to Celestia.

She laughs. "Yes, Seth. Your spine and spinal column are healing. It will take a while still, but you will regain full use."

{{Glee. Innocence.}}

Another laugh. "I don't believe that for a minute! And that's nothing to do with dragons, and everything to do with ---" She stops. A blush courses up her face.

{{Puzzlement.}} "Mmmmhh?" A sound is all I can manage.

Celestia shifts her weight from one forehoof to another and is rather reticent. Finally she says, "Seth... you've been somewhat delirious for a couple of days."

{{...}} {{...}} {{... oh.}}

{{Most sincere apologies. Regret for offence.}}

"Seth, I'd say that a pony isn't responsible for their thoughts or their dreams, but in Equestria things are slightly different. For us, at least. We can project ourselves into what we call a dreamweave: it's a world we shape, we control, a place to meet and... be together. We're completely awake there, even while our body is asleep, and it feels as real as the waking world. Events there can be reflected in the waking world.

"I don't think you have that potential. It's something to bear in mind. Still, Seth... you, not being from this plane, *are not* responsible for what you say in your dreams." Her gaze is fixed upon me, steadily, without judgement, without anger. "... even if they are... quite forthright and frankly suggestive."

{{... oh.}} {{Most sincere apologies. With head low.}}

"I'm not offended. Not really." The faintest spark gleams in her eyes. "Frankly... I thought you didn't like females."

I can feel my blush grow from the back of my jaw, forward, then up towards my temple and the joint of my crest with the supramandibular complex. Then: {{Question. Concern.}}

"Yes?"

{{Clarification/confirmation.}} I replay the event from my recent nightmare, where the ghostly form told me I should never kiss Celestia again, and that she would never come to me, up to the point where I am shaken awake.

Celestia's reaction is one of shock and sudden worry. She frowns, stepping back. "Are you sure?"

{{Affirmation.}} I am unaccustomed to communicating this way, from lack of practice; that, and my continuing convalescence is making me tired. I yawn.

"Seth, I should let you rest. Firstly... this is troubling. That which you saw was the dreamweave of which I spoke. I don't know if you created it, or thatpony did, but in either event, you entered one. Secondly, I have no operative like that, so whoever it was - if it was a real pony and not just your subconscious mind - is not working for me. Thirdly, and most importantly..." There is a pause while she weighs her words. "... They were wrong. Whatever reason brought you here, whatever you think you came for..." With surprisingly soft steps she approaches me, looks into my eyes, then smiles. "... kisses meant in sincerity are not to be dismissed." For a moment her lips touch mine, soft equine lips to the point of my snout. I'm too surprised to do anything but accept it, savour it, enjoy it, and it lasts only a heartbeat, less perhaps, but it happens nonetheless.

{{Delight. Thanks. Appreciation.}}

"You're welcome, Seth. Now, rest. I'll look into this."

{{Fear.}}

{{Correction. Concern.}}

"No, you were right the first time." Celestia has withdrawn a few steps, a couple of new ponies shimmering into existence as she did so. I notice that the newcomers are wearing armour and carrying weapons on their backs. She speaks to them in low tones and they listen, then nod, move to the fire and lie down next to it, watching and listening. Celestia returns. "These are Brighteye and Swiftsure: they are two of Equestria's finest. They are adept with the dreamweave and will know if anything comes to visit that we should know about. And feel free to talk to them: guards on duty aren't required to be silent unless they need to be."

I look over at the two. I can just make out colours: Brighteye is a cremello and Swiftsure a roan. Gender, like much of the rest of their forms, is occluded by the armour. I smile and nod a greeting, and to my delight they smile back.

"They know you're struggling to talk at the moment, so don't worry there. --- Seth, you're yawning like an old cavemouth. Get some rest. I'll see you soon. -- Oh. Luna said she wanted to come and visit you: is that all right?"

{{How can I keep out a princess?}}

Celestia laughs. "True, true. But she would like to meet you. I think you'll like her: she's very... Well. Very her. So. Until later, Seth. And --- try not to shout too much about your sex life." She disappears with a silent pop, leaving me blushing, and Swiftsure and Brighteye unsure whether to grin or not but both of them looking over.

I sigh. "Long story," I say, settle my head down and get ready for sleep. Then I realise I have just spoken, and as I shut my eyes I feel my second giddy grin of the day on my face. That's almost a record.