Post by Kitexa on Dec 3, 2012 15:50:38 GMT -5
And so I present to you the very rough outline of my next generation MLP story. It's been in the works for several months and is still in heavy development but I wanted to share what I have so far.
As long as no spoilers leave the board
Pretty sure most if not all of you know my FiM headcanon, as well as who each character is with/how and when they conceived their foals.
Just in case: khwhitelion.deviantart.com/journal/My-FiM-Headcanon-272048721
But I'll list the main ships anyway, to make it easier:
Main ships and characters:
Twilight Sparkle/Spike
Rarity/Fancy Pants
Apple Jack and Braeburn (one-sided on Braeburn's end. Two-sided one-night drunken stand)
Apple Jack/Soarin'
Pinkie Pie/Apple Bloom
Rainbow Dash/Scootaloo
Fluttershy/Hoops
Sweetie Belle/Truffle Shuffle
Side ships and characters:
Cheerilee/Cappuccino
Big Mac/Carrot Top
Vinyl Scratch/Neon Lights
Diamond Tiara/Pipsqueak
Twist/Snails
Dinky/Snips
Sparkler/Ponet (one-sided on Sparkler's end)
Sparkler/Pokey Pierce (one-sided on Pokey's end)
Cadance/Shining Armor
Ditzy Doo/Doctor Whooves (unspoken affection)
Ditzy Doo/ Post Haste
Gilda/Lily
Lyra/Bon Bon (onesided on Lyra's end)
Lyra/Wind Whistler
Lightning Dust/Babs Seed
List of all current Next Generation characters and their ages:
Night Chaser (15) - Twilight Sparkle/Spike
Apple Buck (20)- Apple Jack/Braeburn
Summerfree (16) - Apple Jack/Soarin'
Flyin' High (14) - Apple Jack/Soarin'
Sky Light (12) - Fluttershy/Hoops
Lapis Lazuli (21)- Rarity/Fancy Pants
Peridote (13)- Rarity/Fancy Pants
Starlit Haze (7) - Rainbow Dash/Scootaloo
Marshmallow Scone (10)- Sweetie Belle/Truffle Shuffle
Cortland (10) - Big Mac/Carrot Top
Gilliflower (10) - Big Mac/Carrot Top
Evening Breeze (16)- Vinyl Scratch/Neon Lights
Hummingbird (11)- Cheerilee/Cappuccino
Almond Crunch (23) - Cheerilee/Cappuccino
Smoothie Swirl (18) - Cheerilee/Cappuccino
Hopscotch (14)- Ditzy Doo/Post Haste
*Sparkler and Pokey may get together and have a daughter
*Diamond Tiara and Pipsqueak have three foals (one boy and two girls) that don't yet have names.
*Sprite, one of the main characters, is an orphaned unicorn who will become the unofficial adopted daughter of Apple Bloom and Pinkie Pie, but does not start out that way. (she's 14)
*There is a ten year "fastforward" at the end of the story in which many of the cast members have new additions to their family:
Rarity/Fancy Pants: Cerulean
Fluttershy/Hoops: Spatch and Touch Down
Rainbow Dash/Scootaloo: Firestorm
Apple Buck/Lapis Lazuli: Harmony
Peridote/Flyin' High: unnamed colt
Next Gen characters central to the plot:
Apple Buck
Lapis Lazuli
Night Chaser
Sky Light
Sprite
Starlit Haze
Marshmallow Scone
Other important characters:
The Mane Six
Sweetie Belle
Braeburn
Morpheus (god of sleep/dreams)
Cliff
Selene
Dionysus
The "Oneiroi." (Epiales, Phantasos and Icelos.)
The Plot:
Set around twenty-one years after "Season 4." (My supposed version of it)
Most of the story is told through the eyes of the seven "mane players" with King Morpheus and his two assistants (Cliff and Selene) being the occasional "eighth, ninth and tenth."
The very beginning of the story will most likely start in the Nightmare realm--Cliff and Selene will be the first characters introduced, followed by King Morpheus, though who they are may not be. A sort of "prelude" to the plot before family and friend "Drama" takes over for a while. Something is amiss in the world of dreams. Something...bad.
The fine details haven't been worked out but before the main conflict is centered, the plot dives into a bit about each of the mane seven's lives, with Sprite showing up as the final addition.
Apple Buck's eyes are the first (so far, anyway) eyes who the audience sees through: after twenty years, he's had enough speculation and wants to find out who his mother is. He knows she lives somewhere in Ponyville and knows by the way his father talks about her that she was someone very important who broke his heart (or something like that. Braeburn never went in depth with the details.)
*Braeburn is a good father, very proud of his son and happy to have him, but there's a deep shattered melancholy that's followed him around since the incident with Apple Jack, which saddens his son.
*Apple Buck's biggest insecurity is his lacking cutie mark. Something he use to question his father about but Braeburn never had an answer for (most ponies receive theirs around fourteen/fifteen, sometimes younger and very rarely older.)
*second biggest insecurity is his difficulty reading. He's slightly dyslexic, and while he's a very smart colt, it didn't always reflect in school. Braeburn suspects the reason he's like this is because he's inbred and because of that, does what he can to understand help his son, largely out of guilt.
I'm not sure who Apple Buck meets first, but it's probably going to be Night Chaser and his friend, Evening Breeze: one (Night) is an explorer and the other (Breeze) a laid back dreamer. They spend time towards the outskirts of Ponyville and are likely candidates to greet Apple Buck. Who would have no idea what to think; they're so very different from the ponies in Appleloosa. Night Chaser's half dragon and Evening Breeze is essentially a hippie.
But they welcome him with open hoofs/claws and accompany him into Ponyville: Night Chaser recognizes Buck's accent and suspects that they'll find his mother close to or on Sweet Apple Acres.
Meanwhile, in Canterlot, Rarity's family is making plans to visit Ponyville, as Sweetie Belle's tour (she's a professional singer) has finally brought her home. Lapis Lazuli (and Fancy Pants to a lesser degree) is frustrated with her mother, who's beside herself with outfits and gifts and things the elder daughter sees little need for. Peridote, however, enjoys some of the pampering, though she's impatient to see her cousin (who lives in Ponyville) again.
Speaking of Ponyville, little Marshmallow Scone is incredibly excited to see her mother after so long. Her father, Truffle Shuffle does his best to encourage her but secretly worries she'll be let down. Sweetie Belle loves them but is often too busy to spend more than a few minutes with them alone when she's home.
Sweetie Belle returns to Ponyville a few days later.
Before that, however: Apple Buck.
Not knowing who exactly his mother is, Night Chaser takes him to see his own mother (Breeze in tow), as she, by now, knows most of Ponyville's residents.
I'm not entirely sure what happens next: it's likely Twilight greets the boys but suggests they seek out Soarin' (who runs a gym with Scootaloo a little ways away) as she (Twlight's) in charge of making preparations for Sweetie Belle's arrival.
This whole process is a way to introduce the mane six as parents now, see where their lives are while slowly shifting focus to the children. However, it can't look like a string of "meet and greets" which is part of why it's still in the rough stages.
Ultimately, though, Apple Buck, Night Chaser and Evening Breeze find their way to Sweet Apple Acres. They're probably greeted by Pinkie Pie, who's taking care of Big Mac's young foals, Cortland and Gilliflower (as Carrot Top's been dead for several years.) Apple Bloom isn't far behind her--the two mares are teaching the foals how to "buck" apples, though it's more a game than actual practice. Upon the trio's entry, Apple Bloom says it's about time for lunch anyway (since she doesn't recognize Apple Buck, although he does look vaguely familiar), so she leads them back to the house for lunch. Big Mac, AJ, and her two children are already there.
More details that haven't been worked out occur (although it probably has to do with Flyin' High trying to help his uncle and failing to do them in the air--he's an uncoordinated flier--or the aftereffects of it (tending to injuries while Summerfree helps prepare lunch), when the group walks up. Apple Jack doesn't notice Buck right away (as she's tending to her son,) but Big Mac does. Unlike Apple Bloom, who spent most of AJ's pregnancy/the first few months/year (not sure yet) Buck lived with them, tending to Pinkie Pie). He sends his children off to clean up and from there...
Well I'm not sure what happens exactly: Big Mac was the one who stepped up to the plate when AJ got pregnant and he's the only one who knows (up until this point) that Apple Buck's father is Braeburn.
*Should be mentioned the original reason they sought out the main Apple family is because it would be easiest to track down Buck's mother through them--no one expected him to be Apple Jack's son. Apple Buck especially.
Apple Jack refuses to speak to her son at first--she gave him up for a reason and while that's initially why Buck came to Ponyville, he realizes why without her really having to say anything.
And it horrifies him, but he's still--the boy that grew up without a mother--hurt deep down. His father stuck it out (although now that melancholy makes sense...although he's not sure what his father thinks of AJ and that also unsettles him) but Apple Jack didn't. He wants to be angry with her but he can't because he GETS it and if he had known growing up...that would've made it worse.
Apple Buck ends up staying in Ponyville, largely due to Big Mac's influence--it's been twenty years, mother and son NEED to talk things out.
It's sometime later that Sprite shows up.
However, I'm not sure if she does before or after Sweetie Belle arrives--I'm thinking after. Sweetie's return brings the Mane Six back together and their children--all of their children--respectively. (Fluttershy lives in Cloudsdale now and Rarity of course lives in Canterlot.)
*About half of the Mane cast's children are still blankflanks because most are under 14.
The shift to Sweetie Belle also explores some of the children's interaction with their parents and each other--whose personalities mix and whose clash: a predecessor to the main conflict and in part, the timeskip after.
And since most of those details haven't yet been worked out, we'll skip ahead to Sprite, who shows up a little while after.
For some time, apples keep disappearing from Sweet Apple Acres' trees; not enough to notice at first, but then barrels and occasionally pastries vanish, too. It's a slow process but one night, Apple Buck is wandering through the orchards on his own (as he use to do in Appleloosa growing up) and hears a rustling in the trees. Curious, he cautiously (but quickly) follows the noise, only to see a faint glow come from the branches as the apples are tugged off them via magic. A bit scared (he's still not QUITE use to Unicorn magic, as they've only come and gone in passing through Appleloosa) but determined to solve this (in slight hopes it'd put him in better graces with his mother--while he's...not exactly looked upon highly by those in Ponyville who know, he isn't shunned by anyone except for AJ, as he's a kind, responsible/hardworking (but VERY awkward) colt), Apple Buck follows the floating apples...which turns into a chase, when the one responsible realizes they're followed/found out. Not entirely sure how it ends up (if she is cornered or if she runs into someone) but the "mystery" is solved: a snippy, aggressive teen unicorn who calls herself Sprite.
She's reluctant to talk at first and does fight to get away--Sprite isn't very warming to confrontation--but she eventually lets slip she takes care of herself/doesn't have any parents, which is when Pinkie Pie suggests maybe Sprite could stay on the farm. This does not go well at first: Sprite's never been one to stay in one place, it isn't her lifestyle (so she says.) However, she's obviously not old enough to look after herself properly so they can't just let her go. (Big Mac, the head of the family now, is the one doing must of the talking through this)
Sadly, I am still lacking more details but I've a feeling Sprite does try to get away at first. What stops her, I don't know, but it's enough to make her begrudgingly stay.
*Pinkie Pie sympathizes with Sprite (having had an awful childhood herself) and tries to be her friend/mother her. Sprite is having none of this. She doesn't like Pinkie much--most of the Apple Family, but Pinkie...rubs her the wrong way. She hovers and is sensitive and Sprite can never tell if she's happy or sad or both or neither.
*Fluttershy suggests in confidence maybe Sprite had abusive parents like she did, but whether that ever reaches Sprite's ears I'm not sure. Probably not. Either way, Pinkie's determined to somehow get this girl to trust and open up to her.
*It's speculated Sprite comes from Manehatten, but she won't say. She's definitely not from the country or Ponyville, but that's as far as she's willing to reveal. (She's not one to open up for...various reasons.) And I've not worked out her backstory entirely.
While this is going on, a slow phenomena is sweeping across Equestria; subtle at first, but one that grows worse as time progresses.
In the realm of dreams, King Morpheus' younger siblings, the Oneiroi, have finally escaped their imprisonment; all three completely mad; a raging ball of vicious dark energy and power. Eons ago, they watched over portions of the dream world under the over-seer Morpheus, before they tried to band against him and take him over. Centuries later, the three of gone mad in their imprisonment; their powers pooling into one another’s for so long they’ve unimaginable power but very little stability.
Epiales, (male) Phantasos (female) and Icelos (male).
*Phantasos is King Sombra's mother. (FYI)
How they've escaped...I've got a vague idea but I'm not entirely sure I'm still going to go with it (will be explained later on.)
Because of this, however, the subconscious world is shifting, its own stability rattled by the sudden influx of energy. The balance between dreams and nightmares is tilting more towards the latter...
In the conscious world, nightmares are beginning to grow worse for Equestria's residence, to the point where many of them are afraid to sleep because of them. But the body can't last forever and when they do at last "crash," their minds succumb to the Nightmare's pull, putting their bodies in a comatose state while their messy minds run amok in the Dream world. Not everyone; many of the children, young as they are, still remain conscious, while a few adults (Diamond Tiara and Ditzy, for example) are also free from it. Generaly, those minds with particularly messy pasts/sins are prime suspects...
(Why Diamond Tiara is not...that's complicated. And still under heavy development.)
Realizing the problem cannot be solved by himself and his two associates alone, Morpheus sends Cliff and Selene into the conscious world to find specific individuals; the ones best apt at dealing with the strongest nightmares.
The Mane Players.
They're requested (and it is a request, not a choice) to accompany the two (Cliff is a griffon, Selene is a unicorn) to see King Morpheus. Lapis insists the younger children stay behind, but certain foals must come, for reasons only the king can explain. Peridote, Summerfree, and Flyin' Highare left behind with Big Mac, another who has not been affected. (Other children are as well, though they aren't summoned)
*Apple Bloom and Scootaloo are not affected either.
To recap:
Apple Buck, Lapis Lazuli, Sky Light, Night Chaser, Starlit Haze, Marshmallow Scone and Sprite are the seven summoned to the Dream world.
Insert more details aaand moving on!
King Morpheus is a fearsome sight; alternating between his dream and nightmare state fluidly on neutral ground--where his kingdom is located. (In the dream section, he appears only in his dream form, and in the nightmare part, only as a nightmare)
He gives a brief overview to the children about what's going on, then tells them why they're here: of the "nightmares" spawned from the slumbering Equestrian citizens, there are eight very volatile ones causing the most damage--the mane six, Sweetie Belle, and Braeburn.
Their "Nightmare Forms" are tearing the subconscious world apart--each one being an embodiment of their greatest fear/insecurity/sin/crime. Their children are a counterbalance: embodiments of innocence and purity, despite the circumstances surrounding some of their births, they have the best bet of defeating these monsters and retaining enough balance back and weaken Morpheus' siblings enough for him to lock them away again.
*Sprite does not agree with why she's here. She doesn't see herself as Pinkie's child but apparently the pink mare does...which...in this situation, sits uncomfortably with her.
The seven set off, guided by Cliff, who is Nightmare!Morpheus' assistant, while Selene, being Dream!Morpheus' helper, stays with him.
However...this is not an easy task; many of the children do not know their parents' pasts, and don't know how to handle their nightmares (each adult has a nightmare form, that has partially been designed, but not enough to draw fully).
That, and WHY the Oneiroi were set free...may have to do with the god of madness himself...
We'll see. The climax before the timeskip has not yet been worked out. Nor has how each nightmare is to be confronted/defeated. It's not a linear trip, nor is it organized. Things will trip them up, and their OWN nightmares may start to get in the way...
-----------------
Ten years later, we fastforward to see where everyone is now.
I'm thinking they're meeting in Canterlot, for a Wonderbolt's derby, as it's Hummingbird's first race (Starlit's cousin) but not sure, yet.
A special box has been given to accommodate Night Chaser's much larger size; he and his girlfriend, Starlit Haze, are working together to refurnish an old observatory on the outskirts of Ponyville. They, along with Evening Breeze, plan to work there--Starlit and Night will live there as well.
Lapis Lazuli and Apple Buck are married, and have a young unicorn daughter: Harmony. She's shows promise in music; on her way, Buck hopes, to discovering her special talent. Apple Buck himself never receives his, but has grown to accept it: His family is his purpose, and his talent loving them and being the best husband/father he can.
Sprite and Sky Light are dating. Sprite is much less aggressive than she was ten years ago, but still feisty and sarcastic. Sky Light is a little more grounded (as opposed to being as bubbly as she was). Both now have their cutie marks. Sky Light's is a puzzle piece, and Sprite's two interlocking hearts held together by a chain (harder to describe than it is. Check my dA gallery.) They both work to help young foals in bad family situations, or no family at all.
Peridote and Flyin' High also have their cutie marks. Flyin' realized he did inherit his father's speed: but as a foot racer, not with flight. Peridote's cutie mark I haven't worked out yet. Both have a young pegasus foal (male) from a relationship when they were in their late teens. However, they broke it off when the romance died, but still remain friends.
Marshmallow Scone has lost much of her baby fat: a sturdy mare with a talent in the cuisine arts, like her father. She got over her crush on Night Chaser (which she had) and is dating the son of Diamond Tiara and Pipsqueak.
Summerfree...I don't know what I'm doing with her yet.
Or Big Mac's twins, though they both grew up to look as beautiful as their mother, though still with a country touch.
As for the parents...that hasn't yet been worked out. They've been changed, certainly, but how, I don't know.
We'll find out!!
That, ladies and gentleman, is "Nightmare Reality." Hope you enjoyed what I have! And continue to as this story fully comes together
As long as no spoilers leave the board
Pretty sure most if not all of you know my FiM headcanon, as well as who each character is with/how and when they conceived their foals.
Just in case: khwhitelion.deviantart.com/journal/My-FiM-Headcanon-272048721
But I'll list the main ships anyway, to make it easier:
Main ships and characters:
Twilight Sparkle/Spike
Rarity/Fancy Pants
Apple Jack and Braeburn (one-sided on Braeburn's end. Two-sided one-night drunken stand)
Apple Jack/Soarin'
Pinkie Pie/Apple Bloom
Rainbow Dash/Scootaloo
Fluttershy/Hoops
Sweetie Belle/Truffle Shuffle
Side ships and characters:
Cheerilee/Cappuccino
Big Mac/Carrot Top
Vinyl Scratch/Neon Lights
Diamond Tiara/Pipsqueak
Twist/Snails
Dinky/Snips
Sparkler/Ponet (one-sided on Sparkler's end)
Sparkler/Pokey Pierce (one-sided on Pokey's end)
Cadance/Shining Armor
Ditzy Doo/Doctor Whooves (unspoken affection)
Ditzy Doo/ Post Haste
Gilda/Lily
Lyra/Bon Bon (onesided on Lyra's end)
Lyra/Wind Whistler
Lightning Dust/Babs Seed
List of all current Next Generation characters and their ages:
Night Chaser (15) - Twilight Sparkle/Spike
Apple Buck (20)- Apple Jack/Braeburn
Summerfree (16) - Apple Jack/Soarin'
Flyin' High (14) - Apple Jack/Soarin'
Sky Light (12) - Fluttershy/Hoops
Lapis Lazuli (21)- Rarity/Fancy Pants
Peridote (13)- Rarity/Fancy Pants
Starlit Haze (7) - Rainbow Dash/Scootaloo
Marshmallow Scone (10)- Sweetie Belle/Truffle Shuffle
Cortland (10) - Big Mac/Carrot Top
Gilliflower (10) - Big Mac/Carrot Top
Evening Breeze (16)- Vinyl Scratch/Neon Lights
Hummingbird (11)- Cheerilee/Cappuccino
Almond Crunch (23) - Cheerilee/Cappuccino
Smoothie Swirl (18) - Cheerilee/Cappuccino
Hopscotch (14)- Ditzy Doo/Post Haste
*Sparkler and Pokey may get together and have a daughter
*Diamond Tiara and Pipsqueak have three foals (one boy and two girls) that don't yet have names.
*Sprite, one of the main characters, is an orphaned unicorn who will become the unofficial adopted daughter of Apple Bloom and Pinkie Pie, but does not start out that way. (she's 14)
*There is a ten year "fastforward" at the end of the story in which many of the cast members have new additions to their family:
Rarity/Fancy Pants: Cerulean
Fluttershy/Hoops: Spatch and Touch Down
Rainbow Dash/Scootaloo: Firestorm
Apple Buck/Lapis Lazuli: Harmony
Peridote/Flyin' High: unnamed colt
Next Gen characters central to the plot:
Apple Buck
Lapis Lazuli
Night Chaser
Sky Light
Sprite
Starlit Haze
Marshmallow Scone
Other important characters:
The Mane Six
Sweetie Belle
Braeburn
Morpheus (god of sleep/dreams)
Cliff
Selene
Dionysus
The "Oneiroi." (Epiales, Phantasos and Icelos.)
The Plot:
Set around twenty-one years after "Season 4." (My supposed version of it)
Most of the story is told through the eyes of the seven "mane players" with King Morpheus and his two assistants (Cliff and Selene) being the occasional "eighth, ninth and tenth."
The very beginning of the story will most likely start in the Nightmare realm--Cliff and Selene will be the first characters introduced, followed by King Morpheus, though who they are may not be. A sort of "prelude" to the plot before family and friend "Drama" takes over for a while. Something is amiss in the world of dreams. Something...bad.
The fine details haven't been worked out but before the main conflict is centered, the plot dives into a bit about each of the mane seven's lives, with Sprite showing up as the final addition.
Apple Buck's eyes are the first (so far, anyway) eyes who the audience sees through: after twenty years, he's had enough speculation and wants to find out who his mother is. He knows she lives somewhere in Ponyville and knows by the way his father talks about her that she was someone very important who broke his heart (or something like that. Braeburn never went in depth with the details.)
*Braeburn is a good father, very proud of his son and happy to have him, but there's a deep shattered melancholy that's followed him around since the incident with Apple Jack, which saddens his son.
*Apple Buck's biggest insecurity is his lacking cutie mark. Something he use to question his father about but Braeburn never had an answer for (most ponies receive theirs around fourteen/fifteen, sometimes younger and very rarely older.)
*second biggest insecurity is his difficulty reading. He's slightly dyslexic, and while he's a very smart colt, it didn't always reflect in school. Braeburn suspects the reason he's like this is because he's inbred and because of that, does what he can to understand help his son, largely out of guilt.
I'm not sure who Apple Buck meets first, but it's probably going to be Night Chaser and his friend, Evening Breeze: one (Night) is an explorer and the other (Breeze) a laid back dreamer. They spend time towards the outskirts of Ponyville and are likely candidates to greet Apple Buck. Who would have no idea what to think; they're so very different from the ponies in Appleloosa. Night Chaser's half dragon and Evening Breeze is essentially a hippie.
But they welcome him with open hoofs/claws and accompany him into Ponyville: Night Chaser recognizes Buck's accent and suspects that they'll find his mother close to or on Sweet Apple Acres.
Meanwhile, in Canterlot, Rarity's family is making plans to visit Ponyville, as Sweetie Belle's tour (she's a professional singer) has finally brought her home. Lapis Lazuli (and Fancy Pants to a lesser degree) is frustrated with her mother, who's beside herself with outfits and gifts and things the elder daughter sees little need for. Peridote, however, enjoys some of the pampering, though she's impatient to see her cousin (who lives in Ponyville) again.
Speaking of Ponyville, little Marshmallow Scone is incredibly excited to see her mother after so long. Her father, Truffle Shuffle does his best to encourage her but secretly worries she'll be let down. Sweetie Belle loves them but is often too busy to spend more than a few minutes with them alone when she's home.
Sweetie Belle returns to Ponyville a few days later.
Before that, however: Apple Buck.
Not knowing who exactly his mother is, Night Chaser takes him to see his own mother (Breeze in tow), as she, by now, knows most of Ponyville's residents.
I'm not entirely sure what happens next: it's likely Twilight greets the boys but suggests they seek out Soarin' (who runs a gym with Scootaloo a little ways away) as she (Twlight's) in charge of making preparations for Sweetie Belle's arrival.
This whole process is a way to introduce the mane six as parents now, see where their lives are while slowly shifting focus to the children. However, it can't look like a string of "meet and greets" which is part of why it's still in the rough stages.
Ultimately, though, Apple Buck, Night Chaser and Evening Breeze find their way to Sweet Apple Acres. They're probably greeted by Pinkie Pie, who's taking care of Big Mac's young foals, Cortland and Gilliflower (as Carrot Top's been dead for several years.) Apple Bloom isn't far behind her--the two mares are teaching the foals how to "buck" apples, though it's more a game than actual practice. Upon the trio's entry, Apple Bloom says it's about time for lunch anyway (since she doesn't recognize Apple Buck, although he does look vaguely familiar), so she leads them back to the house for lunch. Big Mac, AJ, and her two children are already there.
More details that haven't been worked out occur (although it probably has to do with Flyin' High trying to help his uncle and failing to do them in the air--he's an uncoordinated flier--or the aftereffects of it (tending to injuries while Summerfree helps prepare lunch), when the group walks up. Apple Jack doesn't notice Buck right away (as she's tending to her son,) but Big Mac does. Unlike Apple Bloom, who spent most of AJ's pregnancy/the first few months/year (not sure yet) Buck lived with them, tending to Pinkie Pie). He sends his children off to clean up and from there...
Well I'm not sure what happens exactly: Big Mac was the one who stepped up to the plate when AJ got pregnant and he's the only one who knows (up until this point) that Apple Buck's father is Braeburn.
*Should be mentioned the original reason they sought out the main Apple family is because it would be easiest to track down Buck's mother through them--no one expected him to be Apple Jack's son. Apple Buck especially.
Apple Jack refuses to speak to her son at first--she gave him up for a reason and while that's initially why Buck came to Ponyville, he realizes why without her really having to say anything.
And it horrifies him, but he's still--the boy that grew up without a mother--hurt deep down. His father stuck it out (although now that melancholy makes sense...although he's not sure what his father thinks of AJ and that also unsettles him) but Apple Jack didn't. He wants to be angry with her but he can't because he GETS it and if he had known growing up...that would've made it worse.
Apple Buck ends up staying in Ponyville, largely due to Big Mac's influence--it's been twenty years, mother and son NEED to talk things out.
It's sometime later that Sprite shows up.
However, I'm not sure if she does before or after Sweetie Belle arrives--I'm thinking after. Sweetie's return brings the Mane Six back together and their children--all of their children--respectively. (Fluttershy lives in Cloudsdale now and Rarity of course lives in Canterlot.)
*About half of the Mane cast's children are still blankflanks because most are under 14.
The shift to Sweetie Belle also explores some of the children's interaction with their parents and each other--whose personalities mix and whose clash: a predecessor to the main conflict and in part, the timeskip after.
And since most of those details haven't yet been worked out, we'll skip ahead to Sprite, who shows up a little while after.
For some time, apples keep disappearing from Sweet Apple Acres' trees; not enough to notice at first, but then barrels and occasionally pastries vanish, too. It's a slow process but one night, Apple Buck is wandering through the orchards on his own (as he use to do in Appleloosa growing up) and hears a rustling in the trees. Curious, he cautiously (but quickly) follows the noise, only to see a faint glow come from the branches as the apples are tugged off them via magic. A bit scared (he's still not QUITE use to Unicorn magic, as they've only come and gone in passing through Appleloosa) but determined to solve this (in slight hopes it'd put him in better graces with his mother--while he's...not exactly looked upon highly by those in Ponyville who know, he isn't shunned by anyone except for AJ, as he's a kind, responsible/hardworking (but VERY awkward) colt), Apple Buck follows the floating apples...which turns into a chase, when the one responsible realizes they're followed/found out. Not entirely sure how it ends up (if she is cornered or if she runs into someone) but the "mystery" is solved: a snippy, aggressive teen unicorn who calls herself Sprite.
She's reluctant to talk at first and does fight to get away--Sprite isn't very warming to confrontation--but she eventually lets slip she takes care of herself/doesn't have any parents, which is when Pinkie Pie suggests maybe Sprite could stay on the farm. This does not go well at first: Sprite's never been one to stay in one place, it isn't her lifestyle (so she says.) However, she's obviously not old enough to look after herself properly so they can't just let her go. (Big Mac, the head of the family now, is the one doing must of the talking through this)
Sadly, I am still lacking more details but I've a feeling Sprite does try to get away at first. What stops her, I don't know, but it's enough to make her begrudgingly stay.
*Pinkie Pie sympathizes with Sprite (having had an awful childhood herself) and tries to be her friend/mother her. Sprite is having none of this. She doesn't like Pinkie much--most of the Apple Family, but Pinkie...rubs her the wrong way. She hovers and is sensitive and Sprite can never tell if she's happy or sad or both or neither.
*Fluttershy suggests in confidence maybe Sprite had abusive parents like she did, but whether that ever reaches Sprite's ears I'm not sure. Probably not. Either way, Pinkie's determined to somehow get this girl to trust and open up to her.
*It's speculated Sprite comes from Manehatten, but she won't say. She's definitely not from the country or Ponyville, but that's as far as she's willing to reveal. (She's not one to open up for...various reasons.) And I've not worked out her backstory entirely.
While this is going on, a slow phenomena is sweeping across Equestria; subtle at first, but one that grows worse as time progresses.
In the realm of dreams, King Morpheus' younger siblings, the Oneiroi, have finally escaped their imprisonment; all three completely mad; a raging ball of vicious dark energy and power. Eons ago, they watched over portions of the dream world under the over-seer Morpheus, before they tried to band against him and take him over. Centuries later, the three of gone mad in their imprisonment; their powers pooling into one another’s for so long they’ve unimaginable power but very little stability.
Epiales, (male) Phantasos (female) and Icelos (male).
*Phantasos is King Sombra's mother. (FYI)
How they've escaped...I've got a vague idea but I'm not entirely sure I'm still going to go with it (will be explained later on.)
Because of this, however, the subconscious world is shifting, its own stability rattled by the sudden influx of energy. The balance between dreams and nightmares is tilting more towards the latter...
In the conscious world, nightmares are beginning to grow worse for Equestria's residence, to the point where many of them are afraid to sleep because of them. But the body can't last forever and when they do at last "crash," their minds succumb to the Nightmare's pull, putting their bodies in a comatose state while their messy minds run amok in the Dream world. Not everyone; many of the children, young as they are, still remain conscious, while a few adults (Diamond Tiara and Ditzy, for example) are also free from it. Generaly, those minds with particularly messy pasts/sins are prime suspects...
(Why Diamond Tiara is not...that's complicated. And still under heavy development.)
Realizing the problem cannot be solved by himself and his two associates alone, Morpheus sends Cliff and Selene into the conscious world to find specific individuals; the ones best apt at dealing with the strongest nightmares.
The Mane Players.
They're requested (and it is a request, not a choice) to accompany the two (Cliff is a griffon, Selene is a unicorn) to see King Morpheus. Lapis insists the younger children stay behind, but certain foals must come, for reasons only the king can explain. Peridote, Summerfree, and Flyin' Highare left behind with Big Mac, another who has not been affected. (Other children are as well, though they aren't summoned)
*Apple Bloom and Scootaloo are not affected either.
To recap:
Apple Buck, Lapis Lazuli, Sky Light, Night Chaser, Starlit Haze, Marshmallow Scone and Sprite are the seven summoned to the Dream world.
Insert more details aaand moving on!
King Morpheus is a fearsome sight; alternating between his dream and nightmare state fluidly on neutral ground--where his kingdom is located. (In the dream section, he appears only in his dream form, and in the nightmare part, only as a nightmare)
He gives a brief overview to the children about what's going on, then tells them why they're here: of the "nightmares" spawned from the slumbering Equestrian citizens, there are eight very volatile ones causing the most damage--the mane six, Sweetie Belle, and Braeburn.
Their "Nightmare Forms" are tearing the subconscious world apart--each one being an embodiment of their greatest fear/insecurity/sin/crime. Their children are a counterbalance: embodiments of innocence and purity, despite the circumstances surrounding some of their births, they have the best bet of defeating these monsters and retaining enough balance back and weaken Morpheus' siblings enough for him to lock them away again.
*Sprite does not agree with why she's here. She doesn't see herself as Pinkie's child but apparently the pink mare does...which...in this situation, sits uncomfortably with her.
The seven set off, guided by Cliff, who is Nightmare!Morpheus' assistant, while Selene, being Dream!Morpheus' helper, stays with him.
However...this is not an easy task; many of the children do not know their parents' pasts, and don't know how to handle their nightmares (each adult has a nightmare form, that has partially been designed, but not enough to draw fully).
That, and WHY the Oneiroi were set free...may have to do with the god of madness himself...
We'll see. The climax before the timeskip has not yet been worked out. Nor has how each nightmare is to be confronted/defeated. It's not a linear trip, nor is it organized. Things will trip them up, and their OWN nightmares may start to get in the way...
-----------------
Ten years later, we fastforward to see where everyone is now.
I'm thinking they're meeting in Canterlot, for a Wonderbolt's derby, as it's Hummingbird's first race (Starlit's cousin) but not sure, yet.
A special box has been given to accommodate Night Chaser's much larger size; he and his girlfriend, Starlit Haze, are working together to refurnish an old observatory on the outskirts of Ponyville. They, along with Evening Breeze, plan to work there--Starlit and Night will live there as well.
Lapis Lazuli and Apple Buck are married, and have a young unicorn daughter: Harmony. She's shows promise in music; on her way, Buck hopes, to discovering her special talent. Apple Buck himself never receives his, but has grown to accept it: His family is his purpose, and his talent loving them and being the best husband/father he can.
Sprite and Sky Light are dating. Sprite is much less aggressive than she was ten years ago, but still feisty and sarcastic. Sky Light is a little more grounded (as opposed to being as bubbly as she was). Both now have their cutie marks. Sky Light's is a puzzle piece, and Sprite's two interlocking hearts held together by a chain (harder to describe than it is. Check my dA gallery.) They both work to help young foals in bad family situations, or no family at all.
Peridote and Flyin' High also have their cutie marks. Flyin' realized he did inherit his father's speed: but as a foot racer, not with flight. Peridote's cutie mark I haven't worked out yet. Both have a young pegasus foal (male) from a relationship when they were in their late teens. However, they broke it off when the romance died, but still remain friends.
Marshmallow Scone has lost much of her baby fat: a sturdy mare with a talent in the cuisine arts, like her father. She got over her crush on Night Chaser (which she had) and is dating the son of Diamond Tiara and Pipsqueak.
Summerfree...I don't know what I'm doing with her yet.
Or Big Mac's twins, though they both grew up to look as beautiful as their mother, though still with a country touch.
As for the parents...that hasn't yet been worked out. They've been changed, certainly, but how, I don't know.
We'll find out!!
That, ladies and gentleman, is "Nightmare Reality." Hope you enjoyed what I have! And continue to as this story fully comes together
