//------------------------------// // Ch6. Dreamless sleep. // Story: Equis Dreams. // by Aiwhisper //------------------------------// For the first time in a while I woke back up in my own bed without having gone to Equestria during the night. I was both concerned and relieved, after everything that had happened recently I wasn’t sure about going there. Though, I really had been craving a fight. “Some other time.” When I made my way into the kitchen I found a note from my sister that she had gone back home but would text me later. “Guess I better head out as well. I’ll need to start packing up my house sooner rather than later.” I sighed and looked around the family farmhouse. Neither my sister or I had been able to reach our youngest brother as he was always traveling so would just pop into our lives at random. Heh, he and discord would probably get along. After a quick breakfast I hopped into my car. As dad always said, it’s best to keep moving forward. I rubbed a tear out of my eye as I pulled out of the driveway heading towards the city. “Why is this so confusing?” Twilight slammed her head onto her desk. She had been up all night in her library trying to find anything about the chest that was currently mocking her. “Twilight, Darling, are you awake?” Rarity walked into the library. “Oh sweet heavens you look dreadful.” Rarity rushed over to her friend who looked up with bloodshot eyes. “Well good morning to you too Rarity.” Twilight grumbled. “Eh heh, sorry dear you just surprised me. I came over because Pinkie invited the five us of to breakfast.” Rarity smiled and tittered when Twilight’s stomach grumbled. “I could eat.” She stood up on shaky hooves. “So I take it you’ve been working on that box?” Rarity nudged her side and helped Twilight stand up properly. “Ug, yes. It just doesn’t make sense. Six of us yet seven key holes. If the box wasn’t from the tree of Harmony I would suspect discord of playing a prank.” The two of them left the library heading towards Sugarcube Corner. “Yes well just let us know if you need any assistance dear.” Rarity gave her a friendly nuzzle. “Thanks Rarity.” The two of them went inside and were greeted by their friends. “Did the city always look like this?” I was near my house now and even though I recognized everything it all looked dull. It’s probably because Equestria and the farm are so much more colorful. Pulling into my driveway I shut off my car and stretched after getting out. “Good to be… home.” I sighed. It was more of just a house these days after a failed marriage and other recent events, the farm and Equestria felt more like home after just a week. Honestly moving back to the farm won’t be so bad. Just wish mom and dad would be there too. Once inside it wasn’t difficult deciding where to start. “My home office and bedroom will need to be moved first as the farmhouse has anything else I could need for daily living.” I rubbed a hand over my face. I had years of built up general clutter. “Guess I’ll start with organizing.” I pulled out my phone with the idea of putting on music then remembered the inventory feature. “This might not be so bad.” I bought a few boxes using the store feature then began packing everything I wouldn’t need anytime soon into them. Since my inventory took things as stacks i had to pack loose items up first to fit more into it. “So Twilight any luck on that box?” Rainbow asked as the group was finishing up breakfast. Rarity shot her a glance as Twilight groaned. “No.” Twilight slumped onto the table. “I honestly didn’t think the library would be that much help. It’s not like much is know about the tree of Harmony and even the princesses know nothing about it giving out locked chests.” She groaned and levitated the muffin Pinkie had set in front of her muzzle into her mouth for a bite. “Aww cheer up Twilight it’s not like there’s a rush or the tree set a deadline.” Pinkie was bouncing around still passing out muffins to her friends then the other customers. “The tree didn’t do that, did it? I don’t really remember.” Fluttershy spoke for the first time in a while, humming at the taste of the muffin. “Mmm, blueberry.” “Well no. But I just don’t like not knowing something.” She huffed and sat back up. “Sugar you need to get out more, being cooped up all day can’t be good for ya. Y’all ain’t a chicken.” Applejack laughed while Rainbow groaned at the lame joke, Pinkie laughed. “Why don’t ya come out and go for a walk on the farm or something?” “You might be right girls, it hasn’t been that long since we got it and it’s probably not meant to be opened alone.” Twilight smiled. “Thanks.” I took one last look around my empty office and shut the door. “One room done just a couple left to go.” My house wasn’t very large just two small bedrooms, a bathroom and a kitchen that transitioned right into the dining/ living room. I had been proud at the time when I had first bought it for my ex and I but now the place just felt hollow. I didn’t normally cry but, “dang ponies getting to me.” My inventory was half full of packed boxes now and I had no intention of packing up my furniture just yet. As I ruminated on what to do next my phone vibrated. ‘Cragadile core available: available upgrades. 1: Equis Bank larger inventory size. (2 levels per one Cragadile core)’ “Guess I know what I’m getting.” I pressed the upgrade button and unlocked more slots. It was nice that different cores had different values. ‘Upgrade purchased. Congratulations! Due to a recent heroic act and your continued upgrades you have also unlocked a hidden feature. ‘ When the notification disappeared there was a new Icon of my cutie mark on my phone with no name. Opening the new app I found a picture of my earth pony body in the upper left with blacked out boxes filling the rest of the screen. “What do I do here?” As if to answer me. ‘Please pick one box at random to unlock a new form’ I clicked on a random box and smiled at what I saw. “Huh this should be interesting.”