When he'd heard of the so-called magic crystals, he could scarcely believe such a thing. It seemed overly powerful, like being able to grasp a fragment of the Motherfather's blessings and change like a legendary kin. But such a power for an ordinary sort? It wasn't until he'd seen the change himself in another kin that he realized it could be true. The thought weighed heavy on his mind, like a stone in his hoof. He realized he couldn't stop thinking about a crystal that could change his shape.
He had to find it.
The thoughts churned over and over, he could change. He could look... different. He could feel better. Something had felt off for a long time, and sometimes he wondered if it was a defect within him. While it seems a trivial thing, he'd often wondered if his appearance spoke to others of something unknowable. Something wrong, something offputting. Finding the crystal, something soft and unassuming looking, felt almost underwhelming. Still, he slept.
And he dreamt. The cave was welcoming, comforting. He followed the pale, glowing lights and walls of crystals. It was strange to see - he was not a vain buck, but seeing all these slightly changed versions of him... it was like realizing he had an unnoticed ache that just now lifted. He followed in further, past crystals showing him with more defined features, more luxurious hair, more sparkles to his skin. He saw some on the edges, showing him as a doe, or with changed colors, or as something more lithe or more sturdy. That wasn't quite what he sought, so he continued on.
At last he saw the crystal reflecting him. Violet Visions, with a brilliant and bright look. A buck with long, carefully braided strands of hair, flowers crowning him happily. There had been a greyness and gloominess to him he'd never noticed until he saw, reflected, someone without it. This was what he wanted, this was what had felt so wrong before. He approached the reflection and touched it.