Kyle Marshall had spent the night in the Hospital's on-call room. The bed wasn't very good, and he didn't really get any sleep. On top of that, the Hospital was out of coffee.

This made dealing with Tony Acone exponentially more difficult.

"Look, Marshall. I get that this is a federal thing. I just don't get why the hell the President himself isn't down here. I mean, no offense, but you're not exactly who I expected to see out here."

"As I've sad before, Mr Acone," Marshall began, irritation showing, "The President has decided that I'm going to be the one to watch this thing until he decides he can talk to it. I didn't ask for this job, I assure you."

"I know, but, I mean, we need Federal assistance here! I can take care of the horse for a while - My family has always been famous for how we treat guests, and I don't want my city to be any different - But I really do want the President here! I want him helping out, give the people a chance to see him in action!"

"No, Mr Acone, you want to give the people a chance to see him with you. I hear you've considered running four years from now?"

"Hey, those are just rumors!" Acone exclaimed, legitimately hurt by the accusation. He wasn't that much of a scumbag. "I just want the President to be in New York when he's making History. It would really help our image. Besides, this hospital is one of the safest places in the country."

"I never said we were moving her."

"Oh."

There was a moment of awkward silence before Acone spoke up again.

"You know, she's been asleep for almost two days. She woke up once, but only for a few minutes. I'm starting to worry."

"Tony Acone, worry? About a horse?"

Acone mentally suppressed images of a small, fat Italian boy looking out the bus window and dreaming of riding in on one of the beautiful horses the NYPD's mounted unit rode and saving Mary-Ann from a fire.

"Hey, she's a guest! I always worry about my guests."

"Well, the doctors have assured me - and you - That she's fine," Kyle responded, teeth clenched. He had never lived in New York, but he had seen Acone on TV. Something about the man made him want to punch a wall.

"I know that, but sometimes I-"

"Mr Acone?" a nurse interrupted, "Twilight is awake."

"Twilight?" Tony and Kyle questioned in unison.

"Twilight Sparkle, sir. That's her name."

Kyle rolled his eyes.

"Twilight? Heh. Maybe you should ask her if she only means to stay a while!" Acone exclaimed.

Disappointed at the lack of reactions to his joke, Acone (perhaps unwisely) continued, "I mean, honestly, this whole thing is either real or it's a dream. There's nothing that is in between. I mean, Twilight?"

"ELO? Time? Y'know, the album about the guy who goes to the future? 'Twilight' is the second track..." The mayor said, showcasing his considerable talent for plowing though awkward silences, "That album is great! I don't know how you guys didn't get it."

Kyle Marshall pondered if it was possible to over-use one's eye muscles as he followed the nurse down the hallway.

* * *

Twilight looked up as the two ape-things shuffled in the room. She still couldn't get over how strange these things were in appearance. The different colors she was used to, but their bodies changed so much from person to person. These two new ones were a prime example. One was brownish, but a much lighter shade than the doctor. Like the others, he was devoid of hair on his body, but he seemed to be missing the mane the creatures normally had on their heads. His jaw was square-ish, and he was definitely rounder than most in the stomach. This was especially noticeable next to the tall, thin creature to his left. His skin was darker, his lips slightly larger, and his eyes narrower.

"Mrs. Twilight," the fat one started, in a voice marked by gruffness, "I'm Tony Acone. Please ta meet ya."

The creature extended one of his appendages - Dear Celestia, what did he have on the end of his arms? Fat sausages attached to a flat patch of skin in a way that was almost reminiscent of a Griffon's claws. Apparently he wanted a hoof-shake, but Twilight was kind of afraid to touch it.

"Uh, excuse me, but..." Twilight began, unable to resist her curiosity, "What are those?"

"These? Well," Tony began, oblivious, "The big gold one is my wedding ring, obviously, but that thin white one is my confirmation ring - I'm not actually Catholic, but my Grandmother gav-"

Twilight, much to Kyle's relief, interrupted him.

"Not the jewelry, the organ."

"What organ?" Tony asked, confused. "My hand?"

"Hand. Alright. And I'm guessing you want to shake it?"

"...That's kinda what hands are for, aren't they?"

Twilight tentatively reached a hoof forward, which Tony grabbed gently. This was lucky for Twilight, as her bruised hoof would have no doubt exploded in pain it if were subjected to one of Tony Acone's normal handshakes.

"Again, really just wonderful to meet ya," Tony said, his voice full of genuine enthusiasm. "I'm Tony Acone, mayor of New York. I hope you'll enjoy your stay here in the big apple!"

The word "Apple" suddenly reminded Twilight of how intensely hungry she was. She hadn't eaten anything in a few days. As if on cue, her stomach rumbled.

"Ah, you're probably pretty hungry. You've been out for two days," Acone noted.

Two days? Twilight thought. Wow. That teleportation spell must have taken a lot more out of me then I thought.

"Do you want me to get you something? Apples, hay, sugarcubes..."

The tall one in the back finally spoke up. "Mr Acone, I highly doubt she eats those things."

Twilight shook her head. "Actually, those are some of my favorite foods."

Twilight turned her head to Acone without noticing the subtle twitching of the tendons in the other human's neck. "Any chance you could get me some oatmeal with apple slices?"

Tony nodded vigorously. "Coming right up, Ms. Sparkle."

With that, Tony left the room. Not everybody liked him, but everybody agreed that he was one of the most hands-on politicians the state had ever seen.

As the mayor searched for instant oatmeal in the cafeteria, Kyle took the time to continue talking to Twilight.

"Ms Sparkle, correct? I'm Kyle Marshall," the assistant said, stepping a bit closer to the side of her bed. "I was sent here by the President of the United States - That's the country you are in - To make sure you are comfortable. Is there anything I can do?"

Twilight thought back to the classes she had taken to prepare herself for the journey. The sociologist ponies she talked to had mentioned that the system of government in the world she went to might be different. Princes might rule, or they might have a queen like the changelings, or even lack a ruler at all. One had even spent a very long time talking about a council of philosophers that lorded over a highly organized society. A presidency, however, seemed a bit odd to Twilight. Normally that title was reserved for heads of organizations, like schools or businesses, not governments. It was probably best to clarify.

"The President - Is he the leader of this country?"

Kyle nodded.

"Well, tell him that he has my deepest thanks for taking such good care of me," she began, "and also inform him that I request an audience with his presidentialness, in order to plea the case for my own nation."

Kyle raised an eyebrow. "Presidentialness?"

Twilight blushed, embarrassed. "Or, uh, whatever his title may be."

The corners of Kyle's mouth twitched as he suppressed a smile. This was actually rather funny, but business came first.

"Mr. President will be perfectly fine, Ms Sparkle. He is a very humble man."

Twilight nodded. Good. Should be easier than dealing with an arrogant ruler.

Twilight didn't have time to respond before Tony walked back into the room. "Hey, fresh oatmeal! Hopefully I put enough Apple slices in."

He pushed the bowl towards Twilight. She sniffed it, tentatively. To her delight, it smelled delicious. It reminded her of her days at home, her mother making her oatmeal and telling her that she was her little princess. Early morning breakfasts with Celestia or her friends, talking for hours before leaving.

"This smells fantastic," Twilight said, turning to Acone.

"Just like Grandma used to make," Acone muttered under his breath. He had always been proud of his ability to cook.

Twilight took another deep breath, then grabbed the spoon with magic, slowly lifting it up to her-

"WHAT THE-"

Tony stumbled backwards, tripping over his own feet and landing on the floor. Kyle was similarly startled, although the wall behind him saved him the embarrassment of falling over.

Twilight stared at him. "Something wrong?"

"It's- It's levitating! The spoon is levitating!"

Twilight arched an eyebrow. "...Yes?"

"That's- I mean," Tony said, standing up, "What, are you a magical unicorn?"

"...Of course. There's not any other kinds, are there?"

Twilight had barely gotten the words out of her mouth before she realized how stupid she had just been. They had told her magic might not exist! They had said that it was extremely unlikely, an infinitesimally small chance, but it was there. She just had revealed that she had magic, without any understanding of how the world might react.

The mayor stared at her, his eyes quickly moving towards her horn. Good lord. It's glowing. She's magic. There is a magic unicorn right in this room with me.

Some small part of Tony, deep within the most suppressed part of his subconscious, buried under layers of taunts and "serious discussions" with his father, resisted the urge to squeal. An actual magic unicorn.

Kyle had a different reaction. He ducked out of the room, quickly pulling out his phone.

"Yes, James? I need you to double the guards around here. Triple them. This thing is- Well, it's more powerful then we thought. No, I don't need you to handle the problem just yet. She still seems peaceful. But we need to be careful."

He pressed the button to end the call, then exhaled, his anxiety seeming to spew out his lungs. He slowly leaned against a wall for support.

Magic. Actual magic. That could probably fix so many of the Earth's problems.

Or it could make them all a hundred times worse.

Author's Note

Didn't send this to proofreaders because I realized I had spent almost a month without updating anything. So... yeah. Not the best idea, but I figured you guys needed something.