On Light Hooves I Tread 2: Homeward Bound

Chapters

Chapter 1: The Frontier
Chapter 2: The Reunion
Chapter 3: The School
Chapter 4: The Hunt
Chapter 5: The Test
Chapter 6: The Truth
Chapter 7: The Enemy Within
Chapter 8: The Farewell
Epilogue: The Time After
Good End: Transition
Bad End: Damnation
Prologue: The Return

Chapter 1: The Frontier

On Light Hooves I Tread 2: Homeward Bound
A Fanfiction by Adam Nelon

Chapter One: The Frontier

As I awoke, it was before the roaring kinders of a campfire. Around me were what I believed were tepees as a paced drum banged throughout. Before me was the dark tan form of what seemed to be a pony, but on closer inspection, was not such.

"Ah, you've awakened!" She chirped, smiling.

I slowly shifted onto my stomach, groaning a bit still from the minor injuries I sustained from my bout with the scorpion.

"Wha....what's going on? Where am I?"

"A valid question." Grunted a voice from afar.

My eyes closed in on this large figure before me. He was large, with a thick coat of fur across his body, two glaringly large horns, and a feather headdress atop his head.

"My father and I found you unconscious in the desert. When we saw the armor, we were certain it could only be The Traveler." Said the younger of the two figures.

For a moment, I decided upon inquiring of the race of these two.

"You don't look like Ponies, I notice..." I said, shaking away my fatigue as I rose to my hooves again.

"That is correct," snorted the calf's father. "We are but a mighty tribe of Buffalo, native to these lands. If we are not mistaken, you are the one known as "Adam the Astute?"

I blushed a moment at that term of endearment. Five years' time had almost erased my memory of that name. However, upon hearing it be spoken, a nostalgia rush came to me...

"Now and forever, you are Adam the Astute. May you carry this title with pride throughout your years in both our worlds..."

I gasped low for a moment.

"How..." I shuddered, still a bit flattered at my official name being used. "How do you know my name?"

The smaller buffalo chuckled. "Whispers of your exploits carry though the winds of time, friend. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Little Strongheart," She said, motioning to the larger, more ornate buffalo. "And this is my father, Chief Thunderhooves."

Whoa. So this was the chieftain?! Suddenly, my natural compulsion to bow before figures of authority kicked in, and I bowed to the leader of this tribe of Buffaloes.

"It is an honor, Chief. I apologize for my lack of respect earlier..."

Little Stongheart giggled, while the Chief blew a tuft of steam.

"You may rise, Child. It is I who failed to give you proper respect. To be honest, we have anticipated your arrival..."

I blinked for a short few moments. "Y-..you were?"

Little Strongheart approached me then. "Yes. You see, you are not the first pony we have found in our foraging trips. Another unicorn was around where you were. He claims to know you, so we brought him here, and when we found you, we felt obligated to tell him."

"Hi, Adam!"

Suddenly, from nowhere, Jade green unicorn appeared before me. His mane and tail in a sense resembled my own, aside from the lack of white streaks in my own hair. His horn was significantly sharper in look than my own, most likely to emphasize something that I noticed quite profoundly with him: He was radiating magical energy. Granted, this was not as jarringly dense an energy as the type I had felt when I spent a personal audience with the Princesses, it was still noticeable.

What was even more amazing was the fact I already knew who he was.

"Jade...is that you?"

The unicorn cracked an eager grin and nodded furiously. "How'd you know?!"

I smiled a moment. "Just a hunch."

In reality, I knew this one from back in the Human World. Unlike the vast majority of my friends, Jade had no true exterior quirks other than his size. What defined him was his mental faculties. While a savant in some areas stemming from Autism, that same condition also made him a very sensitive type. However, he was not without his benefits. We were very close amongst each other, and my Junior Year gave me plenty of opportunities to enjoy his company. We both had similar interests, and we both had shortcomings that complimented one another. Plus, within a very small circle, Jade stayed within those few friends I had in the Human World that kept by me through it all. Considering that a majority of my friends only wanted my company for one stupid reason or another, that was a statement in and of itself.

"I need to ask something, though..." I said, clearing my throat. "How exactly did you get here?"

Jade stood there for a moment, a hoof to his chin as he thought.

"Well...I dunno, actually." He chuckled. "All I know is, I had this dream where I was in a rainbow, and I was talking to Princess Celestia!"

An odd coincidence that we both initially entered this world through similar means.

"How did you get here, Adam?" He asked me, as if it were a game of prid pro quo.

Part of me wanted to tell the story then and there, but seeing as I was in mixed company, it may not have been appropriate banter. So, I said the one phrase that came naturally to me:

"It's a long story."

With this, I sat down, as Little Strongheart came to a sudden realization.

"You must be hungry!"

Within a few moments, the tribe's princess produced a clay bowl containing some form of edible gruel. I couldn't really put my hoof on what it was exactly, but Jade seemed to like it. Part of me felt like eating it out of respect, while the other part did so for the sake that I wanted to spare my rations for the moment. So, I began to eat the gruel.

To my surprise, the gruel was much tastier than I imagined! It had a nice spice to it, which made it that much more enjoyable to my palette. I was almost disappointed when the bowl had been scraped clean by that beast known as my hunger.

"Good, isn't it?!" Jade said through brief pauses in his own consumption.

I smiled, licking my chops in delight. "It's great!"

"We are glad that you enjoy it, Travelers. Very few ponies enjoy our diet..." Little Strongheart said, smiling.

A thought had crept into my mind then. I still had to get to a town, if only to get back to where I considered home...Thus, I steeled my nerves and asked the question I only felt necessary:

"Where is the nearest town from here?"

The chieftain approached me, a glare upon his face. "It is not far. Perhaps an hour's stampede from here. However, night has fallen, and while we certainly are able to deal with the cold, you may not be." He grunted, punctuating his statement with a puff of steam from his nose. "It is best we wait to daybreak. We will escort you to the town of Appleoosa. From there, you are to your own devices."

I thought about the terms for a moment, then nodded my head. It dawned on me that due to a lack of moisture in the air, there was no way to keep heat in from the daytime, making it very cold at the night time. Basic Environmental Science, really. Either way, even though I was in armor, neither myself or my friend would be in any condition to endure the cold of the night, much less the other possible beasts that lurked in the shadows of the moonlight. Therefore, the two of us, our stomachs full and our hearts full of song, we retired into the night.

As the amber light of the morning sun crested the horizon, I arose with Jade to greet the day. The tribesmen of the Buffalo rose as well, priming themselves through the classic pastime of butting heads. Others marked themselves with the traditional war paint. Many were using grindstones to prime their horns for the ceremony, and before long, the tribe gathered, with the two of us non-buffalo taking point.

"Today marks a momentous occasion in our culture! The sacred rites of the stampede! Each and every single year, both elders and calves alike storm our sacred grounds in celebration of another year of prosperity! It is a sacred tradition that we maintain every year, and this year, our hooves join with those of the Traveler, a Stallion whose name has echoed through the whispers of many of their kind, and many of our own. Let us make both he and his guest feel as welcome outsiders to our sacred rite! These two will be departing midway through our journey for the sake of continuing their own. Until that time, they are to be welcomed into our sacred run!" Roared the chieftain, steam billowing out from every word he shouted.

His speech was met by snorts, which I did good to emulate via the classic taunt of digging one's hoof into the dirt, then snorting.

For a moment, utter silence as the war chief glared at his subordinates, before turning about. The tension and electricity was of such great density, I felt a hot knife could just rend through it. Then, in one fell swoop, the quiet was broken by two simple words:

"WE RIDE!"

In that instant, Jade and I speared a valiant charge across the sweeping plains of what I assumed were the western flatlands of Equestria. The ground beneath us rumbled as thunder as we swept across like a great wind. A total rush of adrenaline soared through my meek body as I charged valiantly ahead, with the pride of my knightly status boosting me greatly. The speed, the power, the sun in my mane, and all of it felt amazing!

As I saw the sweeping plains give way to civilization proper, I gasped. We were making great time, and fast! Truly, there was power in numbers, and I was finding it firsthand. Within mere moments, in a single instant, we broke from the living train, feeling that rushing wind as it passed us, before my exhaustion kicked in. My reserves of adrenaline were tapped, and in a moment, I retired onto the nearest porch. The comfort of a rocking chair allowed me the moment of catching my breath that I sorely needed. As I looked at the town known as Appleloosa, I noticed one glaring thing which made that fish out of water feeling once again reach me: This town, much like how Ponyville was formerly, was exclusively an Earth Pony town. It seemed to be well mixed within Applejack's family tree, given how in the distance, I could make out apple trees not far from ripeness.

It was all broken by the appearance of a rather eager Earth Pony bearing a leather vest and a cowboy's hat. He wore a grin that almost looked like it was in a state of facial inertia, as if that was the only one he ever wore...

"Well, How-dy! I reckon I haven't seen you two 'round these parts!" He said, leaning in on me for a moment with his grin.

I honestly wasn't that keen a smiler to begin with. I either smiled too toothily, or I creepily curled my lips upward like a diabolical villain. Plus, even if Icould smile proper, the awkwardness of the situation made that a fairly awkward endeavor. However, given he was greeting me, my choices were slim. So, I let the colt carry on.

"My name's Braeburn! Welcome to AAAAAAAAAPPLEEEEEEEEEEEEOOOSA!" He shouted, rearing his legs up. He then gave me a quick look over. He must have been fixated on my myriad of different pieces of equipment, but most strikingly of all, my hat.

"Say...you look mighty familiar...you wouldn't happen to know Applejack, would ya?"

I then began to warm up a bit more after that question, smiling a bit myself.

"Know her? I worked with her!"

Braeburn beamed again, giving me a good shake of the hoof.

"You know, ya look like someone my cousin's been goin' on about. Adam the Astute was his name, I think...You kinda look like 'im to boot!"

I smiled a moment more, my confidence getting boosted even further.

"You're looking at him. Good to meet you. Say, is a train anywhere near here?"

Braeburn frowned a moment. "Aw, c'mon! You only got here, kid! You can't just part ways so quick after ya came! Stay a while and let me show ya round!"

Part of me wanted to reprimand him for denying me my opportunity to get to what was practically my hometown, but I was immediately shut up by this bombshell that the spawn of the Apple Clan was so keen on dropping on me:

"Besides, next train to Ponyville t'aint comin' till maybe an hour from now."

Well, that's just peachy. Looks like I was going to have to put up with this guy for a while longer than I wished. But then again, wasn't there a saying once that when you're on an adventure, it's not just about the destination, but rather the journey leading to it? Maybe something good would come from it.

I don't think he even bothered to inquire about Jade as he drug us around Appleoosa. Then again, there wasn't much of anything interesting in this (pardon the pun) one-horse town, so maybe it wouldn't take quite as long as it seemed.

As we trekked about, Jade and I discovered that more lied in this simple town than meets the eye. Sure, it had horse-drawn carriages, square-dancing, a good saloon, and a lovely apple orchard, but it also had a post office, a general store, and many of the other incidentals. I particularly found myself interested in going to the saloon most, though.

"Hey, Braeburn?" I asked a we walked.

"Yeah?"

"Ya figure we could stop by that "Salt Block" place and enjoy a nice drink?"

Another ear-to-ear grin from Braeburn implied only one possible response:

"I like the way you think!"

So, within moments, I was drawn into the saloon, where I was drawn to smile from a rather jaunty bit of piano. Across the scene were ponies indulging in all kinds of pleasures, including enjoying the titular salt blocks, drinking heavy amounts of cider, and for the more reserved, enjoying a game of cards. I always loved a game of cards. Particularly blackjack. However, at the moment, Braeburn was more concerned in dragging me to the counter.

"'Ey, waiter! Round o' Cider over here!" Braeburn said, waving frantically.

Within a moment, a round of apple cider had been slid to the table. A classic beverage of choice for Ponies. I drank one, and then another...I was slowly getting a mite tipsy...then a bit woozy.

I may as well point out this well-known fact. In some cultures (especially the ones that aren't American) register Apple Cider as an alcoholic beverage. Another term for it is Apple Wine. To say the drink put me out of comission was putting it lightly.

The last thing I saw was my face hitting the table. I think I've had far too much.

"Heh...I guess somepony couldn't hold his cider..."

As I regained consciousness, I heard the chugging of a locomotive. Given its more muffled tone, I only could guess I was inside said train. I rose, a pounding headache taking me. Despite it being glaringly painful, I could make out one thing in particular: The snoring of another pony. As I looked around, I discovered that Jade was in a separate bed. I turned to face my mysterious partner, to discover it was a filly dressed in a rather racy set of clothing. You know that feathery clothing you always see women wearing in bawdyhouses in Western Films? That was basically it. My eyes shot wide.

"Oh sweet Celestia, please tell me I didn't-"

"Now Arriving in Ponyville! Please retrieve all your belongings and proceed to the doors at this time, passengers."

With not moment to lose, I scrambled to get my saddlebags together, strapping them on again. I would've tried to use magic, but given the fact that I was having a searing headache, I felt that if I tried, I'd just get an almost cataclysmic headache instead.

A yawn broke the near-silent cabin.

"Morning, Adam! You get enough sleep?"

I spun around, meeting Jade eye-to-eye.

"Wait, weren't you asleep a moment ago?!"

Jade chuckled hysterically as he pointed a hoof at me.

"What? Is there something on my face?"

Jade kept chuckling at me, pointing at my cheek. Frantic, I checked my reflection in a nearby window.

I bore a large, red kiss mark on my cheek. Dear, sweet Celestia, what went on last night?!

"You looked like a real casanova! I didn't know a pony could drink that much cider and still have some charm!" Jade blurted out before keeling over in laughter. "Maybe you should be a Pirate instead of a Knight!"

I was not amused as I wiped the mark of shame away from my cheek and walked to the door of the caboose, waiting for the train to screech to its stop.

Today, I would be reunited with my dearest of friends.

Chapter 2: The Reunion

On Light Hooves I Tread 2: Homeward Bound
A Fanfiction by Adam Nelon

Chapter Two: The Reunion

As I trotted onto the platform of Ponyville Central Train Station, nostalgia filled me to the brim. I was home again. I took in the air of the mid-morning metropolis before stepping onto that freshly-cut grass. Springtime was well into full bloom. Sweet bliss...

Of course, the silence was broken by a sudden dragging away by another over-eager pony. This one, I recognized right away!

"Vinyl?!" I blurted in surprise.

"How'd ya know, kid?" She chuckled as she kept me drug across the ground.

"What are you doing?" I asked, more nonchalant this time.

"Word from Appleoosa talked about some guy in Canterlot Armor who left the town drunk off his flank. I'm guessing that drunk stiff was you?"

I blushed, nodding my head.

"Perfect! Then just come with me, and I'll get you over the airwaves in 10 seconds flat!"

Well, here we go again. Out of one frying pan, and into...well, I guess a whole other one entirely. Not but five seconds off the train, and here I was, being swept off my hooves by a celebrity. Could this day get any more sidetracked?

"I don't see why this is necessary!"

"Oh, don't be such a doormat! You're famous! I thought you knew that!"

"I knew, but I didn't exactly expect to get dragged here for an interview! I thought you all got your fill of this five years ago!"

"Well, I never heard about any of this! Come on! Just enjoy it!"

"Fine...where the heck's the microphone..."

I sat in a black suede chair, boosting my self up to mouth-level to meet a boom mic. I scanned the room for the company I'd been strong-armed into cooperating with.

I don't think I need to remind you what Vinyl Scratch looked like, but I guess a simple refresher couldn't hurt. Essentially, Vinyl Scratch, better known as DJ-Pon3, was a white Unicorn with two-toned, spiky, blue hair, clad in a pair of violet shades, with a cutie mark of a double clef.

Just flanking her (no pun intended) was a more refined grey Earth Pony. She bore a poofy, jet black mane, a pink choker, and an Octave Clef Cutie Mark. From what I heard in some circles, she was called Octaviam and she was famous for one talent in particular: She was a savant at the cello. Some rumors persist that she is related to Pinkie Pie, but I don't think it's even remotely true.

Being in the same room as two famous musicians, combined with the fact that the two of them were about to put me over the airwaves, thereby broadcasting my return to most likely the whole of Equestria, it was only natural that I felt a bit nervous. Sweat began to wet my coat as a grey hoof touched my shoulder.

"Don't worry. This shouldn't take too long. Although, I do hope that you have a good sense of humor. Vinyl just loves to engage in humor at the expense of anypony we interview. She practically tore apart the Princess!" Octavia assured, in a low voice, which had an accent of British origin. However, though I supposed that those were to be words of encouragement, they did nothing to stifle the audible gulp as a red "ON AIR" sign flickered to life.

"Good Morning, Equestria! It's me again, the Freedom Filly herself, DJ-Pon3, and this is "The Vinyl Scratch"!" The white unicorn shouted into the mic, unable to hold back her enthusiasm.

"And today, we've brought in a very special guest to the show! Five years back, this kid came in from a place outta this world, and before he was done, he took out a humongous dragon! If you don't know who is by now, than I'm surprised you found out how a radio works!"

Octavia looked unamused. "Must you taunt everypony on this show?"

"Well, it's not as funny when it's only you!" Vinyl chuckled. "Now then, let's welcome Adam!"

For a moment, a canned applause sounded, and I blushed a deep red.

"Well...Hi."

Octavia smiled. "Don't be shy, dear. Please, tell us a little about yourself."

"Yeah! It's not too often we get a weirdo like you around here!" Vinyl blurted, making Octavia snap back a glance of anger.

"Vinyl!"

I chuckled, raising a hoof. "Don't worry. I know I'm a bit of a fish out of water," I assured the more prudish Earth Pony, to which she replied with a smile.

"Now then...I guess if you wanted to know my personal life, I'm a human who went through some tough stuff as a kid, and when I discovered Equestria, it gave me a great sense of pleasure and comfort. Then, one night, I go to bed, and I have this weird dream where I was talking to the Princess herself, then lo and behold, here I am as a Pegasus."

"Which you aren't right now." Vinyl was quick to point out, where I then blushed.

"Well, yeah...I guess so."

"Care to explain?" Octavia asked, with an actual sympathetic face.

"Well, after I had a lot of adventures, I returned to my home on Earth, then when I came back, I was a Unicorn."

"And how exactly did that happen?" Vinyl asked.

"I'm guessing some glitch in the return portal. I honestly don't know."

"Uh-huh. Now, confirm or deny this: Supposedly, you knocked out a dragon by yourself. Is that true?"

I thought about it for a moment. While it's been five years since I did such a thing, I did in fact take down a fully-grown dragon. But, I didn't do it alone; I had friends, and those friends worked alongside me in one seven-way gambit to incapacitate the beast.

"I didn't do it as a lone effort." I began, a stoic, honest face on my person. "I had the help of Ponyville's Top Six to take the thing down." I smiled a moment. "It was a glorious spectacle."

"I heard you turned yourself into a bullet!" Vinyl spouted, an eager grin on her face. I was worried that if she smiled any wider, that face of hers would be ripped asunder.

"A...bullet?" Octavia squeaked, looking to me with a face of confusion.

I sighed a moment. Guess it's time for a refresher.

"Well, my plan went something like this: Rarity and Pinkie Pie distracted the Dragon, keeping it steady whilst Applejack bucked me into the air. From there, Fluttershy tossed me up near the Dragon's head, and in the few moments I hung in the air, Twilight cast a Stoneskin spell on me, thereby encasing me in stone just mere moments before Rainbow Dash collided with me at Mach 10, thus turning me into a pony-shaped projectile."

"YOU TURNED YOURSELF TO STONE?!" Both mares asked, Octavia in particular bearing a wide-eyed look of shock, with Equestria's best known disk jockey having her jaw drooped onto the desk where all of her equipment lay.

I blushed and rolled my eyes away. "Yeah...?"

Octavia then prompty heaved a sigh, collapsing into unconsciousness, breaking Vinyl from her stupor. Within a moment, she looked to her unconscious friend, a face of surprise.

"Octy? You okay?" She asked, clopping her hooves together in a vain attempt to rouse the cellist to wake.

She turned to me. "Dude...I think you knocked her out!"

She paused a moment before smiling in glee.

"That was awesome! I've never seen someone knock out Octy! That deserves some cheers!"

Within moments, the white unicorn mare clicked a button on her console to release a canned laughter, then proceeding to reach over to me to give me a high hoof.

Truly, that was a memorable moment.

Within the span of maybe another thirty minutes, Vinyl and I enjoyed a nice exchange of personalities, history, and small talk, catching up with one another before (and even after) Octavia regained consciousness. After such a well-worthy side-tracking, I was allowed out from the radio station, whereupon I returned to Ponyville. The closest landmark I found myself near was that one farm known simply as Sweet Apple Acres. Since I had killed enough time, I decided to trot along the path into the fields of the apple orchard, a smile on my face.

Applejack and her brood were hard at work tending to the many apple trees and crops, and it wasn't until a now-older Apple Bloom, bearing an almost brand-new cutie mark of an apple blossom, noticed me.

"Oh mah stars...AJ! Lookit over there!"

Applejack's eyes turned upward, her stetson hat sitting flush as her head rose.

"Well, butter mah backside and call me a Biscuit! Adam! It's been five years!" The farm mare shouted, galloping over to me and trapping me in a vice-like grip of a hug. "How ya been, Sugarcube! We all missed ya! Thanks for sendin' all the letters!"

I blushed, bringing a smile to my face as I returned the hug. "Good to see you two, AJ."

Within a moment, the embrace was broken. "So what brought you back to the good 'ol soil of Equestria?" She asked, her head titled.

I smiled. "For the same reason you hugged me," I said. "I missed you..."

Applejack blushed. "Ah, shucks. I didn't know ya were comin! If I did, I'd have went and told Pinkie! She could get you welcomed back!"

That did pose an interesting thought: I should have have gone straight to Pinkie Pie, but I think she could have been more focused on my lack of wings and a brand new horn than anything else.

But, I felt that Applejack, being noble and honest as she was, would understand what happened.

"So, I take it you've noticed-"

"Yer horn? Yeah. Saw it from a mile away. Somethin' happen on the way back?" She asked, in a manner quite deadpan in comparison to her normally energetic speaking voice.

I blushed, but nodded as I said, "The whole magical business the Princess made for me kinda had a few kinks left to iron out..."

"Huh. Ah guess Magic can be pretty darn unpredictable." The orange farm mare chuckled, before her eyes listed to Apple Bloom. "Hey! That reminds me! Speakin' of changes, have ya seen Apple Bloom?"

I shook my head, but as I looked closely to Apple Bloom, I noticed she was about the same dimensions as her elder sister, a slightly more mature demeanor, and an almost brand-new cutie mark on her flank.

"Well, I'll be! I never thought I'd see the day! When'd she get it?"

"Not too long after ya left, actually," Applejack began with a chuckle. "Her fellow Crusaders were sick, so she felt like heading to Fluttershy's cottage. When she was there, she helped Fluttershy tend to the gardens, and what do you know, she had a knack for it! She didn't know it, but she got a cutie mark somewhere along the way!"

Apple Bloom smiled as she wiggled her flank. "Ah didn't think I'd ever get one! I feel great!"

This brought up a question that I felt needed to come out.

"What about the Crusaders? Have the others gotten their Cutie Marks? What happened to them?"

"Oh, we still hang out together! The Cutie Mark Crusaders officially made a new mission! Now that we've got our cutie marks, we're gonna help other ponies get theirs, too! After all, nopony should have to suffer being a blank flank!"

I smiled. Truly, that was somepony who truly deserved to call herself a Crusader. She was going to dedicate her time into uniting ponies with the talent that made them unique. To help their unique talents blossom forth, as hers did. Part of me felt pride in this maturing filly. Five years did her masterfully.

Applejack chuckled as she tipped her hat up. "Ah see you got my hat on! I knew it would fit ya!"

I chuckled as I tipped my own stetson upward. "Well, you gave it to me. It'd be rude to let this old thing go to dust!"

"Ah, shucks. That's mighty sweet of ya. So, where ya headed?"

"Me? Well, since you mentioned it, I'm headed to Pinkie Pie! Get a party set up and everything!"

Applejack gave me a reassuring smile. "That sounds like a good plan if ah've ever heard one. I'll let ya get to that. Right now, I got apple bucking to do, anyhow. Take care!"

"You too!"

With this, I quit the famous orchard, heading into the market district of Ponyville...

Ponyville was crowded today, but it seemed that each step I took, I was met with a gasp, and a bow. Maybe it was the armor, or my fame, but for whatever reason, something of my stature was compelling them to the action. While I certainly felt flattered by being recognized in such a prestigious manner, I was equally a mite disturbed. Surely, I thought, I was that long-gone? I mean, is five years really that big a time gap?

Personally, while I liked attention, I was never one to bathe in glory and limelight. I was more reserved than that. The way I saw it, being popular just wasn't something I felt comfortable with. Sure, I had accomplished a heck of a feat five years ago, but I would've thought that it would've regressed to a fond memory. However, what should have remained a memory of a hero had instead been etched into the minds of those ponies whom I had solemnly protected. I wasn't sure whether to call that an honor or and irony.

I guess this is what the Princesses have to put up with.

Anyhow, as I made my walk about, I soon came near the sugar-coated, candy-crusted, confection-constructed house that was known as Sugar Cube Corner. If there was any other pony I was ready to see again, it was Pinkie Pie. She was always one to make quick with the introductions, and she was bar-none in the case of parties. Her cheerful indifference would mean a lot to me, and getting familiar again would be a dream come true. So, making haste, I trotted into the bakery.

As my form passed through the doors, a bell tingled behind me.

"Hi!" chirped the pink party pony herself, as she cheerfully waved. "Welcome to Sugar Cube Corn-OMIGOSH! Is that you?!"

Suddenly, in the frame of half a second, the pony who was manning the counter now was within nanometers of my face.

"Oh.my.gosh! That IS you! Adam!"

For the second time today, I was snatched into a vice-like hug.

"I haven't seen you in forever! How ya doin'! Hey, where'd you get the cool horn? And your wings? Where'd they go?!"

For a good minute or so, Pinkie Pie prattled on profusely, until I put a hoof to her mouth.

"Pinkie," I grunted, being firm with my hoof, "please settle down. If you'll let me get a word in edgewise, I'll be happy to explain. Is that okay?"

A muffled "Mm-hmm" came from the pony, after which I released her and took a few shallow intakes of air.

"Now then," I began, clearing my throat. "I'm doing pretty good. I didn't have too much trouble getting here, considering I most likely burned a scorpion to ashes, then hitched a ride with a Buffalo convoy. From there, I spent a nice time in Appleoosa, and the next thing I know, here I am in Ponyville, fresh off the train. Now that I think about it...I had a friend with me, so where'd he go?"

"I'm right here." Added a familiar voice bringing up my rear, forcing me to rear up from the shock of being so suddenly spooked.

It was Jade, and following my brief moment of shock, I had grown stiff, my legs all erect as the rest of me gave way to gravity. My two friends collapsed as well, at that point, only in their case, it was to laugh at my shock.

"You forgot I went with you to the studio, right?" Jade chuckled.

"Oh, yeah! I heard you on "The Vinyl Scratch", but I was like "Oh my gosh, it can't be! He's back?!" Then I looked at you and I'm like "Oh my gosh, that is-"

"Pinkie." I said, a stern face.

"Oh...Right. So what can I do for my best friend?"

I smiled. Finally, I could get to the meat of this matter."

"I'll make it short and sweet; I need a party thrown together. Think you can get a welcome back party made?"

Pinkie Pie beamed a humungous grin then, then going into a comically serious look and saluted me.

"I'm on it! Never fear, Pinkamena Diane Pie is here! I'll have your party ready by tonight!" She chirped.

I smiled, turning my flank as I heard the squeals of young foals. "You coming, Jade? I've still got some catching up to do."

Jade was enjoying a cupcake courtesy of Pinkie Pie, but as soon as I mentioned his name, his head swung to meet my face.

"O-Oh! Right! Coming!"

On that note, I and my green comrade made our way from the bakery, heading out into the less populated parts of Ponyville...

The sun was cresting the sky as we made our way to the tree-house home of Fluttershy. Animals were frolicking freely among the gardens, and beautiful flowers were boasting their beauty were place outside the door. Springtime was certainly at a full gallop here. It was almost like we were trotting into Eden, and the Eve to this garden was the lovely Pegasus herself, who was working towards feeding the animals. As she saw us coming, her ears twitched as her teal eyes met my brown spheres.

"Oh. Hi, Adam." said the meek Pegasus in a calm tone, before her eyes shot wide as she realized who she was talking to, causing her to do almost the exact thing I had done not long ago: stiffen and slump.

Ignoring her natural shyness, I picked her up from her rigor mortified state and brushed her off.

"I take it you were startled that I was back again." I said, nonchalant.

Fluttershy simply nodded before she spoke.

"Nopony told me you were back! I got your letters, and I heard news of some armor-wearing Pony and a Unicorn coming through, and then...you're here..."

She took to the sky then, flapping her wings as a

"I'm so happy to see you....I don't know what to say!"

I smiled at the yellow Pegasus as she descended, hugging her. "So, I'd like you to meet my friend, Jade. Turns out, he's from the Human World, too. He also happens to be my friend..."

Fluttersh smiled warmly, extending a hoof with a mild tremor. "H-Hi..I'm Fluttershy..."

Jade smiled and returned the hoofshake. "Hey..."

I smiled at the two quickly friendly ponies and intervened a moment. "Hey, Fluttershy? Do you think you're in the mood for a a party with Pinkie Pie?"

Fluttershy blushed. "Oh! Why, of course! What's the occaison?!"

I smiled. "To welcome me back, of course."

Fluttershy squealed as she grinned ear to ear. "Of course I'll come! I just need to get some things done here."

I nodded as the Pegasus rather kindly accepted my offer to partake in a Pinkie Pie Party, and I in turn smiled at her gesture. With this done, I went to pick up Jade. Apparently, he was now in a stupor, unconscious. I guess he couldn't endure the critical intensity of Fluttershy's cuteness, like I could. So, knowing little better, I scooped up my friend in a field of magic and made my way down to the Carousel Boutique.

KNOCK, KNOCK.

"Just a moment, please!"

I smiled. Busy as a bee, as Rarity often was. With a moment to rest, I laid the still unconscious Jade to rest. With nopony else to disturb us, I took a moment's rest, lying upon the grass, letting Jade slide off my back. I let myself rest then, the glory of the midday sun glistening on my near-white coat, letting myself grow warm as Princess Celestia's grandest object shined upon my form...Nothing like a bask in the warmth of the sun to ease the mind.

Within a few moments, I was able to stretch my legs as my ears twitched at the sound of the door opening behind me.

"Yes? Who is it? How can I help you-WHAHAHAHA!" The marshmallow white pony reeled back as she saw me, her shocked shouting having stirred me from my stupor.

"We meet again, Rarity." I chuckled, rising with a stretch as I looked toward the marshmallow white unicorn before me, whose whiteness was disturbed by a flash of red in her face.

"W-Why, Adam, darling! You're back after so long?" Rarity stammered, taking a brush to her mane.

I smiled as I lifted my still yet to come to friend to my back. "Yeah. I am...how've you been?"

She gasped when she noticed my friend upon my back...or so I supposed.

"Why, I've been just smashing! But, from the looks of it, you and your friends look a tad worse for wear. Although, it's nice to see my cloak has served you well. Would you two like to come in?"

I smiled as walked to the door alongside her. "Yes; We'd like that very much."

Rarity smiled as she entered first, I and Jade following suit.

The Carousel Botique hadn't aged or changed a day, aside from the new clothing lines Rarity had devised in the five years I had been away. Sweetie Belle was nowhere to be found as I tilted my back a bit to allow my friend to rest in the bed.

"Would you like some tea, darling?" Rarity asked, as I sat onto the sofa.

"That would be lovely." I chirped back, lounging in a slightly non-equine manner. Within a few moments, a saucer and cup were produced, a lovely-smelling tea steaming from it.

"I couldn't help but notice something, dear...you don't happen to have your wings, and you now sport a magnificent horn! Tell me...that being the case...have you...practiced any form of magic?"

I blushed, looking side to side with shifty eyes. "Um...no?"

"Well, then, it's time for a little crash course on the most basic of techniques: Telekinesis! But first..." She mused, leaning in to partake the scent of my armor, before recoiling from what I guessed was a rather pungent odor to her sensitive nose.

"Oh!" She scoffed, holding a hoof to her snout. "Before we even begin to teach you, we simply must do something with your clothes! They smell awful."

I looked the the naturally apperance conscious Rarity with a look of disbelief. We had only reunited but mere moments ago, yet already, she was concerned over the state of my clothing. So, I decided to give an earnest reply.

"Well, when I got back here, I was in the middle of a desert, had to incinerate a giant scorpion, spent a night amongst buffalo, got dragged about Appleloosa, then the last thing I remember before making it here is apple cider. Given my circumstances, I had no real option!"

Rarity looked at me with a pouty look before raising her head with a "Hmph!" before begining to remove my armor piece by piece, until leaving me bare as a tree in the dead of winter.

"Well, surely the sand must have gotten all over you! You simply must allow me to tidy you up while you are here! Besides, you know most ponies here don't wear even a strip of clothing on their back!"

With that notion, I muttered an incomprehensible phrase beneath my breath as she left.

I was nude all over again. The last day or so being confined in armor and cloth had made me forget the feeling of being in the pony equivalent of casualwear - that being, wearing nothing at all - again. To an extent, it was a liberating feeling. While protective, the armor was quite heavy, and I was well aware it was not the type that Unicorns would wear to protect themselves whilst casting magic. However, the difference between calling my status nude and calling it naked is a strange predicament. However, in some circles, the connotations are slightly different: Nude refers to being unclothed, yet unabashed, and perhaps even jubilient, whereas naked doesn't have to refer to being unclothed specifically, but rather, the insecurity that can come from any situation, regardless of dress status. (Thereby bringing proper meaning to the phrase "I feel naked".)

While, indeed, my regained status of being clothesfree was a polarizing endeavor, it allowed me to once again see my glorious cutie mark shine once more. The sun shined its light between the clouds of doubt, spreading the light of inspiration upon me. Plus, finally being able to lounge without the cumbersome plate-mail felt all the more relaxing. The feeling of being free to roam again felt exhilirating to me. The jaybird in me was chirping away.

"Right. I'll get those properly washed, but now, for a teensy lesson on telekinesis. Now, do you have something we could lift without consequence?"

"I have some books..." I said, pointing to my saddlebags, which Rarity set near the laundry room, which she meticulously sifted through with her magic to get the book of stories Twilight gave to me.

"Perfect! Now then, take a good look at this book...take in its details firmly in your mind..." She instructed, pointing to the book.

"Okay..." I replied quizzically as my eyes were drawn to the compilation before me.

"Have you the image in your head! Good. Now imagine, if you will, a gentle wind lifting the book aloft..."

"Right..." I said, putting my gaze to the book before shutting my eyes, imagining the windows opening to let a breeze gently sweep the book from its binds. I thought of the wind like a pair of hands grasping the book, lifting it from the wooden table, and as I did, that satisfying hum of successfully cast magic came. I smiled as I opened my eyes to see the book wrapped in a field of my magic, floating to me.

"Wonderful! Now then, the tea is getting cold, so we'd best drink..." Rarity chirped, a smile creeping to her face as well, as she lifted her own cup of tea. So, I lifted the porcelain glass to my nose, taking in the wonderful aroma of green tea before taking a sip. Delicious, minty, frothy, hot tea drizzled down my throat in a wondrous gulp.

"So, what brings you back to lovely old Ponyville, anyhow?" Rarity asked, legs crossed as she drank.

I fell silent for a moment before looking at the marshmallow white unicorn with a face of true concern.

"Personally..." I shuddered, a blush forming on my grey cheeks. "I missed you all..."

Rarity gasped, almost letting the cup fall from her magic, dripping bits of tea on the carpet. Thankfully, not a drop hit her impeccable coat.

"My word! That's..." Rarity shuddered back, abashed, "Why, that's absolutely heartwarming!"

I smiled, setting the cup down. "So, with that out of the way, what do you say to a welcome back party hosted by Pinkie Pie?"

"Why, I'm flattered! Although, I simply must beautify you! That trek in the desert must have done nightmares to your coat!"

"Uh..."

Before I knew it, I was scooped in a field of magic and brought to the washroom, not a moment given to me to protest.

"There's no time! This crime against natural beauty shalt not be tarnished!"

I was given not a moment more of time.

"Rarity, while I appreciate you're looking out for...well, my looks...but I really really don't see the necessity of you doing this!" I protested as a wiry comb went through my coat, scissors snipping their way across my mane and tail.

"Because, darling! You and your friend look so unkempt!" Rarity quipped, snipping away quite a bit of the back of my mane. "At least your friend...Jade, was it? At least he isn't struggling about it!"

"That's because Jade's pretty much unconscious since he met Fluttershy."

"Well, who can blame him? She's adorable!"

I nodded. "So...what style are you trimming me for this time?"

"Well, it's actually quite simple, really." Rarity chirped. "With spring only having recently come to be, and your hair being far too long for this season, I decided to trim it down in a fashion more befitting the intelligent types that you are...After all, you are Adam The Astute!"

I smiled. That most royal of names came to my ears like spoonfuls of honey to a baby's mouth. Sweet and juicy...

"Once you're all trimmed, I'll do something about your attire. Armor is such a hassle to clean, but I've done it before!"

I smiled. Truly, Rarity's charity shined like the diamonds upon her flank. I could feel my mane and tail being but into a rather more introverted shape. In a sense, it was a slightly more masculine version of Twilight's look. For some reason, I found this look familiar.

"Hey, Rarity?"

"Yes, dear?" She chirped, pausing her touch-up for a moment as I stared into the mirror.

"This mane and tail style...it looks kinda like a male version of Twilight?"

Rarity smiled as she eyed my reflection. "Why, indeed, it does! As a matter of fact, I took cues from a story I read once. I supposed seeing as you are now a unicorn, I may as well give you a fitting style...As for Jade...well, he just needs a little trim..."

With this, I smiled as the cuts came fast and loose throughout my mane and tail before forming themselves into a more masculine equivalent to the style of that most adept of unicorns. In hindsight, it actually did rather fit me. She and I were both intelligent types at heart, but we enjoyed social altercations, as well. The only thing that really differed between us were appearance, homes, and pets. That, and the obvious subject of gender. Jade's appearance was more clean cut than when he came, but nothing particularly unique.

"Voila! And now, to get your clothes sorted out...back in a pinch!" Rarity chirped, leaving the washroom. "In the meantime, perhaps you could get a shower!"

"Right. I've needed one." I admitted, climbing into the bathtub nearby and preparing the tap. Surprisingly enough, now that I had a basic understanding of unicorn telekinesis, I could apply the same techniques and mechanics of thought-based manipulation to my advantage. My minor efforts in concentration were quickly rewarded with a relaxing, warm spritz of water, which I then put to use. To be honest, I almost forgot the feeling of water upon my coat, and in this circumstance, I felt quite relaxed. It was enough of a relaxer that I could breathe a sigh of relief before stepping out and drying off.

Jade was still essentially limp on the floor, so I did the noble thing and led him back to the sofa to relax while I sat down, musing to myself on the good feeling it was to be back. However, something struck me: While the first four have been rather nonchalant about my lack of wings and my newly gained horn, what would Twilight, and more importantly Rainbow Dash, think of my new form? After all, I was essentially a rival to Rainbow Dash before I left...as for Twilight...she'd probably strap me to some huge spectrograph to make sure I wasn't joking around...I had a feeling that compared to Pinkie Pie, perhaps an analysis of me would actually warrant legitimate results.

However, the more logical part of me dismissed such silly notions and simply enjoyed the moment. Within a few moments of reapplication, tea-brewing, and idle chatter, Jade finally regained consciousness...and then almost fainted again. I couldn't help but chuckle like the giddy git I was.

"Twice in a single day, Jade? Wow. you get star-struck real easy."

With this, Jade's green coat turned a delightful shade of ruby-like red, as he crossed his hooves with a huff. That bit of hilarity over, as we finished another delightful cup of tea, I set the spent cup onto the table before clearing my throat.

"Well, Rarity, thank you for having us. If you'd be a dear and excuse us, we'll be off to invite Twilight to Pinkie Pie's little soiree. Would you pardon us?"

"Of course, dear."

It was on this note that we left the Carousel Boutique to make our way to Ponyville Town Library, the well known home of Twilight Sparkle, Spike, and Owloysius.

The tree that housed the famous library was in the greenness springtime brightness as the both of us took a proud stride in the heat of the warming sun amidst the clouds. Truly, spring must be the one time of the year in which Equestria was most aglow with its brightest of colors. For once, the goggles upon my eyes did not exist solely to further my factor of style. Now I can see why most Pegasi who are in more physically intensive means of employment wear these! I guess either it was my infectiously good mood, or perhaps the charm this world had on others, but Jade seemed equally happy at this point.

But, in the midst of this feeling of giddiness, I also felt nervous. I was more concerned over how Twilight would react to my new body. After all, dimensional travel, as I was well aware, was a risky venture, as one less magically-abled pony could well attest to. In fact, I thought I saw a strange-looking phone booth as we made our way to the famous library. Shelving that odd sight from my memory, I held Jade back for a moment as we neared the door. After all, I was the more familiar of the two of us. So, after letting cold sweat run across my face, I rapped at the door with my hoof.

"Coming!" called the slightly deepened, but still recognizable voice of the one most amiable dragon currently in Equestria. Part of me smiled in knowing that Twilight was not the one coming to the door, but as the slimmer and slenderer violet dragon answered the door, he gave me a stare with his shrunken irises before turning his head to a five-o'-clock direction.

"Uh...Twilight?" He shuddered, one eye kept to me. "You...might wanna come see this...."

"See what, Spike?" Twilight asked as she walked into room. She seemed to be clad in a pair of what looked to be reading glasses, holding a book in her fields of magic, only to have it promptly fall to the floor as soon as her spectacle-clad eyes met my own. Her glasses almost fell off from the shock, as well. "Oh...my...goodness..." She shuddered, her mouth held agate for a long time.

I lifted a quizzical brow. "Surprised?"

Silence took the main room of the library, leaving the air dreadfully stagnant before finally beginning to speak.

"S-Surprised...I....I'm....I'm more than surprised...I...I...."

Moments later, I found myself in a tight embrace by Twilight, who broke out into joyous tears. "I'm overjoyed!"

I smiled back, returning the hug briefly before straining to say "Twilight...as much as I appreciate your affection, you're kinda crushing my lungs..."

Twilight promptly blushed as I mentioned this, releasing her firm grip on me and dusting me off.

"Sorry. It's just that it's been so long! I'm just so happy to see you again and-" She began, before her eyes became fixated on my features. It wasn't the clothing that I was wearing that was striking her attention, but rather, the massive bulge upon my forehead.

"Oh...oh, dear...how do I put this politely...um..." Twilight stuttered, before tapping her own horn. "Do you know you have a..."

"Yeah. I do. I noticed when I first got here."

"Oh...hey, could you come with me for just a second...?"

"O...kay..." I responded, following Twilight downstairs, leaving Jade in the company of Spike.

I admit, that was a stupid decision, on my part. Thanks to my lack of thought, I now ended up being strapped into a large mechanical apparatus connected to...a tape-reel computer? Really?

"Fascinating...a full metamorphosis in five years? But how?" Twilight asked, reading over a look coiling of paper printed from the machine.

"Transportation complications..." I said bluntly, as the machines did their work in scanning me.

Twilight giggled at that. "Well, while I've perfected the art of multi-pony teleportation, it seems that transdimensional travel isn't exactly a perfected venture. At least you're still a pony, I guess..." She chuckled, releasing me from the shackles of the scanning device, allowing me to rub my wrists...or, whatever counted as wrists...wait...why do people always do that in cop shows?

"I think we ought to tell the Princess about you. After all, the first thing any unicorn learns, it's how to train their magic!"

My heart fell into my stomach then. She was awfully frigging blunt, wasn't she? Then again, all things considered, I was still a newbie, and if I was gonna try to get back into a decent education. Much to my own chagrin, it was what what made the most sense. And thus, I nodded, smiling.

"Makes sense...oh, and could you possibly have Jade come along?"

Twilight cocked her head a moment. "Jade? You mean that pony you came in with?"

"Yeah...that's the one..."

"Why would you want him to come along?"

I blushed. "Well...He's kinda my friend..."

For a moment, Twilight stood dumbfounded, before her eyes widened in realization.

"Oooh...I understand...After all, what's fun doing something without a friend?"

"Exactly...which reminds me....do you think we could use your balloon? I'm having a nice little welcome back party soon, and I'd like to get Rainbow Dash to come."

Twilight smiled. "Well, that's wonderful. If you could get Jade down here for a moment, then?"

I nodded. "Jade? Could you come here, please?" I called from below, to be greeted with Jade's emerald-green head poking through the doorway.

"Yes?"

"Come down a moment. Twilight has something for us."

It was then that Jade nodded and joined me downstairs.

"Okay. Now hold still..." Twilight instructed, before focusing on our hooves and casting a whimsical light on them. Part of me felt a bit lighter on them, but nothing too drastically different.

"There! All done!" Twilight said, smiling as she began to head for the hot air balloon.

"So..what'd you do?" asked Jade.

"A Walking on Clouds Spell. Really simple enchantment magic. You should learn something about it at the Magic School."

"Uh...huh..." Murmured the both of us as we boarded.

"And away we go!" Twilight said, as we shot into the air.

Within a few minutes, I saw once again the glistening spires and pillars of Cloudsdale. To be up in the sky again, where I felt most connected, felt like a liberating feeling as I took steps on the soft cloud bed.

"I'll wait here while you guys get Rainbow; I've got a letter to write!" Twilight said, unfurling a scroll and quill as we nodded and trotted away.

And not but a few moments after, I took the brunt of Rainbow Dash's dive bombing. Is it just me, or do half the ponies Rainbow meet her from being tackled?

"Whoa! Dude! What're you wearing?! It seriously hurt!"

I turned myself to meet Rainbow, and as her agitated eyes met me, she gasped.

"Dude...what's up!"

What followed was an elaborate brohoof, before she gasped even further from noticing my lack of wings.

"What the...aw, man! Don't tell me!" She said, in total disbelief. "You're not a Pegasus anymore?! What happened?! I had so much I wanted to teach you about flying!"

"I had a transportation problem At least Twilight got me up here...and I have a good reason for that."

"Oh yeah?" Rainbow snarked. "What?"

"You wanna come to my welcome back party?"

"Would I?!" Rainbow asked, before glomping me. "I'll be there at sunset!"

I smiled before turning one-eighty, flicking my tail. "Oh, by the way, this is my friend, Jade."

Jade blushed and waved his hoof at Rainbow, droning "Hiiiii..."

"Uh...yeah...hi..." Rainbow said, rolling her eyes.

"C'mon, Fanboy..." I said, dragging Jade with my magic. "See ya at sunset, Rainbow!"

At this note, the both of us left for the Balloon, where Twilight ended her note, rolling it up neatly as she packed it in. "Ready to go?"

I nodded, smiling as we left for Sugar Cube Corner. My party awaited, and I was very happy.

The party was an amazing endeavor. It felt great to meet all my favorite ponies again. Even Derpy was in attendance, and I smiled as she entered the fray. Turns out, she actually was able to talk coherently, if not simply. The music flowed through me like rainwater, the sweets Pinkie baked brought a puckered smile to my face, the time that I got for hanging out with my old friends again gave me a heartwarming feeling in my stomach, and the great feeling of being beloved and befriended made me feel all warm and fuzzy again. A feeling I had nay seen since I last visited.

Then, a hush fell across the partygoers, and as I turned to see the cause, it was abundantly clear who had arrived.

Princess Luna, flanked by two Night Guards, walked into Sugar Cube Corner, ponies bowing before her as they made a path clear to me.

The lunar mare was beneath a cowl, which she flung off as her teal eyes stared daggers into my own brown spheres.

"Adam the Astute," she said, a stern, yet warm tone, "be that you?"

I smiled. nodding. "Yes...it is I..."

"I see," Luna said, as her cowl dissolved into bats. "It seems that Twilight was being most true in her letter of recommendation...are you and your friend ready to make for the academy?"

I looked to Jade, who nodded to me, to where I nodded back. "We are ready."

"Splendid. Then come with us. We shall be there before daybreak..." Luna advised, turning as we walked to meet Luna in the carriage. As we left, the two of us exchanged words of encouragement, wishing me luck as their images faded away into nothing, the two of us joining the mare of darkness and night as we stole away into the moonlight....

(Author's Note: There were two references to other fan fictions in this chapter, those being The Vinyl Scratch Tapes by Corey W. Williams, and On a Cross and Arrow by Conner Cogwork, respectively.)

Chapter 3: The School

On Light Hooves I Tread 2: Homeward Bound
A Fanfiction by Adam Nelon

Chapter 3: The School

Canterlot at night was a glorious a sight as they come in Equestria. The city that served as the capital of all ponykind was like a Victorian masterpiece, the streets dimly aglow by magically-lit streetlamps, the cobbled roads empty and barren, giving way into the silent serenity of Princess Luna's grand masterpiece. While Jade had fallen asleep during the ride, I was fully able to bear witness to the majesty of the sky, the constellations all in clear view before me. Back home, I would've killed to see this phenomena as clear as day. Here, It was like a wonderful painting worked by only the finest of artistic savants. This was Princess Luna's grand masterpiece, and I was gazing at it in all its naked splendor.

"Thou art mystified by our work?" Luna asked, her eyes listing to me, which sent a chill up my little pony spine. "There is no need to fear. If anything, we are glad to see somepony who is appreciative of our work."

"O-of course, Your Grace! It's nothing! It's just that..." I said, somewhat embarrassed by this direct altercation between myself and this royalty, "...I've not seen such unparalleled beauty like this where I come from..."

"Because of the fact your world keeps itself almost constantly illuminated?" Luna asked, employing her Royal Canterlot Bluntness.

"Yeah...rarely have I seen the sky so pure and bright...it's truly your magnum opus, my liege..." I murmured, pressing my hooves together.

"We thank thee," Luna said, smiling as she approached me, as if to give me and embrace, but stopping short in her tracks as she turned her gaze forward. "Ah! We are arriving at the campus!"

"Hm?" I hummed, turning my gaze to the same direction. What my eyes caught was a sight without equal. If the castle that surrounded the city of Canterlot served as Equestria's crown, then what I was observing was among its crown jewels. It was essentially a cobblestone Canterlot in miniature. This was Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. It was from this school that such gems of mares like Twilight Sparkle were educated and joined the alumni of the most famous magi in Equestria. Be it simple seamstresses or the most awesome of artisans, they all had one thing in common; They came from this one school.

I was almost completely overtaken with wonder until Luna cleared her throat in a profound tone.

"O-Oh, right!" I stammered, before tapping Jade to rouse him from his sleep.

"Mm...wha?" He murmured, before shaking himself awake and stumbled to his hooves. "Where are we?" He asked, rubbing mucus from his eye.

"Thou stand before one of the finest institutions of magic available in all of Equestria. Through these doors, the two of you will commune with like-minded peers to learn the art of magic as only this school can provide. From these doors have come such great magi as Star Swirl the Bearded, Night Shade the Cunning, and Storm Caller. Whatever thy talents may be, it is here that thou shalt discover, train, and perfect thy craft and become masters of thine own domain." Luna spoke, her eyes slightly aglow with magical energy.

"Welcome, Adam and Jade, to Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns."

"W-Wow..." Jade said, his green eyes aglitter with amazement. If I wasn't starstruck, he most certainly was.

"Now, then," Luna said, as we disembarked. "At this moment, the day classes have long since concluded, and the night classes are at a point where, were thee to enter at this point, thou wouldst be intruding. So, we will escort you to the colt's dormitories. The headmaster has been informed of thy arrival, and a room hath been opened in advance. We have reason to believe thy schedules have also been delivered to these rooms. Classes shall start no sooner than 5 AM."

"Five in the morning?!" Jade blurted. "That's way too early!"

"Actually," Luna began in a curt manner, "It is most appropriate. As Adam could tell thee, the passage of time here is different. There are instead eight hours, in comparison to the twelve to which thou art accustomed." She then looked to the clock hanging just above us. "The further we delay thy rest with rhetoric, the worse thou shalt be come sunrise. we suggest that the two of you, as you might say, 'get a move on'."

It was thus on that note that the three of us began to walk into the facilities, the two Pegasus guards flying off in their carriage as we disappeared into the large mass of stone and plaster. The stone was naturally cold to our touch, but it was none too serious to be considered any issue. I suppose the same could be said of Princess Luna's rather antiquated vernacular. As ancient as her tongue was, I was still, in a manner of speaking, fluent and competent in its nature. As we stepped across the halls, torches whooshed to life in glorious plumes as we passed them. And considering there was at least one pair for every two meters or so, that was going to be happening a lot.

Each of the wooden doors beside us had a number, and we were somewhere in the three hundreds. Eventually, we stopped, and a small metal plate on the door read "337".

"This is the room thou hath been assigned. We expect you be awake before five," Luna said pertinently, a firm face on her as she opened the door. "I pray that thy sleep be filled with glorious dreams and beautiful visages."

I nodded, taking Jade alongside me was we walked inside. "Good Evening, Princess," I said, smiling as I yawned.

"Likewise, Adam," Luna replied, a smile coming to her face. "Good Evening to thee, as well."

And so, after taking her leave, I shut the door behind the two of us, tugging it a couple times to assure it was secure. Jade then spoke up after being mostly quiet during the trip, chirping, "So I guess you two know each other?" to which I nodded, chucking a simple: "Oh, yeah. We're really close."

The room itself was not a terribly ornate structure. Two beds, a table between then, a lantern perched atop it. A tasteful bit of cobblestone flooring was about the whole room, with tasteful blue velour carpet draping some parts of it, complete with matching curtains. Part of me was hoping to look a direction and see a large stained-glass mural of my defeat of the large blue dragon that attacked Ponyville, but another part of me reminded the original of how silly a notion that would be.

The beds, thankfully, were tastefully separated by the table between them. Both of them were twin-sized beds, decorated with azure pillows, sheets, and comforters lined with golden lace. Once again, nothing too ornate, but a nice touch for such a simple type of room. There was no television (which was a real shame, considering thirty percent of my leisure was television), but there did lie a large bookshelf, stuffed to capacity with tomes upon tomes of magic and mythical information. It seems when Princess Celestia built these dormitories, she intended them to be made to be used for study and rest more than anything. While I would mourn on the lack of digital entertainment, the printed word would make a good compensation for me.

"Whoa..." Jade sighed, his head in a spiral as he looked about the room, "This is a pretty swanky place, huh?"

"Yeah," I chuckled, smiling as I made for the bed. "It ain't the Royal Suite, but it's pretty nice for an on-campus dorm room."

Which brings me to an interesting matter of discussion; Jade (as I will refer to him for the moment, as his human name, to me, sounds a mite silly to say aloud), when I knew him as a human, had already gone to college by the time I had originally visited Equestria, while I stuck to raising a child and taking online courses. I don't recall what degree he was intending on getting, but it wouldn't amount for much in a realm in which humanity is either extinct, or just plain incompatible with the status quo that currently exists.

With that brief anecdote out of the way, the two of us resigned for the night, sliding prone beneath the covers of our beds, our bodies in opposing directions to the walls, which, while draped over by the azure curtains, showed in glorious luster the light of the waning gibbous moon that was in the sky, its light shining through dimly, as if it were a nightlight of Princess Luna's creation. Neither of us spoke much after that, aside from a short exchange of wishing each other a good rest. On that note, we both succumbed to our bodies' desire to rest and renew, letting our dreams wash through our subconscious...

What I saw next was something I almost couldn't put to my comprehension. I was in a vague expanse of stony ground, blanketed by a dense fog. In the sky was a distorted, almost green moon. What the hay? As I looked down, I saw something that was even further befuddling.

Approaching me was a black, almost ink-like mass. Its shape was that of a pony, most likely a unicorn, but its face was covered by a mask. Upon that mask was the numeral "XVI". The Number of the Tower Arcana. The number was upside down, and the unicorn was slowly approaching me. "Though you have yet to see it," said the pony shadow, its voice echoing through the void about me, "not all is well in this world. Very soon, you will be put to a most difficult trial. Your understanding of this world will alter drastically, and it is through your efforts that you must avert an influx of chaos...Your morals will be tested, dear Adam. It falls into your hooves now...best be careful..."

"What are you talking about?!" I shouted into the fog. "What do you mean, I have to avert chaos?!"

"There is no time to explain," Said the masked shadow. "The Answer will come to you when the time is right..."

As the shadow said this, it began to fade into the mist, its blackness going with it. I pleaded for it to come back, but to no avail. It was gone, and the waking world beckoned...

I woke up in a shocked daze. I had not emitted a scream, but rather a low and subdued gasp. Amber light filtered through the azure curtain as my roommate dazed away peacefully. That was the thing about Jade. Even as a pony, he wasn't exactly one to burn the moonlight oil. I remember once, he and I had an all-nighter after we went stag to the Prom. He fell asleep just an hour before I eventually succumbed. So, naturally, I let this sleeping pony lie for a little to check the time.

What a bit of serendipity! I woke an hour early! The smaller of the two clock hooves was pointed to the four. On this note, I went to find my armor. Thankfully, I had the good sense to remove it last night before I retired to bed. Somepony (perhaps the janitor?) must have gotten the armor and tastefully arranged it onto a mannequin. One bit I did notice was a caparison added onto the set. A golden one, to be more accurate, trimmed with blue. I don't know exactly why one would be added to something that had yet to see either ceremonial or combative use, but it was a nice touch. At least it was below the armor, so it would protect other parts of me.

And thus, one by one, I attached each piece of the armor, minus the champron, to my shape, thereby preparing myself in the event that something might damage me. I left the headgear on the mannequin for the sake of getting my hair into line. The tail was safely outside the armor as I went to the washroom to groom it into a proper mane and tail combo, getting it nice and orderly. Telekinesis made the feat of multitasking all the more easier, thus making the use of a brush, a water spray bottle, and a hairdryer all at once a child's feat in my eyes. Once I had attended to that, I woke Jade, putting on my champron, then adding the necklace, goggles, and stetson hat that Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack had bestowed upon me.

"Mm...morning, Adam..." Jade moaned, yawning deep and low before hopping outside the comforter. "Sleep well?"

I smiled, wriggling in my barding a bit. "Like a foal," I beamed, taking a few stationary trots to get my body back into the swing of wearing the barding. In a sense, I felt awfully naked without that barding, and in a sense, I felt nearly the same way in it. Considering I was in a world where ponies regularly were nude, I felt I was going to have to resolve that problem soon. However, my education came before my reconfiguration of my nudity taboo.

Once Jade had worked towards arranging his mane and tail accordingly, we took up our schedules, and discovered a rather odd coincidence: Our schedules were the exact same!

Part of me wondered why I and my friend would be in the same classes, but I suppose it was okay, either way. The schedule was like any other I'd been familiar with; seven periods, one for each class, a break for lunch, breakfast before 1st, all that jazz.

"Wow..." sighed Jade, his eyes gleaming with stars. "We've got the same classes! Isn't that great? We can be study buddies!"

"Yeah," I sighed back, in a mildly sarcastic manner as I folded the schedule into a four-fold sandwich, "Real great."

With this, our two stomachs churned in hunger.

"Do you-" We started at the same time, before we both quieted down, until Jade said, "You first."

I nodded, asking, "Do you think we should get some breakfast, first?"

Jade emitted a gasp. "Yes! We should!"

So, with no further delay, the two of us bolted for the cafeteria, hoping to partake in some nice breakfast fare.

The cafeteria was a fairly nice place for something situated inside of a castle. Stone floors were strewn with finely-woven tapestries depicting the Royal Sisters, the Defeat of Nightmare Moon, and the subsequent Defeat of Discord. Magically-fueled torches of blue flame cast a nice glow upon the room, as well as a chandelier above the room, and candles strewn across long dining tables, most packed with unicorns. Many of them were happily talking away, yet at the exact moment at which I entered the room, the whole room quieted to a stagnant pause. I had no earthly idea what could have caused my very entrance to quiet a room. Perhaps news of my exploits traveled fast?

"Is that..."

"No way...it can't be...!"

Murmurs to this effect were spread all across the room as I and my lesser-known compatriot cantered through the line, ponies aside me parting, as if I were some kind of badass.

"He looks just like him...but...wasn't he a Pegasus?"

"Maybe that zebra...what was her na- Zecora! Maybe she used her black magic on him!"

"No way! No kinda potion could do something like that..."

Ignoring the fact that my unseen aura was sparking much attention from my unicorn colleagues, I approached the counter with a tray absentmindedly floating near me. Behind the counter was, to my surprise, a unicorn whose eyes reminded me of a past friend from this world. They were yellow, and the pony who was wearing them had a telling wall-eyed expression on her face. Before I could even introduce myself, the cross-eyed unicorn did it for me.

"'Ey! You're that Adam kid, right?" She chirped oh so sweetly. "My mom told me all about you! But...weren't you a Pegasus?"

"It's a long story," I said bluntly, then warming up with, "but your mother wouldn't happen to be Derpy Hooves, by any chance?"

Suddenly, the unicorn's expression brightened up spectacularly. "How did you know?!" she squealed, shaking my hoof furiously. "My name's Sparkler! I'm Dinky's Big Sis! Nice to meet you!"

Even after Sparkler ceased to shake my hoof, my foreleg kept undulating as if the hoofshake had not concluded. It took Jade's interference of my leg's inertia to slow it, stirring a chuckle from my green pony friend.

"My name's Adam. Adam the Astute. What will we be having, dear Sparkler?" I asked the derp-eyed mare with a smile.

"The Hooves Family Specialty! Muffins! It's Muffin Monday, after all!"

"That sounds lovely!" Chirped Jade, drooling at the plethora of muffins arranged all in neat rows.

"You should try one!" Sparkler implored. "We've got blueberry muffins, coffee muffins, chocolate chip muffins, oatmeal muffins..." And so the unicorn droned on, listing in excruciating detail all of the muffins in her large stock, before I cleared my throat rather loudly. "Oops! I guess I just started rambling, eh? So what'll it be?"

"I'll have Double Chocolate," I said, to which Jade responded with "Blueberry, please."

"Sure thing!" Sparkler said, floating our choices over to our respective trays with a smile. "Don't forget to pick up your milk and juice, too! Momma Derpy says they make you big and strong!"

With this, the spawn of Derpy Hooves beamed a glorious grin as she waved her hoof. This inspired a smile in the both of us as well, as we collected our beverages. I took Grape Juice and Chocolate Milk, while Jade had Orange Juice and White Milk. Mainly because I was concerned that sitting in a more crowded area of the cafeteria may result in being mobbed by fans (or those direly curious ponies) of my exploits, Jade and I sat at the end of one of the less populated tables. Within moments, however, a familiar brilliant azure unicorn trotted up to the table.

"Well, well," She said, smiling as she sat next to me. "Look who showed up here. If isn't Trixie's old friend!"

"Ah, Trixie!" I said, giving her a short hug. "It's been-"

"Five years," Trixie chuckled, smiling. "Trixie has kept track."

I chuckled at that moment, smiling.

"Trixie must exchange proper gratitude. Since you were kind enough to help her career to receive a decent boost, Trixie began earning a much better income, and with said income, the Great and Powerful Trixie finally acquired enough money to pay towards her tuition at this awe-inspiring academy of arcane excellence!"

"So that's why you were traveling through Equestria with your shows?"

"Precisely, my dear friend," She replied, patting my head as if he were a pet, taking note of my horn. "Trixie has noticed your change in form. Some form of spell made you like this?"

"Actually, I have no clue, aside from a problem in the reentry to this world..." I chuckled, pushing my hooves together.

"No matter," She said, tipping her star-clad hat and running a hoof through her mane. "Trixie hopes that we may meet again one of her classes. Trixie wishes to gauge your knowledge and your power." As she said these words, a flare shined through her greyish-indigo eyes. With this, I gulped. The pony who was once an infamous braggart now decided to become my personal rival, and as I began to eat my muffin, I felt more than excited for class.

"Um, Adam?" Jade asked, tapping my shoulder with his hoof. "Just how many ponies do you know around here?"

"Let's just say I get around," I chuckled. "When I came here last time, I made a lot of friends, I traveled a little, and I even went hoof-to-claw with a drago-"

"OH SWEET CELESTIA, IT IS HIM!" was the next thing that erupted from the room's many patrons began to pool around me. Jade just barely evaded being stuck in the massive crowd of ponies that had formed in my prescience, as if my retelling of days long gone by was cause for great concern. For a good while, I was left at the mercy of at least one hundred unicorns who began to start an instant fan club. Jade, on the other hoof, bolted to an edge of the room. One by one, I had become a touchstone for several unicorns for what felt like an eternity until a tingling feeling overtook my form, giving me rapture from the crowd.

"Alright, well, I think that's about as much of the pony handling as my friend is willing to take, so I think we'll be off to class now, so...SEE YA!" Jade said, carrying my telekinetically-suspended body out of the lunchroom and in the general direction of a nearby hallway.

"So," Jade said, between breaths as he bolted off, carrying me in his aura of telekinesis, "Where's our first class?!"

"If you would be so kind as to put me down, I'd be more than delighted to tell you!"

For a moment, Jade screeched to a stop, releasing his grip upon me and allowing me to once again walk on my own four hooves. With this, I casually unfurled the note containing our class schedule from beneath my stetson hat, looking at the classroom assignments. It seemed that the first class was something called "Pre-Celestial Magic Philosophy". I gathered this was going to be a history class detailing magic before the era of Princess Celestia and Equestria. The room assignment was room 227. Thankfully, with the haste that Jade had made to getting the two us as far away from that spontaneous fan club as physically possible, the aforementioned room was in sight, and through sheer luck alone, we were the first two inside.

"Ah, good morning, si-GOOD HEAVENS!" Shouted the proctoring pony, a monocle popping out from his eye socket. "You look positively haggard! What happened to you two?"

"Let's just say..." Jade wheezed, smiling. "Traffic was nuts."

"Given your sweat-marred hides," said the pony as he retrieved his monocle, "I am more than inclined to believe you..."

With this, the unicorn began to circle me, as if in interest as to who I was.

"You know...there's something strikingly familiar with you...I just can't put my hoof on what, though."

"Maybe it's my armor?" I aksed

"Perhaps...you're that traveler?" He asked, pointing with his hoof, which made me smile and and nod.

With this, the teacher cracked a lovely smile and shook my hoof modestly. "Well, I am honored to have you and your friend in my class. I hope that you hold true to your title..."

"Thank you, sir," I said, smiling as I slunk into my seat.

In a moment, the proctor recalled the one error he forgot to correct.

"Oh, but where are my manners! I am Musky Tome. I teach Pre-Celestial Arcane Philosophy. What this means is, I teach the history of magic before Celestia's reign. After all, there exists a whole other civilization before even Equestria. A race that to this day, exists beyond most ponies' knowledge..." For a moment, the pony paused, then chuckled. "Oh, but there I rambling again. I never bothered to let you two introduce yourselves!"

"It's quite all right," I assured my proctor, smiling. "I"m Adam. Adam The Astute."

"And I am Jade," said my friend in a similar tone. "Jade the...well, I don't know what I am..."

"Good to meet you both," Murmured Musky Tome. "Now then...where was I? Ah, yes! There was a civilization which existed far before Equestria ever became a concept. Before ponies, there was one spectacular, stupendous race that, to this very day, still exists beyond the understanding of most ponies! Do you know what this race was, my dear Adam?"

I was about to spout something, but my mind couldn't conjure a good thought, so I mulled over it a moment, and all I could come up with was, "I have no clue, Mr. Tome."

"It was the Deer, my boy," Said the proctor, doing a hoof-pump. "They are quite wonderful creatures. Though few ponies in Equestria have seen one, they still live, and they still exist. These creatures are said to possess magic even greater than our own, and they are more attuned to nature than even we ponies are. I believe that in your world's mythology, they would be the equivalent to your...elves, I think it was?"

My eyes grew wide. Had Princess Celestia asked her professors to study my race's mythology, as well?!

"I see you're a bit surprised. Not to worry. The Princess made sure that all the professors here, including myself, became at least some degree familiar with your people. And I feel my comparison was quite fair to make. Many stories treat elven folk as the precursor to your people, no?" He replied, smiling.

"Yes, but...I'm rather surprised the Princess had you learn of Humans..." Muttered I through widened eyes.

"Yes, well in the five years you've been gone, we Equestrians took to learning of your people. While I will readily admit some parts of your race are...questionable, your species fascinates me..." chuckled Mr. Tome, then checking his hoof watch. "Well, with all this rambling, it's almost time for class! I'd be prepared to take notes at a moment's notice. We don't appreciate dilly-dallying at this school..."

I smiled, nodding as I began to get some paper and prepare a pencil, the chiming of a bell signifying the beginning of the class.

Within moments, a number of my magically-abled colleagues, some of whom may have been part of the fanclub that had spawned in the lunchroom not long before, filed into the room...including that one particular unicorn whom I had met before...

"Well, well, well," hummed the strong-willed show mare as she strode to a desk at my side. "It would seem Trixie's soothsaying was indeed correct! This must have been the workings of fate!"

"Yeah...who'd have thought, huh..." I chuckled, as she gave me a telling glance. It was that kind of glance that, while warm, it was also a look that said "I'm watching you. Give me your all".

With this, Musky Tome used a pointer to call attention from his class to himself.

"Alright, everypony! Welcome back to Pre-Celestial Arcane Philosophy! Now before we begin, I'm sure you all notice our two new classmates. Everypony, please give a warm welcome to Adam the Astute and his friend, Jade!"

On that cue, I rose from my seat, took a short bow, Jade doing much the same.

"Now, I'm sure most of you have some inkling on what Adam here accomplished in Equestria five years ago. He was one of the Princesses first attempts at bringing a creature from another world into our happy flock. As you can see, with some liberties, that magic has worked well. The only flaw that can be mentioned is that is yet to be perfected to keep a human turned pony as the same species consistently, hence what we have here with Adam being a Unicorn. However, he is here on recommendation by Ms. Twilight Sparkle, who as we all know, shares a very close history with our fair princess. I can only put to reason she did so because she was concerned for him.

"After all, any Unicorn who has no understanding of his or her abilities would be left wondering what all they could do...they'd end up spending their time in endless pursuit of their talents. While many ponies find themselves these ways, magic is simply not so easily discovered. It must be trained and practiced and researched. It is a talent and skill that must be honed and perfected by not just one's own brilliant mind, but those of who is around them. That...is why we are here..."

It was than then that Mr. Tome realized he had let his foible of ranting and raving get the better of him. "Whoops! There I go again!" He chuckled, the class following with him. "In any case, I'm sure you've all got a good number of questions to ask about our two new guests, but please, save them for after class. Now today, we'll be talking about one of the lesser known races outside Equestria. They are the Pronghorns. Now, most ponies now take to calling them antelopes, but Pronghorn is a much more correct term. Now, can anypony tell me what Pronghorns are most famous for?"

A familiar mint-green unicorn rose her hoof.

"Yes, Ms. Heartstrings?"

"Aren't they the ones who go around relaying messages?"

"Precisely, Lyra!" murmured the teacher as he scrawled notes onto the blackboard. "Now, what is really fascinating about this species is their mode of transportation. Through some bit of magic that is passed down through their species, they are capable of forming and even traveling via lightning! Through this magic, they are able to travel to places in mere minutes, when most would require days to get to them!"

The class, including myself, write adamantly along to Mr. Tome's lecture on the wonders of the Pronghorns' Amazing ability to literally ride upon lightning, but what really grabbed their attention was this one set of words:

"But," Mr. Tome said with a smile. "It is not a skill that is limited to just them...Equestria has had individuals who can do much the same..Pegasi are of special mention! I believe the one we know as Firefly was the most skilled in the feat!"

"Firefly?" A random student asked.

"Ah, one of the best flight teachers you could know. Pink coat, blue mane and tail. She is the mare responsible for teaching Rainbow Dash herself to fly...and Firefly was the best ever at craft...then one day, she went into a major hailstorm...and never came out..."

The whole class gasped at that point.

"Some say she's in the Summer Lands now...or The Dreaming..."

"What....what do you mean?" I asked, a bit confused.

"It's quite simple. The Summer Lands is our idea of what lies beyond death...an endless land of verdant fields ripe with food and friendship. A peaceful existence beyond death, where the dearly departed are graciously reunited. A peaceful new life...." Mr. Tome said with a smile. "As for The Dreaming...that is a bit harder to explain...basically...it's like...a place of infinity...it is from there, the Pronghorns believe, that this world began...where it will end....the realm where everything which is, was, and ever shall be...it is a land where all that exists is all kept safe and sound...I suppose you could call it that land where Existence began..."

Though I could barely make sense of any of that conversation, I made a note that if I ever encountered one of these Pronghorns personally, I would inquire about The Dreaming. After that bit of poetry, Mr. Tome ranted on about the creatures beyond Equestria with reckless abandon as his students scribbled away.

"Well, I suppose I've kept you all long enough, and I suppose that you all have questions to ask of fair Adam here, so I leave you these last few minutes to talk."

Congratulations, Mr. Tome. With one single set of words, you have trapped me in conversational pitfall. With that, I was caught in a morass of ponies asking me questions non-stop, most of them around what it was like being a human, and how it affected my new life as a pony. It wasn't as choking as the escapade in the cafeteria, but it was certainly uncomfortable. Thankfully, the bell gave me salvation from the prying eyes of those ponies.

The next class was hard to determine. It only had a single acronym to its existence: UHE. The room was 251, which facilitated the chore of having to gallop to get there. Thankfully, Jade was more than capable of keeping me safe from the still curious students of this school. It was around this point that I started to really really hate being in the spotlight of all of this. I ought to compare notes with the Princesses. After pushing Jade to his limit once again, we entered the room, a misty rose-colored unicorn with crimson mane and tail, bearing a cutie mark of a stitched cartoon heart was bearing a smile.

"Oh! Hello there! I didn't see you come in! I guess you two are those newbies that I've been hearing about?" She chirped, positively beaming with joy.

"Yes ma'am!" We said, in almost complete synchronicity.

"Wonderful...I can guess by that armor that you're Adam?" she asked, pointing a hoof at me.

"The one and only," I said with a smile.

"Well, it's a pleasure to meet me. I'm Heartfelt Healing, but everypony just calls me 'Miss H' for short. Glad to meet you!" Said the pony, shaking hooves with me. "And who is your friend?"

"I'm Jade, miss. I'm one of his best friends!" Jade said, shaking hooves with our new teacher as well.

"Oh, so you used to be human, too?" Ms. H asked, to which Jade replied, "Yes, Ms. H!"

"Well..." Ms. H said in a sing-song voice, her eyes shying away. "You didn't hear it from me, but I hear Lyra's got a bit of crush on you, Adam~. And it just so happens she's in this very class!"

I blushed a deep magenta at my proctor's sudden mention of that Unicorn. As anypony with even a passing knowledge of Lyra knew, Lyra had a thing for humans. While not a fetish (to be honest, it was more an obsession from what I hear.), it was something that both fascinated and annoyed most passersby. And knowing that a human-gone-pony, let alone two, was right beneath her nose would surely excite her. I, on the other hoof, was a tad anxious as my colleagues filed in, Lyra being among the very first to arrive.

As the two of us set our looks upon each other, the look upon that mint-green filly's face told me all that I needed to know of her feelings towards me. She had a look of interest, as if her eyes were able to see past my guise and see the true being beyond them. I wasn't sure whether to be flattered, or to be frightened. I was about to open my mouth, but she took the initiative.

"So...you're that human, right?" She asked, smirking a bit.

Silence filled my lungs until I finally was able to summon a meek excuse for a "Yes..."

Lyra replied in no other way but a simple squeal of joy. It seemed she was overcome with glee at the thought of meeting a human live and in person. Good, no hungry mobs wanting to nab my pony flesh.

Class this time was a much more simple affair. Ms. H was discussing a nasty condition in magically endowed folk known as "Horn Rot".

"Now then," Ms. H began, drawing a slightly in-depth diagram of the inner workings of a unicorn's horn, the antlers of a deer, and those of pronghorn, detailing a system of points. "Every magic user, whether unicorn, pronghorn, dear, or any horned creature capable of casting magic, has a complex system of points through which magic flows across the body. The primary cause of horn rot is an overload of the magic circuit. This can be caused by a number of means, but the end is what is important. The most common causes are overexerting one's magic or using magic that is too advanced for their current level. Another common cause is an excess use of magic lubricant, which can lead to a dangerous short in the magic circuit!"

The class (minus myself, anyway) held a collective gasp.

"Now then," continued the teacher. "can anypony tell me the main cure for Horn Rot, and where it is found?"

I rose my hoof then. I knew this question. I had read a story once that contained that very same flower, It was information I had attained long ago, but I retained it.

"Yes, Adam?" The teacher asked, holding the pointer aloft as a level.

"Aren't they found in the Archback Mountains?"

Ms. H stood for a moment in awe. Most ponies, as I understood, rarely left the safe haven that was Equestria, but the few that did were only diplomats. So, I suppose to her, somepony that was legitimately aware of such rare plants found outside its very borders was something that put her in a state of amazement. A mind as bright as the rest, if not brighter, was in her midst, and she was more than surprised.

"That's..." she stuttered, finding it hard to let through the response to a question she had hoped to be left rhetorical. However, after a moment, she cracked a wide grin and said quite curtly that I was most certainly-

"...correct!"

The class all expressed surprise at my answer, and the mint-green anthropology enthusiast was all but delighted to note that for a human-gone-pony, I still retained my former human knowledge. After the stagnant pause concluded, Ms. H returned to her lecture.

"Now then, Beneviolets are most effective when they are picked freshly-bloomed. You can tell this by the bright pink color and sharp appearance of the petals. Once picked, it can be administered very quickly. Beneviolets..."

At this point, I was beginning to tune out Ms. H's lecture, as most of this was knowledge that I had gained from sources I barely even recall at this point. However, something appeared on my desk as I attempted to stave off my own lethargy. I held it in my telekinesis, floating it below anypony else's visibility, and read it to myself:

"Adam,

Can you come see me during lunch? I'd like to talk.

~L.H."

It didn't take a genius to understand who sent this note, so I turned to the Mint-Green messenger and gave a short nod. After about ten minutes more of Ms. H's mumbling, the bell rang, and I quit the room with Jade in tow, and not far behind, the harp-flanked unicorn.

The next two classes were very simple ones. The first was a standard Arithmetic class, which I suppose goes by fairly quicker when you don't have to scribble things via holding a pencil in your teeth, and the Second was Psionics 101, which Jade showed particular expertise. I hadn't quite known Jade past his human self, but he always had an interest in utilizing his mind in most any situation. Needless to say, as a unicorn, Jade was of remarkable caliber with his version of that most basic spell that most of our ilk knew from birth. I suppose that, if he trained it, he'd have a skill that could well enough be weaponized, if he needed.

The next period was one that I took best of all. In my days in high school, of those four years that I had attended, my Freshman and Senior years ended up with me taking the duty of being a library aid. While unlike on Earth, there were no computers, there were thousands more books in this library than there were in any of the ones I had visited in the past. Plus, who wouldn't enjoy a good spot of reading when you had such a spectacular view? There stood a large window in this library which, as I climbed the window, showed me an almost unrivaled overview of Canterlot! The sprawling, verdant hills, the alabaster and golden buildings, the glowing cobbled roads. It turned a gem of city into an absolute diamond!

"I take it you are enjoying the view?"

The sudden question posed by the unknown interloper sent through our spines a great chill. Jade was the first to react as he craned his neck around, looking toward the intruder, then tapping my shoulder...As I turned around, there she stood.

"P-Princess Luna?! What brings you here?" I asked, flabbergasted.

"Why else?" She asked, smiling. "This is the Royal Library."

"It still seems a mite impromptu!"

Princess Luna chuckled. "My apologies, dearest Adam. I just thought I would pay visitation..."

"Something about your voice changed..." Jade noted, a mite confused.

"My voice?" Luna asked, putting a hoof to her chin. After a moment of contemplation, the lunar mare realized what Jade meant. "Fair Jade, my voice itself has not changed. Rather, the manner in which I use it."

"What do you mean?"

Luna chuckled a second time. "Simply put," she said with a smirk, "in the time following Adam's departure, I have begun to be educated by my sister on the more...modern vernacular of my people, if only for the sake of providing my subjects with a more modest version of myself."

"Then why did you speak so prim and proper last night as you brought us here?" I asked, joining in Luna's chuckling.

"It is simple," the night princess replied. "That time was a more formal matter, and thus, a fairly appropriate time to use the formal tongue." With this, the princess saw fit to brighten. "In any case, how goes your day so far?"

"It goes well, Your Majesty," I said, tipping my head in a bow. "Though I fear my reputation precedes me."

"Considering what you were and what you accomplished, that is something of small wonder," Luna noted in a quite catty manner. "However, I share your sentiments. You wish for normality, yet you carry a name of a Hero...where I carry one of a specter..."

She then turned her gaze to the shelves within the library. "Did you know that when I returned, I was to stay in Canterlot to recover?"

"I was not aware," said I with a mixed expression.

The princess of the night smiled for a moment and spoke in a calm demeanor.

"In the time that I was recovering, I often came to this library to research. To read on all of the developments made in my absence...vehicles and technologies not unlike your own were being spawned each passing day...ponies spoke in simpler tongues, yet partook in ever more complex activities and hobbies. Music expanded beyond strings and brass...the world seemed so different to me...and oftentimes, far too busy for my taste...And here I stood, a filly who had a thousand years' time to recover, and many a sin to atone...

"Thankfully, because I was weaker when I returned, my appearance was much more innocent. However, as I regained my powers over the night...over darkness...my form began to grow. In more manners than one, I began to grow a guise akin to that of my sister...and doubly akin to that of the specter I once was. As I matured, my voice followed suit. My speech was trapped from old vernacular and tradition, and my voice had the power to frighten even the most stalwart of ponies. And worst of it all, I was incontinent of it.

"However, Nightmare Night changed this...Twilight Sparkle and her friends aided me in understanding the fears of the young ones cavorting the streets of that fair hamlet. I found that my taste for the macabre was not without an audience, and before long, I was a spirited part in the festivities. I began to better understand my little ponyfolk...and with that, I found relief. "

"W...Wow..." Sighed Jade, attempting to hold back a tear at Luna's poetic retelling of her recovery.

"I...I never knew it was that way, your Highne-"

"Please," Luna interjected, being quite pertinent in doing so, "call me Luna. I care not for formalities."

"Right," I said, blushing.

With this, Luna gave a warm smile on her dark face. "Say," she asked in a kind manner, "seeing as you were kind enough to listen to my confiding, would you be interested in seeing something awe-inspiring?"

I grew wide-eyed at the goddess' offering. "Right now?" I asked, surprised.

"Indeed," Luna said with a smile. "I feel I must repay your patience. The two of you ought to be shown something spectacular...come hither, and I will show you."

With no further convincing, the both of us came to the mare of the moon as she unfurled her wings, drawing them around us with a smile.

"I'd like for you both to take a deep, calm breath...close your eyes, and open them only when I tell you to open them," She said in a calm voice, as her wingspan blotted out the light, bolstering the darkness in our shut eyes as we the ground beneath our hooves seemed to change, a light hum being the only sound to be emitted. Then, for an instant, blinding cold raced through our bodies, seeping up our legs and chilling us before a mysterious heat canceled the frigid air about us.

"You may open your eyes now," said Luna, unwrapping her wings slowly, the individual feathers caressing each little hair on our hides.

What I saw was a sight I almost couldn't understand. The sky was black as pitch, stars bejeweling the ebony tapestry as if it were clear nighttime. The ground beneath our feet was not carpet, cobblestone, or tile. It was instead grey, cracked stone. As I looked around, I saw craters dotting the surface of this new venue, and as my eyes scanned the horizon of this barren wasteland, I knew where I was. Jade and I were held in awe, so much that we were more concerned of the fact that we had no air to breathe!

"Be still, friends! Calm yourselves and breathe as you would normally!" She pleaded in a manner befitting any life or death dilemma.

With a deep gasp, I breathed..something. It wasn't exactly oxygen, but it was some form of safe, breathable air. It was strange. As I understood it, I was standing on the surface of the moon, Jade in the buff (or rather, Equine Casual), while I was clad in a war pony's barding, yet neither of us felt much ill. To us, it felt like a nice spring day...minus the fact that where we were was absolutely devoid of plant life.

"How..." I began, still taking deep breaths of not-oxygen in surprise, "How is this even possible?"

"I take it this is your first time being on the surface of the moon with one such as me, right?" Luna asked with a chuckle.

I nodded with a look of surprise.

"Really, it's quite simple," said the lunar horse, smiling. "As we left, I cast two simple enchantments; The first granted you air, even in this vacuum on the moon, while the second shielded you from the cold of the moon. It was a fail safe spell that I learned from my sister to keep me from dying during my incarceration on this desolate floating stone of mine. From this moment, you and your friend are welcome to take some time here with me should you have nothing to do, or should you desire some time with me.

With this, the night princess ran a hoof through her hair, turning her mane and tail to simple, solid colors, taking a more grown version of her former form. For a moment, I took a look of curiosity, which Luna read quite easily.

"Oh! I apologize...I prefer this look on some occasions. While I do enjoy seeing the constellations in my mane, I enjoy my original form most," Luna noted, smiling. After a moment, Luna joined us in a spot of stargazing. "You know, when I need time to gather myself after a hard day of work, I come here. None of the blinding lights...none of the deafening sounds...just me, the moon, and the stars above...I could count all the stars in the sky, gaze at all the pictures I'd made, making new ones to dazzle the stargazing ponies that dared turn an eye to the black tapestry that was my canvas. And these days, knowing that at least one pony is looking up is enough. It reminds me that I'm still beloved by somepony in Equestria, no matter where they are or whom they are...."

As Luna spoke of her appreciation of her audience, I took a gaze at the miasma of stars in the sky, taking note of this majestic mare's magnum opus. Truly, with the only things around being the three of us, an infinitely-large tapestry of the cosmos, and the beautiful desolation of the wasteland that was the surface of the moon, it was a dark, quiet, and peaceful venue. As I stared at the ever-expansive field of stars, Luna dazzled us both by weaving intricate, new images into the sky. She was the painter of the stars, while we were but her mere companions.

"If I may say something?" The moon mare asked, turning to us. "Thank you both for allowing me to share this moment with you. Long has it been since I have had the ability to shed my royal mask for a more normal, friendly guise. As enjoyable as it may be to have servants at your beck and call and to assume dominion over a kingdom, it doesn't atone for the skulduggery that is managing the tax code and working through a bureaucracy..." For a moment, she drew a sight before smiling. "Hence why I like coming here. It enables me to find release from all the tedium and monotony that is my royal duty and simply revel in childlike jubilation..."

During her conversation, the rumbling of her two guests' stomachs cut her off.

"Oh! My apologies! It seems that my rhetoric has made me forget that you two have a lunch period to attend. We really must be going."

With this, our matron of the moon rose to her hooves, composing herself as she assumed the royal guise once more, the two of us coming toward her as she let a smile creep to her face, taking us both literally under her wing as we returned once more to library, the glorious desolation of lunar soil being exchanged for solid cobblestone, elaborate carpets. and a labyrinth of shelves. Given Luna's reaction to the clock, I assumed that we were quite late. The fact that she was frantically pushing us while setting into motion a spell only solidified this fact.

"Oh, curse it all! I've kept you for quite a while! Make haste while you can! Here, allow me to get you there!"

Before we could protest, Luna made short work of our predicament, sending us away to where she intended for us to go...which just so happened to be smack-dab in the middle of the cafeteria. A collective gasp filled the crowd, as the both of us became once again encircled by a herd of ponies. We were surrounded by all sides, and I in particular was now in total deadlock. With another crowd encroaching upon me, I began to contemplate what could have been had I just run away all those years ago. What would happen then? Would I have become completely shunned and ignored? Or would I have been given a markedly worse treatment?

As my mind began to race through what may have been, I felt the sudden embrace of a mysterious stranger. Within moments, The two of us were parted from the pony procession, and as the ponies gazed upon that who was our savior, as if in an instant, they decided to leave me be. It was only when I looked to where they too were looking that I noticed who saved me; That mint-green mare known as Lyra.

"You....I don't understand..." I blubbered, flustered.

"What, did you think I was just gonna let them mob you?" The minty mare mused. "By the time you would've gotten out of there, you'd have gone hungry!"

"I....well...thank you!" I chuckled, smiling.

"Don't mention it," Said Lyra, chuckling back as she handed some trays to us. "Here. I saved you two the trouble of waiting in line. Why don't we go talk?"

I smiled a moment as I looked to Jade and asked, "Any objections, my friend?", to which Jade simply shook his head with a smile as we sat down. Now I must point out that the typical pony posture for sitting is a prone stance, with all four legs tucked in. Lyra, on the other hoof, was quite different. Rather than sit prone on the cushion, she sat on her hind legs with her back hunched over. With her front legs, through some form of power known only to her (and, I assumed, other ponies), she held a drink in her hooves like a human. While she wasn't the first of her type to do this, it was certainly a feat even I found a tad odd. It was a perplexing thing to see something that had no such things as fingers manipulating objects with her hooves. Then again, this was a realm in which both Vancian and Inherent magic were as commonplace as the trees all about.

"Hey, Lyra?"

"Yeah?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Fire away."

I pressed my hooves together, a mite nervous to pop this question. "How exactly do you do that?"

Lyra blew a lighthearted raspberry in my direction. "That's foal's play, my friend! I can do this!"

With no other word in edgewise, the unicorn lifted herself off the ground and onto her rear hooves, beginning a walk on her two hooves like a proper human. However, as one might expect, she was much better at standing up than she was walking. Her flanks were shaking profusely, and her legs trembled as she stepped. I couldn't make up my mind on the matter. Was it amazing that Lyra was walking on her hind legs? Was it strange? Or was it hilarious? Any way it went, it was still an attention grabber.

With that display over, Jade, Lyra, and I shared a conversation about humans. We were apparently of special interest to the unicorn due to us both being former humans, and thus, we could provide insight on how humans were to her. The length at which she listened to my ramblings on the facets of humankind was something that made me seriously wonder just how well Lyra was doing in her actual schoolwork. It also made me seriously consider becoming the equestrian equivalent of a cryptozoologist, or at the very least, an anthropologist. At the very least, I had pleased Lyra's lust for knowledge on my race.

Following that debacle, lunch period passed into sixth period, which was a class involving literature. The teacher there was a tan colt with platinum blonde hair named Golden Pages. As this class revealed to me, ponyfolk like Clover the Clever and Star Swirl the Bearded were as much of authors as they were magi. Star Swirl, especially, was an illustrious author in his own right. As for Clover...well, she was the famous author of the one of the original versions of the story of Hearth's Warming. For the Equestrian equivalent of English class, all in all? Not bad.

The next and final class was the one that I'm sure any egghead dreads. Phys Ed, better known as PE, or Gym. As we entered the gymnasium, a rather grizzled-looking unicorn stood, glaring daggers at his subordinates, then looking to us with a stare the likes of which Fluttershy herself may have been outmatched by. He was a gnarled colt, a silver five-o-clock shadow, greyed brunette mane, a horn full of notches, and an armor worn and torn with the scars that only the likes of a seasoned, battle-hardened veteran would have gotten. His eyes were an icy blue. The kind of bright, almost azure type of blue that when they glare at you, it strikes fear into your weary heart.

"Well. Would'ja lookit that. Our two new slabs 'o fresh meat just trotted in!" He snarled derisively, turning his eyes to me. "And whaddaya know? One of 'im's got the 'ol gold and blue on!" Then, in an instant, he appeared in front of me, a hardened gaze upon me. "Name and rank, Solider! Pronto!"

I recoiled back a step before responding in an expression of shock, "M-My name is Adam, sir! And I...well...don't have a rank..."

The colt stared for a moment. "Don't have a rank..." He muttered, beginning to grind his teeth. "DON'T HAVE A RANK?! DO YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT YOU JUST "HAPPENED" UPON THAT ARMOR?! THAT SOMEPONY GAVE IT TO YOU?! I ASKED YOU FOR A RANK, SOLIDER! GIVE ME ONE RIGHT NOW!"

"I am Adam the Astute, Knight in the Royal Guard of Equestria!"

"Well, whoopty-darn-doo! So you got a name and a fancy title. Big whoop! I got a name, too! It's Drillbit! Gunnery Sargent Drillbit, to be exact! And you, little boy, are nothin' but a Shiny!"

"A...shiny, sir?"

For a moment, all stood quiet, before Drillbit put a hoof to his tattered armor. "Boy, I want you to take a good, hard look at what I'm wearin'. This is armor that has seen combat for forty straight years. This was armor that served as the shield to me, the sword of Equestria! Each puncture, scratch, stab, and stain serves as a mark of my experience serving in the Royal Guard. I've gotten blood on my hooves, greenhorn. I've lost comrades left and right throughout my whole tour of service," He said, snorting a plume of hot steam. "And then I look at your armor. How clean it is...how pretty it looks. How there's not a scratch on it, and I feel disgraced. Not because you're wearing it. Oh, no. It's because you're wearing it when you don't even have anything to your name but a fancy-schmancy title!"

"This armor was a gift from Princess Celestia herself!" I shouted back defensively.

"Boy, I don't give a flying feather if it was from Queen Faust herself! You ain't a soldier! You're just a pony in soldier's barding!" Drillbit barked back, putting a hoof tauntingly up to his chin. "But oh wait! You ain't a pony, either! You're just a human in pony hide! You might think you're a pony, and that everypony else is all fine and dandy with you being a human and all that, but you ain't gettin' my praise till I see you do something that's truly worth carin' about!"

"I took down a dragon in Ponyville 5 years ago!"

"Well, whoo-hoo! You took out a dragon! Anypony can do that! At least, anypony dumb enough to try! That was nothin'! Nothin' but a goddess-forsaken fluke!" He then approached me, his nose scrunched up against mine. "Now before you go smartin' off again, lemmie just lay down a few ground rules of this class..."

He then cleared his throat as he began. "Rule number one," He started, stamping with his hoof. "You will speak only, and I mean only when I speak to you! Rule number two! You will do what I say, when I say it! Rule number three! No back-talk!"

Jade, all the while, stood quaking in his nonexistent boots as this veteran worked me over verbally, holding a hoof to my chin.

"Boy, when I'm through with you, Iron Will will even turn you down! You'll be a lean, mean, fighting machine!"

Within moments, a large shadow stood over Drillbit's shoulders, its black eyes gleaming peacefully with the stars. It smiled to me, as I smiled back.

"Boy, I'd wipe that dopey grin right offa' your face, if I were you." The Gunnery Sargent snarled, before a snort of hot air caressed his back.

"And I think you had best turn around and remember your place, Gunnery Sargent Drillbit," grunted the figure from behind, shocking the Sargent out from his ego trip and causing him to turn about-face.

Before me was a creature not of equine origin. Rather, a cervid. A deer, to be more precise. It possessed a reddish-brown coat, with white highlighting it, a lean, toned body, and a set of large antlers, set with many prongs on each side. Its eyes glowed a piercing blue as the constellation of the North Star briefly shimmered, only to be replaced by a few rings or light.

"Need I remind you that you are only permitted to instruct in my absence?" Asked the deer, an eerily calm smile upon his face, which broke the Sargent's facade almost immediately as he backed away from me. "Besides," mused the deer with that same smile, "these are my new classmates. You have no need to shell-shock them on their first day this semester."

"Y-yes, Asturl! I'm sorry for disturbing them!"

With this, the deer now identified as Asturl scanned the Sargent carefully, before craning his neck in the direction of the entrance doors. "Be about it, Sargent. I have a class to teach now," he muttered quietly with a smile.

At the discretion of what seemed to be his superior, Gunnery Sargent Drillbit fled the gymnasium, and the whole class grew quiet again. Within a moment, the blue lights that shined in the deer's eyes faded to black again, and his smile warmed considerably as he approached me, nuzzling my neck. I supposed this was a form of greeting.

"Please forgive my subordinate's rudeness. He's just a tad...shell-shocked, as you would put it. You'll be pleased to know he is not the regular teacher for this class," He said, chuckling. "That would be me. I am Asturl Polaris of Shimmerwood. I will be your Arcane Physical Education Instructor."

With this, I stated that which was clearly in my mind: "What brings a Deer to a school for Unicorns?"

Asturl chuckled tenderly. "That is a question I get very often with new students, and the answer is quite simple," He said with a smile, "Deers, like your kin, can cast magic."

And as quickly as it came, it went away in those simple words.

"You know, you picked a wonderful day to enroll in my class, for we are going to be practicing horn fencing."

"Horn fencing?" I parroted, curious.

"Ah, that's right. You're the one my people call 'The Traveler'..." Asturl realized, chuckling.

"The Traveler?"

"Yes. It is a name our people use to refer to he who has traveled between our two worlds..."

I smiled again. In five years time, the history behind me held true. Even those who were beyond Equestria knew who I was. While I still hated the drawbacks of my celebrity status, I liked being honored by so many creatures. While I could have gabbed on about that in my head for hours on end, I had more pressing matters to deal with.

"In any case, allow me to explain what horn fencing is for a brief moment," Asturl purred, holding between the magic of his antlers a long, horn-shaped piece of wood.

"It has been tradition in horned creatures, but especially you unicorns, to attach these devices to your horns for combat. They would extend your horn's reach, and usually gave it a blade. Some can even bolster your magic, if the need arises. However, we will not be using any real horn blades for this exercise. For this class, we will use wooden blades. This way, the only injury will be some possible bruises on your body," He explained in almost eerily cheery manner. "Since you're new, why don't you give it a try with of our more seasoned classmates...like-"

"The Great and Powerful Trixie wishes to engage Adam in horn fencing!"

Asturl raised his brow quizzically. "Are you sure? He's fairly new."

"Exactly," said Trixie, her eyes flaring with determination. "Which is why Trixie wishes to assess his skills."

Asturl murmured to himself, but nodded, smiling. "I'll allow it," He mused, smiling as he fitted our horns with the wooden sword substitutes. "Get up onto the platform to my right."

I nodded, walking left and going onto a small platform, complete with white lines marking the boundaries of the tiny arena.

"The both of you will stand behind the white lines until I give the signal."

We both nodded, casting glances of competitive fervor between each other. We both dug our hooves into the ground, staring into each others eyes, sparks of arcane fire burning through them. Asturl, being our mentor, surveyed us with his visage and then nodded, raising a hoof.

"Blades and Spells at the ready," He instructed, keeping the leg erect as he let out a giant plume of hot air from his nose. In one swift and sudden motion, shot his leg down, roaring a definitive, "BEGIN!" before leaping off the platform.

Trixie wasted no time at all in taking initiative. In mere seconds after the deer's signal, he charged at me and swung her wooden ornament directly to my head. I barely was able to move as I endured a rather harsh blow to my breastplate. I don't think I need to remind anyone that while plate armor is pretty nice against actual blades, it can be a real pain to try and take blunt force. This is because wood and steel are fairly resonant materials, and thus, when stuck by blunt force, it can cause debilitating vibrations that make it nigh impossible to react for a good while.

Thankfully, such sensations subsided, and I was able to attempt to return Trixie's strikes with a few of my own, and as our horns clashed against each other, I felt something. As our horns met each other, I felt energy coming off of it.

Trixie was enhancing her strikes with magic! It wasn't a complicated spell (in fact, it was just basic telekinesis), but with it, Trixie had practically doubled, if not tripled, her striking power! Each swing I endured, I felt more of that arcane power rippling through her body into mine. I was backed to the edge of the platform at this point. One more strike, and I would be knocked clean off. Then, I felt the rays of the spring sun shine on me through the window. The rays of Celestia's prized sun heated my grey coat quickly, and suddenly, something clicked in my head.

My mind began to recall what had occurred some time ago in the desert. How when I was fighting the scorpion, I had apparently burnt it to fine cinders. The means to which I had achieved it suddenly began to come clear again. I must have channeled the power of the sun through my horn!

Of course! It all made sense now! As a unicorn, I now had the ability to collect and use solar power! While of course, I would not be able to match the power of Princess Celestia, I was, within reason, capable of using some of her power. So, taking a few steps forward, I began to collect solar power into my horn, before taking swings back at my azure adversary. And so, I was now able to properly compete against Trixie, the two of us sharing blows up and down the platform. For a good percentage of time which I estimated to be about hours, we battered each other with our horns, not letting a drop of relent escape each other. Truly, Trixie was testing me to the fullest extent an upstart like her was capable of, and I was happy to oblige her desires.

It was truly the first decent confrontation I ever had as a pony.

Unbeknownst to me, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were looking at the duel between Trixie and I with interest.

"Is something the matter, Sister?" Luna asked, peering through the mounted spyglass.

"Well...it is not so much that something is the matter..but rather, there's something about our friend that is oddly familiar." Princess Celestia replied, noting the glowing in my horn blade.

Luna took another look inside the spyglass. "I think I see what you're referring to...it is as if he is channeling the power of your sun into his body, then releasing it in each strike of his blade...does it remind you of...well...yourself?" Luna asked her sister, turning to face her.

"In a manner of speaking, I suppose that it does," Princess Celestia said, giggling. "That friend of his is certainly no slouch, either. I've been hearing from some of the staff that he's got quite a grip on his telekinesis..."

"Aye...I have heard the same," Luna noted, chuckling slightly. "I also heard from our flight patrols that they spotted an unusually large amount of ash out in the middle of the desert...would it be logical to assume-"

"That Adam may have been behind it? Well, as the old saying goes: If the horseshoe fits," Celestia joked, nodding as she looked back to the duel in which I was entangled. "I think we ought to keep our eye on those two...they show promise..."

"Aye," Luna said, nodding. "If I may inquire as to something?"

"And what would that be?"

"Well...seeing as Twilight is your protege....would it be acceptable if I were to take these two beneath my wings and train them?"

Celestia chuckled a moment, then held a hoof to her snout to mull over the possibilities, before nodding. "I suppose there is no harm in that....after all, it has been long since you returned....you need to impart your knowledge into a bright young mind, and those two are as bright as I can gather. You have my blessing."

Luna squealed like an ecstatic kitten and embraced her sister tenderly. "Thank you, dear Sister! You have little idea how much this means to me!"

"It is my pleasure, Sister," purred Celestia sweetly as she nuzzled her sister's neck. "Now then...shall we view the conclusion of this duel?"

"'Twould be a pleasure."

"Give up, foal! You know it is futile! Only one of us will be left standing upon this platform!"

"Yeah, I know. And it's gonna be me."

At this point, Trixie and I were locked into an utter stalemate. Our horn blades were crossed over each other, and all the magic we could muster surged between us. It was down to this; The final moments that would decide victory. Success or failure was all but a matter of who was truly more powerful: The Traveling Human in Pony Hide that was me, or the Boastful Blue Braggart that was Trixie. Who would hold out longest? That was a question to which none of us knew or cared as to the answer. All that mattered was this sport of combat.

Then, for a moment, I felt it. Trixie's energy was waning! My chance was at hoof! With this, I took a few steps back, then definitively charged Trixie with all my might, thrusting the edge of the wooden blade with as much force as I could let through my horn, sending the brilliant azure unicorn staggering off the platform, to which Asturl blew a shrill whistle.

"Finally, the match has been decided. The victor, by ring out, is Adam!"

Cheers filled the room as Jade was jumping for joy, and within moments, I was being given many congratulatory gestures as I stumbled off the platform. However, as I did this, I quickly realized just how exhausted I was without the adrenaline flowing in my bloodstream. With little else keeping me up, I collapsed in exhaustion, only to have Asturl slowly lift me back onto my hooves.

"You have done well this day, Traveler. For one so new to the field of combative magics, you took to the task as a duckling takes to the waters of its pond. I see a prodigy in you, little pony. With practice, you could become an accomplished battle mage." Asturl mused, rubbing his neck against mine in approval.

With that, I smiled, only to collapse again.

"By Falalauria's Good Graces," Asturl chuckled heartily, "you gave more of your all than I had originally considered! Could somepony give aid to him and Trixie in getting them back to the dormitories?"

"I'll handle my friend, Mr. Asturl." Jade said, smiling as he lifted me onto his back.

"Thanks, Jade. I feel absolutely exhausted!" I panted, my tongue dangling out like that of a dog.

"Hey, what are friends for?"

My sleep was thankfully uninterrupted, but what surprised me was what was appearing in my dream. Before me again stretched the sprawling, desolate, pocked wasteland that was the surface of the moon. Instantly, I was able to make out the context of what was to occur, and just like that, Luna graced me with her presence.

"Princess! To what do I owe the honor of your visit?"

The princess smiled as she approach. "We bore audience to the duel you participated in against Trixie, and we are fairly amused. For one so young and so new to the wonders of magic, you have the makings of what could be a great prodigy. Your friend is certainly no slouch, either...the two of you show incredible prowess, and this intrigues me...so, I would like to personally invite you to take up the art of magic with my tutelage..."

My eyes shot wide. The princess had just offered to teach us about magic...US. I could only imagine Jade was as surprised as was.

"But Princess," I asked, confused, "why us?"

"'Tis but a simple matter, really," Luna curtly chuckled. "You see, much like my elder has grown fond of Twilight Sparkle, I feel likewise with Jade, and especially with you. Therefore, it falls only to reason that I extend a hoof of knowledge to one who I regard fondly." With this, the lunar princess extended a hoof to me, smiling. "So...will you be willing to come beneath my wing and allow me to bring you under my tutelage?"

For a moment, I stood quiet, honestly considering the mare's offer. In doing this, I thought, I could gain significant knowledge and power for myself. But, what would it be? Would it be a plethora of spells meant for the betterment of ponykind? Would they be spells that allow me to do the classic fireballs and lightning shtick that so many fantasy settings and tales of yore had? Or would they be mind-bending magics that would hamper my sanity? I honestly had no clue what to expect, so having no other course of action, I simply extended my hoof to Princess Luna, our two hooves touching as she slowly brought me into the comforting embrace of that which was the dark side of the moon.

"Soon, you will learn a great many thinks about magic...but for now, I have but one thing to ask you," She said, as her eyes glowed to provide a contrast to the pitch black of the dark side of the lunar surface."

I turned my head to meet her gaze and asked her what she wanted to ask me.

Her eyes glowed even brighter then as she wrapped her wing around my form.

"Awaken..."

As if by magic, Jade and I simultaneously awoke in deep gasps. At the foots of our beds, there stood Princess Luna, clad in a tan cloak.

"Rise, my friends," hummed the lesser of the two cosmic mares. "I beseech thee for your assistance."

This morning was going to be interesting.

Chapter 4: The Hunt

On Light Hooves I Tread 2: Homeward Bound
A Fanfiction by Adam Nelon

Chapter 4: The Hunt

As the old proverb goes, my friend and I went out of the frying pan and into the flame. In a way, history had repeated itself. We had encountered this very same conundrum but 48 hours ago on our way to Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. Jade was still very much asleep as I was only barely rousing myself from the sudden urgency for Princess Luna to awaken us both for matters of utmost importance. In a way, I found this to be incredibly jarring. Curiosity and annoyance led me to ask the most pertinent question that came to my mind.

"Pray tell, Princess," I yawned, still attempting to keep within the boundaries of formal conversation, "What brought you to bring us here?"

The princess lowered her hood slowly with a somber expression.

"I suppose that thou art correct. However, this information is to remain solely in the hooves of the Royal Family, yourselves, and our two charges...whom, If I am not mistaken, you have already had the pleasure of meeting," muttered the mare as she craned her head to the two Pegasi guards manning the carriage.

For a moment, I was not sure as to what Her Majesty was referring to, until I saw the two's faces. For a moment, I had trouble recognizing their faces, but as I kept looking, my mind suddenly lit a bulb of remembrance in my head. These two Pegasi were Steel Sabre and Iron Sides! I knew these two from my last excursion to Equestria! They were the two ponies that brought me to and from Canterlot!

"Aw...I think the kid's Nostalgic!" Cooed the mare of the two of them.

"Shucks. I think you're right, Double-S," grunted her stallion comrade. "Hey, kid! Are you getting flashbacks back there?!"

I blushed and chuckled a tad. "In a sense, yes."

With that out of the way, Luna chuckled a tad herself before quieting down and returning somber. "Right, with that out of the way, allow me to explain," she stated in a straight manner, prodding Jade to awaken him before speaking.

"While it is true that Equestria is meant to be a bastion of peace and tranquility, there is not always that luxury. You see, in the five-year span in which you have been absent, there has been a string of very strange and inexplicable events..."

"Strange events?" queried a weary Jade. "How strange are we talking?"

"From what I have heard, there have been reports of docile, or at the very least, neutral creatures turning feral and attacking ponies with reckless abandon and unknown reason. We do not know what all is being affected, or what the cause of it is, but reports from our neighbors in Gildedale, draconic creatures non-native to the lands have become enraged and are attacking the villagers indiscriminately. From what the aforementioned reports have told us, the creatures in question are not the komaga which usually stampede through Gildedale, but rather, their full-blooded cousins; The Dragons themselves!"

Luna's eyes flared as she uttered those last few words.

"So what are we doing out here, flying into the mountains?" I asked, shrugging off fatigue.

"It is simple," Luna said, raising her head. "From what the Lord of the Dale, Hammer Hoof has told us, there is to be a Red Dragon entering this mountain range. I don't believe I must inform you that this mountain range is but a stone's throw from Canterlot. Therefore, it is our duty to stop this beast in its tracks and find a way to correct its ails."

"And that would be...?" Jade hummed, raising a brow.

"Put simply, we must, by any means necessary, incapacitate the creature without killing it. Then, we will restrain it and bring it to our experts in Canterlot," Luna explained.

"Experts?" we asked in almost complete unison.

"Indeed," replied Luna in a formal fashion. "In Canterlot, we have assembled a team of experts in the field of Draconic Studies, varying from Dragon Physiology, Psychology, Biology, and so on and so forth. They may be able to decipher what has been occurring in these creatures so that we may be able to solve this crisis that is occurring."

"And you brought us for what reason, exactly?" Quipped I, before letting out a yawn.

"Simply put, you have faced a dragon once before. You should be able to figure out a way we may incapacitate this creature."

Okay, just to clarify, just because I was able to fell a dragon once does not directly mean I can do so a second time. But, if it is the will of Her Majesty, I suppose I must comply.

"Okay...so exactly are we to undertake this endeavor?" I asked, looking Luna in the eyes intently.

"Once again, 'tis a simple matter. All you must do is divert the Dragon's attention, or at the very least, disable it for long enough to where we can apply a heavy enough dose of sedative. This sedative has been touted to be strong enough to incapacitate an Ursa Minor with a no less that a few deep breaths. If we can manage this, we may be able to decipher just what seems to be taking place in these lands. Does that sound simple enough?"

I nodded nervously. In my opinion, this would be easier said than done, but I suppose if I was able to defeat a dragon once, than a second time would be more than an easy feat.

Oh, how stupid and wrong I was to think that way.

As the carriage landed in the Drackenridge Mountains, which as Princess Luna pointed out earlier, were a stone's throw away from Canterlot (well, more like a short flight, but that was a moot point), the party began to divide and choose their stake-out points in the stones on the mountain. Luna took to one of the larger rocks, Steel Sabre and Iron Sides hid atop a cloud, and the two of us...were completely out in the open. In hindsight, I should have thought ahead to where I was to go before we landed. But, in any case, there was no way out of this. I made my bed, and now, I was to lie in it.

Jade and I kept low, our ears open for any sign of the dragon that Luna had said was to be here. For a while, we heard nothing more than rushing air and the low whistles of what few birds could stand this climate. It was, for lack of a better (or rather, less cliched) phrase, the calm before the storm. It was that kind of calmness that was eerie and unnerving. It was like I was a soldier, tasked with guarding not only Princess Luna, but all of Equestria with my life, and while I was not the former, I was most certainly the latter. I was almost tempted to ease the tension by initiating small talk, but the loud, dull roar of a beast not but perhaps 200 meters away cut any opportunity of doing so.

Cutting through the clouds like a knife was a large mass of red. Red on a large creature, to my native understanding of fantasy, was almost never a good thing. A soaring mass of red, hardened flesh soared overhead, its wings sending gusts of great winds across the stony mountainside. It took all we had to stand firm as the giant landed, its reddened eyes staring at us with a face of utter contempt. It surveyed us for mere moments before snorting a plume of hot air in our faces. Dear God, what had I gotten myself into?

"Um...what ho, o great one?"

Obviously, the dragon wasn't quite amused. He chose to blast the two of us off our hooves with one mighty burst of hot air. I knew i couldn't speak dragon; It was all too silly for me to even think that. Even if I did, I doubt I'd have the capacity to shout some random draconic gibberish and expect to return the favor with a wave of unstoppable kinetic force. So instead, I got back on my hooves, getting Jade balanced along with myself.

"Well, that could have gone better," I groaned, catching my breath.

"Oh, gee, YA THINK?!" snapped Jade, glaring daggers at me, only to be interrupted by the dragon suddenly turning one-eighty and slamming down his tail, knocking us both on our flanks again.

Thankfully, this knockdown wasn't quite as debilitating as that of the dragon's initial landing, but it was still fairly powerful. The both of us had just enough time to roll back onto our hooves and scatter as we tried to formulate a proper plan of attack. However, with the beast thrashing about, It would be an exercise in frustration. We weren't exactly any kind of hunter, lacking any and all kind of weaponry. Thus, I and Jade were forced into a wild bullfight. The armored lizard kept with an assault of tail swipes claw rakes, but it wasn't until it began to reach noon that the dragon decided to do what all dragons do: Attempt to burn the thing between its eyes to a cinder.

If you recall, the last dragon (i.e. the only other one) that I felled was a blue dragon, which breathes very intense bursts of ice and frost. Most people who are well-taught in the realms of fantasy, including myself, know for a fact that red dragons, more often than not, breathe that most classic of breaths, flame. I swear to Celestia, I was this close to becoming a pony BBQ, what with my flanks being burnt. It was in this midst of chaos that I heard Princess Luna shouting.

"Be wary, friends! This beast appears to be in a blind rage!"

Well, no shi-wait a second. "Blind rage"...That particular phrase rang in my head for a few moments, as I began to recall what I had managed in the desert, slowly chancing looks at the sun. Blind rage...

BLIND RAGE! That was it! I remembered what I was able to do a few days ago! I was able to collect and weaponize the power of sunlight! Then, as I looked to the dragon, it reminded me of the cardinal weakness of most dragons (or, more broadly, most reptiles in general): This dragon lacked eyelids! The solution was all so obvious now!

"Jade!" I called out, barely dodging another tail slam.

"What?!" Jade shouted, ducking beneath a curtain of flames.

"How good is your telekinesis?!"

"What?!"

"HOW GOOD CAN YOU LIFT THINGS WITH YOUR MAGIC?!"

"I'm good, I guess! Why?!"

"I want you to shoot me into the air!"

"WHAT?! Are you nuts?! What are you thinking?!"

"I need to get up to the thing's eye level!"

"Are you sure about this?!"

"Sure as I'll ever be!"

"You'd better be going somewhere with this!"

"Oh, I'm going somewhere, all right!"

When time allowed us, Jade and I joined forces, Myself hopping on his back as he focused his spell, forming it around me so that he could shoot me into the air, the momentum of my initial jump sending me just a few pony lengths higher than the Dragon's head, giving me more than enough distance between my form and the sun as I began to call forth as much energy as I could muster. I emptied my mind of all thoughts, with the exception of one word: Blind.

I aimed to send that beast into a world of blinding lights and sweet dreams. One quick spell would seal its fate. I slowly heard my horn emit its harmonic hum of magic, and I kept focusing on the spell I was forming in my head. I kept uttering that word in my head, and as I felt I was at my peak, I unleashed that power I had collected.

"CONTINUAL LIGHT!"

I felt once again that familiar heat a few days ago. The my horn lit up as bright, if not brighter, than the sun itself, and because as a result of my proximity to the massive beast before me, he, and just about anyone else who was stupid enough not to turn their eyes away, were all assailed by such bright rays that it would take perhaps a whole day, maybe even a week, to reach recovery. When it was all said and done, the glorified gargantuan lizard was left flailing, unsure of where to go or what to do, leaving Steel Sabre ample time to clime onto its back and crammed a large, mint-green ball into its mouth, which, upon its instinctual consumption, released a cloud of gas that the poor thing ended up inhaling until it keeled over.

When the giant finally took its fall, its meeting with the ground sent a quake through the mountainside that could easily have carried to neighboring territories! Jade and I barely cold hold ourselves to the stone, what with our possession of hooves. But, once the giant was felled, it did not rise for any reason. It was now sleeping under the spring sun, while the rest of us were wide awake with adrenaline.

Of our three escorts, her majesty rose first, smiling profusely. "Very well done, friend! That was aw-I mean..." Luna chuckled, realizing she was about a syllable away from dropping her formal voice, "That was most ingenious, Adam. Where in Equestria did you get the idea to blind the creature?"

I chuckled a bit before curtly answering, "You'd be surprised what biology and fantasy can teach you after so long."

Not but a moment later, it dawned on me that this was only the first half of my mission, and this was the easier of the two affairs. The second task lay still ahead: We had to get this colossus back to Canterlot for interrogations, and considering that this thing weighed approximately the weight of 5 buses, that meant we'd have to (pardon the pun) hoof it back to Canterlot. May Celestia's graces save my back from snapping in twine.

Thank the good graces of whatever deity these ponies pray to that I was able to go about the return trip easily. My more logical me apparently had forgotten that we were going downhill to reach Canterlot. My condolences to the grey, wall-eyed Pegasus whom I had compared myself to. However, the massive weight upon our shoulders made us have to slow our descent. I was unsure which was going to give up first: my hooves, or my legs! If it were not for that, than the winding mountainside also worried me. The fact that I was going downhill rather than up didn't seem to help, either. As we descended, I kept teetering closer to the edge of the mountain face, to the point where my worries of falling were growing by the minute. At one point, I distinctly recall having fallen, only to have the princess herself catch me a moment later.

For a moment, I kept to Luna's side, looking into her brilliant emerald eyes in wonder. Luna in return gazed into my eyes in an analytic manner.

"A Bit for thy thoughts?" She inquired.

"You...you saved me, your grace..." I stammered, still amazed.

Luna cocked her head toward me, raising a brow.

"Didst thou think that I would let thee fall to thy death?"

We said nothing more in the rest of our descent.

Thankfully, after that one mistake on the climb, we had no further troubles descending the Drackenridge Mountains to return to Canterlot. While we did have to worry about the dragon awakening from its slumber, it thankfully did not. That made getting it into the medical wing of the main Canterlot castle. The scaled creature was restrained down by long, thick cords and coils, all of which were bolted to the cobble. In a way, it reminded me of that book, Gulliver's Travels, in how all of us wee ponies were surrounding one massive scaled body. Aside from the clopping sound of pony hooves to cobblestone, most of the large room that we had taken to storing this massive creature was dead silent. Princes Luna stayed with Jade and I as she flipped through page after page of text, before stopping on one particular paragraph.

"What are you doing, Princess?" Jade asked, peering to try and see inside the pages.

"'Tis simple, my dear student," Luna said, producing a pair of reading spectacles. "As the beast we have captured was in a blind rage, I intend to cast this spell of mental repair and clarity to clear its thoughts. Only then, at least I hope, shall we be able to discover what sent it into its maddened stupor."

"Ah....and that means what exactly?" Jade asked, a bit thrown off by her majesty's advanced vocabulary and vernacular.

"It means she wants to fix the thing's brain so we can find out what made it crazy," I pointed out, bringing the speech to layman's terms, allowing Jade to express his understanding proper.

A moment later, from the other end of the room came a Lunar Guard, bowing before his mistress before declaring that, "The circles are ready, my liege. Shall I inform the chef to produce some nourishment for you and your students, milady?"

"Make it so," said the night's herald, shutting the book in her magic definitively.

"Right away, milady," said the guard, quitting the room to inform the chef.

With his exit, most of the other ponies left the room, as well, most of them maidservants of the castle, serving no genuine purpose in this exercise, so they logically saw no reason to watch as their mistress worked to weave magical spells. The last of them even had the courtesy of shutting the door on his way out.

"This may take time, friends," Luna pointed out, stretching and shrugging as she prepared herself mentally and physically. When she was finally in good enough resolve, she shut her eyes and began to focus, a blue aura surrounding her horn as it traced into the lining of the floor, causing a massive array of runes, glyphs, and symbols to become illuminated, a bright blue aura filling the room to each corner, almost blindingly so. Their bright rays began to converge upon the cranium of the incapacitated dragon, clearing it of all of its cloudiness. The beast was still fairly still, but began to stir as its body began to shudder. The bonds on its body shook in turn, but stood firm in the face of destruction, as they should.

Within mere moments, the spell was seemingly completed as the runes began to draw into the subject's body, the light from them fading as the beast let out a chilling deep breath.

"The spell is cast," murmured Luna as she looked to us. "Let us be cautious, as we have no idea if the spell worked as intended, producing a small dagger and beginning to cut the cords restraining the dragon so that it could properly interact with us.

"Dearest sir or madame, if thou can hear us, please rise and speak," said her majesty in her Traditional Royal Canterlot Voice, minus her actually shouting at full blast. Oddly, the creature was compliant enough to obey, considering it was in a place completely foreign to it. What enhanced the oddity was its next action.

"W....Where am I?" it asked, in a surprisingly demure, tender voice. It came as a shock to us all. This large, lumbering beast, responsible for the supposed deaths of several ponies, was a female dragon. A spitfire, if you will. I think I was the one with his jaw highest from the floor at that moment. Was my inner nerd really that jaded, that the thought of a giant, lumbering, fire-breathing, eat-you-in-one-gulp dragon didn't stir any emotion at all? Part of me chuckled at that notion.

"Thou stand in the largest room that we have in the Royal Canterlot Hospital. Do you know who thou art speaking to?"

The dragon paused for a moment, holding her head. "I'm going to guess...royalty?"

"Thou art correct," Luna said, smiling. "And dost thou know why thou art here?"

"I have no idea," replied the dragoness, still confused.

"You stand in this hospital because you have been charged with the destruction of several cities and states in and around Equestria. Reports say that you were enraged over something, but attempts to calm you previously have all but failed. Can you tell us what you remember?"

For a prolonged moment, the moon mare's question was left unanswered. The lady dragon kept busily wracking her mind to try to recall anything she knew, but nothing came to her mind. She kept drawing blanks every time she attempted to read into it. She only saw vague glimpses of what could be her memories, but nothing meaningful surfaced. Just blank pages in a large tome.

"Nothing comes to mind, milady," she said, lowering her claw from her head to her chest. "I only conjure blank memories..."

Noting this, Luna gave the next five minutes as a moment of silence so that she could contemplate the logical solution to our conundrum. Her brow was out, and every now and again, we each heard her hum as she kept to her thinking. This was perhaps as pensive as we two ponies had ever seen the princess to this point. Eventually, she brought her pondering to a conclusion as she smiled a tender, genteel smile.

"Please, miss. Tell us what you can most recently recall."

Another pause came following this request, as the female dragon compiled her thoughts together.

"Well, Your Majesty," started she as she twiddled what were perhaps the draconic versions of her thumbs. "I am a lone mother. I have spent my life in those mountains since I was a wyrmling. I originally bore five eggs of an unknown suitor, but to this day, only one of them is still with me...the others...were taken by Kirin.

"Kirin?" Jade asked.

"It is a creature that is-"

"-Half Dragon, Half Pony!"

"Indeed, and I- pardon?" Luna asked, turning to me.

"What is it, milady?" I asked back.

"How doth thou know of Kirin?"

I chuckled at that question for a moment, as this felt in a similar vein to the events that had transpired this morning. Much like with how i stunned the dragon due to my knowledge of biology, this was more of a knowledge of mythology.

"Let's just say I'm quite fond of fantasy and leave it at that," I chuckled.

"I shall hold you to that notion, Adam. Now then, proceed, Miss..."

"Mirlain," replied the dragon plainly. "In any case, I wanted to make sure the last of my possible next of kin was not kidnapped, so I spent every waking moment with it, even at the cost of my health. I was doing well, until one night, something spoke to me."

"Something...spoke to you?" Luna asked, raising a brow. "Do you know what this...thing appeared as?"

"To be honest, Lady Luna, if I am not mistaken, I have no idea as to the appearance or identity of this creature. To me, it was but a shadow, and it spoke in a most deep and enticing voice. It warned me that another tribe of Kirin was coming to take my last of kin, and I didn't want that to happen. The voice offered to give me the power I would need to defend myself and my child to be...and i accepted...after that...I don't know what came after...until I ended up in this room..."

Luna hummed as she tried to piece together the beautiful beast's alibi. This was quite the ambiguous tale, and not the best told one, if Luna had anything to say about it.

"Hm...tis a very cryptic tail thou doth tell, Miss Mirlain," She said, a stern, somber tone in her voice. "However, given the circumstances, we've no reason to doubt you."

"So what will you do, your grace?" murmured a melancholy Mirlain.

"We shall not press charges on thee, if that is what thou thinks. We would say that given how you have described your circumstance, we have reason to believe that thou art not directly responsible for thine actions. For now, thou art acquitted of thy charges. However, I would suggest that thou see thyself to an apothecary. Chances are, thou hath encountered injuries that may hinder thee. Thou art free to go."

For a moment, neither Jade nor I could hold back our laughter as we saw the mother dragon hugging Luna in a vice-like grip.

"Oh, thank you, Your Majesty! I am ever grateful! I'll be on my way at once," She cried, before then leaving the room.

For moments, Luna lied there, catching her breath before coughing up the last of her choked breath and smiling.

"Phew!" Luna huffed, chuckling. "At least that much is over with. You would not believe how difficult it can be to sustain that voice. At least my common tongue is improving..."

"Indeed...you sound much more informal these days," I said, nodding and smiling.

"In any case, I shall get to researching into the incident more specifically. See if any precedent was set. Meanwhile, you two should return to class. If anypony asks where you've been, simply say that Princess Luna asked you for your assistance," smiled Luna curtly as she produced two documents, stuffing them into our saddlebags.

"Those documents shall assure your validity. It would be to your benefit that you went on your way now," She asked, nudging us like a deer and her fauns.

"Right away, Luna," Jade and I both answered, going off on our way, as we left.

After a few moments, and the closing of a door, Luna sighed.

"Tis a dangerous omen...I fear this may be only the beginning."

Chapter 5: The Test

On Light Hooves I Tread 2: Homeward Bound
A Fanfiction by Adam Nelon

Chapter 5: The Test

Five weeks had passed since the incident with the Red Dragon in the Mountains. In this five weeks, many things resumed as status quo for Equestria. From Musky Tome Pre-Celestial Philosophy class to Ms. H's Health, all the way to Asturl's phyiscal education. Each day passed on as any day at school would have. I'd learn more about how Equestria worked, and the further along I went, the smarter I became. Then, at the end of the day, I would train my body, as well as my mind. While, yes, there were days where Asturl, in rare moments of his own species, called in sick, leaving me at the mercy of Gunnery Sargent Drillbit, but while I didn't exactly rouse him to smile, I did manage to get increasingly better at showing him how I was improving.

Between the two of them, I'd say they both contributed to my progress. Asturl gave me the lessons and philosophies, while Drillbit gave me the bravado, drive, and energy to get better. They both served as motivators for me and Jade to improve and excel, and both did their job with some degree of excellence (though, with Drillbit, there wasn't exactly much in subtlety). They both proved to be an instrumental part of what we were to do today.

Princess Luna, as she had promised, swore herself to be our teacher, and when we retired from Phys. Ed, she would teach us in the ways of more antiquated and pertinent magics that we both seemed to be fluent in. For a quick reminder, I seem to be proficient in fire and solar-based magic, while Jade seems particularly well-versed in telekinesis. Alongside these, Luna and Asturl both attempted to show us the art of teleportation. The difference between Unicorn style teleportation and Deer-style teleportation is the way it is executed. Unicorn teleportation focuses on getting the details of a location, while Deer teleportation is based on the sensations of that location. Another key difference is the execution itself. With Unicorn teleportation, you often saw a big flash of light as the caster warped from point a to point b. Deer teleportation behaves more on the level of a flash step. Rather than disappearing from one point and reappearing in a flash of light, Deer will be in one location at one point in time, and then a whole other one the next.

Therefore, if you wanted to take the stealthier approach, you'd go with Deer-style. As It stood, both of us technically were able to understand the two styles, but I was better at applying the Unicorn style, while Jade was better at Deer style. As it occurred to me, using the Unicorn style essentially meant I could go pretty much anyplace I so desired...perhaps even...

No. I can't think on that anymore. I made a big choice in coming here, and going back on it wasn't worth anything, especially with all the friends I've been making up to this point. To turn my back on them now would be the worst type of betrayal, not to mention, it was an impertinent matter, anyway. What mattered now was that today was the most important day I've had thus far:

Today was Princess Luna's personal exam.

Princess Luna and Princess Celestia sat at their thrones in an almost completely empty room. Across the floor and ceiling were elaborate murals. On the bottom was a very detailed summoning circle, a multiple-pointed star with several old Equestrian runes written across the many empty spaces in the pattern of the star. Upon the ceiling was a partially more complex design. It was a redesign of that classic image that was featured in "The Mare in the Moon", which featured the two sisters circling the orb that represented day and night. This version featured the complexities of the newer Celestia and Luna, namely Celestia's rainbow-hued mane, and Luna's starry, celestial mane. The best part of it was stained-glass, which meant its position and the sunlight would serve as as a perfect indicator of the passed time.

Jade and I were pardoned from our classes to undergo a last bit of training with Asturl before Luna called us to this chamber. This room, to our knowledge, had no official name or purpose, but its emptiness would make it an ideal location for the test as we stood at opposite ends of the room, the Princesses at center.

"Friends," Luna began, a stern, but genteel tone in her voice, "today is a most important day in your young lives. For the past month, you have trained and studied in the ways of magic, in all its many forms and uses. Day and night, we have trained you in the art of using your powers to defend yourselves from those forces of malevolence who would dare to wreak destruction on Equestria. Under my tutelage, you two have grown from simple acolytes into a pair of proper magi. But be wary; between you two, only one of you will be granted the privilege of being my apprentice, and this is why we stand here today. Today, this matter will be resolved in contest, and to us, the only proper way of settling a dispute is a test of strength and wit!"

"Your majesty, what is this test?" Jade asked.

"We are glad you chose to inquire! This test is that most ancient and heralded of the old rituals of old: A Duel!"

"A duel?" I asked, looking between my mistress and my opponent/friend, Jade. "What are the circumstances?"

"Simple," said Luna, curtly. "You are to duel using all the abilities thou both hath learned in these past five weeks in a proper match of wits and strength. There are no rules but to defeat your opponent by exhausting him. Lethal force or injury shall be punished severely. The match will end either when one of you two is no longer able to stand, or if we have been adequately given enough of a presentation to pass judgement. Are we clear?"

"Yes, ma'am!"

"When we give the signal, the duel shall commence! Be ready!"

And so the two of us exchanged looks toward each other, each of us staring at the other with a look of fiery intensity, smirks plastered upon our faces as we prepared ourselves with the traditional stance of lowering our heads, cocking our forelegs up, letting out plumes of steam from our muzzles, and staring at each other with steely contempt.

"You better be ready, Adam! I'm not gonna hold back!" Jade said, smiling a toothy grin.

"I would expect nothing less from you, old friend," I rasped back, smirking as well.

There was a cold silence that spread across the room. The world around us seemed to halt as the tension began to mount. We were ready to break into battle, and the electricity felt almost choking. Then, in one simple word, the quiet was ended, and the time for battle began.

"BEGIN!"

♫

In a split second, the two of us collided with fierce intensity, the very stone beneath our hooves beginning to give way from the sheer force of our impact, which later resulted in shooting us to our corners but moments after we made first contact. That was merely the first strike, however, and as we returned to our hooves again, we began to dance across the room, our forms jerking from place to place, evading each others' strikes with as much succession and ferocity, it felt like I was one of those martial artists who threw fireballs around and smashed people into buildings while making lengthy non-sequitur from across the room. Only in this case, I was actually that very thing which I described.

Speaking of shooting fireballs, that was half of this fight in a nutshell. I would evade the waves and bursts of Jade's telekinetic tossing, giving me an opportunity to hurl balls of solar-powered flames back at him, only for him to send them hurtling back toward me, to where I had to take it back in, add more energy, and send it back. Rinse and repeat until eventually, one of us slips up, giving the other an ample moment of retribution by countering with a well-placed burst of power.

Over the course of perhaps 10 minutes, we each had received a number of injuries. None were fatal, but all of them hurt. I managed to zero in quite a powerful burst of flame on Jade's chest, near his jugular, but he managed to score a nice flank shot on me. Two of us each traded quite powerful hoof-blows, bruising each other fiercely, but not cripplingly so. At one point, I think Jade managed to illicit first blood in me, but thanks to the heat of my pyrotechnical magic, I was able to cauterize it on the spot.

The two of us were quite simply matched with power. Though the difference between our magics was their dominions and schooling, they both defeated each other, but canceled each other out. For lack of a better phrase, it was The Unstoppable Force meeting The Immovable Object. No one knew how we would react against each other, but the result was assured to be something along the lines of things getting very much real. There was no way of knowing which one of us was to peter out until our last ounce of strength was drained.

We had kept at these doldrums of dueling for quite some time, until at one point, I felt something coming off of Jade. I only barely caught a glimpse of what it was, but for a brief instant, it looked as though Jade were wreathed in a dark and sinister flame. His expression had not changed a bit, but the aura about him seemed foreboding and cruel, much like that familiar foe who had been rid of many years ago by Princess Celestia and the Elements of Harmony.

And then, the both of us charged one final time, intent on striking the definitive, victorious blow, and winning the duel, but before we could attempt that final blow, a voice broke out between the battling, stopping us both.

"Cease dueling, both of you!" Cried Luna, her regal voice not phased. "We have seen all we must. Return to your quarters now and rest. We shall call you when the deliberations have ended, and we are ready to pass judgement proper."

And thus, the two of us bowed before our lunar mistress, dismissing ourselves at the escort of the guards and returning to our room, content in our belief that we had entertained Her Majesty adequately.

As we returned to our room, we saw a blue unicorn mare with a mint colored mane and tail, streaked with silver. She was dressed in standard clerical attire, and upon our arrival, her eyes widened, the irises shrinking immensely.

"Oh, my..." she gasped, noticing our two battle-scarred forms stumbling into the bedroom. "You two look absolutely atrocious! Just what were you two doing in the throne room?"

For a brief moment within the midst of my pain, I collected my breath, and spoke in a flat, lucid tone.

"We fought, good Cleric. We fought like men."

Chapter 6: The Truth

On Light Hooves I Tread 2: Homeward Bound
A Fanfiction by Adam Nelon

Chapter 6: The Truth

♪

As one may expect, the wounds that I and my jade-colored companion had incurred and endured in our duel just minutes ago was not going to pass with a few days' rest. The two of us felt incredibly sore, almost excruciatingly so. Our bodies felt as if we were being impaled by many tiny needles, with each movement exacerbating feelings akin to those of a lying upon a bed of porcupine needles. Burns, bruises, cuts, and pock marks marred our technicolor hides severely, leaving a rather odd blend of respective grey and green tones and the many shades of crimson. While it was to my knowledge that ponies could be injured, in my experience with the show, nopony had ever bled openly, or at least showed blood on them aside from maybe a bruise. Even then, however, it was simply bleeding internally.

So, cutting away all that prose, I'll just say outright that my friend and I were in a lot of pain, at least until the dear Cleric was able to nurse our wounds. It was around this time that I learned a few things about clerical magics. For one, only a select few of these spells were a guaranteed instantaneous heal, and those spells, as you might imagine, are very taxing on the caster, unless he or she is sufficiently strong in willpower and intellect. Naturally, the cleric that was tending to us wasn't exactly a professional, nor was she a greenhorn. She was experienced, but not strong enough to cast this spell on both of us. However, she had ways to overcome this problem. While she was not capable of using instant health restoration, she managed to apply an enchantment that increased our metabolic processes by almost double, even triple their normal rates. Of course, having higher metabolism had a drawback of it's own; I'd probably end up losing a lot of weight as I recuperate, and my digestion would be a bit borked. I wouldn't need to worry much about that, however; recovery was the aim of the game for now, and that meant we'd be able to keep our weight evened out.

Jade and I had a unique kind of friendship. While I tended to be abrasive at times to people, especially strangers that start conversations that have no honest rhyme or reason to them (or I just cannot follow them to save my life), I always stood up for people I had at least some connection to, Jade being no exception. I won't go into much detail on what warrants this other than his focus is a bit stronger in some ways than others, and he tends to be a bit awkward. Still, when the person sticks by you for so long, you naturally grow an attachment to them, and in being a stalwart companion, you will eventually get rewarded for it.

But, there are also the times in which the ties between friends will be greatly tested. Soon, that time would come to us, and it would change the course of our lives forever.

For the time that we rested, there was little that we could do but read. Thankfully, the Royal Library had a great many books of fancy, especially ones like Daring Do. No wonder Twilight was a bookworm; so many fine works of scholars and authors lined the shelves of the small pushcart that it was almost like the shelves had been lined with high quality, top-notch, rich, imported chocolates instead of tomes of leather binds and golden pages. It was a nirvana of printed words and elaborate illustration that boggled my mind to no end. Had I the bravado and boredom to do so, I very well could have read every one of the books on that cart, as could Jade. After all, levitation was such a pedestrian and mundane type of spell that next to no effort was required to cast or maintain it. I was able to angle the book and myself to a proper viewing level to reduce the strain of my eyes. It was actually quite comfortable as I recalled it. With this, I read roughly 3 of the main series books, having started from Sapphire Stone and having ended at Curse of the Yeti. The whole concept of reading was something that I was no stranger to. Often, when I had nothing better, I would read. It was all we could do at this stage of our recovery, it seemed. But it didn't bother us too greatly. If the internet had existed in Equestria, I wonder what I'd find then...

But, of course, as if it were some natural law when it comes to friends, neighbors, and loved ones, Jade and I were not without our respective company. I never did understand what dictated this in fiction other than just a natural impulse to examine the well being of our beloveds. Was this just hard-wired into our heads as part of that mysterious serpent called "Love"? That is a question I will never know or waste either of your or my own time trying to understand and explain. Simply put, love is a strange beast, indeed.

As for the matter of who had visited us, there weren't a great many ponies that even heard either of us had come to harm, much less come to support us. In fact, I didn't even recall ever talking to Twilight or the others for the entire time I was here in Canterlot. However, considering how interested Lyra was in studying the two of us, naturally she'd be the first to investigate.

"So this is where you've been the last few days," She sighed, smiling lightly. She looked about our bodies and prodded about a bit. "Does it hurt?"

As she poked one of my more heavily-dressed areas, I hissed in pain, my eyes snapping shut as I grit my teeth.

"Yes. It does. Very much."

Lyra blushed and retracted her hoof. "Sorry."

I took a few deep breaths and sighed myself. "It's nothing, really," I assured our mint-green maiden. "I guess Jade and I got a little too carried away..."

"Carried away?" parroted the unicorn, scratching her head. "Just what were you two doing?"

I chuckled as she had asked me, stretching a tad. "Let's just say we were practicing our magic on each other, and we kind of overdid it."

"Kind of?" Lyra asked, her eyes narrowing. "You could have killed each other!"

"Well, we only stopped because Luna told us to..."

Suddenly, her eyes grew wide as I said that.. "Wait. so all this time, you've been taking extra credit with the Princess?"

For a long stint of time that those words were uttered, there was nothing but a pregnant pause and the sounds of hospital equipment.

"You lucky dog! I didn't know you had it in you! How'd you get them to say yes?!"

"It's not like that, Lyra!" I said, blushing. "Luna and I have just been good friends, and seeing as she didn't have an apprentice like her sister, she decided that since we apparently had potential, she'd tutor us personally."

Following my outspoken rebuttal, the blush that was on my face extended to hers as she backed away.

"O-oh...I see," She said, hiding her face slowly. "I'm sorry. I guess I just..."

She didn't bother to finish her sentence as she ran off. I guess she must have had a heck of an egg on her face.

In the wake of that sadly short visitation, I could actively calculate the amount of empty, unused time that went on as I begrudgingly returned to reading Daring Do...that is, until I felt a sudden, chilling change of air.

"Ah, so this is where you've kept them, madame?" boomed a voice not far. It was a voice that anybody could have honestly recognized. It was a boasting voice. It was a voice of that could inspire trepidation.

It was the voice of none other than "The Great and Powerful" Trixie.

"So...if it isn't Trixie's number-one rival....I can see you and your...companion have sustained injury greater and more powerful than she could ever hope to inflict," she hummed, turning her cheek to me. "A shame, really; Trixie was hoping to get a chance to test her mettle against your own, but it appears that unforeseen circumstances have all but forestalled that opportunity."

I chuckled at the illusionist's catty banter. Even as a heated rival to me, the idea of her giving me comfort while I was essentially indisposed was a very cathartic indulgence that I hadn't honestly anticipated to receive.

"Thank you for coming to visit me, Trixie. It really does mean a lot," I said, smiling.

"But of course," She snicked as she patted my back. "Trixie would not want lethargy to weaken you. She is awaiting the day when she can have her rematch and show her rival just how a proper battle is to be done!" For a moment, she paused, taking off her hat and bowing respectively before extracting from a her saddle a cloak and hat in of a rater interesting style, not at all like her own.

"Unfortunately, Trixie cannot stay long, so allow her to grace you with her condolences and a kindly parting gift," She said, as she laid a crimson cloak and a golden band for my head.

"For me? You shouldn't have!" I said, a bit aghast that Trixie had went so far out of her way to provide this for me.

"Oh, but Trixie insists! Trixie could not help but notice her rival's distinct lack of a cloak and headpiece. No self-respecting knight shining armor would dare travel the unknown without them!

I looked to the two articles again, noticing the fire ruby that was inset in the band. Such craftsmanship...it could not be possible!

"How did you make this?! This is almost mastercraft work!" I asked, my eyes going wide.

"Simple," Trixie snickered. "The cloak was Trixie's own hoofwork. That's how she made this fabulous cape of her own. As for the band, Trixie commissioned a jeweler and blacksmith to create it."

I looked to the articles once more, my eyes taking in the painstaking detail of their work.

"They're so beautiful, Trixie...thank you ever so much!" I said, smiling to her, to which she returned the smile with a cocky smirk.

"It was nothing!" Trixie snicked before rising up. "Trixie hates to leave a dear rival, but she has classes to attend to."

It was then that I was caught by an eye of determination from my kindly enemy. "She expects a rematch when you are at your fullest health again."

I stared down into that icy blue eye, then nodded and smiled back. "I'll be ready, Trixie..."

The illusionist smiled and trotted off before a unicorn stallion bearing a medical coat came in, a clipboard floating by in his magic. He was of a tan color, silver mane and tail, and had a cutie mark of a shield and a blue cross.

"Well, boys, I've got some good news," He hummed, wearing his spectacles.

"WHAT?!" shouted the two of us in an almost eerily perfect unison.

"Thankfully, neither of you left any serious injuries from your...ahem..."test", so the two of you should make a full recovery by the morning," the physician reported matter-of-factually.

Both myself and Jade took a sigh of relief as the good word was let out.

"That's great, sir! Is there anything else?" I asked, straining a smile.

"Well, I would strongly advise that you both refrain from any strenuous activity. Magical wounds tend to be quite taxing, even after several days' worth of rest. If you over-exert your magical energies, the result could be quite terrible," the doctor replied, looking over a chart as Jade nodded.

"We understand. We'll try and take it easy," Jade said, smiling.

"That is good to hear from you two. In any case, I'll leave you be while the nurses finish up. Expect a summons by the Princesses soon," chuckled the doctor as he left the room.

"We will, sir."

As the doctor left the room, Jade and I looked to one another and smiled. We'd come so far up to this point, and soon, the fruits of our labors would be repaid by one of the two of us gaining a powerful bond with an even more powerful pony.

"That was a great fight, huh..." I groaned, smiling to Jade.

"Yeah...makes me wonder...who will win..."

And so, with our consciences spared and our wounds almost healed, the two of us sat back and rested in peace, taking the time to dream away.

In the following morning, the medical staff and guards had made sure that we were awake and ready to be presented to the princesses in a punctual manner. I was placed in my armor, while my friend was given some chain mail and a tabard,

"What gives?" Jade asked. "Why does he get the fancy armor and I just get this?"

"Because he earned the right to wear it," grunted one of the guards.

Jade let out a humph and allowed them to go on with the dressing ritual.

"What exactly did you do to earn that thing, anyway?" my friend asked, turning his head.

I blushed at the mention of the subject, though I had full right to gloat. It had been five years since the day I was given the right to wear this golden ensemble in the first place.

"To put it simply, you know why the Princess asked me in particular to deal with that whole dragon fiasco?" I posed, pushing my hooves together, as if I still had fingers at the end of each appendage.

"Yeah? And?"

"Basically, the last time I came here, Ponyville had a sudden attack by a dragon, and through a bit of quick thinking, I managed to save not just the town, but my friends...but, it lead me to get knocked out due to head trauma, even after being encased in stone..."

"You were encased in stone?!"

"Hey, it was a good idea at the time, and it worked!"

"Still, it seems to be a bit like overkill, doesn't it?"

"It took it down, regardless..."

"If you say so..."

As we prattled on, the armor was checked and double-checked to make sure that it was secured and properly attached to the body before they nodded their heads and stood in our direction.

"The Princesses will see to you in a few moments. Please remember to maintain your best behavior while in their company. Anything you say or do can and will be used against you in the royal court. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir!"

The doors to the throne room opened as we looked to the azure and violet eyes of the two princesses, who smiled to us warmly and stood.

"Ah, welcome my young and esteemed guests! Tis a pleasure to meet such radiantly draped gowns and handsome garbs." Said Luna, in her classic, if dated vernacular.

"Gee, that seems a bit...old fashioned of you, Princess," I stated rather bluntly

"Ah, my apologies! It seems my old mannerisms have recalled themselves again from my memory," Luna replied, chuckling nervously as Celestia paired it with a genuine laugh.

"Shall we proceed to the reason that we called you here today?" Princess Celestia asked, calming herself and her sister into a proper, formal demeanor as we bowed our heads.

"Very well, students," Luna said, "First, allow me to congratulate you for your exemplary performance these last few weeks. It is not often that we'd see a unicorn, much less two, that are capable of using their special talent to such a magnificent degree. The both of you have proven to have valiant hearts enough to be both my student and my guardian."

We both smiled proudly and nodded our heads.

"However, in interest of fairness, as my sister has but one apprentice, I too must have only one. Know that this was not a decision made lightly. This was not a decision made lightly. You both have qualities that are exemplary for magi of your age, and without your combined efforts some time ago, we would have surely been in the thrall of that dragon. But in just one of you does this power and skill shine greatest..."

The both of us held our breath as she paused, her eyes shutting as her face lowered.

"From this day onward, it is Adam who shall be my apprentice."

Silence. My blood ran cold as I felt something eldritch and of great infidelity creep up my spine.

"What."

I turned to my friend, and his eyes bore a stare of arctic cold. A familiar sense of dread came over me. It was a feeling I had not felt since my eyes crossed a cross Fluttershy. I was frozen as I could vaguely see a dark aura of trepidation come over me. That nagging feeling of familiarity came to my mind. I'd felt this sort of dark, sadistic power before...but where? When?

"Thou hath heard my judgement, Jade," Luna spoke up, staring down at Jade with her indigo eyes. "And you are henceforth dismissed. Meanwhile, Adam is to stay here so that I may speak with him."

Jade simply huffed, that aura remaining as the guards escorted him away. As the doors shut, silence took the room before Luna spoke to any length again.

♪

"My apologies to you and your friend, but this is a matter that only you, as my apprentice, have any right to know."

I remained frozen, but nodded, my ears perking.

"While I would certainly like to entertain the idea that no bias had influenced our judgement, there was in fact a very glaring element that influenced us. As you may be aware, during your duel, and not but a moment ago, a dark energy was resonant from within him. This energy hasn't been seen in Equestria for well over a millennium..."

"You don't mean...-" I gasped, before Luna's eyes flared.

"Precisely; This energy we've felt is the exact same dark energy that was present inside mine own self all those years ago as Nightmare Moon... If Jade were allowed to come anywhere near us, the results could have been disastrous... However, we fear that in doing what we've done, we may very well be on the verge of a potentially greater disaster. Hence, we ask of thee to keep a close eye on him, as thou art closer to him than we currently are. Art thou capable of this task?"

I nodded my head solemnly and said, "Yes. I will inform you if anything goes awry..."

"I expect you to hold your word on that, apprentice. Should you fail, very dire consequences can ensue...."

"I understand, Princess. You have my word that I will not fail you."

With this, I took my leave, being careful not to cross my friend's path as I made my way to the dorm room. As I slipped out of my barding and made for the bed, a familiar sense of dread reared again its ugly head. Something told me that soon, I may be dead.

A/N: Dear sweet Celestia, this thing took for-freaking-ever to write. I apologize for the massive delay. Summer break, real life struggles, and so much more caused me to put this off for other stories and projects. I hope you can forgive the wait for this chapter, and I hope the next doesn't take nearly as long.

Chapter 7: The Enemy Within

(A/N: The following chapter heavily uses Zalgo-style text. That being said, you are advised to make sure that your computer is capable of interpreting this form of text.)

On Light Hooves I Tread 2: Homeward Bound
A Fanfiction by Adam Nelon

Chapter 7: The Enemy Within

My night following the revelations prior to what all I had experience only addled me with a lack of rest. I had nothing else but the thought that Jade would soon betray me. Though the windows remained shut, the cold persisted. It was not the chill of night, but rather, that of fear. The fact that my closest of companions harbored such a great and evil power within him left tremors in my spine. I slept with a single eye open that evening, and what little I saw in the opposite eye, I was once again in mist. I saw yet another masked pony. Only the number on its mask was XIII. A bad omen, if nothing else.

For a while, the pony in the mask did not speak. It stared at me through his mask. I shared with it a companionable silence before he spoke.

Memento Mori...

Oh goodness. Latin. Usually, when something starts chanting Latin, that's a sign you are pretty much entirely screwed. Ironically, I actually knew that this was a real phrase, rather than just gibberish that sounded like Latin.

Remember that you are mortal...

That phrase has been echoed in tragedy after endless tragedy, and in every case it is uttered, it has but a single purpose to its use; it warns all who hear it of the possibility of death. It is a reminder to even the greatest heroes that they can still fall, no matter what they do.

I tried to speak with the pony, but he kept speaking that phrase, and that phrase alone. It rang in my head like an ear worm that wouldn't be easily exorcised from my conscience, a maddening serenade that would rake at my sanity until I dared to jerk myself awake in as violent a manner as I could. Almost immediately as I did so, my dread only became further exacerbated as I took stock of the area around me.

Darkness still persisted. I examined the clock. It was five in the morning, yet the moon hung in the sky as if it had replaced the sun entirely. The night was clear as day, and my blood ran colder than the ice planet Hoth. In instinct, I turned about face to the other bed, only to find that Jade was no where to be found. Instinct then took me like a wild bull.

I didn't bother with my armor this time. I simply let my adrenaline lead me through as I charged through the door. I let nothing come between me and the royal chambers, be it the guard, late-working students and staff, or the lowly janitors. I just had to run. Run as fast as I could. This was too important to let anything else interrupt it. My hooves must have sounded like a rolling thunderstorm as I charged like the warhorse inside me.

"Princess!" Called I as I bashed my way into the throne room.

"Adam! What is the matter with you? Why do you cause such uproar this late into the evening?" Princess Luna barked, looking rather cross.

"It's not evening! The sun hasn't risen, and Jade's nowhere to be seen!"

And, like a virus, my dread had proliferated to the Princess and her Sister. But I couldn't end it there. I had to keep explaining.

"Art thou sure thou art not simply deprived of sleep?" She asked, a quiver in her voice.

"That is the issue; I could barely sleep at all last night. I felt a dreadful chill, and not the kind one would normally feel... I felt that energy heavily last night... when I woke up, the moon was full, and it was supposed to be sunlight out!"

For a moment, Luna remained solemn, going to the window nearest her and her sister to take a closer inspection before attempting to use her magic to rectify the sky. But, no matter how much magic she had poured into the sky, the moon refused to move. It was as if it were anchored down by some dark and maleficent force. My liege, a stoic, graceful pony, turned to me, her face stern, but fearful at the same time. I could feel her anguish as she looked to her sister.

"This does not bode well..."

I hung my head in shame for some time after those words were uttered. I had failed my dear princess. That alone was worth grief, but the fact that the failure would also cost one of my closest of companions as well left a feeling not unlike a knife being driven into my heart. I had betrayed my word through my failure, and it was saddening. Right now, my friend was gone to parts unknown, and it was all but my fault.

Then, I felt that familiar feeling of magic lift me from my saddened state.

"Do not look so burdened by this, my apprentice. We realize you had no way of knowing..." the Lunar mare hummed, taking me into a comforting embrace before looking me in the eyes.

"However, given the circumstances, we must be prepared for the worst. If this incident is anything like the previous one, your friend should be in-"

"The Everfree Forest!"

Inspiration dawned on me as I stood boldly. A fire brewed in my heart as I looked out the window.

"And if he's in the Everfree, I think I know EXACTLY where he is!"

In that instant, I found myself darting out of the throne room, far beyond the reach of the princesses or guards.

"WAIT!" called Luna, but to no avail. I was long gone.

A silence fell upon the castle, before the mare of the moon turned to her solar sister.

"Sister, we must stop him. He is a fool to go chasing after a Nightmare without the Elements of Harmony!"

"Oh, I think he'll be just fine..." Celestia replied, a curt smile as a scroll popped away in her magic.

♪

For one of the few times in my equine existence, I felt truly bestial. As I charged through the rough, jungle-like expanse that was the Everfree, I payed neither mind nor attention to my obstructions; I used what all magic I could muster to blast, slash, and reap my way past stone, vine, and branch. For an instant, I recalled the appearance of Zecora's hut. Ironic how I never did bother to have a reunion with the rhyming Zebra, but given the circumstances, I had no time for pleasantries such as those. I had one goal in mind; The Temple of the Royal Pony Sisters.

For what felt like so many minutes, I cleared my way through ever more obstructions before coming across the narrow rope bridge connecting the cliffs to the temple proper. A stream of wind blew, causing the bridge to swing erratically in the breeze for a few moments before I dare tried to canter across. For a moment, I flinched as part of the bridge seemed to give beneath my hooves, freezing me as I took hold of the ropes. I looked at the temple before me, taking in the archaic structure and the moon that hung above.

I simply couldn't let this stop me. My friend was in there, and I was going to save him.

Once I regained my balance, I walked to the temple, practically throwing the doors before me in tranquil fury.

For a few moments, tranquility continued. Before me was ruined cobblestone. Kudzu and other vines sprawled across the floor through the cracks. An eerie cold pervaded the area. Windows that once displayed beautiful stained glass now held shards of iridescent slag. The sounds of long-dead trees scraped against the walls as my hoof steps echoed down the halls. I was quiet through most of my walk down the hall.My eyes were dead set upon the doors before me. I brought my horn down to my hooves for a moment, imparting within them some of my energy. It was at that point that I turned about-face and slammed my rear hooves against the door, sending them crashing open.

What lied beyond the door was a sight I did not think I would have beheld. It was a figure not unlike Jade... However, it was a taller version of him. His hues were much darker, more resembling an emerald than a jade, but his eyes glowed a ghastly green color to make up for the darkness around his coat. An amethyst armor covered his hooves, neck, and head. His horn was now much larger, and equally more menacing than before. But, what shocked me most was the fact that this being sported two giant wings. These wings were not feathered, like that of a usual Pegasus, or a usual Alicorn, for that matter, but rather, they were leathery and bat-like in shape. For a moment, I stood awestruck at this massive stallion before me, before it beat its wings and bore into my soul with a piercing gaze.

"̹̩̠̻S͎o̪.̰̰͖̯̫̣̳.̬̟̝ͅ.̖̪̤̫̪̭̣i̺̥̼͙t̯͍ ̳̫wo͇ul̬͎͈̠̮̟̟d̩̗̪ ͓̙͇̟s͖͔͓̥̣̞͓e͉͈͎͎̹͉̖e̠m̫̗̭̩̪ ̦͉̙̠͔tͅh̹̭̖ạ̣̥͈̦̙̗t̯̘̣̤̝̹͓ ̠yo̤u̱̟͇̜ ̱̦̦̲h̥̲a͚v̮̳͉e̹ ̱̺̗͙̩a͍̦̼̯̼̱̘r̥̳̻̪̮̼r̰̙̳̩̹̱ͅi͙̯̘̦͉ͅͅv͚͙ed̝͔̘̼̰͔..̙̣͎̻̤.̝̥̜a̟̠̱̜͈̺n̦ͅd͙̘̺͇̭ w̫h̹̖a̺t̮ a͇̖̭̻͎ ̲͙̩su͎̙̞̦͙̯̟r̺̫̬̟̗p̟̥͇̭r̫i̫̱͈͚͎̲s̰̤e̹!͚̪̭ ̪͖̬͕Y͖o͚͍̥͉̼̝ͅu ͕͖̥̖̻ḍ̖̜̪̺̝̯e͙̲c̺̜i̞̝̳̫͕̥ded̹̫̩̼̺̘̰ ͈͕t̰͎̥̦̹̥͔o ͚̩̺͉͓s͉̣h͚͙̺̠̥̫ͅo̬̭͚̭w ͈̙̠̤̣̪u̖̭̖͖̜̻̞p̣̺̭̳̩͖̦ ̪̝̫̲w̟̗̮̙̥i͉̩̱͔͕̮t̬͚̟̝ͅhou͔̹̲̟͎͇t ̦̠̱̮y̰ou̜͎r̺̖̺̦ ̻a͔̫r͓̳m̖̭̳̥̠o̹r̟͓͎!̼̩̰̠̞̳"͎̼ called the voice, his armor glinting as he spoke.

"Where is Jade?" I asked in a cold, polite voice, digging my hooves into the stone as I let out a plume of hot air from my muzzle.

For a moment, this bastardized version of what I could only assume was my friend laughed at me, a wicked grin on his face as he said very snidely, "͍͙̥̠̗H̱̤̹͕̯a̙̭̹v̯̹̖͇̮̘e ̘̗͔y̰̬̯̬͓̰ͅo̹̣̺̖̘u͚̬͉̺̦̠ ̰̮͖̱̟l͕͖̣̖o͚̞s͉̬͔̮̺͈̠ṱ͕̼͚̲͖̖ ͍̥y̱͖o͇̥̹͖ͅṳ̳̤͈̪̲r̤̻̦̗͎̣̹ ̻͚̠a̞͉̝b̯̘͍̬͔̳ͅi͖͙̮̮l̲̗͚̝̝i͍t͖̣̫̰̯y̠̯̦̦̮̳̫ ͎̞t̜̠̺o͓̰͈͙̯͖̤ ̗̠̳̪s̭͖̬e͕̖̻͕e̳ ̠̗̲͕̮̻̦w̩͉͍̥̘̤i̞͇̜̳̩̺̪ṱ͉͈h̪o̘̯̖͍u͖̦͉̝t̙̻̠̥̰͍ y̩̠̮͎͕̤o̹u͇̻r͍ͅ a̝̦͉̹͔r̞̞͈m̞̣o͈̝̬̩̦͍͍r̺̳?̖̦̝͓͖ ̤̫͓̺I̱̻ ̘̬͇AM̱̤ ͇J̮a͓͈de!̭̳̹̫"̝

The dark stallion flared his wings.

"̥̺̯̬̞B̰̤̪̲͖͎u̝̯̲̲͉͚̤t ̘͔͓͔̗̥̻I͙͍͙̯̜'͉̠m ̼̜̲̜̭͈n̲̗̹o̯͔ͅt̰ ͕̩͉th͙e̤̖ ͍̣͎̩̞J̹̲̳a̖̮̝̤d͚̪͈e͉̬̟ ̺y̩o̞̝͇̥̫̣ṳ̫ ̪̼̤͖̻k̗̮̝̼̪͓̠n̪̣̮͈e͖̙̭w͓ ̹̠͕̣̬̺͔a̤̭̝n̟y̺̩͉ͅm̱͖̙̖o̜͓̦̗̩̠r͈̙̩̼̳e̮̫̪.̤̺̰͎͍͔̲.̙͉̤͎̱̙̖.̖̲̺̦͔ ͍̘͖I̜̭̼̲̜ ̫͓̣a͎̤̗̠͙m͉̭̯̭͖͉̩ m͙̜̭̯̻̞u͕̪̣͇ͅͅc̙̝̯h̳ ̜m͙͎or̮̮̺̣̠e̫͉̖̩ ̰͙̮̝̖̥s͍u̹p͎̩̻̯͓e̥͈̘r̹̙͇ͅio͍͔̪̻̖̞r̟̮̯̳̹͖̰ ̹̞t͍o̥̬̬͉̝͉ ̭̱͎͍͓͖̞h͎̜̹i͙͈m̻̦.͚̖̤̘̭ ̟̼B͔͙e̬̩n͇̘̖͖e͉̣̤̘̟̲a̱̯͇̰̦ͅt̜h̜̺̲͈̰̲͇ ̗͈̤͚̙̼m̳̝̰̘̹̼̰y͔̩̱͙̩̺ w̗͎̯̪̪e̹a̩͕͎̟k ͓͉̟̗f̲̲̙̺̦̪͚o̟̰̗͙̤̜͚rm̭͉͈̜ ̼̫͎̞̪̗ͅl͈͈̫̙̤i̹̪̣͚̪̗͔e̱s̬͎̝̪͔ ̥a̳̤ v̞̭ẹṟi͎͚̻t͎̞̞̪̠̹͚a̫b̹̦̦̺̤le̻̙̗̬̠͓̲ ̤̱g̱͖o̬̭l̲̝̘͎̝̹̝d ̦m͖i̳̮̖̥̖̖̥n̝͈̠̳̤̠e̥̰̭̫̼̮ ͚̺̹̲̝̘of̦̗̥̼ͅ ̥͔̼̻̲̩͉pe͇̼ṉ̤̦͉̫̬͔t-͍͍̺̬̖u̹̟̞̝͖̲ͅp͚̹̖̦͇ ͙͙͔a̹g͎̼̦̱g̻̘r͚̱̺e̮͍s̜͈̯̲̦si̮̜͔̘̦o͖̖͕͓n.̻͔̥̙͍.̘̦.̭p̝̮̣̗e̦n̹t͔-̥̗͔u̠̭̮̝̭̬̝p ͈̲͍͖̻̱ͅpo̻w̹e̹͎r͔̺͇ ̼͓͕̭t̻̭̹̻̺̯h͎̬a̗ṭ̹͕͇͖͉̠ ̹I̻͔ ̤̩͍̟wo̰͕̤̮u̟l͓̭̯̘d̙͈̟͇ n̼e̫͇̤̣v̙͎̞̩̪̤e̞͕̥͓̣̪r̠̭̠̲͙ ͉t̻̯̞͕h̠ͅo͈ug̘͎̝̠̺h̯̩̼̙̠̜̼t͕̮ ̥̬̟̻p͓̠̯o̟ș̘̺͍̜͉si̖͎b̦̠l̜e͇̖̹͉!̞"̤̮̤̼̜ͅ

I couldn't believe what I was seeing or hearing. This wasn't Jade. This was a shade of himself! He spoke as if he were possessed by some demon, or as if he had become one himself.

"͍̻̮H̠͍̰̳̮a̠͓̖̣d̙̣̖̦ I ̰̖n̝o̰͇̬͈̯t͇̼͕ ͓͇͉͙͉b̖͚̬̮̥̬͎e̖̤e̯̦͎n͖ ͙̖͙͔̰in̤͍̼̲t̫̰̦̹̝e͎r̘͚r̤̠̘̤u̦̭͙̪͍pt̺e̦d̻̠͙̖,̫ ̺͎p̟̮̩͇̳̟e͖͕͙̟̥͓ṛ̹̙ḫ̟͚̘̱̖a̟̗p̦s͇͉͙͕ ͚͈̱͖I̺͍̺̪̫ ̠̩͎̭̱̙co͎̹̣͙̪u̯͔͎͉ḻ̻͕ḍ͇̩͚̻̝ ̝h̘͇̹̺͈ͅa̗͎̜v̤̥̯̗̣e̪̭͉̙̼̬̪ ̮̦sh͇o̟̥̮̜w̖̙̳̟̦n͔̪͓̱ ̞̺y͚̣̗̻̖̗͖o̼͓͉̬̺̹̹u̖ṛ̰͍̲̺̜̯ ̜̹̻̯̳̰l̼̻i̟̗̣̣t̩̱̠̩̰t̜͕͈͖̗le̬͓͍ p͚͉̱̙̣̜r̻i̤͎̹̥̠̠n͉͕c͍͇̹̻̗͍ͅe͙͈̘̥̜s͇ṣ̱͙̼ ̺̳̰͈̠͚m̠̲̪̜̰͖̤y̝͈̟ ̼tr͉̗͓̰̳̰u̦̘͎̗͍ͅe̹͙͖̰̪ ̳po̥̱̤w͍͎̞̱͚̣̞e̦r.̪.̣̙̳̬̻̥͚.̫ ͚͕̻̘̻ͅT̜̭̗h̹͖̘̺͕̦e̗͓̖̲͇̳ͅn,̝̖̼̞̳ ̺͍̺̟̲I̹ͅ ͎͍͇̻̬̱̗w̥͙͇̲͈o͈̩̮u̠̲̼l̹̪̰̣͚̮d͍̫͕̟͇̭ ̺̰̝͇͙̼͍h̦̝̘̳͕̲a͚̼v̜̫̯̫ͅe̻͙̞̖̬̤̖ ̼̲̱b̺͕̻̠̻̳̳e̝̘͎ẹn̮̞͍ ̭̬͍̣̖͕t̙̦͍̙͍ḥ̭̫̺e̞̝̲͇̻̟ ̞̻̹̲͙͔̻o̩̟͕̳n̟̦e̲̞ ̭͖̱̲̪̗͍t̬̝͇͇͉o͍͈̣͈̯ ̮̣͉̗̼̺̪s̮̟̤̝̯t̗̦a̙͉̱nd͕͈̯̞ b̩̯̮y͎̖̼̩̟ ̱̭͔̘̤͇̳h͔͉̩͇̖͙͙e̠r͙̠ ̝̻͎̥̞̙̰s̪̺͙͍ͅi̙̮̤̲̳̮̮d̙̦̖̥e͍̬͚! ̫̙͙͕̙ͅḄ̯̫u̞͓͙̦̲t͓̼̥ͅ,͇̠̮͖̣ ̤̮̘͕̹n̦̠̜͙̫̫̞o̗̟͖̳̩̘͓.̗͙.̱̻͓̝̮̭.̭͎͙ ̫̬̰̣͓L̞̜̺͖uͅn̤͔̯̣̯̖a̝̰ h̥ad̬͓̹̮̞ ̮̹̗̭̘̪t̖o̥̖͕͇ ͉͚̹̰̝͉̹s̺̩to̞̱͚̙̬͎̼p͓̱̦̠ ̺̥̺o̞͔̤͔u̯̫̖̜r̬͔ l̘͔͇̬ͅi̠̘͙̥͕̠tt͕̺̯̼ͅͅl͔͍̝̫̤͖e̟̖̙̟͉̗͕ ͕͇̟m̬̜ͅa̭̥̮͍͓̻͔t͙͓͍̤c͕̺h.̤̣̭̣̖.̟̝͍͈̦.̭͙̬͔̟̤͖a̲͈̗̣͎̫̪n̫̲̮̖̤d͙̗ ̻̫s̫̞h̝̺͉̩͔͈e̜̳̹͈͈̦ ̲̲̤c͖̭͍̰͎ẖ̯̟̱͉̖̘o͍s̞̣͎̘̦͖̼e̫ͅ ̝̻y̙͕̖o̦̜̤̝̘̪ͅu͖̱͈̬ͅ. ̲̞̪̝I̯̬̱͍̖̱ ̖̘̲gu̗̰̞̮es̻̳̗s̞̩̠ I̙͈͚̮͈ ̟s͓̣h̬͖̰̩̖̤o͚͕̻̻̠̱u̬̖̬̘̞l̖̭̬͇d͍̤̱͉̼n̯̮͍̫͖͕̠'̞̥̭̙t̺ ̺̝͉̗̭͓ͅb̤͚̫̜̟̙͔e̠̟͉͓ ͓̱̺̙̙̺s̟̝̲̝̟̣͍u̠r͔p̭͍̯̘̭̟r̳̫͖̳̮̬͈i̥̤̜̳̤̜s̙̻ͅẹ̥̘̤̩d̘̙̹ ̟͚̳s̱̹̲̲͕i̺͇̪͈̖̩͙n̼̘̟̩̳͕̪c̺̮̠͉͕̖̺e̳̻̬̼ ̖̖ͅY͓̼O̦̤͚͖͎͓U'̼̭̦̱̩RE ̠̮̪͙ͅh̬̥͙͉̜e̮̲̟̜̹͍ͅr͈ ̤͚̠̠̮͓͕f̯͔̯͇̫a̗̩̻͈̰̩v̞͚͇̠o͓͎̺̜̹͓ͅr̭͚i̝̘͖̱ṱ͔̗̗̤ḛ̻͖̘͖͚ ̗̣̩p͇͉͈̙ṵpi̹͓͎̱͙l̗!̹"

This shadow of Jade pointed an accusing hoof at me, a dark flame erupting from his mane.

"You're speaking nonsense! She chose me because I was the more well-taught student!" I rebutted, not changing my stance.

Suddenly, the doors slammed shut behind me.

"̴̬̗̙̟̻̙̗̻͙̖͙̯̮̤͖̯̲̫̙̐͐ͬ̇͛ͪͫ͑͊̌ͨ̓̔̉̾͌̀̑̀́́́T̶̰͎̻̣͖̮͇̭̝̬̓ͬ̈́ͮ̂́ͫ͒̀͟Ḧ̴͉̥̳̙̥̦̮́̈́͛̔ͮ̅ͨ̑͋͐ͨ̿̑͘͟E̸̸̽̊ͨ͆̋̅̊͊̅̈́͛̚҉̡̹̭͇̝̞̭͍̰̦̦͓̰͙̀N̷ͯͥ͗̓͆̉ͧ̈̀̽̎̽ͣ̿ͫ̀̀͜͏̥̤̟̫͕̻̲͖̪̼̖̹̬̹ ̴̡̧̱̟̺͚̭̤̺̰͓̮͍͚͉̩̯̺̯͍ͬ̅͊̅̐͗̔̆̂̅ͣ̍̓̆̆̚͘ͅPͨ̾́̓̈́ͩͪͦͯ̚͜͏̖̩̼̤͍̝̭R͉̯͈͎͒̈́͆̎̈͌̎ͬ̉͐̓̔͒ͫ͗̈̍ͬ̚͘͞O̟͉̪͓͇͇͖̬͕ͥ͐̋ͬ̊̏̍ͥ̂̋ͪ̆̏́̚̕͠ͅV̨̧̭͓͉͔̜̥͙̟̰̠̹̹͖̗̹ͮͩ̃ͫ̽̔͐ͫͬͤ̒̉ͮ̀̾ͫͧͥͧ͠E̛̟̥̯̘̼͉͉̰̭̖̻̱̻̪ͭ̃ͯͩ̏ͤͤ́͑̀̅̌̀͋͋̾̒͟͡ ̷̴̡̧̜̦̯̜̗͉̤͖̳͈̹̭̻̝̙̈̅̿ͨ̇͌͐̓͘ͅͅͅḬ̶̫̱̰͓̗̥̥̦͔̮̅ͩ̄̈̋͐̾̆̑ͨ͛̑͗͠T̡̮̣̦̮̙̠͈͉̏ͩ́̒̒̓ͥ̀͋̽̍̂̇ͦ̚̚͘͡.̴̡͚̥̲̘̞̙͎̟̣͉̠̞ͮͨ̔͑̔ͧͥ̅͊ͦ̓̓͐̈́ͮ̚͢"̸̼̜̣̠̻͖̗̳̑̓͌ͮ̈́ͫ̀̚͡

♪

Suddenly, the shadow that was Jade lunged toward me, his horn pointed at me as I braced for impact, locking horns with him as we both began to charge each other with our respective energies. For a time, we were locked as if were but two swords before I eventually had to leap back to avoid succumbing.

"̦͈͉͉I͉͉̮ͅm̗pre̻̗͍̠̲̫ssi͙v͖e̠̳̣͈̳͕!̼̝͍̳͎̟̹ ͖̱̹̲͔̼̯P͚̖̰̣e͕̠͇̹̳͈̪r̜h̩̲̮̞̳̘͖a̳ps ̭̖̞̘̝͚y͔͍͎̱o̻̙̪u̩͖̮̥̖ ̝a̤͖̼̳ͅr̠̼e̯̖͚͈ ̠̝d̞̫̲̬̦ͅes͓e̤͉̣͖̖r̫̥͚̰͉͎v̰̬̮̝̤͉̫i̠̣͉̬̝͍͍n̫g͎͓̱̞͉ ̥̫̻͚o͈̦̠̻͓f͈̳̙ ̱͓y̩̪̱̬͓̱̩o̖̩̳̙͉u͔͔̜̖̳ͅṟ̪͈̬͚̟ ̮͍̪̝͉̭̝r̺̭̦̟̥e̳p͓̬̣ͅͅut̗̠̹at̟̹̭͔i̬͕o̞̮n̜̰͙̦! ̘͉̟̮̲B͙u͈̠̺t̠̬̤ ͈̙͈yọu̜̪̖̠ͅ ̯̩͓̳͔̬a̩͉͓̩̦̱r͓̯͇̻̤̠e̖͇̱̗̙͎̻ ͇̰̞̞foa̬ḻ̰ ̩̺to̬̗̯ͅ ̗̟t̻̥̲͍̙̣̯hin͓k͔ ͍͚̲th̺a̜̞̦̱t̼̪̭̗̯̣̬ ̳̣͔̘s͙o̯̗͖̟̦̬m̤̺̘̟̤ͅe͔̝p͖o̺̼̱̗n͚̯̟͙͚y̦̺ ̯̤̗͉s͖̞̥̬u̟̪͉͓ͅch͙̯͙ ̟̰a̗̦s͈̗̮̣̩̙ ͔̖̱y̞͔̬̜̤̞̫o͉̱u͖͙̝ co͖̤̺͕̳͙̳u̯͍͈͈̭l̯̳̺̲d̞͔̪̗͇͈ ̮͔s̺̦t̬̗̖̦a̞̠̺̱̣n̰̗̗̱̪͔d̳ a̖̤g̤a̫̬̯͇i̮͈ṇs̝̲͚t͇̠̺ ̤̲̦̘̭̮͚a̪̹̜ ̤̦̣̯͎̤G͕͔O̬̜̣D̠!̪̙̖͕͉̮̱"̻̥͉͈

"I admire your praise, but allow me to say that it seems you are far from being any sort of deity. If anything, you seem to be more of an avatar for something, rather than its embodiment." I chuckled, doing my best to stand firm.

"̭̘͇̯P̺̤̝͔̣̝it̬i̖̯̲̮͎̥f͔̠̪̦ṳ̤̻͎̳͎l̠ ̰̙̺̼w͕̰̻̼̘̟̖o̩̘̩̫̙r̪̥̮̖̳̠ds ͔͓̲̜fr͍o̲̬̖̺͓̙m͉̳͎͍ͅ a̠̖͍̖̩̹ ͖̟͓p̯̠̝̠͙̤i̺̻̼ti͕f̳̠̜͉u̖͚̝̬ḻ͚̳̹͓ ̣̣͓̗p̳o̦̳̖̗n͕͚̘̣͈̻y̳̦̲.͖̣̟͈͚"̳̼͇͈

Quicker than I would have anticipated, waves of sickeningly green energy lashed out from this Dark Jade's horn, impacting me like a pair of sledgehammers to my stomach.

"̱͈͕̭̺̤Y͍̮̼͕͔͕o͈u̳ m̙̭̩̯u̩s̞̝̤̥̭̦t̘̫̪̭̪ ̠̖̥͚̠͙b̲͔͕̥e̠͎ ̙e͉̟̥i̼͇̣̻̩t͉̮̣he̞͎̭̦r̜̹̜̮̞̦ ̭̜v̝͖͓̩͖͙̤e̩̣͔̺̯r͙͕̫̼̙̘̹y̟ ̜͇m͉̬̬̣̘̼u̙͙̬̼̬̥c͚͇͖̳̜͖h͖̦̤̹ͅ ͇͖̩͕̦b͖̙l̖̖̮̻i̥̺̱̯n̗͙̞̖d̠̠̻̜̱͔ o̻̗͚͍r̙̳ ͇v̲e̤̻̤̗̗͖͓r̤̫̰̙̜̤ỵ̤̦̝̠ͅ ͖͙͙r̫̭͈̥e̦̜̲̞c̗̘͔k̼l͓͙e͔̲̱̠̜ss͉͓̗̳̟̮ ̻̞̥͚ͅtͅo̦͚͚̯̘͙̝ ͎̳e͉̘̰̺͎̼̥v̩̩̘̠̟̳en̲̩̝͖̯̻ ͍̰̻̠̳th̹̗̳̱͓̭͕i̮̺͓̰̲̠n͚̜̭k ̮̺̮̹̬͈o̬͕̮̙̪ͅf͎̟̗ ͎͔̗̯̖m͎e̙ ạ̠̭s̠ ̮͉̠͕a̤̮̤̳͙͕n̘y̞t͈͈̱̩h̥̟͔̟̞͖i͓̟̜͙n͉͚͉̹̻g̮̙̖̣̰͔ ̯͖̜̙le̼͈̝̤̠̘sṣ͓̣̱ͅ ̥̱͇̲̭͎t̲̝͕͎̖̫ͅh͎̭͉̹a͍̺͚̝n̹̯̩͉̼ ̻s͙̘̱̤̝͍u̯̣̫͙̻̝̣p̺ẹr̠̬̲̳̹i̭̲̥̟̮̪o̤͍̞͍r͎̘.̜͍̙͇̗͉"

Moments before I could even try to rise up from my agonized state, Dark Jade held me in a firm grasp of telekinetic force, latching me into a stranglehold.

"̖̠I r̪̮̝͙e͈̟̯̫a̲l͓̲̥̭̟ly̮̻̫͇ ̣d͇͔̗o̥̱͔͖̹n̘'̗̘̙͍͖̖͍t͖͉͙ ̳hav̟̟̜͍̗e͖͇͕̖ ̤̹̭t͚i̤͙̜̻ͅm͓̹̙̞̥̱e̳̪͉̱̥̯ to̲͖̫͎ ̭̹d̳̺̳̗eal͈͚ ̘̥̮w͇̯̖̞i͕̟͈̬th̭͇ a̯͈̮̙̺ͅ ͔̮̺p̺͔̰̭e̻͖̯̺a͈͈̜͈s̼a̼n̘̼̼͖͉̗̫ṭ̣̳̺̫̙ ͖w̘̝͉̘͉̘ho̠̥͓̠̤̘ͅ ̫̰̤̹̝t̮̦̮h̯̪i̞̺̗̗̼n̥̗̞̟͔̯k̤͙̰̺̗̥s̥ ̜̠̩͔̳h͍͔̥̗̞ẹ ̩͇̗̼̗̫̜c͈͔̗̱a̩̩̩͙̺̫n͇̬ ̘̖̥͖͇͈f̮̖̻̯̣͎ͅe̤̱̲͍̬̭͓l̹̫l ̺a̹̺̰ ͕̜̱̗̜p͖̬̭͇̲̭̜r̼͓̺̠͚i̼̹̣̤nc̫̜̼e̗͖̤, s͕͍̪̬̯͕o̱ ̺͖̦be̺̱̘͉͎f͚̞o̜̩̗̫r̠̩ẹ̝̰ ̱̮̯̻̠̳I̗͚̯͈̞ ͚͖͙̞͔̭f̰͍̟̝̼i̹̪͎̼̹͈n̪̘͍̪̱̱̼i̠s̫͕͇̦ḥ̙͕ ̰̼̮͚̗̗y̖̳o͈̪̗͉̝ͅu͎,̱̲̘ ̼̟͉͙͈̩f͓e̥͉̫̤̱̻̖e̩͇l̦̰ ͉͍̤̼̖f͕̫̹̳̲̯r̖̱͕͖e͈e ̻̙̭̩͓to̟̘̗͚̞̯̣ ̫̭̘̦͖say ͔̝̱̬̝y͍̺̠̳̦ou̻͚͉̦̝̗r̼̞͙̜͚̩͙ ̱͚̞̲̮̻f͖̜̠͓̝i̖n̟̱͈͈̬a̜l͇͖̜̻͓̥ ̞̺͇̼̦̖w̥͕̭̠̺͉̣o̥rd͉̼̙̤s̰̭͓͈̯.͉͎"̲

I was running out of breath quickly, but I had plenty of stamina left in me...I merely had to focus my will.

"I have just five..."

I paused for a moment, taking a deep breath.

"Can you feel the sunshine?"

The world grew bright as I shined a gorgeous light directly into the shadow stallion's eyes, forcing him to loosen his vice upon me, allowing me to focus further as I let loose my own waves of luminescent energy. I may not have had the sun, but inside me dwelt the flames of a thousand burning stars, all of which wished to be imparted upon the darkness. Jade, of course, was none too pleased.

"̧̣͇ͭ̿̇ͦ͒ͬ̃ͥ̈́͜I̴͚͛͑ͦ͑̆͋̃̏͞M͉̥͓͒͊̇ͯ̿ͣͪ͘͜͢P̣̠͔̏͒͞U͉̫̘ͯ̈̀̕͘D̶̹͖͙̼̬̲͓̑̔͟͢ͅḚ̝͂̉͆͆̓Ņ̵͓̱̲̫̜̊͑ͦ̕ͅT̡̠͙̲͓̤͚͇ͤ̉̎̅̄̓̓ͯ ̲̜̦̓ͨ̄̑ͤ̍̈̚͢Ŵ͈̗̣͍͓̀͡H̢̡̝̼͚̮̐͂ͥ̓ͪ̑ͥ͘E̛̯̼̪͍̟̘̪̽̀ͭ͆ͧ̓̒L̷̙̪̟̋̀ͧͧ͢͢P̷̱̮̠̳̖̤͉̦͈̑̍ͣ!̭͍̗̑͊ͩ͑ ̣̯̫̜͈͍̋̾̍̒̍̎͝Y̫̦̰̯͖̽̈̾̅ͦ̔͆͞õ͍͕͖̤̠̣͂͊ͫ̕͡u̴͔̳͓̘̯ͬ̐̿͋ͥ̒͊͟ ̨͖̺̜̺ͫ̀͠ͅt̓͊̍̉҉̤̟ḩ̱̟̖͙̆͌̽̚i̘̗̻̘͔̜̥̔̉͜n̡͕̯̺̗͉͖̜̬̔̆̈́͋k̸̬͓͙̹̩̎̍̈̌ ̜̰ͦͣ̃ͩͥͮ̔͆t̼͎̲̯̆ͭͯ́h̀ͨ̎̌̐̏ͯͭ͘͏͓̥͖̱ą̵͙͓̺͙̠̦͕͇̒̋ͫ̊ͮͩt͕͙̍̌͗ͮ͠ ͖̼͑̐̉̊̓̏̏̚͘ă͔̮̯̖̳̞̼͋͋̑͌͑̀͟͟͝ ̷̫̟̤͇ͬ̒̔̍f̬̖̭̘̪̤͉̻͍̆͗̈ͯ́e̖̫͕͈͔̺̥͇̼̎̑̉͌ͬͧw̡͂͑҉̷̳͙̟ͅ ̴̛̥̮ͩ̈́͑̑͡b̃͛̒̃ͪ̔͏̲̠̬̦̰̥̰r̸̼͕̼̮͈̘̬͇̿̅̌͌̽͊ì̸͈̲̠̞͙̖̝͗ͮ̾́g͕͓͈̖̙͋̇͌͐h̸̴̻͙̥̗͎͎̓ͧͫ̚ṫ̈ͩ҉̞̲̱̬̘͎͉̰ ̡̰̙̖̭͇̖̺͚̒̔͋lͮ̈ͩͬ̾҉͍͍͝ͅi̦̫̱̥̭̠̣ͧ͐̀g͔̖̳͚͎̒ͨ̿h̢̅̈́̀ͪ̍̔͑͏̥̞̮̩̬̟̺̲t̯̼͓̑̓͟s̀̍ͬ̈́͌̇̀̐ͥ҉̡̭͙ ̷̲͉̤̗͍̗͚̥̑̍͢͟w̡͎͙̏ͪ̍͛͠͝ͅi̸̞̖͌̍ͬͯ̇ͨ̕ľ̷͙̦̰̹̺͋̂͆̊̋̀̚l̛̜̖͔̊͟ ̶̯͔̖͈̮̼͙̒͗͜s̬͎͖͕͈͉͎͍̮ͮͤ̀̊ͨ͋̌t̙̳̬̟͓̠̦̣ͤͮͩ̋͗͢ō̻̠̰͔̫͜ṕ̥̱̞̪̗̳̯̲͠ ̄̇̋͠͏͍̺̹̘͓̦̙M̻̖͔͍͇̟̮͗̌͊E̾̉̈́ͤ̚͏͔͉͖?̰͉̱͉̦ͩ̊̎̃̇͋̀!̨͙̻̿͗͗͋̇̉̂"̳̱̱̬̤̎̾͒͆̊̎̿̂ͅ

For a moment, I smirked.

"No, but I think that door coming for your head might."

And so it was that my corrupted companion became acquainted with with a couple of cherry wood doors. It was at this moment I saw a few familiar faces come rushing in.

"Adam!"

For a moment, the jostled Jade turned to what remained of the doorway, staring face-to-face with Twilight Sparkle, with all five of her friends in tow.

"Twilight! Of all the times you could have shown up, I couldn't have asked for any sooner!"

Jade looked none too happy that he now had company, turning to face the ponies with a stare of great trepidation.

"̜̻̙̻O̙̖͓̲̜h̟̬͎̙̝̰̥̳,̜̤̥͔̱ ̜̗̙̭̟̩̯h̙͇̰̘̟̺̘o͍̟̥̬̺̼w̹̝̪͖̪͖̣ ̖̞v͓̘̬͕̣͓e̤͓r͓̳̦̯͉y͔̝͉̹͉̩̮̮ ̰͍͎q̖u̳̣̱a̠̜̹̝͍̠i͓̠̝̲͙̺̜n̳̮t̜͉̳̝.͉̝.͙̭̣̣̲̠ͅ.̤̣̠̜̞͚ ̯̦̤ͅͅS̮͚̬̳͎o͙̩̦͓̺ͅ ̼͇̲̭͔t̙̞̼h̫̙̲e̗̲̲ ̮̲̜̬l͙̯i̘͉̺̼̙͙͔̝t̝̫͕̥̗͎t̻̮̞͍̺l͕e͎͇̥ ̳̩̦̗p̯̬͓͚̟o̗̟̺̳̬̣̼n̲͖̘̖̘̼͖̟y̰͙͇'̺̱̦̥s͈ ͙l̪̭̮i̺͍͕̲̩̘̬t̝͍͖̪̘͓̦t̖̳̹l̬͈̹̪̠͈̥̻e̬̤͎̪̦͙͙ ͉̹̻̩̦f̲͇̯̹r̫͈i̭̫̗͈e̜͈͎̬̬̼n̠̲̙̼d͔̫̯̘̠͈̮ș̞̣̗̜̤͕ ̪̯̪̜͓h̳̘̦̹̫a͓̟͍̰ͅv̗e͇̮͈̥͈͉̠̫ ̭͖̘̮͙̬̻ͅc̜͓̖̼̗͖o̻͉m̰e̟͖͓͚͇̲̹ ̱̲̩͎̩̫̝t̤̮̭͈o̥̜ ̗͓͈̬͙̣s̟͚̱̖͇̰a̰̤̣̩v̬͚̲ẹ̪̮̯͓̪̠͓ ̱̖̜̙̯ͅͅh̳̳̺̗̜̦̱ͅi̳͍m̹.̫̱̦͚̦̪ ̥̻̲I̻͙ ̪͓̗̟͎̺͎̩g͖̩̼u̘̫̦̮̻e̺̗s͖̤s͕͙ ̪̱̦̼͉̭̪͍y͍̼̹̣̥̭͔o̖͍̘u̮̫̜̹̪̠̥̝ ̙͍̝͕͓̺̬a̞̞̠͇͚̳r̟̩̣͚̜̪e͍̬̖͔͕n̙̬͖͉̯̦̜̠'͕̟͔͓̝̳t͎͉̥̹͖ ̳̱̮a͈͎̻̼̙̦s̯̣̗̳͈̣ ̘͎̻̱s͇͈̣̯t̙̪̳̘͙r̻͍̗o̗͖̥n̮̳̜͇̬̗g̖̲̳̹̹̮͚̯ ͎̲͚̹͎̗̞̜̼a̮s͎̫ ͈͈I̩̖͎̹̟͓̻͕ ͖̭̱̲̭h̲̯a͓͈̦̞͈d̫̙ ̩̺h͙͈o̠̳p̳͍̯e̥̻̲̱͈̱̭͈d̟̫.͈͙͕̰̻̙̳ͅ.̜̱̜̥͉̩̫̖.͈͓̮̥̗̙͙"͎̜̳̪

For a moment, the stallion looked ready to kill the cavalry before me, but I wasn't going to have any of it. Focusing, I put myself between my fallen friend and my kind comrades.

"You're not going to hurt my friends! I don't care what you've done to him, but Jade would never do this!"

"̪̱̙̝͍Y̥͎̗͚̪̖̗̙̫o̱̭͉̗̹̫͓͇͈u̺̻̺̮̺͍̺ ͔͍ị̻̙̩̹m̫̦̘͍̩̙͉̘p̤̞̺̝̣e͎̟͓͚̬̥͇̹r̳̫͍ͅt͍̩̦i̮̹̱n͉͉͙̝̞e͕̭̰̬̻̰͈ṉ̼͕̯͓̪̠ṯ̞̹͉̖ ̦̯f͍̘̹͓̙̞͙o̜̘̘o̫̤ḻ͔̬͎̰͍̼!̙̘̬̭̗̙̜̙̤ ͔̦̥T͇̙͍̲͖̫͕h͍̠̮̪e͎̣͕ ̬͔̣̝̥͙J̗̻̱̩̤ͅa̞d̼̥̟̻͖̹̣͖̳e̗͕̘̮̤̥͇ ̥̠y̦̤̳̞̮o̮͎͚̮u̘̙͔̗ ̣͙͙̣k̦̠̘̥n̰̜̠̝e͖̜͚̜̠w͎̪̤̦̪̜̰̻ ̟̘̞i̮̫s̻̭ ̪͕̞̣n̤̖͙͔̯̩̤ͅo̙̮̬̻̬̖ ̫̞m͍o̦̥͈͉͉r̻̳͉e͇̲̙̘̯!͎͎̻͚ͅ ͕͓̥͉̥̱I͖͇̼̖ ̠͚̠̬a̲̭͍̞̟͕̮̺m̖̭͕ ̫̮̭B͉̟̳̮̰l̬̯̤̣ͅa͈͈c̭̺̙̻k̝͇̯ ͙̲̟̤G̖͖͈͕a̪͔ͅr̪n͚̙͉̼e̺̮͔t͎ͅ ̜͉̰ͅn̮̮̺̘̱͕̬̻o̱̼̻̠̘̳w͕͎̪͔̺̳!̝͉̘ ̺ͅJ͓̦̗̜͖̣̹a̦͍̮̖d̟͎̻̳̮̙̗͙͚e̩͈̼̥͚̬̤̣ ̩̪͈̹͚w̪̻a̭̹̳͖͈͍̯̙̪s̲͇͈̮͍͕͚ ͔̳͓̰͇a̗͎͇͕̺͇ ̤̪̞̻w̱̬̰e̝̠͓̤̘̱̟̪̙a̳͇̳̯̱̝k̦̠̹̭̱̜̺l̙̮i̜͎̜̪n̮̣̦̭̠̙͙̫̗g̻,̼̙̻̙͉͎̮͖ ̲͇̺̹̗w̪̠̝̮̣̥̤͇h̭̬̟ͅe̥̣r͕͔̹̯̘̣̦e̦̬̭̫͓ͅa̜̗̙̻̘̲s͎̝ ͔̙͚͓͖͎̰ͅI̪̣͚͔ ͓̣̤̤a̬̙͙̗ͅm̼̯͕͉̝̼͕͉ ̘̫̘̘̬̲̯͈̫s̗̝̞̣t͔̹͈̥̫̯̰͔r͇̭̮͓o͎̥̣̻̟n͚͉̼̬̬g̭͇̜̜!͚"̙̖͕̱̘̣̙̤͈

"Then prove it! Leave the girls out of this, and we'll settle this like the stallions we are!"

"But Adam-!" Twilight began, before I took a deep gaze into her eyes.

"This is my fight, Twilight; You and the others stand back. I'll try to handle him for as long as I can!"

For a moment, she seemed to want to speak again, but nodded, as the mares flocked to safety, the Elements of Harmony giving off a gleam as they did so.

A plume of black smoke shot from Garnet's nostrils.

"͇͈́͂̅S̞͎̟͐ͨ̈́̆ͅȎ͉̙͔̼̽͌̈́̽ͅ ͖̖̰̰̖̳͚ͭͧ͑̊̅̋̎B̙͍̠̺̦̭̱̻̉̋̔ͪE̘͔͕̹͙͉̟ͮͯ͌̍ͣ ̼̟͖̌ͥͫ́̿I̩͈͚̰̍͂͑͐ͥ͊ͅT̜̮̞̺̣̫̼̭̅ͨ̓.̫͔̜͍̤̬̺̞͇̃ͤ̏͌ ̝͓͍̫̞͉͎̅ͥ͑̋P͉̺̺̒̊͂̿ͧ̀̀R̬̠̞̩͓̔̾ͭͬ̑ͫ͗E̟̜̘͂ͣ̂̇ͪͥP̪̖̮̘͉̲̀ͮ̆̚ͅȦ̮̬̬̾́R̫̞̖̩̭̩͍̿͛͂̍͗ͥͩ̚E̟͎͕̾̉̑ͥͨ̓̌ͯͅ ̲͔̫̯̬̣̰̺̪ͩ̑T͖̭̼͊͗̓͊̂ͫ͌ͨ̓O͚̪̭͈͓ͫ̍ ̝̎ͭͤ̀ͪͤ͋̇̄D͈̺ͯ̐͑̆ͭ͗İ̤͖̩̔ͮ̾́ͫ͊̇̈Ě̲̪̪̞͒͒̈́̆.͕̝ͯ̃"̖̗͕̻̣͉̆͊̽

♪

And so the battle resumed, in which Garnet showed far less relent then he had previously. Like a mad swordsman, he bat his horn against mine, the two of us swinging wildly, the force of our impacts sending us rocketing back with each strike. Even with all the dueling knowledge I had accrued, it became ever more obvious that I was dealing with an enemy I couldn't possibly defeat. But that wasn't the reason I was finding him mano y mano. It was to prove that I was able to stand against him, at least long to allow the Elements of Harmony to land that final blow. Until then, I'd have to hold out.

Just as the power of the sun had emboldened my attacks, the power of the shade and hatred fueled the attacks of Garnet with far greater ferocity than before. Time and again, I had to exhaust the fire in my heart just to keep myself from the brunt of so many forceful bursts, holding my breath as smothering shade enveloped me. My stamina was going at a rapid pace, and yet my magic didn't seem to be reaching its limit yet. And that's when things got decidedly tougher.

Realizing that pure magic couldn't keep me down, Garnet decided to do me one better. He flung massive pillars of Earth at me, ripping out tile after tile to make missiles to assail me. The fact that I was still able to evade was either sheer dumb luck of my body's fight or flight going into overdrive. I had never felt this sort of genuine danger and risk. I had always thought that I would merely just be a hometown hero, whose one claim to fame was being the name that dragons of ill intent would fear. But no; Now, there was more than just a town at stake. An entire nation- Nay, an entire world hung in the balance here, and I simply couldn't fail them.

"̮̱̼̘͚̳̜̜͛̽̐͂̄̊Ì̭̥̠͖̱̹̗̦͕̂͛̀̍̆ͦs͖̻̞͚̯̱͙̾̆ͅ ̼͍̖̽t̪̫̭̼̆ͣ̈́̃̆ͮ͂h̥͎̜̣̥̟͗̊͛̐ͫͮ̏ͩi͙͚͕͙͕̒̓ͣͤͨ̍̚s͚͚̄̏ͬ͂͋͋ͮ ̥̦̮̫ͮ͆̀̈ͅt͇̰̹͇̺͔ͭͪ̀ͫͅḥ͓̹͈͍̈ͩͯͫͮ̀ͮ͛é̘͓̪͕̝͚̜ͫ̒̿̿̄̌̚̚ ̹̟̜̄̋̈̀̋l̤͈̜͓̤̗͕̯̐̿͆ͧ̀̇̄̄ͣi̬̠̹̠͚̭̘ͫ͂̚m͎̙̖̟̮͍̝ͬ̇̆̎i͖̞̹̳̹̭̎͌ͭ̀t̞͉̦ͦ͋͗ͭ ̟̠͊̐̈́ͭͬo̬͉̥͍̯̹͎̠̎̏͊̎͑̌f͔̼̝ͮ̑̑ͥ̐ ̮͕̦͉̠͙̹̝͒̽̃̾̀͌ͭ̀ͨt̙̞̥̏ͥ̑ͤ͐̐h̳̰͎̀ȅ̻̬̩͒̅̄͐͂̍͋ ̭̭̂̏ͮ͒́ͨl̲͉̫̖̪͖̘͇̮͊͋̐e̬̺͇͍̺͋͛g̝̙͓̯̏̑e͖̭͙̟̘̻̫ͪṉ̜̹̿ͬ͊͆́ͦ̃d͇̦̜̻̝̰͍̑͑a͈̪ͤ̒̑̂r̩̟̈́͐ͯ̾̍̈̅y̙̭̿ͨ͊̍̉̌̄ͅ ͚ͥͨ̂ͭt̺̥͚̜ͩ̌ͣ͛̓̈́̆r̺̙̖͇̖͖̻̒̌̾͒͑a̟̤͑ͥ̒͗͛̅͛̌̑v̫̲̦̳̬͖̺̱͚͒ͩ̈e͎͍̿̿͋͗̆ͧl̻͖̹̹̦̙̰̗ͦͦe͈̦̠̭̰̦͓̎̃͌̚r̖̫̳̻̠̱ͭͤ͑̂̌ͫ͒̋̎?͙̠͈͚̬͊ͧ̂̈ͯ̎ͅ!͖ͩ͒ͫ̋ͤ̂ͥ ̤̞̪̄̂̈́ͧH̼̥̪̑ͮ̋̓͒̔͗a͔͐̄ͪ̋͑͋̒ͧ̓s͇̮̖͙ͣ̀͛ͣ̅ ̪͕̻͍̮ͭ͛y̱̱̯͍̲̩̞̰͐̽̽̋̀ͥ̚̚o̖̥͙ͥ̒̊͊̉ṷ̲̅ͤ͗ͪ̓ͅr͔̫̳̔͂̿̂̔ ̫̘̱͎̱̗̗̒͐̈́̃m̗̼̻̗̖͎͂͛ͣ͒̈͌̽y̪̥̝ͯ̀̓̃̓̅ͮt̙͉͓̥͖͖ͥ̃̓̓ͭ́͌̓̚h͎͖̱̮̩͚͚̠ͩͫ̾̏̐ ̭̦͍̌̇ͥͭͧ̿̾o̤̦̹̮̫̐ͮv̱̤̗͋̄̅ͨͣ̓ͅe̩̫̟͓̳̗͈̩̭ͮ͑ͣͩͪ̏̌̊͌r͉̙̠̬̤ͪ̆̊͗̅̚ṡ̤͍̞̬̖̥̖ͥͦ̈ͫ͊t͎̱̳͎͚̙͔̤̆̋͗̎̓͆̈́̊̌e͍̙ͯ̈́ͥͅp̺̬̬̜͇̔̎͂ͨ̓̇͌̈ͅp̻̪̬̤̪͖̾ͪͥ͐ͅe̱̖̩̖͕̗͋͛͊̿̾̌d̼̰̏̍̎̉͋̄̈́ͪ ͍̉̑͑̋͊ͨỳ̞̱̠̓̉ͪͩ̓̓̔o͔̔̊̆ủ̗̮̠͎͍̜̎r̪̻̊͛̏ͧ͋͌ͣ ̱͖̝̲̰̗͓̰̃̇̓ͫ͆͗ͧẗ̗̭̰̟̤̞͈͈́̎̂ͫ̆ͧȑ̳͉͎͈͉ͅu͉͈͛̍̑ȅ̲͎̩ͭͭͨ ̙͉̓͛ͨ̂̈ṣ͍͙̪̜͉͑ͦͮ̄ẽ̯̲l̫͒̈́ͩͥf̻͚͍̥ͫ̉͋͛̏̿͆̚?̭̗̭̭͎ͥ̓̔̓!͎̤̻̱̣̭͈̘ͬ͋͒ͪͅ ̖ͪ̏̅͊

I stared intently at Garnet for a few moments, taking in a few good breaths before I mustered what little strength I had left inside me, forming a spear of incendiary force to hurl at Garnet, hoping to strike something to force him back. But, for how potent of a shot I could have made, it was parried in almost an instant, and soon, my vision swam in red. In one swift blow, I had joined the ranks of Polyphemus, leaving but a single intact eye.

"̱̲̲͇̗̻P̝͔̺̪a͖̜̦̬̟̪̼̮t̳͍̜̲h͎̪e͙͍͇̻t̼̻͓͙̤̙̬i̝̱͙c͍̯̬̗.̞͓̲͎̹.̩̥̼̭̖.̦͉͉͚̩ ̫̫̹͈̖͓̦ͅR͈͇̰̜̤e̮̳̞̼̱̮͎ͅa͔͕̹̲̘ͅl͎̙͎͉̺̠l̪̪̦̖͓̻̠ͅy̩,͚̞ ̭̗̗̯f̣̟̝̻͉̜̝̩r̯͚͉̲͚̹̖o̬̰̤͖͙̝̘m̱̺ͅ ̟̟̗s͚̺̬o̝͎͉m͓e͎͖̗͎̘̯ͅo̯̪̭͎̬̞̱ͅn̺̻͈ͅe̖̼͖̮̙̖̪ ̥̱̺͓c͔̭̙̮͇̰a͍͈͖̫̳͙l͎̩̼̹̪͔̥͇l͉̦̞̦̳̼e̮̭͙̤̝ͅd̘̠̠ ̩̜̞̗̹̰"̰̟̱͈̬͍̞̤Ṱ̺̖̩h͎̯̞̮̺e̬̗͇̝ ̬̲͈̙̮̠͙͓̤L̠̞͔̬e̼͇g͖̜͙͈̳e̝̺̫̮̯͕n̲̥ḏ̹̻a̦̲r̳̹̰̮̤y̼͚͖ͅ ͉̪̥͉͈T͇͔͈̣͈r͕̼̼͍̪̰a̺̦͖v̝͍̗̻̤͓̬e̜̘̲͔͍̳̜̤l̰̣̗͓̞̞̰e͙͚̭̘͎͇r̗̞"̩̖̣̘̯̠̘,͈͖̞̻͓̙ ̝͈ͅI̠̘ ̗̹̯̖̠͚͉w̦o̱̱͉̻̣̗̻u͙l̯̗̼d̺͍͈͇'͓̘̜͎̮v̥̥͔̙̘̪̲e̼̰̥̰̤̩̯ ̻͎̲e̬̞͍̙̜̰͓͉x͉͓͍̺͍͇͍p̮͈͙̣͖̠e̩͉̥̠̭̲c͉̰̣̱͇̣͙̭͓t̬̳̠̖ḙ̲͕͈̖̘ͅd̙ ̯͎̤͇̥̲b̦͍̜e̦͈̭t͇̝̦̤͕̪̪ͅt͉̳̺̠͓̲̣ͅe̱̖̙͕͉r̪̝̹͉̫̞̞ ̲̣̬̥̝̱̬͚f̳̮̦r͕͓͇̲̠̺͓̺̣o͓̭̫̲͇m̖̠ͅ ̞y͔̤͕͚̮̙ọ̣̭̳̹͇u̬̤͚.̫̪̙̘̥̘̦.̗̲̣͎͙̖̝ͅ.̹̩͈̣̞̲"͓̼͔͇

As I tried to wrestle to my hooves once again, I found myself in a vice grip of telekinetic force, my life literally being squeezed away.

I began to lose my conscience, until I felt myself falling. I felt the grip loosen I heard a strange humming noise, and the sound of hooves slamming against tiled flooring.

"That is enough! I don't know who you think you are, but you don't treat your friends like this! It's time we put an end to this!"

For a moment, I tried to rise, but in an instant, I shut my eyes, as my gaze took in a surprise of so many hues and dyes. I beheld a sight unlike that which I'd ever seen before. The Elements of Harmony, in their full capacity! Simply viewing such a sight was all well and good, but I was practically right alongside them! I felt the intensity of the magic that was being unleashed, and was deafened by the intense explosive force that came across, followed by the echoing cries of my friend as the large illusion broke from him.

After I watched the spectacle from what little remained of my vision, I felt a brief respite. The area I was in was quiet as I could vaguely make out my friend, weary. But, as my vision began to clear to some degree, I saw his eyes weren't quite right. They glowed again a strange hue, even though he was only a unicorn now. They were like topazes, glistening gold. And then I heard that telltale laugh...

Suddenly, I heard the girls wail in horror as the laugh began to escalate. As I turned, holding my injured eye, I saw them beyond the doorway they originally came in, a barrier replacing the destroyed doors, marked with a very familiar star-like image.

"̴̸̛̗̥͔̹̤̥̱̋̔ͪ̒͛̍̃S̸̞̬͙̮̫͉̞̀̂̏̔̃̈́̉̚O̯̰̦͋̄͐ͤ̇͑͆ ̶̴̫͓͆Ÿ̬͉̰͉̻̦͇́̐ͤ̒̓͞ͅO̪̮ͤ͊̅̐̈́͑ͨU̡̡̞̱̤̞̳͑̇̆ͥͭ̏̍̉ͅ ̢͍̭͖́́T͓̥̙͕̈ͬ̊ͨ̎̆ͤH̛̰̫̘͈̆͊͐I̸̸̤̞̞͈̠͍̜̥͗ͫ̅̊̆͘N̢̙̻̠̔̒͒͟ͅḲ̩͙ͪ͊́ͬͯ̋͋͡ ̛̘̦̖̦̟̻̤͚̬ͦ̌͂ͫ͊̓̿́̕͡Y͙̝ͭ̑̍̑̀Ǫ̷̱̗̤̒ͨ̽̿ͩU̝̠ͬ͌͑̏̎́͌̍̅͞ ̿̑̇̆̀̊ͧ͒̈́҉̪͖̕H̶̟͎͎̟̐ͥ͐̚͝Ă̈́͏̢̤̰̦V͙̤̱̰ͨ̒́̚E̒̎ͯ̃ͤͥ̐ͤ͏̨̘͎̥̝ ̘̥̳ͥ͒ͣ͌̿͂ͪ͝Ẃ̩͉̕͘O̗͓͖̙̗͊̒̏̃N͇͚͇̳̯̏̎̈́͘͟͟,̨̺͇̦͓̗͚̈̓̒̉ ̷͎̬̝̿ͪ͆ͩT̵͙̱̝̟ͧͩ̓ͪ̕R̵̺͎̖̭̭̹̈́͗̈̂̏̽͌̅͡Ǡ̧̲̠̼͎͉͈̓́̿V̾ͩ͊͏̪̙̙͙̟E̸̶̴̥̝͈̯͚̐̚L̢̨̰͎̤̼̬͔̜̃̎ͥ͞Ė̵͈̩̩͎̻͎̑ͬ̈͘͜R̷̥͓̠̦̎̋ͭ̾͐̏ͫ?̵̤̭̥̖͚̖͖̩̃ͩ̒ͯ̕"̵̧̛͚̩͇͉̜ͫ̓ͥͫ́ͪͅ ̵̶̙͖̗̣̫͕̰͑

A deep gust nearly blew me off of my hooves as the shadow beneath Jade began to elongate in a most serpentine manner, leaving me awestruck at the madness that began to unfold before me. A mysterious shape took shape and cackled as I beheld the most entropic of sights I'd have ever seen.

Discord.

♪

"You have not won just yet, my friend...for you see, the one you affectionately referred to as 'Jade' was but an unwitting pawn to my plan. Unbeknownst to him and the rest of you ponies, this inner hatred hidden within his mind made it all the less clear. His will became weak. The barriers throughout his mind began to whittle away, allowing me to implant a piece of myself within him. A seed, if you will... And with that seed, I had a way to enter the physical world once again. All that remained was for those foolish mares to use their magic against my pawn," spoke the serpentine abomination, as his visage became all the more clear.

I was struck with fear as my eyes widened.

"What...?"

"Simply put, The Elements of Harmony, for all their power, require a great deal of magic to wield. Because of this, only Alicorns or six persons of significant mental faculties are able to wield them, and even then, it is incredibly draining. Each time it is used, it requires preparation and leaves the users significantly tired afterward. With Twilight and her friends having successfully fallen into my gambit, it gave me the ideal opportunity to show my true self."

As he approached, I began to backpedal away, shuddering. My vision began to play tricks upon me. I swear that what I was seeing looked...human!

"What I didn't anticipate was yourself... If it had not been for you being the martyr, I would have been fairly certain that the Elements of Harmony would have fallen before I even got the chance to awaken myself... So in a manner of speaking, I have you to thank for this all to have been possible."

I tried to speak, but found myself lifted by a hand lacking any form of meat.

"I should give somepony...or rather....somebody such as you a proper reward... something to compensate your injuries and strife..." He hummed, before squealing as if he were a giddy schoolboy. "I could give you a seat next to me! Together, you and I, as the masters of a new world that changes only to our whims and desires! You and I could really set this whole world on fire!"

"Why would I even want to ally myself with someone like you? What would possess me to join hands with a being whose very purpose to existence is to pervert and corrupt all it touches?" I asked, still shaken by this entropy I beheld.

"Well, now that's just not nice at all," mused the...thing holding me. "Granted, I may not be the most trustworthy of people, but I do keep my word. I assure you, if you simply surrender and join by my side, I will heal your wounds, and your friends will not come to harm...much..."

"And if I were to refuse?" I moaned, unable to free myself from this grip.

"Well, let's consider this: You're barely able to stand as you are, one of your eyes is pretty much gone, you've got several nasty bruises and cuts, you're isolated from the one thing that could save you, and your friend is just as close to death's door as you are. So if you valued your life or those of your precious little friends, I'd suggest you take this humble offer I've been so kind enough to give you. Otherwise, you are going to be in quite the little predicament."

I didn't even consider. I simply worked up a lob of saliva and spat into his hands.

"So be it.", sighed Discord, before throwing me to the wall, leaving me with barely any conscience left.

"Before I leave you to contemplate your decision, allow me to impart upon you a little secret that not even your dear little teachers shared with you or Jade. Do you know the reason why you and your friend are capable of performing such great feats of magic?"

I didn't speak; my body was writhing in too much pain to do so.

"It's because you're not simply reincarnations of yourselves as ponies... Your very souls are inhabiting bodies consisting almost entirely of pure magical energies. Your consciences and intellects were transferred into empty vessels...homunculi, if you will. It is because your mind is still human that you are able to retain such knowledge or capacities as you do. Thus, even if you did die, your bodies could just as easily be rebuilt...and you both could just as easily stand to face me again... Thus, in all reality, the both of you are expendable... and thus, I shall leave you to your fates. If you do perish, or by any miracle manage to awaken again, I'll give you the liberty of reconsidering your choice. Until then, I bid you goodbye...

I didn't know where I was now. When I came to, I was in a verdant field. A vast plain of amber grain, and an apple tree in the distance. Without even thinking, I ran toward this tree. I trudged through stalk after stalk of this grain, disregarding the fact that I was wading in what would be my food if I ever had to stay here. The tree was all that I cared about at that moment, and as I neared, I saw a human woman. She wore a stetson hat, a red plaid shirt, a pair of blue jeans, and worn tan work boots. In a way, she resembled Applejack, but she had a certain charm to herself, as well. But I couldn't put my finger on why. As I neared, she turned to me, tipping her hat.

"Howdy there, stranger!" She chirped calmly. "I didn't think I'd get a chance to meet ya!"

She seemed rather happy that I was there. No harm in being friendly.

"Uh...howdy." I said, extending my hand.

"Why so nervous, boy? First time being au natural, I take it?"

For a moment, I didn't understand what she meant. That was, of course, until I looked down, and realized that I was, in fact, completely nude. For a moment, I recoiled, trying to cover my private area in case she saw. Being naked in front of a woman, even in such an empty place, was rather embarrassing for me.

"It's alright, boy; You seen one nekkid boy, you seen 'em all. Besides, we're all born that way, ain't we?" she asked, taking my hand helping me down.

"I guess that's true. So who are you, anyway?"

The girl tipped her hat upward and smiled.

"Name's Megan; I've been hearin' an awful lot of ruckus about you. How you were the first human to make it over to that world of ponies."

"Really?" I replied, blushing.

"Yeah. But, truth be told, you ain't."

And there went my mood. Although it did lead me to ask, "Then who was?"

"Yer lookin' at her, partner," She replied with a curt smile. "Back in my day, it wasn't called Equestria. I used to run the place, if I remember right."

"You're kidding!"

She shook her head, placing a hand to her heart.

"So what are you doing here? And while I'm asking, just where is here?"

Megan burst out laughing then. What was so funny?

"Boy, you'd think standing next to a girl buck naked would give a kid a clue!" She chuckled, before sighing. "We're in your mind, Adam. You done lost consciousness fighting that ornery old Discord, I reckon."

"Then how are you here, might I ask?" I replied, not in the least bit amused.

"Because you and I are two of a kind; we're both humans, and we've both been to that land of ponies. I figured I could get in touch and give you some advice!"

"Advice? What kind of advice?"

"Advice on how to kick Discord's tail!"

"But, how?! I don't have the Elements of Harmony! And the ones that I did have are pretty much out cold!"

Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice speak to me. A voice of deep authority. Before me now stood Asturl, who craned his neck downward toward me.

♪

"Do not forget the lessons I taught you, dear Traveler. In every enemy, there is weakness. But in every ally, there is strength. Let my teachings be the sword you carry into battle, and may that sword be forged by the fires of your camaraderie."

Not long after him came Gunnery Sargent Drillbit.

"He's right, Soldier! When you first walked into my gym wearing that fancy golden plate, I thought you were just some greenhorn. But, when you started showing us you were all they made you out to be...well, I honestly misjudged you. You've got heart, kid. Stay close to your friends, boy; you never know when you'll need 'em."

Then came Ms. H, wearing a nurse's cap.

"Adam, when I first saw you, you were so polite and wise...I was honestly honored to be able to teach you how to take care of yourself...honestly, you looked like you needed the help."

Gee, thanks. I really appreciate the sentiment.

"I don't know how bad you're hurt, but no matter what, you can't let anything keep you down! You're supposed to be a warrior. Stand up again and finish what you started!"

Next came Musky Tome.

"Adam, from what I've seen of you, you are a bright young stallion who could grow up to be just about anything he could ever dream of. You have a lot of potential in that mind of yours, and I think with enough brainpower, you'll find a way to unleash that hidden potential! Let the haze around your mind be lifted, let the truth empower you!"

After him came Lyra.

"When I heard there was a human among us, you bet I got majorly excited! Then I met you, and I just geeked out! You're probably one of the few humans I'll ever see, so I hope you make it out this a-okay! I have so many questions left to ask you!"

Then there came Trixie, who removed her hat in respect.

"When you came to Trixie five years ago, she was in what was essentially the low of her career. But you gave her inspiration. You showed Trixie how to better herself. And when she saw you again on the field of battle, you proved to be a worthy foe to her. So Trixie will give her power to you. Do not fail her!"

Last, but not least came the last two people I would have expected to see.

"Hi, Daddy!"

Catherine and Angela.

"Adam... I got your note... I wanted to let you know that we miss you. Cathrine keeps telling me she sees you on the TV. She keeps waving whenever a certain pony walked on the screen. She called out to you whenever she could, hoping that you'd hear her. One day, I got to see you...and I wished you could hear me some day. I guess today is that day. We wanted to let you know that we're rooting for you. We want to find a way to come see you someday...but if we make it and you don't, we'll be devastated! But, if we don't make it and you're still alive, we both want to wish you the best of luck. Let the power of our hearts help you defeat Discord. Reach out of this mist of lies and grasp the truth!"

Part of me began to cry before all seven of them gathered to hug me.

"Well, you heard 'em, Kid. They're all rootin' for you out there. So what do you say? You gonna get back on your hooves and go fight for them?" Megan asked.

I looked into the eyes of my friends and loved ones and cocked a grin, nodding my head confidently.

"I won't disappoint you!"

"That's the spirit! Go show Discord what you're made of!"

Trixie put a hoof to my shoulder and smiled. "Show us all!"

In that instant, the world around me faded away, and again I rose.

Pain still ran through me as I wrestled back onto my hooves and stared down Discord with what remained of my vision. Discord sat upon a ruined throne, drinking a glass of chocolate milk before disposing of the glass over his shoulder, causing a detonation behind him.

"Oh, my," Discord hummed, a talon to his chin. "So it seems the little traveler's still got some moxie left in him. So did you consider my offer?"

"Yes I did, you aberration," Said I with a determined glare. "And I've decided you can take your offer and send it to the moon!"

Discord was none too pleased to hear my disobedience.

"Why do you still help these pathetic ponies when in reality, you will never really be one yourself?! How can you still have hope in fighting me, even without the Elements of Harmony?!"

I spat a glob of what I supposed was blood in a random direction.

♪

"Because, Discord. The Elements of Harmony aren't just tools. They are the power forged by the bonds one has to those they love!"

At that instant, I felt an amazing rush of energy. Suddenly, I lost what I knew to be pain. My body became almost featherweight. My hooves and my horn felt aglow with magical power, and I began to feel myself be lifted from the ground! Ephemeral wings began to take shape, and my vision became all the more clear. In that instant, I became more than just a pony. I had become a raw force of magical energy.

Discord's bravado shook then. He was taken aback at my sudden recovery, but then furrowed his brow and sneered.

"So you think now that you've obtained a vast array of power that you think you'll stand any ghost of a chance? Come then fool, and let us dance!"

Discord lashed at me like a serpent, streaking bolts of powerful chaotic energy in my direction, which while it would have frightened a normal pony, it was but a mere annoyance. When I gained an opening, I countered with my own lash of incendiary fury, sending Discord recoiling back before he launched his own counter attack, causing us to be locked in a struggle of power. Two beams of energy, one bright as the noon sun, and the other black as pitch clashed against each other, beginning to shake the very foundations of the ruined temple to its very core. Like a man possessed, I channeled all of my will into this spell, not letting anything stop my resurgence. I poured my heart and soul into stopping the bastardization of all things sane and logical, showing no regret, relent, or remorse.

"How are you capable of doing this!? This isn't supposed to be possible from a mere mortal!"

I smiled as I closed my eyes for a moment.

"There is nothing mere about this mortal!"

In an instant, light filled the room. Discord laid splayed out upon the floor, and I still had plenty of energy left. It was time for me to rid the world of this menace once and for all.

"Discord...You can't possibly fathom what kind of stress I've had to go through up to this point. Even before I'd come here, I had to deal with chaos that even you yourself could never have orchestrated. I've seen things that make things like you insignificant in comparison. So I'm going to say this as clearly as I can. If you show your face again, I pledge upon my very blood that I will come back to settle the score. Even when I'm gone, the flames I carry in my heart will be passed to a new generation, and I can assure you, they will be ready. That being said, why don't you be a good little avatar of mayhem and stay put?"

It was at this point that I began to rise, energy once again coursing through my body. I felt a cold rush through my veins as I cast my horn toward the abomination before me.

T̩h̯̼̝̗i͍̲̜n̪̘g̪̯̱̣̙ ̪͍̖͚ọ͔͙ͅf̙͚̗̬͚ ̣̝͉̹ͅͅe̲̦ͅvị̹l̹̮̳̫̻,͎͎͉̯̰̻͉ ̗̻t̺̙̬̞̯h̳͇̟̲̳̺͔in̠̝g̘̺̲ ̜̱͍̩̠̝o͕̠̝͚̬f̻̻͖̱ ̯̠̙pl͚͙͇̯͉͓ͅig̬̖̟̗h̲̤̻̺̣̝t̺̦̠̯̥
G̳͓͕̪ͅe̖̦̯̖̩͖̙t͓̮̙̞ͅ ̥͔̥̥th̟̞̩̪͉̦e̝͚̖̘̩̦̲e̖̻̝̘̻ ̥͖̺̣͎̝̰h͇͎̭̩̪̹e̦̥̯n͖̹̟͓ͅc̥̤e̼͚̮̞̻̩ ̲͖͔̤̙̝fr̤o̙̰͔̭̥̖̺m̪ ̫̫̘m̞̞͇͇̯y̩̗ ͈s̬̣̖i͕gh̝̪̬̟t͇͚̻̳͍̹ͅ
̼̮̩̤̯L͔̬͙̜͚ḙ̳t͈͍͇ ̼y͇̖̯̩̟o̱u̲̥ ̪̥w͕̻̘͙h̥ͅo̬̰ ̦̙͇͓̯͍̹s̳͓͉͖̗̰̪ta̫̫̮̯̮͖̜n̰̣̲͈̭d̫ ̠̤̬͍a̲͓̲̲̜ga̫̼̺͎i͙̳̘̘̝̤̳n͎͉̮ș͙t͚̮̟ ̖̖̮t̟̳̲h̰̻̣̳̝e̪ ̜̹L̩i̥̣g̣̠̹h̙͈̺̟t̼̺͉̻͚̰
͎̩B̼̳̰͍̝e̞̯w̘͈̥̦̖a̗̲͙̰r̠̘ͅe̩̗͚͎ͅ ̱̩̲̮̬̫̯th̠͚i̜͎͇̜̩̰͚s͎͍ ̜̱͈͈̙po̼͙w̥̮̯̭ḙ͓͔͉̲̥ͅr͖̰̳̱͍,̱͚͖̮͍̤ͅ ̪͈̫̭͍f͕̹͉̮̣͉ͅr̟̠͇͍i̯̥̼̯̲̙e̬̲͎̘͉n͉̺͖̦͙̯̜d͍̙̹s̲͓h̩͎ͅi̜̣̣̞͕̺̤p̹̲̭̣'͕͓s ̼͙͓̮͎m̜i͚̥̺͕̦g͚h͍̲̪̙̞ͅt̥͙͚͍͚̙!͈̬
̯͉͙
͚͓̳ A̼͓͉͖ͅṋ̙̠̩̙̪d̤͎̝ s̖̬̜̜̗o̖̼͉͍ ̩̼̩̞y͚̤o̟u̪̹̩͕͚r̟̻͖͖̥̹ ̹̩̰̺̩p̻͓̗̘͍̟̲ẹ͓̣̺͙ͅn̤̞̻̭a̟͎͓̲͖n̫͍c͖͚͙e͈͓͉̪ ̹̬̫͍ͅh̳̱̙̼a̘̲̝̙͇s̤̲̲̝̘̻̼ n̯o͇͙̯̞̞w͈̱͉ ̟͖̰͖̫̯b̦̩̤̞e̦̣̖g͎̞̤͕u̻̘̬̭̭̫̞n̳̰͓̦͚̫̣
̪̝̥̝F̫͉ͅo͓̬̹̦̣ṛ̺̬̬ͅͅ ̠͓̟̼̼̻̯a̬̞l̗l̹̮̩̩͉̭ ̭̪̳t͈̩̲̠̳h̪̪e͍̙̼̥ ̼̯̫s̺̱̝̫̻i̞n̺̣̖̩̩s̟̬̖͕̰ ̮̘̭̯̱ẉ̖̼̺h̞̫͔̙̜̼̘i̜̳͕̲͕̯̤c̦̼h ͕̝y͓̠̬o̙̙̗͔̞̠u̮ ̙͇̣h̲̤a͈̹v̻̺e͉͖̘̭̙̩̩ ̺̞̮d̞o̠̗͚̘n̰e͉̖
̣̩͔̟̳̫Fr͚̜̺om̙̬̜̫ ͔͉̥͈͎̳y̼̼̩̺our̟ ̭͇͔f͇̯͉̜͕̗̞e͕̞̙t̘̹̻͉̦̬i̖͖d͈̳̻̲̖̟͍ ̺̞̳̻f̻͍̫̬̯̣̯l͕̲̫̳̹̼e̜̳͉͕̹͓s̗ẖ̠ͅ ̙̯͙t̘͎̭̮̘̲o̮̹̻̫ yo̰̞u̦̠̭̩͍̠r ̱̻͕̩͚̜b̟̟l̰̝̩͉̖i̜̦g̟̖͇h̟͇t̬̖̦͖̻̹e̥̪̠̣̦ͅd͙͙̞̟ ̳̺̼̼͖b͉̱on̖͉̯ͅe̪̥̘͎
͈͙̦̩̤ͅI̯̞̯̗̞ c̝̥̗͙̤ͅu͙̩͉̘̤͍̻r͙̱̝̼̺̥̬s͇͕ẹ̫̜̱̣̜̻ ͔̝͚͖y̥̹o̭̝u̝̜̤̲͎ ͍̘̺̱͖n͖̤̝͍o͉̬̲w̹͙̼͉͍̭, ̬̣R͎̫̦͙̹͕̜E̟̗̤͓TU̪͖͖̥̠̪̣R͇̺N͙̻̝̖̰ ̬͇T̼͓̤͙͚̥͚O̝͓̥̙̟͕ ̫̘̼̳S̪͓̠̪T̗͕͈͖͖͓̞ON͙̭͚̼͉ͅE̟!̬͈͕̠

In an instant, Discord froze. A grey film arced about his body as he slowly lost all sense in his body, his muscles contorting as his face was once again frozen in a look of horror as his fur greyed away. His body grew cold and hard, his flesh becoming little than a solid sculpture of stone in the floor. What was once a lively aberration against all I had known had now become a statue once more, and the exchange of energy took far too much out of my new body, as my wings slowly dissolved, the energy I had wielded all but fading from me as I met the floor again, my body collapsing next to my unconscious friend.

A familiar voice came, and soon I saw Twilight in my vision.

"I... I can't believe what I just saw... You... were able to use the Elements of Harmony?! But... you had nopony who represented the elements! You aren't an element yourself!"

I placed a hoof on Twilight's cheek and smiled.

"You're right...I wasn't...but what I was was a creature made OF magic...and with the memories of those I hold dear to guide me, in a way, I had my own Elements...The Elements of Harmony aren't just a bunch of trinkets... They're powers that manifest in the best and brightest minds... The magic that is found in the mind, body, and soul... With faith, I managed to tap into that power... and with it, the Elements just came naturally."

"That's...that's amazing! I couldn't be more proud of you right now!" Twilight squealed, holding me up

I smiled, wrapping my front hooves around her.

"I couldn't have done it without you girls..." I whispered, before turning to Pinkie Pie.

"Pinkie, could you be a dear and find an eyepatch? I took a shot to the eye from all this..."

"Sure!" Pinkie Pie said, producing a black eyepatch from an unknown source. "I keep these stashed all over Ponyville in case of emergencies!"

"Thank you," I hummed, slipping on before I shut my eyes again. "Now if you don't mind, all this fighting tuckered me out. I think I'm gonna have a nice, long nap..."

And it was then I let my conscience fade, taking respite in Twilight's arms as my eyes closed to the sleeping form of Jade.

Today was perhaps my finest day.

Chapter 8: The Farewell

On Light Hooves I Tread 2: Homeward Bound
A Fanfiction by Adam Nelon

Chapter 8: The Farewell

Thump, thump.

Oh good, my heart was beating still. That's a start... I guess I still had some fight in me after I blacked out.

Thump, thump.

A thought occurs to me; I've been in this situation before. I've been in this spot before. The ever-quickening pace of my heartbeat brings back memories from years ago. The Blue Dragon stuck in my head again. The memory of my getting my cutie mark...the memory of my plans...

The memory of my martyrdom.

Memories flooded back. It was almost an entire year since I had returned, and those memories from five years back came to remind me of how lucky I was. I began to hear faint sounds of people talking.

He seems pretty eager on doing anything he can to help, even if it kills him.

Heh. He could put you to shame, Rarity. He took one mighty beatin' just so we'd have enough time to help him finish off Jade...plus, I don't think I've ever seen anyone channel the power of the Elements by goodwill alone...

I think I'm generous enough, thank you...

Well, for him to put himself in harm's way, just to keep us safe...that was really sweet of him...

You think we ought to throw him a "Get Well" party?

I think he's waking up!

The familiar beeping of an EKG rang in my ears. Equally familiar was the white nurse mare who stood at my bedside with a rather smug expression.

"You just can't seem to keep yourself out of trouble, can you, Mr. Haze?" she chuckled, smiling as she helped me into a more comfortable position in my bed.

"Nurse Redheart?" I moaned back, my one eye open.

"I'm glad to see you remember me," the nurse giggled, checking her charts. "You know, when Twilight and the others brought you here, I was pretty shocked. You were pretty banged up, but when we tried to operate, we couldn't keep your magic stable. It's like you were filled with it or something!"

I chuckled nervously as Discord's words echoed in my head.

Your very souls are inhabiting bodies consisting almost entirely of pure magical energies. Your consciences and intellects were transferred into empty vessels...homunculi, if you will.

"I guess that just comes with being a Unicorn, though."

I paused for a moment.

"So if you're here, then does that mean-"

"Eyup."

The sheet around my bed was tugged aside, revealing those six mares again, plus Big Macintosh for good measure. In addition, Princess Luna, having taken a more casual appearance, was also with them. As I turned, I saw Jade smiling as he looked at me.

"Good Morning, Adam," He said, speaking with a tone that undercut my feelings toward his safety at the time.

I smiled and said the same before turning to face the mares in the room.

"It would seem that history repeats itself, my dear student," Luna said in her ever-dated vernacular. "Only I replace my sister, and two other stallions are involved. To be honest, I'm not sure whether I should praise your gallantry, or berate your foolhardiness. You went off on your own against a threat that a pony like you would never have been able to handle, and in so doing, almost ended up dead! Had it not been for my sister's foresight, you would most likely have wound up dead before the Elements of Harmony could have stopped your friend. I think you and I both know that it would have been most unfortunate for only one of you to have survived...and if what the girls told me was indeed true, we would have had far worse at our hooves."

"Having said that, however, your expedient arrival to face the corrupted Jade did allow you to safeguard the Elements until they could intervene...and when the girls explained what happened next, I honestly thought it was a joke. Then I saw the body. The wounds you've endured, and the magic inside you... 'twas all the evidence needed..."

For a moment, the mare of the moon lowered her head.

"I should have been more forthright... However, what has happened has happened, and there can be no changing it. In any case, Pinkamena is preparing a celebration of your good health. We are personally quite proud of you, human. While we cannot provide you with anything material, we assure you that we are quite indebted to you. You have done a marvelous service for us all last evening, and for that, we shall remain thankful."

Pinkie Pie swanned up to me and Jade, laying a pair of muffins with what looked to be a pair of red cross candles inside them at the table between our beds.

"In the meantime, have these 'Get Well' muffins I baked for you!" chirped the cheery confectioner as she cracked a cute smile. By the gods, a smile that damned cute should be outlawed for the good of the populace.

With a bit of concentration, I had managed to dislodge the candle from the muffin, but rather then float daintily, it ended up being shot through the ceiling like a pen from that one scene in Elfen Lied, leaving a tiny, rectangular hole. Part of this misstep frightened me, but I was content to laugh it away as Jade managed to easily remove his own candle as we began to eat.

As I ate, a thought occurred. How is it that all the junk food I've eaten hasn't affected my girth? Perhaps it was from all the exercise I'd been doing in school? That could explain what kept Pinkie in such great shape. Either that, or she was some sort of inexplicable equine-shaped anomaly of space-time. Arguing with myself over a pony such as her would only end in ruin. However, the fact I was able to launch a small wax candle through the ceiling was something to question... Perhaps I had some excess energy left in me? After all, I was using some very powerful magic... I suppose that perhaps I would need to take time in discharging the remainder. A party will probably be just the thing to settle that problem.

For now, I looked to my friends as their glances warmed my heart. Whether by fluke or by faith, I was able to save their lives, and countless more. I was a hero. Jade's eyes looked to me with gaze of forgiveness, not only for me, but for himself. He was at fault more than I was, and I knew that. But as I looked, I couldn't help but to be equally ashamed. I had driven my closest friend to the same fate as my teacher, and nearly suffered the same way. I had become the apprentice to the same mare who fell to corruption so long ago, and had my friend and rival fall victim to her former fate. And yet... That look he gave me was enough to assure me that we could both be forgiven.

My gaze turned back to my visitors, as I smiled, finishing the muffin and tossing the paper into the nearby trash bin with my teeth.

"Thank you, everypony," I hummed, yawning as I struggled to stay upright. "I'm glad to see a friendly face while I recover. It's not everyday that you save the world, after all. I'd love to talk some more, but this whole ordeal took a lot out of me and Jade. Do you think you could let us rest for a little while?"

"It shall be done," Luna said, smiling as she turned to excuse herself out, the others quickly joining her.

"Oh, but don't sleep too much, or you'll miss the party!" Pinkie Pie chortled before bouncing out.

With them gone, I was left to drift to sleep along with Jade as I pulled back the shroud.

♫

The dream that came to me this evening was quite like the previous dreams I've had. The area was featureless, surrounded with azure mist. An pony wearing another numbered mask appeared before me. The number this time was XIII, the number of the Death Arcana. Contrary to its name, Death does not refer to death, but to ending and change. How very appropriate that he would appear after something such as what I had accomplished.

"You have done well these past weeks, my friend. Your martyrdom certainly shined through last evening. Through your own understanding of yourself, and the bonds of your companions, you managed to use the last vestiges of your being to reach apotheosis," hummed the voice, his expression hidden by his mask.

For a moment, I beamed with pride.

"Be forewarned, though, my friend. Even the noblest of deeds and self-sacrifices have their repercussions. Though your journey is reaching its end, a new one may only just be unfolding. Even in this world, there is much you do not know. Things that even your mind has yet to experience. You have yet to learn of that which truly lies beyond the boundaries of your new home. Once you cross the threshold again, past the guardians, you will again be changed. Before you can ascend to even higher heights, you must reach your absolute low. Only then will you truly know."

A silence takes us as I try to articulate the words to follow up such a deep conversation.

"What's going to happen to me?" I asked, reaching out, before the masked pony chortled at me, looking off into a strange clock.

"Well, it wouldn't be much of a surprise if I just told you what it was, no would it?" queried the anonymous equine. "Time marches onward in your world. I bid you good bye and good luck."

Before I could again respond, the masked stallion had left me alone, the mist lifting from the room to show how truly featureless it was. The only other thing I saw was the white sphere known as the moon, as it hung in the sky, almost as bright as the sun, yet not blindingly so. It possessed its original clarity, yet was as bright as its elder sister.

I wonder what all this has to do with my future...

Once again, I am awake. The EKG is no longer attached to me, and I am able to safely rise from my bed. I take my time to get out of the bed, not bothering with my magic for fear I could inadvertently blow a hole through the floor. For a moment, I pull back the shade by by the window, cracking it open to exhume the smell of alcohol from the room, replacing it with the scent of oak and pine. It felt good to know fresh air again as I let Celestia's grace washed over me. In its zenith, the sun filled me with warmth, which I took in stride before leaving the room.

For some reason, the hospital was silent. Jade and the others were gone. The rooms were, simply put, desolate. That is, as far as I could see, they were. It took me a few minutes to get my bearings and find my way out. The streets were equally empty, what little signs of a prior presence being the faint marks of hooves leading to the one place I really should have taken to seeing right out of the front door.

Sugar Cube Corner.

As I entered the room, it was uncharacteristically dim in this room. Almost blindingly dark. I felt naked in this abyss, the hairs of my coat hanging on end. I tried to make sense of where I was through sound, but to no avail. Then, from nowhere, I hear the door slam shut behind me, a lock shuffling into place. Oh dear Lord, someone turn the lights on.

*CLICK*

Suddenly, the room explodes into color. Party poppers shoot across the room like a rifle salute as streamers bathe my body. Noisemakers and kazoos announce my arrival in a crude fanfare as balloons drift down absently I swore I could hear a vuvuzela being blown. Honestly, I was more trying to catch my breath from the sudden jolt of the moment, wiping off the mess that had just sprayed on me.

The town was, for the most part, crammed together as they beamed to me smiles of pride and sincerity.

"SURPRISE!" shouted the entirety of them, a harmonious chorus of happiness humming in my ears.

To be quite honest, I was surprised my horn didn't suddenly just blast away a good portion of the crowd as if it were a shotgun. Nevertheless, I caught myself, righted myself on my hooves, and joined in their smiles.

"Well, what can I say? You got me," I chuckled, beholding the scene before me.

A large table had been laid out, filled to the brim with treats and simple party favors. Nothing truly out of place, aside from the cake. The cake's defining trait was it being so blatantly chocolate, designed to look like a grassy knoll and adorned with what looked to be a rather... romanticized portrayal of my likeness made from modeling chocolate, painted with gel paste to resemble me. The amount of detail was rather shockingly close. I don't know how Pinkie was able to get the detail on my eyes, but as I've previously established, attempting to bring reason into Pinkamena-particular matters always ends up bad.

"Wow... Do you think you went a little overboard, Pinkie?"

"Overboard? I had to get two more boards after the first one just to reach the top!" chirped the consistently-chipper equine. In an instant, she had cut a piece from the colossal feat of confectionery craftsmanship, bringing it to my hooves. "Do you want some right now?"

A flush of red filled my cheeks before I pointed to a nearby table.

"Sure. Just set it over there. After that little mishap earlier today, I wouldn't want to risk any more property damage," I said, stammering just a tad as I cleared my throat, pouring myself a drink while doing my best to cradle the glass in my hooves without it breaking.

I turned to the congregation of equines gathered about me and smiled a tad, a blush still filling my face.

"I would just like to say to you all... thank you. Seriously, thank all of you for this boon of celebration you've blessed me and Jade with. Had it not been for the friends I had made here, least of which my dutiful teachers at Canterlot University, I may not have endured the trial I faced last evening. The lessons they had taught me, the skills they allowed me, and the kind respect they gave me, among many other things, gave me the knowledge, power, and courage to face my foe and save the friend it had so fiendishly trapped. As it is, I am still tired from the magic I had to cast, so I may not exactly be a party animal right at this moment, but don't let my shortcomings slow you down. I'll still enjoy myself as best I can."

I raised my glass with a grin.

"A toast. To the Magic of Friendship."

"HERE, HERE! LET US COMMENCE THE CELEBRATION!" Called Luna, her voice being amplified to an almost insane degree.

For a moment, the entire party skipped a beat, their eyes turning to a blushing, winged unicorn smiling abashedly.

"Apologies...was that too loud?"

A chorus of laughter filled the room before music began to flood the room as I ate, enjoying the spectacle. Normally, I was the one who enjoyed to be caught in the moment of the celebration. I would dance, no matter how disheveled my stile was. I would sing, no matter how off-key. But even disregarding my current status, I was rather modest lately. I wasn't about being the center of attention as much anymore. I didn't take big slices out of the cake. I didn't storm the stage and sing karaoke and tell dumb jokes. I preferred to just take in the fun and have a little peace, even if the party was about me.

Naturally, Pinkie wouldn't have me at my most mellow, so as soon as I was about to enjoy a taste of chocolate cake, she drug me on the floor and got me into motion, somehow producing a mirror ball. At this point, I should really come to expect such odd things.

The spectacle that she slingshot me into was something I was pretty sure was next to impossible. Yet if that were true, then how was it happening now? More importantly, why should I bring logic into something already established to operate in its own laws of physics? Honestly, at this point, I should keep my mouth shut and just enjoy the party. I'd have more time to ponder all this at the dormitory. I let myself be caught in this perfect storm of a party, my eyes shut as my body let itself go to the rhythm.

Much of the events thereafter remained little but a blur. In the middle of the party, Luna drug me to a private corner of the candy store, her face more solemn than it had been prior.

"I would have words with thee, my apprentice," she spoke, her voice low to avoid being within earshot.

"Of course, Luna," I whispered back, getting close. "What is it?"

"It concerns your friend, Jade."

"What about him? Is something wrong?"

"Nothing too severe... However, I still see a fragment of the Nightmare still within him."

"Well, if it's only a piece, then what harm could it do?"

"Even a small piece of a Nightmare, if allowed to fester, would likely be able to manifest itself again."

"So Jade is likely to experience this again?!"

"Sadly, yes. The Nightmare, by nature, is a very tough being to exorcise. The fact the one that inhabited me was excised is likely one of many marvels which the Elements of Harmony is capable of."

"So what should we do?"

For a moment, Luna froze. Her face shrunk, making it seem what she was about to tell me would hurt her even more.

"As much it pains me to ask this of you..." she began in a labored tone, as if someone were holding a knife just by her throat. "You must ask your friend to leave."

And in an instant, my morale felt as if it were garrotted with piano wire. Jade, one of my closest friends, a man who possessed an optimism that even I myself couldn't match, a man who envied me in every possible way, had to be told, in person, by his best friend that he was to leave for his own good? My next words were very much a reflection of my current feelings.

"What good would this do?"

Luna almost seemed insulted.

"If we don't send him from hence he came, the Nightmare still inside him could metastasize and send him into another transformation!"

"And why can't we just exorcise the thing right now?"

"Because it has already beaten Jade once. If we try and remove it now, we risk killing him!"

"So why does he have to go back?!"

"Because your world is a vacuum devoid of magic. Without any to feed off of, eventually, the nightmare will die."

"But who knows how long that could take? I can't just tell my best friend to leave because he's too sick to live here!"

In an instant, I felt a hoof dash across my face, silencing me.

Luna... just slapped me.

"Be still! Hath thou forgotten what it truly means to be a friend? Friendship can weather any storm, even separation. I am sure once he has stayed in his home world long enough, he will be able to return. I know it pains you, but it must be done..."

I paused for a moment, frowning. It dawned on me that perhaps she was right. It would be best if I trusted in my teacher's better judgement. I wouldn't want to run the risk of bringing my friend again into the Stygian darkness within him.

"Okay...I'll do it. But I want to be alone when I say it. Do not reveal yourself until I tell him."

Luna thought this over, and soon nodded.

"As you wish. I will be awaiting you at the town square at sundown. I expect you to have him ready by then."

"Of course, Luna."

And so our impromptu meeting came to a close, while I resumed the festivities.

Within a few hours, the sun was cresting the horizon, and I had upheld my bargain by bringing my best friend out into as private a thicket as I could.

"Adam, what is this about?" he asked, his innocent eyes piercing my conscience.

His gaze was one that was almost infantile in a sort, The eyes of a child who had never truly known the harshness of reality, or was in very strong denial of that reality. I felt really dirty about having to break this truth to him. It felt like I was going to shoot his mother right in front of him. But it had to be done. For his good and the good of all of Equestria. The needs of the many outweigh those of the few, right?

So why did I have a deep regret for what I was about to do?

I took a deep breath, shut my eyes, and turned to face my friend, sighing before I said those accursed words.

"Jade..." I choked, barely able to keep myself, "Princess Luna has told me that you must leave Equestria."

And there it was. The waterworks turned on, not just in me, but in Jade, as well. My words pierced his heart like an ephemeral dagger, breaking his own facade of happiness as I had. I tried my best to see through the tears, but it was difficult.

"You still have a piece of a Nightmare still inside you...for your safety, you have to go back home. It won't be able to grow where we come from. It will die from starvation..."

"But what about you? I won't get to see you, and you won't get to see me!"

"But aren't real friends able to stay together, no matter how long they're apart?"

"But I don't think I can wait that long! It isn't fair!"

"I know it isn't..." For a moment, I paused, looking for Luna. "But perhaps I can give you a concession..."

As if on cue, the mare of the moon appeared, brandishing an elaborate, yet blank, tome.

"What is that, Princess?" the both of us asked.

"We -or rather I- could not bear the thought of seeing my student in such pain for having to force separation between himself and his closest of friends. Thus, I commissioned my sister make this journal... if you will recall, it uses the same enchantment as the one you owned." she spoke in somber and matter-of-fact manner.

"But what about the Nightmare?" I asked.

"The magic in this enchantment is too small for a Nightmare so infinitesimal. It is safe enough for use because it is not directly affected by the user to use its magics."

I sighed for a moment, looking to Jade.

"After I left Equestria the first time, I honestly felt the same way you did. I missed my friends, and I wished I could see them. Princess Celestia bequeathed this journal to me, so that no matter where I was, I could always turn to them...perhaps you will have more of a use for it than I will..."

Jade completely lost it when he took the book in his hooves, rushing up to me as he wrapped his forelegs around me in a loving embrace.

"Aw...you big lug." I said, smiling as I hugged him back, ruffling his mane.

"Hey!"

"Aw, don't take it so hard..."

Luna cleared her throat quite loudly, requesting we wrap our pleasantries away. He smiled and looked to Luna.

"I think I'm ready to go..."

The mare of the moon nodded, producing a portal between two trees, Jade needing no ushering to walk near it, but he turned me and smiled, giving me one final hug.

"I guess it's goodbye, huh..." He hummed, smiling.

"Yeah..." I murmured back, sharing his smile as the light behind him grew more intense.

"Farewell, Jade. We hope thou shalt find peace in thine native home," Luna spoke, keeping her composed voice.

Before Jade made his final steps into the bright miasma, he smiled, saying a cheerful "Goodbye!" before leaping in ardently.

In a brilliant cascade of light, the portal contracts shut, blinking out of existence as I looked to Luna, smiling.

"Thank you," I hummed humbly, hugging my mentor tenderly.

"Think nothing of it, my student. 'Twas the least that I could do."

And thus, we stood in each other's embrace, the sun sinking into the treeline...

Epilogue: The Time After

On Light Hooves I Tread 2: Homeward Bound
A Fanfiction by Adam Nelon

Epilogue: The Time After

Following the farewell of Jade, life for me resumed as normal. Though my eye never recovered, through what I can only assume as an odd bit of serendipity, it turned out that Derpy Hooves actually knew a very adept optometrist, and after a week or so of surgery, I was able to see again like new. As payment, I decided to foalsit for Dinky when she needed it. For the daughter of a ditzy, but otherwise well-meaning Pegasus, Dinky was perhaps one of the sweetest fillies I'd ever taken care of. It hearkened back to my younger years, when I had to entertain much younger children than myself. It wasn't the best job in the world, or one that I got paid for, but it was a good job.

Speaking of children, not long after my little stunt and the surgery to repair my wounded eye, something peculiar began to happen. You know how when you watch My Little Pony or any other cartoon, and sometimes, the character might directly see you? I think I've come to understand why exactly that is. For the past few days, I'd begun to see strange little windows in the world. A strange sort of window that, on the other end, is host to people native of my world. They view me behind computer screens, in front of televisions, on mobile devices, and see me in photography. At the same time, I can see them, looking with interest at the strangely-attired pony on screen who has just come to notice them.

While at first, I dismissed such phenomena as a trick of the eye, upon consulting other famous viewers of "The Wall", as it was called, it turned out it was actually an ever-growing trait among ponies. A lot of us were beginning to take notice that we were gaining an audience from a whole other world, and they were all but happy to mug the camera, myself included. Okay, not really me, but I grew ever more accepting and proud of it as time went on.

Then, one day, something amazing happened. In one of the windows, I saw none other than Angela and Cathrine, watching the show together! They could see me, and I could see them! I saw them pointing, noticing me in the crowd, and I waved to them, hoping to help confirm their sight! For that brief instant, we shared our time, and afterward, I lost sight of them, the window closing upon me. That fleeting moment ended, and it left me feeling a little empty.

In the intervening days, I learned that Discord was being considered for rehabilitation. While I do question the logic behind this, I decide to keep out of the affair due to the fact that roughly a week ago, I put the guy back in stone. In addition, for whatever reason compels her, Lyra continually seems interested with me, to the point of offering me lodging, much at the disapproval of Bon-Bon. Remind me to consider a restraining order at some point, assuming those exist.

Speaking of unicorns, I'm still continuing my studies, although minus one Jade. I've met a new student, however, who seems to be quite fond of lunar magic, much as I am solar. Something about his timely appearance strikes me as odd. He exhumes a strangle aura that seemed to mimic mine. It was as if he were like a shadow of myself. When the final period came, Astur put me up against him, which only made me more sure of his being alike me. The Cutie Mark was similar as well, only instead of a sun, it was a moon that adorned his flank. Strangely, I only saw him for roughly a week or so before he mysteriously disappeared. Perhaps I might question Luna about this at some point.

Not long after, I received a rather strange letter in my dorm room. It had no return address, but it was addressed to me nonetheless. With little provocation, I opened it, to found it a rather elaborate letter written in black ink with a rather carefully crafted calligraphy to it. it read simply,

"Dear Adam,

I am glad to see you are doing well in Equestria. I admit, when I saw your letter, I was in shock. Disbelief, even. With little more than a letter, you announced you left for a world that I originally thought didn't exist... Then I saw the chest. I saw the books, the pictures, the letters, and the rest. I never would have guessed you had a legitimate connection to such people. When I saw the pictures especially, it only served to prove you were telling the truth. While I'm upset you couldn't talk with us about the issue, Cathrine and I both understand your reason to leave. Cathrine misses you more than I do, I think. She even started watching the show a lot more closely just to see if you were in the background. When she and I found you that day, we knew for sure you missed us, too. I'm glad to know you haven't forgotten us...

Which leads me to why I sent you this letter. I'm attempting to find a way to make my own form of spell to come see you. That way, we might be reunited some day. If this letter made it to you, than that means we've made progress. You might see us in the future. Keep your eyes and ears peeled, just in case. If we don't make it to you by the year's end, you're free to find a companion to stand by you until that day. Just remember who you're married to!

I might never know what made you choose to go to that little Sugar Bowl of yours, but I'll move Heaven and Earth to make sure I can share it with you.

With Love,

Angela"

My heart skipped a beat. Angela, the woman I left behind to make a new life in this world, was going to whatever lengths that she could to see me again! For a moment, I was reminded of the note I wrote to her so long ago.

I had challenged her to see if she would not only be brave enough to consider following me, but to actually go through with it. And by her estimation, she was succeeding.

With haste, I left the campus and took vigil in Ponyville. I don't know what possessed me to keep watch for her and my daughter. Fatherly obligation? Husbandry matters? The lust to see my beloveds again? It perplexed me, and yet I felt I couldn't pass the opportunity up. Minutes, hours, and days passed. I took all the time I could, staying as vigilant as I could, my eyes scanning the roads and crowds as my ears tried their hardest to find their sweet voices. Eventually, one evening, I couldn't stay up, and eventually gave way on the road, letting sleep take me.

When I awoke, a pair of gilded eyes met my gaze, as I saw a pegasus of flaming mane greeted me. Next to her was a ginger filly who was eager to pounce me into a hug and never let go.

"Glad to know I didn't have to go searching," hummed Angela's seraphic voice as she helped me up, nuzzling me as her wings embraced me.

I said nothing at that moment. I could only chuckle... chuckle and cry. Not because I was sad, but because I was too happy. Rarely did such jubilation hit me that I was forced only to cry, but just as Angela would move Heaven and Earth to reunite with me, the heavens ordained that I cry tears of joy. Such happiness was something that I rarely indulged in. There was simply nothing that could compare to this moment.

Finally, I spoke.

"I'm glad to know you'd never leave me alone."

My tears stained her new, golden coat, but I didn't care. I finally had the one thing that made this exodus complete. The love of my life who was brave enough to follow me down the rabbit hole, and the little bundle of joy we had made together. As cliche a trope as it is, I guess it isn't too bad to be together with your lover in the end.

After all, who doesn't love a happily ever after?

Good End: Transition

On Light Hooves I Tread 2: Homeward Bound
A Fanfiction by Adam Nelon

Good End: Transition

Two months had passed since that day. The day in which Discord had made his presence known to Equestria, and in the process, took my best of friends. The same day in which, in one fell swoop, for one brief moment, I had become a living battery of arcane power, and weaponized my entire form to free my friend from the clutches of a mad god. In all this time, I had honed my body and my mind, and went through a number of trials to accomplish that task. And now that it was done, and those I cared about were now all in one general location, I was finally free to live my new life as I had wished.

But something was odd about these two months that had passed. You know that feeling you get when you have way too much caffeine in your system, and it makes you extremely hyper and jittery? I had something like that, only it was producing the exact opposite effect. All this excess arcane power I had loaded myself with was taking a massive toll upon my own health. I've begun to feel very lethargic, often collapsing at complete random during classes, much to the shock of the students and staff at Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns.

I couldn't find any way to ground the energy safely. Every method I had attempted resulted in something exploding, being broken, or launched about a thousand meters in some vague direction I had not even specified. There was too much in me, and not enough ways to discharge it properly. I'm afraid that if I tried any harder, I'd risk getting Horn Rot. Was this my fate? Magical Narcolepsy? If it was, I was going to live a decidedly terminal life.

That was, until today.

As I stumbled through the hallways of the school with about as much grace and drive as a drunkard after tanking about five kegs of zap-apple cider, I began to feel that familiar aura. That aura of immense power and authority that only a hoof-full of ponies possessed. One of Her Divine Majesties was following me, and I had a very clear idea whom it was.

"Adam, my student," hummed a lavender voice from behind me, "What seems to cause you ill? I cannot help but notice that you are feeling exceptionally unwell. Your proctors can most certainly attest to that matter."

"I've no idea, your highness. I've just been unusually sleepy lately. Normally, at most, I feel slightly tired, but these days, I just feel like keeling over and sleeping. Even when I'm awake, I just feel so strange and full of energy," I said, attempting to map my description to some body language.

"I see," Luna said, a hoof to her muzzle. "Perchance you could allow me to examine? I may not have a degree in medicinal magics, but I am certain that I might be able to help you resolve this problem."

Ah, that motherly demeanor of the Mare of the Moon. How I always grew fond of that demeanor. It reminded me of just how kind and noble Luna and Princess Celestia were. They were always watching me and everypony else with an eye of vigilance and benevolence, ready to lend a helping hoof for anypony in need, even if an entire nation were having troubles. This knowledge enabled me to smile as the Princess extended a wing around my form and guided me to the throne room, which was oddly vacant.

"Please. Lie down here," Luna said, poising me to lie down on the floor in front of her throne, to which I complied to naturally.

As she sat down, she scanned me with her eyes for some time before nodding.

"Close your eyes. I'm not sure if this will be painful or not."

I nodded in turn, bowing my head and shutting my eyes, leaving my horn exposed for Luna to scrutinize.

A moment later, a distinct, soothing magic washed over me, making my body feel particularly numb as Luna took a close examination of my person, eliciting inquisitive hums as she looked through. Several minutes passed as I began to feel the spells of lethargy upon me again, before being jolted by my lunar teacher's gasp. Suddenly, the spell was broken, and I looked to Luna with worry, seeing a face of dread.

"What did you find, Luna?" I asked, my voice shaking.

Luna's current expression was much like that of the afternoon of my get-well party. A face that one would make upon seeing a person unconscious and bleeding on a city street when you're walking home late at night. It was almost as if he had seen me with a knife in my back, or some other grievous wounds. She looked horrified, but I felt I wouldn't be able to mollify her at this moment.

"It is worse than I expected."

The way Luna quivered as she muttered that only made my heart sink more. Her dread flowed into me, and my eyes shot wide.

"...What..." I stammered, unable to find the words to speak to her coherently. "What is it?"

Luna sighed, trying to mollify her mortification before her face grew stern, looking down to me.

"It would seem that your metabolism is slowly being eaten away by magic," she began, a hoof extended for me to interrupt her exposition. "I believe that this may have something to do with the spell that you cast over a fortnight ago."

"How would that be? The spell worked flawlessly!" I interjected.

"Indeed, it did. But here is the disparity," she continued, her eyes flaring a moment. "The spell you cast was not, in fact, the Elements of Harmony."

I froze at that statement. I was sure I cast a pretty powerful spell that fateful evening. But if it wasn't the Elements of Harmony, then just what was it?

"I am sure you are aware of Star Swirl the Bearded, are you not?" Luna questioned.

"Yes...what about him?" I quipped back.

"Simply put, Star Swirl had created a spell not unlike the Elements of Harmony over a millennium ago, at the behest of my sister. She commissioned Star Swirl to cast this spell on the grounds that he was not only the eldest of her Magi, but also the most experienced and powerful of them. However, in spite his fame, nopony dared to assist him in this spell, fearing that they were neither worthy of the honor of working with him, nor the honor of possibly becoming the sworn protectors of Equestria.

"Thus, Star Swirl cast this spell alone, and much to his surprise, the spell worked impeccably. However, there were two errors he made. First, he cast the spell without companions to help ground the energy, and second, he did so without a trinket or fetish item to channel the spell through. In a way, history repeats with you."

"So what happened next?" queried I as my hair began to stand on end.

"Well, before I continue, allow me to regale you briefly on the origins of the Elements of Harmony. You see, the Elements were originally six ponies tied to one another by the bonds of fate. Before Discord, Celestia, and Myself, there were far worse forces that ruled our world. The army of darkness known simply as the Nightmares. Before they became wraiths bent on corrupting ponies into doing their will, they were exceedingly powerful mares of darkness whose very presence perverted the land around them. They had encroached upon one of the primordial kingdoms of this Earth, and in the darkest hour of our earliest years, these six stood, waging a campaign of epic scale to purify the once-sacred land, not relenting until every last one of them was eradicated. Following their victory, the Nightmares fled behind every single object and being they could, thus creating what we know as shadows. However, the victory of the original six bearers of the Elements was incredibly Pyrrhic, draining all but their will. In their final moments together, they joined in farewell and became spirits, their powers and ideals coalescing in the six trinkets which have been passed down for generations ever since."

"So what does this have to do with Star Swirl and I?"

"Simply put, the spirits of the Elements choose who is next to wield them, in the retirement of the previous owner. So, should a pony try to defy this mandate of the heavens, then they will be punished for the worst of heresies. Star Swirl was the first, and as punishment, he was struck with a grave curse upon his life, whereupon the remaining magic he possessed would destroy him from within, his metabolism slowly petering away. The only way to cancel the curse was to replace it with something that would forever alter his life. Thus, he cast an even more potent spell, a spell from the Stygian Stairs of Tartarus, which forever made him into a being of the night. In exchange for a continued mortality, Star Swirl pleaded to the moon to impart upon him its power, and the moon was more than pleased to oblige. Without delay, the moon filled the unicorn's blood with lunar energies, forever changing him into a Lycan."

My heart seemed to stop at that point. I was struck dumb by the words that had just been imparted upon me. Though I had saved the world, it would come at the cost of my own doom? Did these spirits, assuming they existed, decide that in spite my noble and just cause, I was committing a crime against them, and thus deserved to pay with my life? Even a good deed does not go unpunished, it seems.

"So, I must either resign to a fate as a monster, or die as a heretical hero?" I quivered, barely able to maintain my composure as I looked into Luna's azure irises.

What followed as another slap directed at my, as Luna's stern expression centered upon me.

"Do not look upon thyself in sorrow and doubt! Regardless of your choice, you remain a hero! You can choose to end your life on such a note, or continue it on a new path!"

"But that new path is that of-"

SMACK.

"You are not going to become a monster, Adam!" the princess spoke, her use of my first name being evident that she was adamant of her intentions. "A monster cannot choose his path. But, you can choose yours! But you must be sure of your choice!"

Following this outburst, the two of us stood in silence, our stares being the only thing to fill the room. It was a pregnant pause that both of us earnestly wished to resolve, but couldn't find the words to break the fog of silence. The sun was beginning to set, as were our hearts. The mood died as I deliberated in my mind and Luna awaited my final decision.

After a while, I asked, in a calm voice, "What will it cost me to go down this path?"

Luna walked over to me, her face remaining solemn.

"Well, before we go any further, I cannot guarantee that your fate will be perfectly alike that of Star Swirl. The curse which he placed upon himself affects each pony differently. Based on their personae, their traits, and their latent desires, then perverts them accordingly. You must leave your mind empty, for any stray thought could send the entire spell awry." She explained.

"And after that?"

That face again. She was going to hate what she was about to say.

"As much it pains me to tell you this, you may have to Leave Equestria."

As if she knew my reaction, she kept a hoof to my mouth.

"We have not forgotten that you have only recently bid farewell to your closest companion, nor have we failed to countenance your family. But at this juncture, we cannot divulge your fate. There is a masquerade in place for beings like Star Swirl. You will be sent to a place not unlike Equestria. It was created around the same time as Star Swirl's transformation, and exists to house all those of his ilk and your own. You will be safe there. When the time is right, we shall reveal the masquerade to your beloveds, after they shall be inducted within it."

My fears were assuaged for a moment as she offered her hoof for me to rise from my laying state as I pondered her proposition. I could either accept my eventual demise as ordained by the gods or mollify them by making an even more life-altering change to myself. There was little choice but to accept the better of two fates, looking deep into those sapphire orbs.

"Very well... If you will abide by your statements, I will accept whatever this curse makes of me."

Luna's stern face barely changed, but it seemed she was halfway between serenity for my acceptation, yet also lamentation for what she was about to do.

"So be it...but I must warn you. This curse may inflict grievous injury upon you. There is a chance that you may not survive this curse, but as the saying goes, 'Fortune favors the bold',"

I nodded, laying down, clearing my head, and gritting my teeth as tight as I could stand.

In an instant, my body was wracked with sharp pains. My bones felt as if they had caught aflame, crumbling to ash as they were slowly, unbearably rebuilt. My entire coat stood on end as if were being exposed by ungodly levels of electricity. The hide beneath my coat quivered and shriveled, itching as if billions of vermin were crawling upon it. My eyes and head couldn't suffer the fleeting light of the sun, sending me into a blinding headache. My teeth screamed out for release as I continued to gnash them together in the vain hope that my suffering would end soon.

It took all the will I could muster not to howl in sheer agony at the horrors I elected to have solicited upon me. To think that what should be an ephemeral moment of anguish could instead be lengthened to an unbearable torture as this.

And yet, in the wake of what felt like endless torment, I felt a strange sense of comfort. My blood felt cool again. My body felt truly tired. No longer did magic flow from my every pore. My weary eyes searched for something through which I could see what had become of me. But I could not find anything in the blackness that swam in my vision. All that I could sense was a tender melody being murmured by the mare of the moon as an ivory cloth was laid across my limp form, my conscience slowly subjugating to rest.

My body felt heavy as my eyelids peeled away to reveal a dark and jeweled sky, contrails of clouds flying past as I tried to heave myself to my hooves again. My head decided it was not so keen on moving, as noted by the waves of soreness ebbing through it. My hooves held fast to my face as a wing wrapped around me.

"Please, preserve thine strength," pleaded the rich lavender voice of Luna, as her azure eyes stared into my own weakened perception. "Thou hath endured a great deal of physical hardship. The fact that you have even achieved a conscious state as it is stands as testament to your tenacity."

I felt a tender hoof streak across my mane.

"We will arrive at Tartarus in an hour. Take rest until then, my student. Your trial is not yet complete."

Needing no further convincing, I allowed myself respite for the moment, taking in the cold evening air.

Due to how painfully short I had been allotted to sleep, I was not fortunate to enjoy a dream. Not that mattered, anyway. I was just as soon roused awake by the thump of the chariot touching down in the grass.

Like a deer's faun, I was assisted onto my hooves again by Luna as she helped me into the gates of Tartarus.

"So, why exactly is this gate in Tartarus, of all places?" I groaned, my throat feeling particularly ragged.

"Simply put, the threat of a Cerberus and the general seclusion of the tower itself make this place an ideal hiding place to such a gate. It is only fitting that the logical shadow of Equestria be placed here, lest those who would dare to slay the people who reside within come to find it. Consider thyself lucky that the Cerberus slumbers on this evening," Luna curtly chuckled as we kept on our way.

"How is it that that you're privy to the location of this world? For that matter, what is it called?" I queried, trying my hardest to remain standing again.

"Simple; It is a secret shared amongst those within the Royal Family, in case those close to us would befall the same fate as Star Swirl or his ilk. Though we are not omnipotent, we maintain a closely-wound network of ponies devoted to keeping a close eye for the poor unfortunates who may themselves need sanctuary. It is our duty to lead them here, and from here, they forge a new path..."

I nodded, staying close to Luna as my legs continued to wobble as we made our way to a strange-looking arch. It was an obsidian structure that seemed to emanate an aura of disquieting. I could feel something off about the way it gleamed in the moonlight. It had an uncanny queerness to it that greatly upset me. But, I had made this choice, and there was no return for me. This was the threshold I was to cross, and it was my time to do so.

Luna's horn lit like a torch as she cast a ball of flame into the ebony frame, a lavender light coming about as a gentle hum came about. The unease in my stomach persisted, but there was no recourse for me. I turned to my teacher, looking into her eyes.

"Luna," I began, a strange emulsification of melancholy and optimism brewing in my heart. "Thank you for being my teacher all this time. I am honored to have known such a being as you... Maybe we'll see each other again someday?"

Luna smiled, rubbing her hoof in my mane, being careful to evade my forehead, for whatever reason.

"It will be done, my Student. I assure you that you will not be alone in Penumbra. The resident regency is just as close, if not closer, to its subjects than we are. They share a closeness with their subjects because like them, they are equally blessed and cursed. It is not simply their talents which make them unique, but the specters they must face every day they live. There is just as much disparity as there is similarity to be found. I will leave the rest for you to find and enjoy of your own merit."

I smiled as I gave my mentor a final hug before facing the portal and entering it with trepidation.

What greeted me at first was not some grassy knoll or ruined castle, but a corridor of solid blackness, lit only by an aurora. As I cantered wearily down the hall, a strange being appeared before me.

It was a strange mare of a solid ivory color. More specifically, it was a centaur. While it possessed the legs of a horse and the body of a woman, the womanly half also bore as second pair of arms, one pair crossed over her navel while the other two held fast to her ample chest. As I tried to look into her eyes, I found that her eyes, and indeed, most of her face, was nonexistent, save for a mouth and nose. Her mane seemed to be constantly rising, and her tail was less like a horse and more akin to a peafowl. This sort of creature was both beautiful and terrifying in its own right. While I had little doubt in its benevolence, its very shape was greatly discomforting.

"Do not be alarmed, o weary traveler. I come bearing solicitations on this journey between realms. I am Sleipnir, a divine horse of the heavens. For eons, all my little ponies referred to me as "Moon". I am an emissary who guides those to become exalted beneath my grace."

Suddenly, the mare stepped down, her size diminishing as she took to the form of what appeared to be a heavily pregnant woman of silver mane and gentle face.

"I have watched your exploits from above. The hardships that you have faced are certainly deserving of commendation. You possess a desire for camaraderie that sees you to achieve in all your actions, and a guile that shines through the darkest of fogs. You thirst for knowledge, and will slake that thirst even in the thick of battle. Truly, you possess qualities that would fit any one of my warriors. Know that beneath the the shadow of the moon, you will be protected."

In an instant. I felt my body suddenly reinvigorate. A burst of energy that seemed to carry across my being as the woman smiled, taking my hand as she rose me to my feet again.

"Go now, my son. Penumbra awaits, and it waits for neither man nor beast."

My coat seemed darker as the hairs across it grew. my hoof seemed to splinter apart, claws growing as an old sensation filled them. My teeth began to grind and gnash as I felt a soothing warmth pool in my chest. Something inside me had awoken. A euphoric rush filled me as I broke into a mad dash across the vast expanse, my heart racing faster than my hooves.

A new adventure awaits me in Penumbra, and I will not let even a single moment pass me by!

Bad End: Damnation

(NOTE: The following events are not canon to any future story in the OLHIT series. This chapter has been written purely for the sake of providing an alternate ending to this story for the sake of possibly scaring the hay out of more than a few of my loyal readers. Enjoy!)

[Written for the Equestrian Legends Nightmare Night Fiction Contest]

On Light Hooves I Tread 2: Homeward Bound
A Fanfiction by Adam Nelon

BAD END: DAMNATION

Two Months had passed since that day. The day in which Discord had made his prescience known to Equestria, and in the process, took my best of friends. The same day in which, in one fell swoop, for one brief moment, I had become a living battery of arcane power, and weaponized my entire form to free my friend from the clutches of a mad god. In all this time, I had honed my body and my mind, and went through a number of trials to accomplish that task. And now that it was done, and those I cared about were now all in one general location, I was finally free to live my new life as I had wished.

That was, until today.

"I've no idea, your highness. I've just been unusually sleepy lately. Normally, at most, I slightly tired, but these days, I just feel like keeling over and sleeping. Even when I'm awake, I just feel so strange and full of energy," I said, attempting to map my description to some body language.

"Please. Lie down here," Luna said, poising me to lie down on the floor in front of her throne, to which I complied to naturally.

As she sat down, she scanned me with her eyes for some time before nodding.

"Close your eyes. I'm not sure if this will be painful or not."

I nodded in turn, bowing my head and shutting my eyes, leaving my horn exposed for Luna to scrutinize.

It was then I felt a beam of energy shoot from Luna's horn onto mine, spreading a tingling sensation all across my form. I could not note the color nor the intent of the energy, but it probed my entire being. It ran from my head all the way down to the last hairs in my tail, leaving a sensation similar to numbness throughout my body. I was unable to change my position from the prone form I had put myself in, and as it ended, I saw nothing completely amiss as I opened my eyes again.

"Interesting," hummed the Princess, the lights of magic energy fading from her. "It would seem you possess an abnormally vast pool of magical energy. Not only that, but this is fairly potent energy, as well...as I would come to expect from the use of the Elements of Harmony..."

As I looked to her, a very dark and foreboding grin slithered onto her face. It was that insane, toothy grin that existed solely to inspire fear and disease in any stallion mare or foal.

"Just what I've been searching for..." chuckled the manic mare, her eyes glowing a very sickly green.

Just as all possible feeling returned to my form, I was immediately caught in a cruel, searing, ghostly green flame, trapping me in a suffocatingly small circle of deceit. It became clear that this Luna was, for all intents and purposes, an impostor.

"You will do just perfectly..." hissed the false princess as the flames began to trap me in a bubble and drag me into a place I had hoped I would never see.

Blackness. For a brief moment, that was all I would see. Damp, moist, choking darkness surrounded me. While at first, it was a comfortable darkness, I quickly remembered that which had brought me here. A false ruler and deity, who had seemed quite impressed by all this energy I had in my system. It was then that paranoia then set in. Where was I? Was I alone? Who shared this expanse of blackness with me? What did they want? My body quaked as I tried to stand, before keeling over from disorientation.

"What is this place...?" I whispered, my eyes searching in vain through the darkness. "Am I...in Hell?"

"You could call it that," Said a much more sinister voluptuous voice as the room set alight with an array of ghastly green glows, revealing a vast expanse of brown, green and black. The whole room was filled with creatures of absolutely horrific design. They were all black, armored, and holed, two pairs of insect-like wings on each of them. They all bore fangs and horns, and all of them possessed blue eyes that glowed as forked tongues licked some of their fangs.

"What you call Hell, however, I intend to make a heaven for all of my creatures...and to do that..they must feed...and you, my dear, will make the perfect meal for this whole swarm!" Cackled the creature directly in front of my vision.

Unlike what I had assumed were its subordinates, this creature stood at the size of the Princesses, and she shared many of her underlings' features. But unlike the rest, she had key differential traits For one, unlike her lesser peers, whose horns were upturned and orderly, this creature's horn was jagged and twisted, filled with as many gaps and holes her blue hair and mane had. Second, she had an obsidian crown atop her head, but rather than it being a hat, it was instead a natural growth, as if she had evolved into this shape. Third, her eyes were a green color, with her sclera being a paler color than her iris, while her pupil was a frightening slit shape, akin to a reptile or a cat, both of which staring at me half-lidded as she approached me. Her vision was catching me into a hypnotic trance, or something akin to it, as I had no means of moving. My body was frozen in fear, and I had no means of convincing it otherwise. I was locked into a stand-off with this creature, and there was no escape.

"Aw, look at you! You're quaking in your hooves! Seeing as this will be one of last days you'll ever spend as a pony, I may as well explain who I am," hummed the mare as she approached, circling me. "I am Crysalis. I and my race are changelings. We are creatures that feast upon the emotions of all creatures, but we take ponies as an exceptionally delectable delicacy. It is their love we were after so many years ago, but then you showed up, and you happen to be a much more adequate food source...perhaps you could be of some use after, as well..."

I twitched. I honestly wanted to move and run, but I remembered I was surrounded. At that moment, the Changeling queen pinned me down and licked her chops.

"Ah-ah-ah...can't have our little morsel scampering away...don't worry...this won't hurt...much," Assured the sly insect-like daemon who had asserted herself upon my form. Her eyes glowed a hellish bright emerald, a beam passing through her jagged, ragged horn into mine, making my eyes grow wide as she began to drain my energy.

Second by second, I felt myself slipping away, my body growing ever colder, and my vision growing darker as more of myself was lost to the queen of this swarm. I was ready to submit to death. I could sense the pale pony coming to whisk me out from this hell into the Summer Lands, but it never came. I was doomed to die here, serving as but a large meal to a large crowd as I shut my eyes.

Just as the cold had finally reached to the last centimeter of my body, it was suddenly and frighteningly changed to searing heat. My eyes immediately shot open as I began to look in horror at what was becoming of me. My hooves had just caught fire. But it did not catch the normal red fire which I was used to seeing, but instead, a hellish green flame. As it began to arc up my body, I saw my pale, grey body slowly burning away to reveal a black, disfigured bastardization of its former self. I could already see holes pocking my legs as a harder substance not unlike chitin replaced the coat of hairs on my body. The Queen smiled devilishly as she licked my cheek, and when she spoke, my worst fears had been confirmed.

"Oh, this is ndeed a most delectable banquet that your body provides...there is much potential in your body...perhaps your reward shall be to serve forever as one more member of my ever-growing army...that way, you can continue to be of use to me..."

And just like that, my fate had been sealed. These last seconds would be my last as a pony. Slowly, I was becoming nothing more but the absolute bastardization of all that a pony was and is, and my vision began to cut out. I slowly began to hear things in ring in my head.

Your mind is full of delicious memories...memories that could prove to be a threat to your loyalty...allow me to remove them...so that I may open your mind to the hive...

Suddenly, a strong headache filled me as my memories slowly began to painfully burning away from my mind, being replaced by the collective conscience of the swarm. The tiny little whispers of several of my soon to be brothers and sisters filled my mind. They all had two thoughts in their head: Feed and Welcome.

As my eyes opened once again, the blackness had spread to my breast, and was close to completion...there was nothing left..just armor and darkness. And so, I surrendered myself to my new mistress, and before I knew it, all that excess I had was gone...there was emptiness now. My head was now so much clearer now that my mind was relieved of all my previous thoughts. It was so much simpler now...my mind was now focused simply on the will of my compatriots.

After having completed her ritual, the queen lifted herself off of me, kicking me onto my...hooves, I suppose? They didn't seem to have changed all that much. Chirping, buzzing noises filled the caverns that I was inhabiting. I honestly couldn't tell what they had intended with this cacophony until I heard the word "welcome" in my mind.

"They aren't much in the vocal department, sadly. Give them time, and they should warm up to you...in the meantime...we have plans for you...isn't that right, little one?" The Queen asked, placing a hoof upon my chin, her eyes glowing one last time as I caught one final gaze before the room was bathed in ghostly green light...

"Yes my mistress..." I replied, without even making a single thought.

My ability of independent thought was all but destroyed. Any notions of freedom and self-will were wiped away. No longer would I serve as the vigilant guard of Princess Celestia or Luna. No longer would I spend my days as their scholar, learning of the history of Equestria. I was now one of possibly thousands of soldiers in the brood of Queen Chrysalis, no longer a pony, but now a bastardized image of a pony, dominated not by my will, but by the will of my brothers and sisters. Sustenance was no longer eating hay, oats, and flowers, but rather joy, sorrow, love, anger, and fear. No matter what, my life had taken a fundamental turn, and whether I actually wished for this or not, this was to be my eternal fate.

This new life was going to be delicious...

Prologue: The Return

On Light Hooves I Tread 2: Homeward Bound
A Fanfiction by Adam Nelon

Prologue: The Return

Living as a human again was a refreshing change of pace. It has been five years since those faithful events transpired which had me intertwined in several misadventures in Equestria. I still tell many of those tales to my daughter, Catherine, to help her sleep in the evenings, which she loved ever so fondly. I had, for the first time in years, known true peace.

But, over time, peace beget complacency, which beget boredom, which beget longing.

I had grown a longing, nay, a wanderlust to return to the place I left so long ago. As much as it was to my own chagrin, I missed those rainbow-colored equines. I missed the bright and idealistic world which contrasted to the highly-cynical one I had the displeasure of living in. While Catherine and my wife, Angela gave me solace in the day, that nagging feeling of nostalgia kept eating away at my patience. An inevitable truth came to my mind:

Equestria had become my true home away from home, and I had to go back.

It was the only logical conclusion, and I had to fulfill it. This in mind, I decided to make my own personal exodus. When Cathrine had been tucked into bed, and Angela had fallen into rest, out like a lantern, I began to pack provisions for myself. First, I gathered as many beverages as I could (mostly Soft Drinks, but also Grape Juice.) into a refrigerated bag. Then, I stuffed into a large satchel non-perishable snacks like Fudge Rounds, Granola Bars and Rice Crispy Treats, along with salted potato chips. I know, not the most healthy foods, but considering where I was headed, that wasn't to make a difference. Next, I went to basement of the house in which our family of three took lodging in. Here, I treasured something that I rarely let anyone see; the Gifts that my Friends in Equestria had bestowed:

From Twilight, I got a book of old stories of Equestrian Myth and Legend, and a Book Entitled The Equestrian Explorer's Guide to Everything Ever Explored in Equestria, or as I prefer to call it, "The Six E's".

From Rarity, I got a cloak made of Dragon Scales donated from Spike who, if you weren't already aware, has a Crush on the Unicorn.

From Applejack, I got her prized ten-gallon hat. Probably the only memento that was an actual hoof-me-down.

From Fluttershy, I got a necklace bearing a fine-cut fire ruby, which supposedly is a symbol for a lasting friendship.

From Rainbow Dash, I got a pair of vintage Wonderbolts goggles and a commemorative t-shirt.

And from Pinkie Pie, I got...a cupcake. That was it. Go Figure.

However, among the most important of my many gifts were two things, both gifts from Princess Celestia herself. The first was a suit of gilded steel plate armor, and the second was a magically-enhanced skeleton key. The armor itself was a keepsake from my last adventure about 5 years ago, which culminated in me slamming my petrified self head first into a blue dragon whilst being propelled at 10 times the speed of sound. That gilded armor never aged a day, and almost never got a single stain. Age did well to this armor as I began to don it piece by piece, then strapping the cloak into slits near the shoulder plates, sliding the goggles about my neck like an intrepid adventurer, and doing much the same with my ten-gallon hat.

Following this, I stole away into my office, the quill and ink ready as I penned out the text of my final note on this Earth:

"To whom it may concern,

While my time here has been wonderful, and Twenty-Three years of Trial and Tribulation was well worth the experience I gained from it, I am afraid I must resign from this world. No, I am not killing myself. Rather, I am going to a world where I hope I can find the solace I desperately need right now. However, I will not leave this world without leaving something in my memory. This being said, I bequeath to my Daughter and Wife (both of whom I love dearly) a chest that has been lying in the basement of my estate for some time now. Inside, I bequeath all of what you find inside to be yours as you see fit. Inside are secrets I see fit to only share with you, but should you choose to, you may share my gift with others.

As to where I am going? Well, that will be explained when the other members of my estate examine the contents of my chest. I know not what shall be waiting for me on the other side, but I do offer this; If you can, you may try to pursue me. But, doing so may not be easy. It would require no less than an absolute miracle for you to find the way there, and even in doing so, the result may not be to your intentions, Should you choose to undertake it, I only advice caution.

I love you, Cathrine and Angela. I don't want to see you two hurt from my absence. So, if you can, smile; Wish me luck in where I'm going, because I may never be able to return. I wish the same to you. Cathrine's going to grow up beautifully. I just know it. And I know that as her mother, you'll do all in your power to assure that she does.

Goodbye, everyone. I hope that someday, our paths cross once more.

Yours Truly,

Adam"

With this, I folded the note shut and stuffed it into an envelope, sealing it and marking it as an urgent letter to be read upon its discovery before I stole away to the bedroom of my sleeping daughter. She was a little one, just barely near the age of five. She had a nice palette of freckles across her rosy cheeks, accented by lush hazel eyes and curly ginger hair. A sweeter image, I couldn't find. I lifted her face gently before giving her a sweet kiss upon the forehead and leaving her to be alone. Surely, if anyone was going to believe me, it was her. She was the only one in our tiny family who was young enough and idealistic enough to believe my tales. She often fantasized about being right there by my side, as if she were my squire...Oh, how that feeling would have been to her. Perhaps some day in the future, she would get that opportunity, but for now, she'll simply have to write back to me until chance shines upon her that she may come to my neck of the woods.

Finally, I went for the master bedroom a final time, removing the chest from beneath the bed and retrieving the final piece of the large puzzle that was my return: The Skeleton Key.

I removed that magic key, and tactfully inserted it into the keyhole of my closet door, twisting the key clockwise with the knob, opening the door to a black tunnel, ending with a portal of light. Staring the corridor down, I took a deep breath. starting the first step into the last few moments of humanity...

The corridor I stepped through was a small hallway. The walls and floor were unidentifiable, only being shown as a solid surface in the face of the light. I gathered it may have been obsidian, given the somewhat glassy sound it made as I walked across...Either way, it was a strange feeling, especially considering I was in full plate armor. As I kept my path along the hallway, the light dividing me between Earth and Equestria grew increasingly brighter, more intense in heat...as I came within mere inches of the event horizon, a very chilling sound came to my ears...First, the door behind me slowly creaked as it leaned shut before shutting with a click. And then...

SNAP. The key that had opened my way back to the world I had grown so fond of broke in two. There was no going back now.

So, with my fate now sealed, I made the final step into the light, and as I did, the light became blindingly intense, the heat from it almost searingly hot, forcing me to cover my face from its sheer power before losing all sense in my form, keeling over into unconsciousness...

I awoke much the same way as I did when I returned home: With an eye shooting open in shock. However, this time around, two new feelings took hold of me. First, the acridity of the air was suffocating me, and Second, I had a piercing migraine. For long, I was frozen in the spot I had awoken in just from the intensity of my pain! Eventually, however, it subsided after a few minutes as I worked to get a drink to help wet my dry throat. However, something felt odd as I sifted through the saddlebags. Was it just me, or was my head a mite bigger than it should have been?

Ignoring that bit of oddity for the moment, I decided to stretch my legs a moment, see if I could chance flying around a bit. But, something wasn't right. My wings weren't opening. I'm sure Royal Guard armor left room for that, didn't it? I looked to my sides for a moment, then gasped at the sudden realization that came to me:

I wasn't a Pegasus this time around...

The sun began to glare daggers at me, which made my first instinct of covering my face with my hat kick in. Only problem? My hat wasn't sliding on quite as easily. This made me think for a moment. First, I wake with a splitting headache, then I have trouble fitting my head in my saddlebags, and now my hat is having trouble staying on? No. It couldn't be, I thought to myself. However, looking into a very shallow puddle in what seemed to be a desert, my suspicions were confirmed. I was a fully-fledged unicorn, horn and all.

Well, bugger. That's just peachy. I'll have to trek across these badlands on hoof!

Just as I cursed my luck, I felt a tough wind buffeting at me, as the arid sandstone began to allow particles of dust into the air. Of all the rotten- A SANDSTORM?!

Looks like that mare of luck has decided to test my wits. Oh, ha-ha. I'm a unicorn, so I must be naturally smart.

I slid on my goggles as quick as I could as the sand began to buffet at my armored body. It was going to be a long walk to the nearest town...

I traversed through the sandstorm, boldly going where I've never been before.

Through most of my trek through the sandstorm, I was not disturbed by any creature. Sadly, I didn't meet another pony, either. A shame, too; maybe having somepony to help guide me through this sandstorm would have come in handy. But, for now, thanks to the fact that most of my clothing blended in well with the sands. Eventually, whether to my advantage, or to my doom, the sandstorm faded. Part of me thought I was in the clear as I now more easily took to the arid dunes.

But then, suddenly, from a direction I could not pinpoint, a deep chirping sound cut through the air. As I turned about face, the beast from which the noise came from was in view.

It just so happened this was Nature's second-worst form of vermin: the Scorpion. Worse yet, this one was massive. Ironic how this giant insect just happened to be my Astrological sign.

Okay, I thought to myself. You've managed to take out a dragon, so this should be easy. Then I realized that I was alone in this fight. This was going to fun...

With this, I tipped my hat, stamping my hoof into the ground as I scraped up some dust.

"Alright...let's go!"

I barely had time to dodge when the giant lashed out its stringer at me, leaving it lodged into the ground a moment. Thankfully, I was able to use that brief time to land atop the beast's back, mounting him in that vain attempt at subduing the creature, but I was quickly jostled off. Thank God I was wearing that armor. While it certainly hurt a ton when I landed, that was all that happened. I had to think quick or lose my hide trying...So, I surveyed my surroundings...

More barren landscape, save for a lonely rock. It was very small, but it would have to do. I began to focus my mind as I stared at the tan-colored stone, willing it to come toward me, much as Luke Skywalker often willed his lightsaber to do. Either through natural intelligence, or adrenaline, it oddly worked. now I simply had to fire it just right. I clumsily hovered the rock to my eye, firing it at the colossus as quick as I could. But, in my haste, I had failed. I had to think, and think hard. So, I thought of any possible spell I could even attempt, straining my mind on each possibility, until the hum of magic came to me. I guess I hit a sweet spot! So, I strained on that one spot a mite harder, and the hum got louder. It also happened that the harder I strained, the more i became drained and-

Hey, is it getting warm in here?

Within all of perhaps 5 seconds, a large burst of heat shot into the area, a screech cutting into the air as I heard a hissing sound. Following that brief moment of intense heat, I dared to open my eyes.

Whatever happened to the scorpion, it was no more now than a large pile of ash upon the desert floor. However, the strain of casting whatever burned that beast to cinder wore me out. The most I could do now was succumb to my exhaustion and hope the carrion feeders do not eat me...

A small party of shadows moved across the sand-packed plains of the Western Desert. Most of them were as large as train cars, and moved in such a quick succession, one could almost confuse them with a train. The odd one out was a small calf bearing what appeared to be a feather and on her head.

"Father! Come quick! There is something you must see!" She called out, her attention on the unconscious armored pony before her.

Within moments, a beast many times her size (and certainly many more her weight) approached, dressed in a full feathered head dress.

"Who is this, daughter? He looks...familiar..."

The beast's daughter surveyed the armored unicorn before her.

"It looks like a Unicorn...and it bears a very close semblance to The Traveler of which the stories speak!" said the calf, turning over the unconscious form with her hoof.

"The Traveler..." grunted the calf's father. "...As in the one who came from another world on behalf of the sun-bringer?"

"Indeed, Father. the resemblance is uncanny! What shall we with him?"

The calf's father paused a brief moment before nodding his head, his eyes narrowing.

"Bring him along with us. Though he doesn't seem injured, he looks in need of aid..." Grunted the father, turning to rejoin the group.

"Right away..."

Within a few moments, the grey unicorn was lifted onto the back of the living train, whisked away to an unknown location...