[ 4 ] The Mane Six

Chapter Four – The Mane Six

I awoke to a faint chatter nearby. I couldn’t quite make out any of what was being said, but I knew that it was talking. There were four voices, I think. I can’t tell for sure, my head hurts and I feel nauseas. I smacked my lips a few times and cringed at the same taste of morning breath. Ugh, I’m hungry. Who’s here?

I shifted slightly in place and sat up, blinking a few times. A yawn escaped my lips and I stretched my hooves upwards and began to make baby dinosaur noises before shaking my entire body and rubbing the sleep from my eyes. I looked to see what I was sleeping on not too long ago to find a purple bed sheet and a pretty comfortable mattress. I bounced up and down and few times on it to chase the creeping sleep away. Although the bed was just perfectly soft and springy, it was slightly small. Geez, everything’s slightly small to me. Am I the only big pony around? I laughed at my joke. Yea, I’m lame.

I had no idea where I was. Damn it, why do I always have trouble with other people’s houses and getting around in them. I cantered across the room and began pacing. Every time I met an endpoint to my patrol, I would look around and survey the room, taking in any knowledge about it that may be useful. Alright, so. After a few minutes of pacing back and forth, I’ve come to the conclusion that this room was something of an oval with one door at the front of the room. I slowly walked to it and opened it, releasing an orchestra of creaks.

Damn it.

The voices down stairs immediately went quiet and Twilight’s voice spoke up, “Spike? Is that you?” Spike? What? Was Spike still up here? I turned my attention back to the room and backed up from the door. I steadied my breathing until it was practically inaudible. Now the only thing audible would be Spike’s snoozing, and the sudden clip clop of hooves on stairs.

I dashed to my bed and hopped back in it and shut my eyes almost all the way and waited. Sure enough, Twilight came in the room and looked in the direction of a baby crib next to the bed. There was a pile of blankets in it that appeared to be just any old regular mound of blankets. However, to Twilight’s trained eye, this was easily discernible as Spike. Hmm, Spike was right next to the bed the whole time? Since when? One would think that I would’ve noticed that in my little patrol of the room.

Twilight then shifted her gaze and began to stare at my form in bed. Her expression was gentle and slightly sympathetic. Why was Twilight sympathetic? What did I do wrong? The purple unicorn edged closer to the bed and whispered in my ear.

“Hey Flare, it’s time to get up. Everyone’s here.”

Her hot breath tickled the insides of my ears and my head twitched a little before I gave up the act. I opened my eyes and yawned again, pretending to have just woken up.

“Nyup. Nyup. What? There’s what?”

“Hurry on downstairs please. We’ve got to talk.” Twilight then turned and began walking out the door.

I turned to Spike and debated whether to wake him up, but I decided not to. He probably had a rough day or night and needed the extra sleep. I got out of bed and bowed my body forward, stretching out my shoulders and back before flaring my wings out to stretch them out too. I then cantered in place and took in a few sharp breaths. Alright, time to go downstairs. I wonder what they have to eat.

I trotted down the stairs and looked in the large main room to see who was here. Remember when I heard 4 voices? Yea there weren’t four ponies. There were seven ponies in the room. Right when my left hoof touched the main floor, Lyra had jumped on me and was hanging by my neck and sobbing, “Where were you? You’ve been gone the whole day! I thought something bad happened to you! You could have – ”. I tuned Lyra out and looked up at all the other ponies in the room. As expected, all of them were looking at me with raised eyebrows or curiosity.

“Um, hi. My name’s Silent Flare.” I then looked back at Lyra who was still sobbing into my shoulder and ranting on about how I could’ve died or something. I sighed and peeled her off my shoulder and set her down on one of the sofas. Lyra then lay there for a few seconds before sitting up and looking at me with murderous intent.

“How dare you not take sympathy for me! I was so worried that something had happened to you.”

“Sorry, Lyra. I was here at Twilight’s and something happened. Before I knew it, I was upstairs on Twilight’s bed.”

Lyra’s mouth fell open and it just stayed like that for a little bit. Lyra then put a hoof to her mouth and started crying. She must’ve taken what I said in a completely different way. I didn’t know what to do so I began to inch my way back upstairs. I didn’t want to be seen as any kind of complete jerk. Before I could even make it halfway up the staircase, Twilight spoke up and broke the awkward silence.

“Look, Lyra. Nothing happened. He was here and then he just fell over unconscious. I just put him up in my bed because leaving him on the floor in here would’ve been rude.” Twilight then turned to me and asked, “What happened?”

To be honest, I’ve got no idea. I stared at Twilight from up on the stairs and took in a deep breath and brushed a hoof through my mane. Was there any logical explanation for what had happened? Logical? Wasn't I in a dream? I completely forgot about that. Why should I care about anything that’s happening?

I strolled back downstairs and plopped myself down next to Lyra on the sofa and put a hoof around her shoulder and hugged her close. “I’m sorry, honey.” Lyra opened her eyes with shock and looked to see who had hugged her. She was stuck in place for a little bit before she threw her arms around me in response and said, “Its – sniff – It’s okay.”

“Ahem. Sorry to break up this romantic moment here for you two, but Flare? You didn’t answer my question.” Twilight looked at me impatiently and snorted.

“What question?”

“I asked you what happened.”

“I don’t know. I just… I don’t know.”

“Flare, be serious! I need to know what happened if you want me to help you!”

This time, I had seriousness woven into my voice, “I. Don’t. Know. I looked back at my cutie mark and that's the last thing I remember.”

Twilight just took a step back and sighed. “Alright, girls. We’ll have to figure this one out alone.”

A feminine, yet punk pony spoke up and pointed a hoof at me. “Who the hay is this whackjob anyway? Why do we need to worry about a pony like him? Sure, he may be big but I say we tell him to go away.” She crossed her arms and huffed a little.

I looked up and shrugged before saying. “This ‘whackjob’ is Silent Flare. Nice to meet you. You are?”

The pony shook her rainbow colored mane and replied, “Rainbow Dash. Psh, how do you not know me? I’m only the fastest in Equestria.”

“I guess I don’t keep up with that stuff. You never know.” I eased my hold on Lyra and stood up off the sofa. Lyra just lay down over the spot where I was and began to sleep. That poor soul. Anyway, I strutted up to Rainbow Dash and looked down at her. Okay, so. My size really is intimidating when I’m right up next to a pony that’s half your size. Apparently, Rainbow Dash knew this too.

“Hey, no need to get up all close. Back up.”

I smirked and simply sat down where I was. I had no intention of backing up. Plus, there were three other ponies in the room who I had yet to get acquainted with. So now, I knew Twilight, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash. Oh, and Lyra. The remaining three were kind of unique. The one on the very left was orange and had a blonde mane and tail. She had freckles and a hat on. Her front hooves were crossed and she eyed me skeptically. The mare in the middle had a snow white coat with a curled purple mane. I nodded in her direction and she closed her eyes and looked away. Finally, I turned to the mare at the far right. Her light blue eyes were as jittery and happy as could be. I can’t picture ANYTHING that could possibly be happier than this mare right now. I don’t even know. She had a poofy pink mane and a slightly darker pink body. She was bouncing up and down, as if trying to hold in an urge to do something.

Twilight introduced the six mares before me by name after I had finished looking each of them over. “So. In order, that’s Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and finally me.”

“Ah, it’s quite a pleasure to meet you all.” I grinned enthusiastically and raised a hoof. In my complete and utter dismay, all of them left me hanging. They just eyed my hoof and then looked back up to my face. I rolled my eyes and my grinned dropped. “Nevermind then. So much for friends.”

“Come on Flare, you don’t have to give up on friendship just yet. These are nice ponies and they are my best friends.”

“Alright then Twilight. We should play a quick game to get to know each other better, right?”

Twilight tapped her chin with a hoof and then slowly nodded in agreement. “That would seem like a good idea. It could help us get to know each other.”

I rolled my eyes. I had already said that, but I wasn’t going to start a fight over something as measly a reason as that. I remained seated on the floor as the remaining six ponies that were awake in the room began to formulate a circle with me. Oh goody.

“I’ll start!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed excitedly. “I just love games and parties! You know, when Twilight said that there was a new pony in town, I just had to meet him. I couldn’t wait so I was the first one here! I even beat Twilight to her library. I mean, isn’t that funny?”

Rainbow Dash stuffed a hoof in Pinkie’s mouth and looked at her annoyed.

“Ermmph.” (oops.)

Rainbow pulled her hoof from Pinkie and continued the little talk circle. “I don’t see how this is a game, but everyone should already know everything about me. I’m the best flyer in Equestria and soon to be captain of the Wonderbolts.” Rainbow Dash flashed a smile of confidence and I couldn’t do much but nod and commend her for her amazing dreams, even if I don’t know what the Wonderbolts are. They sounded like a pretty nifty group. So, good on her.

The unicorn with the white coat spoke up next. “I am Rarity. I own the Carousel Boutique and am the best fashion designer in Ponyville.” Rarity’s face turned slightly grim and she continued. “Soon, I will be the best in ALL of Equestria.”

Wow, these ponies had some pretty impressive dreams. I've never known anypony so damn ambitious.

“Everypony knows me as Applejack. I own the Sweet Apple Acres over yonder and supply the greatest Apples in all of this here Equestria.” Applejack sat straight up and held her head high. She obviously took great pride in her apple trees. My stomach spoke in my stead regarding the apples.

“Did you bring any here? I’m famished.”

“Eh heh… Sorry, ah didn’t. Didn’t see the point in bringin’ apples to Twi here’s meetin’ at seven at night.” Hmm, so it was in the evening. Alright. I guess I wasn't knocked out for more than 12 hours, so that’s good. I guess.

I nodded slightly depressed because I felt my stomach pulling at my throat demanding food. I put a hoof over my stomach and gestured for the next pony to go. The next pony was Fluttershy.

“Um, you know that I’m Fluttershy and you know that I live in the cottage at the edge of Ponyville.  I have nothing to say. I’m sorry.” I couldn’t stay mad at Fluttershy or even start to get mad. She’s just too kind. Plus, why would I get mad at Fluttershy for something as ridiculous as this? The thought was so stupid that I banished it from my mind for good.

I sat quietly and patiently waited for the next pony to speak up, but every pony in the room was looking in my direction. Was it my turn? I shrugged and drew in a breath for speaking, “My name’s Silent Flare and I am a recent addition to the fine town’s population. I used to live in the Everfree, but was driven out by, uh. By, um, unforeseen, uh, events. I will reside in this humble town and work my part like the average working citizen. It’s an honor to meet all of you. Lastly, I don't know anything about my past and Twilight keeps staring at my cutie mark for no reason.” I bowed my head low in respect and let out a small sigh of accomplishment. Twilight was looking at the ceiling, trying to hide a little embarrassment that accumulated on her cheeks.

“Hey Twilight, aren’t ya goin to take a turn too?”

Twilight looked at Applejack and immediately responded, “Oh, no. I’m not included. Everyone knows everything about me.” She chuckled nervously and went to her desk in the corner of the room, next to the basement door. She began writing something down and then turned back to the small circle, “Just a second.” Twilight finished up what she was writing and trotted up the stairs and into her room. After just a few seconds, everyone heard a small boyish yelp and then a large belch. Twilight returned downstairs and plopped herself down where she was before she had gotten up.

“So, what next?”

I don’t think anyone was ready or planned for what to do next because we all began staring off into space and let out a soft “Hmm”. But of course, Pinkie Pie spoke up.

“Why don’t we play ‘Pin the Tail on the Pony’?” Her grin was plastered on her face and not even a bulldozer could take it off. I smirked gently at how completely energetic the pink mare was. She was bouncing again and out of nowhere, she pulled out a large poster of a pony, which lacked a tail. She reached into her mane and rummaged around a bit before she pulled out a tail with a pin at the end of it.

“Where did she just get those from?” I was in complete confusion. The pony wasn’t even a unicorn and she had done more magic than I ever would.

“Oh, that there’s just yer average Pinkie Pie. That’s just how she is.” Applejack had leaned in close and whispered in my ear.

“Ah, alright. I get it.” In reality, I didn’t get it at all. Pinkie Pie was just so random and bizarre.

Pinkie Pie had already taped the poster up on a wall and was holding the tail out at me and said, “Since you’re the new pony, you should go first!”

“But, I- I, uh, don’t even know how to play.” I tried to get myself out of this and remain a passive spectator but Pinkie Pie wouldn't allow it. She grabbed my hoof and dragged me about 5 yards from the poster.

“It’s easy! Just spin around until we say stop, and then pin the tail on the pony!”

I chuckled nervously and walked into place. I looked at the poster and breathed in slowly. Inhale. Exhale. Suddenly, something white draped over my eyes and obscured my vision. What…

“Uh, Pinkie? What just happened?”

“Well, you have to be blind-folded silly. It wouldn’t be fun if you weren’t.” I heard a few giggles behind me. Yea, yea. So funny.

I began to spin around and the ponies in the room barring Lyra began to countdown from ten seconds. I continued to spin myself in a steady pace. I wasn’t about to start spinning fast enough to be considered an energy generator. Soon enough, the countdown reached zero and I immediately stopped myself. In my mind, I pictured the room I was in and way I was facing. I imagined the poster’s whereabouts and turned myself to it. I walked up to the poster and with the tail in my right hoof, raised it to the flank of the poster. I drove the tail into where I thought it should’ve gone and backed up a few feet and took the blind fold off.

“Wow, I suck at this game.” I had just nailed a tail into the basement stairs door. It was dead center, but it wasn’t where it should’ve been. I let out a sigh and looked back at Pinkie.

“Pinkie, I suck at this game.” I brushed a hoof through my mane and continued. “You wouldn’t mind if I lied down now would you? I’m kind of tired.” My stomach let out a whale’s plea for food and everyone heard it. Damnit stomach, why. Fluttershy cantered up to me and took my hoof in hers before leading me to where I suppose the kitchen was. I looked back at the other five ponies to see what their reactions would be. They didn’t care, they were gazing intently at Pinkie Pie spinning and were counting down to zero. I turned my head back to look forward just as the top of the doorframe wanted to shake hands with my horn. The thunk wasn’t too loud, but it was easily audible throughout the tree.

Wow, that didn’t feel too good. Fluttershy was immediately behind me to lay me down in the doorway.

“Oh my gosh. Are you okay? I didn’t mean to.”

“Whoa, that hurts. Ow, ow, ow. My horn. Ah, damnit. Don’t worry about it Fluttershy, it’s fine. Wasn’t your fault. It’s fine.” I was massaging my temples and taking in steady breaths to ease myself. Inhale… Exhale. Inhale… Exhale. Alright, I think this would be a good time for a nap. My body went limp and I started snoring gently.

“Alright the camera’s rolling? Are you ready?” a manlly voice asked.

“Yea, daddy! I’m ready.” It was me. I was riding a bike. My dad was over in the drive through with a camera in his hands. “Watch this daddy! I can ride bike!” I proceeded to hold my handle bars and pedal along merrily. I was smiling and happy. Nothing could change my mood.

My dad started following behind me and cheering me on. I began to pedal in circles and then pedaled faster.

“Vroom! Vroom vroom! Daddy look! I’m a racecar!” I leaned forward on my bicycle and pedaled as fast as my tiny legs would let me.

“Wow! You’re doing well there Jake. What do you say we take those training wheels off and see how fast you can really go!”

A feminine voice spoke up, “No, Jake. Don’t do that.  Your dad is just jealous of how well you ride.” That was Mom. She was a little shorter than Dad, but they were a couple. I was laughing and rolling around happily. Dad continued to film me as I raced towards him, attempting to hit his shins.

“Yaaaah!” my war cry made my Dad look away from his wife and down at me.

“Oof. Ouch, buddy.” I ran into his shins and continued to try and pedal through them. My dad walked out of the path.

“You just made the big, bad beast angry! Roarr!”

I started giggling and screaming in delight as my dad began to chase me around playfully after giving my mom the camera. I was having fun.

These were good times. I liked this time, it was full of fun and curiosity. I didn’t have a single reason to be scared or to feel unsafe at all.

Whoa, what happened. Was that another dream? Within a dream? I’ve never heard of a dream within a dream being real before. I shook my head and coughed violently. I felt an uneasy feeling in the back of my throat. Why do I keep having these weird dreams? And where am I? I tried moving, but my forelegs and hindlegs were strapped down to something.

“What? I don’t understand.”

I continued to cough wildly as I heard Twilight’s voice behind me. “Alright then, Dunamis. What are you doing here?”

Dunamis? Who was that? Wasn’t I him in that one dream I had? I coughed again trying to remember.

“I don’t know who you’re talking about, Twilight.” My voice was raspy and weak.

“Oh, I beg to differ. I knew you’d return. I read it in the Book of Equestrian History vol. 23. I know exactly who you are. I notified the Princess and in any minute, she will arrive and destroy you again.”

I was still in utter confusion. I had no idea what the hell Twilight was talking about. My name is Silent Flare, and I was in a dream. A dream. Oh. It’s all a dream. I forgot about that, again. I didn’t know what to do so I remained silent.

“Until the princess arrives, you’ll be stuck in here. Don’t you dare try anything or I’ll freeze you.”

A door above suddenly creaked open and light flooded into the dark room. Who I assumed Princess Celestia was walked down the stairs and turned to Twilight. Her mane was flowing and ethereal and her coat was white and flawless.

“Release this stallion, Twilight.”

“But, what? Princess, didn’t –”

“Twilight, please. I ask you to release him. I’m going to escort him to Canterlot where Luna and I can confront him peacefully.”

“Yes, Princess.” With that, Twilight undid all my straps with her magic and Celestia gestured me to follow her up the stairs. I didn’t know where any of this was going, but I knew that I didn’t want to go to Canterlot. It sounded like a horrible place of tests and wicked science. I shuddered slightly and continued to follow Celestia, looking for opportunities of escape.

Twilight walked back up the stairs behind me and after a quick exchange of words with Celestia in the common room, Twilight headed off to bed. Celestia opened the front door and the two of us walked silently in the dead of night for a while until we were at the edge of the Everfree Forest.

“Um, Princess, what are we doing here?”

Princess Celestia simply turned her head to me and her whole body emitted a green glow. Chrysalis…

“Chrysalis? What are you doing? Why’d you do that? Were you Celestia the whole time?”

Chrysalis ushered me into the forest before explaining herself. “I got worried about you so I sent a few changeling to scout for me, they morphed into common everyday ponies and were always looking after you whether it was through a window, or simply on the streets. When they saw you go unconscious in the library tree, they came and told me. I showed up as Celestia so Twilight would let you leave with me. There’s no doubt that Princess Celestia is really on her way to see Twilight and you, so we must leave quickly. I can't afford Celestia to take you."

“Leave? To where?” I had little to no idea what was going on, even with Chrysalis’ explanation.

“Just, follow me. We’re heading back to the hive.” Chrysalis told me.

“Oh okay, it’s fixed?”

“Not completely, but it’s manageable. Now, I don’t want another episode of what you did, understand?”

I blushed slightly and replied, “Come on Chrysalis, I can fly properly now. You can trust me.”

Chrysalis sighed and continued walking.

I followed behind, making sure that my pace didn’t exceed hers. I started thinking about Ponyville once more. I sort of missed Lyra and BonBon, even if I just left there. Ponyville didn't seem too bad a place to live in. There were overdramatic ponies who I felt most friendly with. Oh well. Soon, Twilight’s going to tell them that I’m some bad pony or something and everypony in Ponyville will hate me. I can hear them already.

“We trusted you! How could you do this to us?” Sigh, hearing those words would hurt me pretty badly. I didn’t even know what was going on. Why would Twilight just strap me down and start calling me Dunamis anyways? I was about to ask Chrysalis when she turned around and looked at me.

“We’re here. Make yourself at home.”

I thanked Chrysalis and immediately walked to one of the mounds and walked behind it. Huh, there was a hole behind it. Oh, so these holes were the entrances to the tunnel systems. That made sense. I was about to slide down into the hole, but Chrysalis’ voice caught me off guard and I slipped and fell in.

“Jake! I told you not that mound. It’s this one! Damnit, Jake!”

I kept sliding down until I emptied out and hit the ground. Ugh, my butt. I shook myself to get any loose dirt off my coat and mane. That was a fun ride, but where am I? I heard a slightly distorted noise coming from somewhere but I couldn’t figure out where.

“Et ouf th whr.”

“What? Who’s there?” I spoke up and looked at the tunnels on either side of me.

“Et out the wau!”

“I can’t understand what you’re saying!”

“Get out the way!”

“The way? Why? There’s no –”. WUMP.

Someone had landed me and drove me to the ground. My face hit the ground hard and my brain rolled around in my head. Oh my gosh, my face hurts. Ah, and my back. Ooh, my back hurts. The attacker quickly got off me and looked down upon me. I looked up to see Chrysalis, slightly annoyed. Scratch that, she was very annoyed.

“Um, hi? How are you  on this fine evening?” I smiled weakly and looked back down and examined the dirt. My back was still hurting and I tried to stand up, but I couldn’t.

“Hey Chrysalis, is something wrong with my back? I can’t get up.”

“Yes, it does look kind of broken from my perspective.”

“… oh, that’s nothing. Nevermind then.”

“Nothing? Your back is clearly broken! You’ll be impaired for life.”

“No, I won’t. Just watch.” I lay there patiently, awaiting the cyan glow of sparks and electricity. It was obvious that Chrysalis was getting impatient and expectant. After all, she didn’t know that I produced healing electricity. Or maybe, I just auto-heal myself with it? I still need to find out.

Soon enough, sparks began to jump out of my back and a cyan curve of electricity pulled on my back and with a loud crack, snapped it into place. The electricity persisted and then did a full sweep of my whole body to find any other injuries. When the electricity found none, it killed itself and went out. I got up onto my hooves and shook my head once more. I then glanced over to Chrysalis with a smug grin on my face.

“I was going to be impaired for life? I can’t see that happening Chrysalis.”

The Changeling Queen simply stared at me like I had grown a second head or something. Her expression quickly changed to excitement as she examined my back closely. She couldn’t find any trace of my recent injury. If somepony hadn’t seen my injury, they’d believe that I never had it.

Chrysalis backed up and thought for a second, she then picked up a stick with her magic and launched it at me. It punctured my chest and flew past my ribs. Holy, fucking, damn. That shit hurts like hell.

“What the fuck Chrysalis?! Why the hell would you do that?!” I was gasping for breath and I was holding in the pain and urge to scream. That stick might’ve been not too big, but it hurt. It hurt a lot. As anticipated, the sparks started jumping from my right rib and began to push the stick out of from between my ribs. The stick hit the floor in a bloody mess and the hole that the stick had made in my side began to close as the electricity bounced around before dying out once more.

“Chrysalis… if you do that again… I’ll “accidentally” cause the tunnel another wreck.”

“Chill out Flare,” Chrysalis’ expression turned sly, “or is it Dunamis?”

“Why the hell would my name be Dunamis?! I don’t even know who that is. I had a dream about him once and there were these two princesses who called him ‘Lord Dunamis’. I have no idea what’s going on.”

“Sure, whatever you say. Anyways, let’s get out of this mound, it’s the wrong one. This is where the worker changelings reside. The changelings or beings of higher importance sleep in a different mound.”

I thought about what she had said for a second, “You regard me as a being of importance? Hmm.”

“I need you Flare. It’s simple as that. If I don’t have you, then my plans won’t work out.”

“Plans? Come on Chrysalis. You can tell me. Why do you need me so much?”

Chrysalis continued ignored my question and simply flew up and out of the hole that she fell on me from. I sighed and followed suit. We swerved around the tunnel until we came through the opening at the top. Chrysalis then ushered me to a different mound where we entered. You know, I’ve got no idea how the changelings can tell these mounds apart. I really am completely lost. They just instinctively return to their respective mounds after the day comes to an end like it’s completely normal.

When Chrysalis and I reached the end of the slide, she immediately turned to the right and three holes in the ground later, we found ourselves in the same looking area that I woke up in yesterday morning. Or was it this morning? I can’t quite remember, today’s been a slight blur on my mind. I’ve been in one too many situations that were awkward or just confused the hell out of me.

Chrysalis broke my internal rant by asking me a question that I didn’t know entirely how to answer. “So, have you used magic yet?”

“Magic? Oh, um. Not really, no.”

“Oh, but weren’t you just so excited to use it earlier?”

I shifted uneasily in my spot and replied, “Well, yeah. But. I, I don’t know. I just. I’m not sure. It doesn’t feel natural using magic. I set my eyes on fire once to be able to see in the dark. It was cool, but it made me feel uncomfortable. It’s as if what I saw in the mirror was something out of a nightmare. Does that make any sense at all?”

“Hmm, not really. Are you sure  you don’t want to learn magic? Because if you don’t want to, then that’s fine by me.” Chrysalis sounded like she just crossed one chore of a list of many.

“No, no magic for now.” I lied down in the dirt and set my head on my front hooves. “No magic today.” I drifted off into the abyss of sleep willingly. There were no craze ponies holding me down or me going unconscious from a randomly timed hit on the head. I went to sleep of my own accord and dreamt of happy thoughts. I truly felt safe and at home within the Everfree.