Of Men and Manes

(Meanwhile, in Ponyville.)

I had just finished a special order at Sugarcube Corner when I needed to be on the clock at Gold Hammer Construction.

"I'm gonna be so late for Gold Hammer's shift," I said to myself. "but the commission for this special order will be so much more worth it."

i clocked out of Sugarcube Corner and made my way to my second boss's main office.

After a short walk across Ponyville, I opened the door, and called out, "Hey, Hammer! Sorry I"m late. Had to finish a special order at Sugarc-"

A letter appeared in front of me with a muffled pop. I grabbed the letter as it fell. My boss, Gold Hammer, looked up from his desk.

'Dear Todd Riley,

We need thou's help at the Old Castle immediately. A crazed pony with unnatural superpowers has appeared in our castle. We remember thou to be an excellent hoof-fighter. Willst thou assist us with pacifying this strange pony?

Sincerely,

Princess Luna

PS. \We will teleport you one minute after we sent this letter. That is approximately thirty seconds for you to prepare.'

"Actually, Hammer, the Princesses need my assistance with some crazy pony or something," I said, slightly confused.

"Just remember to work extra hard on your next shift to make up for it, Riley." he said, looking back down at his paperwork.

A second after he finished speaking, I was teleported to the old castle. Princess Celestia trottet up to me, and regarded me, well, like a young person- er, pon- colt! yes, like a colt.

"Good, you're here. Here's the information we have so far: This pony has the ability to control her mane and tail at will. She is completely lost to reason, completely insane, and she is obsessed with monologue-ing. Her name is Mane-iac."

"The mane six couldn't beat her, i presume? Either that, or you don't want to risk their flanks trying to beat her." I said smugly.

"Why dost thou think we called upon thou and not a pony?" Princess Luna said, inches away from my ear.

I jumped almost three feet into the air.

"Gah! Don't do that, Luna." I say, clutching my chest.

"Todd. . ." Princess Celestia said warningly.

i groan and say, "Fine. Please don't do that, Princess Luna. Happy?"

Princess Celestia gave me a cold look. "We were able to confine her in our old study, but the Elements of Harmony and Spike are still in the study with her."

I nod and gesture for Princess Celestia to lead me to the study that the Psycho, The Mane Six, and Spike were in.

We arrive at the door to the study, and I place my hand on the handle.

"Be careful. From what Spike told everypony about the comic that she comes from, she may be more powerful than you." Celestia warned me.

I nod, and open the door just enough to slip in. I do so and shut the door quietly behind me.

. . .

Something's not right. . . It's totally silent.

I look around, and the Mane six are all seated stiffly at a small table. Mane-iac is also at the table, but she's the only one who noticed my entrance.

Her mane and tail were an unusual two tones of green, as well as her coat being a darker shade of purple.

Her eyes were enrapturing, to say the least. Bright green irises surrounding red irises with the typical black pupils in the middle.

I caught myself staring, and hastily glanced over at The Mane Six, who were just now noticing my arrival, yet staying silent.

"What the buck is that thing?!" The Mane-iac suddenly yelled after staring at me for a full minute.She then started laughing crazily.

"Because I don't know what that thing is!" the Mane-iac yelled, still laughing like a madmare. She playfully elbowed Pinkie Pie, who was on her left.

I pinched the bridge of my nose and sigh. 'It just had to be another crazy. . .' i think.

"Okay, c'mere. I promise this won't hurt." i say, holding my hand out, palm down, to the Mane-iac, planning to use my ability on her.

To sum up my ability, I can touch any living thing on it's head and learn everything about it, excluding the future and emotional state. Don't ask, I don't know how I got it.

I slowly walked towards Mane-iac, who was holding back her snickering.

When my hand was a few inches away from her head, one of her mane strands quickly grabbed my wrist and pulled it to the side quickly. It almost looked effortless on her part. Almost.

"You think I would let you touch me?" Mane-iac said loudly, then she started laughing again.

The Mane Six have just been sitting around the table watching our many interactions with precision-style interest.

"I can help you" I mutter quietly, almost too quietly to hear. Her ears twitched slightly when I spoke.

When she looks back to me, there is a new look in her eyes. Almost a hopeful look, as if to say, 'Really?'

I nod nearly imperceptibly, and I see a tiny smile grace her lips.

I pull my hand gently out of her prehensile mane and hold it over her forehead. I give her a look to ask 'Are you okay with this?'

She nods back, almost unnoticeable.

I take a deep breath into my lungs, and place my palm on her forehead. Instantly, I go through all of her impersonal memories; significant events during her childhood, her first job at a mane care company, making her own shampoo company, the spiral into power madness, the accident, and the showdown with the Mane Six in which she was finally victorious over the Power Ponies.

I pull my hand off of her forehead, exhale heavily, look into her eyes, and simply but cryptically say, "It is possible." I then stand up fully and leave the room.

Celestia walked up to me and looked me in the eyes.

"You didn't need to hurt her, did you?" she asked.

I shake my head no.

"But you found a way to help her, correct?"

I nod, then I begin to walk to the front doors of the castle. Princess Celestia doesn't try to stop me.

I pull open the door and begin to walk through it, but stop myself to say, "Mane-iac, or as her name used to be, Silken Strand, will be staying with me. Arrange it, i'll deal with the populace. If possible, I want her to walk back to Ponyville with me right now. See you later."

I then promptly exit the doorway and close the door before Princess Celestia has anything to say about my decision.