The Ballad of Xyclone

Ponyville, Equestria, afternoon

"Dad, is...is that you?" I asked the figure of my father in the portal.

"Who are you? And what have you done with my son?!"

"Renaldo...?" asked Veloci, in awe. "I can't believe it's actually you..."

"Wait...is that Veloci...?" My father asked. "What the hell happened to you? Why are you a horse?"

"Okay, first of all, I'm not a horse. I'm a pony. There's a difference. Second of all, this is Skyler!" He put his hooves on my shoulders and shook me.

My father looked surprised. "Son, is...that really you?" he asked.

Before I had a chance to answer, Doctor Whooves interrupted. "Purely fascinating," he said. My screwdriver says that your father, Xyclone, is the human equivalent of me!

My father notices The Doctor and gasps. "Is-Is that me as...one of you?"

"That's what my sonic screwdriver says."

"Wait, you have a sonic screwdriver as well?!" His face lit up suddenly. "Okay, I think I understand the whole pony thing, but what on Earth is that on your head?"

Doctor Whooves beamed confidently. "Oh, it's a fez. I wear fezzes here. Fezzes are cool."

"A fez though? Really?" My father asked. He then returned to me. "But is that really you, Skyler?"

"Yes, Dad, it's me. Not that you would've cared either way!"

"Skyler, what—What are you doing in there? Come back to Earth, you don't belong in that world! You're not a...pony!"

"Oh, give it a rest, Dad!" I replied angrily. "Cut the crap! You don't care whether or not I'm here or there! You never cared!"

"Skyler, that's not true! You're my son! I love you!"

"No, you don';t! You love Devon! You love Veloci! You don't love me! Actually, now that I think about it, you didn't really love Veloci here either, seeing as how you so quickly gave up searching for him all those years ago!"

My father interrupted me, raising his voice. "You think I wanted to stop looking for him?! I had no choice, okay? I had other priorities in my life! Trust me, if I could've continued my search much longer!"

"Whatever," I replied coldly.

"But that doesn't matter anymore, Skyler! Because both you and Veloci are still alive! And if my calculations are correct, you both should revert to your original forms if you go through this portal! Please come back to Earth, you two! We can go on adventures again!"

I had been staring at the ground. After a few long moments I looked back up. "No," I said to him.

Everypony gasped. "What do you mean, 'No'?!"

"I'm not going  back to Earth," I repeated.

"Why not?!" my father asked.

You've changed, Dad," I said. "You're a bitter old man. You used to be so carefree and happy. This whole 'timelord' thing has ruined you."

"Skyler, please! Just give me another chance! I can change! I swear!" he begged. The portal slowly began going crazy again.

"No!" I yelled. "That's not the only reason I refuse to go back. The truth is, I love it here; I love being in Equestria. You know why? Because I actually have a life here." I looked back at all the other ponies whom I had just been on an epic adventure with. I gestured to them as I spoke. "I actually have friends in this world; friends whom I know would do anything for me to help me out." Looking at Lyra, I smiled softly. I lowered my voice. "In this world, I have someone who loves me; I have someone whom I love right back." I returned my gaze to my father. "I never loved anyone in the human world. I never had friends as a human. And being back there with Veloci won't change anything. And another thing I like about this place: I'm actually cared for; I'm loved. That's something you never gave to me. You never cared, father!" I began to cry. "You say you'll change...but how do you fix something that's damaged beyond repair? Those eight years that Veloci was gone...those were the worst years of my life! You never helped me with homework! You never helped me with my bullying problems! You were too busy, quote-unquote, 'Saving the world from daleks and cyber-men'! You were too busy 'being a timelord'!"

My father looked down dejectedly. "You're right, son. I know; The guilt haunts me to this day. The guilt that you never got to have a childhood because of my obsession with time traveling. You may think I don't care about you, Skyler, but it's quite the opposite. I love you just as much as Devon, maybe even more. You are my son, Skyler. Why would I ever want to neglect you? That is why I now understand your decision to stay here in...Equestria. I can see it in your eyes. You would be much better off here. Are you really happy here, Skyler?"

"Yes," I replied as the portal began to shift more and more, slowly obstructing my father's face. The portal was closing up. "Yes, I am, dad."

"So be it," he replied. The view of his face deteriorated as the portal began to finally shut down. "Goodbye...my son..." I was in tears now. I didn't think I would cry so much over not seeing my father again. "I'm sorry..."

And with that, the portal quickly expanded again, blinding me and the ponies with bright light, before it contorted more violently than ever, suddenly vanishing into thin air. The portal was gone forever. My father was gone forever. I collapsed to the ground in tears. "He's gone..." I choked. Lyra and Bon-Bon trotted over to help me up. Then I smiled at Lyra. "But it's okay," I sniffled. "It's for the best."

She tilted my head towards her. "Don't you worry any, Xyclone. You have me now, remember?" We both smiled then she romantically kissed me.

After a few minutes to recollect all that had just happened, the Princesses flew off to Canterlot (the news of Chrysalis' defeat had not yet reached them) and everypony exited Twilight's library, including Twilight and Spike themselves.

"Wow, what a day this has been, huh?" Lyra said.

"Yeah!" I agreed. "Just this morning, Twilight and Bon-Bon were still psychopaths, Sombra and Chrysalis were still together, and I had no clue that Veloci was still alive!"

Bon-Bon continued my recap. "Yeah, and Lyra died, you revived her..."

Just then, she was interrupted by Applebloom and Sweetie Belle, who were running towards us. "Rainbow Dash, Rainbow Dash!" they called out. "We've been looking for you everywhere!"

"Hey, girls!" Dash greeted them warmly. Applejack and Rarity also did the same for their little sisters. "Say..." Rainbow continued. "Where's Scootaloo? I really need to speak with her!"

The two fillies said nothing. They just shuffled their hooves and stared at the ground sadly.

A look of concern spread across Rainbow Dash's face. "Uh, g-girls? Wh-Where's...Scootaloo?"

Tears appeared in both the fillies' eyes. "Scootaloo tried ta commit suicide a couple o' days ago," Apple Bloom said.

I don't really know how to describe the look that was on Rainbow's face then. It was like a mixed blend of fear, terror, disbelief, shock, sadness, and awe. "Where is she..." She was barely able to get the words out of her mouth without choking.

"She's in real bad condition—"

"WHERE...IS...SHE," snarled Rainbow Dash, pulling Applebloom and Sweetie Belle up by their collars.

"She's at the local Ponyville hospital—" As soon as the words left Sweetie Belle's mouth, Dash was gone, flying faster than the speed of light to meet Scootaloo.

Bon-Bon and I looked at each other, concerned expressions on our faces. "Lead us to her," I told the fillies. Then we ran after Rainbow Dash to the hospital.

When we got there, Rainbow Dash was still stuck at the receptionist's desk, trying to get in.

"I'M TELLING YOU, IT'S AN EMERGENCY!" she cried frantically.

"I'm sorry, Miss, but visiting hours are over! You'll have to come back tomorrow morning!"

"AARRGH!!" roared Rainbow Dash in frustration. I walked up to the desk, followed by Lyra and the others.

"Listen, Lady, we really need to see her!" I said to the clerk. "It's literally a matter of life and death!"

"I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do."

I suddenly got angry. Not laying my eyes off the clerk, I went, "Veloci! Shadow Storm!" The pony and the changeling hopped upon the receptionist desk and snarled at her evilly.

"I-I'll n-notify N-N-Nurse R-Redheart!!" stammered the receptionist, trembling in fear. She guided us to the room they were keeping Scootaloo. Before anypony could enter, Rainbow Dash darted through the doorway to the room.

When I and the others entered, we could see some of Scootaloo's classmates, along with Miss Cheerilee, already there. All of them were crying. What surprised me, though, was the fact that Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were also there. Silver Spoon was holding Diamond Tiara's shoulders as she leaned over on Scootaloo's hospital bed, holding a handkerchief and sobbing uncontrollably. As a matter of fact, she was crying more than all the rest of the students combined.

"Oh, Scootaloo..." cried Rainbow Dash, running her hoof across the critically injured filly's face, tears streaming down her blue face.

Nurse Redheart's voice cut through the sadness. "She was D.O.A. but we were able to stabilize her. She's still alive, but barely. It would be best if you go ahead and say your goodbyes. It doesn't seem like she's going to survive this. Her injuries are just much too severe. I give her about a week."

Just then, Scootaloo's eyes slowly opened. "Oh...h-hey guys..." she said weakly to her classmates. Then she noticed me and the others. "Wh-Who are y-you all...?"

I was so sad; I couldn't bring myself to say anything, so Rainbow Dash spoke for me. "T-That's Xyclone," she sniffed. "He's new here."

Scootaloo gasped weakly. "Rainbow...Dash! I-Is that...you? You finally c-came!"

"Yeah, squirt, I'm here," she sniffed, feigning a smile and crying even more. "How are ya?"

"W-Well...I've been better..." Scootaloo chuckled weakly. "Ow...it hurts to laugh..."

"Oh, Scootaloo...Why? Why did you do this?"

"Diamond Tiara pointed out to me how little I meant to everypony. No one really cares about me. I mean, you couldn't even keep up your promise to me!"

Dash looked away with guilt and covered her mouth to stop herself from sobbing. Meanwhile, everyone else glared at Diamond Tiara. "You did this?!" growled Veloci.

"I'm sorry!" Diamond wailed in between sobs. "I honestly never intended for her to get hurt!"

"I don't know who you are, yet you already disgust me," said Veloci, shaking his head.

"Scootaloo..." continued Rainbow Dash. "That's not true and you know it! If nopony cares about you, then why are we all here? Scootaloo, everypony in this room loves you! I love you! And I am so terribly sorry for not keeping up my promise! There-There was an emergency! Princess Celestia needed our help! I would've come if I could! Honest! I'm so sorry if you're mad at me!"

Scootaloo put an IV-covered hoof on Rainbow's foreleg. "It's...It's okay, R-Rainbow Dash..." said Scootaloo, her voice squeaking. "I...I forgive...y-you...Now that I know the..." she began coughing sickly. "Now that I know he reason why you never showed..." She continued coughing loudly. Her heart monitor began beeping as well.

Nurse Redheart trotted over to inspect it. "There's an irregularity in her pulse," she said. "This isn't good."

"Rainbow Dash," choked Scootaloo, tears beginning to fall down her face. "It's like I t-told you...y-you're way too...*cough*...awesome to hurt anyone, no matter how hard you might try. I...*cough, cough*...I know you, Rainbow Dash...."

"Her vitals are dropping!" exclaimed the Nurse. "Somepony get me a doctor, NOW!"

"...It—*cough*—was fun while it lasted...Rainbow Dash..."

"Don't say that, Scootaloo!!" cried Rainbow Dash finally. "You can live through this!! I know you can!! Don't give up!!!"

"I...I see a light..."

"NO, SCOOTALOO!! LEAVE THE LIGHT ALONE!! DON'T GO INTO THE LIGHT!!"

"It keeps getting brighter and brighter..."

"SCOOTALOO, NO!!!!!" screamed Rainbow Dash.

"Goodbye...Rainbow Dash...you were the best big sister a filly could ever have..."

"SCOOTALOO, PLEASE!!!"

"I...love...you...goodbye..." The heart monitor slowly went from beeping sporadically to just one long monotone beep.

"S...Scootaloo...?" whimpered Dash. A doctor suddenly pushed her aside with a defibrillator.

"Clear!" he said, shocking Scootaloo's lifeless body with the machine. "Clear!" he said again after nothing happened. After nothing happened again, he tried once more. "Clear!!" The doctor shocked Scootaloo with the defibrillator at least five times, but to no avail.

Finally, Rainbow Dash pushed him aside. "Oh, for Celestia's sake, you're not doing it hard enough!!" She started pounding on Scootaloo's chest. "Come, on...wake up, Scootaloo! Wake up!" Her pounding offered the same effect as the defibrillator, in which there was no effect. She pounded on her chest harder and harder. "LIVE! LIVE, SCOOTALOO! YOU ARE NOT GONNA DIE ON ME! NOT TODAY! DON'T GIVE UP ON ME, SCOOTALOO, PLEASE! I'M WON'T GIVE UP ON YOU!! I REFUSE!! LIVE, CELESTIADAMN YOU, LIVE!!" Tears began to shield her vision. "WHY WON'T YOU WAKE UP?!?! DON'T LEAVE ME LIKE THIS!!!" she sobbed. "PLEASE!!!!" Finally, her tears got the best of her and she stopped pounding violently on her chest. Applejack and Twilight walked over to her and put their hooves on Dash's shoulder and shook their heads.

"Dash, please...just stop," said Twilight. "There's nothing you can do."

"Yeah" agreed Applejack. "C'mon, RD, you're causin' a scene."

Dash turned to me. "What about you?!" she asked. "Can't you perform that restoration spell on Scootaloo, like the one you used on Lyra to bring her back?!"

"I...I wish it was that simple, Dash. But it was only a 50/50 chance that it would work. We were lucky that it worked on Lyra. I don't know if I even have the energy to perform it again if I could. I'm...I'm so sorry, Dashie."

Her mouth quivering, Rainbow Dash turned to look at the dead body of her almost-sister Scootaloo. A melancholy silence fell over the room. The only sounds that could be heard were that of crying ponies and the long droning flatline of Scootaloo's heart monitor. Dash just sat there, staring in sad silence at her. Suddenly, she angrily whipped around. "YOU DID THIS!!" she screamed at Diamond Tiara. "THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!! IF YOU HADN'T EGGED SCOOTALOO ON LIKE THAT, WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T EVEN BE IN THIS SITUATION!!!"

"I'm sorry!!!" bawled Diamond Tiara again. "I was just messing around!! I was playing with her!! I didn't think she'd actually kill herself!!!"

Dash twitched. "YOU THINK THAT TELLING SOMEONE TO COMMIT SUICIDE IS JUST 'PLAYING AROUND'?!?!?!?!" She lunged towards the filly, causing her to jump back. Both Twilight and Applejack had to hold her back. "YOU'RE BOTH EVIL MONSTERS!!!! YOU'RE SCUM!!!!" she roared. "I HOPE YOUR PARENTS DISOWN YOU!!! I HOPE YOU PAY FOR YOUR VILLAINY!!!!"

"Rainbow Dash, please! Calm down!" said Twilight, struggling to keep her from assaulting the young filly.

"AAAAAAARRRRRGHGH!!!!! LET GO OF ME!!!!!! LET ME AT HER!!!!! I'LL SHOW HER WHAT 'PLAYING AROUND' IS!!!!!!"

"Dash, no!"

Applejack glared at Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. "I think it's best that you two leave, now," she said firmly.

"But—B-But—!" stammered Diamond.

"NOW," Applejack growled.

"O...Okay..." sighed Diamond dejectedly, sniffling. With that, the two evil fillies slowly drudged out of the room.

Rainbow Dash tried to calm herself down. Applejack and Twilight released their hold on her and she once again faced the orange filly, of whom she loved so dearly. "Oh, who am I kidding? I did this; this is my fault. If I just kept my promise, none of this would've ever happened! Scootaloo!" she wailed, burying her face in Scootaloo's chest. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!!"

What happened next was nothing short of a miracle. "R...Rainbow...D-Dash...?" groaned Scootaloo suddenly. Everyone froze, their eyes wide. They all looked up in shock to see the little orange pegasus open her eyes once more. We all gazed up at the heart monitor as the long droning flatline was replaced my rhythmic beeping.

Scootaloo had somehow come back to life.

"SCOOTALOO?!" shrieked Rainbow Dash, lifting her head up. "YOU'RE...YOU'RE ALIVE?!?!" A joyous, elated grin spread across the blue pegasus' face. "YOU'RE ALIVE!!!!!" She hugged Scootaloo tightly. "YOU'RE ALIVE!!!!!"

"Ow...hurts...pain..." gasped Scootaloo.

Rainbow stopped hugging her. "Oh...right! Sorry!"

"Rainbow Dash, you...you saved my life! But how?!"

"I don't know and I don't care!" smiled Dash, hugging her again. "I'm just glad you're back!! Today, Scootaloo! No procrastination! I'll sign the adoption papers today! And that's something you can count on!!"

"Adoption papers?" asked everypony simultaneously.

"Oh, yeah!" remembered Dash. "Everyone, I have an announcement to make! I am going to adopt Scootaloo here as my sister! I actually had planned on doing so weeks ago, but I wasn't able to because of the mission. But now I'm here to stay." She looked back at Scootaloo. "I promise to never break a promise to you ever again," she said, before giving Scootaloo a light kiss on her forehead. "You're a part of my family now, and I will always be loyal to my family."

"Scootaloo had tears in her eyes by this time. "I love you, Rainbow Dash..."

"I...I love you too, sister," sniffled Rainbow. The two siblings hugged each other again.

I looked over at Veloci, who was standing next to me and I laughed at what he was doing.

"I'm not gonna cry," he sniffed. "I'm too masculine to cry...WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT'S JUST SO FRIGGIN' ADORABLE!!!!!! AGH!!! MY HEART!!!! I CAN'T TAKE IT!!!!" he cried. With that, he fell to the floor. "H'NNNNNGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!"

"Oh, get up, you big baby!" I laughed at him.

Suddenly, another voice entered the room: "SCOOTALOO!!!!" It was Diamond Tiara.

"DT, wait!" said Silver Spoon after her.

They both barreled back into the crowded hospital room. Diamond Tiara made a beeline for Scootaloo's bed. It looked as if she hadn't stopped sobbing since Applejack asked her to leave. She closed her eyes as she spoke. "Scootaloo, I'm so sorry! I know you can't hear me, but I feel horrible about what happened! I just wish I could've apologized to you when I had the chance, before you..." Her voice shook. "...D-Died."

"I'm listening," Scootaloo said to her.

Diamond Tiara gasped, opening her eyes. "What!? YOU'RE ALIVE!?! But I thought—!"

"You said you wanted to apologize? I'm waiting."

"Oh my Celestia, Scootaloo...I'm so, so, soooo sorry for what I did! Ever since I did that, I started to feel guilty. I thought to myself that maybe I've been too hard on you, Applebloom, and Sweetie Belle. I tried looking for you later that day, to apologize, but you had disappeared. It wasn't until school the next day that I found out from the other students that you had&...jumped off a cliff. As soon as I heard what happened, I rushed to the hospital, but they wouldn't let me see you because I was without parental supervision. And my Dad, Filthy Rich, was apparently too busy to come to the hospital."

"I-Is...Is this true?" Scootaloo asked.

"Yeah, I can vouch for her," replied Silver Spoon. "I kinda felt the same way she did. I guess I'm really sorry, too."

"C-Can I tell you a secret, Scootaloo?" Diamond asked the orange pony.

"O-kay...?" replied Scootaloo, confused.

"I've...I've always kind of liked you...a lot. I've always wanted to be your friend. I guess that's why I pick on you and the CMCs so much. I-I guess it's kinda my way of...f-flirting." Her face turned red from embarrassment. "But I know you probably don't ever want to see us again after this, and I understand. I'll...I'll just leave you alone." She began to leave when Scootaloo stopped her.

"You really sound sincere about this...you really have changed?"

"Yes! Yes, I have! I'm a totally different pony now, I swear to Celestia!" She didn't even realize that she was begging on her knees.

"Well, I suppose I could give you one more chance. You better mean it, though!"

"Oh, I do! Honest! I just feel horrible about all this! I just want closure!"

"As long as you apologize to Sweetie and Applebloom, we'll be fine, okay?"

"Oh, you got it!" Then Diamond and Silver approached the other two members of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. "Listen, I know we haven't exactly gotten along over the past few years, but...could you find it in your hearts to forgive us?"

"Well..." pondered Applebloom. "Ah believe if Scootaloo can be friends with y'all, so can we!"

"Oh, thank you guys! You won't regret this, trust me! I am a changed mare!" With that, the two reformed fillies leave the room. "We'll come and visit you later, Scootaloo! First, we gotta let everyone know that we're friends with the three coolest fillies in Ponyville!"

The Crusaders all smile. Then Rainbow Dash hugs Scootaloo again. "I'm so glad you're okay!" she exclaims.

Wiping the tears from my eyes, I spoke again. "Well, I think it's about time to get out of here. You can stay here, RD. We'll let you and your new sister catch!" Followed by everypony else, I turned to leave.

"Oh, and Xyclone?" Rainbow Dash said suddenly. I turned around to look at her. "Thank you...for everything. You're the coolest friend a mare could have."

"You're totally welcome," I said, before turning back around to leave. Lyra walked next to me as we left the hospital. I gave her a little smooch on the cheek as we did. When we got outside, though, we saw Princess Celestia and Princess Luna standing there, their wings unfurled. I gasped, quickly bowing down to the ground. "Celestia! Luna! What are you two doing here?!"

"They both smiled. "We just heard the news," Celestia said. "They said that you, Xyclone, single-hoofedly defeated both Queen Chrysalis and King Sombra!"

I looked away and blushed. "Well, it wasn't just me! I had the help of all these amazing ponies! Twilight, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Vinyl Scratch, Derpy Hooves, Octavia, Bon-Bon, Lyra, Violet Dawn, Veloci, and Shadow Storm. Rainbow Dash is back in the hospital with Scootaloo."

The princesses cringed when they saw Veloci and Shadow. "AAH! The Scaly One! And a changeling?! What have you done bringing them here?!?!" panicked Celestia frantically.

The two ponies in question stepped back a little. I stepped in front of them. "Hey, it's okay! They're cool! The Scaly One is actually my friend Veloci, whom I thought died eight years ago!"

The princesses calmed down a bit.

"And the changeling is Shadow Storm! He actually hated Chrysalis! He claims she once tried to disown him!"

"Are you positive they don't want to destroy Equestria?" asked Luna worriedly.

Then Veloci spoke on his own. "Lady, I didn't even know what 'Equestria' was until this morning."

Then Shadow spoke. "Yeah, and I'm only 15! I'm too young to take over Equestria, even if I wanted to."

"Well, I am going to trust you with this one, Xyclone," continued Celestia. "Anyway, the reason we're both here is to personally thank you for saving our world! Not only that, but to formally welcome you to Ponyville!"

"Thank you but there really is no need—" I began to say, but was cut off.

"But there is! Xyclone, Sombra and Chrysalis were two of the worst enemies Equestria has ever had, and the fact that you defeated them both is not something to shake a hoof at! On everypony's behalf, we are eternally grateful!"

I looked away again. "Stop it, you're making me blush!" I said.

"Well, my sister and I must return to Canterlot now. Farewell, Sir Xyclone! Thank Odin for that portal!"

After the two princesses were out of sight, I kissed Lyra yet again. Then I suddenly realized something. "Well, I guess I should try and find somewhere to live..." I said.

Right after the words left my mouth, a pony walked up to me; a pony I had never met before, or seen on the show, yet still looked familiar for some reason. He was a pegasus; he had dark-green fur; he had a brown mane, and he was wearing golden glasses. He actually looked like a ponified version of Harry Potter. "I'm sorry, but I couldn't help but overhear about your predicament," he said.

"What...predicament?" I asked the random pony.

"You just said you had no place to live..."

"Oh. I'm sorry, but do I know you? You just look so familiar to me for some reason..."

"No, I don't believe we've ever met. Anyway, I just bought a new house, and I've been looking for some roommates. I was wondering if you'd be interested?"

I looked at Lyra for approval; she nodded. "Go ahead," she whispered to me. "I'll be fine at Bon-Bon's!"

I shook the pegasus' hoof. "You've got yourself a deal—I'm sorry, I never got your name?"

"It's Digital," the pony said. "It's Digital Pwny, but my friends call me Digi for short!"

"Well, you got a deal, Digital!" I then looked back over at Veloci, Dawn, and Shadow. "Actually," I continued. "Do you think you might be able to spare some room for my friends here? You know, until they can get back on their hooves?"

"I don't see why not!" Digital replied. "The more, the merrier!"

"Thanks a million, Digi! I'll come by later! Hey what's the address, by the way?"

"Oh, I live right next to Bon-Bon and Lyra."

Both Lyra's and my face lit up. "Oh, even better!"

"Well, I should get going. It was nice meeting you..."

"Xyclone," I finished. "The name's Xyclone!"

"Okay, see you later, Xyclone!"

Right after Digital left, both Vinyl Scratch and Octavia suddenly trotted up to me. "Hey, Xyclone! I've been wanting to ask you somethin' ever since we got back to Ponyville!"

"Well, what is it? Shoot!"

"I've been thinkin'...about when you first came here and I gave you a tour of my place...you looked so happy. You really like music, don't you?"

I nodded immediately. "Oh, yes! Music was one of the only things that kept me sane during all the bullying. I've always wanted to be a DJ or a music producer. It's been one of my all-time dreams!"

Vinyl smiled happily. "Well, if you're gonna be stayin' here in Equestria, you'll need a job!" she said, chuckling. "I think I've got one for ya! How'd you like to become my apprentice? I could show you the tricks of the trade; how to make music and DJ in front of huge crowds!"

A wide grin spread across my face. I darted over to Vinyl and squeezed her tightly. "WHAT?! ARE YOU SERIOUSLY ASKING ME THIS RIGHT NOW?!?!"

"Y...Yes..." choked the snow-white mare, trying to pull herself off me. "How's...that...sound? You wanna...be...my protege?"

"'HOW'S THAT SOUND?!' OF COURSE I WANNA BE YOUR APPRENTICE!!!" I exclaimed giddily, not loosening my grip on Vinyl.

"C-Cool..." she coughed. "Now...will you...please...LET GO OF ME?!"

"Oh," I chuckled nervously, finally releasing her. "S-Sorry. I'm just so happy!"

"You know what, Xyclone? So am I. This'll be good for both of us. It'll be a good chance for us to get to know each other better...if you know what I mean..."

"W...What's that supposed to mean?"

Vinyl punched me playfully. "Oh come on, Xyclone! I'm just messin' with ya! I know you're with Lyra now!"

"Oh..." I said, chuckling awkwardly.

"We'll start havin' sessions whenever you feel ready, Xyclone. Well, me and Octi' gotta go; we got some business to handle at home. I'll see ya later, dude!"

"See ya!" I called back as the two ponies walked off. "Oh, this is gonna be so! Awesome!"

After Vinyl and Octavia left, I looked back at all the ponies who I had become friends with over the past month. Everything suddenly sank in. I was here. I was really here. I was a pony in Equestria! No more boring human school, no more emotional abuse from my father...I kept biting myself to make sure that I wasn't dreaming (I couldn't pinch myself, I had no fingers!). Thank God that I wasn't. I just stood there in the middle of town while everypony went back home to their normal lives. I just let it all wash over me. Twilight, though, stayed with me until everyone was gone, and then she surprised me by kissing me on the cheek. Shocked by the gesture, I touched my cheek and blushed. "W-What was that for?" I asked the alicorn princess.

"That's for forgiving me after how much I mistreated you," she replied girlishly.

"S-So you decided to kiss me?" I stammered, my hoof still on my cheek.

"W-Well, it's for that and it was because I...always th-thought you were k-kinda h-hot..." she stammered nervously.

"Oh...Th-Thank you..." I said to her.

"Bye, X-Xyclone," she said to me as she walked off.

Returning to my thoughts, I was still in disbelief. I smiled to myself and started thinking about what the future held for me.

I used to wonder what friendship could be...until they shared their magic with me...