From Equestria and Beyond: The Personal Memoirs of Princess Pixel Berry

Chapters

Foreword
1 - Before Equestria
2 - Welcome to Equestria
3 - Starting Points
4 - The Beginnings of a New Life

Foreword

Another day in Ponyville for the Sparkle family. Nothing exciting happening, no new adventure. Just a peaceful afternoon with each other. After everything that had happened, this was the best thing they could have asked for. “How’s lunch comin’ guys?” DJ asked from the dining room. Nyx, Spike, and Twilight were making lunch for everypony to enjoy.

“Few more minutes, Dad!” Nyx yelled back. A moment later, there was a knocking at the door.

“Can you get that, dear?” asked Twilight from the kitchen.

“I’m on it!” DJ said back while getting up from the table and heading to the front door. He opened it to find one of his friends waiting for him. “Hey there Ditzy! What’s goin’ on girl?”

“Hiya DJ!” the mailmare greeted. “I got a special delivery for you!” Ditzy put her head inside her mail bag and pulled out a small brown package. She put a clip board on top and said, “Sign here, please.”

DJ picked up the pen in his deep blue magic and signed his name for the delivery. Ditzy hoofed him the package and stowed the clipboard back in the bag. “Thanks, Ditz. Hey, wanna stick around? We’re just about to sit down for lunch.”

“Thanks for the offer, DJ, but I already have plans with the Doctor after I finish my route. Thanks for the offer though.”

“No problem, Ditzy. See ya around.” DJ watched as the grey pegasus mare flew off, narrowly missing one their neighbors’ houses on the way. DJ chuckled at the sight and closed the door. He then focused on the package in his magical aura.

“Who was at the door?” asked a pale blue unicorn sitting at the table, also awaiting lunch.

“Ditzy; she had a package for me. Only, I don’t remember ordering anything. Twilight?” he called.

“Yes, dear?”

“Did you order an extra book this week? Ditzy just dropped off a package and, based on the size, I’m guessing it’s a book.”

“No DJ. I already got all my orders for the library and I haven’t placed any others yet.” Twilight then walked into the dining room. “Have you opened it yet?”

“Was just about to.”

“Then get to it! The Great and Powerful Trixie does not like to be kept in suspense!” Twilight and DJ sighed in exhaustion. It was taking longer than it should to get Trixie to use the first pony instead of her usual third.

“Trixie, could you go get Dusk and Scootaloo? Lunch will be coming out momentarily.” Trixie sighed and got up from the table.

“Trixie will do as you ask, Twilight. But you better not start without Trixie!” DJ chuckled softly and then began to open the package. What he pulled out shocked him greatly and the same went for Twilight. It was a book, like DJ guessed, and its cover was that of a familiar looking alicorn staring off into the distance, her horn lit with her unique magic, standing in front of a large mage of Equestria. The title and author were just as surprising as the cover. It read From Equestria and Beyond: The Personal Memoirs of Princess Pixel Berry and it was written by the same pony.

“What the what?” asked DJ to the open air. “Pixel wrote a book?! When did she become an author?”

“I have no clue, DJ, but why did you get a copy?” Then Twilight noticed something sticking out of the book. “Hey,” she said pointing to the object, “I think there’s a letter with it.” DJ pulled out the slip of paper from between the pages and read it aloud.

Dear my brother, DJ, and family,

I bet you found it surprising that I wrote a book, didn’t you? Well, I have always wanted to be an author and after everything that has happened to me in Equestria, I felt this was the best way to tell everypony. Especially after you disappeared DJ; there was so much that happened and I thought this would be the easiest way to tell you everything. I hope you and the others enjoy my story!

With love, your sister,

Princess Pixel Berry

“Wow, this should be interesting,” DJ commented.

“What should be?” asked Scootaloo walking in the room. Trixie followed behind carrying a small, indigo colored, alicorn colt in her magic. The colt was smiling and laughing as he floated around his family. Twilight smiled at her son, Winter Dusk, as she took him in her magic and put him in his high chair at the table.

“It’s this book that your aunt Pixel Berry sent me, Scoots. Apparently is talks about her adventures since she came to Equestria,” DJ explained. Not even a second later, Nyx and Spike came out carrying a large plate of sandwiches, a large bowl of soup, and bowls for each member of the family. The two spread the dishes out and then walked over to DJ to join in the conversation.

“Are we going to hear the story?” asked Nyx who had a glimmer in her eyes. Even after all these years, Nyx loved being read stories. DJ laughed a little.

“I don’t know, Nyx. You know your mother doesn’t like anypony reading at the table,” DJ said with a smirk at his wife, who proceeded to elbow him in the gut. “Oof!”

“Just read the dang thing already!” All eyes snapped up and over to the table where a grey coated stallion was digging into their lunch. His black hair was messy and unkempt, like DJ’s, and his eyes showed no emotion at all, despite the smirk that was still present as he ate. DJ gave him a deadpanned stare.

“What are you doing out?” he asked the stallion.

“I got the munchies,” he shrugged in response. DJ face-hoofed.

“You are worse than a pothead, Malice.”

Malice only sneered in response. “I’ll take that as a compli-sult.” DJ sighed in exasperation and the others sat down at the table. DJ, Malice, Twilight, Trixie, Spike, Nyx, Scootaloo, and Winter Dusk all began to dig into their meals. As they were beginning to finish, Nyx voiced her question again.

“So, are you gonna read to us, daddy?”

DJ looked up from his food and found everypony staring at him. DJ snorted a little and picked up the book in his magic and levitated it in front of him. “Alright, alright. Let’s see, ah, there’s a foreword. We’ll start there!”

Scootaloo and Spike let out mutual groans. “Ugh, just skip to the story,” they spoke together. Twilight was quick to shush her daughter and little brother.

“It’ always good to start at the beginning, you know that. Now then, Pixel Berry, let’s what you have in store for us.

Greetings ponies and assorted creatures of Equestria. For those that don’t know me, I am Princess Pixel Berry, the Princess of Lightning and daughter of Princess Celestia, princess of the Sun. But I wasn’t always her daughter, in fact, I wasn’t even always a pony. There was so much that happened to me these past five years and I want to share them with everypony! My story spans not only in Equestria, but to the surrounding kingdoms, too. From the Gryphon Kingdoms to the Minotaur Lands and into the vastness of the Badlands. My story was not always happy and I doubt that it will ever stay that way, but as long as I have my friends and family with me in my heart, then I know nothing can truly hurt me. So in honor of my entire family, I bring you to my personal memoirs of a girl who just wanted to live a happy life, but got so much more.

The Sparkle stared at DJ in shock of Pixel’s oh so personal foreword and dedication. Even Trixie was wiping tears from her eyes. Malice was the only one not showing emotion, mostly because he didn’t possess such capabilities.

“Wow,” Spike commented. “That’s deep; especially for Pixel Berry.”

“Wait,” started DJ, “when did Berry become the Princess of Lightning?”

“I am not too sure on the details myself, honey,” said Twilight. “Celestia just announced it while you were gone and everypony seemed to accept it. The story goes that when Pixel was crowned she caused a large bolt of lightning to crash down on the topmost spire of Canterlot Castle to prove she was as such. There was no damage, though. I didn’t see it myself, but others say it was quite the sight.”

DJ grumbled about missing the good stuff, but Malice got him to refocus on the book. “Come on, get on with the story!”

“What’s with you?” DJ asked, his nose in the book.

“What? Just because I am murderous demon, doesn’t mean I don’t like a good story. Now does it?”

DJ stared blankly in response to Malice’s words, but just shook it off. “Okay, back to story…” and DJ began to read the story that his sister had kept from them for years:

From Equestria and Beyond: The Personal Memoirs of Princess Pixel Berry

Written by Princess Pixel Berry

“What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us.” – Henry David Thoreau

1 - Before Equestria

Chapter One

Before Equestria

What you will hear from me, Princess Pixel Berry, is the full and exact truth of my origins. It was many years ago that I was born, twenty years to be precise, in a land that nopony has ever heard of. I was born in the year of 1998 A.D. in New York in the United States of America. My explanation for this? Because I am not from Equis in any form. I was born on a planet in another universe, one known as Earth. This land is inhabited by only one sentient species: humans. Humans are bipedal creatures that look like hairless, tailless monkeys. Their greatest feature? Their minds. Human minds are filled by imagination and dreams that aspired to create technologies that puts some of Equestria’s greatest magic to shame. Humanity built towers that rose into the skies as much as mountains, created machines that could ferry one or hundreds across land, sea, and air. Not even space travel was outside of their reach. That’s right. Humans traveled into space, they lived in space, and even landed on the moon many times.

Now you must be wondering what this means about your princess. Well, it means that I, too, was once human. Actually, I still am human, but that comes at a later time. Allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is Leandra and I am human. I hail from this world and know many of its technologies that I have assisted in bringing to Equestria. Television, better trains, and even better movies and music are inventions that I brought with me from Earth. I, of course, can’t take all the credit as most of it was the work of my brother, DJ, but again that will come at a later time. Did I come to invade your world? Am I a threat? No. To this day I do not know how I got to Equestria and, to be honest, I couldn’t really care how or why. This is my home now.

On to the reason I tell you this. Now that I am an official princess of this land, I can no longer hide who I am and where I come from. So now that you know my real name, the name of my home, and what I really am, we focus on my story.

It began three years after I was born. There was a terrible accident that took both of them from me and I was forced into an orphanage. Life there was unbearable and hard. I tried to make friends; I tried to live a good life, but it never worked. I was bullied and punished by our sadistic caretaker. She would force us to do everything she wanted us to. Whether it be clean the entire house on our hands and knees with our toothbrushes or something just as humiliating. And if we disobeyed her, our dinner was taken away and shoved outside for the night. Whether it was clear, raining, snowing, even if a hurricane was raging, she would throw us out. It was not a happy time of my life.

The only thing that made my life there bearable was my older brother, Harry. Well, actually my brother was really my sister, her name was Harriet, Harry for short. I called her my brother because that’s how she acted: she would protect me from the bullies, save me from punishments from our caretaker, and would give me her dinner whenever mine was taken. It also didn’t help that she was the biggest tomboy that I had ever seen, even her voice was gruff at times. She was always there for me. I just wish I knew what happened to her. See, Harry was always a rebel and never just agreed to do something. DJ reminds me of her so much. Always needed all the facts, could never take things as just the way are, and if something wasn’t right then it needed to change.

In short, she was our caretaker’s least favorite ward. The two of them were always arguing and fighting. Harry spent a lot of nights outside alone. Harry didn’t care though, she wanted things to be better for us, for everyone at the orphanage. Even the bullies. No one deserved this horrible life and Harry tried to fight tooth and nail to change it. There was the last straw, though. One night, Harry and our caretaker were in a heated argument over the conditions of this house. Harry threatened to take me and leave this house before it collapsed and killed us all. That really lit the fire in that old cod’s britches. She grab my brother by her ear and dragged her to the door. With a heavy shove, she threw her out into the fierce storm that was raging right outside. She yelled that if Harry wanted to leave so bad, then she better not come back. Then with a loud slam, the door was closed and my sister was gone.

The next morning, the caretaker opened the door again, expecting to see Harry lying on the front porch, waiting to be let inside. Only she found nothing. There wasn’t a single trace of my sister anywhere. My sister was gone. From that day on, my life went into a massive down spiral. The bullies attacked me relentlessly without my older sibling to protect me. The caretaker took all her anger that she held for Harry on me. There were nights that there was no way I could lie down of sit comfortably, my bottom was just so sore. Most of the time, I didn’t even do anything to deserve punishment.

It was a few years after that, when I turned seven that everything changed. By that time, I was the only child left at the orphanage, the others having either been adopted or ran off on their own. Everyone but me. I was all alone with that… that… monster! She was so much worse with only one child to look after. She was constantly intoxicated and was brutal on me! I had to get away, so one night, when she was passed out drunk, I took everything I could: food, clothes, and any valuables I could get my hands on. Then I got the Tartarus out of there! I ran for days on nothing but adrenaline. I had to get as far away as I could before I decided on my next course of action. I wanted to make sure there was no way she followed me.

I eventually found myself in New York City, Manhattan to be precise. There I took up the life of a petty thief. Yeah, that’s right, I stole so that I wouldn’t starve. I did what I had to do just to survive, even if it meant doing things that I wasn’t comfortable with. I lived like this for months, always on the run from angry stall tenders and merchants. I had very little money and was always on the verge of starvation. After one of my ‘raids’ I found myself in a narrow back alley. I had barely gotten away, but I could hear the authorities hot on my trail. Then I heard someone calling over to me. I turned around and saw a small child, couldn’t have been more than five years old, gesturing me into a dumpster. I knew that this wasn’t going to be pleasant, but I held back my revulsion and dived on in.

After a few moments, I could hear the police search the alley way, but left after a few minutes since they were unable to find anything. I pulled myself out of the trash-filled receptacle. I turned around to thank my savior to find that he wasn’t alone in the dumpster. There were six in total, all no older than the one who saved me. They all looked so lonely and broken. My heart felt for them deeper than anything I had ever felt before. I couldn’t leave them, not like this. They saved me from getting arrested and probably sent back to that witch. I had to help them, so I made them a proposition. Together, we promised to find a home for all of them; a place with parents that would care for them with love.

As a group of seven, we set off on journey for homes that took us all over the East coast of the country. It was a hard journey, filled with hitchhiking, petty thievery, and a few prison escapes. You can’t evade the police every time. It took months and years, but one by one, I found my wards the homes that they deserved, the lives that they so desperately needed. Along the way, we gathered more and more orphans and I promised to help each and every one. It after the first six that I had found homes for that I discovered a new way to help children. I discovered that there were children being abused and neglected by their parents every day and I felt that somehow I could help them.

Thus, came into being the Leandra Rescue Missions. We would watch these children’s lives from the shadows to confirm our suspicions of abuse and when things were confirmed, I would sneak into their house in the dead of night and convince the child to come with me. Sometimes, I would take the child with us to find them a home somewhere far away. Most times, I just got them to the local police station and delivered the evidence we had collected. The first couple of rescues went off without a hitch and we had developed quite the squad of child saviors. I could even hear my name whispered among the orphan slums in some of the larger cities. I was being called a savior amongst those without hope. It made me feel happy, and hope that wherever my sister was that she was proud of what I was doing.

Then the worst possible thing happened. On my fourth rescue mission, we hit a snag. This young girl, only four years old, was being constantly verbally and physically abused by her father. Her mother had succumbed to illness after she was born and the dad was drunkard. We had enough evidence that would have put him away for years. But that never happened. As was getting the girl out, the dad woke from his drunken sleep and stopped us. He was furious! I tried to put myself in front of the girl to protect her just like my sister used to do, but he simply slapped me away. I was thrown into a desk and broke a few of the drawers upon impact. I was in so much pain, but I couldn’t pass out, not while we were still in danger. Then I saw her father pull out his large shotgun (a projectile weapon designed to kill in an instant) and ready it at her head! I knew I had to act, but what could I do? I looked around frantically looking for something to save us both.

Then I saw it, in the remains of one of the drawers was a silver pistol (smaller version of the shotgun designed for up close use). I grabbed it and aimed it at the father I pulled the trigger as hard I could and the recoil once again sent me into the desk. I felt the dizziness and fatigue begin to set it, but I still needed to complete my mission. I looked up and was horrified by what I saw. . I meant to just graze him or get his arm or leg, but what I did was much worse. The projectile had gone right through the older man’s head and splattered his brain out the other side and onto the nearby wall. The girl had seen the entire thing, while I had been blinded by the flash of the fire. I had killed someone! I had taken a life, it may not have been innocent life, but I still took something that I had no right to take. And in front of his daughter!

I freaked! I grabbed the girl and ran, leaving the gun behind. Once we were at the local police station, I forced all of the collected evidence we had into her hands and left her there for the police. I couldn’t bring myself to be around her. I had taken her only family from the world of the living. I did something horrible and I could never forgive myself. I took my group, eight others at the time, and headed out to the next destination. It was on that day that my life was consumed with darkness. It was the start of my true randomization. I sealed away my true emotions behind a metaphorical mask so that they could never be seen. I needed to be strong for these kids, I couldn’t let my fears or my emotions stop me from finding them homes.

I wasn’t always on the road, though. Every now and then there was a family who would happen upon us and give us a temporary home. These times gave us a chance to resupply and get some real rest and relaxation. It never lasted, unfortunately. I had some kids in the group who were not big fans of mine and my murder of another person was the perfect tool they could use against me. Anytime someone who took us in told me that they were considering adopting me, the brats would step in and bring up the fact that I was a killer. The next was when we were always sent off, and my heart would always break at getting so close. After five times, I gave up on the notion of ever getting adopted myself. I just had to focus on the children in my care, even the ones who felt that it should be them in charge, not me. I never let it get to me, but I always focused on finding them homes before anyone else.

This lasted years and years. My only time to myself was when we had to split up before we were caught by the authorities. It happened in several cities and I usually found myself in either some electronic store or a library. It was there that I learned so much, most of which I was just intrigued by instead of wanting to use. Knowledge for knowledge’s sake. During this time, I came upon all of you. In my world, we have certain television show called My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. It is a cartoon that tells the story of Twilight Sparkle, student of Princess Celestia, and her five friends who protect Equestria through the magic of friendship and harmony. Sound familiar? My sister and I grew up watching the original series at the orphanage (thankfully TV was available or I probably would have ran off sooner) and fell in love with the new series that told of this land. Equestria, it was everything I wanted. Friendship, harmony, peace. It was the stuff of dreams and I would always dream that I was there, or rather here. But dreams had no place in the real world, they never came true. Or so I thought.

It was five years ago, in the city of Pittsburg which was large factory town that was famous for being highly abandoned. This was one of the rare times where I had no children to look after, I had found each one a home, but that didn’t stop me. I was always looking out for those in need, and I found one in a young boy who was around seven years old. It was the killing incident all over again: dead mother and an alcoholic father. Now that I was fifteen and several more rescues under my metaphorical belt, I felt I could take this on no problem. Boy, was I wrong! It started off easy, these are never easy. In hindsight, that should have been my first sign that things were gonna go wrong. I had gotten the boy all packed up and ready to go and we were just making our way out when the lights in the room we were turned on suddenly and without warning.

The two of us turned around to see the boy’s father brandishing a black handgun. He was ticked that I was taking his ‘property’. Hearing him say those words really got me riled up. With a quick motion, I threw a chair at the old man causing him to get distracted as he dodged. I urged the boy to run and get the police as I ran off in a different direction. I called insult after insult after the drunken jerk trying to get him to chase me instead of his son. I don’t know how long I ran, I only knew that he followed me the whole way. Eventually, I ended up running into one the many abandoned factories of the industrial district. He chased me all throughout the building, floor after floor, until there was nowhere left to run.

I was cornered, nowhere to go except out the big window right behind me. That way out led to certain death via a five story drop. Then, I heard the police sirens blaring outside the window. I let out a sigh of relief, but it was too early to relax as the drunk father entered the room, his gun brandished in his outstretched hand. He had me backed up against the window, scared for my life. I wasn’t ready to die, not yet, not now! A nearby door burst open, the police had arrived to save me. But they were too late. The sudden shock caused the man to pull the trigger on the gun. I saw the flash, I heard the loud bang, and then all I knew was pain.

I was falling, falling farther than I ever had. All though on was that I wished that boy would be put in a better home, that someone would love him as he should be loved. My own life was gone now, I was dying, I just knew it. Then, I finally hit the ground; only I wasn’t dead. I wasn’t in pain anymore, well, not deathly pain. I felt sore from the hard landing, but I was alive I knew that. I slowly stood up from the ground, realizing that I was in a bush. Which was strange, as there were no shrubbery around the factory that I saw when I ran inside. I was curious now, so I stood with as much effort as I could. And what I saw made me immediately forget my pain.

I saw all of you. Ponies; ponies as far as I could see. My first thought on the matter was that this was the best dream ever! I gasped out loud and nearly screamed, “OMG!! Ponies!!!”

The ponies around me were nowhere near as happy as I was at seeing each other. They screamed and one even whacked me with her purse! Can you believe that?! I mean that’s just plain rude!! The way those ponies were acting was no way to treat a stranger, they didn’t have to be nice, but that didn’t mean they had to be jerks. Wasn’t until later when I found out that I landed in the more stuck up areas of Canterlot. Knowing that put a lot in perspective, if you know what I mean. I got a little ticked at their bad behaviors and I started chewing them out. Next thing I know, I have the flat of a spear hitting me in the back of the head. As my world begins to go black, I overhear some of the guards saying that things were about to get interesting around here. They had no idea and neither did I.

DJ finished reading the chapter that told their entire family how their good friend Pixel Berry started her life. DJ was aghast at the awful things that his sister had gone through, but also a little hurt that Berry never told him that she had another sibling. The rest of the table was quiet as well. Of course, it was the evil moron who spoke.

“Well, damn,” said Malice rather nonchalantly and with an emotionless face. “And I thought we had problems.”

“Get back in my head,” DJ retorted looking unamused.

“Hay no! I want more story time!” DJ let out a large groan at his other half’s tendencies. DJ really wished that Malice would just go back inside his mind right now. Why did we have to learn how to separate again?

“I really want to give Aunt Berry a big hug right now,” commented Nyx. The rest of the table, save a demon, nodded in agreement.

“Well, come on bro,” said Spike. “Keep reading. Not like we had any other plans today.”

“Agreed young Spike,” Trixie spoke. “Trixie wishes to hear more about her sister in law’s history.”

Twilight put a hoof on DJ’s shoulder while cradling their son in her hooves while he slept peacefully. “I know it is heart breaking, DJ, but Berry sent us this for a reason. Please keep reading.”

“You’re right, Twi,” DJ said while wiping a tear from his eye. He reopened the book to where he left off. “Well, Berry, let’s see what you have in store for us next.”

2 - Welcome to Equestria

Chapter Two

Welcome to Equestria

“Can we skip this chapter?” asked Malice who looked bored. “I mean, Trixie and Winter Dusk are the only ones here who haven’t heard this part, yet. Dusk is too young anyway and nopony cares what Trixie thinks. ”

“Pardon you!!” Trixie yelled, highly offended.

“Keep this up mister and I’ll throw you back into my husband’s head!” threatened Twilight.

“Yeah, I mean what about the readers? Huh? They might want to know Pixel’s beginnings in Equestria,” countered DJ.

“If they wanted to know about that they should have read the first book like everypony else!” Malice retorted.

HEY! Watch the fourth wall, guys! It’s fragile!

“Sorry!” DJ and Malice said to the sky. The others at the table just watched in confusion, except Winter Dusk who was giggling.

“Daddy and Mally funny!!” Dusk laughed.

Malice turned to glare at the foal. “Don’t call me Mally!!”

“Oh come on Mally, let your nephew have his fun,” DJ said mocking his twin. Malice gave him a look that screamed ‘I will end you’. DJ ignored the false threat and returned to the book, which everypony else was grateful for.

I don’t know for how long I was out, but I definitely wasn’t in the bushes anymore. I was blinded when I opened my eyes by a bright light right above me. After getting used to the light, I looked at my surroundings. I was pretty certain I was in a hospital room, though the table was a little harder than I would have liked. I figured that the ponies must have been some kind of dream. A great dream, but a dream nonetheless. My memory was foggy as well, I even started thinking I had a hangover. The last thing I remembered…

MY thoughts were interrupted as somebody came through the only door in the room. I was expecting the typical doctor; you know, white lab coat, optional glasses, clipboard that listed everything that was wrong with me, and the usual. But no, it was a young man. It took me a moment to register him. I’ll admit, he looked pretty cool. His deep blue jacket (that had a familiar looking symbol on it that I couldn’t place at the time), black t-shirt underneath, and dark denim blue jeans, combine it all with a messy haircut and black sunglasses, then you got a pretty awesome looking dude. I bet when he reads this his ego will double in size (don’t deny it brother!).

DJ looked up from the book with glare to everypony present that said ‘say anything and I will destroy you’. Nyx and Scootaloo were having trouble controlling their laughter. Spike had excused himself and they could all hear his roaring laughter coming from outside. Malice and Trixie smirked at him. Twilight was patting his shoulder, though she was wearing a big smile.

“I hate all of you,” DJ said simply.

“We know you mean love!” they all said back. Dusk’s laughter was the only one DJ was putting up with. Once they were all calm, DJ resumed reading aloud.

After the initial surprise, I decided to start off the conversation. “You’re not what I expected,” I said calmly.

He looked shocked for a second, but then smiled at me. It was a warm smile; a knowing smile. He started to chuckle a little and spoke for the first time. “Yeah, I get that a lot.” His chuckling continued for a few seconds and then he introduced himself. “Nice to meetcha, the name’s DJ. I’d like to ask you a few questions, if you’re up for it?”

I was still pretty confused on what was happening, especially with how real that dream was, but I decided to play along, for now. “Hello DJ, my name is Leandra, but my friends call me Chibi.” For those that don’t know, Chibi means short person in one of the languages from Earth. You see, I am actually much shorter than the average human, being only a little taller than most ponies myself. It wasn’t a name I was overly fond of, but it was better than some of the others that my ‘friends’ came up with.

He lowered his sunglasses and looked at me weird. He obviously knew what I meant. “’Chibi’? Seriously? A little on the nose, ain’t it?” I explained that it was just something I picked up a few years back and he nodded in understanding and shrugged. “Fair enough. First question, what’s the last thing you remember?”

Now I was seriously confused. Why would he ask me something like that? Shouldn’t he know if he’s working at a hospital? By this time, my memory of the previous night had returned in full, but the full shock of not being dead still had yet to sink in. “That’s a weird question, but I guess I could fill in a few gaps,” I say trying to hide the truth. For all I knew, I was in some perverted slave camp. “Hmm. The last thing I remember would be… falling. Yeah, falling!” It wasn’t a complete lie. “After that, I had this strange dream that I was on that pony show. You know what I’m talking about, right?” I was finally able to recognize that symbol on his coat, the cutie mark of a famous fashion mare. “You’re a brony, aren’t you?”

“What makes you say that?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Well, isn’t that Rarity’s cutie mark on your jacket? I’d recognize those three diamonds anywhere.” He smiled in response and said something that kept me confused.

"Heh, so you know about that show, huh? Well, that'll make things easier later, but for now...let's just try to stay on topic. Next question. Why were you attacked? Don't try to hide it. We saw your clothes stained with blood, as well as the multitude of scars and scratches all over your body." He must have seen my shocked expression to have clarified. I figured it wouldn’t hurt to say a little more.

I let out a sigh and said, “"I can't remember, but even if I did, why would I tell you? You're probably just stalling until the cops return with my file. I am just going to tell you, that you can't send me back. Others with more connections than you have tried and failed each time. I am just filled with too many smarticles.” I smile and let out a laugh, hoping that I caught him at his own game. Instead, he just looked confused.

“What do you mean, you won't go back? Did you run away from your parents or something?” he asked. My smile disappeared at the mention of my late parents. I couldn’t help, but say what came next.

"That would be impossible." Her smile practically vanished. "You can't run away from someone who no longer exists." His eyebrows shot up in surprise, but they settled back into position after a moment. Though his face then turned to one of compassion and… amusement?

"You're definitely the rebellious type. Sorry if I brought up bad memories. But, I don't think you need to worry about that stuff for now. Let's just talk. If it makes you feel better, why don't I tell you a little about me?" I was a little taken back by how he was so casual about this. What was his game? I just couldn’t figure him out. I agreed to his suggestion, hoping to see where this went.

"Well, as I said, my name is DJ. It's actually Josh, but it such a common name, I figured I needed to stand out a little. Also I am 19, if you were wondering." Okay, that surprised me. He looked and acted so much older than that. I was almost sure that he was in his mid-twenties. "I am what I consider an optimistic realist. Which basically means, 'expect the worst, hope for the best', and I despise planet Earth." His tone darkened a little at that statement. "I don't despise humanity, but I do hate what it has done to our home, I don't see there being any hope to save it. It is destined to be destroyed, that much I am certain of." Once he was finished, he gave me a knowing smile.

I was shocked with his bluntness. Then I tried to play my size card. Due to how short I was, most people would assume I was about five years younger than I actually was. Time to play it. "Why are you telling me this, don't you think I am little too young for something like that?" He began to snicker and then he laughed outright.

"Hahaha. I figured this might come into play, you think that I think that because of your small size, you're really young. Ha. Nice try, but I can tell that you are older than that, I'd guess maybe 15 or 16, honestly."

My eyes bugged. How had he guessed so close? Who was this guy? "H-how could you tell?" I asked.

"Your size makes you seem like you are very young, but your eyes betray you. Your eyes tell me the truth. That you see no future for yourself, but you will try to make a future for others. Certainly a fact that needs years to come across, roughly 15, if I remember right." DJ removed his glasses as he spoke. "How do I know this? Because I used to see those exact same eyes every time I looked into a mirror. Sometimes, I still do, but that's very rare now a days."

I was far beyond shocked. Just by looking into my eyes he was able to tell so much about me. Without his sunglasses, I now got a much better look at him. His hazel eyes showed no malice, only kindness and understanding. And they were… familiar. But why? Was it something I saw on television? Yeah that was it! I had seen this guy on TV about three months back. I asked him if he was that guy and DJ was shocked and… angry? He asked me how I knew that name and I explained that there was a national manhunt for that guy because he had disappeared without a trace. As I thought back on everything that the news cast had described, he surprised me by banging his fist into the wall of the room. He then muttered something along the lines of this being his dream come true. I didn’t understand it at all. Then he calmed himself and returned his attention to me.

"Ugh, sorry about that, but that was not what I was expecting. Yes, I am him, but not fully. This is my home now and don't plan ever returning. I couldn't even if I wanted to, but back to the matter at hand. Is what we are supposed to do with a beat up, run away orphan, who enjoys being around ponies?" he asked with a smirk.

I didn’t take it like a joke. "Hey! You don't have to make fun of me. It just happens to be my favorite show, so what?"

He put his hands up in defense, clearly not meaning to offend me. "I'm not making fun of you. Far from it. You see, Leandra, you're not on Earth anymore. And that wasn't a dream." He was smiling at me brightly, while I was in a stupor.

“Hubba wha?” I asked oh so intelligently.

“In other words,” he began, “Welcome to Equestria!” That was way too much! I passed out not even a moment after he spoke.

When I awoke, DJ was reentering the room. I was rubbing my head, that table really wasn’t comfortable. “Have a nice nap?” he asked. Now I knew for certain that he was a smart ass. I just sat there with a deadpanned look. Then everything fell back into place.

"So, what did I miss? ...WAIT A SECOND!!! WHAT DO YOU MEAN WELCOME TO EQUESTRIA!?!? THAT WASN'T A DREAM????" I screamed out of shock and excitement.

DJ only laughed to himself. "Nnope. You're really in the land of ponies, kid. A land of peace and prosperity where we can be our own people...or ponies, I suppose. Now, before you freak out again, somepony wants to meet you. Please come in!" he shouted at the door. What strode through caused my jaw to drop and my eyes to sparkle. It was Princess Celestia. She looked just like she did in the TV show: gold regalia, flowing mane, and a smile that was so calming and comforting. I shrieked!

"OMG! IT'S PRINCESS CELESTIA!!" I jumped at her and started bouncing around the solar princess with vigor that I didn’t have a moment ago. I was taking in every little thing about her and was so enthralled I never heard DJ slam the door shut and pull out a box of popcorn. After a quick inspection and chanting ‘she’s real!’ over and over, I stopped right in front of her and bowed down. "Princess Celestia. It is an honor to finally meet you, I am such a huge fan. You're my favorite pony, after all."

I think I saw the Princess blush at my compliment and she spoke to me, her voice a melody. "W-why thank you, Leandra. It is a pleasure to meet you as well. I do hope that my guards didn't hurt you too bad when they struck you." I’m pretty sure I saw DJ facepalm, but it did nothing for me. I just shrugged in response.

“That's okay, I was probably freaking out, and it scared them. I'd have done the same thing."

"Now that greetings have been exchanged, I believe that it is time for you to be honest with us Leandra. We know that you are not telling the whole truth about how you got here, and if you wish for us to trust you, then please be honest with us." said Celestia with comforting smile. My smile, however, disappeared. I did not want to tell them the truth, but could I bring myself to lie to the Princess Celestia? No, no I couldn’t.

"Okay, since it's you who's asking, Princess. How I got to Equestria is a mystery to me, but I do know why I was falling." The alicorn and DJ waited for me to continue. "It's because I was shot out a window. The third story window of an abandoned factory. I don't even know why I am alive, I felt the bullet connect."

DJ interrupted me here. "It did connect, the scar on your chest proves it. And before you ask, I personally haven't seen it. I don't do those kind of things." I thought I had that smart ass that time. I snapped my fingers in mock frustration.

"Thought I had you there. Well, I suppose now you're wondering why someone would shoot me, right? I guess it's in my best interest to explain, but to do that you have to know about who I am." From there, I described my life to the two of them. I told them of the orphanage, my travels, and of my rescues ending with my most recent one. I did leave a few things out, though. I couldn’t bring myself to mention my ‘brother’ as even though it happened years ago, it still hurt to bring her up. The other was of the murder I committed. Any time that was brought up, I was always sent away. That wasn’t gonna happen here. By the end of it, Celestia looked about ready to cry. I wasn’t sure about DJ mostly due to his sunglasses. “Maybe this is my prize, huh? For doing good for others?" I asked myself more than anything else.

There were several moments of silence as the alicorn and human took in my words. I really didn’t know how either of them were going to react. Both were completely silent, though it was DJ that spoke up. "That certainly is a tale. But, you may be right. This is a paradise and you certainly deserve it. Wouldn't you say so, Princess?"

Celestia shook herself from her stupor and stuttered an answer. "Uh, yes I-I believe you are right DJ, but I need to convene with my sister before we do anything else. It was a pleasure meeting you Leandra, a guard will escort you to a better room when you are ready." With that, Celestia left, leaving me alone with the only other human in Equestria. There was another awkward silence between us as neither of us knew what to say. So I decided to ask the obvious.

“So, what now?”

He smiled, a thing he does a lot by the way. "Now, you get a small tour as the guard takes you to your room. You're still recovering and you need rest. After that? I don't know, but I'm pretty sure on what Celestia is thinking and I'm sure Twi will agree."

Twi? I know that nickname! “Twi? Do you mean Twilight Sparkle!?” One of the Mane Six! Now I was excited because if Twilight was here, then the others couldn’t be too far behind.

"That's Princess Twilight Sparkle,” DJ corrected me. “Guess you never saw season four, huh? She's the princess of magic and I am proud to say that she is my marefriend." He gave a smug smile after that last part.

Now I was a little thrown back. I had no idea that humans actually could fall in love with ponies. Thought that only happened in fan fictions. Still, I thought it was cool. You are dating Twilight Sparkle?" DJ nodded his head, a goofy smile on his face. "That is so...cool! A little weird, but cool. Hey! Do you think I can meet Pinkie Pie? She's my favorite of the mane six! Celestia may be my favorite pony, but Pinkie Pie is just so much fun." I could feel my smile warming everything around me, I was so happy.

Then I got the ‘DJ smirk’ as I call it. "Heh, I'm sure Pinkie would love to meet another human. She'll probably teach you Pinkie Physics if you ask, too. She did for me."

I gasped out loud! Pinkie could teach me to act like her!? That sounded like a dream come true!! I think I even squealed a little. "You know Pinkie physics?! That explains the popcorn” I say, just now noticing the empty box in his hand. “SO COOOL! I can't wait! This is gonna be so much fun!!!"

He laughed a little under his breath, clearly amused by my actions. What can I say? I’m random like that! "That's right kid. This place is fun and not like home in any way. Still doesn't explain the references that pop up every now and then, though, and that gives me a headache. But, like I said earlier Leandra, welcome to Equestria. Hope you like it as much as I do." He made his own leave after that and I was alone in the room. Though, I no longer felt alone. I was in a much brighter world, one where maybe I didn’t have to fend for myself just to survive. I was finally someplace where I could be happy. I moved towards the door and took in a big breath, letting it out as I let everything I had been told sink in. As I open the door, I have the greatest thought in my head: Welcome to my new life!

**********

As Celestia promised, there was a guard there waiting outside my door. Thankfully, he wasn’t surprised by my appearance and stoically led me down the halls of Canterlot Castle. We walked for many minutes, but it felt like hours as we trudged. The one thing that has never changed about the castle is that everything looks the same! The walls were white, with very little decoration, and there was the occasional flower pot along the tile floors that all looked the same, and that was about it! We really need to get somepony to redecorate this place. Anyway, we came to a stop outside one of the many, many rooms of the palace. He indicated that this was where I would be staying, so I headed on in. It wasn’t too fancy, nor was it barren. Still had the same white walls and tiles of the hallways, but it had a splash of color with the queen-sized bed. It was the kind that had curtains wrapped around it and was a faint purple color. For a moment, I felt like I had been put in Twilight’s old bedroom, but the lack of bookcases proved that theory wrong immediately.

The guard was still at the door and spoke up after watching me as I took in the room. “You may rest before dinner, ma’am. Princess Celestia will be expecting you.”

“Uh, thanks. I guess I’ll take a nap then,” I said with a little discomfort. The stallion really wasn’t one for conversation, it seemed. He exited the room, saying that he would be standing right outside the door, should I need anything. I thanked him again as he left and laid down on the bed. Even with all the thoughts churning in my head about being in a land of pastel colored, talking equines, I passed back into dream within a minute.

**********

It was about an hour later when I woke up and felt a pain in my stomach. I was starving!! I asked the guard outside if he could lead me to dinner. He nodded and walked off, indicating for me to follow. After a brisk walk through the castle once again, he opened a large door and I was greeted to the sight of several ponies sitting down to a mouth-watering feast at a large table. Sitting at the head was Princess Celestia, of course, and next to her on the (my) left was Princess Twilight Sparkle. On Twilight’s right was DJ, smiling at me as I entered. The others at the table were Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Rarity; the Elements of Loyalty, Kindness, and Generosity respectably. Even though I was a diehard pony fan, my mind and eyes could only focus on the food. I knew that everything was vegetarian, but at that moment, I couldn’t have cared less; I just wanted it in my stomach.

It was Celestia who spoke first as I wondered in, my eyes still on the food. “Good evening Leandra, I trust you had a nice nap?”

I nodded absentmindedly. I snapped out of my trance, though, when I realized who was talking. “Oh, um, yes. Yes I did Princess Celestia, thank you.” My eyes began to wander back to the feast. “Um, would you mind if I…” I wandered off as another course of delicious food was catered in by the pony staff. The smell was intoxicating! Now, I really didn’t care what any of it was, all I needed to know where the fork and spoon was so that I could start piling it into my mouth. I once again shook out of my daze and said, “Care if join you for dinner?”

As one, DJ and Celestia answered my question with a ‘yes’. Both of them looked at each other in surprise, along with everypony else. I didn’t take any real notice and sat down a couple seats down from Celestia, across from Rainbow Dash. Once the server pony put a plate in front of me, I dug in and scarfed everything down in seconds. I look up from my food and see everypony staring at me. I shy away a little, trying to sink into my seat. Then I hear Rainbow speak up.

“Wow. DJ, I think you got a challenger,” said cyan pegasus mare. Okay, that confused me.

“Huh?” I asked intelligently.

“My coltfriend’s appetite has been second to none,” answered Twilight. “Not even Pinkie has been able to keep up with his eating. That’s why it’s DJ’s job to buy the groceries.” She gave DJ a knowing glance as she spoke. I expected DJ to blush or something, instead he just shrugged. Twilight let out small breath. “Not that he minds, though.”

Princess Celestia, who had been quiet through this small exchange, decided to ask me something. “Are you still hungry, Leandra? There is no need to be shy, there is plenty. Eat as much as you please.” My eyes glimmered at the offer and I dug in with fervor. Course after course, I ate and ate. It was the most delicious thing I had eaten in years. In ten seconds I was already on the third with everypony else. When I finished that one, I looked over and saw the glint of a challenge in DJ’s eyes. It. Was. On! Meal after meal, the two of us tried to finish before the other. No matter how fast I was, though, DJ constantly beat me. It was like he was a living vacuum cleaner! Dude was like Shaggy Rogers from Scooby-Doo. I wondered if that was natural or Pinkie Powers at work; either way, I wanted to do it to.

Then, another dream came through the doors as the fifth course rapped up and the famous Pinkie Pie and the Apple Family walked in. I am a little ashamed that I went full fan-girl on them at the same instant. I gave Applejack and the other Apples and quick tip of my imaginary Stetson and said, “Howdy!” Then my attention focused entirely on the pink party pony of Ponyville and she focused on me. Of course, all five ponies were already staring at me, but Pinkie looked at me with excitement not shock and surprise. And then, Pinkie being Pinkie, asked me everything in one, long, run-on sentence.

“Hiwhat'syourname?Myname'sPinkie?Doyoulikecupcakes?What'syourfavoritecolor?Doyoulikecake?Wannaparty?..." I don’t want to confuse everypony, so I’ll cut her off there. Now, most ponies would be confused entirely by this, but I understood everything she asked of me, so I responded in kind.

"MynameisLeandra,butmyfriendscallmeChibi.It'snicetomeetchaPinkie,Iamabigfan.OfcourseIlovecupcakes,whodoesn't?Myfavoritecolorispink!AndIabsolutelylovecake!IwouldlovetopartywithyouPinkie!...." Pinkie beamed in glee at me. We turned to face a table of shocked pony faces, and one amused human. How he was not surprised still eludes me. I returned to my seat as the others found places of their own. Not even a second later, a blue swirl of mist appeared next to Celestia and formed into Princess Luna herself. She greeted everypony and when she saw me, stopped and stared in surprise. Luna rubbed her eyes and then looked at me even closer. Even though she was another of my favorite ponies, I couldn’t help, but shy away from her gaze. I am actually quite the shy person really, especially around new people. It was only my inner fan girl that let me talk to the ponies around me. Celestia then began to giggle.

“Yes, Luna. There is indeed another human sitting at the table. Luna meet Leandra. She will staying here indefinitely.” Luna seemed to accept this as she lifted her leg to me.

“Greetings Leandra. We, er, I am the Princess of the Night, Princess Luna.”

“H-hi,” I say still getting over my shyness and shaking hoof. “It’s an honor to meet you.” From there, DJ and Celestia filled everypony in on my origins as I continued my feasting. I could see a few tears in some of the ponies eyes as my tale was recounted, though I am certain I saw a fire in Granny and Big Mac’s eyes when they spoke of that witch who ‘cared’ for me. After ten meals, I was finally full and the same went for everypony else. Even DJ finally filled his bottomless gut. We turned in for the night with Celestia promising that they would figure something out for me tomorrow.

**********

The next morning, I was once again escorted to the dining hall. I was not alone, however, as Celestia and Luna were already present and eating breakfast. “Morning,” I yawned out, trying to be polite. I knew I should address them as Princesses, but I was too tired to care about such things.

Celestia smiled at me and indicated to take the seat next to her. I was a little scared about sitting next to my favorite pony, but a plate stacked with waffles already in place deterred any other thought. I sat down and once again began eating like I never had. As I scarfed down breakfast, the others soon joined us, with DJ coming in last. To this day, he is always lazy and slow.

“Anypony says anything, there will be recompense,” DJ warned without looking up from the book.

To his disdain, he could still hear the snickering of his family around him.

“Mornin’ everypony!” he greeted, full of energy despite the early hour. Thankfully I was already past my tiredness thanks to the amazing waffles. “And Berry,” he added before heading to the table. I wasn’t really paying attention, but the others were.

“Who’s Berry?” asked Princess Twilight.

DJ pointed at me. “Berry is over there scarfing down her waffles as if she hadn't eaten in months.” That got my attention and I looked up from my plate to face him.

“Why are you calling me ‘Berry’?” I asked.

"Oh, no reason. Only just that you downed 15 bowls of berries last night as if they were skittles. I figure it's a better name than Chibi. Plus, it kinda makes you sound like a pony. Wouldn't you agree?" His sly smile making its appearance once again.

Okay, I’ll give him that ‘Chibi’ was pretty terrible, especially since it was kind of an insult. But ‘Berry’? As I thought on it, the more I began to like it. It definitely would fit in better than ‘Leandra’, which is not pony in nature at all. I smiled when I realized that DJ had hit the nail on the head.

"Yeah, I like it! That's what I'll go by. Everypony, no longer will I go by Leandra. For I am BERRY!” I say with my fork raised in the air in triumph. DJ laughed a little as he sat down to his own breakfast. After a few minutes of eating, DJ spoke up again.

"Hey, you know Pinkie, Berry over there is interested in Pinkie lessons, too. Think there's any chance that she can learn?" I leaned over my plate, looking in anticipation for Pinkie’s answer. Pinkie seemed to think on it for a moment.

"Hmm. I need to confirm something first," she said seriously. "Berry, what is...," she paused for dramatic effect"...your favorite flavor of ice cream?"

I felt like making an anime style faint at the question, but when it came to Pinkamena Diane Pie sweets were serious business. So I slammed my hand down on the table and returned her stare-down with my own and said with dead seriousness, “ALL OF THEM!!” We continued our stare-off for another moment, then Pinkie backed down with a smile.

"Good answer! You are ready to learn! You will need one week of training and we begin today!" DJ choked a little on his breakfast. I looked over, hoping was ok. He was, but seemed a little ticked.

"A-a week?! It took me three! What makes her so special?" he asked a little hurt. Wait, it took that human three weeks to learn the full range of Pinkie Powers, and he seems to be just as random as her. So why am I different? Pinkie answered of course.

"Because, silly. Her mind is much more random than yours, meaning our brains our nearly synchronized with each other. It will be much easier for her to learn." DJ huffed a little, but I yet out a loud ‘YES’ in happiness. Then, without warning, my hands became encompassed in a pinkish glow with surrounded the table and caused it to shoot up to the ceiling, taking our breakfast with it. I was so shocked that I only barely heard DJ speak out.

"Holy frijoles! That girl's got magic. NOT FAIR!" I was completely aghast at what I did. I started stuttering apologies at Celestia, fearful of what she would do to me. Only, she wasn’t mad, just a little surprised.

“Don’t worry, my little human,” she said in that sweet motherly voice of hers. “No harm was done, only to our food,” she said, glancing up at the splattered ceiling. “There is no need to fear. It is certainly surprising that you can perform magic, a lot of it from the looks of it. I suppose you will be needing magic lessons, but we can cover that at a later time. Why don't you, Pinkie, and DJ spend the day together? Luna, Twilight and I need to take care of a few things. The others may spend the day as they please. I feel that you three will have a grand time."

That sounded like a plan to me, so after breakfast, the three of us headed out to the Castle Gardens and we wandered into a jungle hidden away in the back of the castle. Why it was there, I have no idea, but we didn’t care at the time. It was there that my Pinkie training began and, man, was it a trip. I was completely happy with everything, but I kinda wish I could tell you guys what she said, but it’s impossible. Pinkie told me that if she isn’t the one explaining how her physics work, then all of reality will crumble into nothingness. And I don’t really want to do that to everypony.

So anyway, we were bouncing through the jungle, causing all kind of craziness when we discovered what the jungle was: Princess Celestia’s personal animal sanctuary. How did we find out? Because one of us, *cough* Pinkie *cough*, landed on the tail of a big, black cougar! Or popping cat as I found out later. That explains how it and its friends surrounded us so easily. Of course, us being us, did the one rational thing we could: RUN!!! With DJ in the lead, we scrammed out of there. Who knows how long we ran, we didn’t care. We just wanted to live, but then DJ had to go and trip! Since he was the one in the lead, Pinkie and me got caught in his stumble and basically had a snowball effect. We tumbled and rolled eventually coming to a stop, somehow wrapped around a tree by a vine and hanging over a cliff that was overlooking a river. And then the inevitable happened. The tree creaked and broke with our combined weight causing it to fall into the river.

We gasped for breath as the three of us resurfaced. Sweet, sweet air. I decided to take in our situation: I on one side, DJ was wrapped to the other side of the tree, and Pinkie tied in the middle between us. Then I looked forward and regretted it. “Uh oh,” was all I could manage. Then DJ did the one thing I never thought would happen.

“Don’t tell me, we’re about to go over a huge waterfall?” It took me a moment to realize what he said and then I fell into the act, since this was very similar to what happened in a famous movie back home on Earth.

“Yep,” I said with complete seriousness.

“Sharp rocks at the bottom?” DJ asked again.

“Most likely,” answered… Pinkie? How she knew to say that exact phrase, I will never know. Then again, it’s Pinkie Pie. That is the only logical explanation.

DJ was quiet for a moment, then said, “Bring it on.” A moment later, we were falling down the massive waterfall in front of us. The whole time, DJ yelling his heart out, Pinkie and me laughing along. “BOOOOOOOYAAAAAHAAAAHAAA! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" After a moment or two, we were suddenly encompassed in a trio of magic: violet, golden, and a deep blue. It was the princesses to the rescue! Once we were safely on the ground again, the three of us were laughing it up, that being incredibly, awesomely fun!!

Then, DJ had to open his big mouth. “AWW YEAH! That was awesome. Wanna go again?” A quick slap to the back of the head, courtesy of Twilight, ended that thought. Ow! Never mind. Who want's lunch?" he asked moving on completely. Celestia, Luna, and Twilight had to decline, leaving the three of us on our own again. While Pinkie got our lunch, the two of us found some place where the populace wouldn’t freak out from seeing two strange creatures. Pinkie returned with some hayburgers and fries, and we ate in a secluded part of the gardens.

The whole time we ate, there was a nagging question in the back of my mind, one that had been there ever since meeting DJ. I couldn’t hold it back anymore so I asked him. “Why are you being so nice to me? Not that I'm complaining or anything, but it's a rare occurrence for me,” I added so that I didn’t upset him. DJ seemed to think on that for a moment and the answered me in the most unexpected way possible: the truth.

"Honestly," DJ began, "it's because you remind me of my sister back home. See, I wasn't exactly a model brother. I realized the cruelty of the world at an early age and pushed everyone away; I was pretty much a bully to her. She said on more than one occasion that she hated me. I knew that she was just mad, but I knew she had that feeling deep down. So, I guess I'm trying to repent for my sins a little."

I was definitely shocked. He was seeing me as his little sister, not just a friend. He rejected his family, but they rejected him in turn, that much I understood. That was something my brother would understand. She and my folks never got along that well either, though she was heartbroken when they passed on. But I just kept thinking on what DJ had said. To him, I was the sister that he should have had, one that was willing to understand him. I hadn’t had an older sibling in so long, but I didn’t want to replace Harry either. Then it came to me: I didn’t have to replace Harry in my heart, I just had to accept DJ as another brother. That’s how he was to me, another brother. Heh, another brother from another mother, heh heh. Funny. I smiled with that decision.

“Well, then I guess that makes you my BBBFF, huh?" Big Brother Best Friend Forever for those that didn’t know. I guess my response surprised him because he replied as the following.

“Hubba wha?” How intelligent brother.

"Big Brother Best Friend Forever, duh! Didn't you watch the wedding episode? I've never had a big brother before, so I guess what I am saying is that I'm willing to give it a shot. If you don't mind that is." That was a lie of course, but I couldn’t bring myself to talk about Harry. Not after the way she disappeared. DJ didn’t respond at first, but then he pulled me into hug and gave me a noogie.

"Oh, you are so gonna regret that," he said with a laugh. I laughed and agreed. Pinkie joined in and we all had a big laugh together. It was that moment that I decided that I could really trust these two, so I opened up to them completely and told them about the murder. When my tale was done, there were tears ever present in my teacher’s eyes, while DJ’s were one of calm understanding. The dam burst and I was crying as the vivid images of blood and brain matter played through my head. Then, I felt a warmth as Pinkie and my new brother pulled me in for a hug.

“Shh. It's alright. We don't hate you. You did what was needed to be done. We would be worried if you didn't feel awful. But we don't hate you for nor will we ever." DJ was trying his hardest to comfort me, Pinkie nodding in agreement, at a loss for words on how to keep me happy. After a few minutes, everything was over and we decided to return to the castle. Once inside, DJ split ways with us, saying he needed to see his marefriend and the other princesses. It was still weird to consider a human and pony together, but DJ looked so happy speaking about Twilight like that, that it didn’t bother me as much as it should. Pinkie and I meanwhile rejoined the other Elements and the regaled their stories of heroism and bravery to me. Mostly it was Rainbow Dash exaggerating her importance, but Applejack and Rarity were always there to comment and provide the correct events. This went on for hours until one of the guard ponies said that my presence was requested by the Princesses. The girls wished me luck and I went to the throne room.

As I pushed open the doors, I saw all three of them. Princess Celestia was sitting on the tall throne in the middle, with Princess Luna on her left in her own chair, and Princess Twilight on the right with her throne as well. DJ was also present, leaning on Twilight’s chair. DJ smiled and waved as I entered, but I was too afraid of what was happening to return it. “You w-wanted to see me, Princess?” I said with my shyness in full force.

Princess Celestia only spoke a few words, words that caused an earthquake in my body. “Yes, Berry,” she said using my new name. “For I have made my decision.” Why did I feel like everything was gonna go horribly, horribly wrong now?

3 - Starting Points

Chapter Three

Starting Points

“Come on!” Malice said with a massive groan. “Just skip this crap! This is way too sappy and I frankly just don’t care to hear about something that we’ve actually lived through.”

“You are on thin ice, Malice!” Twilight threatened, letting her horn glow lightly.

“Dude, this isn’t for us,” DJ said, hoping to defuse this situation before Malice said something completely stupid. “This for those that don’t know about our sister’s origins. Now stop complaining or else.”

“Or else what?” Malice asked suspiciously with a raised eyebrow.

“Trixie?” DJ said turning to the stage mare, who put on a devious smile.

Malice noticed as well and gulped loudly. Out of all of the family, Trixie was the one he did not want to mess with (Twilight was fine as long as she wasn’t angry). “I’ll be good,” he said shrinking into his seat.

“Coward,” Trixie said with a smile. The kid’s laughed at their uncle, under their breath of course. Spike, Twilight, and DJ were content with just smirking. With that out of the way, they continued the story.

“I have made my decision.” Those words echoed deep within my mind. I imagined situation after situation on what her ‘decision’ was. Some were amazingly good, while others would end my life in the most gruesome ways possible. I took to looking at everyone in the room, ‘everyone’ because there was a human amongst the ponies. Luna’s muzzle held a stoic expression that held no emotion, so I looked instead to Princess Twilight, but her face also betrayed no emotion. DJ seemed to notice me looking that way, though, as he smiled comfortingly at me. I decided to just remain quiet in my provided seat and await what Princess Celestia had in store for me.

"Berry, we have chosen to give you full citizenship here in Equestria," Celestia spoke to me with a warm smile. I felt my face contort into the largest smile ever, but something about the solar princess told me she had more to say, so I held back my celebrations, for the moment. Celestia continued, “I also have a proposition for you." Now, she had my curiosity. I guess my face showed as such as she started to explain. I know that you have had a troubled past, especially with your, ehem, sins.” ‘Sins’? What did she mean by… NO! How could she know?!

I interrupted her speech with my question. “Wait, what? How do you know about that?! I haven't told anybody that except...” It clicked in my head. Only Pinkie and DJ knew about what I had done and only one of them had been to see the princesses after I told them. I looked over at DJ, I couldn’t see his eyes because of those damned sunglasses, but at the moment I couldn’t have cared less. “YOU!!” I screamed at my ‘brother’; he betrayed me! “I told you that in confidence! You weren’t supposed to tell anybody! Especially not the princesses!”

He tried to tell me something, “Now, Berry just hear us out—“, but I wouldn’t give him the chance.

“NO! You betrayed me! Now it’s going to happen again!” I could feel the tears building up in the corner of my eyes, but my anger kept me going. "They're going to send me away, JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELESE!!" The tears began to fall, I could feel them streaking down my face. I could just barely see him lean down and whisper something to Princess Twilight, whose eyes grew in bewilderment, but I didn’t really pay it any mind. I just kept going. "You're all just like them. I make one mistake and everyone hates me for it. I just wanted to keep her safe! I didn't want to kill him." My crying just kept getting worse and worse, to the point where I was sure I was just saying whatever came to my mind as the tears fell at an increasing rate. "I just want a home. Is THAT SO MUCH TO ASK FOR?! Can't I be happy for once? I made it my job to give others happiness, don't I get some in return? NO!! Everyone just sends me away, never wanting to see me again. Well FINE!! I'll just go then, maybe I’ll hide out in the EVERFREE until something comes along and finishes me!"

Okay, that may have been a little too much, by I felt my heart being torn apart. I was in a place where dreams come true and I put my trust in my new friends, but they just cast it aside without any consideration for my wellbeing. Or so I thought. As soon as I had said I would just go let myself get killed in a deadly forest, Princess Celestia screamed as she lunged at me and pulled me in for a tight embrace using her wings. “NO! Please don't go Berry! I wasn't going to send you away! I never want you to leave!"

Wait, what? What did she mean that she never wanted me to leave? Was she really saying that she… no! No freaking way she was saying that! But …her embrace it felt so, so warm. So comforting, as if all my problems and fears were far, far away. It felt… right. After that little brain-numbing questionnaire, I tried to talk, but my voice was choked by my sobs. “P-Princess? A-are you s-saying w-what I think you are s-saying?”

Princess Celestia removed her head from its perch on my shoulder and looked me right in the eyes. Her eyes were so loving, filled with kindness and caring. “Yes, Berry. If you are willing to let me, I would very much want to adopt you. I would love to have you as a daughter. Will you let me Berry? Will you let me adopt you?" Those words struck deeper than anything ever had. She knew that I had killed another, but she still wanted me around, she even wanted me to be hers. I couldn’t convey such happiness through words then, and I still can’t to this day. With tears of joy beginning to flow into my eyes, I nodded my head, wanting nothing more than to have such a wonderful mother. Celestia pulled me back into the hug and spoke with her own happy tears flowing down her muzzle. "Oh thank you Berry! I promise that you will always have a home here with me!" We just stayed like this, enjoying each other’s presence.

After a few moments, Celestia spoke again, but it was not what I was expecting in the slightest. "This is so great Berry, we will be together for a long time. I just know it. And I know it will be even longer when the 'ponification' spell is completed." Wait, what ‘ponification’ spell? She-she wanted me to be a pony? But-but what about that real me? Was I not good enough for her!?

"'Ponification' spell. You're going to force me to be a pony?" I asked wearily, hoping that what I heard was wrong, but Celestia only nodded. Only looking back now, do I realize that it was quite a hesitant nod, as if she were unsure. But I was too hurt to really notice at the time. "NO!! I don't wanna be a pony! I like being a human, that's who I am!" Celestia stepped back at my sudden outburst. “Am I only worth your time as a pony? You don't like me the way I am? You really are no different than those families on Earth! You don't want me, you want me to be something you want. Well, I want to be me! And that's never gonna change! Good-bye!"

I fled from the throne room, running as fast as I could. It was pretty hard running with tear-blurred eyes, but I managed to get to my guest room without completely running into something. I locked the door and flung myself on to the bed, crying my eyes out. I was so close, so close to finally having a home, but fate just had to go and screw me out of happiness once again. I don’t know how long I cried, but it felt like hours. My sobbing was interrupted later by a knocking on my door.

“Berry? You in there?" It was DJ’s voice, probably here to drag me back to Celestia. Well, I wasn’t going for it.

"Go away DJ! I want to be alone!" I shouted at him through the door. It was locked, what did I care? Well, it wasn’t enough to stop my brother as suddenly my bedroom door was blasted off its hinges and fell to the floor. I looked at him in complete shock. “H-how did you do that?” I asked him.

"I’ll tell you some other time, but right now we need to talk.” I wasn’t really in the mood to talk, but he just sat on the edge of my bed and kept talking. “I know that you are pissed at me for telling the princesses your secret, but they needed to know. They needed to have all of the variables before making their final decision and I already knew it was going to be in your favor. I never imagined so much so, however. But, about the spell?"

I let out a sigh. I really couldn’t be mad at him; he was just looking out for me after all. "I am not mad at you anymore DJ, well as mad,” I admitted. “Seriously, though, how could she expect me to give up my life just like that? Simply become a pony and give up who I am? I don't think I want that, DJ."

"Do you wanna know why Celestia wants you to become a pony?" he said out the blue. I raised my head to look directly into his eyes. Why are those eyes so powerful? Those hazel green eyes that showed compassion and understanding all at once. I shook my head to answer his question. "It's because she cares about you." Huh? “"I had Twilight explain to her one of our races greatest weaknesses compared to ponies: our life expectancy. You see Berry, ponies here live for several hundred years and we humans only live for an average of eighty. You know what Celestia did when she found out about that?"

So, there is one of mankind’s greatest flaws. Humans on Earth have a life expectancy of only eighty years. Some can live longer with medical treatment, but it was rare for most humans to live past one hundred. And that’s a great change, considering that humans used to have a life expectancy of only thirty-five to forty years on a hundred years ago. Or at least that’s what DJ told me (he’s a history buff, so you know). Now, I was really curious as to what this had to do with me becoming a pony, so I shook my head to answer him again.

“She cried, Berry.” My eyes widened, I just know it. Celestia cried because she knew I was going to die in a few decades? I knew that it must be hard for an immortal to watch her beloved subjects die while she continued living, but did I really mean so much to her? “She cried and cried and cried. For nearly an hour she cried on her bed knowing that even if you said yes to the adoption, you would only be with her for a few short decades. She was supposed to ask you whether or not you were wanted to become a pony, though, not flat out say it. She only wants to be with you as long as possible. Do you understand?"

You know what? I did, I did understand and it made me feel horrible. She didn’t want me to be a pony because she didn’t care about who I was, no Celestia just wanted me around for as long as possible. I felt hot tears flowing down my face again, because I went and bucked up! It wasn’t fate that screwed me this time, no it was my own recklessness. I felt a hand grip my shoulder and my head was pulled into DJ’s chest.

“Be strong Berry. Celestia wants this with all her heart and I know you do to. I told her to think of something new and I know she will come through where both of you can truly be happy. Why don't we go set things straight?" I was scared. Scared of how she would react because of my outburst, because of my yelling. But, DJ was right, I needed this. No, I needed her; I needed my mother. Without a word, we stood up and DJ walked me back to the throne room.

Once we entered, I immediately saw Princess Luna and Princess Twilight. I looked around, hoping to see Princess Celestia, but when I found her, I almost gasped in shock. She was right on her throne, but her head was hung low and I could see tears falling from her eyes to the floor. It hurt, deep in my heart it hurt to see her like this. “Princess?” I spoke quietly, hoping that she heard me. Her head jumped up and she saw me. But I also saw her. Celestia’s eyes were red and bloodshot with tears, but when she saw me, they changed to one’s filled with hope.

“Berry,” she said simply and then rushed me once again. DJ had ducked away just in time before I was pulled into another massive hug from the alicorn. "Oh, Berry, please forgive me. I didn't want to anger you, please forgive me." Hearing her pleading was shocking, to say the least.

"I-I forgive you,” I said to her in a whisper. In her embrace, I knew it to be true that this was where I belonged. Right here with her. “DJ explained why you wanted to do it. To be honest, I am not completely against the idea. I just wanted a choice in the matter, I guess. Do you still want to adopt me?" I was mentally slapping myself for asking that because I feared the answer.

Celestia pulled away for a moment, making me tense with fear that she would take it all back. Only, she just looked me in the eyes again and nodded her head. "Yes, Berry. I still want you to be with me."

I couldn’t help myself, I just flung myself into her embrace. She said ‘yes’! She said ‘yes’! This was the greatest moment of my life! "Thank you! Thank you so much...Mom!" It felt so good to say that! I could overhear Celestia’s new tears beginning to fall after I said that. She was just as happy as I was and that made everything okay.

After a few moments, we reluctantly broke our hug. I looked around the throne room again, but noticed that it distinctly lacked two other alicorn princesses and one human. “Hey, where’d everybody go?”

Celes… Mom looked around as well, but kept smiling. “It seems that they left to give us some time together, my little one.” I think she was worried that I wouldn’t like being called that as she had an embarrassed look and wasn’t looking at me. I kinda liked it, honestly.

“I guess that makes sense,” I replied, not even bothering mentioning my new nickname. I hoped that she would get the hint, and I think she did as there was a smile once again gracing her face.

“Since we have this alone time, however, perhaps I should give you your present,” mom said to me.

I looked at her questioningly. “What present?”

Mom had trotted back over to her throne and pulled a small box out from behind it. “I had my best magical scientists create what is in here.” She walked back over to me and opened the chest, presenting its contents to me. Inside was a gold necklace, but what really stood out was the fire ruby that glistened as the center piece. It was breathtakingly beautiful. “This was intended to be your first step into becoming a pony, but since you wish to be able to keep your human form, this should work just fine. For you see, my daughter, this necklace will allow you to change into a pony.”

My eyes bugged. This piece of jewelry would turn me into a pony, but that seemed a little too good to be true. “What’s the catch?” I asked as I inspected the trinket.

“The catch was that you can turn back into a human. Not much one now, is it? The only other side effects is that it will change you a little. Once you use it for the first time, you will no longer be completely human. Your life-span will also increase, with the only thing an unknown is what kind of pony you will become. You could be an earth pony, a unicorn, or a pegasus. Your own capabilities will determine which race suits you the best. Also, taking off the necklace locks you into whichever form you are in at the time. However, if you take it off while in human form, you will not lose any of your benefits, since even then you will still be part pony.”

Okay, that sounds… AWESOME! And I could end up being any pony race? Just icing on the cake! “Okay mom! Let’s get started! I’m ready!” I announced with a smile.

Mom smiled back at me and grabbed the necklace in her magic. “Alright then Berry. Here you are.” She gently lowered it over my head and it came to a rest around my neck, glistening in the moonlight that shone through the stain glass windows. Luna had lowered the sun and raised the moon since we were busy. I stood there, waiting for something to happen, but nothing ever did.

I looked in confusion at the thing and tapped the ruby in frustration. “Um, I think it’s broken,” I said.

Celestia chuckled at me. “No, silly. You must say a key phrase that will activate the process. Think of a word and imagine your transformation. Same goes for returning to human, just in reverse.”

“Okay, if you say so.” I began to visualize my form as a pony, not hard being that I was quite the artist back home and ponies were a constant inspiration. Then I dove through my vocabulary, deciding on the words that I would use. And I found them. “Conform!” I said out loud. I felt the magic taking affect, the ruby glowed a beautiful red and I was wrapped in light. After a few moments, I opened my eyes to see that I was much lower to the ground, but not by much (I was short, remember). I looked up at my mother, expecting her to be happy, but instead she was gaping at me with an unreadable expression. In a nutshell, I was worried. “Mom? What’s wrong? Did something go wrong?”

She shook herself out the stupor and looked at me again. “No, my little one. It’s just that, well, I wasn’t expecting this.” She gestured to me. I started to look at my new form. I had a pure white coat, similar to my mother’s, and my hair was pink with a couple of light blue streaks in it. Though I lacked a cutie mark, that wasn’t really all that surprising since humans don’t get them, so I still needed to earn mine. What surprised me is that my glasses still fit on me. Oh, did I not mention that I wear glasses? Heh heh, oops. I kinda get scatterbrained sometimes. No matter. Focusing back to my new form, I noticed that there was something sticking out just above my field of vision. I trained my eyes up and saw that I had a horn.

“Awesome! I’m a unicorn!” I said excited. Makes sense since I performed magic earlier that day.

“Um, not exactly,” mom said. I stopped my celebration and looked confused at my mother. I took another look at myself. Coat, check. Mane and tail, check. Horn, check. Wings, check. Hooves… wait, did what was that last one. I looked at my sides carefully and saw them plain as day. A pair of wings were attached to me. So I had wings and a horn.

“Holy jalapenos! I’m an alicorn! Suh-weet!!” I shouted in glee. “Mom, mom! Look, look! I turned into an alicorn! How great is that!?”

She smiled at my excitement. “Yes it is, little one.” I saw that more tears were building in her eyes.

“Mom? Is something wrong?”

She shook her head and the tears started again. “No, no. Everything is perfect, Berry.” She pulled me in close, wrapping me in her wings. “Now I never have to worry about losing you. You’ll always be with me. So no, nothing is wrong at all.” Just seeing her happy made me smile brightly, but then an evil thought came to my mind.

“Oh brother is so gonna flip!”

Celestia let go of me and looked at me weird. “’Brother’? What brother?”

“Why, the only other human on Equis of course! Didn’t he tell you? He and I decided to become brother and sister. I think he’s crazy enough for the job.”

“So, DJ is your brother now, hmm? Well, that certainly is an unexpected development, but not an unwelcome one. Perhaps we should go find him and tell him the good news?”

I smiled at her and nodded. “Oh yeah, let’s do it!” Okay, troll mother is best mother, don’t deny it.

“By the way Berry,” she said as we walked out of the throne room. “Did you decide on a way to change back to human?”

“Uh huh.” I looked down to the charm around my neck and recited my word. “Revert!” With another burst of light, I once again became a part of the human race.

“Very nice, but would you mind returning to pony form? It will be easier for when you are in public. When you are alone, with any of us princesses, or your friends you are welcome to return to human form. That doesn’t upset you, does it?”

“Of course not! It’s perfectly reasonable. You don’t need to be so cautious around me, mom. I said that you are forgiven. I should be the one to apologize for yelling at you without giving time for a proper explanation. You caught me off guard and I’m sorry I snapped at you.” I whispered ‘conform’ and returned to a four legged walking. Strange how I was already use to it.

I felt her wing drape over my side, and she pulled me so that we were walking side-by-side. “You are forgiven, my daughter. I got a little carried away as well, but I am glad that you gave me this chance to be your mother. I just want do right by you.”

I lowered my head under hers and nuzzled my new mother lovingly. “You already are mom, you already are.” I pulled away after a moment so we could walk better. After a few minutes of searching, we found DJ and Twilight sitting very close to each other under the full moon. It was sweet site, but mom had to go spoil it.

"So this is where my faithful student and her human went off to," she said causing the two lovebirds to jump in surprise. When they took a look at us, they didn’t quite seem to get it.

"Hey, Cellie. Who's your friend?" DJ asked. This caused the two of us to start giggling. “Did I miss something?"

"You sure did BBBFF!" I announced to them. Took a few moments for things to process between the couple.

"BERRY?!" they shouted in unison. Wow, they’re good at that.

"The one and only! Ooh, ooh check this out. Revert!" I was once again a human, looking at the shocked couple with pride. Isn't awesome? Mom's top magicians came up with this necklace here.” I help up my fire ruby necklace so that they could see it before I continued. “Using key words I can switch between pony and human forms. And the best part? I get all the benefits of being a pony with it. Even if the necklace comes off, everything still works, but I can't switch forms. Some spell right? And who knew I would become an alicorn? Fate sure is fickle, huh?" They were so stunned speechless that they could only nod their heads in agreement. And since I had to comply with mother’s wishes, "Check it out! Conform!" I once again became an alicorn.

I know I don't have a cutie mark, but that just means that I have to discover it on my own! This is so cool!" I was still cheering inside at this and I don’t think that it will stop anytime soon.

DJ finally woke up and smiled at me brightly. "Yeah it is, Berry. Just wait ‘till the others see ya. They are so gonna freak!"

I just knew that he would share my enthusiasm. “Yeah they are! But, I am famished. Wanna raid the kitchen BBBFF?" I had only just noticed that I hadn’t eaten since lunch and it was past dinner. I needed food!

"You bet, but we do it my way. MEEP MEEP!" Like the famous character he was imitating, my brother took off running with a cloud of dust following. Man that is the way to travel!

I reverted and did the same, “MEEP MEEP!” My own speed was incredible and I caught up to him in no time, leaving behind Twilight and Celestia. After about ten seconds we found our way to the kitchen and got to work making something to eat. DJ was rifling through the cupboards, while I searched the pantry. As we rifled through everything, a pony entered the kitchen without us noticing, until he screeched. We both took our heads out our search areas to see the sight of a familiar stallion. His white coat and blue mane and tail with a royal-ish cutie mark, it was easy to tell that this was Prince Blueblood, who I just realized at that moment was now my cousin. Great (not really).

“Get out! Get out! Filthy beasts, out of my castle at once!” He just kept shouting and shouting as he approached me, since I was nearer. I was losing patience with this brat, so I told him.

“You know, it’s very rude to shout at people you don’t know. Didn’t anypony teach you manners?” Oh that got him mad. He looked like he was ready to start fuming. And then the insults started and, boy, does he have a colorful vocabulary. Some of those I didn’t even know were possible to be used in such a manner. The more you know. But then he had to go and do what he did. Since I was paying so little attention to his whining, I never noticed that he was right in front of me. And then he slapped me. Hard! “Aah!!” I yelled in pain. I staggered away from him. Next thing I know, DJ is right by my side and he used that power of his again to force Blue Blood back.

“How dare you lay a hoof on her, you damn dirty horse!” he roared. With Blue Blood still angry as all Tartarus, he charged at DJ with his horn ready to pierce him, but my brother side stepped him, though he staggered a little as the stallion charged past. Didn’t know why at the time. Then DJ twisted his body and brought foot to Blue Bloods gut, sending him flying back to his earlier position. DJ poised himself in front me and bared his teeth at the stallion, protecting me with himself. Thankfully, he didn’t have to do anymore as Twilight and Celestia burst into the room at that moment.

"What is going on in here?" she asked no one in particular.

"Auntie!" spoke Blue Blood. "I was trying to stop these beasts from stealing food! I believe these are the creatures that were spotted outside the castle the other day and I was trying to apprehend them, but that large one there," he said indicating DJ, "attacked me. They must be punished. They must be removed from the caste at once! No, that will not do. Those monsters are far too different, we should just put them down so they do not have to suffer." One word: jerk!

Oh ho ho!" he spoke with a low, deep voice that sent chills up my spine. That was not the voice that I knew and it was quite frightening. "I feel sorry for you Blue Blood. You sealed your fate. Now Celestia's mad! But, I doubt nowhere near as mad as she should be." He turned his face to Celestia, a questioning look on her face. "Know why I kicked this low life? It's simply really. He struck Berry across the face after calling many insults that shouldn't be said in pleasant company."

Now, I know I have seen Celestia mad during the wedding episode, but this was something else entirely. But my focus was more on the pain on my face, then on my mother’s reactions. "I always knew he was a jerk from the show, but that freaking hurt!" I took that moment to release my cheek, revealing a bright red hoof print on it. Boy did it sting! That’s when I really took a close look at my mother and she looked livid. To use an old earth term: you was pissed! Then I noticed that Twilight was next to us.

"DJ we need to get out of here! Princess Celestia's magic levels are reaching critical!" she said with a worry plainly present in both her voice and on her face. I didn’t know what that meant, but DJ obviously did as he picked us up while shouting.

"AW NAH! I AIN'T DEALING WITH THAT!" Then my brother ‘meep’ed again and we were off. We rushed by some guards who had come to check out the situation and DJ yelled at them as we passed. "RUN MAN, RUN! CELESTIA'S GONNA RAGE SHIFT! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!" Wait, mom was gonna what? Now I get it! Oh… RUN BROTHER RUN!!! As we ran, we could hear my mother go bat-manure crazy on my cousin.

"BLLLLLUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUEEEEEE BLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODDDDDD!!!!!!!"

Even after the shouting, DJ didn’t stop, but then there was a road block. Princess Luna was walking out of one the rooms and was in our immediate path. DJ tried to warn her, “LUNA! LOOK OUT! GANGWAY!!", but my aunt only looked instead of moving. Long story short, he crashed into each other. Next thing I know, I have Princess Twilight on my back, I’m on my aunt, and my brother is underneath all of us at the bottom of large pile.

"What is the meaning of this DJ?" Luna looked mad.

"Trying to escape before Celestia rage shifted on Blue Blood!" he answered with panic still present in his voice.

Luna looked a little shocked. “"Why would Celestia rage shift on our nephew?"

"He struck your niece across the face and then said we both should be put down," he replied matter-of-factly. Luna's face contorted in rage.

"I, too, will have words with him." Now that I would pay to see!

"Yeah, before you do that, can you do me a favor? Can all of you get off of me?!" I guess he couldn’t take the weight. I later found out that DJ seems to be cursed with always taking a lot pain to his back. It amazes me that it has yet to break after everything that has happened. Oh brother, why are you so unlucky?

“I have been asking myself that for a long time, kid. Long time,” DJ said while nodding.

“And the only answer that comes to mind is that existence just hates us,” Malice quipped.

“It can’t be that bad,” Trixie waved off.

“Wanna bet?” the pair asked in unison. Twilight put her hoof on Trixie’s shoulder and just shook her head. She has been down that path one too many times. Back to the book.

As we piled off each other, we saw something that made us three alicorns gasp. Once Luna stood up, we discovered that DJ’s back was entirely coated in blood and was still bleeding. Twilight almost paled. "DJ!! WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?" Twilight said hysterically. I couldn’t blame her, that gash looked nasty.

DJ looked over his shoulder at his back. "Oh! So that's why it hurt! You see, that jerk of a unicorn tried to run me through with his horn, I was able to get out the way, but I guess he nicked me. No biggie!"

"How can you say that? That's a lot of blood DJ!" Twilight countered.

"Simple Twi! Because I am feeling very light headed," he said as he fell forward, unconscious as he hit the marble floor. No biggie my flank! Twilight took action first and encased my brother in a levitation spell and we took off with Luna leading us to the infirmary. Along the way, we found my mother still fuming and smoking, but she turned to fear when she saw us approaching with a bleeding DJ. Mom asked us what happened and when we told her, she nearly rage shifted again, but we were able to calm her down by reminding her that our attention needed to be on getting DJ to the doctor. Instead of running, mom powered up her horn and teleported us immediately inside the medical wing of the castle. With her urging, the doctors got to work cleaning and repairing DJ’s back. Turns out it wasn’t all that bad, just a slight amount of blood loss, but nothing too serious.

As we waited for DJ to be allowed visitors, all of our other friends joined us in the infirmary. Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Big Macintosh, Apple Bloom, and Granny Smith. Of course they were all worried sick about DJ, but we kept them calm by telling them that he was gonna be okay. The doctors could take care of it. After an hour of painful waiting, a doctor came to tell us that we could go see him. One by one we filed into the hospital room. DJ lay on the bed, still out cold, with a few wires sticking out of him and into an IV. Twilight was the first over to him and grasp tightly to his hand. She really cares for him that much is still true to this day. I took one of the provided chairs in the room, as I was just way too exhausted after everything that had happened. With all of my adrenaline run out, I just felt sleepy. I passed into a dreamless sleep not too long later, knowing that when I awoke, my brother would be better and I could be with my mother.

The next morning, I was awoken to the sound of somepony shouting in glee. As I slowly regained consciousness, I tried to remember where I was, but then the events of the previous night tool hold and I looked up. I saw my big brother smiling at me as well as everypony else that had fallen asleep around me. Twilight was still on the bed, hugging his neck with a big red blush on her face. DJ then spoke up, beaming at us with his ‘trademarked’ smile, "'Sup everypony? Have a good night?"

Despite my usual shyness, I flung myself at his chest. I was just happy that he was alright. "You're okay! Thank goodness, you had us worried there BBBFF!"

"Sorry about that. I guess Blue Butt had better aim than I thought," he said with a laugh. As I got back on my feet, I overheard Applejack talking to DJ.

“Uh, sugar cube? Berry here has called you 'BBBFF' several times already. What does that mean?"

I felt it more appropriate for me to answer that, so I did. "Don't you remember Applejack? It means big brother best friend forever!"

"No, I remember, but why is she calling you that DJ?" She didn’t even look at me when I spoke! Applejack, you are now on my list!

"The why is far too personal and not for any of you to ever know. But, she means what she says, technically I am now her older brother. Not a bad gig, if I do say so myself," he said with a smug look. I’m kind of glad he didn’t tell any of them the exact reason; it was pretty personal. I was also feeling pretty happy that he was enjoying being my big brother; I was having fun with it too. And then Rarity spoke up, taking me out of my thoughts.

"What on Equis do you think you are doing darling?" I looked up and over to my brother, who was putting on his clothes, as if he was… leaving. Oh no! He was not just walking this off; I ain’t losing my new brother to his own idiocy.

"Getting dressed, what does it look like? So I got hurt, big deal. I've hurt myself much worse than this. Thanks for fixing my jacket by the way Rarity. Just doesn't feel right when I'm not wearing it." Moron! Twilight didn’t give me a chance to say anything, though.

"DJ, you are not going anywhere until you are completely healed."

"I don't think so, Twi. I don't sit well in hospitals, been in one too many with incompetence. Plus, you ponies have magic so it should be already close to being healed. If it makes you feel better, though, I'll take it really easy today. Scout's honor." He gave a two finger salute to emphasize it. Was he even in the scouts? My guess was: not a chance! Unfortunately, there was nothing any of us could do to stop him. Once DJ puts his mind to something, he’s as stubborn as mule. No offense.

“None taken,” came the voice of the town mule. DJ, Malice, and everypony else looked up and stared off into space.

“How does he do that?” asked Spike.

“Some things will always remain a mystery, especially here in Equestria,” DJ replied. They just shook off the stupor and resumed.

Well, we all went our separate ways in the castle. DJ went exploring, Rarity, Pinkie, and Applejack went for Breakfast, Princess Twilight went to join Luna and mom, and Rainbow and I went for a fly. Oh ho! Rainbow Dash as a flight instructor is one of the best things ever! She was so cocky and cool, so much better than any of those worthless teachers I had at school. With her help, I was able to get the basics for flying down fairly fast and soon enough I was flying right beside her. Didn’t help with the crash landing, though. Has anypony ever mentioned how disgusting dirt tastes, because it is nasty! Even royal dirt. Well, with that fresh in my mind, I went to join my mother and the other princesses.

I found them in the throne room of course and they were happy to let me sit in. However, I got bored really fast. I knew that they were talking about me, but it sounded so political that I just kinda zoned out and was just staring off into space for who knows how long. I instead started to think back on when I ran into Blue Blood on my way here. Oh wow! I am glad that mom didn’t kill him because of me, but I’m pretty sure he was scarred for life! I could swear that his coat was a much paler color than it had been the previous night. When he saw me, he was in his knees begging for an apology that I gave cautiously. Not because I didn’t forgive, no it was because the situation was beyond awkward for me. After that I watched him get up and walk off, almost like a zombie. Boy that was creepy!

I was pulled out of my thoughts when I heard a crashing sound coming from the open window. I waved it off at first, but then it happened again and again. My curiosity got the better of me, so I went over to the window and looked out. Nothing was in my direct line of sight, so I looked down and saw what must have been the guard’s training area. I was fairly large, with a track, weights, and the whole works. What shook my world was that I saw my brother, DJ, down there and he was fighting with a very familiar stallion. I guess the surprise of seeing my brother fighting while he was injured showed on my face because I heard my mother call out to me.

"What is the mater, Berry? I know that this world is new to you, but surely not enough for that kind of display." Guess it wasn’t very becoming for a mare to be staring out a window with her mouth agape. But, my mother was not the one I spoke to, instead I called to Princess Twilight.

"Hey Twilight? I don't think bro was in the scouts." First thing that came to my mind.

"What makes you say that, Berry?" asked Twilight with a confused look.

"Because he is out in the court yard sword fighting with your brother!" Next thing I know, there are three alicorns beside me staring wide-eyed at the fight happening below. What was amazing, not the fact that they were fighting, no it was who was winning. One would expect it to be Shining Armor, being former captain of the royal guard and prince of the Crystal Empire, but no! It was DJ who had the upper hand! Oh wow! His fighting is unlike anything you have ever seen. Shining would later tell me that it was fighting a wild animal that had been taught swordsmanship by a master! There was some grace in those strikes, but it was more like watching an animal documentary. Their swords clashed one more time and they held their positions, trying to push the other back. All of a sudden, Shining lost his stance and DJ pushed forward. He swung his sword and sent Shining back a few steps and then threw out his left leg, kicking out Shining’s legs from underneath him. DJ moved forward and put his foot on Shining’s chest, holding both of his sword, one held normally and the other in a reverse grip, pointed at Shining’s neck. Holy, wow! My big brother just beat the best sword fighter in the entire guard! While injured! What. The. Buck!

It took me a moment to then realize that Twilight had taken flight and was heading down to the two boys who were now both lying on the ground. We could hear Twilight’s yelling from all the way up there. Not the exact words, but I almost swore that she was using the Royal Canterlot Voice. A few minutes later, Twilight, Shining Armor, and DJ entered into the throne room and mom explained the whole situation to Shining. He talked a little with Twilight and her ‘coltfriend’ for a few minutes then made his exit. With that out of the way, another piece of new was shared with me. I was going to be sent to Ponyville for the next week to get used to Equestrian society. I was about to say something, I forget what, but I shut up when mom also showed me a piece of paper. My eyes bugged at seeing it. An adoption form, one that was completely filled out and sported my name as the one being adopted, both human and pony. I felt the tears rushing to my eyes again and mom pulled me into a tight hold. She was my mother, now and forever.

Later that day, I had to say farewell to her as it was time to head back to Ponyville. I was the last one on the train because mom was really didn’t want to send me off so soon, but the others needed to go back home to their own lives. The train ride was fun and informational as DJ explained all the differences between this world and the TV show. Like Twilight having a daughter; she was such a cutie!

Now I would love to tell you all that happened in Ponyville, but to be honest it’s the craziest manure ever and none of you would ever believe me. So let’s just cut to the main highlights. I met everypony in town and made some friends, such as Ditzy Hooves and Lyra Heartstrings. I learned that I was also a part of the Apple family, since DJ had been adopted into their family roughly two months prior. I also became a Cutie Mark Crusader (only those who have been in Ponyville would know about them and should now fear me, mwahaha!) and I earned my cutie mark while mastering my magic. That was the greatest moment of my visit. Where I learned that my magic was unique as it was based on computer technology from my origin world. I’m pretty sure it was because I ate those microchips way back when. Don’t ask. I’ll get more into my magic later, so just be patient with me because I really didn’t get it until later myself. For those interested, my cutie mark is that of a strawberry (makes sense right?) that looked now as if half of it were being pixilated. And that’s when I changed my name permanently and I took on the name I now have. I am Pixel Berry, daughter of Princess Celestia. Yep, that’s me alright!

After a week filled with magic, music, and other assorted craziness, I was ready to return to my mother. At the train station, I said farewell to all my new friends and family. They were really disappointed that I couldn’t stay for longer and so was I, but I didn’t want to keep Celestia waiting. DJ was the last one to say good-bye, but he said something that rang deep within me: a lesson that I still keep with me.

“Well, sis, this is where we part for now. But I will not say goodbye." Everypony glared at him, but then he clarified. "Instead I will say, See ya later, sis! Goodbyes are meant for when you never plan on seeing them again, so why would I say that. Heh, heh. See ya around sis. Don't be a stranger and will make sure to drop by for Hearth's Warming next month!” He pulled me in for a hug and I returned it with earnest. He may be a moron, but his lessons are some of the greatest you will ever hear.

"See ya around big brother. See ya at Hearth's Warming!"

As the train pulled away, I saw Pinkie chasing after it. “Pixel Berry! Don’t forget about me!”

“I could never forget you, teacher!! We will see each other again, Pinkie! Just don’t you forget me!” I waved my farewells and returned to my cabin and took a nap. As I returned to my dreams, I could only think of how great that dreams really can come true.

4 - The Beginnings of a New Life

Chapter Four

The Beginnings of a New Life

“Finally!” Malice exclaimed. “Finally we get to the stuff that we don’t already know.”

DJ rolled his eyes. “Look bro, we had to go through that stuff. Not everyone knows Pix’s story so it was better to be safe than sorry.”

“Still a waste of my time.”

“Oh hush, Malice. Trixie wants to hear more story. Please continue, brother.”

DJ smiled at his sister-in-law. “Thank you, Trixie. Now, where was I…”

I watched in anticipation as Canterlot grew from my view from the train. The past week was fun and all, getting to know my favorite ponies and my new big brother (still wasn’t used to being able to say that again; it felt so nice). It was also hard to believe that the magnificent city before would be my new home. Things were happening so fast and I was loving every moment of it.

The train pulled into the station after another thirty minutes and I disembarked after another couple. Once off the train, I took in a big breath and let it out, smiling from how clean the air was, compared to old New York that is. That was not a clean city, let’s leave it at that. Anyways, I headed off in a jolly trot towards the castle that dominates the skyline.

All around me, I saw ponies going about their business, many with their noses held high. I never understood why they did that, other than to feel more important about themselves. Pretty rude, don’t you think? Anyways, it didn’t take long for me to find my way through the streets of the city and was soon at the castle gates. I nodded to the guards and started walking in, only to be stopped by the guard on my right. To be honest, I felt a little miffed.

“Um… can I go in?”

“Apologies, miss, but all entrants are required to have an appointment while Day Court is in session.”

“But I need to go in there!” I pleaded. “Celestia is expecting me!”

“That is Princess Celestia to you!” he growled, causing me to flinch. “Now, I ask you once more to leave before I must--”

“Go right on in, miss,” interrupted the guard on my right. Both myself and his partner turned to him in shock. He gave me a gentle smile and urged me forward. “Go on, I’m sure the Princess will be glad to see you.” I smiled brightly at him and walked through.

“Thank you, kind sir. It is most appreciated.” I am a courteous lady, after all. As I walked by them, though I overheard the rookie guard ask to his superior,

“Why did you let that filly through?”

I heard the older stallion chuckle. “You’ll learn the ropes soon enough, rookie. But that young mare always gets a free pass, she is Celestia’s daughter, after all.”

“SHE’S WHAT?!”

I giggled a little under my breath and left the stallions to their job. I still wasn’t used to the layout to the castle, so safe to say… I got lost almost immediately. Seriously! Would it kill somepony to put some signs up, or a mag every few places? But I digress, I wandered through the castle aimlessly for a good while, finally coming up on what appeared to be an information desk. And, of course, there was the stereotypical secretary who was filing her hooves, looking absolutely bored.

“Um, excuse me, miss?”

“Hmm?” She glanced up at me for a quick second before going back to her hooves. “Sorry kid, no more petitioners today. Come back tomorrow.”

“But I need to see Celestia, it’s important.”

“No can do; not without an appointment.”

“But--”

“Look, kid” she said with a glare, “No appointment, no princess. Understood?”

“But--”

“Scram, kid. Can’t you see I’m busy?” She went right back to filing, and not the kind she probably should have been doing. I glared slightly at her and huffed, turning away and heading back into the never-ending halls of the castle. I was pretty miffed at that mare and her attitude, understandably so. It wasn’t that I was expecting recognition or anything, but at least I wanted to be treated like I existed. I was so mad that I wasn’t watching where I was going and ended up bumping right into another pony.

“Oof!” we both cried out and hit the floor. I rubbed my head, trying to ease the pain, as a I looked at who I hit. I was nearly pale at the sight of the blonde stallion in front of me.

“Ugh, who dares to touch the marvelous Prince Blue…” he stopped as he caught the sight of me, his anger turning to… was that desire? Oh boy. “Well helloo~, miss,” he said with a suave flick of his mane. “I don’t believe we’ve met. I am Prince Blue Blood, heir to the royal throne. And who might you be, my lovely flower?” He put on his best smile and all I felt was disgust. This was the same pony who had struck me across the cheek only a week prior.

I brushed away his greeting hoof with a snort. “Sorry Bluey, but we have already met and I don’t think you want to be hitting on me.”

“Have we?” he asked with innocence and a warm smile. “I don’t believe so. No, I would certainly remember a beautiful flower such as yourself. Where and when did we meet, my lovely dear?”

I rolled my eyes. “Last week in the royal kitchens when you smacked me across the face.” His face contorted in confusion, so I decided to help him out a bit. “Revert!” In a burst of gold and ruby light, I was human once again, turning my ‘suitor’ pale. “Remember me now, Bluey?”

He stammered as he tried to restore his blown mind. “I-I-I am so sorry, cousin! I didn’t know you could turn into a pony!” He turned green after a second, probably realizing what he had just been doing. “Oh Celestia, I was just courting my cousin! She may be adopted… no that’s just sick! I, I have to go, go find the facilities.” He rushed off, but stopped for just a second. “Good to see you, Berry. Farewell!”

As Blue Blood turned the corner and ran, I was left a little shellshocked. That was nothing like the stallion I had the displeasure of meeting a week ago. I actually smiled a little as I turned back into a pony and headed off. Maybe Blue Blood isn’t as bad as I thought, I thought to myself. I continued on down the halls, still as lost as ever. I soon came to a dark, navy blue door with a familiar crescent moon on it. I looked at it with curiosity and decided to knock.

The door unlocked and opened slightly, surrounded in a blue aura. “Enter,” I heard a voice say from within. I shrugged and cantered right in. I looked around the sight of a large, dark (almost like night) coloured bedroom; there were several bookshelves all around with books on astronomy and similar sciences, a huge four-poster bed with the curtains currently pulled back, and out on the balcony was a small telescope pointed out at the sky. Also out on the balcony was my new aunt, Princess Luna. She turned around at hearing me enter and smiled.

“Ah, niece, you have returned from your trip. We are pleased to see you come and visit us so soon.”

“Oh, well, um… honestly aunt Luna? I kinda wound up here by accident. Kinda got lost while wandering the castle after being told I couldn’t see my mother.”

“Oh,” she said, sounding a little depressed. Her face then twisted in confusion. “Why couldn’t you see your mother?”

“The desk girl wouldn’t let me in without an appointment,” I huffed.

Luna scowled slightly before getting up. “Well, why don’t we go see about changing that? Come along, Berry.” She trotted right out, and I followed after a moment of processing what just happened. They walked silently through the halls for a few moments before Luna spoke again. “I am sorry that you were given the runaround instead of seeing your mother, niece. She has very much missed you.”

“Really?” I asked with a happy and hopeful smile.

“Oh yes,” Luna said with a nod. “She has been speaking non stop about your performance the other night and all throughout the week she has been wanting to go and get you early to have more time with you.” She turned her head towards me with a bright smile. “You have made her so happy, Berry. Thank you for that.”

I couldn’t help the blush that burned my cheeks. “She’s made me happy, too,” I mumbled, but I’m sure she heard me. We walked in silence for a few moments before I spoke again. “Luna?”

“Yes, Pixel Berry?”

“I… I just wanted you to know that just because I found you by accident, that doesn’t mean I don’t care about you. We’re family now and I do appreciate what you are doing for me.”

Luna gave me a warm smile. “Thank you, ‘tis most appreciated. I do hope that the next time you come to my room, it will be with purpose, however.”

“Definitely!” I smiled, returning to my perky nature.

It was another ten minutes of no-longer-awkward silence when we returned to the throne room. We approached the desk and the mare behind it immediately said, “Day Court is no longer accepting petitioners unless you have an appointment. Please come back tomorrow.”

Luna scrunched her nose in irritation at the inattentive mare and cleared her throat. The mare just ignored her, focusing more on filing her hooves. Luna tried again, clearly irritating her adversary. On the third attempt, she snapped.

“What do you wa--?!” She paled when she looked up, immediately realizing she just shouted at Princess Luna herself. “Princess Luna! Oh, oh I am sooo sorry! I-I didn’t know it was you!” She went off in a blubbering rant, trying to save her hide. I was tempted to giggle a little at her, but it didn’t seem to be the appropriate time for such things. After a minute or two, Luna held up a hoof to silence the panicky mare.

“Your transgressions this day will be overlooked, just this once.” She narrowed her eyes and leaned in close to the desk mare, making her gulp. “However, should we find that you are being rude to a valued friend of the princesses again, we will not be so lenient. Understood?”

The mare swallowed hard and nodded. “Mm hm, understood your majesty. Please, go right in.”

Luna pulled back and smiled sweetly. “Thank you. Have a pleasant day, Prudent.” Luna opened the doors and I followed her, waving with a Pinkie-esque smile at Prudent. She waved back, clearly dazed from her experience. I couldn’t blame her, really. I know I wouldn’t have wanted to be on the receiving end of my aunt’s temper. Back in the throne room, I was amazed at the amount of ponies that filled the massive room when Court was in session. There had to be at least fifty in the parliament box, with another hundred petitioners standing off to the side. From what I could tell, mom only had a few more to go, with the majority just watching the proceedings, no doubt already having had their turn.

I was pulled out of my observations as Luna cleared her throat to get mom’s attention. I looked over at her amazing throne, staring in awe at how powerful she looked when surrounded by her subjects. Celestia looked over to us and smiled at Luna, then she saw me… she looked as she wanted to clap her hooves in glee and hug me until I was squished. She turned back to the ponies and declared, “I must apologize, but something has come up that needs my attention. As such, Day Court has been adjourned for the day. To those that I have yet to hear from, I do hope to see you on the morrow so we may discuss your issues.”

There were more than a few grumbles as the ponies made their way out, but it wasn’t anything too bad. Some were just wondering what kind of emergency could call Celestia away from court, more than a few throwing glances my way as they left. It did take a little while, but soon enough, the only ones in the room were Celestia, Luna and myself. Before I could even say “hi” to her, however, I was immediately enveloped in an amazing hug.

“OH!! Berry you have come home! Oh, how I have missed you so much my little one!” She kept peppering me with kisses as she talked, tickling me from the sensations.

“Hi mom,” I said back through her chest that I was still pushed into. “How’ve you been since last night?”

She picked up on my little quip there. “Hush, Berry. We spent very little time together at Miss Scratch’s establishment, so it doesn’t truly count.”

“Whatever you say,” I said with a roll of my eyes. I pulled myself up and out of her chest and then lean up and kissed her right on the cheek. “I missed you, too, mom.”

I could see tears of happiness welling up in the corners of her eyes, but she brushed them away. “Thank you, my child. Now, since I have cancelled court for the remainder of the day, how about we spend the day together? Just the three of us.”

“Three of us?” Luna parroted.

“Of course, Luna. You are as much a part of this family, why would we would not include you?”

Luna looked at Celestia in shock, turning to me with the same face. I smiled warmly at my aunt. “She’s right aunt Luna. I want to know my entire family, not just my mother. Plus, I would love to get to know everyone’s favorite princess!”

They both stared at with confusion. “‘Favorite princess’?” they parroted.

“What do you mean by that, my child?”

“Weeeelll, one Earth… Luna’s the more popular princess.”

“I… I’m what?”

“People took to you a little more than they did Celestia. Don’t get me wrong, there are Celestia fans, but everyone more or less flocked to you.”

“I’m the more popular princess,” she whispered in wonder, staring off into space. She then grinned like a filly and squealed. ...Yes, the great Princess Luna, former Empress of the Night, squealed like a school filly. She clapped her hooves giddily and then pointed one at Celestia. “HA TIA! I knew somewhere I was more popular than you! It may be a different world, but it still counts!” She then blew a raspberry at her, smiling like she just one the lottery.

Mom rolled her eyes and smiled at Luna’s playfulness. “Yes, yes, Luna. Goody for you. Now, how about we have a picnic in the garden? Sound good, Berry?”

I smiled at her. “You know what, mom? That sounds perfect.” I walked right up to her and nuzzled her chest. I felt her nuzzle my head in return. “Just perfect,” I sighed.