Welcome to Equestria
By Iambored203(Joshua Meltzer)
Where am I? Was all I could think of at first. Ok, this bed is definitely not mine, my bed is way less comfortable than this... If I was kidnapped, why would they give me a comfortable bed, rather than a rock of a mattress that I'm already used to? And why do I feel different, not like I just woke up in someone else's bed different. More like I'm not myself different... What I did next wasn't what surprised me, what surprised me was that when I routinely rubbed my eyes was that I didn't have fingers, but rather, a hoof? From what I could feel, it wasn't any normal hoof. Ok, my name is... Uh... Oh well, I'll get to that later. But did I just hear a squeak? And what is this horn like thing on my head, and why are my ears like a cat’s?
"AAARRRGGG!!! What has happened to me? Did I get drunk last night? No, I never drink that couldn't happen." Were my first words of the day.
As soon as I finished speaking still half asleep and still refusing to open my eyes, afraid of what I might see. A very soft and shy voice spoke up in response...
"U-umm… Are y-you awake?" I wish I wasn’t whoever you are. But something about your voice seems familiar, like I've heard you from somewhere before. But from where?
"You don't sound like a kidnapper, or~”
Might as well open my eyes and face my fate... And I did just that. The first thing I noticed was that my hands
were now black cartoonish hooves, dawning an obsidian gauntlet. I know where I am.. My brain just can't believe it. I am in the show that I watched all the time, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. And the pony sitting next to me was Fluttershy from what I can remember. Looking back at myself, I noticed that my hair, wait, I'm no longer human, so my mane, was a sparkling rainbow, that quite literally sparkled. It was amazing and horrible at the same time. Wondering what possibilities lie in my future as a residence of Equestria, but also wondering what would happen back where I came from.
What was that place again... Why can't I remember anything of my life back in wherever?
"U-umm I-I'm no kindn-napper... I'm just here to l-look over y-you..." Answered what I assumed was the yellow Pegasus named Fluttershy. I finally managed to organize my thoughts, and knew what I needed to ask the Pegasus. As I looked around I noticed five more ponies, the remaining five of the main six in that show that this world seemed to be based off of. All I did next was just back up away from them in the bed I was in. Only managing to squeak quietly in fear, which the six ponies before me managed to pick up on easily.
"Hey you!" Demanded a tomboyish voice from a rainbow manned Pegasus who's name I recalled to be Rainbow Dash. "Who are you!?" She demanded again only making me back up further into the wall in fear.
"Hush now RD, we don't want ta scare the poor colt". Replied a the mare I knew as Applejack, on the same southern accent as she had in the show.
"Come on sugar cube, we're here ta help ya, but, Rainbow's right, we can't help ya if ya don't tell is yer name" She added looking back at me.
"I... I..." Was all I could say before being interrupted again by the purple mare I knew as Twilight Sparkle.
"Well? Come on, I'm sure you can at least tell us your name" She blurted. Come on, come on, my name, what in the hay is my name!?
"I... Don't know my name, if it helps, I know your names if I'm really seeing what I think I'm seeing." I managed, straying from the questions I thought up earlier. This did however seem to have a possible helpful outcome,
"H-How do you know are names?" Replied Twilight.
"Yeah, what gives!? Are you a spy!?" Rainbow Dash demanded.
"Wull wait jus' one minute, if'n ya do know our names, then what are they?" Followed up Applejack.
There goes the helpful possibility; I am losing my memory of whatever happened before I awoke in this place. But I'm being greeted with slight hostility. I might as well take my guesses.
"If you're all who I think you are then you're Applejack,(pointing at the orange mare) You're Twilight Sparkle,(pointing at the purple mare) You're Rainbow Dash,(pointing at the cyan mare) You're Rarity, (pointing at the white mare) You're Pinkie Pie,(pointing at the pink mare) And you're Fluttershy."
Silence was the only immediate response I got, and judging by Dash's somewhat annoyed look, Twilight, Applejacks, and Rarity's confused looks, Fluttershy's silent squeal and a scared look, along with Pinkie Pie's bouncing, I think I got it right. A few minutes passed of all of us just standing in place with the same expressions until Rainbow Dash broke the silence.
"How did you know our names!? Huh!? We've never even heard of you or seen you before."
She demanded with a slightly more determined, and annoyed look. I only got scared into moving my head back to the wall, as I was already up against it in fear that I might get my head bucked in by one of them. Luckily before I could even go "umm", Twilight spoke up.
"This puts us in a very interesting situation sir, you seem to know our names, and we've never even met you before. While you don't even know your own name. If I may, I think I have a way of bringing your memory back, I just need you to hold still until the spell is done. But that is if you want to, which would be a great deal for both of us.”
All I did was nod yes, as I have a feeling that the "spell" will work. As soon as I finished that thought, Twilight's horn gave off a slight purple aura, and then she began to move closer, which felt like an eternity to me. As soon as both of our horns connected, I blacked out and began seeing visions of my entire life, as Joshua Meltzer, a normal human boy, close to turning 16 years old. However part way through, I was getting tired of watching my old self walk the inefficient but only route to the bus that takes me home from school. And then a loud SMACK cracked into my ears, as the vision slowed down to the actual speed that time progressed.
My vision was blurry, really blurry, and I could feel myself laying in a uncomfortable position on a wet, rough and hard road that was my route home from school. After a few moments my vision began to clear, and I noticed glass shards were scattered on and around me. The road wasn't wet from rain like I thought; it was the dark red liquid that I immediately recognized as blood. Unable to move any part of me but my eyes, I looked up to see a car with a bloody, shattered windshield that was pulled over to the side of the road. It was accompanied by two people who I could recognize as my friends from class that had just gotten their drivers license the other day. I new they were talking but I only could make out
"I'm gonna be in soooo much trouble!" Came from more selfish of my friends, what was his name. Right, it was Tom. Looks like it's his nice day. Was all I thought, cracking a joke in my mind before the inevitable?
"TROUBLE!!?? We, I mean you just hit our friend, and you're worried about trouble!? Ugh. I’m calling an ambulance."
Tom just frowned at the reply, as the other friend. Antonio, I think it was, called an ambulance through his phone. What's this light? Why can’t I move? As I looked down my fears came true. I didn't have my right leg, and the remaining left leg was crushed beyond repair, my back was broken, and I could see that I was twitching slightly with a severely damaged body...
Oh no...
There was the light again, but this time, it looked as if it had waves that belong to a lake or ocean. It proceeded towards me, and I felt as if I were flying towards it at a high speed. The light faded to bring me to part to of my vision... I was no longer the human I saw from just a few moments ago, rather, I was the stallion I am now... His life passed by just like the one I saw as Josh. Just in the place I learned was Equestria from the pony I was seeing. Turns out my name is Spectral Shades... A royal alicorn, and long forgotten brother of Princess Celestia and Luna. After a few years in my life, I had done something that made the princess banish me from Equestria, to the zebra plains in the east. I had met Zecora, a caring zebra that took me in as her own, but she left me when she moved to the Everfree forest. Once again I was on my own. I stayed in Zecora's old home for a few months while it was vacant. But after three months of gathering my own food in the nearby Zebra territory forest and selling my fruits for money and necessities. Then I came two Zebra's that moved in, and took me in as their son. They never really cared for me. They just wanted someone to do their tasks for the zebra community. Then on one day, I was working as the village's makeshift weather team.
"Hurry up and Move the storm to the forest, Spectral!" Said my boss who was watching over the weather team.
"Yes sir". I answered.
I Then I pushed a normal pony sized clump, of a storm cloud over towards the forest I used to hunt in. Zap!!! I was struck by lightning; the darkness filled my eyes... I was getting the visions of Josh's life, and remembered the name of the ponies I am lying unconscious in a room with, whom happened to be in a Show that the kid watched near the time his life ended. Then, it went all black, both lives have synced together, becoming one in death, our souls merged, into Spectral’s body, which was still able to function.
I woke back up in a bed, but in what seemed to be a tree house library, with a bunch of complicated machines monitoring my body. To the left of me were a few nurses with white coat's that only said "lay back down, you need the rest" whenever I moved my head to speak. The next day, I woke up in the same library and bed; the nurses had packed up their machines, and leftovers from last night. The only pony remaining was Twilight Sparkle, who was watching me and reading up on amnesia.
"I know who I am." I said, breaking the silence.
"EEP!!! O-oh. Can you tell me who you are now?" She replied, questioningly.
"I was two different ponies... Well actually, I was a pony, and a different species of animal, living in a world parallel to ours, but in a different universe, that was just slightly ahead technologically. Which one do you want to hear?" I said, almost sound like it was practiced. Her expression didn't show confusion, but understanding.
"Tell me who you are, or were as a pony, like you are now. You'll need that more here, than you will of your 'other' life." She replied.
"I am Spectral Shades; I was a royal alicorn who was banished along, long time ago, around the time Luna was born. I only know you and your friends from the other life, where I watched a show, of you and your friend’s recent adventures. It must be a loop hole or someone/pony that can travel between here and where my other life was."
I went on explaining everything, how I died in my life as Josh, and how I got banished from accidentally letting me, and the princesses’ parents die which was a misunderstanding on Celestia's behalf. They died of old age, not from letting a pony come in and poison them without my knowing.
"This is all very insightful.. But, I think that you should go see the princess. A lot has changed, Shade, and the princess has acknowledged that your explanation for her parents’ death was right. This still leaves why she never mentioned you before though." She said, having written down everything I said, and already beginning to write down notes on some of the things I said.
"Y-Yeah... I guess... I'll go see her now..." I replied somewhat hesitantly.
"Good Luck"
"Thanks Twilight, I hope you have a good day." and with that, I trotted out the door and took to the skies for only a few moments before being stopped by an annoyed looking Rainbow Dash. Once again, I was unable to even get a chance to speak first.
"You!" she greeted, with a hint of anger in her voice. "Well just WHO are you, huh!?"
"I~"
"You caused me a lot of trouble, crashing into my home and all... I hope you’re proud of yourself." She said interestingly
"I'm sorry Rainbow Dash, I'll fix your house later, but for now I have to go see 'Tia" I spoke trying to get out of the conversation.
"What makes YOU so special huh!?I'm without a home now, because of you, and all you say is SORRY!?" She spoke with hatred in her voice that stung like a thousand needles.
"I'm her brother, that's why." I replied with a slight tone of revenge for her outburst. “Now If I nay, I need to see my sister to sort a few things out." Looking back at Rainbow, She was in shock,
"He-Her brother? You're the princess's brother? Why hasn't any pony known of this? Unless you're lying. I can't believe I'm talking to a jerk, and a liar! I'm done talking with you! I hope you get banished!" She retorted, starting to fly off, but got stopped my next words.
"I was" I said looking down slightly.
She was frozen for around a minute before she turned around to see I was already too far away to catch up to.
She said nothing, and continued off to go work with the weather team a bit frustrated. When I had reached Canterlot, it looked the same as it did when i was banished thousands of years ago. Landing in front of the grand hall where the princess resided made me only feel hurt. Managing to overcome the past, I hesitantly walked into the building, and then down the hall to where the hall ends and becomes a set of two spiralling stairs with a guard standing where they meet.
"Halt citizen, what is your meaning for being here? There is no meeting scheduled for today and the princess has requested to be in peace, leave now and I won't arrest you." He said with a sense of authority in his voice.
"I'm here to see my sister, and I can't leave until I have talk~" Both me and the guard froze when the princess trotted down the stairs with a letter from Twilight.
"Is it too late to say I’m sorry, brother?" She spoke, breaking the silence.
"It's never too late to apologize". I answered happily, and the only reply from my sister was an embracing hug that got rid of any sense of revenge for my banishment.
What was a few seconds for the guard, who was wearing a shocked look on his face, was an eternity for me and Celestia. When we broke the forgiving embrace, we both looked at the guard.
"You can be dismissed captain." Calmly ordered Celestia.
"Y-Yes your highness" replied the confused guard who quickly went back to his barracks.
"Hey 'Tia?"
"What is it Shades?"
"Does Luna, remember me?" There was a slight look of worry on my face.
"She couldn't forget you. You were like a father to her while our parents were in the hospital before they died." She answered, reassuringly. Her tone and answer made me feel more relaxed and eased my mind of those worries. But with one the fixing of a problem comes another problem. I still had to fix Rainbow's House, shouldn't be too hard fixing a cottage.
"Umm... Sorry to make the reunion short-lived, but I accidentally knocked down somepony's home when I got struck by lightning and crashed. And they're demanding that I fix it. But it shouldn't be too hard fixing a cottage right?" I explained to my sister.
"Hmmm... As long as you fix it. But if I may ask, who's home was it?" She replied, luckily not mad at me for apparently levelling a home from what I've been told.
"It was a mare Pegasus who goes by the name of Rainbow Dash... From what I can tell, she sure was upset, and I don't want to make enemies as soon as I meet some pony."
"Rainbow Dash? You do know that not only did you crash into a cloud home, but the home of the element of loyalty?"
"The Elements? Of Harmony? You got them to work? Good job sister. And because of this I will work twice as hard for a pony as important. Well I need to go now sister, I hope I see you soon!" I said, as I flew out and towards ponyville with a smile.
Repairing a NOT so Friendly Friendship:
As I neared the only cloud home in the small town, which I assumed was Rainbow Dash's, as it was the only cloud home in ponyville, and it looked as if it had exploded. I could see six mares standing below the home where some large chunks of cloud rubble had fallen and the rainbow fountain had leaked onto of and created a rainbow puddle surrounding the rubble. As I got closer to the six mares, I recognized them as the six ponies that were watching over me after I had crashed. Unfortunately Rainbow Dash had noticed me first anodyne was already on her way to mock me some more from what I could tell.
"I'm sorry Rainbow... I'll get right onto fixing it." I said interrupting her before she could speak with a frown.
I started moving cloud prices back into place and all of the six friends except for Rainbow had left who said she was "supervising" which was what she called napping on a nearby cloud. Within an hour, e place started to resemble a home. And after three hours I had turned the place into a floating cloud home that looked brand new with the crafts coltship of cloudscape, and the elegance of a Canterlot architect. I had moved her furniture back in within a half hour after the home being finished, just to make it up to her.
"I'm done... Furniture and all." I said, and accidentally startling the sleeping Rainbow manned Pegasus.
"You're done!? This early? Even the furniture?" She asked while getting back upright.
"Yeah, if there's anything else you need me to do, don't hesitate to ask."
"Hang on a minute, this still doesn't excuse you for lying!"
"I wasn't lying Rainbow, if I was lying, I don't think I would have come back from Canterlot."
"I still don't believe you. If you really are the princess's brother, then why hasn't any pony heard of you?"
I sighed and prepared an explanation n my head quickly.
"Well? Please, ENLIGHTEN every pony if you'd be so kind."
"Nopony has heard of me because Celestial didn't want to remember a mistake on her part. When I was watching over our parents on their deathbed before they died, Celestial thought that one of the medical assistants who was taking a blood sample, had poisoned them, and blamed me for letting them do it. But she later realized after banishing me for it that it was just a misunderstanding, and had gotten rid of any evidence of my existence of me that wasn't in her or Luna's mind.". I exhaled relieved, and hoping that was a good enough explanation. But I had already known her reply before she could say it.
"But that doesn't explain why you~"
"I was hoping you wouldn't bring that up."
"HAH!! I knew you were lying!" She yelled in triumph.
"Actually, you're only partly right about me not being the princesses brother."
"Huh? Go on.."
"I am technically two different ponies. When I was in my banishment the other day in the Zebra plains, I was helping out the weather team with moving a storm to a nearby forest so it would miss my village. After I had finished, I had moved out a bit to take a look at my work. But then I had been struck by some rapidly changing colored lightning bolt. That had caused me to somehow fly haphazardly here to ponyville and ended up losing control in a crash course to your home. What the lightning was, is what me, and twilight believe to have been the entrance for a person's soul from a different galaxy who's inhabitant's technology surpasses ours slightly. But back to the point, the person had died, and had his soul been at the right ce at the right time to be upon some random loophole that allowed his soul into that lightning strike that hit me and into my soul. So I guess that makes me two ponies in a way. But you probably won't believe this anyways. I'll be leaving now if you don't mind."
I started to feel a knot form in my gut as I started to leave. I still only got a quiet "hmph" form her as I left, only worsening the knot in my gut. I decided to head back to Twilight to confront the inevitable... I needed a place to stay, and a life stuck in a palace all day doesn't appeal to me that much, despite being where my sisters live. As approached the door to the library, Twilight had already known I was on my way. And opened the door as I got to it.
"So how'd it go?". She greeted, moving aside to let me in, and I did as such and sat down on a couch in the living room.
"I made things right with my sisters, or your princesses, but I don't think I'll be staying up in a palace everyday all day."
"Hmm... I guess at makes sense, I'm assuming you're not the kind of pony into doing tons of paper work all day." I nodded and let her continue. "Speaking of homes, how'd it go with Rainbow?"
"Not well. I mean I got the house fixed, but she still thinks I'm not the princess's brother, and thinks I'm just a no good for nothing lying mule." My ears drooped slightly and I lowered down slightly at the thought.
"I see... But you must understand it from her view. First impressions of a random pony who wrecks their home by crashing through it, who then says later that you’re the princess's brother. Those impressions probably won't be good, I think you should probably make it up to her, like an apology gift or something like that."
"Yeah, but I'm jobless, and I don't have a home, which is only more reason for her to hate me.”
"If you would like, you may stay in the guest room here, and work as an assistant."
"That would be great Twilight, Thanks."
I finally managed to give an honest smile. It was the next morning, and today was my first day as the librarian's assistant. I got up and had a quick breakfast of oat cereal and apple juice with Twilight.
"So, what do I do as an assistant?" I asked, eagerly.
"Well, as my assistant, you need to hep as needed, like cleaning up, or organizing the shelves. But for now, you I need you to get familiar with the library so you know where everything is. The shelves are arranged in groups by genre, which are further organized by author, and then alphabetically. I want you to memorize every last book's location, genrew, and author. Starting with the History section, and ending with the Fables section at the other end of the library."
"Okay, I'll get right on it then. There can't possibly be too many books here." I said, only to realize that Twilight had already left to town for whatever reason.
I took a good look around the library, and realized that this would take all day. But I reassured myself with the fact that I'm still homeless, and still on the bad end of a grudge. After an hour of sorting through each genre book by book, I found my self finishing the Foal's section and moving on to the Fables section, which I finished soon after. Then there was the distinctive DING that came from bell above the door whenever someone entered or left the library. When I looked, I was glad that it was Twilight returning from her errands.
"Hey Twilight, just finished, is there anything else you need me to do?" It was as if I was asking for more tedious work, which in a way was true.
"Wow, I guess alicorns are better at memorizing, well, I guess you can help me put away groceries, and then I could teach you how to work the registers after that."
"Actually, I remember how to work registers; it was a job the kid from the other place had who mergers with me."
"Perfect! You are going to be a great assistant!" She said clapping her hooves together excitedly.
We then started putting away the groceries, which unsurprisingly were just as organized as the rest of the library, and there were a lot of groceries. Despite the absurd amount of food to put away, it took only a few minutes to get them all put away and organized.
"So now what?" I asked, punctuating my question with a yawn.
"Well it's getting late, you should get some rest, and tomorrow is a weekend. Meaning there are going to be more ponies coming to buy or rent a book.” She concluded, gesturing for me to go get some sleep, which I gladly did.
The next morning, I woke up to the sound of the roosters again. I got up, stretched, and went over in my head what I was going to do after breakfast. It was a normal breakfast again, Twilight shared more stories of her adventures with h friends and related topics.
"So Twi, what do you need me to do today?" I asked after finishing, and cleaning up after breakfast.
"Actually, I want you to go around town and meet some ponies instead of staying in this library all day. And don't worry about the register, I'll take care of it. I think you should start off around the fields, there should be quite a few ponies out on a day like this."
"Okay, I guess I'll see ya later then." I said as I trotted out and towards a nice green field where various ponies were conversing about their daily life.
As I trotted through the park, I noticed three of the mares that were watching over me after I crashed. The first two, who were the closest to me I noticed were Rarity and Applejack, but at a closer glance I noticed the other one behind them Rainbow Dash. Oh no... This is not going to end well, I hope she didn't make the others think I was a lying mule who was only good for fixing buildings and making excuses
"Hey it's that no good fer nothin' ya described, Dash." Too late. I'm screwed. But all I did was just stand there.
"We heard that story you told our friend and we don't want you here spreading lies about being the princesses brother, because they never had one!" Rarity said in an insulting royal themed tone. Then at knot in my gut came back again, and far worse than before.
"Well if you all don't want me here, I guess I'll go back to the Zebra plains I was banished to, where they're worse off than any pony, but still treat me like one of theirs!" I retorted with a tone of rejection form the town.
All I did was run, I ran from them as far as I could away from the ponies that think I'm a lying mule who can't do a single helpful thing, unless forced to. But I didn't go back to the plains, even though what I said about them was true, I didn't feel like I deserved even that now. I found myself slouched in an alleyway alone in the dark sobbing. My ears perked as I noticed the three ponies trot right passed the alley way I was hiding in. They weren't looking for me either, because all I heard was a;
"At least we won't have any lies told 'round here." from Applejack.
It was what seemed like a time of the entirety of my banishment, but was only a mere day until I heard ponies looking around frantically for something. What I didn't know is that the mayor had been informed of my existence and presence by the princess, and held a town meeting to inform the town. The meeting soon turned into an emergency meeting as they had been told of my disappearance. The elements of harmony were sent out to look for me, I didn't care who it was that found me, I just wanted to stay there curled up, convinced that I wouldn't fit in.
"Hey, has anypony checked that alleyway?" I heard from a tomboyish voice.
"Hold on a second Darling, are you sure that the prince isn't that pony you said lied to you?"
"Of course, a prince wouldn't crash, especially not into house."
"Umm do you hear some pony cryin'?"
"Now that you mention it darling, I think it's coming from that alleyway Dash pointed out."
"Well what are y'all waiting for!? Let's go!" Did she say Dash?
That's the last pony I wanted to see at the moment, or at all. I just slouched back onto the wall with my head buried in my hooves, making it hard for me to be identified. I knew they were trotting closer to me, but they couldn't see me, only hear me, and I didn't want to hear them at all. Heck, I'd rather be the human in me who was dead, even if he lived, and became a mutilated vegetable.
"Hello? Is any pony there?" I recognized the voice as Rainbow's.
"G-go away!" I sniffled.
"Hey, come on now sir, we only want to help you." Replied Rarity
"Yeah, we don't wanna hurt ya. Now why don't ya come on out an' well get ya home." Applejack said to back up Rarity.
"You already did, now go away and leave me be!" I retorted.
"Hey it's that liar from before! This just proves it; he said he was going to the zebra plains, but look where he is now!" Dash spat back mockingly.
"Go AWAY!!! I don't want to hurt any pony!"
"Did he just threaten' us?" Rarity said in disbelief. They both gave a strange look at me… As If I were an alien or something.
"Well the least you can do is tell some pony if you see a prince anywhere!" Rainbow said frustrated.
