Time Lost

Chapters

Weary Traveler
I'm a hippogriff! Get it right!
The Apple Family Farm
Heavy Heart
Super Party Surprise
I Broke My Brain
Ice Cream Makes Everything Better
The First Day of School
Down the Rabbit Hole
A Story
Pinkie Pie's World Destroying Idea

Weary Traveler

Time Lost
Ch. 2: Weary Traveler
Disclaimer: I do not own the right to My Little Pony, all other characters are mine.

Discord stared dumbfounded at the twitching body inside the smoldering crater. The thing’s sharp breathing mixing with the choir of sounds filling the forest. Just larger than a small dog, the former human resemble nothing like his former race or much of a pony for that matter. I feel as though some divine entity will be disappointed he didn’t turn out to be a pony. His face had shifted to become more angled like an arrowhead, a sharp curved beak gasping for air. Discord felt despair filling his heart, the little thing still retained the wounds from before. Crimson fluid covering a majority of the disheveled feathers on his face and body, torn tissue exposed to the open air. At the top of his head, white feathers poked in every direction outlined in a deep black. From what Discord could make out from the spacing the feather not covered in blood, the plumage appeared to be a pristine white that flowed from his head to his chest.

Flowing across his sides and down his front legs, the short feathers were a shade of deep grey. The yellow talons open and closed, the new body convulsed to the throbbing pain. Two light grey wings twitched. They were longer than a Pegasus flowing to a sharp point. His hind legs were strange even by Discord’s standards. Feathers giving way to a short fur coat of deepest blue resembling a pony’s rear. Toughs of white fur appeared over his cream colored hooves. Splintered bone lay open to the elements from the destroyed joint of the right leg. A short scruffy tail of pure white sprouted from the human’s spine.

Discord was puzzled, What in the name of Tartarus happened? Discord slowly advanced, holding his paw over the young human to scan his body. Muscles twitched under his skin, the human's lone eyes rolling in all directions under the lid. Thankfully, the mind wasn’t working right now. Black emptiness laid human’s weakened mind to rest. Discord could feel the chaotic magic’s effects on the body, twisting and contorting the human’s into its present form. So much magic, Discord feared the spell might have gone overboard. Discord continued to study the magic feeling it flow through every vein and organ, ensuring they operate properly. To his relief, the magic was keeping him alive.

Realization hit him like a ton of bricks.

I didn’t think of that.

With so much chaotic magic inside his body, the human could have easily succumbed to magic poisoning. When too much magic exists within a single body, the magic can slowly break down the connecting tissue until nothing remains. Only the more powerful forms of magic could create such an effect, few recorded cases of magic poisoning have occurred in Equestria. Most ended in tragedy. Here, Discord’s magic stopped just short of that line. If Discord were to try and heal the human’s injuries, it would probably kill the human before he could even move. For these wounds to heal, the safest bet would be for nature to run its course.

Then why is he so young?

Discord shook his head, becoming lightheaded trying to solve this mystery and the amount of magic used. A thought struck his head, a light bulb flashing over his head. Magic is what it is. Who am I to say what it should be?

Discord crouched next to the human, gently sliding both of his paws under the griffin’s body. Discord froze, a high pitched yelp escaping the yellow beak. Slowly, gently, Discord pulled the trembling body into his chest. Thank the universe he isn’t conscious, that would have complicated things.

Taking a steadying breath, Discord prepared his trip for Ponyville. His first thoughts were to go to Fluttershy’s home, but he froze. How could I forget! She’s won’t be home for three more days. Stupid rabbits and their breeding habits.

Discord jumped into the air, turning to face Ponyville’s general direction. Cold wind blew past the pair, Discord taking a deep breath of the crisp clean air.

Discord’s brow furrowed, how should he approach Ponyville with the human? The draconequus sighed in irritation, “Nice going Discord. Due to your lack of foresight, you have no idea what to do next. This is just like that jockstrap incident, only now Celestia can’t bury it in a hole!”

What’s done is done, she’ll understand. I’ll just have to deal with it when I tell her.

Speaking of Celestia, the sun slowly rose behind the tall mountain tops of central Equestia where Canterlot was located. Wow, I wasted way too much time. Still trying to think of a solution to his human predicament, Discord looked down to check on his passenger. The little guy was shivering in his arms, the cold air doing nothing for his open wounds. Discord growled in frustration, pulling a small blue blanket from nothing to wrap around the human. Ignoring the blood he smeared across his arms and chest, Discord mumbled “I can’t go directly to the hospital. They won’t allow me there after the last time I tried to cheer up their patients.”

Discord could still feel the nurse’s hooves bucking him out of the heavy wooden front doors. A new problem emerged in his head; he was carrying a wounded griffon in his arms. Questions would be asked and ponies everywhere would think he did it. Which we did, but that’s not the point right now. The hospital staff would also know of his involvement, which could leak back to the human and cause further problems.

Discord’s head spun, trying to think of who he could ask for help. Secrecy was key. If he were to stay out of the lime-light in this human’s life, no pony could see them together. The more ponies that knew about his envolvement, the less likely Discord could remain hidden. I’ll have to inform Celestia as soon as possible. She’ll be better suited to talk to everypony. Plus, she’ll be able handle any legal stuff that might pop up.

Discord continued this line of thought, still set on getting the human to Ponyville as soon as possible. The magic may keep him alive for the time being, but Discord wanted him in a professional’s care as soon as possible.

I think the best approach would have to be a pony coming across him in the open. Discord clicked in tongue in thought. This would be the best option for him. If Discord managed to position the human in just the right spot and a pony JUST SO HAPPENED to find him, he would be able to watch from the shadows and nopony would be the wiser.

In a flash of light, Discord appeared among the clouds above Ponyville. The sun’s rays just starting to touch the small homes. Only the earliest of risers were up at this time. Hm. Who should I pick? Discord’s skin began to dissolve, the draconequus and human become translucent to avoid any prying eyes.

Flying into the town proper, Discord searched for the right pony. He passed by many ponies. But none really popped out at Discord as worthy. Too short. Too tall. To stinky, seriously when’s the last time you took a bath? And what is going on with your hair girl? Discord stared incredulously as a mare passed, her green mane looking like it was attacked by a twister with leaves and twigs sticking out in every direction. Discord sighed in realization that he really wasn’t the best judge of character. Any of these ponies could be more than willing to offer a helping hoof, but what about a caregiver to a griffon?

Celestia did say he needed a loving family. Who would be the most welcoming and loving family in Ponyville?

With so few ponies to choose from, the search started to become desperate. All of the warm faces looked nice, but Discord would only choose the best for his little human. Oh no, I’m turning into a mare. Rising above the Victorian style housing, Discord’s eyes scanned the horizon. The bright sun sent orange and purple waves across the heavens, filling the eastern lands with warm light. On the horizon, Discord’s eyes fell on a single trail leading from Ponyville towards the apple orchard. Following the trail, Discords invisible eyebrows shot up. I think I just found a candidate.

Flying towards the worn dirt trail, Discord watched the single stallion make his way into Ponyville towing a cart behind him. He was big and tall, with a red coat, green eyes, ginger mane and freckles. On his flank, a large sliced open green apple shone against his darker coat. A worn leather yoke was wrapped around the stallion’s neck. Discord scratched his chin with his tail, I know I know him from somewhere. What was his name? Vivid memories appeared of this red stallion, first acting as a dog and later being forced to use a bucket as a raft after those dastardly beavers flooded Sweet Apple acres.

Discord knew who this pony was, Applejack’s brother. “Big Macaroon… No wait, Big Macintosh!” The stallion’s head snapped towards the source of the voice, Discord clamping his mouth shut. You tend to get me into a lot of trouble. Don’t you mouth?

Discord gently floated further down the path, Big Mac’s head swiveled to each side to try and locate who had called his name. The draconequus’s mind pondered the possibilities. He’s Applejack’s brother, so he’s a good pony if he’s anything like his sister. I do remember the Apples pride themselves on their connection as a family. Hmmmmmm. This just might work.

Hope took root in Discord’s heart, what better home than the Apples. Sorry Fluttershy. Your home would be great too. Though Angel can be a bit of a handful. With a plan in mind, Discord silently moved further down the road and away from Macintosh. Only when the stallion was barely a blur did Discord stop.

Just on the edge of the houses, Discord gently untangled the human from the blue fabric. Discord whispered, “So long little guy,” with great care Discord placed the new griffon onto the cold ground directly in the center of the road. Discord floated away silently, hiding behind the corner of a bright yellow house. Discord’s eyes never left the human.

0 0 0

Ah sure do love the morning. Macintosh Apple, or Big Mac as everypony called him, silently marched towards Ponyville with his cart of apples. This morning would be Big Mac’s turn to sell apples, a job he did enjoy. Socializing wasn’t his strong suite, but Big Mac did enjoy the spending time with other ponies. The morning was still cool, feeling great against his fur. A light breeze ruffled his mane during his walk.

The only sound accompanying the stallion was the crunching of gravel under his hooves and the squeaking of wheels from the wooden cart. Big Mac wasn’t in any rush. The sun just started to catch up to the farm pony, warming his back and casting his shadow on the brown earth. As the houses came into view, Big Mac’s heart stopped for a second when a new sound approached him on the breeze. He swore he could hear the faintest of whimpers.

Scanning the road ahead of him, Big Mac found the source. It was small and barely moving.

Lurching forward, Big Mac rushed to the spot with dread at the thought of a hurt and helpless animal. Skidding to a stop, his hooves digging into the earth, Big Mac was shocked to see the animal that lay at his hooves. A griffon. His feathers in every direction, torn flesh across his arm, chest, back and face all covered in flaking red blood. Big Mac unlatched himself from the cart in as fast as he could. Lowering his head to the griffon, Big Mac felt relief seeping into his bones upon seeing the rise and fall of the griffon’s chest.

Big Mac’s head shot up, questing to the surrounding area worried about a predator about to attack. It looks like he’s been attacked by a timberwolf, but I don’t see anything.

Shoving that thought into the back of his mind, Big Mac gently hoisted the griffon onto his back. The griffon flinched at the touch of Big Mac’s muzzle under his body. Big Mac carefully galloped towards the Ponyville hospital, trying not to throw off his passenger. All the while, a pair of yellow eyes never lost sight of their charge.

Ponies called after Big Mac, but he ignored them. Legs pounded against the rough dirt roads of Ponyville, sending clouds of dust in his wake. Big Mac’s mind remained on his task, but he could help but wonder why a griffon was in Ponyville. Ah mean we do see a little traffic from griffons, but this just don’t feel right to me.

On the opposite side of town stood Ponyville General Hospital, a two story structure of unassuming white washed walls. A large archway of dark brown wood overshadowed the thick double doors of similar wood. Through these doors, Big Mac burst through and startling the white pony with a pink mane tied back into a tight bun. A gust of wind tore through the room, knocking off all of the paper off her spotless desk and onto the pristine white tile.

Anger flashed in Nurse Redheart’s eyes as Big Mac rushed past the light green chairs and tables lining both sides of the room, almost slipping on the smooth tile. Her anger dissolved in a heartbeat as Big Mac presented his rider. Nurse Redheart called for a stretcher, her voice loud in the quiet hallways. Two ponies raced around the corner, a wheeled stretcher sandwiched between them. Deftly, the griffon was silently removed from the farm pony’s back and deposited in the center of the smooth pad.

Big Mac turned back to Nurse Redheart, the pair leaving with the patient. Nurse Redheart asked, handing a clipboard and papers towards him, “Would you please take these forms and fill them out?”

Big Mac’s brow furrowed, his low voice reverberating in the quiet room, “Um… I don’t know anything about the kid. I just found him that way in the middle of the road.”

The nurse’s eyes widened in shock and just the hint of horror, “Oh, would you please take a seat? We’ll need you to speak with our representative from Foal Protective Services.” Big Mac felt a twinge in his gut at the mention of FPS. Nurse Redheart noticed the uneasiness in the big stallions eyes, “Don’t worry too much about it. The counselor will need your statement for her report to her office in Canterlot and for the Royal Guards.”

Big Mac nodded in understanding, his mind focusing on another problem. How am ah going to get the cart? If I could get a message to Applejack, she’ll be able to handle it. If only a pony -

“Ah!” Big Mac nearly jumped out of his skin. The stallion’s vision suddenly filled with a pair of bright blue eyes and a pink muzzle.

Pinkie Pie giggled as Big Mac shook his head to settle his nerves, “Hiya Big Mac!”

“Hello, Miss Pinkie,” Big Mac greeted slowly. Pinkie Pie proceeded to bounce in one place, her smile revealing all of her perfectly white teeth. Pinkie Pie continued bouncing for several long minutes before Big Mac worked up the nerve to ask, “Um, what brings ya’ll here today?”

Pinkie Pie stopped mid-bounce, “Weeeeeell, I was asleep in my bed then my tail was all twitching, but not twitchy-twitchy like when something falls, and then my left knee was all shaky but not shaky-shaky. So I knew somepony would need my help and here I am!”

Ah’m not gonna ask how. Big Mac asked, “Miss Pie –“ Pinkie turned her big blue eyes on the red stallion, Kinda creeping me out. “ - Could ya send for Applejack and have her pick up the apple cart? It’s just outside of Ponyville.”

Pinkie Pie gave a sharp salute before flying out the door in a blur of pink. Big Mac sighed in relief, one problem solved. Taking a seat on the cold upholstery, Big Mac busied himself with the newest issue of ‘Physics of the Universe.’

Inside the observation room, a unicorn with orange fur and a combed brown mane began to assess the patient’s condition. The nurse assisting the procedure strapped a sensor to the griffon’s arm, the heart monitor blazing to life.

Green rays of light poured from Dr. Stable’s horn, flowing over the griffon’s body. The doctor called the nurse, “Nurse! Where is Dr. Hoarse?”

“He’s home,” came the quick reply.

Dr. Stable snapped, “Get him here on the double! We need a physician who can operate on griffons!” The nurse released a quick squeak of fear before tearing down the hallway and into the streets of Ponyville. Dr. Stable called for a second assistant, before going to work on cleaning and prepping the griffon for surgery. Is he a griffon?

0 0 0

Dr. Hoarse awoke with a startle, a loud banging echoing down the silent hallways of his home. The grey unicorn with a white mane grumbled to his sleeping wife, “I’ll get it dear.” Leaving his warm bed with a groan, Dr. Hoarse moved through the quiet house.

Dr. Hoarse hissed as the morning sun stung his eyes, surprised to find one of the nurses standing on his front door. The nurse’s mane was frazzled. Having to run to the opposite side of Ponyville was not an easy endeavor. “Really bad! *huff* Child! *huff* Griffon!” were all the words Hoarse could get out of her mouth.

Hoarse’s weariness vanished, his pride as a doctor rising in him as he burst from the front steps and into the streets of Ponyville. The nurse called after him, but all he heard was the rushing of wind in his ears. Hoarse ducked, dived and dodged the inhabitants of the town as they moved into the streets.

0 0 0

“Mr. Apple.”

Big Mac looked up from his magazine, finding a light tan Earth Pony wearing a purple dress jacket buttoned up with her light violet hair short and combed back. A large clipboard was laid across her back. Her amber eyes watched Big Mac, the large stallion offering her a hoof. The mare smiled before introducing herself, “I’m Counselor Mary Sue from the Office of Foal Protective Services.” Taking a seat next to Big Mac, Mary readied her clipboard and pen, “Could you please describe to me how this griffon came into your care?”

Before Big Mac could answer, a grey unicorn burst through the double door and blazed through the lobby. Nurse Redheart groaned as her papers littered the floor once again. Big Mac explained his situation, answering all of the counselor’s questions.

Within five minutes, Dr. Hoarse had cleaned himself with a quick spell before donning his green scrubs, muzzled cover, surgery gown and cap. Entering the OR, Dr. Hoarse greeted two other ponies in the room, “Good morning Dr. Stable and Nurse Whitecoat.” The unicorn and white Earth pony nodded in return before turning back towards the x-rays pressed against the white viewing screen. Behind the pair, in the center of the room on the surgical table laid his patient. Heart monitor and IV attached to his left arm. The patient’s right arm was covered in bandages along with small cuts on his sides and back. Dr. Stable may not know much about the griffon anatomy, he could still provide basic First Aid.

Dr. Hoarse joined the pair, taking note of the cracked ribs and light splotches in the center of the body. “How’s he doing?”

Dr. Stable chewed his lip for a few seconds, “He’s stable and I’ve just put him on some fluids. When I scanned him, I noticed a strange magic in his body. It’s keeping him alive, but I don’t want to try any major healing spells. They might make the situation worse. My main concern is the broken leg, ribs, his eye and this internal bleeding around the abdomen.” Dr. Stable motioned with his hoof towards a splash of grey just under the ribs.

“Hmm.” Dr. Hoarse thought deeply. “First, we’ll start with the face reconstruction. I want to see if we can save the eye, if not we’ll have to cauterize the central artery and veins to the retina after removing the damaged tissue. Second, the leg and then we’ll move onto the torso. Is that a sound plan to you?” The pair nodded, Dr. Hoarse continued, “Nurse we’re going to need 10 CC’s of local anesthetic, but keep it mild.”

So began the surgery, Dr. Hoarse taking the reins as Dr. Stable and Nurse Whitecoat assisted.

0 0 0

“Thank you, Big Mac,” counselor Mary Sue said as she gently placed the stack of paperwork back on her clipboard. Mary commented, “You’re more than welcome to stay and wait for him. Or you can leave. I have your contact information if my office or the hospital needs any further information.”

Big Mac shook his head, “I’ll stay here ma’am. It doesn’t seem right to leave a little guy like that all alone.” The counselor merely smiled at him before taking her leave.

Big Mac tried to return to the magazine, but another interruption burst through the door followed by a very familiar southern accent, “Big Mac! What in tarnation is going on here?”

Big Mac responded by putting a hoof to his lips, “Shh! This is a hospital Applejack, not a barn.”

Now red with embarrassment, Applejack approached her brother looking him dead in the eyes with her ears pulled back, “What happened?”

“I found an injured griffon in the middle of the road,” Big Mac answered simply.

“Do you know who they are?” Applejack raised an eyebrow.

“Nope,” Big Mac shook his head. “He’s just a little guy, but he was roughed up pretty bad.” Applejack calmed down slightly, glad that Big Mac wasn’t in trouble. Big Mac asked, “Did ya get the cart?”

“I parked it out front.” Applejack asked, “What’re you gonna do now?”

Big Mac rubbed the back of his head awkwardly, “Um, I was hoping ah could stay here and wait for some news. Would ya be willing to take over for the cart today?”

Applejack nodded, smiling kindly. The big lug always did have a big heart. Applejack said, “Sure thing, Big Mac. But I’ll send some of my friends to check up on ya from time to time.”

Big Mac nodded, knowing Applejack worried too much at times. Applejack said a quick goodbye, leaving Big Mac alone in the lobby to wait.

From the ceiling, the pair of yellow eyes that followed the red stallion filled with happiness. Discord could leave everything in Big Mac’s capable hooves. Now, he needed to head back to Canterlot.

0 0 0

Celestia sat at head of the long banquette table. In front of her sat a bowl of cereal, a salad of varying fruits and a tall glass of OJ. Levitation the newspaper before her eyes, Celestia scanned the cover with a bored expression. It’s nice that there’s no threat to Equestria, but can there at least be some excitement today.

In an explosion of ceiling tiles, stucco, wood and dust, Discord plummeted from the ceiling and onto the table. Ow. The draconequus underestimated how tired he was during his flight from Ponyville and decided to take a quick nap before talking to Celestia. Too bad he was mid flight when he decided to take said nap.

Celestia sighed in agitation, Discord’s muzzle planted firmly in her cereal bowl. Be careful what you wish for. Bubbles broke the surface of the milk, causing the wheat cereal to swirl around the surface. “Good morning Discord,” Celestia commented offhandedly.

More bubbles.

Celestia noticed the draconequus appeared to be greyer, his brown fur and other colors faded. “You released the human.” It wasn’t a question.

A rapid succession of bubbles preceded the statement, Celestia waiting patiently for them to stop. Celestia said, rubbing a hoof to her now throbbing temple, “Discord what am I going to do with you?”

Discord replied. The juvenile response lost in Celestia’s breakfast. Celestia released a chuckle, “I’m not mad at you. I’m just irritated you didn’t tell me your oh-so-brilliant plan before hand. Now, how about you join me for breakfast and you can fill me in about what happened last night.”

Bubbles broke the surface.

Celestia sighed, “Yes Discord, you can have the rest of my Cheerios.”

0 0 0

Hours passed, Celestia’s sun reaching the zenith of its arch. Big Mac sighed again, annoying the nurse that had replaced Redheart. Over six hours, Big Mac had waited. Six hours in this lobby of pale colors that smelled of sanitization. The air was dead, leaving Big Mac wishing he could be outside. Sure he took the occasional break to step outside and talk to a pony, Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie occasionally dropping by to check up on him.

Sure he wanted to leave, but it wasn’t the Apple way. An Apple looks after any pony in need. Big Mac's parents were always telling him that since he was a colt. Big Mac looked up in expectation, the sound of hooves echoing down the hallway. To his disappointment, it was only a nurse and his clipboard. Darn.

Big Mac continued to sit in silence, the nurses here weren’t the best of conversationalists and none of them knew a lick about farming so that throws that idea out the window. The clocked slowly ticked away, second by second. Minutes passed. Big Mac simply stared out the window at this warm beautiful day. The summer months were soon to end, fall was approaching. Oh the torture. To remain stuck in this cold dreary environment while the rest of Ponyville went about their day while worry filled his belly. It was mind numbing.

Hooves echoed down the long hallway, Big Mac continued to stare out the window in his stupor. Big Mac’s ears flicked when the tired voice of Dr. Hoarse asked, “Mr. Apple?”

Turning towards Hoarse in his green scrubs, Big Mac noticed the dark bags under his eyes. “Eeyup, but most call me Big Mac.”

Dr. Hoarse took the hoof Big Mac offered him, “Pleasure.” Hoarse motioned for Big Mac to follow him, the workpony all too willing to leave the lobby. “Big Mac, would you by chance know anything about griffons?”

“Not much. Ah know what they look like and that’s about it,” Big Mac answered, never really choosing to study much into the Griffon Kingdom. Big Mac followed Dr. Hoarse down the hallway, taking a sharp right towards the children’s wing. Big Mac eyes scanned over the small play area, colorful toys and small plastic tables littered the gated area. A few fillies and colts enjoyed their free time under the watchful gaze of the staff.

Dr. Hoarse entered the room at the end hallway, occupied by a single bed and bathroom. Standing next to the patient’s bed was Mary Sue, her clipboard held in one hoof. Big Mac gulped, hospital never sat right with him especially seeing an injured pony connected to so many tubes and wires. Lying on a bed that was way too big for him, the lone griffon looked more like a mummy than anything. Right arm, torso and back were heavily covered in bright white wrappings. The IV and heart monitor connected to the left arm. His head was almost completely covered, leaving only his beak and eye open to the air. The right hind leg lay elevated on a soft pillow, covered in a hard plastic. What peeked Big Mac’s curiosity was the white furred hoof opposite the bound limb. Dr. Hoarse motioned towards the hoof, “Not exactly a full griffon.”

Dr. Hoarse took a moment, before stating with a hint of disappointment in his voice. “As of right now, he’s stable. We fixed his leg, ribs and internal bleeding. Stitching his wounds was difficult because of the shear size of the wounds.” Big Mac shuttered a little, the idea of a metal needle and sting pulling together torn flesh made his stomach churn. “We were able to reconstruct most of his face,” Hoarse said, bitter at the results. Big Mac shook slightly, remembering clearly the before image. “But we couldn’t save his eye.” The stallion gagged at the mental image of an eye being removed with metal tools.

Big Mac licked his lips, his nerves beginning to show. “I don’t want to sound rude Doc, but why are you telling me this? Isn’t this supposed to be doctor patient confidential?”

Mary answered, “Because you’re the closest thing to a guardian we have for this kid.” Big Mac shot her a confused look. “After our conversation, I sent his profile directly to the Royal Guards stationed both here and in Canterlot. None reported any missing griffons matching his descriptions. The Griffon Embassy was also notified, but they have no information on his identity or of any known family.” With some resignation, Mary looked into Big Mac’s eyes, “As of right now, he has no name, no family and no anypony to turn too.”

Big Mac had to think for a few moments. “So that means he doesn’t have a home.” Dr. Hoarse nodded. Big Mac turned back to the griffon, “What do ya want me to do?” Mary was implying something, the mare shifting her weight from right to left.

Hoarse rubbed the back of his mane in discomfort, Mary answering, “I was going to ask if you could sign as his guardian.” Wait, what? Big Mac stared blankly into the counselor’s eyes. Mary continued, “I know it’s a lot to ask of a pony, especially when a different species is concerned, but it’s either you or we put him into the foster system. He’s a minor. We need a pony to take responsibility for him until we find his family.”

Big Mac felt the wind knocked out of his stomach. This was a big decision for him and his family. Applejack was head of the Apple Family household, but the rest of his family had a say in this matter. The decision was too big for him to make alone. “Ah, don’t know. Ah don’t know what the rest of the family would say.”

Mary sighed tiredly, “You don’t need to worry. I’ve already written up the paperwork for him to remain a liability of the state. All of his medical bills and any extra necessities will be covered by the FPS. You and your family won't have to worry about any financial difficulty.” Big Mac shuffled uneasily. Mary pushed, “Look, Macintosh…” Mary paused for a second, “I know the idea is scary, but you and your family may be the best choice for him.”

“Why?”

“Because most families will be terrified of bringing a griffon into their household,” Mary stated with some disdain. “Griffons are omnivorous. They require not only plants, but meat. Mainly their diet consists of fish. Having a griffon in a home of herbivores would be unnerving enough, but with tensions building in the Griffon Kingdom most foster families would turn away this little guy without hesitation.”

Big Mac’s brow furrowed deeply, remembering the newspapers mentioning the rising numbers of soldiers on the boarders of between Equestria, the Griffon Kingdom and the Dragon Territories. Tirek and his reign of destruction really unsettled the other powers of the world. Many leaders felt uneasy about the fact that the safety of their citizens were in the hooves of just six ponies.

Mary noticed the uneasiness in Big Mac eyes, “Your house is far enough from Ponyville, most of its citizens wouldn’t be so worried about him being around and it’ll be less likely for any prying eyes to invade his privacy.”

It made sense to Big Mac, but that didn’t make the situation any easier. Dr. Hoarse and Mary watched the big stallion’s ears flipped back and forth several times in distress. “Ah don’t wanna say me and mah family don’t want him, it’s just this is a big decision.”

Mary cleared her throat, “Big Mac, it’s either this or he’ll have to go to the orphanage if we can’t find a home for him here. And being that he may be a citizen from another country, he may have to be transferred to the orphanage in Canterlot to be in close proximity to the Embassy and Royal Courts.” Mary Sue seemed appalled by what she said next, “He’ll be stuck right in the center of a political hotspot with so many ponies not having the best of intentions for griffons for who knows how long. He’s clearly not fully griffon or pony. Clear citizenship is unsure, meaning the courts may take months or over a year to decide who takes responsibility. The best option would be for him to have a single home to go to when he’s ready to leave the hospital. Even if his citizenship is questioned and he has to be seen by the courts, he can live in a normal household while he recuperates. Right now the Royal Guards are waiting any further word from the Griffon embassy. They have a rightful claim to take custody of him. If they do, there’s no telling where he would end up. A child suffering this kind of physical trauma doesn’t need a big legal battle over his head. With you signing as his legal guardian, he’ll at least have a safe and loving environment to live in.”

That’s just not fair, Big Mac thought, his heartstrings being plucked one after another. An orphan was bad enough, but thinking about this child being forced through that kind of ordeal made him feel ill inside. With a sigh, Big Mac answered, “I’ll be his guardian.”

Both doctor and counselor looked relieved, leading Big Mac out of the patient’s room and into Miss Sue’s office to fill out the proper paperwork.

0 0 0

How am ah going to tell Applejack about this?

Big Mac felt a twinge of guilt. Applejack would still be selling apples at this time since it was barely three in the afternoon. The red stallion did not look forward to the storm that was brewing. After being reassured by Dr. Hoarse that the patient was fine and he would be notified immediately when the child's condition changed, Big Mac made the slow trek towards Sweet Apple Acres. Thankfully, Big Mac was left alone to be with his thoughts.

It wasn’t anyponies fault this happened, Ok whatever did that to a young child was to blamed, but that’s not the issue right now. Big Mac thought about how to approach this with his sister, yes he could reason with her. But she would throw a tantrum for him just suddenly deciding to be the legal guardian of some unknown griffon without at least talking to her or Granny Smith. She’d calm down… Eventually. Macintosh decided that the best course of action was to talk to Granny Smith. The old mare would be more accepting towards his choice. Applejack’s a good mare, she just tends to be critical about things. It doesn’t help me in the slightest that she’s not on the best terms with griffons after that whole Gilda incident.

Big Mac smiled, passing through the gates to his home. The scent of apples and soil tickled at his nose. Here he was at peace. In his farm, he was in his element. Moving towards the red house that also acted as a barn, Big Mac pushed open the wooden door. The worn wood groaned under his weight as he moved into the household. The living room was decorated in western style furniture, a worn rocking chair and thin pink couch surrounded by varying family photos and decorative white plates. Towards the window sat a tall wooden china cabinet stocked with his great-granny’s antique plates.

“Granny! Are ya home?” Big Mac called, his low voice booming out to all of the rooms in the Apple house.

“In the kitchen! I’m back’n some chocolate chip cookies!” The elderly green mare with the mark of an apple pie on her flank called from the adjourning room, pulling out a fresh tray of cookies from the oven. Entering the kitchen, Big Mac’s mouth watered when the sweet smell of chocolate hit his snout. The rumbling in his stomach reminded the stallion of his missed lunch.

Unfortunately, Granny Smith also heard the call of the beast. Turning to look, Granny Smith asked, “Watcha doing home so early Big Mac?”

Big Mac answered, taking a seat at the table, “Ah had a bit of a problem this morning.”

Granny Smith’s eyebrow furrowed in worry, the stallion’s slumped shoulders telling her he was worried about something. Closing the oven door, the smaller mare took a seat next to her grandson, “Why don’tcha tell me about it?”

Big Mac didn’t even hesitate to recount his day. Granny Smith sat silently taking in the short story. When he finished, the two sat in silence.

As the silence continued to stretch, Big Mac started to second guess himself. Maybe Granny Smith might not agree with me on this one.

Big Mac felt two thin forelegs wrap around his side, turning to see Granny Smith giving him a big hug. The embrace lasted for over a minute before the old mare finally broke off. Big Mac looked into his granny’s beaming face, “Ah know it was a tough decision for ya, but I’m proud of ya Big Mac. Offering our home to a soul in need in the best kind of kindness anypony could offer.” Big Mac’s face lightened up, a small smile lifting his lips. Granny Smith had to be the best grandma he could ever ask for. The old mare made her way back to the oven, intent on finishing her work.

A little relieved, Big Mac made to the fridge, but stopped when Granny Smith said, “I’ll be sure to help ya convince yur sister. Celestia knows she can be more stubborn than a mule.”

0 0 0

“YA’LL DID WHAT NOW!”

Ah wish she didn’t have to raise the dead when she’s angry.

After Applejack had returned home late in the afternoon, smug at the amount of apples she had sold today, the sun was already setting in the west. Big Mac and Granny had decided to break the news to Applejack after she had some grub in her. Ya don’t want to see Applejack angry on an empty stomach.

Dinner was consumed and the dishes were cleaned. All of the members of the Apple clan sat around the scratched brown wood of the dining table. Applejack, Big Mac, Granny Smith and Applebloom occupied opposite sides of the rectangle. Applejack was staring daggers at Big Mac, her older brother taking the blunt of her anger. Applebloom quivered in her seat. She never liked seeing Applejack when she’s this upset.

The orange mare slammed her hoof into the table, the resounding smack startling Applebloom, “What gives ya the right to just open our home to some random griffon?”

“Now AJ-“

“Don’t you now AJ ME!” Applejack snapped. “I know ya said he was injured and I’m fine with ya being concerned about his wellbeing. But when ya just open our door to somepony we don’t have any knowledge of, that’s when I put my hoof down!”

“But AJ-” Big Mac tried again to speak, but Applejack was having one of her moments.

“How do we know the lil’ guy’s any good? He could be a thief or worse? Maybe that was why he was left on the side of the road? He might be in deep with the wrong ponies? Ya know griffons are the violent type? Just look at the bully Gilda! Ya could be bringing harm to this family!” Applejack pointed out.

Granny Smith decided to intervene, the vein in Big Mac head starting to become visible. Big Mac may be gentle, but when his temper flaired there was cause for worry. “Applejack!” The orange mare turned to her senior, the fire in her eyes dimming at Granny Smith’s disapproving glare. “Ah thought ah raised ya better than this. Ya know nothing bout this griffon and here ya’ll are trying to justify slamming the door in his beak.” Taking a deep steadying breath, Granny Smith continued, “Now ah know the thought of opening our home to a stranger isn’t the best of ideas, but when it comes down to a child without a home… Well shoot, if’n we can’t open our homes to a child in need then we don’t deserve to call ourselves Apples.”

Applejack’s fire died down, her ears against her head. Granny Smith had always had a way with talking sense into a pony when they needed it, even if she sometimes doesn’t make a lick of sense herself. Granny Smith continued, “Now Big Mac already explained the situation and ah don’t want to hear any back sass from anypony. Got it?” Applejack nodded before casting her eyes towards the ground.

Applebloom raised a quivering hoof, Granny Smith turning to her, “What did ya need, sugarcube?”

Applebloom’s squeak of a voice asked, “Does that mean we’ll get a new family member? Like another brother, only with feathers?” Big Mac and Granny Smith couldn’t help but chuckled. Appleboom was always full of sunshine and nopony could help but smile.

“Well sure thing squirt,” Granny Smith grinned, “Just be sure not to overdo the welcome. An injured pony does need his rest.” Applebloom nodded vigorously, her head becoming a blur. With that Granny Smith ended this family meeting, “Now off ta bed everypony. We’ve got ourselves an early morning tomorrow!”

Every member of the Apple family went to their separate rooms, some happier than others when the lights were turned off.

Author's Note

Second chapter! YEAH!

On a related note, the human will be waking up in the next chapter.

I'm a hippogriff! Get it right!

Time Lost
Ch. 3: I’m a Hippogriff! Get it right!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the rights related to MLP.

The following three days passed without much incident for Big Mac. The red stallion plowed the western fields and harvested the apples like any other day. The only difference, Applejack was quieter than normal. She’ll be fine. She just needs a couple of days. Everyday, Big Mac took a quick trip to the hospital. Just to be safe. His brotherly duties were acting up and he was going to make sure he would be available when his-soon-to-be-legal-charge was awake.

Now this was nothing like when Applejack, Applebloom or Granny Smith were sick. Big Mac was able to rein his visits to two or three times a day as oppose to his usual eight to ten. And no, ah am not being paranoid! Ah’m just being safe.

Noon rolled past, the members of Apple family taking a late lunch of apples and hay. Big Mac ate in silence, Applejack telling Granny and Appleboom she’ll be out tonight with Rainbow Dash. Applebloom and the rest of her friends were going to have a sleepover tonight. Please don’t destroy the kitchen again. Granny Smith said something about crocheting.

When all eyes turned to Big Mac, he shrugged, “Ah’ve got a card game with Caramel and some of the guys tonight.”

0 0 0

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Waking up after three days of deep was difficult. A dulled pain filled each limb. Trapped he was, the inside of his mind filled with darkness. Oblivion met the sleeping hippogriff. Slowly, consciousness began to rise. First feeling, his body felt worn and twisted in this darkness.

Soon memories began to emerge. Images of faces he could not name, places of tall concrete buildings and dry landscapes. He was confused, stuck between unconsciousness and wakefulness. He could feel that he knew these places. Why can’t I remember the name? The veins in the young hippogriff’s head pulsed, the brain trying to acquire information that just wasn’t there. He remembered the basic everyday things, but not the specifics. Looking deeper, he was able to find some information. I like video games, books and movies. Why is there a lot of Star Wars here? What is with that little yellow rat?

The human pushed through the shallow stream of images. A short distance ahead, a single person was looking towards him. His sister, her with long flowing brunette hair and hazel eyes appeared before his vision. She wore a simple blue shirt and jeans.

Her lips moved, but no sound reached his ears.

His heart felt a stab of pain when he felt his connection to her, but he could not name her. She looked pleadingly towards him. For what, he did not know. His mind was clouded, thoughts thick and sluggish. Why can’t I remember her name? Tension developed behind his eyes, trying to push past the heavy fog into any memory of her name.

She beckoned him to follow. He followed deeper into the darkness of his mind, a feeling of dread rising in his stomach. The hippogriff’s body tensed in apprehension when a large home came into view.

The front half of the house toppled inwards, leaving a large hole where the entryway use to be. The torn grey walls on the outside and black roof were torn. Windows shattered, leaving sharp teeth in their stills. He flinched at the sight, I know this house. He hadn’t lived here in it for over a year.

Something very wrong happened in this house. Moving through the makeshift entrance, the once pristine white walls were scorched by fire. Chunks of stucco, wood, a shattered door and glass littered the white tiled floors. Soundlessly, his sister moved through the destroyed home.

He moved slowly into the house, his inside feeling cold and shaking. The hippogriff’s body trembled, sweat developing on his brow. The apparitions of his sister could not be seen, turning into the main room. Ice gripped his heart, looking at the spider web of cracks running up and down both sides of the archway. He did not know what was in that room, but it felt bad.

He could easily walk away, to turn and leave. But he had to know. Something inside the house was calling to him, it whispered to him. This was important to him. The ice in his heart held him at bay.

Finally, he moved into the room as the need to know overcame his fear. The once clean sofa, television and flooring were destroyed. The man’s eyes were not on the walls, but on the floor. Three bodies lay in a crusting pool of their own blood.

The heart monitor skyrocketed, the hippogriff’s heart pumping madly in his chest.

He remembered this. He remembered jumping from the humvee before racing towards his family, a rescue mission for any survivors in the small town of his birth. There, he discovered their fate.

He wanted to throw up, remembering the three mutilated bodies. Hot tears rolled down the right side of his face. The hippogriff’s body wretched at the memory, bile filling his beak. A pink nurse rushed into the room, seeing the thrashing hippogriff. With ease, she gently placed pressure on the hippogriff’s shoulders to hold him down.

The world turned black, the man could only hear one sound. Laughter. The laughter he knew too well. It was from the sycophant who did this. The mad laughter rose and fell, echoing in the hippogriff’s head. The hippogriff’s body shuddered to try and shake the sickening feeling. In the darkness he tried to block out the sound, a more recent memory playing.

The fight he lost.

The haunting laughter continued to ring in his worn mind. Stop! The man screamed in his head. The sound only intensified, becoming a maddening chorus. The sound was everywhere. He could not block it out. The laughter continued to grow. It was too much.

Out of nowhere, all sound was cut off. The man sighed with relief.

A small snickering was behind him. He knew who it was, but did not want to look. With great apprehension, the human turned around.

A single pair of bright yellow eyes, with mismatched red irises filled his vision.

“Hi.”

“AW!” The hippogriff head jolted up, sweat flying from his feathered brow. Bad move on his part. His stomach and ribs brought sharp pain to his small body when he tried to fight against the nurse’s hooves. Leaning his head back on his pillar, the hippogriff groaned in pain. Opening his eyes, the hippogriff could only see blurring shades of blue, white and pink while half of his vision was pitch black. What’s wrong with my eyes?

“Are you alright?” a worried voice asked. Seeing the hippogriff calm down, the nurse removed her hooves from the small body.

The hippogriff tried to rub both of his eyes, but stopped when he felt the soft wrappings. Gingerly prodding, the hippogriff slowly felt around his bindings becoming more worried as his hands explored his head. The heart machine began to increase alongside his pulse. Where are my ears? What the hell is this? The hipporgriff thought, his long slender talons gently outlined the hard yellow beak.

Poke! Poke! Poke!

That’s definitely real, the terrified thought penetrated the hippogriff’s thick skull. The hippogriff froze, unable to compute from this realization. I have a beak. The thought still did not register in his head as real or possible, but the evidence was all too damning. I have a beak. Still did not feel any better. Anger and confusion rose up inside the young body, Why do I have a beak?

The hippogriff closed his eye tight, hands rubbing his temples. His head felt like it was on fire, temples pounding. “Take a deep breath,” the nurse said, rubbing the hippogriff’s back to calm him down. Taking her advice, the hippogriff took a shallow breath. His ribs twitching in pain before his lungs could expand fully.

The hippogriff felt the large round object rubbing along his back gently trying to comfort him, but not hard enough to cause any pain to the stitches back there. Jesus! What the hell is that? It’s huge! “How are you feeling little one?” the sweet voice asked.

The former human took a moment before answering, considering where he was; listening to the beeping of the heart monitor, the hard metal needle sticking in his left arm, the smell of sanitizer. Heart monitor, hard as hell bed, sharp needle in my arm… I think it’s safe to say I’m in a hospital and whoever this is is most likely a nurse. But ‘little one,’ what’s that suppose to mean?

Taking a deep breath, trying to maintain any coherent thoughts through the pain in his head, the hippogriff answered, “M-my head hurts.” WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY VOICE? IT’S LIKE A FREAKIN SQUEAK BOX! The hippogriff yelped in surprise, his voice sounding like it belonged to a eight-year-old child and not a full grown man.

Taking this as a sign of pain, the nurse said, “Don’t worry, Dr. Hoarse will make you feel all better.” I swear to Buddha I will punch this chick for treating me like a kid.

Opening his eye again, the hippogriff turned towards the blurred body. Which was surprisingly pink, WTF. Squinting, the hippogriff could just barely make out a pink coat, white hair, long ears and a freaking huge head.

The Nurse saw the patient turn to her with deep warm amber eye, but they were eye red and unfocused. She felt a cold shiver run down her sides, she didn’t like the way he looked at her. The hippogriff stared at her with a mixture of shock and confusion with just a hint of horror. Rubbing his eye, the hippogriff was finally able to focus on the mare. The first thing he notices was her coat, he could just make out each individual hair. Her fur was like fur! Shaking his head to clear it, I blame the drugs.

Silence ran between them, the hippogriff rubbing his eye a few times. “Um, Nurse?”

“Yes, dear?” she asked, trying to be as comforting as possible. Instead the hippogriff thought her smile was kinda creepy. Her eyes are just way to huge!

“Where am I?”

The Nurse smiled, “You’re in Ponyville Hospital.”

I-I have nothing to say to that.

The hippogriff asked, “And that would be where?”

“Ponyville.”

Don’t ask any questions. Just let it sink in and don’t insult them. The hippogriff could only rub his aching temple, this was not helping his headache. “I meant country?”

“Equestria,” Nurse-what’s-her-name supplied. I get the distinct impression the I’m in for a whole lot of pony related sh*t when I get out of here. The nurse stood in front of the hippogriff, his expression changing from confused to annoyed. The nurse decided to take charge of the situation, saying, “Now I want you to be a good little colt and wait while I get the doctor. Will you be alright without me?”

What do I look like a freaking child? Oh, wait. I do sound like a munchkin, so I should try not to be too surprised.

The hippogriff asked, looking up with his big gold eye, “Could I have a glass of water?”

The Nurse felt her heart melt, looking into that innocent and partially covered face. “Oh, of course you can sweaty.” The pony procured a glass from the bedside table, filling it with water from the faucet.

“Thank you,” the hippogriff took the glass in his thin yellow talons. Ok, so I have a beak and talons. I’m some sort of bird. Oh goodie, he thought with distain.

The pink pony left the hippogriff with a final smile. Stop smiling! It’s creepy! The hippogriff decided to take a sip of the cooled liquid. The water helped clear his mind. The hippogriff’s eye scanned the room. The only furniture aside from the bed was a single bedside table of white metal. Continuing to drink, the human decided he needed to get a better look at himself.

. . .
…
…
Okay.

The hippogriff shook his head, looking in horror at his feathery plumage from in between the bandages to the blue fur and hooves. Wait I know where this is from. Let’s see… It’s from. Froooooommmmm, Harry Potter. That’s got to be it. What were they called? Bird and horse? Hippogriffs? I’m gonna go with that. I am a small hippogriff! Something seemed to stall in his brain, his normal human visage was now a young mythical beast. That doesn’t make me feel better. That makes me feel worse. Why! The hippogriff’s mind continued to wonder, Since I can feel the pain, even the hampering of these drugs can be accounted for as actually happening. So this is real. This is REAL.

The sound of hooves failed to breach the former human in his mental ramblings. “So how is our mystery patient?”

Knocking the hippogriff out of his reveries, he offered a hasty reply, “You mean me right?”

Dr. Hoarse smirked, moving to the patient’s bedside, “Yep, that’s you my fine feather friend.” Tonight on To Catch a predator! “I’m Dr. Hoarse, I’m the primary care physician for griffons in Ponyville.” Dr. Hoarse’s horn glowed a light blue, scanning over the hippogriff’s body. I feel like I should have an adult for this. Dr. Hoarse noticed the hippogriff’s uncomfortable looks. “Are you alright?” he asked, reaching up with his hoof to feel the warm forehead, noting the slight fever.

The hippogriff answered, “I’m just not use to being scanned.”

Hoarse tried to be comforting, “Oh, don’t worry about it. I’m just using some magic to check your vital organs.” How is that suppose to make me feel better? The unicorn levitated a small pen light, shining into the single eye. Satisfied with the iris’s reaction, Dr. Hoarse took a moment before asking, “How are you feeling?”

The hippogriff blinked several times, because he was just blinded by a freaking flashlight, “Hanging in there.”

Dr. Hoarse nodded, watching the child’s expression for any indication of his health. “Do you know where you are?”

“The nurse said Ponyville, in Equestria.” Repeating the name does not help with accepting it.

Good, short term memory seems to be good. Now let’s try the long term. “Can you tell me your name?”

“I’m hck,” the child stuttered. “My name is… Uh.” The hippogriff scrapped his memories, only to find some blurred images and random facts he had no care for.Where is it? Where’s my name? I know it’s in here, this is my head! My name should be attached somewhere. The hippogriff closed his eye, I’m gonna close my eyes and my name will come to me. Just need to calm down. Taking a deep breath, the hippogriff open his eye. Alright my name is… Where the hell is it?! Oh come on! I lose my body, my age, my macho manly voice and now my name. NO! The hippogriff cupped his head in his hands, his headache growing from inconvenience to blazing inferno. The human pushed his mental capacity to the limits, straining something he would probably need later. The hippogriff’s breathing increased drastically as he attempted to wrench the name from his scattered mind.

Dr. Hoarse watched as the hippogriff’s expression changed from guarded, to annoyed, then into frustrating pain. Hoarse was surprised, seeing the hippogriff whimper in pain and sadness. Losing his name. Losing those few letters that made his identity. Without it, who was he? What would he be called? What would happen to him? The hippogriff could not help but feel so lost, the world no longer made sense. Magic. Ponies. Hippogriffs. He could not begin to fathom this reality, his head hurt so much. All he wanted to do was rest, to heal his wounds. But he dared not try right now. Now he needed to be awake, he needed to get as much info on this world as possible.

Putting a hoof on the child’s shoulder, “Calm down. Everything’s going to be alright. Take a deep breath.” The hippogriff obliged, falling back on the doctor’s warm words. It was easier to listen. The hippogriff took several steadying breaths, trying to regain control of his emotions. The hippogriff finished off his water, it helped a little. Not by much though. Hoarse offered him a kind smile, “Feel better?”

“A little,” the hippogriff answered, looking down at the glass between his talons.

Dr. Hoarse asked, levitating the chart at the end of the bed towards him, “Can you tell me what happened to you?” Marking a few notes, Dr. Hoarse waited patiently.

What should I tell him? Hey, I’m a human and you’re a fictional character. No-no, that won’t do. I don’t want to lie to him either. He may get suspicious. I guess I’ll meet him halfway. The hippogriff took a moment before answering, “I was attacked by something.” The hippogriff had no words for the monster that killed so many of his friends and he had no inclination to talk about it.

“What was it?”

“I-I don’t know,” the hippogriff confessed. “It was fast and brutal,” looking up at the doctor, he continued, “I remember it had big yellow eyes.”

Hoarse scribbled away on the notes sections, taking every detail he could. “Do you remember your family? Where were you parents when you were attacked?”

Hoarse felt a stab in his heart, the child in front of him sniffing sadly, “They’re dead.”

“H-how do you know that?” Hoarse asked, unsure of the hippogriff’s memory was to be trusted.

The hippogriff let a single tear roll down his cheek, “I remember their bodies. My mom. My dad. My-my…” He didn’t want to finish that sentence. He didn’t want to remember that dream. He could try and dismiss it as such, but his gut told him otherwise.

Hoarse gently tried to comfort the hippogriff, the feathered features furrowing in anguish. Just calm down and breath. Let’s just take this one step at a time. Hoarse waited a few moments for the child to compose himself. Hoarse looked into the hippogriff’s face, “Are you going to be alright?”

The feather head nodded a few times. Dr. Hoarse said, “Now I know you’re confused and worried-” Understatement of the millennium. “but I need to you to talk to the Foal Protective Services Councilor.” Crap. It’s official! I’m a child now! I mean I may have one day wished to be child again, but not in a mythical creature’s body. This is just weird.

Dr. Hoarse left the room, but not before shooting one last minute sympathetic look to the hippogriff.

Once again alone, the former human just sat their numb to the world around him. Seconds passed turning into minutes, time flowing different in his perception. The human could no longer feel at home in his body. A thick blanket of drugs pushed against his waking mind, but he could feel the constant throb of pain from his right arm, broken leg, along with the constant twinge that came with each breath. Not to mention the other cuts he had to deal with.

A new problem began to reveal itself. I have to use the bathroom. Leaning over to the side, the hippogriff felt incredibly small. It was a long way down to the floor. A rational person would call the nurse for assistance, but that’s just awkward. ‘Hey nurse! Can you help me take a leak?’ The hippogriff decided to just wing it, No pun intended.

Sliding to the edge, the hippogriff ignored the pins and needles running up and down his legs. The hippogriff rolled his legs over the side, his hooves hovering several inches above the tiled floor. A sharp pinch in his left arm brought him to the realization he had made a major error. The IV was still in his arm. This won’t end well.

Scccrrrr.

The hippogriff’s nails slid across the plastic mattress, gravity pulling him down with the fabric tearing under his talons. Crap. Falling on his rump, the hippogriff hissed in pain. Not from the pain in his bum, but the sharp needle pain left by the IV being forcibly torn from his arm along with the heart monitor. Blood seeped from the crook of his arm, Not my most brilliant idea. Picking himself off the ground, the hippogriff made his way to the bathroom.

The nurse running the children’s ward burst into the room, her heart racing. The heart monitor blared loudly, the bed suffered severe damage. Her heart stopped when she spotted the droplets of crimson. Oh no! We have a patient on the loose! Before she could become full blown panic, the light spilling from under the closed bathroom door caught her attention.

Equestrian were weird. They were like a sunken hole in the floor. Curse my American upbringing! How do you use these things? It’s just a hole. To make a long story short, the human used his two brain cells to figure it out. Just go in the hole. After finishing and washing his talons, the hippogriff took a few extra seconds to clean his left arm of blood. I have more respect for woman. Seriously, with fur you just have to clean after doing the business. Worse part, I have freaking claws. That’s just a problem waiting to happen! Sharp objects + junk = sad male.

Opening the door, a very concerned pink muzzle shoved itself into his beak. Personal space, please! “What do you think you are doing, young colt?” The nurse ground out from her clenched teeth glaring at him with her large purple eyes, consuming his soul like a blood hungry succubus.

Oh, she is mad! Quickly, look sad! No nurse can resist a sad, injured child. Right?

Looking up into her eyes, the hippogriff frowned as hard as he could with the light reflecting off his deep amber iris, “I’m sorry nurse. I didn’t want to bother anyone.”

Her heart melted, sweeping him into her big strong forelegs without crushing his puny bird-bones. “It’s alright deary, you just gave me a scare. Now let’s get you back to your bed for Dr. Hoarse.” What is she made out of? Stronger than steel, the earth pony’s arms held onto him to make sure he didn’t escape again.

The nurse waited patiently for Dr. Hoarse and Mary to arrive, her deep purple eyes watching the hippogriff twiddle his thumbs in silence. But she did grab him a second glass of water when requested, So this nurse isn’t that bad. Truth be told, under that cute cartoon like exterior this nurse could crush his bones without much difficulty. That fact kinda scared the hippogriff, not that he was afraid or anything. It’s just the drugs talking.

Mary moved next to the child offering him a kind smile, “Hello, I’m Councilor Mary Sue.” Gee, what an original name? Tell me, do you have mystical powers to fix all my problems?

“Nice to meet you,” the hippogriff offered his left hand, the right feeling stiff under the bandages.

Mary smiled at the response, He seems nice enough. “I was wondering if we could talk for just a few moments.”

“Sure.”

Pulling out her clipboard, Mary said, “Dr. Hoarse told me you were attacked and have little memories about what happened.” The hippogriff nodded, Mary scribbled something on her paper. Words like ‘amnesia’ and ‘mental trauma.’ If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she was talking to me. “Could you tell me a little about yourself?” the councilor pushed.

“Well,” the hippogriff scratched his chin, “I lived in a small mountain town somewhere in the desert. Had a family and that’s about it.”

“That’s it?”

“I like to read and play video games if that counts,” the hippogriff answered sheepishly.

Mary chuckled under her breath, A real comedian here. “Is there anything else you can share with us?”

The yellow beak opened to respond, but a loud rumbling from his stomach notified the room of its presence. Now that he thought about it, his stomach felt like a black hole eating away at him. I am starved. How long has it been since I’ve had a decent meal? “I was wondering, how long have I been here?”

“You’ve been out for three days,” Dr. Hoarse provided.

“THREE DAYS!” The hippogriff squawked in horror.

The pair tried to comfort, but the hippogriff held up his talon palm forward to hold them off. Taking a moment to breathe, he said, “I’m fine. I’m fine. I was caught by surprise.”

Mary turned to Dr. Hoarse, “Are there any test that you need to run?”

Dr. Hoarse shook his head, “No, we tested his blood this morning. The magic from before has dissipated.” Leaning closer, the unicorn whispered, “But I did talk to one of the griffin physicians in Canterlot. The Embassy has no plans for him as of this moment, but he did inform me that I need to remove him from the pain killers in his IV.” Mary shot him a confused look, “He said that a griffon’s system is delicate as a child and long term exposure to pain killers can affect his mental stability, throwing off necessary hormones in the brain.”

“You mean hippogriff.”

The pair jumped as the hippogriff corrected them. “Hippo-what?” Hoarse asked, his eyebrow raised.

“Hippogriff,” was the stark reply. “I’m a hippogriff, not a griffon.” Duh.

“Okay.”

Mary smiled back at the hippogriff, “Dr. Hoarse and I are going to step outside for a moment. Are you going to be fine by yourself?”

“Yes.” It’s not like I’ve got anywhere better to be.

The pair stepped into the hallway, making sure to move away from the entrance. Mary asked, “What’s your opinion? “

Hoarse took a moment, “He’s healthy as far as I can tell. He won’t be able to walk properly for a few weeks until the caste comes off, but his wounds will heal in time. Luckily, his feathers will cover quite a few of the scars on his body. But the mind is a whole other area. For the body, I can say he’s going to have a rough few days ahead of him.”

Mary hummed, thinking to herself, “So far he seems mellowed, even polite. What do you mean, the next few days?”

“Surgery is never an easy thing. Some ponies have a better time than others as the drugs pass through their systems. I won’t be able to tell until after that happens,” Dr. Hoarse explained.

“So what do you think should happen?”

Hoarse took a moment to think, “I’m not sure. His body needs rest, but he is sound enough to leave.”

Mary sighed, “I don’t see why not. I’ll have to go over the situation with both him and Big Mac. Will he need any medication?”

“Anti-inflammatory,” Hoarse answered. “I got the prescription from my contact at the embassy. After that, only aspirin for the pain. Is that a good idea?”

Mary thought for a moment, “I think so. Being stuck in an unknown hospital isn’t going to help a lost and confused colt. You said he has no family. The best thing to do is get him in a comfortable environment. There he can rest in safety.”

Dr. Hoarse took a moment to think, “Alright. If anything happens he can always come back for a visit. But Big Mac will require a few items and instructions.”

Mary nodded, “I’ll go and break the news to him.”

As Mary turned away, Hoarse added, “Be sure he gets a name. I think Big Mac would like to call him by something other than ‘him.’”

Mary entered the room, the hippogriff reclining against the pillow with his eye closed. Hearing the hooves move closer, the amber eye opened to see Mary. Mary smiled, “I have some good news for you!” And here’s my nightmare fuel for the next week. “Now, I want you to be a good boy and listen. Ok?” I will if you look away. Mary explained, “You’ll be able to leave the hospital today.” Yeah! “A pony name Macintosh Apple will be your legal guardian and you will be staying with him and his family.” That’s just redundant, putting the name of an apple in front of the word apple. “Before Macintosh arrives, you are going to need a name. Any ideas?”

Oh, crap.

A name would be useful. Let’s see…

Kenneth… No
Joe… No
Nicholas… Too Christmassy.

Anytime now brain.

Jesus… Hilarious, but no.
Rob… No.
Christine… That’s a woman’s name.

Just stop over thinking things. How about we just go with the first name that comes to mind? Just pick any random name in my head and we’ll call it good. I had better be a good name. Something awesome. Got it!

Mary waited for the child to think, his brow furrowed. Until he finally spoke, a single name. “Luke Skywalker?”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

This was the sound of the human’s brains bashing itself against the wall of his head. He could have picked a great name: like Alexander, Gabriel, Jeff Bridges, but nope he had to dive into his love for Star Wars. I should have gone with Han Solo. That would have been an awesome name.

“That’s-“ Mary began to say. Stupid, weird, love it? Why do you do this to me brain? “A very unique name,” she finished with a smile before writing it down. That was nice of her to say.

“Well then Luke,” Mary beamed at him, “let’s get you ready to meet your new family.”

Deciding to go along with it, Luke pumped his right fist into the air, “Yeah. Ow!” Mary rolled her eyes, taking time to talk to Luke about life in Ponyville and the family he would be staying with.

0 0 0

Big Mac approached the hospital, his mind wondering about the day. Entering that thick wooden door, shivering as his body was washed over by the unnatural cold air. “Big Mac,” the receptionist greeted the red stallion with a smile.

“Howdy.”

Big Mac stepped up to the desk, the reception looking happier than usual to see him. “I’ve been notified that Dr. Hoarse and Mary want to speak to you. It’s about the patient. Just follow me to Mary’s office.”

That doesn’t sound good. Mac followed in silence, worry seeping into his gut. When they reached the dark wooden door with a bronze placard, Big Mac was surprised to find the two wearing smiles as they prepared a large fabric bag. Looking up, Mary greeted Big Mac, “Hello.”

Big Mac nodded, entering the small office. The only furniture in the room was a large desk, black office chair and a worn bookshelf lining the wall filled to the brim with volumes of large leather bound books. Mary seemed overly excited today. Almost tap dancing where she stood. Ah wonder what it is.

Mary announced, “Big Mac, the hippogriff you brought in is awake and ready to leave.”

“Hippo-what?”

Hoarse rolled his eyes, “Apparently he’s species are called hippogriffs.” That sounds ridiculous.

Big Mac raised an eyebrow, “What’s all this stuff?” Mac’s cream colored hoof motioned towards the bag.

“These,” Dr. Hoarse explained, “are just some provisions. We have some ibuprofen, children’s aspirin, hydrogen peroxide, lots and lots of bandage wrappings, a toothbrush, and a large carton of saline salt.”

“Saline salt?” Big Mac scratched his head. “What’s that for?”

Dr. Hoarse explained, “These are to be used when he takes a bath. The solution will help keep the stitches clean. And don’t worry about his caste. It’s spelled to be waterproof.” Good to know.

Mary Sue decided to take the lead, “Now I have a few things we need to go through before you take him to your farm.”

“Kay.”

“First, he goes by the name Luke Skywalker,” Mary Sue said, Big Mac raising an eyebrow at the name. The two professionals quickly went over what was to expected for the next couple of days and Luke’s memory loss.

0 0 0

Well, that was interesting.

Luke thought as the pink nurse pony took away his plate of hay-fries, offering her a quick, “Thank you.” Never, in the history of the world would Luke have ever though he would ever eat hay. That just came out of the blue. Dr. Hoarse and Mary left then suddenly the nurse was bringing him food. The nurse revealed a pristine white plate featuring a large pile of fried hay with ketchup on the side. What the hell?

As it turns out, hay fries were delicious. They’re like McDonald’s fries, but a whole lot healthier and far more satisfying. This has got to be the healthiest junk food I have ever tasted! Tis the snack food of the gods!

Luke sat silently closing his eye, his stomach content. Lazily, he mind drifted into the realm of bliss. Whether it’s the world being crazy or just me… I have no choice in the mater. I guess I’ll just have to take it one step at a time.

Zzzzz
Zzzz

Dr. Hoarse and Big Mac walked into Luke’s room, Luke’s supplies balanced on his lower back. The pair noticed the single patient lying soundly on the bed, almost curled into a ball. Dr. Hoarse smirked, clearing his throat to wake the sleeping youth.

“W-what happened? Did I miss anything?” Luke awake with surprise, blinking rapidly to see the two stallions in the doorway.

Dr. Hoarse chuckled, “Not much. Did you have a nice nap?”

Luke brushed the comment off, “I wasn’t sleeping. I was just closing my eyes to contemplate the mysteries of the universe.”

Snickering Dr. Hoarse moved into the room to stand next to the bedpost. Big Mac followed closely, smiling at the little hippogriff. “Luke, this is Macintosh Apple. Big Mac, this is Luke Skywalker.” Jedi Knight and friend to Captain Solo. Why? Because Star Wars reference, that’s why.

“Nice to meet you,” Luke held out his hand to the big pony. My god, he’s huge! Luke felt very small looking up at the farm pony. Going by how he’s barely half the size of the average pony, Luke felt like a Chihuahua standing next to a Doberman.

“Likewise,” Big Mac offered his hoof, seeing the unsteady gaze. That big round orb looked up at him with some uncertainty.

Dr. Hoarse broke up the awkward moment, “Ready to go?”

“Yes!” Luke answered, standing on all fours. Luke winced, any rational thinking person would assume not to put weight on a broken leg.

Big Mac moved his alongside the bed, motioning with his head, “Jump on.”

“Wait, what?” Luke looked at Big Mac with some confusion.

Big Mac chuckled, Luke looking at him dumfounded. “We have a long trip to Sweet Apple Acres. We’ll want to make it there before sunset, so ah’ll carry ya.” Looking towards the window, the sun was almost touching the mountains.

“Um, okay. If you don’t mind,” Luke responded sheepishly. This is going to be awkward. I’ve never ridden a horse before. No, wait. They’re not horses. They’re smaller. Ponies? Sure, I’m going to go with ponies.

0 0 0

I’m the king of the world!

From atop Big Mac’s shoulders, Luke’s head quested from side to side above the heads of all other ponies. Both of his arms were not even close to wrapping halfway around the stallion’s neck. It felt great to be out of that hospital. The town was absolutely colorful, like a child had gotten into one of those giant boxes of crayons and went crazy. The streets were still busy with ponies running last minute errands.

So you’ve got Pegasus, unicorns and regular ponies? That’s kewl.

Big Mac moved through the streets with ease, moving towards a select tan house. Mac’s hooves bashed against the door, rattling the hinges. Big Mac smash tiny door. Luke thought hearing the heavy hoof make contact.

Time passed, the pair waiting patiently. A tan colored pony with a brown mane opened the door, surprising to see the pair in front of him, “Hi-ya Big Mac. How’s it going?”

Big Mac shrugged, “Pretty good, I was wondering if you can let the others know I won’t be able to make it to the card game this afternoon.”

“Oh,” Caramel’s ears flattened, “How come?”

Big Mac motioned with his head to Luke, the hippogriff watching the pair with mild interest. “I’ve got to get this guy settled in.”

Oh come on! Now you’re making me feel like a jerk. Luke’s gut punched itself for ruining this guys evening. He may have just met Big Mac, but that didn’t mean he wanted to screw over the farm pony’s free time.

Caramel nodded in understanding, “Sure, I’ll let the guys know. There’s always next Friday after all.”

“Eeyup,” Big Mac answered with a smile.

After a quick goodbye, Big Mac and company made their way to the farm. Silence falling over the two, Luke looking at the ground thinking deeply. That sucks, I didn’t want to impose on Big Mac. Maybe I should apologize. “Um, Mr. Big Mac?” Luke began, realizing just how much he sounded like an eight year old child.

“Hm?”

“Sorry about ruining your day,” Luke offering a sincere apology.

“That’s alright,” Big Mac smiled, turning his head to look at the hippogriff. “Caramel and the rest of the guys have been mah friends for years, they’ll understand.” Well, that’s a relief.

The town gave way to trees, and then Luke saw it. The hippogriff’s jaw dropped at the sight of it, thousands of trees littered the farmland. Big Mac chuckled, hearing the gasp of shear surprise. Luke had never seen a farm this huge before, apple trees grew tall and plentiful, bursting with red fruit. The dirt grounded under Big Mac’s hooves, the stallion making his way to the house. Luke’s amber eye took in all of the sights; the barn, the pig pens (What would a pony need with pigs?), and the shear open space of their land.

Luke analyzed the house as they approached. At least two stories, the home looked very inviting with the white trim and patio attached to the red barn. Luke felt a twinge of unease. He was just about to enter another person’s home and be in their care. It felt unnerving. To have been an adult and was now forced to play a child again. Just because I’m a child does not mean I have to act like one. Before we enter, let’s make some rules:

#1. Be polite. Mama did always said ‘kill them with kindness’. Or did she? Who said that? Now I want to know who said that. Argh!
#2. Don’t talk about human stuff, because then they’ll think you’re crazy.
#3. Uh.
#4. Don’t talk about the Game. Because if I talk about the Game then I will lose the game and I realized that I am thinking about talking about the Game. Therefore I have just lost the Game.

Big Mac pushed open the door to reveal quite the surprise. Colorful confetti burst from the open door, catching the two full in the face. Luke brushed the colorful papers from his face to find the most horrible sight possible, a pair of bright blue eyes filling his vision attached to a pink face. I think I peed a little.

Pinkie Pie continued to stare into the hippogriff’s eye atop Big Mac’s head, that amber orb shocked at her sudden appearance. Big Mac gently brushed away the colorful paper, the surprisingly light weight on his head barely fazing him. Luke was captivated by those bright blues, What is with these eyes? Luke shivered in fear as the pony continued to look deep into his eye. After a minute those eyes stared at him and they didn't blink once. Stop staring at me evil pink demon! What do you want from me? Stop looking into my soul! Be gone foul creature!

“Hi!” the pink pony said her smile so huge it would make the Joker scream in fear. What preceded this charming greeting is still unknown to science. Science even has a restraining order on Pinkie Pie because of what she does. Words seemed to vomit out of the pony’s mouth like lava. Every word spit out in a single breath, “I am so excited to see you! I couldn’t see you before because all the nurses wouldn’t let me wake you up. But that’s ookie dokkie because we can talk now! What’s your favorite color? Do you like parties? I love parties! I throw the bestest parties in all of Ponyville! I was going to throw you a party, but Twilight said I needed to wait until you were all better. Don’t worry, when you up and moving we’ll have the BEST WELCOME TO PONYVILLE PARTY EVA’!”

Big Mac turned around, finding Pinkie Pie twisting herself in some physics defying way to continue to look at Luke. Luke’s expression was quite the contrast to Pinkie Pie’s smile, his expression was so shocked and horrified that Big Mac felt his face would implode. I’m in hell. That the only logical conclusion. This is my punishment for hiding my sister’s car keys for her prom date.

“Miss Pie?” Pinkie Pie jumped from Big Mac’s head to stand in front of him, her whole body shaking in excitement.

“Yes?” she sang.

Big Mac took a deep breath, “Ah think it would best we tone down the excitement. He just got outta the hospital after all.”

Pinkie Pie nodded solemnly, “I understand. I’ll try again later.”

“Much obliged,” Big Mac smiled. Glad to see the party pony understood that now was not the best time to get crazy.

Pinkie Pie turned to leave, but remembered, “I brought some cupcakes over for you, Applebloom and her friends. Make sure Luke gets one. Also,” Pinkie Pie turned to the frozen hippogriff, “May the force be with you, young Skywalker.” With that Pinkie Pie closed the door in front of Big Mac.

But this is mah house. Big Mac opened the door a second time, finding no Pinkie Pie. In the center of the living room, the CMC sat among a pile of papers and crayons looking up in confusion. Granny Smith snored in her rocking chair, unaware of the events happening around her. Shaking the headache beginning to brew in his head, Big Mac gently entered the aged living room, depositing Luke next to the three fillies.

Appleblood was in front of Luke in a flash, the hippogriff’s mind stuck between first and second gear. “Is this him? Is this HIM?” Applebloom bounced up and down in rapid succession losing all memory of Pinkie Pie’s uh---- Pinkiness.

“Eeyup,” Big Mac smiled heading up stair to drop of Luke’s bag, “Just don’t be too rough on the pony.”

“As if we ever get too rough,” Scootaloo scoffed, looking the hippogriff up and down.

“Says the pony who wanted to get her cutie mark in crocodile wrestling,” Sweetie Bell chimed in moving next to Luke. The hippogriff remained impassive, nonresponsive to her. Waving a hoof in front of his face, Sweetie Bell’s brow furrowed in concern, “I think Pinkie Pie broke him.”

Applebloom slowly prodded Luke’s shoulder, the physical touch bringing him halfway to reality. “How did she know my name?”

Scootaloo answered, “Don’t worry about it. She’s Pinkie Pie, best not to question it.” So she’s like the Force? If you try to explain it, no one understands it.

Luke rubbed his aching temples, looking around the western style family room, an old green mare snoring in her rocking chair and the three beaming faces; a yellow earth pony with a pink bow, a white unicorn with curling purple hair and a orange Pegasus with a roughed up mane. They were so small and just so adorable with their big eyes. I don’t know how I will do it, but I must get pony snuggles somewhere along the way. Luke decided to address the three in front of him, “So, what are your names? I’m Luke Skywalker.” I think I just died a little inside.

“I’m Applebloom!”
“I’m Sweetie Bell!”
“I’m Scootaloo!”
The three jumped into a poorly practiced pyramid, shouting “And we are the Cutie Mark Crusaders!” The three tumbled to the ground in a pile of giggles. Big Mac re-entered the living room, Granny snapping awake from the fillies resulting Thump!

“What in the name of sweet Celestia’s sugary coated beard is going on?”

The three fillies’ giggles increased tenfold, Luke’s heart almost melting. He couldn’t help but grin like an idiot. That is just too cute for words. The mare turned towards the group, her eyes falling on Luke, “Well hello there squirt!” I’m not that small. The mare jumped to her hooves, showing a surprising amount of agility when she approached Luke. Luke couldn’t help but think of this mare as one of those kooky grandmas that everybody loved, with her walking cane and tight hair bun. I wonder what my grandma was like?

“It’s nice ta finally meet ya, I’m Granny Smith,” she offered Luke a lime green hoof to shake.

“Pleasure to meet you ma’am,” Luke’s beak spouted, taking the hoof in his talons.

“Ah, such a gentlecolt,” Granny Smith smiled, looking to Applebloom and her friends as they untangled themselves. Granny Smith decided to head to the kitchen, “Now you four don’t git into trouble. I’m gonna go start some dinner.”

Big Mac watched silently from the stairway, Applebloom asking as she caught sight of Luke’s hooves, “What kinda griffon are ya? I ain’t ever seen a griffon with hooves before.”

“That because I’m a hippogriff,” Luke responded warmly.

“What’s a hippogriff?” Scootaloo asked, scratching her head.

“I’m a hippogriff.”

Big Mac chuckled. Luke appeared to be fine with the three fillies. He was smiling, kinda. It was hard to smile when half your face was numb and covered in bandages. Big Mac moved into the kitchen, assisting Granny with dinner, making sure to keep an open ear out for the four.

0 0 0

Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Bell where quite the surprise. They’re insane. The afternoon wore on, the sun sinking into the mountains as Luke enjoyed the company of these three little fillies. From their adventures, Luke almost had three heart attacks from just listening to the crazy things these fillies did to get their ‘cutie marks.’ I tremble at the thought of what will happen when they get them.

Through the passing time, Luke felt his mind slowly clear of the numbing fog allowing him to think more clearly. The downside was the increasing aches and pains alongside the increasing amount of nausea he began to feel. His head felt warm and his stomach churned slowly.

Each filly took their turn to question Luke, asking him about his name, what was his home like, why was he covered in bandages. Luke tried to answer as best he could, keeping the whole different-species-thing to himself.

Granny Smith hollered from the kitchen, “Soups on, everypony!”

The three fillies made a mad dash towards the kitchen, Luke hobbling behind them. The wooden table was stocked with many delicious foods. All of them apple related. Luke raised an amused eyebrow, not sure if this was some joke related to Big Mac’s last name. The three fillies were already seated, Granny Smith taking one side with one open chair at the front of the table and one to her right already pulled out. Assuming Big Mac sat at the front of thetable. Luke made his way to the open seat. Luke leapt for the seat, his legs only getting him half way on. Flailing his good leg a few times, Luke was able to finally pull himself on the flat surface. Ha! Victory for Skywalker! I am now the master of all chairs! Muhaha! I think the drugs are hitting me harder than I thought.

Big Mac settled at the head of the table, looking over the spread of delicious food in front of him. Everypony began to dig into the scrumptious food, Luke enjoying the atmosphere of the room. Everyone was happy, laughing and enjoying the conversation, but something was nagging at him. Something Appllebloom had said.

“Um, Mrs. Smith?” Luke asked turning to the mare on his left, having only consumed a small portion of the salad and an apple fritter. The pastry leaving him speechless, Mind blown.

Granny cackled madly, “Oh ya don’t need to call me Mrs. or anything sugarcube. Just call me Granny Smith, everypony does.”

“Okay,” Luke nodded smirking at the mare. “Granny Smith, Applebloom mentioned something about getting a cutie mark earlier, what is a cutie mark?”

“A cutie mark is the mark a pony receives when they learn their special talent,” Granny pointed to her own flank, the image of an apple pie stamped on her thigh.

Luke was even more confused, “Why does that happen?”

Granny continued, “It leads a pony to their calling in life. Some will be bakers, farmers, tax attorneys, and so many others. A pony can look at a cutie mark as see themselves in it.”

Luke found the idea a little disturbing, “Isn’t that like destiny or a pre-destination?” Granny Smith raised an eyebrow as Luke continued, “Going by what you said, every child will have a pre-determined role to fill in society. What about the element of choice or chance? What if a child dreamed of becoming something other than what had been intended for him or her? What if a child aspired to become something greater?”

Everypony around the table sat in silence, no entirely sure how to approach this. Big Mac started, “It’s not just about destiny, a cutie mark reveals that a pony has finally realized who they are.”

Luke asked, “That could also mean that they have no room to become something else. What happens when they aspire to reach a different or greater goal? Could their cutie mark hold them back because it outlines what their special talent in life is?”

Big Mac thought for a moment, it was strange having this level of debate with a pony this young. Luke wasn’t trying to be rude. He was just having difficulty of understanding cutie marks. Big Mac shrugged, “It’s difficult to answer, ah guess you may figure it out if you get your cutie mark.”

“What?” Luke raised an eyebrow. What would my cutie mark be? Can I even get one?

Applebloom decided to enter the conversation, “That would be so cool! A hippogriff cutie mark!”

“Can you even get a cutie mark?” Sweetie Bell asked, looking over to Luke.

Luke shrugged, turning back to Big Mac. “Maybe,” the stallion said, “you do have a pony’s rump. You may earn your cutie mark someday.”

Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie looked to each other as their grins grew across their small muzzles. I have a bad feeling about this. All three shouted, “You could join our club! Another pony to add to the Cutie Mark Crusaders!” Even though their smiles were wide and happy, adorable even, Luke could only think of them as the opening to gates to hell:

Through me you pass into the city of woe:
Through me you pass into eternal pain:
Through me among the people lost for aye.
Justice the founder of my fabric moved:
To rear me was the task of power divine,
Supremest wisdom and primeval love.
Before me things create were none, save things
Eternal, and eternal I shall endure.
All hope abandon, ye who enter here. (Dante Alighieri).

Luke shook his head a few time, Woah. That got really dark. Luke turned back to the smiling faces. He could say no, he wanted to say no, but just look at those cute faces. Only a heartless man would say no. “Okay.”

Their squeals of delight would have stopped anyone’s heart. Big Mac chuckled, seeing the hippogriff trying to be friends with his sister brought a nice warmth to his heart. Even though he’d have to contend with the new batch of insane ideas the three would think of next.

Loud voices on the doorstep broke everyone of the conversation.

“Now Rainbow, I told ya not to overdo it.”

“Yeah-yeah! But it was totally worth beating those stallion wasn’t it!”

“Ya say that now, but come tomorrow yur gonna be whining like a little foal because ya strained yur wing.”

Inside the house entered two mares, a orange country earth pony and a cyan Pegasus with the rainbow mane. Dude, I think I should be listening to Pink Floyd right about now. That hair is rocking.

Applejack turned towards the kitchen, seeing her family was a nice sight. However the sight of their feathered guest among the Apples drew her attention. Scootallo looked towards Rainbow Dash like she was the messiah, her wide grin showing all of her teeth. Moving into the kitchen, Rainbow Dash in tow, Applejack addressed her older brother and Granny Smith. “Sorry about this yall, but Rainbow Dash is gonna stay a couple of nights.”

Rainbow Dash brushed it off, “It’s just a sprained wing, nothing major. I just won’t be able to fly for a day or too.”

Applebloom asked, “How’d bowling go?”

Applejack smiled, “It went as well as you could have expected. Thanks to Rainbow we beat those stallions by a single pin.”

Scootaloo cheered, clapping her hooves together. Rainbow Dash realized the extra member of the Brady Bunch. Moving closer to Luke as he stifled a loud yawn. Rainbow Dash looked the griffon up and down before offering him a hoof, “Hey there! Names Rainbow Dash, number one flier in Equestria, what’s your name?”

Luke was happy to shake her hoof with a smile, “Nice to meet you, Luke Skywalker’s the name.”

“Luke Skywalker?” Rainbow Dash scratched her chin thinking deeply. “That’s a weird name, but sometimes the weirdest are the most awesome.” I’m beginning to like her.

Luke was surprised when he turned to Applejack, the orange mare giving him a hard look. It wasn’t a look of hate, but of distrust. Applejack said to Luke, not offering a hoof, “Mah name’s Applejack.” Her body language told Luke that she was ‘watching him.’

To try and quell the rising tension, Big Mac said, “Alright, everypony. Let’s clean up dinner and head to bed. Applebloom, you and yur friends can stay up in your room as long as you want since it’s the weekend. Luke?” Big Mac watched as the tiring hippogriff turned to him, “You can sleep in mah bed tonight on account of Miss Dash here.”

Luke tried to oppose, “Um, I really don’t want to impose on you Big Mac. I’m sure I can find some other accommodations.”

Big Mac shook his head, “Nope. No other beds are available and no pony is allowed to sleep on the couch. And I will certainly not see a guest of this house sleep on the floor.” Luke tried to protest, but Big Mac stopped him with a raised hoof. Giving in, Luke just shrugged. Thinking about when his sister once had to crawl into his bed when she had a nightmare. Pushing away the stab to his heart, Luke attempted to help clean up dinner alongside the rest of the ponies.

Again, nope.

Not too long later, Luke found himself being lifted gently by the scruff of his neck up the flight of stairs. Wood groaned under Big Mac’s hooves, carrying Luke to a very modest sized bedroom. A large bed sat against one wall, polished brown wood holding up a mattress that made Luke feel like it could eat him for breakfast. A tall dresser sat across from the bedpost, two picture frames and some knick knacks sitting on top. The strangest thing was on one of the bedside tables on each side of the bed, a small doll of grey fabric and white poke dotted shorts sitting on top of a book.

Luke decided not to question or talk about, he was no one to judge going by his collection of Pokémon memorabilia.

Big Mac chuckled at the sight of a metal bucket next to one side of the bed, the stallion already informing Granny Smith about what the doctor had told him. Placing the hippogriff on that side, Big Mac made to close the door, “Ya can sleep on that side. There’s plenty of room on this bed.”

Turning back, Big Mac looked at Luke. The hippogriff looked up at the farm pony with a sad expression. Despite his tiredness, Luke felt that it was his obligation to say something to this kind pony. “Big Mac?”

“Eeyup?”

“Thank you,” Luke offered his gratitude in his high pitched voice, “I mean thanks for not only saving me, but taking me to the hospital.” Luke rubbed his eyes, a light burning reaching the right eye, “I mean you let me into your home and everything. Your sister and Granny are very kind. I-I just don’t know what to say beyond thanks. I don’t know how to express my gratitude.”

Big Mac’s eyes softened at the hippogriff. Today wasn’t an easy day for him. Waking up in a hospital had to be rough on anypony. Now, Big Mac knew that he had made the right choice. That Luke wasn’t violent or sinister like his sister thought. Big Mac moved towards Luke, gently wrapping him in a hug, “You’re welcome, Luke.”

Luke was surprised at this action. Everyone here was so kind and nice, offering him comfort when he needed it. Big Mac turned off the lights, the mattress complaining as the work horse slid under the covers on his side of the bed. Luke laid his head on the pillow, the soft fabric lulling him into slumber. His eye began to close, his last thoughts. I may be crazy, but I have an obligation to do my best and help these ponies like they have helped me. Maybe this won’t be bad. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.

Author's Note

Over 9,000 words! YEAH!

The Apple Family Farm

Time Lost
Ch. 4: The Apple Family Farm
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to anything related to MLP. All other characters are mine.

The sun fell below the horizon on Canterlot. Behind her desk, Celestia’s eyes scanned the latest complaints from the Canterlot nobles. Princess Celestia growled in irritation. Sometimes I wish I could just send all of those stuck up snobs to the Sun.

To Celestia’s surprise, a large brown folder flashed into existence on top of the piles of parchment littering her desk. Intrigued, Celestia levitated the envelope before her. The insides revealed to be a single letter and a stack of pure white paper documents. The letter read as such:

Dear Princess Celestia,

As you requested, here is all the information I have written on the human when he’s woken up. The copies of this document have been sent to the FPS office in Canterlot and to Royal Guard HQ. The human calls himself Luke Skywalker. From my observation of him, he has very disjointed memories. He was unable to even remember his original name. Luke has shown no signs of aggression towards any of the staff and me. I felt it would be in his best interest to send him home with his legal guardian, Macintosh Apple.

I will require further tests to establish the extent of his mental capacities. From my first observations, I believe he is smarter than he is letting on. Or he may be an idiot with unknown information locked inside his little head. For now I will keep in close contact with both him and the Apples. I will update you when I’ve learned any new information.

Tomorrow I’ll be paying a quick visit to Sweet Apple Acres. I’ll be sure to write you tomorrow if I learn anything new.

Sincerely,
Your Faithful Subject
Mary Sue.

Celestia smiled in contentment, That’s some good news for today.

A loud chuckled filled the silent study, effectively ruining Celestia’s mood. Looking up, Celestia found Discord’s head hovering over the document, his long neck extending from her flowing mane. “Discord, why are you here? More importantly, get out of my mane!”

In a flash, Discord appeared in front of Celestia’s purple desk. “I was keeping an eye on you. I knew you would receive a letter from your contact in Ponyville. Which begs the question; why not rely on your faithful student?”

“I did not want Twilight to pester the poor boy. Could you imagine the extent she would go to if she found out the only human in existence is right under her nose?” Celestia asked rhetorically.

Discord shut his trap. Images of a crazed Twilight running down the hippogriff like a raving bloodhound filled his mind. “Good point.”

“What do you plan to do now?”

Discord raised a bemused eyebrow, “What do you mean?”

“I mean,” Celestia stressed, “the human you saved is now awake. What do you plan to do with him now? Do you plan to meeting with him?”

“I’ve thought about it,” Discord scratched his chin. “My plan is to do nothing.”

“Nothing?”

“Yes,” Discord nodded in affirmation.

“I don’t believe you,” Celestia said calmly.

Discord pouted, taking the form of a very small and very adorable brown puppy. The puppy Discord looked up at Celestia with wide sad eyes. When she didn’t crack, Discord reverted back to normal. “I mean that I have thought about what you’ve said and agree with you.”

Discord’s actually listening to a pony. Stop the presses!

“I will keep to the shadows and remain hidden,” Discord continued, grumbling in sadness. “I will merrily keep an eye on Luke. If Luke and I are never to meet again, I will hold my tongue and remain silent.”

Celestia didn’t know exactly how to feel. She felt a slight amount of pride in Discord’s decision. But sadness seeped its way in. Discord may never get the retribution he needed. Luke Skywalker may never be able to find out the truth of his rebirth and how much it may hurt Discord to remain silent.

0 0 0

For one the journey had just begun,
Old but young, his time to come.
But soon enough the clock struck two,
The face must change, the music must too.

Soon the music must end too,
His time on earth to begin anew.
The clock continues to tick on bye,
Earth’s deep rock unmoved by time.
Soon the clock will tick on bye,
The actor's time to leave the spotlight dry.

And now it's time for one last bow
Like all those who had to go.
The eleventh hour is over now,
The clock is striking twelve.

Discord looked down from the roof of Big Mac’s room, unseen by any wakeful. Discord felt a pang in his heart. Sleep didn’t reach Luke this night. Heat rose from the center of the hippogriff’s body, leaving him drenched in sweat. Luke tossed and turned on the small section of the mattress. Stomach rolled like the stormy sea. Luke’s small body could not fight off the ravenous pain assaulting the nerves. The stitches across his back, arm, chest and stomach became red and puffy. The inflamed flesh pressed against the synthetic fibers without mercy. His broken leg itched, the pain lacerating deep into the bone.

Luke had only a seconds warning, his frail body finally giving into natures call. With a heave, Luke brought his head over the side. The face the metal bucket was ready for him. Discord cringed at the sound emitting from Luke’s beak.

Big Mac jerked away, the loud banging of half solids smacking against metal. Big Mac craned his head to the side, seeing Luke’s back towards him. This is going to be a long night. Big Mac groaned, barely eleven o’clock and he was already comfortable. Pulling himself to his hooves, Big Mac left the room in silence.

Big Mac returned shortly after, a glass of water held in his hoof for Luke. The hippogriff’s head rested on the side of the mattress panting. Every fiber of his being hurt, acting like his flesh was on fire. Big Mac brought the cool liquid to Luke, offering the hippogriff the glass. Luke’s bloodshot eye peered at the glass before taking the glass within his trembling talons.

Luke could feel the weakness in his muscles. His hands reacted sluggishly the call. Big Mac’s giant hoof pressed against the bottom of the glass, helping Luke steady it. Luke drained the glass. Cool relief filtered through his throat and to the stomach.

Gently, Big Mac moved Luke’s small head back onto the bed. The amber eye was half-lidded, brain drowning in a sea of red pain signals. Mac held his hoof barely an inch from Luke’s body. There he could feel the heat radiate from Luke’s feathery forehead.

Big Macintosh left Luke again, going downstairs to grab an icepack. The farmer could not help but reminisce. A feeling of nostalgia rose in his chest.

“But Macky!” a small orange filly wined to her older brother as he tucked into pink blankets. “Ah don’t want to be sick! Ah want to go outside!”

Little Mac shook his head, “Nope. You’re gonna stay in bed until ya’ll get better now. Mom and Pa will be mighty sore if’n you don’t stay in bed.”

Applejack crossed her arms, huffing in indignation at her brother’s firm stance. No matter how cute she was, Little Mac would not be moved.

Discord watched Macintosh’s memory, intrigued at what was going on in the farmer’s head. Who knew Applejack was such a cute little filly once? What happened?

Applejack snorted in irritation.

Returning to his room, Big Mac offered Luke sweet relief. Placing the cloth bag on his head, Big Mac gently nudged Luke away from the edge of the bed. To ensure he didn’t fall onto the cold hard ground. Satisfied, Big Mac returned to his side of the bed.

When he was sure the pony was asleep, Discord body became visible. Discord felt beside Luke’s head with a tentative paw. Discord looked down at Luke with concern. I can’t heal him. That would raise too many suspicions. Saddened he couldn’t do anything, Discord disappeared.

Luke continued to struggle through the night. Big Macintosh couldn’t sleep either, the hippogriff’s constant motion keeping him awake. Macintosh didn’t mind. He could never blame a sick pony for something they couldn’t control. Hours passed slowly, time warped by the surrounding darkness.

Finally, Luke fell into a dreamless sleep. A healing sleep. At three thirty, the hippogriff’s body and mind started the recovery process. The big pony sighed in relief, Luke’s body ending its constant unrest.

Groaning, Macintosh settled down into sleep. His eyelids drooped, dark bags showing through his red coat. Without hesitation, Big Mac fell into the dreamscape.

0 0 0

Granny Smith rolled out of bed. The cold hardwood floor met the elder’s hooves. “Mah hip,” Granny Smith groaned, stretching out her hindquarters to pop the offending hip. Ripping open the curtains, the light of Celestia sun blinded the elderly mare.

Granny Smith slowly edged out of her room and into the hallway. Applejack’s door laid open, her room empty. The hallway echoed with Rainbow Dash’s snores. You’d think there was a full grown dragon sleeping in the guest room. With a chuckle, Granny Smith continued onto the rest of the rooms. Applebloom and her friends grumbled awake. The sun’s harsh rays danced in front of their closed eyes.

Looking into Macintosh’s room, Granny Smith’s careful hooves glided over the worn wood floor. Granny’s green muzzle peered over Luke’s flushed faced. Even with feathers, a light red tint bled into the white. Granny removed the ice pack from Luke’s head. Water sloshed in the bag.

Granny Smith could not help but chuckle at the sight of the two boys snoring loudly, drool dripping onto the fabric. Dragging the bucket behind her, Granny Smith made sure to clean the metal bucket outside.

Eight o’clock rolled on by, Luke rolling off the side of the bed and all the way down to the ground. Hissing, Luke blinked the blurriness from his eyes. Muscles slow to lift off. Luke stumbled from the room, tripping over his own hooves/talons on the way. His vision blurred and warping, making the hallway twist and turn to the whims of the universe. The hippogriff’s movements were slow and jerking. Even with the pain throughout his body, Luke was on a mission. He had to perform the most important deed of the day. Nothing would stop him from reaching salvation. What did I do last night? Head pounding, Luke finally found his destination. The bathroom.

Entering the sacred room, Luke groaned to himself, “Another hole in the floor.”

Leaving the bathroom, Luke moved down the hallway. Much better. Some would assume this grown man had a destination or plan in mind. In Luke’s head, the brain you were trying to contact is temporarily out of service. Please hang up and try your call again later.

On day two in Equestria, Luke met his second biggest challenge. Stairs! In front of him, the stairs contorted for Luke. They writhed like a coiling snakes ready to strike. “Are you okay?” a sweet voice asked. Luke nearly jumped out of his skin to end up falling on his rump and almost squashing his tail.

Luke’s head swiveled towards Applebloom. The filly appeared incomplete without her pink bow. Applebloom was giving Luke a very confused look, her mane poking out in every direction.

Luke shook his head, Applebloom’s hair waving in front of his eye. Applebloom the Gorgon. “I’m not sure.”

Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo soon arrived. They looked over Luke’s flushed face. “You don’t look so good,” Sweetie Bell said.

“Are you trying to go downstairs?” Scootaloo asked. Luke turned to face the stairs, then back to the three. A shrug was all they got for an answer.

“Do you need help downstairs?” Applebloom asked, moving closer.

“Sure.” I have no idea where I’m going. But there are cute ponies with me so nothing can go wrong.

“Can you two help him downstairs?” Applebloom asked Scootaloo and Sweetie Bell. They nodded before Applebloom tore down the stairs, finding Granny Smith inside the kitchen. A large pot simmered on the worn stove. “Granny,” Applebloom called.

“Howdy their squirt! How are you doing?” Granny Smith smiled, stirring the vegetable soup with a long wooden spoon.

“Ah think Luke might be sick. He’s kinda wandering around upstairs,” Applebloom said.

On the stairs, Scootaloo and Sweetie Bell gently shepherded Luke to ground level. Each filly placed a foreleg under Luke’s arms. Halfway down the rickety steps, Luke had to stop. His breath short, the world spun into a blur of colors. Scootaloo hefted Luke, his shoulders sagging, “You’re heavy for a freaking bird.” Hey! I am not fat!

“That’s just the fever talking sugarcube. That’s why ah’m making the Apple family famous tomato basil soup,” Granny Smith said, taking a moment to take a quick taste. “Hmmm. Needs more salt.”

“Wait, we have a family recipe that doesn’t involve apples?” Applebloom asked, flabbergasted.

“OW!” Luke shouted, tripping over the last step. I curse you steps! I curse you and all of your kind! Let it be known that I will drive your race into extinction! I will seek the inventor of the stairs and push him down a flight of stairs! It will be ironic because he will break his legs, leaving him immobile and unable to use his own invention. Then his wife will leave him for the guy who invented the elevator. Because we all know, elevators are sexier than stairs!

“What was that?”

Applebloom looked into the next room, finding Scootaloo and Sweetie Bell pulling Luke into a standing position. “It’s all good Granny. Just an accident that’s all.”

Granny Smith took her word for it, adding a little salt to the mix. “Where was Ah… Oh yeah. Of course the Apples have recipes outside our namesake. You can’t make a good soup with apples. Believe me child ah tried.”

“What happened?”

“Well,” Granny Smith drawled off. A memory swam to the surface of her consciousness. A metal pot melting into a pool of molten metal and shooting off sparks into the open air filled Granny’s mind’s eye. “Ah don’t wanna talk about it.”

Applebloom wanted to ask more, but Granny Smith shushed her. Granny lifted a thick black lid on the pot before lowering the flame. “There we go Lucy Goose. Soup’s all ready.” Granny and Applebloom moved into the living room.

Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo made way for Granny to take a look at Luke. The hippogriff simply lay on the floor, the cool wood feeling comfortable on his stomach with his eye closed. Ah sweet ground, how I love thee. You’re always there to catch me when I fall, except when it involves my face. How dare you blemish this gorgeous face!

With an experience hoof, Granny checked Luke’s temperature.. Granny said to the three fillies, “Don’t worry. Luke’s got a fever that’s all.” Granny made her way into the kitchen, calling to Applebloom, “Bloom, how about you and yur friends go play? I’m sure there’s some crusading to do.” Celestia help me, Ah just encouraged them.

The CMC left, Winona running through the open door. The thick coated dog’s tail wagged in excitement. She could smell something new in the house, someone new. She didn’t get the chance to visit yesterday. Those dastardly squirrels were mocking her again. There he is. Winona had to investigate, her dog instincts wanting to know who and what was lying on the floor. In her spot no less.

Luke felt a cold wet nose poke his side, That tickles. Luke’s amber eye open, looking at the white and brown cattle dog smiling at him. Winona’s tail wagged excitedly. Luke raised his right hand towards Winona, allowing her to smell him. Winona’s nose crinkled before releasing a massive sneeze. She smelt strong sanitizer and blood on the hippogriff.

Winona cocked her head to the right, as if to ask a question. Was this feathered one hurt? Winona allowed Luke’s knuckles to scratch against her chin absentmindedly. Again: sharp objects = problems. Winona was worried for him, he smelt of blood. Blood meant injury or worse. Winona’s protective instincts kicked in. She had stayed with each of her family when they were hurt. The big red one, the smaller orange one, the tiny one and the old one were all her family. It was a dog’s purpose to protect her family. If this hippogriff was here, then he must be new to the family. Just like her so many years ago.

When Winona was a tiny puppy, she looked up with wide brown eyes expectantly at the ponies passing in front the cardboard box that housed her brothers and sisters. She waited for that one family to pick her. It wasn’t until a small orange filly’s muzzle entered the puppy’s vision, almost tripping over her own in haste to see Winona. Winona barked excitedly at the filly, tail wagging like a mad dog. The filly had to beg her parents to take Winona. They were hesitant. The scruffy dark red pony with a curling brown mane looked at the slender green pony to his right. The mare carried a tiny bundle on her back. When they said yes, the filly jumped four feet in the air to release an exuberant cheer. Applejack picked Winona out of the whole litter. From that day forward, Winona would be with the Apple bunch.

Luke’s lips lifted in a slight smile, feeling Winona’s thick coat against his own fur. Winona’s wide brown eyes looked up at Luke’s face, his amber eye catching sight of her. With some difficulty, Luke lifted his right arm. The limb trembled as it rose. It felt stiff, the stitches burning under their wrappings.

Granny Smith entered the living room, carrying with her a glass of water and several pills. Ain’t that just the sweetest sight. Luke had his right arm draped over Winona’s back, the cattle dog nuzzling Luke’s side. Luke’s eye closed. Moving to the pair, Granny Smith said, “Now sugarcube, before you go to sleep you need to take yur medicine.”

Ah. Luke groaned, opening his single eye again. With his left hand, Luke popped the pills in his mouth before washing them down with water.

“Good boy,” Granny Smith smiled. At least he’s better than Applejack was at that age. That filly ran like a bat out of Tartarus when it came to taking her medicine. Granny left Luke in peace to make breakfast for everypony. Ah think pancakes are in order.

The CMC and Applejack gave thanks for the fluffy creations of delicious delicacies. Bang. Bang. Bang. All heads turned to the cyan mare slowly entering into the kitchen. The smell of sweet sugary deliciousness reached her all the way into the guest room. “Pancakes.” Applejack couldn’t help but chuckle at the rainbow mane sticking out in every possible direction. Rainbow Dash never paid her bad hairdo. Her glazed eyes and mind were on the sweet smell of, “Pancakes.”

Rainbow Dash took a seat, looking at the tall stack of doughy round things that needed to be in her stomach right now. “How was sleeping in the guest room, Rainbow?” Applejack asked, sipping on her morning cup of coffee.

“Hrrr.” Rainbow Dash grabbed herself a plate, piling it high before drowning it in dark syrup.

Breakfast flew by, the CMC taking time to help Granny Smith clean the dishes. Applejack went outside to feed the pigs and chickens. Rainbow Dash went back to bed. Or to be more precise, she walked out on the patio and slumped onto the worn wooden like a sloth. The cyan Pegasus didn’t who saw her being lazy, it wasn’t even eleven. Who gets up this early?

Outside, Sweetie Bell asked, “What do you girls want to do?”

The three scratched their heads in unison. Scootaloo offered, “We can always try to get our cutie marks in dragon wrangling.”

“Or we can do something that’s not insane,” Sweetie Bell groaned.

Sweetie Bell and Scottaloo looked towards Applebloom. Applebloom wore a worried looked. “Hey! Wake up!” Scootaloo snapped, knocking Applebloom from her thoughts.

“What?”

“You were zoning out Applebloom,” Sweetie Bell said.

“I was just thinking about Luke,” Applebloom began, “He looks really sick.”

“Maybe we should do something nice for him?” Sweetie Bell offered.

“That’s a great idea!” Scootaloo said, her wings buzzing excitedly. The young filly hovered a foot off the ground before her wings finally gave out.

“Oh! We could make him a get-well-card,” Applebloom said with gusto.

“Well,” Sweetie Bell injected, “He is getting better. He just left the hospital yesterday and you normally send get-well-cards to ponies in the hospital.”

“Right,” Applebloom’s ears drooped sadly.

“How about a ‘Welcome to the Apple Family card’?” Scootaloo scratched the back of her head. The orange Pegasus racking her brain for any good ideas.

“That could work,” Applebloom muttered, thinking to herself.

“How about we head to the clubhouse? We can think of something there,” Scootaloo said.

“Alright, let’s go Cutie Mark Crusaders!” Applebloom said, the three fillies running full speed to their clubhouse.

Big Mac groaned awake, his alarm clock reading 9:56 A.M. Craning his neck, Big Mac looked towards the other side of his bed. His heart froze. Luke wasn’t where he was supposed to be. “Oomph!” Big Mac rolled onto the floor, his hooves unable to catch him from the floor’s embrace.

Granny Smith cackled, hearing the upstairs room reverberate with several loud bangs. The elderly mare sat quietly in her rocking chair, a needle and white cross-stitch in her hooves. Macintosh made his appearance, eyes wide, “W-where?”

Granny Smith put a hoof to her lips, pointing to the sleeping form of Luke in front of the couch. Big Mac’s green eyes caught sight of something quite adorable. Winona snuggled the sleeping Luke. The hippogriff was sound asleep, his chest slowly rising and falling . To add to this moment, Luke’s arm was still wrapped around the cattle dog. Winona appeared very content at keeping an eye on Luke. Granny remembered another time when another small filly slept with Winona wrapped in her tiny hooves.

Granny Smith slid off the wooden seat. With a wave of her hoof, Granny beckoned her grandson to follow her into the kitchen. “Want some breakfast Big Mac?” Big Mac nodded, his stomach grumbling in agreement.

“When did ya get to sleep?”

“Around three.”

Granny Smith gave Big Mac the leftover pancakes Rainbow Dash didn’t manage to eat. The fluffy pancakes may be cold, but they were still delicious. But no morning is complete without a cup of Joe. Big Mac calmly walked out onto the patio with his drink. The cool breeze ruffled Big Mac’s ginger hair. Caffeine pumped its way throughout his veins, providing the jumper cables for Big Macintosh’s brain. Today his list of choirs was small. All he had to do was move the stacks of hay around, organize the workbench in the barn and check the support beams. Applejack said he was crazy for checking these. But with how many times the barn fell, Big Mac had to make sure his home would survive the next disaster.

Granny Smith returned to her stitching, almost falling asleep the second she sat down. The living room became filled with the sound of snoring.

The peaceful sleep could not last.

Applejack entered the household, moving towards the stairs.

The mare stopped, catching the sight of Winona curled up next to Luke in her peripheral vision. The sight of her dog lying next to that hippogriff made her blood boil. The puppy she trained for years, who had been one of her closest friends, was cuddling with Luke. This kid had the gale to enter her home without her approval. Applejack built this farm to what it is was today. Even though the barn keeps getting destroyed, that’s not mah fault. This was Applejack’s world. She knew everything that went on in her world. Ponyville may be crazy, but her farm was her sanctuary from that insanity. Here, Applejack was in control. Here, at Sweet Apple Acres, things tended to remain the same. That was what made the farm safe. Unknown elements at the farm were bad. In Applejack’s experience, they meant danger. Unpredictability didn’t sit well with Applejack.

Luke Skywalker, he wasn’t supposed to be here. She knew nothing about him. Applejack didn’t like anything unknown entering Sweet Apple Acres. Luke represented that unknown element Applejack hated so much.

To her, Luke had just waltz into her little slice of paradise. For the past three days, Applejack had to fight the dreaded feeling filling her head. The same thoughts rolled around in her head. Who was he? What did he want? Why was he going to live on her farm? Applejack couldn’t answer these questions and it drove her mad. She was responsible for her family and she needed to know what happened. Big Mac hadn’t been much help. He told her he was messed up and left it at that. He couldn’t have told her more simply because he didn’t know enough at the time.

When Applejack caught sight of him, she couldn’t help but feel an unknown resentment towards him. His bandages and broken leg caught her off guard, but she thought he would be healthy enough to handle a little talk. She didn’t intend to too much force, just enough to hold him in one place for a few seconds.

Applejack cast her gauze to her sleeping Granny. Ah think it’s time we have a little chat Skywalker. Winona jerked awake, Applejack’s hooves approaching. Applejack said in a serious tone, “Go Winona.” The cattle dog wined before obeying the mare. She didn’t want to leave, but Winona slowly trotted outside. Like the good dog she was.

Applejack placed a hoof against Luke’s back, intending on holding him to the ground.

“Argh!” Luke jerked awake, fire lacing across his back. Blinded by sleep, head full of cluttered images of colors, Luke attempted to push against the mountainous pressure bearing down on him. Bad move. The move sent white stars across his eye. Luke twisted his head, his amber eye looking up at Applejack. “What?” Luke’s pitifully voiced in pain.

“Why are you on my farm?”

“W-wwhat?” Luke couldn’t hear right. Luke’s priorities were on the stabbing pain across his back and his sides.

“Why are you here?” Applejack added more forcefully, ignoring Luke’s trembling body. Applejack didn’t see the pain, she saw it as fear. Fear of a colt that had something to hide.

“P-please stop.” Applejack’s hoof was too big and too heavy for Luke to even try to budge. The synthetic fibers of his stitches continued to push into the inflamed skin. The pressure on his ribcage sparked jolts of white hot pain across Luke’s nervous. His ribs were not up for this kind of activity.

Applejack took Luke’s meager attempts to move as a sign of struggle. Applebloom had tried the same tactic when she was younger. Writhing and crying under her sister’s hoof until she ran out of energy. Then Applebloom would calm down enough to tell her older sister what was wrong. “I want to know what you did.”

“I didn’t do anything,” Luke said, his voice a scratchy whisper. Lungs weren’t working properly and he couldn’t breathe in the air he needed to talk properly.

“Then why did you end up on my farm with all those bandages?”

“I was attacked.”

Applejack could tell this was part of the truth. Her bones told her he was holding out. She wanted, needed to know what had happened to the young hippogriff. She needed to know if he was dragging her family into danger. “By what?”

“I don’t know!” Luke snapped shutting his eye from Applejack’s accusing glare. The human’s mind may be old, but this body was still young. Hormones worked differently in the hippogriff’s body. The brain’s chemistry acted differently, bringing in waves of electronic stimulus the human was not accustomed to. Luke had not developed any form of control in this body. The pain seemed to be more severe now. Luke had no defenses against the torrent of information wracking his brain.

“What aren’t you telling me?” Applejack said, her muzzle mere inches from Luke’s face.

“What?” Luke stuttered, his eye opening to look into Applejack’s face. His mind ran blank for any possible reasons. Is she referring to me being human or something else?

“Ah know yur hiding something! Ah can see it. Now tell me everything I need to know! Are you in danger? Are you bringing harm to this Family?” Applejack snapped, losing her patience with the young colt.

“Applejack!” The very low base voice shocked Applejack to her very core. Angry and loud, Big Mac’s voice woke Granny Smith from her nap.

“Wha- oh,” Granny Smith asked, before her eyes caught sight of Applejack. She turned to Big Mac, gulping at the sight of his expression. Thick veins pulsed visibly under Big Mac’s furry forehead, his pupils focused into pinpricks. The scowl on his face would scare even the bravest of stallions.

Applejack stood stock still. In all honestly, Applejack was afraid of her brother. In her stupor, Applejack shifted her weight to her other hooves. Taking advantage of the lessened weight, Luke pulled away from Applejack. Startled, Applejack instinctually grabbed the white bandages under her hoof. The thin material tore off Luke in his desperate stumble away from her. Luke pushed himself backwards, making sure to keep his eye on Applejack the entire time. Luke stopped when something very hard and furry pushed against his back, flinching when the object made contact with his stitches.

Granny Smith jumped to her hooves, seeing Luke panic in his mad rush away from Applejack and into Big Mac’s leg. White bandages slipped off Luke’s chest and back to litter the dark wooded floor. Granny Smith felt sadness seep into her heart. Even though Big Mac had gone over Luke’s injuries after Luke arrived. Seeing was an entirely different experience.

The raw red skin shone brightly against Luke’s coat. Four jagged cuts across his chest and the four puncture wounds into the blue fur of his gut were an eyesore to any pony. The red jagged skin looked like somepony took a page out of Dr. Frankenstein’s handbook.

“Big Mac?” Granny Smith asked, not knowing what had just transpired.

Macintosh ignored Granny Smith, instead asking, “Why?”

Applejack couldn’t help but shiver at the venom in her brother’s voice. She knew he was angry. She would be too if she had just finished doing her choirs to finding her one of her siblings holding a houseguest to the ground. “Now Macintosh…”

“Don’t you now MACINTOSH me!” Big Mac snapped. “Why were you putting your hoof on a houseguest? Better yet! Why were you holding him down to begin with?”

“I-I n-n-need to know if he was trouble,” Applejack stuttered. The icy grip of fear played at her heart.

“Let me get this straight,” Big Mac slowly stated, ever word released with great articulation to ensure he would not be misunderstood. Each word forced through his teeth with great pain. “Applejack, you could have just asked me. Instead, you decided to put pressure on a colt that has stitches across his back, chest, four broken ribs, and is running a fever just so you ask what kind of trouble he’s in?” Applejack started to make her response, but Big Mac held up his hoof. “I want to know why you didn’t ask me. I could have told you everything about you needed to know. Now tell me why.”

Applejack choked on her words before releasing them, trying to find a good excuse. “Ah wanted to make sure it was the full truth. And Ah didn’t mean to hurt him too much. I just thought he had a few stitches.”

If Big Mac could look more angered, now was the time. Big Mac’s body trembled in suppressed rage, his face growing a shade of darker red. “Ah was going to tell you today when ah had the chance. You were giving Luke the stink eye last night and ah didn’t want to cause a fight. But why, in the name of Celestia’s sugar coated tits, did you honestly think it was a good idea to question a sick pony?”

Applejack just stood in place, unable to respond. “What if he told a lie? How would we know what the truth was unless somepony asked him?” Big Mac snorted in disgust, before he could say anything however-

“I would hope you had enough faith in another pony’s ability to tell honesty.” Seven eyes turned to the open front door, Mary Sue standing calmly in the doorway.

“Who are you and what are you doing on mah farm?” Applejack snapped.

“I’m Mary Sue, Luke’s councilor. I heard raised voiced, so I decided to investigate,” Mary Sue calmly walked into the room. “I do have the right to enter any property if I believe a child under government watch is at risk. Or do I need to bring over a Royal Guard to explain the law?” When no pony responded, Mary walked over to Luke. The hippogriff sat frozen next to Big Mac’s hoof. “Are you alright Luke?” Mary asked her calm voice becoming worried. With a delicate hoof, Mary felt around Luke’s flushed face feeling the elevated temperature.

Luke deftly nodded, not trusting his own voice. Luke’s heart bashed against his chest. He had no idea what was going on. First he was asleep, and then he was abruptly woken up by pain. That would frazzle anyone’s nerves.

Mary didn’t look too satisfied, but she turned to Big Mac. The large stallion worried about what the councilor would say. “Macintosh,” Sue clearly said. Big Mac felt as if the mare was about to snap at him for allowing Luke to be harmed under his care. “I believe Luke requires a bath. Rolling on the floor without bandages isn’t the best of activities for him to partake in. If you would be so kind, could you take him into the bathroom. I would like to speak with Applejack please.”

Big Mac nodded dumbly, surprised at Mary Sue. Gently, Big Mac lifted Luke by the scruff of his neck. Silently, Big Mac and Luke moved upstairs towards the bathroom. Mary turned to Applejack when she heard the bathroom door slam behind them. “Now Applejack, let’s talk.”

Luke’s furry rump sat on the cold bathroom rug. Next to him Big Mac ran cold water into the old Victorian bathtub of white plaster. When the bath was around four inches deep, Big Mac stopped the flow of water to add some saline salt. Luke and Mac remained silent. Neither one wanted to talk about what had just transpired. With one hoof, Big Mac swirled the water in the tub.

When all of the white crystals were dissolved, Big Mac moved in front of Luke. With hooves too gentle for the giant, Big Mac slowly unwound the white gauze from Luke’s head. With each layer removed, Big Mac’s disgust grew. Mac’s stoic expression never changed, but inside he felt the hot coals of anger writhe hotter. Four deep horizontal slashed, almost half an inch wide destroyed the left side of Luke’s face. The flesh was only held together by thick black plastic. Dr. Hoarse had to remove every single feather from the top of his head to under his chin. The more horrifying part of Luke’s image was the empty socket. A black hole surrounded by black and purple bruised skin. There wasn’t even an inch of skin that didn’t look affected by the discoloration. A think horizontal cut was barely visible under the socket to the cheek, the only sign of Dr. Hoarse’s exceptional surgical skill.

To Hoarse’s credit, the cheekbones and facial structure perfectly matched the undamaged side.

Luke felt the soft gauze peel off his flesh, but something disturbed him. The left side of his vision was still black. Somewhere in the back of his head, Luke felt something close to dread grow. Looking to the left then right, Luke felt as if his eye was there and moving. The muscles still received electronic signals from the brain, giving him the illusion that his eye was still in its socket.

Big Mac gently sat Luke into the tub. That’s cold. Big Mac left the water lukewarm to drop Luke’s fever. To Luke the water felt like he was skinny dipping in the Pacific Ocean. Not that I’ve done that mind you.

Luke shivered lightly. Big Mac produced a clean wash cloth from under the bathroom sink. With great care, the pony dabbed at the cuts on Luke’s back. Silence filled the air with a tension so thick Luke could cut it with his claws.

Big Mac preferred the silence. Silence made life easier for him to work. Silence made it easier for him to handle the sadness and anger he felt. “Big Mac?”

“Eeyup?”

“Did I do something wrong?” Luke asked his voice scratchy. Luke couldn’t make sense of Applejack. She asked him questions as if he did something to earn these injuries. Applejack had focused on him for some reason. She knew I wasn’t telling the whole truth, but that doesn’t mean I did anything wrong. Right?

“No, no you didn’t do anything wrong,” Big Mac sighed, his ears pulling against his head.

“But why?”

Big Mac took a moment to think about the answer. “Applejack’s a cautious mare. She only wants to protect the family.” Luke sat silently, taking in the low voice. “Mah sister’s a stubborn mule. She will only take what she sees in front of her as fact. Being the Element of Honesty doesn’t help in that matter.” Element of Honesty? Does that mean she can tell when someone’s lying? “Applejack didn’t know about your injuries, but that don’t mean what she did was right. She’s afraid because she doesn’t know you. Word is that griffons are a violent species. Ah mean we do have a nice cook who’s a griffon, but her interactions with griffons haven’t been the best. Applejack assumed you were trouble, therefore you were bringing harm to her family.”

Luke turned to silence. Big Mac’s hoof moved to clean the cuts on his chest and arm. Luke could have protested, but he didn’t have the will to. He felt bad. He was the reason Big Macintosh was mad at Applejack. Luke couldn’t help thinking about his sister. She’s dead and here I am, being bathed like a small child.

Luke angrily brushed the itching at the corner of his right eye, telling himself there wasn’t a tear. Big Mac caught sight of this, “Don’t you worry bout nothing. Things will work out in the end. They always do.”

Luke didn’t believe him.

0 0 0

Mary Sue stood in front of Applejack, keeping her expression calm and collective. “Now Applejack, did you honestly expect I would send a potentially dangerous individual to live with you and your family?”

“Um, no.”

“Then,” Mary’s voice curt, “Why would you assume Luke is in anyway dangerous or bringing danger to you?”

“Well Ah haven’t had a chance to talk to him properly, didn’t ah?” Applejack said her voice hard. She was not going to give in to this councilor like she did with her brother. “All Ah know is that he’s hiding something. I saw it in his eye just now.”

“Did you expect anything less?”

Applejack opened her mouth, “Ah expect him to tell me the full truth. There is no way Ah will allow him to stay on this farm until Ah know full and well he’s good.”

“So you needed to see him tell you the truth?”

“Eeyup.”

“So you can’t believe the word of a health care profession who has worked for several years with children? Who has personally been trained and prepared to deal with difficult or traumatized children? Instead you believe just because you’re the Element of Honesty, you can’t rely on the words of said professional?”

When you put it like that it makes me sound like a grade A bitch. “That’s not what I meant?”

Granny Smith was about to say something to her stubborn grandchild, but Mary Sue beat her. “Then tell me, would you be fully honest with ponies you had just met if you had woken up in the hospital, covered in injuries and without all of your memories?”

“What?”

“Did you even bother to learn about Luke before you decided to talk to him?,” Mary asked coldly. “Well I’ll let you in on the whole story.” With a deep breath, Mary listed, “Broken knee joint, four broken ribs, punctured organs in the abdomen, skin lacerations that made the nurse almost faint halfway through stitching them all, an eye that was surgically removed and amnesia.” Applejack’s ears went back even farther, hurting her head. She felt the wind get knocked out of her. “Did you know that Luke isn’t actually his name? He tried so hard to remember his own name, but ended up drawing a blank. I was there when he picked the name Luke Skywalker. And while I was informing him about Ponyville, I took some time to question him.”

Mary’s eyes dropped sadly, “After he had fully woke up, he gave me more details about his attacker. A ‘monster’ as he called it with grey and brown fur, sharp claws, a long sharp tooth and big yellow eyes.”

Applejack felt shame building inside of her, “What about his family?”

“They’re dead.”

Gasp! All ponies in the room turned to the front door, the CMC standing in the doorway with wide eyes. In Applebloom’s hoof was a large piece of paper folded in half. The paper was covered with red and green glitter, leaving a sparkling trail behind her.

Granny Smith decided to handle this one. Moving over to the fillies, Granny Smith ushered them outside. “Come along girls. Applejack and the nice councilor need to be alone right now.”

When Granny Smith was out of sight, Applejack asked, “How do you know?”

“He saw their bodies,” Mary Sue voice became low. “Luke didn’t describe it, but I saw the sadness in his eyes. You can’t fake that kind of sadness. We had to stop our talk because he was getting incredibly upset. I gave Luke a lunch break to give him ample time to calm down.”

“So that mean-“

“It means Luke is all alone.”

0 0 0

A fluffy pink towel patted Luke’s head dry. Luke may have wanted to dry himself, but Big Mac’s instinct as a older brother told him no. Luke felt terrible. I’m the one who brought conflict in this household. Big Mac’s been so kind and I’ve caused him trouble. Luke’s eye turned away from the red pony in front of him, catching sight of the mirror. Sparking an idea in his sickness addled mind.

Never once had he looked at his own reflection without the band aids. Yesterday he caught a glimpse of his reflection in the hospital bathroom, but most of his face was covered in white gauze. Originally, Luke assumed he couldn’t see out of his left eye because it was covered. Now, he wasn’t so sure. What’s under those bandages?

Pushing away from Big Mac, Luke approached the sink and counter. He intended to jump on that counter to see his full reflection. Luke needed to know what those bandages were hiding. Big Mac’s large hoof landed in front of Luke, blocking his way. Luke looked up into Big Mac’s worried filled eyes. Macintosh knew what the hippogriff was thinking. And Big Mac didn’t want Luke to see the damage done to his face. That knowledge could hurt Luke in his weakened state.

“Please?”

Big Mac shook his head. “I need to know,” Luke tried a second time.

Again, Big Mac shook his head.

“I can’t see out my eye. I need to know what happened! I can’t bear not knowing what is wrong with my own body. Without the bandages, I should be able to see, but I can’t! Why can’t I see, Big Mac?” Luke nearly pleaded. Too much had gone wrong today and Luke didn’t want to deal with having this over his head.

Big Mac couldn’t look away from Luke’s amber eye and black socket. With much reservation, Big Mac lifted Luke onto the counter.

There, Luke would find horror. The childlike feathered right side was the same as before. But that was a face. The left side looked like he had been mauled by Freddy Krueger. A close second if you ask me. Luke wanted to throw up. His esophagus clenched, trying to bring up anything of substance left in his stomach. This was not his face or a hippogriff’s face. This is the face of a victim, a boy who had suffered at the hands of a monster.

Big Mac wrapped a foreleg around Luke. The hippogriff’s good eye watering as the gravity of the situation hit him. This was more than just a face. This was the face he may be wearing for the rest of his natural life. Luke turned to Big Mac, “My eye’s gone.”

Luke shuttered at the thought. Too much was being piled onto him. Applejack and now this was not doing any favors for Luke’s psyche. Emotions flooded his system. Not just pain, but sadness at the reality. Big Mac pulled Luke into his chest, taking care not to push on Luke’s injuries.

Luke wrapped his legs around Big Mac’s barrel. He didn’t care how childish he was looking. A small child hugging a grown stallion while crying on the bathroom floor. Luke had no control over this. This child’s body had not developed blockers for this kind of burden. No way to prepare for this kind of world to exist. “Why?” Luke screamed into Big Mac’s red coat, tears dotting the fur.

Mary Sue and Applejack looked up, hearing Luke’s muffle cries. For the first time, Luke had time to think about his situation without interruption or fear for his life.

“There, there. You’re going to be fine.”

“It’s not fine!” Luke snapped, looking up into Big Mac’s muzzle. “I’m alive and my sister’s dead. I get to live while she doesn’t. That is not alright! I have to live with this face while she rots in the earth!”

Big Mac didn’t have anything to say at this. He knew Luke wasn’t himself. Luke was talking out of anger, pain and sadness. For the first time, Luke was able to experience the soul crushing realization that he survived. The cold pit pulsing in Luke’s stomach was acknowledgment in the fact that he was the only one to make it out alive.

Mary Sue slid the bathroom door open, popping her head inside. She looked at the bizarre scene of Big Mac sitting on the cold floor holding a weeping Luke. Big Mac shook his head, telling Mary without words that now was not the time.

Half an hour later, Luke passed out. His body didn’t have the resources to stay conscious. Having no food in the stomach and fighting a fever at the same time took it out of Luke.

With a heavy heart, Big Mac carefully wrapped Luke in a fresh set of bandages. Mary waited patiently outside the bathroom. Applejack stood next to her. No one spoke a single word until Big Mac opened the door with Luke carefully placed on his back.

“Is he alright?” Mary asked, beating Applejack to the punch.

“He’s shaken up,” Big Mac said moving towards his room. “The shock of today really took it out of him.” The pony stopped, turning to look at Mary. “Luke said he lives while his sister died. Ah think we need to keep a close eye on him. Ah don’t want him thinking the wrong ideas.”

Mary nodded in agreement, following Big Mac to his room. Only Big Mac entered, the others thinking it was best not to crowd him. Big Mac gently laid the clean Luke on the mattress. Luke’s feathered head rested on the pillow.

Big Mac felt the uncontrolled impulse to do something for Luke, to give Luke some form of comfort. But how could he give something to a pony that had these kinds of wounds? These kinds of scar would run deep, deeper than the flesh. Big Mac’s eyes caught sight of something.

Ah may not be able to give you much, but Ah hope this helps a little. Big Mac lifted one of Luke’s talons, sliding his beloved Mr. Smarty Pants for the hippogriff to hug. Luke wrapped around his arms around the doll. The subconscious reached out in a desperate attempt to hold onto something. “This here is Mr. Smarty Pants. He’ll be here for you whenever you need it.”

With that Big Mac left the room, finding the two silent mares looking on him with sad eyes. Big Mac led them downstairs and out the house. Rainbow Dash sat on the porch, wide awake and wearing a worried looked. When Big Mac stopped, Applejack tried to say, “Big Mac, Ah-“

“Applejack.”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t do that again,” Big Mac said in a very distant voice. He wasn’t mad anymore, just disappointed in his sister. He didn’t need to give her a long lecture from the way her ears were positioned and her constant shifting from one hoof to the next.

Applejack nodded silently, not trusting her mouth at this time. When Big Mac was ready to talk, Mary Sue asked him a couple of questions. Mainly focused on how he and the rest of the Apples where doing with Luke’s presence.

Big Mac answered them, assuring her Granny Smith and Applebloom were fine with Luke. Mary seemed convinced when Big Mac assured her this kind of situation would never happen again. The look of determination on his face would convince Iron Will there was no stopping the farmpony.

“Applejack,” Big Mac turned to his sister. Applejack flinched, expecting Big Mac to strike her. “You owe somepony a big apology.” Applejack nodded, turning her eyes towards the ground.

Finally satisfied, Mary made her leave with a quick farewell. Big Mac decided to take a walk through the orchard to clear his head. Granny Smith was wide awake and inside the house with the CMC. They would be able to hold down the fort in his absence.

Applejack dragged her hooves to sit next to Rainbow Dash. The cyan mare only caught part of the conversation inside, but she knew her friend wasn’t happy. In a comforting move, Rainbow Dash patted Applejack’s shoulder, “Things will turn out fine, AJ. You goofed up, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make it right later.”

Applejack nodded. If she was paying attention, she would have noticed the irony of Rainbow Dash acting in the role of the sensible pony.

Inside Big Mac’s room, a set of invisible claws slowly pulled the thin red sheets over Luke’s chest, taking extra time to tuck them along the side.

Heavy Heart

Time Lost

Ch. 5: Heavy Heart

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to anything MLP. All made-up character are mine.

Applebloom, Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo silently marched down the old dusty road towards Ponyville.

An air of gloom fell over the farm. Applejack performed any choir her mind could think of. Granny Smith went back to her stitching. Big Macintosh decided pull out the Calculus book. Life could be so complex at times. Why couldn’t life be like a math problem? All you had to do was move from one step to the next with a defined solution. No craziness or outside numerable to account for. It’s a lot easier this way.

The three fillies hung their heads in despair. The gloom continued to fallow them into town. Applebloom felt the lowest of the three, her bow dropping along with her ears.

“What do you two want to do?” Sweetie Bell asked, her voice faltering slightly.

“I dunno,” Scootaloo answered.

Silence fell. The only sound accompanying the three was the grinding of dirt beneath their hooves. Puffs of dust billowed behind them. Deep in thought, the CMC entered the hustle and bustle of Ponyville. Ponies went about their daily lives without any concern of the three fillies.

Sweetie Bell looked up, her eyes widening as her gaze wondered over Ponyville’s newest building. A castle of blue crystal and purple walls, standing high above the thatched tiles that was common among the common residence’s roof. “Hey, I have an idea!” Sweetie Bell announced.

“What?”

“Why don’t we visit Twilight? Twilight should know about hippogriffs. Maybe she can help us find something to make Luke feel better.” Applebloom and Scootaloo raised their eyebrows in question. “Girls, its Twilight. She’s the smartest pony we know. Even if she can’t help us make Luke physically better, she can help us by making Luke happier. You know? Use some of Luke’s cultural heritage to take his mind off of things for a little while. Or at least, give us some ideas of what to do.”

Applebloom and Scootaloo hummed, their brows knitted in deep thought.

“It’s worth a shot,” Scootaloo shrugged indifferently.

With a goal in mind, the three fillies raced down the dirt road weaving in and between the casual ponyfolk. Many jumped out of the fillies’ way. Some hid in terror. All felt a chill creep down their spines. The Crusaders of the Apocalypse were running loose, wearing looks of great determination. There was a reason for fear.

Twilight worked diligently in the castle’s library, her purple aura covering the brand new tombs commemorating the crystal shelves. Her day had been pleasant so far. Twilight quivered in anticipation at the thought of finally filling the crystal shelves of her castle. Lifting a worn brown leather tomb titled ‘A History of Equestria.’ The book felt heavier than normal. Memories of her tree house filled the princess’s head. Twilight took a moment to remember her lost home, sighing. She could still feel the steps of the worn wood. The comfort of a warm light streaming through the open window as she casually read a new book.

“You alright Twilight?”

Twilight turned to her Number One Assistance, “Yes Spike, I’m fine.” The purple dragon peered around the corner, looking at her with concerned green eyes.

Before Spike could further question Twilight, a loud bang filled the castle followed shortly by the yell of three fillies. “Princess Twilight!” The shelves vibrated violently under the strain of the three fillies.

“Oh no,” Spike’s eyes turned to the closest shelf. Every book fell from their new home, littering the once pristine clean floors. Ten bits says Twilight wants me to clean this up.

Sweetie Bell, Scootaloo and Applebloom burst into the library. Twilight turned to the three, smiling at them. “And what are you three up to today?”

“We wanted to ask you something,” Applebloom said.

“Do you know anything about hippogriffs?” Scootaloo asked.

“Wait what?”

“Hippogriff? Ever heard of them?” Scootaloo asked.

“Are you making up words again?” Twilight asked, raising a concerned eyebrow.

“Why would you say that?” Scootaloo responded with some offense.

“Do I need to remind you of raiwesome?” Twilight said with a shudder. The word felt like poison as it left her tongue.

Scootaloo cringed, “I just wanted to describe how awesome Rainbow Dash was. Was that so wrong?”

“Scootaloo,” Twilight rubbed her head, “There’s describing how great a pony is. Then there are crimes against language. We’ve already had the Ultimate Warrior and all his destrucity. We don’t need a second one.”

“But it’s true Twilight,” Sweetie Bell inserted. “There’s a hippogriff staying with her family.”

“Hmmm,” Twilight hummed. “Spike, could you pass me ‘Strange and Unusual Creatures, ‘A History of the World’s Continents and Their People’ and ‘Ponies, Griffons, and Dragons. Oh my!’?”

Spike turned to the pile of books, “Couldn’t you just magic them out? They’re kinda buried under a pile of books.”

“Oh right,” Twilight muttered. With a glow of her horn, the three books flew from the pile to hand in front of Twilight. Twilight skimmed through each tome. Sweetie Bell, Scootaloo and Applebloom waited as patiently as they could for Twilight to finish. When she found nothing, Twilight turned to the fillies, “I can’t find anything on hippogriffs. What are they exactly?”

“Luke’s top half is an eagle and the back half is a pony,” Sweetie Bell summarized.

“Th-th-that shouldn’t be possible,” Twilight rubbed her chin in deep thought. “That sounds like a griffon and pony hybrid. But griffon’s and ponies can’t have kids. Both set of genetics can’t cohesively match to create a child. There’s never been any written documentation on a griffon/pony hybrid. They just can’t exist.”

“But Luke exists,” Applebloom said. “He’s asleep at my house right now.”

“Are you sure he’s not just a griffon?”

“You mean hippogriff,” Scootaloo said.

“Yeah that.”

“Of course,” Applebloom stated, “We had dinner with him last night. Then he got sick and was throwing up the entire night. I’m pretty sure he exists.”

“I don’t know, remember Cutie Mark Crusaders Imaginary Friends,” Twilight said, watching the three for any signs of falsehood.

The three cute faces turned bright red. “It wasn’t that bad of an idea,” Sweetie Bell mumbled under her breath.

“Girls, you drove a pony to jump out a window just to get away from you after you kept pestering him for two days straight about the giant imaginary friend that told you to kill the innocent in the name of the Old Gods,” Twilight said. She felt bad for pointing out the three fillies faults, but someone had to knock some sense into them. The three girls looked up at the older pony with wide sad eyes. The cuteness scale escalated to a full ten, tearing at Twilight’s heart. “Sorry girls,” Twilight said in defeat.

Taking a moment to think, Twilight finally asked, “Do you think I can meet with this Luke?” Her mind started to run a hundred ideas at the same time. Sure the three fillies could be wrong, but, BUT, if they were right. Twilight may have the opportunity to discover a new sub-species never heard of in Equestria. The knowledge she could learn, the books she could write. All it would cost her was a quick trip to Sweet Apple Acres.

“Um, I don’t think so. He’s really sick,” Applebloom said.

“Oh,” Twilight’s ears drooped. Drat!

Sweetie Bell hung her head, “I guess we can try something else girls.”

“Now wait girls,” Twilight stopped the three from turning around, “How about you tell me what you three want to accomplish and I’ll see what I can help with?”

Sweetie Bell, Scootaloo and Applebloom smiled widely, thankful for Twilight’s guidance.

“Oh Spike,” Twilight said, catching herself before she left the room, “could you pick up those books for me.”

Told you.

0 0 0

“Hi Big Mac,” Applebloom yelled, bursting through the kitchen door. The shrill call sounded louder than ever inside the quite house.

Big Mac’s head spun to the sudden onslaught of noise, giving himself a severe case of whiplash. When he caught sight of Princess Twilight and the fillies walking through the doorway, Big Mac nearly choked on his own tongue. The large pony threw himself into a hasty bow, “Howdy there Princess Twilight.” From his low proximity to the floor, Big Mac looked up to Twilight wearing some very full saddle bags. The violet material appeared ready to explode with scrolls and writing supplies. Twilight even managed to pack two books for Luke to read. In case if he gets bored.

Twilight blushed, still unable to get use to this kind of reaction. “Please Big Mac, you don’t need to bow to me.”

“A-alright,” Big Mac stuttered. Standing up, Big Mac asked, “Is there anything Ah can help you with?”

“Well,” Twilight asked shyly, “I was wondering if I could meet Luke when he gets up?”

“May ah ask why?” Big Mac asked hesitantly.

“I just want to meet him, ask some questions, and maybe take a few samples-“

“What samples?” Big Mac cut in.

“Nothing,” Twilight caught herself, trying to hide her true intentions behind a pretty smile. Her white teeth sparkled in the evening light.

“I’m sorry Twilight, but ah don’t think now’s the right time,” Big Mac said.

Twilight’s ears drooped, “Awwww. But why?”

“Ah’m assuming Applebloom and her friends told you Luke’s sick?” Big Mac responded, his voice full of suspicion.

“Yes,” Twilight answered. “I thought a little company would make him feel better. Maybe a book or two may be good for a young colt his age. When I was sick, my dad would always read me my favorite story. You know, the one about the Charlie, the steam engine that had to deliver supplies to the people of the frozen north during the Great Winter. I thought it would be good to keep him busy.”

Big Mac’s jaw worked, the red farmer thinking deeply. Twilight did make a very good point, but still. “Ah suppose that’s fine, but as long as he’s up to it. Today hasn’t been an easy day for anypony.”

Twilight felt so happy. She wanted to jump into the air with joy and release a cry of victory. Today she may get the chance to see an entirely new subspecies, a griffon and a pony hybrid. Big Mac watched Twilight’s smile grow. He may have his reservations about this, but Twilight expression got so darn cute when she was excited.

All smiles faded when a high pitched, and totally not girly, scream cut through the happy mood.

0 0 0

A silent hallway of unyielding grey walls breached the silent black void of Luke’s dreams. The hippogriff slowly moved forward, limping with his broken leg. Yeah, well screw you dream! I didn’t want to run anyway! The soft tapping and scrapping of talons echoed harshly among the halls. The hallway turned left with Luke following the cold green tile. I don’t think I’m suppose to feel cold in a dream. Unless some a-hole stole my blankets again. No you can’t have them! They’re mine! Mine!

A glass sliding door stood at the end of the hall. Luke felt a twinge of uneasiness in his chest. The absolute silence of this dream and the fogged glass prevented him from looking further ahead put him on edge. Seriously? Where are the tunes? Let’s get some AC/DC up in this place.

Luke took a tentative step forward.

Nothing happened.

The feathers on the back of Luke’s neck rose higher. A cold breeze rolling through this hallow hall. Getting creeped out.

Luke moved forward another step, his ears straining to hear anything besides the scrapping of his own talons.

On the third step, he caught something. It was so soft, Luke could barely hear it. Moving forward, the sound grew louder. It sounded like the drip drop of a leaking faucet. Turning around, Luke sought to turn back and leave this dreary dream. Luke groaned loudly. In front of him was a single, grey wall blocking his path. This dream sucks! Can I get some strippers in here? I’ve been a really good boy today and I think I deserve some sexy fun time. Come on, what do you say?

When Luke’s subconscious gave no response, the young hippogriff turned to the door. Gulping, Luke continued forward. With each step, the dripping grew louder. With each step, Luke flinched at the sound. From gentle and soft, the sound increased to the level of cracking gunshots. The hallway echoed the sound, causing it to echo in on itself creating a choir of endless noise. Luke held his hands to his ears. Nothing Luke did could drown out the constant pain his ears were experiencing. He even went so far as to slam his head repeatedly against the wall, screaming at the top of his lungs to drown out the noise.

Make it stop! For the love of God! Make it stop!

Silence returned leaving Luke’s head pounding and his ears ringing. Tears burned in Luke’s eye. His head hurt so much, it felt like his skull was about to split in two.

Why am I in pain?

Luke’s rational side stepped in, claiming it was the sickness bleeding into this dream. Lifting his head, Luke continued to trudge toward the door. The only way this dream would end was to go through it. Luke approached the door, the air becoming heavy with the stale scent of iron and copper.

Luke stood in front of the door. Raising a hand, Luke gently touched the cold hard glass.

The reaction was instantaneous. A loud rumbling emitted from behind the glass. A riptide of red liquid splashed against the glass structure. The flood proceeded to shatter the glass door. Oh, crap baskets.

With a shrill shriek, Luke was carried away in the rush of rustic liquid. Something heavy crashed into Luke, crushing him under its immense bulk. Bubbles poured from Luke’s open beak, his mouth filling with the familiar taste. The taste of blood. The sudden flood soon dissipated. Luke was left pinned under the large object.

Luke squirmed under the heavy weight, trying desperately to free himself from his burden. Wiggly to the side, Luke slid out with a sickening squelch. Pushing himself away from the object, Luke gasped for breath looking over his body. I-I-I shouldn’t be feeling this. Thick red blood stuck bleach Luke’s feathers and coat a dark red.. Dark clots began to form on his fur and feathers to create thick slimy mats.

A loud wet squelching interrupted Luke’s inner thoughts. Looking over to the object, Luke’s eyes widened with horror. “No no no. That’s not possible.”

Pulling itself towards the hippogriff, Luke faced his former human body. The face was wrong. His once brown hair was now a filthy scarlet. The round cheeks had become sharp along with his chin. The destroyed flesh of the left side of the face was still left open to the air, revealing a grinning skull underneath. The eye was different. A yellow and red iris looked at Luke with what could only be described as pure, undiluted hatred. The former uniformed was torn with the human skin to reveal a grotesque skeleton. Bleach white bone stood in contrast against the destroyed muscle. Luke could see the muscles move. The tendons and fibers tighten and flex as the abomination pulled itself towards Luke. The thing before him wheezed as it drew breath, sounding like the breath of a dying man. The air became filled with Luke’s increased breathing and the thing’s death rattle.

Luke wanted to move, but this dream would not allow him. Luke was held hostage by this disturbing reflection of his former self. The thing looked unnatural and wrong in every sense of the word.

The thing reached for Luke, wrapping its hand around his small neck. Luke felt the pressure against his windpipe. Luke grabbed the wrist, his talons sinking into the unprotected flesh. But the human hand would not yield. Slowly, ever so slowly, the pressure increased around Luke’s throat.

“You forgot about them.”

Luke looked into that mad, insane face. The human face smiled with satanic delight. The eyes flashed with malicious intent.

“They were your friends, your family, your brothers and sisters. And you forgot about them!”

Luke gurgled something, unable to form any words. That warped face Luke once wore, moved closer to him. It only stopped an inch from his beak. “That’s all right,” the thing said. Its voice sounded like the screeching of the souls of the damned calling from the lowest level of hell. “You aren’t alone. From now on, you’ll never be alone.”

Luke could feel the iron grip closing around his wind pipe. His lungs burned for air. This isn’t right! This shouldn’t be possible! It’s just a dream! It’s just a dream! The abomination lowered himself to Luke’s ear hole, whispering, “Because, he’s in here with Us.”

Luke awoke screaming. Tossing the sheets aside, Luke’s hands went straight for his throat, making sure nothing was wrapped around it. Luke could still feel the force of those fingers wrapped around his windpipe. It was so real. Sweat drenched the hippogriff’s feathers and fur, his breath ragged. That was too real.

Luke didn’t hear the loud stampede proceeding up the stairs. All he was focused on was the dwindling details of that dream. Details slowly faded from his mind, as if he was trying to hold water between his two palms. As the details faded, one thing remained. The words from his dream specter repeated themselves over and over.

Big Mac burst through the door to find Luke trembling, still rubbing his sore throat. Big Mac moved close to Luke. The hippogriff showed no signs of noticing Big Mac. Big Mac gently draped his arm over Luke’s shoulders.

Luke flinched, looking towards the red pony. Big Mac offered Luke a comforting smile. Taking a deep breath, Luke tried to calm down. Pushing the uneasy feeling aside, Luke managed to calm down his racing mind and simply decided to call the dream just a demented dream. Luke’s body was a completely different situation.

Luke’s limbs continued to tremble due to low body sugar. A black hole occupied his stomach, threatening to succeed from Luke and become its own nation of ‘Stomachland.’ (Name still pending copyright approval)

Luke rubbed his head, I think I need to see a shrink. Luke’s stomach grumbled loudly. I hear you already! I’m getting up! Stop your belly aching!

Big Mac finally broke the silence after hearing the call of the beast, “Want some food?”

Luke nodded, elated at the thought of getting some grub. He felt so tired and hungry. I thought sleep was suppose to solve one of those problems. But something caught his eye, a purple pony staring at him with wide eyes.

Twilight’s jaw hung slack. She didn’t believe it: the Cutie Mark Crusaders where right. Hippogriffs do exist. Right in front of her was the first griffon and pony hybrid. Questions flew through her mind: Who was he? What was he? How did he get here? Where did he come from? Too many questions passed through her head.

“Hi.”

Twilight switched from her mental ramblings, “Hi there.” Twilight smiled widely, almost showing all of her teeth.

What the hell is wrong with her face?

After getting his daily dose of creepy pony smiles, Big Mac carried Luke downstairs. Wheeeeee! Twilight followed closely, almost vibrating with excitement. Luckily, Big Mac’s presence caused her to show some restraint.

What caught Luke off guard was her horn and wings. Why have both? Did a Pegasus bang a unicorn? Luke scrunched his eye closed. EWWWWWW! Ew! Ew!

Big Mac gently placed Luke in an empty seat before starting warming up a nice bowl of soup for him. The sun moved lower, telling Luke the day had reached the afternoon. How long was I asleep? Cause I could use another nap.

Granny Smith entered the room, slowly moving to start making dinner for the rest of the family. “Howdy there squirt,” Granny Smith said with a smile and a quick ruffle of his feathered head.

Luke tried to smile. The right side of Luke’s mouth raised slightly, “Hi Granny Smith.”

Twilight took a seat across from Luke, eyeing Big Mac’s back as he worked. “So Luke,” Twilight began, “I was wondering if I could ask you some questions?”

Luke groaned in irritation. What is wrong with these ponies? All they want is to ask questions! What if I don’t want to answer any more questions? You know what, f*** it. I’m gonna screw with people, starting with you purple pony.

“Fine. But first, who are you?”

“I’m Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship,” Twilight said warmly. Twilight expected some reaction, but to her surprise Luke just stared at her blankly.

Oh. Am I suppose to do something?

Luke blinked slowly, That’s the best you’re going to get sweetheart.

“To start, where did you come from?” Twilight asked. Her horn glowed brightly, brining out a quill and parchment in her purple aura. The look on her face was that of a small child at Christmas. Only a cruel and heartless man would screw with this happiness.

Let’s do it.

“Well,” Luke began, “When a mommy and daddy love each other very much, daddy told mommy that he wants to show her something really important. Daddy then opened his zipper-“

“No-no-no-no!” Twilight panicked, waving her hooves frantically to stop Luke.

“But I was getting to the best part,” Luke pretended to look confused at Twilight’s response. “Mommy threw daddy against the wall. Daddy ripped off mommy’s bra and-“

“I didn’t mean that! I meant what was your home like? What land did you come from?”

“Oh,” Luke’s face revealed false enlightenment on Twilight’s distress. Big Mac chuckled darkly, not for a single moment believing the small child didn’t understand what Twilight was talking about. “Don’t know.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. As she began to retort, Big Mac interrupted their conversation. If you can call it that. “Now-now princess, let’s not get carried away.” I think we passed that line a loooooong time ago. Just ask Applejack.

“But Big Mac-“

“No buts,” Big Mac said. “Ah already told you Twilight, Luke isn’t well. He’s already had to contend with Applejack and ah don’t want to have another argument in this household.”

Twilight closed her mouth. Her voice dying in her throat at the sight of Luke’s eye wondering off. He wobbled slightly, caught with a bought of lightheadedness. Grasping the table, the world spun before him. A gentle hoof steady Luke’s tipping shoulders. Luke’s eye became unfocused. Turning towards the owner of the hoof, Luke was shocked to find a blury Applejack offering him the warmest smile she could muster.

“It’s alright partner.” Applejack pulled up a chair next to Luke. Luke gave her a wary gaze. His head screamed ‘It’s a trap!’ Without the energy to make a quick getaway, Luke resigned to silence.

If I try and keep my fat mouth shut around her, I think I’ll be ok.

Big Mac turned around, his stoic expression never changing as he brought Luke a steaming bowel of tomato soup. Luke’s mouth watered at the enticing smell of stewed tomatoes and basil. Luke’s stomach released an unholy growl. The organ sought to consume the innocent red liquid before him. That’s kinda twisted. Placing the bowl in front of Luke, Big Mac offered him a single spoon. Taking the utensil in his trembling hand, Luke slowly brought the spoon into the soup. Oh this looks delicious. Luke’s limbs refused to hold still, the symptoms of malnutrition rearing their ugly head. The red juices fell from the shaking utensil. Come on Luke. You can do this! This is all you man. Let nothing stop you! Now get that soup in my belly! Luke tried again, dipping the metal spoon into the tomato soup.

Granny Smith worked on preparing dinner for the rest of the Apples. “So Princess, will ya be joining us for dinner?”

Luke gently brought the metal spoon towards his mouth. Gentle. Gentle. The spoon got closer and closer to his awaiting beak. Almost. Son of a-! Luke’s trembling hand accidentally dropped the spoon with a loud clatter.

“Thank you, but I’ll be heading home for dinner. Spike’s making his famous five layer macaroni and cheese tonight.” Twilight’s eyes drifted into a dream like state. Her mouth salivated heavily, causing drool to drop from the sides of her open mouth.

Luke picked up the spoon gingerly in his right hand, Come on you beaked bastard! This shouldn't be that hard! Luke’s hand slowly rose to his beak, Yes? Yes? Yes! Luke finally felt the filly homemade soup enter his mouth. The flavors were perfect. The right amount of salt, basil mixed perfectly with the tomatoes natural flavor. Let it be announced from heaven on high, from the highest mountain to the lowest valley. Let all those who live under the sun know of the gods have blessed them. For in this soup is truly the divine light of enlightenment My eyes can’t but weep at the majesty filling my mouth.

Slightly disappointed, Twilight stood up to leave, “Well I’ll take my leave. Thanks for allowing me some of you time Luke. Have a good night everypony and I’ll see you later Applejack.” Twilight disappeared in flashed of purple light, blinding everyone in the room. Was that really necessary?

After the sudden departure of Twilight Sparkle, Applebloom said goodbye to her friends. Dinner was set and everyone began to eat with gusto. Luke didn't notice when Rainbow Dash entered the room. She was talking about some cool new flying stunt that sounded awesome, but I lost track of the conversation. Applejack was unusually quiet for this meal, instead taking a leaf from Big Mac’s book. Her green eyes scanned all of the ponies and hippogriff present. Looking over the overexcited face of Applebloom, to Granny Smith’s toothy grin and finally resting on Big Mac. The big red pony gently helped Luke steady his trembling hands.

Applejack’s felt the tug of two opposing emotions; guilt and heartwarming pride. The gentle giant saw what she didn’t. She didn’t see beyond her own speculations, to find the hurt hippogriff struggling with his own problems.

“Aw,” Luke sighed in content. After two bowls of soup, the black hole had been defeated in gloriously delicious food combat. Am I still on the drugs? Cause that sentence sounds weird.

Granny Smith and Applejack cleaned the dishes, leaving Big Mac to take Luke into the living room with Applebloom. Applebloom bounced up and down, “Big Mac! Can we play a board game?! It’s not mah bed time yet.” Does she ever run out of energy?

With so much energy being displayed, Luke felt even more tired. His stomach was full and he felt comfortable lying here on the wooden floor. Releasing a wide yawn, Luke watched Applebloom continue to bounce in the center of the room while Big Mac checked on the other mares to see if they needed any help with the dishes.

“What kinda game do ya want to play?”

“How about Chutes and Ladders?”

Big Mac chuckled, his green eyes flashing with amusement. Big Mac pulled the board game from the book shelf. The lowest shelf held all manner of colorful boxes. Big Mac carried the cardboard box in his mouth over to Applebloom. Doesn't that taste nasty?

Big Mac gently lay down next to Luke, placing the board game between him and Applebloom. “Alright Applebloom, do you want to start first?”

Applebloom cheered before choosing the yellow piece. Luke laid his head against Big Mac’s side. The farmer’s fur was surprisingly soft. Luke’s eye fluttered. A full stomach and warm pillow drew him closer to slumber-land. No, no. I’m am not a kid. I’m gonna stay up late. I am not going to miss anything el-

“Zzzzzzz”

Granny Smith, Rainbow Dash and Applejack appeared. All eyes softened at the sight of Big Mac enjoying a game with his sister and the sleeping form of Luke next to his side. Who would have guessed a pony’s fur is this soft?

“Having fun there kids?” Granny Smith asked.

Big Mac nodded, looking down at Luke. The older brother chuckled at the tiny form next to him sound asleep. Applejack use to sleep next to him in the same way. The orange filly was about Luke’s size. His feathers gently tickled Big Mac’s large side. Maybe not as cute as AJ, but still pretty adorable.

Luke snorted in annoyance. I feel a disturbance in the air. Someone is questioning my masculinity. I must avenge my lost masculinity and destroy all those who question it. I’ll get to it right after my nap. Maybe I’ll get a big truck. Yeah that’s it, a big truck! Then I’ll lift it high above the ground to prove my manly manliness. Wait… Wouldn’t that be seen as compensating for something? Never mind! I don’t want a big truck. Stop judging me!

The living room remained in a state of calm peace when Granny Smith decided to call it an early night. The atmosphere was nice. No insanity. No craziness. There was just peaceful, relaxing company among family. Until Rainbow Dash got bored and fell asleep on the couch, her snoring so loud Luke’s head shot up thinking there was a furious bear trying to eat him.

Not the worst dream I’ve had. Will that one time at band camp ever fade away? OMG. I just remembered something. Yeah!

Looking over to the source of the noise, Luke sighed. Luke asked Applejack, “Is she always like this?”

“Sure is,” Applejack chuckled, “makes me grateful for ear plugs. You should have seen her when we went camping. Now that was painful.”

“Hmm,” Luke hummed with a small amount of amusement.

“Oh that reminds me,” Big Mac said with a start. Looking into Luke’s eye, he said, “Ah talked to the councilor today and we decided to sign you into school as soon as possible.”

Son of a-

“Ah’ll be taking you over to the school house to take a placement test when yur up to it,” Big Mac continued, ignoring the look of pure horror on Luke’s face. “After Cherilee finds the right placement for ya, you can start taking classes.”

Taking a moment to breath, Luke answered, “Okay.” Let’s not fight this. It was bound to happen eventually. An eight year old has to go to school and learn some stuff. I’ll just have to try and not be bored out of my mind for the next couple of years if my schooling is anything to go off of. Luke scratched his head for a moment, Since I went to college, I might be able to place higher in school. (Gasp) I may be able to cut my time in half! I just really need to do good on this test and I can start at a later level.

With a plan in mind, Luke watched the festivities with a faltering smile. They looked so happy. All the ponies were enjoying their time together without any worry. The happy faces left Luke feeling sad. Loneliness crept into him. The missing faces of his family. He couldn't recall his mother's smile. The image in his head blurred, leaving Luke with an empty feeling in his chest.

Big Mac looked down in concern at Luke. The young hippogriff shivered, his skin crawling as these unwelcomed feelings poisoned the warm atmosphere. In order to not interrupt the Apple family’s joy, Luke settled into silence.

Calling it an early night, Big Mac lifted Luke onto his bed once again. The only difficulty was trying to wake Rainbow Dash from her impromptu nap. Applejack decided to use the highly effective Apple “Yea-ha!”

My ears hurt.

Big Mac gently laid Luke on the same section of the giant mattress. Big Mac settled down on his side, tired from today’s emotional turbulence.

Luke remained awake, unable to shake the uneasiness he felt. Luke turned to his right, catching sight of Big Mac’s broad back. The farmer closed his eyes, ready for this day to end and a goodnight’s sleep. Luke sat alone in the dark.

Luke wanted to say something and tell these ponies who he really was. But they wouldn’t understand. They may fear him or think him insane.

That’s not an option.

Luke continued to think, his options dim. Without money or adult stature, there was nowhere to go and nothing to support himself with. I guess it couldn’t hurt to be an Apple. While with its bumps and rough edges, they were nice. Not perfect, but they could be worse. I think I just tempted the universe to screw me over.

Luke looked over to Big Mac. It was strange having the situation reversed. Big Mac acted like an older brother and Luke was the older brother in his family. Maybe, just maybe, Luke could look to Big Mac as an older brother.

Luke gently slid himself across the mattress.

Big Mac’s lips lifted slightly, Luke small arms wrapping around his neck. Luke wanted something comforting to hug. Big Mac was nice and kind, but he was really, really, really big. It’s just like a giant teddy bears and in no way homo. I know this may seem like it, but no. No. Stop it. Get your mind out of the gutter.

Who are you talking to?

Um… I don’t know.

Then why are you talking.

I’ve got a better question. Who are you?

I’m you.

Me who?

You.

Then why am I talking to myself? That’s kinda weird.

Hm, good point.

…

I’m gonna hang up now.

Sounds good man.

Night.

Discord hovered silently near the roof. Throughout the day, the draconequus made a few pit stops to the Apple Farm to check up on things. Luke appeared comically small when placed next to the sheer size of Big Mac. Pulling out a camera from the thin air, Discord smiled evilly. He looks so cute. I’m sure he won’t mind if I save this for later. Maybe in his teen years. Ooh, maybe he’ll have a marefriend I can show it to. I can imagine his face now. Discord turned to face the audience, “What? I may be reformed, but that doesn’t mean I can’t have a little fun here and there.”

With a silent chuckle, Discord took the picture. The white flash caused Big Mac and Luke to jump out of bed.

Applejack groaned, loud banging emitting from the wood floor. Luke yelled, “Whoever did that, THAT is not cool man. Not cool!”

0 0 0

The following days passed with relative calm. No arguments, fights or injuries occurred. Still no evidence on who the mysterious photographer was. The Apple farm was a warm and inviting home with the added bonus of the nights becoming far quieter with the departure of a certain rainbow manned Pegasus.

There was only one, teeny-tiny, little problem.

I’m bored out of my F#####G mind!

Luke spent these last few days recovering his strength with very little options in entertainment. No one allowed him to perform any chores to keep his mind off his aching joints. Luke had already read through Twilight’s children book and another titled ‘Daring Do.’ I think George Lucas is gonna sue somebody. The Apples had very little reading material on their bookshelf. I mean seriously. How many books do you need on farming? The carpentry books would be fun, but no one will allow me near the power tools.

To pass the boredom, Luke tried to be creative. He tried drawing. I don’t think Applebloom liked my stick figures. But still, I'm like the only human here. This is alien artwork! My sh** should be in a museum for all to marvel in its greatness.

Which leaves us to today, Friday. The day Big Mac's suppose to take me to see a Miss Cherillee for my placement test.

Luke sat silently at the kitchen table, a large book splayed open to his left. Luke's head was bent over a once pristine piece of white paper, now covered in numbers and figures in a rainbow of colors. I couldn't find a pencil alright! A closer inspection the book revealed it to be Big Mac’s Calculus book. Luke just so happened to stumble across it while counting all of the wooden boards in the house for the third time.

I hope you’re happy Equestria. I'm literally doing college math for fun. You have finally broken me! There is nothing for me to do but math. I could handle the magic and talking ponies, BUT this just too much.

This is just twisted.

Who does that? Who actually uses what they learned in college in real life? That's just crazy!

I curse you Equestria! I curse you and your sugarcoated land of sunshine and rainbows! May the mighty Cuthulu rain blood and destruction upon-

"What cha doing?"

Luke's head snapped up to find Big Mac looking over his shoulder at the colorful paper. "Just working on some math," Luke replied with a sweet smile. And calling the wrath of the Anci Onts to deliver bloody vengeance. You know, nothing major.

Big Mac's brow furrowed as his green eyes scanned Luke's handiwork. Luke watched Big Mac’s solemn face became confused then surprised. Luke's answers were right. The work may be haphazardly sprawled across the once pristine white paper, but the work was right. The paper was quite colorful, except for pink. Cause there is no way Luke Skywalker is going to use pink.

Moving his focus away from the paper, Big Mac asked Luke, "Ready to go?"

Luke nodded, closing the book and gathering all the crayons that littered the kitchen table.

Big Mac and Luke left the farm to a bright and glorious day. Luke's eye focused on the surroundings from atop Big Mac's back. There was nothing new to see, but the walk was pleasant.

The schoolhouse was less than ideal in Luke's humble opinion. It was a large single room wooden structure with red walls and white trimmings.

I think I got sent back in time. I pretty sure my grandma might have gone to school here.

To greet Luke and Big Mac was a mare that was too happy with her job. Her deep violet fur and pink mane shimmering in the evening sun's light streaming through the wide windows. Miss Cherrilee flashed a kind and happy smile.

Lady, you're an elementary school teacher. You should not be this happy unless happy hour starts early in Ponyville.

"Howdy Miss Cherrilee,” Big Mac greeted.

"Hello Big Mac. I'm guessing you're Luke,” Cherrilee offered Luke her hoof.

"Nice to meet you ma'am" Luke grasped the violet hoof in his hand.

Cherrilee motioned to one of the desks in the first row, "Please take a seat. We will begin the first portion of the comprehensive exam with math, followed by science, then history, and we'll finish with magical theory. Any questions before I go over the exam itself?"

"Yeah," Luke said, Big Mac setting him on the ground. "What's magical theory?"

"Magical theory is the study of all implications of active and passive uses of magic."

I already know I'm going to fail that one.

Without further ado, Luke was left alone with Miss Cherrilee. A number 2 pencil held in one hand and packet of paper face down on his desk. Big Mac had to leave, offering Luke a quick good luck before running some errands. Cherrilee sat at her desk, preparing to do some paper work while Luke performed the test.

"You may begin."

Luke flipped over his test with a flourish.

9+9=18

3x5= 15

93-87=

Seriously?

Luke effortlessly moved through the problems. Each question annoyed the human to no end.

If a train leaves Manehatten at 1:30 and is traveling 35 miles per hour-

Thank god! It's over! Luke smiled as he scribbled the last answer. The hippogriff was confident in his work and had no reservation he got any questions wrong.

Cherrilee looked up from her pile of papers, surprised to see Luke handing over his paper after barely twenty minutes of work. "Finished already?"

Luke nodded happily. He wanted to get this done as soon as possible. It’s just like taking off a bandaid; the faster the better.

With the science test, Luke had to use more of his brainpower to plow through the chemistry and biology sections. I think I might have mixed up what the mitochondria does.

Overall, Luke felt confident in his work. Then there was the history test.

Who moves the sun and rules Equestria during the day?

Ummmm, God.

Who moves the moon and rules the night?

God (again).

During the Prance Revolution, which famous pony said "Let them eat cake"?

Luke grumbled under his breath, "This is gonna suck."

Luke rolled his eyes when he turned in this paper. I won't sugar coat it, I wrote down a lot of BS.

When it came to Magical Theory, Luke just stared at the paper for five whole minutes, his mind drawing blank.

Screw it.

Cherrilee watched in confusion as Luke rose from his desk and handed her the blank document.

"Are you sure you want to turn this in blank? I can't give you a score if you don't try," Cherrilee cautiously said.

"Naw," Luke said. "I have no idea what any of this magic gibba jabba means."

Cherrilee frowned at Luke's blatant disregard for magical knowledge. "Well then, I'll grade these while we wait for Big Mac to pick you up. There at some books over in the corner you’re welcome to read."

Yeah, more reading.

0 0 0

Big Mac sat across from Cherrilee, her worn desk scattered with stacks of graded homework assignments. Luke waited quietly next to him.

"So," Big Mac started, "How'd Luke do?"

Cherrilee took a moment to think. The purple pony chewed her lip, unsure of how to answer. That's not a good sign. "Well Big Mac, Luke's results are rather confusing."

Big Mac and Luke sat silently. "What do ya mean confusing?" Big Mac asked in confusion.

Cherrilee released a pent up sigh, "That's what I'm trying to figure out." Cherrilee rubbed her forehead. Luke could see the wheels slowly turn behind her eyes. "His math and science scores are incredibly high."

"Thats good, right?"

"Not just good Big Mac. Luke scored high enough to be taking university level courses," Miss Cherrilee responded. "But when I look at remaining tests, they're the exact opposite."

Here it comes.

Big Mac raised a confused eyebrow, "What does that mean?"

"Let me give you an example," Cherrilee scanned the document. "For the question: What parental being created the land and sky, bringer of life and parent to Princess Celestia and Luna? Luke answered: With his bare hands, Chuck Norris created the land from nothing. With ancient wisdom passed down from the old gods, Chuck Norris's beard gave life to the land revealing the glory of Chuck to everyone. Why? Because Bruce Lee said he couldn’t do it."

Big Mac's mouth hung open.

"Then there's; What is the defining message from Princess Celestia that ended the stalemate among the governing delegates that prevented the mobilization of Equestrian soldiers to face the first changeling army of 89?" Cherrilee continued.

The silence between the three was thick. Luke was sure Big Mac wouldn’t like the answer he put.

"I pity the fool."

Big Mac turned to Luke. The hippogriff shrugged in response, "I never said I knew Equestrian history."

Turning back to Miss Cherrilee, Big Mac asked, "What do ya recommend?"

"I recommend Luke being placed in a class with students his own age," Cherrilee said. Son of a bitch! "That will allow him to catch up on Equestrian history and building the basic fundamentals in magic theory. Also, Luke will have plenty of opportunities to make some new friends with colts his age."

Big Mac looked over to a sour Luke. That plan backfired. "Sounds good," Big Mac said, before nudging Luke gently to cheer him up. "Hey Luke, you can spend with some of the other foals."

F*** my life.

"And you'll be in the same class as Applebloom and her friends. "

F*** my life hard! From what they told me of their adventures, I’ll be dead in a week.

Big Mac and Luke left the schoolhouse with a quick goodbye before heading into the center Ponyville. Big Mac said something about getting Luke some saddlebags for all of his books and school material.

Luke allowed his mind to wonder. Sure his oh so brilliant plan didn't work, but the day was nice and he finally was able to get out of the house. And why are we walking toward a gingerbread house? Luke stood up, using Big Mac's yolk to support himself as he looked over the ginger mane.

In front of him had to be the most delicious looking house he has ever seen. The structure included a chocolate ceiling, gramcracker walls and white frosting to accent tan and brown colors. I wonder if it's made of real frosting?

Big Mac raised his hoof to open the dark door. "Big Mac, why are we entering a gingerbread house?"

"You'll see."

Without another word, Big Mac pushed open the gates of hell. A symphony of loud voices pierced the hippogriff's eardrums.

"Surprise!"

Super Party Surprise

Time Lost

Ch. 6: Super Party Surprise

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights of MLP.

Edited by hunterman3.

Hey God?

It’s me, Luke. Could you do me a solid and strike me down right here and now.

Seriously.

Do it now!

I don’t think my sanity, pride and masculinity can withstand this. I mean seriously! They’ve got frilly blue ribbons, cartoonish balloons and small children waiting to throw me a party.

No.

NO.

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO.

Now take your divine judgment, aim for my head and put me out of my misery.

It’s all you big man.

Oh no!

Pinkie Pie’s heading this way!

Come on you bearded bastard! Strike me down like a British nanny!

Big Macintosh moved into the room with a conflicted Luke on his back. Luke’s left eye focused on the vibrating pink pony wearing the biggest smile one could imagine. It was the kind of smile that struck fear into the hearts of mortal men. “Hi Luke,” Pinkie Pie sang.

Is it bad that I’m atheist and I tried to ask god for something? I feel the hypocrite inside me rising. Do not judge me for I am an eight year old child and do not know better. And if you judge a small child harshly, then you’re an a**hole.

Taking Luke into her forelegs, Pinkie Pie lifted Luke above her head to proclaim, “Let’s get this party started!” Light shown from the ceiling, proclaiming the king of lions has arrived. Sorry wrong movie

The scenery blurred, many smiling ponies taking time to greet Luke. Luke smiled in kind, reminded just how small he was to the average adult. All those creepy eyes followed Luke as Pinkie Pie tossed him around like a football. The hippogriff flew through the air against his wishes only to be caught by the same pink abomination. Hey, I’m still injured here.

Luke blinked several times when the room finally stopped speeding past him. Sitting in front of Luke had to be around twenty children, looking up at him with wide eyes. Some of interest, some of boredom, some of … I think that pony’s asleep.

With a flourish Pinkie Pie motioned to group of children, “Luke, say hello to your future classmates and future friends! Maybe even best friends!”

Luke looked into Pinkie Pie’s face, and then to the group in front of him, “What just happened?”

Applebloom, Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo sat excitedly in front of the group. Applebloom said, “Well Luke, we decided we wanted to do something nice for you.”

“We helped Pinkie Pie set up your very own Pinkie Pie ‘Welcome to Ponyville’ party,” Sweetie Bell said, “I put up the banners.” Sweetie Bell motioned to the banner hanging against the back wall. Large colorful and very messily written letters of blue and silver spelled out ‘Welcome to Ponyville: Luke Skywalker!’ Luke also noted some very poor drawings of stars and what he assumed was a grey, blue and white hippogriff. It kinda looks like something Winona threw up. “Applebloom helped back the cupcakes.”

“And I made sure all our classmates would come!” Scootaloo announced.

“No you didn’t,” small colt with white fur and brown spots who spoke in the most adorable British accent. “You merely passed out the invitations. We wanted to come because it’s not only a Pinkie party, but we wanted to meet the new kid. You three have been talking about him all week.” That has to be the most adorable pony I have ever seen. I think my heart stopped for a couple seconds.

Scootaloo snapped, “No, I’m pretty sure I made it very clear if none of you came I’d smack you into next week.” For a girl, she’s pretty violent. Luke took a moment to think about that, And I am completely ok with that.

The tiny pony turned to Luke, offering him his hoof, “Anyway, good day to you Luke Skywalker. My name is Pipsqueak.”

Stop with the cuteness! Make it stop! It burns us! It burns us!

Luke smiled warmly, taking the tiny hoof into his slender fingers and giving it a firm shake, “Nice to meet you.”

Before Luke’s brain could be destroyed further by Pipsqueak’s cute abomination of an accent, Pinkie Pie interrupted, “Before I forget Luke, I got you a present!”

But it’s not my birthday.

Luke groaned inwardly at Pinkie’s sing song voice. Turning to face her, Luke felt a rather large object being shoved into his chest. On instinct Luke wrapped his uninjured arm around the cold metal object. Looking down Luke eye widened at the sight of curved bronze metal. What?

“I thought since you didn’t have anything to do on the farm, I’d get you a saxophone to keep you busy,” Pinkie Pie said excitedly.

Luke however, was completely confused, “How did you know I played the saxophone?”

“Well,” Pinkie Pie put a hoof to her chin, thinking deeply. Inside her brain Pinkie Pie replayed a certain memory from yesterday.

Big Mac and Applebloom walked happily into Ponyville Thursday afternoon. The small filly was talking loudly about her grade on the spelling test she had taken a few hours ago. She got a B+. Good for her. Luke sat on Big Mac's back, both wearing amused smiles as the filly danced around her brother. Unknown to them a silent shadow followed closely, darting behind any object and pony before her prey knew she was there. The surprisingly good pink huntress, pursued with a note pad busily taking note of anything the small hyppogriff took interest in. Suddenly the party of three stopped, Luke took a surprising interest in the display case for a secondhand store. Behind the spotless glass, sitting among a stack of tattered books and pawned off jewelry was a worn bronze alto sax. The instrument had some dents to it, but appeared to be playable. Pinkie Pie overheard the words, "It's got a lot of character" to Applebloom. With a smile Pinkie Pie tore down the street to her home with a plan in mind.

"Let's call it Pinkie Pie Intuition.” Or stalking depending on who you ask.

Pipsqueak and the other children watched in amusement as Luke’s face twitched. The gears inside the small feather head ground against each other to create an unearthly metal scream when he realized this was the exact same instrument he saw the other day. How did she know? “Huh?”

Pinkie Pie patted Luke on the back, “Don’t worry about trying to figure it out. Even Twilight couldn't and she's like super-duper smart.” Pulling Luke closer, Pinkie Pie whispered into his ear, "And just between you and me, I think a certain dragonequus can't even figure it out."

Miles away within Canterlot Castle, Discord felt a sudden coldness touch his shoulders. Looking up in surprise from the five hundred year old painting of Celestia he was defiling with a mustache and sombrero. “That was weird,” Discord grumbled to himself. “Maybe I should give her a unibrow? Some bucked teeth would do nicely.”

With a smile, Pinkie asked, “Why don’t you play a song for them? I’m sure they’d love to hear you play!” In a blur of pink, Luke found himself standing in front of the entire group of ponies on an empty table. All of the fillies and colts sat silently in front of the adults. Every large, cute and kinda creepy eye looked up to Luke with great expectation.

Except for a curtain pair of fillies, Luke noticed a single pair not looking up at him. One pink filly with a white and purple mane wearing a shiny tiara snickered to her grey friend.

Luke looked to the adults, finding Big Mac offering a supportive smile. The stallion originally thought it was a good idea for Luke to get a chance and meet other children, but shoving him in the spotlight like that was a little hasty.

Licking his dry lips, Wait, birds don’t have lips. Then how am I able to smile? Luke peared down at the saxophone in his hands. The metal was polished with a few dents in the body. Luke could surmise that this instrument was previously used. The good news was that the mouthpiece looked brand new with a pristine reed. With a quick glance to the audience, Luke decided he might a well entertain them with a song. I certainly don’t want to disappoint those faces. I mean look at them! Look at all those cute little fillies and foals.

Luke brought the instrument to his beak. The movement felt familiar. The curves and keys sparked something inside Luke’s brain. The taste of metal and bamboo coupled with the smell of oil triggered felt so nostalgic. Luke felt calm by the instrument in his hand, like he was welcoming back an old friend.

Ignoring the twinges in his sides, Luke took a deep breath and he began to play.

Big Mac and Applejack were quite surprised by the sultry smooth sounds coming from the instrument in Luke’s hands. After being in the high school marching band for four years, Luke had some skills. He may not have the natural talent like some of his friends, but Luke could play some smooth saxophone music. Luke’s hands moved to the rhythm of his music as they danced across the keys of their own accord. The result was some sweet jazz.

All the foals and adults swayed to the rhythm of the sweet jazzy blues filling the air.

No one noticed the grey mare with a straight mane look in surprise. A single tear fell from her eye. The music of the gods entranced the ponies inside Sugarcube Corner with their presence.

Luke’s lips parted with the brass instrument after the last note faded into the crowd. The air was silent. No one moved. All eyes remained on Luke. Luke felt sudden warmth rising into his cheeks was the seconds ticked by. Beads of sweat began to develop on his feathery brow. The silence continued to stretch further. Maybe I’m not as good as I remember.

The clapping of hooves finally broke the uncomfortable feeling inside Luke. Looking to the source, Luke smiled at the sight of Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Applebloom clapping enthusiastically. The three ponies’ eyes were wide with amazement.

Soon every adult and child joined in. The crowd creating a loud roar that threatened to deafen Luke. Luke smiled ruefully, scratching the back of his head with his rising red cheeks.

“Whoa,” Applejack muttered. The smooth tones and mellow rhythm created a calm feeling in Luke’s audience. Applejack didn’t expect the level of jazzy goodness to come from such an unsuspecting place. Applejack turned to her brother. Big Mac wore a very impressed expression wondering if Luke would be interested in joining one of the local jazz groups. That might be a fun extracurricular activity for him.

“Luke’s pretty good with that instrument,” Applejack pointed out.

Big Mac tore himself from his thoughts, offering her the usual, “Eeyup.”

“I think Octavia would agree?” Applejack motioned towards the grey mare wiping her eyes.

“That was cool,” the sudden appearance of the blue Pegasus caused both Apple siblings to jump.

“Ah didn’t know you like jazz?” Applejack asked, mimicking Big Mac’s intrigued eyebrow.

“Not really,” Rainbow Dash rubbed the back of her head, blushing slightly. “Don’t get me wrong! Jazz is cool, but I prefer something with a little more oomph to it. You know, like rock n’ roll.”

“Hmmmm,” Big Mac hummed to himself, quite surprised by Rainbow Dash’s complement. But then again, the audience would say otherwise, Big Mac’s eye caught sight of the children crowding around Luke. Luke wore a very happy smile, his saxophone held gently in his uninjured hand.

Applejack watched Rainbow Dash, confused. When the cyan Pegasus looked at her brother, Applejack could have sworn for just an instant those magenta eyes took a quick glance at Big Mac’s big cutie mark. Probably just mah imajination.

Luke felt his hesitation wash away as he left the spotlight. Luke may not have a severe case of stage fright, but he still felt some level of fear and hesitation before every performance. That’s only natural.

Scootaloo tackled Luke when the small crowd finally dispersed from around him. Her orange wings buzzed in excitement, “Why didn’t you tell us you were awesome with the saxophone?”

I could make that into a sex joke.

“Scoots let the guy breathe,” Applebloom said.

Scootaloo looked down at Luke, his face relaying the uncomfortable feeling of having a metal saxophone pressed against his body and cracked ribs. Scootaloo’s face turned bright red when she realized she was on top of Luke before quickly jumping off his fragile body. “Sorry,” the orange Pegasus said in embracement.

“It’s alright,” Luke sighed, feeling his lungs welcoming the fresh air. Do I smell cupcakes? Luke pulled himself up, scanning the room for the source of the heavenly smell. Luke raised an amused eyebrow when he caught sight Scootaloo’s red face. She’s just so cute.

“Oh isn’t that sweet!” a very loud and snarky voice rang in the air. Luke turned to see a pink pony wearing a silver tiara and a silver filly with large spectacles. Ten bucks says she’s a pain. Any takers?

From the first moment, Luke laid his eye on them he knew he disliked them. Their posture and body language spoke that they were the typical snobs, bullies with filthy rich parents.

Diamond Tiara walked up to the small group, wearing her traditional sneer. Luke turned to the CMC and saw the heat of their glares focused on Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. Luke could feel the expectation of their gaze on him. Diamond Tiara and Silver spoon took their time judging him on his bandaged body, gryphon half and his lack of a cutie mark as something unclean or unworthy. Diamond Tiara turned to look at Scootaloo’s angry face, “I think you two will make the perfect couple. You can be blank-flanks for life.”

Is that suppose to be an insult?

“We are not a couple!” Scootaloo snapped, red flashing across her vision.

Where are the adults? Luke turned from the two fillies to look towards the adult ponies. Most, if not all, of the adults had decided to take up conversations among themselves. With a sigh, Luke broke the two arguing fillies, “Stop it you two, you’re being ridiculous.” Diamond Tiara and Scootaloo broke away from the epic stare off of doom. Luke turned to Scootaloo, “How about we get a cupcake?”

“Why?” Scootaloo asked incredulously, her mind only focused on crushing her opponent.

“Because she’s not worth wasting your breath on,” Luke said, ignoring the look of scorn Diamond Tiara threw his way. “This is supposed to be a fun party-” Maybe for a eight year old. But I digress. “-so we’re going to do something fun. And fun sounds like a cupcake.” Luke motioned towards a table covered with so many mouthwatering treats Luke could feel his teeth rotting away. Wait, birds don’t have teeth. Oh what trouble I can get into.

Diamond Tiara began to speak, but Luke was quickly ushering the three fillies towards the snack table. Luke’s eyebrow rose in amusement as he drew closer to the snacks, particular the two colts sitting right next to it. An Earth pony colt, wearing a silly multi-colored cap, sat next to the table playing with what he could only describe as the pony version of a Gameboy. Yeah! The colt standing next to him was a grey Pegasus with a dark mane. The Pegasus watched the small screen intently, saying, “Button Mash, your mom told you stop playing that videogame.”

“But Rumble,” Button mash wined, “This isn’t just a game! This is Dungeon Crawler 5! The most bloody hand held game known to all of ponykind!”

“But you have that on game console,” Rumble responded with annoyance.

“But this version has Spawn!” Button Mash continued to whine, his eyes still glued to the small screen. “I just need to get past this last boss and I’ll have every character.” Luke and the CMC stopped next to the pair, watching the two colts with amused fascination. Button Mash eyes widened, his screen suddenly turning black, “What! No! No! Noooooooooo!” Button Mash cradled the handheld device to his chest as if it was the most important thing in the world.

Is it wrong to think sound of that child’s crying is hilarious? Because it is.

“That’s what you get for playing six hours straight,” Rumble rolled his eyes. Rumble turned away from his crying friend, catching sight of Luke’s and the CMC’s amused smiles. Poking his friend, Rumble whispered, “Button Mash look, you need to greet the new kid. Now show him a happy smile or your mom will think you’re being rude. And you know what’ll happen if she sees you being rude to the new pony in town.”

Button Mash turned to face Luke, tears running down the side of his face with the snot bubbling from his nose.

“Okay Button, stop showing them,” Rumble said, looking away from his friend.

Button turned to Rumble, latching onto his friend like he was the last lifejacket on the Titanic. “Rumble,” Button Mash cried, “I lost all that hard work! Now I’ll never unlock Spawn! This is the worst thing in the history of forever! I can never look into the eyes of my heroes ever again! I’m a failure in the eyes of Neightendo and all its copyrighted characters!”

Wow. Just wow.

Rumble turned pleadingly to the CMC and Luke. Ew. Ew. Ewwwwwwwwww. It’s cold and wet. Luke felt bad for Rumble. The pegasus’s grey colt was quickly becoming covered by the green goo dripping from Button Mash’s running nose. Oh sweet Celestia, it’s clumping! It feels so wrong and nasty! Rumble patted Button Mash on the back, his face contorted in silent anguish. “There, there Button. It’s going to be alright.”

Deciding to lend rumble a hand, Luke handed Scootaloo the saxophone, “Could you hold onto this?” Scootaloo silently obliged, trying her best not to laugh at the sobbing colt. I wonder why Sweetie Belle’s so red? Luke caught sight of Sweetie Belle’s blushing face. Deciding to ignore it, Luke approached Rumble and Button Mash.

“Um, hey there,” Luke said, Rumble turning to him like he was the messiah. I really don’t want to touch him. With a very hesitant hand, Luke gently patted Button Mash on the back, “Now, ummmm- Button, I’m sure your game had an auto-save. You can always start where you left off later.”

“But it’s a handheld game,” Button sobbed into Rumble’s coat. Rumble’s pleading eyes asked Luke for some kind of miracle to save his grey fur from the onslaught of Button Mash. “It’ll only save after the last dungeon I completed and this dungeon took me four hours to complete.”

“Well,” Luke said, pulling this straight from his rump, “look at the bright side. You’ll know what coming when you start again. I’m sure you can shave some time off your next play through.”

Button’s sobbing froze for just a second. Luke’s words of common sense slowly penetrated the thick skull of Button Mash. Thank god he stopped. I don’t think I could withhold my laughter any longer.

To Luke’s horror, and to the increased laughing of the CMC, Button Mash decided to pull Luke into a bone breaking hug. No! Button Mash cried happily into both Luke and Rumble, “You’re right! I don’t have to start over again! You are the bestest best pony-griffon-thing!” Sweet mercy kill me! It’s sticking to my feathers! “You are my best friend! With you, me and Rumble we’ll be the Three Musketeers! We’re going to go on grand adventures, face many trials and grow into a legendary team!”

It’s reaching my belly button!

“Maybe Rumble and Button Mash will finally join the Cutie Mark Crusaders,” Applebloom whispered, a brilliant idea entering her head. “You’ve been trying to get Button Mash and Rumble to join ever since you two had milk shakes a couple of weeks ago.”

Sweetie Belle’s expression turned from embarrassed to dreamy and then uncontrolled laughter. Button’s shrill screaming from the ice cream headache still fresh in her mind.

While all this was going on, Diamond Tiara could not believe what had just happened. The new kid had not only scoffed her, he didn’t seem to care to get her name. No pony snubbed her like that. She was Diamond Tiara, daughter of Filthy Rich and no one snubbed her. Even if those blank flanks try to, there is no way some freaking COLT is going to get the better of me.

With a plan in mind, Diamond Tiara marched up to the group. The three fillies watching the distressed colts and the blubbering button Mash. This is just too perfect. “Now this is priceless,” Diamond Tiara’s voice broke through the priceless scene of Luke and Rumble being held captive. “Look Silver Spoon, the new kid has finally joined the freak squad.”

“Why aren’t any adults watching us? We’re kids,” Luke grunted, trying to pull himself away from Button.

“Let’s look at this situation,” the venom on her voice could fill a swimming pool and then dissolve what poor unfortunate soul was dumb enough to take a dip. “We have the disgusting gamer, his lame best friend, the three blank flanks and the newest addition-” I’m beginning to hate her. “a half-bred griffon living with the apple pushers.”

Silence fell over all of the children present. The only noise was the quiet murmur of the adults’ socializing. What happened next truly surprised Diamond Tiara and the rest of the ponies.

Luke began to laugh.

“Is that seriously the best you can come up with?” Luke tried to wipe a metaphorical tear from his eye, but the iron clad limbs of Button Mash prevented him. Are all Earth ponies this strong? Looking at Button, Luke asked, “Could you please let me go? I’ve got to put someone in their place.”

Button Mash opened his arms, dropping Luke and Rumble on their rumps. Dusting himself off, Luke approached Diamond Tiara. The filly began to say something, but Luke cut her off by holding up his open hand. Bullies had always been a sore spot with him. In junior high, Luke wasn’t the most popular of people and had to deal with some idiotic kids poking fun at his lack of sports. They were only name callers. In high school, people got really-really stupid. Growing up in a backwater town, some teenagers got it in their heads they were tough. They formed what I called wannabe gangs. There was nothing real about them. All talk and no substance. They covered the concrete buildings with graffiti, destroyed property and absconded from school. Your basic hoodlum.

Why was Luke so annoyed by bullies that he denied Diamond Tiara the chance to even speak?

The memory came from the dark depths of Luke’s empty mind. On a dark night when he was walking to his car from work, a man of sixteen leaving his job at a Little Ceasars. Wow. My first job really sucked. When Luke was struck by a baseball bat to the side of the head by some hoodie wearing kid. Luke fell against his car, his head swimming. The kid struck a second time, Luke backing up as the bat crashed into the side window. The glass shattered, spilling inside onto the car’s worn seats. The kid never got a third strike. The punk decided to rush forward with the wooden bat raised above his head. Luke’s curled fist striking straight in his face. Dad really-really liked boxing. But he got a career in the Sheriff’s department instead of trying to become a contender. By the end of it, Luke returned home with a new baseball bat and his hands covered in a red substance he didn’t want to tell his mom what it was. Let’s not count the stitches. I don’t want to talk about them. Since then, Luke decided it was best to shut down bullies before they started their trash talking. They end up being really stupid anyway.

“Look, I don’t care to know you,” Luke’s stern voice cut into Diamond Tiara. The fire in his single eye could illuminate the room. “Now shut up and I will leave you on your devices without any repercussions.”

Diamond Tiara stood silently. Luke turned towards the CMC. His words were lost to Diamond Tiara, her mouth moving but no sound came. She felt anger rising in her. No colt had ever talked to her like that. It wasn’t the fact that he argued with her or his attitude towards her, Diamond Tiara knew these well. To her, Luke had done something far more sinister. He didn’t acknowledge her. Luke viewed Diamond Tiara as little more than an obstacle. A bump in the road to deal with that didn’t even deserve part of his attention, a thing without a name. To Diamond Tiara, Luke denied her any recognition as a person.

I could do worse, but I’m afraid of what Big Mac would do if I did. I mean have you seen the guy. He’s huge!

Diamond Tiara’s eyes followed Luke to grab a cupcake with the CMC, Rumble and Button Mash in tow. Why? Because I feel bad for the guy. No, not Button Mash. I mean Rumble. Button’s joining us because I find his pain amusing. Luke froze for a moment. “Something wrong?” Applebloom asked.

“I just had a horrifying realization.”

“What’s that?” Rumble asked confused.

“I’m kinda twisted,” Luke said nonchalantly.

Before any of the other children could ask, a loud and angry voice called out, “Wait right there you feather freak!” Oh god, not her again. Diamond Tiara stormed up to Luke, looking him straight in the eye, “I don’t know who you think you are.” Luke Skywalker, duh. Diamond stabbed her hoof into Luke’s bandaged chest with some force. Luke expression remained neutral, ignoring the Earth pony strength applied to his frame. “I am Diamond Tiara! Daughter of Filthy Rich, the pony who basically runs Ponyville! And I will give up my own cutie mark before I let a freak like you talk to me like that.” All noise stopped. Diamond Tiara never noticed the change in atmosphere. All she could see was the hippogriff in front of her. “You think you can just brush me aside like I’m nothing. I’m more important than you or any of these blank flanks. None of you will ever be as important as me or my family. All you will ever do is be just the ponies we step on to stay on top. You are nothing more than dirt beneath my hooves.”

Big Mac could honestly say he was surprised by Luke’s reaction. Luke’s words were cold, “You say I’m less than dirt?” Luke’s gave bore into Diamond Tiara. “You think you have more because your family is richer and has more material possession makes you a better person.” With a sigh, Luke said “You think those possessions will make you happy? Do you believe having more than others will make up for what you just said to everyone here?” Diamond Tiara looked confused, “I consider you less by your attitude and your blatant disregard for others. You say I am less, when you have with your own words put down every single person in this room.” Luke turned his back on Diamond Tiara, “Now I will take my leave. You’re not worth any of my time or energy.” Luke may not be a complete pacifist, but he never liked fighting to begin with, especially when it came to fighting girls. Yeah I know it sounds sexist, but my mom taught me to be a gentleman or else she’d break out the coat hanger. Luke visibly shuddered, And you do not want to see what happens when she does.

Applebloom swore Diamond Tiara’s pink head would explode. With one final insult, Diamond Tiara snapped, “At least I have a parent who loves me. All you’ve got is a farm full of dirt ponies without your mom and dad.” You better not go where I think you’re heading. “If I remember right, Applebloom said you had no family and I’m sure there’s a good reason for that.”

Scootaloo, Applebloom and Sweetie Bell looked like they were about to launch themselves at Diamond Tiara as she finished, “I bet they just left you because you're the freak offspring of a griffon’s and pony’s after drunken one night who no one cares about.”

The room was frozen, children and adults feeling a creeping sensation crawling up their spines. Big Mac and Applejack felt the fires of rage rise inside their stomachs. One or both of them were going to have a long conversation with Filthy Rich and his daughter. Pinkie Pie looked worriedly around the room, looking for a quick way to solve the problem. The venom and spite in Diamond’s words kept everyone in their places.

“Well,” Luke turned towards Diamond Tiara for the third and last time this night. Luke’s voice cut through the hostile air, “If I turned up to be a pompous bitch like you I’d wish my parents stayed dead. That way they’d never have to see the kind of disappointment I became.”

Jaws flew to the floor. Big Mac and Applejack had no idea how to respond. Half of them wanted to scold him, while the other thought he was justified in his response. Scootaloo, Applebloom and Sweetie Bell all were thinking the same thing. That was cold. The CMC and their constant run-ins with Diamond Tiara had prepared them for what they thought were Diamond Tiara’s worst.

Looks like they were wrong.

“No one forced you to be here and no one forced you to talk to anyone. Instead,” Luke voice rose. “Instead you made the choice to come here. You decided to insult the people around you, many who weren’t even talking to you. You made the decision to insult an injured kid who’s parents are dead by saying they didn’t love him.” Luke took a deep breath his shoulders shaking, “How do you do that? How do you insult someone who has never wrong you personally, who’s clearly injured if you couldn’t tell by the bandages?”

All eyes were on Luke. “The answer is simple. You wanted to.” Luke pushed his point further, “You wanted to be here, to insult others and to insult me. You purposely chose to insult the kid who just went through a pretty traumatic experience and has been dealing with varying levels of pain and discomfort for the past week.” Diamond Tiara didn’t know what to say, he was right. With one final glare, Luke finished his ramblings, “If this is the kind of person you are, then you need to take a long hard look at your life and think about where you’re going. You’ve already proven today, that you have issues. I suggest you fix them.”

Luke left the speechless filly to gawk as he walked past all the other ponies. Luke simmered silently, making his way to the hallway. I’m going to find a bathroom, get cleaned up and no one will stop me! Luke moved into the tan hallway, not noticing the warm and homely feel.

Big Mac gently pushed his way through the crowd of ponies, taking extra caution around the unmoving colts and fillies. A hovering Rainbow Dash trailed behind him with Appplejack. “Applebloom?”

Applebloom peeled her eyes from Luke’s exit to look up at her big brother. Big Mac saw very conflicting emotions behind Applebloom’s large eyes; confusion, sadness and traces of anger towards a certain tiara wearing filly. Big Mac said to the three, “You stay with Applejack try and keep things mellow, I’m gonna go grab Luke. I think it’s time we head home.”

Something about the air shimmered. Pinkie Pie felt a cold disturbance in the air and in a flash of pink she disappeared.

Luke was grateful when he finally found the bathroom. Its light walls and white trim reminded Luke of a very scrumptious yellow cake with marble white frosting he saw on the snack table. Moving next to the sink, Luke hopped onto the edge. It seems my catlike reflexes are still intact. Turning on the spout, Luke began the laborious process of removing all of the crusting green gunk from his feathers.

She just came up to me with an attitude like ‘I’m all that and a side of fries’ and she expects me to give her respect. No way in hell. She doesn’t deserve my respect or anything. Luke sniffed loudly, How dare she say that about my parents! She doesn’t know them! No one does… Only me? Luke mind moved from angry to sad, the scattered memories of his family plaguing his mind reminded of the fact that he knew very little of his parents. Bits and piece may pop up every now and then, but I feel like I don’t know them. I can’t even remember their faces.

Luke felt emptiness growing inside his chest. He was ashamed at himself for losing that once precious connection.

A gently knock on the door, broke Luke from his mindless task, “Luke? Ya’ll right in there?”

Luke turned back to the mirror, looking himself over. Whether it was luck or his feathers were naturally resilient to staining, the hippogriff in the mirror looked cleaned once again. Maybe a little damp.

“Yes.”

Luke ignored the redness around his amber eye, telling himself it meant nothing. Moving to the door, Luke undid the lock and opened it to reveal a worried Big Mac.

The instant Big Mac saw Luke, he knew Luke was upset. To Luke’s credit, he was handling it better than when the councilor’s first visit to the farm. Big Mac motioned with his head for Luke to follow, which he obliged without a word.

When the pair returned to the main room of Sugarcube corner, Luke was set on by a yellow blur. Who happens to be very soft. A very sweet voice said, “Are you alright little one?” Luke inwardly groaned at this, I still don’t like them calling me that.

The Pegasus in question held Luke up in her arms, nuzzling him. The mare had a long pink mane and striking eyes. The kind of eyes that could stop a person in their tracks by the sheer volume of kindness they held. Her soft smile was absolutely adorable and assaulted Luke’s mind with sunshine and rainbows. Then she spoke again, her tiny voice and timid mannerisms too much for Luke’s macho-manly side to survive the blow, “Hi Luke, my name is Fluttershy.” Luke was unable to speak, this force of absolute cuteness holding him tight in their grip. “I’ve heard so much about you from Applejack and Big Mac that I really-really wanted to meet you today, but you were having a fun with your friends. I didn’t want to interrupt you. Then after what Diamond Tiara said to you I thought you could use a hug. I hope you don’t mind.” I think I just got secondhand diabetes from the amount of sugar coated cuteness just fed to me. Realizing she was still holding Luke like a small puppy, Fluttershy quickly and very gently placed Luke onto his flank. “I’m sorry,” Fluttershy said bashfully, hiding behind her mane.

That should be physically impossible! How do you become even more adorable than before? Applebloom and her friends was one thing, but this is like a F5 tornado of cuteness. At this rate, there will be no survivors.

Fluttershy looked towards Big Mac standing stoically silent, “Hi, Big Mac.”

“Howdy Fluttershy,” Big Mac nodded. His attention returned to Luke. Luke’s expression had drastically changed from being pissed off too surprisingly calm. Fluttershy even managed to bring a partial smile to Luke’s face. That’s the power of Fluttershy.

Luke looked around the room, finding it surprisingly empty. Only the CMC, Button Mash, Rumble, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Twilight and a white unicorn Luke had not met yet. “Where did everyone go?”

“I decided to send them home with some gift baskets,” Pinkie Pie said, appearing out of nowhere to Luke’s right. Luke responded like any rational thinking person would. He jumped back and squawked in surprise holding a hand to his furiously beating heart. Luke was about to snap at her but the pink pony’s expression held his anger. Why the long face? Pinkie’s hair seemed to deflate, losing its pink luster. “I’m sorry the party didn’t turn out the way it should have,” Pinkie Pie said, her voice hollow. “I didn’t think anypony would want to party after what Diamond Tiara said.”

People can suck sometimes. Of course Luke never voiced his opinion, he was more concerned about the deflated party pony. I’m afraid if I don’t try to make this up to her she’ll snap, cut me up and bake me into cupcakes. Luke shook his head to clear his head of that last random and morbid thought. That was both random and twisted. “It’s alright Pinkie,” Luke said in the most sincere voice he could muster. Pinkie Pie turned to look at him, Ah! Again with the creepy eyes! “I’m sorry I ruined you party. I really appreciated the effort you and the CMC put into it.”

With the flip of a switch Pinkie Pie transformed from sad mare to bouncy ball of pink doom, wrapping her rubbery forelegs around Luke, “You’re welcome Luke! Maybe we can throw another party and this time it’ll be even better! Just you wait!” I’m scared.

Then something strange happened.

And I’m not Joshing.

A literal light bulb popped out of Pinkie Pie’s mane and turned on with no visible source of power. Luke wanted to ask how the glass bulb was being held above her head without any means of support, but Pinkie Pie’s voice struck him like a wrecking ball. “I’ve got an idea!”

Hey God, you still there?

I think the apocalypse is about to happen. You better call in the rapture and beam me up.

I Broke My Brain

Time Lost
Ch. 8: I Broke My Brain

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to MLP or any of its related properties. All other characters are mine.

The morning air was crisp and sharp when entering the lungs. The sun was barely above the far off mountains, their shadow cast over the multitude of trees in Sweet Apple Acres. The shifting fog lightly curled around the gnarled roots.

Big Mac yawned as he made his way out of the home, mentally reviewing his chores this early Sunday morning. Let’s see: gotta feed the pigs, move hay to the cow pen and mend the fence. Big Mac’s ears swiveled slightly, the morning air had an unusual sound to it.

“Abra cadabra… No.”
“Bibbity bobbity boo… No.”
“Hocus pocus… No.”
“Klaatu barada nikto… No.”
“Klaatu barada Ne-c… Still no.”

The large workhorse made his way towards the barn, quite surprised that someone was out at this time on a Saturday.

“Open sesame… No.”
“Sim sim sala bim…No.”
“By the power of Greyskull,” Big Mac peered around the corner of the worn red barn, finding a very interesting sight. Sitting on the ground was Luke Skywalker wearing a rather annoyed expression on his face while holding up his right claw as if to brandish a blade. In front of Luke was a rather large book propped open with a few rocks.

The ‘Science of Magic’ was giving Luke quiet the trouble. Luke squinted at the text with his good eye, “It says that a large amount of focus is required to affect physical objects and magic is to be gathered in the unicorn’s horns. But if everything has magic, I should be able to access some kind of magic. Let’s see… Pegasi can fly and manipulate the weather and Earth Ponies are strong and have a connection with the earth. But no gryphon or hippogriff, speciest motherfu-“ Luke continued to grumbled, sliding out a piece of parchment from the page covered in clumsy writing.

‘Let’s approach this scientifically. First I need to take a deep breath. Second, focus on a point like the book says. Since I don’t have a horn, I’ll use a focus word to put said attention and hopefully magic into. Eventually I’ll either do something with a high level of focus, do something with a high emotion or do nothing. In which case I have no magic and that sucks big donkey di-’

“Watcha doing?”

“Jesus!” Luke spun around, looking up to see Big Mac’s raised eyebrow. “Where did you come from?”

“The house.”

“Oh… that makes sense,” Luke thought out loud, rubbing his brow with his long fingers. “I was just trying to do magic or something.”

Big Mac looked to the book and parchment filled with Luke’s notes on key phrases or observations. “From what Ah know of gryphons, their magic acts like a Pegasus. They can fly and manipulate the weather.”

“Oh poo,” Luke muttered under his breath, really wanting to move things with his mind. That’d be so cool.

Big Mac watched Luke sigh, his green eyes catching sight of slight red markings on his cheek. If Big Mac had to take a guess, he would saw Luke’s claws might have caused the damage. But he remained passive. If Luke did want to talk, he would be there for the little guy.

Luke returned to his paper. He would not be deterred from his studies on the sole fact that he was bored. REALLY bored. Luke held up another imaginary sword, “Thunder! Thunder! Thundercats HO!”

Big Mac snickered as he moved away. In his heart he was glad that Luke had decided not to try flying like he had when he was a colt. But back then, Big Mac had a cape. Luke however took a less insane approach. At least one of the kids has some survival instinct. Not like Cutie Mark Crusaders Castle Siege Experts. Where they got the catapult is beyond me.

“Presto Chango! Nope… Something Something Something! Nope… Azarath Metriiiiii- I think I spelled that one wrong and I can’t remember how to say it. Darn. Spirit Gun!”

Big Mac began moving the layers of hay; the large bundles of dry grass were easily moved on his wide shoulders. It was a necessary part to ensure the older bales were kept towards the left side of the barn, allowing room for new batches to occupy the right.

All the while, Big Mac’s large ears could still hear Luke’s voice, “Mecca lecca hi mecca hiney ho… Still nothing, but on a serious note what even is that. From a thing to not a thing, I feel like that’s not a thing.”

Big Mac prepared a large pale of slop as he heard another strange phrase, “Amazing Headband of Justice in Place, Amazing Armor of Justice Protect Me!” The large workhorse strolled out with the pale in his mouth. That’s got to be unsanitary, Luke thought, making a disgusted gagging sound at the sight.

Luke scratched out a majority of the phrases that had proved ineffective, listening to the pigs happily cheering at the delivery of food. A severe case of bacon-itis hit Luke’s taste buds, No you don’t they are sentient creatures. Luke’s stomach and watering beak decided to argue the point with him. No! Pigs are friends not food… But just look at those buggers, they look so good. I just wanna fry them up with some grease.

“Have anything planned for today?” Big Mac asked, turning to see Luke turning back to his paper and not on the idea of food.

“Nope,” Luke shook his head.

“Nervous about school?” Big Mac continued, trying to keep up the conversation and air of friendliness.

“Not really,” Luke shrugged, “School’s not that difficult. Plus, I’ll be able to do more stuff. No offense, it’s kinda boring being sick on the farm.”

“Ah understand. Last year Ah cracked a few ribs and couldn’t work during Applebuck season,” Big Mac nodded sagely.

“What’s Applebuck season?” Luke tried not think very dirty thoughts. Why did they have to use buck? I can do so many horrible things with it… So many dirty, dirty things.

“That’s the major apple harvest for the summer just before fall hits,” Big Mac motioned towards the trees. “Those apples provide us the amount of bits we need to survive the winter months.”

“Oh,” Luke nodded in understanding. “That’s rough.”

“It’s a hard job, but we get it done every year,” Big Mac focused on the book and paper Luke was focusing on. “Any more words ya wanna try before breakfast?”

“One more,” Luke turned his attention back to his work. “How about this, Hastur! Hastur! Hastur!”

What happened next, no one expected or could properly described the phenomenon properly with words.

The morning sky turned the deep shade of blood with a sickening boom. Birds flocked away with terrifying screeches along with the forest animals. The sky itself was torn asunder, revealing the utter blackness of the universe. No light or sound could penetrate such an empty space. Luke and Big Mac watched with wide eyed shock and horror at the bloody morning.

From the empty depths of perdition, something flew towards the earth. Luke could not properly process what was making its way towards him. It could only be described as something from Carcosa, where black stars hang in the heavens; where the shadows of men's thoughts lengthen in the afternoon, when the twin suns sink into the Lake of Hali.

Luke’s beak was held wide open along with Big Mac’s. The vision before them weighed heavy on their hearts, feeling as if some invisible hand was wrapping around their chests. It was a tall, anthropomorphic being of unknown origins hidden behind a yellow silken robe and stark white mask. Behind the fabric and eyes, a strange shifting structure of what could only be described as gelatinous or tentacles.

Big Mac and Luke Skywalker stood before such an eldritch abomination in utter silence. That is until the creature spoke with the voice beyond the grave, each world felt through flesh and bone. “Yo.”

Luke’s mind went into auto-pilot while the rest of his brain was stuck somewhere between Neutral and First Gear. “Hey, what’s up dog?”

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Hastur looked down towards the small creature whose large amber eye was held in captivation at his appearance, “Why aren’t you just the cutest little thing?”

Luke blinked quietly, honestly surprised at the singular fact that the Yellow King was not unleashing untold horrors and madness at his sudden appearance. “Not much, trying to do magic.”

“Really?” Hastur’s voiced sounded surprised at the thought. “May I see your work?”

“Sure,” Luke shrugged, handing over the book and loose parchment. A single hand composed of several tentacles of varying colors.

From the tall palace, a singular being felt the sudden rush of cold dread. Discord froze, caught with a paintbrush in his lion’s claw and halfway through painting a rather large portrait of a clown. It was a rather creepy clown that would be used to startle Celestia when she walked into the throne room. It was better than the whoopee-cushion.

Discord rushed to the nearest window, his breath caught in his lungs. With a snap of his fingers, a pair of oversized binoculars appeared before his eyes. After several seconds of fiddling, Discord’s eyes melted from their sockets in the form of a milky substance.

He knew who that was. And the cold fear in his heart was warranted by what the entity entitled. What was worse was who was standing in front of the entity, little Luke Skywalker. How? Why? The questions where flying through Discord’s skull at high speeds, causing a severe case of whiplash.

Discord reached into the pockets on his thighs, pulling out a set of eyeballs that he screwed into his empty eye sockets.

With his vision restored, Discord returned towards the far distant scene.

Luke just stood there dumbfounded, watching Hastur musing himself with the written words in the book. “Well this book is certainly interesting, but very lacking,” Hastur finally stated, turning his shifting eyes from the brown pages and back to Luke. “I find these ideas very limiting, but-“ Hastur halted his speech, turning from Luke towards a far off mountain. A certain draconesque felt his sphincter tighten in fear. Hastur knew he was there and even though Discord could be considered one of the Eldritch Gods from old, he certainly did not want to face another. The resulting destruction would be unimaginable and countless would die in the blaze of madness and power.

“Before I continue, what might your names be?” Hastur finally asked, turning back to the hippogriff before him.

“I’m Luke Skywalker,” Luke answered automatically, trying to figure out what in the name of the nine circles of hell was going on. Maybe I’ve finally gone mad and all this is a dream or delusion? It wouldn’t be the worst dream I’ve had recently. Or the Yellow King is so far beyond my comprehension that I have a pre-disposed notion of him? “And this is Big Mac,” Luke turned towards the red workhorse.

Big Mac continued to stare at the Yellow King, his mouth working like a goldfish out of water with no sound coming out. Luke elbowed Big Mac’s leg, “Say hi Big Mac, don’t be rude to our guest.”

The sudden physical contact startled Big Mac out of his revelries with an uncertain, “Howdy.”

Hasture nodded in greeting, “A pleasure to meet you both. Now tell me, why were you trying to learn magic?”

“I say the unicorns lifting stuff with their horns and wanted to see if I could do something cool too,” Luke thought back to see the simple act of telekinesis and how he wanted to do psychic stuff too.

“I see,” Hastur rubbed a tentacle hand against the chin of his mask. Bending over, Hastur took a closer look at Luke. Something had caught his attention. Something of interest to the Elder God that made Luke’s skin crawl. But he didn’t flinch away, not knowing what kind of consequence he might face.

“Um, what’cha doing?”

“You are different,” Hastur muttered more to himself than the hippogriff or the pony. “There’s something in you and I’m not sure of what it is,” Hastur said as he straitened himself.

“What do you mean?” Big Mac asked in worry, his green eyes moving from between Luke and Hastur.

“There are several irregularities with this situation,” Hastur commented. “Normally a series of rituals and rights would have to be performed to get my attention. But you’re voice came to me in a whisper from this particular time and location. When my followers try to summon me or gain my attention, their calls are clunky and almost non-existent unless I’m listening for their call. You are not like them and that intrigues me.”

Luke’s brow furrowed in concentration, “Is that good or bad? I’m kinda unsure right now.”

Hastur held up his freehand, “I would say ‘good’ in your case.” Luke raised an inquiring eyebrow. “It’s good that you didn’t try any other god or entity. If any of the other had been summoned, you would have been killed, possessed or something worse. With me, I find you interesting and I will not harm something I found interesting.”

“So it’s basically entertainment for you?” Luke asked, listening to every word spoken by the entity.

“Yes.”

Well that’s good I guess, Luke thought to himself with a heavy weight in his stomach.

Hastur turned his gaze to the apple trees, the red barn and the house. His eyes took in the average sights with great interest. As an entity from beyond space and time, it was rare he would see something so average. With deft movements, Hastur made his way to one of the nearest trees.

Big Mac and Luke shared an uneasy look before following the entity. Neither wanted any of the unprepared ponies to come into contact with this unknowable entity. Hastur placed a clammy hand against the rough bark, “I haven’t seen a true apple tree on this particular Earth for so many years. I mean they did exist, but that A-hole did some weird things and just ruined them.” Hastur turned towards the pair, “Have you ever bit into an apple and found it was filled with cotton candy?”

“What?” both Big Mac and Luke asked incredulously, neither could consider the notion. That’s just wrong! Apples are apples and nothing else, Big Mac thought as if these words where utter blasphemy.

“Exactly!” Hastur agreed. Hastur turned to the larger pony, “May I?”

“Sure,” Big Mac nodded a little over enthusiastically, “we’ve got plenty.”

“Thank you,” Hastur’s boneless fingers wrapped around one of the many perfect orbs of red flesh.

Now how Hastur ate the apple. It was in his tentacles and then it was gone. Luke and Big Mac watched in confusion and slight horror as Hastur hummed in almost ecstasy. The yellow robes seemed to shift at the joy of the fruit. “This has got to be the best apple I have ever had,” Hastur said with glee, his tentacles taking several apples and consuming them with great gusto.

“Do you know what’s going on?” Big Mac hissed to Luke.

“No idea,” Luke hissed back. How the F**k would I know what an inter-dimensional god beyond space and time would? Who am I? H. P. Lovecraft?

After Hastur had his fun, the Yellow King turned towards the pair with an appraising eye. “You are quite the farmer, ummmm… Big Mac,” Hastur nodded towards the red pony.

“Thank ya,” Big Mac scratched the back of his head in embarrassment at the sudden praise.

Hastur chuckled slightly, a sudden thought entering his mind. “By the way, why haven’t either of you freaked out, screamed indiscriminately or bled from your eyes? That usually happens when I enter a realm like this.”

Luke turned to Big Mac, “I don’t know about him, but you’re not the first god from beyond my reasoning I’ve met.”

Now that caught Hastur’s attention, “Really? Do you by chance know his name?”

“No clue,” Luke said.

“No problem,” Hastur turned to Big Mac. “But what’s your story?”

“Uh… Weird stuff happens all the time. You kinda get use to it,” Big Mac answered unsure of what to say.

“Interesting,” Hastur stared at them, deep in his thoughts. Luke and Big Mac just stood there awkwardly as the elder god contemplated in silence. “Well, I think I’ve been in your hair and feathers for long enough,” Hastur finally broke the silence. “But I do thank you for the apples and for an interesting time…” With a tentacle, Hastur reached into his strange silken robes. The sight of a tentacle rummaging around other shifting parts caused Luke and Big Mac to looked at, a slight green tint on their cheeks. The sound of squishy parts being moved around where abnormally loud and neither of the pair wanted to hear it.

With an over-exaggerated twirl of his tentacle, Hastur produced what appeared to be two shiny stones. “Here you go,” the Yellow King tossed one to each of the mortal beings. Luke barely managed to catch his. After he almost dropped it between his claws, Luke finally got a good look at the stone. It was crystal in structure, but felt surprisingly heavy in his thin talons. A blue light filtered through the unknown crystal. Luke cast a glance to Big Mac a similar green crystal held to the light.

“These are condensed crystals,” Hastur explained, “Normally these crystals are used as industrial work on Alpha-Beta-9.”

“What kind of industrial work?” Big Mac asked in a confused toned.

“Oh that’s the fun part,” Hastur snatched the green crystal, pointing the crystal towards the sky. With a fraction of effort, Hastur produced a single spark of energy. The result was a bright green blast flying through the sky.

“Woah!” Luke and Big Mac gasped in awe and wonder.

“These particular crystals focus energy due to having a denser molecular structure,” Hastur said offhandedly, tossing the crystal back to the red stallion. “And don’t forget this,” Hastur tossed the thick book of magic towards Luke.

“Ow!” Luke flew back as the book collided with his face. AH! The face! Why is it always the face?

“Are you alright?” Hastur asked, while Big Mac helped Luke to his hooves.

“Yeah I’m fine,” Luke muttered, one hand tightly wrapped around the blue stone.

“Sorry, I’m not use to interacting with mortals this. I use to but that was when humans were still running around this place,” Hastur said apologetically. “You wouldn’t know what happened to them would you?”

“They got killed by a twat that happened to be the fever dream of a deranged Zoo keeper Frankenstein,” Luke muttered while rubbing the sore part of his beak.

“That was a very strange and concessive sentence,” Hastur mused. “And as sorry for the nose I’ll give you a little magic lesson.”

“Sweet!”

Hastur lowered himself to Luke’s hight, “Now magic is simple in concept and paper, but it is a personal experience. Magic comes from understanding of the body, mind and soul. To perform magic, you must first understand who you are.”

Luke mulled it over in his mind, “So what your saying is I have to obtain Enlightenment and become a Buddha.”

Hastur patted Luke on his fluffy head, “Not to that extent, but yes. Discover yourself and you will discover magic.” Or something else if my feeling is right about you.

“Cool. Thanks Mr. H,” Luke smiled.

Hastur casually floated into the air with a wave to the pair, “Later!” Without a word of whisper, the abomination beyond time and space left while taking with him the tear in reality and the blood ridden sky.

Luke and Big Mac watched the Yellow King leave without a word. The pair stood in the morning air without any words between them, only the shifting of leaves were there company.

“So,” Big Mac began.

“So?”

“That was … both interesting and horrifying,” Big Mac said, the fur all over his body standing on end.

“That about sums it up.”

“What was that thing?” Big Mac asked, his eyes still glued to the sky.

“A god from beyond time and space,” Luke answered in a mater-of-fact manner.

“Really?”

“Sure am.”

Big Mac sighed, “Well if ya don’t mind me, Ah’m gonna go have a nervous breakdown in the barn.”

“Me too, but before we do that I need you to promise me something,” Luke responded quickly.

“What’s that?”

“Don’t tell anyone about this. If your sister finds out about Mr. H or any of the other Outer Gods or Elder Things, she might unleashed an untold amount of madness and death by trying to investigate further,” Luke’s eye was twitching erratically at this point.

Big Mac wanted to argue, but he knew his sister and her friends far too well and something like this would gain the attention of some very determined ponies. “That sounds good to me.”

“Good.”

Luke and Big Mac slowly turned towards the barn, their legs shaking as they made their way towards the red sanctuary.

“Hey Luke?”

“Yeah, Mac?”

“That Mr. H guy was really chill. He seems like a cool guy.”

“I know right! I could totally hang out with him over beer and sports.”

“When did you have a beer?” Big Mac’s concern voice became muffled as he pulled the door closed.

“Um… Research?”

Big Mac decided to drop the subject, taking a moment to ensure there was no one else in the barn. When he and Luke ensured they were alone, the barn became willed with the loud screaming and random babbling of two mentally strained individuals.

0 0 0

High above Ponyville, a rattling of the air shook a rather impressive home made from fluffy white clouds. The contents of the sky home rattled with such force it managed to wake the sole inhabitant. Her rainbow colored mane stood out worse than normal as Rainbow Dash jerked awake, throwing away her Wonderbolts blanket.

Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, the cyan Pegasus moved towards the window. The sun wasn’t even up properly and that made this rude wakeup call even more annoying to Rainbow Dash. When she finally opened her eyes, Rainbow Dash could only gape at the sudden blood red sky and hole of nothingness hovering above Sweet Apple Acres.

Rainbow Dash’s tiredness was washed away in the worry that filled her chest. Applejack and her family were there and something weird was happening. Taking off like a rocket, Rainbow rushed towards the farm. The wind whipped past her face as she left a trail of multiple colors in her wake.

Her cyan eyes caught sight of something tall standing between the trees. There Rainbow Dash hovered, high above the apple trees, trying to discern what that thing was. Before she could do anything else, the unknown entity began to rise into the air waving towards the ground.

Rainbow Dash wanted to do something. Her muscles screamed for action but nothing responded in the presence of this thing. She could only hover there, her wings straining to remain airborne as the thing drew closer to the sky.

Then it turned towards her. What it said was not what Rainbow Dash expected. “Yo girl, you rocking that hair! Pink Floyd all the way man!”

Then it was gone, leaving a rather terrified and confused Rainbow Dash alone in the now normal blue sky. What’s Pink Floyd? Also, what in the name of Celestia was that thing? It was all, wriggly and gross! Oh I know! Twilight will know! I’m gonna go see her right now.

Rainbow Dash flew through the air as rapid as her wings could carry her. A few of the early ponies looked up to catch a glimpse of her colored trail. Many were confused at the sheer fact that Rainbow Dash was up this early in the morning.

Crashing through the front door, Rainbow Dash called, “Hey Twilight! I need your smarts!”

No answering yell of anger or concern reached Rainbow Dash’s ears. That’s weird. Normally when I crash into her house, Twilight yells at me or something. But not this. This is weird.

Rainbow Dash dashed down the wide open hallway, the poor light reflected of the crystalline structure to create a rather eerie atmosphere. The situation made the fur along Rainbow Dash’s spine stand on end. Rainbow assumed Twilight was in her favorite place of the palace, the library.

Kicking open the doors, Rainbow Dash was surprised at the site. Papers littered the center tables of the library. A large chalkboard was covered with numbers and symbols Rainbow had no idea what they were. Spike was laying on one of the tables, papers crumbled under his spines as he snored loudly, “No more letter… no more.”

It wasn’t hard to find Twilight. The Princess of Friendship was currently rushing back and forth in front of the chalkboard. Her main was a mess and was sticking up in every possible direction. Her once pristine purple coat was oily and looked like she had not taken a bath for several days. The dark bags under her eyes were the most daunting sight. They were so dark that it appeared as if her eyes had sunken into her head in an attempt to flee from the constant abuse they were experiencing.

“Twilight?” Rainbow Dash asked in a hesitant voice.

“Sorry… Can’t talk… working,” Twilight responded, her voice was worn and tired that it made Rainbow Dash feel her eyes drooping.

“Um… I kinda got a problem and need your smarts,” Rainbow Dash approached the purple pony.

“Can’t have to get the response from Trottingham University,” Twilight’s shaky magic took hold of her coffee and draining the caffeinated in a few gulps.

“No,” Rainbow Dash moved in front of Twilight. “Something tore apart the sky and floated down from it over Sweet Apple Acres. I don’t know what it was, but I really need help because it was weird and was really freaking me out.”

Twilight stared at Rainbow Dash, her unblinking eyes just looking at the cyan Pegasus. “Uh, Twilight?”

Twilight jerked to the side, looking towards the chalk board then back to Rainbow Dash. “Sorry Dash, but I’ve got to work on this. T-this is the most important thing right now,” Twilight tiredly said, moving away from Rainbow Dash.

“More important than an invasion from Celestia knows where?” Rainbow slammed her hooves into the ground in anger.

“Yes,” Twilight muttered over her shoulder, her blank eyes scanning more parchment.

Rainbow Dash growled, looking to the chalkboard and the egghead stuff it held. Oh you are not going to ignore this!

Twilight blinked, her sore eyes felt like they were on fire. She had to continue no matter how tired she felt. This was far too important to leave alone. From all across Equestria, lead mathematicians and scientist where constantly writing her. This has got to be the biggest thing since Frisbees.

Spike was more than happy to ferry the letters. No matter how much he wanted to complain about his upset stomach. This was for science. And Twilight Sparkle would answer her mistress’s call. No matter what-What happened to my chalkboard?

“What?” Twilight’s over used and caffeinated brain was stalling at the sight of a blank black surface.

Rainbow Dash hovered next to the princess wearing a rather smug look, “Now that your egghead stuff is gone. Now we can do some important stuff, like stop whatever it is at Applejack’s place.”

“Sweet Apple Acres,” Twilight muttered to herself. How could it be gone? The answer to the Clover the Clever’s Conundrum was right in front of her! More importantly, the process alone was worth investigating further. Areas of mathematics never heard from… So much knowledge! Twilight internally wanted to scream. She could have uncovered more with the method than the solution. Wait a second! Wasn’t Applejack here with Applebloom and Luke.

“Yeah! The sky was all red and there was this hole, then something came from it and it was all wiggly…”

“Luke’s there?

“Yeah he is,” Rainbow Dash responded with some hesitation. “But there was this thing…”

Before Rainbow Dash could respond, Twilight disappeared in a flash of violet light and leaving Rainbow Dash alone with the sleeping dragon. “Oh come on Twilight!”

0 0 0

The barn was a sanctuary to all travels. Here there was only silence and security here. Within the warm hay and rustic atmosphere there was no judgment, only comfort and peace. Big Mac and Luke sat silently on the bales of hair, just listening to the sounds of silence.

“You said you saw something like him before?” Big Mac looked to the hippogriff with a very worried expression.

“Yes.”

“Do you wanna talk about it?”

“Not really,” Luke shrugged with indifference, “I found the best way to deal with existential horrors is to not think about them, because if others were to get word of these entities out there, they’d probably go insane.”

“How strong are they?”

“Let’s say that we’d be the ants and the gods would be the angry kid with the magnifying glass,” Luke pointed out.

“Why would a kid need a magnifying glass for ants?” Big Mac asked in confusion.

Luke Skywalker turned to the large pony in surprise, “You never burnt ants with a magnifying glass?”

“Nope.”

“Wow, you had a really sheltered childhood,” Luke commented.

“Why would you do that in the first place?” Big Mac repeated his earlier quandary.

“You got to play god,” Luke responded, “you got to decide who lived and who died.”

“That’s really twisted,” Big Mac said hesitantly.

“Kids are kinda twisted,” Luke looked up to Big Mac with an innocent smile.

Outside of the soul crushing realization that just how uncaring the universe is, Luke felt rather upbeat about today’s events. Sure I almost doomed the world, but nothing bad happened. I think I’m off the hook. Plus, Big Mac was there and the large pony was welcomed company since the majority of the contact he had with Equestria was of the fairer sex.

Before Luke or Big Mac could continue, a flash of bright violet light filled the barn. “My eye!” Luke screamed. Can’t you people be nice to the eye? I’ve only got one left!

Big Mac recovered first, his vision clearing to see a very distressed Twilight. The stallion noticed the unkempt appearance and crazed look in her eyes. “Miss Twilight?” Big Mac deep voice caught Twilight’s attention. The wide smile caused Big Mac to feel very uneasy. The small pit in his stomach was still there after the sudden appearance of Hastur.

“Hi Big Mac!” Twilight’s voice was cracking slightly, her eyes darting to Luke as he finished rubbing the blinding white spots from his vision. “And hello Luke Skywalker!”

“Hello stranger danger,” Luke responded wearily, slowly sliding closer to the big red pony. Protect me Big Mac, she’s clearly coocoo for Coco Puffs.

“What can we do fir you today, Twilight?” Big Mac asked, a bead of sweat developing on his brow at the hungry look in Twilight’s eyes.

“Oh I just need Luke to help me with some math,” Twilight answered, the muscles in her neck straining at the smile she was wearing.

“Don’t leave me here with her,” Luke hissed from the corner of his mouth.

“Sorry Twilight,” Big Mac thought quickly, “But Luke and ah were just about to fix the fence line.”

“But he’s still injured,” Twilight took a step forward.

“I feel like we need an adult,” Luke hissed.

“I am an adult,” Twilight continued taking another step.

“Another adult to deal with whatever’s wrong with you,” Luke pressed himself against Big Mac’s warm side. God what is he made out of? Metal?

“But I just want you to show me the solution to Clover the Clever’s Conundrum,” Twilight summoned a notepad and quill with a flash of magic.

Luke looked confused, “The what conundrum?”

“The Clover Conundrum,” Twilight abbreviated the name for convenience.

“No idea what that is.”

“The math equation you solved,” Twilight felt the pressure building in her temple.

“Dude, I was bored this entire week and I did a whole bunch of math problems to stay busy. You’re going to have to be a little more specific,” Luke rolled his eyes at the clearly crazed mare.

“You were at my library the other day and solved the equation on the chalk board,” Twilight continued to move closer, her eyelid convulsing beyond her control.

“Wait. You thought that was difficult?” Luke asked in surprised.

That caught Twilight off guard, causing her to freeze in her steps. “Y-you thought it was easy?” There’s no way it could be easy. For over a hundred years, ponies have tried to solve it. It couldn’t be that easy for him.

“Yeah it was. I did it in what, twenty minutes,” Luke admonished. “I mean it’s nothing compared to Theoretical Physics and the works of Stephen Hawking. Now that is a man who knows some stuff.”

Twilight’s lips twitched, “So you can solve this equation for me.”

“I can, but you didn’t ask nicely,” Luke folded his arms over his fluffy plumage.

“Can you please solve the equation for me?” Twilight’s words slipped past her grinding teeth. Her head felt like it would crack in two from the amount of cranial power she was trying to force through it.

Luke rubbed his chin together, faking a look of deep concentration. “Nope.”

Big Mac wanted to admonish Luke on his behavior, but the sudden sparking from Twilight’s horn and the look of twisting pain on her face was pointing towards Luke might have the right idea to not involve himself in whatever was wrong with Twilight.

“No? NO? Why NOT?” Twilight seethed, the pain rushing behind her eyes almost making her eyes pop out of her skull.

“Because you’re kinda freaking me out and I don’t wanna play with you,” Luke responded with as much innocence as he could. Yes, give into the injured puppy look. You cannot resist.

Big Mac decided to try and intervene, “Now Twilight, if you will excuse meh. Luke and ah have a fence to fix.”

Before Big Mac could get the tools, Twilight had another idea. “How about this?” With a flash of her horn, Big Mac suddenly found himself standing on the far side of the apple orchard next to the worn wooden fence line. Big Mac’s head twisted around at the sudden change of scenery, “But ah didn’t bring mah tools!”

Luke stared at where Big Mac had once stood, gulping at the still smoking ground. “Now Luke, it’s just you, me and math,” Twilight continued to approach him, taking a seat on the smooth ground. Her eyes where fixed on the young hippogriff like a wolf before a feast of succulent flesh. Twilight handed Luke the notepad, still wearing that creepy smile. What is wrong with your face?!

Luke looked down at the notepad. On front were several numbers and figures that were familiar to the hippogriff. Nervously, Luke took the quill and began sketching his answer. Normally math was a simple process that requires focus. It was kind of hard when a very crazed mare was breathing down the back of his neck. Her hot breath fluttered across Luke’s feathers, causing his discomfort to rise. Then she had to talk.

“What’s this conversion? What’s that symbol? Why this figure? What is the value of i?”

“Listen woman!” Luke snapped, getting a million questions a second. He looked up into her eyes with his one good eye blazing like a flame, “If you don’t stop, then I won’t finish this thing! Got it?”

“How can you not?” Twilight was at the point of skipping around like a school girl. “This will revolutionize magic for years to come! The professor’s at Neighard are already looking into its applications! You have to help! It’s for the sake all ponykind!”

“Wait! What professors?” Luke looked incredulously at the princess.

“Oh there are so many from Vanhoover to Trottingham and even a few in the Royal Society of Magic,” Twilight was almost drooling at this point by the small glittering liquid pooling at the corner of her mouth. “Then there’s the magazine, scientific articles-“

“Do they know who solved the equation?”

“What now?” Twilight shook herself out of her revelries.

“Do they know who solved the equation?” Luke asked slowly and with great articulation. “Was it you or me?”

Twilight chewed her lip, her overworked brain grinding against her skull. All of the letters were all in her name and never once referenced how Clover’s Conundrum was solved. Twilight felt a growing pit in her stomach. How could she have missed something so simple? To the world, Twilight was the one that had solved the conundrum and had taken full credit. She looked into the accusing eye of the little hippogriff.

“Oh, I am so sorry Luke,” Twilight began, but Luke held up his claw to silence her.

This was not just an insult, but a deep disrespect towards his intellect. Luke felt he wasn’t the smartest student in class; he worked hard and that was it. Now he was the only hippogriff in this entire town and she was stealing his knowledge on something that was apparently groundbreaking for magic. Luke didn’t care about the attention. What he cared about was the fact that the integrity of this so-called Princess was so low.

Luke proceeded to rip apart the notepad. His sharp talons made quick work of the paper, turning it into fine ribbons. Twilight made to respond, but Luke cut her off. His high-pitched voice cutting through her complaints, “I see how it is. You just want to take the ideas of the hard working hippogriff and use them like they were your own.”

“What? I didn’t mean-“

“Oh don’t try to lie to me! I know how it is! It’s always the same, the minorities are always the one kept low by the man, or in this case the mare,” Luke was going off on his own rant now, the sudden realization that he was able to use Race Card. Something he had never been privy too was now his to use. I hope my black friends can forgive me.

“I would never do something like that.”

“Well I would beg to differ,” Luke snorted, “Have you ever seen the famous mathematicians of Equestria. All of them are pointy head unicorns!”

“That’s not true,” Twilight reached back into her memory. She couldn’t quite remember all the famous ponies, but all she could remember where… the… unicorns… Uh-oh. “That doesn’t mean I would do something like that,” Twilight tried to defend yourselfe.

“Uh, you already did. All those professors and magazines you were drooling over were provided by Princess Twilight Sparkle and probably believe that you were the one who solved it. Don’t they?” Luke drilled the point home.

“I can send a letter,” Twilight tried to say, her voice sounded feeble to the hippogriff.

“Oh yes, tell them that an eight-year-old solved a mathematical equation that most have spent years trying to solve. And then tell them that this eight-year-old just so happens to be of a different species without magic. Because from the history books, those with a big boner popping out of their heads are the only ones that get high level education jobs,” Luke crossed his arms, daring Twilight to rebut his point.

Twilight was trying to think of a point, but now that her mind was on the subject just how many Earth ponies or Pegasus were actually active in the fields of mathematics. Most Pegasus where focused on meteorology and the study of the weather, while Earth ponies studied the ground, plants and several related fields like that.

“Well, not everypony is fit into certain fields…”

“Oh so having magic allowed you to do math?” sarcasm was dripping off of Luke’s squeaky voice. “Huh, I wonder how I did it.”

“How did you do it?”

“Still trying to steal my sh*t. Well the answer is no,” Luke nodded in defiance. “You think that just because you have a crown you can call the shots. And do you think that you can slap some cute, fuzzy word to make this okay? Do you not see what this is? Do you know what this is?”

“What is it?” Twilight asked.

“Gentrification, Mother-f***er! Because apparently the master race of magic user want to drive out the none unicorn elements from a high position of learning and power. I bet that you and all your crusty-a** professors or politicians use words like ‘friends’ or ‘equals’ to make the major population compliant so they you can make the country quote, unquote safe,” Luke knew he was making things up as he went along. But this was an opportunity to really utilize the fact that he was a minority in this world full of ponies and the only governing figure he had come into contact with had the balls to try and use his work for her own use. “And the most insulting part of this argument is that you are still trying to use those words to continue to try and convince me that I want to be one of you. That I want to give my ideas without any recognition of my race’s work just because you asked nicely. My generation has built their foundation of understanding on the shoulders of giants, some of the greatest minds across countries. You want me to give up my heritage and honor to feed your hunger for knowledge. Hell I might as well accept your indoctrination and I finally say ‘I want to be a pony!’”

“Aren’t you part pony?”

000

Rainbow Dash flew as fast as she could towards Applejack’s home, one of her wings was barely working. Cramp! Cramp! Cramp! The cyan Pegasus landed just as the sound of thunderous hooves where approaching the barn. Turning, Rainbow Dash caught sight of Big Mac racing towards her, a cloud of dust in his wake.

Big Mac skidded to a halt next to her, his heart pumping rapidly in his chest. Going across so many acres was not easy. Looking at the way her right wing was held off to the side, Big Mac asked, “Are you alright?”

“Just a cramp,” Rainbow Dash shrugged, wincing as her wing was shifted. “By the way, have you seen anything weird today? Maybe something crazy looking?”

“Miss Twilight did teleport into mah barn and try to force Luke into doing some math for her,” Big Mac moved towards the barn, ready to pull open the heavy doors.

“That does sound weird and crazy,” Rainbow Dash grunted.

A flash of violet light caused his hoof to stop before the barn was filled with loud, angry yells of “Hippogriff Rage! Hippogriff Rage!” Big Mac ripped the door open, revealing Luke standing atop the hay bales throwing the mother of all temper tantrums. Hay was flying everywhere along with harsh words.

Big Mac decided to slowly close the door, whispering to Rainbow Dash, “He’ll tire himself out. Just give him a few minutes.”

“From what Twilight was like earlier,” Rainbow Dash rubbed the back of her head awkwardly, “I don’t think it’s all his fault. She was going crazy, Mac.”

Big Mac hummed in agreement, catching sight of Rainbow Dashes stiff wing. “Do ya want some ice for that?”

“That’d be real nice,” Rainbow Dash sighed in relief. I’ll ask Twilight later about what that thing was later… when she’s a little less Pinkie crazy.

Ice Cream Makes Everything Better

Time Lost
Ch. 9: Ice Cream Makes Everything Better

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to MLP, but all other characters are mine.

Discord paced the pristine throne room, ignoring the ponies and Princess Celestia as they did boring pony things. Things are transpiring in the craziest of way. Another god here? Discord searched his mind for a solution of the potential disaster on the horizon. Knowledge of any of the Old Gods where wiped along with humanity. Each god had forsaken this place when there was nothing of value or use to their gods. Which means there was only one person who would know…

Discord gulped, the large lump in his throat growing larger as his mind reached its natural conclusion. That Luke Skywalker not only knew about the Unknowable Gods, but he had the means to reach some of them.

If his knowledge were to get out, the world would be doomed to an unimaginable evil that would far overshadow his own crimes against this planet.

There were two logical courses of action to take. Discord could inform Celestia about the potential danger. She could use her resources to monitor Luke and ensure no one would get close to the truth.

This was not a good choice. Manly because as protector of these lands, Celestia would use every ounce of her power to ensure its safety and providing her with knowledge of how insignificant she really was. Celestia would work tirelessly to find a way to protect her ponies. The knowledge would set a blaze within her a blind terror of irrevocable consequences; much like the lioness, soothing to her cubs but a nightmare to those who would threaten her kin. That would cause her to delve further into the unknown and with her knowledge she would find something in the abyss of infinity. That is a day I fear to come. And I hope that these peaceful creatures would never have to face such shapeless congeries of matter that cannot be placed into any category or scientific understanding.

Option two was a little better in Discords opinion. He would have to be to guard this secret. Discord would have to break his word and get as close to look as possible to ensure the worlds safety. That sounds so wrong, Discord shook his head, snorting at the idea.

But it would be necessary.

Discord’s mind continued to wonder of the implications. He couldn’t approach Luke like he was. He certain could not take him away from the Apples without arising suspicion. No, if Discord wanted to watch Luke he would have to approach him as a friend, someone who he could trust.

Discord groaned loudly, running his mismatched claws over his face. To ensure that he didn’t appear as a pedophile or worse, Discord would have to be close to Luke’s age and act as any child would to avoid suspicion.

If I remember correctly, Luke should be starting school tomorrow. And if a family just moved into Ponyville with their only son, I can fulfill my purpose of keeping him and the Universe’s dark secret safe.

With a snap of his claws, Discord disappeared in a shower of confetti.

Celestia sighed in relief at finally being free of Discord’s strange depressed behavior. Now I can get some actual work done. Unfortunately, the moment that thought crossed Celestia’s mind a sudden gust of wind tore through the throne room and sent every single sheet of parchment into the air without care. Celestia held a hoof to her forehead, feeling the migraine growing as paper snowed across the polished floor.

0 0 0

As Sunday progressed, Luke found himself sitting at the dining room table with Applebloom and Granny Smith. After his little outburst, Big Mac found it best he spend some time with a more mentally stable pair. Even though I saw that bottle of booze you had on your back. Don’t hide that from me broh. You’ve gotta share the love man.

Instead, Luke was forced to work on a puzzle with the two other females of the Apple family. It wasn’t a bad thing. Granny Smith was talking about Zap Apples with Luke and Applebloom listening intently while the picture of a bright red barn came closer to completion. I think these guys are a little obsessed with farming.

“And that is the final sign. Then a rainbow flies across the sky, hitting every apple and turning them into a Zap apple,” Granny Smith said, her smile indicating her fondness of the event.

“Wow,” Luke said, imagining what that spectacle would look like. I’m imagining a laser rock show with rainbows and apples.

While Big Mac was enjoying some alone time to quell his trouble thoughts of meeting an abomination, Luke was perfectly fine by just repressing the soul crushing weight of the universe. I know it’s not healthy for me, but that’s Future Luke’s problem. Not mine. Though Luke did feel his dry lips, the desire to take a lick of the creature and bury his thought into nothingness.

Luke shrugged at the notion. Soft memories like the trickle of the desert rain filling a dry river basin flowed from the obscure parts of Luke’s brain. Images of a bare grey concrete wall, cold and lifeless as the individual felt with a bottle of Jack Daniels lying against his leg. Only a sliver of the amber liquid was left within the glass bottle. Its drinker remained still, his alcoholic stupor a much needed reprieve from the hell he found himself in. With a little help, he would be welcomed by the lovely darkness away from conscious reality.

Luke shook his head, fighting against the cold feelings of dread in the pit of his stomach. Granny Smith and Applebloom were here with him in this wooden house. This was a gift that Luke would enjoy with all his heart. Something so simple produced a warm feeling within his feathered breast.

0 0 0

Big Mac made his way towards the crystal tree castle of Twilight. A light warmth filled his body thanks to his old buddy, hard cider. While he was nowhere near his limit, he felt a nagging feeling pluck across his cerebellum and he would not be able to get rid of it until he figured out just what in the world got Twilight so worked up.

Ah know math and Ah’ve never heard of the Clover Conundrum, Big Mac pushed open the double doors. “Anypony home?” Big Mac’s voice echoed through the home. It was past noon and Spike should have been making his way towards the entryway. The lack of scaly feet on the solid crystal floor was slightly unnerving.

Big Mac moved through the long winding hallway, keeping his ears open for any sound. Softly, Big Mac caught the faint sounds shuffling paper and angry muttering. Without hesitation, Big Mac followed the noise and soon found himself inside the two story library of Twilight’s Castle.

While the princess was not available, her Number One Assistant was keeping himself busy by organizing and piling a mountain of scrolls and parchment. The purple dragon had his back to Big Mac. The sound of Big Mac’s hooves echoed in the room, alerting Spike to the workhorse’s presence.

Turning, Spike smiled at the sight of Big Mac, “Hey Big Mac! How’s it going?”

“Going alright,” Big Mac responded with a smirk, bumping his hoof against the dragon’s extended fist. “You?”

Spike sighed in exasperation, “Twilight’s gone crazy again.”

“Tell me about it,” Big Mac grumbled, “Ah actually wanted to talk to her about that. Is she available?”

“Nope,” Spike sighed with a smile. “She just teleported into her room and I’ve only heard snoring sense.”

Big Mac’s brow furrowed as he asked, “Do you know what’s been going on with her lately?”

“Oh let me tell you about it,” Spike said, returning to his work. “First Twilight yells about an equation on the board. Then suddenly I’m being used to send letters all around Equestria. I mean I kept getting letters every five minutes almost.” A sudden burp from Spike, a scroll appeared in the flash of green fire. Spike simple plucked the scroll from the air and tossed it towards its awaiting brethren.

Big Mac noticed Spike grumbling as he rubbed his sore stomach as a means to sooth it. “Ya sure yur all right sugarcube?”

Spike shrugged, “I’ll get over it. It’s not like I have much to do anyway.”

Big Mac’s keen ears caught the not so subtle anger lacing the young dragon’s words. The mounds of paperwork indicated that Spike had been going at this for over a day. The little dragon looked tired, his scales weren’t as well kempt as before and the dark circles that were beginning to develop under his eyes.

Big Mac moved and blocked the purple dragon from continuing his work, “How about you take a break? We can get some ice cream.”

Spike made to argue, but Big Mac knew the young drake needed some time outside the castle. Taking the dragon by the scruff of his neck, Big Mac placed Spike on his back and the pair made their way out of the crystal castle and into the bright sunlight of Ponyville.

Big Mac and Spike sat silently in the plastic covered booth. Spike was enjoying a scoop of vanilla littered with rare gems while Big Mac was enjoying a scoop of Rocky Road. Big Mac watched the dragon use his abnormally long tongue to completely circle the ice scream several times.

“So, Spike?”

“Mmmm-mmmmm, Yes?” Spike finally said his grin wide.

“Can Ah ask ya a question?”

“Sure,” Spike shrugged.

“What’s the Clover Conundrum?”

Spike took a break from his dairy treat, taping his chin with a claw. “Let me think… I remember that Clover the Clever was one of the most influential ponies after Starswirl the Bearded left with Scorpan to deliver the magic of friendship to his people. After that Clover became the head of the Magis Guild, she began setting the foundations of modern mathematics among other mages. While she didn’t create the modern version of Calculus like Starswirl, she applied these principles into describing the physical world. It was Clover that improved the fields of physics, even going as far as describing tensors; or geometric objects that describe linear relations between geometric vectors, scalars, and other tensors.”

Spike took a second to take several bites of his frosty treat. “While Clover was very knowledgeable, she could not finish the connection between light, matter, gravity and time. Many ponies have tried, but none have gotten even close to solving her theories.” Spike looked up to Big Mac with a confused gaze, “The crazy thing is that the Clover Conundrum is not just one equation but multiple. Each one focused on a different area; Neightonian physics, behaviors of light, behaviors of gravity and time.”

“At least until recently,” Big Mac nodded, his mind processing all the new information. “Ah remember studying Calculus and physic, but ah don’t remember anything on this stuff.”

“That’s to be expected,” Spike continued, “This stuff hasn’t been substantiated yet. It’s still an unknown process and most ponies are not sure how these many factors relate to each other.”

“What do you mean?”

Spike’s tong took a relatively large ruby from the ice cream with a loud slurp. “The best example would be the theory of gravity. We can measure the gravity of the earth, but we don’t know exactly what it is. How does gravity relate to the atom? What forces cause atoms to stay together? How does gravity relate to time? Just because we can describe the results of something and prove it’s there, doesn’t mean we can fully understand it.”

“Ya seem to know a lot about this stuff, sugarcube,” Big Mac admonished, his eyes holding both surprise and awe at Spike’s knowledge.

“When you’ve worked with Twilight for long enough, you kinda pick up a few things,” Spike smiled.

Big Mac silently watched Spike returning to his ice cream with great gusto to avoid it melting further. Ideas where floating around Big Mac’s brain. The biggest one was of Luke mind. The child acted as any other child; with wide eyed wonder, a carefree nature and happiness. It was when Luke focused that really surprised Big Mac. The mind behind the young feathery face was so thorough and capable that even he could not fully understand how Luke could perform such mathematic feats.

That must be it, Big Mac thought. It must be the level of education Luke had received. The education of Luke’s home must not only be advanced, but their science must be even more so. Outside of his understanding, Luke had never shown a very high mental capacity in his standard day. Only when he was forced to focus did Luke show his aptitude.

The only logical conclusion was that Luke had worked hard in his studies, but had not natural gift to mathematics or science. Big Mac felt some warmth enter his heart like at Spike’s knowledge and understanding. To be so young and learned was a great sight to the older pony.

Maybe Luke and Spike could hang out sometime… They could call it, Guy’s Night.

Big Mac released a chuckle at the idea. Luke and Spike could use a few more friends and Big Mac was certain he could make it so. I’m sure Spike could use a few male friends. I’ve seen that apron and a few less female influences would be good.

0 0 0

The sun lowered into the West, casting shadows across Sweet Apple Acres. Luke returned to his room, his mind on the sudden conversation with Big Mac. Who’s Spike and why do I need to hang out with him?

Luke shrugged, pushing his door close after he entered. Luke jumped nimbly onto his office chair. The simple wooden surface was covered with bits of paper and random notes. Ignoring the book on magic, Luke moved his attention towards the other two books. ‘Puff the Magic Dragon’ was an entertaining read, I miss drugs. So many magical, mind altering drugs… Which I do not know what they feel like.

The other book was a rather thick volume of Equestrian history. This book was Luke’s major annoyance. It was too clean and felt too fabricated. Several major events in Equestrian history could literally be connected to only a handful of ponies. For example: Commander Hurricane, Smart Cookie, the Princesses and let’s not forget the countless achievements of Starswirl the Bearded.

Then, there was nothing. There were no major historical events out of three wars: the changling war, the Lunar Rebellion after the banishment of Nightmare Moon and the Prench Offensive that lasted three months against the expansion of Neighpolion’s army.

Then there was the lack of technology advancements. The steam engine was invented over a hundred years ago and there have been no major changes to it from what the historical value it is said to have for the pilgrimage towards Appaloosa.

Even magic was lacking. An annotation of Starswirl the Bearded noted that his last correspondence to the Princesses was about the lack of development of ponies was because the princesses where there to protect them. Ponies faced less natural opposition than any nation around the world. While the book did not establish what these other nations did when a giant monster attacked, Equestria’s answer was to throw their ruling body against it.

Luke sighed in frustration, not even opening the book again. He knew it was ridiculous to look at Equestrian history with such a critical eye, but he could not shake this feeling in his gut. Something was missing. Perhaps it was in his nature to not believe in this apparent utopia the Princesses have created.

Luke thought back to his conversation with Twilight. He knew he overreacted, but Luke’s understanding of Equestria was that each pony had their role to play. It went against his nature to allow destiny to rule his actions like the ponies did.

The young hippogriff did not hold it against the ponies. It was in their nature and nothing more.

Luke was grateful that the Apples where this way. Taking a silent claw, Luke undid the bindings around his face. With gently fingers, Luke traced the stitching of the three claw marks across the empty eye socket.

In all honesty, Luke felt conflicted about the feelings in his gut. Happy at the family around him, confusion about the world he was in, fear at the unknown threat he knew was behind the scenery, and the guilt he felt for indirectly questioning the Apples and their good nature.

All I know is that the evidence presented before me points me towards certain conclusions. Hastur himself reveals that this is my Earth. Humanity was indeed wiped out. These kind ponies live in a world of friendship and love. But I live in a different world.

I live in a world of gods. And their will can either destroy this world again or leave it in utter ignorance.

Luke jumped to his bed like a nimble cat. He felt so tired about these ideas and topics. They weighed heavy on his heart. Sleep would suffice for now. He had no power in this world of his. He was only a speck of dust before a multi-limbed creature that killed his race and the Eldritch Gods beyond both space and time.

0 0 0

A certain child wanted to continue to sleep under his homemade quilt provided by the Apple family.

Until that god forsaken bird decided to crow. Motherfu-, Luke groaned to himself, his eye cracking open to see the faint blue light of the early sun. The echoes of the farms roosters still held the morning air. Screw the sun, nightlife’s where it’s at.

Yet the thrice accursed crow’s call pierced the air again, signaling the arrival of the day; which happened to be the most despised day of the week, Monday. But this was not just any Monday. No, no, no. Today was the beginning of the end, the rising of the Eldritch gods of old, as transcendent as death and taxes. Today was the first day of school for Luke Skywalker.

Luke slowly lifted himself from the warm comfort of his quilted blankets and grand dream of something. I may have forgotten, but who cares its school. I can catch up on some sleep later.

Luke dropped to the ground, his wings held out to soften his landing. Still working on that, Luke grumbled, picking his beak up from a close in counter with the floor.

Echoes of hoofsteps announced the Apple family was ready for this day. Exiting the room, Luke got an eyeful of bed head Applejack. Her unbound hair was sticking up in all direction in every possible direction, rubbing her eyes as was her normal morning procedures. Oh my god, Applejack has ascended to the level of Super Saiyan! Now let’s go find the Dragonballs! Luke chuckled at the sight.

Applejack turned towards the sound of Luke’s light laughing, seeing Luke’s all knowing smirk. “Ya’ll keep that to yurself,” Applejack said, passing Luke on her way to the bathroom, surely to battle the vile monster of her blond locks.

Luke nodded, knowing that one day he needed to get his hands on a camera for just these types of moments. One day, Applejack. One day.

Making his way to the stairs, Luke’s carefree facade vanished at the sight of his greatest enemy… stairs. Slowly, Luke approached the edge of his eternal turmoil. Gently, Luke’s hand rose, moving towards the base of the first step. Luke’s palm felt the smooth wood. Putting his full weight onto the appendage, Luke froze for just a second. It felt solid. But Luke’s minute weight was nothing to talk about, barely getting a tiny squeak from the aged wood. With a content sigh, Luke made his way down the warn stairs without any incidences.

Breakfast was quick. The older ponies had a large workload and needed to get started early. With his saddles ready and strapped on, Luke and Applebloom walked next to Applejack as they made their way towards Ponyville Elementary.

“Are you nervous?” Applejack asked, smiling towards Luke.

“Nope,” Luke responded lazily. It’s elementary school, not Harvard Univserity.

“Good,” Applejack nodded, “You just be sure to not git into trouble.”

“Do I look like trouble?” Luke asked with fake offense.

“I was talking to her,” Applejack nodded towards her own sister.

“Hey!”

The small group enjoyed a good laugh, the red building soon coming into their sights.

With a farewell, Applejack left to two children before class began. When the bell rang, Luke found himself standing in front of the entire classroom. Cheerilee stood in front of the class with a wide smile, “Now class let me introduce our two new students.”

Wait… two?

“First is Luke Skywalker,” Cheerilee waved a hoof with great exaggeration towards the hippogriff. A light applause from the class followed this announcement.

“And next is Entropy Q,” with another wave, Cheerilee motioned towards the door.

“Sorry! Sorry!” a high-pitched voice called from the outside. Stumbling into the room was a dark grey unicorn that seemed unsteady on his white hooves. His mane stood in all kinds of crazy directions. What caught Luke’s attention were his eyes. One iris was green and the other red. On his face he wore a rather blushing and goofy smile.

God I wish I got more practice with hooves. This is so embarrassing.

The First Day of School

Time Lost
Ch. 10: The First Day of School

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to MLP or any of its subsidiaries.

Entropy Q sat quietly on in his wooden desk, his mismatched eyes wondered the bland room with bland ponies and bland math on the bland chalkboard. Must resist urge to do chaos. Must be a good Discord. Discord’s multi-colored eyes roamed the faces of concentration worn by the foals around him. At least he wasn’t the only one suffering from boredom. Two rows to his left, Entropy found Luke staring with a glazed look in his eyes. In all honesty, Entropy wouldn’t be surprised if the hippogriff had suddenly taken leave of his body and is now moving through the Either as a spirit.

Sweet merciful Buddha, this is boring! Luke sighed silently to himself. He knew these ponies were learning this for the first time, but there were only so many times you could review multiplication tables before it became redundant.

Luke’s eye wondered the classroom, noting the line of drool dripping from a napping Snips and Snails. Luke wanted to eye the clock, but deep down he knew that by continuously looking at the clock would make time flow even slower than the speed of a snail’s travel during the summer day.

Turning back to Cherrilee, Luke began to wonder why she had such a smile on her face. She was teaching elementary school and yet her smile was full of life. Ten bucks says she’s got a bottle of scotch in her dresser. Luke’s couldn’t help his eye wandering to the clock.

Luke’s palm slammed against his forehead. His fingers ran down his feather feature and over the hard beak. This can’t get any worse.

Thankfully Luke found some enjoyment out of the history part of the day. While social studies was not his best study, Luke did find it interesting.

With rapt attention, Luke listened to the story of the Eastern front. During the young days of Equestria, the Euro nations where suffering from the great winter. While Equestria had found the Fires of Friendship to keep the Windigos at bay, crops died and disease plagued the separate and warring nations.

Several of the foals shuddered at the sight of some of the depictions presented in their school books. Ponies with masks in the appearance of the dreaded crow and black cloaks could be seen walking among the ruins of once great monolithic cities. The twisted visage of those beaks was used to hold aromatic items to protect the plague doctors.

Luke was unaffected by the imagery. Instead he was presented with a sense of nostalgia. Looking at something with such familiarity brought an interesting idea to Luke. The old adage goes, ‘History is doomed to repeat itself.’

It was humbling to see a relapse from his world. The dark shadow of disease could even affect such a starch difference of values and biology. While half listening to Cherrilee, Luke flipped ahead in his book. Images of an alicorn named Faust were paraded as the cause of the madness. That these ponies where unclean and this was the rightful punishment of their god. Many would turn to violence in an attempt to purge the world of such sin. Some turned to their chapels, bleeding across the sacred steps of their god’s marble steps.

The world was still twisted. You just had to look deep enough to find it.

A cold shiver ran up Luke’s spine, causing his fur and feathers to stand on end. His vision blurred around the edged. A soft red tint twisted the peripherals of his vision.

Blood is the price all men pay. Yours will be next.

Luke’s head shot up, the sudden haze and harsh mental jab from the unseen voice. Cherrilee was wrapping up her lesson on a somber note. Luke pretended to pay attention. His rapidly beating heart and mind where on the darkness he felt inside his own mind, like a pitch black blanket of furious heat. Something was wrong. Just like that first night he had arrived at Sweet Apple Acres.

Thankfully, P.E. was next and some fresh air could only help the sudden shift in mood.

0 0 0

Children cheered widely from both sides of the grassy fields. Two improvised goals of orange cones stood at each end. Right now Entropy was currently serving as goalie on Applebloom’s side. With her and Scootaloo on the forward front, Discord felt his team had a chance of victory. The downside was that Snips and Snails were the defenders. We’d only have a better chance of winning if there was a rock in their place. A rock would be steadfast and not following a random butterfly.

Entropy sighed, watching Snails looking intently at a random snail slither through the tuffs of grass. Snips was looking cross-eyed at the butterfly on the tip of his muzzle. Unfortunately, Snips didn’t see the flying ball of hard plastic heading straight for his face.

“OW!” the high pitched scream hit Entropy’s ears.

“Should have seen that coming,” the mismatched pony tried to contain his grin. That’s why I love children. Their just a big bundle of chaos just waiting to wreck havoc on the world.

His red and green eyes moved across the orange unicorn staggering to his hooves, rubbing his red muzzle. Entropy’s eyes caught sight of the lone hippogriff limping around the field. The hippogriff wore a content smile. The fresh air and soft grass beneath his hooves and talons felt wonderful outside of the classroom.

“LOOK OUT LUKE!” One of the ponies yelled.

Luke turned towards the voice. His vision became obscured by a blur of white plastic. Cherrilee and the students gasped when Luke was sent flying back and onto the cold hard grass. Luke laid on the ground, looking up dazedly into the pure blue sky. A random Pegasus flew across his vision.

Luke could feel the thunder of Cherrilee’s hooves through the earth. “Luke, are you alright?”

“Yeah,” Luke sighed, “This isn’t the first time I’ve taken balls to the face.”

Cherrilee waited a few seconds, watching the hippogriff with a confused expression. “You sure you’re all right?”

“Yeah-yeah. I heard what I said,” Luke pulled himself up, dusting off his feathered coat.

All the foals went back to their game. Luke even caught sight of Entropy holding his sides as he laughed uncontrollably into the green law.

0 0 0

Lunch was the best day of school. No other subjects could compare to this, the sacred forty-five minutes of uninterrupted food and play. Luke sat on the workbench with his small group of friends. Rumble munched happily on his sandwich while watching Button Mash scream incoherently into his Joyboy. Applebloom, Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo were talking about what type of Cutie Mark they should try next. Luke had stopped listening when they were talking about Cutie Mark Crusaders Lion Tamers.

I can hardly tame a house cat. What would happen if I got in front of a real lion? Luke had to choke down the rising lump in his throat.

“Um… Excuse Me?”

Luke turned away from his peanut butter and apple jam sandwich to find Entropy Q standing rather sheepishly next to their table. The dark grey fur matched his white mane. It was his eyes that were the most interesting. Two different colors that detracted from each other reminded Luke of a very happy time, the time of giving and peace on earth.

“Yeah?” Applebloom asked.

“Can I sit with you guys?” Entropy asked, rubbing his left foreleg awkwardly.

Applebloom turned to eye all of the children at the table. With a shrug, all of the foals smiled at the new arrival. Luke scooted over, allowing Entropy a place on the warm wooden seat. Entropy tossed the paper bag he was carrying on his back onto the table before taking his seat.

Luke smiled at the unicorn. The hippogriff was more concerned with his lunch but a polite hello was necessary for the occasion. At least he was until he watched Entropy pull from his paper bag a peanut butter and cotton candy sandwich with mustard.

Entropy was about to bite into his sandwich until he caught sight of all the eyes of the foals at the table. “What?” Entropy asked with a confused expression.

“What kind of sandwich is that?” Scootaloo asked, trying not to turn green at the sight of the bright yellow liquid running along the side with puffy pink candy and brown peanut butter.

“It’s my favorite sandwich; peanut butters, cotton candy and mustard,” Entropy shrugged before proffering his sandwich to the others. “Wanna try a bite?”

All of the ponies and the hippogriff shook their heads. “No I’m good,” Luke quickly turned back to his apple jam sandwich. Everyone ignored their new friend’s unique choice of food, Luke enjoying the simple taste of peanut butter and jelly. He couldn’t help but enjoy the laughter of children.

Applebloom commented, “Yur eyes are cool. They’re different colors.”

“Yeah,” Scootaloo nodded, “They remind me Hearth’s Warming Eve.”

“What’s that?” Luke asked.

“It’s the celebration of when the three Tribes united to survive the winter caused by the Windigos freezing the lands. By uniting together, the Fire of Friendship was able to drive away the Windigos and Equestria was founded by the three tribes,” Sweetie Belle answered in a rather bored voice.

Scootaloo smiled at a far off memory, “It’s all about giving presents, the play and warm apple cider.”

“Sounds like Christmas,” Luke commented off handedly.

“What’s Christmas?” Rumble asked.

“It’s the of giving, birth of Jesus and Santa Clause comes around to deliver presents to all the good boys and girls,” Luke provided the cliffnotes version and ignore the yearly religious firefights and debates and let’s not forget the intolerance.

“Ours is called Santa Hooves,” Rumble’s eyes beamed happily, “He rides around with a few flying reindeer!”

“Dude! Mine Too!” Luke almost jumped out of his seat. Just as fast as the revelation of the similarities between the ponies and humans, his fluffy feather deflated slightly.

“What’s wrong?” Applebloom asked.

“Nothing,” Luke sighed. The hippogriff was more disappointed than sad. “Just forgot my birthday’s on Christmas.”

“Why are your sad about that?” Scootaloo asked in confusion. “That’s double the presents.”

“Not in my house,” Luke pointed out, “And I really never get to visit my friends on my birthday. They’re normally spending time with family.”

“That does make sense,” Rumble nodded. “But if your birthday is on Christmas, then shouldn’t your birthday be on Hearth’s Warming Eve?”

“Is Hearth’s Warming on December 25th?”

“What’s a December?” Scootaloo asked, tasting the strange word on her tongue.

“Then sure,” Luke rubbed his head, realizing that as long as it was winter, he was close enough to his original birthday that was good enough.

“Cool,” Applebloom smiled, “Ah’ll let Big Mac know that way we can have yur party on the right day.”

Luke shrugged in indifference. As he got older, he never cared for his birthday. Now was not a big difference. The group lapped into silence, eating their meals with gusto and lost in their own thoughts.

After some time, Sweetie Belle leaned in towards her friends, “So, are you girls ready for the fair?”

“Yep,” Applebloom nodded.

“Sure am!” Scootaloo responded.

Luke looked to the four boys in his group. Each showed no response as they looked up to Sweetie Belle’s interruption. “Hey, she just called us girls.”

Button and Rumble shrugged indifferent. Entropy cocked his head to the side. Looking down between his front legs, Luke heard Entropy’s voice, “Still a boy.”

Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes, “Sorry, I meant everypony.”

“No problem,” The boys muttered.

“Why are you so interested in the fair?” Entropy asked.

“Cotton candy, games, flashing lights and popcorn,” Button Mash smiled happily, his eyes distant and focused on a far off memory.

“That does sound like fun,” Entropy smiled widely. Luke could hear the soft tapping of the unicorn’s grey tail against the aged wood.

“Also, the science fair,” Sweetie Belle added. “I overheard Miss Cheerilee talking about how we have to do a project.”

“And you’re excited about this why?” Scootaloo asked.

“Cause I saw who our partners are,” Sweetie Belle smiled slyly.

“Oooooh,” Applebloom and Scootaloo felt the smiles widen across their muzzles. “Who do I have?” Both asked in unison.

Luke, Entropy, Button and Rumble watched with some amusement as Applebloom and Scootaloo tried to wrangle the truth from Sweetie Belle. Sweetie crossed her forelegs in symbolic gesture that she would not crack. The growing smile detracted from her stance.

If Luke was being honest with himself, this was entertaining. Their shrill voices were so high pitched and adorable, Luke leaned over to Entropy, “Aren’t they just the darndest thing?”

“I know,” Entropy said, “They’re so cute when their angry.”

“Hey! We heard that!”

Luke’s smile increased, the fillies’ cheeks where blushing pink as they spluttered incoherently. Luke and Entropy chuckled loudly, All too easy.

After some more teasing and Applebloo threatening to tell us about the time Sweetie bell tried to back green eggs and bread. Seriously what happened?! Luke found himself leaning towards the other end of the table, listening intently to Sweetie Belle, “First Applebloom, you get to work with Rumble.”

“Yes,” Applebloom pumped her right foreleg in excitement.

“Next, Scootaloo and Dinky.”

“Oh thank goodness,” Scootaloo wiped a invisible bead of sweat from her forehead. “She’s a better writer than me.”

“A six year old is a better writer than you?” Luke tried to process this new bit of information.

“Have you seen her hoof-writing? She has the best cursive in the class,” Scootaloo shrugged, not the least bit surprised.

“Anyway,” Sweetie Belle continued with a raised eye. She moved her eyes towards Button Mash. Luke could see the bright hearts floating over her bouncy mane. “Button?” Sweetie dreamily asked. Button Mash merrily stared into the distance. “Uh, Button?” Button continued to stare into nothingness, his eyes glazed over. “Button?!” Sweetie Belle asked with more force, losing the literal hearts hanging over her head. Where did they come from and where did they go?

“Cotton candy… games,” Button smiled dreamily at the thought of the Fall Fair.

“Ugh!” Sweetie Belle slammed her head into the table, her frustration rising in her throat.

Entropy’s mix matched eyes moved from Sweetie Belle and then to Button Mash. “Huh,” he thought to himself, “I’d ship that.”

“What was that?” Applebloom asked.

“Nothing you’re young ears should hear,” Entropy said, shaking his head.

Applebloom turned to Luke. The hippogriff shook his head, “Don’t ask me. You’re way too young for that conversation.”

“But Ah wanna know,” Applebloom snapped. She didn’t like the look Luke and Entropy were sharing.

Luke’s beak open to speak, but Entropy responded first, “It’s you know… adult stuff.”

“What kind of adult stuff?”

“Umm well…”

“Oh look,” Luke pointed towards Snips and Snails, “Literally anything else. Let’s pay attention to it!”

Snips and Snail ran through the crowds of talking fillies and colts. Somehow, Snails had tried to catch the football with his muzzle. The football ended up lodged between his teeth and was now stuck. Drool slipped past the brown leather as him and Snails ran past yelling for Miss Cheerilee.

“Huh,” Luke followed the pair’s progress. “Is that a normal thing for this school?”

“More or less,” Scootaloo shrugged, “It could be a monster attack, friendship problem or Diamond Tiara.”

“Right,” Luke’s eyebrow was really getting a workout today. Leaning over to Entropy, Luke whispered, “What time do you think Cheerilee leaves for Happy Hour?”

“Not soon enough,” Entropy nodded sagely. “Wish I could join her.”

“You and me both buddy,” Luke nodded in agreement.

“What are you two talking about?” Rumble asked, having no idea what either the unicorn or hippogriff where referencing.

“Nothing,” the pair sang. Luke should have received a red flag for all of the adult topics Entropy was understanding, but it was just nice to talk to another adult about adult stuff without getting a rather worried or confused look or soap. I hate soap.

The bell rang violently over the heads of all of the children. Luke shrugged, he’d figure out who he was partnering for the Science Fair. It can’t be that bad

0 0 0

Luke stood next to Entropy, his eye moving between Miss Cheerilee and his new lab partner. While Luke looked mildly worried as Entropy began vibrating violently. His voice vibrated, making his words difficult to understand, “Oh-my-goodness-this-is-going-to-be-so-so-so-so-so-much-fun! We-can-experiment-with-genetics-gravity-light-radiation-medicine-explosion-boom-boom-boom!”

Luke’s eye widened as entropy’s hooves slowly lifted off of the worn wooden flooring. The mis-matched colt twisted through the air, his mouth running a mile a minute. When his feet touched the roof, the brown unicorn was skipping, jumping and running. All eyes of the class followed Entropy. In his excitement, Entropy was talking about Einstein Rosengate Bridge, inter-dimensional travel, cross-species splicing, a cure for cancer and Luke would swear Entropy said ‘to look on the face of God.’

When he finally calmed down from his excitement, Entropy plopped down on the ground. Luke exchanged a confused look with Miss Cheerilee. Entropy’s eyes moved between the school teacher and Luke, “What’s wrong?”

“Uh,” Luke and Cheerilee said.

“You where on the roof? How’d you do that?” Luke asked in awe and a little impressed.

Entropy opened in mouth to speak, but his natural instinct as a God of Chaos wanted to screw with Luke. “Was I? Or was it you on the ceiling?” Entropy smiled widely. “Perhaps the reversal of gravity was but a metaphor. A reflection of your life, turned upside down where your understanding of physics and reality are no longer packable. Instead of me on the ceiling, you’re on the ceiling and have been this entire time in an upside down world.”

Luke stood there in the classroom with his slaw slack. Finally, Luke began to speak, “I know you’re dodging the question… But you just blew my mind.”

Entropy smiled, patting Luke on the shoulder. “Don’t worry bud, you and I are going to be the best of friends.”

“Sure will!”

Down the Rabbit Hole

Time Lost
Ch. 11: Down the Rabbit Hole
Disclaimer: I do not own the right to MLP or any of its related characters.

The evening sun beat down on Big Mac’s back, heating his red fur and the wooden barrels he carried into the barn. The shade was a welcomed relief from the heat. The sound of high pitched chuckling was an unusual sound, but welcomed none the less.

The familiar hippogriff and an unknown grey unicorn were sitting on the rough bales of hay. Sheets of parchment lay hazardously around the pair. Luke wore a rather amused expression while the grey unicorn flustered loudly, “But we can look through to other dimensions! That would kill the competition!”

“Yeah,” the feathered colt said slowly, “I get it. I really do, but if the barrier becomes unstable it could either be used as a portal allowing some unholy abomination onto the Earth. Or the barrier was acting like a form of protection and sucks everything into that dimension or into oblivion.”

“Oh come one! What is the chance of that happening?!”

“Uh how many ways could the barrier fail?”

“42.”

A thin claw scratched the top of Luke’s head, “What are the chances it would succeed?”

“A little.”

Big Mac tossed the barrels to their proper place among their brethren. His ears swiveled at the hippogriff’s next question, “How little are we talking Entropy?”

“Like five-ish,” Entropy shrugged.

“5-ish percent?”

“Yeah.”

The pair looked awkwardly at each other. The red workhorse went about his work of organizing the work bench since Applejack was too good to put tools back in their proper place. There is a white outline for a reason! Luke finally spoke up, “We could do my idea on the properties of light both as a wave and a particle.”

“But that’s so boring,” the other colt wined falling backward in announce.

The hippogriff sighed, “It seems like we’re at an impasse dude. How do you want to solve it?”

A light bulb appeared over Entropy’s head. Big Mac would normally question this sort of thing, but he gave up making sense of things years ago. “We can play a game.”

Before the two boys could continue, the red pony’s deep voice said, “Try not to take too long suppers almost finished. And- uh – Entropy, what time do you need to be home by?”

Said pony turned his green and red eyes to Big Mac, “Right around dark. Why?”

“Suns starting to go down,” the large pony said with a wave of his hoof to the open door. “Do ya need me to walk ya home?”

Entropy shook his head in the negative. “Nah. I’ll just teleport. It’s far faster and more fun.”

The workhorse wanted to question how a colt could know that level of spell, but decided just to wait outside and make sure the little guy didn’t walk off without supervision so close to the Everfree Forest. He continued out into the yard and towards the well. Dryness from today’s chores was tickling his throat and a cold drink was in order. He could still here Luke and Entropy the farther he moved.

“Alright. What’s the game?”

“First, we’re both betting for the other’s idea.”

“Why?”

“It’ll be funner that way,” the grey colt announced.

“Funner isn’t a word,” The hippogriff’s flat tone conveyed his annoyance at the butchering of the English language.

“Screw you and your proper words! Second, we’ll be performing the oldest competition between two males to decide,” the unicorn’s voice rose higher.

Big Mac scratched the back of his head, picturing Luke doing the same thing. Said Luke asked, “And that would be?”

“Measuring!”

The red pony swore the crickets were even confused by their lack of sound. “I don’t get it,” Luke and Mac asked in unison.

“You know,” Entropy tried to think of the right words. “Two guys, they want to prove who the bigger male is. So they measure stuff.”

A soft smacking of a talon hand against his feathery head emitted from the open barn door. “The expression is measuring dicks. And No we are not doing that.”

“Males use to measure dicks! That just weird!”

“Yeah, so let’s do something else and never speak of this again,” Luke’s voice sounded firm on its position.

“Wanna flip a coin?”

“Sure.”

The older pony outside the barn wiped a red foreleg across his brown, “Thank Celestia… That was getting weird.”

“Dammit.”

“So it looks like we’re going my idea,” Entropy cheered, flashes of multicolored lights filtering from the barn.

“Sure are,” the hippogriff tried to no show his full disappointment. He knew deep down that this would fail so horrible. But he gave his word. And Luke Skywalker was a man of his word.

“Well I best be hitting the old dusty trail,” the grey colt said, stretching and poppy his tiny bones.

“Kay, catch yo-“

A blast of air and confetti flew from the barn door, the large workhorse decided to check up on the hippogriff. What he found was the grey feathers and blue fur covered from head to hoof in glittering confetti of every conceivable color. The amber eye was held tightly shut. Big Mac watched the pink tongue poke from out of the sharp beak. Thick splotches of wet glittered stuck to the appendage, ignoring the violent sputtering of Luke trying to dislodge them.

“Ya’ll alright?”

Loud spitting and garbled cursing where thrown at the red pony. His response was a low chuckle before dragging the young hippogriff into the bathroom to help get the glitter out of his ruffled feathers.

The results were mixed to say the least. Luke was now confetti free, but glistened under the dining room lights. “Wow, Luke,” Applebloom smiled towards the unfortunate colt. “You sure are sparklely.”

“Uh-hu.”

“You sure shine in the light.”

“Not funny Applebloom.”

“Are you a vampire? Like one of those in Applejack’s books,” Applebloom shot a smug look towards her older sister.

“Now when did ya’ll read mah Twilight books?” Applejack grounded her teeth.

As the two girls bickered, Luke looked towards Big Mac, “Please tell me Twilight isn’t a thing here and the vampires don’t sparkle in the sunlight?”

“Nope, it’s real.”

A cold wave of existential crisis crushed against the small feather and furred body. “When was this a thing?”

“Couple of years ago.”

“How did Twilight take it?”

The pony shrugged his large shoulders in response. If there was anything to take out of this discussion was that Luke was going to use this new knowledge to do the one thing he could think of. Twilight jokes!

The rest of the night’s festivities involved less horrifying topics and a large amount of denial from the two males in the house. But an early bedtime was in order, leaving the young hippogriff alone inside the large room. His single amber eye glistened with the pale light of the moon.

He waited, patiently in the cold light for the slow breathing of the farm’s other occupants. Something was nagging at the of Luke’s mind. Something deeper than a forgotten choir or random thought.

It felt cold. A single piece of ice was being held at the base of his brain, sitting on what would be considered the medulla oblongata. He pressed the palms of his hands against his forehead. It was there, sliding through the folds of his grey matter like and ethereal phantom of some bygone era.

Getting closer.

Dropping his talons, Luke scanned the room before him bathed in pure blue light. His single eye caught every detail; the crumpled paper littering his desk, the blue crystal wrapped in bronze wiring, a few batteries and the scribbled notes noting the properties. If he squinted his eye just right, he could just make out the tiny burnt holes in the room’s wall papers.

Closer.

A trickling of adrenaline pushed its way into the tiny heart. The sounds of rapid thunder bashed against his small ribcage, filling his limbs with tingling numbness. The Flight or Fight reflex as he recalled it. The muscles within the hippogriff’s lithe frame tightened in anticipation.

Closer.

Luke’s fingers tightened, feeling the quilt rolling in his grasp. The clawing darkness hiding behind the folds of his brain made its way closer to the center of the cerebellum, to the center of what he was. That cold darkness felt all too familiar.

Here.

Tight fingers wrapped around the back of the young colt’s thin neck. Without so much as a squawk, he was dragged through his quite, bedding and into darkness.

Shapes of indescribable nature pushed on the peripherals of Luke’s eye. They twisted and turned before his vision. They danced within their shadows. An unconscious nature to their dance felt all to alien to the world of reality.

Still, the hippogriff fell further and deeper into the indescribable flowing of sights and utter silence.

Then, hard concrete pressed against Luke’s prone body. His stomach and chest felt the unnaturally warm surface under him. Raising his head, the colt scanned the strange place.

“That just lame,” he lamented. Around him were a series of long piping running along the walls and above his head. Steam spilt from several loose intersections of metal pipes, giving the place an eerie feeling.

“You know, ripping off A Nightmare of Elms Street is really, really, lame,” the high pitched voice echoed around his feathery head.

A soft slurping splash hit the concrete flooring. Luke wiped around with lightning speed to find a bloody moldy grey pile of skin and blood. It oozed puss and coagulated blood causing the bile to rise in his puffy cheeks.

Another splat warned the young colt of another pile. The swollen, dead skin around a thumb leaked yellow puss around the all too small nail. More and more piece of rotting flesh fell from some unknown source high above his head

“Yeah, I’m not going to fall for that,” the colt muttered to himself, turning towards the opposite side. “You’ve got to be kidding me!” When he looked towards the only other option of travel, the same trail of sickly putrid flesh met his amber eye going in the exact opposite direction.

Looks like I’m stuck between a rock and pwned city, with a defeated sigh, Luke begrudgingly moved towards the left. Through a series of undulating, shifting metal pipelines of questionable origin he traveled. An air of foreboding grew with each passing step. Deeper into the folds of metal, iron and heavy air the colt pushed. The air grew thick, almost chocking his lungs. Sweat poured from his skin, the heat an inclination towards the gates of Hell itself.

A deep pit of fear pulsed in his stomach, far beyond any realm of reality. This was a deep cold that burned within his very being.

Taking a left, Luke stood before his absolution. A round circular room, its dark brick walls covered in layers of sickening slime of questionable nature. It smelt of copper, rotten flesh and the harsh acidic stench of broken down tissue. Twisting trails flowed towards the black drains, sliding across the porous ground.

What caught the single amber eye was the creature slumped against the only clean wall. From the deepest part of the hippogriff’s mind, he knew the warped visage of his human form. The right arm was held against the brick work. The red pulsing muscles and bone stretched to impossibility, adhering to the rough material through thousands of writing muscle fibers. Orbs of white with wide irises of all conceivable color glared at the outside world. From the torn twisted fibers, gasping with sharp broken white shards reflecting from their pitch black maws.

The human’s body was bent in several angles, an unsettling misshapen mess that was painful to the eyes. From the right pant leg, a slug of miss-mashed pieces slipped from the fabric. The poor light revealed the shattered pieces of white calcium held together by black viscous that lightly bubbled before the young colt’s eye. Behind the blood stain clothing writhed an uncountable shifting shapes, as if countless hands clawed desperately against the fabric in a desperate bid for freedom.

The face pulled Luke’s eye. The once circular dome was pulled to an obscene angle and length. The creature’s mouth was jagged, pulled up and across the left side of his face. Rows upon rows of shifting, broken, corroded teeth glistened from the gruesome pit of perdition. The one remaining eye held a mesmerizing light. Something of harsh hue the human mind could not fully comprehend. Behind that single eye was a type of bright substance that resembled some otherworldly intelligence.

Luke mouthed wordlessly. He looked into those lights of beyond life. I looked into those dead lights… and I saw something to horrifying to put into words. It was at the edge of eternity. A thing beyond time and space looking in on the small fragile mind with an intensity beyond human comprehension. My words dry within my, stilling my tongue from speech.

“What the fuck is that?”

Never mind.

The horrific thing shifted from his position, the warped lips twisted in the imitation of a smile. “We are many.”

Luke scanned the area to ensure there was nothing to jump out or grab him. “Okay. Is there anything else you abomination of everything unholy in the universe?”

“Now that just rude,” the mutated human said. His voice slithered across the air, piercing the holes the hippogriff called ears. “You don’t have to be an ass about this.”

The beak fell in incredulity, “You tried to kill me in my dreams and you’re telling me I don’t have to be an ass about it! F**K you!”

The humanoid reached out with his only free arm. The hand was twisted, black talons reaching out to render the helpless flesh. The child blinked in silence, watching the being struggle against his organic bonds. When it tired, the humanoid stared angrily at the smaller creature before him. The focus of his ire stared blankly at the amorphous human shape, “You done?”

The being snarled at the hippogriff, but he remained silent.

“What are you exactly?”

“We are many. We are the dead who cannot pass from our indescribable prison beyond life,” The being’s voice was harsh, broken words slipping from that so horrid a mouth. “You do not see Us. We, who live in the shadow of your life, We are your death.”

“What does that even mean?” The young child’s voice snapped. “It’s all bullshit and metaphors with you. Speak English!”

The impossibly designed creature before him tilted his head. The sound of bone grinding against bone played across his ears. “You don’t understand. But you will. In the end, your death will free us. That is why you have to die. You are the last. The only connection to that time before Chaos became sentient and Order sent her emissaries to this world.”

Luke wanted to yell something, but the cold hard speck drew in the darkness assaulting his mind. The vision before him deteriorated in a foggy mess of colors and harsh stench of death. The harsh laughter of the monstrous image of humanity followed the young child.

“Beware child! Beware the world of Order! You are not off it and they will make you an enemy! It is by blood and bone the truth exists! And they will fear you for it!”

A Story

Time Lost
Ch. 1: A Story
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to MLP. All other characters are mine.

In the beginning of all creation, there was nothing. There was only black emptiness spreading out to infinity. One spark was all that was needed. An explosion of light and energy filled the emptiness with precious matter. Pure, unaffected atoms pushed out towards the infinite horizon. From matter, gravity soon took hold and the universe began to form. Particles of matter drew together creating the planets and stars. All was good and bright in the galaxies littering the empty realm of space.

As gravity created order among the stars, disorder grew. Energy spread across the system, becoming unusable by the stars they originated from. Consciousness grew, becoming aware of the surrounding space. Untouchable and intangible, this consciousness felt the worlds around it.

All he ever knew was the pain of the universe, the pain of being discarded by those precious stars that warmed the vacuum. The spirit of entropy cried out in anguish, the laws of gravity and energy spreading him out to the far reaches of the cosmos. Twisted, crushed and warped by the fabrics of time and space for an uncountable number of years. In time, entropy despised the laws that governed the universe for bringing him this pain. Entropy despised the light shining into the black void, spreading energy out into the blackness and adding more to his burden. Entropy despised that was wrought by the light, life. Why should these insignificant beings be free while he writhes in pain? Why should they be allowed to languish in comfort as he suffers in agony? He had to be freed from his pain.

Possessing a will he did not know, the spirit of entropy forced himself into being. He strove to be more than intangible, more than the mere byproduct of creation. He wished to live, to exist. The universe shook, a wave of unimaginable power rippling across the cosmos. Consciousness becoming flesh, turning into a being of disjointed parts; a long narrow head of grey fur, a long torso of brown fur that turned into a snake-like tail with a white tuft at the end, his left arm a golden and lion's paw, his right an eagle’s claw, right leg of a green lizard, the left leg of a mountain goat. From his back, two wings extended into the vacuum, a dark bat’s wing and the feathered wing of bright blue. From his temple a blue horn from a goat stuck out from the left side and a large deer’s antler stuck out from the other side. To complete his physical appearance, two glowing yellow eyes and mismatched red irises looked out from under white bushy eyebrows the same color as the goatee at the end of his muzzle. A smile crept over his face, a single long fang jutting from the right side of his mouth. No longer trapped in his ethereal plane, he was free.

From hatred, the God of Chaos was born. Free from his pain, HE was free to wreak havoc on a universe that had so wronged him.

The universe as a whole trembled at the birth of Discord.

Worlds fell, civilizations were lost and life died, but Discord remained. Beyond the bounds of time, the draconequus would forever remain until the end of the universe.

After so many years, Discord found himself in the throne room of Canterlot. Night had already taken to Equestria, the moon’s light filtering through the glass panels. Discord sat in front of the gold throne decorated with a signature sun, looking at the polished tiles and pillars cast in deep blue light. Discord’s eyes were unfocused, staring at the long stretched shadows of the pillars.

In his silence, Discord’s mind was a thousand miles away. His thoughts on friendship, What a peculiar idea. To think Twilight would come to my aid after what I did to her and her friends. Thoughts of his actions swirled around his head, bringing forth memories from the far distant past. Why would she forgive me so easily? Is it because we’re friends? Could I be forgiven for my sin? Icy fingers clenched at his heart, the worlds he had harmed and the lives he had ended reminding him of the deeds he had committed.

This feeling never went away. In time it would lessen, but the feeling would always be there. The past would always be there. Maybe I want to be forgiven for my sins?

“Discord?”

Discord focused on the warm voice of Princess Celestia. The pure white alicorn’s multi-colored hair flowed behind her as she moved into the throne room, her brow furrowed. The gloomy surroundings reflected off of her gold crown. The Princess looked upon Discord in concern.

Discord nodded, “Princess.”

Celestia stopped directly in front of Discord, standing tall and regal, “Discord, why are you moping about?”

Discord responded with a curt, “I’m not moping.”

“Yes you are,” Celestia commented, her tone was calm but the emphasis showed she was concerned. “After Tirek’s attack, you have barely done anything. You haven’t caused any mischief, destroyed any of the royal cakes, painted Canterlot in poke-dots and stripes, and you didn’t even laugh when I switched Luna’s shampoo with bleaching agent. Her mane was white for an entire week.”

Discord folded his paws together, shrugging his shoulders in response.

Celestia continued, “That’s what I mean! You aren’t acting like your usual chaotic self.” Lowering her tone, Celestia moved closer, “I won’t force you to tell me, but please tell me what is bothering you. Let me try to help you.”

Discord stared into those large purple eyes, contemplating what to do. What would she think of me? The gamble was her friendship. Discord asked, “Celestia, do you ever find yourself just thinking about the past and all the mistakes you’ve made?”

“Sometimes,” Celestia answered, confused.

Discord took a deep breath, “Have you ever done something so horrible, that you are forever haunted by it?”

Celestia remained passive, “Yes, why do you ask?”

Discord moved his gaze away from the Sun Princess, looking out into the night sky. “After Tirek’s defeat, I was shocked when Twilight and her friends were so willing to forgive me. It-it felt amazing to be forgiven.” Discord’s voice dropped lower, his red irises becoming unfocused as his long face grimaced in pain. “I have never really been forgiven before. Yes you and your sister have been kind to me after I was reformed, but this was truly being forgiven. I felt bad for what I did, but relieved that they would still be my friends.”

Celestia sat on the cold floor, continuing to listen, “But why have you been acting so strange?”

Discord remained silent, the only sound in the large room were the subtle breath of the two deities. “I regret my past.” Celestia’s viewable eye widened slightly in surprise at the sound of miserable pain in his voice, but she dared not interrupt him. Discord needed to talk to somepony and sometimes the best medicine was an open ear. “I cannot say I was a good person when I first came into being. I was not the same Discord you see before you. I was angry, vengeful. I was a beast, an animal, all sound and fury. I attacked anything that was close to me.”

Discord took a shuttering breath, memories of fire and destruction flowing through his mind. A world burned and its people cried out in anguish. Discord continued, “I took out my anger and pain on innocent beings from all across the universe.” Discord ignored the gasp of surprise from Celestia, the princess quickly quieting herself to allow him to continue. “I could try to dismiss it all, saying that it wasn’t me. That I didn’t understand what I did and I could not control myself. But in the end, a part of me did commit some of the worst travesties the universe had the displeasure of witnessing.”

Discord fell into silence, Celestia waiting for him to continue. When he didn’t, she asked, “What did you do?”

Discord’s rolled his jaw around in his paw, considering the best answer. “I wiped an entire species from the face of creation.”

Celestia’s eye filled with horror for the creature in front of her. The only reason she didn’t fly down to Ponyville and get Twilight plus friends to beat Discord into a bloody pulp was the sorrow etched in his face. Deep wrinkles lined his forehead and the corners of his mouth, emphasizing his deepening frown. Never had Celestia ever seen Discord this sad, this heartbroken.

“Why?”

Discord answered, twisting his tail between his paws, “I don’t know.” The best way he could answer. “I could only see in them everything I hated about the universe. They did not have to suffer for the light. They were allowed to be what I could not. They were able to make their own choices, they could be whatever they wanted to be.”

Celetia’s eyes softened slightly, but remained guarded. “What race was it?”

Discord scratched under his chin, trying to remember their name, “I believe they called themselves hoomuns.”

Celestia’s eyebrow rose, “Do you mean tell me that you are responsible for the extinction of humans on this planet?”

All of the races of this planet knew about humans. Every land contained small traces of the once mighty race. Stories and legends grew from these ancient relics. That they had the power to fly without wings, buildings so tall they could touch the heavens, and could perform great miracles without the need of magic. No pony knew what a human even looked liked, but many years have passed as more of their work was uncovered from the earth. Humans were a mystery that could never be fully understood. They had fallen prey to time’s unrelenting grip.

“Yes,” Discord answered softly. “I saw them take their first steps onto land and I was there when the last of humanity took their dying breath.”

Disgusted would be an appropriate word for what Celestia felt right now. Her stomach clenched painfully and her head swam, “How do you feel about your actions today?”

Discord answered, “It makes me feel horrible inside, unclean, like I want to vomit out my insides.” Celestia felt some relief, only a sliver, that Discord did feel wrong about his actions. Discord asked, his face still pained, “Do you want to know the worst part about it?”

“What?”

“There’s no taking it back.” Celestia was taken aback by this sudden remark. Discord looked at his own paws, shaking his head, “I cannot undo what I did. With all of these godlike powers, I cannot turn back time and I cannot bring back the dead.” Faces flashed through his mind. Pale faces of men and women who fell to his wrath.

Sniff. Sniff.

To see Discord like this was unheard of. Here the great draconequus shed a tear for the long lost race. Celestia didn’t know how to proceed; no pony would have ever imagined having to consul Discord. “Discord,” Celestia began, the draconequus turning his head towards her, “I don’t know how I can help you with this, but I am willing to try and understand what your plight is. I will try my best to assist you in any way I can.”

Discord’s face brightened slightly, a glimmer of happiness in his eye. Celestia could be such a kind soul, always willing to help others in a time of need. Discord said, “That’s the problem. How can I make up for something I did in the past? How can I be forgiven for destroying an entire race?”

Silence followed. The two continued to sit in silence, the moon continuing its arch through the night sky to swim through a sea of stars. Discord’s mind glanced over the various memories, until he focused on a very particular encounter with a nameless man.

“Celestia,” Discord said, “Do you believe in ghosts?”

Celestia blinked several times, “No.”

Discord said, “But ghosts do exists.” Without much care, Discord ignored Celestia’s confused look, “The past is our ghost. It follows us wherever we go and haunts us every waking moment. Even as the memories fade with time, they will never truly disappear and the feelings of guilt will always remain.” Discord took a deep breath, “Out of all of the humans I have encounter, there are few that I remember with some detail. One in particular does exist in Equestria.”

Celestia asked, “Who?”

“I don’t remember his name,” Discord’s brow furrowed in concentration. “I can vaguely remember his face. But I remember what he did.”

“What?”

“He wounded me,” Discord stated. With no reservation, Discord began to share his story with Celestia. The mental reel started playing in his head, both faded and blurring…

0 0 0

The early twenty-first century, Earth was in turmoil. Economies crashed and tensions rose as a new enemy appeared before them. All of the nations and their military might could not stop him.

Discord smiled down from high in the blue sky on the dry desert ground.

Few settlements remained, pockets of the population holding up in secluded areas. Below him, a large base had once stood. The large warehouses once housed the proud training facility for the newest F-35 fighter jets. A long airfield ran through the middle of the open fields, far away from the brown brick offices and several barracks meant to house recruits. A single concrete structure sporting a large cross proclaimed the hospital directly in the center of the living courtiers.

Hundreds of feet of wired fencing ran along the perimeter with several sections of thick brick walling facing the city road.

His minions overran the installations defenses as the officials rushed to evacuate all essential personnel along with the civilians. Every active and reserve member met the horde of abominations with every piece of hardware their arsenal had. Training jets fitted for combat, humvees attached with heavy machine guns spilling hot lead into the advancing army, and the individually issued M-4 and M-16 battle rifles firing from atop rooftops and windows. The base’s defenders were short handed, not enough weapons for each man or woman, forcing them to improvise with homemade weapons of crude metal.

Discord had come to expect this kind of resistance. An animal with its back to the wall will fight with all of its might till the very last breath. Discord floated down towards the hospital, the bases defenders barely holding the horde of grotesque creatures at bay.

Discord landed softly in front of one of his creations. Beings of twisted and scared red flesh, made of a thick torso, two legs and extended arms that fell past their knees tipped with five jagged fingers made from tan bone. On what could be called a head; there were no eyes, only a single gaping mouth of spinning razor sharp teeth and an black pit. Pieces or rock and rubble stuck out awkwardly all over the creatures lined with bits of fading fabrics and leathers barely holding onto these warped bodies.

Created from the flesh of his human victims, they were mindless brutes. They served his every whim without question. Stronger and faster than their previous counterparts, they were the perfect killing machines. They felt no remorse and did not suffer from any moral obligations.

Discord casually walked up to the destroyed entryway, white hot lead lancing out of the hallway towards the draconequus. Each piece of metal rebounded off an invisible barrier, splashing the surrounding rock and minion with fragments of hot metal.

‘This is too easy.’

Discord entered the long pale white hallway of broken tile and scorched walls. Discord skirted around the piles of dead men and minions. The humans’ uniforms of greens, tans and blues stained with their owner’s blood. At the end of the hallway, four men positioned themselves behind the corner of the wall, their rifles littering the floor with brass.

The wall they were using as protection came to life, spikes of white stucco piercing through their armor and uniforms. They slowly gasped for air, their lungs pierced. One managed to reach for his sidearm, aiming the handgun at Discord. The man’s hand disappeared as he squeezed the trigger, leaving a bloody stump and screaming man behind him.

Discord smiled as the man’s screams echoed down the hall, the mindless drones slowly following in the wake of their master to finish off the suffering men.

The ER room was a nightmare, nurses and doctors rushed the wounded out from the open and into the basement. Empty beds and overturned tables littered both sides of the room in their mad rush to escape. It was a futile effort, but what choice did they have. The horde was entering from all sides of the building. Standing stationary next to the door, the last soldier stood with his weapon drawn on the only entryway. The rest of the wing blocked off by welded metal benches from the park.

Barely five foot ten inches, this man wore the light green of his service and thick steel toed boots. An insignia of three stripes and a star were stitched to each sleeve. The man had broad shoulders and stocky build with a rounded face, his light blue eyes peering down the iron sights of the old M-16. He had to be just out of his twenties, his light brown hair short. Inside he was scared, not just for his life, but for the lives of the people frantically trying to move the ill. But his hands were steady, and he was waiting.

To make a bad situation worse, he had no bullet proof vest. All he had was a single pistol strapped to his right thigh and a six inch blade pressing against his left hip. There were not enough vests to go around and he was not a combat soldier, the small patch over the letters ‘United States Air Force’ displaying a compass with wings and a gear surrounded by an olive branch. Sitting to his left, four clips full of ammo laid ready on a small white table.

Muffled screams could be heard from the locked doors. His orders were to stop anyone and anything from entering through the thick glass doors of foggy grey glass. The soldier flipped his weapon to semi, taking a deep breath into his quivering lungs and releasing it. His hands never shook. The hair on the back of his head stood on end, knowing the inevitability of their plight. All of his senses waited for the right moment, for any sign of movement.

A tall silhouette moved towards the doors, two mismatched horns visible through the warped glass. The soldier did not hesitate to flip his weapon to auto, unleashing a deadly storm of bullets. Nurses and doctors barked out orders as the residents screamed in terror.

Glass shattered, littering the ground in a shower of diamonds. Discord smiled at the vein attempt, the soldier emptying an entire clip in seconds.

Click. Click. Click.

The soldier’s left hand ejected the spent clip, reaching for a fresh one. Before his hand could wrap around a new clip, wires burst from the soft ceiling to wrap around the soldier’s neck lifting him up slightly. Force to stand on the tips of his toes. The soldier’s rifle dropped uselessly on the ground with his left hand reaching for the wire around his neck, the right hand going to the handgun.

Lifting the sidearm to waste height, the soldier’s finger squeezed the trigger. Brass flew from the small weapon, the soldier attempted to keep his aim true as the wire cut into his neck. The metal weapon flew out of his hand by an unseen force, leaving him to struggle against the wire.

Discord slowly drew closer to the struggling human, those blue eyes full of angry. Veins bulged in his head, the soldier desperately trying to pry the metal wire from around his neck with both hands. Discord chuckled, passing the soldier to move to the rest of the room, “Now who should I play with next?”

The entire room was silent, no one dare move a muscle in front of Discord else they attract his attention. The soldier reached for the knife, Discord’s back to him, and proceeded to violently cut the wire just above his head.

Discord ignored the sound of scrapping metal, more interested in the whimpering of the people in his sights. ‘Why would a god have to worry about a single man?’ Discord raised his lion’s paw, all of the horde moving to surround the building or search for more enemies in the untaken facilities.

Discord smiled, his snake like tongue gliding over his sharp teeth in anticipation. He would have some fun with these humans. ‘I hope they scream,’ Discord thought as the sides of his grin grew wider. Twisting his sickeningly long face at the many torments his mind could conceive.

The faint snap brought Discord back to reality, but he didn’t need to turn around to see the coughing soldier rubbing his neck while holding his knife ready with the left hand ready for a fight. Discord chuckled at this human’s attempt at bravery, “Tell me boy, which one of these lovely ladies would you like me to start with?”

Faster than anyone could react, Discord appeared next to a short dark skinned nurse wearing pale green scrubs. Tears began to fall from her dark eyes, an eagle’s claw clenching the back of her neck roughly. Discord looked towards the soldier, passing the tip of the tiger’s claw over the young woman’s exposed throat. “Should she be quick, or should I take my time with her? Your choice.”

Discord enjoyed seeing the wheels turn inside the man’s head, trying to figure a way to save her. Even in the face of the inevitable death, soldiers will try to save a life in need. Pushing his talon against the woman’s Adam’s apple and applying just the right amount of pressure to cause a single tear of crimson blood to slide down her throat, the soldier yelled throwing out his hand to stop Discord, “Wait! Wait!”

Discord stopped, enjoying the look of turmoil on the young human’s face, “Yes?”

“Let her go and take me instead.”

‘Oh that is such the cliché, but I do love to play with these would be heroes.’ Discord chuckled, “And why would I do that?”

The man froze, trying to think of an excuse, “Because she won’t be any fun.”

‘That’s a new one.’ Discord commented, “I don’t know. I think I can make her scream louder than you.”

“But she won’t give you a good fight. I can.”

“Why does that matter?” Discord asked, his forked tongue sticking out of his teeth to taste the air. He could taste the overpowering stench of fear from every person in this room, especially the young soldier.

“Because you want to have fun,” the soldier continued, trying desperately to keep his voice from shaking. “Where is the fun in hurting someone if you can’t get any satisfaction?” This hit a cord with the draconequus, catching his attention as the soldier moved a step closer, “How can it be fun if no one’s able to give you a challenge? To me it’d get a little dull if all you ever wanted you could make happen with just a snap of your fingers. If everything were that easy, than what’s the point in doing anything.”

‘I see where this is going.’ Discord was actually surprised at the sudden move. Of course he had been challenged by individuals before, but here this kid was trying to play to his ego. ‘Interesting, but incredibly stupid.’ This man was still doomed to die. “For your insolence, I could just snap my fingers and kill you right now. What would you say about that?”

The soldier didn’t even hesitate to respond, “Where’d the fun in that be? Wouldn't that be a waste?” Discord’s smile grew even bigger, taking up his entire muzzle. The soldier saw the insatiable hunger behind those large yellow eyes, the eyes of a madman. Now it was time to drive in the point, the human lifted up his knife slowly turning the blade in his grip, “You’d waste the opportunity to get your hands dirty, to stick a knife me and slowly turn it. To watch what’s going in my head and enjoy every second as the life slowly vanishes from my eyes. It won’t be quick. It won’t be clean. Now doesn't that sound like a fun time?”

Discord cackled loudly, dropping the nurse on the ground to approach the apprehensive soldier. “Very well, I’ll play your game, but first,” with a flick of his wrists Discord sent the six in blade out of the human’s hand and into the wall. “Let’s make this a little more interesting.”

The soldier nodded, unbuttoning his top shirt and tossing it to the ground to ensure it could not get in the way. A light green t-shirt covered the soldier’s torso, the soldier lifting both of his hands before curling them into fists. He may not know any fancy fighting styles, but he did know how to hit hard.

Discord tilted his head to each side, several pops filling the air. Discord readies both of his paws, curled into fists. Silence crept between the two, the only sound were the remaining orderlies and their patients slowly edging their way out the back of the room. The soldier watched the monster in front of him for any indication of his first move.

Both moved at the same time, the human rushing forward to tackle the tall draconequus. Wrapping both arms around his waist, the human twisted and slammed Discord into the hard tile like a professional wrestler. Discord recovered quickly, grabbing the railing of a nearby bed to get to his feet. The soldier slammed his fist into his stomach, beginning to work on the body with powerful blows from both hands into the brown furred body. A right cross across the muzzle caused Discord to stumble back. The soldier was breathing heavily and heart pumping in his chest, adrenaline pumping through his veins.

Discord rubbed his jaw, an amused grin playing across his muzzle, “Is that all you’ve got?”

Discord was up on him in a heartbeat. The soldier blocked the right hook, the blow causing his arm to tremble. It felt like being hit by a jackhammer. The soldier delivered a quick left jab before ducking under Discord’s left. Following up with an uppercut to the grey muzzle, Discord caught the soldier’s right arm with his left arm. The talons on Discord’s right paw stabbed into the small of the soldier’s back.

Stumbling back, Discord pushed the soldier into the wall next to the entrance. Lights flashed before the human’s eyes as he desperately held both of his forearms to block his upper body, Discord’s fist crashing into his sides and face. Backhanding the draconequus, the human followed by kicking Discord’s side to drive him back.

With a flick of his tail, Discord’s white tufted wrapped around one of the human’s arm and pulled him towards the center of the room. Losing his footing, the soldier stumbled for a second and allowed Discord to hit him with a solid hit across the chin. Stars flew across his vision. The soldier collided with the hard ground, releasing a grunt. Looking up to see a gloating Discord looking down on him, the soldier growled loudly at him. “Over so soon?” Discord motioned to himself in disappointment, “I want my money’s worth. Come on! Get up!”

“Coming right up!” The human responded, quickly rising to his feet. A slap across his chest sent him back down.

Discord moved closer and within striking range, “Going back down!”

The soldier’s foot struck like a snake, catching the scaled leg and causing Discord to fall onto one knee. The human was up in a heartbeat, grabbing Discord by the scruff of his neck and slamming his head into the ground. Pulling Discord’s head back up, the soldier’s left hand delivered a vicious hook across Discord’s jaw. Before another hit could land, Discord grabbed the human by the shoulder and effortlessly flung him into the railing of an opposing bed.

The soldier yelped as Discord, grabbed his shoulder and threw him flat onto the ground. Rolling to the side, the soldier looked up in time to catch that reptilian tail upside his head. Reeling, dark red crimson flew from his mouth filling it with the taste of rust.

“Taste good?”

The soldier barely had time to stumble into the center of the room before the vile serpent Discord delivered a painful kick to his chest.

Flying out the destroyed door, the human body skidding across the debris covered tile. Wood and glass cut deep into his arms and face. The soldier groaned as he got to his feet, littering the floor in a shower of tiny rubies. Vision blurring, he blinked rapidly at the tall shadow approaching him in an attempt to focus his vision.

Facing Discord, the soldier balled his fists in anger. Pieces of sharp wood and glass stuck out of his flesh all over his arms, shoulders and back. He ignored the pain and lightheartedness, as the beast approached. Ducking under the wide arch of Discord’s eagle claw, the soldier delivered a powerful blow to Discord’s side and to the face. Discord backhanded the human, knocking him back.

The soldier was able to remain on his feet. Sweat trickled down his face burning the eyes and cuts. Skin rose around his eyes, sights of future bruises. His ribs hurt, but still allowed some air into his body through shallow breaths.

Inside, Discord was ecstatic and having the time of his life watching this soldier trying to fight. Now, Discord wanted to raise the stakes. Swiping at the human with his claws extended, Discord sought to render the soft pink flesh. The human ducked under the right claw, the draconequus’s attack wide and providing the human with an opening he needed.

In a hurry, the soldier wrapped one arm under each of Discord’s arms in a full nelson. The tail thrashed rapidly, but the soldier drove his knee into the small of Discord’s back. In a blur of movement, the human found himself holding nothing but air. A solid strike in his ribs drove him to the right, cradling his left side. His ribs burned and he could have sworn he heard a sickening crack. Breathing became harder, a hot poker sticking in his side.

Discord advanced, easily swatting the blows the soldier threw. With a flash of talons, four deep lacerations appeared across his chest. The cotton shirt absorbed the blood, white fire lacing across the soldier’s skin. Hissing, the soldier brought his elbow to Discord’s jaw while Discord stabbed at his gut. The nail pierced him like a burning torch, driving the little breath he head out of his lungs.

Discord removed his lion’s claw from the human’s gut and grabbed his throat. Without so much as a grunt, Discord easily lifted the soldier over his head with one arm before driving him down to the ground.

The human remained on his back trying to swallow as much air as he could, Discord taking a step back to watch. His eyes flashing in the florescent light as a predator’s would, the kill was almost here and he could taste it. The soldier’s body hurt, pain centered on the cuts on his chest, gut, broken ribs, and face. The adrenaline rush was fading under the pulsating pain all over his body.

Slowly, the human rolled to his side, coughing up blood onto the ruined floor in an attempt to clear his lungs. On shaking legs, he stood with his hands held ready. ‘I should probably congratulate him. I didn't even think he’d have this much in him.’

Discord asked, “Did you think you were going to die today?”

To Discords surprise and amusement, the human chuckled, “Yeah, I did.”

“Then why did you want to play this little charade? You might have lived longer if you ran?”

The human remained silent for a moment, flecks of blood and spittle leaving his open mouth, “Because I had to try.” A simple answer.

Discord hummed to himself, thinking deeply about what to do next. Deciding it was time to end this little game, Discord moved first. The human jabbed at the approaching figure with his right hand. The fist connecting with air.

In a burst of pain and blood, claw marks appeared on the back of his right hand all the way up his arm. Staggering forward, more pain exploded from his back. Discord slashed from the human’s right shoulder to lower back, leaving a trail of torn flesh. The soldier spun to backhand the offending beast, Discord caught his attack without a problem. Faster than he could conceive, Discord’s talons slashed down the left side of his face.

Pain, that was all he felt as nerves fired their messages into the brain. His eye darkened to pitch black.

Before the soldier could fall backwards, Discord kicked in his right kneecap. A sharp snap emitted from the joint, bending the wrong way. The soldier howled with pain, his legs crumbling under him. Red hot liquid slid across his face, his left eye useless as he barely registered the paw gripping his shirt and dragging him across shatter glass to the empty wall next to the ER entrance. The light was better and Discord wanted to see the work he had done by setting the human with his back propped against the wall.

Discord looked down on his handiwork with fondness. The entire left side of the human’s face was composed of mangle and torn flesh, clear soft tissue of the eye running down the ruined cheek. His right eye was nearly closed, only a sliver of white and blue visible under blackening lids. Discord clucked his tongue, noticing the bone sticking out of the jeans on the right leg. His entire shirt and most of his pants were stained by blood, sweat, and brown dirt clinging to it. “You’ve really done a number on yourself.”

The soldier could barely register Discord’s voice, the edges of his vision blurring. The only thing he could focus on was those mad yellow eyes. The fluorescent lights grew brighter as their surrounding wall grew darker.

The Spirit of Chaos moved forward, kneeling down to whisper in his ear, “Don’t feel bad. We both knew this would happen and now I have to finish it.” The human’s left felt hand the ground next to him, trying to find anything sharp. A sharp point cut into the hard flesh, letting him know of the large piece of glass lying beside him.

Raising a paw, Discord brought forth the cold steel knife the soldier dropped earlier. Grasping it tightly in his paw, Discord drove the point of the knife directly towards the human's unprotected throat.

He had to move. The blade drew ever so closer. The rest of his body refused to obey its master, thoughts unable to penetrate abused flesh. Still the knife came closer, only a few inches away.

By sheer force of will, the soldier managed to move his body, leaning to the left. Discord’s eyes grew wide as the knife’s blade missed his vital throat, driving deep into the wall at an awkward angle just above the shoulder. With the blade’s miss, the human’s right hand crabbed the back of Discord’s neck.

Pulling it towards him, the soldier bashed his head into Discord’s muzzle. Slightly stunned, Discord did not see the jagged edge of glass sinking into his neck.

Discord released a surprise gargled, black liquid seeping from the wound in his neck. Moving backward, Discord dropped the knife he was wielding and wrapped his paws around his throat. Three inches of grass sticking out from between his fingers, dark liquid spilling onto his coat and the floor. The soldier only watched Discord, having no strength to move.

A sickening feeling filled the human’s gut, loud chuckles escaped from Discord’s grinning mouth. Discord pulled out the piece of glass with no hesitation before looking at it in the light. Black grease slid over the glass, dripping unnaturally slow towards the cold hard floor. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen my own blood before,” Discord commented nonchalantly, as if he were merely talking about the weather.

The soldier couldn’t move, trapped by pain and utter horror at the monster in front of him. If Discord could not be killed, then the entire human race was doomed. Fear enveloped him in his stupor. Discord turned to the human, discarding the makeshift weapon with no care. Horrible things passed through his mind, all arranged on what he could do to the poor human. Discord advanced upon his downed opponent, clapping ever so softly, “Congratulation! You my good sir have won the chance to receive some special treatment from yours truly.”

If the soldier could move, he would have run for his life. Those sick yellow eyes were staring at him with new-found hunger, “Now I was thinking about what I should do with you.” Discord appeared next to the human, sitting down and leaning his head on the human’s left shoulder to look up into that destroyed face. “I was thinking about some dark and terrible torture, like turning you into one of my minions or into a bug that I could slowly pull off each leg and leaving you to die in agony.” The soldier remained silent, his heart pounding against his chest and desperately trying to escape. “But then I thought ‘I really want to remember this day’,” in a swirl of motion, Discord jumped into the air before pointing down at the dying soldier in judgment. “So I’m going to make you a personal collection in my garden.”

The soldier didn’t know what that meant. Nor did he feel his limbs locking up, his hands and boots turning a deep white color. Marble laced with a flowing grey mineral swirls consumed the human’s body. From the hands and boots, rock converted flesh and cloth leaving the head for last. The last thing this human would ever know was the laughing face of Discord and the knowledge of his failure.

0 0 0

Discord and Celestia remained silent. Celestia was disturbed to put it mildly, she asked, “What happened after that?”

Discord said glumly, “I proceeded to finish my work, keeping him as a statue to remember that day for all times.”

No matter how much she felt disgusted with Discord, she could not change the past and had to instead work on the present Discord in hopes of preventing any future acts of violence. “Do you have any ideas where the statue is now?”

Discord scratched his head, “I can sense where any of my magic lingers. Finding him would only take a short amount of time.”

“Have you ever considered releasing him from his stone prison?” Celestia asked, wondering about the answer.

“Yes,” Discord sighed. “The problem is that his flesh has no magical properties and unable to survive the conversion to stone, he’s basically dead.” Celestia opened her mouth to speak, but Discord cut her off, “I don’t mean that he’s dead-dead. His life force was sealed inside the stone body, he’s more half-dead than full dead. Only his flesh was affected. I would have to infuse a large amount of magic into his flesh to return it to organic tissue. That would cause massive amounts of changes in his form. I would basically be creating a new body for him.”

“How would you create a new body? You said it yourself, you can’t bring back the dead,” Celestia responded, trying to decipher Discord’s words.

Discord explained, “I can use some of my blood to create new flesh. It’s not bringing back the dead, instead infusing the magic within my tissue into his body. The magic would be very volatile. I would have very little to no control over what form he would take. It would make him into the image of any of the inhabitants in this world.” Before Celestia could ask why, Discord spouted, “The reason is that his flesh would need to inherit properties of magic to live again. Human’s never had magic. His flesh would be taking on these properties through the conversion process, and as such, force him to become a being that can handle magic. He could be an earth pony, unicorn, dragon, Pegasus, or even a griffon.”

Celestia’s eyes widened with surprise, “Why haven’t you done this already?”

Discord turned pale, “Because I don’t know what will happen to him after. His mind will be fractured. The human mind was not designed to survive this type of curse. Memories and bits of his personality would be warped or missing when he woke up. He would be a broken mind in a body that’s not his, living in a world that he knows nothing about. How would he survive in this situation?”

To Discord’s surprise, Celestia agreed, “You are right Discord.”

Discord turned to her, asking or almost pleading, “What should I do? I want to free him, but I don’t know if he can live in this world. He is my only connection to that lost world, without him the only things that remain of humanity are their decaying ruins.”

Celestia hummed to herself, thinking deeply. “I think the best option is to do nothing.”

Wait what?

Before Discord could start, Celestia said, “If you truly want to free him, then that is your decision. But if you do, the best thing would be for you to keep your distance…”

“Why?!”

“Because,” Celestia said, “your interactions may bring back those painful memories from his past and cause him to become unstable towards the world around him. A broken mind is not easily mended and is more likely to act on impulses when introduced to a stressful situation. You have played a huge role in his life, meaning he will most likely react negatively to your presence. He may even become violent. It would require lots of time and a loving environment to heal his wounds. Equestria is a very open society, but we would have to slowly introduce him to it with the knowledge of his special heritage and his situation.”

Discord asked, “If I do this, do you think I can be forgiven?”

“I don’t know,” Celestia took a deep breath. “He may never be able to forgive you for what you have done to him and his world. That will have to be a fact you may have to accept. I would recommend reflecting on your past and finding a better way to improve yourself for the future. But be warned, dwelling in the past will only cause you more pain. Learn from the past and don’t dig up old wounds. You may do some good or you may do more harm. No pony can know for certain what the outcome will be.”

With that Celestia grew silent. Discord’s looked deep into those large eyes, finding concern and fear. Discord said, “I will try my best to follow your advice, because it is sound advice.” Celestia smiled as Discord’s frown lightened, “But if I do try to free him, would you help me? He’ll need a lot of help?”

Celestia dipped her head, “Of course I will Discord. We are friends after all.”

Discord chuckled, “Goodnight, Princess Celestia.”

“Goodnight Discord.” With that, Celestia left the throne room to retire to her chambers. Discord decided to walk through the walls and into the open night air. Luna did always have a way with stars. Flying through the clear night air, Discord flew gently over the land. As he flew, the only though on his mind was what to do.

Should I risk the chance he won’t be able to handle this world, or do I let him remain in his stone body? The risk was so great, not just for him but for all of those ponies this human would be in contact with. If only I knew more about him? That struck a chord in Discord’s head. What did he know about him? He could be a raving psychotic for all Equestria was concerned.

Let’s see: he was protective of others, he wanted to save lives and he was unafraid to give his life for the rest of those people in that hospital. No. He was trembling when he saw me, but he still managed stand up tall and proud. The only kind of pony I know who would do that would be a good pony. He’s more like a pony than we know. He would willing go through hell to help someone. Or maybe I’m delusional. Discord’s mind recalled the scene before, recalling the desperation and fear. Discord felt hope, He did it for others. So he is a good person. That this human may be just like the ponies he lived with and would not willingly harm a pony. Is it worth the risk?

0 0 0

The statue wasn’t very hard to find. At the bottom of a sink hole in a massive rainforest, buried under piles of soil and dead leave sat the human soldier. With a snap of his fingers, the earth rose in the air and formed a miniature volcano. Bits of dirt and pieces of plants erupted into the air like a gauzier. Discord waited patiently. Slowly a black head rose up from the ground, followed by a torso, arms and legs. “Oh my! You are a dirty boy. Let me get you all nice and clean,” Discord chuckled softly, pulling from their air a large feather duster. With a few swipes, the marble returned to its pristine white. Untouched by time, the soldier remained the same after all of these years. Seeing this unchanged being sent a hallow pang in his chest.

Discord attempted to distract himself. Wow. My magic does do a great job in preservation. Maybe I could take up a job at a museum. I’m sure everypony would just love to see the exhibits come to life… Wait, I think that’s been done before.

Shaking his head, Discord leaned towards the statue’s head. Looking deep into his single eye, Discord could feel the hopelessness of the stuck gaze. Discord straightened, looking down at the statue. He wanted to release him, but feared the risks. Looking into that single eye, Discord felt the compelling need to right his wrong. Seeing the still broken body, Discord could almost feel the flesh tearing under his claws.

Shivering as the uncomfortable memory crept over him, Discord thought What to do now? Huffing Discord sat to the left of the statue facing the same direction. Both stared at the dark green foliage creeping down the sides of the sinkhole. In silence, Discord listened to the continuous calls of birds, bugs and many other animals inside the forest. It was peaceful.

Discord cupped his head between his paws, groaning in discontent. His mind was split. This place was too peaceful and too depressing at the same time. Turning to look at the destroyed face Like so many years ago, Discord rested his head against the soldier’s shoulder.

The feeling of longing filled his heart. Longing to see this soul free from the suffering he had caused it so long ago. New energy shot into his limbs, no longer would he wait. If there are any issues, we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. Discord jumped to his feet, rolling his shoulders in anticipation for the trial ahead, “Alright human! This is it! I’m not just going to free you. I’m going to give you the best life you could imagine! Um… How am I going to do that?”

Discord froze, trying to comprehend what the next step was. Freeing someone was one thing: but where do they go when you free them? Discord’s answer: Ponyville. The place had every form of kindness imaginable. But what about a home? A job? Discord had the answer to this as well: Princess Celestia could help. She knows ponies and being a princess, she’ll be able to help with any financial complications. But I’ll have to stay off the radar, Discord’s smile faltered. If that’s the way it has to be, then so be it. This isn’t for me.

Raising his lions paw, the white talon of his second paw sliced through the brown pad. Black blood seeped from the deep scratch. Taking a deep breath, Discord tried to quell the squirming in his gut. I’ve never attempted anything like this before, but where’s the fun without a little mystery.

Discord placed the bleeding palm against the human’s brow, focusing on his magic. Discord felt the all too familiar buildup of magic within his chest before moving towards his palm. Black veins spread across the uneven surface of the statue. More magic continued to flow, the white marble becoming completely covered in black liquid.

Magic continued to drain from Discord, the black substance reflecting the poor light of the sinkhole. The liquid mass stirred and twisted across the surface of the statue. Time began to slow for Discord as more magic were taken from his body.

“Grrrrr,” Discord growled, the strain on his magic growing as the black mass writhed violently under his palm. The spell continued to draw on his strength. Beads of sweat developed on his brow as the spell continued to pull from him. All attempts to cut the flow of magic failed, Discord dropping to one knee as he continued to grow weaker. Why won’t it stop? Discord screamed in his head as his limbs grew heavy.

The black mess flashed red, exploding in Discord’s face. Discord flew through the air, pieces of the marble statue bouncing off his hide. Leaving a trail of upturned dirt as his slid across the soft soil, Discord decided to just lie there when he finally came to rest. Breathing the humid air, Discord felt shaken. Never before had he experienced this kind of backlash from a spell and he would most likely never try to perform it again. Wearily getting to his feet, Discord approached the smoldering hole left by the spell. Tendrils of smoke rising from the blackened earth. Discord slowly approached the hole, apprehensive about what might occupy the space.

Discord’s jaw dropped, unable to comprehend what he was seeing.

“W-well, I didn’t expect that.”

Pinkie Pie's World Destroying Idea

Time Lost
Ch. 7: Pinkie Pie’s World Destroying Idea

Disclaimer: I do not own the right to MLP. All other characters are of my own creation.

Pinkie Pie stood triumphantly in front of the ponies and hippogriff with a raised hoof. All eyes were on the pink pony, her hair vibrating under the stress of Pinkie Pie’s excitement. Before God himself, Pinkie held her audience captivated with bated breath.

“Um, Pinkie Pie,” Twilight began, “could you what you were about to say. We’ve been waiting here for five minutes?”

Was it five minutes? It felt longer than that.

“Oh right,” Pinkie Pie blushed in embarrassment, “and now without further ado, My Idea.” A single drum rolled in front of Pinkie.

Luke raised an eyebrow at the traveling instrument, “Okay.”

“Luke can have a sleepover with his new friends!”

Pinkie Pie’s voice split the air in half, then decided to punch it in the gut, stab it and take its wallet.

Luke pressed both of his palms to his eardrums. Owe. Luke’s eye watched the ponies in front of him for their reaction. The fillies and colts were jumping up and down while the adults smiled. Luke felt torn at the idea. Sure a sleepover would be fun, but it’s been years since Luke’s ever been to one. It felt kinda childish. Hi pot, my names kettle. Have we met? Luke thought to himself as all those wide eyes beamed directly at him with their phazors set to stun.

Pinkie Pie looked to Luke with an expecting eye, “What do you think Luke?”

“I would love to,” Luke started, “as long as Big Mac and Applejack wouldn’t mind.”

“That’s alright,” Big Mac shrugged his massive shoulders. Big Mac reached over and took Luke’s saxophone in his hoof, “I’ll take this home for ya. Don’t want ya to damage it while you’re playing with your friends.”

Luke offered Big Mac a happy smile, “Thanks Big Mac.”

Before anyone could say anything Pinkie Pie appeared next to Luke, balancing the cardboard box on her head. “Don’t forget the cupcakes!”

Luke turned to Pinkie Pie. When did she box those? When did she move? Why is one pony hurting my head so much?

“Sure,” Luke offered a sheepish smile.

“Just one problem,” Applejack pointed out. “Where are the six of you going to have your sleepover at?”

Every party needs a pooper
That’s why they invited you.
Party pooper.
Party pooper.

“Oh! Oh!” Button Mash jumped up and down to gain everyone’s attention. “My house is close. We can go there.”

“What about your mom?” the white unicorn with a purple curly mane standing next to Sweetie Belle said. Rarity looked at Luke with a small smile, unnerved by his attitude earlier and sad at his situation.

“Oh I don’t mind,” a tan earth pony with a straight dark brown mane and a cutie mark of a heart and milk bottle said from the entryway.

“Yeah!” Button Mash stood on his hind legs, his front legs waving excitedly in the air.

Luke looked at Button Mash’s Mom closely. She wore a kind and warm smile. “Hi, Mrs. Button Mash,” Luke smiled.

“You don’t need to call me that,” Button Mash’s Mom chuckled slightly. “You can call me Milano.”

Button Mash froze in place, his eyes growing wide. “Wait!” Button Mash turned to face his mom, “You’re names Milano.”

“Yes Button,” Milano said with a raised eyebrow. “What did you think my name was?”

“Mom.”

Milano’s hoof went to her forehead. “Button, I may be your mom but that doesn’t mean my name is mom.”

The look on Button Mash’s face, Priceless! Those wide innocent eyes were filled to the brim with so much confusion and wonder it was like Button Mash had stumbled upon a copy of Playcolt and didn’t know what to do with it.

I remember when I stumbled on my dad’s magazine collection…
…
…
I was in so much trouble when mom found out. But it was worth it!

“Really?”

Milano felt the all too familiar urge to smack her hoof against her head a second time. Instead Milano smiled at Button Mash, patting her son on the head, “Yes sweetie.”

“Thank ya kindly, Milano,” Applejack smiled gratefully alongside her brother.

It didn’t take long before Luke and the rest of the children entered Button Mash’s house. The house was nice, lined with warm green wallpaper and light brown wooden floors. Luke’s eye wondered over the collection of pictures hanging across the wall. Luke could barely make out some of the pictures because they were placed really high on the wall. From some of the lower ones, Luke could see a very happy family. A short stallion with light grey fur, a brown mane and eyes smiling at the camera with Milano wrapped in his hooves. In front of them were two colts, the smaller one being Button Mash. The older one had to be his brother. His brother took after his father with grey fur, but his mane was a bright blond and his eyes were the brightest blues Luke had ever seen.

Luke along with the rest of the group followed Button and Rumble further into the house. All the adults had left, leaving Luke alone with the other children. Luke could feel a disturbance in the air. The universe was winding up for something and it was going to bite Luke in the rear. With how much the temperature was rising, Luke assumed it was going to be a dozy. Do you smell sulfur? Repent, yo. Repent.

Milano followed closely, listening to the random conversation the five ponies and hippogriff were having. “So after we managed to sneak past the laser grid system, Rumble and I grabbed the last copy of Dead or Alive 6 in all of existence,” Button Mash finished his grand tale with a wide grin.

Luke and the rest of the CMC were scratching their heads. “Why would you pay 60 bits for a fighting game?” Luke asked, already familiar with the currency of Equestria.

Applebloom looked at Luke, dumbfounded, “That’s what you focus on? Not the shark pit, zombies, the evil wolf robots, or Nazi vampires? You instead focus on the price?”

“Well yeah,” Luke rolled his eye. “Who would pay sixty bucks for a new fighting game? Unless it’s Mortal Kombat or the next Dragon Ball game, anything else is of no concern to me.”

Button Mash turned to Luke, “I have no idea what any of those are.”

Luke’s face melted into the look of pure horror. No! Now I’ll never get to play as Super Saiyan God Goku or Scorpion. Why? WHY?

When the small group reached the end of the hallway, Button Mash pushed open the door to his room. Button’s room was, surprisingly clean. I’m guessing his mom made him clean it today. Pushed against one corner of the room was a bed with a comforter sporting the image of a tan mare with a long flowing white mane wearing a green tunic and cap with the captions ‘The Legend of Epona.’

Before Luke could scrutinize this further he caught sight of Button Mash’s toy box at the foot of the bed spread. Under the window sill was a wide bookcase filled to the brim with every type of video game imaginable. A soft rug occupied the majority of the floor, its dark brown and tan colors complemented the light walls. Pushed against the opposite wall was the single most important thing in Equestria. A choir of angels sung the ancient hymns of the gamer when Luke’s amber eye fell on something so beautiful. A large television screen with multiple gaming consoles stacked neatly underneath it on the shelf.

It’s so beautiful.

“So,” Button Mash turned to face his friends, “this is my room. And these…” Button rushed to his television and game systems, “are my game systems!” Button smiled widely at the majesty of technology at his disposal. Luke whistled while the rest of the ponies only rolled their eyes. Button scanned all of his friends’ faces, asking, “What would you want to do?”

Sweetie Bell, Scootaloo and Applebloom thought deeply. Luke merrily shrugged. Rumble was about to answer but a blur of pink stopped him.

“How about some cupcakes?!” Pinkie Pie sang to the smaller children, holding the box high in the air.

All of the children looked at her in confusion. “Where did you come from? And where were you carrying those? And where were they after we left Sugarcube Corner?” Luke asked, his brain jumping into high gear trying to process all of this new information.

“I kept them in my mane,” Pinkie Pie answered with a smile, laying the box on the ground. “Milano doesn’t like Button having a lot of sweets late at night and I knew she would just put them on the counter when she got home. So I decided to deliver them myself. Enjoy!” Pinkie Pie’s hoof flipped open the lid to reveal twelve beautiful cupcakes covered in frosting of bright blues, pinks, yellow, orange, red and purple.

The ponies felt their mouths water. So did Luke, but one was really bugging him. None of the foals saw hide or hair of Pinkie when they left Sugarcube Corner. “Why were you hiding? Isn’t that like stalking?”

“Oh Luke,” Pinkie Pie softly patted Luke on his feathered head, “I stalk all of my new friends. That’s how I learn all their likes and dislikes.”

Luke’s beak opened and closed, no sound leaving his throat.

Pinkie Pie took this opportunity to shove a chocolate cupcake in Luke’s open mouth. Sure it was delicious and yes Luke really enjoyed, but Pinkie Pie’s answered raised some very disturbing questions. Luke swallowed his mouthful of sugary goodness before turning to face Pinkie Pie, but she wasn’t there.

Like a shadow in the night, Pinkie Pie disappeared without a trace.

Luke quickly scanned the room, looking for any sign of pink. “How did she do that?”

Applebloom put a comforting hoof to Luke’s shoulder. “It’s Pinkie Pie, it’s best not to question it.”

“But-“

“No.”

“But-“

“No.”

Luke huffed indignantly, “Fine.” Luke eyed the box of cupcakes. For some reason only one cupcake remained. Applebloom, Sweetie Bell, Scootaloo, Rumble and Button Mash were happily licking the frosting from their lips. A bright blue cupcake covered with sprinkles shaped like stars literally had Luke’s name written all over it. It looked so good and Luke really-really wanted to eat it. And I sure don’t regret it.

From the bush outside Button’s window, two ponies were quietly arguing. “Pinkie, why did you do that?” Twilight whispered harshly.

“The cupcakes would go to waste,” Pinkie responded passionately. From the tone in Pinkie Pie’s voice, a wasted cupcake could be the end of the world for all she cared.

“Was breaking and entering really necessary?” Twilight asked.

“No, but it made it more fun,” Pinkie answered with a giggle. “By the way, why are we out here?”

“I’m studying.”

“Studying what?”

“Luke,” Twilight answered, a notepad and quill held at the ready in her purple magic.

“Why?”

“Because,” Twilight answer, jotting down notes as Luke ducked under a flying pillow. The room exploded in full pandemonium with Luke grabbed the fallen pillow, using it to counter attack on a rushing Appebloom. “I need to start a case study. If I can outline Luke’s characteristics, I can then create a basic profile of him for future studies.”

“Soooooooo,” Pinkie rubbed her chin, “you’re stalking him?”

“I am not stalking him!”

“But you’re watching him without his knowledge and making notes on what you observe,” Pinkie pointed out innocently.

“Yeah, but this is for science,” Twilight countered. “I can use this knowledge for when I do a physical examination.”

“So? I was doing the same thing for a different reason.”

“Wait, what?” Twilight asked in absolute confusion.

“I was following Luke yesterday to find the perfect present for him,” Pinkie Pie admitted without any remorse.

“Okay,” Twilight eyed her friend with some hesitation.

“But that was a gift to make him smile,” Pinkie continued. “What you’re doing is kinda creepy?”

“Creepy?” Twilight nearly yelled. “What about you and your stalking?”

“I’m not the one who wants to physically examine an eight-year-old,” Pinkie Pie said.

Twilight just sat there, surrounded by swaying branches and leaves. No sound or words to describe the level of shame and embarrassment she felt right now.

“Oooooh,” Pinkie Pie whispered, looking at the fillies and colts inside the room.

“What?” Twilight asked, dropping her notebook to the ground like it was a venomous snake.

“Those cupcakes I gave them were my super secret sugar deluxe special cupcakes,” Pinkie squinted, looking intently at the six children that were froze in place. “And it looks like they’re about to take effect.” Luke was completely still, his arm half-way to delivering a feathery pillow to Scootaloo’s side. Applebloom froze in the process of holding Rumble in one arm while giving him a severe case of the noogies. Sweetie Bell and Button Mash held their pillows against the other’s head. Across the room, Twilight could just see Button’s favorite hat lying on the floor far away from the action.

“What happened?”

Pinkie Pie turned to Twilight, “My super special cupcakes tend to have a delayed effect. After a couple seconds, the pony eating these cupcakes will get hit by with enough sugar to put a groan stallion into a coma.”

Twilight closed her eyes, trying to think of a response. “Why would you make a cupcake like that? Better yet, why would you give them to six children?”

“That’s how I start my day,” Pinkie Pie replied offhandedly, “with a large healthy dose of sugar. And I gave them those cupcakes to make their night even better.”

“Pinkie? I don’t think that’s healthy,” Twilight responded.

“You know the doctors keep telling me that, but I feel just fine.

Her mind turned back to the six children in the room. All of their large eyes were wide, their black pupils growing large to blot out their irises. This won’t end well. Twilight turned to Pinkie Pie, grabbing her by the tail with her magic. “We’re leaving,” was all Twilight said before she forcibly dragged her down the street and away from the impending disaster.

“But I wanna see what happens next,” Pinkie Pie whined. But no amount of begging would change Twilight’s mind.

Inside the room, Luke could see everything. All around him, Luke could see the individual particles in front of his own eyes. Oxygen, carbon dioxide, H2O and many more compounds flew through the open air. Luke could feel the earth beneath his feet, the massive tectonic tiles moving ever so slowly under his claws and hooves. Luke looked up to the roof. Through the wooden structure, Luke could feel the radiation leaking through the solid structure. They called to the young hippogriff with their warm glowing light. “Guys,” Luke said in a hushed whisper. “I’m don’t want you to freak out, but I think I can feel the universe. And it’s tripping me out.”

“I can see the future,” Button Mash yelled loudly. “I see the birth of a great icon, the bringer of the greatness in the world of video games who will lead a small company to the level of giants in his final fantasy.”

Scootaloo giggled loudly to Luke’s right. Scootaloo was gently poking Luke’s un-bandaged feathery neck. “These are like the softest thing I’ve ever felt,” Scootaloo wheezed out between her giggles. Scootaloo moved close to Luke and proceded started to rub against Luke’s soft, smooth feathers. “I just… I just don’t get it. How’d you get so soft? Where you always this soft?”

While Scootaloo proceeded to rub against Luke like a common house cat, Rumble’s wings were going into overdrive. The young colt hovered two feet above the ground. Rumble looked to the ground in complete disbelief, a high buzzing sound filling the room as his tiny wings flapped as hard as they could. “Hey! Hey!” Rumble screamed to his friends. When all of their eyes were on him, Rumble said, “I can fly!”

Applebloom toppled onto her flank, laughing up a storm at Rumble’s complete awe at himself. Applebloom’s face was red and she had difficulty focusing on anything around her. Everything sure looked funny to her.

Sweetie Bell looked to Rumble, then to the jabbering Button Mash, the laughing Applebloom and both Scootaloo and Luke with wide eyes. Every motion was so slow. Rumble was moving through the air slower than Fluttershy before Sweetie Bell’s eyes. She could make out each feather in his tiny wings. Sweetie Bell could the air pass through each of Rumble’s individual feathers as they slowly lifted up and down. “IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ccccccccccaaaaaaaannnnnnnn ffffffffffflllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyy!”

Luke noticed Sweetie Bell’s look of horror. The world around her were slow, the words her friends were saying were hard to understand. Deciding to go to her, Luke’s stumbled towards the white unicorn. But he quickly had to stop because the universe decided to turn on the gravity, causing Luke to stumble worse than a stoned biblical whore.

Luke sat on his flank, watching the particles collide in front of his face before they exploded in bright fireworks. Far out.

The rest of the night became a blur for the children.

0 0 0

Milano yawned widely, stretching her limbs as she jumped out of bed. Wishfully, Milano looked to the empty side of her bed. Unfortunately, her husband was on a business trip to Trottingham for the next two weeks. The alarm clock read 9:55 A.M. Milano shrugged off the late hour the children finally went to bed and trotted out the room, moving down the hallway towards Button Mash’s room.

Milano knew the deal with sleepovers. Her little Mash and his friends would be very loud for the beginning until they tired out. After the sixth body crashed into the hard floor, all the noise from Button Mash’s room ended and Milano could finally get to sleep.

When she pushed open the door, Milano’s jaw hit the floor. Passed out in the center of the room was Button Mash, covered from head to tail in every color of food coloring Button could find in the kitchen.

Last night, Button wanted to know what it was like to be a rainbow.

It was a good idea at the time.

Sweetie Bell’s head rested on Button’s back. Her mane was jagged and short. Last night, Sweetie Bell had a panic attack and thought her hair was trying to eat her.

Rumble was hanging from the ceiling, his tail knotted in one of the fan’s blade. Rumble mumbled incoherently as he slowly rotated around in circles.

Applebloom was curled under a pile of pillows. Fort Apple had survived the Great Pillow War of Last Night. Many lives were lost, but Applebloom’s hard work and engineering had survived. Where other fell, Applebloom was still standing to bask in the glory of victory.

Luke had his back pressed against the frame of Button Mash’s bed. His head was leaning against the soft mattress with his mouth wide open. Dozens of papers were tapped to Luke’s body, making him look like a Christmas tree so pathetic the one in the Charlie Brown Christmas Special is laughing at him. This paper assortment also included a papier-mâché yellow star strapped directly to his forehead. A white foam coated Luke’s mouth, falling slowly to the ground as he mumbled, “I’m gonna get you cupcakes. You are the food and I am the destroyer.”

Scootaloo was the only one lying on the bed. The small filly was curled up in the center of a nest created by the comforter and sheet covering Button’s bed. At some point during the night, someone decided to draw a set of glasses and a mustache on Scootaloo’s face. And whoever they may be, I hope for their sake she doesn’t find out.

Milano felt a headache growing. The pain struck the center of her brain before traveling through her nervous system to settle just behind her large eyes. But that wasn’t the worst part. In the center of the room was the white empty box Pinkie Pie used for her cupcakes. In that moment, Milano knew who was responsible for the children’s current state.

From outside, the peaceful morning in Ponyville was quiet. Ponies were going about their business. A loud shrieked filled the air, striking fear into the hearts of everypony and succeeded in scaring the living daylights out of the six passed out children. “Pinkie Pie!”

In Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie Pie shot up in her bed. “Oh no. I’ve really done it now,” Pinkie Pie mumbled to herself. “Quick to the Pinkie Cave!” Pinkie Pie threw herself into her closet. Her tail closed the door behind her.

The white sliding doors open just barely a slivered, a pink hoof quickly depositing a note on the door knob reading ‘Pinkie Pie’s not here.’ Gummy slept peacefully on his pillow, unaware of his owner’s distress.

0 0 0

After waking up all the children, and detangling a panicking Rumble from the ceiling fan, Milano set about making waffles.

“What happened last night?” Luke sat between Scootaloo and Button Mash, rubbing his head in a vain hope of alleviating the growing pain in his skull. Several patches of feathers and fur were missing from his coat. Apparently scotch tap wasn’t enough, so they resorted to duck tape.

Everyone at the table shook their heads. Button Mash was too busy scrubbing his fur with a wet rag. “Mom! It’s not coming off!”

“Rarity’s going to kill me,” Sweetie Bell slowly ran her hoof over her shortened mane.

Rumble had his eyes closed, holding his hooves to his head. “Make the spinning stop. Make it stop.”

Applebloom kept her forehead pressed against the table top. Scootaloo’s eyes were half lidded giggling softly to herself, “I don’t know what happened. But it had to be awesome.”

Milano turned to the table, holding a large plate in her teeth stacked high with the golden brown perfection only a mom could make. Cause every time I tried to make waffles, they end up either burnt or uglier than the Toxic Avenger’s complexion.

The children dug in with no mercy. Jumping on the stack of waffles like a pack of wild wolves. There was no mercy today. Only headache’s and hunger.

A loud knocking at the door gave Milano an excuse to leave the room. If she wasn’t careful, she might lose a hoof by accident.

“Hello?” Milano called out, opening the door to the bright morning light.

Applejack smiled widely at Milano, “Howdy.”

“Hey Applejack,” Milano smiled warmly. “Are you picking up the children today?”

“Sure am,” Applejack nodded. “Big Mac and Ah thought it would be good for me and Luke to spend some time together. Rarity’s probably still asleep and ah can drop off Scootaloo on my way to taking Luke to get his saddles made.” Applejack followed Milano into the household, “Do ah need to take Rumble home?”

“No, that’s alright. Thunderlane’s going to pick up Rumble after he’s done grocery shopping,” Milano said.

“Where was Thunderlane last night?” Applejack asked inquisitively.

“He and Roseluck were having an alone night.”

“Oh,” Applejack blushed a slight red.

Turning into the kitchen, Applejack was caught by surprise by the state of the five ponies and one hippogriff. “What happened to ya’ll?”

0 0 0

Luke squinted in the bright morning light. That sun is way too bright. After having to deal with Rarity’s reaction to Sweetie Bell’s new hair style, left the young hippogriff partially deaf. Scootaloo’s parents were cool. Thank goodness Rarity was able to magic the marker off her face.

Luke slumped against Applejack’s back with a sigh. The banging against his head was putting him in a bad mood. And constantly being carried around like a Chihuahua is really getting on my nerves, Luke thought angrily, but he sighed in defeat knowing that his speed and stamina were still very low. Applebloom was surprisingly quiet while they trudged down the dirt roads of Ponyville. “Hey Applejack?”

“Yes?”

“Could we stop by the library after I get my saddles? I wanna grab a new book to read,” Luke asked as nicely as he could.

“Sure thing,” Applejack smiled widely. “We’ll have to drop by Twilight’s place to have a look. But I’m sure she won’t mind you borrowing a few books.”

“Thank you.”

Luke, Applejack and Applebloom entered the cozy saddle shop. The front area was occupied by several wooden chairs with thick cushions overlooking a very tidy desk. Stationed behind the desk was a stool surrounded by three mirrors with several bright lights. To one side of the store was a large work station with one of the most heavy duty sewing machines Luke has ever seen. It was nothing like the one Luke’s mom used from the far distant past. It was made completely out of metal with four arms that contained thick thread being pulled into the center of the machine with the thickest needle Luke had ever seen. Against the wall were several rolls of fabric held inside a worn shelf.

Sitting patiently at the desk had to be the oldest earth pony Luke had ever seen. Her hair was pure white. She had wrinkles all over her faded pink coat that almost blocked out her eyes. Lady Silk had a very warm smile. Here white teeth sparkled brightly in the morning light. Her Cutie Mark was that of a heart shaped piece of fabric with several patches stitched together by a long grey needle.

“Good morning,” Silk said. Her voice was surprising. She sounds like the Asian lady I met at the laundry mat, Luke thought to himself.

Applejack tipped her hat to Lady Silk, “Howdy.”

“Howdy,” Applebloom smiled.

“Hello.”

“How can I help you today?” Silk asked.

“Luke here needs some saddles for school,” Applejack turned to present her passenger.

“Oh that’a sounds good,” Silk nodded. “Pleasea follow me, little griffon.”

Luke hopped of Applejack’s back. Luke stumbled slightly as he landed with his slightly opened wings. His flying was still a work in progress.

Lady Silk had Luke stand on the stood in front of the mirror. “Now, I’ma going to take your measurements. Then you cana pick the colors for your saddle,” Lady Silk smiled at Luke.

Luke nodded.

Lady Silk’s gently hooves went to work. Her gentle hooves held a tape measure between them as they noted Luke’s length from torso to tail, how tall he was, his waist and ribs. The skill of Lady Silk was apparent in all of her movements. “Very small, but needs room to grow. Best use the denim on the outside… That’ll last longer with those claws,” Lady Silk continued to circle around Luke.

Luke didn’t mind. It was like getting tailored. Lady Silk was very sweet and the measurements were going fine. Until…

As Lady Silk was measuring the width of Luke’s shoulders, she got a cough. And not just any cough. The cough. The cough that meant something was in her through.

Luke saw everything as it happened in slow motion. Silk’s throat contracted, her wrinkles moved as saliva and muscles force whatever buildup that happened to be tickling the old mare’s throat to her muzzle. Oh, please don’t. Luke begged.

*Cough*

In one single throat clearing gag, a speck of nasty black tar escaped Lady Silk’s muzzle and landed on Luke’s chest. It was certainly not the clear speckle of saliva from the average person when they had a accidental spit attack. This was from the mare that has been chewing for the past thirty years of her life. Yeah, that bad.

“Oh, so sorry!” Lady Silk hurriedly grabbed a tissue and dabbed at Luke’s feathers and bandages to clean the young child.

To Luke’s credit, he didn’t scream out loud in absolute disgust. Luke’s mind was a different story, AH! AHHHHHHHHHHH! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! Luke’s body went stiff as a board, the muscles seizing up. Luke was about ready to pour gasoline all over his body like a Buddhist monk protesting Tibet. Only fire will clean me now! It’s the only way!

After Lady Silk was done with her work and Luke managed to say through his clenched beak the color blue. Applejack lead Applebloom with a still grossed out Luke on her back.

Applejack tried to ask Luke and Applebloom how the sleepover went, but Luke wasn’t talking and Applebloom couldn’t remember jack about last night. So the trip to Twilight’s Friendship Castle passed in relative silence.

Applejack pushed open the tall door leading into the purple and blue crystal walls. Light reflected from the castle’s tower, casting a dark shadow on the three entering. Girly. Very, very girly.

The long, cold hallways were tall lined with torches and rich velvet tapestries. Applejack’s and Applebloom’s hooves echoed loudly in the empty space and high ceilings. “Twilight?” Applejack called out into the open. “Ya’ll here?”

“In the library,” Twilight responded.

Applejack took the nearest left, then a right, And I’m lost. After several minutes, Applejack pushed her way into the grand library. Two floors of crystal floors loaded with beautiful crystal shelves filled to the brim with so many books. In front of Applejack was Twilight sitting next to a large circle table. In front of her were stacks of paper Twilight was working intently on. Her quill was moving across the surface of the parchment so fast Luke could see the smoke rising from the quill’s tip. Next to Twilight was a large chalkboard on wheels.

“Howdy Twilight,” Applejack approached her, offering her a quick hug.

“Hey Applejack, Applebloom, and Luke,” Twilight smiled when she turned towards the group. Though when she looked at Luke, Twilight’s cheeks turned a slight red tint. Luke brushed it off the strange behavior, his eye wandering over the vast reservoir of knowledge. “How’s today going?”

“Good. Good,” Applejack nodded. “We were wandering if Luke could check out a few books.”

“Sure thing,” Twilight turned to Luke and Applebloom. “Have a look around and bring me the books you want when you’re ready to check out.”

Applebloom and Luke nodded before they took to the numerous shelves on the first floor. Luke thought about trying the second floor first, but he feared his old nemesis gravity would be waiting to ambush him like the Apple’s staircase.

While Luke and Applebloom were wondering between the shelves, Applejack took a good hard look at Twilight. Large dark bags under her eyes shown bright against Twilight’s purple fur and her eyes were slightly red. “You been sleeping well, Twi? Are ya still nervous around this here castle?” Applejack asked in concern.

Twilight shook her head, “Oh, no no no!” Applejack raised a single eyebrow. Her internal BS alarm was screaming loudly in her head. Twilight gave in, looking down at the ground, “Maybe a little.” Applejack waited patiently for Twilight to continue. “It’s just this place is so big and quiet,” Twilight sighed.

Applejack wrapped a foreleg around Twilight’s shoulders, “It’s all right sugarcube. There’s nothing wrong with that. How about we head to the kitchen, and ah’ll brew ya a cup of Apple family coffee?”

Twilight gave Applejack a confused look. Applejack lifted her hat, revealing a small silver cylinder filled with the Apple family’s secret recipe for the best coffee in Equestria. “Why did you have that in your hat?” Twilight asked.

“Cause ah had the feeling ah would need it today and ah didn’t want no pony seeing it,” Applejack whispered. “Ya’ll never know when there’s some varmint trying to steal mah family’s coffee.”

“Is it that good?”

“Oh Twilight,” Applejack chuckled. “Ah’m about to blow yur mind.”

Twilight and Applejack made towards the exit, Applejack calling over her shoulder, “You two stay out of trouble ya hear!”

“Yes, Applejack!” Luke and Applebloom called from the depths of the tall shelves.

“By the way, where’s Spike?” Applejack asked.

“He’s in his room. Probably still asleep,” Twilight commented.

Luke rubbed his chin as he stared intently at a book. The book was titled ‘The Science of Magic.’ Luke was deep in thought, That doesn’t make any sense. Magic is defined as ‘the power of apparently influencing the course of events by using mysterious or supernatural forces.’ Meaning that’s magic is outside the natural world and science is the study of the natural world. How do you do that? That’s like trying to mixing Democrats and Republicans. All you’re going to get is a big explosion in your face.

I mean… ?

That just doesn’t…?

I’ve got to read this just to see how that works.

Luke grabbed the book with his thin talons. On his way back, Luke also grabbed two other books: ‘Equestrian History for Dummies’ and ‘The Adventures of Puff the Magic Dragon.’

Luke hefted the heavy books onto the table. “I think these should last a couple of days,” Luke said to himself happily. Luke was about to go find Applebloom, but his eyes caught sight of the chalkboard.

“Hmmm,” Luke peered at the equation written in white chalk. The equation was quite advanced to Luke’s understanding. Interested, Luke decided to take a look at the papers that littered the table top.

Luke’s eyebrows furrowed at the various mathematics written on the thick parchment. The math wasn’t wrong, but the approached was. Luke turned back to the board than back to the paper. It was like looking at two different worlds. The equation on the board was highly advanced but unsolved, reminding Luke of his studies in advanced physics similar to Einstein’s works. But the work on the paper was very limited. It involved some impressive Calculus, but the tools were so far behind. It was like Newton was trying to understand the Theory of Relativity.

The gap between these two schools of thoughts had to be a great as the Grand Canyon.

With a determined face, Luke moved a chair up to the chalkboard. Taking a piece of chalk in his hand, Luke set to work solving the mysterious equation on the chalk board.

There were many approached to mathematics, but each was based on a core principle of Algebra. What happens on one side of the equation, the same thing must occur on the other side. All other schools of mathematics are based upon the simple concepts of Algebra. The more complex the equation will still draw from Algebra and can therefore be broken down into more manageable pieces.

With this equation, Luke started from the ground up. Starting with the basics, Luke fractured each side of the equation into more manageable sections. With such a large equation broken down, Luke began the real work.

I’ve seen this kind of problem. Not directly, but still pretty close, Luke thought to himself. The tools Luke had to use were some of the most advanced items in his scholarly repertoire. Luke strained his mind to the fullest, allowing his hand to scratch the work into the green board. Luke could feel the work unfolding in his mind. There was something about math. It put him in a calmed state of mind, allowing his subconscious to draw on the trapped knowledge lodged deep in his brain. It was like being hypnotized. A dream like state where Luke’s brain could access things his conscious mind would strain to solve in its current state.

That’s the funny thing about math.

Math may be based on rigid ideals, but the ability to solve them may require a more creative approach. Like a great artist, a mathematician would weave the number and patterns together to their own design to solve the problem. Double checking the work would prove if the problem had been solved.

Luke painted across the smooth surface with flourish. Every movement was a stroke of his paintbrush. Every single line a painting made exactly how he wanted to make it.

Applebloom returned to the table, her favorite book series balance on her head entitled ‘Nancy Doe.’ Applebloom skidded to a halt right behind Luke. Applebloom watched Luke continued his work. “Uh Luke? I don’t think Twilight’s gonna be very happy about ya messing with her chalkboard.”

“Uh-hu,” Luke mumbled. He was so close. The solution was there and Luke would solve this. It just required a little more work and double checking before he was satisfied.

Applejack and Twilight returned to the library. Twilight’s eyes were unfocused, captured in the bliss of Appeljack’s coffee. It had been twenty five minutes and Applejack was hoping Luke and Applebloom hadn’t destroyed the library.

The two mares entered the library, finding Luke and Applebloom chatting happily over her favorite Nancy Doe mystery. Not a big fan of mystery books.

Applejack smiled at the sight, Thank Celestia, they didn’t burn down the place. “You two ready to go?”

Luke and Applebloom nodded in unison. Twilight quickly checked their books out before walking the small group out of her castle. Twilight waved the small group off into the open streets of Ponyville.

A little ways down the road, Applebloom asked Luke, “Are ya sure it was alright to solve that math problem for Twilight? She might be mighty sore about not getting to solve whatever she was working on herself.”

Luke shrugged, “I’m sure. It’s not like it’s some earth shattering equation that could change the face the world. Don’t be ridiculous.”

“What are you two talking about?” Applejack asked, not liking the sound of the conversation.

“Luke played with Twilight’s chalkboard!”

Traitor!

I really need to finish preparing the library for public use. Twilight thought to herself, making her way slowly to the library. Having the library open to the public meant the castle would be a lot less empty. Twilight entered the two floored room, glancing at the chalkboard as she passed it.

Twilight froze. “That can’t be.”

Twilight’s eyes were wide, full of absolute shock. Every space of the worn surface was covered with numerals and figures leading from the top left corner just under Clover’s Conundrum to the bottom right. The solution to the equation was wrapped in a square box.

The solution to Clover’s Conundrum was right in front of her.

And she didn’t solve it.

Spike snoozed peacefully in his bed, dreaming about floating gems and a certain mare. That was until Twilight’s loud shriek brought the small dragon into the world of consciousness, “SPIKE! GET IN HERE RIGHT NOW! THE WORLD IS ABOUT TO CHANGE!”

Applebloom, Applejack and Luke exchanged awkward looks. “Did you hear something?” Luke asked.

“Ah think so,” Applejack answered while Applebloom nodded. Applejack motioned with her head, “Let’s get you two back to the farm. Then I’ll figure out how’re yur going to make it up to Twilight” Applejack and company continued on their way back to Sweet Apple Acres without any knowledge of the monster Luke unleashed into the world.

“Alright,” Luke hung his head low in mock shame