Finding Home, Discovering Life

Chapters

Character Notes
1. Cold Coffee
2. My Pants
Interlude #1: Royal Correspondence
3. Isn't Right
Temporary Update Chapter

Character Notes

Author's Note

Since it's clear my choice of cover art is throwing people off/ giving them the wrong Idea, until I can commission new cover art I'll post this here, just a bit of unedited rambling and excerpts from my notes on the main characters. Hope this clears things up! Cheers!

Also still shooting for having chapter 2 out this week.

Edit: Fixed the Heights thanks to input from LuckyLeafGaming Thanks!

Character Notes

Character Notes:

General: When envisioning the Equestria featured in this story, I wanted to do a study in character interaction/development as well as world building. So I started first with the characters we all know and love, as I have stated a few times the primary inspiration for the look of the ponies in the story comes from the Guardinials, a race of extra-planar beings from Elysium featured in 3.5 and 4.0 Edition D&D. Specifically the Equinials, It is from the Equininals that these ponies are getting their size. I decided to use my own height as a reference, I stand six feet, six inches. Just over two meters tall. Vas, the human character in the story is a tad shorter than I am, about the height of my brother, at six feet,four inches or just under two meters. Using these heights as a reference, I decided that the average pony would range from a little under two and a quarter meters tall, about seven feet, three inches to the extremes like Big Mac or Shining Armor at two and a half meters. A towering eight feet, three inches! Using Pinkie as an example, who I chose to make the shortest of the Ponies at exactly 7’3” is barely a head taller than Vas while Big Mac would tower over him by a good half meter. The only pony to break this range in my story is the Princess Celestia, I based her size off the leader of the Equininals. I see her at three meters tall. (Towering over everyone at roughly 9ft 8in, even Luna and Cadence. She is the only one.)

Now, on to more general anatomy of the Ponies then to the character descriptions that I have prepared. When looking for body structure of the ponies, I went over lots of concept art for video games I’ve worked on before having to take time off for my cancer treatment. I eventually decided on adapting the body type, just not as stylized, of the Draenei from Blizzards World of Warcraft. I liked the idea of my anthroponies still having hooves, but also hands, just not the exaggerated ass out, boobs to face gait of the space goats. I drew leg structure from them mostly. Moving on to Earth Ponies, Earth Ponies are shown to have a connection to the land, often stronger than their size would permit in the show. I use Earth Ponies as the base in the story, they run the gamut of size and shape, everything I base size in the story off of I am using an Earth pony as a reference when not using Vas. Pegasai on the other hand, I envision being very, very lean, but not willowy in most cases. The most significant feature of a Pegasai would have to be their wings. Going back to D&D any creature with feathered wings, normally has a wing span of about twice their body height with some variation. I ran with this too, for both the Pegasai and Alicorns. Finally, Unicorns. The Horn of the Unicorn is much the same as it is in the show, a focus for magic; This will come into play in the story later. But on to the individual notes:

The Mane Six:

Princess Twilight Sparkle
Height: 2.28 Meters (7ft 6in)
Twilight’s appearance straddles the median of the Mane Six. She’s nowhere near as waifish as Rarity or as Voluptuous as Fluttershy, nor is she as muscular as Applejack or as athletic as Rainbow Dash. If anything she is closer to Pinkie in body type, though with less adipose tissue due to a healthier diet. Personality wise; I have done my best to present how I see Twilight in the series, competent, intelligent, but highly neurotic. Because I chose to set this story prior to the events of the last season finale, Twilight is still dealing with her insecurities as a princess.

Pinkie Pie
Height: 2.21 Meters (7ft, 3in)
I chose to make Pinkie the shortest pony in the mane six arbitrarily, however as I fleshed out her appearance I found that with her “chubby cute” body type, a term coined by Natasha Allegiri for Fiona of Fiona and Cake, it allowed me to create a puckish almost impish appearance to go along with her personality. Pinkie is wider than most of the Mane Six, but not to the point of being overweight. My intention is what extra weight she does have she carries remarkably well. I’ve done my best to leave her personality mostly alone, but she is difficult to write for without getting too absurd.

Rainbow Dash
Height: 2.26Meters (7ft 5in)
Rainbow Dash is second in line for Shortest Pony, appearance wise I envision her with the build of an Olympic runner. Lots of lean muscle, defined bone structure and chiseled abs; Rainbow’s wings are by far her most striking physical feature. I’ve chosen to give Rainbow slightly oversized wings for her body size, along with a very muscular back to highlight a life time spent honing an already impressive physical talent. The general idea is that Rainbow can fly longer, faster and pull more power from her wings than other pegasai—But at the same time, the size disparity can cause her to over or under compensate, hence her crashing. Personality wise, I wanted to keep Rainbow the same egotistical yet loyal individual she is in the show; I added in her lechery for humor. I find the concept amusing personally. And I think it compliments her love of pranks making other ponies uncomfortable at times, this will be touched on later in the story with greater detail.

Fluttershy
Height: 2.30 Meters (7ft 6 ½ in)
Fluttershy was an interesting pony for me to envision, I’m sure we’ve all heard of “Hootershy” before, I’m not going to lie, that humor inspired this pony’s appearance. But, I wanted less Jessica Rabbit, more Marilyn Monroe. Hence, Fluttershy of this story is tall, but not a twig, her waist is significantly smaller than her shoulders and hips, but not to the point of crushing her internal organs. She does have the largest bust of the Mane Six, a natural G cup. This does not exist in a vacuum however, she does not have a “flat” stomach, and there is adipose tissue there, not as much as Pinkie has but it is present. She also has “foal birthing hips” as I would call it as well as healthy thighs and healthy plot. Due to her fear of heights, I see her wings as not being nearly as developed as Dash’s making her a poor endurance flyer. Personality wise, I’m doing my best to reflect a post Iron Will Fluttershy; she’s timid and fearful, but not incapable of asserting herself.

Rarity
Height: 2.34 Meters (7ft 8in)
Rarity was another interesting pony to envision; I decided to go with what I would call “Almost a Model” as her body type. She’s tall, second tallest of the mane six. She’s very thin, waifish or willowy, heh, nothing like the current cover art. She has a well-defined bone structure and takes very good care of herself physically, as someone in tune with the fashion industry would; but ultimately is just, and only just too healthy to make it as a mainstream model out of the occasional showing of her own designs. Personality wise, I see Rarity as enjoyable collection of conflicts. She’s confident, able to stare down Diamond Dogs one moment before falling into hysteria over a chipped hoof. Fearless when her friends are in danger, before being caught in the grips of terror when faced with a fashion faux paus. And ultimately generous with advice to her friends.

Applejack
Height: 2.41 Meters (7ft 11in)
My favorite Pony, Applejack. I chose to make Applejack the tallest of the Mane Six, just under 8ft tall. She’s built too, almost like Wonder Woman, but without the super defined abs. She spends her days working, lifting, bucking, pulling, pushing, digging, planting, etc. But ends these days with a hearty meal giving her only the slightest bit of cushion. When I have the new cover art drawn, I intend to point out that Applejack’s face should be one step down from the normal feminine; but nowhere close to masculine. I see Applejack as having a rustic beauty; someone who thanks to her genes turns heads wherever she goes and thanks to her lifestyle can turn them right back with one arm. Applejack personality wise is identical to her counterpart on the TV lookie box, Honest, down to earth and prone to over complication or worry at times. But I’ve added in a touch of insecurity; I’ll touch on that in the story down the road.

Other Characters:

Vasili “Vas” Anatolyevich Maksimov
Height: 1.93 Meters (6ft 4in)
Vas is an interesting character to describe; he’s very clearly got three distinct blood lines. He’s Slavic, big, barrel chested, hairy with broad shoulders and thick bones, but definitely has some Nordic blood in him as told by his dirty blonde hair, fair skin and height. While select features in his face and way his beard grow in betray the Ashkenazim blood of his ancestors. He’s got the body of someone who “was” an Athlete; he’s no super hero, soldier or body builder. As for his personality, I’ll leave that to the story.

1. Cold Coffee

“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”
― Oscar Wilde

Chapter 1: Cold Coffee

His coffee was cold.

Reaching out he tapped a select few keys on a laptop; it’s back lit keyboard providing a meaningless addition to the dim illumination that pervaded the room. The room of course, could have been better lit; but that would have require unplugging things, moving things and otherwise taking time away from his current project. This would have required him to both care about the darkness and possess warm coffee for motivation.

His coffee was still cold.

He had been awake for several days now, as so often sleep eluded him when a milestone was close. Not that he would have slept anyway, he also liked to elude sleep; often with the help of a nice big, boiling hot, pot of coffee.

Which had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that his current cup of coffee was cold.

The laptop chirped, followed by another, and another all against the back ground hum of three large mismatched towers in various states of disassembly; a spiders nest of wires strung between them and a trio of server racks against the far wall swaying gently with the vibrations of the devices hard drives.

Which still had nothing to do, with the crime that his precious coffee was cold.

He spun around on the office chair, left leg lying flat as if ready to be sat upon crossed, other parallel to his chest, his bearded chin resting upon a denim covered knee. The laptops chirped again, followed by a sequence of piercing beeps made in agreement by the towers; only a low, but resonate buzz from the servers listed dissent among the machines.

He lifted the coffee cup to his lips, taking a sip knowing all too well, that his coffee was still unfortunately cold.

Gagging while swallowing he rubbed his eyes under the edge of his glasses before returning the aching orbs to the terminal open on the laptop before him.

“Execute Experiment? (Y/N)” it’s most recent line read, offering no other information to its user. No other information was needed in actuality, he wrote the program that was running it could have read “For Pony!” or “How you do’in?” for all he cared. The simple fact that he was being prompted by his custom software told him that his project was about to enter one of what he affectionately called the three states of “damn it”. The first state; he mused as he spun the chair to check the information scrolling across the screens of the other machines, was “damn it, didn’t work”, which in all honesty is what he expected most. Satisfied that the information on the other machines was correct, he sent the chair into a spin with one hand; letting inertia slow him down until he sat before the questioning computer. The second state of “damn it” was “Damn, it did work!” which was the most unlikely; not because he didn't think he could accomplish his goals, but rather that this project working would be a good thing, and his life had taught him good things didn’t happen to him before two terrible things occurred after another good thing. He was also good at math, and only one terrible life crushing thing had occurred to him recently; hence he believed the third state would be more likely than the second.

One of the servers beeped, sending a once inert line of LED’s into illumination, followed by another, and another each stabbing at the electronic twilight with star like points of light; indicating that his homes power grid was at peak capacity, thus ready for the significant draw of the experiment. He stood putting down his cold coffee in the one naked space among the mass of electronics, scrap paper, notebooks wires and laptops that long concealed a desk. Stretching his back to a comforting pop his gaze drifted over is organized chaos at a plain black cylinder resting on a table a few feet beyond the pile of cast off work-stuff, its sleek lines returning him to his previous line of thought. The third state of “Damn it” was “Damn it, I’m dead” which when working with exotic particles no one had names for yet, rare earth metals imported from china and second rate uranium one purchased online through less than legal means from a less than legal source was still very possible.

In truth, it was worse than that.

He’d be dead and his coffee would still be cold.

He didn't move for what seemed like forever, eyes locked on the black cylinder; mind fighting fatigue to crunch numbers over and over; his gaze eventually shifted to a pair of dry erase boards opposite the server racks, covered with equations, graphs, diagrams and of course a crudely drawn image of a phallus.

He smirked. He had drawn the offending image in frustration days earlier. Looking at it now brought to mind the words, as well as the voice of a former friend. “No one is gayer than strait men! Seriously! Leave them alone with a white board and a marker and in less than ten minutes there will be a penis on it!”

A very flamboyant former friend.

It felt good to smile, especially at the memory of his former friend Leo and Leo’s husband to be. He didn’t keep the expression for long, it was foreign to his facial muscles which eventually began to ache. Being much more accustomed to a neutral expression that could only be described as a scowl.

His bespectacled eyes cast down at the laptop that continued to question, Yes or no. He pressed two fingers to the bridge of his nose, breaking from the blissfully sterile thoughts rooted in mathematics to give a passing effort to banishing ennui that rose from the memory. He wouldn't admit to himself, even though he knew it to be true that he missed his friends, rather former friends he was painfully reminded by their absence. They had been the people closest to him, small motes of "not terrible" in his largely self disappointing life. They had been closer than his own blood relations that a normal individual would call a family, a powerful realization considering the culture he was raised in.

His poor mood sank further as his thoughts continued an all to familiar downward spiral. His friends had become former friends either by betrayal on their own part or in the most recent cases, his growing misanthropy and behavioral quirks born of the fractured collection of ideas, concepts and idiosyncrasies he had the gall to call his personality.

Yes or No, the machine continued to pester as he called up a photo from the depths of its hard drive.

Truthfully his heart ached at the daily absence of contact from one of friend above all others. The young woman in the photo he now gazed upon. A woman who he had desperately, to the point of making an ass out of himself with a premature declaration of love, wanted to be far more than a friend.

Yes or No. The terminal window forced itself above the photo.

She had ultimately rejected his affections, causing a knee jerk reaction to find fault with himself before the precious objectivity of rationality led him to the conclusion that love and by extension relationships were two ways streets. Emotionally he had never accepted his own rational thought, but it had allowed him to remain friends with her until events had caused them to drift apart. Her last words to him had been to find something he was certain he never experienced before.

She had asked him to find a way to be happy. He never did, mostly because of a complete lack of trying until very recently.

Yes or No. The machine still beckoned.

He scratched his beard, then looked once more at the Cylinder.

“Breaking the laws of thermodydnamics isn't what Anni had in mind, Eh pup?.” He spoke to the only other occupant of the room and his home. Atlas, his year old Great Dane Puppy and perhaps the only true friend he had at this point in his life. His dog stirred rising to an impressive height before trotting over, collar tags jingling against the otherwise electronic signal symphony that pervaded the room to his side. The corner of his mouth twisted into a half grin as the massive animal leaned into him as a sign of affection, tail wagging back and forth.

“Think it will work?” He asked the large animal who nuzzled him in response.

He lifted his coffee to his lips. “I think it will work.” grimacing at the temperature of his beloved beverage, he tapped the enter key. Not truly ready for whatever terrible or amazing outcome awaited, but rather finding himself numb to the prospect of whatever it maybe.

His coffee was still cold as his world went white.

He hated cold coffee.

Damn it.

Ω

“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight Sparkle shouted in victory after spotting her quarry after a time spent searching. She pulled herself skyward with a mighty beat of her lavender wings, whose one flaps obscured a slight flutter behind her told that indicated Fluttershy had opted to leave the safety of her beloved ground to help retrieve their slumbering friend from her current resting place upon the only cloud hovering above Ponyville’s pristine blue sky.

“Um, Twilight” Fluttershy’s demure tone went unnoticed, barely above the sound of her beating wings.

“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight exclaimed, landing on the fluffy cloud to ruefully stare at the slowly stirring weather manager. Twlight’s lavender coat was poorly hiding the redness in her face born of the irritation of having to search far and wide for the napping pegasus that currently held her complete attention.

“Oh yes, your highness right there, mmm” Cyan athlete moaned in a semi-wakeful state, bringing a blush to flustered alicorn above her. “Oh I don’t mind if Luna joins us; and the royal guard?”

Rainbow Dash wasn’t dreaming about…was she?

“Oh my…” Twilight jumped, focus broken at the whispered words from behind. She spun in place, twisting a divit in the cloud stuff with a single hoof to watch a crème colored pegasus set down behind her just in time to hear the abnormally detailed lecherous mutterings of the still very much half asleep, drooling, Rainbow Dash. Whose moaning drew Twilight’s attention back to the still slumbering pony.

Twilight’s face went dead pan. Rainbow Dash had driven her hand down into her tight fitting running shorts, fingers moving towards a obvious goal.

“Oh…My.” Fluttershy repeated pulling her face behind her long pink hair and burying her muzzle deep within the green turtle neck she wore above the faded denim of her hip hugging bell bottoms.

“Rainbow Dash! Wake up!” Twilight gave the stirring Rainbow Dash a not so gentle kick to the side, hoping to wake her and spare Fluttershy a death by embarrassment. She caught the fit female’s exposed, iron clad abdominals with a direct impact.

“Sweet Celestia! What are you made of!” Twilight screamed in pain, jolting her friend awake. Though she was personally unsure if it was the scream or the choice to kick her friend which had roused her. She was undoubtably sure that she regretted kicking the three time award winning “Iron Pony”, as she was now rolling on the cloud clutching her hoof, as it was one of two she had chosen to be hooficured prior.

“What the actual buck Twilight!” Rainbow Dash was definitely awake now, clutching her bare midriff below the skin tight fabric of her tank top. “Can’t a filly enjoy a nap?”

She focused her magenta eyes upon the princess before her, who was still rolling around on the cloud like a madmare clutching her throbbing hoof. A mischievous smile crept across the rainbow haired prankster as she stretched her toned body. A small moan escaped her lips as muscles unwound and joints unleashed several pleasurable pops.

“So, Twilight; interesting choice of clothing today, very bold for an egghead like you.” The athlete teased.

After a few more dramatic moments of writhing in pain Twilight looked up into the upside down, from her perspective at least, eyes of Fluttershy. The princess’s face held in a mix of exasperation and confusion directed at the one pony on the cloud currently not in her line of sight. Fluttershy was still half buried in her turtleneck, the redness of her skin blazing through her pale coat.

“I, I tried to warn you.” she managed to squeak in response to Twilight’s expression.

Sweet Celestia what was she talking about? Was all that Twilight could think as she looked down, rather strait from her current prone position, at her wardrobe of the day. It wasn't much, hence her confusion; her bright white collared shirt was still unmarked pristine beneath her rich violet vest emblazoned with her cutie mark, itself holding a small black tie in place despite her earlier trashing. What was the issue? Other than that she was just wearing her favorite red miniskirt flipped half way up below her breasts, exposing her matching lace undergarments.

Her heart stopped.

“Lemme guess egghead, you decided to take off forgetting you didn’t have shorts on under your skirt didn’t you.”

The amusement in Rainbow Dash’s voice was enough to make somepony think she had just witnessed a Wonderbolt face plant into a refuse bin. Rainbow dropped to all fours atop her mortified friend, lowering herself until they were muzzle to muzzle. She paused for a mere moment as Twilight broke from her gaze, struggling to straighten her now corrected garment, while remaining under the athletic pony. She maneuvered her mouth up to a position right next to purple alicorns ear, dropping her voice to a husky whisper soaked in faux desire.

“You know Twily, if you wanted to show off you red lace, you could have always offered me a private show. You didn’t have to share with all of Ponyville.” Rainbow reveled in her friends awkward discomfort; giggling at the prospect of the deluge of chaotic half thoughts Twilight often spewed when flustered.

“Rainbow Dash! Stop that!” The pegasus was suddenly reminded she was not alone on this cloud with pinned friend.

She sighed. Obeying the uncommonly authoritative voice of her best friend by pulling back and helping Twilight to her hooves. Fluttershy was glaring at her, though the trembling of her lips and flat position of her ears told the flirtatious athlete that interjecting like that had sapped her shallow reserves of courage for the day if not more.

“Hey Fluttershy, its all fun. We’re cool right?” Rainbow smiled at her friend, relived that it visibly calmed her.

“Oh Dashie, I Ju…” Fluttershy was cut of almost as soon as he opened her mouth by A high pitched scream.

“My Tail! My Tail! My Knee! My Knee! My Tainee? My Tainee! My Tainee!” The absurd mantra succeeding in defusing the tense, awkward or sexy moment depending which of the three mares was consulted as they dared look down to the source of the high pitched declaration.

The image could not have been more comical. Barreling down Mainstreet clad in plain enough blue, white striped shirt with matching thigh highs, interrupted by a bright yellow tutu. Was an ever so lightly pudgy pink earth pony with poofy pink hair known to the town as Pinkie Pie.

“My Tainee! My Tainee!” Pinkie Pie continued to repeat careening from stall to stall in the busy street.

Oblivious to the looks other ponies gave her, or rather the fact that her adorable ensemble as Rarity would describe it was augmented with a pair of inflatable floaties around her upper arms, a plastic umbrella hat upon her head and for some bizarre reason even for the eccentric party pony. There appeared to be a parachute on her back plain for all to see.

“Her Tainee?” Rainbow Dash flopped down on the edge of the cloud, feet dangling in open air. “What the buck is she going on about?”

“Um, her Pinkie Sense, maybe?” Fluttershy was equally perplexed, leaning down to look upon the spectacle. Her back arched, wings extended in an attempt to balance out her inherent top heavy nature owed to a pair of exceptional counterweights that wouldn’t have looked out of place on a earth pony mare three times her size.

“Her tail, her knee?” Twilight was muttering under her breath through a mouthful of dark violet hair, one of her more adorkable nervous habits in the eyes of her closest friends. “Her tail means something or somepony about to fall, I think.” She nodded to herself before letting the slightly chewed hairs fall back to the side of her face. “I know her knee was the worst from what she told me, it means something terrible is about to happen.”

“Yeah.” Dash drawled her contribution at length. “But what does she need with the parachute I mean she’s on the grou—“

Rainbow Dash didn't finish the statement. Chances if she had it would have been awesomely sarcastic. Instead Ponyville was rocked by a massive boom in the skies far above, akin to thunder but so much louder. Before all three winged ponies could even raise their heads toward the assaulting sound. Then came the shockwave, blasting apart the white fluffy platform whilst scattering the winged mares into the open air. Rainbow Dash was the first to recover, darting to Fluttershy who in mix of fear and shock had against all instinct for her kind locked her wings close to her body plummeting to the earth below.

Twilight Sparkle was righted not soon after. Eyes skyward locked open in horror, her horn ablaze with power ready to retaliate at whatever threatened her home and her beloved friends. High in the clear blue sky was a scar.

No, not a scar, rather what preceded it, a wound she thought. A wound that was getting worse.

True to her observations, it was what appeared to be gaping, growing by the minute wound in the sky. Beyond which lay an amalgam of colors, shapes and formations left Twilight paused for moments in a mix both fear and awe until an all too gleeful greeting returned her to the situation at hand.

“Hey Twilight! Funny meeting you up here! Well, not funny really because you have wings and you were here before, but it’s funny that I’m up here isn’t it? I mean if you were down there and I was up here then this would really funny—”

“Not now Pinkie!” Twilight snapped at the energetic pony.

“Oki Dokie Lokie!” The party mare replied unoffended by her friends tone and seemingly recovered from her earlier hysteria.
Pinkie was a dear friend, but her limitless enthusiasm was too much for Twilight to deal with while keeping herself aloft and trying to figure out what in Tartarus was going on with the sky.

Wait. Twilight’s heart started pounding.

She was keeping herself aloft. Slowly Twilight turned her head in time to catch the bubblegum mare floating slowly skyward, waving a large grin plastered across her face.

“Pinkie!” Twilight Panicked reaching for her friend.

“Twilight!” The party mare responded in kind.

“Your flying!”

“Your shouting!”

This wasn’t a conversation Twilight was having, she gripped Pinkie’s leg pulling her surprisingly easy down to her lower, if slightly altitude.

“Hey look! Rainbow Dash!” Pinkie pointed as she came to float next to the princess provided she didn’t let go. Sure enough Rainbow Dash was fast approaching, thankfully a return from getting Fluttershy to safety.

“Twilight, seriously; what the actual buck is going on?” The prismatic pony’s magenta eyes widened before she even finished her demand, locked on the pink earth pony floating gleefully next to Twilight Sparkle. “Pinkie, are you flying?”

“Yes indeed-dilly!” giggled the party pony. “And so is Big Mac, Rarity, Mrs. Cake, Lyra, Cheerilee…” Pinkie continued to rattle off the names of various earth ponies and unicorns while gesturing about, as her friends looked on in horror. Trees, loose stones, patio furniture, Unicorns and Earth ponies where all drifting skyward towards the wound in the sky.

“Twilight; what’s going on?” Rainbow’s voice cracked with fear. Twilight didn’t know, that in itself was clear on her friends face providing a prospect far more frightening than the population of the hamlet drifting off into the sky. “Twilight—“ Rainbow prodded the princess.

“Quiet!” Twilight hissed at Rainbow Dash. She didn’t need distractions, she needed to think. Her eyes darted from the ground, to the floating objects, ponies then to the hole in the sky. Her mind was falling back into an old study habit from her days as Filly.
Break a problem down to parts, understand the parts; and then put them back as the solution.

First she thought of herself and her friends. She was clearly fine as was Rainbow, thus this was not a problem. A brief wave of panic struck her, passing as soon as it came as she looked for Fluttershy. Who was back on the safety of the ground, body language frozen in absolute terror.

“Fluttershy.” She muttered. At least she was safe, on the ground.

On the ground.

“What about her?” Rainbow Dash’s voice was still strained with fear. The Element of Loyalty’s bravery was legendary, but even it had limits. This was clearly stretching it as she made no effort to conceal the fear as various pegasai had come to join them in the relative safety of the air.

“She’s standing on the ground.” The princess stated to nopony in particular.

“Equestria to Twilight! Yeah she’s on the ground! You know how she gets in the air!” Rainbow Dash's normal rasp was getting aggressive with concern.

Twilight ignore the chastising tone and looked at Pinkie with uncommon intensity. Pinkie was gazing up into the hole, scar, wound or whatever it would end up being called humming to herself. She was unmoving thanks to Twilight’s grip, which the princess transferred from her leg to her plush waist. But, Twilight noted. she wasn’t staying still like herself, Rainbow Dash or Fluttershy.

Twilight could feel Pinkie being drawn skyward.

“Rainbow Dash, Get the pegasai rallied, everypony with wings. They are immune to whatever is going on.” The words came out with authority she had only used once before once the Everfree forest had grown out of control. Rainbow didn’t move eyes blank staring back at her. “Rainbow now!”

That snapped her out of it, Rainbow with her trademark speed shot off with several of the pegasai close enough to hear Twilight’s command.

That would keep her busy, good. A busy Rainbow Dash was a Rainbow Dash unable to think about fear. Twilight placed several pieces of the problem together, a solution tantalizingly with sight until her heart sank as another detail came to mind.

“Pinkie, your tail! Something’s going to...” For the second time, a winged pony was cut off by a boom from the hole in the sky. Which had chosen this exact time to double in size, as well as release its hold on the land below including its denizens. “…fall.”
Her mental order buckled as she watched ponies begin to plummet to the earth free of whatever was causing them to float away in the first place, only to collapse when she felt Pinkie slip out of her grasp.

“Bye Twilight!” The party pony waved enthusiastically for a few short as she slipped out of her friends grip, before pulling the cord on her parachute. The party pony was on a lazy decent that would land her in the central fountain.

“That explains the floaties.” Twilight grumbled. She had to deal with the world ending now and could think about the phenomenon that was Pinkie Pie later. If there was a later. Looking about, she saw the last of the Pegasai landing; carrying precious cargo, their peers to safety. Thank Celestia, she exhaled only to be startled by a third blast from the sky hole.

“Oh what now!” she shouted as a massive collection of sparking white wood and brick hurled past her slamming into the boulevard below. Three more booms heralded the eruption of three more large masses of wood and brick, one of which was hurling right for her. Like Rainbow Dash and her ability to perform breakneck turns with ease. Twilight reacted on instinct her horn flaring like a muscle reacting on memory blasting the mass in to cloud of splinters, dust, weird green plastic and furniture.

“Furniture?” Her mind snapped back from panic to analysis for a single blissful moment until a scream from below brought her back to reality. She chanced a look down, Fluttershy had almost been crushed by what appeared to be the flaming remains grey office chair thrown free from mass she had pulverized.

Alright, no more blasting, levitation it is. She told herself, she couldn’t destroy the masses if they all fragmented like the last one and she could just hurl them about given how big they were without damaging more of Ponyville. So she settled on her only other option, grabbing them from the sky and setting them down.

Six more booms from above made her swallow; could she do this? She wasn’t sure, she didn’t know if she could.
Biting a lock of fluttering lavender hair Twilight Sparkle knew she had to buck up, Ponyville needed her and she was not about to fail
them.

Ω

Fluttershy had been frozen in terror falling to her assured peril after her world began to fall apart. She wasn’t like most pegasi, the fire of the warrior tribe that had spawned their modern contribution to Equestria never lit in her. She would have died if it wasn’t for Rainbow Dash’s quick thinking and quicker flight speed. She had been left on the ground, eyes glued to the sky particularly to her two; soon to be three once joined by Pinkie, airborne friends. When the world had begun to shift skyward she had still been frozen in terror. Tears streaming down her pale cheeks helpless to act as so many ponies she knew found themselves floating away.

Why, why couldn’t she be brave like Rainbow Dash? Or focused like Twilight? Or, well she wasn’t really sure what Pinkie was exactly, but even that was better than her current state.

Fluttershy found herself retreating into the safety of her mane she did her best to blot out the booms above, not wanting to look into that awful hole in the sky. She pushed her quivering muzzle deep into the security of her turtlenecks collar as if she could curl into a ball and vanish. The sky continued to explode above her reinforcing her fear. She half heard the shouts of pegasai between each other, something about Twilight’s orders to save everypony?

Twilight was going to save everypony, Just like she always did. The thought calmed her slightly, filling her with the slightest bit of her own unfamiliar courage. Not enough to release the rigidity upon her wings rather enough to peek out from her rather attached shelter in time to see a fireball of burning office furniture come hurling right at her from an equally terrifying explosion growing just above Twilight Sparkle.

“Eep!” The pink haired Pegasus screamed as she scrambled away in the nick of time, courage vanishing as swiftly as it had rallied as she took refuge under a concrete table that had remained grounded due to it being as much part of the ground as a bit of furniture wrought for pony use.

“Please, please stop, make it all stop! Please make it stop!” held her head, covering her ears as sequential blasts from the sky sent waves of terror down her spine until all she could hear was the chattering of her own teeth and that of her own sobs. Her chest felt tight as what little coherent thought she could muster informed her that a panic attack was beginning. A voice far quitter than her own whispered in the back her head at this information that she needed to breathe if she was going to make it through this.

“Tw-twilight wuh-will sa-ave everypony.” She stuttered as another six booms from above shook the world around her.

“Twilight will save everypony!” she shouted rapidly against the ear shattering percussion of the sky hole. She just wanted this to end, she wanted to disappear. She wanted to curl into a ball and just be safe, she wanted her friends to be safe. Then she heard it in the precious moments between her own sobbing, in those finite seconds of silence between the explosive sounds from the hole above.

A whimper.

Her ears perked up as her hands fell from them. Again, she heard the whimper and her own fear didn’t seem so close. Amidst the chaos Fluttershy stood out from under the table, searching for the pathetic sound. No longer reacting to the chaos above and around her. She traced the sound to one of the smoldering fragments of whatever it was Twlight had blasted apart. It and several other fragments landed nearby. Her own safety thrown to the wind she crept over to the wreckage, only to hear the whimper again more pronounced this time. As a veterinarian she was well in tune with the sound animals made when things were not as they should be, even without the added benefit of her special ability to understand most creatures. The whimper in this case came again as she crept around the still immolated chunk of what appeared to be the outside of a house; This particular whimper told her from its high pitch that it was most likely canine. The rapid short spaces between the sound, like crying indicated that whatever was troubling the creature was closer to sadness or worry rather than her own constant companion of fear.

A companion whose presence that took great effort to ignore without good reason, Fluttershy shamefully reminded herself as her senses tried to process what she saw before her in the smoldering heap. Her eyes bestowed the image of a light grey canine alright, but not of any breed she had seen. It was a he, and he was big. Larger than even some of the mountain breeds kept by ponies across the great sea, but lacking their girth. This dog has been bred for or from a runner, long legs stretched out to end in paws almost the size of her hand, trim form highlighting muscles that would not have been out of place on a stallion. The dogs face was regal and long, framed by large droopy ears that did not fall past the base of the skull but sat apart from the largest brown eyes of the type she had seen perhaps hinting that he was some form of Mastiff.

Her nose stung with the coppery odor of blood, her heart freezing as she dog turned its massive head to her. His Ears drawn back in aggression, muzzle pulled into a snarl as the whimper became a growl. The dog made no move to attack her as she stood frozen, in part from her knowledge of animals and to fact she was still processing what she was witness too. The great mastiff like breed had suffered dozens of cuts from the ongoing disaster, but was not the source of the visceral pungency.

That came from the creature the dog was clearly protecting.

She had never seen a being like it; it was similar to her in many ways. Two eyes lay shut on a face below a short dirty blonde mane with no real muzzle, two ears on either side of its head, two arms that ended in hand, two legs ended in fleshy feet rather than hooves. It was much smaller than her. Barely the size of young colt or filly, at most just shy of two meters tall. It didn’t have much of a coat to speak of, just thin dark hairs visible on its lower arms and the parts of its chest that were exposed. It wore clothing and had pink skin which bruised and lacerated in dozens of places, but not where near as severe as the large crimson hole across the creatures chest.

Flutterhsy didn’t know what to do, animals where one thing. Even the exceptionally powerful ones from the Everfree Forest and beyond where things she could handle from sunrise to sunset with a few exceptions. She was a healer at heart, a caretaker of creatures who could not care for themselves. Panic welled within her as the sky hole above mercifully became silent. Presented with what she saw. What she knew. Her own nerves gaining purchase over her profession, her destiny and nature. Fluttershy did the only thing she could.

She screamed.

Author's Note

Here we go! Chapter 1!

Please let me know what you think!

I'm going to try my best to describe how I see the anthropomorphic ponies; I did a lot of reading of a few of my more obscure D&D books while I thinking and poking around DA for reference images.

I've settled on something halfway between a very common Anthromorphic Equestiran and an Equine Guardianal from D&D, I'm not sure but I think it's called stage four or three anthropomorphism from what I've seen on DA, but giving them hooves rather than feet as well as making them stand between two and a quarter meters tall like a Guardinal.

Anywho, hope you enjoy the story! all feedback is welcome!

2. My Pants

“Denial exists when three beliefs
intersect:
1. It cannot happen.
2. It cannot happen to you.
3. It cannot happen to you now.”
― Johnnie Dent Jr.

“Twilight?”

“Mmm?” Twilight pulled her eyes from the papers before her to look into the azure orbs of Ponyville’s resident fashion designer. A smile was gently laid across Rarity’s immaculate features, her clothing and mane perfect as always despite the morning’s averted disaster. Twilight would have been hard pressed to believe this was the same pony that had been hurled skywards only hours before, had she not witnessed it herself. As always though, Rarity handled world ending disaster far better than most. Now if anything happened to damage either her immaculate white blouse or her black ankle length skirt, the prissy pony would most likely have a meltdown to rival Twilight’s own infamous mental breaks. In this moment, Rarity looked stunning. The dim light was cast by both the setting sun and the soft lamps of the recovery suite at Ponyville General. The waifish mare appeared to be cast from solid marble, devoid of any imperfections.

Like an angel, Twilight mused.

Twilight’s muzzle twitched at a familiar scent, two paper cups steaming in her friend’s hands before her.

Like an angel, bringing coffee. Precious coffee.

Twilight’s caffeine bestowing angel moved, practically gliding to take a seat next to Twilight’s side on the plush sofa with one smooth motion before offering one of the vaporous cups of magnificent fluid to the Element of Magic.

“Coffee?” Rarity offered as a semi-apologetic peace offering for her interruption as Twilight sat up wincing at the sudden awareness of the soreness in her back, a protest to the position she had been sitting in. She had been bent over the coffee table going over a host of medical texts and papers for the past several hours, studying anything and everything she could get her hands on to deduce who, as well as what, the hospital’s newest patient was.
“Yes, thank Celestia for you Rarity.” Twilight smiled, stretching her wings, savoring the smell of the offered beverage and the warmth it conferred to her hands as she accepted her friend’s gift.

“Oh think nothing of it darling. After all, you’ve been in here all day since that dreadful event earlier.” Rarity set her own coffee down on what was possibly the only free area of the table before pulling a compact from her purse.

“How you managed to still have the energy to perform research is beyond me, my dear.” Rarity spoke from the corner of her mouth while her eyes focused on the small mirror in front of her. She corrected a slight smudge of her eye liner with an expert flick of a finger.

If she only knew.

Twilight reveled in the sensation of the sweet, scalding liquid gently flowing down her throat. She was running on fumes in reality. She had hastily cast an inverted sleep spell shortly after deflecting the debris hurled out by the trans-dimensional high energy matter exchange or the hole-in-the-sky as other ponies had begun to call it, much to her annoyance.

Was it really that difficult to call something by its proper name? Twilight fumed as she enjoyed another visit to her lips from the caffeinated beverage in her hands.

“Perks of being a princess I guess. Beats the normal smile and wave.” She relaxed again, ire fading as the heat in her belly deemed it no longer important compared to the caffeine that would soon begin its particular brand of chemical magic.

A dainty giggle escaped Rarity’s lips as she retrieved her own beverage, blowing on it few times before taking a tentative sip.

“You should demand that coffee peddlers be present at every street corner. Now that would be a perk worthy of a princess.” Rarity’s response elicited a chuckle from Twilight. The fashionista reclined into the plush back of the sofa, her half-lidded eyes falling onto the lovely sight in the sectional parallel to them. Pinkie Pie was quietly snoozing, her head hanging off the edge of the cushion towards the ground. Her thigh high wrapped legs draped over the well-toned, torn denim short topped thighs of Applejack. The farm mare herself had been caught at market during the whole dreadful affair, which broke Rarity’s heart. The farmer was one of the sweetest, bravest ponies she knew. Aerodynamic however was not a word often attributed to the larger mare by anypony. Not that she was belittling her dear friend. Rarity scolded herself for the cruelty implied by the thought. Rarity remembered what joy she took in the challenge her friend’s impressive physique had presented in the few select times the farmer came seeking formal attire. Applejack was easily the tallest of their little group as well as one of the largest mares she had ever met, along with one of the largest hearts Rarity had ever known. Though she had one of the smallest tolerances for high fashion despite the fact that she had,, “cleaned up somethin’ fierce.”

Eloquent quite really, Rarity’s eyebrow twitched in time with minds inner sarcasm. She cocked her head, mind conceptualizing clothing that would complement her friend. Her muscular physique was the envy of many athletes, hoofball players especially. Yet Applejack retained just enough femininity that it was clear, as much as Rarity was loathe to admit, even when not properly dressed or clean, her friend was quite the jewel.

Rarity took another sip from her beverage, wincing at the heat, having forgotten to blow on it, before she returned her eyes to her friends.

Applejack, now surveyed by Rarity’s eye, was sprawled out in the center of the sectional. Arms flung wide over the back cushions to rest on the frame, her long golden locks spilled free of their normal red binding from beneath her late father’s Stetson. The hat lay perched blissfully on her muzzle shielding her face from any stimulus reckless enough to wake her, as Rainbow Dash was equally blissful, resting her head on Applejack’s chest.

“Oh dear, and here I am without my camera.” There was little Rarity could to hide her amusement at the sight of Rainbow Dash fast asleep, drooling atop Applejack’s flannel covered chest. No doubt Rainbow Dash had started her slumber propped up against the blonde pony’s prodigious shoulder, but had since slid down at some point during their shared slumber.

“Somehow I don’t think a photo would make the situation better when they wake up.” Twilight’s dry wit was accompanied by a chuckle as she returned to her coffee. “Plus, I’m pretty sure that’s Applejack’s favorite shirt.”

Rarity shook her head in amusement as she returned her compact to her purse. “All too true darling. I must admit I find these moments priceless. Not just for the comedy mind you.” Rarity returned her compact to her purse with one hand before she started fishing for yet another object. “I treasure these moments, when all of us can just be together. It’s dreadful how such moments only come when the fate of the world is at stake.”

Twilight nodded, nursing her coffee now that she had managed to drink most of it in a few greedy gulps. “I know, I can’t tell you how much I want to leap over this table and curl up with them.” Her eyes moistened for a moment as her voice became drenched in emotion. “I just want to forget about this day...”

Rarity took another sip of her coffee, noting Twilight’s change in tone as she finally felt her hand settle around her work glasses. “I assume Fluttershy is with our guest?” she nodded her horn towards the collapsing divider that shielded the recovery suites resting area from the sleeping area, silently hoping a change of topic would distract Twilight from whatever feelings were currently struggling to escape.

Twilight nodded scowling to into the now empty depths of her cup. Her demeanor was not showing any signs of improvement to Rarity’s disappointment. “Yeah, she’s in there with the giant dog that came with him too. The animal throws a fit every-time we separate them, regardless of what she says to it.”

“I see, Learn anything yet?” Rarity inched closer drawing a pair of red rimmed glasses to her face. Twilight relaxed visibly before perking up at her question.

Success! Rarity smiled. The Alicorn did love to lecture. This was the perfect way to lift her spirits.

“No, at first I thought he…and it is a he. The doctors confirmed that when they cut off his pants. I thought he was from the other world that Celestia’s mirror connects too. But his skin tone is wrong and the proportions are off.” Her horn glowed faintly, levitating as well as illuminating X-rays of the creatures bone structure. “He’s also been though a lot.”

Rarity squinted, she was no doctor by far. Years, however of spending time with Aloe and Lotus at their spa having the art of massage explained to her, as well working with dozens of models who in essence where little more than walking hangers for her fashions had left her with a cursory understanding of the skeletal structure. To her untrained eyes the creature by the looks of it was just under two meters tall, barely bigger than a filly or young colt. He had a broad chest with wide set shoulders. Proportions that struck her as odd caused her to labor over the ideal fitting. But she didn’t see anything denoting damage to her untrained eyes other than an odd black blots on the bones in the creature’s right arm.

“Why, I’m afraid I don’t see what you mean darling.” Rarity inched closer to get a better look at the flimsy X-rays currently levitating mid-air.

Twilight’s mood despite the macabre subject, was improving. especially when offered with the chance to present her findings to anypony, as it always did. She gestured to a few points on the X-rays “The X-Ray spells found dozens of Micro-fractures as well as deposits of dense scar tissue around joints and organs. What the doctors and I can do are a series of metal plates in his right arm. All evidence of extreme physical punishment over a long period of time, which is a relief really.”Twilight froze. Her eyes growing wide at her own words. Her own callous, cruel words that expressed relief at another’s suffering.

How could she be feeling relief at this creature’s suffering? What was she thinking? Twilight’s mind was beginning to race out of control forcing her mouth to try and keep up. “I, ah, um, um, I mean, it is a relief, but not in a good way. I mean it’s good that that the worst of it didn't come from me blasting him. No, that’s not much better is it?”

Twilight’s ears fell flat against her lavender mane, chest heaving, manic tears tumbling down her guilt ridden face. Her body began to shake as her emotional state broke down. Earning a look of concern from behind Rarity’s red frames.

“Darling, you had no way of knowing that our guest was in that, that…. whatever it is that came flying at you. You mustn’t blame yourself.” Rarity pulled Twilight close hoping to bring an end to the self-inflicted mental torture. “You did what you thought was right.”

Twilight was still shaking in her friends embrace, taking in Rarity’s words.

Part of Twilight Sparkle, the part that clung to logic and facts over emotional concerns knew that Rarity was right. It had been a gut reaction to save herself. Any other capable creature would have reacted in much the same way to defend themselves. The other part of Twilight Sparkle, the part that had blossomed in Ponyville on the eve of a summer sun celebration all those years ago however, just didn’t care. All she could see was the creature she had put into the hospital, who now lay unmoving a few hoof-steps away.

“But…” Twilight’s voice cracked. She turned her head first to her friend, then to the divider that separated them from her latest victim. “Did I? What if … what if there was another way? What if I had started with the levitation spell? Maybe I could’ve—“

“Princess Twilight Sparkle!” Rarity gripped her friend’s shoulders with her thin fingers with as much strength as she summoned into her voice. “You must stop this nonsense at once! This is most unbecoming of a Princess! You acted on your instincts, you saved me, you saved Pinkie, you saved Applejack and you saved the whole town. Yes, you saved that creature…” Rarity paused for but a moment to collect her thoughts. “It is unfortunate that he was hurt in the process. But that, darling, was not nor will it ever be your fault.” She gave Twilight, who thankfully had stopped shaking, one more squeeze before gesturing back to the amassed research. “Now then, I’m sure you have much more to tell about our guest, Hmm?”

Twilight’s tremors subsided with a smile. “Th-thank you Rarity. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

Rarity gave a coy smile complete with a demure chuckle. “Few ponies do, darling.”

Twilight wiped her eyes dry before clearing her throat, preparing to resume her diagnostic analysis when the divider between the living and resting areas was abruptly flung open by Fluttershy.

“Um, girls? … He’s waking up. I mean, if you’re not too busy that is…” Fluttershy’s declaration could not have come out any louder than her normal half whisper. Yet once said, it started a chain reaction among her slumbering friends. That chain reaction, which started as always, with Pinkie Pie.

Pinkie’s big, bright blue eyes shot open the moment Fluttershy had ceased speaking. A wild grin slowly played across her cherubic features as she slithered down off the sofa like a snake, leaving Applejack and Rainbow Dash undisturbed. She vanish for but a moment beneath the coffee table before popping out from under the opposite side. Her head resting between Twilight’s hooves a large grin playing across her features, no less than six party kazoos held tightly between her lips.

“Pinkie please…don’t.” Twilight’s plea as always with Pinkie, was futile.

There was nothing. No light, No sound, No sensation.

There was nothing, not even pain.

He liked it.

Oblivion. Sweet, amazing, non-being.

“What in tarnation?”

A voice lanced through his awareness like a branding iron.

“Pinkie did you really need to do that?” Another voice was added to the crumbling walls of his non-awareness.

Fragments of his mind protested both at once and in disjunction with one another as he struggled to form a coherent train of thought: Fear. Where the hell was he? Anger. what went wrong? Confusion. Who did those voices belong too? Hatred, at the voices who stirred him from this nothingness. He was waking up. He wanted to stay. he wanted to stay in nothingness. He wanted to stay away from what he knew was coming, if he awoke.

“Applejack, darling… your blouse?” The voices continued, only to be temporarily drowned out by the sound of his own desperate gasping.

He was waking up. He knew the sensations all too well even in his disjointed state, halfway between his precious void and tortuous reality that always awaited with awareness.

“Consarn it Rainbow Dash! Mah favorite shirt too!” The first voice returned, clearly irate.

He gasped again, contending against his own body for every mote of air. He wanted so desperately to retreat back into the nothingness from which he was waking. The mental fragments which had achieved a partial coherency resembling awareness reminded him that this torment was one of the many reasons that he rarely slept. How waking, at least for him, was often worse than the restless sleep that preceded it. He arched his back as if locked in combat with some unseen assailant placing an invisible weight on his chest. Bile filled his throat as he struggled to breathe, which combined with his gasping created a sickening gurgle that clearly drew the attention of the voices.

“Girls? Um, girls I think he’s…” He didn’t hear the concerned inquiry over the sound of his own painful hacking cough.

Waking up was never a pleasant experience, even without the voices fighting of who knows what dragging his attention away from attempting to expedite the process. Thus the torture continued unabated. Enhanced all too soon by arrival of a familiar phantom tightness around his neck, drawing forth another sickening plash which failed to escape his throat.

“Hey Twi, should we call the doctor?” This voice was just now curious about summoning a doctor?

The brief distraction of sarcasm was subsumed almost immediately by the agony of asphyxiation. Each desperate inhalation falling to fill his lungs with precious oxygen. He focused on the miserable experience, the agony, the desperation all served to bring sobering unification to the bickering fragments of his mind.

“No!” he snapped, or rather he croaked. His voice was coarse, alien to his own ears. Strained as it was in the fight to form words during its body’s desperate attempt to respire.

On the cusp of consciousness he clung to sensation of strangulation like a lifeline from the comforting abyss. It was a memory, a scar on his mind, a souvenir from the last night he spent in his father’s house nearly a decade before.

“No…. no doctor.” His voice was recognizable now. Made stronger by the rage that always followed the detested memory, rage that filled his lungs with the sickeningly sterile air around him. Rage which pulled him from purgatory into a sitting position, legs drawn crossed beneath thin green sheets, head cradled in his arms as his chin resting against his bare heaving chest.

“I need... water.” He demanded. Where was he? What happened? Most importantly, why was he naked?

The sound of water being decanted into a smaller vessel eased his nerves even as his chest began to calm.

“Here you go. Are…are you sure you don’t want the doctor?” What appeared to be a purple gloved hand intruded into his vision offering a glass of the life giving nectar. The voice that accompanied it was lyrical and warm, but had notes of nervousness woven between each spoken word.

“No, not yet at least.” He greedily accepted the glass, quickly imbibing the substance within. Where was he exactly? The question returned as the water soothed his throat and snuffed the last of the anger he had used to pull himself together.

“Thank you.” He added. No reason to be rude. The implied presence of a doctor nearby indicated medical treatment, which could be expected if the experiment had gone south. The sterility of the air, tinged with disinfectant of some kind. The coarseness of the thin sheets, designed more for absorbency than comfort. His nudity, exposing the pallid labyrinth of scars, flesh divots and discolored patches covered the majority of his body.

This left only one conclusion.

“I’m in a hospital” He lowered the empty glass to rest upon the covers in the cusp of his crossed legs. Not speaking to anyone in particular nor bothering to raise his head. His bearded face was locked in thought thus assuming its most relaxed position, a scowl.

“Um, are you…I mean are you ok?” it was the concerned voice from earlier, the one his hacking had almost drowned out. He didn’t answer immediately, eyes darting back and forth unseeing as he internally extrapolated details beyond his knowing into a logical map of the events leading up to his current nude predicament.

“Yes.” He answered in a half tone, still caught up in his mental tracing to create a more detailed answer. It was safe to assume he was in a hospital of some kind, his assumption, while undirected, had not been contradicted. His memories prior to his average struggle to regain awareness ended with the execution of the experiment, which had clearly gone south.

He sensed movement to his left.

There had obviously been an explosion of some sort. He knew from cradling his head that his beard and hair were still in place, thus it must have been a pressure explosion. His house would likely still be mostly intact. Good, it wouldn't be as expensive to rebuild just the lab. The issue of explaining the more exotic residues in there— which would no doubt be found in the arson investigation—a large cold nose jabbed him in the side, breaking his train of thought.
“Atlas!” His scowl contorted into a wide smile as the large animal tossed its forelegs up off the ground and around his midsection. He embraced the large animal, ashamed that his first thoughts had been about the property damage to his home rather than his only friend.

“He was guarding you when we found you.” The melodious voice finally drew his attention enough to raise his head in thanks for the safety of his furry friend.

“I can’t thank you enough, Atlas is all…I…” Could his eyes grow any wider, despite the knowledge that they could not roll out of his skull, he would have sworn his ocular organs would do just that.

Standing, and sitting in one case, at the end of what was indeed was a hospital bed. Where six pastel colored creatures. The order he had so desperately imposed on his mind evaporated. Leaving a deluge of questions and exasperated observations in the wake of its collapse.

What exactly was he looking at?

They were large creatures, larger than him anyway.

What the hell was he looking at? The question repeated without answer in the confines of his mind.

Unless the basic laws of biology he took for granted were very different when applied to them, he felt fairly safe to assume the six before him were female based on appearances.

Had the explosion struck him hard enough to result in brain damage? Was he doomed to spend the rest of his life haunted by these colorful hallucinations? His eyes darted around the room, searching for another person in vain. All he found was indeed a normal hospital room. A bit austere in terms of medical equipment, but a hospital bed none the less.

His wide eyes once again fell upon the creatures currently staring at him. They creatures looked to be an almost seamless blend of equine and human.

What the hell where they? Why did they look so worried?

The blue one had wings, the white and purple ones had horns, and the orange one was wearing a cowboy hat. Oh, wait, the light yellow colored one had wings too.

That made perfect sense. Clearly, wings, horns, horse heads, cowboy hats…perfectly reasonable.

What the hell was going on?

Such questions and observations were the best he could demand of his mind trapped in the state of shock as it were, until the purple one with the horn deigned? to speak again, identifying her as owner of the lyrical, melodious voice had heard prior, putting an end to the absurd loop of questioning observations.

Twilight didn’t know what to think.

She hated not knowing what to think.

The creature had awoken, not pleasantly by the sound of it. How Fluttershy had identified his stirring as the precursors to the clearly agonizing effort to wake was beyond her. They had all been worried once their attention had been caught by the terrible sounds. What was currently confusing her was his behavior after sitting up. He had seemed so angry. Angry until he had managed to pull himself up into sitting position, holding his head like he had just been caught on the wrong side of a stampede. He had in that state, snapped at Rainbow Dash’s question, demanded a glass of water, and barely answered Fluttershy’s obviously concerned question. Then it all turned around once his dog, his giant dog, hugged him. He had seemed like a separate individual for the few moments he had been in contact with the large animal. The anger that he had seemingly brought with him out of his resting state had settled briefly into a scowl, which in turn had become a relieved smile when he realized that his pet was intact. He seemed happy. He seemed calm. That would make this easier.

Until he finally decided to look up.

That had been a mistake.

Gone, thankfully, was the angry creature who demanded water. Unfortunately, so was the happy individual who had been reunited with his pet. Present... presently,Twilight corrected herself, there was a slack jawed, bug eyed individual of indeterminate pedigree whose mind had clearly taken leave upon looking at her friends and herself.

“You’re safe!” she blurted out a bit too enthusiastically, flashes of memory of her own time in a new world surfaced. She especially remembered how odd it all seemed. She had been lucky in comparison she realized. She had entered the new world willingly, had time to adjust to the differences, and even found familiarity to help her cope.

What she had not had was: one, a pony shouting at her while she lay in a hospital bed in a hospital bed claiming that she was safe. Two, she had not been immediately surrounded by no less than six ponies all staring intently at her. And third, just to be safe, she had not once again, had one pony shouting at her that she was safe.

Trying to ignore the sudden heat in her cheeks she spoke again, this time in what she hoped was a less enthusiastic tone. “I mean… You were hurt, so we brought you here to be safe and now we’re not going to hurt you.”

Brilliant Twilight, bucking brilliant. And said with a grin too.

Even Rainbow Dash was staring at her like she was crazy.

“Ah think what she means to say is, ya’ll shouldn’t fret none. Yer in good hands here. Speak’n of which.” Applejack pulled her hat off in a single flourish pointed it at Fluttershy who had taken a seat at the end of the bed, who almost immediately retreated behind her long pink locks. “This here is Fluttershy, she’s our resident veterinarian. She fixed up yer critter there Ahn’ was the pony who found you in the rubble.”

Thank Celestia for you Applejack. Twilight thought in sudden relief.

The creature was at least following the gestures. Even if he was doing so with his face stuck in the same shocked expression as Applejack continued on to Rainbow Dash. “This here is Rainbow Dash. She’s weather manager round these parts. Not tah mention one of fastest flyers ya’ll will ever meet.” Rainbow Dash glowed at the introduction, spreading her wings up and out to touch the ceiling in what must have been truly impressive display for their visitor as it finally got him to close his mouth.

Now if only we could get him to ease off those eyes.

“This here is Pinkie Pie; she’s a chef, baker, and party planner.” The tall mare held her hat over the unceasingly energetic pony. Who thankfully, at least from Twilight’s point of view was doing her best to remain sedate.

Which for Pinkie Pie meant bouncing in place like a filly who snuck their first taste of caffeine.

“Oh my gosh! You’re awake! We have to throw a party! Do you like parties? I love parties! I bet you love parties too! Do they have parties where you come from? I bet they are amazing!” The hyperactive poof ball paused halfway through her interruption, or verbal assault depending on one’s opinion, to catch her breath. “But enough about me! Tell us about you! What’s your name! What kind of dog is that! Does he like parties too? Urmph!”

For the second time, Twilight was thankful Applejack’s down to earth, no nonsense nature was in command of the situation. As she promptly jammed her hat over the diminutive terror that was Pinkie’s muzzle. “Hush up, ya’ll can terrorize him later.”
That at least got a set of rapid blinks out of their guest.

“Sorry ‘bout that. Pinkie is um, hmm…well shucks, she’s just bein’ Pinkie.” Applejack smiled sheepishly. She had clearly been caught off guard as much as the rest of them by Pinkie’s outburst and was trying to salvage what had been until that point, a comforting introduction.

“Ahem...” Rarity nudged Applejack in the ribs playfully. “What Applejack means dear is that Pinkie is simply a unique character.” Rarity laid a dainty hand on Applejacks defined bicep. Signaling her to pull her hat off Pinkie’s muzzle before she started to sound like their guest had prior to sitting up. “This kind mare is Applejack. She’s the current matron of Sweet Apple Acres. A simply divine establishment that feeds most of the surrounding area.”

Rarity to the rescue. Twilight pulled her hand down from her face. Not remembering she had driven it with no small amount of force into her own forehead when Pinkie had successfully derailed Applejack’s introductions.

Not that her own attempt had started on anything resembling the rails.

Rarity spun on her hooves showing her profile to their guest, who sure enough was now tracing her movements with his not as wide eyes. “I of course, am Rarity. Fashion designer, philanthropist and tailor for our quaint little town.” Twilight stiffened as the willowy unicorn practically glided behind her, before playfully leaning over her shoulder with the reassuring feeling of a single lithe hand resting gently on her back.

“And this lovely darling, is Princess Twilight Sparkle. She was the one who worked with our simply amazing doctors to put you back together, tout suite!” Twilight felt a little pat on her posterior that could only have come from Rarity’s other hand. The contact returned the flush to her face in embarrassment as her wings unfurled in surprise.

The creature was looking at her now. The shocked expression was gone, though she wasn’t exactly sure what replaced it as preferable. His face was now resting in a half scowl, but what was most unnerving was the way he looked at her. His eyes were blank, lifeless orbs now devoid of any emotion. With over dilated pupils his gaze unnervingly did not appear to be direct at her, but rather at some unseen point a thousand yards past her…through her.

That’s not creepy at all.

“Uh, um.” Sweet Celestia that look was creepy. Twilight found herself at a loss for words as she wilted under the creatures blank, unblinking gaze.

“You’re safe here.” She repeated for the third time.

Nothing. Just that creepy stare and several moments of incredibly awkward silence.

“I know.” He spoke!

Twilight lit up a smile slowly returning to her face. “You know?” she asked gently, doing her best to reign in the building desire to bombard the visitor with questions of his origin. “How?”

“You have brought me to a hospital, tended to my dog, and clearly…”he paused gesturing to the seating area a short distance away. “Watched over my recovery. I assume I am safe. Unless the word has a very different meaning here.”

Alright, she wasn’t expecting such a clinical dissection of the situation from anypony. Much less anypony that had been through what he had been through earlier that day.

“I…see, that… makes sense actually.” She pulled her wings back into a resting position.

“Um, can you tell us your name? I mean, if it’s not too much trouble that is…” The tip of Fluttershy’s muzzle was just peaking out from behind the safety of her mane as she asked the question.

“Vasili Anatolyevich Maksimov.” He responded directly, sending the shy pegasus back into the safety of her own hair. He seemed, if only for a moment, to soften his expression at Fluttershy’s reaction, entertaining only the briefest sign of… Was it guilt? Twilight wondered.

“Vas, most people call me Vas.” His tone was much softer this time, even if his features remained stoic.

“I see. Well Vas, do you have any questions for us?” Twilight did her best to sound inviting.

“Several.” His voice was a rich baritone with a slight strain to it that reminded her of somepony trying to mask an accent.

“Where would you like to start?” She inquired, hoping that his first question would give her some clue as to his origins.

“Where are my pants?”

It was Twilight’s turn to have her brain vacate the premises.

“Excuse me?” She wasn’t sure if she heard the creature correctly.

This creature who...Who had come not only a great distance violently.

But across dimensions, from an entirely different reality.

Was asking about his pants?

“Where are my pants?” He repeated, completely unfazed.

Author's Note

Chapter 2 is up!

A bit of a slower start than chapter 1 I'll admit, but It was relaxing to type a bonding moment between Rarity & Twilight.

Big props to LokiPon3, Spectro & Commander Infinite for their awesome input & editing! I couldn't have asked for better!

In other news, I'm still hunting for an artist to design new cover art, I think I may offer it as a commission work, I think between $30 to $40 would be fair, but I've never commissioned anything other a few costumes for a convention here and there.

The good part of that is that I got a good deal of positive feedback about posting my notes, as such I'm going to take a cue from those old (really old) Star Trek novellas published in the early nineties. and post interludes between chapters. The Interludes will not detract from the story; but will be brief. Interludes will be anything from excerpts from my notes, sketches, or in universe letters from the Mane six to Sunny Butt herself.

Anywho, Hope you all enjoy reading chapter 2 as much as I did writing it!

Interlude #1: Royal Correspondence

Dear Princess Celestia,

Sorry for the lateness, relatively speaking, of this letter’s arrival. I can only hope it caught you before you began your watch in the Day Court. No doubt you have heard the basics of the event that occurred yesterday both above and on Ponyville proper. From what preliminary data I was able to gather, the event was a trans-dimensional high energy matter exchange between what I theorize to be three temporarily intersecting points across two dimensional planes. I know this seems radical, and against most magical translocational theory, but allow me to explain my thought process.

As we both know it was the wizard Far Traveler who laid down not only the basics of magical translocational travel, but trans-planar travel as well. Drawing upon his seminal text, Doorways: A Practical Guide to Dimensional Travel, we know that several different planes of existence exist in parallel and perpendicular to our own. We also know that our world is a prime material plane, one of an infinite number, which is surrounded by an ethereal plane like a sheath around a sword and in turn is orbited, or intersected by, the prime elemental planes associated with our concepts of reality. Far Traveler further theorized that branching off from each “prime” plane, like branches from a tree, was an equally infinite number of what he called demi-planes. Pocket realities unto themselves that lacked the underlying substance of reality to sustain itself as an entirely unique dimension apart from its parent.

His apprentice, Distance Viewed, would expand upon his work and rule that travel between prime material planes is impossible because of the very real, very dangerous likelihood that the further anypony gets from their original plane of existence the more alien the rules that govern reality would become. What she disagreed with the former mentor on, and what I am inclined to agree with, was her regarding of the insular nature of demi-planes. Far Traveler assumed based on his own practical research that all reachable demi-planes existed within the same ethereal sheath as their parent plane, thus all planes regardless of type are independent based on origination. Distance Viewed, and now myself, believed that demi-planes exist outside the ethereal sheathe, at least in part.

Far Traveler and Distance Viewed both established through rigorous trial and error, that only energy can make the leap from demi-plane to demi-plane or demi-plane to prime plane. This is why trans-planar spells that predate your mirror, and your mirror itself, convert the user to energy before reassembling them in a form that can survive and thrive in the new plane. Matter however, in addition to energy, passed through the exchange that occurred yesterday. Not only did matter translate between realities in its original, if slightly damaged form. A pair of living creatures also survived the journey and remained in their original forms! This means that another force had to be acting on the event if previous theories are still held to be true.

My theory is that some sort of incredibly high energy precursor event caused two points across two prime material planes to intersect with a third point on a shared demi-plane! In essence, the demi-plane itself was never reached, merely bridged. It would have to have been similar enough to both prime planes, to allow any form of matter, much less living matter to directly travel across the planar gulf. This leads me to believe that two prime material planes share a single, if not multiple demi-planes!

I will be sending a copy of this portion of the letter, along with some of my calculations to my father at Canterlot University for review.

~~Your faithful stude~~

I had planned on ending the letter, here, but upon review Spike has informed me that I have not told you about the two creatures who survived the exchange. One as far as Fluttershy and I can tell, is a breed of canine not found anywhere on Equus to the best of her knowledge. The other, identifies himself as a one of the mythological humans, as mentioned in legend of Orion the hunter. He goes by the odd name "Vasili Anatolyevich Maksimov." He as further elaborated once furnished with pants, that his world is called Earth and that he resided in the unincorporated countryside of some place called Texas. It turns out the excess matter that the event spat out onto Ponyville were parts of his home, and that most likely an experiment he was running at the very least contributed to the event, though he has yet to provide details.

He’s been rather curious about our world and very forthcoming about his own. He and I almost spent the entire night conversing before I had to return to the library for sleep. I am told however, by the nursing staff that he did not sleep at all. Which I find to be only one of many peculiarities about his behavior, which thus far has been unexpected.Once I’ve rested for a few hours, I've decided that I will enlist the help of Rarity and Lyra to cast a large mending spell on the components of his home after they have been moved to a vacant lot on the north side of town so Vasili will have a familiar place to stay while he is with us for whatever duration that maybe.

Thus, as I’m sure you've gathered, I humbly ask that you leave him to the custody of my friends and myself to minimize any stress he may be under as well as the personal reason, of wanting to learn more about his world and how he got here.

Your Faithful Student,

Twilight Sparkle

From the desk of her royal highness Princess Celestia

My most faithful student,

Word had indeed reached me about an occurrence in Ponyville and I am very pleased that you have the situation so under control. While I am not as familiar with Far Traveler’s and Distanced Viewed’s work as I should be, that was always Luna’s forte. I will share your findings with her and trust your father to put the proper ponies to work at the university validating what you have submitted before forwarding me a more detailed report.

I am concerned however for this human, Vasili, and your eagerness to establish a residence for him so close to Ponyville. There are several serious unknowns to be considered given that all we know of humans comes from myth far more ancient than my reign. While I have no doubt our ponies, especially those in Ponyville will welcome him with open arms, we do not yet know how he will react in the short term nor the long term to our world or more importantly, how our world will react to him. We do not know if he can subsist on the food we have available or if his kind may have specific dietary needs. We do not know if he as an individual has certain medical needs that may be beyond our ability to provide.

I urge you to keep these concerns in mind as the conditions of his custody. If you are comfortable agreeing to this, then I will entrust his care to you and your fellow Elements of Harmony. Please note that while his physical presence may make him a resident of Equestria, he is not a citizen nor recognized entity, thus all of his actions will ultimately fall upon you as a Princess until this legal issue can be resolved. .

With my highest admiration,

Princess Celestia

P.S. I would recommend a third tier Make Whole spell rather than a mass mending spell, there may be items in his dwelling in need of repair that you do not have an immediate understanding of.

Author's Note

Here it is as I mentioned at the end of the last chapter the first of many Interludes!

This interlude was edited by the always amazing LokiPon3 and is magical powers over English grammar!

Chapter 3 is coming along nicely! sitting at about 2439/~5500 words, Though It maybe delayed due to two of my editors being indisposed for the next two weeks. I will most likely post a blog entry looking for some amazing grammar nazi's to pre-read chapter three If I finish writing ahead of schedule.

In other news I'm talking with two artists and waiting to communicate with a third about newer, more appropriate cover art! So expect that soon!

Anywho, Hope you enjoy the interlude, Keep an eye out for Chapter 3! and please as always! feel free to comment! I don't bite!

3. Isn't Right

“Madness need not be all breakdown. It may also be break-through. It is potential liberation and renewal as well as enslavement and existential death.” ― R.D. Laing

Twilight Sparkle allowed her hand holding the letter to fall limp over her knees as she threw her head back to stare into the clear blue sky. She inhaled deeply, savoring the fresh scent of a gentle breeze blowing from the Everfree forest, ruffling her mane as it pulled a few tell-tale strands from her lips.

Her responsibility.

As princess.

She had wanted more responsibility, beyond smiling and waving at various state functions. She had also wanted to study Vasili, to learn about his world. Learning the differences and the similarities that lay between Equus and his “Earth”. Yet she couldn’t deny that her mentor , as always—well, almost always, correct. There were lots of unknown variables. Enough to make even a pony as foolhardy as Rainbow Dash think twice.

Twilight pursed her lips, allowing herself to fall back into the soft grass-covered hill that ran along the north side of Ponyville. What if… what if Vasili was some kind of criminal? She couldn’t be sure. He had not refused most of the questions once Rarity had provided him with a pair of linen pants. He had answered clearly, if not briefly. Only giving greater detail when asked. He had responded at the time with intelligent, if not overly detached questions of his own. Most regarding his arrival, how long he had been unconscious, etc. As far as she could tell, he was being truthful. Then again, she closed her eyes enjoying another breeze, she had no basis to compare his behavior. His candor could be how his kind lies, deceit could be part of their culture.

She held the letter up to the sky prying her eyes open once more with a sigh. Princess Celestia raised other good points. Like her, Twilight was fairly confident that her fellow ponies would welcome the errant human in the midst without issue. Her mind jumped track with a smile mid-thought, picturing the mint green Lyra Heartstrings going positively gaga at the prospect of meeting Vasili.

Someponies might be a little more welcoming than others.

How welcoming Vasili would be of ponies however, was yet to be determined. She still knew so little about him, his people or his world that she could barely begin to make judgments. All she had to go off of was several hours of conversation, which in retrospect had Vasili showing about as much reaction as a stone golem, her own gut feeling that his reaction just wasn’t normal, and of course the similarities between the world Sunset Shimmer now called home versus Vasili’s Earth.

She glanced over Celestia’s response once more. At least she wouldn’t have to do this alone, as she had when she had gone after Sunset Shimmer. She had her friends close by, parents a day trip away, brother a week at the most…

It was Vasili who was going at it alone.

Frowning, she released her grip on the letter, allowing the paper to curl back into the rolled form it had been sent in. She didn’t need to imagine how that felt, she had been very lucky to find counterparts to her friends on the other world, only cementing her theory that Sunset Shimmer’s world was either a demi-plane spun off her own reality at least, if not her theorized shared demi-plane that also connected to that of Vasili’s origin. Which, if it was a prime material plane as she thought, he would have no counterpart friends here. There could be similarities, they had noted several in their discussion the previous night. Language for one, blessedly. Concepts such as gravity, force, and mass had been discussed finding little differences though sharing the basic underlying concepts. One concept that had been completely foreign to Vasili had been magic. She wasn’t entirely shocked by this, magic had been unknown in Sunset’s world too.

Apparently, in his world, magic was either a parlor trick affected by slight of hand or it was a quasicultural ideal steeped in myth that pervaded everything from literature to something he had called video games. In retrospect, she had been equally shocked when he had brought up the concept of Chemistry. Superficially, the discipline sounded a great deal like Alchemy in regards to the aspect of combining various elements, that term had not caused any confusion at all she thought sarcastically, to create different materials or effects. That is where the similarities between the two ended, as Alchemy was based on drawing out the ambient energies of various ingredients to perform various effects. Chemistry, on the other hand, seemed to be entirely a material based science on pure physical reaction, which in turn could be used to do anything from energy generation to matter state change.

Twilight giggled, her wings uncontrollably spreading wide beneath her at the thought of learning an entirely new form of science. Vasili seemed educated, perhaps he had a library? She kicked her legs up allowing her excitement to propel her into a sitting position. She looked out over the large sections of house and piles of debris that the construction ponies had moved to the vacant land shortly after their rather violent arrival.

This was part of her responsibility too.

Her responsibility as princess.

As princess.

Twilight shook vigorously in delight. All the worry and trepidation grown in her own mind, seeded by Celestia’s letter as well as her own neuroticism melted away for a few blissful moments of pure elation.

This was her responsibility! So much more than a smile or a wave. So much more than a library. It was her first true responsibility as a Princess.

“Yes! Oh Yes! It’s mine! All mine! yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!” Twilight vigorously exclaimed fully extending her wings, arms raised high in celebration. This was almost as good as learning an entirely new subject…almost.

“Dang, somepony’s bouncing the hots for the hill or riding one bump’n hot dream!”

Twilight froze at the unmistakable voice at her back, her face flush with embarrassment.

“Vinyl! Such a scandalous insinuation! Erm, Or was it?” Twilight relaxed slightly hearing the familiar voice tinged with equal indignation and confusion. She turned, peeking over a single lavender wing at the two very different ponies standing at the top of the hill only a scant distance away.

“Chill Sister, cool vibes, dig? I was only tossing.” The club born speech spilled from the off white, red eyed, earphone wearing unicorn standing next to Rarity half shaded by the taller mare’s parasol. Vinyl Scratch was wearing simple clothing for her tastes at least. A basic white tank-top showing only tasteful amount of skin atop a double belt suspended pair of denim pants which both hugged her thighs, but were cut low enough to allow the upper half of her cutie mark to show. Her normally ever present sunglasses lay nested in an unkempt mane of lighting blue streaked hair.

“Um, well I suppose?” Rarity smiled nervously at the mare with electric blue hair. Her eyes betraying a slight confusion at the punk ponies unique vernacular.

Twilight rose to her hooves to face them with a smile, her mind translating Vinyl’s singular speech pattern to something more coherent. She slipped the rolled letter into her skirts left pocket, before beating her powerful wings, driving her in a short arc that placed her before the newcomers.

“Rarity! Thank you so much for coming!” Twilight embraced her friend. “It’s good to see you Vinyl, but what are you doing here? And where is Lyra?”

The artist also known as DJ-pon-3 gave her an odd look, one part insulted and one part a filly about to burst into tears. The color of embarrassment rampaged across Twilights features as the callousness of her own words clicked together.

“Oh no! Vinyl….I, Um… I’m sorry that you’re here. Oh ponyfeathers. Not what I meant.” She was getting flustered, her mind running leaps and bounds ahead of her mouths ability to pace. Completely oblivious to the smile growing on Vinyl’s lips. “It’s just, I was expecting Lyra… Not that your company isn't as good! If not better! Wait, that’s not fair to Lyra…” She found herself silenced by a calloused finger upon her lips. The smaller mare looked up at her, rave ready body wracked with the convulsions of a pony desperately trying not laugh herself to death.

“Cool vibes, cool vibes Princess, I was just tossing. Lyra had to bail. Some riot with Bon Bon. Rares hit gold halfway and tapped me up for the assist on her way here.” Vinyl pulled her hand back. Finally some semblance of self-control a smile plastered across her just shy of coltish face.

Twilight blinked once, twice before returning Vinyl’s expression with some added snark. Now comprehending the meaning of the other pony’s words. “Very funny Vinyl.” Twilight placed her hand on her own forehead in relief. “Did Rarity give you the details on what I needed help with?”

Vinyl opened her mouth to speak only to be cut off by Rarity’s haute laugh earning the prissy pony a quick glare before the DJ’s purple frames fell into place over her eyes.

“Oh my yes, Twilight. I tried to recruit Lyra, but she was having some sort of tiff with Bon Bon. Fortuitously, I happened to run into dear Vinyl here enroute and enlisted her assistance in exchange for a brand new ensemble for her upcoming tour in Stalingrad.” Rarity spun her parasol absently as she obliviously repeated the majority of Vinyl’s own message.

“Yo Rares, echo?” Vinyl poked Rarity with a hint of amusement.

“Hmm? Oh sorry dear, I didn’t hear an echo.” Rarity responded much to the entertainment of the other two ponies present.

“Rares locked me for some boss new duds in pass for some fixer magic? I can dig it, even if she misses the cue.”

Twilight nodded, pursing her lips before cautiously posing a question to the entertainer. “Do you know any restoration spells out of curiosity? It’s ok if you don’t.”

This would be important, Twilight reminded herself as Vinyl began to talk about her magical abilities. A mending spell was trying to fix a broken plate or torn garment, even when used over a large area. Her new plan however, was a different story. The original plan had been to have Rarity and Lyra cast mending spells in concert with her, and then use her own larger reserves of magical energy to expand the spell over the scattered sections of Vasili’s disassembled home. Had she gone through with this, it would have restored the home to as close to complete as possible. This however would not solve an issue that Twilight had overlooked when forming the plan in the pre-morning hours, operating on a distinct lack of sleep. An issue made clear by the lingering message at the end of Celestia’s letter. She had overlooked the rather obvious fact that humans most likely did not own possessions designed to one, travel between realities, and two, tumble through the air rapidly before being caught in a certain alicorns levitation spell.

Hence the wisdom present in the suggestion of a Make Whole spell rather than a mending spell. A mending spell, which most unicorns knew, allowed the caster to restore the physical structure of an object if they had at least a basic idea of what it was supposed to look like. What the spell could not do, was repair damage to functional objects or the form to objects the caster did not know about. By comparison, a Make Whole spell was a far more taxing endeavor. It relied on the concept of object memory , the theory that each object at each point in time had exact substance knowledge of every facet of its own being. It required larger sizes of object, thus chances were good that the piles of debris, mostly from the part of the house she had destroyed, would remain just that, piles of debris.

Her brow furrowed. Great, just another way I messed up yesterday.

“Yo! Equus to Twi-bright! You receiving?” Vinyl snapped her fingers before Twilight’s eyes breaking her out of her brooding disconnect.

“Sorry Vinyl, I spaced out there, what did you say?” Twilight withered under both her own continued embarrassment and a brief concerned gaze from Rarity.

“I can spin some fix it, mending for the small, make whole for the big. Mom’s got a righteous gig as a civic mage back in Manehattan. Made sure her little Scratchie could spin spells with the best of them.” Vinyl repeated, a slight tinge of annoyance touching her voice.

“You know a Make Whole spell? Excellent!” Twilight clapped her hands together, melancholy banished as quickly as it came. “ Because that’s the spell we’re going to use to put this house back together!”

“That scrap’s a house?” Vinyl cocked her head to the side.

“Yup! And we are going to fix it all up!” Twilight responded.

“Twilight…” Rarity was cut off by Twilight before her sentence could even form.

“I originally wanted to use a mending spell, but that would only fix the outside of the house…” Twilight spun, letting loose a small figment of her magic into the land before her bringing to life with purple iridescence a vast glyph-inlaid casting circle to encompass the house fragments.

“Twilight, Darling. There is one slight….” Twilight cut Rarity off once more now, a gleam in her eye as the raw magical energies began to fill the air.

“Celestia suggested a Make Whole spell instead. It will put everything, well, mostly everything back together! No problem. Throw in this expansion spell I’ve inlaid into the ground and the three of us should have no issue making the magic happen.” Twilight giggled at her own pun, so lost in her own element she barely noticed Rarity’s gentle touch on the side of her face until the taller mare had succeed in turning her face away from her own spellcraft.

“Darling, There is one slight problem.” Rarity’s warm tone betrayed a hint of regret as she looked apologetically into Twilight’s eyes.
“I don’t know a Make Whole spell. I never studied such advanced magics.” She smiled, leaving her hand on Twilight’s cheek.

“Oh, Rarity…I…” Twilight was speechless. It was safe to assume almost any unicorn would know a mending spell. She hadn’t stopped to consider the possibility that she might be the only pony in Ponyville that was capable of such a high level spell.

“ah, ah ,ah.” Rarity moved her hand down to Twilight’s chin, coaxing her face up slightly until their eyes met. “Twilight, come now. While I may not have your, or apparently Vinyl’s repertoire of spells,a lady of my caliber is hardly useless in situations such as this.” She pulled her hand back from Twilight’s face, taking one half step to face the housing fragments. “After all…” she paused extending her now free hand, a blue aura of power surrounded her horn. “I am…” her tone lightened as the blue aura separated from her horn into fast moving motes of light, each headed to another fragment of the house surrounding them in a glow of their own.

Twilight’s mouth dropped at what she saw next, she heard Vinyl gasp at the display herself. Rarity, in a truly impressive feat of magic, slowly, expertly, and apparently effortlessly, lifted each and every one of the massive fragments no less than five meters off the ground.

“Damn.” Breathed Vinyl.

“Rarity…I..uh” Twilight moved to her side, eyes held wide in wonder. She had known Rarity for years, she knew that few unicorns could match Rarity when it came to the precision levitation she used daily. But never would Twilight have guessed that behind that finesse also lay such power, or that Rarity could wield it so gracefully. As if sensing her thoughts, Rarity tilted her head down to look at Twilight, half lidded eyes glowing in tune with her now active magic, a slight curve to her lips betraying her obvious enjoyment at the attention gained from her fellow unicorns.

“A master of levitation.” Rarity finished.

“This is incredible, Rarity you're incredible! This…this level of power, and you’re not even straining!” Twilight's mouth didn’t close, her mind was lost trying to calculate exactly how much magical force her feather weighted friend was exerting to defy gravity on such a scale. “I’ve met Grand Wizards of Celestia’s court who could barely lift a pair of loaded apple carts for more than an hour…this…I…How long can you keep this up?”

Rarity tilted her head, pressing a finger from her free hand to her lips thoughtfully. “Why, I must say I don’t know dear. If I had to venture a guess, I would say until my legs get tired from standing.”

Twilight's eyes hurt. Not from the glow, not from any irritation in the constant breeze blowing over the hill from the forest. They hurt from widening even further at her friends response. Until her legs got tired? Was she bucking serious?

“You gotta be tossing Rares. ‘ight?” Vinyl chimed in moving to Rarity’s other side equally as shocked at the display as she was the ivory pony’s admission.

“Not at all Darling, Precision is after all, little more than the proper application of power. I spend hours upon hours, day upon day working with levitation as my only assistant. Think of this as, hmm, how to put it. Letting loose?” Rarity closed her parasol, tucking it gently under one arm. “Granted, such a...grandiose display may leave me more than a tad drained for the next day or two.”

“Rarity if you can keep this up, then Vinyl and I can cast the spell on the entire house at once. Rather than having to stop when parts need to be moved! We’ll be done in no time!” Twilight was bouncing in place, excitement once again fueling her.

This would work, she would make this work.

More importantly, her friends would help her.

“Rarity, I have no idea what I would do without you.” Twilight began to walk down the hill towards the edge of her magic circle with an extra spring in her step, Vinyl in tow.

Rarity smiled, ignoring the pressure building at the base of her horn, before she followed suite.

“Few ponies do Darling.”

Once, Vasili had dared to dream about exploring brave new worlds, meeting new civilizations. Of boldly going where no man had gone before.

He smirked inwardly at the once dream.

It had been the dream of a child not yet broken, a mind not yet aware of how the world worked. It was a foolish dream, cast aside like so many others in the name of survival, perseverance and responsibility. Thus, like all dreams, its purpose was to die and be laid to rest.

“Vasili? Um…are you ok? We can go back to the suite if you really want too.” A soft half whisper broke him from his fugue. He blinked rapidly, his hand was on the door knob leading from the empty lobby of the hospital to what he was told was Ponyville proper. Raising his head slowly he caught his reflection in the mirrored glass of the door and past that the visage of the owner of the half spoken words. Her name, if memory served, was Fluttershy. She was Ponyville’s resident veterinarian. She had been the one sitting on the edge of the bed when he had awoken, and she had been the one who had brought him the plain white linen shirt he now wore atop the one size too big linen pants. She had been the one who had, with some minor coaxing from him, explained his situation.

Fluttershy was no doubt attractive by her species standards…pony standards he reminded himself, thoughts momentarily drifting back to the long hours the night before spent in a rapid fire, overly sterile question and answer session with the pony who called herself Twilight Sparkle.

This isn’t right.

“Fine, just thinking.” He forced one side of his mouth into an upwards curve directed at the pony reflection in the glass, soliciting a blush from beneath the pale yellow coat on her cheeks.
She is attractive by human standards too.

He wasn’t going to lie about this fact, especially not to himself. Granted she was a good foot taller than he was, though most of the ponies were. She had what could only be described as a generously curvaceous figure, long flowing pink hair framed her face perfectly, downcast as it was, as if she was trying to make herself vanish. Her wings twitched nervously, no doubt at his gaze, her cyan eyes briefly lifting up to meet his own grey eyes in the reflection.

“Oh…um, ok.” She fidgeted under his examination, drawing pangs of guilt in his own mind as an uncomfortable tightness built in his chest. “We, um…should really get going. I know Twilight wanted to talk to you about your house.”

He nodded, breaking eye contact with a deep breath and turned the knob, allowing the door to swing inward with a gust of fresh air. He took his first steps into a new world, a child’s dream made real by providence stirring the corpse ash of once dead dreams. What was he expecting? He really didn’t know, he didn’t dare guess. Rather, he found that he lacked the desire to guess.

This isn’t right.

He had looked out at the town below from the window in the hospital suite. He had seen other ponies, he had seen the straw thatch rooftops, the white brick and stucco construction. He had seen the streets and plazas and even the edge of what appeared to be a train station. His mind had accepted these facts, reducing what should have been amazement to the bland realization that this is how it should be here. After all, these ponies walked on two legs which ended in hooves rather than feet. They manipulated their world with two hands and observed it with two eyes. They spoke with mouths, tongues and he assumed vocal cords. They listened to words with two ears and reasoned with what was between them. Granted, some of them had wings, like his escort, which allowed them the admittedly enviable freedom of flight; whilst others possessed horns that as Twilight claimed, allowed them to use what she called magic.

Form follows function. He thought, for the most part, these ponies functioned identically to humans. They most likely used tools based on simple machines as mankind did, they most likely required shelter, and given the fact that one of his welcoming party had introduced herself as a farmer, it made sense that they most likely required agriculture. Thus, it made perfect sense that the form of their constructs, of their very civilization would follow similar rules as his own.

His first few steps into a new world unfortunately ended in a stumble on the over-sized stairs leading down from the hospitals entrance.

Thankfully, before he could even register the sound of a wings beating, Fluttershy caught him, gently preventing him from performing a firsthand inspection of the walkways composition via direct facial-to-pavement interaction. He frowned, momentarily ignoring the larger females touch. He had forgotten to compensate for the slight difference in size. The ponies were larger than he was, thus it made sense that everything would be to scale.

This isn’t right.

He had become aware of the size difference when he faltered getting out of the bed, he had made his observations, practiced moving on the furniture prior to Fluttershy’s return. Yet, he stumbled again.

This isn’t right.

Fluttershy was speaking to him, her unheard voice distant yet close. His chest was tightening, his mind forcing a vice around his heart. He had stumbled again, he wasn’t here.

He was on a soccer field, a looming figure held him. Then came the first impact across the face. The second to the sternum. The figures words just as distant, just as silent. He didn’t need to hear them as the third strike struck him upside the back of the head.

He had stumbled…again.

He had failed.

No, This isn’t right.

That soccer field was a world away. That figure long dealt with. That experience long past. He strained against the errant memory to gaze up into Fluttershy’s alien features. Twisted as they were with concern, with fear, his mind returned to a thought briefly entertained before.

She was attractive. The pink haired pony possessed a figure that could only be described as generously curvaceous. From her exceptional bust, her not-to-thin-waistline, her rounded hips and fitting thighs which drew attention to the impressive asset hidden behind her long flowing tail. She seemed to be comprised of little more than perfectly proportioned softness.

She was talking again.

Atlas was whining.

This isn’t right.

She was pulling him, gently back towards the hospital. Her movements unsure, she was worried. He was making her worry. He closed his eyes, he fought the tightness in his chest, the unreality of his situation. He felt the prison bars of rationality lock into place. He felt her soft touch through the linen shirt he wore. He could hear her now, repeating his name.
He opened his eyes banishing the aberrant thoughts.

“Vasili, oh, please be alright. We should go back inside.” Fluttershy was stricken with worry. Thus caught by surprise when he grasped her hand, she reacted with a startled “eep!” as he removed it from his person. Breaking their contact.
“I’m fine.” He droned, noting the doubt so plainly visible across her face as he used a shaking hand to calm the large grey dog beside him. He forced his face into a crooked smile in the hopes that the change in his demeanor would illicit a similar change in her as if it would to a human.. “I’m just a little dizzy, you know how it is falling out of the sky, walking down two steps. Gravity and I have not exactly been on the best of terms lately.”

This isn’t right.

Fluttershy’s doubt didn’t vanish nor did her concern, but it was successfully muted by a smile and innocent giggle. She flexed her wings, wingspan roughly equal to twice her height he noted, burning off what he guessed was nervous energy as she took a step back. “That’s good to hear. Um…I was worried you’d have to go back into the hospital.” Her voice elevated slightly, remaining scarcely below what could be considered conversational.

“I’ll be fine, I’ve had worse exits from hospitals.” He looked out to the town proper seeing the buildings slowly lose their definition. As he forced his unfocusing eyes back to clarity, he noted that he needed to find or replace his glasses if he was going to function here.

“We should get going, don’t want to keep Twilight Sparkle waiting eh?” he waved his hand in the direction of the town proper as Fluttershy gave a quick nod. They walked in mutual silence through the busy boulevard leading to what he assumed was the center of town. It was a market of some sort, a bazaar that wouldn’t be out of place in the far east of his world. Ponies talked, bartered, bought and sold goods before him on the wide boulevard that crossed the entire township.

This isn’t right.

Other than the occasional prolonged glance from the population, consisting of significantly more females than males he noted, they didn’t react to him as he followed Fluttershy along the road. Had positions been reversed he could only imagine the panic that would ensue. Indicating that perhaps there was more than a fair share of differences between the social rules that governed their worlds in relation to the alien. This only added to the surreal feeling of his entire situation, a new world built around not-so-new rules. They passed a schoolhouse, a sign in its yard advertising a PTA meeting, a town hall proudly displaying a community service announcement in a proud testament of normalcy.

But…he paused mentally.

This isn’t right.

The school house was far too large, it’s style evocative of colonial New England, the Town Hall far to European, to modern-faux-classical to fit in among the vaguely medieval theme, yet sporting the occasional cable and antenna alongside a brick chimney. The juxtaposition, ever increasing as they reached the north side of town, made it hard to believe that this was not some bizarre dream cooked up by his overtaxed and frankly…over indulged mind rallied against the prison he had so recently placed his perception in. If only he could—

♫“Hooray! He’s here! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! A super awesome amazing welcome to you! Welcome Welcome, Welcome! This song is just for you! Oh how do you do?”
Ooooooh, Welcome, Welcome Welcome to Ponyville today! This one mare party’s just for you!
Welcome Welcome ,Welcome! Come on now! Don’t stare! You can join in too!
Welcome, Welcome, Welcome! This song is just for you!! A super awesome amazing, ultra special, perfect welcome…just…for…you!”♫

Vasili found himself devoid of rational thought, as he stared in partial horror, partial awe of the purely pink pony before him. She was breathing heavily, having erupted from the unknown into an elaborate song and dance routine the moment he and Fluttershy cleared the last of the homes on the main boulevard.
This isn’t right.

They stood in silence for what seemed like an eternity. Vasili felt his eyes strain held wide for so long staring at the slightly pudgy pony he had been introduced to as Pinkie Pie before him. She was significantly shorter than Fluttershy, which placed her significantly closer to his eye level. She had a wide grin plastered across her cherubic face, her large blue eyes glistened expectantly above her ample heaving chest. She carried on her a collection of interconnected musical instruments, most of which he recognized save for the scale. Less than a score of seconds ago she had been playing them all simultaneously.

“Pinkie! What did Twilight tell you about a party?” Fluttershy towered over her petite, by their measurements he noted, friend. He had not spent much time interacting with Fluttershy, a few words in the morning, mostly from her, his self-concerning episode outside the hospital, and none on the walk across town; he did however get the instinctual feeling that this behavior was outside her norm.

Pinkie Pie seemed unfazed by Fluttershy’s changed demeanor, she brought a finger to the tip of her muzzle with a small giggle, then broke into an uncannily perfect imitation of Twilight Sparkle. “Pinkie, don’t organize a large party for him yet, we don’t know how he’ll handle being here.” She pulled her finger away from her muzzle as she disengaged herself from the collection of instruments before returning to her own voice. “And I didn’t! No large party! Even if it would have been the most super awesome most excellently righteous hey-you-fell-out-of-the-sky-and-now-you-are-here-so-welcome party!” The excitable, if not somewhat juvenile sounding pony now free of her musical contraption was playfully bouncing in place with a pleased expression. Fluttershy, apparently over her short lived assertive moment, held a hand to her face as she retreated into her mane shaking her head.

“Pinkie; why?” Her voice seemed so distant, so far away. Pinkie on the other hand, simply cocked her head in apparently confusion.

“Duh! So he’ll smile! He didn’t smile at all last night! Lookie!” She grabbed a flabbergasted Fluttershy at the hips, coaxing a surprised squeak from the timid female as Pinkie Pie spun her around to look at Vasili. Who to her surprise was indeed smiling.

This isn’t right.

His face ached, his eyes held wild, no longer in surprise. The muscles around his mouth protested in vain, held for too long in the awkward pose of apparent amusement. He had ceased to pay attention to the two mares bickering before him, he had ceased to care about the lack of reaction to his presence on an alien world, the oversized clothing he now wore or the absurd normalcy of the town. His eyes were locked above both the heads of Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, gazing up over the small open plain separated from the north of Ponyville proper. His eyes were locked on a point, not too far off the ground by any standard, and more specifically, his eyes were trained on his house.

His flying house.

His glowing flying house.

It was glowing blue.

His flying house was glowing…blue.

His body quaked with laughter. It was a deep laugh born from a mind simply giving up any attempt to rationalize what it was being exposed to. His house was flying, hovering really, gently floating in the air surrounded by some sort of blue aurora.

This isn’t right.

“My house…It’s flying.” He sank to his knees, laughing himself closer and closer to hysteria, oblivious to the concerned faces of the two pink haired ponies before him or to the increasingly high pitched whines of the large dog which had so faithfully followed him step for step. He couldn’t hear the shouts coming from behind him as he clenched his arms chest aching painfully in response to the euphoric spasms desperately trying to retain understanding.

“This isn’t right…” He tore his eyes away from the home, now slowly lowering towards the ground, white wooden panels vibrant as the day they had been painted, stone masonry devoid of mold and staining, even the deep blue photovoltaics that covered the majority of the houses roof gleamed in the daylight brightly as the moment of their inception.

“This…” he stopped talking as images flooded his perception, a kitchen table, a workbook, mathematics, he didn’t understand. A massive hand, striking him. He wanted to understand, he needed to understand. The hand came back, it’s strike just as vicious, just as demanding—The vision fell away from his mind as a large orange hand rested on his shoulder from behind, alerting him to twist away reflexively. His eyes were narrow, each held wide in his hysteria fading as he looked into the concern green eyes of the farmer from the evening before. She was talking to him, his heart was racing, thundering in his ears as he fought off the panic eating away at the corners of his mind.

This isn’t right.

“Ya’ll right sugarcube?” She repeated getting only the slightest of nods from Vasili as his laughter subsided.

“My house…” He droned wearily between guffaws.

Applejack looked at the now resting domicile, brow arched before turning to look over her shoulder at a hovering prismacolor haired pony who rolled her shoulders in shared confusion. She took a deep breath and tried once again to place her hand on Vas’s shoulder, slower this time, making sure he could see it coming and that it was not a threat.

“What about it?” She made contact, Vasili shuddered as if struck. Closing his eyes while digging his teeth deep into his lower lip. He remained motionless for a moment, not even breathing reminding himself that much like the soccer field, the kitchen table in his vision was a world away. Separated not only by dimensions but by decades of time.

“Vas?” The massive orange mare asked, her voice thick with concern.

He needed to answer her, he knew that.

Then the mental bars of his mind snapped into place suppressing the errant and tumultuous emotions like they always did, like they always had.

Vasili raised his head to stare at Applejack, looking at his own slack expression reflected in her eyes. It appeared as if he was not as much looking at her, but past her, as if he was looking a thousand yards further than any one point.

He answered, voice robotic, devoid of emotion. It’s tone cracking only from the strain his earlier cachinnation.

“My house…” he repeated. “My house was flying.”

He turned to look at his dwelling, now resting on the green grass at the bottom of the hill.

“And that…” he noted, cocking his head in acknowledgement.That Twilight Sparkle was talking with two other ponies before it, both had horns.

They seemed to be in celebratory spirits.

Interesting.

“An’ what sugarcube?” Applejack gave a gentle squeeze to his shoulder, first directing his attention to her hand. It was large enough to cradle his head, its texture rough even through the linen clothing. Evidence of a life spent working, yet the warmth was kind, reassuring.

Nonthreatening.

He met her eyes again, though admittedly to her it would appear as if he was staring past her blankly.

“That isn’t right.” Vasili’s eyes drifted back to his house.

Nothing about this was right.

Author's Note

First off mad props to my amazing editors/proofreaders for this chapter:Commander Infinite, Spectro & The Danish Adonis for their awesome work taking my drugged ramblings and make them readable! they seriously rock!

Second this chapter was a challenge to write for two reasons; mostly Vinyl and Pinkie's segments, but also Vas's entire second half. I had to strike a balance, and I hope I did, between Vas's hyper rational nature and the shock of being in a new world. His reaction at the end, when the "dam broke" so to speak hopefully shows that he's human after all!

Chapter 4 is already started, and will be different from the other chapters; the only very clear spoiler I will give about it is: "you can tell allot about a person, or a people from the contents of a single home"

And finally! Good news! An Artist Has been paid to create new custom cover art using the descriptions in the Character notes! So keep an eye out for it!

As always feel free to comment or message! I don't bite!

Cheers!
~That Colt

Temporary Update Chapter

Hello Everyone, this isn't the author "That Colt" rather it's his other half, call me "That Filly" or Megatron, yeah Megatron works.

Comedy aside, I've been taking these past week to contact all the online circles he was a part of actively as a courtesy.

"That Colt" as some of you may know has been battling spinal cancer for the past year and it hasn't be easy for him.

His last treatment lead to some complications. He's alive and getting stronger, but so far gone on the medication that any attempts for him to write creatively, draw or program have left him frustrated in the extreme.

As such, myself, and his only surviving family, his mother and brother.

Have decided it's best to keep him away from such things until his medication can be reduced.

I personally want to thank you all for the interaction you've given him here on his story.

Before the cancer he was a very outgoing and active person who drew energy from people and more than often gave it back.

Having interaction here on FIM Fiction around his story came to be the highlights of his days when the cancer would leave him bed ridden.

He'll be back once he's not drugged out of his mind. I check the site with him from time to time.

I wish I could explain the little glimmer in his eyes when he sees more people have Favorited the story.

That's what he calls it, "The Story." he's the type of writer that draws on his experiences from being a Dungeon Master in D&D.

Thus he operates under the idea that the story ceased to be "his" the moment one other person enjoyed it.

Once again, I can't thank this community enough. I know "That Colt" is grateful as well.

I think it's fitting that I end this little post the way he always did.

Cheers,

and thank you all again, so much

~Megatron or That Filly