Agony.

As Daniel attempted to open his eyes, he let out a small groan. His head felt like it'd been assaulted with a metal bat, and his body was sore in places he didn't even think were possible. "Urgh....note to self: all-nighters are unhealthy."

While he lay there, he heard a small chuckle and had the sensation of someone joining him on the bed. Since he'd just woken up, the chuckle and movement really didn't register to him. From what he could remember, none of his friends were able to come visit him at his apartment and there weren't any girls who he knew that would actually be that close to him.

A curious, but husky and VERY feminine voice murmured right next to him, "An 'all-nighter'? This sounds most interesting...although most could not handle staying up throughout the night in its entirety."

At that moment, his eyes shot open and his entire body froze. A girl. In the bed. With HIM. Daniel tried his best not to freak out and resisted the urge to turn over and see exactly who was with him, while trying to go over what happened the night before. He knew for a fact that he was alone for the majority of the evening, and had spent most of it playing games or staring out the window at the night sky. It was close to three in the morning when he started to get tired and headed off to bed. Thankfully, he had no work or anything important to do that day so he could sleep in. The last thing he remembered as he flopped on the bed was looking at the window and wondering why it still looked like it was the middle of the night.

Trying to keep himself calm and focused, he slowly started to take in his surroundings...unfortunately, the more he looked, the more nervous he got. All thoughts of calming down left when it finally occurred to him that he wasn't in his room anymore. It was decorated like it belonged to some type of royalty. When he attempted to rub his eyes with his hands, two blue-grey hooves were there instead.

No. No, no, nonononono. This is NOT possible. Fancy room? Pony hooves? This is must be a figment of my imagination...

Slowly turning over, he found himself face-to-face (or muzzle-to-muzzle), with a dark blue unicorn that was looking at him with amusement and concern in her sapphire eyes. "Good morning to you too."

Daniel's mind shut down at that very moment she spoke. He knew what he was seeing and hearing, but the rational part of him was screaming that it was impossible. The amount of stories he read of this happening to humans were endless, but they were only for enjoyment. Now, he was right in the middle of one of those situations? There was only one thing he could say to keep himself from freaking out right there and then.

"Goodnight."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Daniel had always been a quiet child. Not quiet as in being shy or indifferent...just quiet. Unlike other kids his age, he would often sit back and observe others before doing something himself. He showed an insightfulness and maturity beyond his age, but it often left him in awkward situations. When he was in fourth grade, his teacher had asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. Looking the teacher right in the eye, he replied "Something that will make me enough money to live comfortably." This lead to one of many parent-teacher conferences and a confused little boy. He did what he was told and answered honestly based on what he knew, so why would his teachers look at him with such fear? Eventually he understood that his knowledge at such a young age terrified all of the adults around him. The only way he could change that was to pretend like he was like all the other children.

It took time, but eventually, most forgot that he was different than other kids around him. They saw him as a very quiet, but polite child that was no different than all the others. The other children, however, knew that he wasn't like them. He played, smiled and did the same things that they did, but instinctively they knew better. So while they played and treated him like they would treat their friends, Daniel was mostly left alone. He was fine with that.

As he grew up, he struggled with others to understand the world around him and even made a few friends in the process. They all knew that he wasn't exactly like them, and often had a better concept of the things around them, but respected him for it. In turn, he knew that they all could function in society as 'normal' people and could do things he couldn't. It was an odd friendship, but somehow it worked. Daniel could learn what it meant to be socially accepted and they could learn how to efficiently deal with the 'real world'

One of his biggest problems, was his lack of interest. He would go out with his friends to see a movie, or do some other activity only to become easily bored. What they did for 'fun' seemed pointless to him, and a waste of time. There were a few exceptions to this. Music, art and games could grab his attention, even if it was momentarily. Daniel found each of these things to be a way that people expressed their creativity, and he could appreciate that.

That is how, at the young age of twenty three, he found himself to be not only a video game tester, but a game designer as well. It was the perfect job for him, because not only could he freely point out flaws, he could also feel the love and effort that someone put into it.

He reasoned that by doing this, he would feel more 'normal' but he knew deep down, that it was just an excuse to look away from the truth: he would never really fit in.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Luna sat up from the bed and looked at the blue-grey Pegasus that lay next to her with his eyes clenched shut. It seemed like he was taking the situation rather well, considering that he was waking up in her bed of all places. It was an odd situation to say the least. She had just finished her nightly rounds and was about to return to her room when she stumbled upon him. Literally. Once it was clear the Pegasus would not wake up, she had carried her to her room and kept watch over him until he did wake up. Giving a small sigh, she tucked her legs under her and patiently waited for the look of fear, followed by a full-out panic.

Minutes later, she frowned and shifted uncomfortably. The Pegasus hadn't uttered a single word, much less moved from when he had told her "Goodnight". It was unsettling to say the least. I can handle screaming and denial...but this? 'Tis unnatural she thought to herself.

"...I have some questions. Yes or no answers are fine."

If she hadn't been paying attention, she might've missed the whisper that came from the Pegasus. He hadn't moved at all, much less give any indication that he was acknowledging her, but he was speaking. "As you wish. Ask."

".....Am I in Equestria?"

"Yes."

"I'm a pony?"

"...yes. A Pegasus to be exact."

"You're Princess Luna?"

The first two questions slightly surprised her, but when he asked who she was, a look of pure disbelief crossed her face. A pony who didn't know who she was? That was impossible. She had suspected that something was wrong when she first found him for two reasons: he was a grown stallion without a cutie mark and his sleep seemed magically induced. The fact that he asked where he was and who she was concerned Luna, but that was a problem that could be addressed later.

"I am she."

".....Stallion?"

This question was spoken slowly and with a slight tone of fear of it. Why he would be so afraid to ask about his gender confused Luna even more, but she pushed the question away, deciding that was another thing that she would address later.

"Of course. I have no reason why you would think otherwise."

The Pegasus let out a small sigh of relief before opening his eyes. They were a dark grey and seemed eons older than the pony who had them, almost as if they had seen and understood many things beyond his years. As if they held a deep sadness but acceptance of the knowledge that they held. It was a look that Luna was familiar with because when she looked into a mirror, that is what she saw in herself.

As he struggled to sit up and slowly started to test his legs and wings, Luna watched him and waited for the inevitable question. She just hoped that he would be as calm as he was now when she gave her answer. "So...why exactly am I here? I'm sure that I didn't wander into your bed by accident. I don't even belong here at all."

Luna winced and eased her way out of the bed. His voice was blunt and hard; it had the air of someone who was used to being in an uncomfortable situations and being forced to deal with it. After careful consideration of how to respond, she took a few steps back to give him space, in case he actually did lash out.

"I was making my rounds when I found you lying on the castle walkways. Nothing would wake you, so I carried you here until you awoke on your own. How you got there, I do not know."

A long period of silence followed, with the Pegasus's face going through different expressions: disbelief, confusion, irritation then finally, a grim acceptance. Since they were the only two in the room, Luna could clearly hear what he muttered under his breath.

"Well buck me."

Author's Note

I've had this story idea sitting around for awhile, but wasn't too sure how to do it. I honestly have NO clue what I'm going to write, I'll just try and let it flow naturally. First time attempting this, but comments and suggestions would be appreciated! Oh, and possibly someone reading drafts of this would be nice as well. Can't always make up a good story!