I feel my fingers going numb from the cold as they grip the steering wheel, my body gently vibrating from the truck’s heavy engine. My ass’s starting to become numb as well, these cheap seats don’t comfort for the life of them. This poor truck’s on its last leg.

“God, I really need to fix ya’, Nellie. Tomorrow, girl. Tomorrow.” I mutter to the inanimate object moving me. Next to me, in the passenger's seat, is my CO2 rifle case, inside containing the actual weapon. I scoff at it, and look back to the dirt road ahead of me. Under the moonlight, I see a two story, hardwood house appear to the right of the road, right off the countryside. Tall pine trees surround the area, and a giant wheat field can be seen behind the structure. Puts up my turn signal just incase, and I make a hard right. The wheels bump up and down against peebles as the truck makes it’s way between two barbed fences, and down a narrow dirt driveway.

My foot presses on the breaks as the truck nears the right side of the wooden house. A quick turn of the keys, and the truck engine dies. Grasping my backpack and my rifle case, I open the door and exit the truck. Moonlight peers down on the land as I use it as guidance to make it to my home’s porch. I shake off the dirt and grime from my boots, and open up the door. Inside I see my mom and dad cuddled together on the couch watching what I assume is Friday Night Football.

“How was the rifle match, honey?” My mom asks in her tender, motherly tone.

“Shit.” I mumble. My parents give me a hard stare for my choice of diction, but they realize it must have been that bad if I had said that. I wasn’t much for cursing and bad-mouthing, but we all have our moments.

“Rio Valle took first by long shot, Pastura Verde took second, and we got third. Our sporter team was disqualified for missing one team member, and Mike’s rifle was jammed on precision. It was bad.” My voice makes it seem like I've repeated that exact sentece all day.

“Sorry to hear, boy. You hungry? Some food’ll take yer mind off of what troubles you?” My pops asks in his normal, stern tone. I simply shake my head and walk up the stairs that are on the right from the living room. Makes my way down the hall and opens the last door on the left, entering in and tossing my backpack on the bed. Sets my rifle case down near by the bed, and kicks it under. As I take off my stetson, I see my computer monitor’s blinking in my peripheral vision. I see Skype has a gold glowing ‘1’ next to its Taskbar icon. I quickly kick off my boots and fall down on my rolling chair. Turns over and grasps my mouse with my right hand, clicking on said icon.

Missed call from Phoenix at 8:53 p.m. I read it quietly to myself. Drags my mouse over to the little blue phone icon and clicks it, pulling my brown hair back and putting on my headset.

BEEP-BEEP-BE-BE-BEEP

Skype sounds off for a while before I hear a click and I hear background noise.

~~~Phoenix~~~<

“Y’ellow?” I hear my friend call from the other side of the Skype call.

“Yo, what’s up, James. I tried calling you earlier and you never answered.... what were you doing?” I ask with a questioning look.

“Eh, I had a rifle match for ROTC today. Don’t ask about it, please. I’d rather forget it even happened.” My friend’s voice takes a stronger tone to it as he finishes his sentence.

“I won’t since you sound a little pissed about it. Must of went bad I guess… so what do you want to do to cool yourself down?”

“Well, didn’t you say you’ve been wanting me to play that one, “tee-tee-tee” thing with ya’ on Gmod? I personally think it sounds stupid, but if you say it’s fun, then I’ll give it a whirl… couldn’t be worse than shooting a 3 on kneeling...” I hear him mutter.

“And I speak the truth that it is fun and I will show you why once we start… so you in?” I ask with a suspenseful look.

“Yeah, whatever.”

~~~~~~<

Several hours later, and a few minutes of James getting ticked off at the foolish Gmod game type, the duo decide it’s been enough for one night.

“What the hell, Phoenix, I thought you said that was gonna be fun… bunch’a jerks on there killin’ everyone for no reason. Admin didn’t even do anything either. Last time I listen to you for fun advice.” James grumbles, rubbing his eyes.

“Well I didn’t know that was going to happen, that was really crappy, I ain’t doing that again. Sorry for upsetting you, I wanted to cheer you up with killing innocents, but looks like that didn’t happen.” Phoenix says with an apologetic tone.

“Yeah, whatever. It’s twelve’o clock. Damn it... I’ve got a English AP exam tomorrow, and you kept me up, you fool.” James says in a facetious manner.

“Hey, you the one who didn’t decide to quit after, what, 30 some matches? So it ain’t me fault, okay? Suus.” Phoenix says in a joking manner.

“Suus yourself, you turd. Heheh, whatever man. I need to go to sleep. Catcha tomorrow, friend. G’night.” James says through a long yawn.

“Alright then, see you later bruh.” Phoenix says through a very groggy expression.

With that, the two hit the power buttons to their computers, and head off to get rest and fight life’s challenges of tomorrow.

~~~James~~~<

“Mmnh… mmn… I wanna ride the horsey… GYAH!” I wake with a jump when loud music is blasted through my phone right next to my ear. My older brother, standing there with a innocent look, my phone in his hand. “Time for school, buddy-boy.” He says in his casual, deep voice before turning off the music and setting down my phone.

All males in my direct family, including myself, have rather deep voices. People in my English class always “volunteered” me to read to the class then the opportunity arose because of my voice. It gets more annoying than flattering. What’s a magnificent voice when it sounds like someone karate chopped your trachea after so much reading?

I groan loudly in annoyance. I look over to my awake phone screen and see it’s 7:32. “Geez, I was about to sleep in… thanks, Jake. Can’t believe I’m a whole hour and a half away from the tardy bell.” My brother chuckles and rustles my hair before leaving my room. I sit up, popping my back in several places before letting out a prolonged yawn. Geh, mornings...

Practically falling out of bed, I slither towards the bathroom. I exit my room and enter another adjacent to mine, shutting the door. Stripping from my sleeping clothing, consisting of basketball shorts and a white tank top, I turn on the hot water and get some paste on my toothbrush.

About a half hour later, I come out of the bathroom smelling like a new man. A new man that’s half asleep. I walk towards my room and get on my jeans, brown longsleeve shirt, and my boots. Proceeds to stuff my phone into my pocket and take my backpack onto one shoulder before running downstairs.

It was a Saturday, but I had a damned AP course that required weekend tests for English. I make my own breakfast of toaster strudels and orange juice before using my mobile vacuum to suck it all down, not even savoring the cherry filling of the strudels. I look at my watch and see it’s 8:22. “Still got forty six minutes… guess I’ll take Nellie to the shop right quick.” I tell myself as I make for the door.

I scrutinize myself, trying hard to remember if I had forgotten something. After two run-arounds, I figure I’m ready for the world, and it was ready for me. I open the door and I’m kissed by a blast of cold air on my exposed face. My eyes squint and I shrug my backpack higher on my shoulder. I take a step onto the porch and it looks like a normal morning. Clouds above, giving the world a blue hue to it. I take another step onto the dirt, and-- … the dirt. I stepped in dirt. Why does it feel like I’m stepping in shi-- …

“What the hell is this?” My eyes widen as I see my boot phased through the dirt, a white-ish aura surrounding my shin. The surrounding force on my leg looks inexplicably odd, almost majestic. You know, if it weren't sucking me into oblivion. I try pulling back, and that results in me getting pulled deeper. "W-What the--?" My mind thinks of anything that can be logically applied to my current situation.

“NO WAY! GOD ALMIGHTY! QUICKSAND APPEARS ON MY DOOR AS I’M TRYING TO GET A DIPLOMA! JUST-- ... AH LOVE YOU, EARTH! JUST FREAKIN' LOVE YOU!” With that said, I’m torso deep into the ground. I try to scream more blasphemies into the sky, hopefully waking my parents and brother, but I find my throat strained. Attempts at yelling and struggle replaced with furious fits of coughing. What’s happening to me!? I ask in a major panic. I know quicksand doesn’t have any sudden side effects, and it kills you from suffocation, but that doesn't explain-- ...

...

Darkness. Surrounded by darkness. My mind dies on me, and I feel myself slip away...

~~~Phoenix~~~<

Sleep eludes me as I start to wake, but my eyes remained closed for the time being. I smell coffee brewing downstairs and that always tells me that my dad is awake, as per the usual. Continuing to lie down with my eyes closed, I knew that I ain’t going back to sleep anytime soon.

The sounds of footsteps coming from the stairs and knowing that would be my dad who is doing his usual duty of waking me up early, so we can prepare ahead of time than being the late timers as they usually say. I remain there rested as the sound of the door opening and also the sound of glass sitting gently against wood.

As I would know, my dad starts shaking me from my bed to wake me up like he had always done this in many years of my life. Also as he shakes me I immediately open my eyes and look up at my dad staring down with his usual calm smile.

{Good morning! I brought up some coffee for you, son} My dad said in a hand signing motion.

I look over and spot the coffee on my nightstand with a bunch of papers stacked next to it. I reach out to grab the coffee while looking at the clock which read 6:30 a.m. Its still pretty early to wake up now, but whatever. The earlier the better. I think as I bring the tip of the mug to my lips and take a sip of the drink. Still bittersweet as I remembered, but I’ve been used to it.

{Thank you, dad. By the way is mom up yet?} I signed back and my dad shakes his head.

{She slept late again. I told her to sleep, but she insisted on playing her games.} My dad signs to me. I laugh at that, same old mom. She ain’t going to change much and I love her that way. My dad gave me a hug and went back downstairs to freshen up. Taking another sip of my coffee, I think back at how this routine of ours still is the same as many years ago.

I down my coffee like I usually do and get up on my feet quickly to stretch. several bone pops later, I open my room door and take a left to the restroom door. I enter knowing my usual routine of freshening up. I immediately take off my clothes and jump in the shower to take my 15 min. bath. 1 bathing session later, I come out feeling pretty hyped for the trip we are going, which will be to Dallas, TX.

After putting new clothes on and brushing my teeth, I walk downstairs to see my dad going to wake my mom up and I immediately walk back up stairs since my mom is not much of a morning person. I walk back inside my room when I hear shouts coming downstairs and don’t get me wrong, my parents love each other very much to argue like that. I open my closet door and take out my luggage that was prepared yesterday by my mum. I carry it downstairs and see my mom getting inside their room to get her clothing to freshen up herself.

I go to my dad and tap him on the back of his shoulder to get his attention. {Hey dad, you hear anything good about Dallas?} I ask in a quick fluent sign.

{How can I hear if I am deaf son?} My dad immediately laughs and pats me on the back, but I give him a deadpan look that says, “seriously?” Both of my parents have been deaf for all their years with me. My mom was born with it while my dad had gotten into an accident that caused him to lose his hearing. I started to learn sign language when I was just a one year old child, from observing them mostly. Later on I started to learn more and more until I was practically an expert (somewhat) in sign language. I even showed James how to use sign language since my parents wanted to speak with him in sign. So he and I have been on tutor sessions ever since. Now he can sign fluently with them.

I felt the need to go outside to take a walk in the park… heh. Walk in the park. Anyway I grab my luggage and open the front door only to get smacked on the cheek with cool air. I like this time of the weather. Taking in a breath full of fresh air, I step down the porch on the dirt, only to feel my foot slip through, which the end, result is me faceplanting on the ground.

“Ow! The hell!” I rub my nose only to find that my foot or rather feet slip in even more on the dirt. I look at my feet to see the dirt looks odd, and kinda blurry around my ankle. I continue to stare at this anomaly, and it looks like a whitish type ring surrounding both my thighs. I begin to panic as I see more and more of my legs disappearing inside of it. The freak is this shit? I dun even know anymore. Why in the fuck is this happening? The shit. Alright cool, ya. Getting sucked into a ungodly whole is an everyday thing. I am fucking done and dead, my friend. Fuck this sheit and scr---- My throat feels like it's on fire, and it's super swollen. I can't seem to speak even if I wanted to.

I reach out to grab anything to stop this, but my hand swipes the air. I watch as my hand gets enveloped inside; the small tunnel of light starts to close on me. My eyes start to become heavy… very heavy…

...

~~~???~~~<

“Spike! Stand still!” Twilight snaps at the purple dragon who is floating in mid air, a purple magical aura surrounding him.

“It’s kind of hard to do that when you have no control of your motions, Twilight.” Spike replies sarcastically.

“You’re not trying hard enough! We need this spell ready and perfect for Celestia!” Twilight replies in a haze of desperation.

“So, like… what are we doing again?” Spike questions as he is head over heels.

Twilight sighs. “We’re trying to get this runewarp spell to work so Royal Guard units can be transported anywhere when needed with minimal error, and from what scouts have reported, there’s something happening odd happening down by Dodge City and it’s going to need investigation. Incase worse comes to worse, we have this nifty spell that can get strength down where need-be.” Twilight says in a big breath, tiring herself out.

Spike nods, not really understanding what she’s ranting about, but he doesn’t want another preaching.

“Okay, let’s get this thing done and gone… and I won’t run away this time.” Spike says with a fixed expression. Twilight’s horn glows slightly brighter, and Spike is set down. “Now that’s a good dragon!” Twilight giggles, receiving a glare from Spike. “Okay, ready, Spike?” Twilight asks.

The dragon gulps and nods. The room starts to glow a soft lavender, as Twilight’s horn glows brightly. Her eyes close and her muzzle scrunches in focus. Next to Spike, a white blob of light starts to appear on the ground, growing slightly larger and larger as Twilight’s horn pushes magic out of it.

After a few dramatic seconds, Twilight’s magic dies, and the shining white light on the ground fades. In its place is the wooden floor of the library, but the texture of the ground looks watery and blurry. “Now, then my trusty assistant, step into the rune if you will.” Twilight says in a preppy tone, obviously annoying Spike. He rolls his eyes before doing as asked.

The purple drake gingerly puts his foot onto the distorted ground, and it phases through, earning a slight jump from him as he pulls back. “Spike!” Twilight snaps. “I know, I know! ... Gosh, I can’t get used to this...” Spike says before setting a foot back into the rune. This time, it sucks him as a vacuum would.

“GYAAAA--” … “--AAA-- OOMPH!”

“Wohohey!” Twilight looks behind her to see Spike had face planted onto her backside. “Really!? Rrrrrgh! I thought I placed the rune to my left! No, no, no. This simply won’t do! I need this spell ready by today!” Twilight’s mane starts to become disheveled and her pupils become smaller as she silently mutters things about some sort of magic kindergarten.

“When’s the deadline again?” Spike asks sitting on the floor, his eyes rolling around comically in their sockets.

“Next week!” She retorts.

“Next wee- Next-- … NEXT WEEK!? You’re getting worked up over nothing, Twilight! You still have plenty of time. Ease up a bit for once.” Spike says with a slight frown.

“... Okay. I’ll “ease up.” Could we at least practice this a few more times, Spike?”

“Twilight.”

“Please?” Her eyes grow slightly bigger.

“No, Twili--”

“Please?” Her eyes become unimaginably big, and they start gleam.

With a sigh, the dragon breaks. “Okay, okay! … Stop with the eyes. Hate it when you do that. It’s not fair.” He mutters the last two sentences.

Twilight rubs her two front hooves together and a big grin takes her lips. “Now that is a great assistant!”

“Don’t push it.”

“Hehehe… sorry.” Twilight blushes a little.

Spike walks back to his original position before the warp moved him, and he crosses his arms, regretting his decision immediately. Twilight’s horn begins to pulse magic again, and the rune reforms. She is already gradually getting better at a spell she just learned thirty three minutes ago. Twilight nods, giving Spike the green light.

Spike takes a step into the rune, bracing himself to get sucked in. He doesn’t immediately get dragged in, so he takes this opportunity to ask: “Hey, about that Dodge City thing--”

“Dodge City!?” Twilight gets her focus interrupted at the sudden outburst of Spike’s words.

Spike lets out a scream as the rune closes in on his leg, trapping him in place. “Nyah! Twilight! My leg! Get me oooouuuuut!!!” He cries out, the rune starts to gurgle and grope, trying to close.

Twilight’s horn glows a violent purple as she panics, mustering all of her power to try and get the rune open. The room becomes a disco of different shades of lavender as magic pulsates from the unicorn attempting to rescue her friend.

The blood flow to Spike’s leg starts to die, and his limb begins to numb. “Twilight!!! It hurts!!!” Twilight’s hooves dig into the ground as massive surges of magic are being flung around. Twilight had succeeded to cast and scatter tons of runes randomly around in unknown places in the library, but failed to located the one that bear-trapped Spike.

Seconds turned into hours for the poor dragon and he start to feel dizzy, not used to enduring the amount of pain he’s currently in for so long. Finally, the rune’s jaw opens, and the dragon flops to the ground. Twilight rushes up to his aid, tears streaming down her eyes as she looks at his unconscious friend.

“S-Sp-Spike? Spike!?” She shakes him a little. She notices immediately that the purple dragon’s entire left leg was more purple than the rest of his body. It was so dark, it was almost black. Twilight brings a hoof to her mouth and she gasps. Reacting as fast as she can, she lifts Spike up in her magic, and rushes him upstairs to her room. She sets him down on her bed, and Twilight scans Spike with her glowing horn, looking for any abnormalities.

Relief fills her uneasy mind when she finds out Spike’s only unconscious, and the only major damage is broken foot bones and a broken tibia and fibula. Blood flow was restored just in time to save the limb and Twilight casts a quick sub inflammation spell on his leg to help with blood flow. She gives the sleeping prince a kiss on the forehead before wiping a tear from her eye. She proceeds to dart out of her room, making her way downstairs.

“F-Fluttershy probably knows how to deal with this! S-She’s great at this kind of stuff! Tending to hurt animals and such! Right?” She tries to comfort herself with words as she makes her way to the door. Twilight trips over air and she faceplants.

“Owie! Mmngh!” She holds her muzzle as she looks for the culprit of her fall. She spots a rune she edged over. Now that she realizes it, there’s a rune over there too. And there. And there… and… there… and… “What did I do?” She quietly asks herself. She stands up and begins tapping to her last magic reserves, having burnt herself out on what happened a few minutes ago. She starts to perform the Uncast spell again and again. Basically a Ctrl+Z for unicorns. Once she feels that there’s no presence of her magic in the air for several hundred miles, she sighs, completely exhausted.

“Now… to Fluttershy’s...” She says between heavy breaths. Too tired to use magic to open the door, she just opens it like a normal pony, and slowly makes her way to Fluttershy’s.

Author's Note

Welp, here's my first attempt to create a... what you people call, fan fiction. Of course, this is a project between myself and a buddy of mine. If you see that the grammar or typing style is different in different areas of the story, it's that we have two people typing this out. Myself typing James and the MLP cast, Phoenix being my friend.

So, as any author would say, I would greatly appreciate any feedback, constructive criticism, and helpful tips that'll make these stories more visually and content pleasing. Hope to see your guys' responses.