The late afternoon sun filters in through the blinds in my apartment as the sounds of a family enjoying the late Spring evening echo through the open window. A brief glance tell me everything I need to know, the apartment is clean and everything is packed for when it's done. I drink from the glass on the table, hate to let good whiskey go to waste, I look back to the table. Where there was just the glass there is now the glass... and my escape plan. A simple gun, nothing fancy but more than enough for the job at hand. I pick it up to make sure everything is in order but something catches my eye in the corner of the room. There stands what shouldn't exist... a pony, not the kind to that would be found on Earth but rather it was smaller than expected, if I had to venture a guess I'd say it stood no higher than the center of my chest, and with me being just over five feet tall that made it even smaller. There was something about it that made me think this one was a mare, or perhaps a filly with it being so short. It was the eyes, for they were the only things about it that were absolutely clear to me the rest seemed to almost fade out of existence. Those emerald pools shone with a softness belying it's femininity, yet there was also something else in them; a sadness maybe? Not much unlike the sadness one finds in a close friend or family member that's seen far too many depressing things in their life and it's just become a routine occurrence for them. I hear a muffled sound radiate from the ethereal being, it takes a moment for me to realize that she's trying to speak with me but I can't understand her. "I'm sorry, I don't understand what you're trying to tell me but all I can say is you don't want to be around for the next part." I say with a single tear rolling away. The eyes become both frightened and melancholic, she gets the idea of what's about to happen, but instead of protesting or berating me for what is to come she simply dips her head in defeat and moves to the door. As she stops she turns around and looks me dead in the eyes, she's weeping. Without a single word he turns back around and fades from existence. The fact that this ethereal figment shed tears for me is comforting. I load the bullet and replace the magazine, I rack the slide and I place the muzzle against my head. I close my eyes and breath, in; one, two, three, four. Out; one, two, three. I squeeze the trigger and know no more.
"Gah!" I jolt upright in bed clutching my chest to still my hammering heart. Something feels warm and wet on my cheek, it only takes a second to realize I was crying in my sleep. "Again with these nightmares! Every damned night for the past three months!"
KNOCK, KNOCK.
"It's open." As I sit in bed I can safely bet that it's AJ coming to make sure I'm up to get stared with my chores. Sure enough as the door swings in the orange earth pony steps in, bright eyed and not so bushy tailed.
"Mornin' sugar cube, ya sleep alright?"
"Yeah just fine.... except for another nightmare."
"Again? Maybe you oughta have Princess Luna take a look at it and see if she can help ya?"
"It's gettin' to the point where I just might hafta' AJ, but first I think I smell Granny's cookin'. Let's eat and get the work done for today then I'll see about talkin' to Luna. Let me get dressed and I'll meet ya' down stairs."
"Alright, I'll try to make sure Big Mac doesn't eat all the pancakes 'afore you get done up here."
"If he does I might hafta' gut 'em." AJ simply chuckles and meanders out the door leaving me alone in the room with my thoughts, and I had a bit to reflect on. Three-and-a-half moths ago I mysteriously wound up in a world of colorful, magical, talking ponies and needless to say at first I lost my shit and started thinking I had just finally gone mad. After running around freaking out and freaking out the supposed natives I wound up bashing my head on a low hanging tree branch. When I finally came to I woke up I what seemed to be a hospital room thinking my nightmare was at an end but when the door opened to reveal not one but three ponies, two in your typical hospital attire and one wearing some form of regalia, I started to lose my shit a second time. Before I could go into full-on freak out the one in the regalia spoke.
"Greetings, please don't be alarmed we mean you no harm." Something in her voice seemed to calm me almost instantly, she had a very kind and motherly tone to her and it just seemed to act like a mild sedative. "Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Princess Celestia, co-ruler of Equestria. Along side me is nurse Red Heart," The petite white mare next to her gave a gentle smile and a small nod, "and this is doctor Silk Stitch," The stallion gave a simple nod, "they're the ones that have been taking care of you while you were unconscious."
"Well thanks Doc, Ms. Heart. So what happened?"
"We were hoping you could tell us, I only got the basic details of some strange bipedal creature running around and scaring everypony."
"Wish I could tell you more Princess but the only thing I can say about how I got here is that I woke up in the middle of a field, before that..." As I thought back I could see the gun and I could feel how I felt then. "I... I can't remember." A pregnant silence followed and I couldn't help but get the feeling this princess was trying to read me, I tried to read her back and what I saw wasn't good, she knew I was hiding something. Thankfully the doctor took this opportunity to fill me in on my status.
"Well if I may interject for a moment princess, you'll be happy to know that as far as we could tell there is no severe damage to your skull or brain, aside from a very light concussion. You could actually be released this afternoon."
"Well gee doc that sounds great, only one little problem, I have nowhere to go."
"Oh, that does pose a problem."
"Actually Doctor," Celestia interjected, "I believe I might have a temporary solution to that."
"Well," I sighed, "that's a relief, but how temporary are we talkin'."
"Until you can afford a place of your own, unless you'd rather we procure a house for you."
"No! No, I'd rather not be in someone's debt, especially when it comes to a financial staple like an entire house. I'll earn my keep... somehow."
"Well then I can understand and respect that, you sound a bit like the Apple family in that regard."
"Wait, seriously the "Apple" family?"
"Yes the Apple family, they've been around here the longest and they are some of the most hard working and stalwart ponies I've ever had the pleasure to meet. That and their cooking skills are beyond immaculate."
"That I can understand princess, It's just the name that strikes me as odd."
"Oh? What name can we call you then?"
"Aiden, Aiden Mass."
"Sounds odd to me." She stated with a playful smile tugging at her lips.
"Fair enough princess. I guess that'll hafta' be marked up to a cultural difference."
"Speaking of which tell me more of your kind and your culture."
"Oh boy, you might wanna' grab a chair or something and get comfy, this is gonna' take a while."
"I've got time, doctor don't you have other patients to see?"
The doctor snaps out of whatever thought coma he was in, "Oh! Yes of course, come along nurse. Farewell princess, and to you Mr. Mass."
"See ya' doc. Now where do I even begin?"