Sunshine

Sunshine

A My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction

By Gen

DISCLAIMER: This is a non-profit fanbased work of prose. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is the property of Hasbro, and the reinvention of Lauren Faust. No copyright infringement is intended, please support the official release

"WHAT DID YOU SAY!?"

That was it. That was all that I was going to take. Granted that this probably wasn't the most physically damaging, but all of the stress that had built up throughout the course of this entire messed up ordeal of a day had finally bubbled and frothed to the point of escaping its' confinement.

My eyes had widened almost enough to completely reveal the ocular organs within my skull. Fists clinched themselves tightly as their arms stiffly pointed their knuckles downward to the floor. Not to mention my slacking jaw that had opened only enough for one to somewhat see the contents within my mouth. Within the following silence, I could feel a drop of sweat sliding down my face.

This was probably the worst news that I could have been told.

Twilight Sparkle had taken a step back upon my frantic outburst. Her head recoiled back somewhat from the yell, but her neck kept it upon her body easily. The book she had once levitated was now lifelessly sprawled open on the floor. The booming thud had barely been heard over the echoing volume I used. All this time that the two of us stood still, our gaze didn't leave each others' direction. We just stood there; staring at one another with our own unique panicked expressions.

My shout had already done more to draw attention from the remaining members of my party while they either stood still or watched me with the utmost anxiety. Making sure to keep a close eye on me for the moment, Applejack slowly made her way next to me in case I did something I might regret later. Making sure that I didn't do anything potentially harmful to her or her friends, Applejack was ready to strike if the moment called for it. A single flinch that she spotted in my posture caused the Earth Pony to let up however.

I hung my head low now as I could feel any anger, depression, and despair fade from reality, only to be replaced with sadness and confusion as my shoulders began to sag downward. Giving the floorboards a solemn shake of my head, I begun to be uncertain if there was anything to do now.

"No, no, no... This can't be right."

The last ounce of hope that I had for getting home was now reduced to nothing. My right hand covered it's side of my face as I fought back the urge of a mental break down. "This can't be right. This is just a nightmare, and I'm going to wake up any time now." Denial had already begun to set in before falling to my own knees. I shook my head, not wanting to realize the possible truth. "How can humans not exist? I exist, so how the hell could any of that be true?" The on-looking ponies near me watched, knowing that there might not have been anything that could have been done to console me.

I felt broken. Like everything that happened today, and all the effort that I put into getting home was all for nothing. It was like my life was slipping away from me. What was going to happen now? What would happen back home? What about my family? What about them?

With minor hesitation to her approach, Twilight took a step toward me in attempt to reason with me. The familiar, soft clopping of hooves on wood came to my ears. I knew when she had been in front of me by the time a hoof placed itself on my shoulder.

"Jacob, I'm sorry." Twilight paused, not knowing exactly was was to be said to comfort me. "I thought that it would help if you knew what we did about humans, but it seems that it hasn't shown you any kindness."

There was nothing kind about this. To find out that ones' own existence was false was not kind; it was devastating.

What could be done about that now though? Not like anything could be done. Any urge to fight on toward a way home had already drained from my system. All that I could do now was sit on my knees and stare at the floor. "Please, just send me home." This pitiful plea seemed to shed light on what had been unfolding before her. By now, Applejack had come to see what was happening as the country pony looked upon me solemnly. Even if suspicion said to them that I was some sort of monster about to go ona rampage, I was the exact opposite. I was just a poor soul who was lost and afraid.

Saddened to see such a sight, Twilight watched me stare down at the floor as if it could hold answers for me. Looking upstairs warily, Twilight pondered to herself whether anything could have been done to help me at all. At this point, anything probably would help. Twilight showed a hint of doubt at the doorway, but eventually seemed convinced to try whatever she had been planning.

The lavender unicorn looked back at me with a smile to try and comfort me, but I dared not look up from the floor. "Well, there could be something up in my room. It's an older book of for more complicated folk tales. I believe that there is chapter over human mythology." I felt Twilight take her hoof off of my shoulder. "I can go get it, but it will take a while. I'm not sure where I placed it last." Twilight showed pity for me for what possible tragedy I could have been swept up into. Lost, troubled, and who knows just how far away from home; Twilight felt somewhat blessed that she wouldn't be put into that position any time soon. Slowly turning on her hooves, Twilight turned to the remainder of the ponies in the room.

"Girls, I'm going to head upstairs. Jacob will have to stay down here, so would it be possible to watch him while I'm gone?"

Hanging her stetson over her chest, Applejack watched me sitting lifelessly on the floor. Donning it once more she gave a soft nod. "Yeah, that might be for the best." It seemed the others shared the feeling. At least with some confidence that I would be safe in her absence, Twilight gave me one last look. She was about to say something to me, but it seemed that the words escaped her as Twilights' mouth closed before a single word came out. At the first step up the stairs, Twilight seemed to have found the courage to speak once more. She looked at her friends before continuing up.

"I know that it's a lot to ask, but it would be best if Jacob wasn't alone right now. I fear that this may have been too much for him to handle, and leaving him alone wouldn't be the wisest thing to do. Try and help him relax. There's a sofa in the basement, so try and see if you can get him to calm down before I get back."

Twilight was right. I needed to keep my wits about me, but how would something like that be possible after learning what I had? I was in a strange land with no ensured way of getting home. How could I possibly relax after knowing this? I could only wonder as the sound of a shutting door came from the top of the staircase.

"Whoa... That escalated quickly."

Almost as if Twilight Sparkles' absense was a signal to begin conversing, Rainbow let out a long exhale. Any chance of a awkward silence had now been broken by the rainbow pony, and I was more than thankful for that. Allowing myself to sit cross-legged, I leaned backward a little to stare at the ceiling while using my spare arm to prop myself up. I said nothing. Did nothing. Thought nothing. "Hey, are you gonna be alright, Baker-Boy?" I continued to stare at the ceiling, slowly blinking.

"Yeah... No... I don't know." The correct answer escaped me. "I guess that was just too much to take in for one person."

Only now did my right hand finally fall from my face. Not far from me, Fluttershy sat quietly on the floor; my angered outburst had brought on a jump from the little pegasus, but nothing else besides a fearful look. By now, that expression had more than faded when seeing how distraught I had become. Although it was true that she couldn't feel my pain, she knew that what I had been feeling must have been excruciating on some level.

Standing up, Fluttershy stayed where she was for a second before slowly walking to my side. Having yet to notice her, I was too caught up in my own empty-minded-ness to hear her getting closer. Only when she spoke beside me, was I finally able to finally notice her. I could feel Fluttershy lightly nudging against my shoulder to grab my attention. "Jacob, what's wrong? Twilight didn't mean to say anything rude, I'm sure." I wish that it was that simple. To blame how I felt on what Twilight said. No matter how badly I could have wanted to, it just wasn't possible.

"No, it's not that."

The truths of this world had begun to crash down upon me in an almost suffocating manner. It had become difficult for me to collect any of my bearings. All attempts to remain in a constant calm state had all been in vain. I tried to look at Fluttershy without seeming saddened, but even that was impossible. Still, no matter just how confused I was, there was one thing that I knew for sure.

"It just seems that I was right all along."

My comment had stunned Fluttershy from what I could tell, but I only took this as a time to sit up straight once more. A strict moment of silence passed before I could feel Fluttershy leaning against me. One of her wings stretched over my back until it wrapped around my furthest shoulder. For some reason, the action made me feel a little better.

In a quiet mumble, Fluttershy looked down at the ground. Once more, the timid pegasus fiddled with her hooves when letting her eyes trail back up to me. "You said that your' mom always said that hugs could make anything better, right?" There was a thought in the back of my mind denying that my own mothers statement was wrong, but a growing warm sensation in my gut told me that thought was wrong. Thanks to this feeling I wasn't sad anymore, but left a little confused. All that I could do was sit there and listen as Fluttershy continued with what she had to say. "If it makes you feel any better, I'm glad that your' here." She lifted her head up at me with a smile before looking down at the floor, saddened.

"I know that sounds selfish of me, but I really am. I don't know where you're from, but you are still the nicest pony... or, um... person that I've ever met. You're so forgiving and friendly. You have such a good sense of humor and you're a very a good listener." Fluttershy paused before continuing. "You even carried me when I fainted. I know that it sounds dumb, but that was one of the few kindest things that anypony had ever done for me. You even let me speak whenever you met Pinkie Pie. It felt so strange that you would go out of your' way to just let me talk, but at the same time I really liked it. No-pony would have done something like that for me, and I'm just glad that it happened."

My hands had clasped together tightly while Fluttershy spoke of how kind of a person that I was. It actually sounded like she didn't want me to leave at all. For a moment, it felt like I thought the same thing. Looking down at my hands, I couldn't help my notice their trembling as they held each other tightly.

"You're not selfish." I released a silent laugh as a soft smile formed on my lips. "If anything, you and your' friends are one of the only good things that have happened to me lately."

Shaking my head slowly, I couldn't help but notice that an unchangeable, calm smile had already appeared on my face. Something about what Fluttershy told me just made everything feel like this wasn't as terrible as it seemed. Taking in a rough breath in through my nose, I tried to remain calm. "What a messed-up day this has been." I had to run a hand through my hair to really be able to recollect any thoughts about what all happened over the duration of the past few hours. If anything, a day like today shouldn't have even been able to exist... Yet, neither was I, apparently.

FWEEEEEEEET!!!

The noise of a party blower rang directly in my ear as Fluttershy and I fell back from our own shock. Barely even a couple feet from me, Pinkie bounced up and down with a joyous smile on her face. "I knew that would work! I just knew it!" Donning a pointed, polka-dotted party hat on the top of her puffy mane, Pinkie grinned a toothy grin. Switching between two hooves to stand on, Pinkie bit down on the mouthpiece of her party blower feeling rather accomplished for her actions.

Sitting up in a huff, Fluttershy had been so terrified that she clung to my arm like crazy glue. I had to twist a pinkie in my ear just so that I could hear properly. Shooting a glare at the party pony, I couldn't help but feel mildly annoyed. Yanking the pinkie from my ear, I switched fingers with my hand to point an accusing finger at the pony. "Pinkie, what in Great Greens are you doing?" Pinkie showed no remorse for her actions as she giggled to herself, triumphantly.

"Not sad anymore, are you?"

Catching me more than off guard with this, I could feel my pointed finger beginning to slack a little as it slowly just flopped downward to point at the floor. Being left at a loss, I wasn't quite sure what to think about what all had been happening. I actually had to take a moment and try to understand the logic behind these actions. "Well, no but-" Seeming to be enough for Pinkie, the pink pony shoved a hoof in my face to silence me.

"Mission accomplished! Next on the agenda! Jokes!"

Jokes?

Fluttershy had begun to loosen her grip on me by the time that Pinkie lowered her hoof from my face. There now being a small imprint of a hoof-print on my face which vanished upon the hoofs removal. The small stinging sensation had been ignored however as I arched a brow to watch Pinkie clear her throat with a dignified and sophisticated posture, only for it to become wild and crazy one barely even a second later. "How do you crack an egg?" Pressing her face close to mine, I had to pull my head back to Fluttershy as the two of us blankly watched Pinkie pull herself back to give the punch-line. "Tell it a good yolk." Pinkie giggled and snorted at her own punchline before looking to see that neither I nor Fluttershy had begun to laugh. "Darn-" Sitting on her haunches, Pinkie patted one hoof onto the other. "-Looks like I gotta use the really good material." She rubbed a hoof under her chin in a strange sort of way to think, but her eyes twinkled before letting out an excited gasp. "Oooo, Yeah; I'll use that one!" With that, Pinkie jumped back from us a few steps before starting her next joke.

"So there were two muffins in an oven. The first one leans over to the second and says, 'Man, it sure is hot in here!'. The second one looked shocked and screamed, 'Holy moley, a talking muffin!!'"

Okay, that one made me laugh a little. When the first laugh left my lips, Pinkie followed her jokes up with one last one-liner as she slunk to my side. "What's the matter Jake, do you find me 'punny'?" A wide smile on her face, Pinkie found joy in my laughter.

How crazy could one little pony be? It was like Pinkie was permanantly on some sort of sugar-rush. Not that it wasn't fun to watch Pinkie do all of this; it really was, but there was something that I just couldn't peice together about it. "Yes, Pinkie. You're very punny." I spoke with a laugh. "Why would you go through all of this just to tell a few jokes though?" Pinkie now stood in front of me with a pridefully comical stature. The moment she pressed her hoof against my nose, Pinkie laughed after giving a single 'boop'.

"Ha-ha, because Doctor Pinkie Pie knows exactly how to cure a bad case of the grumpies."

Hm, I guess that she does.

The topic still lingering in the room somewhere within its' shadows, it was inevitable that it would be brought up once more. I just expected that I would be the one to bring it up, instead of Dash. The cyan pegasus didn't seem too enthused about getting back to the topic, but it was much too vital at the moment. "Not that I want to break up the good feelings, but what do we do now?" The subject did seem to turn quite a bit of attention towards finding an answer to that question, but I was the only one that spoke my mind on the matter.

Pushing myself to my feet, I tried my best not to sound ungrateful about what I was about to say. It would be a difficult task to say the least. "Much as I hate to say, it might be best that this be the time I go on alone." Yeesh, even I didn't like how that sounded. My mouth formed a wriggled 'S' shape as I could feel my bandages when scratching the back of my neck. Taking one good look at the ponies around me had let me know their confusion about my suggestion. "Listen, I know that this has been fun. It's been the most enjoyable experience that I've ever had just to spend a portion of a day with you all." I smiled at them all to try and make this not seem as bad as it really was. I could hear Pinkie let out a 'daww' like my words had tugged at a heartstring or two. I was going to hate myself for saying this later. "I've pulled you all from your' own lives, and I don't want to be the one getting in the way of what you all have planned to do today. So it may just be best that this be where I part ways with all of you since..." My mind blanked almost as if I didn't even want to think of a reason for leaving this little group of ponies.

"Sorry Jake, but Ah don't think that we'll take ya up on that offer."

I blinked once or twice to confirm what I had been hearing. A subconcious need to tilt my head had been fufilled as I tried to understand the logic behind all of this... Well, until Applejack was able to shed some light on the subject. "Don't get us wrong, Jake; we get where yer comin' from on this. Yer afraid, but if anypony can help you it's Twilight. You'll just have to sit this out with us until she can find out what the problem is." You couldn't debate well with that kind of logic. Not unless you were a politician. Seeing how the others completely agreed with Applejack, I knew that my idea had vanished like it never existed.

"Now, how 'bout we go grab that sofa from down in the basement? Ah hear that Twi bought a big one not too long ago while in Canterlot."

The sofa from the basement that Twilight had been talking about was a round, 'C' shaped couch that stretched around a good sum of the table that sat in the center of the library foyer. It was a soft, purple color that only caused me to suspect that these ponies only bought funiture like this if it matched their own coat color. Well, granted it was quite a few shades darker than Twilights' fur had been, but I think you get what I'm saying.

All sitting around the library table, me and the girls had begun conversing with one another while awaiting Twilight Sparkles' return. Quite a few subjects passed around the sofa that day. Some that I wish to never repeat. Never again. Some others, I wouldn't mind speaking about. Like the last subject about the topic of illiteracy between me and Fluttershy. There is no possible way to explain how this talk got to the point that it had been at now, so it would just be best to drop you in right in the middle. Trust me, it will make better sense that way.

Here I was, staring down into a book that I couldn't read anything about. No, that doesn't mean that I was too stupid to know what letters were. I mean that this wasn't some rinky-dink human alphabet. These letters were lines, and dots. Some just looked like squiggly lines.

Beside me had been Fluttershy, looking into the book in my lap that had been oh-so-carfully placed there. Holding onto one of my arms, Fluttershy read the page to herself as I struggled to comprehend what it was saying. The little pegasus had been more than clingy ever since we all went to get the sofa from the basement. Her eyes moved from left to right while easily decoding this strange jibber-jabber that I could only suppose was a written language. "This... This is embarrassing." How was I supposed to tell these girls that I couldn't read a lick of this?

H-hey! Don't you laugh at me! This was like an alien language to me. Actually, this really was an alien language to me.

Picking her head up to look at me, Fluttershy could easily spot that I had been having trouble with something about this, but couldn't exactly tell what it was. When she leaned closer against my body it was inevitable that a little pink blush tinted my cheeks. "Is something wrong, Jacob? You seem to be distressed." Yeah, I wasn't really sure how to explain this one. How could you tell someone that you couldn't read? Oh, how embarrassing this was.

Before adjusting my glasses with a hint of nervousness, I tried to calm the mysterious pounding in my chest that had only occured when Fluttershy began to lean on me. I couldn't understand the reason for the light squeezing in my chest, but it was probably best not to focus on this right now. There were more troubling things happening right now... Like explaining that you were completely illiterate to someones' language. "Well, you see..." My throat dried up before I could continue. "The thing is..." A silly, fake smile worked its' way onto my face while I struggled to say this.

"I can't..."

"...Really..."

"...Read this."

Out of all of the ways to have taken this, Fluttershy understood exactly what I had been getting at. It wasn't that she suspected that I didn't like the book. Nor was it that she thought that something had been bothering me to the point of being unable to read. Nope, she got it right on the money. At first, I could see that Fluttershy thought this was some sort of joke when she sat up; giggling a little before seeing how the laughs brought on a form of verbal withdrawal on my part. Realizing what I said was indeed truthful, she stopped short a laugh before folding her ears back a little surprised. "O-oh my, I'm sorry. I didn't think that you were serious." There was nothing that I could really say to try and defend myself on the subject. I just looked away before realizing how lucky I was for the two of us speaking so quietly. We hadn't even made a dent in the conversation that the others had been having. I believe it was something about Pinkie being able to fit fifty marshmallows in her mouth and still speak fluently.

Closing the book, I placed both hands on the top of its' hard cover. My fingers tapped against it lightly enough to not grab anyones' attention. The burden of self-conscious had begun to bare weight on my shoulders. "It's not like I can't read. I just can't read how you do." Couldn't really seem to break through to Fluttershy with this wording. Not like I expected it to be that easy, but I figured that I could at least try and give a better understanding.

On the table, I couldn't help but notice a well of ink with a quill sticking out of the top. Beside it had been a loose piece of parchment. With everything that was scattered about on the tabletop, I was surprised that one would be able to find anything. I hadn't ever used writing tools like these before, but it was worth a shot. So scooting close to the edge of the sofa, I took the piece of parchment and brought the ink closer to me.

"Um, maybe this could use an example. Please come closer so I can explain."

Doing as asked, Fluttershy moved closer to the edge of the sofa to watch what I had been doing. I dabbed the quill in the ink well a couple of times before taking it out and over the paper. A couple black blots stained the parchment before I began writing, but when I did it brought some interest from Fluttershy. "Alright, I'm going to spell something simple while using my alphabet. I'll make it something simple, if that's alright with you." The quill drug itself across the top of the paper as my hand guided it along the way. I had to dip the quill between letters, but it turned out that using this was easy. Pretty soon, I had a sloppily written word chicken-scratched onto the paper for Fluttershy to see.

'DOG'

That's what it said. Just 'Dog'. Plain and simple.

Fluttershy looked down at the word with befuddlement in the same way that I had looked a few moments ago. A hoof placed over her mouth, it was like Fluttershy was wondering just what kind of strange language this was. "My, it is quite different from ours." She leaned her head in a little bit closer to get a better look at the scribbling before returning any attention back to me. "What does it say?" Just the look of curiosity she showed me made me feel at least somewhat better about not understanding their written language.

I made sure to place the quill back into the inkwell that it came from before picking up the piece of paper and handing it to Fluttershy. She took it in an open hoof to study it for a moment, almost like it was a completely new element in society. "That's how we spell 'dog' where I'm from." I could see that this had been an easier way to explain this already.

"Okay everypony, I've found the book."

I had hardly even come to notice Twilight entering the room once more; let alone with a huge, dusty, dictionary-like book. Just the thickness of it this collection of paper frightened somewhat.

Trotting down the steps with the book being held by means of magic, Twilight made herself feel at home when sitting on the edge of the sofa directly beside me. This didn't stop Pinkie from trying to climb over everyone just to get a good look at the book though. "Ooo, that's a huge book!" At the time, Pinkie had been both standing on Fluttershys' head and using mine as a sort of counter-balance to prevent herself from falling. "I don't think I've seen that book around here, Twilight. It's all old, and nifty!" Pinkie Pie leaned down to get a better look at the book while using Fluttershy and myself like a couple of rocks to lean on.

"Ahem."

My rough voice came as a surprise to Pinkie when she looked down to see what her actions had done. Once more, a mild annoyance built up inside of me before the pink pony carefully stepped down off of us and back to her spot with a nervous chuckle.

"Oh, sorry about that."

The book Twilight had was a large blue book with a golden emblem baring some resemblance to the Trojan ornament in the center of the table we sat at. I could only guess that it was a hint that this book may have been older than all seven of us combined, though the cobwebs inside the first page got that hint across quite well too. No wonder Twilight needed time finding this thing. It must have been locked away or lost somewhere.

"Oh, that layer of dust must have a generation all its' own!"

Rarity nearly bolted to the opposite end of the sofa while treating the book as if it carried the plague. You could only expect that from a froufrou kind of girl like Rarity. The sight of that dust terrified the mare when thinking about it coming in contact with her. This drama being something that caused Applejack to snort from her nostrils with frustration.

"Consarn it, Rarity. A little dirt never hurt nothin'."

The fashionista seemed pretty dead-set in her ways as Applejack rolled her eyes before looking back to Twilight from the middle seat of the sofa. "So Twi, you got something that could help Jake with his problem?" A little bit closer to Rarity than Applejack was, Rainbow was lounging on one of the seat cushions on this furniture rather calmly. Not seeming to care, all that seemed to matter to this mare was her relaxation.

Rainbow let out a long yawn while stretching her wings and legs out in every direction. A light popping sounded from her back when working any kinks from her system. "Yeah, let's try to wrap this up. I have to clear the skies in half an hour, so let's get Baker-Boy on his merry little way back home." Wasn't she just being sweet as vinegar? None-the-less, Rainbow had a point. I needed to get home no matter what.

Some frustration of her own coming to fruition, Twilight cleared a place on her table before placing the book down with a heavy 'whump' of a noise. Twilight was able to shrug off any frustrations with Rainbow, but did still give her a look to express her mild discontent with her friends' partially rude behavior. "Rainbow, I think that this might be a little more important than clearing the skies." As some sort of retort, Twilight snidely smirked at the rainbow pegasus. "Besides, when are you ever on time?" Her eyes shooting open wide in shock, Rainbow quietly laid on the sofa without a single word.

Aside from the large amounts of dust stored up in the book, I could clearly see letters that even differed from the ones in the book Fluttershy and I had been staring into. They were more of a bulky text, but still text. Feeling a stress only similar to not paying attention during a reading lecture in a fourth grade literature class, it was becoming more and more evident on how screwed I really was to getting back home.

"I know how badly you wish to return home, Jacob. It's for this reason that I was wondering if you would like to read from the book yourself."

You remember that metaphor about not paying attention in fourth grade from just a second ago? Yeah? Well, now add the same amount of embarrassment you get when the teacher calls you out to read! With the book levitating in front of my face, I swallowed hard when looking at the blocky text inside of the book. I could feel my eyes straining to try and squeeze whatever information they could try and decipher this code with. Eventually, all attempts only wound up in failure.

Aside from the thumb and pointer finger squeezing the bridge of my nose, I could feel both of my eyes straining behind closed lids. Just trying to comprehend meaning behind this text hurt my brain! Not only was I incapable of reading this language, but now I was put on the spot to read aloud from one of these books.

The thought of pretending to read the book blew across my mind, but lying never solved anything. I would just be digging myself into an even bigger hole that I couldn't crawl out of. It would be better if I just came out with it, and told the truth. So thinking up my next words carefully, I tried my best to not sound like a complete idiot.

"I... Can't really read this..."

I awaited the ridicule from these ponies as the book only glided back to Twilight. The unicorn made herself comfortable where she laid before pulling the dusty book away from me and plunging her fullest attention into it.

"Oh, that's fine. I just wanted to see if humans could understand ancient Equestrian hieroglyphs. It was worth a shot."

They had even more languages!? They weren't all just squiggly lines!? This news was heaven-shaking to me. With a dropped jaw, I had to manually press my mandible back up before even expressing my disbelief. "H-hieroglyphs; you can read hieroglyphs!?" Just who was this little pony!? The recoil that this had sent me in was almost alarming to all those except Twilight, who had been flipping through her book.

"Of course I can. Ancient Equestrian culture is so rich in knowledge and insight that I can't resist in knowing about it."

It did sound kind of interesting.

"Book of Equestrian Mythology
Chapter Four-hundred and fifty-three:
Humans."

I won't lie to you, wondering what kind of information could be locked away in those dusty pages did perk my interest. As soon as Twilight narrowed her vision to the pages in front of her, I couldn't help but feel a negitive foreboding beginning to form.

"That's odd, it says that humans are supposedly a global threat."

Barely a second of silence from these ponies went by before they began to laugh at the mention of this. They all seemed as if they were casting this aside as fiction, if anything. "Oh, that's rich, Twilight!" Rainbow held her gut. The rainbow pegasus had been laughing so hard that she was only able to look through one squinting eye. "Next I bet you'll say that they can fly without wings!" Seeing how even Fluttershy was laughing, it was hard to tell if I was being made fun of. All that I had to do was make sure to not let any of this mocking laughter bother me.

Twilight had been wiping her eyes, only being able to talk with a giggle squeezed between the beginning of some sentences. The laughter not yet dying down, I guess that it was luck that Twilight could even feel as if she could get a word across edge-wise. "I'm very sorry Jacob, but it is a little difficult to see something like you as a threat." I don't know why, but hearing this bothered me. Not because I wanted to be a threat, but because it felt like I was being dismissed as something insignificant. I couldn't act like this bothered me though. I had to stay focused. There was no point in focusing on such menial feelings. They were useless.

"Feh, if you all want to look like jerks, then that's fine with me."

Choosing to try and look macho, I crossed my arms as I began to lean back onto the sofa. I shot a breath of air from my open mouth to sigh as I continued to listen to a the laughter that surrounded me. My comment had not even done anything to phase these girls. A part of me felt as if they thought it was a joke, but another felt like they didn't care. Well, maybe I thought they didn't care until I could feel a shove coming from Dash.

The pegasus had taken the liberty of climbing over Applejack and Pinkie just to playfully bump me into Fluttershy. Teasingly, Dash chuckled before trying to get back to lazily reclining . "Don't get so defensive, Baker-Boy!" Dash planted herself on the sofa with her fore hooves behind her head. "The book said it, not us." Maybe so, but it wasn't the book that laughed at me.

"Okay, okay, let's not get out of hoof. We've gotten our laughs out of the way, so let us continue."

Even if some of these ponies didn't stop their laughing, Twilight was right. "Let's see, humans are said to be-..." When Twilight trailed off, I uncrossed my arms and sat back upward to listen closely to what was being read.

Twilights' eyes shot open wide, and her lavender shade began to pale when I first saw her staring into that book. The lavender magic around the book faded in and out of existence before the chunk of paper and knowledge fell to the table top, and silencing any remaining laughter within the library.

What was going on? Was something wrong? My vision had followed the book as it had fallen and hit the table, successfully squishing a couple rolled-up pieces of paper that were unfortunate enough to be underneath its' weight. Concern had been what drove me to see what could have possessed Twilight to have dropped the book like she had.

About the time that I looked back at Twilight, she was steadily getting off the sofa; all the while, not letting her gaze leave where I sat. Twilights' widened eyes opened as far as they possibly could while their irises shrunk to a fraction of their usual size. The cautious maneuvers Twilight made were worrying. It made me wonder just what Twilight read in that book. Whatever it was though, it must have been devestating.

"Twilight, is everythin' alright? Ya look pale as a sheet."

Twilight didn't reply. All she did was get off the sofa and take a few steps back from us. No, not from us; from me. Becoming wildly suspicious of these actions, Applejack made her way off the couch before trying to see what had put Twilight in such a state. When close, the farm pony placed a hoof on Twilight. "C'mon Twilight, yer startin' ta scare everypony." No reaction. Only those long, fearful stares pointed in my direction.

Bouncing over the table, Pinkie stood in front of Twilight to try and snap her friend out of her current state of being. Seeing how Pinkie made an even greater mess of what had been on the table, I could imagine that if Twilight wasn't in this strange trance, she may have given Pinkie a good piece of her mind. Not even when Pinkie landed right in front Twilight did the unicorn seem phased though. "Hey Twilight, what's with all the staring?" When there was no reply, Pinkie arched a brow before waving a hoof in front of the unicorns' face in some sort of last attempt to grab Twilights' attention. "Hello, Anypony home? He-llo~?" Becoming even difficult for Pinkie to draw a reaction, the pink pony placed the same hoof on her chin. This was perplexing to say the least.

The thought of assisting the others to try and assist Twilight had brushed past my mind. Maybe there was something that I could do to help? "Hold on, I think she's in a state of shock." Scooting around the table and off the couch, the moment that I stood up Twilight took a step back from me. It was almost like she had considered fleeing at that very moment.

Just seeing how Twilight backed away from me brought on a feeling of dismay. Since Twilight didn't quite seem comfortable to have me around at the moment, I could only guess that I needed to sit this one out for her sake. Doing just that, I planted myself back on the sofa while most of the other ponies left their cushions to attempt and aid their friend. Rainbow had been the only remaining while she looked on at what stood before us with shock. I could tell that Dash wanted to help, but wasn't sure how to do so.

Applejack had already stepped up her game with trying to figure out what Twilight could have possibly read to have brought on this dramatic state. Rarity was busy fetching a blanket while Pinkie had gone to what I could only guess to be the kitchen, and Fluttershy was busy trying to comfort Twilight. Only about the time that Pinkie and Rarity came back with a mug of hot chocolate and a blanket did I turn to Rainbow about all of this. Maybe she could have some answers?

Rainbow had been even more worried than I had been. Just like me, the only reason she stayed on the couch was due to our cluelessness about what could have been done about any of this. I could see that she wanted to help, but didn't know how. "Hey, is she going to be alright? Just what did Twilight read, anyway?" Dash looked at me for a moment as if to try and guess what could have happened. She was just as in the dark as I was.

"Beats me; Twilight's the only one that can read that squiggly mumbo-jumbo."

Twilights stare had already started burning into me during the time I had been speaking with Dash. I didn't want to look back at her, but it was going to be an inevitability. When I did, the same fear was all that could be seen.

Clasping her fore hooves on Twilights face, Applejack pulled Twilight to look directly at her. Having to use a new strategy, the earth pony attempted to force her friend to look her in the eyes. Even then, Twilight stared at me through her peripherals. "Twi, we gotta know jus' what ya read from that there book!" The pressuring had seemed to bring on some sort of responce by how Twilight now looked to Applejack. "Twi, what did ya read? Ya have to tell us now!!" Applejacks' stern voice seemed to have finally broken through as Twilight began speaking in stammering sentences.

"I-I have-"

Struggling out of Applejacks' grip, Twilight broke free before bolting out of the room and upstairs. "I have to alert the Princess!" Galloping at full speed up the stairs, Twilight slammed the door behind her when reaching the door-frame at the top of the staircase. It couldn't get any more foreboding than this. Not even a few seconds in to reading this book, and something like this happened. This couldn't have been good news.

Whatever reason that Twilight could have had for leaving in such a hurry concerned us. What could Twilight have read to bring on such a reaction? All of us were left to wonder and guess what could have possibly driven Twilight to such actions when left standing alone in the room.

We no longer sat on the couch. We didn't feel comfortable enough to sit anymore.

The girls had been speaking with each other in one part of the foyer while I was left by my lonesome. I preferred it this way, it gave me time to think. No matter how hard I tried though, no answers came to the questions lurking around my mind at the time.

A light creaking of the upstairs door caused every last one of us to turn our heads upstairs to the doorway in hope of any good news. What we saw wasn't the most promising of sights.

Twilight had exited from the upstairs room, but close behind her was Spike. I don't know why, but both of them looked as if they had been beaten and thrown in a burlap sack. In Spikes hand was a rolled up piece of paper with a red ribbon wrapped around it. A distinct seal of a sun was pressed upon the ribbon, but I tried not to pay too much attention to detail right now.

As the pair climbed down from the stairway, they did their best to avoid eye contact with me. Just what happened up there? I could only watch in silence as the two reached the bottom of the stairwell and approaching me.

A guilt-ridden look had been carried by Twilight when the unicorn and dragon stood in front of me. Spike, whom had been hiding behind Twilights back leg, slowly stepped out from behind her to get closer to me. His claw trembling when holding out the piece of paper, I could see that Spike was doing his best to try and keep distance between us even as he drew closer.

"The... Princess... Sent you this..."

I wasn't sure even if I wanted to take this letter from Spike by how the poor kid was acting. He was so vibrant and confident before, but now he was cowering at the sight of me. Reaching down at the little dragon to take the letter, he flinched and caused me to pull my arm back abruptly. What on earth could it have been that made Spike so fearful of me? I could only guess that the answer was located within that rolled up piece of paper. Continuing to reach onward before softly taking the paper from Spike, I made sure to reach for the paper slowly. My action alone seemed too much for the kid as the moment I took the letter from him, Spike bolted upstairs and slammed the door behind him.

"Don't hurt me!!!"

Spikes' shriek caused me to pull the piece of paper to my chest out of sheer recoil. My hands couldn't help but tighten against the letter when hearing what Spike had to say. Hurt him? Why on earth would I do that to such a nice little guy like him? Trying to understand any of this, I looked around at the other ponies around me to see that they shared the same reaction as mine.

Looking back at the rolled up paper in my hand, I untied the ribbon before unrolling the paper to reveal the message inside. Doing so, it wasn't long until Twilight interjected to my actions. "Princess Celestia thought that this language may have been best to communicate with you." I looked to Twilight for a moment to see her sorrowfully looking my way. There was a sort of regret in her.

Looking back at the letter, I kept to myself as I read its' contents. Surprisingly, what had been written on these pages were clearly the english language. How this was possible perplexed me while I tried to continue reading this.

Twilight,

Thank you for bringing my attention to this situation. In times such as these, it is always important to remember that panicking is always the last thing that needs to be done. For the time being, I will be coming down to your' home to handle this. In the meantime, give the human this. It is urgent that you do so.

I will be using this written language to properly speak in secret with the human. For this reason, I advise that you do not read any further than this point.

Going on to read, my eyes were glued on the page.

Attention Human,

I have become fully aware of your presence in Equestria. Although it seems that you are peaceful, more drastic steps will need to be taken. Your race is destructive and manipulative, but can also be trustworthy and loving. This being said, it must be determined just what kind of human that you could be. I know that humans can hide so much about their true selves that it becomes difficult for even themselves to bare witness to their true nature.

My faithful student, Twilight Sparkle has informed me on your location, so you are soon going to be taken into custody. I have a desire to create a safe world for my little ponies, so if there is any chance that you could bring harm to them I will not hesitate with terminating your' existance. You will be given a fair trial, but if found guilty of being a deceptive and manipulative human, you will be executed. For this reason, I will be preparing a set of tests for you to take so that I may conclude what will need to be done with you.

I warn you now, human. Do not try to run. We know where you are, and we will find you no matter where you may flee to. Make it easier on those around you and give-in peacefully.

I could not help but feel a little taken back by this news, myself.

Was this for real? I was getting arrested?

Holding the letter in my hands, I kept my cool while rolling the paper back up with a sigh. With closed eyes, I did my best to contain any disbeleif. Someone like me was going to jail. Someone that had never committed a single crime in his entire life was going to jail.

"How long?"

Even if I was not directly facing anyone, Twilight knew that I was addressing her directly. Twilight didn't seem willing to answer at first, but when she did it sounded like she had possibly made a grave mistake. "Soon; A few minutes, at most." So much for going home. Right about now I could hear the others approaching. I hoped that the girls wouldn't be too saddened to see me leave.

Taking a breath as I opened my eyes, I walked past Twilight and went to sit at the corner of her sofa; paper in hand. I rested my face into my hands the second I sat down. Just what kind of mess I had been thrown into was unknown to me, but it was happening whether I liked it or not.

Soon being greeted by Pinkie jumping on my back, the first thing she noticed was the blank stare I had that peered into nothingness. I knew she was just trying to cheer me up, but I feared that this time there was no cure for my atitude. "Hey come on Mister Frowny-wownie, cheer up!" When her laughter didn't even bring a reaction from this, Pinkie did begin to show some signs of suspicion. Standing on the cushions now, the pink pony leaned on my back as her fore legs wrapped themselves around my neck in a playful manner. "Don't worry about anything, Jake. Maybe we can go bake some cupcakes to make everything all better?" There was some content to Pinkie when she saw me pulling my head out of my hands. I'll admit that her cheerful attitude had some effect on me, but it wasn't much. Just enough for what I could expect to be a farewell to these ponies.

Reaching behind me, I was able to grab onto Pinkie before pulling her up and off of the sofa. As I carefully placed her on the floor, I tried to think of how to explain what was going on to Pinkie and how I needed to refuse her offer to making any baked goods. Apparently, the excited little mare thought we were really going to make those cupcakes. Her wagging tail told me everything. However, I didn't think that I would be able to. Placing a hand on Pinkies head, I could see her tongue sticking out once more in enjoyment when I scratched behind her ears.

"I'm sorry, but I don't think that will be possible, Pinkie. Your' Princess needs to see me, and I'll be gone for a while. For this reason, she's coming to take me away."

I made sure to force a smile on when saying this. in return, Pinkie returned the smile.

"Oh, that's okay. We can make them when you come back."

My smile faltered a little as I had to wipe my eyes with one of my forearms just to keep Pinkie from seeing me crying even the slightest bit. Why was I crying? I barely knew these ponies, but I was still sad that I had to leave them? What was wrong with me? Tilting her head at me, Pinkie seemed to start becoming worried, herself.

"Is something wrong?" She spoke as she tried to make a despirate bargain. "I-if you don't want to make cupcakes, we can make brownies instead. Cookies? Maybe muffins?"

I had come to shake my head at this. As much as I could have wanted to take Pinkie up on this offer, I truly couldn't. Instead, I was forced to reveal to her the harsh truth of things.

"No Pinkie... We may not be seeing each other again after this."

I could see that Pinkies' hair had begun to fall flat, strand by strand. Pressing against my hand, Pinkie had already begun pressing for answers. "W-what do you mean? You aren't coming back?" Seeming to try and find hope in this, Pinkie forced a smile as her hair completely fell flat. The poor thing even placed a hoof upon my lap as if she was desperately pleading to me. "W-we can come see you, right?" It was getting harder to handle this goodbye, but it had to be done. When I shook my head, I could see Pinkie falling into a sort of depression that I don't think that I've ever seen before. To try and make things seem better, I placed a finger on Pinkies nose.

"Sorry, Pinkie. This is super-secret chef' business."

This choked out lie felt like I was gargling vinegar, but just as long as it brought some comfort to Pinkie it was worth it. Taking Pinkies' hoof off of my lap, I tussled her mane before seeing Dash flying just a few feet away from me. Her wings flapped silently as I approached her. By the look on her face, I think she knew what was going to happen to me. In turn to her expression, I did my best to keep smiling. Giving her a playful shrug, I arched a brow to her as if unsure where to start. "Baker-Boy..." I gave the mare a cocky smirk to assure her that everything would be fine, but I don't think she believed me. Before she could say anything to me though, I held out the letter to Dash. Her shocked expression had been directed at the letter before looking up at me; her sullen state becoming all the more strong with the passing moment.

"Have Twilight read this to you all after I leave. Make sure not to worry, alright? Everything will be fine no matter what."

Reluctantly, Dash took the letter before watching me walk away.

Not too far from me, Applejack made it her first priority to get to the bottom of this suspicious behavior from Twilight and me. To see that it looked like I was never coming back after reading a letter brought up quite a few questions that Applejack was sure to demand an answer for. Along with her, Rarity had been thinking something similar as she wondered what could have possibly brought on such words from me. "Twi, just what the hay is goin' on here?" Twilight didn't answer. She only stared down at her hooves while her ears bent back. I had a feeling that her curiosity led Twilight to read the entire letter. Seeing that I handed the letter to Dash, Rarity looked to her friend a little lost in thought.

"I'm quite curious Darling, what did that letter say?"

Twilight turned away from the two of them before any other questions could be asked. Doing so, she turned her head to get a good look at me and those that I've already spoken to. Pinkie had now been sitting on her haunches, her hair fallen straight. A couple sniffles left the pink pony before Twilight adverted her gaze to Rainbow Dash. She was holding the letter in her arms, watching me move on with what goodbyes I had left. Twilight then looked to me. I had stopped for a moment when catching her stare through my peripherals. I could feel that there was some understanding between the reasoning behind this. Apparently, I was a little bit more of a threat than we all suspected. Twilight just wanted to keep her friends safe. I'm sure that was the reason. Knowing this, I gave her a soft smile.

"It's alright. You were scared. That's nothing to be ashamed of."

I don't know if it was just my words, but the moment Twilight heard me she bolted from the room and back upstairs. She felt guilty; anyone could see that. Thankfully, I was sure that Spike would be able to console her. He was a good kid. I could tell.
A slow sigh sounded when knowing to move on with what needed to be done. I couldn't let this bother me; there were still things to do. "Jacob, where are you going?" I already knew the soft murmur beside me came from Fluttershy. She had been standing right beside me as she tried to look me in the eyes. Even with a smile, I could not appear to be anything other than sorrowful when speaking to this little angel.

Slowly, I turned and knelt down to the mare. There wasn't any possible way that I could explain what was happening. I didn't have the heart. She would just have to wait to hear it all for herself. Instead, I embraced her in my arms once more to try and make our goodbye a short one.

"Fluttershy, thank you for everything that you've done for me. You have done so much that I will always be thankful for. You treated my wounds, saved my life, and gave me the greatest day I will ever remember." I tightened my squeeze a little around the little pegasus when I could feel her hug me back. Only after hearing a few sniffles from Fluttershy could I feel ready to continue. "You and your' friends have treated me with such kindness that I never knew existed. I know we just met today, but I feel as if I can call all of you good friends." The wetness on my shoulder let me know that it had become difficult for Fluttershy to see me go. Within my thoughts, I was unsure why. "For this reason, I'm sorry that I might not ever be able to repay what you all have done for me this day. For that, I am ashamed."

I released my hold on Fluttershy as I began to stand once more. The yellow pegasi kept her grip around me a little tighter than what I would have expected, but her forelegs slid down to her after a couple of seconds. By the teary-eyed look on her face, I knew she was confused. It was better this way.

A light knocking then sounded from the door as any signs of a smile vanished from my face. Keeping a stern stature, I tried my best to keep it together for everyones' sake. Taking one last look around the foyer of the Golden Oaks Library, I looked to each individual pony that stood in the room with me. If I were to die. I would hope that I could re-live this day for the rest of eternity. Even if I could just remember the happiness these ponies made me feel, it would be worth it. To be completely honest, through the manticore chasing, fainting from exhaustion, lightening strikes, and crazy ponies... This had to of been the best day of my life by-far. Letting out a soft laugh, I tried to at least leave on good words.

"If this really is the last time that we shall meet, I want to wish you all luck in the future. I hope that all of you fulfill your dreams to the fullest." Starting towards the door, I caught myself to speak one more thing. "Also, tell Twilight 'no hard feelings', alright?"

There was nothing said when I turned around to face the door. My new black shoes tapped against the floor in the quiet while I made my way to the exit. I couldn't help but place my flattened hand upon the door to ponder to myself. My palm rested against the door only long enough for me to dismiss any troubling thoughts so that it could slide down to the handle and open the door. I made sure to remember to duck so that I did not bump my head. Halfway through the doorway though, I turned my head back to everyone. They looked sad to see me go. Preferring to not let them worry, I gave them all one final thumbs-up.

"Hey, don't sweat it. Everything will be fine."

Stepping outside, I made sure to close the door behind me before letting out a soft breath while facing the wooden entrance. I stared at the painted candle design on the door for a moment before turning around. What I didn't realize when doing this was that someone was waiting for me to do so.

Upon turning away from the door, the first thing that came into view was a large, white horse standing in front of me. Unlike the ponies that I've seen around these parts, this one was much taller with a thinner body type. A dazzling mane and tail had been kept by this pony as it seemed to ride a windless breeze. Magenta, cerulean, turquoise, and heliotrope were all colors that shined upon the majestic mane as her coat was a spotless light gray. A thick, golden necklace and tiara were worn by this horse-like being as a single diamond shaped gem had been placed in the front of the accessories. Donning both a set of wings and a long unicorn horn, this newest pony stared at me in silence. Besides the chimera, this pony was the first life form that I've seen to be taller than me. Granted, it was only by a few inches, but I still had to lift my chin just a little to look this pony in the eye.

Around this pony stood a great number of white, bulky ponies that were adorned in golden armor. I could only guess that they were either soldiers or guards. The types of ponies that they were varied as I could see Earth Ponies, Unicorns and Pegasi within this mob of armored miniature horses. By how they held their spears toward me, I could only guess that they would turn hostile if I didn't play my cards right.

Just as I had finally taken in enough of these sights, the tall pony began to speak.

"Good evening, I am Princess Celestia." So this is the Princess? "I would take it that you are the human in question?"

Cautiously, I nodded only to bring curiosity to Celestia.

"Are you not going to run?"

Shaking my head, I gave some attention to the bandages that covered my body by using an arm to bring the princess to look upon it. "I don't think that I'm in any condition to run anywhere." Placing any jokes aside, I crossed my arms before speaking a bit coarse. "I've already said my goodbyes. It would be better for my friends if I comply, anyways." The two of us looked at each other for a moment before Celestia motioned two of her armored guards to place cuffs onto my wrists via magic. The rough metallic slap around my wrists were not comforting, but I supposed they were indeed necessary. One of these guards made sure to keep a watchful gaze upon me as the other checked the locks to see that they were nice and tight.

"Our apologies, but precautions must be taken."

At least they were polite. I nodded with a smile to show that I understood. It was just for everyones' safety that I complied. "That's quite alright. The last thing I want is someone getting hurt." The two guards acknowledged this as they guided me to a carriage that was not too far from us. It was white and regal with four larger pegasi pulling it in the same gold plated armor. I did not envy their profession.

My first step onto this carriage was frightening. Was I really submitting to the possibility that I could die soon? Yes I was, and I was okay with that. It was scary, but it wasn't like I didn't want to make sure my new friends were safe.

Speaking of friends, when turning to the library door one last time I could see them there. Just as confused as ever, I could see Dash still holding onto that letter I gave her. Looking up to the window above me, I was able to spot Twilight looking out it. I could only guess that this was the window to the room she left to.

"Are you ready to go?"

Pulling my attention away from the window, I could see that the princess was already seated beside me. Even sitting down, she was taller than I was. Not to mention that professional, yet regal personality. Returning the politeness she showed me, I looked ahead before addressing Celestia. "Yes, Ma'am." Giving one last look to my friends, I reassured them with a smile.

"Don't worry. Everything will be fine."

With that, I soon departed and left for wherever it was I was being taken.