Book 1: A New Element of Friendship

Chapters

How I Became a Baby Again
A Voice Reclaimed Under A New Key
Why Can’t Something Go Right For Once?
New Friends, A New Adventure. Coincidence?
I Got A Golden Ticket!
Just Take A Deep Breath And Stop To Smell the Apples
Slice of Life 1: Look, I’m On Break, Alright?
With Friends Like Those, Who Needs Enemies?
Slice of Life 2: A Chance To Relive An Old Favorite
What's The True Illusion?
It's The Quiet Ones You Gotta Look Out For
Rain Rain, Go Away, But Pinkie Pie Is Here To Stay
Lesson 101 In Common Sense
Parasprites: For Definition, Please See Locusts Or Hungry Male Teenager
A Wonderful Change Of Pace
Why Must Competition Be So Unfriendly?
Do Remember Who’s The Expert Here
A Demon Never Reveals Their Secrets
A Yuletide Break
Madness Taken For Granted, Whether You Like It Or Not
A Blast From The Past
With A Hand's Worth Revealed, Only The Couple Remain
A Parallel And The Stubbornness That Runs It
A Court-Ordered Sense of Karma, With A Sour Twist
A Tea Party In A Mad World
A Fitting End With A Wonderful Twist
Did I Have To Grow Up?

How I Became a Baby Again

A New Element of Friendship

How I Became a Baby Again

It was a clear afternoon with not a worry in sight. Collage was finally done, I had sent my applications for jobs on time and I had a steady girlfriend that I’m considering to marry sometime late in the year. I was kicking back and relaxing on my Xbox playing some Fallout and had my computer running some background music. My family was in good health and had jobs aplenty, even my brother (odd as the case is for him). I have heard of a show called My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and how the Season 6 would be much more cooler than Season 5. I was curious and decided to watch the show online myself, after getting some work done in Fallout, of course. It was nearing night time when I finally got off my Xbox and chowed down on some frozen pizza. While I was eating, I decided to get the first episode at least started up so that I had something to do. What caught my attention, however, was when I got the episode and it just froze. Almost like a system crash, but I could still move my mouse. I just couldn’t exit out of my current tab or open a new one or even close down my Chrome. What happened next went too fast for a mortal eye to catch. All that could be seen even if done in frame by frame was me getting rapidly pulled in, shrinking to fit the screen’s video. No matter how you saw it, all that was left after it had happened was a pizza slice momentarily floating in the air before falling down on the plate. There were no signs of anyone leaving or even anyone living there to begin with. The computer then quickly shut itself down and closed out of all sites, leaving a shut-off screen.

I, on the other hand, was experiencing something else entirely. One moment I was watching a frozen screen and the next I was in a darkened room-like area with a spot of light that happened to be on me.

“What the the heck? Am I dreaming right now? I don’t remember falling asleep…” I said, looking around in mild surprise.

“No, my human,” a feminine voice called out in the dark. “This is not a dream, rather a choice.”

“Wha- What do you mean? Who are you? Where am I? Why am I here?” I panicked.

The voice giggled a little at my reaction (which, in hindsight, was hilarious) and clarified. “All in due time. However, it should be kind to at least answer some of those questions now. My identity will be revealed soon, so I’ll introduce myself then. You are currently in a dead dimension where many other gods have given offers before and in fact this place was created for such purposes. It gets annoying to try and schedule everyone in. Do you know how long the wait times are? I mean, come on! I’m sure he didn’t need it for-” She interrupted herself, cleared her throat, and returned back to where she was before the rant. “My apologies. Anyways, you are here to make a choice that could affect many others. As to why… It will become clearer with time.”

“What?” I said dumbly.

“You do have functioning ears right. So help me if I got a deafened one…” She groaned.

“Sorry, just got confused for a second. So, what’s the choice I’m making here?” I asked, a bit roughly. Give me credit, I was holding back.

“Ah. Glad to hear that. As for the choice-” She was interrupted before she could continue.

“Wait… did you just…” At that point I had an outlet for my nervousness and laughed at the pun this person made. “Nice pun there!”

“*ahem* Can I please finish what I was about to say?” She pointedly asked.

“Sorry. Yeah, if you please continue,” I quickly said, not wanting her to be angry at me.

“Thank you. Anyways, here are your options: either get reborn into a better world or continue to exist in your current one. Both lead to a happy life in the end, but to be reborn is to experience a whole new world. The reason will be made clear if you choose to be reborn,” She summarized.

“And if I choose to stay?” I questioned.

“Then you continue to live your old life as always. If it helps any, if you choose to be reborn, I will erase your existence in the previous world so that none will worry about you,” She laid down the terms in an orderly manner.

At this point, it came down to picking the safe, comfortable option of staying or the riskier option of being reborn. I asked just one question to clarify something.

“Where will I be reborn?” I politely asked.

At that point, the room lit up and the mysterious voice became a figure that was clearly defined. The figure was a tall, lanky… unicorn with wings? Interesting. She had a white coat, a red mane, some freckles on the right side of her face, huge wings, and a long horn.

“You will be reborn into my world. A world called the Mythos, more specifically Equestria, the land of pony kind. I believe you asked for a name earlier. My name is LaurFastia, the creator goddess of this realm and one of the most powerful alicorns ever to come into existence.” She clarified and answered.

At this point, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Talking with a creator of an entire universe? I must be one lucky bastard to be able to be in her presence, much less to speak with her. However, I summoned all of my courage to give my answer in a clear voice.

“I choose… to be reborn into Equestria,” I decisively asked.

“As you wish. Just know that you can never return to your realm and you will reclaim all of your human memories at the age of 18, including that of your human family. Are you prepared to accept this price?” Her tone brooked no argument.

“I do,” I replied with strong conviction.

“Then I wish you luck, my little pony,” She said and then started to charge some magic on her horn.

It was only a moment later when her magic was flung at me. It soaked into me and began to change my body drastically. I slowly went onto all fours, my hands and feet turning into hooves, pains in my back as some wings grew out of me, and altogether my body changing to a more equine form. My hair had turned into a mane that was red with blue highlights at the end and a tail with a similar color scheme. I also began to shrink to the size of an infant and started to regress to the mentality of one. The last thing I remembered clearly was a bright light and me being held up by a doctor, who pronounced:

“It’s a healthy colt!”

End of Prologue

A Voice Reclaimed Under A New Key

A New Element of Friendship

A Voice Reclaimed Under A New Key

OK, I feel much better now. So where was I? Ah yes, that’s right. Explaining my life story to you. Not much left to be honest. Let’s see here… story as a child, Cutie Mark and further life story, not to mention the remembrance of my human memories. I suppose all that’s left to tell is my current ailment and the history behind it and what it is I’m doing right now. Seems to be a good point on where to end off for an interview.

I remember the day that I got attacked. It started as a normal day for me, at the very least. I was 21 and by then my talents were heard about and was starting to gain attraction outside of Cloudsdale. It got to the point to where I was asked to play for Canterlot. I think I speak for everypony in business when I say that getting the attention of practical and literal royalty is one of the high points in your given career. For me, it was a chance to prove that a Pegasus could be a great musician, as good as any Unicorn. So I packed up my stuff and headed off to the capital of Equestria. It was when I arrived that things got heated. You see, a good friend of mine put the statistics of different races in Canterlot: For every 10 Unicorns, there was a Pegasus and for every 6 Pegasi there was 1 Earth Pony. Of course, there was the Royal Sister, Princess Celestia as the only alicorn on Equus beside Princess Cadence and she lives elsewhere. So for someone for someone like me to appear,it caused some disturbance for the normal Canterlot's citizen life. Apparently I had struck a nerve with a couple of ponies for even daring to say I could be a great musician due to me being a Pegasus. I would have to prove them all wrong later that night too. Now, for time’s sake, let’s skip to the night of the concert, as I believe no pony would want to hear about how a day in Canterlot went.

It was nighttime and I was preparing myself for the concert I would be performing in. I had a momentary feeling of unease 5 minutes before I got on stage, but I chalked it up to pre-show jitters. If I had listened to my instincts that night… Ah, but what’s done is done. I can’t change my past, especially for something as important as that concert. It was finally time for me to perform my song. It was a piece of music from the Time Of The Two Sisters and it was an ode to them both. I had listened to it beforehand, so I had everything memorized and perfectly tuned. Disaster struck, however, near the end of the piece. You see, I sang too well for some of the nobility and they thought they would be outclassed by a mere Pegasus if they didn’t do something about it real quick. I never did remember who shot the spell at me, where they were sitting, or even what color the spell was. All I can remember was that it was a female Unicorn and she was too well hidden in the crowd to distinguish coat color as well. Everything turned to black after that, I was singing while the spell was shot and so I lost all my oxygen in one quick swing and quickly fainted.

After that, I arose in the Canterlot hospital and was diagnosed as mute for an indefinite amount of time by the nurses and doctors who worked on me. At first, i was shocked. Me, lose my voice? Preposterous. But when I was going to voice my objections to that statement, i suddenly realized he was right. I couldn’t speak a single word, even if my life depended on it, which to be fair, was my job to sing for others. I was then turning into a deep funk when I caught notice of the head doctor saying something of great importance. Apparently, they’ve been experimenting on ways to return the voice to other ponies and they just had a major breakthrough very recently. In fact, it was my condition that helped them make said breakthrough, so I was given two options: Try out this new form of healing that has been untested or spend the rest of my life in eternal muteness. I think what choice I made was a given, especially considering where we are now. So the doctor tried out the new healing magic on me and suddenly, I felt a slight change in my body. it felt like it was accepting the magic, but not as the doctor probably intended. he asked me if any changes were done to me. I told the doctor that indeed, there was a slight change. However, I noticed a slight problem when trying to speak: I could not, as hard as I tried, speak above a whisper naturally. I then attempted to sing and found, to my complete shock, that my singing was completely restored and in fact had gained a new attribute: it would slightly influence ponies emotionally depending on the tone of the song. I do say slightly, however, as it never worked to try and get one of the nurses horny enough to rut with me. I’m kidding, I’m kidding! Hey, put that down! OW, OW, OW,OW! I was just making a joke! Dear Celestia, lighten up! OW! I apologize, I apologize! I say uncle, dammit!

*sigh* So, where were we? Ah, yes, what happened afterwards. I’m sure you you would want to know. Well, to be honest, not much happened afterwards. I got a generous fan donation of some black bands from Zebrica and had enough bits left over to get myself a gold watch to help me keep track of time. However, my fashion is apparently awful, as all I can ever find are single colored lime-green vests. They are comfy, so I frequently wear them, but I wish someone could change the color. Apparently though, somepony made it to where they don’t take rip, tear, or even stain, which on the flipside means no one can change the color. My eye color changes whenever I put on these glasses as well, as normally they’re a more hazel without them, but turn a monochromatic blue once I do put them on. I wear these glasses to help me see better, as the cost of eye surgery is too much on my budget. Glasses, however, are more cheap to come by, so that’s why I at least wear them.

4 years later, I move to Ponyville, partially to become their choral instructor and partially due to the quiet atmosphere that the town gives. Though, technically, i teach just about anyone who has the bits and I don’t charge a whole lot for my services and I stay with them a week for each payment. I’ve taught Sweetie Belle, little sister to Rarity, owner of the Carousel Boutique, which is the fashion shop to go to (note to self:do not let Rarity see my wardrobe) and Fluttershy, who I can’t resist trying to give her free lessons, but she is just as stubborn about paying for them. It’s been kind of a joke to us by now. Oh, yes, before I forget, I better my name down for these. Can’t confuse me for the other ponies you get. Thanks for listening to me. Now, if you excuse me, I need to get to class. I’m kind of on a time budget here. See ya later, Twilight Sparkle!

Name of interviewee: Medley Royalwind

End of Chapter 2

Why Can’t Something Go Right For Once?

A New Element of Friendship

Why Can’t Something Go Right For Once?

You know what’s an interesting wake up call? Getting sung right into your ear at a time I would consider to be too early, which was 7:00. Especially if the pony doing was Pinkie Pie. Needless to say, I just did a Sonic Scream right at Pinkie, which did nothing to change her usually bubbly mood.

“Hey, Medley! Guess what? Guess what? C’mon, guess already! I thought you’d be awake by now? Do you want me to sing a pep-me-up-for-morning-stuff song? Also, can I have some of you coffee and hey what’s that?” She rambled at a high speed before getting distracted by something poking out of the closet.

“Pinkie, I like you as much as the next pony, but please do not get me up at this insane hour without a license and a very good reason,” I whispered sleepily, wishing for a mute button for Pinkie.

“C’mon, Mr. Grumpy! It’s the Summer Sun Celebration! And It’s at a big number as well! Number 1000! C’mon, we need to get ready for it today!” She excitedly yelled before dragging me away from my bed to try and hurry me along.

In case, by some odd coincidence, you’ve never met her before, the pink pony of puzzling physics named Pinkie Pie is Ponyville’s professional party planner and takes her job seriously. She usually does a party every day for some reason or another. I still remember with some fondness on my ‘Welcome to Ponyville Party’ she set up just for me. Honestly, she’s one of the most fun ponies to hang around, if you can tolerate her need to be as energetic as possible. She also works at the Sugarcube Corner, home to the most amount of sweets available, except for maybe Bon Bon’s Confectionary. But now I’m starting to ramble. After I had my coffee and the spell of enchanted voice volume (on a sheet, so anypony could use it), I finally got myself out the door with Pinkie Pie trailing behind.

As it turned out, I had an important role for the celebration: I was to perform a piece entirely dedicated to Celestia’s 1000 year rule, specifically made for today. With my talent, I would easily perform it, but as they say, practice makes perfect. Anyways, it was about 8:00 before anything interesting happened. I only got through a few warm-ups before I noticed a royal chariot fly across the sky and start to fly down towards Ponyville. I knew it couldn’t be Princess Celestia (an alicorn is very conspicuous, especially in daylight) so I wondered who it could be. My question was soon answered as the carriage had landed and a mare stepped out of the carriage. She was a dark lavender pony with a violet mane and tail that both had pink highlights. With her was a… baby dragon? Huh. I really didn’t see that coming. Anyways the mare was talking to the dragon with an air of impatience.

“But the fate of Equestria does not rely on me making friends,” she said, with the carriage now at a complete stop. The guards whinnied a bit to signal this as well. She jumped off the chariot and walked up to them.

“Thank you sirs.” She thanked them as they flew back off to Canterlot.

“Maybe the ponies in Ponyville have interesting things to talk about!” the dragon exclaimed.

At that moment, I saw Pinkie Pie walk towards the three of us, most likely to tell me something interesting. I knew that this would be a hilarious event to watch, as I predicted pinkie would confuse the mare with her usual gasp, jump and run away to make the ‘Welcome to Ponyville’ party for her. And wouldn’t you know it, I was right to the letter. I even got the confused sentence right, which was:

“Well, that was interesting alright,” She said while making a confused face.

At this point, I just started to laugh out loud at her reaction. She took notice and yelled at me.

“And just what are you laughing at?” She demanded.

“Hehehe! I’m sorry, but it’s always hilarious to watch Pinkie Pie react to every new pony who lives here. She did this to me too, don’t worry. Names Medley,” I politely introduced myself.

At this, the dragon looked like he recognized it and took out a checklist.

“Huh. Well, he is number 7 on the list, but since he’s here, we might as well check on him now,” he said to the mare.

“Ah yes, the Summer Sun Celebration preparations. How’s the song coming along?” She asked me brusquely.

“There goes getting a name apparently. I already memorized the song and I was just about to try it out for the first time,” I replied, trying to remain polite but letting some of the sarcasm come through.

“Oh, sorry. Lots on my mind today, what with the preparations and all. My name is Twilight Sparkle and this is my assistant Spike. We’re here to oversee the preparations for the celebration,” She finally introduced herself and the dragon.

“Wait, what do you mean, ‘already memorized it’? I thought it took at least a week to get all the words right, especially since this was made just a few days ago,” Spike questioned.

“Ah, Spike. This is where talents come into play. You see, my talent is eidetic memory for any composition, no matter what. If it also has an instrument, I can play that as well along with singing it,” I explained.

“Really? That’s so cool!” Spike grinned.

“Oh come now. Even I had to practice my magic a lot and my talent is magic. I don’t believe you at all,” Twilight suspiciously stated.

“Just because I have good memory for music does not automatically translate into good overall memory. I have to make sure to keep up my mental exercises to retain a memory at all. Trade-off, I suppose,” I rationalized.

“You better have that song memorized, or else it’s my head that goes!” She said in a panicked voice.

“Don’t worry. I understand where you’re coming from. After all, I once had a lot on my plate for being a very good actor and singer, trying not to brag here,” I told Twilight.

She huffed a bit and went along her way towards Sweet Apple Acres. Spike gave me a look that tried to convey that she was stressed and not to take it personally. I understood and nodded my head to make sure he did as well. It was after that did I realize I was supposed to actually be doing something. However, my tendency to wait until the last minute kicked into high gear and wanted to try and help Pinkie with the party. I did end up helping her and it of the morning and the better part of the afternoon as well. It was soon after that that other ponies started to come into Twilight’s home and help with the surprise party. It was 4 o’clock when Twilight arrived with Spike. Though it was an odd conversation that took place between him and Twilight.

“Huh. Rude much?” He stated.

“Sorry Spike,” Twilight apologized. “But I have to convince the the Princess that Nightmare Moon is coming and we’re running out of time. I just need to be alone so I can study without a bunch of crazy ponies trying to make friends all the time. Now, where’s the light?”

I think it was bad timing on Pinkie’s part to turn on the light at that specific time, as we startled Twilight completely. I was amazed that she didn’t even see us, even with her magic. Once we all yelled surprise, I think, she just sighed and started to just try and get away from the crowd. That failed almost immediately with Pinkie Pie being a chatterbox and talking Twilight’s ear off for a solid two minutes (I timed). It all ended with Twilight accidentally drinking hot sauce and escaping to her room to study. After seeing the culinary disaster waiting to happen, I went upstairs to try and comfort her a bit. After all, she must’ve been introduced to the other ponies who were working on preparation. Applejack had her family over, so Twilight must’ve been suckered into sampling their food. It makes sense too, as Applejack works, lives, and co-owns Sweet Apple Acres, the best farmland to ever produce apples. They are to live for, not kidding. Then there’s Rainbow Dash, who never really did grow up much, so probably showed off her skills and got Twilight into some kind of mess. I can tell since Twilight also looked like she escaped Rarity’s clutches. Then there’s Fluttershy, who was most likely interested and was talking to Spike due to him being a dragon. She never did change from foalhood either, but at least she’s cool with animals. Which reminds me, I need to get a pet soon. And now she got introduced to Pinkie, who does not know the meaning of the word subtle or simmer down. I knew that they could be a handful, but were cool ponies to hang around once you got to know them a bit. But, I’m digressing.

“Hey Twilight. Not in the mood to party?” I asked politely, not wanting her to be more upset.

“All the ponies in this town are crazy!” She yelled. Yep, I set her off. Well, now it’s time to try and reel her back in.

“They really do mean well. It’s just that, I know today is a big day for you and I know you want everything to be perfect for Princess Celestia,” I began.

This got her to calm a bit, but instead have it be replaced with confusion. “How did you know that?” She asked, maybe a bit too harshly.

“Hey, don’t hit the messenger. I could just tell from earlier today and from recent events. I can be a logical pony when I want to be,” I joked a bit, trying to lighten the tension.

At this, she gave a small smile towards the joke, but quickly started to frown.

“Do you want to be left alone or do you want someone to vent towards?” I gave her a choice.

“Just leave me be, please. Oh, and tell Spike not to eat too much sugar. He is a baby dragon after all,” She smiled at that and turned towards the window.

I just said I would leave her be then and closed the door behind me to go back to the party. Though I swear I could hear something about ‘Elements of Harmony’. I left her alone for about an hour, but then had to get her so that she could make it in time for the celebration. She thanked me and we made our way to the town hall. Everypony was ready for what they needed to do. I was off to the side so that I could come on later and Fluttershy was getting her birds ready. It was very soon afterwards that the Mayor began her speech. She did the introductions, the history behind the Summer Sun Celebration, and it was soon time for Princess Celestia to make her appearance.

What would’ve been next would be Princess Celestia, but for some reason, she was missing. It was soon clear why, as mist that looked like a starry skyscape started to form into an alicorn. This, however, was not Princess Celestia. I think everypony could tell that much, judging from the sharpened teeth, the cat-pupil eyes, and the very dark coat. The voice also kind of gave it away.

“O̴͇̲̝h,̵̟͉ ̵̯̹̞̠͖̭̣m̮͕͖y̖̝͕ ̧̲b͎̺͔̻̥̬e̻̮̙͝l̠̼͙̫͍o̗͈̯̺̺͈̼ṿ̗͕̳͓e̳̟͢ḑ͙ ͔̖s̘͠u͕b̴͍̣͉̫̝j̩̲ę̻͍͕̰̻ͅc͎̯t̗͚͝s͎̮̘̦̥̪.̺͡ I̹t̻͈͎̝̩̤’̼̱̥ͅs̼͕̝̹͙̀ͅ ̤͙b͇̰͖̞͙̖͎͘e̗͇̼͍e̶̳n ͔̭̻͠s͚̲̻͓͍̘̯ǫ̠̠̠̞̤͈ͅ ͈̣̖̮̘̣͡l̻̯̝͜o̢̖͖͉̝̦͖n̨͕̺͓͚̩͉g͎ ͙̳̣s̷͙i͇͝n̫̠͈̫c̷̺̱͉̠̰̯̰e̹͍̯̫̱ͅ ̯̼͙̰͖̯ͅI҉͇̦̦̣̘̪̠’̖̮̼̀v̻̟̼̞͓̥̪e̢̪ ͏̱̩͖̩̗̞s͓͔̯͠een̛̲͍̞͓̫̱̞ ̮͕̞̼y͕̩̞͙̪̠o͇̭̖̠̻͘ụ̲̜̯͖̼ͅŕ͓͈̠̪̼̹̫ ̳̤̺͔p͈̲͕̕re̱͍c̲̟̦͡ị̻͇̤̝͓͙͜o̳̲̘̩͞u̟̻̩͉̫̟s͍̲̜̩̖̦̀ ̢̟̼̭̥̘l͚i̛͎̗̯̲͓ṭ̫̜̩͖ṱ̢̩̰̭̩̮l͉̱e̩̺̳̠ ̮̪̰̥̖̬s͎̺̥̲u̷͙̤̳͓ͅn̷̳͎̞̬̹-̮ͅl̘͓̪̯͈̳͢o̪̗̥̣̙v̮̭̪̱̜͠i̝n̢̞̙̙͈̯g͏̪̜̞̭͔ ͖͓͓̰̹̱f̡̥͖̗̼̟̰̗a͈̖c̖̪̞̩̯e̩̙̭͟s,” She drolled.

“What did you do with our Princess?” Rainbow Dash loudly demanded as she tried flying directly to the alicorn, only being held back by AJ.

She began to chuckle in response to RD’s actions. “W̫̼̻̪͉h͕̦̝͉y̸̩͙̹̱ͅ?͖̦͠ ̖͚̲̹̺A͉͎̰̘͓͔m̪̫ ̯̰̰͖͎̕I̝̫ ͔͉̪͚̳̭̀n̦͙̤͇͉̞ͅo͎͠t̖͓̬͘ ̺̺͉̭̭r͈o̢̬̫̱y̪͕͡a̵̙̲͖̤͇̙ͅl̟͖͔̹ ̳̦̣ḛ̘̼n͚̘̯̙ò̼ú̻̤̤g̣̰̰̱̻͕ͅh̨̝͓̝̟̳ ̷̙̪f̡̞͈o̙̱̙͟r̳̺̲̰͍̩̱ y̺̮̭̤̻̲͇͜o̮̮͈͖̹̜u?͜ ̳̞Do͇͔̮ņ͎'̦́ṱ̮̘͢ ̣̰̝͈̮͜y̡͓̩͔̩̗o̷ͅṳ̶͙̭͔̟̣ ̞̪͘k͇̹͓͓n͇̜͍̮̦̲o̞w͖̮͓͍ ̖̹̣̩̜wh͍̠̞̳̲̺ͅo͙̲̲̘͍̮ I̥̦͚̭ ͓a͕̳̣̫̻̹͉͘m͕͍̲̗̰̟͞?̪͠ͅ” She challenged.

“Oh, oh! More guessing games!” Pinkie Pie still retained that cheerfulness. “Uh, let’s see: Hokey Smokes? How about: Queen Meanie? No, no, Black Smokey, Black Smo-” She was interrupted by AJ, who stuffed an apple cupcake in her mouth to try and get her to stay quiet.

It somewhat worked. However, she was on a roll here. “D̲̪̩͈̩̦ọ͍̙̪̙̪͎͡e͈͚͔̙̞͖͖̕s͖̝͉̕ ̷̝m͖y̥͍̯̜̳̘͈ ̢̣̜̹͉̞͍cr͚͜ͅo̴̱̪̲w̼̦̝͚̩̬̼n ̭͍͖̜̖̦̯n̰͇̼o̥ ̷͔l̮ǫ͙̺͇͉̣̠̻n͉͔̻̮̳͈̹͞g͈̳͚̟͚̘̯e̢͙r̟̫͎̯̠̥ͅ ͔̞̭̗̝co̱̤̖̺͕̦u͏͎͚̝ͅn͙̯t̤͚̺͉̖͠ͅ ҉̜̭̗̣̗̲n̝̥̻o͕̩͓͉̹̘͖w͓̕ ̲̥̺t̰̜h̦͞a̱̮̠͕ͅt̲̣̼͔̬̲̞ ̬I̷'̬̳̗̫̦̖v̜̝̪͎͓̬̳e̙̟̻̮͔ ̟̲͉͉͢b̻̹̮͙̙̝ͅee̤̹͞n̟̘̳̖̼̜͓ ̳i͖̭̬̪̲͕̰mp̤͢r͟i̡̪̣̩̗̪s͝ó̟͎̖̖̞n̼̟ẹ̺͜d͏ ̢̜̥̤̲̦f̴̝o̷̬͇ͅr̜͚̗͙̼͍̼ ̮̹̙̻̱̼̰1̪̼͓̀00͇͚͉̺͉0̟̺ ҉̦͇y̸̩͉̠e̟̳͖̜͓͉̰͡a̝r̩͓͈̭͝s̤̣̻?͏̞̯͈̙͕ ̙͉̫D̟̥̬i̘̦͔d͈̗ ̼y̮̣̲o̰̤͇͍͓u͇͕̠͓ ̮͓̹̬͉͢b̼͙o͘t͓͝ ̖͖͔r̟̮̕e̠͇̗͖̻̼c̵̩̫͓̬͖a͕̰̥̳l̖̬̳l̷͉̠̠̤̼ͅ ̣̜͔̥͖͉͉t͉̟̫h̶̰̹͎e͓͖̬͞ ̡̤̼̘l̞̗eg̻̜̪͎͈en̮d̪̬̗?͕̟ ̳̖̼̭͡D̶̤̱͙i̺ḑ̬͚̭͉̣̹ ̸̖̼y̭̠̮͍͖o͏̳͉u̧̱̫ ̺n̬̺̞o͕͓͉̦t҉̘̩ ̢̘͚̥͓̼̺͕s͔̘ͅe͖e̲̗̭̺̥̠̱̕ ̛̖̮t̤̫̬̗͟h̴͈͚͈̙̱̞ͅè̫͖ ͙͔͉͖̩̫͙s͇̱i̹̜̝̕g͔n̼̻͖͕͇͎̕s̖̤̺̟͔͇?̥͓̖̣̰̻͎” She taunted while intimidating Fluttershy and Rarity.

Twilight, however, took a stand (metaphorically, of course). “I did. And I know who you are. You’re the Mare In The Moon. Nightmare Moon,” At this proclamation, the entirety of Town Hall gasped, including me. After all, I thought it was just a myth as well. Though, come to think of it, the signs were kind of obvious. But, I digress.

Nightmare Moon looked pleased enough. “W̯̼e̴l̸̘͈͖̗̬̮̳l̡,̱̬ ̟͎̗̗̤̭w͙͉̺̗e̶͍l͍ļ͇̤͚,̛͙̰̼̞̺ ̜͎̬̹w̱͚̹̝͢ȩ̳̘̤̰͈l̫̥͉͖l̖̹.͈̜ ̧͍I̝̮̱̠̱̦ͅt̜̝̲ ̞̯̗̙s̻e̖̪̥̺̻̤͎e͖̠̯̫m̳s͡ ̟̠̞̘s̯͙o̹̻̳͕͍͇̯m͙̭e̦̜p͔o͜n͇y̭͖ ͔͚͎rȩ̻̲̦̻̥m̳͔̦̞̱̯̳e͙̯̣͈̦͚̜m҉ͅb̰̤̟͙e̡͖͍̥̣̘r̥̦̦̣̬s̯̹̭͉͉̮̗ ̷̰͎̱m͙͖̖ȩ.͕͟ ̸T̵̼͖h͏̱̣̭ȩ̹̣̼̦̲̻͈n̡͉ ̵̰̤y̴̞̣̪o̜̳̗͇̻̹͈u͚͇̘̼̗͈̩̕ ̼͙̹͍a͇͙l͉̭͉s͏̗̥̬ͅǫ̪̺ ̟͇k͙̤n̹̻o̢̥͚̩w͎̖͎̣̹ ̡͈̜͔͕w̵̞̹̘̖̮͙̳h͍̱̝͉̙̳̬y ͏̖͎I̵̠̱ ̻̩̹͈͙̱͡a̺͕͇̺̗̺m͙ h̗̹̳͕̣e̩̥̝͇͉r͜e̬̰̻̜̦̘͓,͏̳͍̖̩͖̱̘” she said.

It seemed like Twilight was about to say it, but lost her nerves at that point. I stepped in, understanding her situation completely. However, I am just as tactless as Pinkie on my off days and this counted as an off day.

“You’re here to raise eternal night and to make sure the sun never rises again,” I stated in a monotone voice.

She turned to look at me like I had spoken out of turn. S̳̞͍o̸ ̳͓̥̯̟y͔̤̹̘̞̭͡o̫̺̦̙̤̹u҉͙͙̝͖͍̻̬ ̞̯͔̱ķ͎̬̪̼n͏͙o̭͚͍w͕̫̼̬ ̫͞a͙s̸̱͙̮͓̙͚ ̴̮̞ẁe̢̬l̰͉̟̦͞ͅl͓͕͚͇.̖͠ ̸T͏̯̟̠h͍̯̺̟en̡̺̥ ̰r͙̳̗̞̫͕e̝̻̞̟͚m̨̤̰̖e͖͖̣̻͓͉̝͞m͔b̫̲̞͉͍͕ḙ̛̪͍r̀ ̹̬̮t͓̻̝̯h̻͔̹̳i̶͇̙s,̳̞͟ ̶̪̞̯m̠͉͇͇̘y̩̲͕ ̦̼̻ͅl͖̭̻ì̝̩̲͎̩̰̩t̟̕t͏̦̪̞̬̫l̖e̻̪͎͍̱̫͞ ̺̭̲̲͔po͚n͈̰y͉͈̜͡.̧̖ ͉̹̙̗́T̻̤̮̫̗́h͓͚̬i̞͍͉s̫̫̱̫ ̙̩̗̤̗g͓̼͡o̧̫̱̥̮̭͎͚e̷͔̣̹̺̦͙s̘̞̪̝̼̗̥ ̗̫̲͖̼f̩o̥̖̪̞͕r̢̝̤ ͙͉̣̩̗͇̼̕t̳̺͚̟͓̝h̛̝ḙ̸̦ ̻̱̤͘r̠ḛ̰̱̗s̷̲̘̳̤̗͎t̯ ̷̰͈̰̘̻̩ͅo̬̳̯̜̟f̹̹ ̘̜͚̞̠̫y̛̞o̴u̦̞̣͙ ͈̤͙̙͔͇a̗̬̕s̩ ͓w҉̳̜̰e̗̭̝̕l̙̭̣͞ͅl͙̹͓̳̲͜.͇ ̖̼̮̟̻R̗͔̦̼̲e̘m͍̬͓̠̭̯ͅe̮͎̤̟m̫̺͖͠b̡̬͍̫̥ͅé͚͉̻̭̼̖͈r̰͉̺ ̹̼͖͚͎͇͟th̬̲̻͈̲̬̟i͇̙̘̤͡ṣ͔̻̭̭̯̺ ̮͎̲d͖̜̦a͉̕y͕̹͈͚,̘͚̫̠͚̹͢ ̛̰͓̹̹͇͕͔f̣̙̣͉͙̥͉͘o̻̮̺̖͚̗r ͘i͔͙̜̟͕͇͠t̻̬̝̪͎͞ ̠̞̖s̩ḩ̼̫͓a̡l͢l ̴͔̥͓͕̦͔͍be̮͙̱͉̟̼̕.̳͔̝̫͚̹̘ ͍͕͎̹͡Y̷̘̻o͚̺̜ͅur͔̙̞͎͎ͅ.̗͕̟̖͇̼͞ ̨͇L̞̜̰̖A̡̟͔͈S̬̣̺͙͕̖̯͢T͓͇͔͓̟!͉͇̜̝” She laughed maniacally as she teleported off to who knows where.

“This is really bad. Really bad,” Twilight stammered.

End of Chapter 3

New Friends, A New Adventure. Coincidence?

A New Element of Friendship

New Friends, A New Adventure. Coincidence?

“So, what next?” I asked, partially stunned at what just happened. After all, it’s not every day you get to meet a legend and live to tell if the legend is that of a villain.

“Now, we try and stop Nightmare Moon,” Twilight said while throwing Spike onto her back and ran off to the library. I followed suit, having no idea what to do. We had to run a bit, but we finally got to the library. Twilight quickly got Spike into bed.

He only got up to quickly say, “We got to stop Nightmare…” and promptly fell back asleep.

“You’ve been up all night Spike,” Twilight threw a blanket over him in tired happiness. “You are a baby dragon after all.”

She shut off the lights and quickly started going through her small collection of books, throwing out one after the other. I knew what it would be like in an eternal night, so I quickly started to help her search for the book as well.

“Elements, Elements, Elements! How can I stop Nightmare Moon without the Elements of Harmony?” She asked herself.

I just answered back with, “I don’t know! Where the heck is this book anyways?”

“And just what are the Elements of Harmony?” Rainbow Dash asked, appearing almost out of nowhere. “And how did you know about Nightmare Moon, huh? Are you a spy?”

She was pulled away rather quickly by Applejack, who admonished Rainbow Dash’s behavior. “Simmer down Sally. She ain’t no spy,” She then turned her attention to Twilight. “But she sure knows what’s goin’ on. Don’t you, Twilight?”

The other ponies that gathered behind her, which would be Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Fluttershy all looked at her expectantly. For some reason, it made me think of some kind of scene out of a horror movie.

Twilight sighed and explained to them what was going on. “I read all about the prediction of Nightmare Moon. Some mysterious objects called the Elements of Harmony are the only things that can stop her. But I don’t know what they are, where to find them. I don’t even know what they do!”

“And as for the legend of Nightmare Moon,” I stepped up to help Twilight with her case. “Legend has been said that there was once two sisters who governed over Equestria: The Sun Sister and the Moon Sister. They ruled over the land in relative peace and achieved Harmony throughout the land. But over time, the Moon Sister was jealous towards the Sun Sister. You see, ponies celebrated during the day, but slept through her beautiful nights. And so, one night, she decided to not lower the moon to try and get ponies to love her nights. There was a fight between the two sisters, with the winner being the Sus Sister. Using the Elements of Harmony, she banished her sister to the moon. This legend has been passed down for generations, but I never realized it could be true.”

The mood was a bit somber, until a voice spoke up. Not surprisingly, it was Pinkie Pie. Surprisingly, it was what we needed, “The Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide.”

“How did you find that?” Twilight asked, running to where it was, pushing Pinkie out of the way.

“It was under E!” Pinkie replied, bouncing back towards the main group in her usual happy self.

“Oh.” Twilight was confused and most likely wondering how Pinkie was able to understand her system of organization better than she did. But, she passed over that and took out the book. She began to read out loud.

“There are 6 Elements of Harmony, but only 5 are known: Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty, and Loyalty. The 6th is a complete mystery. It is said the last known location of the 5 Elements was in the ancient castle of the Royal Pony Sisters. It is located in what is now known as: The Everfree Forest.”

I think it was about the time we got everyone near the place when it finally had hit them.

“THE EVERFREE FOREST?!” Everyone but Twilight and I exclaimed.

“Whee, let’s go!” Pinkie happily stated and started to walk towards the forest.

“Not so fast,” Twilight said, halting Pinkie mid-step. “Look, I appreciate the offer, but I really rather do this on my own.”

“No can do, sugarcube,” Applejack stepped forward. “We sure ain’t lettin’ any friend of ours go into that creepy place alone. We’re sticking to you like carmel on a candy apple.” Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Fluttershy, along with Applejack walked towards the forest as a group.

“Especially if there are candy apples in there,” Pinkie Pie resumed her walk. She looked back and responded to Twilight’s incredulous face with, “What? Those things are delicious!”

“Look at it this way, Twilight,” I said to her. “Just in case there are the 5 Elements in there, you need more than 1 pony to use them. Especially if there’s a 6th one that relies on the other.”

“But they don’t need to risk their lives for a total stranger who wasn’t too nice to them to even bother them other than for decorations for some celebration,” Twilight sighed.

“I knew what was happening to you, so I understood that you were just anxious. Plut that chariot told me that you were from Canterlot, so I was expecting you to shy away from everypony and just focus on whatever you wanted,” I logically deduced

“...” Twilight had a look of shock on her face as I pieced everything together.

“Don’t worry. I just took basic clues and strung them altogether.” I tried to to sop her from launching into a panic attack.

“Speaking of clues… I’m just starting to notice something. Why does it sound like your voice is amplified?” It had worked, but now she had a new target to aim her worries at.

“What do you mean?” I tried to pull a blank face at that, but failed.

“You do realize you’re speaking to a protege of Princess Celestia herself. And for the fact that my talent is all magic, however small or big?” She pointed out.

“...That is a story for another time. If you still want to know, seek me out later and I shall tell you myself. I say later as right now, it looks like the group is leaving us behind. Shall we catch up?” I told her.

“Yeah, we should. Thanks for taking the time to ease my worries.” Twilight thanked me.

“Anypony could understand as well, if they took some time to look at the situation and understood what needed to be done. Hey everypony, wait up!” I yelled at the group, who was just starting to notice two missing ponies.

“What was that all about?” Rainbow Dash asked me and Twilight, being suspicious.

“Nothing more than a short conversation, Rainbow. Now, shall we move forward?” I asked as I trotted along.

“Sure thing. Let’s git going, girls… and colt,” Applejack said, almost forgetting I came along for the ride. I nodded my head to show it didn’t affect me.

We walked along for a little bit in complete silence. oddly enough, it was Twilight who broke the silence first.

“So… none of you have ever been in here before?” She questioned.

“Heavens no! Just look at it,” Rarity responded, pointing all around her. “It’s dreadful!”

“And it ain’t natural,” Applejack tacked on. Some folks say it don’t work the same as Equestria.”

I kept all memories of my life before to myself, but Twilight had to ask, being as unfamiliar to the forest as I was.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Twilight fearfully asked the group.

“Nopony knows,” Rainbow Dash spoke in a spooky voice. “You know why?”

“Rainbow, quit it!” Applejack yelled at Rainbow Dash.

She ignored her and continued trying to spook us. “‘Cause everypony who’s ever come in… has never… come… OUT!” She finished with a yell.

I think Karma had some fun earlier and now it was being a troll, as at that moment the land we were standing on collapsed, sending Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie, and Applejack down while Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and I all started to fly. It was me and Fluttershy getting Rarity while Rainbow Dash got Pinkie Pie. Applejack hung on to Twilight’s hoof to keep her from falling.

“Applejack, what do I do?” Twilight asked, hanging on for dear life.

I signaled to Applejack that we were ready to catch her fall.

“Let go,” Applejack calmly replied.

“Are you crazy!?” Twilight shrieked.

“No, I ain’t. I promise, you’ll be safe,” Applejack promised.

“That’s not true!” Twilight was starting to panic.

“Now, listen here,” Applejack became a bit sterner. “What I’m sayin’ to you is the honest truth. Let go and you’ll be safe.”

It was in that moment I made the connection to an Element and a pony. It seemed like Twilight did to, as she did as she was told and was caught by Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. I was already on the ground, waiting for the rest of the group. Applejack just jumped down from rock to rock until she caught up with us.

We continued along our path, with Rainbow Dash telling a blow-b-blow account of the recent event. Several times. In the span of a few minutes. It was getting to the point where even I was starting to be a bit miffed at this. However, I held my tongue and just let the group handle her. Luckily, she was interrupted. Unluckily, it was a manticore that stopped us.

“A manticore!” Twilight panicked as it roared at us. “We got to get pass it!”

I then noticed that the manticore had a thorn stuck in its left paw. However, due to the nature of the spell page of amplifying voice, I was just stuck at a normal talk level. I thought that Fluttershy saw the thorn as well, but I knew that she couldn’t be easily heard either, as her default is a whisper/mumble unless she completely forgot where she was at that moment. The other 5 ponies tried to defeat the manticore, but were outmatched quite quickly. It was at the point the 5 ponies all started to charge at the manticore what both Fluttershy and I stopped them.

“Waaaaait!” Fluttershy yelled as I talked, giving a bit more volume.

Surprised by Fluttershy actually being louder than me, they listened as she turned to the manticore. She walked up to it and gave it a warming nuzzle with her head as she batted those baby blue eyes at him. The manticore paused, and showed her the paw with the thorn in it.

“Oh, you poor, poor little baby,” She cooed.

“Little?” Rainbow Dash asked dubiously.

“Now, this may hurt for just a second,” Fluttershy said as she pulled out the thorn. The manticore gave a loud roar but then started to lick Fluttershy’s face like a little kitten.

“How did you know about the thorn?” She asked Fluttershy after the whole group went through.

“I didn’t,” Fluttershy told Twilight, surprising her. “Sometimes, we just all need to be shown a little kindness.”

“Then, did you notice the thorn earlier, Medley?” She asked me.

“Actually, yes. My glasses enchant my vision to a better degree than normal pony eyes, hence why I wear them,” I answered.

“Then why didn’t you say anything earlier?” Twilight asked once again.

“I can’t speak above a normal voice. Again, if you wish to know, then get me later for an interview,” I told her.

We continued to walk along our merry way. Well, for most of us it was merry.

“Ugh. My eyes need a rest from all this icky muck,” Rarity complained. It was at that moment we lost the light of the moon. “I didn’t mean that literally.”

“The ancient ruins could be right in front of our faces and we wouldn’t even know it!” Twilight started to panic for the umphteenth time.

We then all started to voice our problems as well with the dark. It was then Applejack who spoke above the rest.

“Uh, girls, I think I stepped in something,” She said, holding up a muddy hoof. Fluttershy gave a scream at that

Applejack exasperated, “It’s just mud.” She then turned to find a somewhat creepy looking tree, which the darkness just improved on. It was at that point we all started to scream Bloody Mary. It was also at that point I noticed that Pinkie was laughing at the trees. Shortly after the girls noticed as well, most likely matching my stupefied expression.

“Pinkie, what are you doing?” Twilight was truly shocked at her. “RUN!”

“Oh, girls, don’t you see?” Pinkie asked, bouncing to a beat that I could soon hear.

When I was a little filly and the sun was going down…

“Tell me she's not…” Twilight groaned.

The darkness and the shadows, they would always make me frown…

“She is,” Rarity and I said at the same tie, her in resignation and me in happiness.

I'd hide under my pillow

From what I thought I saw

But Granny Pie said that wasn't the way

To deal with fears at all

“Then what is?” Rainbow Dash asked Pinkie.

She said, "Pinkie, you gotta stand up tall

Learn to face your fears

You'll see that they can't hurt you

Just laugh to make them disappear."

Ha! Ha! Ha!

Everypony gasped as the tree turned to normal. So while she was singing, I started to laugh at the ridiculous tree faces and they poofed. They caught on quickly and started to do the same during her song.

So, giggle at the ghostly

Guffaw at the grossly

Crack up at the creepy

Whoop it up with the weepy

Chortle at the kooky

Snortle at the spooky

And tell that big dumb scary face to take a hike and leave you alone and if he thinks he can scare you then he's got another thing coming and the very idea of such a thing just makes you wanna... hahahaha... heh...

Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaauuuugh!

Everypony then got into a big group on the floor and we laughed for a while. It was during that time I had made another connection to an Element and hope that Twilight did the same. We all got up eventually, still chuckling and proceeded to what looked like a river being upset, if it had feelings.

“How are we gonna cross this?” Pinkie Pie asked.

We then heard someone crying very melodramatically and began to investigate. It was a short-lived mystery, as we quickly found out what the source of the noise was. It was a pretty strange sight, I tell you, to see what looked like a 10-foot tall sea serpent throwing a fit and sounding very… odd. At least, his pattern of speech did.

“What a world, what a world!” He cried out in anguish.

We got near him to ask what the trouble was.

“Excuse me, sir,” Twilight began. “Why are you crying?”

“Well, I don’t know. I was just sitting here, minding my own business, when this, tacky little cloud of purple smoke just whizzed past me and tore half of my beloved moustache clean off,” he explained. “And now, I look simply horrid!”

He dramatically splashed into the river, soaking all 7 of us to the skin.

“Oh, give me a break,” Rainbow Dash grumbled.

“That’s what all the fuss is about?” Applejack seemed to be on the same boat as Rainbow Dash. I, for one, understood his reaction. After all, I had a well-trimmed goatee that matched my natural hair and I would not be so calm if someone took it away from me.

“Why, of course it is!” Rarity looked at the two in horror. “How can you be so insensitive?”

She walked up to the serpent courageously. “Oh, just look at him. Such lovely luminescent scales.”

“I know,” The serpent perked up at this.

“Your expertly coiffed mane,” She continued to praise him.

“Oh I know, I know,” He started to preen a bit.

“Your fabulous manicure,” She continued, both in part distraction and geniality.

“*gasp* It’s so true!” He squeed a bit at this.

“All ruined without your beautiful moustache," She ended.

“It’s true, I’m hideous,” He went back into his funk.

“I cannot let a crime against fabulosity go uncorrected!” She pronounced with a hardened expression on her face.

I don’t know what possessed me to say what I said next, but I did it anyway. “So, that means I can wear lime green vests to Canterlot? Sweet! I knew it was a good idea to get all those shirts!”

She then slowly turned her head towards me with a maniacal grin. “You’ll be next, dear gentlecolt. Once we’re done here and we get some rest, it’s off to my shop to get you. New. Clothes,” She then proceeded to turn her attention back towards the serpent and pulled out one of his scales.

“Ow! What did you do that for?” He teared up a bit.

“Rarity, what are you-” Twilight was interrupted by Rarity using the scale. And I have to say, I never saw it coming either.

Rarity had used the scale as some kind of scissor-like object to cut of all of her tail, leaving behind nothing but a ragged stump of her once beautifully groomed tail. She then lifted the tail with magic to where the stump of the serpent’s moustache was and tied the mane to it, completing the moustache once again.

The serpent giggled a bit at his fabulous dual moustache and started to feel happier. “My moustache! How wonderful!”

“You look smashing,” Rarity commented.

“Oh Rarity! Your beautiful tail!” Twilight started to worry.

“Oh, it’s fine my dear. Short tails are in this season,” Rarity brushed off. “Besides, it’ll grow back.”

“So would the moustache,” Rainbow Dash grumbled some more.

“I actually agree with rarity on this one. After all, one can never go without the proper facial. It simply cannot be done,” I added.

“Then why do you wear those hideous green shirts, darling?” Rarity almost screeched her question.

“I find them to be more comfortable. plus, it does make me stand out from all the rest of the other ponies,” I rationalized.

“Um, sugarcube, yer already different from most other ponies. Ya kinda do have red hair with blue hair at the ends,” Applejack pointed out.

“You will still require a different wardrobe once this whole nonsense is over,” Rarity stubbornly added.

“Well, now we can cross this river, everypony!” Twilight moved forward, but was stopped by the serpent.

“Allow me,” he said, turning his back into crossable platforms that only required a bit of jumping on our parts. We thanked him for the help and continued along our way.

We walked along for a little while before Twilight exclaimed, “There it is! The ruin that holds the Elements of Harmony. We made it!” She started to run ahead before being pulled back by me.

“Why did you do that?” She angrily yelled at me.

“Sorry, I didn’t realize you had wings to fly across the gap,” I answered with a bit of sarcasm. What? It happens every so often. I just don’t normally use it unless it’s a hectic time, which I think this counts for.

“What’s with you and falling off cliffs today?” Rainbow Dash piped up.

Pinkie sighed, “Now what?”

“Duh,” Rainbow Dash said, sticking out her wings to show she could fly over.

“Oh yeah,” Pinkie realized.

Rainbow Dash grabbed the end of the bridge and pulled it up so at least one side was up. I then had a sinking feeling: Where was the next trap? I knew it couldn’t just be the bridge, as that would be too stupid of a plan, even for Nightmare Moon. I then saw three Pegasi with similar uniforms that looked like the Wonderbolts, but with a darker tone to them. I also saw Rainbow Dash cheering for a second and thought they were trying to bribe her to leave us hanging. I quickly got Twilight’s attention to the rather long wait.

“Rainbow!” Twilight yelled from across the bridge gap. “What’s taking so long?”

I think it was then she also saw what was happening. “Oh no,” she whispered.

“Rainbow!” She yelled again. “Don’t leave with them!”

One of the Pegasi noticed beforehand, however, and quickly separated the group from Rainbow Dash in the fog, muffling out Twilight’s sentence.

“Oh, I hope she’ll get the bridge up and running,” Twilight worried.

“I hope so as well,” I tried to calm her yet again, but it proved as effective as last time: not very. It was only a tenseful few seconds before Rainbow Dash reappeared, clearing the fog to show that the bridge was completed and the Pegasi disappeared.

“See? I’d never leave my friends hangin’,” She said as we crossed the bridge.

It was at that moment everything clicked together: The 5 ponies who faced the challenges in their unique ways also represented the 5 Elements of Harmony in the myth. However, I didn’t know what my purpose for being here was, as Twilight was most likely the rare 6th Element of Harmony. I really didn’t do much in the way of support in the challenges. Heck, most of us didn’t really do anything in the latest one. However, my thoughts were cut abruptly as we came upon the royal ruins. We entered the building, amazed at the relics still left there before we got to the main greeting room.

“Come on, Twilight,” Applejack said, a bit impatiently. “Isn’t this what you’ve been waiting for?”

“The Elements of Harmony,” She breathed. “We found them!”

The ones who could fly were the ones designated for the task of getting the spheres down. I carried 2 as did Rainbow Dash while Fluttershy took one. We set them down as carefully as we could.

“One, two, three, four… There’s only 5,” Pinkie counted.

“Where’s the 6th?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“The book said, when the 5 are present, a spark will cause the 6th Element to be revealed,” Twilight recounted.

“But what in the hay is that supposed to mean?” Applejack questioned in slight irritation.

“I’m not sure, but I have an idea,” Twilight hesitated, then warned. “Stand back. I don’t know what will happen.”

We all decided to head her advice on this (her specialty was magic after all).

“Come on now, ya’ll. She needs to concentrate,” Applejack politely asked us as she was moving us out the door. We complied and waited a little.

“So, what’s the deal with you and Twilight, dude?” Rainbow Dash asked me while we were waiting.

“Nothing at all, actually. I was just concerned for her. I thought that’s what a friend was supposed to do?” I replied, keeping my voice calm.

“So, you don’t have a thing for her?” Rainbow Dash continued.

“Not at all. I just usually see where she’s coming from. After all, my experiences may not be the same as hers, but anyone can relate. It’s just a matter of taking time to see what’s going on to better understand how to help her. This applies to almost any of my other friends,” I explained.

“What do ya mean, ‘almost’?” Applejack noticed.

“I have non-pony friends. Therefore, different rules apply,” I further expounded on. Everyone just gave a look that seemed to agree with what I was saying.

We then heard a yelp from Twilight and immediately sprung into action. But by the time we got there, she had already disappeared with the Elements. We got confused for a second before noticing some staircases leading upward and towards a different building.

“Come on everypony! CHARGE!” I did a little war ditty that got them charged up enough to go out and climb the stairs.

Everypony was worried about her, so we started calling out to her as we reached near the end of the staircase.

“You think you can destroy the Elements of Harmony, just like that?” We heard Twilight tell Nightmare Moon. “Well, you’re wrong!”

“Because the Spirits of the Elements of Harmony… Are right… HERE!” She did a dramatic showing of all 7 of us.

In that moment, the shards that were scattered around Nightmare Moon began to float in different colors and fly towards their respective colored pony.

“Applejack, who reassured me when I was in doubt, represents the Element of: Honesty!” Shards floated around Applejack after that sentence.

“Fluttershy, who tamed the manticore with her compassion, represents the Element of: Kindness!” Shards floated around Fluttershy after that sentence.

“Pinkie Pie, who banished fear by giggling in the face of danger, represents the Element of: Laughter!” Shards floated around Pinkie Pie after that sentence.

“Rarity, who calmed a sorrowful serpent with a meaningful gift, represents the Element of: Generosity!” Shards floated around Rarity after that sentence.

“Rainbow Dash, who would not abandon her friends for her own heart’s desire, represents the Element of: Loyalty!” Shards floated around Rainbow Dash after that sentence.

“And Medley, who saw each situation for what it was, whether it be personal or external, and did all he could to help, represents the Element of: Understanding!” Shards floated around me after that sentence, even though we all clearly saw 5 Elements.

“The spirit of these 6 ponies got us through every challenge you threw at us,” Twilight challenged.

“Is that the rare 6th Element? Understanding? That’s not very powerful at all,” Nightmare Moon desperately was grabbing at straws.

“No, Nightmare Moon. Understanding is not the 6th Element. A spark was needed to connect all these Elements together. I found that spark the very moment I how happy I was to hear you. To see you. How much I cared about you. The spark ignited inside me. When I realized that you all…” She paused to face a terrified Nightmare Moon. “Are my friends!”

Suddenly, a 6th ball appeared right over Twilight’s head. It was the rare 6th Element. Twilight continued to lecture Nightmare Moon. “You see, Nightmare Moon, when those Elements are ignited by the… the spark. That resides in the hearts of us all, it creates the 6th Element. The Element of: Magic!”

The ball then expelled its latent energy out towards the shards surrounding us. The shards turned into necklaces for all of us, even me, while the ball turned into a tiara that rested on top of Twilight’s head. We then all formed together in a group to fire off a… Rainbow of Friendship? Interesting. Nightmare Moon cried out, but she was caught in the Rainbow and was quickly consumed by it. After the resulting white pulse, we were slightly scattered in the group formation. We slowly came back to and quickly took a damage report.

“Everypony OK?” Applejack asked a bit groggily.

“Oh my goodness,” Rarity was up and about, examining her tail, now fully restored.

“Why Rarity, it’s so lovely,” Fluttershy commented.

“I know! I’ll never part with it again!” Rarity exclaimed.

“No, your necklace,” Fluttershy pointed at what seemed to be a necklace made out of nowhere. “It looks just like your Cutie Mark.”

She was right. In the middle of the necklaces being worn by all of us was Rarity’s purple diamond, Fluttershy’s pink butterfly, Applejack’s orange apple, Pinkie’s blue balloon, Rainbow Dash’s red lightning bolt, my green heart notes,and Twilight’s tiara held up a fuchsia six-pointed star.

After checking out new jewelry, we quickly noticed something interesting. The sun was rising, along with a voice that Twilight recognized immediately.

“You are all indeed good friends,” The regal voice said.

The rising sun soon started to shine through the cracked window and began to be brighter and brighter until it had ended very quickly. However, an alicorn was standing in front of the window. This was Princess Celestia herself. Everypony began to bow, including me (I don’t want to possibly piss off royalty). Twilight, however, reacted bit differently.

“Princess Celestia!” She exclaimed as she trotted up to her.

“Twilight Sparkle,” She replied in the same tone. “My faithful student. I knew you could do it.”

Well, that solved a mystery as to why she was here and a real explanation to the royal chariot earlier. However, Twilight continued speaking.

“But, you told me it was all an old pony tale,” She sounded confused.

“I told you to that you needed to make some new friends, nothing more,” she spoke benevolently. “I saw the signs of Nightmare Moon’s return and I knew it was you who had the magic inside to defeat her. But you could not unleash it until you let true friendship into your heart.”

During her little speech, we all slowly got up and looked in awe at Celestia. I was just hoping for an explanation as to why there were more Elements than stated in the legends.

Now if only another will as well,” Celestia said, looking in a spot. We all turned our heads to the spot as well.

It was a dark blue alicorn surrounded by fragments of what looked like Nightmare Moon’s armor. Celestia confirmed my thought by simply saying, “Princess Luna.”

Celesia began to speak with her and Luna gasped at this. “It has been a thousand years since I have seen you like this. Time to put our differences behind us. We were meant to rule together, little sister.”

“Sister?” I heard some of us dumbly state.

Celestia continued speaking to Luna. “Will you accept my friendship?”

Everypony leaned forward to hear the answer. In Pinkie’s case, she went too far and fell over.

Luna looked a bit sad, and ran up to Celestia. “I’m so sorry! I missed you so much, big sister!”

Both Celestia and Luna were starting to cry. “I’ve missed you too.”

Pinkie was crying buckets full of tears. I wish I was saying figuratively, but with Pinkie Pie, it rarely does. She soon stopped for something even more pressing to her. “Her, you know what this calls for? A party!’

Everypony cheered and Celestia and Luna teleported us all back to the outskirts of Ponyville, where the Summer Sun Celebration was being held. She and Luna got on their royal chariots after asking me and Twilight to stay behind for some answers. During the celebrations, however, Twilight got a bit saddened.

“Why so glum, my faithful student?” Celestia asked, walking up to her. “Are not happy that your quest is complete and you can return to your studies in Canterlot?”

Twilight sighed a bit more, “That’s just it. Just when I learned how wonderful it is to have friends… I have to leave them.”

Celestia smiled a bit at this. “Spike, take a note please,” She asked the young dragon.

Spike wrote as Celestia was saying, “I, Princess Celestia, hereby decree that the unicorn, Twilight Sparkle, shall take on a new mission for Equestria. She must continue to study the magic of friendship. She must report to me her findings. From her new home… in Ponyville!”

The rest of the group got up and started to huddle Twilight in friendship hugs. “Thank you, Princess Celestia!” Twilight thanked her. “I’ll study harder than ever before!”

We all cheered and the celebration got back on its jubilant track. We continued to party until the sun was starting to set. Need I remind you that this was the longest day of the year, so it was some kind of new record for how long we continuously partied. Alas, every good thing must end some time or another and everybody had left for their homes around dusk. When it was just me and Twilight left, Celestia got all 3 of us into a room and used a couple of spells, most likely to stop any eavesdroppers.

“Now, what I’m about to say must not be repeated until we have time to figure out how to deal with this,” Princess Celestia told us right off the bat.

“But why, Princess Celestia? Also, why are there more than 6 Elements of Harmony? Are there any more we should worry about? What is going on?!” Twilight started to go into a panic attack.

“I would be asking the same questions, your highness. Maybe just a bit more calmly,” I added on.

“To answer your first question then, we need to make sure that the nobles don’t take advantage of any of you for political gain. I wouldn’t put it past a few of them to also try and remove your Elements from all of you so that they could be the ‘True Bearers’,” Celestia had a disgusted tone of voice when mentioning them. Looks like politicians never change, no matter what. We both nodded our heads and she continued.

“As for the second and third questions… This involves a story based on me and my sister’s history. After all, books can be wrong sometimes, especially if they were published anytime after the banishment of Nightmare Moon. Please listen in order for a better understanding,” She explained. We had both agreed to quietly listen.

She launched into her tale. “Over 2000 years ago, around the time of our parent’s rule, there were many Elements of Harmony made. I think the last count we did was over 15 different kinds. However, time wore on these. A few had faded into obscurity, and thus the power lessened them into nothing but mere gems. Most, however, were destroyed in the battles against Tirek, Queen Chrysalis, King Sombra, and Discord. Even the 6th Element itself disappeared after the banishment of Nightmare Moon, leaving behind only the 5 Elements you saw earlier: Honesty, Kindness, Generosity, Laughter, and Loyalty. Your Element, Twilight, was easy to recover, as it only required someone to know when that spark hit them. Your Element Medley, however, was one of the few that faded into history. While it’s true we all can understand one another, sometimes you need someone you can trust to know where you’re coming from on in some situations, and not a whole lot of ponies can lay claim to that, except me. And I was trained for this for a very long time. For someone to be this naturally understanding is astounding. I hope this also answers your 4th question as well,” She finished with a smile.

Twilight and I were stunned. That was the mystery behind these things? I thought they were just the equivalent of magical Macguffins, able to solve any problem without being mentioned ever again. Now I come to find an interesting history behind them and a reasonable explanation for what happened today? Don’t get me wrong, I still think that they are very powerful, but not the end all, be all for our villain problems. Though the name DIscord struck something inside me. I don’t know what it is, but I’m sure it was just a random thing.

“Now I am needed at Canterlot, my little ponies. be safe and never give up your friendship for anything,” Celestia flew off, biding her goodbyes.

“Thanks for staying for the celebration, Princess Celestia!” Twilight yelled in thanks as Celestia flew off, waving her hoof.

Once Celestia had flown far away, Twilight turned to me and asked, “Now, shall we get to the interviews you promised?”

“Yeah, yeah. I know. Let’s get back to the library,” I told her as we walked back to her home.

Well, today was one of the most interesting days yet. Got some new friends, got a new Element that has been apparently been lost to time and I got to sing my song that I worked on. I count this as a good day, but hope that this was just an odd day, with many normal ones to come. Cheers!

End of Chapter 4

I Got A Golden Ticket!

A New Element of Friendship

I Got A Golden Ticket!

Well, at least I woke up like any sane, normal pony today. Pinkie Pie didn’t sing a song to wake me, Fluttershy didn’t lose control of any animals, Twilight didn’t misfire a spell towards my room, Applejack didn’t buck any apples towards my room, Rainbow Dash didn’t crash land in my room, and Rarity didn’t abduct me in the middle of the night so that she could find some more inspiration… You know, it seems to me like fate is obsessed with anything going wrong while I’m asleep in my room, and only my room. For once, I’d like to see a disaster happen in my living room or kitchen. Not the bathroom though. That would be a bit… problematic. Anyways, enough rambling. Now we can go out and enjoy this peaceful, cal-

“OW!” I yelled once I got hit by a blur of pink.

“Sorry, Med! I just heard someone say the Grand Galloping Gala and I had to find out!” Pinkie apologized.

Yeah,, since I’m part of the group now, I get a nickname. Rainbow Dash is RD, Applejack is AJ, Twilight’s Twily, Fluttershy’s Flutters, Rarity is Rares, and I’m Med… ic. Sorry, couldn’t resist. But yeah, I’m Med apparently and the only explanation I got from her is that since everyone had one, I needed one and this was perfect for me. Never say I don’t try and understand her. After all, I know of her ability to break the fourth wall (originally human, remember). Wow, I can rable just like her as well. From what I remembered, it was something about the Grand Galloping Gala. For those who haven’t heard of it (a.k.a: no pony in existence apparently), it’s one of the most grand and prestigious events to ever come out of Canterlot. It’s so exclusive, you need to be practically royalty or have good connections in order to be invited. I wish that incident had never happened, otherwise I would’ve been performing at this year’s Gala. But then again, I never would’ve met my new friends and discover a secret lost to history.

“Well, then, let me get up so I can come with you. Not like I had anything else planned for today,” I asked Pinkie, which she did and pulled me… through the scenery? Wait, what was that? Wait, how did we… oh yeah. Pinkie’s ability. My mistake. Anyways, she found two golden tickets sitting on her eyes after she bumped into Twilight. She and I noticed that these tickets were for the GGG (as I will be calling it now). Pinkie immediately started to sing about the what she would do at the Gala.

Oh the Grand Galloping Gala is the best place for me

Hip hip! Hooray!

It's the best place for me

For Pinkie…

“With decorations like streamers and fairy-lights and pinwheels and piñatas and pin-cushions. With goodies like sugar cubes and sugar canes and sundaes and sun-beams and sarsaparilla. And I get to play my favorite-est of favorite fantabulous games like Pin the Tail on the Pony!” Pinkie exclaimed mid-song.

Oh the Grand Galloping Gala is the best place for me

'Cause it's the most galarrific superly-terrific gala ever

In the whole galaxy! Wheee!!

Pinkie ended the song with a huge grin on her face. She then immediately began bouncing around Twilight.

“Oh, thank you Twilight!” She exclaimed. “It’s the most wonderfulest gift ever!”

“Ummm… actually... “ Twilight looked really peeved out, most likely due to the tickets. She probably met some of our friends already and they probably did something similar to what Pinkie just did (without the music, of course). This was further proven correct by Rarity, who, when she saw the tickets and gasped.

“Are these what I think they are?” She questioned Spike.

“Yes, yes, yes! Twilight’s taking me to the Grand Galloping Gala in Canterlot!” Pinkie told Rarity, despite Twilight trying to say it was not the case.

This time we got Rarity telling us what she wanted to do at the Gala, after a bit of her self-ego. Apparently, she wanted the prince of her dreams: Prince Blueblood. She had the whole thing planned out too, down to the minute detail. Kinda creepy, but this is Rarity I'm talking about, after all.

However, that plan hinged on one thing: Blueblood being the perfect gentlecolt. I once had the distinct pleasure of meeting the esteemed royal in pony. In less than 3 minutes, he made fun of my appearance, thought my profession a waste unless I played the most fitting royal songs for him alone and was all around a total asshat. I can safely say that I would never hate a person, as all people do come to a better side at least sometime. Bluebitch, on the other hand, is very firm about being the most royal of asshats, so he gets the distinct reward of being the first pony I hate and most likely the only pony I hate. OK, rant over, back to what’s happening.

“Twilight, I simply cannot believe you would invite Pinkie Pie so she could party and prevent me from meeting my true love!” She whined. “How could you?”

Now all we need is Fluttershy for the complete collection of crazy ponies I thought. Not even a moment later, Fluttershy’s pet rabbit, Angel, took the tickets from Spike’s grasp and sprinted back to Flutters to give them to her.

“Uh… Listen, guys,” Twilight started to say. “I haven’t decided who to give the extra ticket to.”

“You haven’t?!” Pinkie and Rarity exclaimed at the same time, getting in Twilight’s face.

“Um… Excuse me…” We all turned our attention to Fluttershy. “Twilight, I would just like to ask - I mean, if it would be alright - if you haven’t given it to someone else…”

“You?” Rarity harshly questioned. “You want to go to the Gala?”

“Oh, no,” Fluttershy said in her usual demeanor. Angel then tapped her with his foot a few times and she completely changed.

“I mean, yes,” She started to blush a little here. “Or, actually, kind of. You see, it’s not so much the Grand Galloping Gala, as it is the wondrous, private gated garden that surrounds the dance.”

She went on to explain how rare the animals and plants were and how she wanted to see it all for herself. Though it was interesting to hear Fluttershy of all ponies be so passionate about getting something. She soon ended with her flying into the air, hugging the rabbit.

“Gee, Fluttershy… It sounds… beautiful?” Twilight was extremely confused now.

“Wait, just a minute!” Rainbow Dash hollered from the top of a nearby roof.

“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight looked a little bit more annoyed now. “Were you following me?”

“No, I mean, yes, I mean, maybe? Look, it doesn’t matter. I couldn’t risk a goody four-shoes like you giving that ticket away to just anybody,” She replied haughtily. Almost like Rarity, in a way.

“Wait just another minute!” Applejack calmly walked behind Twilight.

“Applejack!” Twilight was getting more and more annoyed, it seemed. “Were you following me too?”

“No, I was followin’ this one!” She pointed her hoof at Rainbow Dash. “To make sure she didn’t try any funny business. Still tryin’ to take my ticket.”

The others took offense to this and started to argue towards and around Twilight. She got into a small little ball to try and block out the sound. This was the point I needed to set things back down. I quietly told Twilight to move out of the way as quietly as she could. Once she did, I decided to use something I’ve heard only once in my life: A Siren’s Song. It was a mission across the ocean and I was one of the rare few that got to hear it late in the night. This got everyone’s attention back around to me and completely stopped any arguments.

“Now that we can listen, can you please let Twilight speak?” I asked the group politely.

They looked a bit sheepish and decided to sit down and talk about it like friends should. I then found out why Applejack wanted to go (sell her apple wares) and why Rainbow Dash wanted to go (meet with the Wonderbolts). While we were waiting for Twilight to calm back down a bit, I used my logical mind for a moment to consider who would be the best to go with her. Fluttershy was immediately out, as all she wanted to do was visit the gardens. While the timing of the dance and seasonal bloom coincided, it would still be better just to ask Princess Celestia herself if she could visit during that time. The next to go was Rarity, as first of all, she could be introduced to Prince Blueballs by Celestia herself and could be given the warning that he was not at all a good stallion and proceed with patience. Next to go was Applejack, for sure. After all, selling food when there is free catering is not a good idea at all. Plus, Applejack’s food would be looked down upon by the nobles attending, believing it to be ‘common carnival fare’. Rainbow Dash, surprisingly, had a good case here: Get connections into the Wonderbolts. And there’s no better place for connections than the GGG. However, a few problems arose with that as well. For instance, she kind of… you know… HELP SAVE EQUESTRIA FROM ETERNAL NIGHT!!! If that doesn’t get their attention, then she would probably be better off without them. Plus, if I know Rainbow Dash, then she’s probably going to win the Young Fliers Competition that would be coming up in a while and spend a whole day with them. Now it was just down to me and Pinkie Pie. We actually both had good reasons to be there as well. I wanted to be there to complete the journey that had an abrupt stop while she wanted to be there for the Gala itself. So no matter what I did, it would be a tie for best reason to go.

“Girls, this is my decision and I am going to make it on my own. And I certainly can’t think straight with all this noise,” Twilight said, pulling me from any more thinking. Apparently she had calmed down and now a gurgling noise could be heard from her stomach as well. “Not to mention hunger. Now go on, shoo!”

After the girls had grumbled and left, I was still there and Twilight gave me a look of irritation. “I thought I said for you to go?” She asked me irritably.

“You do realized that I never asked you for the other ticket? In fact, I was the one to get our friends to stop fighting. Plus I figured I could get you something to eat since I’m actually getting paid,” I calmly put forth.

Twilight took a few more seconds to calm down before fully realizing what I had said. “Sorry about that Medley. So far, all the rest of my friends have decided it was them that was going without my say-so. I really do like the fact that you just didn’t even bother,” She said apologetically.

“I do understand the need for a bit of a difference. While I have my own reasons to go, i also understand the need for your decision to be made at all. Now, if I also understand it, you need to get food into you,” I smiled a bit there.

She blushed and agreed to go someplace and eat. I accompanied her because first of all, I was hungry as well and I was also a gentlecolt and help pay for the food. I also wanted to stick around and see if the others took the advice and left it be or if they decided to get the ticket at any cost. As I like to say: Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

We sat down at a decent restaurant and got to deciding a lunch. Twilight ordered a daisy and daffodil sandwich, I ordered sunflower seeds and a small salad with carrots and radishes, and Spike (after trying to order gems) got some hay fries.

“What do you think Spike?” Twilight worriedly asked Spike.

“I think we need to try another restaurant. I mean, I like grass and all, but would it hurt anybody to offer gemstones?” Spike complained.

“Ponies can’t eat gemstones. Ponies are normally the ones ordering. Ergo, no offering of any gemstones .Śó̳r̴̳͔̳r̩̖͎͉̗y̜͔̜̘̘͈,͏͍ ̠̭̭͔͖͖̀k̗͍̙i̱͚̹̭̖͘d̼̪̬,̺̪͜” I told Spike.

“Um… did you get something? You sounded a bit off there near the end,” Twilight asked curiously.

“What do you mean? I sounded just fine,” I was confused as to what I said. All I did was explain how waiters didn’t offer gems as meals.

Twilight gave me an odd look, but was stopped by any further questioning with the food arriving. It was just as we were starting to eat that ponies all around us started to flee to their homes. It was also then I noticed that it was raining everywhere except where we were.

Odd, I thought to myself. Who’s in charge of the weather today?Oh, wait, don’t tell me RD’s trying to…

Sure enough, looking up got me a view of Rainbow Dash putting up the scheduled storm for today everywhere except where Twilight was sitting. Twilight looked to where I was looking and found the same thing.

“Hi there best friend forever that I’ve ever,ever had!” Rainbow yelled from the patch in the sky. “Enjoying the sunny weather?”

“Rainbow Dash? What are you doing?” Twilight suspiciously asked RD.

“What do you mean?” Rainbow tried to pull an innocent tone and was failing miserably at it. “I just thought the smartest, most generous pony wouldn’t want to get rained on. So I’d thought I’d kick a hole in the clouds to keep her dry so she could dine in peace. That’s all.”

“Rainbow, you’re not trying to get extra consideration for the extra ticket by doing extra special favors, are you?” She started to glare at Rainbow.

“Me?” Rainbow tried to continue the charade of innocence, this time adding the sun as a halo. I think it still had no effect on Twilight. “No, no, no! Of course not!”

“Uh-huh,” Twilight and I said in unison.

“Seriously. I’d do it for anypony,” She claimed as other ponies were trying to get out of the downpour.

“Rainbow, I am not comfortable accepting unwanted favors. So I’d appreciate it if you closed up that raincloud right now,” Twilight stated firmly.

Rainbow Dash grudgingly accepted and closed the gap. Before it could start to rain, I quickly flew over to the recently covered hole and re-opened it.

“Hey, what did I just say?!” Twilight looked a little bit pissed off.

“Remember, I don’t care about the ticket. I’m actually trying to be a good friend. I just forgot we had a rain scheduled for today. I’m not usually on duty, so if a new schedule is posted, I never know until I get back and ask for this month’s and the next’s,” I explained.

“Hm… Well, I think I can quickly finish up here. Just please close it before we leave,” Twilight grumbled a bit before starting to eat again.

After we had finished up, we had gone through the rain and Rarity found us dripping wet.

“Twilight. It’s raining,” Rarity said in an almost deadpan tone.

“No, really?” Twilight sarcastically stated.

“Come with me before you catch a cold!” She pulled Twilight into the rain and made her way to her shop. Spike and I trailed behind her, trying to get out of the rain, right after I closed the gap I had left open for Twilight.

Once all four of us had made it inside, Twilight instantly shook her coat, splashing all the water away. However, it landed on Rarity instead.

“Oops. Sorry,” Twilight said bashfully to Rarity, who was soaking wet at this point.

“Oh, no. It’s quite alright,” Rarity faked an expression of happiness. “After all, we are the best of friends, are we not?”

“Let me at least get you a towel, Miss Rarity,” I politely stated, starting to fly and grab one for her.

“It’s quite alright, Medley. I can get one by myself and I don’t need someone who was invited to do this for me,” She declined in a polite manner, levitating a towel to her as we were speaking.

“And you know what the best of friends do?” Rarity asked Twilight, attention fully on her.

“Uh…” Twilight had no response to anything so far.

“Makeovers!” Rarity jumped with joy and quickly got to work on Twilight.

What she did was kind of funny, at least to my sense of humor. She pulled a cover from nearby and immediately shooed me and Spike to the other side. What we then heard were the sounds of a construction going on, complete with the sound of a drill. Twilight sounded like she was resisting a bit, but to no avail. When Rarity had pulled away the cover, Twilight had on a saddle made in a simple design with a few gems to accent the tri-colored fabric.

“There!” Rarity exclaimed. “Oh you’re simply darling!”

“Uh… Yeah. It is kind of pretty, isn’t it?” Twilight looked at the outfit in kind surprise.

Spike seemed to disagree, but I thought it was nice on her. It was simple, which she usually goes for, and it was a unique outfit that she normally wouldn’t wear.

“And you!” Rarity set her sights on the dragon. “Oh, Spike. I have a dandy little outfit for the dashing gent.”

She once again pulled the cover to where Twilight once stood. Spike tried to make a break for it, but from what I knew of Rarity, once she has a design for you, her telekinesis knows no bounds. I should know. I just had my whole wardrobe replaced except for one vest I had managed to save from the purge. Anyways, back to Spike. Again, construction was heard and it was soon time for the reveal. The reveal was... interesting to say the least. He had on an outfit not uncommon in the Renaissance Period (human calendar) with a wavy blond wig to match.

“Oh, Spike,” I heard Twilight say in the background, chucking a bit.

“Now all you need is a hat,” Rarity dashed back with a sombrero-like hat with a feather sticking out a bit.

“I told you, I didn’t want any part in this girly gala gunk!” Spike complained. “See you back in the library!”

With that, Spike dashed off so fast that the outfit hung in the air for a moment before falling onto the ground.

“Do you want me to go after him or stay here. Work with me either way. I understand the need for these dresses and also understand Spike’s need to try and stay male. Guy thing,” I explained at their strange expressions.

“Actually, darling, since you’re here, would you mind testing out this new outfit? I still need a bit more work on stallion clothing,” Rarity asked, starting to form puppy dog eyes to keep me there as well.

“Where are they and how many?” I grumbled good-naturedly.

“For heaven’s sake!” Rarity went along with the act. “There’s only 500 that need to be done today!”

We both had a chuckle at that and Rarity told me the real amount of outfits, which only happened to be the one. Since Twilight and Spike had already done this skit, I think it would be safe to say that the same happened to me as well, this time just for Rarity and Twilight. When the cover disappeared this time, it was a sight to behold. I was dressed up as a Canterlot royal in full garb, with cleverly hidden holes for my wings to spread out. For those who have not been to Canterlot at one time or another, a normal Canterlot Pony would have on a vest with trimmings that best matched their coat. In my case, that’s a black vest with white trimmings. As I was not a unicorn myself, I could also wear a ht without it getting in the way of my magic. It was a simple top hat, but it went well with the entire ensemble.

“Well, darling? What do you think?” Rarity leaned in for my opinion.

“Why I think it is a wonderful outfit. I may wear a more casual version of this more often. With the top hat, of course,” I commented. “truly, a design flaw is nowhere to be seen with this.”

“Thank you, Medley. Now as for Twilight, this is all about how well you’ll look for the Grand Galloping Gala,” Rarity went on to Twilight.

“Wait… the Grand-” Twilight had a look of comprehension on her face, but was interrupted by a gasp from Rarity.

“And oh my goodness! What a coincidence,” Rarity pointed out the copy of Twilight’s current attire. “I happen to have an ensemble of my own that matched yours to a T! We would be the belles of the ball, you and I. Everyone would be clamoring for our attention. All eyes would be on us, and everyone will finally know the most beautiful, the most talented, the most sophisticated pony in all of Equestria is Rarity the unicorn!”

She then noticed the unamused face on both me and Twilight. She nervously laughed for a moment and continued on what can only be an entirely different train of thought while patting her on the head.

“And Twilight Sparkle, of course,” She continued to nervously laugh and pat Twilight on the head and petered out.

“I see what’s going on here,” Twilight was starting to look a bit pissed off right now, seeing as Rarity was backing away. “You’re just buttering me up so that I give you the extra ticket. Well, it’s not gonna work!” At this, she flew the saddle away from her. “You’re going to have to wait for my decision just like everyone else!”

At this, she stormed out of Rarity’s shop slightly enraged. I thanked rarity for the outfit, put it back together nicely, got into my regular attire, and walked out with Twilight, figuring she could use a sane pony to vent at for a little while.

“Well, at least it’s not as bad as lunch,” Twilight murmured loudly.

“Did somepony just say lunch?” Applejack appeared out of nowhere and grab Twilight to who knows where this time. I, of course, wanted to see where this would go.

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Twilight looked upon the cart right in front of her, filled to the brim with what looked like many apple sweets.

“I got apple pie, apple fritters, apple tarts, apple dumplings, apple crisp, apple crumble, and apple granny smith! The dessert, not my granny. What do ya say, best friend?” Applejack said very fast.

Twilight’s pupils started to dilate bigger and bigger during the the naming until I swear I could put one of the desserts on her eyes as a small serving plate. And now I’m hungry all over again. So’s Twilight, apparently,as her stomach sounded like she never had any lunch at all.

“Is that a yes?” Applejack asked not too desperately.

“No, no!” Twilight was starting to raise her voice as the dessert Applejack had been balancing flew off. “I don’t know who I’m giving the ticket to and all these favors aren’t making it any easier to decide! In fact, I’m less sure now than I was this morning!”

“So that’s a maybe?” Applejack asked a fleeing Twilight.

“What the heck happened this morning? I know it must’ve been something…. Wait a minute. You and Rainbow both appeared at the same time and given the two of you based on past experiences… you both competed for the extra ticket, didn’t you?” I asked logically.

“Well, um, maybe?” Applejack looked away, seeing as an expression of guilt was creeping up on her.

“Well, I hope that nopony else could try and bribe her and where’s Pinkie?” I hit a realization that so far, the only pony not to try and bribe her was Fluttershy and Pinkie. I knew for a fact that Fluttershy’s pet rabbit, Angel, would organize something for Fluttershy. If I knew Pinkie, it would be a big celebration that would involve townsfolk and a party in honor of Twilight being a ‘super-duper-awesometastic best friend that would give her the ticket. From what I also knew, Pinkie was not subtle, so of course the townsfolk would be involved and most likely chase after Twilight for the ticket. Once this was realized, I flew back to Twilight home, hoping nothing had gone too far.

Unfortunately for me, it was not the case. Twilight had just yelled at Fluttershy for her trying to also get the ticket and she didn’t notice the crowd of ponies gathered at the door. So when they did the surprise party, Twilight instantly knew who it was doing this and what they wanted. Pinkie sang a song after throwing her in the ring of ponies.

Twilight is my bestest friend

Whoopie, whoopie!

“Pinkie…” Twilight exasperated. Pinkie continued on nonetheless.

She's the cutest, smartest, all around best pony, pony!

“Pinkie,” Twilight started to angrily say. She was ignored yet again.

I bet if I throw a super-duper fun party, party!

“Pinkie!” Twilight was trying, to no avail, to get her attention.

She'll give her extra ticket to the Gala to me!

“PIIINKIIIE!!” Twilight yelled at the top of her lungs.

This seemed to work to disperse the crowd enough so that they stopped throwing her up into the air. Pinkie trotted merrily up to her. “Yes, Twilight?” She batted her eyes for effect.

“At least the other ponies tried to be subtle about the ticket,” She yelled at Pinkie while getting up.

Now I could see where this was going. And sure enough, the ponies gathered around to hear from Pinkie herself that twilight had an extra ticket to the Gala and immediately started to try and do favors for her to get it. AT this point, I calmly walked up to Twilight and just told her to cover her ears. She knew what I was about to do and covered her ears and Spikes for good measure. Then, I started to sing a song that I knew would at least lead the crowd away: Run Away! from Monty Python’s Spamalot. It worked like a charm, somehow, and led the crowd away. It didn’t for Pinkie, however, as she just snuck inside Twilight’s home instead. Crazy, but this is Pinkie I’m speaking of. Nonetheless, once the crowd had dispersed, Twilight stopped the magic and ran back inside before the crowd had realized that she had a ticket still. When she got inside, she quickly had me and Spike shut off all lights and lock all doors. Once done, we all sat in relief as a huddle. Then, the light in the room turned back on to reveal that Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie were waiting up in one of the higher cubbies.

Twilight screamed, “I can’t decide, I just can’t decide! It’s important to all of you and I just can’t stand to disappoint any of you and giving me gifts and doing favors won’t make any difference because you’re all my friends and I want to make you all happy and I can’t! I just can’t!” Twilight then broke down into a sob.

“See, this is what I was trying to show you 5 and none of you took the hint! I was being the supportive friend without the ticket being my main priority. I was trying to show what you 5 were supposed to do, but all of you were oblivious in your quest for the ticket. Shame on all of you,” I said in a harsh reprimand, trying to comfort Twilight.

Applejack was the first to come down with a look of great guilt in her expression. “Twilight, sugar, I didn’t mean to put so much pressure on you. And if it helps, I don’t want the ticket anymore. You can give it to somepony else. I won’t feel bad, I promise,” She said in a remorseful voice, gently patting her on the back.

“Me too,” Fluttershy flew down to join us. “I feel just awful that I made you feel so awful.”

“And me too,” Pinkie joined in. “It’s no fun upsetting your friends.”

“Twilight,” Rarity added in her voice to the mix of apologies. “It was unfair of me to try and force you as I did.”

“Yes! That means the ticket is mine!” Rainbow Dash flew in joy. She was about to rub it in, but a harsh glare from all of us, especially me, stopped her from doing so. “You know, I haven’t perfected my signature moves yet for the Wonderbolts anyway. I don’t need that ticket either.”

“And as I already told you earlier, I may want the ticket, but not enough to try and get it at any cost. I understand when a situation is out of hand and I try to not add to it. You can keep the ticket,” I reminded her.

“And like Medley said earlier, us gals were so gung ho about going to the Gala, that we couldn’t see how un-gung ho we were making you,” Applejack continued, Twilight calming down and lifting her head up a bit.

“We’re sorry Twilight,” they apologized in unison.

“Spike, take down a note,” She asked the dragon, for which he pulled out some parchment and a quill for writing. “Dear Princess Celestia, I learned that one of the joys of friendship is sharing your blessings. But when there’s not enough blessings to go around, having more than your friends can make you feel pretty awful. So, though I appreciate the invitation, I will be returning both tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala.”

“What?!” the girls yelled.

“if my friends can’t all go, I don’t want to go either,” Twilight explained.

“Twilight, you don’t have to that,” Applejack said in utter shock.

“Nope, I made up my mind,” Twilight made her final decision. “Spike, you can send the letter now.”

What I saw next was something I have never seen before. Spike opened the window and blew fire on the letter. Instead of it turning into ashes, it turned into green smoke that looked like it was flying towards Canterlot. I went with the assumption that this was how the reports got sent to Celestia. The action lied elsewhere, as Fluttershy spoke up.

“Now you won’t get to go to the Gala either,” She softly said.

“It’s OK, everypony. I couldn’t possibly enjoy myself without my best friends with me,” Twilight soothed them.

This seemed to calm everypony else down and send us into a group huddle with Twilight in the middle. “So I’d rather not go at all,” Twilight softly said in the huddle.

Spike, however, did the fake barf and then puckered up like he was about to actually barf. “Well wallop my withers, Spike,” Applejack scoffed at Spike’s reaction. “Isn’t that just like a boy, who can’t handle the least bit of sentiment.”

“Hey, I resent that,” I complained. “I’m currently in the huddle with you gals.”

It went largely unnoticed, however, and for good reason. Spike did hurl, but instead of vomit, he belched out green fire that then turned into a scroll. This went through where Applejack’s head would’ve been, if she hadn’t ducked in time and the flame went through the gap of her head and her hat.

“A letter from the Princess? That was fast,” Twilight stated.

“Y̺̼̫͉̠̟o͏̼̳͙̜u̝̩͇̼̟͟ ̀d̩̦͚o̬̯̯͠ņ'̠͔͎̺t ̮̤͚̫̳͝s̮a͎͈̳̙̫̕y͙͕̦̣̝,” I̯̞̥ ̙̯s̶̭̳̰̮a̺̯̦ͅͅi͕̖̳͇͉d̼͈̥̮̳ ̵̭̝̞̺i̮̩̝͠n̳̣̘̮̹̖̟ ͏͚̺̯̗͔ͅa̰n̩͇̰̻̙̪͕ ̣̟̗ͅo̩͝b̷̘ͅv̰i̙̗̪̹̜͙͘o͕̮ù͓̺̝͈s̲ͅ ͎̯̙̭̘͍t̟̹̣̱̝ͅo҉͕n̶̪̦e̥͖͙̖̫̭̞ ͕̬o̻͕͎f̖̹ ̺̹̤v̠̻͍͖͖͎o̹i̱͙̝̫̫͕c̻͍̦e̷̻̣.

I don’t know why, but everypony was looking at me with a strange expression on their face.

“Are you sure you don’t have a cold or something?” Twilight asked me.

“Yes, I am quite sure. Now, wasn’t there a letter about to be read?” I answered, pointing my hoof at the letter in Spike’s claw.

“Oh, yes, right,” Twilight looked dazed before setting her sights back on the letter. “Can you please read the letter Spike?”

He nodded and opened it up. He used a more serious voice and said, “Dear Twilight, why didn’t you just say so in the first place?” He then pulled out some more tickets and exclaimed, “Seven tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala!”

“Now we can all go!” Twilight cheered. We all started to cheer as well to this series of good news.

We then heard Twilight’s stomach rumble and remembered that it was late at night and she hadn’t gotten anything to eat since lunch. Rarity just simply said, “Allow us to treat you to dinner.”

“What a great way to apologize,” Rainbow said as we were walking out the door, making sure to grab our own ticket as we left.

“And to celebrate!” Pinkie added. Come on everyone! The cupcakes are on me!”

There was a slight delay to the restaurant with Spike, but as I stopped for him, I noticed another flash of light and saw Spike run out with childish glee with his ticket to the Gala as well. He noticed me and immediately tried for the macho man route of dialogue. As soon as I turned my back, however, I still could hear his giggling going on. We then all sat down a decent place and got our orders down (which I’m sure nopony would want to hear). While we were waiting though, the girls noticed something peculiar going on with me in general.

“Say, Med, how did you manage to get the crowd away from Twilight’s place yet I wasn’t affected in the slightest. Though I do love the song you choose,” Pinkie asked in a curious tone.

“I just used my natural talent, that’s all,” I bashfully answered. “As to why you weren’t affected… I can’t answer that.”

“Though I got a question of my own sugarcube,” Applejack was next to question me. “How come you didn’t raise your voice at me back at Twilight’s home before we apologized?”

I froze at that. To answer that meant explaining my story yet all over again, this time to even more people. I couldn’t lie either, as this was the Bearer of the Element of Honesty asking me this question. I was actually starting to sweat so much, the other noticed this as well.

“It’s alright, darling,” Rarity tried to calm me down a bit. “You can tell us. After all, we are friends, aren’t we?”

At that moment, I knew the answer I would give. After all, if I told Twilight right after the adventure of Nightmare Moon, then I could tell the rest of them as well.

“OK then. I will tell you all how this happened. But not at this time, as I don’t want to share my life story in a very public place. Twilight already knows and has it recorded so you can listen to it again just in case. If you have any other questions, you can ask me privately when I’m not doing lessons. Now, i do believe I see the food coming our way, so let’s enjoy the good food, good drink, and good company involved. Cheers!” I proclaimed.

And so, after a night of dinner and a repeat of my life history, I end on this bittersweet note. I know Luna’s realm calls to me to sleep, but now I had a question going through my mind: Why was it that at the two moments of mass confusion to me that I was asked why I had a disease when I clearly didn’t say anything? This kept me up for a while, pondering the answer, but nothing came to me later that night. I eventually fell asleep with the question still burning inside my mind. With that, a friendship problem had been averted and now everyone in the circle of friends knew my story. They promised in return to tell me their life story, but one at a time as to not confuse me. Now I did everypony a good night and hope for pleasant dreams.

End of Chapter 5

Just Take A Deep Breath And Stop To Smell the Apples

A New Element of Friendship

Just Take A Deep Breath And Stop To Smell the Apples

This morning was an unusual one. I say that as I’m waking up to a stampede of cows heading towards Ponyville and the collective noise functioned as my alarm clock.

“Why did it have to be today of all days?” I groaned as I rolled out of my bed onto the floor. “Ow, that hurt.”

I flew upward to land back on my hooves and quickly got the doors and windows shut down, as was everypony else. I waited out the stampede until it was either farther away or it had stopped, I couldn’t tell. However, from the sounds of cheering going on and this being from the other 5 friends of mine, I figured it was Applejack taking care of the stampede, so it must’ve been a diverting stampede back to their part of the field. Since she saved Ponyville and all, it was a good idea to throw a celebration for her. Well, it was Pinkie’s idea, but we went along with it anyways. The mayor also decided to give her an award for her troubles as well. We had set down the remaining pieces for Applejack’s celebratory party when Twilight was checking on everyone.

“We all ready?” Twilight asked Rarity.

“Just one last thing,” Rarity answered, using her magic to lift a big banner done entirely with apples for Applejack. “Now we’re ready.”

“Is Applejack all set?” Twilight asked me.

“I think so. The only problem is that I don’t think any of us have seen Applejack this week,” I explained the small dilemma.

“I know this about our good ol’ buddy Applejack,” Rainbow Dash interjected. “Applejack is never late!”

“I would have to agree with you there, Rainbow,” I answered to her.

After a while, the Ponyville residents were gathered in front of the stage and were waiting for the ceremony to begin. I decided to sing a little [background]https://soundcloud.com/mitzi-julieta-palma-guerrero/my-little-pony-find-the-music-in-you&sa=D&ust=1453970361395000&usg=AFQjCNEleE6aZBHb71vb6rJDtFv5u1VZ8Q]background](https://www.google.com/url?q=[url=https://soundcloud.com/mitzi-julieta-palma-guerrero/my-little-pony-find-the-music-in-you&sa=D&ust=1453970361395000&usg=AFQjCNEleE6aZBHb71vb6rJDtFv5u1VZ8Q) music[/url] to ease any tensions on this ceremony/party.

“My word, darling! I know that you said you had a good voice, but it sounds absolutely splendid! Though, what song were you just singing? I have an idea if you can let me use it,” Rarity exclaimed once I had finished singing.

“ I made up this song completely on my own. It is meant for a 4 part acapella, but I just loved the bass part. I can give you the sheet music in case you want it. It would be interesting to hear some other ponies sing it for once. For now, though, we need to focus on the ceremony. It looks like it’s about to start,” I promised her, trying to segue into what we came here for in the first place. Rarity and I saw Twilight walk up to the stand, straighten her flashcards, and begin the ceremony properly.

“Welcome everypony! Today we are here to honor a pony we can always count on to help on in matters great and small. A pony whose contributions to-” Twilight was interrupted in a whirlwind of her own notes by Rainbow Dash.

This started a line of fellow friends all trying to get their speeches done as well, as Rainbow was then replaced by Pinkie, who then was taken over by Fluttershy, all ending with the mayor stopping Twilight from advancing any further.

“All I can say is that I was going to patiently wait for you to be done. Though it might be better off next time to cut down on the flashcards. After all, almost all your friends had one quick speech. You don’t need to give a soliloquy for one of your best friends,” I tried to calm her down as she fumed a bit in her spot. I think the glare I got in return signified that it was not very successful.

“And so, without further ado,” Mayor Mare started the ball rolling on the party aspect and ending the ceremony part. “It is my privilege to give the Prized Pony of Ponyville award to our beloved guest of honor, a pony of utmost trustworthiness, reliability and integrity. Ponyville’s most capable and dependable friend: Applejack!”

The curtains were brushed aside to reveal… a blank space. Wow. I swear that stage curtains are alive and hate us because I’ve now rarely seen a time that when the curtains were going to reveal someone important, they’re not there for some reason or another. I believe Spike said it best after a long pause.

“Awkward,” Spike said.

“I’m here!” We all heard Applejack yell from the back of the audience.

Her trip up was something only irony could’ve had a huge hand in, as she was tired as all Tartarus, kept on yawning all the while carrying overflowing baskets of apples. Have to say, this would be a terrible first impression for anypony. It didn’t help that she was out of it as well, messing around with the trophy before dragging it with her back to her farm house.

“Was it just me, or did Applejack seem a little..?” Twilight was forming a question.

“Tired?” Rainbow Dash tried to fill in.

“Dizzy?” Fluttershy added.

“Messy?” Rarity tried her hoof at it as well. Her explanation to the stares we gave was just, “Well, did you see her mane?”

Pinkie, however, said, “She seemed fine to me. Woooo! Woooo!” She then ended with the noises while trying to move in front of the shiny trophy.

“I would actually agree with Rainbow Dash on this case,” I threw in my own two bits.

Twilight hummed a bit and told us that she would go check on Applejack, just to make sure she was alright. We agreed and went our separate ways to wait for Applejack to help us with our ideas and whatnot. I had actually planned for Applejack to help me learn how to lasso (it looked interesting and get your mind out of the gutter). When she did arrive though, I had a feeling that this was not going to end well for either of us. It looked like her mane was wrung through a tree multiple times and her eyesight looked like it was getting fuzzier by the minute. I knew right then I had to do something or else I might end up getting lassoed upside down a building, bound in just the right way not to be able to fly.

“Hey, Applejack, before we start, do you wanna listen to a song? I want to see how well it gets performed for when Luna re-emerges from the shadows,” I asked.

“I thought you wanted to try your hoof at using the rope to lasso?” Applejack questioned me, a tad suspicious.

“I do. I never said I would sing instead of lasso. I just want to try out my song while I still remember that somepony is nearby to listen,” I replied, trying to ease her nerves.

“Well, OK. But we are going to lasso afterwards,” She said as she plopped down to listen.

“Will do,” I finished, starting to warm up my voice. “Now, here’s my original piece of music, in honor of Princess Luna: Children of the Night.”

Come, little children, I'll take thee away

Into a land of enchantment

Come, little children, the time's come to play

Here in my garden of shadows

Follow, sweet children, I'll show thee the way

Through all the pain and the sorrows

Weep not, poor children, for life is this way

Murdering beauty and passions

Hush now, dear children, it must be this way

Too weary of life and deceptions

Rest now, my children, for soon we'll away

Into the calm and the quiet

It looked like my idea had worked. Applejack was starting to really nod off and probably would’ve stayed awake, but my natural talent, it seemed, was starting to win. I noticed that I had built up a good audience listening in to my song and it was starting to affect them as well. I knew the song was about to end soon, so I pushed as much as I could into the lullaby as I could, hoping for Applejack to fall asleep at last.

Come, little children, I'll take thee away

Into a land of enchantment

Come, little children, the time's come to play

Here in my garden of shadows

It had worked. Applejack slumped over, fast asleep and not even reacting to the outside world anymore. The flipside is, it also worked on the impromptu audience, putting them into a slumber as well. However, only 5 other ponies were still standing in the crowd and I noticed that they were all my Element friends. They looked stunned, switching their gaze from the sleeping audience to the snoring Applejack to me and repeated.

“That… was… wicked! Is this seriously your natural talent? Awesome!” Figures that Rainbow Dash would be the one to be the one in total excitement.

“This is strange. To be able to put this many people to sleep at once just through voice… this is alicorn level amounts of magic,” Twilight stated with a hint of fear in her voice.

“I’m sorry girls. This was my idea on how to get Applejack to stop being so stubborn about needing some sleep. If I were to take a guess, she is probably trying to do the Apple family Apple-bucking Season all by herself,” I tried to soothe their fear.

“That… was right. How did you get all that?” Twilight asked in a dumbstruck voice.

“Lucky guess and a few clues here and there. Now, why didn’t she ask for help instead of trying to do a whole orchard?” I pondered.

“Well, Applejack here thinks she doesn’t need any help and she’s all fine on her own. I swear that she’s as stubborn as a mule,” Twilight answered, then apologized to a nearby donkey.

“Well, she’s probably going to be out of commission for the next few days, so why don’t we just get her home so that she doesn’t end up sleeping on the road for the next few days,” I offered.

We all agreed and got Applejack home. Her family was happy that she finally got to sleep and told us that once she woke up, they’d try and get her to accept some help. We all went to sleep that night with no problem. Our dreams, however, changed to something we normally wouldn’t see.

I knew for a fact that if I suddenly went from performing my concert in front of thousands of ponies to the apple orchard, an intervention from Princess Luna is most likely involved. Sure enough, I saw the rest of my friends as well and we all met up to Applejack, who was still Apple-bucking.

“What in the hay?” Applejack turned in surprise to see all 6 of us there. How did we get from Med’s place to my orchard in less than a minute? It makes no darn sense.”

“I believe we’re in a dream, darling, and somehow we’re having a connected one as well,” Rarity answered.

“Wowee! A connected dream? Does that mean we can see each others thoughts and share favorite dreams and see other worlds and-” Pinkie rambled on, being cut off by Twilight.

“I think that Princess Luna is involved somehow. She is the Princess of Night and Dreams, after all,” Twilight deduced.

“No shit, Sherlock,” I reflexively retorted.

“Hey, now. No need to get testy with us,” Applejack snapped.

“Sorry. Though, I have to wonder, who’s mind is this taking place in? After all, someone needed to start the dream and you can’t create a dream out of nothing,” I deduced.

“Hey everypony! I found a hidden and secret door! It’s even labeled! How strange is that?” Spike shouted off in the distance.

“What does it say?” Twilight yelled back.

It was a long pause before Spike yelled back, “Girls! Medley! You need to read this, immediately!”

It was a mad scramble toward Spike’s voice, but we eventually found him. My heart instantly clenched when the door was labeled ‘Medley’s Human Memories’. My friends all gasped when they realized what that had meant.

“Lands sakes. You mean to tell me that little story of yers was real, Med?” Applejack looked dumbstruck.

“Yes. I’m guessing you girls had doubts over my story about my previous life?” I sighed at all of them nodding their heads, even Applejack. “I knew there should have been a better time or someway to show my claims to be the truth. However, I seem to recall you girls pressing for information, so I did what I could to make it seem as truth as possible. Now, this may not be humanity as a whole and only how I lived my life, but if you really want to see how a human lived… well, the opportunity is right in front of you,” I pointed a hoof at the door.

They were hesitant about this for a few moments before the most unlikely pony decided to go and visit the realm of humans. “I say we do it,” Fluttershy shyly stated.

To say we were all shocked would be an understatement. Fluttershy, the most timid and shyest of all ponies, who would never harm a fly, was one of the first ponies to volunteer for a journey that would not be at all innocent. With that, the other 5 agreed to go with her.

“Well, since I wish not to re-remember these memories all over again, I’ll at least be polite in letting you all into my memories,” I politely declined the journey, opening the door for them. “Just remember, do not think I act like most of the humans that are frequently heard about but rather the few I knew and talked with.”

They all nodded and entered the door one by one until I was the only one left in the dreamscape. I then felt a strange presence, almost like when I was meeting LaurFastia, land nearby.

“We thank thee for thy song in our honor. To why did you create such a piece?” I heard Princess Luna speak behind me.

“I thought it would be something to appreciate you as a Princess and a pony at the same time,” I answered as I turned to face her. “Why did you create the combined dreamscape, pulling my human memories along with me into what looks like Applejack’s mind?”

Her face tightened a bit and she explained as best she could, “We thought it would help if we could show them that thou art true in your statements of the human realm. However, that was something even beyond our power as Princess of Dreams, as much as we wanted to help. But then, a surge of power was put into us and we were able to do so. This is… highly unusual.”

“I can only think of one pony who could do such a feat: LaurFastia,” I replied with a note of awe, which I was entitled to, as she was the one who brought me to this world after all.

The expression on Luna’s face was so peculiar. I believe it was some sort of combination of surprise, disbelief, awe, and interest. “What dost thou know about the Creator?”

“All I know is that she’s immensely powerful and the creator of this universe, judging from the fact that she some of this and for bringing me to this world in the first place,” I answered back as best I could.

“He would be correct as well,” Luna and I hear a voice but cannot find its origin. “He has his part to play, so I brought him here. He came here of his own free will as well, so do not think this was a mistake on my part. Remember this well, Princess Luna: Do not interfere with this plan.”

After this was said, a Cutie Mark of the show logo appeared for a few seconds before turning into a small explosion. Well, I can certainly say she had a style for exiting the conversation. It was about that time my friends had returned from my memories, all looking a bit shell shocked. Before I could even open my mouth, Twilight was the first to tackle me into a reassuring hug before the rest of my friends joined in as well, all saying how sorry they were about how my life was before and how they should’ve trusted me right away. I held my ground until I saw Pinkie with a flat mane and crying. All resolve broke down then and there, not even bothering to hold back my own tears. I know that for some of the memories, they would hit real close to home, as I had the propensity to look up creepypastas and a few involved at least one of each of the Mane 6, the biggest ones being Rainbow and Pinkie. After we had cried all we could, we eventually turned our attention back to Princess Luna, looking in on this with a small smile on her face, seeing friends bond together.

“Sorry there, Princess. Just wanted to make sure everything was alright,” Applejack apologized for the group.

“We are not offended, Bearer of Honesty. We made this shared dream in hopes that thy friends would help thee see the light, as it were. We, however, are not responsible for the human memories doorway in this mindscape. That will be a discussion for a fairer day. For now, though, let thy friends help make thee see sense,” Princess Luna said before going off into another dream to help some other pony with their nightmare.

“Applejack, you’re Applebucking hasn’t just caused you problems, it’s over-propelled pegasi, practically poisoned plenty of ponies, and terrorized bushels of brand new bouncing baby bunnies. I don’t care what you say! You! Need! Help!” Twilight ranted. My guess is she was planning on saying this to her sooner if not for my involvement.

Apparently something momentous happened while I was gone, and Applejack relented with a sighed, “OK, Twilight.”

Twilight looked like she was being too harsh with her. “Now Applejack, I completely respect the Apple family ways. You’re always there to help anypony in need, so now it’s time you put away some of that stubborn pride and allow your friends to help you out.”

Applejack smiled a bit at this. “Thank you fer the kind words of yours.” She then gave me a look. “Now, what were you plannin’ on doin’ while I was fast asleep?”

“Well excuse me for trying to get you to sleep so that you could think better and come to a decision. I worked with the talent I had, so sue me,” I complained.

“Oh, yes. About that: Why was it we weren’t affected by your singing yet Applejack and the rest were knocked unconscious?” Rarity asked politely.

“Who can say? My working theory is that since we’re the Elements of harmony, we must have some kind of basic magic shield against one another’s talents, or at the very least mine. But since Applejack was so tired, the magic wasn’t enough to protect her from my talent. Hence why she fell asleep whilst you five didn’t. This is all just an idea, so don’t take my word on this,” I logically argued.

Twilight had a strange expression on her face that I now will call her ‘testing face’. “Meet me after helping Applejack. I have some tests for you to do.”

I nod. “Now, since we all are sharing a dream, what say we have a little fun?” I grin.

“What do you mean, fun?” Rainbow looked at me suspiciously.

“Well, lets see here. What’s the one thing all of you enjoyed from my memories?”

The unanimous vote was the amusement park Disney World. “Well, then,” I say as the mindscape turned into Disney World from memory and the other 6 get turned into humans. “Let’s have some fun times while we can still dream, girls!” They cheered and immediately set off into many different directions while I stayed behind to relish in one of the few awesome memories I had left.

Eventually though, all dreams soon come to an end, as the mindscape slowly faded into white and then we were all brought back to reality. We had waited for Applejack to be in good health and help her out with the rest of the Applebucking. It was a bit disappointing after the awesome dream, but at least they had enjoyed themselves from my memories and didn’t leave completely against the human race. While they may have scars from the experience, I know that they’ll come to me with any questions they may have left. However, to improve humanity’s good qualities just a bit more, I invited them all over for a quick lesson in the good humanity has done, but somehow Lyra had snuck in as well, most likely hearing the word ‘human’ and getting excited. I think enough of my thoughts have been put down for tonight’s entry. I’ll leave my performance at the end for a little fun. After all, life is not always about the philosophy behind it. Every once in awhile, you need to finish on a bright and clear note. The name for this song: Anthropology. Sung by: Me and Lyra.

Alrighty, mares and gentledragon. Here’s a song for the good in humanity!

small jazz solo for intro

Human beings fascinate me,

being just the way they are.

Tell me little pony, can you

push a cart or drive a car?

Lyre is my instrument but humans strum their sweet guitars!

It's a mystery.

Anthropology!

Fingers, toes and tiny noses

brownish hair and tannish skin!

Would it be too much to ask to see the world they're living in?

Everybody tells me that it's old and fake mythology.

It's a mystery.

Anthropology!

Aren't you bored of brushing your coat?

Styling your mane with your hooves?

I don't mean to butt in our gloat,

But ancient history proves

humans don't have wings or magic,

they don't need it,

they don't care,

all they got's imagination,

new inventions everywhere!

Babies, children, teens and elders all alike have clothes to wear!

It's so real to me.

Anthropology!

Albert Einstein, Cleopatra, William Shakespeare, Elton John!

Michael Phelps, Barack Obama.

Who's to say that they're all gone?

Maybe humans like us too and dress like us at ComicCon?

It's so real to me.

Anthropology!

Yeah, they've had a couple of fights.

Nobody's perfect, you see!

Still I say

I'm born with the rights

to study whatever I please!

I don't need to horse around now!

I can stand on two legs!

I would trade my magic powers

For a pair of new legs!

Grab a camera!

Come one, zoom in!

'Cause your favorite mare's a human!

ME!

That is who I'll Be!

Anthropology!Shh!

Slice of Life 1: Look, I’m On Break, Alright?

A New Element of Friendship

Look, I’m On Break, Alright?

I actually woke up at a decent time, without any sort of accident or adventure. Finally, I could get up like any normal pony and- *thud*- or I could still trip on my bed somehow. Seriously, what did I do to offend beds so much? Or did I actually get a curse placed on me that affects me when I get in a bed? Oh well, at least it’s my only problem today when getting up. Now that I think about it, the social atmosphere was a bit on a low key today. then again, this was morning, so I don’t expect much in the way of something vital going on, at least with Ponyville society. So, I got up, did my usual routine, and get prepared for my choral class. I knew something was off when none of my friends even stopped by for a crazy task or something new. I resolved to ask about it after class.

Well, class was off today as well. Not one of the students put in their full effort and looked like they were going through the motions. I even tried to bring some energy, but something about today seemed to negate the energy. I eventually ended rehearsal a bit earlier than usual.

“Alright, can someone please tell me what brought you all down in a bad mood today. Don’t even say nothing either, I didn’t even have to interrupt any conversations today, which never happens,” I tried a vain attempt of humor, but it seems it still did nothing.

At last, one of my students spoke up. “Sorry, Mr. Royalwind. It’s just that… Pinkie isn’t feeling too happy today and she makes up most of this town’s energy.”

Your eyes slightly widen at this, “Well, class, it looks you have independent practice today for the afternoon. I trust you’ll at least get some practice done,” and you then suddenly rush out the door at a good clip towards Sugarcube Corner.

You arrive and the Cakes, upon seeing your expression, just point up the stairs, where some crying can be heard. You nod and fly up the stairs quickly. You slowly approach what you assume the door to Pinkie’s room, which was the source of the crying. You knock on the door politely.

“Pinkie? It’s me, Medley,” You get out before hearing a gasp and suddenly you’re pulled into a tight hug from a crying Pinkie and the door is shut tight.

“Pinkie? What’s wrong? What happened?” You choke out of the death grip she had on your throat and lungs.

She cried for a little bit before finally loosening the grip on you just enough to where you could breathe and to where she could get a sentence out. “I-I-I’m a ho-horri-ible mo-mons-ster!” She cries heavily into you.

You try and see where she would get this idea before suddenly realizing that your human memories must’ve been the cause of it. You still ask, “Did you get this idea from my memories?” The louder crying seemed to buy into this idea heavily.

You hug her as hard as you can, which gets her attention a bit, stopping the crying. “Pinkie, you’re not a monster. You’re a lovable mare with a fun and upbeat attitude. You’re not a secret psychopathic killer with cannibalistic tendencies. That Pinkie is a dark piece of human imagination, nothing more.”

This was apparently not the correct thing to say, as she just bawled harder onto my shoulder. I tried to comfortingly pat her on the back as best I could.

She eventually was able to talk again. “It’s not a figment of any imagination. She is real! She’s inside me, waiting to break out and kill everyone I know and love!” She scooted back up against the wall, away from me. “Stay away, before she decides you’re next!” She began freaking out after saying that.

Her mane was deflating even more, her coat starting to turn more saturated, but still remain pink. An odd thing happened as well: her face went from panic to sadistic glee and her cutie mark was flipping back and forth between Pinkie’s three balloons to a cupcake with two knifes as a backdrop, crossed at the cupcake.

“S̐ͣ͆͝t̲̪̝͓͇͈͆ͭ̓ͅą̘̖̙̯ͮͧ̐̈ẏ̪̯̃͂̑͐ ̺ͥ̏ͫͩ̄̐̕a̩͈̺̬̋̑̓̓̾̈ͨ́w͋͞ǎ́̃̓ͫ͑͐y̸̮̩̅.̯̤̯̇̃͜.̙̺͕̣̗̒̀.͎̯̖̰́ͧ” Pinkie’s voice was changing as well, going from scared to cruel satisfaction and back again in a few seconds.

“What the…” I stood there stunned at what looked like an identity crisis brought to life until I realized a few things: Pinkie was really out of it today, apparently Pinkamena was real and is the transformation of her slowing down and more often than not landing on Pinkamena? Oh, horsefeathers, it stopped on Pinkamena, and the smile was not something to look forward to. My world then faded to black and I fell unconscious.

This was recorded down at a later time, as no recollection was found on this incident until much later.

I’m finally free! It took too damn long, in my opinion. Then I see an interesting opponent facing me with a knife and a cruel grin. I then recognize the mare from my host’s memory banks.

“Miss Pinkamena, I presume?” I purred, my magic already prepared.

“Why, my reputation precedes me, it seems.” She purred right back, her knife at a good tilt for a quick stab.

“Now, now, Miss Pinkamena. It never solves a problem to be hasty in any problem,” I stated as the area began to change without notice by anyone.

“Aw… and I wanted to know what you would taste like as a cupcake. Your horn though, will be a nice start to the collection I will soon have,” She wildly grinned and charged, her knife slashing where my horn was.

I say was as I had moved around the knife and shot a bit of magic to knock her back. She jumped back up very quickly. “Fast moves there. Too bad your number’s up.”

“Oh, do excuse me for not dying when you wanted me to. Here, have an apology spell sent directly to your head,” I shot back with a quick spell.

She dodged with ease and shot forward with the knife again. We kept up this fun dance of death until I got bored. “Well, it seems like this got too boring. Time to change up this dance number,” My eyes swirled with magic as I started to levitate. “Let’s see what this does to you, Miss Pinkamena.”

I saw her eyes widen as she tried to find a way out of this, “You can’t kill me! Otherwise, this host will die! You know these rules! Let’s just work something out, alright?!”

I was so tempted to unleash my magic blast, but I stopped and settled back onto the ground and asked in a curious voice, “Why the sudden change of heart? I thought they saying went like so: those who live by the sword, die by the sword?”

She rolled her eyes like it was the most obvious of answers. “Obviously, I can’t kill you either. Damn hosts. So, let’s make a deal, shall we? Without the strange magic affecting the area?” She pointed to around the area, which looked so wonderful to me, but then again, I’m not the one to be asking how reality should work.

With a sigh, I brought everything back to normalcy and conjured a table for negotiation and began with, “Shall we begin, Miss Pinkamena?” She responded with a nod and took a seat on one side while I was on the other side.

“So, what would be some good ground rules to set. I have so many cupcakes to make after this,” She complained a bit, looking as bored as I was.

“This leads me to item number one on the list: We can’t reveal ourselves in any way. Killing ponies, no matter the reason or cause, will get us spotted,” I pointed out.

“WHAT?! Why would I agree to such a thing? These cupcakes need that special ingredient and I already have the next number drawn. Plus, I am an expert assassin and can kill without being noticed,” She snarled, looking like she was about to break out the knife again, damn the consequences.

I shake my head and just respond with, “Oh really? And how long will it take for somepony to notice that they’re gone and get the Royal Guards and both Princesses involved, since murder is a rare case? And I don’t think you can even target the elderly just before they die as well before you could say you could do that. Although, really? Old pony meat? That doesn’t sound tasty in the slightest.”

Oh the expression she had! I wish I had a camera for it! It looked like it was a cross between rage and logic and it wasn’t a good way to combine them. She eventually settled down for a bit to form a sentence.

“You… make too good of a point. So what the hell do either of us do, since you aren’t allowed out either, it seems,” She spat out.

“Actually, he doesn’t even know I exist, so… kinda pointless. Anyways, I think I know what to do, but it requires you to keep quiet for a while: Once I am able to gain enough chaos energy to break free, I’ll set a song code to free you permanently like me. However, I’ll have to abide by the host rules and give him the idea for this along with what to do. It sucks, but it beats being imprisoned forever,” I explained with clarity, making sure I got most of it out.

I swear that grin deserved a trademark, or at least a painting of it. “I think those are conditions I can meet with ease. If it means I will be freed to bake my delicious cupcakes and to make sure their numbers come up and be dealt with,” She readily agreed with the terms set. “In return, I’ll make sure you’re one of the last numbers and I’ll give you a free box of cupcakes. My treat.”

We shook on it and we let our hosts back in, who were probably either freaking out or unconscious as the case may be. I’ll probably tell him of this conversation away from any listening ears.

Added entry ends

“Ow… my head… what in LaurFastia’s name happened?” I got back up shakily on my legs and felt my wings shake loose for a bit as I tried to figure out what happened.

“Weird. That’s never happened before. Usually I try and keep her back, but now she’s staying where she’s supposed to. But she’s also chucking very evilly and that isn’t a good sign at all,” Pinkie looked up in great confusion.

“So… I technically helped you out today?” I asked, puzzled.

“Maybe? Well, she doesn’t want to come out anymore, so I guess you did,” Pinkie replied in the same kind of tone.

“I say throw a party today for all of Ponyville. Say it’s for rebuilding community happiness, if anyone asks,” I say to try and relieve the confusion and tension.

This seemed to work, as Pinkie burst into a pink explosion of happiness and she regained her normal perky self. “That’s a great idea Med!” She then dashed off, most likely to spread the news and to prepare for the upcoming community-wide party.

I chuckled and went off back to my class, as somehow, only an hour had passed, so school was still in session. When I had arrived, everyone had at least a smile on their face as they heard that Pinkie was planning on throwing a town party, and a Pinkie Party is the best kind of party. I smiled for a bit before getting the class’s attention.

“Now that everyone’s energy has been restored, let’s begin again. From the top, everyone!”

It was a fun rehearsal that I ended up teaching for the last two hours. We had managed to now blaze through the songs and do a spectacular job. Heck, I only had to fix a few mistakes we had made. I call that a good day. It was soon time though, as I dismissed the class with the favorite saying of ‘No homework for today!’, which instantly got me some brownie points with the students. Man, do I love working with kids sometimes. Anyways, I had some time left over to mull on what happened today, or rather, what didn’t happen today. I seem to recall that I fell unconscious for about an hour, right when Pinkamena was about to gut me for some cupcakes, yet I woke up without even a scratch on me and Pinkie’s back in control of herself. I wish I knew what could happen during that hour, but it seemed like Pinkamena wouldn’t share, for ‘dramatic effect’. Ah well, I’m sure it wasn’t anything too important.

It was a rather big blast Pinkie had thrown together at the last minute, even though it looked like it had taken a whole town a few days to decorate. I would ask how, but for some reason I just accepted the possibility of her doing this all by herself, maybe with a bit of help from some of the townsfolk. Odd, I know, but I just didn’t have the urge to do so. Ah, but I’m sure you’d want to hear about the party itself, not me rambling about my problems. In that case, the party was still a blast, even for someone who doesn’t often go to them. I got some strange looks when I found the stash of tequila along with a cup of root beer and combined the two, but as I like to say, everyone has their quirk, so don’t judge me. Anyways, it was an interesting time, as AJ was getting some extra business for the Apple family, Rainbow was begging with AJ for some apple cider, Fluttershy was actually there, Rarity was enjoying the punch, and Twilight was near Pinkie trying to get the answer to the question that never should be asked to Pinkie Pie: How did you do all this? All in all, I was glad to have helped, even though I had no idea how that even happened.

Oh, damn. Looks like I need to stock up on more parchment. Sorry if it seems like I keep on ending on very rushed notes, but I try to save on parchment as much as possible. Well, I end with this question: What is going on when you close your eyes? S̬̏̀̿ͭͮ̓ͮw̜̞͔͓ͯ͑ͥ̆ͤ̚͠ę̩͉͙̜̽ͬ͌̾ͫ̔̉eͥ̽̇̀t̬̭̪̏̎̎͜ ̮̋ͧͭͫ̆ͯd̹̰̮̽͜ŗ̙͇ͭ̍ͧḙ̬̺̋͛́ͭ́ā̢͚̹̬̠̟͇̪ͥͪm̬̘̺̭ͭ͊̈ͣ͑ͤ̚͟s̵̞̥ͨ̋ͫ̌ͭ̊̑ͅ.̩̟̪͞.͖̻͈͕̭͛͛ͥ͝.͖̣̋̈͂͌ͥ͠

With Friends Like Those, Who Needs Enemies?

A New Element Of Friendship

With Friends Like Those, Who Needs Enemies?

Dear LaurFastia, it seems that my idea of a curse put on me to have beds hate me still holds true, as I was sleeping peacefully before being awoken by a pail of cold water, resulting in a knee-jerk reaction of rolling off the bed and landing with a thud on the ground. I was disoriented for a bit before realizing that I was pranked, if the sound of quiet giggling was anything to go by. I had thought about going out there and ‘yell’ at them, but something inside me thought different and I instead smirked a bit and snuck around behind their hiding spot. Once in position, I did a small jump-scare that I saw once in a video game back home. The result was a bit hilarious, as I saw Rainbow and Pinkie both jump high into the air, screaming a bit. I had a small laugh at that as they soon realized it was just me and they giggled a bit as well.

“Nice one Med! I couldn’t even tell you were close by!” Pinkie giggled.

“Yeah, that was a nice way to get the drop on us!” Rainbow laughed.

“Heh, I still have a few tricks up my vest in case somepony decided to prank me,” I replied with a small smirk.

I soon bid them goodbye as I went off to teach, still smiling a bit.

“Man are those two pranksters. Hopefully they won’t try and become the next Marauders or Weasley Twins,” I humorously prayed.

It was the next day that was a bit more interesting, though not in the fun way. It was after school and I made my way to a cafe that I quite liked only to discover Pinkie Pie already occupying a table, looking a bit glum. I froze a bit at that, as the last time she was feeling sad, a demon had nearly come alive and I it’s first victim. I quickly made my way over to her table and made my order before turning my attention to Pinkie.

“Heya Pinkie. Something bothering you today?” I asked politely.

She sighed a bit. “Oh… it’s just some mean old griffon that’s hanging out with Rainbow Dash instead of me. I had a full day of pranking ahead of us too...”

I looked a bit relived. “Sorry for thinking otherwise Pinkie. I just remembered the last time and… well, I just wanted to check up on you.”

She looked a bit mad at first before slowly nodding. “No, she’s been laying low and not bothering me at all…”

“I… I’m sorry Pinkie. I’m just worried about my friend,” I smiled back a bit sadly.

She nodded a bit before perking back up a bit. “Hey Med, wanna do some of those pranks I planned?”

I smiled a bit more brighter and chuckled a bit, a small mischievous glint in my eye. “I think that would be a lot of fun.” I frowned a bit though, despite the fun that would soon come. “Though what exactly did this griffon do? I must admit, I’ve rarely met a griffon. The only one I met was on… the night… my voice…” I trailed off, looking a bit saddened.

Pinkie Pie reached out across the table and pulled me into a hug. “It’s alright Med, you don’t have to worry about that mean old pony. Plus, you got better? Can you imagine if you couldn’t talk? Can you imagine if *I* couldn’t talk? Where would that funness go?”

I laughed a bit, cheering up some more. “I’m sure we’d all miss you talking, no matter what.”

She giggled a bit as well. “Imagine if you couldn’t sing anymore. Then who would I go with on Karaoke night?”

We both then laughed a bit more, our moods lightening up. We eventually settled down and she began to explain what had happened.

“Well, this griffon, who’s Gilda by the way, she kept on making me go away! First she had Rainbow Dash leave me behind when I used a trampoline to talk with them, then she popped my balloons to make me sink back down, then she messed with my flying contraption, making me crash land after telling me to buzz off!”

I listened with more and more anger at what this Gilda did to Pinkie. I liked reading up on other cultures though, so I wasn’t entirely angry.

“Normally Pinkie, I’d say you were being jealous of Gilda taking up so much time with Rainbow Dash, but that’s not entirely the case. Yes I think you are being a bit jealous of her, but you also have to understand that griffons are fiercely loyal to their closest friends and family, often not trusting anypony else near them. I do have to admit though, she was being a bit excessive on trying to keep you away.”

“Oh wow Med! That’s like something Twily would say! How are you this smart?” She looked at me in wonder.

I sheepishly grinned and waved a hoof. “Oh, I just spent some time as a foal learning about other cultures. Equestria is a land of many cultures and races, so I figure what’s the harm in learning about them? Heck, the only ones I couldn’t find much hard information on, even at Twilight’s library and my short time in Canterlot was on dragons and draconequus’.”

“Oooo! What’s the second one? What’s the second one?” She bounced excitedly.

“I don’t really know. It was just mentioned briefly and not in detail on what exactly they were. However, I think it’s time we got to pranking,” I grinned at her.

She gave a similar grin back and soon we were galloping (or in my case, flying near ground level fast) off to the prank shop. We slowed down a bit though when we saw Gilda in town. I have to admit, from how Pinkie described her, she fit it spot on. However, the opinion soon started to sour more and more, as she purposefully scared Granny Smith, insulted a vendor, stole from a different vendor, and roared at Fluttershy when she accidentally bumped into her. Both Pinkie and I, along with all the townsfolk around us, gave her glares as she gave one last insult before flying off, not seeming apologetic in the least.

“She’s a grump, and a thief, and a bully, the meanest kind of mean meanie pants there is! I can take it, but no one treats Fluttershy like that! No! One! This calls for extreme measures: PInkie Pie style!” She angrily said, channeling the look of Pinkamena, without really becoming her.

“I agree with you 100% Pinkie Pie. I think I may join you in that,” I said with a bit of cold fury.

She nodded with an evil grin as we both began to plan a party. I must admit though, it was delicious irony that Rainbow Dash was the one who planning on setting up some pranks hidden in the party, as she said that it was going to be a good surprise for Gilda. We both sweetly smiled and nodded, causing her to give a strange look at both of us, me more so that Pinkie. Before we started, though, I closed my eyes for just a small moment. It was extremely odd to open them to find the whole party set up, as Pinkie and Dash both thanked me for helping out. I ignored it for now as we waited for guests to come.

It was now time that guests were coming in for the party for Gilda. It was quite interesting hearing the small bits of conversation that I did before Fluttershy stealthily made her way over to me and Pinkie.

“Um, Pinkie Pie? About this party for Gilda? Um, do you really think it’s a good idea? I mean…” She quietly stammered out before Pinkie tried to dissuade her.

“Don’t worry your pretty little head about mean old Gilda,” “She drew Fluttershy in what was her mind a comforting way, but came off as patronizing. “Your Auntie Pinkie Pie got it all taken care of.”

As Pinkie Pie walked off, I stepped in a bit, looking at Fluttershy’s glare at her. “You know that Pinkie Pie is trying to cheer you up a bit there. Plus she did mean what she said: Don’t worry about it. Pinkie wouldn’t throw a party for someone who roared at you without good reason.”

“Pinkie better… Besides, I’m older than her…” She sighed with a bit of irritation as Pinkie Pie welcomed Gilda to the party.

I do have to admit, it was hilarious seeing Gilda set off all the pranks that Rainbow Dash had hidden, though it was less so when she started glaring at Pinkie, believing that she did it instead. It came to a climax as Gilda, after she tried playing Pin The Tail On The Pony and ended up splattered with cake and a moustache tail, roared in anger and immediately started yelling at Pinkie Pie. It was after accusing Pinkie Pie of pulling all those pranks on her did Rainbow Dash step up and glare a bit at Gilda.

“You know Gilda, I was the one who set up all those ‘weak pranks’ at this party.”

Gilda was stunned for a moment before surprisingly stating, “What?!”

“So I guess I’M Queen Lameo,” Rainbow Dash sarcastically stated as well, walking directly in front of Pinkie and glaring at what was soon going to be her former friend from the looks of things.

“Those pranks I set up weren’t meant for you specifically. It was just bad luck that you happened to set them all off,” Rainbow looked down a bit dejectedly as I looked away a bit in confusion.

‘Those pranks were too synchronized to be merely bad luck and coincidence. Though I do remember closing my eyes once before waking up to find I had helped Rainbow and Pinkie set up the party. I have no idea what the Tartarus is going on…’ I wondered as Gilda tried to backpedal on her words, failing at it miserably.

It soon reached its finale as Gilda stormed off, calling Rainbow a dweeb before leaving. I could see that both were glaring at each other, yet I got the feeling I wouldn’t be seeing the last of Gilda.

“I’m sorry everypony,” Rainbow apologetically said a bit after Gilda left. “For bringing Gilda here. I didn’t know how rude she was. And Pinkie Pie… I’m really sorry she ruined that awesome party of yours.”

Pinkie looked up at her with a small smile. “Hey, if you want to hang out with party poopers, that’s your business.”

Rainbow smiled at her. “Actually, I’d rather hang out with you. No hard feelings?”

“No hard feelings.” She shook Rainbow’s hood, only for the joy buzzer to go off once again, this time revealing that they both had joy buzzers. Everyone laughed at that before dispersing back into the party, the mood brightening more.

I talked a bit with Pinkie after everypony dispersed. “Looks like there was more to her than I thought. Sorry for the misjudgement there Pinkie.”

She giggled before waving a hoof, brushing it off. “It’s alright, Med! Even you can’t be like Twily and be a super smart super smarty-pants all the time. Now come on! There’s still a whole lot of party to finish!” She then jumped into the party as I joined her with a small shake of my head in amusement. I saw Twilight writing her letter to Princess Celestia and smirked a bit when I saw that she sent over some invisible ink along with her usual letter.

The party soon came to a close as it was starting to be time for everypony to head back off to bed. Soon almost everypony was gone, except for the Mane 7, as I like to call ourselves. I walked up to Twilight with a bit of worry.

“Hey Twilight? Something… strange has been going on with me and I don’t know what it is,” I nervously said.

She looked bit puzzled before the whole group got together and listened in.

“Well, we’re all here for ya, ain’t we? You can tell us,” Applejack put a hoof on my back with a supporting smile.

“Exactly, darling. We’re all friends here and friends help each other out,” Rarity added with a small smile.

I smiled a bit as well before taking a deep breath to calm myself down.

“Well, it’s just that… I don’t remember helping Pinkie and Rainbow set up this party at all. It was one moment I was walking in and I shut my eyes for what felt like a moment, only to discover that once I opened my eyes, the party had been set up and Pinkie and Rainbow Dash had thanked me for helping them. Plus, those pranks were too well-timed to be merely coincidence and bad luck,” I explained.

The group looked at one another with confused and curious expressions before Twilight looked back at me. “I have to admit, I never heard of this kind of thing before. I’ll have to check and see if there’s such a thing in the books. In the meantime, don’t worry about it, alright?” She smiled a bit at me, though this smile felt a bit different from before. It had felt… warmer. Like she was trying her best to help and comfort me.

I smiled back a bit, feeling a bit better than before. “Thanks everypony. I’m gonna head off to sleep now, alright?”

“Of course, Medley. Good night,” Fluttershy softly said. “I think it’s time we all head off to bed as well.”

The group had nodded and we made our way back to our homes. As I lay in bed, I still can’t help but wonder about what had happened.

‘I don’t remember helping set up the party, I was speaking strangely beforehand apparently and I have a missing gap of when I was over at Pinkie’s trying to help cheer her up. Hopefully it’s nothing too bad…’

With that final thought, I drifted off to sleep, wondering if my life was about to get any stranger. Well, as they say, be careful what you wish for. Good night everypony!

End of Chapter 7

Slice of Life 2: A Chance To Relive An Old Favorite