Episode IV

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Have you ever been forced into a situation where you just can't say "No", regardless of how hard you tried? Or perhaps you've been talked into a situation that you had a hunch couldn't possibly end well, despite the signs pointing out otherwise? Well, let me tell you about the first time I went to Equestria...

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Friday, October 28, 2016
Three Days Remaining.

I've finished with the book... and now, I just need to figure out what half of the crap in it even meant...

Something about DNA, necklaces, Unicorns, and Changeling Magic. I can understand the DNA and Unicorns part, since it's obviously magic we're dealing with, but... is she planning on disguising me as a unicorn? If so, then why is the only magic being used supposed to be coming from a changeling?!

And... what the heck even is a changeling?! Some kind of magical fashion thing?

Saturday, October 29, 2016
Two Days Remaining.

I find myself at the end of washing dishes. A large stack of clean dishes rests at my right, while the counter stands empty at my left.

With a relieved sigh, I dry my hands with a towel, only to feel a tug at my shirt. Curious, I turn around and find Gracie standing there with a dirty cup.

"I help!" she says with a smile.

I return the smile and accept the dirty cup from her. "Alright, then... thanks, Gracie!"

"Mm-hmm!" she responds before running back into her room.

Immediately after I put the cup in the sink, she returns with a small stack of dirty plates.

"Oh... thanks, Gracie."

"Uh-huh!"

I roll my eyes before continuing with the cup. She then proceeds to bring me a few more dirty dishes.

"Seriously, girl?! Where are you even getting these things?!"

"I getting in my woom!" she replies nonchalantly.

"You're getting these from your room?" I parrot, to which she nods and runs back into the hallway.

Curiosity gets the better of me. I decide to follow her through the hallway. When I reach her room, however, I'm in for a surprise as I see numerous toys scattered across the floor. In the center, her trash can contains a bunch of trash with roaches and flies circling it. And scattered around it lies several stacks of plates and cups - all of which contain trace elements of food scraps and at least one or more roaches on it.

I stare at her in disbelief, while she innocently smiles at me.

"Um... it just wittle dirty."

And my face reunites with the wall... it's a very fast reunion.

Sunday, October 30, 2016
One Day Remaining.

I yawn and stretch from my bed, then eye the strange doll that lies across the room.

The doll is a white unicorn with a purple mane and tail. It brings back memories on my first time meeting Twilight... and my hand reaches my forehead, where the ink jar hit me as I was bending over to pick the doll up.

My thoughts are then brought back to Twilight. Sure, I'll have to return this doll, considering it isn't Gracie's, but... it also brings some questions back up.

I don't know if I should just cancel my proposed visit to Equestria, or if I should just go with it.

But once more, curiosity gets the better of me.

"If I do decide to go, then who's to say I won't learn a lot more about Equestria?"

"And if we get caught?"

"I'm sure Twilight has a plan for that."

"And if her plan doesn't work?"

"When was Twilight ever wrong, though?"

"Pinkie Sense, Gilda, Zecora, that dragon Fluttershy scared, the Gala, the Parasprites, the-"

"'Aight, now shut up, Self-Consciousness! That's not helping!"

"I can only shut up when you shut up!"

"Grrrrrr..."

My eyes slowly drift open. I feel the all-too-familiar presence of another party in my room.

"Justin? Are you up, yet?" I hear Twilight's voice whispering from below my bed.

"Yeah... gimme a minute." I whisper back.

A few seconds pass, and I'm finally out of bed. I look at Twilight, who's looking at me with a very very cheerful expression on her face.

"Okay, so... I've made a few modifications to the portal, which should allow you to transform into a pony whenever you pass it!"

I stare at her blankly. "Umm... okay?"

She sighs and crosses the portal. "Come on, I'm sure it'll be fine!"

I roll my eyes. "Fine, geez..."

And with that, I follow her through the portal.

First a flash, then a loud ringing in my ears... those are the first few things I feel upon arriving on the other side of the portal.

Standing in Twilight's room, my hand automatically reaches up to rub my eyes... however, instead of a hand in my vision, a pitch black hoof is in its place.

Twilight is now staring at me; shock adorning her features.

"Uh, Twilight... why are you looking at me like that?"

"Oh my gosh! Justin! You're... y-you're a... an..."

"A what? What am I?" I ask, only to feel a pair of wings extend on my back. Curious, I look at a mirror... but instead of the pale, brown-haired man I grew up to be, a red eyed, black-coated, red-maned alicorn stallion stares back at me.

I gasp... and then a smile starts to form on my face.

"Oh... my... gosh... I feel so... so alive!"

Mere seconds pass before a loud explosion fills the sky. I turn around, only to spot a large serpent-like figure with a pony head and several other animals' parts for its limbs.

I recall seeing him in one of Twilight's crystals... Discord!

"Ha ha ha haaa! I have returned... and I shall have my vengeance by turning this whole world into stone!"

"Not so fast, Discord!" I shout, before taking flight.

"Oh? And just who are you, exactly?" he asks.

I grin as the distance between us quickly draws shorter.

"I am this world's new god, little girl! Bow before my glory!" I instantly shoot a rainbow cannon after him.

"NOOOOOOOOOO!" he shouts, before disappearing in a burst of confetti and rainbows.

The sky then turns from a black shade to a nice, pink one. The colorful ponies below me cheer me on, making me smile as I fly through the town, greeting the inhabitants with a bright smile.

And as they continue to sing and cheer for me, I soon find myself humming with the tune... of how everything will be just fine.

"I know for absolute certain... that eeeeeeverythiiing will beeeee fi-" I soar through the sky, but fail to notice the tree right in front of me before it's too late.

My eyes slowly drift open. I notice that, once more, I am in my bed, and now covered in sweat.

I breathe heavily and throw the blanket off, staring at my hands and my human body once more.

Finally, I let out a deep sigh in relief, while wiping the sweat from my brow.

"Oh, thank goodness... I thought I turned into a complete and total f-"

*Crack!*

And before I could even finish the sentence, the all-too-familiar sound of the portal opening catches my attention.

Author's Note

Originally intended for April Fool's Day, I've decided to throw this little bit in about a month late.

Rest assured, that last bit of the story isn't a sign for any of my original plans for the Equestrian half of this story! (Yes, Equestrian half. This story is more than an HiE and PoE story... it's both! )

And don't worry. I won't turn myself into a freakin' alicorn... besides, if I were a pony, I'd rather be an Earth Pony like this handsome devil!

Spoiler alert: it's me!