Jeremy leaned back in his office chair, another boring day in high school it seemed. The fact he didn’t get any form of homework wasn’t anything new to him. Through the whole first semester he noticed he didn’t get much work, whether it as class or homework. It as funny, he thought he’d double the work due to the fact he was a senior. Much like junior and sophomore year, he, along with many other of his classmates, got progressively more and more work. But they collectively assumed it was because of the higher grade that they were receiving more schoolwork.
Eh… Whatever. Less is better anyway. Less homework means more game time!
Jeremy never saw it as a bad thing, however. He saw it as the teachers giving him some much needed, or wanted in this case, respite. Jeremy was never considered a slacker by any means. Quite the opposite in fact, he always turned his assignments in on time. A lot of the time even before the due date.
Because Jeremy was, and is, a good student. He thinks, even if he gets an office job where he works in a cubicle, he would do remarkably well when it comes to getting things done on time.
But that is the possible future, now, Jeremy was planning to spend the rest of the day play CS:GO and maybe some Team Fortress 2. He thought about playing Overwatch Beta. But he decided against it. To him, Over Watch felt like ‘Team Fortress 2 with too many classes’. Which to some, that thought rang true.
Twilight Sparkle was having another humdrum day in her castle home. There was nothing new to document. In fact, she could even go on record and declare today to be the most mundane day in history.
Because to her, there was nothing, or nothing at all, for her to do. The table-map didn't summon her or any of her friends. Said friends had nothing for her to catalog or organize, neither a friendship problem she could possibly fix. Not even her title as a princess had anything for her to do diplomatically. Today was just going to be another boring day.
Well… there is that other world in the mirror…
Twilight considered that option, but thought little of it.
No… They have that ‘internet’ thing. From what my other friends told me it has all there is to know on that world.
Twilight grumbled slightly. It just wasn’t the same if she wasn’t the first pony to know scientific facts. She wanted to be recognized to be the first to know anything about science, it was troubling for in that ‘mirror’ world. For the avenue of ‘science’ as pretty broad. Heck, she was greatly impressed with herself to be the first to document that fact the Diamond Dogs could talk, albeit in broken Equish. She would think at least one other pony would note another species can speak a discernable language at all somewhere. She would know if that was the case. She knew her brain was, almost quite literally a library that contained every book known to exist in Equestrian history. More so for all the knowledge in the world.
Wait… world…
A thought occurred to the ultimate book-worm.
If there isn't anything for me to study in this world or that other world… maybe I can find another world to study?
A metaphorical light bulb lit up over Twilight’s head. That’s it! She could summon another specimen from another world! Maybe even establish contact with another world besides the one in the mirror!
But, Twilight realized, there isn’t a spell that could do so a thing she imagined. Then she had another brilliant idea.
Maybe I could create a brand new spell!
The very thought of creating a brand new spell in the name of science almost threw Twilight into a frenzy. She got a hold of herself before she started collecting spell books.
Ok. Think. There isn't a spell that just summons a being from a different world. Well, there is that familiar spell. But those little cute creatures are already documented… Maybe I can change the spell a little?
Twilight didn’t like this little train of thought. Changing the properties of an ancient spell was no laughing matter. The slightest adjustments to a spell’s matrix can produce… unexpected, results. A shiver crawled down the mare’s spine as memories from her last attempt at tweaking a spell resulted in her being turned into a quesadilla.
Eeeyugh… At least I now know how my parents felt when I accidently turned them into plants…
Twilight thought bitterly. Never again, she thought, would she ever tinker with a spell.
But…
Now though, she was having second thoughts.
I could learn about a hole different species! Maybe even a whole new world!
That particular thought made Twilight set her mind on the newly created task; change the familiar to a summoning spell.
With the utmost glee, Twilight teleported to the castle's library. She had it made as soon as she situated in the crystal tree castle. At the time, she wanted the building to be as much as her old home as possible. It was a sufficient, if not decent, replacement. But it couldn't just be like her old home…
The purple alicorn shook her head. Now was not the time to dwell on past events. Now was the time for science!
“Nice shoot Jer!”
“Thanks.” Jeremy was soaking up the praise like a dry sponge in water. Today was an unusually good day. A few aces in CS:GO is something unheard of to the young man. “But seriously thought this is the second time I get an ace. What the hell is going on?”
“They enemy team has to suck ass. OR maybe you’re just that good at the game?” One of Jeremy’s friends said.
“C’mon dude, I’m never this good. I usually get double or triples if I’m lucky.”
“Yeah… you’re probably right.” The friend lamented.
“But still though,” Jeremy spoke on. “I’ll take it.” He then yawned, he briefly tabbed out of the game to look at the time. It was nearly eleven. It was a school night, he realized. “Guys, I gotta get off.”
“Awwww...” His online friends collectively sighed.
“Night buddy.” One friend said.
“Night!” Another said before Jeremy logged off the teamspeak server. Jeremy then shut the game down and stretched back in his chair.
“Aw man, today was a good day.” He said to nobody in particular. “Hardly did shit, had some fun Awping, scored a couple aces.” The young man nodded to himself. “Yep, good day.” He was about to start changing into night clothes when a flash of lightning lit up his darkened room. Seeing this, he realized it was pretty late. But Jeremy also realized lightning just struck outside his home.
It’s not raining…
As he thought this, a sudden gust of wind swept through Jeremy’s room. Picking up papers and knocking over books. Lightning repeatedly striking just outside Jeremy’s window. The wind’s speed spiked, picking up books and other small objects. Jeremy bolted up from his seat. He found himself in the epicenter of a small tornado of household objects. Jeremy turned to the window as another flash of lightning briefly filled his room. As Jeremy made to run out the room like a bat out of hell, a heavy object made contact with the back of his head with a substantial amount of speed to render the young man unconscious.
Before he fully passed out, Jeremy swore he saw something purple. That seemed to materialize from nothing.
The spell was a success! Twilight Sparkle; Princess of Magic and Friendship, summoned a being from a completely alien planet!
But, she saw that the being looked noticeably like the ‘humans’ from the mirror world. But this one… she felt it lacked bright coloring, opposite to those ‘humans’. And it seemed to possess even less hair than a ‘human’. The ones she meet had fur all over their bodies, akin to a pony. But this creature seemed to be nearly bald. Save for a full head of hair and a few light patches on the arms and legs.
It was also worth noting the creature hasn't moved this whole time. It has been making itself acquainted with the basement floor.
Oh no! Is it dead!?
She thought, she approached the being. She then saw that he, the being’s features suggested it was a male, saw his chest rising and falling steadily.
Phew…
She was relived the being was alive. After all, she could only learn so much from just the body. She could learn about an entire new, alien culture!
Was it sleeping when I cast the spell? No… His clothes suggest otherwise...
Twilight didn’t think of the possible causes behind the man’s unconscious state. She had more important things to focus precious brainpower towards.
Well, since he’s unconscious…
Twilight’s horn lit up with magic power and a large assortment of medical tools lined up behind the alicorn. The same purple aura that wreathed itself around the tools then wrapped itself around the human’s body, but it quickly fizzled out like a lit wet fuse.
What?
Twilight nearly dropped all her tools, or toys, in surprise. What happened? It felt to her as if her magic was… sucked away from her. As if this human’s body absorbed her magic like a sponge.
Hmm…
She tried many a time to put the human within her magical hold, but every attempt was met with more of that… sucking sensation. This baffled the Princess of Friendship. No living being should soak up magic like this human is doing! This reaction to magic would suggest…
Twilight shook her head at the ridiculous though that invaded her mindscape. It’s impossible! There is no way a living being could live without magic! Those ‘humans’ even had magic in their world, albeit it was dormant in that world for whatever reason. But her belief still stands! And this being was a living example of the complete opposite! Twilight’s brain ground to a snail’s pace at this new development. But only briefly, for the resolve of finding out the reasons behind this… ‘human’s’ lack of magic filled Twilight with determination.
A determined smile reflected her mindset when, with the glee of a filly in a bookstore, she summoned a flat, metal tabletop. And gingerly scooted it under the ‘human’. If she couldn’t lift the being directly, she’ll do it indirectly. Although, he was a bit heavier than she expected.
No matter, she thought, she had science to commence!
“Uuuuugh...” Jeremy groaned. He just felt utterly terrible. It feels as if he’s had his chest ripped open. “What happened?” He asked himself more than anyone else. He wasn’t expecting anyone to answer. He was still in his room after all.
Or so he thought.
He heard what sounded like a woman’s voice. And to him it sounded she was speaking gibberish. The shock of hearing an unknown voice made Jeremy open his eyes.
He wish he hadn’t.
The sight that greeted was some dingy-looking basement that had some Frankenstien-looking machines all around him. All the machines seemed to be actually in use for something…
The voice spoke up again, Jeremy looked around for the source. The voice kept speaking in gibberish until he spotted the source.
There, standing directly five feet from his right, was some alien creature, but the fact that it looked so… cartoonish to Jeremy. That very fact alone made all thought process come to ass-grinding halt.
“... Pony...” Jeremy said the first thought came to him after a temporary system shut down. And the thing spoke. It spoke to Jeremy in that gibberish. It them seemed to have a curious look on its… Can he even call it a face? Or a pony of all things? It just looked too much like a cartoon.
Jeremy looked anywhere else but the pony -alien, thing. This had to a really fucked up dream! Yeah! It had to be that! All he had to do is wake up and he’ll be back in his parent’s home! Yeah!
Jeremy kept this thought in the forefront of his mind. It was the only thing keeping him from having a panic attack. But in his frantic need to look anywhere else but the creature, he had the ungodly idea of looking down, what he saw made him pass out. He saw that his chest was actually open. His ribcage and all the vital organs exposed for the whole world to see. For a brief moment, he saw his heart beating and his lungs inflating and deflating with every breath he took. It was all too real for him…
Twilight was very confused, the being just woke in the middle of her study! How was that even possible! She was sure the sedatives were working!
Then he spoke, Twilight though he would speak in Equish. Instead she heard… she doesn’t know what she just heard. To her, it sounded… She couldn’t quite place what she heard the ‘human’ say. It had a certain melodic tone to it, but that was all she could discern from the otherwise noise the creature made.
“It’s ok.” She said, trying to calm the ‘human’ down. Instead he whipped his head around, as if looking for her. Her and the creature made eye contact for the first time. And for a split second, twilight saw something snap in those tiny eyes of his. She then saw the creature look around wildly, as if she was the last he wanted to see. Twilight was very confused at the ‘human’s’ behavior. It’s as if he’s never seen a pony before…
Twilight mentally facehooved. Of course he hasn’t seen a talking pony before! For all she could know, she was an alien to this creature!
At this new revelation, Twilight tried to calm the ‘human’ down. But it seemed whatever she said only the creature freak out even more.
Oh sweet Celestia, he looked down…
Twilight almost felt guilty when the creature looked down, she almost felt sad when the creature passed out upon seeing his open chest.
Almost, she was more disappointed that he passed out. She could’ve learned a lot more about this species if he was still awake.
Oh well. I still have his body to learn about!
Twilight cast all negative thoughts aside and picked up where she abruptly left off. She was wondering what an organ in the shape of an L actually did in the body. It looked like it had no purpose…
It has been… Jeremy can’t quite remember how long it has been since he first woke up in this hell. He lost count of the days when they went up to the hundreds.
Ever since he first woke up here, even since he realized this wasn’t a dream. Ever since he found out whatever that thing does to him that makes it feel like lightning is coarsening his body, ever since he knew he had no way of getting back home. Jeremy became a hollow shell of what he used to be. Were a young man with the potential of accomplishing almost anything, now a weak, scared boy stood in his place. Weak because that thing never gave him the sustenance he needed. Scared because that thing seemed to be capable of the impossible, the last Jeremy tried to escape this prison he saw that thing appear right before his eyes in a flash of light. After that… he gave up. He’d rather slowly starve to death than to suffer what that thing could ever do to him.
And today was just like any other for Jeremy. Sit in his ‘room’, though it can hardly be called that. It was more like a space with walls and a ceiling devoid of furniture and windows. But he called it his room. It was all he had left of his existence. Anything physical anyway.
Jeremy scowled at nothing when he remember all the horrible things that thing did to him. From dissecting various parts of his body, to electrocuting him from whenever that thing’s horn lit up with whatever the hell that crap was.
If I could just die right now… That would actually be great…
Jeremy thought bitterly to himself. Despite him hating what he thought was the truth, he knew he could never really escape that thing.
The door to his room opened, he didn’t even bother to look at the being standing in the doorway. He heard the vile thing speak, but like all those times before, all he heard was that garbled mess of a language. He heard it sigh and he felt a small tingle on his back. He groaned at the unpleasant feeling and stood up. He slowly turned to the very being he loathed. That purple that always seemed to shine, that hair that looked to be meticulously groomed to perfection.
And that face, he couldn’t stare at that face for more than a millisecond. To him, it was a face that had only malice behind it. Sure, he could see that the thing displayed other emotions around him, but he really couldn’t care about that. Last time he cared he received a couple hundred volts to his system.
But this time, when he made that very brief eye contact, he saw that it seemed… different. Different than what he used too. He couldn't tell what was on it’s face. But he knew something was up. He couldn't help but let a faint spark of hope flare in his chest.
Maybe today’s finally the day I can finally get the release I wanted?
Jeremy shook his head, he knew better than that, but still… He couldn't help but let his overly optimistic mind run around itself.
Maybe… maybe if I wait for that right moment…
He thought to himself. But he soon felt something wrap around his neck in a flash of light, he flinched at its sudden appearance, but otherwise remained as stoic as ever. Even as the thing lead him out his room and into the long hall he was very acquainted with. On those rare occasions that thing would take him from his only place he could somewhat feel comfort, he saw what little he could of the outside world. He first found out he was in a multiple-story building, he saw how far the ground was when he tried to jump out the window once. He was very high up.
The creature Jeremy came to call a demon continued to lead him through the building. The destination unknown to Jeremy. It rarely took him out of him room, and even when it did it was just for more torture. He thought today was another one of those days.
But a dry, raspy voice practically screaming through the hall startled him and the thing holding his collar. He felt it vanish and, to his astonishment, the creature disappeared as well. It only took Jeremy three seconds to register what happened, and a nanosecond to act.
Today in the FUCKING day!
He mentally cheered to himself. He bolted down the opposite way direction he and the creature had been walking. He was thankful to whatever deity that he had been able to remember the layout of what halls he had walked up and down.
He had seen an exit or two in the very few times he had been lead around the place. All he need to do was turn down a few halls, climb, and descend a few sets of stairs, and he’d be there.
He got to his destination in what felt like hours, but in reality he had only take no more than a few minutes to reach the closest exit. As soon as he left the building he heard, and felt, an anguished cry of frustration. He knew the creature responsible for such a noise. Adrenalin had already made it’s home throughout his blood system. So he had the fortune of an elevated heart rate when he sprinted away from the building, his only form of clothing, a sash hanging around his waist, flapped against the wind as Jeremy b-lined for any place away from the building he spent months, maybe even years, in hell. He didn’t even look back, he just ran, that was all he could think of; Running. Anywhere was better than that place. He hadn't noticed his surroundings as he ran. Tunnel vision made him concentrate, it was also blurry from all the tears pouring from his eyes. He felt absolute euphoria at the fact he was outside from that godforsaken place.
But euphoria soon turned into agonizing pain before he tumbled to the ground. That static pain lanced all across his body. Jeremy knew what this meant.
It meant that thing had caught up to him. That thing had him again. He was going back to the hellish prison.
No… Not now! Not when I’m free!
His thoughts were heavily muddled as the pain seemed to increase, he screamed when it wouldn’t stop. He writhed in agony, it just wouldn’t stop. He wanted it to stop, but his mental pleas were met with amplified flares of pain.
PLEASE STOP!
Jeremy’s mouth opened to release a silent howling screech, his body convulsed involuntarily. His eyes rolled to the back of head. And his heart spasmed as the electricity wreaked havoc across his already abused body. Tears streamed down his cheeks and fell meaninglessly to the cold, hard ground.
But then, the pain stopped, the static feeling ceased, and, what felt like a godsend, his body relaxed. Jeremy didn’t know, neither care, why it stopped, but he was happy it did. Although, he thought he should be worrying about something else. But he was very tired. And right now, all he wanted to do was sleep… Even though panic was consuming his insides. Maybe he’ll get the release he’s been craving for who knows how long…
No! He ran again! Celestia damn it Rainbow!
“Hey Twi! How’s it hangin’?”
“Not now Rainbow!” Twilight teleported back to where she stupidly left the creature. Why did she teleport to Rainbow as soon as she heard her voice!?
“Aarrrrrgh!” She screamed when she saw an empty space where the ‘human’ was. She angrily teleported to the nearest exit she suspected the creature left though. She suspected right, there goes her little science pet!
How many times do I have to show him he can’t leave the castle!?
Twilight cast her magic over the creature and smiled as it fell to tumbled to the ground. As she got closer to the writhing mass of pained flesh, she heard her friends yelling behind her.
“Not now guys! I need to get him back inside!” Twilight yelled back at her friends, she felt them come closer and heard them gasp. She rolled her eyes, of course they’d react that way…
“T-twilight! What are you doing to… that? If you don’t mind me asking...” Fluttershy typically asked timidly.
“Not now!” She replied curtly. She didn’t see Fluttershy flinch, but neither did she care. She needed to dissect this creature’s brain today!
“Twilight! What the hay you talkin’ to Fluttershy like that for!?” Applejack shouted. “And what is that thing?”
“Yeah! What gives!?” That was the last straw for Twilight.
“I said...” She slowly turned to her friends, the light around her horn winking out. “Not now!” She barked in a magically amplified voice. All five of her took a step back in shock. Even Pinkie looked genuinely surprised. Twilight was huffing through her nose in frustration. But it soon melted away to guilt when she saw her friend's hurt faces. It hurt her to see Fluttershy tearing up.
“What… the hay Twilight?” Rainbow asked, clearly displeased with Twilight’s behavior. “You’re not like… You know what? Buck it.” Rainbow’s brow furrowed.
“W-what?” Twilight asked. Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie adopted the same look as Rainbow.
“We are not naive Twilight.” Rarity started. “We suspected you were doing… things in that castle of yours. We didn’t think it would be...” Rarity trailed off as she looked at the… thing, she was quite at a loss for words with she gazed upon the creature, mostly due to the fact it was wearing absolutely horrendous clothing. How could Twilight be so… Harsh?
“We thought ya might’ve been doin’ crazy stuff behind closed doors.” Applejack completed Rarity’s sentence. “We didn’t think it’d be torturin’ critters.” She looked at Twilight with pure disgust written on her features.
“Yeah...” Pinkie said. She was more sad and disappointed than anything. She knew there was somepony she had to throw a welcome party too. After all, she knew the moment a voice from the sky started talking that she had to throw a party.
“I’m going to get the guards!” Rainbow suddenly shouted. Before Twilight could react Rainbow zoomed off towards Canterlot. She could get there in way less time than the train ever could.
“Rainow! Wait! I-” Twilight called out, but she was interrupted when an orange hoof shoved itself in her muzzle.
“Ah don’t wanna hear it Twi.” Applejack declared sternly. “Torturin’ critter’s been banned for years now! You should’ve known better!” Twilight wilted under her friend’s hard gaze. She looked to rest. Rarity was horrified as she looked at the creature. Fluttershy was about to cry, and Pinkie was doing her best to comfort the poor pegasus. But every once in awhile she would stare at Twilight. Pinkie’s stare made Twilight feel even worse. Pinkie was mad or shocked, she was disappointed. Pinkie was disappointed in Twilight. It cut the alicorn right to the core. She felt like she should be apologizing, but she couldn't bring herself to it.
For in the back of her mind, she was brainstorming, thinking of various ways she could get out of this situation with minimal damage to her friends. Well… she supposes she can’t call them friends anymore. She tried to think of ways she could get out of this scott free. She came up empty hoofed. There wasn’t a thing should do. She couldn’t teleport to stop Rainbow, the others would go to the princesses themselves. And she didn't want to hurt them either. But as she thought more and more about it. She found she really didn’t care anymore. Because she had a specimen of an alien species to study. A dark smile cracked her face as her horn lit up. Intent clear, she charged up an offensive spell.
Her smile vanished once she felt something cold and hard slip onto her horn.
“Ah’m sorry Twilight.” Applejack. “But I ain’t lettin’ ya.” Twilight then found herself hogtied faster than she could recite the chemical formula of pony DNA.
“Applejack!? Let me go!” Twilight struggled against the rope around her legs. To no avail, she kept struggling despite no progress being made. She had a creature learn about, documents to write, tests to perform!
The bright flash of a teleportation spell made Twilight freeze. She slowly turned to who had teleported. Hoping it was the last pony she wanted to see.
Oh how wrong she was.
Right there, looming above the purple winged unicorn, was Princess Celestia, in all of her royal glory. And she didn’t look happy, quite the opposite, she noticed.
“Twilight.” The solar diarch said, her tone icy cold and devoid of the motherly warmth Twilight grew up with. “Is what your friend said… true...” Twilight saw the princess look behind her. Even though she hoped against hope that she wouldn’t. She saw Princess Celestia’s eyes widened ever so slightly. But it only lasted a brief second before she turned her attention back to herself. Her gaze sending chills down Twilight’s spine. “I see that your friend wasn't lying. I was hoping she was.” The princess’s horn tinted yellow as her magic charged up some spell. “I foresaw this coming, but I didn’t believe it.” She stated. “I should have believed my vision. I am sorry, my faithful student.” The celestial alicorn’s horn popped a bright yellow and Twilight found herself quickly losing consciousness. “And once good friend.” She heard the princess say before her vision turned black.
The princess of the sun let out a heavy sigh. She saw this coming. Why didn’t do anything before it was too late?
Maybe, not yet.
She thought to herself.
Perhaps, I could heal this poor creature before it perishes…
She lit her horn and cast a healing spell on the creature. Only for it to not take affect.
What?
It’s body… absorbed her magic? How could this be? It clearly isn’t taking it voluntarily. This new development baffled the princess. This alien creature, it just absorbed her magic as if it was a dry sponge exposed to the North Atmaretic Ocean.
Princess Celestia mentally shook herself from her stunned stupor. And this time poured magic into the creature’s body. Her mind had formulated a theory in a fraction of second; if this creature isn’t taking her magic from her like some other being. Then, maybe… it never had magic in the first place? It wasn’t a far fetched theory. She has meet beings that didn’t posses a single ounce of magic within them. And she had learned from them that simply supplying the body with magic that it had profound effects on them. Namely healing intense wounds. She used this idea in an attempt to at least heal the creature's body. She could easily see what her once faithful student had done to this poor thing. All the scars… It looked as if Twilight had made those herself. She might as well assume Twilight could have done so. That mare had an insatiable hunger for this sort of thing.
She couldn’t call this science. It appalled her that her once friend considered this science. She will be sure to give Twilight the… proper reparations.
Princess Celestia smiled when she the creature's body start to heal itself at an increasing pace. Any fresh looking wound faded away before her critical eyes.
The alabaster alicorn smiled to herself and cut the magic once the crea -no, being’s, body was sufficiently healed. Though, she could say at least for the skin, she could not for its internal structures. She then turned to the element bearers, Rainbow had returned some time during her healing session with a number of guards.
“Guards, take her to the dungeon.” She ordered and some her guards saluted before placing the youngest alicorn under proper restraints. And then taking her away in a chariot that somehow arrived in before she finished healing the being. She possibly could have been that concentrated at the task. “Elements, I need you to go get medical help. I did all I could for the being, but I am afraid it won’t be enough...” The five nodded and galloped towards Ponyville general hospital. “Have my personal medical staff be transported hear. This poor being will need all the help it can receive.” The remaining guards saluted and took to the air, heading for Canterlot. The princess turned back to the being. And smiled when she saw what she assumed it’s chest rising and falling. Meaning her theory had worked, but for how long, she didn’t know. There was only so much time before magic isn’t enough in this situation. She hopped her little ponies can help this being…
The princess looked around for any ponies looking her way. And surprisingly, none were around. She then turn back to the being and took a quick look at the being’s… ‘intimate’ area. At least, she hoped it was, it had a similar body structure to a minotaur. Minus its -his, legs. It is a male, she deduced from seeing his private area. She wasn’t all too comfortable calling him an ‘it’. She knew from the size of his cranium that he could very well be as intelligent as a pony.
Of course, this is what she could assume from his physical anatomy. She only had a minotaur and a diamond dog to remotely compare him too. But they do bare some resemblance, if only slightly. So she can’t be too wrong, right?
So this is what death feels like?
Jeremy thought as he took in his surroundings; He was floating in a never ending black abyss. Jeremy was a little confused, is this where people go when they die? Apparently, he supposed. There wasn't any hard evidence of any form of afterlife back home.
Jeremy flinched when a sudden warmth enveloped his being. At first, it felt, familiar… The feeling reminded him of that static feeling when that thing would torture him. But now… he felt… he felt, safe. He felt comfort. He felt protected. All nearly foreign sensations to the young man. Not unwelcome, certainly the opposite was taking effect. For once, in what seems like an eternity, Jeremy was genuinely happy. He hadn’t experienced this warm sensation in ages. Jeremy closed his eyes in content. If this is what death feels like, then this must be heaven.
“Ahem.” A sudden voice caused Jeremy to open his eyes, since he had them closed without noticing.
He wish he hadn’t opened them.
Right in front of him was another one of those things. But it was dark blue. Fear gripped his heart as he frantically flailed his arms and legs. He had to get away from that thing before it could catch him.
“Please...” Jeremy paused. That was english, the thing spoke his language. This shocked Jeremy, enough to the point he looked at it directly in the eyes in horrified awe. “We… no harm. Wish… pleasant.” To Jeremy, it sounded like the thing was having a hard time speaking his language. And then, he noticed, the warm, comforting sensation felt as if it was coming from this thing.
“We… we want, know. You... Ok?” It asked. Jeremy was too baffled to answer the thing quickly.
“W-what?” He asked. The thing furrowed it brow and spoke again.
“We heard… what happened. Torture… we help… healing you. It ok now, you… safe.” It said. It had a woman’s tone so he thought it was female.
But it’s, or her’s, words registered within Jeremy’s mind. She heard about his hell? She was helping in healing him? What does she mean…
Realization hit Jeremy like a ton of bricks. This thing, it was talking to him. Telling him he was being healed and that he was safe from that purple thing. He thought this was what she was trying to tell him. He almost believed her.
Almost.
“H-how do I know if you’re lying to me?” He asked fearfully despite him thinking this was all a hallucination. The dark blue girl… alien. Smiled and closed her eyes. The appendage on her forehead lit up a light blue and Jeremy heavily winced. Expecting the worst to come, when it didn’t, however, he reopened his eyes. And saw a screen floating before him. The screen showed an image of him laying in a hosptial bead, wires and tubes attached to his nose and arms. A heart monitor to the right, an I.V. to his left, and the blue girl alien standing at the foot of the bed.
“What?” He breathed. He didn’t know what this meant, he needed explanations, now.
“We in dream… In, your dream. We show… you in hospital. You… taken care of. You no worry about… Twilight.” That last word gave Jeremy pause. Twilight? Was that a name here? They’re in his dreams right now? What the everloving fuck!?
A tiny image of the purple thing appeared in front of him. It’s rather abrupt appearance made Jeremy think it was actually here.
“That, Twilight.” The blue alien said. “Me… Lu...na. Luna.” She pointed an appendage at herself. Her name was Luna?
“Twilight… horrible pony. She… prison. Sentence given, later.” The newly named Luna said.
“Wait, this, thing, is in jail?” He asked. It was in jail?
“Yes.” Luna nodded. “What she done… no right… horrible things… especially, you. She done… bad things... you. She… imprison for… bad things done… you.” Luna explained. At this, Jeremy understood what Luna had meant; This, ‘Twilight’, the one who was responsible for putting him through unimaginable horrors. Was apparently a horrible pony for doing such things to him. And because of this, he assumed, this ‘Twilight’ is in jail because of those horrid things done to him.
Jeremy had an epiphany that this Twilight was seen as a monster to Luna. And it filled him with hope that more these ‘ponies’ felt the same about this Twilight as Luna. If this is true, then… then Jeremy really is safe from harm.
As Jeremy came to this revelation, negative thoughts began filtering through his mind. This all could be a huge front. This ‘Luna’ could be lying to him. Giving him false hope.
Luna, as if hearing his thought’s, frowned.
“We promise.” She said. “We no... hurt you. We… help. Heal you. We… you better. Healthy.” She said in a reassuring tone. The image of him in a hospital bed changed to show six other ‘ponies’. One looked like Luna, expect that one was white. “These… friends. They help… you. Saved you.” Jeremy looked at Luna surprised.
“Really? They… saved me from… Twilight?” Luna nodded. He looked back at the image. A new feeling of gratitude towards these six.
Jeremy stared at the image for some time. The more he thought about it, the more he wanted to shed tears of joy. These six ‘ponies’ had saved him from a slow… agonizing death. And Luna was helping Jeremy feel better. And he was willing to bet these six were doing the same, if not mentally.
Sure, he had doubts, sure, he found all of this hard to believe. Because, this ‘Luna’ somehow entered Jeremy’s mind and told him it’s going to be ok. If that didn't sound like a poorly made front, he wouldn’t want to know what was. For all he could know, he could be back in his room in that fucking building.
But… Jeremy wanted to believe what luna was saying. He wanted to genuinely believe he was safe from that monster. He just… negative thoughts consumed him.
“Can you prove it? I don’t… I don’t trust… I can’t...” As much as Jeremy wanted to, he couldn’t fully bring himself to trust everything Luna said.
Luna listened intently to Jeremy. He thought because of the whole language problem. How she was speaking broken english eluded him, he didn’t care though. This was the most he ever spoke in ages. When Jeremy trailed off, Luna made a look of understanding. A smile came to her features.
“Wake… up.” Luna said. She then disappeared right in front of Jeremy’s eyes. A second later he felt himself becoming woozy. He had little time to react when he felt like he was falling.
Jeremy let out an exhausted groan as he returned to the land of the waking. His eyes slowly cracked themselves open; compensation for the blinding light assaulting them.
When his vision cleared, Jeremy saw a completely white ceiling. Something quite new to the human. He tried to lift his head to take a better look at his surroundings. Only to find himself not having the strength to lift off even an inch from the very soft pillow his head rested upon.
Jeremy then noticed he was lying in what he thought was the most soft bed he ever laid in.
A womanly giggle caught his attention, he rolled eyes to look at the source. It was Luna from that dream he had.
It wasn’t a dream..?
He found himself thinking. He could not think of any reason to explain what he was seeing, nor what he dreamt.
“Comfor… table?” Luna asked. Still in that broken english dialect.
“... Yes.” Jeremy rolled his tongue in his mouth. It was extremely parched, he found out. “Can I have water?” Luna paused, then nodded. A nice, beaming smile upon her lips as her horn-
Jeremy winced. Only to feel no electric shock. He slowly reopened his eye and saw a little cup of clear, refreshing liquid floating inches from his face in a light blue glow. Jeremy stared at the cup. He’s seen this before; that thing- no, monster, he done the same thing whenever it held his collar. He knew Luna was the one carrying this innocent cup of water. He was still wary, as much as he wanted to, he knew whatever made the cup glow also caused him great pain.
Besides, he knew he currently didn’t have the strength to grasp the cup himself. Luna seemed to pick up on this. And slowly levitated a red straw into the cup. And again presented it to Jeremy. Trying her best to comfort the abused human.
Jeremy winced when the straw floated towards him. But this time recovered much more quickly when no pain came. Seeing this, it saddened Luna. It saddened and angered her, for different reasons. She choose not to show it. She was caring for the human at the time, after all.
The human saw the straw in the cup, and it only took him a second to try and reach for it. He only got inch close to it, his body failing him. But, before he knew what was happening, his was suddenly, but gently, propped up on the bed. The nice, soft pillow becoming a backrest and a new pillow propped his head and shoulders and the head board. Jeremy saw he was covered in the light blue glow. And he felt his pupils shrink, he experienced a bit of a panic attack before he noticed, he wasn’t writhing in pain. Instead, wherever the glow touched his skin, he felt a warm sensation. Just like that in the dream.
Jeremy relaxed at this, he realized he hadn’t need to worry. At least, not anymore. Luna hasn’t given him any real reason to. So far.
He shook his head as much as he could, and took the straw into his bone dry mouth. Sucking greedily as the cool water splashed passed his tongue and down his throat. It was by far the tastiest water he ever drank.
He finished the cup all too soon though, and asked for another. A full cup floated in front of him before he could finish his request. Jeremy cast a grateful smile towards Luna and sipped through the straw. Another cup was all he needed when his mouth felt fully refreshed. Jeremy leaned back into the soft as clouds pillows. A content sigh leaving his lips while he closed his eyes. He could lay there for the rest of his life and he wouldn’t care.
Unfortunately, that was not the case.
Jeremy heard Luna speak gibberish and a door opening. He opened his eyes and froze at what he saw; six new… aliens, or ponies, were standing at the foot of his bed. Having entered the room through a door he didn’t notice until now.
One alien, or, pony, as Luna called them, including herself. It was pink, overly so. Another was white with… he supposed purple hair. If he could call it hair. The same could be said for the pink one, but that one’s was a darker shade of pink. But the white one had an appendage sticking out its forehead...
Another was a really light yellow, with even lighter pink hair it was currently hiding behind. It had wings. There was also a… pony, that kept itself in the air with a pair of wings flapping at it sides. It was a really light blue and had rainbow-colored hair. Jeremy wondered if its hair was natural.
Next to the blue one, was an orange, pony, it had no wings nor horn, just like the pink one. It had blond hair and had a cowboy hat sitting atop its head. It also had, admittedly cute, freckles.
The last pony, it was just like Luna. Except it was white, wore yellow, maybe gold plated, jewelry, and had stripped wavy hair. Each strip a different color of lime, light pink, and baby blue. Quite the opposite of Luna. She was dark blue, wore black jewelry with blue shoe things, and had… the hair was hard to describe. It was wavy like Luna’s counterpart. But… it looked like a blob of blue sparkly stuff with an almost clear, and blue tinted, outer layer. It gave Jeremy the mental image of what a human cell would look like for some reason.
“Jeremy.” Luna said, catching the human’s attention. “These six… friends.” She nodded her head towards the six other ponies. Jeremy nodded in understanding.
The small blue one spoke in that weird language of theirs in a questioning tone, pointed a front leg at himself while looking at Luna. She responded and the blue one nodded, along with the other six.
The tall white one stepped forward, and for a second, Jeremy felt his heart drop. He knew he had nothing to fear at this point. But old habits die hard it seems. The white one saw the apprehensive look on Jeremy’s face and paused a few feet away. It looked back towards Luna and nodded. The tall pony looked back at Jeremy and its appendage on its forehead glowed light yellow. Jeremy flinched, very briefly, since the same warmth from before filled his head. He felt light-headed, but the sensation faded away as quick as it came. Leaving Jeremy very confused.
“Jeremy.” It said. “I… Princess, Celestia.” It -she, said. The pony had a very womanly voice. “These. Pinky, Pie.” She turned to the other ponies and pointed a hoof at the pink one, who jumped happily when…
Jeremy was growing tired of referring to these ponies as it. From then on he assumed they were all female. Although he has never seen any gender differences. These seven had noticeably long eyelashes. Since this was all he could gather, Jeremy stuck to calling them females.
Princess Celestia continued naming the ponies. He learned the names of the new ponies as Princess Celestia named them off. The short white one was Rarity. The light yellow one was Fluttershy. The light blue one was Rainbow Dash. And the orange one was Applejack.
Rarity said something, then Rainbow, then Applejack, then Pinkie, and lastly Fluttershy. Jeremy didn’t understand what they said, but he assumed it was something positive. If their friendly smiles were any indication.
“They say… It is good… meet you.” Princess Celestia said to Jeremy. He smiled and said it was a pleasure to meet all of them. Something Princess Celestia smiled at, and the other six too when she translated what he said to them.
“Can’t you make me understand them or something? Like whatever you and Luna did?” Jeremy asked. He figured it would make things easier if her could just understand everyone with whatever Luna and Princess Celestia did.
“... Wait.” Princess Celestia said. Her appendage glowed again and the same yellow tint found itself over the heads of the ponies still standing at the doorway. “There… spell should… let them understand… you to them.” She said.
“Thank you.” Jeremy said with a grateful smile. “And thank you,” he said to the five plus Princess Celestia. “for saving me.” The ponies, minus Princess Celestia and Luna. Looked confused, before they remembered past events.
“You’re Welcome!” Pinkie exclaimed.
“It... nothing!” Rainbow said. She casually, but slightly bashfully, waved a hoof.
“You are… welcome.” Fluttershy said. “I really… not much.” She added.
“Yer welcome, sugarcube.” Applejack said. She had a sort of southern accent, Jeremy noted.
“Do you like parties!?” Pinkie asked after somehow appearing to Jeremy’s right. Startling the poor human. He was close to falling out of his bed when Luna and Princess Celestia came to his aid.
“We… let rest. Tomorrow we… talk.” Princess Celestia said.
“Yes, thou needeth… rest.” She then looked towards the fives smaller ponies. Pinkie somehow right where she was before she went up to Jeremy. “We… go.” Luna said. The ponies left the room and Luna and Princess Celestia were right behind them. Luna paused when she reached the doorway. “Do not worry… we will… dream. It, night now. We will… thou tomorrow.” Jeremy nodded and Luna closed the door behind her. Jeremy leaned into the pillows, sliding back down to a lie in his bed. The human took this time alone to go over what recently happened.
I escape hell, end up being saved by those six, and they put me in a hospital…
Jeremy’s eyes became wet with tears. He never thought that any of these ponies would be so… so…
He had a hard time looking for the right word to properly describe how these ponies were with him. So he settled on using ‘kind’.
Jeremy never thought any of these ponies would be so kind to him. Well, to be fair, he’s only had that Twilight to base his opinion. It was very biased. Jeremy felt slightly guilty about that. These ponies were only trying to make him feel comfortable. Besides! To him, at this point, it’s the thought that counts! And these seven ponies… they… they have…
Jeremy felt at a loss for words. He thought there couldn’t be words to describe these ponies besides the one he already thought of, but there had to be better ones. He thought angels. But only four of them had wings. He then thought heroes. But they’ve done more than just ‘save’ him.
Jeremy’s thoughts went back to what Luna called the ponies. She called them friends.
Yeah, that was the word he was looking for; friends. Best friends, epic friends.
Jeremy smiled to himself. He has friends, friends that he can actually rely on. Friends that he probably, and maybe very likely, could trust them with his life. It made him feel secure, happy even. When he thought about the ponies.
Maybe… maybe I can… Yeah. I can live with this. This is fucking heaven.
Jeremy, our little human, thought as his heavy eyes closed. The soft, warm embrace of a good night's sleep, the first in ages, greeted the human.
The End
