Chapters Wow, I'm dead. There wasn't much else I could think about at the moment. I was looking down at myself, from a ghostly projection of my self, why my clothes are still on I will never know. On the bright side, I died protecting my sister, so, considering she's alive is kind of a fair trade. As long as the bastard that killed me gets hanged. I was hovering over my sister when a bright light appeared above me. Is this my ticket to heaven, or hell. I didn't know what to expect seeing as I've never died before. The light enveloped me and I appeared in a long black tunnel.
I looked both ways and decided which way to go. One had a bright light shining from it's end, while the other was just darkness. I thought to myself about the possibilities and then wondered, What if when I go to heaven it means some one else can't get in. Unfortunately, I was always too caring about others, so I went to the dark side.
I walked down the tunnel after realizing that I could not hover or float anymore. I continued walking for what felt like a good hour, I turned my head to my wrist, and noticed my watch wasn't there. I became angered remembering that the bastard that the bastard that killed me took my watch. I looked down at my body while walking and thought about how I would be buried. "I wonder if they would get rid of my clothes," I thought looking down at myself, I wore white trainers with blue stripes and red lace.
I wore a pair of jeans faded around the knees. My top was just a regular black top with a grey thunderbolt cloud with a grey lighting bolt in different shades of grey, running off in little raindrops. I wore nothing on my head, but my hair was decently short cut, but long enough to cover my ears.
My trek came to a halt when I stood before a large figure in a hooded cloak. I didn't flinch when the figure approached me. "You do not seem intimidated by my presence, why is that?" I looked the figure directly at where I assumed it's eye would be with in its hood. "Considering I'm dead I doubt I can die again." I replied without batting an eye. I could hear a chuckle emanate from the figures hood "As true as that is," it flicked my ear "you can still experience pain." I glared at the hooded figure and said "I may be able to experience pain, but I will not fight someone who fight's me without reason." Thinking back on that statement I realized that was how I died in the first place. The figure let out another chuckle "I can see honesty, kindness and loyalty in your heart, but now you are dead, thanks to those traits." It lowered its head to look at me "But I think I know the perfect place for you to go." The figure snapped its fingers from under the cloak and said "See you in hell." My eyes shot open as I said that had better be a joooooo-" I was cut off by a large hole opening up beneath me, it was like a small hole puncher was used, the floor just opened up without warning. I felt myself falling, but no wind was pushing me. My hair just stayed still, falling with me.
I emerged from the hole which was oddly dark, to find myself miles above the ground, where ever I was it was apparently nighttime or it was just naturally dark. Wind whipped at my face as I fell. I stared down at the ground, which was getting extremely close. "So ground we meet aga-" I hit the ground leaving a large dust cloud in my wake. I awoke several hours later in a daze. I found my footing and stood up. I looked around and found my self in an oddly cartoony looking forest. I surveyed my surroundings and accidentally stepped on a twig. I heard a growl and whirled around. I found myself face to face, or rather snout with a large creature which seemed to be a lion with a pair of wings and scorpion tail. I looked at the beast and said out loud "Well, shit."
The creature roared and I turned tail and ran for my life. I was nearing the edge of the forest with the beast still chasing after me when I realized "What life." I stopped in my tracks and the beast went skidding past me. Since i was near the edge of the forest it had become less dense and I could tell that it was daytime. I looked at the beast and made myself as wide a target as possible by putting my hands out stretched and I could not help but say "Come at me bro." The beast pawed the ground with its, well paws, and looked at me angrily. The beast charged at me and I closed my eyes bracing for impact. Instead of being hit with by what I assumed would have the equivalent damage as a small truck, I felt an odd tingling sensation rustle through my entire body. I opened my eyes to find the beast was no longer staring at me. I turned as I heard a groan from behind. The beast had ran right by me and hit a tree. I became slightly annoyed at this for one reason or another "Can't you hit what's directly in front of you?" I called to the beast. The beast turned towards me again with a dangerous look in its eye. I repeated what I had done previously only this time I didn't close my eyes. The beast roared and charged at me again. I was amazed by what happened next. The beast seemed to phase through me, or I phased through it, it was kind of hard to tell. I was grossed out when I saw the internal structure of the beast as I phased through it. I heard a loud crash and turned to see that the beast had yet again hit a tree. I walked over to the beast and tried to give it a small kick. It didn't work as my foot simply phased through it again. I crouched down beside the beast in order to get a good look at it. It was clearly unconscious. I couldn't get over the fact that I seen this beast somewhere before. I though over the possibilities in my head.
Cartoony forest, lion with wings and a scorpion tail, I', a ghost. I realized I was probably in a cartoon of some sort considering my surroundings. I looked at my hand and held it up to the sun. I blinked a few times to make sure I could see what I was seeing and that it wasn't some trick of the light. I could clearly see a large beam of yellow energy which seemed to be moving the sun. I took my hand away and the energy faded. I experimented with this several times before coming to the conclusion that if I looked through my body I can see things others more than likely can't. I went over this in my head again.
Cartoony forest, lion with bat wings, I decided, and scorpion tail, and something that is moving the sun, and more than likely the moon too. I assumed that the energy beam was either science or magic. After that thought it struck me like a blow to the head, something that I had unfortunately experienced before hand. I'm in Equestria. I let out a small fanboy squee as I had always been a brony. After realizing that the beast was a Manticore, and that this forest was more than likely the Everfree Forest, that meant- My thoughts were interrupted by a small humming noise. I looked behind the tree to find none other than the pink maned pegasus Fluttershy, trotting down a dirt road. I let out another squee and ran up to Fluttershy yelling "Fluttershy yay." I went to hug her and realized that I had probably scared her to death I said "Oh Fluttershy I'm so sorry." I looked up to see that Fluttershy had continued down the path as if nothing had happened. I was surprised at what just happened. I went out to poke her gently with my finger, but it phased through her, causing a small shiver from the yellow pegasus. My heart broke as I realized I would never be able to hug the sweet yellow mare who I had wrote so many fimfics about before I died. I let out a cry of despair and fell to the ground crying softly. I quickly regained my composure and followed after the yellow mare. As I walked after her I realized what I was doing and stared down at my trainers. I could feel them hitting the ground but I could see that there was no dust or noise coming from it. I soon realized that upon closer inspection my trainers had become slightly more cartoony along with the rest of the surroundings. My first thought was that I needed to find a mirror to see how I looked. Ironically when I looked back up I found that Fluttershy was no longer beside me.I let out a small sigh and continued walking in hopes of finding some other pony I recognized. I found a small bench in a park and sat down on it. I looked out at the park and observed all the different pastel coloured ponies. I could name a few off the top if my head. For example, Caramel, Carrot Top, or Golden Harvest I never was really sure about that one, others that I noticed were Bon Bon, Berry Punch, who was stumbling about dangerously, Blues Noteworthy, and Dinky Doo. I blinked at Dinky and thought that if she was close Derpy mustn't be far off. I got up and found myself starting to levitate off the ground. naturally I began to panic. Soon after I realised that it had just been because I hadn't been paying attention and that I needed will power to force my self in a certain direction, something I had plenty of. I willed myself down towards Dinky when out of the corner of my eye I saw the mare I was looking for, Derpy had just walked out from behind a tree. I floated over and peeked around the tree to find, noting. I knew something was up so I floated around the genera; vicinity of the tree for a while until giving up. I decided that considering it was Derpy she could have just been eating muffins, I stopped for a moment and began to wonder. In the one episode that Derpy was shown there was nothing to do with muffins, so why all the muffin eating pictures of her. I decided to ask her if I was somehow found away to. It was getting dark so I decided to try and find somewhere to sleep. After realizing that I was a ghost again I sighed and floated up into the air, hoping I was somehow able to get a good sleep. Thankfully my mortal requirements were still embodied in my ghostly structure. I knew that I probably couldn't rest on anything so I just decided to sleep in the middle of the air, Kind of weird now I think about it. But if it weren't for that I probbably wouldn't have found Rainbow Dash.
I woke up to the sound of screaming. My eyes shot open as I saw none other than the spectral maned pegasus, Rainbow Dash. I put my hands out in front of me defensively. I then remembered that I was dead. "Oh yeah," I said to myself. Rainbow Dash passed through me, causing a shiver to go up my spine. I followed Rainbows trail, and was horrified to see that she was headed to the ground.
I panicked and went after her. I could clearly see from this perspective that she was unconcious. I tried to grab her but my hands phased right through her. I tried again, but to no avail. The ground was getting closer and I could see an orchard of apples below me. I got an idea and tried to move Rainbow again. I managed to push her slightly. Before I could even try again I hit the ground with a resounding thud.
I woke up. a short time after I would assume, to find that Rainbow Dash was not beside me. I hoped this either meant that she wasn't hurt and was able to fly away, or somebody found her. I looked around my crash area to find I was in fact in Sweet Apple Acres. "I wonder where Applejack is." As if the universe heard my thoughts a blonde maned, stetson wearing earth pony was walking up to me. I turned and was face to Applejack, or rather, she was face to face with my thighs. I hadn't really noticed how tall I was compared to the ponies.
I would have continued on this thought but Applejack turned around and I was left facing her flank. I let out a "uhh," but stopped as she raised her hind legs. "Wait is she going to," I stopped talking as Applejack's hooves went directly through me, and hit the tree I was standing in front of. The problem was she bucked her hooves into a place that is very sensitive to males of the human species, and I would assume pony species too.
The other problem was that I had felt the kick, only it was probbably weakened a lot as I would probbably have been left missing a certain part of my body if it was at full force, how ever it still had enough power to send me to the ground clutching my manhood in pain. I heard a series of small thumps hit what sounded like wood. I heard an approved sounding snort from Applejack. I was annoyed at her, even if she didn't mean it. I heard another unexpected large thump and an "oof".
I looked up to see Applejack lying on the ground with her legs stretched out. The weirder thing was that Rainbow was on top of her. Applejack asked the same thing I was thinking "Rainbow, where the hay did you come from?" Rainbow Dash opened her eyes groggily. "I don't know AJ, one minute I was practicing a new move, it went badly and I got, uh, never mind, anyway one moment I'm flying through the air, next thing I know, I went through some weird part of the air and was knocked unconcious."
Applejack looked at Rainbow as if she was part hydra. "Maybe we should go see Twilight. I'm sure she has an, uh, explanation for what happened." Rainbow looked at Applejack "You think I'm lying don't you?" Applejack bit her lip "Well even if your lying I think it's a good idea to go to Twilight." Applejack confessed, leaving Rainbow pouting "Fine, but I'm not lying." the two mares continued there arguement on their way to their friends house.
I attempted to slump against the tree where Rainbow Dash had fallen out of, but I phased through it. Annoyed, and yet slightly boggled by what the interior of a tree looked like, I phased my self out of the tree. I stood up and thought to myself "Become solid." I tried to slump against the tree again, but it was to no avail,I kept trying until the sensation from phasing into the tree had tired me out. Not realising what I was doing, I slumped against a tree tired from the whole event. Wait, "How the hell did I do that!?" I found myself lying against the tree, as in I could feel the bark on my back, and I wasn't phasing. I was angered, but my anger was set aside as I found myself thinking "Forget it, it's a cartoon."
I assumed it was because I wasn't paying attention. I thought about my current situation and thought that it might be best to follow Applejack's advice and go to Twilight Sparkles library house. A thought crossed my mind, is it a tree house, or a house tree. Seeing as I didn't know what a house tree was I decided to just keep calling it a tree house, or library.
I got up and stretched my limbs. I looked down at where I had been lying. I noticed all the apples that were stacked neatly in the baskets surrounding the base of the tree. I noticed a stray apple that had missed the bucket. I nonchalantly reached down, picked up the apple, tossed it into a bucket, and proceeded to make my way to Twilight house. I stopped halfway down the dirt path that lead from Sweet Apple Acres to Ponyville, when the realisation of what I just did struck me.
"How the hell did do that!?" I shouted loudly. I'm sure if anyone could have heard me they would have, seeing as how loud it was.
Somewhere outside a small cottage on the edge of the Everfree forest, a small white bunny perked up it's ears.
I decided to try and lift various things on my way to Twilight Sparkles house. I started with small pebbles that were scattered along the road to Ponyville. I lifted them with relative ease. I tried to pick up small branches that littered the bases of small trees by the roadside for decoration. They were slightly harder but managed it eventually. I didn't know how I kept my hands from phasing through everything I touched, but I assumed that I would find out eventually.
I eyes lightened up as I entered Ponyville. I looked around to see if I could find the library from my current position. I was apparently at the entrance to Ponyville because the dirt road had now turned into cobbled streets. I looked around at all the quaint little cottages. I wondered how the ponies built something as complicated as a house. I then remembered "Oh, yeah, magic."
My thought were directed back to the prospect of finding the library at the thought of "magic". I followed the dirt path until I came to the market square. I decided that if I flew up and had a look around from here I might have a better chance of finding it, I mean how hard can it be to notice a giant tree.
Apparently very hard. I scanned the area for what felt like an hour. I eventually spotted it out of the corner of my eye and glided over to it. I didn't know how I could have missed it earlier, but I would assume because I only noticed a small trail of green fire leaving from it that I noticed it in the first place. The entire house was covered in foliage, which blended in with the, background, I guess. Forcing my incompetence to notice tree out of my head I glided to the window of the library and phased inside.
*Authors note* I want to thank everypony for being so kind on my previous story, also, who ever disliked it can you please tell me why you did so so I can try and improve*
I poked my head through the wall of the library and took a good look at all the books and various notes strewn around the room. And I thought I was bad when studying for a science test.
I noticed a small desk in the centre of the room, as I looked over the banisters of the second floor, which held a little wooden horse head statue. On the table was a stressed looking purple unicorn. I’m sure there is a correct colour for her but I decided to stick with calling her purple.
She poured over the books surrounding her desk furiously, and frantically tossing scraps of paper away into growing piles. “Jeez, I’d hate to clean up all that.” I thought aloud. “Tell me about it.” I froze. I turned my head to see none other than Twilight’s assistant Spike the dragon staring at me.
We both let out a scream as we stared at each other. Spikes scream was interrupted by a belch of green flame. I stopped screaming and started laughing at the belch. “What are you?” Spike asked fearfully “I am a ghost, and I have come to haunt you Spike.” Spike let out another scream and I laughed again.
“I’m kidding sheesh, can’t you take a joke.” Spike shot a glare at me. “You shouldn’t exist, or be here, don’t you go to a better place or something when you die?” I chuckled and said “That’s not the only reason I shouldn’t be here.” I let my full form phase through the wood, and placed my feet down on the hardwood floor. Spike gaped at me. He was only up to my knee, where as Applejack and I assumed most of the other ponies would be up to my thigh.
Spike couldn’t do anything but gape at my body, so I decided to have a little fun. “Quite a sight isn’t it, yes the best damn looking human in the entire Earth is right in front of you.” Spike stopped gaping and looked at me quizzically “So, your made of dirt?”
I looked at Spike. “What you talking bout Willis.” I chuckled silently to myself at Spikes reaction, but he shrugged it off “You said you’re a human of Earth, so does that mean your made of dirt? Also, what’s a human?” I opened my mouth to speak but Spike cut me off. “You know what I’ve a better way to find out.” He approached the banisters of the second floor and looked down over it. “Hey Twilight what’s a human?” Spike called to Twilight.
Twilight shot a glare at Spike that made him wince. “I don’t have time for stupid questions like that Spike, I have to figure this out before Tuesday. I looked at Spike “What’s eating her.” He looked back at me with an annoyed expression “She got this riddle that Princess Celestia sent to her on Aprils Foals Day, about a week ago, and she said to solve it within a fortnight, she hasn’t slept since.
I looked at Twilight. She really can’t be taking it that seriously, can she. “What’s the riddle?” I asked Spike. Spike rubbed his temples. “I can’t remember right now. Hey Twilight maybe if you say the riddle aloud it will be a bit easier to concentrate on.” He winked at me “That’s; a great idea Spike thanks. Twilight shuffled a bit of paper on the table and then took one in particular into her hooves and read aloud.
“I come in darkness, but fill the mind with light. I bring enlightenment to some, while gripping others in the hoof of fear. With me it can be a journey of inexplicable joy and sorrow. What I will show you will often be unreachable. Journey with me and what you see may haunt you. Journey with me and you may never want to return home. Journey with me and you will never know when it will end.”
She stopped and looked up to Spike “What am I?” Spike gave a sideways glance to me “A ghost? Maybe.” I let out a silent chuckle, knowing the answer. Twilight gave Spike a dead look. “What kind of ghost, would bring enlightenment?” He shot another sideways glance at me. “You’d be surprised.” Spike said, low enough for me to hear, but not Twilight.
My chuckling got the better of me and Spike looked at me and said “What, I suppose you know the answer?” I nodded briskly “Well tell me.” Twilight looked up at Spike. I shook my head. “Why not. If she doesn’t get this she won’t sleep for weeks.” I looked at Spike and said “If she sleeps, the answer will come to her.” Spike looked at me. “What the hay is that meant to mean.”
I looked Spike in the eye and said this “If I tell you, you have to Pinkie Pie promise not to tell Twilight until she gets some sleep, and make sure she’s sleeping, not reading a book under her covers.” Spike nodded in agreement. “I’m not telling you it until you do the actions.” Spike sighed and said “Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my- Ouch!”
Spike accidently poked his own eye, which sent me into a fit of laughter “Alright now tell me.” I nodded at Spike and told him the answer in a whisper, “What are you doing Spike?” The voice from behind Spike made us both turn and freeze. Spike was facing Twilight who had a look of, annoyance and intrigue, but mostly annoyance. “Uhh, talking, with my friend.” Twilight bent down to Spikes eye level. “And where is this friend of yours?”
Spike put on a generally confused face. He turned his head to face me. “Can she really not see you?” “Apparently not.” I replied “Then how come I can?” I shrugged my shoulders. “So far no ponies have noticed me, I think only animals can, I got chased by a manticore when I first came here.” “Spike!” Spike abruptly turned back to Twilight “Apparently only animals can see him. Oh, and he figured out your riddle.” Twilights eyes lit up. She grabbed Spike by his cheeks and held him close to his face “What is it?” Spike let out a muffled reply.
Twilight dropped Spike with a thud onto the floor. “I’ll tell you after you get some sleep.” Twilight glared at Spike “Tell me now.” Spike shook his head “I Pinkie Pie promised that I wouldn’t tell you until you got some sleep.” Twilight gave Spike a glare that could rival Fluttershy’s stare. Spike backed up a bit “Besides even if I do tell you, you need me to send the letter, which I won’t.”
I could see Twilight quickly getting angered at her assistant keeping the answer from her. Spike looked back at me worriedly. “He also said that sleep may bring the answer.” he said as a last resort. Twilight snorted angrily and trotted off to her own bedroom, slamming the door as she entered.
I glanced at Spike who let out a sigh of relief. “For the record, she probably doesn’t think you exist.” Spike said walking down to the mess of notes that littered the floor of the library. “Eh,” I said shrugging my shoulders “She’ll have to sooner or later.” Spike looked at me “Why’s that?” I looked back at him “Would you have thought of the answer?” Spike realising he was being insulted, turned away, but I heard a mumbled “I coulda got it.”
I let out a chuckle and said “Let me give you a hand, er, hoof.” Spike looked at me “Wow, you don’t even have hooves. What are they?” I deadpanned at Spike “You’ve got ‘em too.” Spike looked down at his own hands “They’re claws?” I face palmed. “Mine are Hands.” I said holding up my hand to Spike. He did the same. I noticed he only had four digits on his hand, claw, and each ended in a short but sharp claw.
He poked my hand with his, index claw? He immediately regretted the action as his claw shot away from mind. I looked at him “What happened?” He looked at me with a look of, I wasn’t really sure, it was a mixture between, fear and the knowing it was an accident, but it could happen again.
I raised my eyebrow o Spike who let out a stuttered “Felt, weird.” He looked up at me with his emerald green eyes, and I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. “Look man,” I said squatting down attempting to join his eye level “I don’t know half of the stuff I may or may not be able to do, so if you touching me, or visa versa, freaks you out, I don’t recommend doing it.
Spike nodded appreciatively. “Now” I said standing up “let’s clean this place.” Spike agreed with a nod of the head and we started about cleaning the place. I looked over all the notes Twilight had scribbled down on the pieces of parchment before tossing them into the nearest bin.
I looked at all the notes with disbelief. Most of them had definitions of different words that may have been the answer. I looked over them all, surprised to see how much effort she put in to solve a riddle.
Spike saw me looking over her notes and let out a snicker when he saw my face. “I know what your thinking,” I turned to see Spike looking at me “yes, it’s all to find out a riddle.” I turned back to the notes and looked over them. She had some good ideas, but assuming that she found a way to prove them false, she continued trying.
It was about 2 in the morning when I had finished. I sent Spike to bed seeing as he actually needed sleep. I sighed to myself as I put the last note into the bin. “Ain’t no rest for the wicked.” I looked up to find that the sun was rising. I decided to explore Ponyville for a bit, seeing as I didn’t really have anything else to do being dead and all.
I phased out of the wall of the library to find that the streets were empty, hardly surprising considering the time. I floated around the market square for a while, trying to get the gist of the towns layouts. The longer I stayed out in the open the more it felt like I was being watched.
I whirled around to see if there was someone, or somepony for that matter looking at me. There was nothing there so I turned back around to find my self face to face with, another ghost. I let out a scream, as did the other ghost. This ghost however was not a human, it was a pony. I stopped screaming after a while and looked at the pony. I would assume she was a mare, seeing as from what I recall from earth the majority of Ponyville’s population were female.
“Uhh, hi.” I said awkwardly. The mare stared at me, and I couldn’t help but feel like I recognised her from somewhere. “Who are you?” the mare asked trembling. I realised that this wasn’t the time to joke like I had with Spike. “I, am like you, a spirit,” I said calmly “only not of pony origin, as you can see.”
The mare stopped trembling “I guess this is my time then.” She said sadly. I placed my hand on her shoulder, surprised it didn’t go through. She looked up at me, I couldn’t recognise her as her body was becoming more and more translucent.
I gave her a heart warming smile. “It’s never truly our time, we continue living, just not in the physical sense.” The mare looked up at me her silver eyes glistening. “What happens when we die?” I didn’t know how to respond to that question, but I didn’t need to as a large doorway appeared in front of us.
The door bore two large carvings of Alicorns, both pure white in colour. “I guess your about to find out.” I said blankly. The mare floated towards the door but turned back to me before entering the doorway. “Tell Scootaloo I’m sorry.” I realised this must be Scootaloo, the orange pegasus of the Cutie Mark Crusaders mother.
I wasn’t able to respond. How would Scootaloo feel. I started to ask the mare a question, but stopped at her eyes. I understood that she wanted her last request to be fulfilled, before she left the world she was so dearly attached to. I nodded in understanding. I wished I could have had a last request before I died, but that wouldn’t stop me from fulfilling someone else’s.
The mare entered the door and it closed almost immediately afterwards. I sighed and decided to head back to the library in order to get Spike to help me find Scootaloo, and fulfil her mothers last request.
Bad news can bring out the best in somepony
I glided gloomily back towards Twilight Sparkle’s library. The might of Princess Celestia’s sun was rising towards the sky. I could see a few ponies coming out of their houses, yawning and stretching their limbs. They all gazed towards Celestia’s sun beaming in the light of another new day.
I phased through the library walls to find Spike already up looking under the desk with a horse head on it. I let out a small cough behind Spike, which caused his head to jerk upwards, leaving a gash in the woodwork of the table. Spike emerged from under the desk rubbing his head looking angrily at me.
“What was that for?” Spike asked angrily. He noticed my expression and lowered his claw from his head. “Hey, what happened?” Spike said attempting to place a claw on my shoulder in comfort. His claw shot back after touching me, but still held the same look of worry in his eyes.
I sighed and told Spike about the experience I had involving Scootaloo’s mother, whose name I now know was Surprise. I wondered why I hadn’t noticed the wings on her, assuming she was a pegasus like her daughter. I ignored the thought for the moment deciding to worry about it after I had given Scootaloo her message.
The emotion of sadness hung in the air like a bad smell. It wasn’t until Twilight Sparkle came, seemingly bouncing Pinkie Pie style, down the stairs the Spike and myself even made a movement. “Ok Spike I did what you and your friend said, now what’s the answer.” Spike looked to me and I told him it was ok to tell her.
“Are you sure the answer didn’t come to you while you slept?” Spike questioned Twilight. Twilight put on an annoyed look “If it did would I be asking you what it was.” Spike muttered “I suppose that’s a good point.” He faced Twilight and cleared his throat. “The answer is, pause for dramatic affect,” He looked at Twilight with one eye to see she was completely ecstatic about this “Dreams.”
When the answer sunk into Twilights head she face, hoofed? “How could I be so stupid, I come in the night, that should have gave it away, urggg.” I looked at Twilight while she was saying this, remembering when I had first solved the riddle. I turned to Spike and told him what to say.
Spike walked up to Twilight, who had her face down on the table with the horse head on it. He turned to me before speaking up, I gave him a reassuring nod. “The Princess new you wouldn’t get it Twi,” Twilight looked up to Spike at this “She new that you wouldn’t sleep until you got the answer, which meant you couldn’t have a dream, and she knew that you would over think it.”
Twilight looked at Spike as though he had just recited the bible, well they probably have something similar to the bible, but that’s what it looked like. Twilight pulled Spike into a crushing hug, and I couldn’t help but laugh. Twilight didn’t notice how hard she was hugging until Spike choked out “Breathing *gasp* required for living.”
Twilight dropped him instantly, realising what she was doing and mustered a quick apology. “I really am thankful that you told me Spike, but how did you figure it out?” Spike looked up at Twilight like she already new the answer “I told you already, my friend told me.”
Twilight was about to speak but Spike turned to me “By the way you never told me your name.” Twilight stopped talking to see what Spike would come up with. My name, is Darragh.” Spike looked at me oddly. “Really?” I frowned “So what’s his name Spike?” Twilight asked, still not believing in my existence. Spike turned to her. “He say’s his names Darragh,” he turned back to me “you are a dude right?” I nodded.
Spike turned back to Twilight who was rubbing her temples “I’m not in the mood for any of your tricks now Spike, he’s probably just a figment of your imagination,” she sighed “I need some coffee.” Spike turned back to me “Are you a fig-whatever of my imagination?”
I chuckled softly “Want me to prove it?” I said joking darkly. Spike looked at me and said “Go for it.” I smiled and looked around. I found a scrunched up paper ball that we had missed while cleaning. A plan formed in my head as I bent down and picked it up. I chuckled at Spike as I threw the ball up in my hands a few time before acting on my plan.
I reeled my hand holding the ball back, I locked my eyes on Twilight, whose flank was sticking out of a press, and threw my ball with great force. An audible squeak escaped from the press before an audible groan did. Twilight emerged from the press and shot daggers at Spike, who was pointing to me with his claw.
“She can’t see me remember.” Spike looked worried as Twilight let a snort out from her snout. “Well, this provides an excellent reason for us to find Scootaloo doesn’t it.” I calmly said to Spike. Spike who sighed in relief made a B-line for the door, this however didn’t go unnoticed by Twilight
“Where do you think your going Mr?” Spikes eyes darted from side to side thinking of an excuse “I, um, need to tell Scootaloo something.” He said honestly. I had to admire his honesty “What are you telling her?” Spike through a sideways glance to me “Sorry.” before darting out the door.
I didn’t follow immediately, I stayed to see what Twilight would do. A glow started to emanate from her horn, but it stopped quickly afterwards. “Buck it, I’m tired.” Was the last thing I heard Twilight say before I left the library.
I found Spike panting a few houses away from the library. Spike looked up to see me approaching him, I was walking this time, I found floating slightly tiring, so I decided to stick to the ground. “Where *pant were you?” I looked at Spike and said “Jeez dude your out of breath already, you need to lay off the rubies.”
Spike shot daggers at me with his eyes, I assumed he learnt that look from Twilight. “I was making sure Twilight didn’t drag your sorry ass back to the library. Spike looked at me with a weird look “I’m not a donkey.” Spike said with a tone of honest confusion in his voice.
“I’ll tell you later, right now we need to find Scootaloo’s house, do you know where it is?” “Conveniently, I do.” I turned to Spike “Where is it?” He pointed to the mailbox outside the house he was standing at. It had three names written on it, Surprise, Tornado and Scootaloo. I looked at the house I was standing in front of, it didn’t look much different then the other houses in Ponyville.
Spike knocked on the door to the house in question, which was answered by an immediate “GO AWAY!” Spike was almost blasted off his feet from the volume of the shout, I probably would have been too, had I been able to. Spike hesitated before knocking again. “Scoots,” he said timidly while knocking. “GO AWAY!” another blast of volume form the doorway. Spike stood his ground this time “Scoots I know what happened.” He said, his voice slightly louder than before.
No response this time. “I’m coming in Ok.” Spike said warily. Still no response. Spike cast a back glance at me before opening the door. I followed him in. The room was pitch black and a distinctive sobbing could be heard from the corner of the room. I approached warily along with Spike, who was a good bit behind me.
I approached the sobbing, my mind flashing back to another time when I had approached a sobbing sound in the dark. Unfortunately it was in a zombie game, which made me even more hesitant to approach. The sobbing continued as we approached.
“Um, Scootaloo.” I didn’t expect Spike to say anything, so I jumped a bit when he did. I accidently knocked over a vase, which surprised both me and Spike, and apparently Scootaloo. When the vase fell and broke, Scootaloo came running from her hiding place, and enveloped Spike in a death grip hug.
Spike was shocked by the sudden revelation of the pony we had come to see. He saw that she was crying softly onto his green and purple scales and he couldn’t help but feel compelled to return the hug. As he was returning the hug he glanced up at me. I stared at the scene in awe, “Tell her.” I told Spike, seeing as Scootaloo couldn’t hear me.
Spike broke from the hug to look at Scootaloo. Scootaloo looked up at him, her eyes red and puffy from crying. “Your mom says sorry.” Scootaloo gasped at this piece of news, and did something neither Spike nor I, nor even Celestia expected. She kissed Spike.
My jaw dropped open upon seeing this. I probably would have fainted if the scene was anymore heart warming and cute. Spike told me later on that he felt like fainting from surprise too. After the kiss, which granted had been short but meaningful, Scootaloo broke down into tears, hugging Spike, who in turn, returned the hug gratefully.
I thought it best to leave them alone to themselves, and would have a guy talk with Spike when he got back from Scootaloos place. My trip back to the library, which I figured I might as well go seeing as Spike would be there sooner or later, was interrupted by the sound of crying and panting.
I looked below to see two figures running in the same direction as me. I spotted two pink manes and tails, one figure was covered in pink fur, while the other was covered in yellow. I quickly assumed that these were Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. But the problem was that Pinkie Pie’s mane was straight. I remembered Pinkie’s mane being almost as bouncy as her personality.
As if I re-watched an episode in my head, the image of Pinkie Pie becoming sad in “Party Of One” were suddenly forced into my mind. I put two and two together, two being crying ponies and the other being a flat haired Pinkie Pie, and the outcome wasn’t good. Whatever could get Pinkie’s mane to go like that, could not be good, and I intended to find out what.
CLIFFHANGER LOL!!
I followed the two pink maned ponies through the streets of Ponyville, hovering my spectral body over them, following them to their destination, and to a lesser extent, mine. The ponies rattled on the libraries door, and a short while after Twilight came out to see what all the fuss was about. She must have seen worried expressions on Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy’s faces because as soon as she opened the door she hurried the two inside.
I quickly phased myself in through the library’s walls so I could here what was going on inside. As I entered I heard vast amounts of sobbing and hushing from either of the three ponies. I closed in on the ponies as I really hoped what was going through my head hadn’t happened. “Tell me what happened,” I recognised the voice of Twilight, or should I say Tara Strong, ah screw it, I recognised it ok.
I was now hovering over the three ponies, and I could see that Fluttershy was hiding behind her mane. Pinkie was talking to Twilight rapidly, but not like she did in the show, she was lacking her usual gusto. “Me and Shy went to the market to buy some food for her animals because she has some new babies and you now how I like babies, but when we went to the market and,” she cut off and then began sobbing uncontrollably.
Twilight hushed Pinkie and brought her into a tight hug. I felt a pang of jealousy right there, but it was soon replaced with anger at what Fluttershy said. “gilda” “What Fluttershy?” Twilight turned her attention to the shy Pegasus. “GILDA!” Her voice rose to a frightening decibel.
“She did this to me,” Fluttershy moved her mane out of her eyes, and I filled with rage. Behind her mane was a scar, not very deep by the looks of it, but it probably stung. I could feel my anger raising, remembering how angry I felt when Gilda had just shouted at her, but now that she physically hurt her.
“Oh, sweet Celestia Fluttershy why didn’t you lead with that, we need to tell the authorities right away, Spike, Spike, oh right he left, Pinkie I need you to get me some parchment and, Pinkie, Pinkie Pie?” Pinkie was frozen in place, shuddering, as was Fluttershy. “W-what is that?” Fluttershy said pointing her hoof in my direction. I turned to see if there was anything behind me.
Twilight turned and gasped. “Big, red, scary, meanie thing!” Pinkie yelled, now I was sure they meant me. I turned back to look at them and said “I’m not a meanie.” Kicking the dirt of the air, if that makes sense. The others gasped, and my eyes lit up. “Wait can you here me?” I said, my voice rising. They nodded slowly. I almost had a nerdgasm, but I could later, right now I needed to teach Gilda a lesson. I headed for the door, my power of flight somehow becoming restricted.
Before I phased through it I turned and said “The names Darragh.” I then proceeded to phase through the door, but not before listening to the gasp from Twilight. I stormed my way to the market square, remembering what Pinkie had said about getting food for Fluttershy’s animals. I tried to fly to get there quicker, but I couldn’t for the life of me do it.
I proceeded to walk down the street, and take a left, as that was what I remembered from my view in the air. I saw a large group gathered in the centre of the square, a few of them looking injured. In the centre of the group, I saw the griffin that I had come to teach a lesson to. It was now or never.
“GILDA GRIFFIN!” I shouted, so loudly that if Luna was still on the moon even she would have heard it. The entire group stopped moving and turned to where the sound had come from, so basically me. Most of the group screamed, the majority of it was mares, anyone who didn’t scream simply gasped.
Gilda dropped a stallion who she was holding by the neck, I didn’t recognise him, but I’m pretty sure it was one of the ponies who was clearing the ground in the winter wrap up. “Who the hell are you?” Gilda said taking a stance at me, letting the stallion run off. I stared at Gilda, my eyes matching hers, I smirked when I saw the slightest bit of fear in her eyes.
“Considering what you did to Fluttershy,” I paused to see her reaction, fear, score, “I’m your worst nightmare, and a hell load worse then NightMare Moon.” Gilda stiffened up her body, I did the same. The ponies around us had pushed back far enough to give us a decently sized area to fight in.
We did nothing for at least a minute; we just stood there, analyzing each other. I saw Gilda bend her legs back, preparing for a lunge, I, was prepared to stop her. She jumped for me, I swiftly moved to the side, and when the moment was right, I slammed my hand onto her neck, grounding her.
A cheer arose from the ponies as I pinned Gilda to the ground. “What’s your problem dude?!” She cried out “What’s my problem! Whats my fucking problem? Your gave Fluttershy a fucking scar that’s what my problem is.” I shouted at her, making sure my voice went directly into her ear. She managed to throw me off of her, sending me rolling in the dirt. I got to my feet and stared angrily at her as she yelled “Why do you even care, you probably don’t even know her.” Before I could reply she lunged at me her claws somehow managing to get a hold of me. The positions were reversed as this time she threw me to the ground. Her claws on my shoulders and my hands attempting to grab her neck.
It was then I saw it, three different shades of purple, and two different shades of pink. Pinkie, Fluttershy, Twilight, Spike and Scootaloo were all watching me being attacked by her. This worked for me as reason, as I worked up my remaining strength to knee Gilda in the stomach. She fell off of me clutching her torso. I rolled away from her and held my shoulder. I could see her about to try and fly away, so I did what my instinct told me to, tackle her and grab her wings. I held her wings in my hand, one foot on her neck and one foot on her tail. “It doesn’t matter that I don’t know her, and she doesn’t know me, I won’t let someone like you, get away with doing something like that to someone like her.” I shouted as loud as my voice would go.
I could tell everyone was staring at me, but I didn’t care. I grasped her wings with my hands, and stepped off of her. I began to spin around, dragging Gilda in the dirt with me “Don’t ever, let me, see you, here, AGAIN!” I shouted as I released her wings, allowing her to soar with using them, away over the mountain. I took a great breath, one I didn’t realise I was holding, and then fell to the ground spread eagled. “Fuck.” Was the last thing I managed to say before the countless amounts of ponies swarmed me. I heard a small bang, and everyone stepped away from me. Twilight and Spike rushed towards me. “Are you ok?” Spike asked worriedly, he sounded muffled. “Here let me help.” Twilight said as her horn ignited. She pressed it against my chest, and released her power. Instead of a cool, flowing sensation which was what I was hoping for, it felt like a searing hot iron pole was shoved through my torso. I cried out in pain as pins and needles enveloped my entire body. I did not know what happened afterwards, but the pain from Twilight caused me to black out
“Goddamn my head hurts.” I mumbled. Now that I think about, he doesn’t exist, I mean, I would have seen him wouldn’t I, when I died. But, this is a story about technicolour ponies and not a religious debate. My eyes fluttered open and I was staring at white again. “Did I die again?” I asked aloud “No, deaths too good for you.” I heard a voice to my side. My head hurt as I tried to turn it. “Spike?” The purple and green dragon was sitting on a small stool, looking at me smugly. “Not sure if I should happy or sad about it.” I chuckled. “So what happened?” I asked, resting my head on my pillow. “Well,” Spike began “After Twilight did the, whatever it was, you kind of lost consciousness.” I looked at Spike “No shit Shelock.” “Who’s Sherlock?” I blanked “Uhh, Sherclop?” Spikes eyes widened in realisation “Oh him, Hey!” I laughed at his ignorance. “So after I got knocked out.” I continued “After you got knocked out, Twi levitated you to the hospital, where Nurse Redheart checked you up, or tried to, seeing as she had no idea what the Tartaus you were.” I nodded, taking all this information in, then it hit me, “How am I not fading through this?” I asked pointing to the bed I was currently lying on. “Uhh, well, you’re not exactly, dead anymore.” I widened my eyes at him “I’m alive?” I felt like jumping for joy “Oh Faust no, you’re, kind of in between.” I blanked at him. “So, I’m not dead, but I’m not alive.” I questioned “Pretty much.” Spike rebutted “Then What the fuck am I!” I shouted throwing my hands up in the air, and through the straps that restrained me, wait, what “Why the hell was I restrained?” I asked. Spike coughed, causing me to look in his direction, and see he was pointing a finger in the opposite.
I turned to see six ponies I knew all too well, and for some reason, Derpy Hooves. The Mane Six were all sitting on their hinds and staring at me, I couldn’t tell if Derpy was staring at me or not. “Can I help you?” I asked rhetorically. The six of them froze up, and I suddenly felt like being very cheesy. “What’s the matter, you look like you’ve seen a ghost.” I said smirking. I heard Spike groan and Derpy giggle. “Dang,” Rainbow began “you are really ugly.” My cheeks flushed red with anger “At least I don’t get knocked unconscious in the air and end up landing in a tree.” It was Rainbows turn to turn red. “How did you kno-” “That weird part of the air,” I began, seeing Rainbow look towards me in, some form of excitement. “that was me.” Rainbow growled at me, like literally growled, and then lunged, I held up my hands to protect myself, then remembered, “Oh,, yeah, dead.” as she passed through me and face plant on the floor. I laughed so much I almost fell off my bed, but instead ended up facing the ponies upside down. I came face to face with Pinkie Pie, and thankfully, her mane was poofy again “Hi.” Was my instinct to say, and much to my, not sure if it was to my excitement or dismay that she started talking rapidly. “HimynamesPinkiePieandIdon’tknowyoubutyoubetupGildaaftershehurtFluttershysothatmakesyouokinmybooks,doyoulikeparties,canghostshaveparties,maybeIcanmakeadeadpartyandseeifanyotherghostscome.” She continued on like this, and much to my dismay, I tried to clamp her mouth shut, only to find my hand pass through her snout. I tried this several times, before eventually giving up. I was tempted to just yell at her, but that wasn’t me, and I don’t think the others would take to kindly to it, so I simply phased myself downwards through the floor, the others watching me like I was going underwater.
Now, something I didn’t realise, is that I was on the ground floor, and I had just kind of, phased into the ground. Instead of pitch black, or brown I suppose, I saw miles and miles of, nothing. I suppose the best way I could describe would be like glitching so you’re under the world in a video game, and you can see everyone from where you are, and it’s like they’re walking on nothing. As soon as I phased completely under everyone began to panic, I could here Twilight say “Where did he go!” and then I decided to have a little fun. I phased just under her, faced up to her and pushed my face out enough just so I could say “psst” and then suck back in. She looked down and then I made my move. I pulled a goofy but scary face and popped my head up to say “Boogaboogabooga.” Twilight screamed and ran out the door, causing me to laugh. I noticed something, the happier I am the easier it is to fly. So because I started laughing I started floating involuntarily off the ground. I stopped laughing, and therefore stopped floating, so I was kind of just suspended diagonally. I looked at the remaining three, Pinkie was talking to nothing, Rainbow was on the ground and you just saw Twilight. I lowered myself down to stand on the ground. I looked at the three remaining ponies, one was cowering, one was looking repulsed, and the other was staring me down.
I started with the one I had the most sympathy for. I reached out a hand towards Fluttershy beginning “Fluttershy, are you o-” “Get away from her you brute.” A white hoof attempted to swipe my hand away, only to have it receive a severe case of pins and needles. I stared at Rarity, if I’m really honest with myself, she had always been my least favourite pony, mostly because she was meant to be the Element of Generosity, but was extremely greedy, and I considered her to be quite egotistic. “Do you mind?” Was all I said, and I hoped it would be enough, unfortunately, it wasn’t “Yes I very much do, why are you trying to touch her?” she enquired. “Let’s see now shall we.” I said standing up in front of her. “She’s cowering in a corner, most likely because of me, I want to make her better and I want to see how her scar is.” I glared at Rarity, asking for a rebuttal. “Well I, uh, I, I.” she was clearly stalling. “I have dresses to make.” were her final words before storming out and slamming the door in the process. I flinched at the sound. I turned back to Fluttershy, but before reaching out for her again, I glanced at Applejack, and raised an eyebrow. She realised she was being asked if she had anything to say, and cleared her throat. “Alright, Ah have no qualms with you stranger, so Ah’m just gonna leave you be, but, let it be known, if Ah find out you’ve hurt her,” she pointed a hoof at Fluttershy “or any of mah friends, I will find away to buck your ectoplasmic butt straight in the jewels.” I gulped and crossed my legs “Understood.” I stammered. “Good.” She finished and made for the door, but not before grabbing a still yammering Pinkie Pie by the tail and pulling her out the door “canghostseveneatcupcakes,maybeIshouldbakeaspecialspookybatchofcupcakesjustforyou,butwhatifyoucan’teatthem,ohwhatwoulditbeliketonotbeabletoeatcupcakesohIjustcouldn’tima-” The door closed and the sound was cut off.
I sighed and thanked God, or should I be thanking Celestia, I mean, she is kind of God, of here anyway, but earlier on Spike said something about Faust, I turned to see Spike had actually left, and most likely taken Rainbow with him, considering the cyan pony was no longer on the floor. I turned back to the quivering yellow pegasus. “Fluttershy.” I asked quietly, stretching out my arm “P-please,” I pulled my arm back “I’m, not ready to talk right now.” I was disappointed, but at the same time, somewhat relieved, she wasn’t angry with me, can she even be angry at me, I mean, she doesn’t really get angry. I shook the thoughts out of my head “That’s ok.” I began “You can tell me when you’re ready.” I backed away from her and sat down on the hospital bed. I had a lot of things to think about. How are they all able to see me now, and how couldn’t they in the first place, I mean, I thought only animals could see me, but aren’t they technically animals, and considering Spike is sentient, wouldn’t that mean he wouldn’t be able to see me either. Or is it that only what are considered animals by who ever sent me here. Which leads to another question, who the hell was that. Was it death? I mean, he sure as hell looked like it, is there even a hell, or a heaven, am I actually dead, or am I in some kind of a coma, and if I am, which world is it, this one, or my one, and another thing- “I’m ready.”
The soft voice interrupted my thoughts. I sat up and turned to where it came from. I could see the timid Pegasus staring at me from beneath her soft pink hair. I twisted on my bed so I could face her properly. I opened my mouth to speak, but she stopped me “Now, now you listen mister.” I decided to wait and see what she had to say “I don’t know who you are, but, it was very dangerous of you to go and fight Gilda like that, not that I’m not glad that you did it for me or anything, but I’m not glad you’re hurt, I mean, um, oo, ah,” I could see the gears in her head turning trying to think of what to say next. “It’s ok,” I decided to spare her the pain “if you’re going to say sorry, it’s fine and you don’t need to, if you’re going to say thank you, I am very humbled.” Fluttershy looked at me for quite a bit before blushing and looking down “It’s just, I don’t like it when other ponies risk they’re lives for me, or are injured because of me.” “Ah but that’s the thing,” Fluttershy looked up at me “I’m not a pony.” I was trying to cheer her up, and I think it worked, she had one of those cross smiles on her. The kind of one where, it made you laugh but you’re kind of angry at them so you can’t show it, that kind. “You know what I mean.” She said a little laughter seeping into her voice “Oh I know, I know you said pony, and I am not a pony, and also I can’t really get hurt, you know, cause I’m dead.” She chuckled at this, but stopped laughing and became serious “How are you dead?”
The question kind of surprised me, I mean, that’s like asking a living guy why aren’t you dead. It also made me kind of sad, and angry “I got shot by some idiot who wanted some extra cash and a new watch.” I said angrily. I began to wonder what they did with my corpse, I had talked about being cremated and being put into one of those soil things, you know to help trees grow, so I could technically be a tree, I didn’t like the idea of a coffin, I was mildly claustrophobic when I was alive, and it probably carried over. “I’m sorry.” Fluttershy apologized “But, what does shot mean?” I was confused by the question, was thinking of the best way to answer it. “It’s, something you do with a weapon, what kind of weapons do you have here.” Fluttershy looked scared at the thought of a weapon of any kind. “I-I don’t think we have any, I mean some of the guards in Canterlot have a kind of sword but,” she trailed off. This is going to be harder than I thought. Suddenly, I remembered something from the episodes “Fluttershy, what do you think a tank is.” Fluttershy looked confused, “Tank? That’s Rainbows pet tortoise.” “Yes but where did she get the name from?” Fluttershy racked her brains. “Umm, a tank, is something you store stuff in.” She smiled sheepishly “Oh no wait, um, there is a kind of chariot that is, really tough to prevent anypony from stealing whatever’s in it.” I facepalmed “What do you think a Bullet is?” Fluttershy smiled “I know this one, it’s something really fast.” She smiled knowingly “I didn’t have the heart to tell her. “Well where I come from, there are these things called guns,” Fluttershy looked unusually interested “you put bullets in them, and they shoot people, and leave them very injured, and sometimes worse.” I gestured to myself.
Fluttershy gasped in realisation “You were, were murd-“ “You don’t have to say it.” I gritted my teeth as Fluttershy tried to pronounce the word. “I’m sorry.” Was all she said, she looked so sad, oh how I wish I could hug her. I attempted to do so, but my arm went through her. This made me almost start crying. “Is something wrong?” Fluttershy asked, I could hear sincerity in her voice “Nothing, it’s just I really wanted to hug you.” I said, trying to laugh so it would seem like a joke. Fluttershy looked at me with sympathy, and attempted to hug me, but like I did with her, her hooves went through me. Fluttershy looked just as upset as I did. “Don’t worry, it’s ok, I’m not that upset.” I told her, even through it was a straight lie. She looked up to me in those big aquamarine eyes, and I felt my heart melt. “Don’t worry.” She began, hopping up onto my bed “I’ll find a way to hug you, I Pinkie Pie promise, and nopony breaks a Pinkie Pie promise.” She yawned softly and closed her eyes. I stared at her, I knew it was rude but I couldn’t help it. She reminded me of my sister in so many ways. She acted like her, thought like her, and hell, their eyes were more or less the same. As I laid down beside her on my bed my final thought before drifting off to sleep, just like Fluttershy, was “Maybe it’s not so bad being dead.” I then realsied that Derpy had gone, as well, but left a muffin on the bedside the bedside table. I decided to try and eat it tomorrow.