Chapters *BEEP*
*BEEP BEEP*
*BEEP BEEP BEEP!*
An alarm clock blares through the room of a young man and disturbs him in his slumber.
With an obvious lack of coordination he reaches over to turn off the offending hunk of plastic only to fall over the side of his bed. With a pained groan he stands up, returning to sleep now impossible after the adrenaline rush of falling of the bed.
The young man, Eric Hayes, was your typical misguided not quite adult. His thin, rake-like frame and too long dyed hair showed a disconnection from society only further displayed in his lack of personal grooming by a formation of facial hair on his face that was not quite a beard but also showed not caring in his personal image to others.
Dragging himself to his computer he turned the screen back on to start his daily rituals, checking for new episodes of anime, searching his forums for anything interesting then watching an episode or 10 if he felt like it. With nothing new or noteworthy to interest him and hunger evident in his stomach Eric walked to his fridge, an old damaged plastic monstrosity and pulled out a box of pizza left over from sometime in the last few days. Finding it still ok to eat he lay three pieces on a plate and heated them up in the microwave while eating a fourth cold. With a ding his breakfast was ready so he pulled it out of his microwave and went into his living room, splayed his body out on his old and ratty blue couch and pulled the remote out from between the cushions.
Turning the tv on and finding nothing decent to watch he switched over to his external hard drive deciding to watch ‘The Terminator’ for the 30th time. Seeing the familiar start of his favorite movie Eric ate his pizza, the act of eating and watching a movie distracting himself from how empty his life is.
As it was getting to his favorite part a knock on his front door interrupted Eric from his immersion, cursing he paused the movie and walked up to the offending portal to his apartment ready to verbally eviscerate whoever would distract him from such a great movie. Opening the door he looked out over the entrance to his home and saw nothing, there was no one standing there and he wondered if he was just hearing things but quickly dismissed that thought. Wanting to get back to his breakfast and movie he closed the door behind him but before he could even reach the couch another knock emanated from his front door.
Rushing to the door he flings it open and calling out, “who the hell is out there?“
“I’m right in front of you, are you blind or something?“ answers a voice that Eric couldn’t see where it came from even though it appeared to be directly in front of him.
“If this is someone playing a joke on me just piss off I don’t need this shit,“ Eric said with anger influencing his words.
“Hmm maybe the dimensional portal distorts space around me creating a form of invisibility, I wondered why nopony was noticing me.“ said the voice seemingly not paying any attention to Eric.
Eric grabbed the front door to close it only to find it caught in a golden aura and refusing to move.
“Sorry but since I have your attention I can’t allow for this conversation to end, you see I have been searching for years to find evidence that your kind exists and since finding the portal you are the only human that has been able to hear me. Is there something special about you compared to everypony else?“ the voice asked at a rapid pace.
“Look invisible voi- what did you say everypony? What the hell is that about?“
“Can’t you see? I’m a pony, a unicorn if you want to be technical. Ohh right, you can’t see me. Any way human, it’s nice to meet you, my name is Lyra Heartstrings and I only have a few minutes left here until they find me and drag me back. Thank you for proving to me that humans are real and just as smart as ponies.“
As she finished talking a bright flash appeared in Eric’s vision, momentarily blinding him and forcing him to lose balance. Falling forward he landed on something soft, knowing there had been nothing like that infront of him stuns his mind for another moment before the light in front of his closed eyes changes. A pressure around his body forced him to open his eyes and the world has changed, what was once the grey and muted greens of his front porch was now bright shifting colors with no form. Almost like he was on a bad drug trip the world bended around him and the pressure began to build stronger and stronger until everything stopped, the colors exchanged for a white void. Emptiness stretched on forever without change and Eric found himself suddenly very lonely, he collapsed to the ground and cried.
Hours must have passed but still he lay there in the blank void crying for the first time in 8 years, not since the passing of his father had he ever felt so truly alone.
“Are you just going to do that forever?“ said a voice out from the void.
“Who are you? What is this place? Can you get me out of here?“
“Woah one question at a time, or maybe you could ask every question at the same time, maybe you can ask no questions all the time, oh what a sound that might make. But to answer your questions, my name is not important, this is the void between your dimension and mine and yes I can.“
“Then please send me home, I don’t want to be here anymore,“ Eric whimpered.
“Ohh I said I could get you out of here but I never said I could send you home, you see when you fell on dear Lyra the force that was pulling her back to her dimension caught you as well but because it was only ready to drag her back the extra load created from your body tore the veil between the worlds that she was monitoring with her magic. At that moment her magic surged trying to fix the hole but it seems that she used too much power and that spread across the rest of the veil, making it too strong to get back through that way.“
“Ok hold on, magic, dimension hopping, none of that is real. You must be lying to me.“
Eric looked out at the void with a glare on his face as he looked around the void with his arms crossed over his chest.
“Whatever, believe me or not it doesn’t affect me. All I’m here to do is offer you a choice. Either you stay here for all eternity, your body never aging or you take my offer, I will bring you to my dimension where you will be able to make lots of friend and all you have to do is one teensy little favor for me.“
“What’s the favor?“ Eric asked with suspicion on his voice.
“Oh that doesn’t matter now, I’ll just come to you one day and ask you do a small task for me. But this offer doesn’t last long, very soon the hole on my side will close on it’s own and we will both be trapped here.“
Eric looked down at his feet, he didn’t trust the voice but there was no way he couldn’t just stay in this void forever.
“Fine, take me to your universe,“ he answered begrudgingly.
Suddenly the colors returned, flashing through his vision and the pressure began all over his body again. Steadily it built up as the colors swirling more violently, soon the pressure was too great and the swirling too disorienting. Eric cried out in pain and he felt like his entire body was going to be crushed when he blacked out, a haunting laugh being the last thing he heard while unconsciousness claimed him.
Surrounding the small town of Hollow Shades was a great forest, the thickness of the underbrush and denseness of its trees didn’t allow for anything more than the beam of sunlight to enter. Anypony that walked through would quickly find themselves unable to see and it was extremely easy to get lost if you had never been there before, but this was only one thing about the forest. If you knew the area well and could find your way around it was actually a very beautiful place, full of nice looking plants and friendly animals.
It was in this forest that a certain event happened, anypony on the ground would have felt the tremors that came first, reverberating out from a nondescript area of trees. The next was a bright ball of light that could be seen through the trunks for miles around, the light condensed into a multi-hued ball of magic that burned away all the trees that came into contact with it before lowering down to the ground creating a perfectly circular crater fifteen feet across.
If anypony had been around to see when the magic faded away they would have seen what was in the centre of the ball. A strange creature curled up on itself, pale pink skin on it’s strangely proportioned face and on the claw like appendages that extended from a body almost completely covered in clothing. A black hooded jacket and black faded jeans with thick boots.
But there was nopony around to see any of this, just like there was nopony around to see as he woke up, confusion clouding his senses before he climbed the edges of the crater and stalked off into the forest.
Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle,
It has come to our attention that a strange event has occurred near the town of Hollow Shades to the west of Fillydelphia. At approximately 1825 this evening a bright light and ground tremors were noticed though no causes have yet been established. I have sent a contingent of my Solar Guard to the scene but due to my responsibilities here in Canterlot I am unable to make an appearance in pony.
As such I believe this would be a good opportunity for you to learn how to hold the regal bearing of your office as Princess even as different situations cause to you react without prior planning.
I have every confidence that you will prove yourself worthy of your position no matter what happens.
Princess Celestia.
“You better know what you are talking about Discord, if this situation is as dangerous as you say and Twilight comes to harm I will unleash the full might of both my sister and I upon you.“ growled Celestia, her normally stoic demeanor slipping in anger at the infuriating Draconequus laying across her ornate throne.
“Dear Celly, have I ever given you reason to doubt me?“ answered the smug amalgamation.
“Do you really need me to answer that, Lord of Chaos?
Eric’s P.O.V.
As I regained consciousness all I could feel was pain, crushing pain from every part of my body all at once. I just lay there on the ground taking one laboured breath after the next as the pain slowly receded until it was only a dull ache in my extremities.
Slowly opening my eyes I saw I was no longer in front of my apartment. Looking around I could see that I was in a circular crater of dirt with trees looking up from the edges.
I panicked, my breath coming fast and my heart beating hard in my chest. Curling back up into a ball I tried to get my breathing back under control.
Where am I? This isn’t my home. I don’t want to be here. I screamed inside my mind.
Eventually my memories rushed back to me, the voice in the void told me that I was in his world and I would make friends here. This line of thought calmed me a little so I could stop shaking and my breathing slowed, no longer drawing pain from my chest.
I stood back up and looked to the sky, seeing the bright blues starting to get darker and a hint of orange telling me the light would not last long.
I need to find somewhere to sleep. I definitely didn’t want to be walking through a dark forest with night approaching.
I climbed the edge of the crater and entered the treeline, hoping I would find some shelter before night could hit.
Moment by moment the light got further away and within 10 minutes I found myself stumbling through the darkness, roots tripping me and branches catching at my clothes before a bright gold flash blinded me.
I clutched at my eyes and pain drilled into my brain but before I could see anything the light had receded and I was again surrounded by nothing but darkness.
What the hell was that? I thought, my brain still swimming and exhaustion starting to pull at my limbs.
I was never the most fit person. Honestly walking to the shops around the corner every few days was the extent of my physical fitness regime and now I felt like I had walked for hours. Hell I didn’t even know what direction I was going or if I was just stumbling around in circles.
As I walked through the ever present darkness I could feel myself getting more frustrated and when I tripped over the next root I fell face first into the tree it belonged to. In that moment I lost it, my anger over my situation taking over my actions. Swinging my left arm back I punched the tree with all the force I could muster.
CRACK
As I was about to hit the tree a blade of golden energy formed around my fist and sliced through the thick trunk and the upper half was flung off into the tree next to it. Blinded once more I covered my eyes as panic again rushed through my body.
“How the hell? Did I fucking do that?” I swore as my vision slowly came back.
Looking around through the dark blobs in my sight I could finally see again. Whatever I had done had lit the trunk of the tree I destroyed on fire and it was lighting the small area around me. I looked up and could see that a thick layer of foliage was blocking the sky from sight and there was nothing but grass and trees surrounding me on all sides.
All of a sudden exhaustion rushed through my body and a pain shot up my left arm, like a fire had been lit inside the extremity. I could feel the muscles scream out in pain and I repeated them in kind with my mouth.
“AAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGHHHH!!!!”
With pain rushing through my body I slumped against the trunk of a tree as my vision swam and dark started to crawl in at the edges. Slowly the dark crawled in further and within moments I was asleep, the last thing I saw before unconsciousness took over was a purple light and a strange purple creature coming out from between the trees.
Twilight’s P.O.V.
“Here you go Twilight” said the small purple dragon as walked out of the libraries small kitchen and handed a cup of tea to me in his claw.
“Thank you Spike, I think that’s all I need from you tonight. You can go now” I replied with a smile on my face while bringing the cup to my face with my magic before blowing air over the warm brew.
I watched him walk off - probably to go read some more of his comics - before returning to the book in front of me. Even after becoming the princess of friendship it was no time to stop focusing on my magic studies and Starswirl’s Treatise on Teleportation were just begging for me to read them.
Shifting the massive volumes all over my desk I gathered the parchment and quills I would need for my notes before a loud whoosh sound emanated from the direction Spike had walked off to.
Seconds later the dragon rushed into the room with a rolled up parchment in his claws, a familiar gold seal attached to the centre.
“Twilight, it’s from the princess!” Spike excitedly, yet redundantly exclaimed.
Grasping it in my levitation field I pulled it and the young dragon over to me before he let go and fell to the ground.
After reading the content I gasped, “Spike! The princess has a mission. I need you to stay here and inform the girls that I will be near Fillydelphia for the next few days.”
“Why do I have to stay here? You and the girls always leave me behind.” he complained.
“Because Spike, you’re a baby dragon and this is an important mission.”
“Fine,” Spike grumbled while walking away dejectedly and slammed the door behind him.
“Yes, a mission from the princess!” I said as I hopped around the main room of the Golden Oaks Library, quickly forgetting the bad mood of the young dragon.
Gathering power around my horn I levitated over a set of saddlebags, several inkwells, a large stack of parchment, a box of quills and several books before casting a teleportation spell.
Next moment I appeared next to the Ponyville train station and looked over the tracks headed north-east, but I wasn’t stopping there.
Unleashing more power from my horn I teleported over and over again, hopping hundreds of metres at a time. Smiling at myself I looked back at the texts I had just read earlier.
The most difficult of all teleport spells is the ‘Multiple Teleport’ or telehop as I like to call it. Only moments after starting and finishing and teleport you siphon off the remaining energy of your teleport and use it as well as a small amount of extra energy to teleport again. Repeating this process you can teleport much longer distances and with much less magic than a single long distance teleport. While this may seem like a good idea for those with a smaller well of magic it is also much more dangerous. With a single teleport it is easy to visualise your destination but with teleport you must be much faster with every single teleport, therefore it is easy to accidentally teleport yourself into the ground, sky or into objects such as trees. Only though with the best concentration should ever attempt this potentially dangerous branch of teleportation magic.
Within moments I found myself facing the forest containing the town of Hollow Shades and the location of my mission but could no longer use my -squee - advanced teleportation techniques. So I walked quickly along a dirt path that the books I once read said lead through the forest for ponies to travel safely.
I’m not sure how long I had been walking but it seemed like hours of the same scenery passing me by, tree, tree, rock, dirt, flower, tree, ohh and guess what another tree. The monotony settled over my mind until suddenly.
CRACK
I jumped as the large sound echoed through the forest before I caught my wits and I ran off the path to where I had heard the sound coming from. My legs hurt from the fast pace and earlier long walk.
I really need to work on my physical fitness, even with my earth pony magic it won't do me any good if I don’t work out.
Amidst my thoughts I didn’t notice I had walked into a tiny clearing, a tree stump stood in the centre on fire as the rest of the tree lay against a pair of trees a few metres away. Investigating the strange tree stump I noticed that it had been cut perfectly flat and the flames were eating away at it from about 2 inches and spread in a wave from there.
I was so focused on the tree that I didn’t see or hear anything else until I heard a pained groan from behind me. In shock I jumped back and prepared a combat spell in my horn, the sight of the strange creature now in front of me nearly had me unleashing my spell at it before I noticed the look of extreme pain across it’s weirdly shaped face.
Letting go of my magic I walked over slowly, careful not to wake it should it try to attack me. When I am only a foot away I attempted to touch the strange fabrics it was wrapped in, but when I was an inch away a bright golden light hit me and I was flung back into a tree behind me. My vision swam for a few seconds before darkness took over and unconsciousness overcame my mind.
Eric’s P.O.V.
I awoke with a start as gold light pierced it’s way through my eyelids and a loud scream filled my ears. After opening my eyes I noticed I was still in the same damn forest with the tree I somehow cut down and there was pain rippling it’s way down my arm. I looked around and in the light of the burning tree stump -really don’t want to know how i did that- I could see a small purple figure leaning against the trunk of a nearby tree.
Is that where the scream came from? It can’t be, it sounded like a girl screaming. I thought while looking over the creature.
It looked like some weird tiny purple horse with long dark purple hair, feathery wings and a sharp looking horn. I slowly walked over to it, worried that it was hurt. You never know how an injured animal will react and I wasn’t going to give it a chance to attack me with that damn horn.
I tried to touch it but when I was only an inch from touching the strange creature a gold barrier appeared around my hand and as I pushed against it pressure began building against my skin. After only a few seconds the pressure built up until it was too painful and retracted my arm before I hurt myself any more.
The moment I moved away the barrier of light disappeared and the pain dissipated until the only pain left was the rippling in my left arm and a small stress headache working it’s way through my brain.
Well what the hell am I meant to do now? Do I wait for this unicorn… pegacorn… umm unigasus… whatever. Do I wait for it to wake up or do I keep walking and look for some people? That’s if there are any damn people, for all I know I could be the only thinking thing in this place.
Lost in thought I didn’t notice the creature had begun to stir.
“Did anypony catch the number of that carriage?” It said in a distinctly female voice.
“Holy shit! Did you just fucking talk?” I replied, panic starting to set in again while watching the figure right itself on its quadrupedal frame before shaking its head.
“Of course I can talk, why would I be able to talk? Everypony knows how to-. Uhhhh.” It was cut off in its speech as it looked up at you, shock evident as every muscle in its small body tensed up.
“Look weird talking pegacorn horse thingy, just tell me where I can find some other people so I can find something to eat and a bed that isn’t made of dirt.” I said, my panic turning into annoyance.
“Hey! I’m not a horse, I’m a pony! And don’t call me a pegacorn, my name is Twilight Sparkle, alicorn princess of Equestria.” she -yeah pretty sure she was female- retorted angrily as a purple aura swarmed around her horn.
“Whatever pony, pegacorn, alicorn, Twerklight Sprinkles, just tell me where I can find others like me and I’ll leave.”
As I said this I realised it may have not been the best idea I had ever had as her abnormally large eye started to twitch and the aura around her horn grew. Once I had finished talking a beam flew out of it aiming right for my face.
Oh shit, I’m going to fucking die! Some stupid colorful pony is going to kill me!
In shock I just stood there as the beam flew at me waiting for my death, but when it reached within an inch the beam just stopped. The golden barrier from before appeared and the beam just crashed against it and disappeared.
“What? How did you do that? How did you stop my magic you monster?” The tiny horse said with fear in her voice.
“I don’t know… wait, what the hell? Did you just say magic? Magic doesn’t exist.” I scoffed.
“Of course it does, I just used magic on you and you used magic to stop my spell. Now how did you do it? I’ve never seen a shield that powerful or one that wraps around the body so perfectly. No nevermind, I’ve been ordered here on a mission and seeing as I’ve never seen anything like you before around it must have been you and your weird magic that destroyed part of the forest.” She said as the aura projected from her horn came back and immediately the gold light surrounded your body again. “Why can’t I lift you? You’re coming back with me to Princess Celestia so drop your shield.”
“Yeah, no way. Piss off tiny horse girl, if you aren’t going to help me then just go away.” I growled at her and swing my left arm out at a tree next to me trying to emphasise my point, but as I was about to hit the tree the gold light flashed again.
A loud boom sounded out next to me nearly deafening me as the tree I tried to punch just exploded, like literally the entire thing just disintegrated into million of woodchips. The force knocked me and the tiny horse to the ground before showering us in shards of the tree.
“Ahhhh!” Cried the purple pony. “Ok, please don’t hurt me!”
She curled up on herself and started to cry, tears quickly streaked down through the purple fur and I ran over to try to comfort her. She tried to shrink away from me with a terrified gasp.
“Hey, hey, I’m sorry about that. I got angry and I don’t mean to do that. Honestly I have no idea what I’m doing or where this magic is coming from. I’m not going to hurt you so please stop crying.” I babbled out as I tried to pat her but the barrier from before stopped me again.
She looked up at me with wide bloodshot eyes and her entire body shaking with fear.
“P-Pl-Please don’t, and I’m sorry for calling you a mon-monster. I-I’ve never seen anypony like you before and that usually means that it’s a monster.” She explained with her voice shaking.
Calming myself, I sit down on the ground next to her, “look I’m really sorry about that, so how about we start over? My name is Eric Hayse and I’m a human, what was your name again?”
“Twi-Twilight Sparkle. It-It’s nice to meet you Eric. You said you’re a human? But there has never been a human in Equestria. How did you get here? What do you eat? What country do you come from? Do you have princesses? What kind of ponies do you have there? Wait, you said there is no such thing as magic. Does that mean your world doesn’t have any magic?” Twilight rattled on question after question as you tried to stop her by covering her mouth.
When the gold barrier appeared she shrunk back in fear.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to do that. Don’t worry I won’t hurt you.” I said trying to calm the panicked mare. “Look I’ll answer your questions later. I need to sleep, I feel like I haven’t slept in days.”
“O-Ok, Mr Hayes. I’ll let you sleep but tomorrow you have to let me take you to meet the Princess. You’ll be safe to sleep here these woods are very peaceful this time of year.” Twilight said with a small smile on her face.
Twilight’s P.O.V.
I looked over the human laying against the edge of the tree with his eyes closed, a small smile on my face trying to cover up the fear and panic I felt in my chest.
What’s with that magic? Nothing I did worked on him and when he hit that tree -I shuddered- I can’t believe he just blew it into pieces. Should I trust him? I saw his teeth and he had canines! What if he eats ponies? I have to watch him, just to make sure he doesn’t hurt anypony. But what if he does? None of my spells worked and when I tried to touch him I was blasted back.
I watched over the ‘human’ as he fell asleep, his chest rising and falling as he lay against the trunk of a tree.
This is going to be a long night. I thought knowing that I couldn’t risk falling asleep.
Twilight’s P.O.V.
Looking around the small clearing the first hints of Celestia's sun had begun passing through the forest's canopy where the human had felled the trees, opening the area to the skies. The sun settled on the face of the creature, highlighting the strange proportions that were so unlike anything she had ever seen before, but in some ways so similar.
Watching over him I could see emotions running over his face one after another and they seemed so familiar to me. Fear, happiness, sadness and anger were so easily distinguished from each other on the sleeping humans face as he dreamed.
Honestly he’s not that bad looking, for a weird bipedal creature. I slapped myself across the face with a hoof. Nope! Where the hell did that come from?
As I sat there confused about that thought the human started to wake. He shook his head and slowly opened his eyes. After wiping the sleep from the corner of his eyes he looked over me and with a jump yelled at me.
“Ahh! Tiny purple horse!”
“Not this again! Mr. Hayes, would you calm down?” I said with a slight annoyed tone at this conversation starting again.
“It can talk! Wait… ohh yeah sorry. Umm Twilight was it?”
“Yes Mr. Hayes. I am Twilight Sparkle, alicorn princess of Equestria and once again I am not a horse!”
“Alright sorry Princess, so what did you want with me anyway? It’s not everyday you run into equine royalty in the middle of some super dark forest.”
“Well I was sent here by my friend and fellow Princess, Celestia due to an event that happened nearby. A bright light was seen and it was preceded by what felt like an earthquake. On the way to the site I found you due to hearing a loud crack noise which I assume came from you cutting that tree and lighting it on fire.” I explained while pointing at the still smoking tree trunk in the centre of the clearing. “I must ask was the earthquake and light caused by you?”
There is no way this is unconnected and anything capable of the things I’ve seen is probably very dangerous. I must handle this carefully.
“No idea Princess, all I know is that I was standing at my front door hearing a voice that I couldn’t see and next moment I was in this white void with another voice that offered by somewhere that I could make friends because I couldn’t go back to my own world.” he answered with a look of frustration on his face.
Wait did he say another world? That would explain why he doesn’t look like anypony else here. Well he does have a passing similarity to a minotaur but he is definitely less muscled. Ohh I have so many questions to ask, but where should I start? Huh, why does he look scared and why is he backing away?
Snapping out of my thoughts I see the human back away slowly with a look of pure terror on his face as he looked at me.
“W-Why are you looking a-at m-m-m-me like that Princess? You’re scaring me.”
“What do you mean, I’m just looking at you normally. I was just thinking of all the information you hold about another world. What sort of technology do they have? How is your government structured? Are there ponies like me there or are all the inhabitants human like you?” I rattled off in a matter of seconds, not noticing that my mane had become skewed and my left eye was twitching.
“Stay away from me!” he screamed and curled up in a ball, his entire body skaking.
Ohh I did it again didn’t I? This always happens when I get too excited about learning. I thought back to other times I had become too excited and guilt flooded by mind. Ok, I need to apologise.
“I’m sorry Eric, I can call you that can’t I?” He nodded, his body still shaking in fear. “Ok good, Eric I’m sorry about that. When I think about things I haven’t learnt yet I tend to get a little over excited and get carried away, but I promise I’m not going to hurt you.”
Not that I could get close enough with that Tartarus-damned shield in place anyway.
I watched as the human began to visibly relax, his shaking stopping and eyes slowly turning towards me, fear still present in his eyes but it was slowly ebbing as I stood there smiling softly at him.
“O-ok Princess. Just please don’t do that again. That look on your face was terrifying.”
“I’ll trying to keep my enthusiasm in check next time Eric, and you can call me Twilight. This title still feels new to me and I can’t quite get used to everypony I know calling me it.”
“Thank you Prin-Twilight, so umm what are we meant to do now? I can’t answer your questions about what happened when I arrived. All I know is that I woke up in some big crater and then got lost in this forest.” He explained with an apology in his voice.
“While that is the major reason I was sent here, now that I know the result I don’t believe that I’ll need to find the site of your entrance. Celestia sent me here because she knew I would be able to travel much faster than anypony else, but she also sent a contingent of Royal Guards to check the site. Surely they have unicorns with them that can scan the area for the magic that brought you here.”
“Umm that still doesn’t answer what we will be doing next, as comfortable as this tree and grass is I would rather find somewhere else to be than a dark forest.” Eric said while running his fingers through his hair, dislodging a few twigs that had been caught in it as he slept.
“Yes we should probably leave, there is a path not far from here that will lead us out of the forest. Normally I would teleport us out but that won't be an option unless you can turn off that shield which you don’t seem to even know how that works. It would seem we will have to walk back to Canterlot. Before that though there is something I need to ask you that has been weighing on my mind since we spoke last night and it is very important.”
“I’ll try to answer your question as well as I can.”
Eric’s P.O.V.
Panic ran through my mind again as she prepared to ask me a question with apprehension obvious on her face and her ears pinned back to against her head.
Ohh God, what does she want to know now? Should I be scared? What if I give the wrong answer? She might try to attack me or tell her Princess friends and they will attack me.
With those thoughts in mind I waited for her to ask the question.
“Umm what kind of foods do your kind eat? I noticed you have canines when we were talking and those are usually found on carnivores.”
Ok, I have to be super careful about this. Horses on Earth were herbivores so she will probably be afraid of any carnivorous animals. Wait, humans are omnivores. Alright, if I explain it to her carefully everything should be ok.
“Thats easy Twilight, humans are omnivores so we can survive on the same foods as most herbivores and carnivores.” Twilight began to show a little panic but I continued. “While we can easily survive on meat due to needing a steady amount of protein in our diet we can also rely on other sources like eggs, tofu and peanuts. Among other things.” She visibly relaxed after I explained the alternatives to eating meat.
I think that worked out, at least she doesn’t look like she is going to run away any time soon.
“Ohh that's such a relief. I thought you were a carnivore and that would have caused all kinds of problems.” She said with a slightly happy voice. “Well now that we have dealt with that we need to leave, Celestia will want to know about all of this as soon as possible.”
Ohh right, Twilight is a Princess but she is still the subject of this Celestia. But if they are both Princesses shouldn’t they be the same rank?
“Hey Twilight, before we leave. You said that you’re following Celestia’s orders to come out here but you’ve also said that you are both Princesses. I’m not sure about how things work here but why are you following the orders of someone who is the same rank as you?”
“Well Princess Celestia has been a ruler for a lot longer than me. I haven’t even been a princess for a full year yet, whereas she has sat on the Equestrian throne for over a thousand years. Not to mention she raises the sun so she is more like a goddess than a Princess.” Twilight explained simply, like it was common knowledge.
“Ok I call bullshit! Over a thousand years and raises the sun? You’ve talked about magic and I’ve seen you with that horn, so ok I can accept that. But a being that lives for thousands of years and controls a star? I’m seriously calling bullshit on this.”
“It’s true! Doesn’t your planet work the same way?” she asked, confusion etching her features and voice.
“No, Earth and the other planets in our solar system revolve around the sun, not the other way around and no one can control the sun.”
“Fascinating and a bit terrifying. Anyway, we have to leave. I’m sure you’ll have much more to ask about but we really have to go while we still have sunlight to move through.”
Looking up I could see the sun in the centre of the sky. Still not sure if I can believe this moving the sun crap. It has to be midday already. Wow, we must have been talking for ages.
I moved towards the direction Twilight had indicated the path was in and watched to make sure the small purple pony princess was following me.
“Alright Twilight.” I said with a apprehensive grin on my face. “Let’s go see this sun moving Princess of yours.”
Eric’s P.O.V.
As we walked back through the forest I found it was much easier this time with Twilight lighting up the area with her horn. No longer was I tripping over every stray tree root or having branches whip me in the face because the darkness covered them from view. But I was also getting steadily more nervous with each step it took.
What is this Princess going to be like? If what Twilight says is true then she must have seen hundreds of wars and probably fought in them too and she can move the sun! Anything like that could probably take me apart at the cellular level if I so much looked at her the wrong way. Oh God, she's going to absolutely destroy me. When Twilight first saw me she thought I was a monster she will probably think I am too and not even give me a chance to say anything. Even if she does give me a chance to speak she might think I’m still a threat because I’m different from everything else in this world!
With those thoughts in mind my breathing got shorter and my vision started to swim. The ground below me suddenly reached up my body hitting the forest floor and pain arcing up the still throbbing arm I used to blow up the tree.
“Eric?” Twilight said from in front of me before she turned around before galloping quickly up to me. “What’s wrong? Are you injured?”
All I could do was lay there as my heart beat hard in my chest and my breath came hard and fast. Attempting to form words only caused my lungs to burn trying to get oxygen that I didn’t have. As Twilight came closer I couldn’t even warn her not to try to touch me.
Twilight’s P.O.V.
What do I do? What do I do? Something must be really wrong and I don’t know enough about his species to know how to help. Even if I could use my magic to make him better I can’t because that shield would stop me.
“Eric, tell me how to help you. I don’t know what’s wrong and if I don’t know I can’t help you. Please tell me. Are you hurt? Did you eat anything strange in the forest? Wait no you’ve been with me for too long and I didn’t see you eat anything. Umm umm umm.” My words came faster and I began to panic, not knowing to help the unfamiliar creature. “Wait, panic! Shortness of breath, difficulty maintaining equilibrium, flushed face, he must be having a panic attack!”
I looked at the human I was starting to get to know and spoke as softly as I could, “Eric, I need you to slow down your breathing, just take slow, deep breaths ok?” Seeing him trying but not making any change I continued. “Please look at me Eric. Ok good, now look into my eyes and focus on taking slow and deep breaths.”
Slowly he started to breath more deeply and I found myself getting lost in those small blue orbs. No bad Twilight I reprimanded myself before looking back to see him getting better.
“Are you ok?” I asked with a small, worried smile on my face.
“Y-Yeah Twilight, I’m sorry about that. I-I uh sometimes have trouble coping with my thoughts sometimes.” He explained with a slightly raspy tone of voice.
*GASP* “What could you have possibly been thinking about to leave you in such a state?” I asked the worried feeling even more justified than before.
How could just thinking cause such a dangerous result? I’ve never heard of anypony reacting like this before to just thoughts.
“I-I’m not ready to talk about it ok? Let’s just say back where I came from it’s not that unusual for someone to go through some emotional situations that leave them damaged.”
“I’m not really sure what you mean. While I understand the nature of a panic attack I have never heard of one being so sudden nor so dangerous, and to happen just from thinking about things is completely unheard of.”
“Look thank you for helping me feel better but can we just leave it there ok? I really don’t want to talk about certain things right now.” He said getting defensive.
“Ok, ok. But I hope you talk to me about this later.”
“Maybe Twilight, maybe.”
“Alright we should get moving, it’s a long way back to the edge of the forest and I want to get there before the sun sets.” I said before turning away, occasionally looking back at the human.
I really hope that doesn’t happen again. Why do I keep thinking like this? He’s just some weird creature, why would I care about him being ok?
Eric’s P.O.V.
As we walked between the trees and through the thick underbrush I looked over the strange creature I was travelling with.
Why does she keep looking at me? Surely she doesn’t really care about me. She said it herself, this was just a mission and she doesn’t want to let down her Princess. But then why does she look so worried? Why did she seem so desperate to help me calm down? And what was with that look in her eyes when I was having my panic attack. It was almost like she was scared for my wellbeing.
Shaking my head I kept walking. I’m just her mission, nothing more. After that though I kept looking at her, smiling each time she turned her head. On the off chance she does care I better keep smiling, she doesn’t need to worry about me. I’m not worth it.
A few minutes later we broke out of the underbrush and found a thin dirt trail moving off in both directions. The gap it made between the tree was just enough for us to see the sky above us, the sun was a lot lower than I hoped it was.
“Umm Twilight. How far away is the edge of the forest from here?” I asked, worried evident in my voice.
“A few hours still, I-I don’t think we will be able to make it out before night falls.” she answered, a matching tone of worry in her voice.
“I think we will have to wait here for another night before we can leave then.”
“Yeah, I agree. We should camp here then where there is more light coming through the trees. You wouldn't happen to know what plants or fruits are safe to eat would you? I’ve read about some that should be ok so if you can, could you grab some wood for a fire?”
“I should be able to do that, just don’t go too far. After before I don’t really want to be alone.”
“Ok Eric, we can search near each other.”
“Thank you Twilight.” I said, letting out a breath I didn’t realise I had been holding.
Surprisingly it took us only 15 minutes to set up a small camp by the side of the small trail through the forest. Twilight’s magic made lighting the fire easy, especially since I had no idea how to do it myself and she had good luck searching for food. I looked over a large pile of plant roots and strange pink berries she had placed in front of us with her magic.
“Are you sure these are ok to eat?”
“Yes Eric, I’ve studied many books on the plant life of Equestria and all the things I’ve found should be safe to eat.”
“Alright, I’ll trust you on this.” Slight apprehension was still on my voice as I picked up one of the pink berries, thin hairs were covering it, somewhat like a peach on Earth.
Biting into the fruit I was overwhelmed by the taste, it was like liquid ambrosia as it slid down my throat. The flesh of the fruit parting easily and the juices were the perfect mix of slight bitterness and sour that tingled as I swallowed them down.
“These are so damn good.” I said with a massive smile on my face before eating my share in only a few short minutes,
“I thought you would like them. They’re called pecha berries and they are widely considered a delicacy. I’m actually surprised I could find so many and so close to the path.” she replied with a wide smile, obviously proud of herself.
She looks so cute when she smiles. I thought before mentally slapping myself. No, bad Eric. No thinking that way about the pony.
I moved over to the side of a side of a tree and lay against the trunk as the sun began to set.
Another strange day in an equally strange world.
As I started to fall asleep I felt warmth as a small body huddled close enough to bleed heat into me but not set off my shield. Opening my eyes I saw Twilight, and smiled before closing them again. The exertion of the day and the warm body next to me easily overwhelming my mind and body as sleep took me away to the field of dreams.
Eric’s P.O.V.
I’m awoken suddenly as a gold light once again pierces itself way through my eyelids. A rush of adrenaline passed through my body instantly and I open my eyes in time to see my lavender companion being thrown bodily into a nearby tree crashing into it with a loud BANG. I quickly got up and rushed to her side.
“Twilight are you ok? I’m so sorry. I didn’t do that, please believe me.” I apologised vehemently.
“Uhh. What the buck was that?” Twilight said groggily as she struggled to bring herself to her hooves.
“I’m not sure, I think you rolled over in your sleep and came too close to me. That could have set the shield off blasting you into the tree.” I guessed with uncertainty before realising something. “Wait, did you just say buck? Like a backwards kick? It sounded like a curse word the way you said it.”
Twilight gasped and held a hoof to her face, shock resting upon her face.
“I didn’t say that did I? Ohh I’m so sorry Eric, you must be so upset with my lack of decorum. Please don’t be upset with me, and don’t worry I don’t blame you for my rolling into you. It’s not your fault that the shield keeps doing what it does.” A slightly suspicious look passes over her as she narrows her eyes for a moment. “Unless you are controlling it.”
“No, no I’m not I promise!.” I say holding my arms in front of my face in a useless attempted to protect myself.
“No it’s ok, I can hardly say that when you have been nothing but forthcoming with me.” She said, the suspicious look leaving her features. “Anyway it’s time we headed out of this forest. We’ve wasted enough time we could have spent walking already.”
“Alright Twilight, just lead the way.” I say while hopping up and stretching my back, a small smile gracing my face knowing the alicorn was starting to trust me.
“Uhh, this path just goes on forever. It’s just tree and after tree as far as the eye can see.” I exclaimed, frustration adding an edge to my voice.
It was true, we had been walking for hours down the path through the forest Twilight has said would lead to the exit and nothing looked any different. The same bushes, same trees, if I didn’t know any better I would say we had been walking in circles, but we hadn’t because the path was dead straight.
“Eric, please stop complaining. If you want to talk that’s fine but complaining will only make everything feel like it is taking that make longer.” Twilight said with a huff towards me before mumbling something incomprehensible. “I don’t remember the path taking this long either.”
Hours passed before finally we found our way into a small town pinned in by a thick mass of trees. Every building in the town was built from evenly hewn rock slabs, the grey only emphasised by the dark wood accenting each abode. Dark browns and mild greys giving the entire town a subdued, even morose aspect that instantly lowered my mood.
How could anybody live in such a dark and dreary place? If anything it reminds me of home.
“Umm, I think we went the wrong way.” Said Twilight sheepishly from behind me.
“You think? What was the biggest clue? Maybe the town, or the lack of train tracks you told me about.” I said with a hint of snark in my voice before looking back at her guiltily. “Sorry Twilight, that was uncalled for.”
“No, it’s ok Eric. You were trusting me to take you the right way and I messed up.” She said apologetically.
“Let’s stop blaming ourselves and find out where we are.”
I walked further into town following Twilight’s lead until we came to a young unicorn mare, her silver coat and bright red mane shining in the bright morning sunlight.
“Excuse me Miss, do you think you can help us? My companion and I managed to get lost along a forest path and just ended up here. Can you please tell us where we are and how we can get to Canterlot from here?” Twilight asked, with a sudden authority and bearing I had yet to see from her.
That’s actually really cute. Nope! You stop that.
The silver mare slowly turned around while answering, “Hello stranger, this is Hollow Shades. I’m Sanguine Soul, it sure is nice to meet you. We don’t get many new ponies out here as most of the traffic passes us by towards Canterlot or Fillydelphia.” Said the mare with a bubbly voice before she looked properly and saw me standing above her. “Woah, I’ve never seen anypony that looks before. You’re so tall!”
“You’re not scared of me?” I said with confusion.
“Of course not. As I always say a stranger is just a friend you haven’t met yet. Now what’s your names so we can be friends.” She replied with a smile and a bounce in her step and she looked all over me and my companion. “Ohh but I already know your name. Purple coat, stars for a cutie mark, horn and wings. You must be Princess Twilight Sparkle, it’s such an honour to meet you.”
“Well Miss Soul, my name is Eric Hayse and it’s very nice to meet someone who doesn’t attack me on first sight.” I said with a smile on my face directed at Twilight, who glared at me as if she wished to burn a hole through my head with her eyes.
“Why would I ever do that? You seem like such a nice pony. Wait, but you’re not a pony. So what should I call you.”
“I’m a human, but we just say everyone. So did you say there was a way to get to Canterlot from here?” I asked, trying to get the conversation back on track.
“Ohh yeah, well there is a trade caravan that passes by Ponyville every few days, you’ll be able to catch a train from there. I’m sure that travelling with Twilight Sparkle you should be able to ride along.”
As we continued our conversation a small crowd had begun to form nearby watching Twilight and I converse with Sanguine.
“MONSTER! Get away from my daughter!” A shrill voice called out from nearby.
Looking over I saw a crowd of maybe 30 ponies come out from behind a building. In front was a grey pegasus with a blue mane staring daggers at me.
“Mom! Calm down, he isn’t a monster.” Sanguine said calmly to her mother. “His name is Eric and he is my new friend.”
“Sorry Eric.” She apologised while looking back at me. “My mother isn’t the most welcoming pony.”
“It’s ok Sanguine, I can understand difficult families.” I said while smiling comfortingly towards her before I addressed the crowd. “Look, I understand that I look a little different from you ponies but I mean you no harm. My companion and I are only trying to find our way to Canterlot.”
“Did you hear that everypony? He said he’s going to Canterlot and he already has a princess with him. We have to stop him before he can become a threat to our nation!” Yelled the pegasus mare.
The crowd started to advance towards Twilight and I while Sanguine moved towards her mother.
“Mom, can you please stop this? He doesn’t mean any harm.” She pleaded.
“Stupid filly, blinded by false words.” Hissed the mare before slapping her daughter across the face with a hoof.
“That’s fucking it! I don’t mind if you insult me, but you strike your own fucking daughter? I don’t give a shit what kind of pers-pony you are, but that’s just not right.” I scream and run over to the unicorn, standing between her and her mother. “If you want to lay another hand… hoof on her you will have to go through me you bitch.”
“You dare stand between me and my daughter monster? I’ll show you why these townsfolk follow me. You’ll rue the day you walked into my town!” She screamed back at me before lifting into the air and dive bombing me.
Knowing what was coming I stood my ground and the moment the irate pegasus was in inch from my head a bright light enveloped my body. She was blasted back into the crowd who just stood there, mouths agape at the spectacle.
I looked back over the townsfolk. “I promise you all that I mean no harm, as you saw I was only defending myself from an unprovoked attack.” I watched as the ponies took in my words and looked to each other before nodding. A random stallion spoke up from the crowd. “You will be safe, the mayor doesn’t speak for all of us here.”
I watched as the crowd dispersed while carrying away the unconscious mayor, leaving only Twilight, Sanguine and I.
“T-Thank you Eric, nopony has ever stood up for me like that before.” Sanguine said, her hoof pressed against her cheek where her mother had struck the poor filly.
“It’s fine Sanguine, are you ok?” I asked.
“Yeah. I’ll be fine.” She answered with a small smile.
Twilight’s P.O.V.
I stood there dumbstruck during the entire encounter. From meeting Sanguine to taking on an entire crowd to protect her even from her own mother Eric had stood up without even a hint of fear.
Was his panic attack earlier real? Someone who breaks down just like that couldn’t possibly be so strong against such odds.
“Umm Eric, what just happened?” I asked.
“Well Twilight, I just let a mare knock herself out.” He said with a shit-eating grin on his face before his expression dropped. “Ohh crap ohh crap, I just hurt somepony!”
I could see him starting to panic as his chest was rising and falling faster. Sanguine started to moved forward trying to comfort him.
“Wait Sanguine! Don’t touch him!” I yelled.
“What? Why?”
“That shield he used before it’s not under his control. If you get too close the same thing will happen to you.”
“Than how can we help? I don’t like just sitting here watching him like this.”
I walk up to Eric and look up to his eyes. “Eric, can you look at me please? I need you to look at me, ok?”
I watched as he slowly turned his head to look down at me. His eyes were open wide, the shining blue orbs mesmerized me slightly as I looked into them. Only the sound of Sanguine moving beside me shook me back to reality.
“Eric, I need you to focus on your breathing. Remember last time? Just breath slow and deep and focus on my eyes. Slow, deep breaths. Keep looking into my eyes. You’ll be ok, I promise.”
After a few long minutes Eric looked to be calming down and looked at me. “Thank you Twilight, I don’t know what I would do without you.”
My face suddenly burst into a massive blush at the compliment but the moment was interrupted by the unicorn next to us.
“Woah! What was that?” Sanguine asked incredulously.
“Well Eric suffers from massive panic attacks. This is only the second one I’ve seen him go through it, but that worked last time. Did it look weird or something?”
“N-No it wasn’t weird but well. How do I say this? It was intense, yeah that’s the right word. It was like super duper intense” She said with a smile starting to grow on her face again. “Now that that’s over how about you come to my place? The next trade caravan isn’t until tomorrow and I bet you don’t have somewhere to stay.”
“Thank you for the offer Sanguine, but don’t you live with your mother? I doubt we would be welcome in her home.” Eric asked cautiously.
“No, no, no, Faust no. I moved out into my own place the moment I could afford to. Come along I’ll make dinner and you can tell me more about my new friends.” The mare explained before bouncing off further into town, not giving us a chance to answer.
Eric and I looked at each other and shrugged before following the overly friendly mare.
Eric’s P.O.V.
When I walked into a pony's house for the first time it was a surreal experience. Everything looked so familiar and yet not. The house was set out much like I would expect any humans house with round knobs on the doors How do they open them like that? and a human looking kitchenette facing an open plan lounge with other doors that probably lead to bedrooms, bathrooms and closets. Though that is not to say that everything looked strictly normal to my eyes, the doors for one were much smaller and so was the roof. Were I any taller I am sure that I would have had to bend over just to walk around, I already had to do that with the doorways.
Well now I guess I know how Gandalf felt when he visited Bilbo and Frodo. With that thought on mind I chuckled softly while following Sanguine and Twilight into the lounge, taking a seat on her small couch.
“Welcome to my home, it’s not much but it’s mine and you two are very much welcome here. Would you like something to drink? I have coffee, tea and water.” asked the ever bubbly unicorn, with the biggest smile on her face. “I’ve never actually had guests here before, I guess my mother probably kept them away.” Her smile faltered for a moment when she said that before it came back, as if it had never happened.
“I’ll have a tea if that’s ok.” Twilight answered.
“And I’ll have a coffee please.” I answered with a smile on my face.
Yes! This world has coffee!
“Such a gentlecolt, Twilight you better not let this one get away he seems like a keeper.” Sanguine joked while boiling a pot of water on the stove.
“W-What? We aren’t together.” Twilight blurted out, a bright red blush on her cheeks.
She couldn’t? No, no she was just shocked by the sudden statement. I thought while standing there open mouthed at the comment.
“Sorry, sorry. I couldn’t help myself. Nice blush there by the way Princess.”
“It’s ok Sanguine, and you can call me Twilight. I was just startled, that’s all.” Twilight said, a little more calm in her voice than before.
Why does it make me sad to think that she doesn’t want to be with me? I can’t possibly feel something for her, we aren’t even the same species. I don’t even know if that is legal.
I sat there deep in thought as Sanguine walked back over, steaming cups of tea and coffee held in her magical aura which were placed on the small coffee table in front of the couch. I leaned forward to pick up the warm drink and brought it to my lips, blowing cool air over the beverage before taking a short sip.
Holy crap! Even the coffee tastes so much better here! I thought while a peaceful smile worked its way over my face.
“Well I guess you like it then Eric.” Sanguine stated.
“Yeah, this is the best coffee I have ever drank. It’s like everything I eat in this world just tastes so much better than anything back on Earth.” I answered.
Twilight pulled her notes back out and mumbled to herself.
“Maybe the lack of magic on Earth means that anything growing naturally doesn’t have as many nutrients and doesn’t taste as good. More observation of the subject will be required for a definitive answer to be found.”
“Umm Twilight, you’re talking to yourself and being creepy again.” I told the alicorn before she completely drifted off into her thoughts.
“Huh? Ohh sorry Eric, thanks for catching me. If no one is around sometimes I can just get caught up.”
“I know and then your mane goes all weird and your eyes twitch.”
“That only happens sometimes! I’ll have you know that I was Celestia’s personal student before I became a Princess and my study methods were unmatched by anypony else who attended Celestia’s Academy for Gifted Unicorns.” she argued while glaring at me.
“Ok, ok. Calm down.” I laughed off her glare and slowly she giggled and a smile came back to her face.
“You guys look like such good friends, how long have you been travelling together?” Sanguine asked while sipping on her own cup of tea.
“I guess this would be the third day, right Eric?” Twilight answered before posing the question to me.
“That sounds right, I think. Everything around me arriving is a bit blurry.” I answered as truthfully as I could.
“Only 3 days! I could have sworn you two had been travelling together for weeks or months, you’re so close.” Sanguine said with a little shock from the revelation.
“I guess we have just had a lot of time to talk while travelling, there’s not much else to do when you’re travelling through a forest.” Twilight explained, the blush coming back to her cheeks slightly.
“You couldn’t be more wrong.” Sanguine scolded before her smile came back. “There are so many pretty plants and animals when you get deep into the forest. Some of them can’t be found anywhere else in Equestria! Oh how I wish I could travel around and she some of the fauna and flora of our beautiful world.”
“Why don’t you?” Twilight asked.
“I would love to but every time I try to leave my mother convinces the townsfolk that I’ve gone missing and they drag me back, they don’t even listen to me when I tell them I want to leave. She has so many ponies in town wrapped around her hoof.” The smile on our host broke and the beginning of tears began to appear in the corners of her eyes as she explained her situation dejectedly.
“Why don’t you come with us? I’m sure there will be plenty to see on the way to Ponyville.” I said to the depressed silver unicorn.
Immediately she perked up, and aura of hope seemed to pour from her eyes as she looked at me. “Really? You would take me with you? Thank you, thank you thank you!” She said excitedly while bouncing around the room.
“Well I’m sure it would be ok to take an extra with us. But what if the town tries to stop us from bringing her?” Twilight asked me.
“That’s easy Twilight, just put me in between Sanguine and anyone coming after us.” I answered with a confident smile on my face.
“Alright that’s settled, so I guess I’ll ask just to make sure. Sanguine, would you like to come with us on our trip to Canterlot?”
“YES! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! I would love nothing more than that.”
“Then it’s settled tomorrow we leave for Ponyville, and then Canterlot.” I said with a big smile on my face thinking about travelling with my new friends.
I looked out the window and saw the sun setting over the trees framing the small village.
“I guess we should sleep, do you have enough beds for us all?” I asked Sanguine.
“Well I only have two beds so somepony will have to sleep on the couch.” She said suddenly nervous.
“Easy done! I’ll take the couch, I’m used to it from staying with friends back on Earth.” I answered easily.
“Well if you’re sure. I’ll bring you a spare blanket and pillow. Here Twilight, you can sleep in here.” Sanguine said while opening a door with her magic.
“Thank you Sanguine, it’s so kind of you to put us up for the night.” Twilight said as she hugged the unicorn.
“It’s no problem, what are friends for?” Answered their host while hugging the alicorn back.
A short burst of jealousy coursed through my mind watching the two sharing the simple friendly gesture. Why can’t I do that? I thought as I scowled, knowing I couldn’t hug my friends, but quickly corrected it to a small smile before the girls could notice.
“Here’s your blanket and pillow Eric.” The unicorn mare said while levitating them over to the couch.
“Sweet dreams Twilight, Sanguine. See you two in the morning.” I called out.
“And may Luna watch over your dreams.” The two mares answered in perfect unison.
That was weird, and who is Luna? I thought as I removed my clothes before laying my head on the pillow and pulled the blanket over my body.
Thinking over the last few strange days I drifted off slowly to a dreamless sleep with a smile on my face..
Lightning flashed overhead, waking me up in a stupor. I looked around my bedroom taking in the familiar sights, light yellow walls, a computer and desk against the corner, tv and xbox sitting on my entertainment unit and bookshelves full to bursting lining the walls. The light was dim telling me that it was very early morning. I climbed out of bed knowing that with the rush of adrenaline, I wouldn’t be getting back to sleep any time soon.
My feet hit the cold hardwood floor and a chill in the air bit at my barely clothed form until I sluggishly pulled on a pair of black track pants and an equally dark hoodie. I walked out of my room into the hall and entered the nearby bathroom. Turning on the taps to my sink I gathered a couple palms pull of water and splashed it over my face, the last groggy parts of my vision clearing up as the icy water added a further shock to my system.
But as I looked up I froze, looking back at me wasn’t my reflection. A light pinkish creature looked back at me, it’s huge eyes wide open as it looked back at me from under a medium length mop of black mane. I stood there, unable to move as the unicorn looked back at me as unmoving as myself except for the occasionally twitching ear.
Memories of the previous few days rushing back into me as I stood there slack jawed, appearing in a crater surrounded by dark forest, meeting an alicorn princess and travelling to a small town and making another friend.
I was shocked out of my thoughts by the figure in the mirror moving, the pony reflection of me taking the initiative to move without my input. It’s face reconfigured into a cruel smile before speaking.
“Hello Mr Hayes, how lovely it is to speak to you face to face.” It said with a cold voice that pierced through my mind.
“Uhh, what? No, wait, what? Who are you? Why am I here? Please tell me this is just a dream!” I answered trying to stave off a panic attack.
“Of course this is a dream Mr Hayes, but does that make it any less real? You, I, we are but creations of your mind. While you may look more like your human self, I looking like a pony doesn’t make me fake, it just makes me a different incarnation of yourself. Or perhaps this is prophecy, a creation of your subconscious trying to make you ready for the inevitable.”
Each word from the creature in the mirror seemed to stab at me, daggers in the shape of letters attacking my mind and leaving a mark of ideas that swarmed through my thoughts.
“Perhaps I am your destiny. You are in a world vastly different from your own without any others of your kind, do you really believe you will be accepted for who you are? That’s not even to mention the magic that swarms around your body whenever anyone tries to come near you. Do you really think that will make you look any more trustworthy? You will be alone, just like you were in this place.” The reflection ended with a hoof pointing around your surroundings.
My words caught in my throat, the statements made by the pony holding enough truth to my mind to see no option but to believe them.
It’s true, no one will accept me. Even Twilight and Sanguine will leave me eventually and I’ll be alone again. I’ll be alone and unloved, or I’ll be hunted for being different. I saw the fear in Twilight’s eyes when she first saw me, there’s no reason to believe that won’t happen with everyone else I met. Sure Sanguine didn’t but she might be the exception to the rule, I saw how her mother reacted just to my presence.
A voice cut through my depressive reverie.
“I guess you see the truth of my word, but maybe there is a way you can change that. This is a world of magic, you’ve seen it yourself. Hell, your body is full of magic. You know what they say, if you can’t beat them join them.”
That’s true. Maybe if I was a pony then I would be accepted and my friends would stay with me. It wouldn’t remove the barrier but if I was like them other ponies might want to be my friend too. I wouldn’t be alone. A chill ran through my body as I began to believe this to be true.
I looked into the mirror at the stallion that had been talking to me and watched him phase a hoof through, reaching out for me. In fear I was unable to move and a moment later his pale pink hoof touched my forehead.
Pain unlike any I had ever felt before surged through my body and I looked down at my hands, I watched as they expanded outwards, becoming blockier and fine hairs grew out of them. The world around me grew as I shrunk, pain running through my body as bones rapidly shifted and forced me into a quadrupedal form.
Words suddenly exploded out of my mouth as my mind rebelled against my changing body. “I don’t want this!” Before everything went dark.
Eric’s P.O.V.
I awoke with a start, my body flipping off the couch I was laying on and landing on the carpeted floor below. Pain lanced through my back before I could open my eyes, seeing myself back in Sanguine’s lounge.
It was just a dream and I’m still myself. Just a dream, just a dream. I thought to myself, trying to calm my racing thoughts and forget the pain that felt so real.
“Eric!” I heard a female voice scream out before a purple figure burst out of a room and galloped over to me, barely stopping from launching herself at my prone form. “Are you ok? I heard you scream and a loud crash!”
I groaned while trying to stand. “Sorry Twilight, I just had a nightmare. Don’t worry about it, I’ll be fine.” I said, trying to calm the panicking mare.
“But, that scream! I’ve never heard anypony scream like that!”
“Please relax Twilight. Look at me I’m fine, you don’t need to worry about me.” I lied. I was definitely not fine but I wouldn’t let the purple alicorn know just how much the dream had shook me up, it would only upset her further.
As I calmed Twilight down a silver unicorn had joined us, worry on her face also as she looked over me.
“Are you sure you’re ok Eric? That must have been one Tartarus of a nightmare to make anypony scream like that.” Sanguine asked.
“Don’t worry about it please. It wasn’t as bad as you think.”
“Alrighty then! Well how about you go get cleaned up, the caravan shouldn’t be passing through for a few more hours so we all have plenty of time to get ready before it arrives.” The mare returned to her regular bubbly self after accepting my answer and pointed a hoof towards a door.
“Thank you Sanguine, after the past few days I definitely need that.” I said before sniffing myself, and was repulsed by the smell. “Umm I think my clothes need to be cleaned too.” I said sheepishly.
“I’ll clean them!” She said darting forward and gathering the clothes I had discarded the night before. “They will be ready before you get out, but shouldn’t you also give me the rest?” She asked indicating to the thin shirt and boxershorts I was still wearing.
“Uh, well, you see, humans don’t really go around without any clothes on.” I stammered nervously.
“Why is that Eric? I mean it’s normal for everypony to go around without clothes. Why would it be different for humans?” Twilight asked with a slightly creepy smile on her face.
“Well, I guess it’s because our bodies aren’t covered in fur like yours so we tend to get cold much easier and need our clothing so we don’t get sick, but it’s also a kind of taboo because our naked bodies don’t really hide anything, umm, private.” I answered with a rising blush breaking out of my face.
Twilight was similarly afflicted as she understood the meaning of my words, a bright red showing through the purple coat covering her face.
“Alright Eric, just go into the bathroom and drop them out of the door ok?” Sanguine interrupted, saving Twilight and I from any more awkward questions.
I walked off to the bathroom, depositing the remainder of my clothes out through a gap in the door before closing it behind me. Looking around the small bathroom I climbed into a bathtub and turned on the overheard tap, working to bring the water to a nice lukewarm temperature. I sighed as the water washed away the sweat and dirt of the past few days and massaged the muscles I hadn’t worked for far longer than I would like to admit.
15 minutes later I heard the door creak open as I stood on the mat next to the shower/bath, it opened a short way before my clothes floated in on a silvery aura, lightly floating down to the floor before the door was pulled closed by an aura of the same color.
Smiling to myself from the kindness of my new friend I dried myself with a nearby towel before swiftly dressing myself and walking out of the bathroom.
“Thank you so much for that Sanguine, I really needed it.” I praised the unicorn.
“Ohh it’s no trouble Eric.” She said with a wide smile. “Well Twilight why don’t you have one next? I’ll go after then we can leave.”
An hour later and we were all clean and ready to go, the girls had on saddlebags to carry everything they would need for the trip.
As we walked out to the edge of town we spotted the trade caravan but that wasn’t all we could see. A line of 6 pegasi were staring at us, crude weapons at the ready and a familiar face standing in front.
“So, you thought you could take my daughter away from me did you?”
Sanguine’s P.O.V.
“So, you thought you could take my daughter away from me did you?”
I freeze as I hear the far too familiar voice coming from the grey pegasus mare in front of us. Malice filled her eyes as she looked over my new friends and I.
No, no, no. I knew she would do this! She can’t ever just let me live my own life. All I want is to be happy but she always keeps everypony from me. No! I stomp my hoof to the ground. I won't let her stop me this time. I’ve made friends now and they want me to come with them. There is no way that I’m going to let her stop us.
“Mother!” I shouted. The figure in front of our little group flinched, having never heard me raise my voice at her like this. “I’m leaving and there is nothing you, or your lackeys can do to stop us!” I said, my voice raising in strength with each word.
I looked over to my friends and smiled wide at their shocked faces before looking back at the mare I shouted at, her face a visage of pure, unadulterated anger.
“Nopony speaks to me like that you stupid little filly!” She shouts back before ordering her compatriots forward. “Take down her friends and bring my daughter to me, even if you have to rough her up a little. Do whatever you have to to her ‘friends.’”
The line of pegasi took off straight upwards before changing angle and swiftly attempted to dive bomb our group.
“Sanguine! Get behind Eric, they can’t come close to him!” Twilight called out to me.
Twilight and I jumped behind Eric’s large form as the first three of the pegasi dive bombed us, the ones who had attempted to hit us impacted the ground moments after we dived out of the way before bounding back up into the air. Their wings easily bringing them back up to altitude before they turned around, waiting for another chance to strike. The one that attacked Eric however wasn’t so lucky, the moment it moved within range of his arms he swung his hand with the palm faced forward. His hand was covered in a golden aura that when it impacted with the attacking pegasus, blasted it backwards. By the time our foe had hit the ground halfway between my mother and us, it had long since fallen unconscious.
I looked up at the crowd of pegasi surrounded us, apprehension on their faces at how quickly their friend had been dispatched by Eric. Smiling widely, I looked back up to my mother.
“Do you really think you can stop us, Mother?” I asked, then continued before giving her a chance to answer. “This is just what Eric can do, Princess Twilight Sparkle hasn’t even cast any spells yet.” I said, heavy emphasis on Twilight’s royal status.
“I don’t care if Celestia herself was here you little bitch!” She seethed. “You’re coming back with me if I have to drag you myself.”
I stood there shocked, my smile breaking. Never had she used an insult like that on me. Trying to hold it together I stood there, unmoving as tears threatened to spill from my eyes.
“Nopony speaks to my friends like that!” I heard shouted from beside me. Looking to my side I see Twilight looking at my mother with fire in her eyes.
Twilight’s P.O.V.
“Nopony speaks to my friends like that!” I shouted, anger coursing through my mind as I stepped forward.
I lit my horn and angled it towards a powerful looking dark blue pegasus stallion. A dark purple beam shot out and struck my target directly between the eyes before he ever had a chance to react. He dropped from the sky and I grabbing him in my magical aura, laying him gently to the ground, already deep asleep.
“You don’t buck with a Princess, no matter who you are!” I growled at the instigator of this bad situation. “Now stand down before I get more inventive.” I added while feeling my eye twitch in anger.
The pegasus’ face suddenly ghosted over, the grey coat covering her face turned almost white with fear. For a few seconds she just stood there before shaking herself from her stupor and in her loudest voice she called out to the other pegasi. “Bucking run!” She screamed these words in pure terror while flying off towards the town behind us.
I sighed in relief as our assailants flew away. “That was close everypony.” I said before looking around at my friends.
Sanguine looked fine but her smile appeared a little forced, a valid guess considering how rapidly her ears were flicking and Eric looked… angry? Scared? Hungry? I have no idea. As much as I would like to understand this human, everytime I try I just get more and more confused.
“Eric, Sanguine are you two okay?” I asked nervously, the adrenaline of our encounter wearing off.
“I-I’ll be okay Twilight, I just wasn’t ready for that. But with you two by my side I can handle it!” Sanguine answered, her smile slowly becoming more genuine.
“I’m not sure what to feel Twilight, I purposefully struck at another pony. That might be fine for you but here I’m a monster!” Eric exclaimed, fear filling his voice.
“Don’t worry Eric, if this ever comes up I’ll just say you were trying to protect me. Which is the truth isn’t it?” I answered honestly.
As Eric and I looked at each other his frown started to lessen before turning into a small nervous grin. At least I know that expression. “Thank you Twilight, I really needed to hear that.” He said with a slightly larger smile.
“Don’t worry about it, what are friends for?” I answered. “Now let’s get to that caravan!”
We cantered and walked over to the trade caravan a few hundred metres past where the towns pegasi had stood, an older looking earth pony stallion was leaning against one of the wheels watching us approach. His charcoal coat and grey mane stood in stark contrast to the area around him.
“Excuse me gentlestallion, would you happen to be heading towards Ponyville?” I asked the earth pony.
“Eeyup little missy, I be travellin’ under the shadow of Mt Canterhorn ‘afore headin’ towards Ponyville.” He said in a thick accent.
“Do you think we could get a ride to there?”
“Well I aint see why not. But ah have jus’ one condition.”
“What would that be?” I asked while narrowing my eyes in suspicion.
“Nothin’ bad or nuttin, y’all jus’ look like a mighty strange group. All ah wan’ is a few stories for the road.” He answered and my suspicion waned with his answer.
“I don’t see why that would be a problem good sir.” I answered happily.
“Well ah better be headin’ off, with that group of pegasi ah thank ah lost any customers ah was gunna have from this here town.” He said with a frown before continuing. “Y’all better jump in.” He advised while pointing to his carriage before attaching himself to the front.
We all climbed into the back of his heavily laden carriage, attempting to keep enough distance between ourselves so Eric wouldn’t have to worry about his barrier. Once we had ourselves settled we called out to the earth pony that we were ready to go.
“Let’s make trails, y’all. Oh an y’all can call me Stick.” He replied while moving from a canter to a light gallop. “Now why don’t y’all tell some o’ those stories y’all promised me?”
Eric’s P.O.V.
The journey from Hollow Shades was mostly quiet, the confrontation between Sanguine and her mother left us all with a sense of unease. For the most part I was fine after Twilight reassured me that the princesses would understand that I was protecting them. But Sanguine was worse off, after the first confrontation she had seemed not to let it get to her. This time however, her smile seemed forced, like there was a great burden she was trying to keep from view. Twilight and I tried to keep her spirits up by distracting her with conversation. And while it worked, whenever the conversation ended an awkward silence would appear.
Hours passed us by while we sat in the back of Stick’s carriage, we told him stories and learnt much of each other. I could barely believe that Twilight had saved the entire world several times with the help of her friends. They must be amazing ponies! As we neared the town I could only think how nice it would be to meet them.
I’m not only friends with a princess, but her and her friends are also world renowned heroes! I really hope they like me. I thought with a nervous smile on my face.
“Hey Twilight, what are your friends names again? I would like to introduce myself to them properly when we get to Ponyville.” I asked the purple alicorn.
“Well there’s Pinkie Pie, she will probably be the first one you’ll meet and don’t be surprised when she wants to throw you a party the moment we arrive. Next is Applejack, then Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. Don’t worry Eric, I’m sure they will all love you.” She replied with a big smile.
“I hope so, I don’t want everyone to think I’m a monster.”
“Ohh don’t worry about that Eric, my friends trust me and I’m sure they will take me at my word that you are safe. With how close me and my friends are I bet that they will be your friends too in no time.”
“Do you think they will like me too Twilight?” Sanguine asked quietly, her smile still looking forced.
“Of course Sanguine! How could they not enjoy the company of such a nice pony?” Twilight exclaimed, giving our new friend a hug.
I watched as Sanguine’s smile became more genuine. It was the widest smile I’d seen her make since the confrontation with her mother. Looking at that smile I couldn’t help but smile myself, it was like her happiness just exuded from her. Like just having her presence around was enough to make the world brighter and more colorful.
Not that this world is lacking in color. I thought with a big grin.
Night fell over the world as we pulled up in Ponyville, the rustic wooden buildings sparingly lit by gas lanterns that framed the small towns streets. When we climbed out of the carriage Stick detached himself from his harness and smiled at us.
“Now ah would like ta thank y’all fah riding with me, I haven’t ‘eard such fantastic tales in many ah year.” He said.
“No, it is us that must thank you Stick. If it weren’t for you it would have taken us days to reach Ponyville.” Twilight replied with a big smile on her face.
“Tweren’t no thang princess, it’s always good tah have company on the road.”
We smiled at the stallion before turning back to the town.
“So uhh Twilight, where are we meant to go?” I asked, noting the late hour of our arrival. “I don’t think your friends are going to be awake to meet us.”
“Yeah, I guess we will have to go back to my place until morning. Is that ok with you two?”
Sanguine and I looked as each other before smiling back at Twilight. “Are you sure Twilight? Well I wouldn’t like to impose on you.” I asked, suddenly nervous.
“It won’t be a problem Eric, I have another bed in the loft for Sanguine and you can pick from either the couch or the basement. I have a spare bed in there just in case my friends want to have a sleepover.” She explained.
Why am I so nervous about staying in her home? We stayed together last night at Sanguine’s place, so why would this be any different? These thoughts are so confusing!
“Eric, are you ok?” Sanguine asked me before I noticed I had been staring at Twilight, the redness of my cheeks and the matching look on her own.
“Yeah, sorry I was just lost in thought.” I said while forcing out a nervous laugh and rubbing a hand on the back of my neck. “Don’t worry about it. Let’s go to your house Twilight.”
My words snapped her back to reality and she took a deep breath. “Y-Yeah Eric, let’s go!” She stammered before galloping off.
What was she thinking about? I bet it was nothing like my thoughts. Oh god, what if she knew what I was thinking though? I can’t let her know, it would ruin this new friendship of ours. Okay, calm down, everything will be fine. We will just go stay the night at Twilight’s house, get up and meet her friends, then get ready to go meet royalty. I stumbled for a moment, remembering plans that I had forgotten. Royalty, I’m supposed to meet the rulers of this country! I’m not ready for that. How do I talk to them? I mean Twilight is a princess but she said that Celestia had been ruling for thousands of years! A culture doesn’t live this long without protecting itself and I bet some weird creature showing up out of nowhere doesn’t look too good.
I stopped, my thoughts overriding my ability to keep walking. Panic surged through me and my body started to shake, tears began streaming down my cheeks and my legs were rooted into the ground. In the distance I could hear voices but they were muted, almost not even there. I tried to look around, find something to latch onto, something to keep me safe. That was when I noticed the lavender eyes staring at me. Like the other times I fell into them and as I did the world came slowly back into contrast, sounds began reaching my ears again and I regained control of my body. “Eric, Eric, can you hear me? Everything is ok, you’re safe here.” I heard coming from the direction of those hypnotic eyes.
“Twi-Twilight?” I asked, my voice dry and raspy.
“Yes Eric, I’m right here.” She said and it brought me a measure of calm.
I looked around and everything looked the same as before, a quiet town and no one but us around. I let out a breath I hadn’t realised I had been holding and smiled.
“Thank you Twilight and I’m sorry you keep having to deal with me.”
“It’s ok Eric, I’m here for you and I’m happy to help you. After all, what are friends for?”
“Exactly! We wouldn’t be very much good as friends if we didn’t help each other out, right Twilight?” Sanguine added in a cheerful voice.
“That’s right Sanguine. Now let’s get going.” Twilight added, giving me one last worried glance before turning around and walking off further into town.
I followed the two mares while thinking to myself.
How does she do that? There’s just something about those eyes.
Eric’s P.O.V.
Sanguine and I followed Twilight further into Ponyville, their hooves clopping loudly in the late night air as we passed building and after building. The light coming from a mostly cloud covered moon was weak and the darkness obscured much that I would normally see, though the gas lanterns did illuminate some features of the town. The home were mostly basic wooden structures not unlike you would see in a small country town back on Earth, that’s not to say there weren’t any exceptions. Through the darkness I could still see the basic outlines of many of the more obscured buildings, one looked almost like an amusement park ride and another was… was that a cupcake on top of the building?
I shook my head and looked to the mares I was travelling with, Sanguine was smiling and trotting on calmly beside me with her ever present smile and Twilight was a short distance in front of us.
A short distance later we arrived at our destination, a tree? A rather thick tree at that. It was bigger around than most houses we had passed and in the darkness I could almost point out a balcony and several windows.
“You live here Twilight?” Sanguine asked.
“Yes I do Sanguine, welcome to the Golden Oaks Library.” She replied while sweeping her hoof over the tree/building we stood in front of.
“Oooh! You live in a giant tree house! I’ve always wanted to play in a tree house but when I was a foal nopony would help me build one.” Sanguine explained, her voice getting louder with elation.
“Well I prefer to call it a treebrary, but you’ll understand when we get inside.”
Twilight cantered over to the door and opened it with a quick spell before motioning for us to enter.
“Now I need you to be quiet, my assistant Spike is likely already asleep and he can be quite the little grump when you wake him up.” Twilight cautioned.
We quietly entered the tree and Twilight used her magic again to light a few gas lamps there were framing the walls. As the room was lit up I froze in surprise, the nearly the entire room was lined with bookshelf after bookshelf filled to the brim with tomes of all lengths. To one side there was a small kitchenette and the other held a staircase leading up to what I believe is the loft and a bathroom while a door sat between two of the bookshelves. Likely the entrance to the offered basement room.
I was stuck there, frozen, my mind taking in all the details of this impossible abode.
“H-How?” I asked, my stupor still in full force.
“Magic.” Twilight explained, badly.
“Okay.” Sanguine accepted cheerily before bouncing further into the impossible dwelling.
It was too much, I stood there and screamed for a moment over the absolute absurdity of it. To my continued surprise a small figure ran down the stairs and jumped at me, it’s purple claws reaching out to grab me. Luckily before it could reach me Twilight’s horn had begun to glow, wrapping the tiny creature in a purple field of magic.
“Twilight! Why did you stop me? There’s a monster in the library, don’t you see it?” A small voice come from the purple… thing.
“Spike, this is not a monster!” Twilight very nearly shouted at the angered purple thing as the green growths on its head and back twitched. “His name is Eric and he is a guest in this house, do you understand?”
“Are you sure Twilight? I mean he looks so strange, he must be a monster.” The creature named Spike asked.
“Yes Spike. Eric, why don’t you say something?”
“Buh- Uhh, umm hi?” I stammered out.
“Woah, it can talk! So what are you creature? And why are you here.” Spike asked me, his eyes narrowed in suspicion.
“I-I’m a human, and Twilight brought me here. Said it was a mission for the princess.” I answered slowly and carefully, worried about the reactions of fiercely loyal creature. But I also needed to know something so I asked. “Sorry to ask, but what are you?”
He puffed up his chest before replying. “I’m a fierce fire-breathing dragon and number one assistant to Princess Twilight Sparkle!” He said confidently before continuing. “Well if Twilight says you’re safe I’ll take her at her word, welcome to Ponyville.”
“And I’m Sanguine Soul!” The bubbly unicorn said while bouncing forward to hug the tiny drake. “It’s so nice to meet such a friendly little baby dragon. I’ve never met a dragon before.”
“Uhh hi.” He said, a small blush coming to his cheeks from the sudden contact. “Ni-Nice to meet you Sanguine.”
I stood there smiling at the adorable exchange happening in front of me and noticed Twilight watching us, a matching smile on her face. When she noticed my attention ours eyes meet for a moment before she dropped her eyes back to the unicorn and drake, her face breaking out in a large blush.
I wonder what she is thinking about this time?
Twilight’s P.O.V.
They are all getting along so well. I must admit I was a bit worried about Spike meeting them so soon, especially Eric. He can be so loyal to me sometimes that he doesn’t realise he is being rude. Ohh I’m so happy that they are talking so easily. Especially if Eric is going to be spending much time here. My thoughts ground to a halt for a moment. Why do I want him around so much? Well he is my friend, of course I want him around and if he can make friends with Spike then that will make it so much easier to do the same with the girls.
I look up with a smile and see Eric looking at me, a matching smile on his face. In panic I looked away as my face heated up.
Gah! Why do I keep blushing? He’s just a friend Twilight! I thought while mentally slapping myself, banishing the strange thoughts coming into my head.
Before he could say anything I called out to our little group. “Okay everypony, we’ve all had a big day. Now we have a lot to do tomorrow so we should all get some sleep.”
With a small amount of grumbling I watched as Spike walked back up the stairs.
“Sanguine, you can follow me. The bed is always made up so there shouldn’t be any problems there. Eric, you can either sleep on the couch or in the basement like I said before. That’s up to you.” I said indicating to both the door in the back wall, and the couch in the centre of the large library/lounge.
“I think I’ll take the couch.” Eric said, walking over to the piece of furniture and taking off his hooded top and pants before laying down and pulling a blanket down that was slung over the backrest.
I blushed again watching him remove some of his clothes.
Why am I affected by this? I and almost everypony else rarely wear clothes, why is it different when he takes them off?
I shook my head to remove these thoughts again before leading Sanguine up the stairs, a quick flourish of my magic turning off the lanterns in the previous room and lighting the loft we climbed the stairs into.
Spike was curled up in a small basket by the side of my bed and Sanguine climbed into the other one. I climbed up into my own bed, my telekinesis lifting the purple blankets with my cutie mark on them, and bringing them back down to cover me.
I smiled at the familiar feel of my soft bed and warm covers as I drifted off to sleep, my dreams full of a tall bipedal figure dressed in black.
Eric’s P.O.V.
I was awoken by a sudden crash, falling off the couch as a small figure slammed into the back of it.
Why does this keep happening? I thought while pulling myself up from the floor.
Pushing myself up onto my feet I went to look at what so rudely woke me up from such a lovely dream.
Something purple, I think.
My curiosity soon paid off as I walked around to the back of the couch and saw a cyan pegasus with an intensely chromatic mane and tail laying on the floor, her eyes seeming spinning in their sockets. I watched as she attempted to shake off her crash landing.
“Hi!” I said to the small pegasus mare.
“Huh?” She said before her eyes stopped spinning. She blinked, freezing for a moment before shooting forward, powerful beats of her wings pushed her towards me until my barrier flickered to life. The mare was blasted back, but before she hit the wall she righted herself in the air. Another beat of her wings and she was slamming into my shield again. “Monster! What have you done with Twilight? I swear to Celestia if you’ve hurt her, it will be the last thing you ever bucking do!” She screamed before being blasted back again, turning to dive bomb me once again.
I stood there, unable to move as she slammed into my shield once again, my thoughts first turning to how I was lucky I was alive from how fast she was moving. But then I really thought about it; nothing was able to touch me, no creature, no magic, nothing. In that moment I had never felt more alone in my life. My legs buckled underneath me and I cried, my tears washed down my face as the screaming pegasus continued to attack me.
What did I do to deserve this?
Twilight’s P.O.V.
The sounds of screaming and crying pierced through my brain, waking me much earlier than I had planned.
“Why can’t I hit you!?” Screamed a familiar raspy voice.
Buck! Rainbow Dash is here and I haven’t had time to prepare the girls. I thought while climbing out of my bed. Spike and Sanguine woke up only moments later, the sounds rapidly stirring them into a panic.
“Twilight! What’s going on?” Sanguine asked while we all cleared our heads and ran to the stairs.
“My friend Rainbow Dash is attacking Eric! We need to stop her!”
She said no more as we scaled the stairs down to the main area of the treebrary, the sight that appeared shocked us. Furniture all around the room had been knocked over and in some cases broken, books knocked from shelves and in the centre was Eric, his gold magic shielding him as a cyan pegasus flung herself bodily against him over and over again.
We all stood there stunned for several moment before noticing the state of Eric, his body wrap upon itself and his arms holding his legs and tears streaming down his face while he cried audibly.
“Rainbow Dash! STOP!” I screamed, but the mare didn’t appear to be listening.
“Take down your shield so I can buck you into oblivion you stupid monster!” She shouted at Eric.
Using my magic I grabbed ahold of Rainbow’s tail and forced her to land. She looked at me with pure rage on her face before noticing who she was looking at.
“Twilight! Why did you stop me, don’t you see there is a monster in here?” She asked, her voice still in a constant shout.
“That’s not a monster! He’s our friend!” Sanguine called out to Rainbow.
“Yeah, sure and who are you anyway? I bet you’re in league with that monster!” Rainbow Dash accused before flying back up and taking a stance in the air.
“STOP!” I cried in the Royal Canterlot Voice. Immediately everypony froze before turning to look at me, shock covering their features. Rainbow Dash had even been pushed back close to the wall, a quick flap of her wings being the only reason she hadn’t been slammed into it.
“What gives Twilight? Who is pony and that thing over there?” She asked while pointing at Eric with her eyes narrowed.
“Her name is Sanguine Soul and his name is Eric Hayes. I met him on the mission Celestia sent me on a few days ago. He is not a monster! Okay, Rainbow Dash?” I finished, my anger very nearly slipping my words back into the RCV.
“Whatever, I’m going to go tell the girls about this.” She growled before shooting out a broken window.
The moment she left, Sanguine, Spike and I quickly ran over to Eric who was still curled into a ball and sobbing loudly.
“Eric? It’s okay, we know you’re not a monster.” Sanguine said softly. “Isn’t that right everypony?”
“Yeah buddy, don’t worry about Rainbow Dash. I know we only met last night but you’re our friend, and you always stick by your friends.” Spike added, getting as close to Eric as possible without setting off his barrier.
“We are all here for you Eric, now why don’t you look over here okay?” I asked the crying human.
Eric’s P.O.V.
I could hear the girls trying to cheer me up but they didn’t really understand what was truly wrong. Why I couldn’t even look up, scared to see the looks of pity on their faces when I tell them why I was in the fetal position and crying like a baby.
If I tell them they won’t understand, such affectionate ponies could being to understand what it’s like to never be close to anyone ever again. Even if they stay by my side I’ll effectively still be alone for the rest of my life. I can’t tell them, not now, not ever.
For a moment I looked up, expecting to see pity but there was none. In shock I looked, seeing nothing but caring looks from my new friends. Even Spike whom I had only just met was looking at me just like Twilight and Sanguine, there was no pity on any of their faces, only worry and care.
That’s right, I have friends. Friends will always be there for you, helping you and caring about you. It was only one of them. I’m sure that Twilight will show them that I’m not some monster to be destroyed.
I raised my arm and wiped away some of the mucous and tears my crying had left on my face, my sleeve cleaning up some of the mess. A small smile entered my face slowly as thoughts reminded me that my friends were here for me. I looked up at my friends again, their faces were full of worry for me.
“I’m sorry you had to take for of me again everyone. I wish I wouldn’t let everything get to me so much. And yeah, that wasn’t all about your friend, she just helped.” I said, my voice rasping from the loss of so much moisture. “Could someone get me some water please?”
Immediately after I asked my question Spike jumping up and ran into the small kitchenette, returning in moment with a glass of water in his claw. I begun to reach for it before stopping.
“Uh, you might want to put it down Spike. I don’t want to blast you into a wall or something.” I said with an apology on my face.
“Right, I forgot about that.” He said while placing the glass on the ground. “It’s no problem buddy.”
“This is what hit me so hard; the thought that I am forever separated from everyone. This barrier keeps me from such simple gestures like a hug or shaking someone's hand, or hood when I meet them. No matter what I’m going to always have this barrier, keeping me from becoming closer to anyone and eventually it will become more than physical. The distance becoming emotional as thoughts takes over from actions.” I explained to the gathering of my friends.
While I explained I could see their faces drop, smiles breaking into frowns as they tried to understand what I was feeling and thinking. I hated to tell them this, to show them how alone I felt even with them here. I watch as Twilight began to sniffle, tears threatening to spill out from her eyes as she looked at me.
“Eric, I had no idea. I’ve been thinking about your magic all this time but I never thought about it like that. I don’t know how I would have been able to keep myself together in your situation, never able to touch a living thing and being thrown into a world that isn’t your own.” She said as the tears started to fall before she pulled herself up, blinking away the remaining moisture in the corner of her eyes. “Don’t worry Eric! You have your friends and we will do everything we can to stop that barrier!” She said confidently, then light appeared entered her eyes and she started hopping up and down. “I know, we can ask Celestia! I’m sure she would have some ideas how to help.”
“But do you think she would help me? I mean, she doesn’t even know me.” I replied with melancholy.
With how one of Twilight’s closest friends reacted to me it would be best not to get too excited. I wouldn’t be surprised if the princess attacked me the moment she saw me.
“I’m sure she will give you a chance, with me there you won't have a problem. I was her personal student and now a princess like her.” Twilight answered cheerily, lessening my current dark mood.
I can’t seem to stay sad with that smile.
“Hey, don’t forget us.” Spike said after climbing up onto Twilight’s back. “We are sticking by your side, no matter what!”
“Friends always stick together, that way we can keep making each other smile.” Added Sanguine.
“You’re right guys, thank you.” I said, my full smile returning to my face.
We sat there for a while, smiling and talking about how we were going to get to Canterlot. Apparently the trains are quite fast. Twilight wanted to request a carriage but organising it would take us even longer and I wasn’t quite sure how I felt about flying. I had never flown back on Earth and I really wasn’t about to start now so we decided a train would be the best and fastest option. Sanguine was very excited over the thought of riding the Friendship Express and that only sealed the deal.
We were deep in another discussion when we heard a loud voice from outside of the library. “Alright girls, the monster was in here with Twilight!” We heard Rainbow shout.
Hearing that I and the girls groaned, all thinking the same thing.
Not again.
Twilight’s P.O.V.
I watched as the door to my treebrary was knocked off it’s hinges, landing a short distance away from it’s last position. My friends immediately rushed inside, only stopping when they stood between Eric and I. Rainbow Dash immediately flew up and begun dive bombing Eric like she had earlier, the others stood there facing him.
“Y’all better stay away from mah friend monster!”
“Uh-Um Mr monster, would you kindly stay away from Twilight?”
“You took away Dashie’s smile!”
“What a ruffian! I can’t possibly allow such a crude beast near my friend.”
“Don’t just stand there girls! Help me take down this thing!”
I watched frozen as my friends yelled and attacked Eric. His expression changed moment to moment, shock bled into fear which soon became sadness.
Why would they do this? Eric isn’t a monster or some mindless beast. He’s nice and caring. I can’t let them continue! I thought, frustration and anger growing at my ‘friends’ actions.
Letting the Royal Canterlot Voice force it’s way out of my mouth I shouted, forcing their ears to press back against their heads. “EVERYPONY STOP!” I lowered the volume the moment everypony froze, Rainbow dropping to the floor. “Listen to me right now!” I growled, shocking myself with my anger while glaring at my ‘friends.’ “Eric here is no monster, we have been travelling together for days and he has been nothing but pleasant and enjoyable company. Now you all need to calm down before I have to teleport you all out and raise a shield around this place!”
I stood there in shock and my friends acted in kind, frozen in place from my outburst and the angry tone in my voice. I had never stood up to them like this and had definitely never been so angry with them before this moment.
“Bu-But sugarcube, jus’ look at him. Ah’ve seen a few monsters before an this thing looks like it would fit right in with em.” Applejack said, being the first to recover.
“I don’t care what he looks like, and honestly you should be ashamed to judge somepony by the way they look. Don’t you remember the situation with Zecora? You’re judging Eric the same way you did her!” I yelled back at the orange farmpony. Eric made a small smile at me when I told her off.
“I’m afraid I have to agree with Applejack here darling, there is simply no way I can accept that this beast is anything but a monster.” Rarity added, standing next to Applejack.
“I-I’m sorry Twilight but i-it just seems like a bad idea and the rest of us all agree.” Fluttershy whispered while hiding behind her mane.
“But you haven’t given him a chance to even defend himself!” I cried out in sad anger.
I watched as Spike and Sanguine jumped up, planting themselves between Eric and my ‘friends.’ All of which looked slightly nervous now that the group facing them had suddenly doubled.
“We won’t let you come near our friend, don’t you see how much you are hurting him?” Sanguine yelled while pointing to Eric, who was nearly crying again.
“This is some trick, maybe he is controlling their minds?” Rainbow countered, her eyes narrowed in anger and wings fluttering.
I stood there, Sanguine, Spike and Eric behind me, while Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Applejack stood before me. Anger against my ‘friends’ and worry for Eric flooded my mind and for a moment I lost control.
Spike’s P.O.V.
By Celestia, what is happening? Everypony is acting so crazy! Eric is such a nice guy and they aren’t even giving him a chance! I have to do something or they will never accept him. But I can’t stand against Rarity, she must be so disappointed seeing me standing on this side and if I say something I’ll be doing even more damage. I haven’t even told her how I feel about her, though how she hasn’t noticed by now escapes me. But, I have to stand by my friend. To do that I have to pick a side. I’m sorry Rarity, but I can’t just let down a friend. I thought as the groups sized each other up.
Before I could say anything though, something distracted me, something I hoped I would never have to see as smoke rose from the purple alicorn standing in front of me. Her coat shifted to white and her mane and tail caught fire. Twilight rose from the floor and raw magic swirled around her horn, the voice that suddenly came from her mouth was unlike any I had heard before. In a deep tone and measured pace Twilight said, “get out, now.”
Sanguine, Eric and I froze in place, fear removing our ability to move as the voice echoed throughout the hollow tree. The ones standing before us however were not afflicted the same, with panic in their eyes they flew and ran out the open door, whimpering with barely contained screams.
What was that? Was that even Twilight? I heard about her rage shift and the color and coat thing were just as the girls described, but that voice. I thought while shivering at the memory. I’ve never heard anything so terrifying in my entire life. Not even Sombra was that scary.
I watched as Twilight slowly dropped to the floor, the flames turning back into her mane and tail while her coat shifted back to lavender. The moment her hooves hit the floor she collapsed. Sanguine and I immediately snapped out of our thoughts and rushed to our alicorn friend. She had a smile on her face and her eyes were closed. Closer inspection showed us that her coat, mane and tail were only lightly singed from the fiery outburst but she was otherwise completely unharmed.
“Don’t worry Eric, I’ll protect you.” She mumbled, her eyes still closed.
In a moment the stress of the situation disappeared and we all laughed, the suddenly sleep alicorns words piercing through the veil of sadness before it could hit, giving us a profound sense of levity.
“So umm, what do we do now?” I asked the still awake members of our little group.
“Well Twilight needs to take Eric to meet the princess.” Sanguine answered me. “Ohh! I can’t wait to meet her, I bet she is so cool! And with how long she has been around I bet she knows all sorts of ways to make everypony happy!” She added while bouncing up and down, a giant smile on her face.
“We should let Twilight sleep then, something tells me this took a lot out of her.” I told Sanguine and Eric before looking at my bipedal friend. “Will you be ok buddy?” I asked him.
“Y-Yeah, I was kinda expecting them to act that way after Rainbow did the first time.”
“Don’t worry Eric, I’ll stick by your side and after all of this you know Twilight has your back.”
“Yeah.” Was all he said, a smile entering his face while he looked at Twilight.
“Alright, I’m going to write a letter to Princess Celestia letting her know we will be coming. You two probably should get some of this furniture cleaned up.” I told my two new friends who groaned at the extent of work it would take.
Trust me, you don’t want Twilight waking up with the library still looking like this. I laughed softly at the thought before adding. “We will be leaving tonight and be in Canterlot by morning so be done and ready in a few hours.”
Dear Princess Celestia,
Hey! It’s Spike! Just letting you know that Twilight got back to Ponyville today and she brought a couple of friends with her, a unicorn mare named Sanguine Soul and a strange creature called a human, he calls himself Eric Hayes.
I’m sure Twilight will give you more information when we arrive in Canterlot tomorrow morning but for now she is very tired and needs to sleep. Sadly, when our friends met Eric they reacted poorly. Rainbow Dash attempted to attack him and the rest repeatedly called him a monster while trying to push themselves between him and Twilight. Overwrought by our friends reaction Twilight then rage shifted for the first time in a long time and ordered them to leave in a voice that scared everypony in the library.
I should also mention that Eric has a strange magic that he seems to have no control over, it is a barrier that activates any time something living comes within a short distance of his body. While I don’t see it as a dangerous risk, it does repel anypony to tries to touch him quite violently so please notify the guards about this ability.
I look forward to seeing you soon,
Spike the Dragon.
Eric’s P.O.V.
From the moment we left Twilight’s library we barely spoke a word, not because we had nothing to say but because we were being watched. Not a few second after walking out the door we could see them. The ponies from earlier were there, barely hiding behind trees and buildings. Honestly for beings that supposedly held the most power in the world and had saved it several times, the hard time they were having staying hidden made the story seem like nothing but overblown tales. If I hadn’t been told some of them by Twilight of course. The entire walk from the library they followed us and even Sanguine noticed, her bouncing step almost coming to a complete stop and becoming a regular canter.
We were so focussed on the group that I barely noticed the strange looks the townsfolk were giving us. Barely contained gasps and confused stares followed us as every single member of the town watch the tall biped, baby dragon, alicorn and unicorn walking through the marketplace and out towards the train station. Our small group cared not for that, only the group of five that followed us and it was starting to become irritating. They didn’t want to annoy Twilight again and she didn’t want to hear anymore negative words spoken out against me.
All in all it made the trip feel much longer than it should have as we were all tense, both from the earlier confrontation and our current stalkers. Once we tried to lose them, turning into a small alley way and running ahead but as they probably guessed where we were going that was just a waste of energy. The moment we entered a main thoroughfare back towards the station we could see them again. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy on a completely not suspiciously moving cloud and Rarity, Applejack and Pinkie Pie leaning out from the corner of a building. Giving up on escaping our pursuers we decided just to pretend they weren’t there and walked as fast as we could through the watching crowds to the train station.
Once we arrived Twilight bought us all tickets and we waited on the platform as her friends all gathered at the other end, all trying to pretend that they weren’t watching. One by one we all looked at each other and I’m pretty sure we were all thinking the same thing.
Do they really think they are fooling anyone?
Settling with an awkward silence we sat there awaiting the incoming train and as minutes passed us by we did nothing but sit there, occasionally glancing at the ponies who even without direct interference were causing us all a lot of stress. When it all became too much Twilight finally opened her mouth to talk.
“Maybe I should g-.” She began before being cut off by the loud whistling of the train which was heading towards us at great speed. “Ohh nevermind.”
With the hissing of brakes it stopped directly in front of us and the doors opened, a large crowd of ponies of all colours and races swarmed past us (I had to get out of the way not to accidentally hurt anyone) and we pushed through to take our places on the train. Luckily Twilight had thought to purchase us a cabin so at least now we would finally have a modicum of privacy. Settling on the seats we all let out a sigh of relief, knowing that while our stalkers may have joined us on the train at least they weren’t in the same room as us.
“I can’t believe they are being so mean, following our every hoofstep like we are the ones at fault!” Sanguine groaned while laying down on the seat beside Spike.
“Twilight, have they ever been like this before?” I asked the lavender alicorn.
“No, I don’t understand this. Even after the whole Zecora incident once they got to know her everypony accepted her and she is always welcome now. I can’t believe that they won’t even give you a chance to show that you aren’t just some monster!” She answered, a sigh of exasperation leaving her mouth.
“You’re really close to Princess Celestia aren’t you Twilight?” Sanguine asked her.
“Of course she is. Twilight was the personal protege of the princess until she became a princess herself. They’ve known each other since Twilight was only a little filly.” Spike answered for Twilight.
“Well won’t the princess trust you at your word then? I’m sure her input would change their minds.” Sanguine reasoned.
As we all thought about it a smile started to come to our faces.
“Thank you Sanguine, I can’t believe none of us had thought about that already. If the princess deems Eric as safe then the girls will have to accept it. Even Rainbow Dash wouldn’t stand up to an assessment from Celestia.” Twilight said to the bubbly unicorn.
“Hey, I just want my friends happy and smiling. It’s my special talent after all.” She said, indicating to her flank emblazoned with a silver smile in a red heart.
“Well with this situation it’s greatly appreciated Sanguine, really thank you.” Twilight said with a big smile.
“By the way I’ve heard you mention them a few times already but what is with those tattoos?” I asked the group.
“You mean you don’t know what cutie marks are?” Twilight asked, her smile turning slightly creepy.
“They are just tattoos aren’t they?” I asked in return before adding. “And why do you call them cutie marks?”
“I’m not sure what you mean by tattoo but I’ll tell you what they are. Cutie marks are a visual identifier of a ponies special talent. Usually we get them when we are young, most commonly in our colt or filly years. Most often they appear as we come to the realisation of what our individual special talent is. Mine for example.” She indicated to the starburst on her flank. “Is a visual representation of magic in all forms which means that I am especially in tune with magic.”
“Huh.” I sat there stunned, remembering a few of the marks I had already seen and what they could possibly mean about the ponies they belonged to. “So can only ponies get them or am I going to one day suddenly get a mark on my butt?”
“Actually that’s a good question. Some extremely talented zebra have been known to get cutie marks but apart from that only ponies get them. Many theories say that it’s due to a ponies natural reservoir of magic that makes it possible for them to obtain cutie marks but no one is 100% sure. I guess if you ever get one that might make for a more specific answer.” As she said this I watched the creepy look in her eyes grow for a moment before she raised a hoof to her chest and pushed it out with a breath of air. “Sorry, I tend to get worked up with new information.”
“That’s ok Twilight. Honestly I wish I had something like that, going through life not knowing what I am really good at has been one of the primary reasons the anxiety you’ve seen has grown so powerful.” I explained to her.
“Don’t worry about it Eric. Dragons don’t get cutie marks and we are perfectly ok without them. You’ll find what you are good at, I know it!.” Spike said which made me smile widely.
I let that thought roll around my brain before a question occurred to me. “But you breath fire, isn’t that magical?”
Twilight immediately went back into lecture mode. “Dragon fire is actually a scientific process that is done within their bodies. They break down compounds in their diet and the ones that are used to maintain their metabolism go to that but anything that can become combustible are refined into those compounds and stored within their bodies. When fire is needed to be used their body brings forward those compounds and light’s them with a special stone like growth in their throats. Spike here though is different as when I hatched him the large amount of magic I used was imbued into his throat which is then powered by the residual magic of Equus.”
“Woah! Okay!” I said, almost bowled over by the amount of information spouted at me in the matter of moments. “So Spike can use magic but it isn’t part of him. Good to know. Anyway, how far are we from Canterlot?” I asked the group.
“We should arrive at dawn, so 12 hours.” Twilight said, looking at the mountain in the distance and the dying light of day.
“Alright, I’m going to get some sleep. You all should too.” I told my friends.
“I’m going to stay up, incase the girl try to come in and mess with you.” Spike retorted.
“Thanks buddy, but that won’t be a problem. It’s not like they can hurt me.” I told the loyal drake, a dry laugh escaping my mouth. “Goodnight everyone, thanks for being here with me.”
I lay back and the last thing I heard was the voices of my friends saying good night before a dreamless sleep overtook me.
Eric’s P.O.V.
As I awoke from my dreamless slumber I noticed a few things; first was a strange sound, like water spinning before it’s sucked rapidly down a drain pipe, next was shifting lights that penetrated through my eyeballs and last was the soft snored of my companions around me. I opened my eyes, not quite sure if I was ready for what I might see.
At first I wasn’t sure what I was looking at, it was so strange and even compared to everything else had seen in this world it stood out as unusual. A oval shape was held in the air close to the roof of the train, it didn’t move although I knew it must have been travelling with us because I could feel the steady vibrations of the train moving. Inside the oval was a shifting display of bright colors, they swirled and combined, increasing and decreasing in brightness. It was not unlike the void I saw when I was transported to this strange new world.
I lay there transfixed for several moments before coming to my senses and moving so that it was not directly over me. If something comes through that I’m not letting it land on me. Not sure what to do, I nudged my companions. One by one they woke up and stared at the shape floating in the air, Twilight almost looked excited even in her bedmaned and tired state.
“Umm does anyone happen to know what that thing is?” I asked my friends.
“Nope.” Spike said.
“No idea.” Sanguine added.
“Well if I was to offer a guess the most likely answer would be a portal.” Twilight said, trying to be helpful.
“Yeah… that’s kinda what I was thinking.” I said, worry on my face.
As we all sat there, trying to comprehend what we were seeing the lights inside the floating oval suddenly grew lighter. For a moment everyone in the cabin was blinded before the brightness receded. A second later the portal spat out a small diamond, a gold coin and a small book before it just disappeared. The only evidence that it had even been there were the objects it had left behind, spread haphazardly on the floor. Slowly I approached the objects to take a closer look. On the coin was written Au, the diamond (in my completely uninformed opinion) looked perfectly cut and the book was titled, ‘Displaced: A Users Guide to the Multiverse.’
The next moment Twilight attempted to move closer to the small collection of objects, I panicked and shouted. “Twilight stop!”
She froze in place and looked at me, confusion all over her face before saying. “Why Eric? They don’t look so dangerous.”
“Twilight if I have played enough games I know the start of a grand and stupid adventure that will risk the very fabric of reality.” I said with sudden confidence, my gaming knowledge was unmatched even amongst the people I played with online. “Now destroy them. If we even touch them we may get caught in the adventure.”
“Are you sure Eric? It might be fun.” Sanguine said from behind me.
“Yes! Do it now!” I shouted again, making my friends jump.
Without any further objection Twilight and Sanguine lit their horns, sending a bolt of magic at them. Immediately they all imploded, the objects pulling themselves into a single point before disappearing completely.
When they were gone I sat back down in my seat, breathing a sigh of relief. When I looked up I saw my friends looking at me warily.
“Are you sure that was neccessary? I don’t think we really needed to do that.” Twilight said carefully.
“You have no idea.” I said before laying down and quickly falling back to sleep.
Sanguine's P.O.V.
Oh my Faust! I am so excited! I never thought I would ever get out of Hollow Shades and see the world and now I’m in Canterlot! This is like a dream come true. I thought, while being led through the massive city that sat high on mount canterhorn.
Everywhere I looked I could see beautiful buildings sculpted from white stone and marble, some even inlaid with precious gems and metals. Nothing could have prepared me for such a beautiful sight. And to think that Twilight was raised here!
Getting off the train had been a simple matter as everypony kept their distance from Eric, allowing us to move unimpeded. We saw Twilight’s friends for a moment through the crowds, pinned back by the thick mass of ponies. The only thing that really cut the mood was when I looked at the ponies that stopped to look at Eric. The looks of fear and disgust on their faces was obvious and it really made me sad.
When I looked at my friend though it seemed he hadn’t noticed. His eyes shifted over the buildings with amazement, even more so than mine.
“How is this place possible? Something this big should have fallen off the mountain while it was being built. And don’t just say magic.” Eric asked Twilight.
“While magic would be an appropriate answer I guess I’ll have to be more precise.” Twilight started, quickly shifting into lecture mode. “During the creation of Canterlot many ponies from all tribes came together to ensure that they could create the grandest city that had ever been seen. Unicorns imbued thousands of gems that would lesson the relative weight of objects around them and placed the gems inside the cities base, pegasi used their abilities to control clouds to create super light air ballasts that would support the cities reduced weight and earth ponies used their building skills to create everything else, including the stone and marble the unicorns and pegasi needed to make place their creations in. It might surprise you to know that nearly the entire base of this city is made up of hollow marble, reinforced with magic, filled with said enchanted crystals and supported by helium pockets.”
I froze there for a moment as the explanation confused me, but Eric just nodded, amazement still on his face.
“But wouldn’t that be risky? I mean if only one of those systems failed then the entire city would just fall from the mountain.” Eric asked her, suddenly nervous.
“Ohh that’s not a problem, the entire surface of the cities base is enchanted with the most powerful magical wards which only the princesses are able to move through and powered by a series of ponies trusted by the crown. Not only that but they power it through a set of relays so nopony but the princesses ever have to set hoof in there.”
“Wow Twilight, you know a heck of a lot about this.” I said to her.
“Well I was interested by the same questions Eric asked the first time I saw the city from the outside. It just seemed so strange that such a massive and probably heavy city was able to sit on such a precarious position, so I endeavoured to find out how it works.” Twilight answered standing up straighter than before.
Our conversation kept us focussed on each other while we moved through the city, it was a welcome distraction from the group of ponies that followed us from behind and the stares of the ponies we passed by. Twilight’s friend had caught up with us only a few minutes after we left the trains station and the ponies of Canterlot had been stopping to stare at Eric the moment our tall friend had stepped off the train. Not surprising considering he is the tallest being here.
Not long after Twilight’s lecture had finished we were accosted by a group of ponies in golden armor, they leveled long spears at Eric who shrunk back in fear.
“Halt monster!” One of the royal guards called out as they circled around our group, their spears all pointed towards Eric.
“Stand down everypony!” Twilight cried out to the group of guards. “This is no monster and if you call Eric that again I will personally bring you to Celestia herself to be punished.”
They all stood there nervously before rising their weapons and looking at Twilight with fear in their eyes. “Uh um, we are very sorry Princess Twilight, but how is that not a monster?” A terrified guard asked her.
“Because he is a sapient and kind creature just like anypony here. Is that clear?” Twilight said while glaring around her.
“Yes Princess!” The guards called out at once.
“Good, now escort us to Celestia. We are on a mission.”
The guards surrounded us on all sides, this time covering us on all sides as we continued walking towards a grand building in the distance. Even from here Canterlot castle was massive and if I wasn’t focussed on my friends the sheer majesty of it would have taken my breath away. But while it didn’t do that I couldn’t help but bounce along with a giant smile on my face. I was here, in the most beautiful city in Equestria, escorted by a princess and a group of royal guards to the royal palace!
Spike however was starting to tire, the long walk to the place was starting to wear on him so I let him rest his little legs by climbing onto my back.
“Sorry about this Sanguine, I still I’ve been eating too much at Sugarcube Corner lately.” He said quietly into my ear.
“It’s alright, I’m happy to help. A friend always lends a helping hoof.” I said back to him with a smile.
When we reached the palace gates two armored pegasi stepped back to allow us through, saluting Twilight with their wings and scanning our group with impassive eyes which widened slightly when seeing Eric. We continued through, our escort taking us through a winding maze of corridors. My mind spun as we moved through the labyrinthine building, it’s corridors confusing me more with each turn but also amazing me with what I could see. Every once in awhile we would pass by beautiful paintings, ornate tapestries and many other objects that spoke of extreme wealth.
Finally we came to a pair of double doors, we could hear many voices behind it as we approached. A unicorn that stood at either side lit their horns, opening the doors and allowing us to enter. The moment Eric passed through the entire room fell silent before a loud voice called out.
“What in tartarus is that?”
Eric’s P.O.V.
As nice as it was to get a personal escort to the princess I could help but feel like the other shoe hadn’t been dropped, but that feeling went away as I stepped foot inside the large room before me. Even compared to the lavish hallways we had just passed through, this room just breathed money. Every surface was bright white marble, inlaid with what looked like pure gold, ornate banners hung from every surface displaying images of the sun and moon and others showed two ponies, stylized like a yin and yang. The room was also massive, easily three stories tall or more and at least half of the room was filled with ponies while the other half held two thrones, one of which that had a backdrop of the sun behind it was filled with the biggest pony I had seen so far.
A pure white pony, a large horn on her head and wings tucked into her side sat there, an impassive yet warm look on her face and eyes staring directly at me that felt like they were piercing into my soul. I froze there, caught in the gaze of the alabaster alicorn until a loud voice broke me from my stupor.
“What in tartarus is that?” The voice cried out.
With grace I never thought possible form such a large creature the alicorn that had drawn my gaze stood up before saying simply. “The day court is over. If everypony would please register their cases with my guards I will ensure that we can continue with them tomorrow.” She then looked at my friends and I, eyes lingering on me and Twilight before leaving through a door with words that somehow reached us. “Twilight and company, please, follow me.”
Immediately, like our movements were not even of our own will we moved forward quickly and passed through the door the alicorn had passed through a only moment earlier.
We came out into a much smaller room, no less ornate than the rest of the castle but with a table in the centre. Twilight immediately moved to the alicorn who had invited us in, they nuzzled for moment before moving back.
“Twilight, it is lovely to see you. You must come here to visit more often.” She said, the impassive look had left her face and more warmth was there in it’s place as she spoke to the lavender alicorn.
“It’s good to see you too Pri-Celestia. I’m here to report to you on what I found in my mission.” Twilight said nervously.
“It would seem you found a lot more than I was expecting.” Celestia said while looking over me, her eyes suddenly narrowing in suspicion. “Spike sent me a letter last night saying that you had made contact with a strange creature. I assume this is the Eric he spoke of?” Spiked shifted for a moment nervously at her words.
“This is me your highness, Eric Hayes, it is an honour to meet you. I would offer to shake your hoof but that wouldn’t go well.” I introduced myself while giving a slight bow, my hand over my heart.
Celestia’s eyes shot open the moment I spoke before she covered her face in an impassive look again. “It is a pleasure to meet you Mr Hayes, I must admit that I am shocked that you speak such excellent Equish. Some strange creature appears here that has never been seen before and it’s speaks our language fluently, it seems like it should be impossible.”
“I don’t begin to understand your majesty but I am glad that our languages are the same. I’ve never been good at learning other languages.” I said, rubbing the back of my neck in nervousness.
As we spoke a guard came into the room, saluted to Celestia then spoke. “Your highness, the other bearers of harmony have appeared to speak to you about your guest.” The guard's eyes narrowed as he looked at me.
“Please, send them in.” She replied.
We all looked at each other, knowing that things were about to get complicated, again.
Eric’s P.O.V.
I stood in place, barely a muscle moving as I watched the five mares enter the room. Each of them glared at me as they approached. All at once the started to speak, their voices loudly speak over each other as they accused me of being a monster to the princess. She immediately raised a hoof and one by one they fell silent, waiting for the silent ruler to begin speaking.
“Now that you are quiet my little ponies I must tell you something that you need to hear before this goes any further.” She stopped speaking for a moment, locking eyes with each of the ponies one at a time. “You are wrong!” She said, her voice only slightly raised but with a well of strength that shook the will of everyone in the room. “I have had the pleasure of speaking with this human here for only but a few minutes, but he appears to have the manners and speech of a fine gentlestallion.”
“What? How can you say that? Just look at him princess.” Rainbow Dash yelled while pointing a hoof in my direction. “He is obviously some kind of monster. He is probably controlling you and everypony else who has sided with him.”
The small group of friends all agreed with the cyan pegasus as she accused me once again of being some random beast.
“Tell me this everypony, have any of you even given him a chance to talk? Or have you attacked him based only on the way he looks?” Celestia said, while glaring at them. “Now you can act like caring ponies or you can leave, right now!”
As she said those last words they all shrunk back, all except for the chromatically maned pegasus. Once again she flew at me, attempting to attack me. The moment she came close she was immediately flung back, crashing against Rarity and they both crashed down onto the floor.
“You see Princess, if he wasn’t a monster why would he do that?” Rainbow Dash yelled.
“While I disagree with Rainbow Dash and the others that barrier is quite troubling. Eric, do you have any control whatsoever over the magic that protects you?” Celestia asked, her eyes seemingly boring into my soul.
“N-No your highness. I have n-no control over it, but it-it’s always there. Even when I’m asleep.” I stammered under the powerful gaze.
“Eric, I would like to apologise to you for the manner in which these ponies have treated you. As a sapient being in Equestria you have rights and anypony who would assault you in such a manner is a lesser pony than I believed them to be.” Celestia said to me with a strained smile.
At these words the whole group behind Rainbow Dash cowered, knowing they had messed up. I smiled at her kind words though. Maybe finally they would stop attacking me.
“Thank you Princess, Eric was really worried about meeting you after all the trouble we have had.” Sanguine said with a big smile on her face.
“It’s no problem my little pony.” Celestia said to her before turning back to me. “Now Eric, there is something I would like to ask you.”
“W-What is it your highness?” I asked, stammering again.
“Would you like to get rid of that barrier? I have an idea of how that may be accomplished.” She said warmly.
“Yes! Yes please! This thing is making me feel so alone, even with everyone I’ve been travelling with it hurts every time I think about it.” I nearly shouted my assent.
“When Rainbow Dash attacked you I noted a few peculiarities with your barrier, you see it’s not only using it’s own source of magic from within you but a secondary source that it actually siphons from every physical force or magic used against you. That will make it tricky to remove, our only option would be to overwhelm the barrier to shut it off. Then we can seal it from coming back. Sadly neither I, nor my sister are strong enough to do so. But there is a magic strong enough and luckily for you it is right here.”
“What is it princess?” I asked, confused that she isn’t strong enough to do it herself.
“The Elements of Harmony that the girls here control are powerful enough to overcome your shield. And they will lend their power to this!” She added the last part in a near shout at the girls who had shrunken back but still held glares pointed at me.
“A-Are you sure Princess? These girls seem to hate me.”
“They will do as ordered Eric. Isn’t that right girls?”
“You know I will Celestia” Twilight called out quickly, walking up close to me.
The other group all nodded fearfully, walking up to surround me in a circle. With a flash of magic Twilight brought out a large box that she set on the floor before opening. Inside at a collection of jewellery, each made from gold with a different color of gem inside. First Twilight lifted out a crown with a bright pink star set on top of it, she set it on her head before moving to the rest of them. Five necklaces were lifted out of the box and hung around the neck of the five mares who stood around me, faces mixed between fear directed at Celestia and angry glares pointed at me.
All at once the gems in their necklaces and Twilight’s crown began to glow. Twilight’s eyes turned pure white and they all lifted from the floor. All at once they all seemed to pulse, each time stronger than before until a loud crash filled the air. Twilight remained in place but the rest fell, their necklaces blasting them back against the walls and falling off unclasped. When they landed the gold melted away leaving several plainly cut gems.
“Wha-What happened?” Twilight said as she floated down to the ground. With shock he levitated the five gems over to herself.
“I had hoped this hadn’t happened Twilight.” Celestia sighed before looking at her. “It would appear that your friends have broken the harmony of your friendship by rejecting Eric. The reason that they have always worked before is because your friendships always held strong no matter the situation, but their rejection was so profound that it has severed your emotional bonds. This is the same thing that happened to me after banishing Luna and the reason I was never able to use them again. “ She looked at me, her eyes seemed like nothing but deep wells of sadness. “I’m sorry Eric, I really am.”
Spike and Sanguine walked up to Twilight and held her as she started to cry. She looked over to me. “I-I’m sorry too. I really wanted to help you but I failed. I understand if you don’t want to me my friend anymore.” She said, her face pointed to the floor as tears leaked quickly down her face.
“It’s ok Twilight, I wasn’t really expect anything from coming here anyway. Sure I got my hopes up for a sec but ohh well. And of course we will be friends, you were the first friend I made here.” I said to the depressed mare, pushing a smile onto my face.
While we talked Sanguine walked over to the Elements of Harmony. “So what's with these stones anyway? They don-” She was cut off as she picked up the pink stone of kindness. Bright light flashed, blinding everyone in the room. When everyone's eyes clear we all gasped, around Sanguine’s neck hung a gold necklace with a pink heart in the centre, just like her cutiemark.
When Spike grabbed the red stone of loyalty it happened again, the young drake was wearing a necklace with a red flame hanging from it. Everyone in the room froze, not sure what had just happened.
“Uhh, I d-didn’t mean to do that.” Spike said.
Celestia’s P.O.V.
The room was completely silent, so silent that were it to happen you could hear a pin drop. Five of the elements of harmony had rejected their bearers and almost immediately two of them had already found new ones. As a migraine threatened, I raised a hoof and rubbed the side of my head.
“S-So are we going to talk about this or just stare dumbly at each other?” The voice of Eric stammered from the group in front of me.
I looked up to see everypony around me -apart from the aforementioned human- was standing in place with a blank look on their faces. As a group they were looking at the two necklaces to have taken place on the necks of the young drake and mare. They themselves were looking down at their own necks, none the wiser of the eyes boring into them.
How did this happen? I picked the element bearers so carefully. They were never meant to separate until they started to die of old age. Nothing should have been able to come between them. Now I have no idea what to do.
I let the thoughts run through my head. Trying to create a new plan, but how am I supposed to know how to create the powerful bonds of friendship required to power the elements without years to plan? While these thoughts ran around in circles a loud banging came from the doors to my small meeting room and a voice came through them loud enough as if the bearer were already in the room with us.
“Sister! I saw the bearers running away from the castle and without Twilight. Is something the matter?” I heard Luna calling from beyond the door.
With a sigh I lit my horn and opened the door, letting her through. The moment she did however she launched herself into the pile of element stones.
“What has happened here? I have not seen the elements like this since we held them sister.”
“The friendship bond of Twilight and her friends has broken dear sister. But already two have take up the mantle to restore the bonds of harmony.”
“I see, that is both terrible and great news to hear. And sorry but I fear I am leaving out something here but what is that strange creature standing next to Twilight?” Luna said, pointing a hoof at Eric.
“Hello your majesty. I am Eric Hayes.” He said, holding a hand over his heart and bowing slightly.
“An interesting creature you are Eric, I am Princess Luna, Mistress of the Night. I have not heard such a strange name nor beheld such an interesting visage in many years. Pray tell, what species are you and from where do you hail?”
“I am what is known as a human and I come from a planet called Earth.” He replied.
“I have not heard of it nor the name human. How did you come to be hear?”
“I’m not really sure. I found an invisible voice outside of my door one day, fell over onto something and then found myself here.”
“You never told me this Eric!” Twilight said, her creepy knowledge face entering her face.
“Twilight, please calm down. I’m sure there will be plenty of time to discuss this at a later date.” I said, trying to defuse the excitable princess before she could upset Eric.
The lavender alicorn looked sheepishly at her hooves. “Sorry Celestia.”
“As it stands Luna these ponies -I looked at Spike- and dragon have all quickly become friends with Eric who has become afflicted with a strange magical barrier that not even my magic can break down. We believe that the elements of harmony are the only things that can restrain the power long enough for me to seal it. But with half of the elements without bearers I am worried if we will find others who exemplify the elements.” I explained to Luna.
Luna looked at me with excitement on her face. How that face still reminds me of when she was a little filly after all these years I don’t know. “How about I travel with them to find new ponies to carry the elements? I would love to get out of the castle and meet some of our subjects again. And Twilight and I are already friends after last Nightmare Night!”
I watched as my sister practically bounce with excitement.
“Are you sure about this Luna? I know you are worried about ponies reaction to you after the Nightmare.”
“Yes! How will everypony really accept me if they never see me sister?”
“Then you may, if Twilight and her friends wish for your company.” I told her.
Immediately Twilight and Spike ran over to Luna and hugged her, falling into a purple and blue pile.
“Well I think I have my answer. Princess Twilight, Spike, Luna and Sanguine, it is your mission to seek out the missing three element bearers and return here so that we may remove Eric’s magical barrier.”
All the ponies before me cried out in a happy affirmative and in that moment another of the gems on the floor lit up. A flash of blue blinded everyone and when it cleared another necklace had appeared on one of the assembled ponies. Around the neck of Luna hung a golden necklace, it’s blue gem in the shape of a crescent moon.
I smiled at our good fortune while looking over the assembled ponies as they once again had to pick their jaws up from the floor.
“Well my little ponies, it would appear that fortune smiles upon us this day. With four of the six elements found you must only find two more. While this will not be as simple as the rest have been I am sure you are all up to the task.” I said while smiling warmly at them. “Now go, you have your mission.”
Each of the new friends -apart from Eric- came up to me and hugged me before leaving. When they were gone I finally dropped, my stoic facade disappearing.
I really hope this goes well.
