The Stable

”That was a nightmare!” I exclaim; as I finally reunite with my other, duplicate self.

“But you did get the items we were promised, I take it!” she responds.

I had stepped out, through the portal or gate; leading out into the street just beside where I had entered. That had been strange enough for the day.

Once outside, I had backtracked my steps, to the outskirts of the city of Canterlot. That is where I spotted her, in the shape she is in.

“Yes, I did indeed catch the promised items, but the price is a bit over the top!” I respond.

“I can see that!” she promptly responds.

“You mean, this little trinket? Well, it does look good; I suppose you could say!” I respond, with a nervous little giggle.

“The trinket is pretty, I have to agree; but, you do not quite look or act like yourself! Did something happen to you, in the city?” she inquire.

“The city happened, that’s what! While I certainly did find what they had promised, the building is a trap!” I point out.

“I did not fair much better, thank you; even through my shield, I had to suffer the blast of a mega spell! Just see what good that did to me?” she exclaims.

“Wait, is that what the marks on these necklaces refers to?” I mumble.

“What was that? Come again, please” she put forth.

This is when my charm comes to life, once more; my saddle bag opens and two of the necklaces comes out.

“These necklaces!” I exclaim!”

“What do the marks mean?” she inquires, while watching the items float towards the neck of its respective pony.

“Radio active, for Ghoul; Biologic hazard, for the Canterlot Ghoul!” my buck enlightens us, in response.

“You mean to say, you picked up one of these pip-bucks?” she inquires, curiously.

“Yes, one for us and one for each of the Ponies in our Stable!” I point out.

The respective necklace is floating through the air, towards us. I find my necklace snapping into place, just as the other is snapping into place around her neck.

For a moment, nothing happens; then each individual charm starts to glow. I am sucked into a void. A moment later, I am once more standing where I had been.

I blink; once, twice thrice. She is gone, she is me and I recall everything she had been and done.

“Now, that was odd!” I mumble, to no pony in particular.

As I look back, I can clearly see the marks over my cutie mark on my right and left flanks. I now carry the united mark of Radio active and Biological hazardous. I am still the free-range part of Starlight Glimmer, though I will never again set hoof in the stable. I can’t enter, but I already knew that.

“Oh, well!” I ponder; “Then I am alone, and on my own; once more, just as I have been most of my time outside the stable!” I continue.

“It is time, you need to head back towards the stable!” the bock points out; “You have an errand to run, these items needs to be delivered to your stable!” it continues.

“Yes, of course!” I respond, as I start to trot back towards the rail-way.

“It was strange, to talk to myself; not to be alone, even if there was only me!” I ponder.

The station was never really far away, so I continue down the track, towards what had once been my home. Only this time, I can’t reunite with the village. Will I ever make another friend?

For now, it is most likely better; if you trot along the track slowly! You need to get reacquainted with yourself and your body!” the buck suggests.

“Yes, I guess you are right!” I respond; “At least, I still have my new pip-buck to talk to!” I ponder.

I continue along the track, just as I had been told. I have nothing to gain, by hurrying; they will still be there as I return, but the stable is sealed tight.

“Oh, well; I don’t need to worry about radio activity now!” I ponder.

“I suggest you stop, by the next station!” the buck intones a few minutes later.

“Why do I hear the voice of the Ministry mare? The pink one, known as Pinkie Pie?” I inquire.

“Yes, I am the ministry mare; of the Ministry of morale, the MoM!” the voice returns.

“Why is her ministry sounding as if it had been mother?” I respond.

“Maybe, I could be your mother, if you like? Even if I am nothing more than a mechanical device above your right hoof?” the buck responds, with a curious giggle to its voice.

She was hiding the air of familiarity, behind a strange notion of humility? Pinkie Pie, or technically Pinkamena Diane Pie. The strangest of Ponies, and the strangest of all the Ministry mares.

“What is she up to? How does she know me, and what I am doping right now?” I ponder.

“I don’t, but I do know what you are doing!” the voice cut in.

While it had been strange enough, to talk to myself as a separate entity; talking to the ghost of a pony, who could be dead by now, for all I know is stranger. Of course, she is the Ministry mare; but how does she know all the things about me, and how I am feeling right now? Not to mention, all the little details around me? What is about to happen.

“Observe everything, observe everything, observe E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G.” I hear a voice echoing, in a ghostly manner.

It clearly is not Pinkie Pie, the Minister of Morale, but still.

Most of the time; my pip-buck is speaking with an even, neutral voice devoid of personality. This is clearly Pinkie Pie speaking, even if I have not yet learned to recognize the voice as hers; the AI that was mentioned at the boot-up of the pip-buck. I can hear several other, clearly distinct voices. I could but assume; these are the Ponies responsible, for the buck I am now carrying, above my right fore-hoof. Each of the Ministry mares, and some of their closer associates and assistants.

Only one voice is clearly, distinctly different. That is Spike, the Dragon, even if I don’t know that. Maybe, I never will. Then again, maybe I will even meet him, at some point. I certainly will have the time on my hooves now.

There isn’t much to see, along the track; I have already seen it. I trot along the track, wary of if a train is to force me off of the rail. Since the buck had instructed me to, I am trotting down the track towards the next station. Then again, I have the time to reacquaint myself with who I am now.

“Clip, clop; clip, clop!” is the sound I hear, from my hooves hitting the ground, between the two rails.

This, is the sound of a lonely and lonesome mare on her way towards destiny.

This is the sound of a mare, on a mission; to meet the first of her new friends, on her way home. She may be going home, to the cave that is no longer her home; the stable, to which she can never return. She is no longer the mare who founded this community, both someone and something else and very different.

I trot towards the first mission, on my journey; leading me to a train station, where I had been prophesied to find a new friend. Could I trust the prophet? Is she still the mare, she once was?

A Ministry mare, the head of the Ministry of morale.

A mare, who could swallow an entire cake and not lever a sign of swallowing it, or a single crumb on the table.

A mare, who could single-hoofedly swallow a package of Party Time Mintos, or PTMs. The mare who is apparently spreading the orbs of memories before the four winds; guiding ponies she never met, ponies not even born yet.

I reach the station, but do not stop. I approach the station, and jump up on the platform. No pony greeting me, and no pony awaiting me; for good or for ill. Should I be jubilant or depressed?

I continue towards the door, it is open and certainly not locked. I hear a noise from inside, a pony.

I call out. In the vain hope of the pony actually wants to see me, considering the state I am currently in.