Chapters Home of the Ponies and Awesome Bronies
*Hi everypony.. I'm new at this so... yeah. Don't be afraid to bash me down.*
I’m a little strange. See, I’m a witch. So I got that whole magic thing down? So when my brony friend suggested I try to create a spell to take us into Equestria of course I’m all like: Oh hell yeah!! Three weeks of hard work and here we are, in the middle of one of those large fields ready to blast my spell.
“My Faithful Student Twilight Sparkle,
Twilight finished reading and smiled at us. “Guess this means you have to meet the rest of us.” This means Applejack and Rainbow Dash and Rarity and Fluttershy and, (brace yourself), PINKIE PIE!! Screamed my brain. Ryan and I hugged each other. Oh yeah, now we’re living the brony dream.
Home of the Ponies and Awesome Bronies
“You caught me at a good time. I was just headed toward Pinkie Pie’s. It’s Gummy’s birthday today. Gummy is her...” “...freakin’adorabletoothlessalligatorandItotallywantone!” I interrupted. The look on Twilight’s face was a mix of slight irritation, amusement, and slightly startled. “...yes. Her ...alligator.” As we were walking through Ponyville I noticed ponies staring intently at Ryan. Ryan was grinning ear to ear and randomly greeting ponies. “Hi there. Hello. Hi. Howdy.” I rolled my eyes and was sure to keep my head down. I didn’t want to be stared at. No way no how. We arrived at Sugarcube Corner. The outside was decorated with random balloons and the door was open. Twilight entered first and was instantly greeted by a highspeed pink blur.
Home of the Ponies and Awesome Bronies
3. Random Puddles and Cutie Mark Crusaders
When I woke the next morning, I was laying in a spare bed someone had brought over to Twilight’s. I looked around and saw that Twilight, Spike and Ryan were still asleep. I wobbled to my feet hooves and slip out of Twilight’s house. I sit on the doorstep and watch my surroundings. The sun is rising and the ponies are just starting to get up and about. I shake my head so that my mane falls into my face. A blue pony looks up at me from the puddle in front of me. It’s so much to take a hold of. A single tear drops into the puddle causing the foreign pony face to be distorted. The door behind me opens and closes. Ryan puts his hand gently on my shoulder.
************************
We were sitting around a table at Sugarcube Corner. And Sweetie Belle was staring at me. Like she had been all day. Nonstop. Actually, it was kind of unnerving. Everypony had kind of been ignoring this fact until finally Rarity became too embarrassed.
Home of the Ponies and Awesome Bronies
4. Meet the Little Inner Voice
***Just because I can I’m adding my annoying little voice that I hear in my head who I like to refer to as Inner. It will be “talking” in italics to avoid confusion even though I know there will still be some***
“I feel ridiculous.” I was quickly hushed by a very serious looking Sweetie Belle. “Hush! I worked hard on these capes with my sister. They are the official Cutie Mark Crusader capes!” I rolled my eyes, glad that the filly couldn’t see them in the dark.Yes you do. Shut up little voice that doesn’t know anything. If I don’t know anything how come you know that I’m telling the truth? You’re insanely jealous that he spent all day with Applejack. And if he’s staying overnight what could that mean? Hmm? I squeezed my already shut eyes and bit a pillow to keep myself from crying from the twisting pain in my stomach.Elise . Added my twisted little inner voice. Applejack and Ryan. Ryan and Elise. Elise and Ryan. Ryan and Elise ...
Home of the Ponies and Awesome Bronies
5. Pony *Heart* Human?
A Pony + A Human ?
“Good studiers rise early!” Twilight sang, dropping three books on my head. I moaned and rubbed my head with my hoof. “Today we start with lesson one!” And the torture began.Tell him. Fuck off voice. “Because...”
*************
Sixty nine cupcakes later...
Twilight gave up.
Fluttershy gave up.
Rainbow Dash gave up.
Hell even Pinkie Pie gave up.
I sat with my head drooped over cupcake number seventy. “Come on everypony... smile smile... smile...” Pinkie grumbled half-heartedly. I poked the cupcake with my hoof then picked it up with my newfound light blue magic and nibbled at it.Tell him. He returns your feelings. Tell him. I found myself stammering. “I... um... well... I...” I glanced around at the somewhat full Sugarcube Corner. “Its... full here. Why don’t we talk about it somewhere else?” Ryan looked around then followed me out of the bakery. We walked in silence until we reached a pond surrounded by trees. He stopped.OUT WITH IT STUPID! SHUT UP VOICE!Ohmygosh I TOLD you he liked you. Aw hell did he actually say LOVE?? Wow. That’s awesome. That’s amazing. That’s fantastical! Am I dreaming? This is definitely a dream. This is so....
Home of the Ponies and Awesome Bronies
*** I'm not one for rhyming... trying to space more... keep the feedback up!***
Zecora’s place was somewhere on that very fine line between let’s-get-our-asses-outta-here creepy and really kinda cool. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash had helped Ryan and I find our way here and well... I was just glad I didn’t come here by myself. The door to the hut was shut but we could hear the zebra humming inside.
I surprised myself. As a human it took seven alarm clocks, my mom, my stepdad, a cat, and a dog to wake me up in the morning. As a pony, it usually took Twilight dropping ten or eleven books on my head. Not thin books either. Like those really freakin’ huge, thick binded, heavy inked, thick paged, gold plated... well maybe not gold plated but you get the point. Not today. Today I was up before either Twilight or Spike had even begun touching the edges of consciousness.
8 hours, a lunch break, 12 cakes, 14 sheets of cookies, and 18 double batches of cupcakes later my first workday with Pinkie finished. Mr. Cake hung the closed sign up in the evening light and faced the two ponies sitting at a table. I was sure I was a mess. I could feel flour on my nose and back. Pinkie, I swear, had simply dumped a bag of flour on her head. Even the pink ball of never ending energy looked a little tired.
Home of the Ponies and Awesome Bronies
***Short chapter I know. It's worth it though. Surprise next chapter. I promise y'all will love it! ... if anypony's still reading this...***
The next morning was a whirlwind. We were up, had eaten, and arrived at Rarity’s before my eyes had even fully opened. The white unicorn opened the door.
“Why, good morning darlings!”
The words echoed through my empty head, going in one ear and out the other. I felt my ears fold back against my head.
“Too early...”
Rarity looked at me strangely. “Was it something I said?”
Ryan shook his head. “Nah. She’s just.... tired. We have some questions for you.”
Three hours later, we left with the information for a small house that was for sale at a good price and advice on how to start an art business.
“My...brain...hurts.” I whined as we headed toward the FOR SALE house on the other side of Ponyville. Ryan rolled his eyes.
“So does mine. Just pull up your frilly stockings, tighten your thong, and stop being such a god-damn pansy!”
I stopped.
“Wait...WHAT! ” I giggled all the way to the house. By the time we got there, I couldn’t breathe.
“It wasn’t even that funny!” Ryan was protesting.
I went to answer when my eyes caught on the house. It was beautiful. The outside was pale blue and adorned with dark green ivy and bright red flowers.
“I.... wow. How much did she say they were asking for this?”
“Like, 520 bits.”
My face fell. If I bought the house now, I would only have 40 bits left. I think Ryan noticed my look.
“You know, AJ has been paying me... I have almost a thousand bits saved.”
I looked up at him. “I could get it... you still need a place though. You get it. I’ll find an apartment. I’m not the house type anyway.” I forced a smile on my face hoping it didn’t look forced.
The look he returned me was.... unlike any one I had ever seen before. It was a mix between in love, irritated, forceful, and stubborn.
“What if I bought it and we both lived in it? She said it had two bedrooms.”
I stared at him. Did he really just suggest that? SQUEEEE!! Inside, my emotions were jumping and my heart was screaming. Outside, I simple nodded.
“Well, I’ll feel bad about it but...” I was cut off as he kissed me lightly. I slapped him on the back of the head with a hoof. “Save it.”
Ugh. He’s laughing...
**************************
I stood in front of the blank canvas and sighed. Ryan had disappeared soon after we took a tour of the house so I went to Fluttershy’s. After a quick stop at the only art shop in all of Ponyville.
“Um... are...are you okay?”
I turned and smiled at her. “Yep. Just... thinking.”
“Oh... o..okay.”
I faced the canvas again. It was propped against a tree and was larger than me.
I opened my eyes not remembering when I closed them.
When I finally stepped back from the canvas, a realistic painting of my grandmother’s living room stood in front of me, down to the very last detail.
“Very nice.”
I jumped at the unexpected voice behind me and turned. Sitting quietly behind me were Fluttershy, Applejack, Rarity and Twilight.
“Um. How long have you guys been sitting there?”
“About when you got to the wooden coffee table.” Answered Twilight. “Fluttershy was watching you and thought we might like to watch.”
Fluttershy blushed and hid behind her mane.
“Darling! It’s simply divine!” raved Rarity.
“Ah’m impressed Sugarcube!” added the orange country pony.
I blushed slightly. Suddenly a rainbow streak came tearing through nearly knocking the canvas over. I leaped toward it protectively.
“Rainbow Dash!” I scolded. Nopony else would have been able to create a blurry rainbow entrance like that. The cyan pegasus crash landed and I noticed Ryan on her back.
“Ow. Next time I drive.” Ryan groaned.
“Grow some wings and I’ll believe you.” Dash snapped.
I snickered. “We’re just missing Pinkie.”
As soon as I said, that I realized how bad of an idea that probably was. A pink head poked out of Fluttershy’s hen house.
“I heard PINKIE PIE !!”
We gaped at the pink pony. Her head ducked back into the hen house.
“Did I miss out on a party?!” Pinkie shouted from behind Twilight.
“What? Where... how... ugh.” Dash facehoofed.
Applejack fell to the ground laughing which started an entirely hilarious argument between the two ponies. With the ponies occupied, Ryan came over to me.
“She’s a horrible navigator.” He complained. I snickered and stepped away from the painting.
“It’s beautiful.”
I blushed lightly as he admired the canvas. Suddenly he turned and hugged me.
“Huh?” It caught me by surprise and I nearly forgot to hug back.
“I got it.” He whispered into my ear. My mind was still buzzing from painting. It took me a moment.
“What?”
He leaned back and grinned widely at me. “The house.” It clicked, but it didn’t fully register. For a moment.
“You...you got it!” I hugged him.
“..and you need to be about 20 percent cooler!” Dash was yelling at Applejack. We giggled and Ryan turned back to the canvas.
“So. It’s Mimi’s living room huh?” He asked, using the name I always called my grandmother. I nodded. “I remember that couch.” Ryan reached out to the painting. His fingertips came close to the still damp paint. Light blue sparks jumped between the paint and his fingers.
“Huh?” His finger touched the paint and Ryan became engulfed in pale blue light.
“Ryan?!” I cried. The light faded and Ryan was gone. I ran forward and inspected the entire canvas frantically.
“Ryan?! RYAN!?” I collapsed in front of the canvas and cried. I felt a light tapping on my back. I turned to gaze at a blurry Applejack through wet eyes.
“Ah’m sorry.”
I nodded my head to her in acknowledgement that I heard her as my flanks began to tingle like crazy. I squirmed a little before hearing Pinkie gasp.
“Cutie mark alert!”
I couldn’t have cared less. I didn’t want a cutie mark. I wanted Ryan.
Home of the Ponies and Awesome Bronies
9. Rebirths (Special Chapter)
***[A/N] Hello Everypony! Elaruki here. I just wanted to let you all know that, from this point forth, DemonRykuKyuubi will be writing when a part of a chapter is in Ryan’s point of view.
DemonRykuKyuubi: That’s right, Everypony! I hope you enjoy the twist we’re throwing at you, and I hope you continue to enjoy Ela’s story. Well, I hate to hold you up! On with the chapter!***
Ryan
“Oofph... That wasn’t fun...” I said as I landed on my face. I sat up and instantly realized where I was... and noticed the five people... staring at me. “Umm... Hi there, Mimi... and... everyone...”
I had landed in Mimi’s living room, and Elise’s grandmother, grandfather, mother, father, and uncle were all staring at me in shock and bewilderment.
“Where the hell did you come from? And just where the HELL is Elise?” demanded her five foot tall mother.
Well, the shock lasted as long as I’d expect for her... “Umm... that’s... kind of a long story, Lea...” I was cut off before I could say anything else.
Her eyes narrowed and I could feel them burning into my face. I wasn’t sure if it was for the lack of answers or the use of her first name...
“Where. Is. My. Daughter. It’s been nearly two months.” She growled.
I was scared to death. Four out of five of them were glaring daggers straight through me. The only one that wasn’t was her uncle, Jordan. He had the biggest grin on his face, and he just sat back and laughed at me. “W-Well let’s s-start at the b-beginning...” I stuttered.
I spent the next four and a half hours, curled up in the fetal position in Mimi’s living room, recalling EVERYTHING I remembered. Everything from going to Equestria, to finding ourselves jobs, to what we ate when we did... I told them everything. And their reactions.... well.... they were.... normal. For them. Her uncle laughed, Mimi began a very long rant on unholy actions, her grandfather and father stared blankly, and her mother, I swear, was going to kill me with her eyes.
“So... umm... that’s what happened... can I... Ya know... go now? I’m sure my Dad worried about me too... and I need to find a way back to Elise...” I ventured, already knowing the answer.
After a moment of silence, I wasn’t sure I was even going to get an answer. ... More silence..... then..
“I choose to believe you.” came a short sharp answer from her mother. (Which knocked me flat on my ass. Seriously. I just kinda dropped backwards in the chair.). “Go home. But if I ever see you again, I want my daughter with you. Or I will have you arrested.” The way she said arrested made me think she would rather have me killed .
I did something I probably shouldn’t have. “Heh, arrested? They’ll put me in a psych ward! Because... well... ponies!” I said in a comical voice. The look I received was something on that thin line between confused and murderous. “Okay, okay! I’m going!” I bolted out the door.
Once I was a safe distance away from that house (I.E. HALFWAY ACROSS TOWN), I slowed from a sprint to a slow walk, thinking. How the hell did I get out of THAT alive? I paused. Wait a minute. How did I even end up there? I remember touching Elise’s painting... and then *poof* I’m home... Wait... Elise changes the paint with her magic... oh boy...
Before I knew it, I was nearing my house. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I figured, until I found someone who could help me, it would be nice to have SOMEWHERE to stay. I walked in... and...
“WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU?!” Came my Dad’s voice, obviously more worried than angry.
My uncle’s voice was next. “You better not be thinkin’ you’re comin’ in with not so much as an explanation, boy.”
I sighed. Ugh. Here we go again...
After another three hours of explaining (By this time it was like ten at night), They both just kinda stared at me. “So. I’m gonna go in my room, and go to sleep. Then, I’m going to figure out how to get to Elise. You two can believe me, or not. I really don’t care. I survived Elise’s family today (and that’s saying something). I can’t get much luckier.” With that, I walked into my room and passed out.
~~~~~~~~~
Elise
A week later, in Ponyville
I sat, staring into space at the bar. Like I had for the past week since Ryan had disappeared. I hadn’t done much in the way of art the whole time because I was too busy trying to figure out what happened... that is, until Twilight decided to fill me in... then I was too busy drinking at the famous Club Pon-3. I didn’t want to believe it was my fault that he had left me. Twilight had said that my paint, which I had changed color with my magic, was at fault for the whole thing. Because I had painted a real place, the paint opened a portal to that scene. Then Ryan fell through the portal. Afterwards, she told me I couldn’t follow because the paint had dried, and the portal closes after it dries... Who knew painting portals that stole away best friends could create cutie marks of rainbows and paintbrushes....
“Anot’er one.” I growled at the bartender. The stallion looked at me skeptically.
“Don’t you think that’s enough for tonight, Elise?”
I grimaced at him. “I said, anot’er one. Now.”
Suddenly, I heard a voice from behind me. One that I had heard before, but from where, I couldn’t say. “I think Straw’ here has a point, hun. I’ve seen you here for a week straight. Got some stallion on your mind?”
I turned, irritated. All I wanted was my freakin’ drink. My vision wasn’t perfect but I faintly remembered that pony. I started to yell, but my mouth went dry as I realized who it was. “V’Vinyl Scratch...?” I said with as little slurring as I could muster (which wasn’t much),
“Well, at least you’re still sober enough to recognize the most famous DJ in Ponyville. The name’s Strawberry Daquiri, not Straw, by the way.” The bartender said nonchalantly.
I stared at the famous pony, in drunken awe at first which quickly turned to anger. “I don’ care if yer Celestia herself,” I slurred, “I WAN’ MY BUCKIN’ DRINK.”
“Look, I don’t really know you. All I really know is you’ve been here every day for a week, so there has to be somethin’ on your mind. Follow me. I’m on my break. Let’s see if we can’t figure out what’s up. If it turns out I can’t help, I’ll pay for your drink. Alright?” Vinyl said, holding back irritation at my outburst.
I glared at her for a moment then stood wobbly. I thought about it for another minute and sighed. “I... I guesh...”
Vinyl nodded and ushered me toward a door labeled VIP Only. She opened the door and I entered first... after bumping into the doorpost. I swear the DJ pony snickered at me. I flopped myself onto one of the many love seats that were arranged throughout the room. She slammed the door behind us and sat across from me.
“So then. Why don’t you tell me what’s got you this way? You can tell Vinyl anything. Like, your name, for example.”
I didn’t answer her question. “Drink. Want. NOW.”
She slapped me. Hard. “Alright, look. Drowning yourself isn’t gonna get you anywhere. Now answer the damn question.”
I was too drunk to really feel that... but the message got through my foggy head. “Elise.”
“That’s better. Now, what’s got you all bummed out, Ellie?” Vinyl asked calmly.
Usually the use of the nickname “Ellie” would piss me the hay off. I hated Ellie, and Eli was prefered. But, at least she was trying. I gave her some credit for that. I corrected her and then went into story mode. For an hour and a half, I slurred my way through a short fuzzy version of what had happened with Ryan.
When I was done, Vinyl looked at me with half amusement, half sympathy. “Damn. I can see why you’ve been hammered for a week, girl. But you can’t just give up. There are ways to fix things like that.”
“T-there are?!” I said with more clarity than I thought possible at that point. “H-how?”
“Well... I wouldn’t be the one to ask. I’d say if anypony around here knows, it’d be Twilight Sparkle.” Great. I get to deal with HER again.
“Hey. Don’t worry about your drink tab. You’ve spent enough here as it is. Just come back when you’re... less drunk off your flank.”
My temper flared back up slightly, fueled by the alcohol. “I am NOT drunk offa my fank!”
“Just keep tellin’ yourself that, Eli. Go get some sleep. Oh, and warm milk will help in the morning.” Vinyl said with a smile.
I stared blankly at her. “With?”
“Why, your hangover, of course!” She grinned.
~~~~~~~~~~
Ryan
“Ugh! It’s been a week, and I’ve tried five different ‘witches’ , three ‘warlocks’ and a freakin’ crazy lady selling Portal cards so far! A lot of good they did me! I think one of the ‘warlocks’ might have just been a pedo with a weird fetish! Is no one serious about any of this?!”
My dad and my uncle pretty much just agreed that I was crazy and let me go off on my own after about the third day. Since then, I’ve been trying everything to try to get back to my lo--I mean, Elise, and avoid her family, who seem to be EVERYWHERE. SERIOUSLY! I’ve seen them at least twice every time I’ve left my house! Anyway, I was heading off to the last person I’d found in my search.
I walked up the front steps to the last of my hopes. A self-proclaimed witch by the name of Mary. I knocked three times... and didn’t like what I found.
“Hi there! Are you the one that wanted my ‘services’?” She asked cheerfully. She was wearing a stereotypical witch outfit... only... it wasn’t covering much. It was ridiculous. Look, I’m not naive here, people. She wasn’t even being discreet about it. She had a typical pointy ragged hat and the typical pointy shoes. It was the dress (?) that got me. If it had been solid it would have looked like some sort of a black freakin’ Tinker Bell outfit... only... it was sheer. I could see straight through the small piece of fabric to her lacy black bra and panties.
As much as I wanted to... I walked away. I slammed HER door, in HER face. And then I bolted. For the second time that week, I ran HALF WAY ACROSS TOWN before stopping. That... was the best witch costume... ever. Of all time. Reminder to self: Buy Elise a pony version of that. Or have Rarity make it. She’s always willing to make something new. I smiled at the thought and walked home. When I got there, I flopped on the lounge chair and stared into space for a few minutes.
*Sigh*. As much as I didn’t like him... I didn’t really have much choice... As the realization hit me that I really had no other choice I groaned. This is going to be... very unpleasant, to put it lightly. Maybe a nap first...
Two hours later, and here I am... outside his apartment... Maybe I should have brought my shotgun... too late now I guess... He opens the door...
“Oh. Hi.” The person that opened the door said simply.
I looked away. “Um... Hey, Tony... I uh... need your help...”
The boy just stared blankly at me. Then, a small smile crept onto his face. “Heh. Never thought I’d hear that from you. Come on in. Whatcha need?”
“Well... it’s about Elise...” I started as I sat on his couch.
The smug, ‘I know it all’ look I’d seen far too often appeared on his face. “What happened? She finally get to you? You flip out on her? Did she become a handful? Oh! Did you ---”
“She’s in Equestria. She’s a pony in Equestria.” I stated bluntly, trying to stop his ‘I told you so’ speech.
He blinked. “Wait. What?”
“...And I know she taught you at least some of her spells. Please. I need to get back to her. I was there. We... bought a house, Tony. We got jobs there. I was... happy... for once. Please. You know I wouldn’t come to you unless I was beyond desperate. Can you help me out?” I said to the very confused Italian.
For a few minutes, we just kind of stayed there. Him in a chair and me on the couch.
“I might know something....but...” He started.
I face-palmed. “There’s always a but, isn’t there? Well... what is it?”
He sheepishly fought off a grin. “Well... I’m not as skilled with the spells as Elise... so there could be some side effects...”
“Like what?” I said with a slight hint of hesitation in my voice.
Tony flipped open a book and looked through it quickly. “...Loss of limbs... mental breakdown... gender changes... memory lock... aging... there’s any number of things that could go wrong.”
I thought for a moment. “I got all of those, except... memory lock? What’s that?”
“It’s kinda like memory loss, only the memories are just sealed. They’re still there instead of being lost.”
I breathed in deeply. “Alright... let’s do this. I have to get back to her.”
“Okay. I hope you know what you’re doing, Ryan. I know we don’t get along very well, but... be careful over there, alright, man?” He said with a hint of worry in his voice.
I nodded. “Of course. And... Thanks, Tony.
Tony set up the spell quickly and told me to stand in the center of the room. “I’ll tell your Dad and Elise’s family where you went. You ready?”
I nodded again. I closed my eyes, and waited for him to finish the spell. I felt a rush of energy and saw a bright light, and then I blacked out.
~~~~~~~~~~
Elise
“...Damn...hangovers suck...” I said to myself. I thought back painfully to what Vinyl had said, and poured myself a glass of warm milk. I drank it down and blinked. “Wow... that took a good bit of the edge off...”
I walked through the front door of my house. I trotted down the road to Sugarcube Corner and bought a fresh cinnamon roll form Pinkie Pie. I say bought, but... she kinda just gave it to me when I walked in.
“Thanks, Pinkie. These are always the best in the morning!” The happiness was short-lived. My next stop of the day was Twilight’s library... Oh goody... I sighed. It was going to be a LONG day.
Pinkie stopped what she was doing and looked at me. “What’s got you all frowny-wowny?”
“Just... this whole thing with Ryan, I guess. I miss him, and I want him back here...
“Don’t worry, Eli! I’m sure he’s trying his best to get back here!” She smiled wide.
I grinned a bit, then frowned. “That’s just what I’m afraid of, Pinkie. He’s probably gonna try something stupid...”
“It’ll all turn out okay! It always does!” The party pony assured me.
I gave a small smile in return. “Yeah... I guess you’re right...”
I thanked Pinkie again, slipped the bits for the roll on the counter when she wasn’t looking, and walked out of the bakery. Let’s see... Twilight’s was... that way. I traveled at a slow trot and took as many back routes as I could to draw out the time before this conversation. I even took the farthest road, leading into Whitetail Wood. It was pretty peaceful, actually. Taking the backroads gave me some time to really take in the scenery, which I really haven’t been able to do since I first arrived here. I’d say the trip other than that was uneventful, but... I’d be lying.
As I made it into Whitetail Wood, I happened to glance into a nearby field, and... I wasn’t sure what to make of what I saw. There was a pinkish orange earth pony with a fiery red, orange and yellow mane, sleeping in the center of the field. He looked really close to Ryan’s OC, Ryku, except without a Cutie Mark. At first I was going to just ignore him... but... something felt different about him. I walked up to him and prodded him in the side with my hoof. He stirred and looked up at me.
“Uh... hello there, miss? Where are we?” He said cautiously. “And for that matter, who are we? I can’t seem to remember what happened... yesterday... or any other day, really.”
I looked at him and a light bulb went off... one that I hoped was wrong. “Um... do you remember your name at least? I might be about to help you...”
“Yeah, I think I do. It’s Ryku.” He said with a very serious face.
My inner emotions did a literal flip. Ryan was back. Sorta.
Home of the Ponies and Awesome Bronies
Ryku
The blue mare was staring with a look of intensity that honestly made me nervous as hell. Her eyes shone with curiosity and a bit of fear... although of what I wasn’t sure just yet. I got to my hooves and stared at her. “Why’s my name important? It looks you’ve heard it before...”
The mare blinked her giant violet eyes. “Oh. Um. Well...” Instantly her expression changed to one of friendliness laced with faint confusion. “It just sounded like the name of a friend I used to know... It’s no matter.”
I stared at her. She wasn’t telling me everything, but I wasn’t sure how I knew. Well, I guess I could start with introductions. “Well, like I said, I’m Ryku... I think. And you are?”
“I’m Elise.” She said.
Well... that went nowhere... “So... um... Where are we exactly?” I said with a sheepish grin.
“Whitetail Wood.” Again, a ridiculously short answer.
I was about to say something, when I realized the reason I’d been getting these short answers. I looked at her, and I could tell her mind was on something completely different. “Whatcha thinkin’ about?” She looked at me with surprise for a moment before smiling, in a rather distracted way.
“Oh um. Nothing. Just, you know, found a random,” She paused a moment and whispered something under her breath before continuing. “Stallion in an empty field who has no idea what his past is.”
“Um... okay. So... you gonna show me the way outta here?” I said, trying to hold a poker face.
Elise stammered. “Oh... Right.. Yeah... Um...” She glanced down the path. “The nearest town from here is Ponyville. Which is... Like... This way....” The blue mare began walking away.
“Um...” I stared after her for a moment. Who is this mare, and why does it seem like we’ve met before... I shrugged and ran after her. After all, what did I have to lose?
(~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~)
Elise
Oh my gosh. I can’t believe this. What happened to you, Ryan? My mind was exploding as I led him back into Ponyville. If you really are Ryan... What did I do to you?! Maybe if I take him back to where it happened...
We walked in silence me; Deep in thought with my brain exploding. Him probably wondering what the buck was wrong with me.
“So, what the buck is wrong with you? Why are you so quiet?” He said in a serious tone.
My mind went instantly to the first thing I could think of. “Thinking of where to take you first. I was thinking the local club would be a good idea. There are a ton of ponies who go there. Somepony might recognize you.”
“Let me get this straight. I wake up in a field one minute, and then a mare decides to take me to a bar. I’m liking this already.” He said with a smirk.
“Don’t expect me to take you home with me.” I snapped quickly, my bitchy nature kicking in. Even though that was EXACTLY what I was going to do...Since it was OUR home in the first place...
He gave a sarcastic sigh. “Aw... Well, lead the way. At least I know where we’re going now.”
I quickened the pace after his comment about taking him home; my cheeks were stained red. In almost no time. “Maybe this is too weird an idea,” I mumbled to myself. “He is so gonna enjoy this too much...”
“I’m sorry? All I caught was ‘He’ and “Enjoy’. We havin’ fun?” He grinned. I was starting to believe this really WAS Ryan.
“Bucking stallions.” I grumbled as we reached the entrance to Club PON-3. Evening had begun to fall and the line to get in was already long. Good thing we don’t have to wait. I smirked. I flashed the card that Vinyl had given me and the tough-looking stallions let me in ahead of the line, allowing me to pull Ryku in after me.
There were already quite a few ponies in the club. Groups of pegasi, unicorns, and earth ponies stood around tables or sat at the bar counter. The different colored lights lit the floor in hypnotizing flashing patterns. I glanced over at the soundboard and speaker system. Vinyl’s glasses glinted at me through her mane of blue. Ryku must have noticed what I was looking at.
“You know her? I don’t really like the music, but she sure is good at what she does.” The fiery-maned stallion said.
“Yeah. She is.” I was practically yelling over the loud thumping of the strange electronica music that Vinyl was playing. A small smile somehow made it to my lips as I watched her bounce to the beat. I broke my gaze around the room and headed over to two stools at the bar counter.
He smiled. “Over there, huh? Alright. I uh... I’d rather not have you pay, but...”
I plopped my flank down onto a stool and gestured to the other one. “Oh. Just order something and shut up.” My gaze shifted to the bottles behind the rose-colored stallion, looking over the various bottles of alcohol and trying to figure out which Ryku would choose.
“Heh you asked for it.” He looked at the list and seemed lost for a moment before shaking his head and smiling. “I’ll take an Apple Jack Daniels, with a shot of vodka.”
Once the order was jotted down he turned to me next.
“The usual, Straw.” His facial expressed the obvious annoyance at my adoption of Vinyl’s nickname for him. “Thanks, Strawberry Daiquiri.” I amended, after all pissing off the bartender is not a good idea.
He returned in a few moments, set drinks in front of the two of us, and left again. I sighed happily at the sight of my scotch on the rocks. The day was being absolutely ridiculous and I really, Really, REALLY needed this.
“Scotch, eh? Didn’t take you for a strong drinker.” Ryku smirked. “So, what’s the real reason you brought me here? It’s obvious this isn’t just because you found me stranded. You know me. Question is, how?”
Oh shit.
“Let me get drunk first.” I said with a sheepish sigh.
The orange stallion threw back a shot of AJD and grinned. “No complaints here, Elise!”
I looked away and downed another scotch. It was going to be a long night.
(~~~)
~Ryku (A bottle of AJDs and twelve scotches later...)~
At this point, I barely had basic control over my body and I was slurring every other word, but that was nothing compared to my companion.
“Ya... Ya all right there, Elish?” I slurred.
The smaller pony turned to me and I think she put her horn on sideways. Her violet eyes were large and out of focus.
“Yesh... ah tinks so...” She said with a sloppy grin.
I struggled to remember what I needed to ask. “Um... I had shomething I wash going to ashk you... um... AH! Would you marry me, mishhus... what wash your name again?”
She hiccupped and frowned. “Elish... but... ya alreaaady ashk me tat. an’ i alreaaady says yesh...”
I stood dumbfounded and very much more sober than I was a few mere moments ago. Although she still seemed drunk as ever. “Wait... WHAT?!” I yelled towards the drunken pony. “Wait... why did you bring me here?!” Brain status: ABORT MISSION! ABORT!
"Caush dis ish where ya proposhed da week bafore ya vanished.” Elise slurred.
At this point, my brain was on full freak-out mode. “What the hay are you talkin’ about, ya crazy mare?! I’ve never been married or engaged, and I have no intentions to!” AND WHAT DO YOU MEAN ‘VANISHED’?!” I yelled, losing my temper easily, as I was still somewhat drunk. The bartender was strangely disinterested in the argument, but I had no time to yell at him for his indifference.
The blue unicorn flounced a little in her stool. “Liah liah flank on fire. Ya jush can’ remembeh.” She snipped back sticking her tongue out at me. “Ya got sucked up into mah portal painting an’ got sent back where we came from.” Her voice was beginning to raise to match mine and other ponies were eyeing us.
“I’ve had enough of this craziness! I’m outta here!” I jumped up, ran for the door, bucked it off it’s hinges, and galloped away as fast as I could. “Stay away from me!”
I ran. I ran as far and as fast as I could. I didn’t want to be anywhere near that crazy mare. Before I knew it, I’d reached the other side of town and kept going. I finally collapsed just outside of a large apple orchard with the sun going down over my head. Before I knew it, I’d passed out.
(~~~)
When I opened my eyes, the smell of apple pies was in the air. I was in a bed, and on either side of said bed sat a pony. One was orange with a blond mane, green eyes and a stetson on her head. The other was a heavy-built crimson stallion with a brown-orange mane, green eyes and a yoke around his neck. They both sat, staring intently at me.
“Uh...hey? Who are you? Where am I?” I asked for the second time in two days. “And, nice hat, by the way!”
“Uh, yeah. Ah’m Applejack, and this here’s mah brother, Big Macintosh. Big Mac’, fer short. Yer at Sweet Apple Acres, the best apple orchard around! Now, ah got a question fer YOU. Why did we find ya curled up in a ditch just outside th’ orchard?” The orange mare said with a heavy southern twang.
I blushed, embarrassed that I’d been found in a ditch. “Um... I was running from a crazy, drunk unicorn mare that thought we were engaged... My brain didn’t really let me know I could stop until I was exhausted... at the edge of your apple orchard... heh...”
“Drunk unicorn, eh? Blue? Red ‘n’ black mane?” Applejack asked with a grin that matched her brother’s.
Confused wasn’t the word for how I felt after she said that. “Uh... yeah... but, how did you know that?”
She smirked. “‘Cause that’s Elise. A human-turned-pony. She came here a little while ago with ‘er colt friend Ryan, who plum disappeared about a week ago. She’s been in a bar for the better part of everyday after ‘er work since then. Musta thought ya were Ryan in disguise, what with how close yer name is ta his. Don’t worry about it none, Sugarcube. She’ll probably apologize when ya see ‘er when she’s sober.”
But... she wasn’t drunk when I met her... or was she? I guess it’s possible. One thing’s for sure. I need to stay away from that particular mare... “Okay. Thanks for the heads up. Um... do you have any idea where I could find some work? I think I’ll be stayin’ here in this town for a while, considerin’ I don’t know where I’m at...”
Then the mare and stallion both grinned at each other before returning their gazes to me.
“Well, me and mah brother were actually thinkin’ ‘bout hirin’ a new worker for th’ Farm. It’d be a might helpful if ya could work fer us... our last worker... had ta leave unexpectedly.” Applejack offered.
I blinked once in surprise, though about the offer or the missing worker, I wasn’t sure. “That’d be great! What happened to the last guy?”
“Well, I guess I can’t lie ta ya, Sugarcube. The last worker that was here... was Ryan.” The farmpony said.
Oh isn’t that great... more connections to that guy... well... I DO need the job...
“Alright.” I said. “When do I start?”
(~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~)
Elise
“I’ve had enough of this craziness! I’m outta here!” Ryku jumped up, ran for the door, bucked it off it’s hinges, and galloped away. “Stay away from me!”
I slammed my thirteenth glass down on the counter and pouted at the swirling bottles on the shelves in front of me. “How MA-TUR-E of him...leaving’ in da middal of our COON-VER-SA-T-ON!”
Straw simply eyed my empty glasses and locked the cabinet as somepony appeared next to me.
“Now what did I tell you the last time you got drunk off your flank over the opposite gender?”
“Um....” My drunk brain didn’t want to cooperate. I glanced over at the more than slightly blurry Vinyl.
The Dj sighed. “Drowning yourself isn’t gonna get you anywhere.”
“Oh. Yeah.” Now I remembered.
She glared at me under her large purple shades. “Say it.”
“Dwownin’ ya-self ain’ gonn get ya nowhere.” I swear she facehoofed as the words slurred from my mouth.
Next thing I knew, the unicorn was pulling me toward her personal VIP room. Vinyl was grumbling something about doubling as a counselor as she flung me into the room and locked the door.
“Why must you always be going and getting into trouble with males?”
I blinked at her. “It’sh da same male. That’sh Ryan. Rykru wash a shtallion he fash-ion-ed aftah himshelf. That’sh Ryan.” Unfortunately, Vinyl had flung some irritated soberness into my drunk self and my thoughts were a little clearer than I would have liked them to be.
The white unicorn lifted her shades onto her head and looked at me with annoyed red-violet eyes.
“What if it’s not Ryan.” She shook her head at me as I collapsed onto a couch. “Let’s say it’s not Ryan. It’s this Ryku that he created. What do you remember about Ryku?”
I knocked my head against the arm of the couch. It didn’t help the headache I was beginning to get.
“Earth pony...” I banged my head off the arm again. “...short tempered...” Bang. “...anti-social at times...” Bang. “...likes food, apples in particular...” I lifted my head again and went to hit the arm of the couch when Vinyl grabbed my head with her magic.
“That’s enough of that.” She waited a moment, then released me. “Now. I can’t let you walk home like this.” Her red-violet eyes stared me down. “You can’t even lay down without hurting yourself. If I let you walk home you’ll die or get abducted by aliens.”
I opened my mouth to object then closed it, realizing she was probably right. She pointed her hoof into my chest.
“Now you’re going to lay there and not hit your head off the side of my couch. You’re going to sleep all this alcohol off and in the morning you are going to tell your hangover to buck off while you go find your ... Friend.”
I nodded and closed my eyes obediently, knowing what would happen if I didn’t. Last time, Vinyl had made sure that I went to sleep. Using methods never meant to be known to pony. Bass cannons and nasty anti-hangover drinks ... yucky yucky...
I think I cried myself to sleep that night. The last thing I remembered was me sobbing to myself: He didn’t remember me.
(~~~~~~~)
The next morning, the hangover decided it didn’t want to bother with me. That, or I was so focused on my new goal that I refused to feel it. Vinyl was out cold on a couch on the other side of the room, so I just let myself out of the club.
I ran through the already awake town and to my... OUR ... house. I ran through the twelve plus room building, rummaging through drawers until I found a pair of binoculars and a voice recorder. The front door closed behind me as I stepped onto my front step.
“What’s that for?” A familiar voice sounded behind me.
I turned to face a sleepy looking Vinyl rubbing her eyes at me. “I’m going to do a little spying on Ryku-Ryan.” I waved the binoculars in front of her for proof. “If I have to spend an hour, all day, all night, all week... I WILL find out who this stallion really is. I have to.”
Vinyl shrugged drowsily and staggered down my steps in the direction of Sugarcube Corner. I watched her leave, and then headed off into the depths of Ponyville. Where I was going, I hadn’t a clue. The best thing to do, was start walking.
View Online
Home of the Ponies and Awesome Bronies
11. Chasing Stallion and Avoiding Mares.. Wait what.
Ryku
I got up from the guest bed that the Apple family had allowed me to use the night before. I stretched my legs out, then trotted down the hallway into the kitchen, where that same apple scent from the night before was wafting out. Applejack was standing in front of the griddle, making apple cinnamon pancakes.
“Mornin’, Applejack. Thanks for lettin’ me stay the night last night.” I yawned. “So, breakfast, then you’ll show me what I’m doin’ for work?”
She set the spatula down and turned to me. “Well, yer a bit late gettin’ up, but we didn’t really tell ya a time last night. Figured we’d let ya sleep off whatever the sam hill ya drank last night. Come on, now, Sugarcube. Come get somethin’ ta eat, an’ then Ah’ll show ya the ropes of what you’ll be doin’.”
I simply nodded, and sat down at the table in the center of the room. The orange mare set a plate of steaming hot pancakes in front of me and I greedily dug into them.
13 pancakes later......
After breakfast, I thanked Applejack and we headed outside the farmhouse. I’d never seen so many apple trees in one place before. She led me out into a nearby section of the orchard and set some baskets under one of the trees. I watched in awe as she gave the tree one powerful kick with her hind legs, and all of the apples fell directly into the baskets.
“H-How... how did you do that?” I asked shakily.
She turned to me and grinned. “Ah’ve been doin’ that since Ah was knee high to a grasshopper, Sugarcube. Now, let’s see if YOU can do it.”
I was not confident at all that I could do something like that. She set a few more baskets under another tree and backed up for me to give it a try. I gulped, then ran up to the tree, spun around, and kicked it as hard as I could. To my relief, all of the apples fell right down into the baskets, just like Applejack had done. I looked at her to see if she approved, but she had a distant look on her face. “Um... Applejack?”
“Huh, wha?” She said, looking startled.
“You zoned out for a second there. You alright?” I asked.
She shook her head a moment before looking back up at me. “Yeah. Ah’m fine, Ry’. Jus’... watchin’ you made me think of somepony else fer a moment.” She glanced down sullenly for a moment before continuing. “Anyhow, ya know what ta do now. You can start tomorrow. Fer now, how ‘bout Ah show ya around town? Ya should know the place yer gonna be stayin’, after all.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Elise
I must have looked like the craziest pony in Equestria. My mane wasn’t brushed from the night before so my black and red strands stood out like someone had electrocuted them. My binoculars were atop my head ready to be pulled down at a moments notice. I slipped behind a building and held the recorder up to my mouth.
“Morning, edge of Ponyville, ponies starting to move about, no sign of target.”
I snuck around the building and through a maze of assorted flower carts and doorstops. Ponies all around me were walking and chatting and laughing. My mind was set for a certain orange stallion with a ridiculously fiery-like mane. I scanned the crowds and doorways, then held the recorder to my mouth again and whispered.
“Morning, middle of Ponyville, ponies about on business, no suspicious activity, no sign of target.”
“Why are we whispering?”
I screamed and nearly hit my head on an overhang. “Pinkie! What are you doing here?!”
The pink pony beamed at me. “Weeeeeell, I saw you sneakin’ around and I thought maybe there was going to be a surprise party!”
I took a deep breath. “Well... it’s not a party, but... wanna help me find somepony?” I asked cautiously.
Pinkie’s face lit up. “OH! A somepony! Is it your special somepony?! Like your schmoopy-doopy snuggy-wuggy honey-woney wafflebaby?!”
I stared at her, my mouth gaping open. “Um. No.”
Pinkie was unfazed. “Oh! Okay! Who is it then?” She was bouncing so fast she was almost a pink blur.
“Ryan. Except... he’s a stallion. Named Ryku. But he’s really Ryan. In... an orange stallion with crazy-flank fiery mane form.”
“OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH! OKIE DOKIE LOKIE!!” She stopped bouncing and dashed around the corner, leaving me crouched under the overhang gaping after her.
“Um...”
Before I could finish any sentence the pink pony had returned. Pinkie crouched next to me dressed in a black latex ninja suit.
“We got this!”
I facehoofed and chuckled a bit. “Okay, Pinkie... Well, let’s go then.”
We snuck around corners and through alleyways between houses for nearly a half hour before we spotted our target. The orange stallion was walking down the road into town. Wait... he’s coming from Sweet Apple Acres... geez, even with amnesia, he ended up going to AJ... I thought with a scowl.
“There he is, Pinkie. Let’s see if we can’t figure out if he’s really Ryan or not.” I said confidently.
“Okay! I’ll go ask!” Pinkie suddenly started bouncing towards Ryku.
I grabbed her tail and dragged her back into my hiding spot. “Pinkie! We’re trying to SPY on him!” I whispered.
“Oh yeah! Oops. Sorry!” Pinkie said happily.
I sighed and watched as the target looked in our general direction for a few moments before shaking his head. He continued down the road, passing right by us. I overheard him say something like “I must be seeing things” as he walked, so I knew we’d just barely stopped our little mission from being over before it started.
“Pinkie... we should split up. You go up ahead of him. I’ll stay behind and follow him, okay?” I explained calmly.
She nodded furiously with a determined look before dashing around the corner at near-impossible speeds. I glanced around the corner to see where she’d gone, but she was nowhere to be found. I sighed, and looked at my target instead.
Except.
He wasn’t there.
“What the....” I craned my neck over the manes of other ponies but saw nothing. I lowered my binoculars with my magic and scanned the building windows.
I returned the binoculars to the top of my head and scowled. The recorder was lifted to my mouth and I began recording.
“End of morning, Ponyville, target had been spotted but has been lost. Hoping Section Pinkie hasn’t lost track of target.”
“Section Pinkie huh?” came a voice from behind me.
For the second time today I jumped, nearly hitting my head on the same overhang. And guess who was standing behind me with a smirk on his face?
“Wha-a-a!! How did you- You were- AJ- Gaaaaaaah!!! I wasn’t stalking you!!”
“Two things. One. A Pink mare comes out dressing like a bucking ninja and then is dragged away. You think I’m not going to check that out? And Two. WHY ARE YOU STALKING ME?” Ryku said angrily.
(~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~)
Ryku
I was staring at that crazy unicorn from the day before. She had a tape recorder in one hoof and binoculars on her head, and her mane looked like it hadn’t even been brushed though once with the way it was sticking out all over. “Seriously? Can’t you just leave me alone? I’m not this Ryan-pony everypony keeps saying you think I am!”
She shuffled her hooves on the ground in front of her and avoided looking up. “Um....”
“What is wrong with you? How long ago did this stallion bail on you anyway?!” I said, starting to lose my temper.
“Um... he … he wasn’t a stallion...” Elise looked up a little at me with a bit of her mane in her eyes.
I snapped at her, “Then how in the hay could I possibly be him?! I’M A STALLION!”
“I.. I …. I don’t know!” Tears swelled in her violet eyes and her lip started to quiver.
I stopped. I hadn’t meant to make her cry, and I half expected the crazy mare to start flinging magic at me for telling her off. Honestly, I felt really bad... “Listen... I’m sorry I yelled. But you need to accept this. I’m not the pony you’re looking for. I don’t know what else to say.” I reached out and put my foreleg on her shoulder.
Something must have snapped in her at that. The look in her eyes changed from sorrowful tears to flames of fury in less than ten seconds flat. “And you listen here Ryku . I’m a mare. I KNOW I’m right.” She shrugged herself out from under my leg. “And I will prove it to you before today is up.”
I cocked my head at her before grinning widely. “Haha! You KNOW you’re right, huh? Good luck proving to ME that I’M another pony!” I wave her off. “AJ was wrong. You’re crazy even when you’re NOT drunk!” I say, starting to walk away.
I didn’t get far before the blue unicorn was right in front of me. “HOW DARE YOU?! I’m. Not. Crazy!” Her hoof flew up from the ground and slapped me across the muzzle.
I fell back on my haunches and rubbed my stinging muzzle. “Ouch. You’ve got quite the slap there, miss. Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I’m going to forget you exist.” I spat angrily and started trotting away again.
“No! Wait...” Her voice called from behind me. I could tell from her tone that she was on the verge of crying again but I was in no condition to deal with her mood swings now.
But I stopped. I dropped my sarcastic side that I’d been holding and got serious. “You gonna stop flopping back in forth between sad and super angry and actually explain this whole thing to me if I do?” I said without turning my head.
I heard her stamp her hooves into the ground and sob. “I did explain it... you thought I was crazy. Hay, you STILL think I’m crazy... Can’t you understand why I am how I am?” She sniffled. “Who do you think you are?”
“My name is Ryku. Short for Ruddy Knuckles. I’m not sure why I’m here, and I’ve only got broken memories, but I’m a stallion. I’m not whatever a human is. Though... Applejack said I remind her of somepony this morning...” I said suddenly, thinking.
“Now, Ryku. Broken memories. Don’t you wonder WHY you don’t remember anything?” Elise urged, her voice becoming pathetically desperate again.
I stopped and turned to her finally, uncertainty in my eyes. “Yes. I do. But what you say doesn’t make any sense at all. How could I change to a completely different species?”
“I did. And I don’t know how either.” She eyed me. “And seriously. Even when I’m drunk, there is no way I’d be able to come up with that good of a story.”
“What do you mean you did? You don’t seem very different from any other pony. You know, besides being a bit on the stalker side.” I look at her skeptically.
“I was a human too. Female, five feet seven inches tall, average build, and dark features. I remember everything.” Elise recited as if she had reminded herself every morning.
I scowled. “And what proof can you give me to show me this is true?”
The unicorn stared at me for a moment, almost in terror. “P-proof?”
“That’s what I thought. If you can’t prove it, then how can I believe you? All I know is that you are good at telling stories.” I said with venom in my voice.
Her violet eyes narrowed at me. “I can too prove it.” Suddenly she lit up. “TO TWILIGHT’S!” Before I had a chance to react, I found myself in the grasp of Elise’s pale blue magic. She was galloping through Ponyville, dragging me behind her.
I struggled for a few minutes before giving up and crossing my forehooves in front of me. She was dragging me by my tail, so that end was in the air and my front half was on the ground, and every now and then, I’d hit a stone much to my chagrin. “Ugh... whoever this Twilight pony is, she better solve this in a hurry... Ouch!” I said as I hit another pebble.
She lifted me higher and nearly threw me into the ground in front of her. I glanced at her face. She was beaming happily. “We’re here!!”
I stared up at the building with blurry eyes from being tossed. When my eyes came back into focus, I saw a large tree that seemed to have a house built inside it. A nearby sign said ‘Golden Oaks Library’. “You’re kidding me, right?”
Elise simply smiled wider, ran up to the door, and nearly broke it down knocking. “TWWWWWWWWWIIIIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHT!!!! Twilight Twilight Twilight Twilight Twilight Twilight Twilight Twilight TWWWWIIIIIII-”
I covered Elise’s mouth with a hoof and knocked on the door tiredly. “Ugh... Anypony home?”
A little purple dinosaur-thing appeared at the door. “Hey! Don’t break the door down! Uh....”
Elise pushed my hoof off her mouth and went face to face with the little creature. “SPIKE!! Where’s Twilight!? I need some major magic here!”
Spike, as Elise called him, looked at her cautiously. “A-Alright, alright! I’ll get her! Just come in and calm down a little!”
“Um... what is Spike, Elise?” I ask as we walk into the library tree.
She didn’t even glance at me. “A dragon.” Elise looked eagerly around the library, searching for this ‘Twilight’.
While we waited, I looked around for myself. The inside of the tree was amazing. There was a main support in the center, and on every wall in the entire place up to the ceiling, there were books, all organized and in alphabetical order. “Geez... This place looks like it’s bigger on the inside...”
A lavender unicorn came trotting down the stairs. “Elise! What’s the matter? Spike said you were acting strange.”
Elise took a deep breath. “Okay. So I found this stallion in a field the other day and he has no recollection of who he is but he looks and acts and goes by the name of the pony that Ryan had created when we were human but Ryku here doesn’t believe me and thinks I’m crazy and I’ve been stalking him for the past day because I know this stallion is just Ryan in another form but no matter what I say Ryku thinks I’m insane and so I told him I can prove it to him but you have to help me because I don’t know how to show other ponies my memories.”
I stared at Elise. I could have sworn she said that on one breath. I started to ask, but decided against it and looked at Twilight instead. “So can you ‘prove’ she’s telling the truth?” I smirked.
“Hmm... let me think... Oh! I know just the spell. There’s a memory tap spell that will allow any pony see any memory that the other wishes them to. Does that sound like what you’re looking for?”
Elise just about jumped out of her fur. “YES THAT’S IT! Let’s do it now!”
“Sigh. If it’ll end this whole situation then fine. Show me what you’re thinking, you strange mare...” I said before looking to Twilight.
“Okay. I just need you two to be in direct contact; preferably forehead to forehead. Then I can start the spell.” The bookworm said confidently.
Elise and I both obliged and the blue unicorn placed her horn lightly on my forehead.
(~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~)
Elise
Automatically my eyes closed as Twilight began her spell. I could feel my fur tingle and warmth spread through my body as Twilight’s spell covered the two of us. When I opened my eyes again
The smell of chocolate chip cookies filled my nose. “Oh! They’re burning!” I ran over to the oven and pulled out the tray of almost-burned cookies. “Damnit.. I never burn cookies...” I grumbled.
The doorbell rang. Irritatedly, I set the tray down on the counter and walked down the hallway to the door. There at the door was my friend Ryan. He’s 6 feet tall with medium brown, shaggy hair and a light five o’clock shadow. He was wearing his orange Applejack shirt with her cutie mark on one corner, and a pair of loose blue jeans. On his feet were his usual black and white Nikes.
“Hey, Elise!” He said, his blue eyes meeting my brown ones, “I could smell you bakin’ your cookies two blocks over! Mind if I come in and join ya?”
“Well.” I pretended to consider. “Sure!” I opened the door wider and allowed him entry. As soon as the boy entered, he made a beeline for the kitchen. “Hey! Get outta my kitchen!! They’re not ready yet!”
“But Ah want ‘em noooooow~!” He said, doing an impression of Apple Bloom and giggling. I stomped into the kitchen behind him in mock anger and slapped his hands away from the tray with the spatula.
“Okay...” He said with fake sadness. He smiled and me with his toothy grin and leaned against the fridge. “So, what’s new, Elise?”
I continued to take cookies off the hot trays and putting fresh cookie dough into the oven. “Well, I finally got around to making my OC!”
“Really?! Does that mean RYKU has a friend?!” He said as he almost squee’d from being so happy.
I giggled. “Elaruki isn’t going to be his friend. She’s gonna be his annoying-bitch-from-the-bar buddy!”
“Aw, but that’s Satin’s job!” He smirked.
The oven timer dinged again and I pulled out the last of the cookies. I rolled my eyes. “Come lookie!” I placed the tray onto the stove and nearly dragged Ryan into the next room where my laptop was sitting on the dining room table.
“Look look.” I shoved Ryan into a chair next to me and pulled up two windows on the laptop. “The one on the right is the pic of Ryku you sent to me and the one on the left is Elaruki!”
On the screen were two very familiar ponies. Oh look! It’s me! Or at least what I look like now! And there’s Ryku. Look’s just like him. I told him! Ryan smiled and looked up at me.
“That looks amazing, Elise! Nice work!” He said, looking into my eyes in a strange way.
I beamed at him and turned as I heard footsteps in the kitchen. “Dziadziu!” My grandpa was tiptoeing over to the trays of chocolate chip cookies. “Get away from my cookies!”
“Oh just one.” He took a cookie and walked away, slowly, from the trays as I ran into the kitchen. Ryan followed. Dziadziu laughed and went back upstairs.
I sighed. My cookies were never safe. “Want a cookie, Ry’?” I never should have asked. Ryan snatched up a cookie and nommed it before I got to say goodbye to it.
“Well. That made me sad.” I picked up a cookie and brought it to my mouth...
...Right as Twilight ended her spell.
Everything blurred and swirled to darkness. The warmth I had felt from the magic faded away. My eyes flew open.
“You have GOT to be KIDDING me! Everyone got a cookie but ME! And I BAKED THEM!” I growled. Then I remembered what the point of that was. “Oh.” I pulled my head back as I realized I was still touching Ryku’s forehead.
He glared at me. “Hey. Maybe next time you wanna yell at somepony, do it AFTER your horn isn’t jabbing me in my forehead?!”
“Sorry!” I said, blushing. “So, do you taste my memory cookies? You are Ryan.”
“All I got from that is that some two-legged creatures were eating cookies and looking at pictures of us. And the stallion... I think it’s a stallion, anyway... mentioned my name. I still don’t see how I’m him.” He said calmly.
Twilight’s brow furrowed. “Really? You don’t see a connection?”
I dropped my jaw. “You. You can’t be serious.” I shook my head. “What, you think I made that up too now? Even Twilight saw the connection!”
“I just don’t see it. I’m a pony. Not one those human things.” He stated stubbornly.
I facehoofed. I just shared a MEMORY with this stallion and he STILL didn’t believe me. I started laughing. “You are bucking stubborn! Here’s a deal for you, you ask around and see what the other ponies around here have to say about ‘those human things’ and I’ll come up with some other way to prove I’m right?”
Ryku looked at her for a moment and sighed. “Fine, if only to get you off my back.” He said with a hint of boredom in his voice.
I growled. “Pinkie Promise on it.”
“Pinkie what?” He asked, puzzled.
“Pinkie Promise. Twilight. Let’s demonstrate.”
Twilight and I got together and recited the promise. “Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” At the end, we both said ‘ouch’, after touching our eyes.
I shook my head. “No. Now do it!”
“Ugh. Fine.” We recited it again, and he jabbed himself in the eye a bit too hard. “OUCH!”
I beamed at him. “Okay. Get going!” He didn’t move. “Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!” I pushed him out the door with me.
“OKAY!!” The orange stallion roared at me.
Author's Note
DemonRykuKyuubi: Sorry for the wait, everypony! Ela and I have had some personal things we've needed to get settled, so it's been difficult to find time to write! I hope you enjoy! :)
Elaruki: Getting a chapter out has been a bit slow for a while but things should be moving along faster than they have been so stick around for more chapters!
Home of the Ponies and Awesome Bronies
***Still working on spacing. Please, let me know how I’m doing with that. As always feedback is welcome. And to those who address me, I am fine with Elaruki, Elise, Ela, or Eli. Really doesn’t matter. Oh, and finally reached my minimum at 2,006 words! ...yay...!***
That day became the routine for next two weeks.Or he just dumped you for Applejack again. Shut up little voice.RAINBOW DASH! ” The cloud flew away in a burst of rainbow. I sighed. “Has she been spying on me?”
****************
I wasn’t sure why, but that feeling of jealousy for Applejack that she had probably been spending all that time with MY ehm Ryan was like a poison seeping through my blood.Just because you’re in a different universe doesn’t mean you can’t still be the artist you always wanted to be. For once the little voice was being a comfort rather than a fight.
**************
That night was so.............................Yeah. Perfect.You have a lot to do tomorrow. New job, new home... How will you pay for home if you don’t have bits to pay for it with? There ya go. The brain decided to work for once. And what if you can’t find a job? Oh just answer him. could always tell when I was lying. I hated that.
