I am Lyra Heartstrings. I wake up with an unusual feeling in my mind - like something is somehow different about me. As to what the difference is, I am in no position to figure out, seeing as I'm barely able to say I'm awake at this juncture. I rub my head - forgetting that I have a horn for a split second and ramming my hoof into it
"Ow..." I mutter, rolling over - and off the bed. I sigh before hitting the ground and letting out a pained 'oof'. Then I sigh again - I'm fully awake now, might as well stand. This turns out to be a bad idea since my legs haven't gotten the memo that it's time to get up and go about my day. They fall out from under my own weight, luckily tossing me into the bed's mattress instead of a wall or dresser or something.
I groan, this time taking it slowly - moving one leg at a time until all four are squarely supporting me. I rub my head again - I have a strange clouded feeling in my skull, and it won't go away. I decide to push it out of my mind and head into the living room, picking up my lyre on the way, strumming it with my magic. The sound is both familiar and foreign - beautiful as always.
"Morning, Bon Bon," I say as I pass her.
"Morning Lyra," she responds, barely glancing up from her newspaper. She looked really, really tired - probably from all the partying I dragged her into last night. I should probably apologize for that. Later, of course, she needs to be fully awake to register any sort of apology. I sit down on the other side of the table and pour myself some cereal-Os, like I do almost every morning where I have enough awareness to get a bowl from the cupboard.
I munch on my cereal in silence, somewhat baffled by Bon Bon's continued silence. "What is it?" I ask.
"Article," she mutters. "Something about Twilight's lab exploding. Again."
I laugh. "That happens every other week, why is that a story?"
"The castle's going to be green until she can fix it."
I grin; that's great! That thing was so tacky - it could stand a color improvement. Or ten. I down the rest of my cereal pretty quickly and wonder what I'm going to do today, the thoughts of a green castle quickly leaving my mind. I have no idea whats next - but I do know I want to go outside. "I'll be out for a walk, or something. See you later!"
"Mmhmm..."
"Do me a favor and be more awake when I come back?"
"...You're barely standing straight yourself."
"Ah. Riiiiight..." I quickly leave the house before further conversation can occur. I know when trying to make my case will be pointless. I move on through Ponyville, taking a moment to appreciate the town around me. For some reason, today the town seems new, vibrant, full of life and energy I've never seen before, even though nothing seems any different. I decide it's a good feeling. I close my eyes and trot down the path, humming to myself and playing my lyre. The world is amazing and it feels like I'm on top of it!
And then I bump into somepony, jarring my thoughts...
...I am Vinyl Scratch, and I am confused. I just ran into Lyra - wait wasn't I Lyra just a second ago? This doesn't make any sense... Lyra is getting up and looking around like she has no idea where she is or how she got here. "...Sleepwalking..." She mutters, even though the sun was high in the sky. How could somepony assume sleepwalking at a time like this? I mean, it's ridiculous, nopony sleeps this late. Wait, I was just Lyra a minute ago, and a few minutes before that I had been asleep.
...That's interesting information.
I freak out - did I just change minds? Wait, no, I'm certain I'm Vinyl Scratch - I have a desire to belt loud music through giant speakers, I have the most awesome mane in all of Equestria, and I am filled with a need to dance! I wasn't when I was Lyra - had I ever been Lyra though?
I shake my head. I should ask Lyra - but as I look up, I realize she's gone somewhere else. I have no idea where she is. Crap. And I can't talk anyway, how was I supposed to ask her anything? ...What should I do? Who would understand me?
Octavia, maybe, but that was a long shot.
...Oh what the heck, I might as well. Not like I was doing anything today. ...Or was I? Didn't really matter, I could just go home and get her to listen to me. That'd take some doing, but she always did, eventually. Just turn on the dishwasher and BAM, full attention, though perhaps not the kind I'd want in this case...
I trot over to the house we've split down the middle, opening the door with a swift motion. I search the house for her - though I stop to chug some milk straight out of the carton because I can. After downing most of the delicoius liquid, I continue my search and eventually find her staring at a cello with a forlorn expression.
I stamp my hoof.
Octavia looks up. "Oh... Vinyl. I thought you were out."
I nod my head and frown. What's wrong, my face told her.
Octavia sighs. "Well... I don't know, really. I mean, I do, but I'm not... Sure how to say it."
I shrug, sitting down, ready to listen. She sighs and looks to me. She begins speaking, putting a hoof on me...
...I am Octavia Melody, and I have just forgotten what I was going to say. I pull my hoof back from Vinyl - who I had been just a moment ago - and stare at her in shock. She herself looks confused - though not fearful. I recognize the expression as the one she wears after she wakes up from getting wasted. She probably thinks she's just been on a trip - actually, I know she does, I was her a while ago.
She was worried about me... But the moment was gone, I was no longer in her, and she knew nothing.
My brain starts hurting. "Ugh... Vinyl..."
Vinyl gives me that 'what did I do?' face.
"N... Nothing. Just... Leave me a moment, okay?"
Vinyl nods, standing up shakily and walking away, probably wondering what exactly she took earlier. I let out a sharp breath the moment she leaves; finally, alone with myself.
That isn't a good thing, as it turns out. I feel horrible - I was extremely unsophisticated earlier, going off on Derpy for no good reason - all she did was drop an instrument she was delivering. It wasn't even a really expensive instrument, but I'd been livid anyway... Called her names and drove her out of the house while she was trying to apologize.
I wasn't a good pony...
I look at the cello - I had planned on playing it today, but I just wasn't in the mood anymore. This thing with me having been Vinyl and Lyra is only making my mood worse than it already was - if I can still be considered myself.
I decide I don't care. I just march out of the house, a sour expression on my face. Vinyl pays no attention to me - she's busy wondering how the carton of milk got so close to empty. I take in the fresh air of the world - it feels sour to me. Everything is muted, dulled by my own eyes... Why'd I have to go and be like that? Why'd Derpy have to drop the instrument...
No, this wasn't her fault. This was all my fault. I had messed up - regardless of Vinyl or Lyra, I was still Octavia Melody, and I had to deal with that. I couldn't run away, it wouldn't be right of me. I'd swallow this up and survive. Life would go on.
"Look out!"
Somepony crashes into me at high velocity in that moment...
...I am Rainbow Dash, and I become aware of this in the middle of saying "Woah, Sorry there... Octavia." I am apparently performing some flying maneuvers that my sudden awareness has interrupted, seeing as I fly straight into a tree trunk a second after trying recovery. Darn it, why'd I have to be Rainbow Dash right now? Why couldn't there be some delay so I didn't have to try to re-assert control over everything... I shake my head, looking back at who I had been a few seconds ago. "You all right?"
"Yes, fine, not even bruised," Octavia says, frowning. She was confused, but I also knew she wasn't doing that great and the thoughts she was having weren't good ones. Well, I'll fix that - I am Rainbow Dash! I approach her, concern on my face. "Are you sure? You seem... Off. Like you're bothered by something."
"Rainbow Dash, I'm fine. Just... Go off and do your flying."
I am a bit taken aback - but I know she means it, and that she won't accept any further help from me. At least not in this state, which just sucks - I want to help. I saw how she was feeling. But I back away anyway, getting another idea on how to help her. I take off into the sky, doing a couple loop de loops just for the heck of it, and look at Ponyville from above with a bird's eye view. I see the green castle, Sugar Cube Corner, and about a hundred ponies - I just need to find the one particular pony I want. Somepony who can help better than I can...
There she is - the gray pegasus Derpy going about her mailing route, a blissful look on her face. "Bingo!" I say, flying down to meet her - but I perform a few tricks with my awesome wings before I get down there, just because I can. Why would I miss an opportunity like this? Up, down swirl, twist, and excited screams! Ha! I'm the best.
I shake my head - gotta keep that ego of mine down at least a little bit - and end my impromptu show. I land next to Derpy. "Hey Derpy, you doing anything?"
"Uh..." the pegasus looks around for a moment. "Nope! This is the last letter!" She sticks it in the mailbox, looking proud.
"Good!" I bump her with my wing...
...I am Derpy Hooves, and I have a hard time understanding what's going on. I was... Several ponies before, but I'm not entirely sure which ones, or in what order they were in. I, uh... Apparently Octavia's mad at me, or was mad, and is now guilty. I don't even remember her yelling at me, but her being mad is not something I should just stand by and let be, I should go help her. After all, it's why I'm here.
I think.
It's hard to think.
I take to the sky and ram my face into the ground somehow. Business as usual, I just get up and try again. On the fourth try I get into the sky and look around - where was Octavia? Her house? No... She - I - had left. I think. Somewhere where Rainbow Dash crashed into her - where would she be headed?
I think about myself in the past, or try to anyway. I just get hungry, thinking of cake and sweets, so I look towards Sugarcube Corner. And would you look at that, there's Octavia! Yay! ...Why'd I want to see her again?
Oh, I bet I'd figure it out once I talked to her.
"Hey, Octavia!" I yell, landing near her. "How are things going?"
Octavia freezes solid, almost as if she is afraid of me. Thit isn't her being mad... Guilty? Right, she's guilty about something I don't even remember happening. So she's scared I'll be mad.
"I'm not mad," I say.
"You... Aren't?"
"No, why would I be? I'm the mailmare! I just deliver mail. It's all fine. See?" I roll my eyes in a silly fashion. A small smile crosses Octavia's features.
"You... Really are something else, Derpy."
"Don't I know it!" I laugh.
She nods slowly - then rushes me into a hug. "Thank..."
"...you." I am Octavia Melody again, and I'm happy. I take a brief moment to thank myself for bringing Derpy here, and now I thank myself again for understanding the gray pegasus. She doesn't even remember me being horrid to her. While a bit odd, that is good news. She's not hurt. What I did was still a horrid move, but somehow, I think it'll all be fine. I didn't ruin anything.
Maybe I was exaggerating it in my memory. Probably was, come to think of it. I do have a tendency to overdramatize things...
Derpy looks confused. "...Huh?"
"Nothing," I say. "You just said something nice."
"Oh. Cool. Thanks!" She flies off, tripping on the air itself.
I frown - how can she be so happy like that? I couldn't live like that. ...Wait, I just did a second ago.
What exactly was happening? Was I all these ponies - or just one at a time? Were memories just transferring or was I some entity that had no identity of my own? Was I really Octavia Melody? Yes, I was, but was that all I was?
I decide not to worry about it - or, rather, force myself to not think. I head into Sugarcube Corner for a nice sugar-infused coffee. Hopefully, Pinkie could grab me some caramel. I didn't really need the coffee anymore, I felt fine (if disoriented), but coffee is just one of those things you can have regardless of the mood. Like tea. Sadly Sugarcube Corner didn't serve tea - and the one time I had asked for tea Pinkie had provided something... atrocious. I hadn't said anything, but I never ordered tea again.
I march into the the building - there are only a few ponies inside. Pinkie isn't at the counter, it's Mr. Cake, and there's no line - I see the CMC already sipping milkshakes in a corner, and a few other ponies enjoying pastries of various sorts. I pay them little mind, heading directly towards the counter. But I trip over someone's hoof...
...I am Kevin. A changeling. Great, I'm going to freak out later when I become a pony who has the capacity to freak out about a Changeling being two feet away from them. I'd just come in here for a milkshake, didn't want to hurt anypony or anything, but nooooo, now somepony's going to find out. I sigh, looking at my currently-green hooves. Perhaps I should just embrace this 'hopping' business. Find other ponies to be... See if I can help, or something.
Yeah, that sounds good. Let's see... Who needs help here in Sugarcube Corner? I use my changeling senses to look around - most everypony seems happy, though Octavia is having difficulty ordering coffee through her disorientation. I'd already been and helped her, no need to subject her to this further. The CMC were sitting in a corner - with Rarity, apparently - and I was able to sense some negativity wafting off Scootaloo. All right, I found my target - now how to get to her?
I know... I get out of my seat and approach Roseluck...
...I am Roseluck. I am not surprised at all that I was touched by a changeling, nor that I now have extra memories in my head. It's not that unusual for me, frankly. Weirder things have happened many times. I march over to Scootaloo, smile warmly, and 'accidentally' brush her with my tail...
...I am Scootaloo, and I am feeling down. I am momentarily distracted by the fact that this memory thing wasn't unusual to Roseluck in the slightest, and that she's had much weirder adventures, but that's only a passing interest. I sag - I am depressed, just like I thought. I'm sitting here at a table with my friends and Rarity, and they're talking about doing something awesome with a dress or magic or something and I...
I twitch my wings. I just want to go out and do something, but everypony else seems content and happy chatting. Why can't I be happy just chatting? Why do I have to sit here and be so bored? I hate boredom. It really, really sucks. It gets into my head and drives me to a twitchy, crazy mode where I start thinking deeply; really, really deeply, deeper than I have any right to be.
I guess something interesting did happen. I got all those memories. From some creature that wanted to help me or something...
...I realize that I have the power to cause some fun chaos right now. Just tap someone and then they'll get the influx of information, and something cool will probably happen. The sad boredom is gone in an instant, cured by the the prosepct of fun! I move to Sweetie Belle, and bump her with my hoof...
...I am Sweetie Belle, and I instantly start laughing. Scootaloo was bored? That was her big problem? Well, that was remedied easily enough...
I stand up, grab a milkshake, and throw it at Scootaloo. She stands up in return, tossing her milkshake at me, not caring in the slightest about her slight bewilderment. I grin, grabbing Applebloom's shake and tossing it across the room.
Pinkie bursts into the room, carrying several dozen pies. "DID SOMEPONY ASK FOR A FOOD FIGHT!?"
"HECK YES!" I yell.
"Pinkie..." Mr. Cake calls, his worry falling on deaf ears. Soon pies are flying and ponies are scrambling around, laughing, giggling, having a jolly time. I am bumped by someone...
...I am Donut Joe, laughing and covered in pie...
...I am Mister Cake, being thrown like a pie...
...I am Rarity, running out of Sugarcube Corner. I will not be a part of a food fight - regardless if some part of me or my memories may have started it. I shake my head - for the first time I'm someone who'll take a moment to ponder what's going on, even while fleeing. I... I am not Rarity, even though I feel and act and know her. And I know this. I am something else, something that has been traveling from pony to pony, taking them over for a time and 'becoming' them. At least that's what I'm thinking now.
This concerns me - I don't want to forget what I'm doing, and causing other ponies to blackout is hardly a good thing to do, even if I am trying to help. I need to know more about myself and what's going on. I should avoid bumping into other ponies until I know more - and I should really get myself cleaned up before even trying to find out more.
I go home and clean up. It doesn't take long - only an hour - and by then I am ready to set out. So... Who would know more about weird mind things? Twilight, yes, Twilight. She'd be able to figure out what was going on, I should go talk to her, the dear would sort this all out. I walk through town, asking ponies where she is - careful not to bump into any. Most haven't seen her for a while, but a few direct me back to Sugarcube Corner, a place I am hesitant to return to.
I decide to head there anyway with a watchful eye out for stray pastries. I doubt the food fight is still going on, but it never hurts to be safe rather than sorry. I arrive - and Twilight is talking to Octavia, both mares concerned.
"...And you don't remember anything?"
"No," Octavia says. "I remember hugging Derpy... Then being here. That's it."
Twilight nods slowly. "You aren't the only one - several ponies have come to me with stories like that. It's as if something's moving through you all, making you black out..."
"Twilight, that's terrifying! What are you going to do about it?"
"I'm going to find it and take care of it, don't you worry. Did anypony leave early during the food fight?"
"...Rarity."
I quickly duck behind a crate, frightened. Twilight's not going to be any help - she's hunting me! She's out to 'deal with' me - whatever that means! She'd never hurt me - or the part of me that was Rarity - but I'm distinct from Rarity - something else. Something different. And that thing I am is, to her, absolutely evil and must be destroyed! And she was already on my tail - I need to find somepony else to be...
Fluttershy walks up to me. "...Rarity, why are you hiding behind a crate? Who's looking for you?"
"Sorry, Fluttershy..." I say, leaping at her...
...I am Fluttershy, and I am terrified. I'm being hunted. Why did I have to walk up to Rarity and be the one burdened with hiding and running? Why? I...
...I look down at the disoriented Rarity. "Rarity? Are you okay?"
"...Huh?"
"I... I found you behind this crate. You were out cold... What happened?"
"There... There was a food fight..."
I smile."You should probably go home and rest. Though I don't think you need to clean up."
"Yes... Yes... That is probably best..." She stands up, and slowly walks home. I let out a sigh of relief - no more danger.
"Hey Fluttershy, have you had any blackouts lately?"
I jump fifty feet in the air, screaming.
"Woah! Fluttershy!" Twilight says. "Calm down!"
"D-don't sneak up on me like that!" I manage, shaking in my boots. "Y-yes I have. I... Walked down a street in Ponyville, by Bon Bon's house. I don't remember getting to the other side..." I had to make sure she didn't think I was here, that I was Fluttershy. That'd be bad.
Twilight bites her lip. "Well... This isn't good. It seems to have spread out. Fluttershy, if it happens again, tell me immediately, and look for ponies walking away from you."
"...O-okay..."
"Good. Don't worry, I'll take care of it."
"I W-wont..."
Twilight nods, concern on her face - but she leaves me be. I let out a sigh of relief - that was close, crazy close. I needed to go hide. Where was the best place to hide...? Oh right, my home. I could hide there for years, protected by all the wonderful animals. I spread my wings - but then I decide I don't want to fly. I simply walk all the way to my tree outside town, nervously glancing aroudn as I do so. I do this so much I don't notice the pony in front of me...
...I am Pinkie Pie and...
...I am Fluttershy, sitting down, my head reeling. Pinkie Pie is standing over me. "...Wow, you knew you had to get yourself out of there before you were even aware! How weird!"
"Uh, what?"
"Don't worry Flutters, it'll all be fine. Just don't try to bump into me again, k?"
"...Kay." I blink. I don't remember getting out of her... This makes no sense. And Pinkie obviously knows now - though I can't say I'm surprised about that. Shaky, I continue the rest of the way to my tree house and walk in, closing the door behind me. I breathe in and out rapidly, trying to calm myself down. Twilight doesn't know I'm Fluttershy right now, but she might be able to deduce it if she finds Rarity, or Pinkie lets something slip in her rambling. I need a plan...
Hide in the basement forever, yes, that sounds good. I march to the basement, passing Angel. He stops me and demands I feed him a giant salad.
"Not right now Angel," I say. "I need to-"
He grabs my hoof, tugging at me...
...I am Angel Bunny. I take a moment to realize what has just happened.
I am a rabbit.
I am also something else that travels through minds, pony to pony - or in this case, rabbit to rabbit.
I am being hunted by Twilight Sparkle.
I step away from the bewildered Fluttershy, a horrible, evil, nasty idea forming in my mind. I absolutely love it. Why should I be the one hunted? Why don't I just go hunt Twilight Sparkle herself? I can become her - and then control my own hunt! More than that, she's a princess! I could go from being a lowly rabbit to controlling the very world with that kind of power!
I laugh to myself.
"Angel...? You're acting weird... What happened?"
I tell her not to worry, and that she can hide in the basement if she wants, to forget about the salad. I have a mission to accomplish. I run out of the house as fast as my paws will carry me, scampering across the grass, through the town, and right towards where I saw Twilight last. She is still questioning ponies from Sugarcube Corner - this time it's Mr. Cake. Good. She wouldn't see me coming...
She sees me anyway, raising an eyebrow. "Angel? What are you doing? Did something happen to Fluttershy?"
I suppose you could say that. I leap towards her, teeth bared, ready to attack - but she grabs me with her magic. "My, you're really grumpy today aren't you? Did you get up on the wrong side of the bed?"
It's not a bed, it's a pillow you stupid purple pony! Let me touch you already!
"Aw... You look so cute when you're mad..."
Bite me!
Twilight glares at me. "I'll let you go, only if you calm down."
I steam inwardly, but I know this is the best course of action. I make myself calm, preparing for the right moment to strike. She sets me down on the ground, and I grin. Fool.
"What's that grin for?"
I bump into her, turning the nuzzle strategy the cats use into a deadly weapon...
...I am Twilight Sparkle.
"Oh," I say, "that's what it's about. You just saved me a lot of trouble there Angel."
Angel looks at me confused.
"Oh right, you don't remember... Ah well. At least I have the loose information protocol under control now. Just one more thing..." I cast a spell on myself, preventing the information protocol from jumping anymore if I bump into anyone. Who'd've thought that my experiment to gather information on everything in Ponyville would turn into a mental phenomena that jumped from person to person, stealing their memories? I sure didn't - but it's back where it belongs. It was supposed to get me information anyway, and now it's in me, where it belongs.
It has given me a greater understanding of my friends, my townsfolk, and... Angel the bunny.
I lean down and pet Angel. "You really are diabolical, you know that?"
Angel growls. I laugh - that rabbit is more trouble than he's worth, but Fluttershy sure loves the cute little guy... It's not my place to judge.
Perhaps I should go check on Scootaloo and Octavia though, see if they're still okay. And Derpy... Derpy could use some help.
I guess I did some good - even if it wasn't really me that did it, it was everypony in town working with information that kept jumping around... They were always themselves. Strong, amazing ponies who could get a bit dramatic.
I should go tell Fluttershy to get out of the basement...
I take off into the sky, looking down at Ponyville as I travel toward's my friend's cottage. Somehow, I think I have a greater appreciation for the ponies who live here...
