“C’mon Derpy, let’s make it so!”

The door at the end of the departure area slid aside with reassuring authority, and Derpy plunged through with me hot on her heels. As soon as I passed through the portal I found myself once again floating through that odd place in between dimensions. There were a hundred different names for where we were, but the important part of it was that there wasn’t any ground for me to run on. Derpy, being a pegasus, had no problems at all, simply spreading her wings and hovering, but I had nothing to ground myself on and found myself beginning to drift forward in a slow nose over tail roll.

“Um, a little help here,” I said to Derpy, who seemed content to watch me float for some reason.

“Time for some on the job training,” Derpy said, with a barely restrained giggle. “Why are you floating like that?”

“Because there’s no ground,” I said, trying not to grind my teeth in frustration as Derpy made me state the obvious. “I don’t have wings, so I can’t fly like you do.”

“James, I’m not flying,” Derpy said in a matter-of-fact tone.

“Sure you are,” I said, once again stating the obvious. “Your wings are flapping and everything.”

“I’m not flying, James,” Derpy repeated, like she was telling Dinky to set the table for dinner. “I just think I’m flying.”

“Say what?” I asked, with incredible brilliance.

“I just think I’m flying,” Derpy said. “It’s not like there is any actual air here to fly on.”

“Wait. Wait,” I said, still doing my impersonation of a ferris wheel. “If there is no air here, then how the heck are we breathing?”

“We aren’t,” Derpy said, complete calm in her voice as my stomach dropped in a manner that had nothing to do with my motion. “We just think we are.”

“We… think we are,” I said, my brain blanking as it hit a brick wall. Derpy saw my expression and giggled.

“We aren’t even really alive here,” Derpy said, still giggling. “Discord explained it to me. We are outside of reality, but because we are from reality our minds make a reality for us, and that means breathing and flying and, most importantly for you, running.”

“Hang on,” I said, wrapping my head around the concept at last. “You’re telling me that we are in the dimension of the mind. That I can do whatever I think I can.”

“Yup!” Derpy confirmed with a cheerful yip.

“All right then, give me a sec here,” I said, starting to pinwheel my legs as if I was running. After a minute my trajectory could still be best described as “ass over teakettle,” much to my disgust. “What am I doing wrong?”

“You have to think about what you want to happen too,” Derpy said, keeping station beside me with the effortless grace of her kind. “Once you get used to it, it will be second nature for you, but for now you need to find a way to concentrate on what you want to do just as much as actually doing it.”

“Huh,” I replied, my wittiness fading as I tried to think on a way to do what Derpy had advised.

There’s an old animated tv series called “Justice League Unlimited” and in one of the episodes, one of the characters has to literally run through space in order to do some big hero thing, but the upshot was he was running through space. I could use that scene. Picturing it in my head, I saw the one guy throw the other forward beginning his run. I saw it, pictured it, became it.

“Okay, let’s get this cosmic treadmill rolling,” I yelled out and began to move my legs with purpose, striking out into a trot. Almost immediately the fabric of this place responded to me, my hooves landing on a firm surface that had formed beneath me somehow, and moving with me as I strode forward. Derpy picked up speed as well and fell into formation beside me, our wing and hoofbeats blending into a drumbeat of motion.

“You got this, James,” Derpy said, pitching her voice a little louder, her misaligned eyes aglow with happiness at seeing me on the move. “I’ll stick with you as long as I can. Just remember to concentrate on your destination too.”

I nodded, saving my thoughts for concentrating on what I was doing and where I was going. I picked up speed, and with a burst of effort transitioned directly from a trot into a slow gallop. I kept replaying the scene from the show in my head, letting the hero theme swell in my internal jukebox, picturing myself running past planets and stuff, toward a high tech door. I picked up even more speed, swerving around obstacles and things that appeared in our path with almost no real effort.

“You’re doing great, James!” Derpy yelled to me over the sound of our combined motion. “The portal is just ahead, good luck!”

I looked up from the full gallop I was in and saw that Derpy was right. The pathway that I had conjured up through the power of my imagination, had reached out ahead and was connected now to a twin of the door that the two of us had left through. I put on one last burst of speed and hit the portal with a cry of, “Here’s Johnny!”

There was a sense of impact, a flash of light and I felt the door give way and for a split second I was assaulted with a burst of brightness and sound that reminded me of my initial entry into Equestria. Only for me to crash full on into something soft and yielding that gave a startled, “What the--oof.”

I blinked, shaking my head to clear my vision so I could check out my surroundings. I was in a corridor with soft pastel walls, a line of black plastic about a foot wide ran parallel to the floor about halfway up. The corridor as a whole was lit by panels that shed a light that was easy on the eyes, once you got used to them. There were doors every ten to fifteen feet or so and the whole thing was carpeted, but as I looked down I realized I wasn’t on the carpet. It seemed my rather abrupt entry had catapulted me into a young woman, who I had flattened and on whose body I now lay. Were I in my human form, we would be in a somewhat compromising position.

“Hey there, little guy,” the auburn haired woman said, reaching up to rub one of my ears as I lay stretched over her uniform covered body, my forehooves on her shoulders, my lower torso almost too low on hers for decency. Once again, my mind was assaulted by the now familiar liquid honey sensation of a really good ear rub melting pony synapses, and I leaned into the caress with a hum of appreciation.

“Aww,” said the woman as her hand continued to melt my brain. “You are such a cutie. Did you run away from your owner?” That kicked started my brain back into functioning. If I didn’t say something, and fast, I ran strong odds of winding up on a leash while someone looked for my non-existent owner.

“Sorry, but I’m not a pet,” I said, as calmly and in as non-threatening of a manner as I could manage, which gathered the appropriate response.

“What the hell?” the woman shouted, rolling and throwing me off. I hit the far wall with a stunning impact and slid to the floor.

“Wait,” I gasped, a little dazed from the hit. “I come in--”

“Security,” the woman called, tapping a familiar badge on her chest. “Ensign DeCosta, intruder alert, deck eight, outside the Captain’s quarters.”

“Understood,” a deep gravelly voice said, as the black strip along the corridor suddenly started flashing red and a siren began to whoop a steady warning.

“Look, I’m just here to deliver a package,” I said, reaching around to my saddlebags.

“Security,” the woman said, a panicked look on her face as she backed away from me as fast as she could. “I think the intruder is trying to draw a weapon of some sort.” A flash of light appeared between me and the woman and I knew what that meant. I was boxed in, but it also meant everyone else was boxed out and that meant for the moment at least, I had a free hoof in things.

“Computer,” I said, reaching up and tapping one of the black panels. “What ship am I on?”

“You are onboard the USS Enterprise-D,” the computer informed me, followed by, “You are not an authorized member of the crew of this vessel. Please remain where you are.”

“Understood,” I said, noticing that the unfortunate Ensign DeCosta had gotten to her feet and was now sprinting away. “Please inform the approaching security team that I surrender and that I wish to speak with Captain Picard at the earliest opportunity regarding my release to Equestria.”

“Please confirm your stated intention is surrender to Federation authorities,” the computer dead-panned to me. “Also, there is no ‘Equestria’ in the Federation database.”

“Confirmed and understood,” I replied. “What should I do next?”

“Remain where you are,” the computer repeated. “A security team will arrive shortly.” With nothing else to do I plopped my butt down and checked to make sure the straps of my saddlebags hadn’t slipped and that the package inside was secure. All was well.

“State your name and intention,” said the rough voice I had heard earlier. Looking to my right there was a familiar looking face leading a diamond shaped formation of people holding weapons on me.

“Greetings Worf, son of Mogh,” I said, watching the klingon’s eyebrows shoot up as I named him. “My name is James Allens, Equestrian Postal Service, Pony Express Division, and I am here to deliver a package to your captain.”

“How do you know my name?” Worf growled at me, and I was glad there was a forcefield between us just then.

“The honour of Worf, son of Mogh, is a legend known even to my people,” I said, trying to butter the touchy klingon up a bit. “So please, take me to your leader.”

“I do not think so,” Worf said, a slight sneer on his lip telling me that he had recognized my flattery for what it was. “Computer, identify species of intruder.”

“Species unknown,” the computer said, causing Worf to blink in surprise. “Intruder is of unknown origin.”

“Hey,” I said, getting a little annoyed. “I’m not ‘Intruder,” I’m James Allens. You can call me ‘Mr. Allens,’ and I request to speak to your Captain.”

“Not until I am certain you are not a threat,” Worf growled. “You may not intend anything, but you could be carrying something you are not aware of that is intended to harm Captain Picard or another member of the command staff.”

“Wow,” I said, blinking and I could feel my tail twitching in annoyance. “Paranoid much there?”

“It is not paranoia if there actually are dangers to guard against,” Worf said, and things could have really gotten dark at that point but happily a saner head interjected at that moment.

“Lieutenant report,” said the welcome voice of the most British sounding Frenchman of all time.

“The intruder—” Worf began.

“Mr. Allens,” I interrupted. I was gonna be a part of this conversation, whether Mr. Woof wanted it or not.

“The intruder,” Worf repeated, giving me a glare set on deep-fat-fry, “a Mister Allens, appears to be a small furred equine w—”

“Pony,” I interrupted again. “Get it right, unless you want me to call you an upright ape with a lobster fused to your forehead.” Worf growled and tried to look intimidating at me. I wasn’t scared at all, not with a nice big forcefield between us anyway.

“The… pony,” Worf finally said, conceding the point to me, “has given their name as a ‘Mr. Allens’ and has requested to speak with you, Captain.”

“I see,” Picard said, and I could hear him clear his throat over the channel. “Mr. Allens, can you hear me?”

“Yes, Captain Picard,” I replied, as my inner fanboy tried not to die from a nerdgasm. “I can hear you just fine.”

“I have to admit I would like you to answer a few questions for me,” Picard said, his even voice sounding open but revealing nothing. “Not the least of which is how you managed to board this vessel while we are travelling at warp speed.”

“I would be happy to answer all your questions, Sir,” I said, trying to sound respectful, seeing as Picard was a customer after all. “I’m a courier with the Equestrian Postal Service, and I have a package for you.”

“I’m afraid I don’t recall ordering anything from… Equestria, was it?” Picard asked, digging not so subtly for information. “What is in the package?”

“I’m just the courier, Sir,” I said, in my best customer service voice. “But to the best of my knowledge the package isn’t anything hazardous to you or your ship, and besides I’m not rated to carry dangerous goods yet.”

“I see,” Picard said, and I could hear the gears turning in his head while he thought things over.

“If it helps, Captain,” I said, looking at Worf. “I’m willing to place myself under armed guard. I’m sure Mr. Woof here would be more than happy to keep an eye on me.” I heard a snort of laughter in the background, mixed with a growl from Worf in the foreground.

“Very well, then,” Picard said, coming to a decision. “Mr. Worf, bring Mr. Allens to the bridge conference room.”

“But sir,” Worf protested, instantly. “He could be carrying a bomb, or a plague. He could be a bomb or a plague.”

“I have faith in your abilities to prevent such an occurrence, Mr. Worf,” Picard said, calming his security chief. “I’m also sending Dr. Crusher to meet you at the turbolift so that she can scan our visitor for any obvious issues.”

“Very well, Sir,” Worf said, and I tried to avoid smiling to rub my victory in. “Computer, drop forcefield.” There was a flash of light and Worf held his weapon very steadily at my chest.

“Lead on, Mr. Woof,” I said, unable to resist needling the klingon just a bit. “I’m afraid I don’t know the way.”

Worf just growled and beckoned me to follow him. As I did, the rest of his detachment moved in around me flawlessly, weapons at the ready. In hindsight, I probably could have handled things better, maybe been more mature, or maybe not have poked at Worf, but dammit, I was on my way to see Captain freaking Picard. There was no way I was going to let Starfleet’s version of a spartan warrior get in the way of that.

We walked along in silence for a minute or two while I contemplated what I could do better next time, while following behind the big guy in front of me until we came to an abrupt halt outside what I assumed were the doors to the turbolift. Sure enough, the doors swooshed open and the blue clad, red-haired form, of Dr. Beverly Crusher came out to meet us.

“Hello there,” she said, getting down on one knee so she could look me in the eye, a genuine smile on her face. “You’re certainly something different.”

“Pleased to meet you as well, Dr. Crusher,” I said, smiling and holding out a hoof. Everyone around me froze, except for Crusher who moved her scanner thingee around my offered hoof in a circle.

“Keratin based hoof, hair and follicles using classic protein structures, extremely dense musculature,” Crusher said absently, looking at the readouts on the tricorder her scanner was connected to. “But on a deeper level. I’m picking up trans-phasic DNA, quantum mitochondria, even traces of subspace radiation in his fur.”

“Move away from the creature, Dr. Crusher,” Worf said, pleased that apparently I was more than what I seemed.

“You aren’t a natural creature, are you?” Crusher said, completely ignoring Worf and not moving an inch. “Someone made you, didn’t they?”

“I was born human,” I said to Crusher, lowering my hoof. “I was changed into this a couple of weeks ago so that I could work in my job as an inter-dimensional courier. I’m not dangerous to anyone here, am I?” After all, it wasn’t like Discord hadn’t screwed up before with things about my transformation. It would be just my luck if something about my pony nature was dangerous to the Enterprise.

“No, you aren’t dangerous to anyone,” Crusher said, putting a hand on my shoulder and making me feel a lot happier, “But I would love to meet whoever designed your body, it’s like the work of an insane genius.” Crusher didn’t know it, but she had pretty much just described Discord perfectly.

“Dr. Crusher, move away from the creature and I will escort him safely to the brig,” Worf said. “The captain can meet him safely there.”

“I don’t believe you were listening, Mr. Worf,” Crusher said, and her voice was as sharp as a scalpel. “Mr. Allens’ physical form is unusual, even odd, but it is of no direct danger to the ship. Now, I suggest you follow the orders you were given. As Chief Medical Officer I’m giving him medical clearance to see the captain.”

“Very well,” Worf said, holstering his weapon and visibly disappointed he wasn’t going to get to disintegrate me. “It is against my better judgement, but you and the captain are my superior officers.”

“Thank you, Lieutenant,” Crusher said, getting up and motioning me into the lift car. “Let’s go see the captain.” I stepped in, closely followed by Worf, but not the rest of his security team, which he waved away.

“If you attempt any treachery,” Worf warned me, still paranoid as ever, “it will be my great pleasure to stop you.”

“Mr. Worf,” I said, deciding to take the high road for the moment, “if I attempt anything I will deserve the end such an act of dishonor would give me.” Worf’s eyebrows climbed at that, matching the lift as it began to rise.

“For someone who was a human not very long ago, you certainly move very well as a quadruped,” Crusher said, filling in the awkward silence of all elevators everywhere.

“Thank you, Doctor,” I said, replying with a smile for the memories. “I had to spend a couple of weeks in rehab learning how to walk all over again.”

“After you’ve made your delivery would you be able to come down to sickbay?” Crusher asked, and I could hear a touch of greed in her voice. “I’d love to get some detailed scans of your body.”

“Why Doctor Crusher, I don’t think I’ve ever been propositioned quite like that before,” I said, smiling widely to show I was teasing. “But I’m afraid not. After I make my delivery here, I have to head back to the depot and fill out paperwork.”

“Would it be alright if I take scans of you while you are here?” Crusher asked, and I nodded my assent as the lift slowed and came to a stop.

The doors opened and I stepped out automatically and froze, my wide eyes going even wider. There, laid out before me in all its glory, was the bridge of the USS Enterprise-D, complete with crew. Data, his golden eyes looking at and studying me. Riker, hovering over Data’s shoulder, his bearded face splitting into a grin as my cute appearance worked its magic.

“Counselor,” Riker said over his shoulder, to where I could see Troi sitting in her usual spot by the captain’s chair. “What do you sense from our little guest?”

“Determination,” Troi said, in her musical voice as I stood transfixed by the scene that a million Trekkies would have given their soul to be a part of. “That and a feeling of intense wonder and amazement.” Riker’s grin got even wider at that.

“The first look at the bridge of a starship can be a little overwhelming, can’t it?” Riker asked, stepping around the console and coming over to me. “How about we take you to see the captain, hmm?”

In a daze of wonder I nodded and let Riker lead me up the sweeping ramp toward the doors at the back. My neck must have looked like it was on a swivel I was rubbernecking so hard while trying to see everything. He stopped at the top of the ramp, lifting an eyebrow at the little entourage of Worf guarding me while Crusher scanned the holy heck out of my body.

“Something wrong you two?” Riker asked lightly, but I could hear the serious undertone in his voice.

“I told Dr. Crusher she could scan me while I was here,” I said, Riker’s question having brought me back to reality, “and Mr. Worf is making sure I don’t fart a quantum torpedo or something.” Riker chuckled at that.

“You’re being very accommodating,” Riker said, as the door opened and he led the way into the conference room.

“Equestrian Postal Service, Commander,” I said, following him in. “The mail must go… through.” My voice trailed off as I beheld the man himself, Captain Jean-Luc Picard, sitting calmly at the far end of the table.

“Hello, Mr. Allens,” Picard said, his voice warm with a note of cautious optimism. “I believe you said you had a package for me?”

“Um, yes sir,” I said, starting forward and walking around the table until Picard raised a hand, stopping me in mid-stride.

“While I have no doubt as to the sincerity of your task,” Picard said, still in that warm voice, “I have no recollection of requesting anything from an ‘Equestria’ or corresponding with anyone there. I’m not sure if I can accept a package which may, or may not truly be intended for me.”

“I believe I may be of some assistance in this matter, Captain,” Data’s voice said from behind me, and everyone turned to look at the golden eyed android as he stood in the entrance.

“If you can shed some light on this matter Mr. Data, please do so,” Picard said, tugging down his uniform top.

“Yes sir,” Data said, moving to stand beside me. “After observing Mr. Allens’ movements as he crossed the bridge, I did extensive scans of our image database in an attempt to find a match.”

“The computer already attempted to determine his species and failed,” Worf said, his face thoughtful. It looked a little weird on him.

“He told me that he is a transformed human,” Crusher chimed in with, “and that he has only been a quadruped for around two weeks now.”

“Indeed, Doctor,” Data said, nodding. “It was exactly those clues which enabled me to determine what and where Mr. Allens is from.”

“And that is, Mr. Data?” Picard asked. I was enjoying watching the back and forth too much to say anything.

“Mr Allens is a pony,” Data said, cocking his head. “More precisely, he is a ‘little pony’ from the fourth generation of the show, ‘My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.’ Mr. Allens, is not a real creature—”

“Hey!” I protested. “I happen to be very real. I’m just not from around here.”

“As I was saying, Mr. Allens is not a real creature from our reality,” Data continued smoothly. “I postulate that we are not ‘real’ either, in terms of his reality. We are likely fictional characters to him, just as he is to us. This would explain how he knows who we are, for instance.”

“So, should I accept the package he has for me or not?” Picard asked, clasping his hands together in front of him. “More importantly, does his presence indicate any sort of threat to the Enterprise?”

“I believe I can determine that by asking Mr. Allens a question,” Data said, before turning to look at me. “Mr. Allens, is Discord currently friends with Fluttershy?”

“Definitely,” I replied, almost instantly. “In fact, I’m pretty sure she wears the pants in that relationship.”

“Wears the pants…” Data said, murmuring and looking off to the side with a thoughtful expression on his face.

“It means they are the one in charge,” Riker said, grinning as he moved to take his own seat in the room.

“Oh, that is certainly an unusual idiom,” Data said, in reply to Riker. “However, it does mean that Mr. Allens and his package are likely of no danger to us or the Enterprise. In the canon of ‘My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic” Discord is the only being who transforms others with any level of ill-intent, and then only until he is reformed by the character known as Fluttershy. If Mr. Allens is indeed from the time after that reformation, then there should be no difficulties with accepting delivery of the package.”

“Very well then,” Picard said, tilting his head toward me. “Mr. Allens of the Equestrian Postal Service, please give me my package.”

“Yes sir,” I replied, smiling as I walked the last few steps up to him. Opening up my saddlebags I removed the package I had travelled so far to deliver and passed it over to the captain, who accepted it gravely from me. It was about the size of a cereal box, wrapped in plain brown paper and tied with string. Picard turned the package over and over looking for some clue as to who had sent it.

“You have no idea who sent this?” Picard asked me, undoing the knots without snapping the string like most people would.

“No sir. Sign here please,” I said, holding out the clipboard I had also kept in my saddlebags. “I do know that I was sent here because my boss figured this was a safe run for my first time out.”

“Is that so?” Picard asked rhetorically, unwrapping the paper from the box after he signed off on the delivery, and as he did, a card fell away to land on the table. “Ah, this should provide some more answers.” Picard picked up the card, reading what was on it, as he did his face became a stoney mask as all emotion drained away. Without a word he passed the card to Riker who had begun to look at his captain with concern.

“Red Alert,” Riker called out, looking up after he had no more than glanced at the slip of cardstock in his hand, and the familiar red lights and klaxon of Starfleet’s flagship getting ready for the worst made themselves manifest.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, my ears flattening against my head in alarm. “What’s on the card?” Riker slid the card over to me and I read the words on it out loud, “To ‘Q,’ care of Jean-Luc Picard.” There was a sudden flash of light and I felt a new presence enter the room.

“Hello, Mon Capitan!” a merry voice that sounded just like Discord announced from behind me, and I turned around to face the omnipotent, the omniscient, the utterly scary, ‘Q.’

“Hello Q, I suppose you’re responsible for this?” Riker said, his voice holding equal parts dejection and anger as he gestured toward me.

“And who is this?” Q asked, smiling as he looked at me. “You’re not one of mine, that’s for certain.”

“I’m just the delivery pony,” I said, turning to go. “I’ll just be on my way now.”

“Not so fast, little pony,” Q snapped his fingers and I was brought up short as a bridle materialized around my head with the reins in Picard’s hand, of all people. “You’re a horseman, Jean-Luc. You should know how to deal with him.”

“He is a sentient being, and not a toy to be played with Q,” Picard said, anger touching his voice as he pulled me close to him via the reins and his fingers started looking for the bridle buckles. “I’ll have you free in a moment, Mr. Allens.”

“Besides Q,” Riker interjected, sliding the box over to the tall being. “He brought a package for you, specifically.”

“He did?” Q asked, surprised. “Now why didn’t I know that he’d done that? I’m omniscient after all.” Q snapped his fingers again and the bridle disappeared, causing me to fall against Picard who caught me in reflex.

“Why don’t you just take your package and go?” Picard said to Q, even as he steadied me. I looked up at Picard, catching his eye and nodding in thanks as I found my balance again.

“Let’s see what’s in it first,” Q said, popping open the top of the box and exclaiming in delight as he saw the contents. “Peanut butter cookies. Oh, they smell heavenly. Picard, you simply must have one.” Q held out the box over my head in front of Picard, who gravely accepted one and took a bite.

“These are rather good Q,” Picard said, making a noise of appreciation at the flavour. “But who would send you cookies, particularly cookies that you had no idea about?”

“A good question Picard. Once again, you impress me more than your fellows,” Q said, beaming like a professor to a particularly gifted student, before looking down at me and studying my uniform. “You’re from Equestria?”

“Yes sir,” I said, not wanting to annoy Q in the least.

“Ah, that explains it then,” Q said, smiling. “Cousin Discord sent me some of Fluttershy’s cookies. Oh, they are simply wonderful, you can just taste the magic of friendship in them.” Q snapped his fingers again and suddenly everyone, myself included, had a cookie sticking out of their mouth. I have to say, the cookie wasn’t just good, it was damn good.

“Discord is related to you?” Data asked, chewing on his cookie thoughtfully.

“In a way that you couldn’t possibly comprehend, but yes,” Q said. “He’s currently semi-retired to our young courier’s Equestria and we occasionally exchange gifts. Including the wonderful gift of the occasional surprise. You can’t know what a treat that is to an omniscient being.”

“Excuse me, sir,” I heard my mouth say, apparently having not gotten the memo from the self-preservation part of my brain that was screaming that Q could wipe us out with a snap of his fingers. “Before I go, is there any chance I could get a group photo of everyone on the bridge? Maybe signed, with you in particular, sir?”

“I can see why Discord has employed you, little pony,” Q said, leaning down and smiling at me. “Equal parts adaptation and audacity, with a firm dash of the sort of insanity that he favors. You’ve delivered to me a special gift, from a special friend. You will find what you seek and more on your return, but let me give you one word of advice before I send you on your way.”

“Um, what’s that?” I asked. My insides churned at the thought of getting a ‘gift’ from Q. I’d seen the show, and knew that Q’s gifts could be impossibly incredible, and they could also be a double edged sword that cut you before you knew it.

“More changes are coming for you,” Q said, his face turning serious. “Changes that you can’t even imagine now, that will strain your miniscule mind to its limits and test you as hard as anything I’ve given Picard here. Run with them as best you can.”

“Life is change,” I said, looking right back at Q, “and I have four hooves to run with now.”

“So you do,” Q said, his voice quiet but then rising back up to its normal volume. “I’ve taken the liberty of putting a return gift in your bags for cousin Discord. See that he gets it.”

Q snapped his fingers again and a flash of light enveloped me. Spots filled my vision and I blinked furiously to clear my eyes. When my eyes had refocused I saw that the Enterprise was gone and I was once again floating mid-dimension. A growing speck in the distance soon resolved itself into Derpy winging her way towards me.

“James!” Derpy called out as soon as she was within earshot. “How did it go?”

“Good, I think,” I said, starting to move my hooves to stabilize myself and re-establish my pathway back to Equestria. “I’ll tell you and Discord all about it, but let’s get home first.”

Author's Note

Well, that was quite the first day on the job, wasn't it? The next couple of chapters are going to be in a similar vein to this one, with James delivering things into various fictional universes. I've got a couple in mind myself, but if anyone has any suggestions about future delivery locations for James, I'd love to hear them.

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