Dusk Constructed

A police lieutenant sighed as he looked over the scene of the accident. He looked over at another officer, who was writing something down on a clipboard. The road was a mess. Twisted metal was strewn about, glass peppered the ground like the fine sand of a beach, and various liquids leaked from what used to be vehicles.

Officer Kendrick looked back, and nodded. “Lieutenant Adams, glad to see you finally join the party. You were pushing the limits of ‘fashionably late,’ you know.”

Adams shot a glare at Kendrick, who didn’t notice. “No jokes, not now. I was in the middle of something personal when I got the call and had to finish up. Any official word on the number of casualties?”

Kendrick sighed, and pulled a slip off of his clipboard. “Sorry for trying to lighten the mood.” He mumbled. “Here you go, sir.”

Adams looked over the paper in dismay. Five deaths: One drunk driver named Robert Martin, and three minors named Keith Burnham, Evan Foster, and Taggart Mills. The anthropologist Dr. Stanley Poole was also in the crash, on the way to an awards ceremony.

Kendrick raised his hand, and Adams waved for him to start. “Some of the people in the crash say that the truck driver jerked to the left, into the minors’ car. Both turned and began rolling, which was the cause of their deaths. The doctor was killed when he turned to dodge the wreckage, and collided with the barrier.”

Both officers sighed. Adams handed the paper back, and rubbed his brow. “Any word with families yet?”

“We’re working through the list.”

Adams nodded solemnly. “Whatever life exists after this one, I hope those kids have it good and cozy. Nobody should have to die like that.

======

I opened my eyes with a start, and began coughing violently. I stared in confusion as a few golden flower petals came out, then floated lazily onto the grass below me. I blinked. I was not supposed to be in a grass field, I was supposed to be home, enjoying a show about pastel ponies in the magical land of Equestria!

With a groan, I pushed myself to my knees, and looked around. The field around me stretched on for as long as I could tell, which was worrying. Then I looked up.

Though the grass was lit as if noonday, the sky was dark, and dotted with stars. Some were the typical white dot, but some were blue, some red, purple, green, and gold. Even though it was a strange sight, I could not help but be awed by the multitude of lights before him.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?”

I jumped and looked towards the voice. A woman was standing there, looking to the air. The mystery woman was dressed in a long, royal purple gown that came from one of her shoulders like a toga. She had bands of purple and teal gems around her wrists and neck. I glanced down and noted with some surprise that she was barefoot. Her hair was long and wavy, with strands errantly sticking out in places. The hair was a dark brown, but the edges had a faint purple tint. The woman looked over at me, making me gasp.

The woman’s irises were a glowing turquoise. She smiled and held out a hand. “Sorry for scaring you, I have a bad habit of suddenly showing up to things. Evan Foster, hello. My name is Magic, I’m your goddess.”

I blinked and shook Magic’s hand. “What? What happened? Where am I?”

Magic squinted. “Uh, a drunk driver fell asleep at the wheel, crashed into you, and killed your car full of friends. This is the Field, an endless nexus of all things that are, can be, and ever will be. Anything you can think of is accessible here.”

“I’m dead?” I pressed my hands to my head.

Magic nodded. “As a doornail. However, your life doesn’t have to end right now. I can give you a new one, far more interesting than your previous, needn’t-be-detailed-at-the-moment-life. What do you say? A better, more exciting life, or a one way ticket to whatever eternity you subscribe to?”

I pondered the question. Either would be nice. “You said I can see anything here?”

“Yep. Everything from your nextdoor neighbor to the universe containing the person writing this story, everything is visible.”

I decided to ignore that second sentence entirely. “Then, can I see my family?”

Magic blinked in surprise, then shrugged. We were inside of my home, watching my parents, sister, and brother talk with a police officer. They were in tears.

I turned to Magic. “Maddie wanted to be a scientist when she grew up. Did she get her wish?”

Magic squinted, then smiled. “Yep. While she herself doesn’t discover anything groundbreaking, her great-great-great-great grandson, Eden Smith, becomes the pioneer of technology, and unlocks to the key to manipulating the world. Because of him, Earth takes off to the stars, and becomes allies with many planets, cultures, and species.”

“Whoa. What about Riley? He wanted to be a cop when he grew up.”

“This was the day he decided on that goal. In seeing how kind and helpful Lieutenant Adams was after your death, he gained a firm determination to be the nicest police officer. Because of his public speeches, and eventual work with the government, he became one of the most renowned public speakers for his words on peace.”

I nodded. “I would like to keep living. I can’t let my siblings show me up, right? I’ve got to do something good with my life.”

Magic smiled warmly. “Of course. A life in a sibling’s shadow is no way to live.” She frowned. “Seriously, my brother sticks his nose in everything. Probably watching us right now.”

I huh’d. “Will I remember any of this?”

The goddess nodded. “Yep, every word. When you get to your new life, you’ll have a roommate. I want you to promise me that you will work together with him, it will make everything eternally better.”

I smiled. “Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”

Magic winked. “Good one. Say hi to Sully when you get there!”

I hardly had time to frown in confusion before everything disappeared into purple light.

======

A flurry of emotions flooded my mind as I thought back to my encounter with Prince Solaris…

No. I remembered speaking to Magic about choosing a new life.

Both of my minds steadied ourselves and lowered my head in confusion. We stretched out our limbs and groaned.

Six gasps sounded as I felt two unfamiliar limbs extend, and catch the breeze. I opened my eyes, and stared at my friends, and my idols.

Evan Foster, Dusk Shine, my own newly-ascended self blurted out “What just happened?” then promptly collapsed.

I opened my eyes, and groaned as my headache tripled with the harsh glare of the magical lighting above. Magical lighting? I forced my eyes to open further, and take in the room around me. I heard voices hush each other as I stirred.

The ceiling was green, and the walls are blue, which seemed a little backwards to me. The ground should be down, not up. I turned my head to the side, and saw six familiar faces looking at me worriedly.

It took me a moment to realize that I was staring at the Elements of Harmony, and Spike. It took me another moment to realize that they were all colts, and a... female dragon. Huh.

Butterscotch was crouched on the ground, looking at me through the part in his hair. Applejack was easily the largest of them all, similar to Big Mac, and wore his signature yolk and stetson. Bubble Blast was, surprisingly, not bouncing in place, but staring at me with a big smile. Rainbow Blitz was hovering slightly off the ground, and smirking at me. His eyebrows were more reminiscent of Phoenix Wright’s brows, instead of their original lightning bolt design. Elusive somehow had even more curls in his mane and tail than Rarity, and Barb was sitting on the end of my bed.

I pointed a hoof towards them. Whatever I was going to say was cut off as I stared at my lavender hoof in suprise. Then I looked at the Mane 6, then at my hoof. Right. I’m Evan Shine, the Element of Magic.

Dusk Foster?

Dusker? Nope, definitely not. Dusk Shine would do, since I was in his body and territory.

I quickly combed my somewhat confusing memories, and whistled. This was gonna be strange. I looked back at my new wings, and said the first thing that came to mind.

“Great. All my fanfictions and Ogres and Oubliettes characters are self-inserts now. Thanks, M.A. Larson.”

Rainbow spoke worriedly. “Dusk, dude, are you feeling alright?”

I looked at him and nodded slowly. “Yeah, I’m just processing. I’m an alicorn now. Who woulda guessed?”

Elusive shook his head, causing his curls to bounce side to side. “I certainly couldn’t imagine this happening. I didn’t even know it was possible.”

I blinked as knowledge came from two sets of memories at once. “Prince Authentic was a pegasus, once. He had to earn his place as an alicorn and prince.”

Butterscotch raised a hoof. “Does this mean that you’re a prince now, as well?”

Prince Solaris walked through the door just in time to answer the question. His flowing mane and tail were, instead of the bright colors of the aurora borealis, the rich oranges, reds, and yellows of a setting sun. “This does indeed mean that Dusk is a prince.”

They all bowed at his presence, as I considered the ramifications of this news. Half of me was completely new to Equestria, including being a pony, and the other half was completely frightened by the idea of having to order random ponies around.

Bubble gasped, and held up a hoof. “Wait just a moment!” He quickly drank, and spit out a glass of water. “What!?”

I blinked. “Me, an alicorn prince?”

Solaris nodded. “Since coming to Ponyville, you’ve displayed the charity, compassion, devotion, integrity, and optimism, and of course, the true leadership of a prince.”

“So… I won’t get to be your student? Anymore, I mean? Not that I want to be a student forever, it’s always nice to graduate, but I feel like I’m kinda new to this whole thing still, and suddenly becoming a prince isn’t the best way for me to graduate. Why not give me a nice plaque, or send me off into a parallel universe where everyone is evolved from apes, instead of horses, in order to find a lost magical artifact?”

Everyone stared. “I’m just saying, going from above average student to royalty feels like a big jump.”

Solaris chuckled. “We don’t have to give you any major responsibilities immediately, we can ease you into the position.”

I held up a hoof, and shook it at Solaris. “That is wonderful, since I... I just saw my entire life flash before my eyes, twice, and I realized that I should probably, most assuredly make more of my life. I have spent the majority of my life in a library reading about things that thousands of ponies have already read, and gushing over things that are little more than temporary entertainment. I mean, forget that! I wanna be something, go somewhere, do something, I want things to change. And I’ve got a whole grocery list of things to start.”

They all raised their eyebrows. Elusive waved his hoof. “Really? Er, what sort of things do you have in mind?”

I gave a wide grin. “Oh. Oh, it’s going to be so good. First order of business, find out how we grab things.” They all suddenly blinked, and looked at their hooves. “I mean, think about it, that doesn’t bother you? I mean, I have a few hypotheses on how we grab things, the most prominent being a field of magic that extends from our hooves, allowing ponies like Oct... Octavius to play the cello with two flat blocks of keratin.”

I then grabbed the blanket covering me with a hoof, and threw it aside, standing atop my bed. “Two! I want to learn to play an instrument. Preferably both the guitar and piano, then I want to figure out how to use magic to augment both. I know that...” I thought a name over. Really, it’s still Vinyl Scratch?

“Anyways, I know that Vinyl Scratch uses his magic to make his and Octavius’ music sound the way it does. Third! I want to figure out everything about other universes. I want to know how to hold a portal open, communicate between said universes, and how to find new universes to travel to.”

Solaris gave me a questioning look, while still looking amused by my mannerisms. “Why do you want to know that?”

“Just a hunch. I have a feeling that knowing how to open a portal outside of it’s usual scheduled time will solve a great deal of problems.”

Solaris sighed, and tilted his head. “I myself haven’t looked into that, but perhaps you may be able to work something out.”

It was quiet for a moment. I hopped off the bed, and smiled wide. “Well, what are we waiting for? I’ve got new wings, a new outlook on life, and an entire sky to explore! Who’s up for helping me fly?”

Blitz was just about to shout out as Solaris held out a hoof. “We will be able to go over that, in time, but for now, you still need to rest. You were collapsed for almost half a day after your ascension.”

I blinked. “What do you mean? We feel fine. I feel fine. What would we be looking for?”

At this point the previously-unacknowledged Nurse Redhoof stepped into the conversation. He obviously looked like Redheart, but with actual red hooves. “Mostly just for some unprecedented studies. The last time a pony ascended, that being Prince Authentic, our technology was hardly advanced enough to make any real studies.”

I nodded. “Alright, I can understand that.” I put my hooves together in front of my face, and inhaled. “Boys, Barb, does anypony know why I fainted after I came out of... wherever I was? I don’t think that should have happened.”

Redhoof turned his head. “That’s part of the reason you’re here as well. After you collapsed, Solaris wanted to be able to monitor you, as ascending is a very taxing process on the body.”

Really, it’s actually called ascending here? One more thing that the Evan part of me wants to figure out. Dusk, however, wants to know what exactly this process entails. New magic, more body, and nigh-immortality, but what else? I thought to myself.

I clapped my hooves together, and slowly made my way back into the bed. The heart rate monitor, as well as a couple other devices, clicked back on as I settled in.

It was silent, and kind of awkward for a moment as we all considered the massive implications of the wings on my back. I nodded with wide eyes, and clicked my tongue. “I am an alicorn prince, in Equestria.” I nodded again. “Wow.”

During the rest of that day, and the next, Redhoof, Doctor Stable, and Solaris all carefully monitored me, and did various tests on my magic, size, and wing responsiveness. Honestly, if I was Dusk Shine, 100%, I would have loved the whole thing, and would have gleefully participated.

But instead, I was a strange amalgamation of two minds: neither Evan, nor Dusk, but somepony completely new. When I finally got done with the tests, I stepped outside, the Mane Six and Barb by my side.

At that moment, I was was both terrified, and excited for what the past had to offer. Since I knew that Evan’s family was fine without him, I had no ties to my past. As far as I was concerned, I had a second chance at both my lives. Evan’s was cut short, Dusk’s was spent inside a library. I was going to do neither.

And so, I set out to the first stop of my new life. The library.