Equilibrium, Book 1: The First Human.

November 27, 1000, C.E.
Ponyville General Hospital.
8:57 A.M.

John awoke with a start looking around lost and confused. As he looked around he heard a soft beeping. Looking to his left he was surprised to see a heart monitor standing there.

"Where am I?" He wondered aloud as he fell back into his bed. As the rest of his scenes came back to him he noticed a lack of feeling in his limbs. A shuffling noise to his right caused him to grunt as he turned to see who or what it was. He saw a cot in a corner and saw that it was occupied. He couldn't see who was occupying it but he did see them scramble to get up, however.

"Oh thank Faust!" They said before they ran out of the room. Slowly John's failing memory began to come back to him. He winced as he went over the events of last night.

November 12, 1000, C.E.
6:17 P.M.

Pinky Pie pranced around the party feeling rather perky. She hummed a little tune as she trotted about refilling drinks and mingling with the various ponies and Equestria's lone human being. Glancing over at John she smiled he casually chatted with the spa sisters. Meanwhile Hot Shot was enthralling Fluttershy with one of his exploits while he was in the royal guard.

"So there I was asking this stallion if he could please stop staring at my erection long enough to give me a statement." Fluttershy gave him a sly smile and a giggle as she nodded her head.

"Oh no, what did he say?" She asked as she kept an ear out for her son. Hot Shot smiled as he recalled the moment fondly.

"He told me sure but only if I put away my deadly weapon first." He gave a week chuckle as a blush crossed his face.

"I told him to stop eyeballing my junk and to come with me to the station." Fluttershy giggled just to play along. She would normally be at least mostly focused on the conversation at hand but she soon felt the effect's of a teleportation spell and the hair's on the back of her neck began to prickle. Pinky Pie also felt the disturbance in the air as she looked around for the source. Her bell began to rattle as she looked around for the phantom's magic. She looked around in worry but put on a fake smile when Dash called out to her. She trotted on over and proceeded to make small talk. She shot Fluttershy a look of trepidation.

"Fluttshey do you feel that?" She mentally asked while Flutterhsy gave her a nod while discussing the finer points of being a guard with Hot Shot. She let her senses loose and began to scan the surrounding area. She felt two distinct life forms making there way to the barn. One of them, a unicorn cast a spell causing her to growl as his presence vanished from her perception.

"He's invisible." Pinky let a giggle pass through her thought's.

"Oh don't worry about him. We've played hide and seek before." She smiled deviously as she slipped away from the party, slinking into the shadows of the barn. Fluttershy felt her friends presence vanish before it reappeared outside the barn just a little ahead of the duo. One of them broke off and headed up tot eh barn door. The other one made its way around the back. She growled as she picked up the voice of the one headed toward's the barn.

"Hello, everypony!" Soarin yelled as he strolled into the party casting all eye's upon himself. John paled as his heart rate picked up. Flutterhsy looked over to Hot Shot who had a scowl upon his face as well. She smiled as she nodded over to John. Hot Shot gave her a smile as he walked past her,

"I'll go run interference." He smirked as he strolled over to Soarin and through his wing's open in greeting.

"Hey, Soarin buddy! Long time no see!" Fluttershy made a mental note to thank him. For now, she trotted over to John to see him knocking back a bottle of Apple Family Cider. He looked over at her and smiled.

"Don't worry mom. This stuff doesn't hold a candle to the alcohol back on earth." He smiled as she made her way over and wrapped him in a feathery hug. She put her head to rest in his shoulder and hummed.

"How are you feeling about tonight?" She asked as he simply huffed and looked over to Soarin.

"Well, I was feeling more confident earlier but now-." He trailed off as he looked over at Dash who was playing pin the tail on the pony along with Spike and Apple Bloom. He smiled as his face fell for a few seconds. He let out another deep breath as he looked over to his backpack sitting next to the small mountain of present's meant for Rainbow. He laughed as Fluttershy dropped to her hooves giving him a soft smile.

"Now I feel even better. At least I'll have an audience to cheer me on." He smirked as he looked over the whole party. Flutterhsy gave him a nuzzle on his thigh.

"You really do love her don't you?" She asked causing to blush, but he didn't deny her accusation. She giggled as she leaned against him.

"Oh don't worry you'll do fine." She smiled as she reminisced.

"When your father and I first met he was head over hoove's in love with me." She smiled as she thought of the good old days.

"He was so lost and yet so determined." She gave John a wink.

"In the end, he ended up storming my castle to receive my hoof." John gawked as he listened.

"Damn what was that like?" He asked giving her a puzzled look. She smiled as she looked over at the partygoers.

"It was glorious. He didn't harm a single hair on anyone's head. He ended up trapping them all in a vast lake of pudding in honor of one of my friends." John gave her a look of curiosity.

"Wait was your husband-" He was cut off by a shout ringing out over the hustle and bustle.

"Time to open up the presents!" Soarin shouted as he made his way over to the table piled with gifts cradling a gift of his own. Dash looked over to see everyone looking at her expectantly. She then looked over at the clock. It had just turned 6:30. She then looked over to her friend's. Some of them gave her soft smile's while other's glared dagger's at Soarin for taking charge of there friend's party. She chuckled as she made her way through the crowd and looked over the pile of presents she had accrued.

"How many time's do I have to tell you pony's that I don't need a mountain of gift's every year?" She asked the crowd who all laughed and beamed at the mare of the hour. She rolled her eyes as she trotted over and grabbed a gift with her wings. She read the note on it,

"Here's to another year of bringing out that beautiful side of you for all to see." She looked from Rarity to the spa twins and grinned as she read who it was from.

"Thank's you three." She said as opened the box and pulled out a bottle of shampoo. It gave off a soft blue glow causing her to smile.

"Wow Liquid Lightning!" She beamed at her friend's.

"This must have cost you all a mint." She said as Rarity waved a hoof.

"Oh, darling think nothing of it." She gestured to the Spa Twins.

"It was their idea to get it for you. I just so happened to have some friends in manehattan that know the family that distributes this particular brand of shampoo. The spa twin's nodded as they gave Dash a soft smile.

"We figured you'd like to have some at home spa time what with you and one of our best masseuse's being friends." Aloe winked as Dash's face lit up giving John a sly grin. He too had a flush to his face but he kept up his smile not wanting to draw any undue attention his way. Dash giggled as she carefully put the bottle back in its box and set it down on an empty table next to the one full of gifts.

"Come here you." She said as Rarity and the spa twins became enveloped in a soft feathery hug.

7:00 P.M.

She went down the list of friend's and other ponyville resident's until only two gifts remained unopened. She looked at the last two and frowned as her heart began to flutter with anticipation. The various partygoers had lost interest and began to mingle about once more, now only dash's friend's remained at the now two last gifts for the night.

"Here goes nothing." She thought as her smile came back as she reached for John's gift, a small box bearly the size of a shoe box.

"Saving the best for last?" Soarin asked a smirk adorning his muzzle. Dash just smiled as she bypassed John's box and went straight for Soarin's. His own smile faltered but it was soon plastered on his face once more.

"Why yes. Yes, I am." She shot John a wink that had his face as red as a tomato. Soarin who saw this was internally cursing up a storm.

"That smug son of a bitch!" He kept up his calm cool facade as Dash proceeded to open up the box. It was the size of a moving box and as she opened it her eye's lit up.

"He won't be able to top this anyway" Soarin smiled as Dash stared at the contents within.

"No way!" She silently let out as she held up the garment contained within. The whole party gasped at the pristine blue and yellow jumpsuit. It looked emaculant. Soarin gave off a chuckle as he sauntered over to Dash.

"Yes, way." He said as he held out a hoof and closed Dash's still hanging jaw. She looked at him with genuine surprise.

"How?" She asked as she set it back in the box. He gave her a cocky grin as he leaned in close to her ear.

"It's a secret." He winked as he drew back. The party had continued but ponies began to murmur as they saw the courtship happening before them.

"So what does this mean?" Dash asked as Saorin gave her a grin.

"Well, Dash the offer is there for you to join us at any time." He said with a wink.

"And after a thorough physical exam and flight test, we can officially welcome our newest member to the team." Dash blushed even further as she looked at the suit in the box and then over to John. She saw the look of utter shock on his face and she let out a sigh.

"Can I think about this?" She asked as Saorin just gave her a nod.

"Of course Dash. Take all the time you'll need." He said his grin never leaving his muzzle. She took a deep breath as she trotted over to the table and grabbed John's gift. Holding it in one wing she opened it with the other trying to regain her smile as she did so.

"He oughta get a kick out of that." Her smile returning as she thought about his fascination with pegasi wings. Her smile, however, turned to a look of confusion. She grabbed the object within with her wing and pulled it out. Looking it over she surmised that it was a blindfold. Slowly a smirk began to unfurl on her face as she sauntered over to John and gave him a sly grin.

"So you got some weird human kink's I should know about?" John's brain blanked as he began to stutter out a response he tried to not let his mind wander.

"UHHHH I never should have looked up boo-." Dash's laugh brought him back down to Equestria. At the sound of her beautiful voice, John's faculty's came back to him. He laughed at himself as did a few partiers who overheard the banter. John got his brain in order and grinned at Dash as he shook his head.

"Un no Dash. No interdimensional kinkiness going on." He said as held out a hand.

"May I?" He asked as Dash smiled and handed him the blindfold. John made his way to her side and wrapped the blindfold around her soft magenta eyes.

"You know if you wanted to abduct me for a little late night fun we could have done this at any time." She smirked as John's hand slipped and pulled a little too tight. This just caused Dash to chuckle as she had no doubt that John was at the point of passing out with all of the blood rushing to his head from blushing. He cleared his throat and looked over at Twilight.

"Ok Twilight we're ready." He gave her a thumbs up. Dash's ear's perked up as did her curiosity.

"Oh, are we going to make this a threesome now?" Twilight's cheeks burned but she held her concentration and scrunched up her muzzle as her spell took effect. Rainbow felt the warm fuzzy atmosphere of the barn slip away only to be replaced by the cool air of the night. She felt the soft fluff of cloud beneath her hooves and let out a hum of delight.

"Wow, I wonder what he could possibly up down there while I'm up here." Dash heard a chuckled beside her that made her blood run cold.

"Well, why don't you take that off and find out." In a split, second Dash did just that and immediately flew over to John and held him tight.

"What the hell are you doing up here?" She shouted as she rolled onto her back and held John to her barrel looking around frantically for a safe place to put him. She spotted a soft patch of ground below them but before she could zoom off she felt a finger poke her snout.

"Hey Dash as fluffy and warm as you are I can't give you the rest of your gift from here." Dash looked at him and then her eyes went wide.

"How were you able to stand on this cloud, to begin with?" She asked as she tentatively let him go. He rolled out of her grip and smirked as he pointed down.

"Twilight and Rarity." He said standing up and gesturing to the golden-hued horizon before them. He smiled as Dash looked out at then back at him.

"What?" She asked feeling confused but in the back of her mind, she was very much excited for what else lay in store for her tonight. She looked at John and noticed he was looking a little chubby around the waist as well as sporting his backpack.

"Hey not to imply anything but how did you put on any kind weight with all the exercise we do?" John just smiled an took a step back. Dash noticed thin and tensed up as he got closer to the edge of the cloud.

"So Dash do you want the rest of your gift?" He asked ignoring her question as his smile got wider. She gave him a slight grin as he took another step back making her begin to sweat.

"Hey come on dude be careful alright." She said taking a step toward's him. He just grinned as he looked back and saw the edge a few feet away. He just shrugged as he took another step back.

"So is that a yes?" His smile never faltered but Dash was starting to get nervous.

"Seriously dude you could end up getting really hurt if you fall." She said as she stepped up next to him. Her nerves settled down as she and him stood there at the edge. He just chuckled.

"You still haven't answered my question Dash." He said as she gave him a soft grin.

"There more huh?" She asked as she looked out upon the horizon. He just nodded.

"So do you want it?" He asked. She rolled her eyes at the innuendo of that statement but nodded her head.

"Sure then lay it on me" John smiled as he got down to her eye level and looked her straight in the eyes. Her face flushed as she thought of all that could happen from this angle. She saw John's face light up with red as a smile crossed his face.

"Ok here goes nothing." He mumbled echoing Dash word for word as she entered the barn. She looked at him with curiosity but that soon turned to shock as she felt a soft pair of lips against her own. Her brain went to cloud nine as the two of them stood there lost in the blissful kiss that had claimed them both. When John dared to break the kiss and give Dash a look he saw her flushed muzzle and face twitch a little. He smiled as he stood up and looked behind himself at the still setting sun. He made a mental note to thank Celestia and Luna for making such a beautiful backdrop.

"That's not all Dash." He said as he took one more step back and gave her a two finger salute before he tipped himself over and fell off the edge of the cloud.

Dash was still stunned and as she recovered from her cloud nine high she saw the edge of John's foot dip below the clouds. At once she shot off the edge only to stop and stare in stunned silence for what seemed like the third time that night as she saw what she thought was impossible. John had somehow cobbled together a suit of some kind that at this very moment was enabling him to fly. She knew that somehow Rarity and Twilight had a hand in this suit. Granted his flying wasn't as graceful as any pegasus she'd ever seen but she didn't care about that at the moment.

She cared about the fact that one of her best friends in all of Equestria was flying. More importantly, he was doing this for her. She knew that he was working on something over the past few eek's but she'd never thought he'd be doing anything like this. She giggled to herself like a school filly as she leaped off the cloud and followed after her friend in the sky. She caught up with him a second later and smiled with tear's streaming down her face as she flew next to him.

"This is awesome!" She shouted over the air pressure as John looked over to her, his own smile hidden by his helmet. The two flew and flew again as the night went on. Twilight and Rarity ran interference for the two lovebird's as they soared and weaved in the air. Down below in the orchard Chancellor Neighsay was furious. The constant tinking of a bell followed his every step and he was becoming paranoid.

He pushed it out of his mind as he looked up into the sky and scowled at the happy duo.

"I have to stop this now." He sighed as his horn lit up. At once the human's flight began to falter as Neighsay punctured the wings of his suit with holes. Another flash of his horn and Rainbow Dash was gone in a flash of light. John screamed as he plummeted to the earth hitting several trees along the way. He let out a roar of agony as a white-hot and furious pain tour through his left shoulder before he hit the ground and blacked out.

8:00 P.M.

Chancellor Neighsay let out a soft breath of relief as he slid into the shadows. His work complete he opened up a portal to his tower and left John to his fate.

"Only a one more month and we'll finally be rid of this scourge." He said as he trotted through the portal his face one of glee as the tinking stopped following him and streaked off into the distance.

8:01 P.M.

The party was beginning to thin out as the night wore on. The barn was filled with laughter and banter as they all shared a story or two. This all came to an abrupt halt however as Rainbow Dash appeared in the barn in a flash of light. She frantically looked around before looking to the big barn door's. Like a bullet, she flew through them blasting them off there hinge's and zooming off toward's the last spot she saw John in the sky. Everypony else looked on in worry and wonderment while Soarin looked off, a neutral expression on his face. Everypony flinched as a wail of sorrow ripped through the orchard reaching all those present in the barn.