Equilibrium, Book 1: The First Human.

Earth, January 25st, 2018, Tucson, AZ.
7:54 A.M.

"I just don't understand?" Dr. Hoffman pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. He looked over his patient's charts again.

"There's nothing wrong with you." He scowled while looking over to the trauma ward of St. Mary's Hospital.

"So why aren't you responding?" He mused as he put the file back on his desk and headed out the door of his office.

Dr. Hoffman's gait was strong and you'd be hard pressed to find the slight limp in his step that belayed his war wound. Still confused as to the cause of his patient's condition Hoffman trudged on praying that by some miracle that the man would wake up while he was on his way there.

"This is going to be a long day." He sighed to himself as he took the elevator down to the main lobby.

8:03 A.M.

John's mother and father sat in a pair of chairs they had pulled into his room from outside.

"How could this have happened?" His mother thought as she sat there looking at the comatose form of her son. John Sr. wasn't faring any better.

"Come on son pull through for us. Please?" He looked around the room at his eyes fell on the only thing even remotely normal about there situation. Scowling John Sr. went over and flicked on the T.V.

"Maybe that'll wake him up." Both of them looked up at the T.V. as the static white background bleed away to give rise to the currently scheduled program. They both let out a chuckle as the My Little Pony logo danced across the screen.

"That should have him up and about in no time." They both smiled as the episode started up with a dream sequence.

"Hello?" The voice that emanated from the T.V. made John and his wife stiffen. "Is anybody there?" It asked as the T.V. began to pan around a darkened background. Finally, the camera settled on a figure the two parents knew only too well.

"Son?" They both said as the camera came to a rest on their son stuck in the black voided confines of a nightmare.

"Is anyone there?" He asked again as he slowly wandered around his dream realm. Suddenly there was a bright flash as John found himself now in what looked like Sugarcube Corner. Spotting his new found friends caused John to smile as he made his way into the establishment. Hearing them laugh made john quicken his pace. In a little while, he was at there table and took a seat. His smile faltered however when they all gave him look's of contempt.

"And just what are you doing here?" Fluttershy asked her voice dripping with ice. John chuckled weekly.

"What do you mean Flutter's?" He asked as he leaned back into his chair from the six glaring females. AJ snorted.

"We mean what do yall think you are doing just sitten down with us?" She asked as the other's all nodded. John was puzzled.

"What are you talking about?" He asked feeling out of the loop. He smiled trying to get rid of the feeling of not being welcome.

"We're friends right?" He asked as they all gave him a look of surprise. They all let out a sinister laugh at his own expense.

"Y-y-you thought I was serious?" Twilight said between giggles. John felt like his heart was cracking.

"W-hat d-do you mean Twilight?" He asked fighting to hold back tear's as they all continued to laugh. Rarity chimed in while holding a hoof to her mouth.

"Dear, you of all people should know how outsiders are around here." She said as her horn flared to life.

"Which remind's me I'm going to need my clothes back, deary." She said as John's clothing flew off of him leaving him naked and exposed to the world. To John's horror, they all got a good look at his body before he could cover himself up.

"What has gotten into all of you?" He asked as he scrambled to find something to cover himself up with. They all laughed even more at his feeble attempt's to hide his nudity.

"Well I can tell you one thing," Rainbow said raising a hoof and pointing to his crotch. "No mare in her right mind is going to want to spend a night with you buddy." She said as John's face lit up and he whimpered a little as he tried to desperately keep from bursting into tear's at the torture he was enduring.

"This has to be a dream." He cringed as they all laughed again. "More than likely a nightmare." He shuddered as they all continued to throw verbal slander and abuse his way. Try as he might he couldn't help but flinch at there words. A lot of what they said hurt him deeply even tho he knew it all to be in his head.

Back in the room, all john's parents could do is sit and watch as the horrible event's unfolded.

"What the hell is going on?" His mother finally said as she got up and walked over to her son while staring intently at the T.V.

"That both look's and sound's like our son but he's right here." She said as she gave his face a soft shake. His dad went over to the T.V. and turned up the volume a little bit.

"Luna are you there?" John asked as his tormenters began to encircle him.

"Weak."

"Useless."

"Pathetic."

Soon all of there voice's and insults began to blend into one voice. Just as John was about to reach his breaking point a bright light flashed once more.

"ENOUGH!" Came a cry from above causing John to huddle within himself as he hit the ground from the force of the voice. All at once his assailant's vanished as did the gloomy atmosphere that permeated his dreamscape.

"Our deepest apology's Sr John." Came the voice of one Princess Luna. John peeked out of his fetal position and saw the princess of the night giving him a look of genuine concern.

"Art thou alright?" She asked extending a hoof. John looked at it hesitantly but took it regardless.

"U'm I think so." He answered not entirely sure himself. While the two of them got acquainted with one another John's parents were flabbergasted.

"How is our son in there show?" His father asked as he sat back down on his seat. They both continued to look at the screen.

"I don't know." His wife said as she looked to there son.