...You Shall...Drift...

...You Are Alone...

...The Blood...The Wolf...Will Consume...

"Ugh...ominous warning is...zzZZZzz...ominous..."

You know that emptiness that sometimes clouds your mind? The soft ringing in one ear once you wake from something...off, like you can feel something bad has or will happen, misfortune is a looming factor in the back of your drifting mind. I sat there, staring up at the ceiling of wood with the longest time, I didn't have my phone because I lacked any form of technology in this land, I sat there, my hair a messier mess, my eyes crusty and my throat barren. With a groggy yawn, my joints popped with a nice sigh of relief.

"Welcome to another thrilling day in Equestria." It had been four days, ninety-six hours or so since I was pelted to the tarmac by a banana bus, talked with what could possibly be a demon, woke up a mare in this world's terms, and now I'm here in the pastel-colored world of actually better beings than Earth. Then again, this is a kid's show to a degree, depending on how the Multiverse mingled with this one

It didn't take long for my zombie-like ass to move from my room to the bathroom to have a shower, another plus I guess, I don't have any clothing so less hassle, despite fur being annoying to dry. Once I felt the warmth of the water grace my body I melted away again into my subconscious, mindlessly standing under the showerhead, pondering.

Magic. The fundamental concept of this reality, from what I gathered there are only four beings capable of magic like spells and arcane. Unicorns. Alicorns. Changelings and Discord. The two former were the easiest ones to understand and mimic, Changelings were similar only their magic was weaker and focused more on deception and stealth. Discord was a whole 'nother level of power, a being with power over Chaos itself, if I live long enough to reach that point of the show I'm so speeding is reforming along, he was another favorite of mine, mainly due to his fourth wall breaking, reality manipulation, and fun personality, like Spike, I look forward to meeting him if I get the chance.

I stood there for a while not trying to put together any sort of convoluted plan for today. Get ready for work, leave at noon to request an outfit of my own design, come back and continue to work until closing. I had about...maybe two weeks before I've grown accustomed to this world, meaning this reality will begin to integrate events towards me to compensate, and I doubt the thing I'm after will be too happy about a human wrench in the way of collecting the rings, so most likely it'll send someone after me, gotta keep that in mind.

After a few more minutes to sigh among the warmth of the water, I slowly reached to twist the valve back and step out, grabbing a towel to quickly dry myself to the point I felt and looked less like someone had rubbed a balloon across my body. Stepping towards the mirror to scowl at my...female reflection, I felt my crimson eyes stare right back at me with just as much escalating disdain.

"Another day in the magical land of Equestria, Dimitri, hope you're ready for just about every level of despair." Not expecting my reflection to comment back, I rubbed a hoof through my mane, quickly making the chaos that was my hair more presentable, and yes, I am aware I switch between hair and mane, there is no difference it's still hair by universal terms. Still...

Placing my hoof on the mirror, If I had my fingers they've been clenched tightly into my palm, along with a cold shiver up my spine when I breathed heavily for a moment. I swear I'm going to gather these rings, even if I have to spend years in this body, I'm going to get my wish home. Removing my hoof, I walked back towards the door, leaving with a small whisper to nothing, maybe I was just hopelessly praying they'd hear me.

"I promise I'll come home."

"Yo, Pinkie, where you need this?" I spoke clearly with the large bag of sugar on my back, I'll admit it, being stuck as a Kitchen Porter for a few years pays off. The majority of my time under this employment had me doing odd jobs and shadowing whatever Pinkie or the Cakes had me do, so long as I could do it without the use of a horn until I could manage levitation I was as useless as a human

With a quick turn, throwing an assortment of ingredients into the bowl behind her, she pointed the tip of her mane towards the container to her left, without a word I moved past her with a bemused expression, the amount of contrast collected between us could be felt for miles at this rate. I was by no means complaining, I just happen to have a very agitated expression when I'm not talking or daydreaming.

"Hey, Dimi, your assistance is required!" Turning back to the energetic pony, I saw her pointing to the mixing bowl resting on the counter. "Stir this with all your might, I got cookies in need of tasting!"

"...Sure." Shrugging, I moved to take her place as I once more broke the laws of the universe and grasp the wooden spoon my hand, moving it within a clockwise motion, the batter slowly requiring me to apply more pressure with my curved hoof, meanwhile I felt my nose succumb to the sweet, freshly baked smell of cookies...hmm...melted chocolate inside with some solid chips on top...milk chocolate too. "Smells pretty good, Pinkie."

"Yep! Made with lots of love and sugar!" Without looking at her I could imagine her happily hopping on the spot. After only a few more seconds the mixture of ingredients was completely turned a pasty peach color, and I felt my muscle relax again. "Thank you so much, Dimi~!"

Still getting over that nickname. "It's...really nothing, I just stirred everything together, not like I baked a masterpiece." I looked to find said pinkie pony before me with a small sample of the cookies, and I felt my eyes draw themselves towards the dark treat with eager intent. With a simple flick of the cookie from her hoof to my own, I smiled. "But I won't refuse a sweet reward."

"Uh-uh, you totally helped, if you hadn't have put so much force into mixing some of the ingredients might not have merged, or to much could make it all runny." Huh...guess when it comes down to baking she's smarter than she looks, guess her optimistic outlook can still throw me. "Do you like baking?"

"Umm...well only when I had the time to do so." Moving back to clear some dirty dishes from her station I continued. "I and my sisters would-"

"You have sisters too!?" I was immediately pulled to stare back at her wide eyes, but I shook my head and pushed her away from my muzzle to allow my personal bubble to form again

"Aye, Ruby and Seras." I didn't realize it but I was beginning to smile at the memory of us attempting to keep the kitchen clean that one time during summer. "We made a complete mess of the place, even though we tried really hard not to, hehehe, it was really bad."

"Hey, you smiled again!" What? I saw Pinkie looking up from a recipe book with an honest smile on her face. "I've never seen you so happy before, but I get really happy too when I talk about my sisters."

...Bloody rats made me miss them...not that I was complaining. Rubbing my mane I went back to work

"That's what happens when you miss family, you talk about them and...I guess its like they're right next to you again or something." With that said I returned to cleaning the place up some more, a small breath of silence filling the air again besides the clanking of objects

"You can bake too if you want?" I stopped what I was doing to hear her again. "Cakes, muffins, cupcakes, cookies, anything, just say the word and I'll make you the greatest baker in all of Equestria!"

"You...really would do that for me?" A mixture of uncertainty and interest had built in my chest again, the answer was uncertain too. But looking at her batter-covered face, that innocent smile and determined flare in her eyes, she truly was honest about it, even if she can't stop bouncing to say it directly.

"Well duh, you're one of my best friends now."

Best...Friend...

Sudden elation returning from the abyss. And with a thought chosen, I grinned. "No promises I'd keep this place clean." Pinkie just giggled, flicking the spoon to smack me with a spot of batter on my face, which was promptly licked clean with a small buzz of energy to my body

"I want to see this entire kitchen coated when we're done, Dimi!"

"Heh, aye sir."

I don't want to do this.

Why am I here? What reason do I - Oh, right, I needed equipment...

"You know it won't be that bad, right?" Again, the convenience of meeting both the infuriating fashion designer, as well as have the oblivious Twilight with me is bound to cause my brain cells to commit to mass genocide, I can hear the crusade now. Praise the Sun! I gave her a knowing look of anguish, forcing the mare to look at me nervously. "R-Right, you...both didn't see eye-to-eye all that well last time."

"I'd say something sarcastic, but its too easy," I replied, rubbing my mane as we approached the door to the rather elegant building, despite who dwelled inside like a slumbering dragon awaiting to toss me into her treasury like a prize, the aesthetics of the building were well-thought out. "If not for the fact I have to place an order, at least the place looks pristine."

"I know right? When I came to Ponyville I never knew they constructed buildings like this either, not that its a bad thing, only that it looks as though it came from Canterlot." Well, she's got a point there, it's also deceptive. "Oh, and Dimitri?"

"Aye?" Not looking at her I kept my eyes to the door now meters from us, my impending jump into the abyss adding to the pressure in my stomach, I'd rather fight Artorias on a dance mat than this

"I wanted to apologize still for how I laughed at you a few days ago." I stopped to give her an inquisitive brow, my frown probably didn't help though but if I tried to smile forcefully I'd look like I was in pain...

I was.

I raised my hoof up to stop her again. "You already apologized, and as I say to everyone I don't expect anyone to understand what goes on in my head, despite how I look on the outside, so unless you want me to feel guilty, drop it."

"R-Right," She then gave me a soft smile. "Thank you, Dimitri."

"Heh, don't thank me yet, I might just kill your friend if she tries to force me into a dress." I may be in this...ugh, body, but my mind is NOT being altered in anyway, I made that notion clear with Gambit a while ago, if anything I have many windows of opportunity to dive out of

*Knock-Knock-Knock*

"I am so sorry for whatever Deity I have upset," I whispered a final goodbye as the door swung open, and I saw the casual smile of Rarity perk up at mine and Twilight's appearance. "Sup."

"Dimitri and Twilight! Perfect timing the both of you, come in." Waving us in I slowly made my way inside, viewing the many stands with...gulp, mannequin...or mareicanes? No that sounds like something else...hmm, what the hell was this world's version of these creepy, lifeless statues? "I have just begun a new design for the Galla and I insisted you'd come to be a...assisstant, Twilight, since you grew up in Canterlot, maybe you can give your own professional opinion on the matter?"

"Well, sure I can try, but fashion isn't my area of expertise." Neither is your tact, Twi, but I lack that too. Taking my time to admire her handiwork in each design, how well-thought-out and carefully executed her plans where made mine pale in comparison. I may not want to be anywhere within a mile of a dress, but I can admire great care and work when I see it. "Dimitri, you said you had plans for Rarity, right?"

"That I do." With a soft grumble, I removed the small notepad from the hidden pouch in my cape to give her, flicking to the right page with the designs. To my surprise she grasped the book in her magic, taking a closer look at my sketched designs, most of which were drawn by Pinkie since I lacked any capable use to write with hooves...it took longer than expected. "I wanted to see if you could manufacture these designs of mine, I don't really care how long they take, just so long as you follow them. To. The. Letter."

"Well...these designs, darling, they...umm, how should I put it?" Rarity was going to insult me again, that look said it all because it's not 'Lady-Like' or something like that. Twilight looked more interested than confused though. "I dare say these designs are-"

"Fascinating." The sudden field of magic shifted to a light purple one, and Twilight started to analyze the pages before us, myself rubbing my hooves together shyly, I don't handle judgment on drawings of mine well, that linger rejection feeling was very real and very ominous. "Hidden zips for items or metal plates, extra carrying capacity, lightweight materials but sturdy against weather and burns, not to mention a very...roguish style."

"I, well...I am a Hunter after-all, kind-of the reason to be prepared." It was a half-lie, I wasn't a Hunter IRL, but they don't know that, and I want to stroke my ego some more, besides with these rings I could have the capability of being a Hunter too. I glanced again to my...flank, I hate these terms, seeing the mark embedded on the side, six parallelograms forming a triangle. Yeah, another thing I liked about this body, I had the mark of the Hunter Vanguard on my ass, I'm gonna wear it proud

"This is by far the strangest order I've received, and while I don't find the style to be...fitting, I can see how much this means to you darling, so yes, I can have this tailored to you." Score! "On one condition." Noooooo. "You must allow me to use your measurements to design a dress for you!"

"I would rather die." Doing my best Kevin Hart Impression I snatched the book from Twilight's magic, fascinated by the fact I couldn't feel any resistance when I did

"I insist you let me, with your snow-white color, and your mane!” She patted it with her hooves. I found this to be very odd...but I couldn't move towards the door, not when they had magic, damn. She clicked her tongue in disappointment though. “Such a strange style too, and yet you haven’t taken care of it at all.” She shook her head, I pushed her back softly, glaring daggers at her

"I came here to make an order, not play dress-up. I hate dresses, and as I told you last time, I am extremely self-conscious about my mane and what others do to it." My tone made her take a step back, just as I breathed out my nose with an angry sigh. "You can tailor me a suit, but that is as far as I'll go."

"Well, I-" I stopped her again, Twilight watching from a reasonable distance

"Rarity. Dimitri isn't like any girl we know, not even Rainbow Dash is this adamant about a dress." Got that right - wait..is she calling me a tomboy? Oh My Gods, I am a tomboy. Both looked at me with strange looks as I put the notebook on a table. "She seems to hate having anyone force her into doing something she hasn't or doesn't like trying."

"Got that right," I answered her, my irritation slowly dying out. "While I can see where you're coming from, Rarity, I am someone who is, by no stretch of the imagination, a pain to all I encompass."

"...That's quite alright dear. I understand, although I would try to avoid such a hostile reaction next time.” Her eyes lit up suddenly and a massive, open-mouth smile stretched across her face. “IDEA!"

"Wait what? Hold up you banshee!" I didn't have time to acknowledge her sudden change in attitude, as I was pulled towards a stand in her magical grasp. "Ahh, magic, noooo!"

"Relax,” Twilight soothed. “She has an idea for you."

"I've got the idea for a perfect outfit alongside your custom order!” Rarity dragged me to what was evidently a measuring stand and placed me on a pedestal. I dropped my head and growled in frustration. I signed my soul off and made my bed with my order. Time to lay in it

I was tired now, but at least I now have a way to break this awkward silence that had consumed me for ten minutes as Rarity poked and prodded me with a measuring tape. I'd give her credit, she was in full professional mode now, something I can respect. The two best unicorns I know where currently before my eyes, keyword being 'Unicorns'.

"Yo, Twilight, how do I use this blasted horn of mine?" That sounded wrong, the fact I know it sounds wrong makes me worse. Looking up from my notebook that I held to keep my notes, I let her glance through some pages

"Right, you said you've never used magic before." I nodded, straightening again to allow the tape to graze my neck. "Well, what do you know? What knowledge you have on magic can help me see where I can begin."

"Right. Magic is a construct of Ether, the energy that everything is made of, Magic, Arcane, Dark, Holy, everything that can conjure something from nothing is magic, and magic is Ether." I explained with what I knew of this world and from reading. "My horn acts like a staff or wand, channeling magic stored within me as projecting it out using either spoken incantations or methods stored in memory, the latter being easier."

"That...actually all correct, I'm impressed!" Don't patronize me, mare. "You need to have a clear goal in mind when conjuring magic. Picture what you wish to do to the world around you or what you can do with just your hoof. Like grabbing an object." I see, so I was close

Closing my eyes I focused on envisioning my notebook in Twilight's hooves, my own, real human hands grasping the edge and pulling it from her soft grip...okay, beginning to strain my brain here. Calm thoughts Dimitri, just carefully imagine grasping the book softly like her, feel your fingers coil around the two edges, then pull.

Opening my eyes, I noted that I was still facing Twilight with a bemused expression, but her own face was that of amazement and a tint of pride.

"For someone claiming to never use magic." I too was smiling as she spoke to me, I felt my heart race at the sight of a royal red tint that made my hair illuminate. "You sure have an easy time understand it."

I pulled my notebook towards my face, the cover held tightly in a red aura that shimmered before me and Rarity

"Great work, Dimitri." Rarity praised me too, and I felt my awkwardness emerge

"Y-yeah...thanks...both of you."

Does this make me Gandalf now?

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

At this rate, I doubt Dimitri will survive Rarity long enough to gather two rings, let alone the others. Touching and insightful events into who Dimitri is, hope you enjoyed, seeya in the next chapter!

Next Chapter: Fruity Behavior
Ok, either I truly lost my mental stability back in that void or someone is following me ever since I procured this collection of fruit, what I don't get is why.