The rain pounded against my body as I ran far from my uncle's house and into the woods. The mud splashed onto my legs with every step, but I didn't care. I needed to get out of there, my distress having turned to rage. All I could remember at the time was all the yelling, the anger. I couldn't take it anymore.

After what felt like hours of running, I came to a stop. I looked around, seeing nothing but trees as far as the eye could see. I let out a sob and buried my face in my hands as I slowly slumped onto the ground. The rain poured harder than ever, as if it were trying its best to mask my cries.

My body shivered from the freezing cold. I began wishing I had brought a jacket at this point, but I couldn't go back. I couldn't face him again. I would only be beaten again. I would've rather stayed freezing than be pounded over and over.

After an unknown amount of time, I got up and continued walking. I didn't know where I was going, but it was better than going back there. It took me all of thirty minutes until I reached a small cave. Bet it's warmer in there, I thought.

I removed my soaking wet clothes, letting them drop to the cave floor. The only thing keeping me from being indecent was my underwear. I looked at my own body and felt disgust. Purple bruises covered my chest and stomach while cuts covered my arms and my back.

Distracting me from my thoughts, a chilling wind blew into the cave, making me shiver. I crawled over to my discarded pants and reached into the back pocket, pulling out a lighter. "Bastard won't be needing this..."

Next to me were some dry sticks and brush that had probably been blown in by the wind. Or by something else... but that didn't matter. If some bear were to kill me, it would've been for the better. I grabbed as much of the debris as I could.

Piling it all together, I flicked on the lighter and moved it to the mound. I hoped silently for it to catch, and eventually it did. I watched with a glimmer of delight in my eyes as I felt the fire beginning to grow and roar, the heat very welcoming.

And so I sat there, getting dry from the fire. I had also set my clothes next to it, hoping to dry them as well. With luck, I'd be able to wear them by tomorrow before leaving.

I stayed in the same spot for hours, trying my best not to fall asleep. I kept having the nagging feeling that if I slept, I'd either be killed or miss something important. The sweet tug of relaxation pulled down on my eyelids, gently lowering them until...

CRACK

My eyes opened wide, my body pumping itself full of adrenaline as I looked around for signs of danger. I couldn't quite see the very back of the cave, and that's what had concerned me in the first place when I had arrived. Did the sound come from back there?

Within the darkness in the back, I could see a faint lavender glow. My body stayed still with fear. I told myself to run, but I couldn't. Everything was on lockdown right now.

The glow grew brighter as whatever caused it came closer. I could hear something odd though... it sounded like humming. I picked up my semi-dry shirt and held it in front of me to cover up more of my body. Maybe it was another person?

I squinted my eyes as the light reached my general area. The being moved the light around a bit eratically as it seemed to notice my fire was providing sufficient light. It slowly dimmed down until I could see the source, and what I saw made me question whether I was awake or not.

It was a small horse, but not just any horse. It was a purple, winged, horned horse. This thing was a literal winged unicorn. I took a step back, not wanting to spook it. It was at that moment that it looked at me and gave an unnatural smile.

"Oh! Hello there!" it said. Judging from its voice, I could ascertain that it was female, but that was the least of my concerns. "Are you John?"

I fell backwards onto my rear and crawled back from her. This thing knew my name, and it wasn't a good sign. She took a step forward, her face showing concern, but I didn't care at the moment. I was scared out of my wits. This was a talking unicorn creature.

"Stay back!" I grabbed a stick from the fire by its safe end and swung the flaming end at the being. "What the fuck are you?!"

She looked at me with a deadpan stare and closed her eyes. Her horn glowed the same lavender color as before, and almost immediately, the crude torch I was holding was enveloped in the same color. I felt it yank itself out of my hand and toss itself to the far end of the cave.

"You shouldn't play with fire like that," she said. My brain took a while to register what the hell just happened.

"H-How did you do that?!" I asked fearfully.

"How did I do what?" she copied, raising a brow.

"Th-The thing! The glowy thing!" I stated. The winged unicorn looked at me for a minute with a confused expression on her face before the look of realization dawned upon her.

"Oh! You haven't... Of course you don't..." She shook her head with a smile. "You don't have magic, do you?"

"That shit was magic?!" I took another step back, this time into the rain. My body was now soaking wet, but I had to get away from her. She was clearly a threat.

"Calm down," she said, taking yet another step forward. "It's okay. I was sent to help you."

"Yeah, right! You're trying to trick me! Lure me into a trap, why don't you?" I said, teeth chattering from the cold. "I don't even know what you are!"

"Is that really how humans here see us?" she asked, looking rather hurt. "Nothing at all like the humans from the mirror world."

"The mirror what?" I repeated. The rain had me shivering like crazy, and I couldn't stop myself from walking forward into the cave. It was too damn cold. "J-Just go away..."

"You're freezing. Let me help you," she offered, walking up to my shivering form and holding out a hoof. I stared at it in confusion. What was I supposed to do? Was I supposed to grab it?

I very slowly, very cautiously reached out my hand. As I touched her hoof, I reeled my hand back a bit before closing the distance again. I wrapped my grip around the hoof and stared at her, still a bit frightened.

She looked at me with her big eyes and gave me a very sincere smile. "It's going to be okay."

I was laid against her side, staring into the fire, my mind having gone blank. I just didn't give a fuck anymore. Whoever this was, she wanted to help me. I didn't even ask her name yet, but now didn't seem like the right time. I was just too tired to care.

As soon as things had calmed down, she had helped me dry my clothes through some magical means, and so I was able to wear them once again, staying warm. I looked to her with tired eyes and just let out a groan. Words weren't available to me at the moment. The whole ordeal of yesterday and tonight was too exhausting.

"Are you okay?" she asked me as she draped a wing across my back. I nodded slowly. "It's been a full day since I've found you. Do you have any questions?" I nodded again and she smiled.

She slowly got up, leaving me without a living pillow to rest my head upon. I quickly repositioned myself, sitting up on my own. "Who... are you?"

She moved a wing across her front and bowed as if she were greeting an audience. "My name is Twilight Sparkle. Pleased to meet you!"

"Sparkle? I can see where you got that name. That horn seems to glow all the time," I commented, my eyes still half closed.

"Oh, no. There are others from my world who can do that, too," she explained as she moved back into her neutral standing position. "Magic is prevalent all over the place."

It took my brain a bit to register the information I was hearing. All this talk of magic was very hard to believe, but here I was, speaking with a talking winged unicorn. I chose my next words more carefully. "Um... what are-- I mean... What is your species called?"

"Well, I'm what's known as a pony," she answered, "but you already have those here. I'm a specific subtype of pony known as an alicorn."

"An alicorn? How is that different from a unicorn?" I asked, scratching my head.

"Well, an alicorn," she began, "has all the features of an earth pony, a pegasus, and a unicorn. Originally I was a unicorn, but through a special test, I had ascended to the role of princess."

"P-Princess?" I was actually a little surprised. This creature was a princess? From another world? And she had come here to help me? Pfft. Now that, I wasn't going to believe until I saw a castle. I decided not to argue and play along for now. "Okay... Why come here to help me? How do you know me?"

Twilight blushed as she put a hoof behind her head, rubbing it. "Well, I don't really know all that much about you. I was sent here by another princess. Princess Luna, in fact."

Okay, this was getting ridiculous. "Forgive me, but I find all this talk of princesses hard to believe," I said to her. "I'm just... me. I'm not special in any way."

"I don't quite understand the situation myself," she said, "but when a princess sends me somewhere, it's usually for a good reason. Besides, everypony's special."

Everypony? Shaking my head, I got up and walked over to the entrance. The rain had continued to pour since last night. Luckily, Twilight had shielded me with her magic, allowing me to gather wood, which she would then dry and place in the fire.

"Where do we have to go? How far away is it? This... place you come from," I asked as I watched the rain fall.

"The portal's not that far off. It's just further into the cave," she said, making me tense up. I still had the feeling she might trick me. Sure, lure the freshly turned adult into the back of the cave.

"I don't really trust you yet," I said quietly, hoping I didn't piss her off.

"It's okay. We can go whenever. This portal stays open, unlike some others," she explained. "Though... when you go through, your appearance may change."

"Wait... What do you mean?" I turned around to face her.

"Travelling to other worlds can change your appearance, whether you like it or not," she said to me. "I know from personal experience. Though for some reason this realm didn't change me. It could be because there's no magic here to transform me."

If I go there, I could be changed? "Would it be permanent?" I asked, a bit worried.

"Only as long as you stay there," Twilight answered.

"Is it... better there than here?" I asked, thinking back to last night. I couldn't go back, not after what had happened. I'd be six feet under.

"I don't know much about your world," she admitted. "Do you think my world is better than here?"

"It has to be, right?" I asked. "It's full of magic and princesses. If... if possible, could I live there?"

She smiled sadly and walked up to me. Looking up into my eyes, she spoke. "There are just as many dangers there as there are here, but different. I've seen how fragile humans can be. I don't know if you could handle living there. It's completely new territory."

I looked back into those big eyes of hers and tried not to cry. "I need to try... I'll die here."

Her brows raised. "You'll die here? Is something after you?"

My uncle, I thought to myself. "You could say that."

Twilight's eyes gradually went back and forth, the alicorn deep in thought. She then looked back to me and smiled. "I don't mind. You can stay with me until we get you a place of your own."

"I promise I'll do everything I can to help out around the place. I literally owe you my life right now," I said, taking her hoof and shaking it. Twilight nervously rubbed the back of her head and motioned for me towards the back.

I warily followed her towards the back, Twilight's horn lighting the way. The cave walls were bathed in a beautiful lavender hue, and I couldn't help but wonder, were all the creatures there as graceful as her?

"So... this Luna princess," I started as we travelled down a long tunnel. "Who is she? What does she want with me?"

"Princess Luna has domain over all that is the night and all that is the dream world," Twilight explained to me. "What she wants with you, I'm not exactly sure, but she told me was that you were the source of a number of nightmares."

"Nightmares?" I tried my best to remember my dreams as of late, but could recall none. "I don't think I've had any nightmares lately. Actually... I haven't had any dreams lately."

"That's pretty strange," said Twilight. "I don't think Luna would lie to me, though. Perhaps you just can't remember?" I wasn't exactly sure if that was the case, though. If it was true, then I was fine. If it wasn't... is Luna lying?

"I suppose that might be the case," I replied. I watched as the tunnel seemed to shrink, making me crouch down. For Twilight, it was only a slight squeeze. She didn't need to lower her head.

Finally, the tunnel opened up into a cavern just barely big enough for me to stand up in. My hair brushed against the ceiling as we walked towards a strange mirror in the very back. I couldn't quite see the details, as it was too dim.

"Is this it?" I asked, stepping forward cautiously. I rubbed my palm on the sides that held the glass itself, and it felt smooth beyond belief. I swear, there were no flaws whatsoever. I felt a sense of awe and wonder as I ran my skin against the cool material.

"Yup! Now we just have to step through!" She walked up to the mirror and then turned her head to look at me. "I honestly can't wait to get home. It's cold in this place."

"Forgive me. I'm a bit nervous," I admitted. "What if something goes wrong? What if I don't come out the other side?" What if they want to kill me? I thought to myself.

"Don't worry. Starswirl's magic never fails!" Twilight said proudly. I raised a brow at her, not knowing who or what this 'Starswirl' was.

"Alright," I said. I positioned myself in front of the mirror, clenching my fists, tensing up my body. I looked to her for confirmation.

"It's okay," she assured me with a sincere smile. It was that sincere smile that made me take her hoof for help. I felt I could trust her on this. I looked back to the mirror with a steady gaze and took a step forward... then another, then another. I took steps until I was inches away from it, my fear halting me.

I closed my eyes, pressed my hand against the glass, and pushed, unexpectedly falling through. I felt my body being stretched out to infinite lengths. I opened my mouth, but no sound came through. I was unable to scream when I needed to, making my stress elevate.

I opened my eyes... and I wish I hadn't. All around me were horrifying dark figures, all pointing at me, their cold gaze penetrating me and judging me for the freak I was. I could never get rid of their hateful aura. Finally, after what seemed like hours, I saw a bright light at the end of the tunnel. I went in, and all went white.

Equestria

"She's not doing so well," a rather old-sounding voice said. Did Twilight get through safely? "Somepony get her some water!" I could hear hoofsteps running off, gradually getting quieter.

I opened my eyes, and I saw a white ceiling with bright lights shining down on me, giving me a major headache. I pulled my hooves up to my head and held it tight, and then realized... I had hooves. From what I could tell, I had a shiny purple coat. I sat up, realizing I was in a hospital bed. Around me were several differently colored ponies, including Twilight.

"Twilight!" I said, but... my voice was not my own... What came out startled me. It was a smooth, girlish voice. "What happened?"

"John... You might not like it," she replied as she walked up to the side of the bed, a worried expression on her face. "You've changed, but... you changed more than I expected. There may have been something wrong with the portal."

"I-I need a mirror!" I cried frantically. Could it be true? Based on my voice... did it really happen? Twilight floated a small mirror over to me, her magic enveloping the handle. I looked into the mirror, and what I saw surprised me.

Looking back at me was a purple unicorn with a dark blue mane. Coming down the hair were pink streaks that reminded me of my days in high school. What confirmed my suspicions though were the eyelashes. I had been endowed with long eyelashes and beautiful pink eyes.

Twilight pulled the mirror away and looked at me sadly. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen."

"Twilight," I said to her with tears in my eyes. "Believe it or not, but... this is what I've wanted my whole life."

Twilight looked at me and blinked her eyes rapidly, trying to process what I had just said. "Excuse me?"

"Twilight... I'm transgender," I explained. The reason why I was beaten on a daily basis by my aunt and uncle, the reason I had felt like a freak, all of it was because I was transgender.

"Transgender?" Twilight looked at me with confusion on her face. "I've never heard of that term before."

"I'll explain," I said to her...

Author's Note

This is what I can do with a fic that wasn't very well received the first time. I refuse to let a story die. They're all special.