A rainbow of colorful, small ponies bounded towards me. There, at the head of this plethora of plentifully painted ponies were the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Sweetie Bell and Apple Bloom had huge grins plastered on their faces as though they were just so proud of what they'd done. Scootaloo was jumping up and down, pointing, and shouting behind her, "See? I told you! He has no hair on his body!"

"Ewwww," said several little foals. "Ooooo," said several others.

I was not prepared for this. I didn't feel prepared for...anything. All I wanted to do was be alone and...well...that part of the plan wasn't fleshed out, yet. Somehow getting away would make everything...better? Yeah, that was it. And once I felt better...somehow...I'd be able to face people again. Or ponies again? Or [insert anthropomorphic animal here] again? But I had to deal with this, and tactfully.

"Sh - !"

Someone in my brain hit the "In Case of Children" switch.

"-shenanigans!"

As the foals began collecting about me, Apple Bloom looked up at me with large eyes.

"It-it's okay that we brought everyone to see you, right?"

You brought me an adorable army.

"Umm, yeah. Sure. Shouldn't you ponies be in school?"

"Nope," came Sweetie Bell's bubbly response. "We're off for the day!"

"Oh. Joy."

"So what are we gonna do first?" said Apple Bloom, her knees bent inward and hands clenched under her chin in anticipation.

That pose! How can such cuteness exist and not break reality?!

"I don't know. I mean, I'm feeling a little - "

"C'mon, mister Brendon! You said you'd play with us!"

Every foal was giving me The Eyes, and staring into that was like staring into the sun. A blazing sun of "D'aw!" A part of my soul writhed under the gaze of those large, shiny pools of darling little -

Aaarrgh!

"A-and so I shall!"

"Yaaaaaaaay!"

The force of their cheer hit me in the face. And somehow it moved me inside. Like I was back with my nieces and nephews.
For some reason they thought I was so fun to play with. It was...inspirational.

A pose was struck.

"Then we need to Play - A - GAME!"

"Yaaaay!"

"Did someone say Game?"

What the - ?

"Gaaaah!"

*FWUMP!*

"Wow! You're funny when you're surprised! How do you fall over like that?"

A pink face of impossibly bright inquisitiveness appeared in my vision.

"Pinkie! Where did you come from?"

"What do you mean?"

"You - and there was no - and all of sudden - I mean - how did - ?"

"Uh oh. Are you broken?"

I found my face seized between soft and incredibly strong hands, and I felt myself lifted to a standing position rather easily.

"Is that better?"

"Gen lu ret go oh mah sace?"

"Hmmm?" Her grip slackened just enough.

"I said, can you let go of my face?"

"Oh! Why didn't you say so? And didn't you have glasses before?"

I felt my jaw pop painfully back into place while I let that statement sink in. Had I forgotten my glasses before I ran away from the cottage? I felt my face, knowing before I even moved my hand that it was true. But everything looked perfectly clear! Equestria was still changing me, but for some reason I found this change very unnerving. Gone was the hope that I would be made well, and in its place was a silent dread of my uncertain future. "Uh, I don't know. Must not've needed them."

"Now," said the brightly clothed pony of pinkness, "What did I hear about games?"

How does she bounce up and down like that? I really wish -

No, I really should look away. Too much is bouncing.

I shook my head and turned to the foals. Their excitement was getting infectious, and I felt my mind boiling with ideas. I was desperate for a new train of thought, and all my brain power went to work right away.

I grinned.

"How would you like to play pirates?"

"Pirates?!"

I heard a sound, and turned to see Pinkie suddenly dressed in full pirate regalia: eye patch, hat, fake hook, and a wooden cutlass.

"Arrrrgh!"

"Well, uh...I was going to say we would need some props but...I see Pinkie Pie has that covered."

Wait a minute. Her reality warping powers could come in handy.

"Hang on. First mate Pinkie!"

Her immediate salute at attention would have given pride to any sailing captain. The poofy hair and goofy grin...not so much.

"I need you to scrounge up as many swords and pirate costumes as you can!"

"A pirate party? Yes, sir!" Instantly a Pinkie-shaped cloud of dust took her place.

"Cutie Mark Crusaders!"

"Here!" came the reply of three trusty shipmates.

"Do we have a ship?"

"A ship?" replied Apple Bloom, a little confused.

I was starting to get in full swing and into character now. "Aye! A mighty fine vessel to sail the seven seas! Do ye have a proper boat worthy of this here pirate crew?"

"Um," said Scootaloo, "We have a tree house."

"Astoundingly good, fourth mate Scootaloo. That shall be our pirate hideaway where we shall keep our booty!"

"Hey why am I only fourth - "

" - but first I need all of you to form up and let's have a proper ship!"

* * *

Fluttershy had been walking for what seemed hours, trying to find her friend. She eventually wandered into town, trying not to appear as terribly worried as she felt. She was failing miserably. With her ears back, wings drooping, and eyes pleading silently for help, it was little wonder when she heard a familiar voice call out: "Hey, Fluttershy! You okay, sugarpie?"

"Oh! Applejack! Y-yes. I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Because you look about as nervous as a long tailed pony in a room full of rocking chairs. What's going on? Why aren't you with your special somepony?"

"M-my what?!"

"Ohh, relax, Ah'm just teasin' ya! But Ah did think you'd be with him right now."

"Oh no, I can't find him. He, uh, um, w-what is everyone waiting for?"

It was rather odd, they were in the marketplace but everypony seemed to be looking all in one direction, expectation written all over their faces. And everyone was huddled behind the stalls.

"Oh, well Pinkie came runnin' through here real quick, handing out bits and yellin' and carryin' on and all. It sounds like a great show is gonna come round that corner any minute!"

"W-what is it?"

"Not sure mahself. Let's wait and find out." And with that she put her arm around Fluttershy and gently steered her towards one side.

"Oh no! I can't stay! I have to find Brendon! I'm afraid he's in a terrible - "

Her words were cut off by a large cry that resounded through the open air.

"Arrrrrrrrrrgh!

"Wh-what was? Oh!" Fluttershy hid behind Applejack and peered from behind her. Something was coming down the street.

Small hooves were pounding up a cloud of dust, as a tiny horde of colts and fillies in colorful array swarmed down the street. At first it was hard for Fluttershy to tell what she was seeing. It seemed there were foals floating in the midst of the dust cloud, and others were running along the outside of it, all whooping and hollering and waving...weapons? There was some kind of flag that was waving somewhere in the middle, but she couldn't make it out.

When this cavalcade of threatening fun plowed into the middle of the marketplace, a strong voice called out "Heave to!" and everything stopped. Once the dust was cleared, Fluttershy gaped at what she saw. A large cart was filled with almost a dozen foals, all clad in with mixes of bandannas, hats, eye-patches, and cloaks. Some were even hanging off the side, with one hand brandishing a small wooden sword or a brown sack. In the center of the cart stood Pinkie Pie, holding up a pole with a black flag upon which was emblazoned a skull - a pony skull! Another dozen or so foals were standing around the cart in a kind of arrow formation, with Sweetie Bell up front at the point, waving some wooden figure of a mermare. It almost looked like...

"Oh that's hilarious!" came a cry from just over Fluttershy's head. Rainbow Dash was holding her sides as she hovered in the air. "It's a pirate ship!"

One filly lifted up her cutlass and gave a shout, "Give us yer booty or give up yer lives!"

"Arrrrrrgh!" cried all the little pirates.

At this they rushed at the stalls, some of the foals leaping from the cart. Pinkie Pie waved her hook, her bubbly tones full of authority as she called, "Remember! Take only the small stuff! Nothing expensive!"

Half of the foals were nabbing vegetables and fruit and throwing them into their sacks carried by the rest of them. Many of the shop keeps shouted in clearly staged fright, their smiles giving away that it was all part of the game. Scootaloo was threatening as many as she could with her cutlass, waving it and shouting as she jumped on top of one stall, causing ponies to scatter with high pitched cries of "Help us! Help us!" Their laughter rang out amidst the cries.

"What about this, Miss Pinkie?" asked one colt, holding up an enormous, and fragile looking crystal vase.

"No!" That had been two voices at once. One was obviously Pinkie's, the other was definitely male. But where had it come from?

*CRASH!*

"Oops."

Pinkie waved a hand. "It's alright, I'll pay them back! And then I'll get paid back."

A groan could be heard, and it seemed to be coming from under the cart. It looked like someone was hunched under there, but little could be seen. They appeared to be wearing a large, dark cloak.

Pinkie was trying to whisper to them, but with her high voice that "whisper" could be heard by pretty much everyone.

"Don't worry, you have plenty of bits, right?"

"Uhhhhh."

"Oh. Well then you can work for me at the Sugarcube Corner."

"Uhhhhh?"

"It should only take a few weeks."

"Uhhhh?!

"You might want them to stop soon. The bill keeps getting higher."

"Shitake mushrooms! I didn't want to be seen! Ohhhh..."

The figure disentangled itself from where they were hiding under the cart and stood up. A tri-corn hat sat on top of a high collar cloak that obscured much of them, but the shoes instantly gave away who it was. With a flourish he threw back the cloak with one hand. It was Brendon alright, dressed up even more than Pinkie Pie.

"Avast ye scurvy scum! We be takin' as much as we need! 'Tis time we be haulin' anchor and settin' sail for Skull Island..."

One tiny voice called out. "Is that what we're calling it? I wanted to name it Butterfly Bay."

"I liked Crusader Cove!" yelled Apple Bloom with her cutlass caught between her teeth as she shifted a huge sack over one shoulder.

"It's what I calls it and ye be grateful I don't make ye walk the plank! So says Captain Redbeard!"

"What's a beard?"

"Is it that orange peach fuzz on your chin!"

"Oh come on!" the accent was gone now. "Just...let's go! Please."

He jumped down, grabbed the front end of the cart with both arms, and began to pull it behind him like a beast of burden. The others scurried to follow suit, swinging their sacks or themselves up onto the cart.

"Ahead full speed, Mister Pie!"

"That's Miss Pie to you Red Chin!"

"Oh god..."

And so, with screaming, laughter, and another great cloud of dust, the troupe galloped off.

Some applause sounded from the ponies in the marketplace. A loud silence followed. Most of the merchandise was still there, but plenty had gone. In the end, it really had been harmless.

"Well, that sure was somethin'," said Applejack. "Was that some big game they were all playin'? What do you think, Rainbow?"

Rainbow Dash looked like she was going to burst.

"That

"Was

"So

"Cool! I wish I'd been a part of that! Woo hoo!"

Fluttershy noticed an odd, serious look creeping up into Rainbow's face. Eventually her smile was completely gone, replaced with a look of nervous worry.

"Um, what it Rainbow Dash?"

"Uhhh. I think I just remembered what I had going on this weekend. Oh no!"

"What?" Applejack inquired. "What is it?"

"Huh? Nothing! Nothing at all! Gotta go!" And she was gone.

"Well," said Applejack, after a silence. "What do ya suppose that was all about?"

Fluttershy simply shook her head, her gaze wandering off in the direction Pinkie, Brendon, and all the pony pirates had gone. Meanwhile Applejack looked her friend up and down.

"Okay," said Applejack. "You're gonna tell me right now what's goin' on. What's got you so worried?"

"Ummm, what makes you...say...that...?"

Applejack crossed her arms and began tapping her hoof.

"Fluttershy."

"Oh. Yes. I guess I am a tiny bit worried. This morning...um...Brendon accidentally...oh my...you see..."

Through a little prodding, a lot of backtracking, and immense patience, Applejack got Fluttershy to eventually reveal the fact that Brendon had woken up in a terrible state and, after being left to himself, had run away out the window, leaving Fluttershy wondering and extremely worried. As to the other details, Fluttershy was not going to say, justifying herself as "protecting his privacy."

"He just seemed so...so down on himself. I can't remember the last time I saw a pony looking like...ohhh...like they done something absolutely terrible."

"But what did he do?" Applejack was obviously worried but could not hide her confusion.

"N-n-nothing. Really. I guess. I don't know. I just wish he would talk to me. I don't know how to help him."

"Well, Ah guess it must be pretty hard when you don't even know what's wrong. So far, Ah'd say you're being a pretty good pal to him. And who knows what's goin' on upstairs with him? He's lost a lot in a short time, and we don't even really know what these 'hu-mans' is even like when they're, uh, normal."

"I don't think there's that much difference between us. I've come to think of him as just another stallion."

"Just another stallion? Ah don't think so, sugarpie."

"W-what do you mean?"

"Ohhh, nevermind." And then she muttered under her breath, "It's like pullin' teeth."

"Should I go after him?"

Applejack sighed. "Ah don't know. Ah'd say no if he was really by himself, but he ain't. You do what you think is right, Fluttershy. Ah've never seen you let down a friend in need, and Ah can't see you startin' now.

"Anyways, Ah've got to go see Rarity. She says she's got some 'magnificent' news to share with me. I hope it'll explain what in tarnation has happened to Spike."

"Spike?"

"Oh you haven't heard? Everyone's sayin' he's grown up like a corn stalk in summer. Ah just hope it ain't like the last time he got...big."

"Oh my. At least Rarity seems to be in a good mood. When I passed by her boutique, I heard her singing and it sounded so happy. I think I even saw her dancing when I looked in the windows."

"Dancin'? Yeah, well. Good luck to you, Fluttershy. Let me know how it all goes."

"I will. Thank you, Applejack."

"Mah pleasure."

Applejack tipped her hat, Fluttershy waved, and the two friend set off in opposite directions.

Fluttershy's ears began to turn back and her pace began to slow. What was she going to say to Brendon? And how was she going to get close to him?

"Yes. Close to him. But for his sake. Because he needs me. Yes. That's it."

And though Fluttershy knew this to be true, she also felt a stirring within her. She had a great desire to truly know this strange person. Sure, she had wanted to get to know her good friends as soon as she'd met them, but this curiosity seemed altogether different. Everything she gained about him gave her a kind of joyful satisfaction, like slowly unrolling an absolutely beautiful picture. But even more than this was a lingering memory from the dream: a desire to be known.

* * *

After finally reaching the Cutie Mark Crusaders' tree-house, I let go of the cart and collapsed. The grass felt so good. As soon as the cart was down, the colts and fillies all jumped down and began running around the base of the tree as though it were some kind of victory circle. The others soon joined them, with a few scampering up the ladder and jumping around the tree house. There were whoops and hollers and all kinds of merriment. I heard a few thuds from the cart, and gathered that many of them had thrown their sacks of spoils inside. Slowly, I picked myself up, dusted myself off, and found Pinkie Pie standing beside me. I placed my hands on my knees and tried to recuperate.

"That was sooo much fun!" she said, giving one little hop in the air. "We should go back and do that again!"

Several foals heard this and soon there were a few cries of "Really?" "Let's go right now!" "Can we Mister - I mean Captain Brendon?"

"No way!" I blurted out. "I'll be working for Pinkie Pie for months! Also, I'm exhausted."

"Well," said Pinkie Pie, "You did a great job! Everyone had a great time."

"I didn't do anything. I just came up with the idea. You made it happen, Pinkie."

"Oh, but it couldn't have happened without you! You should do something like this every day!"

I couldn't hold back the groan. "Maybe you have that kind of energy, but I don't. Maybe like, every few months. Maybe. But I think I'll just come up with the ideas and let you do all the hard work."

"Suit yourself! I think it'll be even better next time! And maybe it'll be three times as big!"

Another groan escaped my lips. I finally let go of my knees and stood up straight. The fatigue was leaving me, and I felt ready for the last part of the game that I had been thinking about since we ransacked the market place. I placed both hands beside my mouth.

"Attention on deck! Every pony that's shipshape, scramble to the fortress -" (Here I shuddered before continuing) - " of The Pretty Pirates of Ponyville!"

Oh God.

Every pony either stopped and obeyed, or followed their friends soon after. In a few short moments, the whole tree-house was packed with two dozen ponies, the wood creaking slightly under all their weight. A few glances at Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo told me they were a bit nervous of all these bodies in their hideaway.

"Now, yer scurvy sea dogs," I shouted, ignoring the few corrective cries of "Ponies" that rang back. "'Tis true ye did a mighty fine raid upon the hapless people of Mar Ket Placé. Ye were quick, ruthless , and we all had a barrel full of fun! Right?!"

Huge shouts and stamping of hooves came back, along with mixed shouts of "Yo ho ho!" "Arrrrgh!" "Ahoy!" etc.

"But!" I said, raising one hand threateningly. "Ye forget one very important thing!" Here I marched back to the cart. "Here we have this fine booty! This great heap of treasure! And you left it with me, a greedy pirate! So..." I took hold of the front of the cart. "...I'll be takin' me half of the booty. And ye can have your share." I nodded to the three or so sacks on the ground nearby. Then I gave a quick salute, picked up my load, and ran. An almost unanimous cry went up to the heavens.

"Get him!"

I heard the sound of tiny thunder pounding up behind me. The fillies and colts were after me, quick as they could, and they kept up a continuous noise of outrage mixed with laughter. My own laugh rang out in the wind whipping past my face. When was the last time I'd been chased, for any reason? I glanced back and saw Pinkie Pie among all the rest of them, but I figured she must be holding herself back. There's no way I should be able to outrun her, but that explained a lot. It showed she knew the game and wanted to keep it going as long as she could.

I figured I'd run until my body completely gave out, but I didn't want to go near any other ponies. So I ran around the outskirts of the town, a colorful romping of foals close behind me. It felt like forever, though it may have only been ten or fifteen minutes, but it was so much fun. The runner's high was numbing my thoughts. I felt some kind of weight dropping off of me, and I was laughing so hard I thought I was going to start crying. And if I started crying...

The little ones were almost on me, I was dodging trees even as I felt my body demanding I stop, when I saw her. Maybe it was my exhaustion that made me fail to notice, or my mind was too far gone to pay attention, but I looked up and it seemed like she came out of nowhere. Fluttershy was just standing there in a white dress with short, green frills along its edges, her feet were together, her hands clasped before her, and her ears back. There was a kind of pleading look in her eyes. And I was about to hit her.

Without thinking, I tried to plant both feet in front of me. Unlike any piece of fiction I'd ever seen, this was entirely ineffective. I felt the cart slow a tiny bit before it hit me in the back, causing me to slam face first into the soft dirt. Luckily I was in the middle as the cart passed over me, so none of the wheels found my limbs. I heard it overturn as I lay there, followed by the arrival of all the other ponies.

"That's what you get for tryin' to steal our booty!" said Apple Bloom, her accent making it sound more like "boot-tay." I chuckled into the ground.

I picked my face out of the dirt and groaned, "Worth it!"

"But, um, seriously, are you alright?" asked Scootaloo. They were all crowding round me now. I noticed something flapping above their heads. Fluttershy was hovering over them, her wings beating in the air.

Oh right! She can fly! Stupid.

Feeling the heat rise to my face, I tried pushing myself off the ground.

"Well, my arms are still working. Um, can someone please help me?"

Far too many little hands grabbed me from everywhere and yanked me into a sitting, then standing position. When they let me go, I stumbled for a bit to keep my balance, but everything seemed at least functional. It all hurt, but I was still okay.

My world began to drift in two. One part of me was in the moment, laughed with the foals, and bantered with them as they crowded around me with various small talk that I would never remember. I noticed Pinkie Pie politely taking back the pirate paraphernalia. The other part of me kept glancing over at Fluttershy, and began sweating in a near panic at the thought of talking to her - of facing her. That part wanted to leave so desperately, and all of these people were terrible obstacles in my way. Where was all that happiness? Where was all that carefree revelry in memories of childhood?

"Did you hear me, Mister Brendon?" asked Sweetie Bell.

"Hmm? What?" I had been miles away.

"I said, when can we play again?"

"Oh. Uh. Well, we'll just have to see. I guess you didn't get 'Playing with a human' mark, huh?"

"No," sighed Apple Bloom. "And we already tried for our pirate marks."

"Yeah," said Scootaloo. "And we had to repair all of those cannon ball holes."

"Wait, what?"

"Nothing!" they all cried at once, and began to run off. The others began to go off by themselves or in small groups. Eventually it was just Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and myself. I had hoped I'd feel comfortable with less people, or ponies, but instead I felt worse.

Pinkie Pie put a gentle hand on my shoulder.

"I think I'm going to need that stuff back."

"Oh. Right. Here you go." And I removed the cloak, hat, eye patch, pantaloons (which were over my own), and fake scar. Somehow, Pinkie squirreled it all away in her hair. I could only imagine the multi-dimensional depths in that hairdo.

"Um," came Fluttershy's gentle voice as she stepped forward. "Can I talk to you, Brendon?"

"Uh - "

"Of course you can, Fluttershy!" said Pinkie, her smile as bubbly as ever. "He's right here!"

"Pinkie," said Fluttershy, "This is kind of...private."

"Ooooooh," said Pinkie. "You mean I should plug my ears?"

"Pinkie," I said. "I'll...meet up with you later. Okay?"

"Oh. Okay. No matter what, I'll see you when we leave for the camping trip!"

I don't want to think about that: a place where I cannot be alone.

"Oh. That's great." My face showed no enthusiasm. All of this was lost on Pinkie Pie as she smiled and hopped away.

I watched her go as it kept me from having to look at Fluttershy. I searched my mind frantically for something - anything - that I could use as an excuse to get away. Even if there was one, my thoughts were too jumbled to come up with anything.

Fluttershy took a step closer. I took a step back. Her ears were still back and her face was all worry, and something else I couldn't place. I was sure my own face showed everything I felt; I was no good at hiding my emotions. It was one reason why I never played poker. My face grew warm and sweat beaded under my arms.

"Please," she quietly pleaded, "Can you talk to me?"

Slowly, I nodded. "Sure. Okay."

Author's Note

I'm on a roll and the story keeps going. Let's find out where it goes. Come tumbling down the rabbit hole with me.

Much love and appreciation to my readers who keep on giving me more reasons to write. Any of you can PM me if you don't feel like leaving a comment. (Suggestions may be considered, but I reserve the right to purge them in flames.)