It had been little over a month now since I arrived in Equestria suddenly. I became used to the daily routine Twilight and Spike used me for and I took to it like flies to sticky paper. I was offered the chance to try and learn magic theory under Twilight’s tutelage, but without any familiarity with what she considered the basics, learning it was near impossible. I got the breathing exercises down right and could focus on my new awareness of magic easily enough, though being able to ‘channel’ the mana didn’t come naturally enough. She likened my currently level to that of a newborn, high potential but zero experience. Supposedly it would come with practice, similar to building strength in a muscle.

Fortunately, I had plenty of down time to practice with the ‘Magic for Foals’ primer book she lent, and I practiced late into the night numerous times. Unfortunately, I didn’t find very much fulfillment without results to show for it. The writing system and language used here in Equestria was easy enough to learn. It felt like it had similar rules and structure to English of all things, but the characters were all a type of cursive I had never seen before, like they took note of Arabic and Russian styles and married them.

I started dreading being JUST an assistant for the library recently. While food, board, and any of my other needs were met easily thanks to the Crown funding Twilight’s foray into magic and, funnily enough ‘friendship’ lessons each week, I was at a loss for a job. I felt thankful that Princess Celestia saw to it that I was furnished with the usual stuff, even including chairs and writing desk, while I stayed under Twilight’s roof, especially the bed stuffed with Thunderbird down. Something about the feathers acted like a copper mesh and made my back feel all massaged each night.

I saw to bring up my dissatisfaction with my position to my host later that evening, but as subtly as I could manage to not hurt her feelings.

“Excuse me, Twilight?” I said as I was restocking the last of the days returns.

She presently sat nestled in her usual nook above the bookshelves, rocking her hooves back and forth while she looked over some parchment. “Hm? What’s up, Aurelius?”

“I was wondering… does Ponyville have a local job fair or workforce agency?”

The mare looked up from her work, thought plastered on her face. “I don’t believe so. As far as I’m aware, most of the jobs in Equestria are either apprenticeships taken on by families’ next of kin or come from immigration. UnemploymentO is uncommon thanks to cutie marks dictating a pony’s life path and it’s entirely possible positions get taken by tradesponies shortly after they’re opened.” She paused to think. “Matter of fact, I don’t think I’ve heard much about the job market in my entire life, especially since Princess Celestia thinks it important to help bring even the lowest of ponies up on their hooves.”

That implies that charities could exist, but they might not be needed if everyone is provided for. If there’s never a massive struggle for the average ponies, how does the economy stay afloat? I remember notable events like the Great Depression and wondered if anything like that happened in Equestria’s history, which Twilight says she was unaware of it in recent history.

Perhaps the princesses would have an answer to that question if I asked?

I spent the majority of nights getting to know Luna or simply enjoying the time watching her work guiding the dreams of her ponies. Strange enough given my lack of conscious efforts, I found a kind of affinity for manipulating my own dreams. Other people’s dreams shared a similar feel and I found it a little more difficult to change features inside, which Luna called ‘dream walking’. Maybe it had something to do with my awareness or perception during sleep and it being associated with ‘lucidity’? Time would tell when or if I could learn to master magic.

I felt Twilight tap on my shoulder and somehow didn’t notice that she’d come down from her perch and gotten close enough that I could feel her breathing on my chest. “You alright there? You were staring off into space for quite a while and didn’t answer me.”

“Wazzat?” I spat as I snapped out of thought. “Could you repeat what you said?”

She giggled at me. “Ever the distracted one. Alrighty, would you like me to take you around town this afternoon and see about finding you a job?”

“Are you sure? I’m more than happy enough to sort through the new inventory, if you’d prefer. I don’t want to impose.”

Twilight’s smile shifted to one I couldn’t make heads or tails of. She used magic to push aside the boxes by my feet against a wall. “It doesn’t take an expert psychologist to be able to tell there’s a spark of wanderlust in your eyes. Aurelius, you’ve been a tremendous help around here these last few weeks. I would be remiss if I didn’t at least offer to help you find a more fitting place here in Ponyville.” She gave me a knowing smile. “I know all too well that feeling from back when I moved to Ponyville.”

Her voice sang with nostalgia. “We’ll take the day off and go into town to visit the town square, maybe even Applejack’s farm to see if she needs an extra hand. After all, everypony needs to find the place they belong and Ponyville is just the tapestry to help write your story on to.” With a gentle nudge, Twilight pushed me out the door before calling to let Spike know we would be out for the day. The prospect of finding somebody who’d harness my potential was exhilarating.

—-

Electricity wracked my body as Discord continued to force his power down my throat. It burned with the fury of a sun, and yet I did not die.

“I can do this forever, Solus. Tell me where he is,” he growled. “It’s only a matter of time before I strip that information from the simulacrum body I gave you.” He continued to force hot fiery magic into my body, and yet I still did not die. Though I did scream.

That cruel draconequus cackled his perverse laughter. “Tell you what, how about I open up the crack more on this pathetic bubble you call ‘Order’ and let the real me in? Oh what fun we would have!” His expression shifted. “Once I consume your soul out of that boy, I’ll be sure to show you all the true joys of unbound chaos, just you wait!”

His grip tightened as he continued to violate and immolate my body, turning me inside out before I appeared whole once again. “You may control this body, Nocturnal, but you will not break what remains of my will so easily!”

“Don’t you dare call me that!” He shouted with venom on his breath. “It’s Discord now! You lost the right to call me that when you betrayed my trust and banished me from Heaven!”

In between groans, I found the courage to speak my mind. “Y-you… are the one wh-who b-“ I continued to scream at the searing pain as he struck his claws into my core and ripped out my internal organs, which regenerated back to normal. “YOU WERE THE ONE WHO BETRAYED OUR FATHER’S ORDER! What did you expect me to do?!”

His maniacal laughter echoed off the barrier as formless chaos beat against it, hungering to plunge the only gateway to Yggdrasil. “Oh how queer, this notion of ‘Order’. He was weak willed and couldn’t see the true potential of creation! I will peel back every last spell, every single piece that you hold dear and shred it before your very eyes one of these days, and when I do you will beg for a death that will not come.”

I coughed blood up and spit it down towards the ground far below. “Far be it from me to find any kind of joy when you inevitably fail. I might not have been able to stop you, but I know he won’t fail me.” I’d finish the transference spell I originally started, but without a soul I could do nothing to help my son.

Discord’s eyes narrowed, lighting up with an almost ultraviolet anger. “Bravery or foolishness? We shall see which he is made of.” He snapped his lion’s paw and I plummeted down the side of the magical barrier our father built. I struck the ground, gasping for breath. “If it’s a game you want to play Solus, let’s see how you like this one.”

He pulled my head off the ground by my hair, his sickening claws melding with each fiber and his presence slowly snaked its way into my skull. My vision began to fade once again. “Let’s peel back that cocky attitude and expose the chaos that lies within, shall we?” I was lost in memories I had long since forgotten.

—-

The work search turned out fruitless from in the thick of Ponyville’s business district. I tried the local blacksmith’s and one of the carpentry businesses, but it was as Twilight suggested earlier: children acting as apprentices or out-of-towners. I did get a lead about a Miss Colgate’s dentistry offering a hefty twenty bit payment to allow her students to practice on anyone willing, but I was not about to endure possible pain for something equivalent to fifty dollars.

I know I could use the cash to buy any cool things at the weekly market, but I shudder when I think of having my mouth prodded at. I shivered at the thought of it.

While out and about, I spotted Applejack’s little sister and their two friends over by the town fountain, kicking their hooves in the water as they talked about what little girls do. Applebloom wore her typical crop top and overalls, but these two unknowns were dressed far differently. There was the tangerine and pink/purple maned pegasus filly clothed in spandex sport shorts and a green tank top, while the white unicorn filly with well style, curly light pink and purple mane wore a simple yellow sundress that cut off her knees. Whatever they were talking about picked up in excitement, based off the determination plastered on the pegasus as she hovered momentarily, though I thought it strange that she was unable to maintain being airborne.

I decided to take a break from my search to go introduce myself to Applebloom’s friends. None of the group noticed me slinking up on them and it worked well in my favor when I managed to startle them all. The unicorn filly actually lost her balance in the panic, and fell entirely into the fountain, soaking her to the bone.

The tomboy pegasus buzzed up in my face, her’s a bright red in embarrassment. “What the hay is wrong with you?!” She asked all aghast, much to Applebloom’s entertainment.

“Hehe, sorry about that, girls. You left yourselves wide-open for it and I couldn’t help myself,” I said, with a smile. “I hope I didn’t scare you girls too hard. My name’s Aurelius, what are your names?”

Applebloom helped her meek white friend out of the fountain and started trying to wring her sundress out. She didn’t look very pleased at having her clothes ruined for the day, so I offered her my hand to assist in stepping out of the fountain, a smile still on my face. Twilight came over from one of the nearby lunch tables over by a cafe situated a ways away and flicked my ear. “While I’ll admit it was funny, you shouldn’t go around startling ponies you don’t know, Aurelius. You don’t know how they’ll react,” she criticized. “Good afternoon, girls. I hope there aren’t any hard feelings, he means well.”

Two of the three fillies looked amongst each other with knowing looks before giggling at the ridiculousness of their situations. The orange one still seemed rather peeved at me and gave a solid growl while trying to bury her irate attitude. “Come on Scootaloo, it wasn’t that bad. Plus, we can always go over to my sister’s and change into something better,” said the unicorn girl. She finally accepted my hand and crawled over the gray stone sidewall. “My name is Sweetie Belle. Pleasure to make your acquaintance,” Sweetie Belle said with a curtsy.

Scootaloo scoffed. “What’s with the fancy talk, Sweetie Belle? What, trying to impress your new boyfriend?”

Sweetie’s cheeks flushed a light pink and waved a hand at that. “Oh, that’s ridiculous,” she chided, though she could have been going along with the tease. “Rarity taught me it’s important to always be polite to somepony new because you never know how they might treat you. Besides, we only just met and he hasn’t taken me on a date yet.”

I chuckled, their discourse reminding me of my own time in school. “It’s quite refreshing to see such a strong friendship between ones as young as you all. Be sure to keep that fire going and always have each other’s backs.” I pause to readjust my shirt and shorts. “It’s inspiring.”

Scootaloo, who seemed to be fighting back a smile of her own at my compliment, turned her head away in a tsundere way. “W-well, nobody asked you for your comment, you meanie. What are you even doing over here anyway? Not that I care.” Oh she’s a fun one, indeed. I think I’ll like having them as friends.

Scootaloo’s friends verbally reprimanded her words, which she apologized for and shifted the blame towards being bullied at school again. Twilight took her chance to segway the conversation towards school, asking what they were learning this week and if they were having any difficulties.

That earned us three groans. “Ms. Cheerilee started another math lesson and it’s beena pain tuh learn… ugh, fractions. Ah swear, liftin’ the hay bales is easier!” Applebloom remarked her disdain.

Yep, I remember hating school when I was younger. Just that childhood energy bursting to get involved in literally anything else.

Twilight tried to comment on the importance of school, but I beat her to the punch. “You may say that now, but you’ll thank yourself and everyone you know who encouraged you to complete it. Believe me, I used to be in school up until a few years ago. That shortsighted thought looks really silly when you look back in a few years.”

It was like I dropped a microphone, the way these three fillies, who were probably no older than fourteen or fifteen, looked at me. I wouldn’t have been surprised if I inspired them or encouraged them, if their smiles were any indication of their moods.

Twilight nodded, agreeing with the sentiment. “Absolutely. Why, I don’t think I could have become the unicorn I am today if it weren’t for those nights I spent studying. Granted, I also didn’t have traditional school, but I was still expected to pass tests and learn from books.”

I gave her a quick glance, before returning my attention back to the girls. “Yeah, but being the princess’ protégé probably has more than those few differences.” Twilight blushed her bashful cheeks and stammered about how it wasn’t supposed to come out like that.

“Would you mind helping us learn the stuff if we needed it, Mr….?” Scootaloo asked. “What did you say your name was?”

“Aurelius. Aurelius Diaz, at your service.” She met my hand for a well deserved, firm handshake. “And yes, I absolutely will.”

Welp, that’s another group of people to add to my list of friends.

We got to talking about how they liked Ponyville, but considering how they grew up there, their opinions were biased at best. Twilight saw fit to invite the girls to the nearby cafe for smoothies, which sounded heavenly given how hot it was today. Sun’s definitely a scorcher today.

They all got to talking about typical pony fanfare: the weather, what their favorite flavor of smoothie was, who was or wasn’t dating and more of the local gossip. A bit much for me, since I was never too fond of talking about randoms behind their backs, but to each their own. Shortly into our smoothie snackage, our server came by with the bill, which Twilight took care of before. I shot Applebloom a furtive glance on a whim and noted that she seemed disappointed by that, though try as she might to hide it.

“You alright there, Ms. Applebloom?” I said, hoping to have her open up.

She hesitated, her eyes flicking towards the small stack of bits placed at the center of the table. “It’s just… Ah wanted to contribute too,” she admitted. “Applejack was ‘sposed to give me an allowance this week, but with how busy she’s been… IT’S been a tough few weeks with all the work that’s been piling up.”

Intriguing. “Busy how?”

“Well, since the couple of tha pipes broke for our faucet, she and Big Mac have been havin’ ta haul water from the lake to keep our irrigation lines fed. Ah’m havin’ ta pick up the slack and there ain’t no way she can spare the time to come ta market and…” She stopped to sniffle at her predicament. “Ah just feel all useless is all. Not enough pony power to help and ah just don’t know what to do.”

I’m having an idea happening here~ I sang in my head.

“Applebloom, what if I could not only help solve your problem, but solve a bit of my own,” I said with a smile.

—-

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle dismissed themselves from our merry group to head back to the Carousel Boutique, leaving the remaining three of us to make our way for the Apple household. Upon arriving to the main path to the house, I spotted Applejack and who I assumed to be Big Macintosh drinking from their glasses, their exhaustion evident by the sweat stained clothes. Big Mac was dressed in a bright orange T-shirt and well worn blue jeans, while Applejack was wearing a black and red flannel shirt with denim overalls. Both were heavily engrossed in a list of chores to do around the farm, and Applejack grimaced at the mounting tasks. Applebloom hurried up the oaken steps, knocking on one of the support beams to get their attention, which earned us all curious looks.

Big Mac leaned his chair back against the wall, wiping his brow with a rag, while Applejack got up to greet us properly. “Well, hey there y’all. What brings the two of ya to Sweet Apple Acres this afternoon?” She said with that sweet southern comfort. It was currently about five in the afternoon.

I put a hand on Applebloom’s shoulder, which caused Big Mac to eye me cautiously, but otherwise not make any movements to get up. “Afternoon, Applejack. Thought I’d stop by and check in on how the farm life had been treating you all. From what Applebloom says, it’s been a bit of a tussle.”

She smiled. “Mighty kind of y’all, Aurelius. To who do I owe the pleasure of sending you mah way?”

“Oh it was partly Applebloom’s doing.” I tipped my imaginary hat to the filly. “And I was looking to see if there was anything I could be of assistance with. I hear your irrigation might need some looking at, among other things. If you’ll have me, I’m in the market for employment— something that I’d fit into just right. Say, some manual labor?”

Applejack stomped a hoof on the porch, her smile blazened on her outfit. “Hooey, that’s a mighty tall an’ generous offer you’ve done plopped at my doorstep. We absolutely sure as sugar could use the help, if’n ya don’t mind harvestin’ summer crops and whatnot.” She raised her hand high to emphasize what she said next. “We got us a monster of a haystack of jobs, taller than this here house.”

Big Mac decided to get up out of his chair with a groan and I finally took in his size. He was easily befitting of his name, since he towered an extra foot above me. “If you’re serious, we can start tomorrow,” his voice rumbled very deeply and shockingly well spoken. “I know just the job too. Walk with me.”

As we walked, the evening crickets chirped their songs, which mixed perfectly with the fresh air and rustic sights of the farm. The apple orchards and crop fields that surrounded us provided a pleasant scene, inspiring me. The prospect of earning my keep instead of mooching off Twilight niggled its way deep in my soul. It felt nice to be able to aid a family in need. I followed the stallion, his youngest sister trailing behind us a ways with a skip in her step, her hops never off beat with the sounds of nature.

“Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres. As the name suggests, apple farmin’ is not only what we’re known best for, but it’s our legacy and livelihood. There’s more of our kin’s blood and sweat in these here fields than anywhere else in Equestria… and you’ll become part of our home here tomorrow.” His words carried with them the notorious Apple pride I’d heard of when on shopping trips with Twilight. He led us slowly over to a dilapidated barn that looked like it would keel over in the slightest breeze.

“We’ve got a chore of a task that we’ll handle when the sun’s high. Please don’t go in there without me, some of the supports aren’t the sturdiest.” Big Mac continued to make his way along the well worn path on the farm, over to one of the wider orchards. “We’ll start off easy, ferrying down all the tools and whatnot we’ve got stored inside before Rainbow Dash shows up to help us knock it down.”

“Sounds like a plan, Big Macintosh,” I responded with a nod in agreement. “I’m excited to roll up my metaphorical sleeves and prove myself to you all. To put some extra pride in the Apple name and contribute to the lifeblood of Ponyville.”

His expression softened, his stoic demeanor taking a dip. “Enthusiasm is always welcome, Aurelius. It’s been some time since we’ve had anypony interested in bein’ a farmhand. And you can just call me Big Mac.”

Never in my weirdest dreams would I have encountered such welcoming people anywhere on Earth. These ponies… they’re a total mirror of your average human. Why, I’d go as far as to say that they top them.

As the last amber light of the sun petered out over the horizon, I turned to face my new coworkers and friends waving me off back to the library. Their smiles inspired that sense of wholeness and belonging I was missing since I arrived a little over a month ago. The Apples represented a piece of the blue collar workers in Equestria, a people I could easily respect and appreciate like no other. Here under the Equestrian sky, they toiled day in and day out, all to help fuel who knows how many ponies.

“I’ll be here bright and early, Twilight. Don’t want to shirk my work before it begins.” She didn’t have anything to add to that other than a smile that rivaled the Apple family’s. I craned once more to watch the family become smaller as we made the walk back home, the cool, crisp night air settling down over the countryside.

That night, as I laid down to rest, my thoughts raced. I couldn’t sleep. Guess I’m too excited to fall down tonight. Might as well go for a walk. And walk I did.

The streets were eerily quiet as I made my way to the outskirts of Ponyville behind the library. The night was a clear, beautifully deep blue like the ocean, stars twinkling and dancing amongst their brethren. If I didn’t need sleep, I would have done this every night, just to appreciate the unique smells and sights. There was something alive about the sky that night, something that pulled at the back of my mind that felt… I’d have to say uneasy. Like I was being stared at by the moon.

I can’t put my finger on it, but something’s off about tonight. It’s more… just more, than usual? How would I describe this? I’ve noticed that it felt similar to how everything did around noon the few days I was out at the apex of the day. I reached the hill behind Twilight’s home in no time flat and stared out over the dark forest from where I arrived. It seemed more peaceful now than during the day, unlike the dark shadow that it persistently cast in the area surrounding it. The feeling did not leave me once, rather it grew in intensity.

I felt a faint wind prickle my neck as the atmosphere shifted and I spun around, my heart leaping in my throat. Behind me wreathed in the silvery light directly from the moon, hovered Princess Luna in all her glory, her starry mane a glowing field of stars like the ante theater of her dream realm. She gently touched down, ageless and fathomless wisdom and curiosity in her eyes. Her silken silver dress flowed around in a similar fashion to her mane and tail, it obviously enchanted.

“Greetings, friend Aurelius,” she started, her regal as ever. “Thou seemest troubled this night, yet thou art drawn to its beauty. Prithee tell what ails you?”

I bowed, a mix of respect and surprise gripping at me. “Princess Luna. I… wasn’t expecting to see you here.”

She appeared to glide over towards me, her hooves nary making a sound as the night’s dew dropped with each step. “The night reigns as my realm, for 'tis I who craft each starscape with sincerity. All souls abiding beneath my moon fall within my sovereignty.” She offered me a caring, almost motherly look. “Tis expected we would visit one who draws our eye.”

Her assurance lent me strength enough to voice my concern for tonight. “It’s as if everything feels alive right now under the light of the full moon. I’ve never felt something so… intense and charged, so to speak.”

The Princess nodded and was impressed with my senses. “Verily, the boundary 'twixt realms doth wane this night, and enchantment awakens 'neath the forest’s heart. 'Tis an eve of mighty forces, a season where magics roam unfettered. Indeed, only a stalwart spirit may sense the subtle turning of the veils.”

So… why can’t I access this potent magic she speaks of? Why am I still unable to call forth any control over my potential? I frowned at my loss, Luna noticing my disposition.

Then suddenly, she hugged me, as if she knew exactly what to do to raise my spirits. “I am well acquainted with thy tribulations. In my youth, I too struggled to master the simplest of levitation charms. Thou art as a youngling still finding its footing; afford thyself further seasons to flourish, for greatness awaits the patient.”

I almost wanted to cry. I’d never had the best of childhoods, though my parents would never tell anyone that they’d been less than perfect. “In truth, nobody has ever seen fit to encourage my potential before you. Thank you.” I offered her a hug in return.

We stood in each other’s embrace for long enough that the sadness left me. Princess Luna summoned a set of stumps for us to sit on and gaze silently at the marvel she crafted tonight. Though the moon was hardly at its full position for the night, I felt invigorated, as if I’d drunk coffee. The stars in heaven whispered amongst themselves their hidden secrets, narrowly outside of my grasp as I reached a hand out to try and grab one, despite the futility. I closed my eyes and practiced the breathing and meditation from the magic primer I was lent, feeling the muscles for my CAM flexing with each breath. The sensation was unique, like a shifting in my stomach and my heartbeat all rolled into one. It pulsed with each breath and heart beat, not fast but quickly enough that I could feel it snake its way up my arm and into my palm. I tried to envision a small ball light, barely the size of a pea, and could feel the mana charged organ in my core pushing more fluid-like energy into my palm. But nothing came, I was still left like I had been all the other times I trained. I was stumped.

I thought surely, tonight would have been the night I could call forth the magicks locked deep within me, but I still failed. I’m pathetic… I thought as Luna reached out and slid her own palm against the back of my hand. Though it shocked me at first, not expecting to feel her press herself against my back, she wrapped her other arm around my chest and placed its hand gently across my breast. She nuzzled my cheek, like I was her son, and whispered softly in my ear.

“Be at ease. My intent is to assist in awakening thine chakras. Shut your eyes and focus to where mine mana converges with thine own.”

I closed my eyes once more, ignoring the pony pressed against me. Where there was once the warmth of my body, I now felt a spherical piece of ice deep in my heart that gradually migrated back and down my spine and into my palm. On instinctual reaction, my arm twitched and my palm felt hot for a split second before the ice ball disappeared completely. What Luna said next prompted me to open my eyes.

“Verily, thoust potential be stronger than we anticipated. To conjure such a splendid light, it’s unprecedented.”

“What are you-“ I started, but ceased as soon as I beheld the ball of shifting colors hugged tightly against my hand. It was there for but a moment, but instantly vanished. “H-how did I…? What did you do?” I couldn’t get it even after a month of training.

She gave me a sly little smile, but didn’t directly answer my question. “Truly, the fabric of dreams diverges from that of the waking world, yet such distinction need not stand. By thine own volition, thoust can make it so, and the realm of reality shall heed thy call. Hark, let us venture closer to the shadowed wood for our training to commence.” And off she gracefully flew toward the edge of the Everfree.

Author's Note

Well, here we are. This chapter in particular is a labor of love, and I am incredibly proud of it. I have big plans for this Fic and hope you all will join me as we see where fate takes Aurelius and his friends.