I Am NOT Twilight Sparkle!

Zack and the group were still flying through the air, as the alicorn follows Rarity’s directions leading to the camping site they were going to be at, with said mare and her sister along with the Apple siblings and the camping supplies held in the alicorns magic, while Spike rode on the pale violet mare’s back. as the group was flying Applejack and Rarity were enjoying the sense of flying, while the fillies of the group were just really enjoying being so high up in the air, acting out as if they were really flying. Scootaloo especially was milking this situation, posing, and flapping her little wings as if she was really flying.

“There it is.” Applejack said as she pointed out a clearing in the woods next to a river that the group was flying over towards.

“Head for that opening in the trees Zack, that’s where our camp site is.”

“Can do.”

Zack said as she started to make her way down towards the forest canopy, while brining in the others and the supplies close to her so none of them would brush against the tree tops. The group then landed with soft clops as they all touched down on the camp, where they immediately saw Rainbow Dash swooping around the area, and getting the fire pit and sitting log set up.

“It’s about time you guys showed up.” Rainbow chastised as she flips the last small log over to the fire pit.

“You did come here an hour ahead of us Rainbow, don’t go trying to make it sound like we made YOU wait.” Applejack countered as she dragged her own camping pack.

“Yes, you could’ve waited with the rest of us.” Rarity added as she levitated her own pack to a nice clear patch within the clearing, and started to un-pack and set up hers and Sweetie Belle’s tent.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” Rainbow said dismissively as she approaches Zack and Spike, who were getting their own tent set up. “So you guys ready for an awesome camping trip!”

“Personally I’m looking forward to a nice and peaceful trip.” Zack simply replied as she finished pitching the tent up with a flourish of magic.

“Oh come on Zack this supposed to be a fun camping trip.” The pegasus said to the alicorn who just finished setting up hers and Spike’s own tent.

“Fun has many interpretations Rainbow, and mine right now is to relax and recharge my batteries in the quiet and peacefulness of nature.” Zack retorted to the mare as she trotted over to a nice little spot by the river the group was camping by, and laid down in a nice patch of sunlight.

As Zack was getting into a nice comfortable position on a nice small mound, she watched as Spike and the fillies playing in the water, splashing around and just laughing as they do so. From behind her Zack could hear the others talking amongst themselves, and when she turned to look behind her the alicorn watched Rainbow Dash trying to goad the others into playing some kind of ball game, although it seemed Rarity wasn’t into the idea and trotted towards her. Since Rarity wasn’t getting into the spirit of playing the ball game, Rainbow Dash was left into trying to get Applejack to have a friendly game, which didn’t too long as the farmer placed her hat on one of the sitting logs and joined her pegasus friend in playing. With her play partner now confirmed Zack looked back towards Rarity, and found the mare now only a few feet from her.

“Do you mind if I join you?” Rarity asked politely as she now stood beside the alicorn.

“Not at all.” Zack replied as she turned to look at where the kids were, and watch them now having what looks to be a swimming contest now.

While the alicorn watches the young’s playing around in the water, Zack could still hear Applejack and Rainbow going back and forth in their banter while playing ball, as Rarity shuffles in place next to her. As time went on the tranquility of nature, and the ambient background noise of the kids, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash playing around was really starting to feel relaxed. Memories of her old life start to flow back to her, memories of her friends and families taking similar trips and simply enjoying the experience, and the company that were part of the trip.

“You seem to be really at peace Zack.” Rarity said to the alicorn, subtly breaking the peaceful moment that Zack was in.

“One of the perks of going camping Rarity, you can just let yourself go, and be unhindered by your normal life’s more troubling parts.” Zack said as she stretches out her body in almost the same fashion that a cot would.

“It sounds like camping is a big part of your life.” Rarity commented as the foals swam past the two.

“It is. I’ve been going on camping trips since I was a wee kid, and I loved each and every trip.”

Zack and Rarity continued on with their conversation of camping trips, the alicorn was even divulging in telling the fashionista some stories about some of her favorite camping trips. The places that she and her friends and family went to, the sights and experiences they all gained from said trips, and cleansing of their real life worries and troubles being washed away. During their talks the pair was interrupted when their stomachs collectively growled, deciding to put story time on hold Zack and Rarity got up from their spot on the small hill, and trotted back to the tents where they started digging through the food supplies and started to eat some sandwiches. The two mares were quickly joined by the foals and Spike, who were still energized from playing in the water, but were able to settle down long enough to eat their own foods. And then not long after the young’s started eating, both Rainbow Dash and Applejack joined the group and also started to eat.

“Well girls, who won the game in the end?” Rarity asked as the other two mares sat down.

“Ah did!” Applejack boasted.

“Only because you cheated at the last minute when you used that dive maneuverer.” Rainbow accused.

“Says the mare whose spent the whole game flying, and un-fairly blocking all of my shots when its suppose to a GROUNDED game.” Soon enough the group was playing witness to the bickering mares as they tried to justify their method of playing their ball game.

“Changing topics, you guys seemed to having a blast playing in the river.” Zack said as she takes a sip from a bottle of water.

“Heck yeah!” Scootaloo shouted as her little wings buzzed with excitement. “We first had a water fight, but Spike won that.”

“Just goes to show that claws are better than hooves when it comes to water sports!” Spike gloated as he flexed his claws.

“Yeah but when we had our swimming race, Apple Bloom was the one who was able to win.” Sweetie Belle said as she finished eating her pear.

“Well just you wait. After our break I’m going to whoop ya’ll in the follow up race!” Scootaloo proclaimed as she started to really scarf down her food.

The rest of the kids started to scarf down their own food so they could get back to swimming, but before the kids could do so Applejack cautioned them all to take a few minutes to let their meals settle in. Otherwise the moment they entered the water they will get some major cramps. Thankfully the fillies and Spike headed Applejack’s warning, as they did not feel like getting aching cramps when they dive into the water. So the kids decided to play around the camp site until the food in them has been probably digested, and while they scamper around Zack and the other mares just kicked back and enjoyed their own food and drinks, while striking up random conversations to make the time go by. But while Rarity and the other two talk about one of their mis-adventures, Zack just laid on the ground and staring off into space as she looks into the fire pit.

“Zack?” the alicorn heard Applejack say before she felt herself being nudged. “You alright sugarcube? You looked like you were in a daze.”

“Yeah I’m fine.” Zack said as her tail swooshed behind her, and her wings ruffled. “Just taken aback by the nuance of the situation.”

“What situation?” Rainbow Dash asked as she looked at Zack with mild-confusion.

“Going camping, enjoying the fresh air, getting away from life worries, and being with friends.”

“Friends?” Rarity said in surprise. “You…actually think of us friends?” Zack looked at the three ponies, all of them looked actually excited and hopeful.

“…well…yeah. I guess.” Zack said as she got up into a sitting position, and giving the three mares a most sincere expression.

“After everything that I’ve been through, and having you all there, and have done so much to help me even when I have been rather rude to all of you.” Zack then looked up to the sky as a look of realization takes over her features as she continues. “I’m done trying to pass this all off, and try to deny that this is what my life is now.” Zack then looked back down to the three mares.

“I may not be fully able to adjust to what my new life may have in store, but…I hope you three and the others can help me?”

Rarity and the others gave Zack assuring looks as they all scooted over to the alicorn, and as they closed in Zack actually let them embrace her. All three of them huddled in a group hug. Even though Zack has finally come around that this is now her life, she was still uncertain of what the path ahead of her holds for her, and if she is fully capable of handling. Yet she would not be alone. If Twilight and her friends continue to support Zack, help her adjust fully to this new chapter of her life, then just maybe she can have a normal life. Hopefully.

~~Ponyville~~

Thorax was having a nice day at the Castle of Friendship, although he was a little bored that both his friends Zack and Spike were camping with Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash which was to help Zack wind down, and finally be able to just gain some kind of semblance of peace in her life. He was also happy that Zack was actually reaching out towards the other mares of Twilight’s circle, as the alicorn mostly just engaged with him, Spike, Twilight, and on occasion talk to Starlight. Actually now that Thorax thinks about it, Zack and Starlight seemed to have a rather shaky relationship, at least that is what the changeling picks up via his emotion senses. Other than that Zack has seem to be more at ease as of late, and Thorax was happy to see his friend starting to become more at ease.

“Hey Thorax.” The voice of Twilight snapped the changeling out of his train of thought as he passes by the library of the castle. Looking into the large room Thorax found Twilight levitating nearly half the books in the library, and seemed to be jotting down something on the few scrolls she has swirling around her.

“Ugh Twilight, what’s going here?” Thorax asked as he ducked as a few books fly past him.

“I’m doing my monthly inventory of my library, checking which books I have yet to fully read, decide to donate, and see which ones I would like to add to my collection.” Twilight explained to the changeling who then ceased her writing and looked over to Thorax fully.

“And actually Thorax I need your help.”

‘Oh sun! I hope she doesn’t want me to—’

“I need you to head on over to a book store in town, it has an order of new books that I’ve already knew I wanted.” Thorax let out a relieved sigh after hearing this. While he would gladly help Twilight whenever she needed it, helping out in something like this…makes Thorax really wonder how Spike can do all of this.

“So do I just go to the store, or do I also have to pay for the books?”

“The books are already paid for, so I just need you to go and pick up the books.” Twilight said as she writes down a few more stuff on one page.

“Oh. Okay, where is this book store then?”

After Twilight telling the directions that Thorax need to follow to find the book store, the changeling then began making his way towards the castles doors. As the changeling makes his way to the castles front door he wonders how everyone on the camping trip was doing, it has only been a few hours since Zack and Spike left to go meet up with the others, but the changeling still worries for his first friend. Reaching the main lobby of the castle Thorax had just opened the door, before nearing coming in contact with the hoof a grey unicorn stallion.

“Whoa!” they both said in unison.

“Sorry didn’t mean to scare you.” Thorax said as he noted the stallions shocked expression.

“No, no, no its fine. I wasn’t expecting the door to open up before I even knocked.” The stallion said as he gives Thorax a puzzled look.

“You wouldn’t happen to be the changeling Thorax that lives here, would you?” Thorax nodded his head.

“Yeah that’s me. do you need to see the princess for something?” the stallion shook his head.

“No. actually…” Thorax then watched as the stallions expression go from pleasant, to a drained neutral expression in a second.” “I was looking for you.”

Thorax then watched as the stallions eyes turn green, and a bleak red aura surrounded him, before being struck by a lightning shot from the stallions horn and striking Thorax dead center! Pumping his entire body with so much electricity that the changeling couldn’t even shout as in an instant, he blacked out and dropped to the ground.