(Equestria)

Ow…

Ow…

Ow…owowowow...

Okay, maybe I shouldn’t have made that fall through that vortex...I am in too much pain right now, that my head was aching along with my body. I felt it was time to wake up, so my eyes opened slightly.

Big mistake on my part.

I hiss in annoyance, and closed my eyes again. I could feel irritation from the bright shining sun’s sunlight hitting down on my face, and I felt it annoying to my eyes. I just need to rest again, but that was when I heard someone talk while I had my eyes closed.

“Is it alright?”

“I don’t know; it looks a bit odd.”

“Rainbow, don’t say such a thing!”

Voices…I could hear some voices from people…or was it…horses? I can only hear the galloping sounds of hooves nearby.

“Look; it’s waking up!”

‘It’…I’m not an ‘it’, thank you very much for that.

I groaned as my consciousness finally returned to me while I had my hands on the yellow ground…wait, ground? I could picture myself having fallen to Hell already. Where was I? Someplace I was unaware of? Well, if I was, it would only be my greatest surprise if I was truly in Hell to meet my dead family.

I grumbled as my eyes finally opened to the sunlight that shone the earth, as well as shining directly into my eyes. I groaned in irritation at the sun, and I heard the voices again.

“Are you alright, sir?”

Huh? A polite question from a girl, as I could hear the voice from, that was new.

I blinked my eyes to have them fully open before I looked at six colorful horses that were staring concerned back at me. I stared at them for a long silence moment until the rainbow colored horse broke the ice.

“What are you?” she asked.

“Um…” I heard their gasp of amazement while I cocked my head in confusion. “Who are you?” I countered the question from the rainbow horse.

“Who are we? We’re the Elements of Harmony, of course!” This time, the purple winged horse exclaimed to me. “You haven’t heard of us?”

“Should I?” I tilted my head in response. I then muttered to myself, “Talking horses…what is this? Is it some kind of a cartoon in real life? I’ve died, haven’t I?”

The winged unicorn seemed to pick up on my mutter. “Sir, you’re in Equestria, or most specifically, Ponyville,” she told me. “Why do you think you died?” She cocked her head a bit to the side at that.

Okay, seriously, what is going on here?

“I fought against a whole horde of monsters back home,” I tried to explain. “I managed to kill all of them…well, ‘kill’ isn’t the word for that...defeated them is the correct word for it. They vanished into darkness…why am I telling you this?”

“You want to know how you got here,” the white horse replied to me in a sweet voice.

“Whoa, wait!” the rainbow horse hurried over to me. “You fought monsters? Seriously?! That is awesome! Wish I could’ve seen that.”

“Rainbow, get back,” the winged unicorn scolded her. “He might be dangerous if he fought monsters.”

Rainbow, from what I heard, gave a sigh and returned in line to the other five mares.

But…Ponyville and Equestria…I’ve officially gone to Hell, have I not? God help me, why am I magically talking to horses that have no idea who I am?

“Twilight, what do you think of him?” the orange mare asked the one called Twilight.

“Well, he hasn’t done us physical harm,” Twilight replied. “So…he seems alright for now…”

Then, we heard a loud, dramatic gasp from the pink pony. “I totally forgot! I need to prepare for a party!” Aaaand…she was gone in the blink of an eye.

Okay…that was weird...totally weird.

“Never mind her, sugarcube,” the orange mare told me with a shake of her head. “Pinkie always wants to welcome newcomers to Ponyville, even despite they’re strangers to the town.”

“Oookay…” I couldn’t quite speak today, could I? Well, I am speechless for speaking with colorful ponies. So, how can I not be?

“Why don’t you tell us your name?” Twilight asked me. “That way, we can introduce ourselves to you.”

“I can live with that,” I nodded, albeit a bit skeptical, to her. “My name is Daniel Black, I am a fifteen year old human from my old home that is now gone.”

They blinked in surprise at me.

“You’re a…human?” Twilight asked, as if she wants clarification. “What’s that?”

“It’s my species,” I explained. “We’ve always been that.”

“Now that you’ve introduced yourself,” the winged unicorn cleared her throat. “Let us introduce ourselves. Applejack, would you do the honors?”

“Absolutely, Twi,” the orange pony nodded and looked at me. “Hello, sugarcube. I am Applejack, as mentioned by my friend over here. I run the Sweet Apple Acres in Ponyville. Ya can visit us anytime ya like, Daniel.”

I nodded to her as the rainbow mare then introduced herself.

“I’m Rainbow Dash, and I am the fastest flyer in all of Equestria,” she smiled smugly at her proclamation. “I can’t wait to be friends with you, Dan. I can say we’re going to be great friends.”

A friend…that is something I’ve never had back home.

“I’d like that, Rainbow,” I smiled at her as the white mare started her own introduction.

“My name is Rarity, and I run the Carousel Boutique in Ponyville,” she gave me a friendly bow. “It’ll be nice if you can meet my sister later today, Sir Daniel.”

Whoa, alright, I like her politeness…but, sir? That may be overdoing it.

“Um, you can drop the ‘sir’ part, Rarity,” I told her. “I’m not worthy of such titles.”

“As you wish,” Rarity nodded.

Then, it was the yellow Pegasus’s turn. I gave her a gentle smile, and she gave a small ‘eep’ and hid behind her mane.

I was confused.

“Oh, sorry, Fluttershy is very shy around new creatures,” Twilight apologized to me for her friend.

“It’s okay,” I nodded to her.

Fluttershy…I kind of like that name. Makes up for her shyness, from what I get it.

“And now all that’s left is Pinkie for introducing herself,” Twilight said. “I wonder if she’s preparing your party as of right now, Daniel.”

“I’m sure she is,” I chuckled.

Wow, to think that I’ve been welcomed by these ponies was something I never expected to be. I feel something in my heart to slowly repair itself with their generous and kind offer.

After the introductions, I followed the girls into town as I felt something in me I missed, and that feeling was: happiness.

I could hardly believe myself. Here I was, talking and walking with these six - well, make that five - ponies as we made our way to what is called Sugarcube Corner.

When we arrived there, I was surprised that the other ponies were smiling at me with a welcoming presence. I...don’t have words...I mean, I am a complete stranger to them, why am I treated as if I belong here? It makes no sense.

Twilight saw my confusion as she chuckled. “Pinkie must have announced you to them, Daniel,” she told me.

“I see.”

Yes, that was the only response I had. ‘I see’, okay? Can we move on now? Good. Now, where was I?

I followed the ponies into the Sugarcube Corner building as I saw darkness while I looked around for Twilight and the others. “Hello? Are you there? Girls?”

Click

“SURPRISE!!”

I was given a heart attack by the shouting. I fell on my butt as I was met with the pink pony...right in my face!

“Hi and welcome to Ponyville, Daniel! I hope you like it here!” she spoke at a hyperactive pace that I couldn’t understand her. “When I saw you with the others, I knew that I just had to throw you a ‘Welcome to Ponyville’ party. And so, here you are!”

I blinked in utmost amazement. How can someone...or was it somepony?...like her talk so quick?

“Uhh…” I looked at Twilight. “Can you understand her? I didn’t quite catch what she was saying.”

Twilight chuckled. “That’s just Pinkie Pie, she is usually excited to meet new folks,” she said.

“Oh…” I looked back at Pinkie, who had a big giddy smile on her expression. “Um...nice to meet you too, Pinkie...why did you do this?”

“I thought of making friends with you, of course!” the party pony replied.

Okay, I understand that, but throwing me a party? I’ll admit, I’m not exactly a party person who just goes in and expects a party to be made for me. This...is a bit too fast for befriending others.

“You know that interaction needs to be made before making friends, right?” I asked her.

“Silly, I know that,” Pinkie gave me a grin. “We are interacting now, aren’t we?”

“Well...that’s true,” I reluctantly agreed. “I...just don’t expect to befriend others so quickly, not that I’m saying I don’t want to be your friend, of course. It’s just...I’m taken a bit off-guard by all of this. I’ve got no idea how I even got here in the first place, either.”

Pinkie nodded in understanding to me. “Of course, take your time, Danny,” she smiled at me.

Danny? That was not what I had in mind to be called by this pony.

I was maybe just taken aback by how quick things went for me. That may just be it.

I looked at Twilight as she cleared her throat. “Let us welcome our new friend, everypony!” she called out as every pony was cheering before I managed to stand back up on my feet while I was blinking.

Soon, everypony in the building had greeted me with warm hands - um, excuse me, hooves - and I was warmed up in my heart by them as I felt a shining light in my empty hole of the heart I had thought I lost to the darkness by the Phantoms.

Oh.

I mentally slapped myself while I was partying with the ponies.

How could I be so stupid as to forget about the Phantoms?! They are still on the loose, and if I get these ponies caught in the Light and the Dark war, there’s no turning back from it. If there could just be a chance I can avoid my new friends from getting in the crossfire…

“Daniel?” I heard Twilight ask me as I was snapped out of my thoughts by her sweet voice. “Are you alright? You look like you’ve seen a ghost, or something.”

We were excusing ourselves from the crowd as they continued on with their party.

“It’s just…” I sighed as I then told her: “I’m worried about something that’s been on my mind since I got here.”

“What is it?” the winged unicorn - from what she had told me before we made our excuse, was called an alicorn - asked, as if she was worried over it with what I’m about to tell her as well.

“It’s just...that I’m afraid something might happen to you all,” I sighed to her.

“It’s alright,” Twilight smiled warmly to me. “We’ve been through some hard times ourselves.”

“Well, this thing with me is different,” I tried to explain. “I...hold some sort of a key that’s the center of attention with dark creatures.”

Twilight perked up at that. “What’s with this key? Is it to open some kind of a door?” she asked.

“Yes,” I nodded in affirmation. “This key - it’s unlike anything you’ve seen - it is what attracts creatures of evil to its Light. It is called...a Keyblade.”

“What’s a Keyblade?” the princess asked, curious to know more.

“It’s a weapon meant to seal Keyholes,” I explained. “I’m kind of the center of attention to creatures known as Phantoms - which looks like a humanoid shadow being, just with blood red eyes.”

“Okay…” Twilight nodded slowly. “I can understand your words, but...why are they after you?”

“I hold the Keyblade,” I explained, as a matter-of-factly. “I’m a Keyblade wielder, fighting for the Light and its good people. If you see any of those creatures I mentioned, run. They’re dangerous, murderous beings with no reasoning to them. They thirst for the heart and its light. What I’ve seen they can do, it’s horrifying.”

Twilight sweat dropped by my explanation. I can’t blame her, she is most likely scared for the Phantoms with my mentions.

“Alright, if we see those...Phantoms,” Twilight started to say, “I will call for anypony who is hopeless and get them to safety.”

“Good,” I smiled at her, pleased. “Now, shall we return to the party?” I gave her my warm smile as she nodded before we returned to the waiting ponies.

This is going to be a hopefully good day for me.

I was tired. Very tired after the party came to its conclusion. I was happy, and that was a joyous thing they’ve done to me since my arrival in Ponyville. I was lucky to have Twilight understand my explanation to the situation I was in, and that it was simple and clean to her.

Now...where to now?

I walked through the streets of Ponyville, and I could feel my legs getting heavy while I walked down the road. I need something to sit on and rest.

Ah-ha! A bench! Perfect!

I stepped up to the bench and sat on its flat surface before I let a relieved sigh as my legs can now relax from partying the whole afternoon.

I rested my hands on the bench while I hummed as a cool breeze came by in the wind. I looked up to the blue sky that was cloudless. From what I was told by Rainbow Dash, the pegasi controlled the weather here, which was pretty cool. Wished we had some sort of weather-control back on Earth before it was destroyed…

“Um...excuse me, sir?”

A sigh escaped me as I looked over to a pony who had a lime green fur with a cyan mane and tail. Her eyes were a beautiful sunglow color.

“What is it?” I asked her.

“Are you a...human?” she hesitantly asked me.

“Last time I checked,” I confirmed with a nod.

“Now I know ponies won’t think I’m crazy,” the unicorn whispered to herself, although I could hear her loud and clear. “Humans did exist.”

“Uh, what’s this now?” I frowned, and I felt she was smiling, when…

“Lyra, what are you doing?” I heard Rainbow coming from the street.

Lyra...so that is what this unicorn is called...hmm, what could there be something she would be doing?

“Nothing, I was just asking him,” Lyra replied to the pegasus.

“About what?” Rainbow asked.

“If he was a human and all.”

“Of course he’s one,” Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Why wouldn’t he be?”

Oh, I don’t know. Be magically transformed into one of you if I had the ability?

I blinked as Rainbow trotted up to me. Lyra looked as if she was hurt.

“I’m not going to take him, Rainbow,” the unicorn told her.

“Hmm,” Rainbow hummed. “Last time I heard you talk about if you saw a human, you would take him immediately home with you and keep it as a pet. That won’t happen as long as I am with Daniel, Lyra.”

What? Was she going to...steal me, or something?

Lyra’s ears fell in disappointment. “Aww...alright, Rainbow, I won’t when I see him again,” she sighed sadly.

I feel a little bad for her. I know I only just met her, but how can I not be? I am trying to help others as best as I can.

“Look,” I said as the two ponies looked at me. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I can assure you, that I have no intention of being cared for as a pet. Whether it is by mistake of saying it, or an excuse, I can say that I have no interest in it. I’m my own man; I do as I please.”

That was true. Now that I have no home at the moment, I can do whatever I want. No rules, no responsibilities. Just on my own, which is perfect.

“If you say so, Dan,” Rainbow sighed and looked at Lyra. “Sorry if I was a bit harsh there, Lyra.”

“It’s okay,” the unicorn smiled a bit at the apology.

“Good, that is settled then,” I stood up from the bench as I started to walk with Rainbow to Twilight’s home, the Castle of Friendship.

I am just in amazement that I am literally the friend to a princess. I must’ve been going to a dream in Heaven. A good feeling, I will admit.

After a while of walking with Rainbow, I stopped dead in my tracks as I felt a disturbance in my senses.

“Daniel? What is it?” Rainbow asked...when she yelped in surprise as I grabbed her and jumped to the side before a reddish black attack had struck us. “Whoa! That was close!”

“You tell me,” I agreed with her as I looked at a Phantom hiding in the ground. “Show yourself, monster!” I demanded it.

The Phantom raised itself above the ground, and I felt Rainbow sweat near me as she had her eyes widen in shock from the corner of my right eye.

“What do you want?!” I growled at it, and I summoned my Keyblade to my right hand as the Phantom growled loudly at me. I looked at Rainbow, ordering her while she had no objection to my order: “Run! I’ll take care of this thing!”

She nodded and spread her wings before flying away as fast as she could while I looked back at the Phantom with hatred.

“Coming here is a huge mistake,” I spat in disgust to the black monster.

“You’re going to...come with us, Keyblade-wielder,”the Phantom spoke to me darkly. “Or else…”

“Like Hell I will!” I shouted as I held my Keyblade tightly in my hands before charging the Phantom when I lashed out with it at the monster.

The Phantom blocked my strike, and swiped my feet with its left claws. I fell to the ground, and rolled to the side before I was struck by the monster and jumped back to my feet. I blocked its next strike with my Keyblade and jumped back before I raised my voice.

“FIRE!!” I yelled as a fireball soared through the air from the tip of my Keyblade and clashed with the Phantom, causing it to screech in pain and be vanquished from the sight. “Ah-ha! Not so smart are you, monster?!” I cheered in a short victory…

Before I saw a large horde of Phantoms coming from the black portals around Ponyville. I sweat dropped as I counted them...there’s gotta be over two hundred of them…

How am I going to defeat them all alone?!

Nevertheless, I couldn’t be like this. I need to protect the ponies in this town, and I am going to be needing my Keyblade to defeat these monsters one by one. Even if it means losing my life.

I, in my startled state of mind, was being charged by two Phantoms before I shook myself out of my worry and blocked one of them as I ducked under the claws of the second Phantom. I jumped into the air while slashing at them with my Keyblade, and I could feel as if I was truly going to die…

That was when I screamed and a burning light came from my body at the Phantoms, causing them to screech in pain as they were vanquished into nothingness by the light. I landed back down on the ground and I tightly held my Keyblade again as the Phantoms were screeching loudly before we charged both sides.

I attacked a Phantom to the head, making it screech in hissing pain before I finished it off with a slash of my Keyblade. I saw it turn to nothingness before I focused my attention on the horde again and prepared my next move.

“Thunder!” I called out as bolts of thunder came shooting down from the sky on the Phantoms, and they became paralyzed for the moment, which I took my next move quickly.

I finished off a couple of Phantoms while they were still paralyzed. I continued to slash, hack, and cut through the Phantoms until their paralyzing was gone and screeched at me loudly.

My poor ears, for God’s sake! That hurt!

I winced at the screeching that stopped at that moment. I held my ears in pain until I noticed the Phantoms charging me. Oh, clever, you monsters. But, not good enough to stop me.

I slashed at a Phantom as it was vanquished from the sight when a second one raised its black claws at me. I ducked under the swipe of the claws and slashed my Keyblade against its chest and it gave a painful screech before disappearing from the sight as well.

“Blizzard!” I shouted as a frosty blizzard came from my Keyblade towards the Phantoms and froze them to ice statues. “Aero!” A gust of wind then came as the statues flung into the air, and I took immediate action and leapt up to one frozen Phantom and cut its head off before jumping to the next, and the next, and the next before I landed on the ground while the statues plummeted to the ground and shattered to pieces.

I charged the last remaining fifty Phantoms as I clashed with one of them before I slashed its short neck and it screeched in pain before being vanquished to nothingness. I cut off another Phantom’s head with my Keyblade as I jumped away from the remaining forty eight monsters.

“Fire!” I shouted as a fiery beam came from my Keyblade and vanquished the Phantoms in a pit of fire before I concluded the battle with a Stop ability as time stopped itself with the Phantoms while I was unaffected and took care of them in less than twenty minutes before the Stop ability wore off and time returned to normal.

I panted heavily, with my Keyblade vanishing from my hand as the monsters were defeated at last. I fell to one knee while I heard Twilight and the others come up to me.

“Daniel! Are you alright? We heard a loud battle going on in this area,” Twilight said to me. “What happened?”

I merely panted in my weakened state, my Mana having decreased dramatically after using too much Magic powers.

“I’ll tell you later,” I finally said to the staring ponies after exhaling some breath of air. “Right now, I need rest...I feel like my eyes are about to shut themselves.”

Twilight nodded understandingly to me. She looked to the crowd. “Everypony, move aside. I need to take our friend to my castle for him to rest,” she told them with authority.

The ponies obliged their princess’s order and stepped aside while I walked beside a slowly leading Twilight.

“Thanks, Twilight,” I thanked her as I slowly walked alongside her to the Castle of Friendship.

“No problem, whatever has caused the noise, I need some information tomorrow,” the alicorn smiled at me.

“Sure,” I nodded. That sounded like a good idea, considering how tired I was after a long day of partying and then fighting for the town against the Phantoms.

I guess there must be something worthy here for the Phantoms to be here...besides me, of course. Whatever that is, I need to look up on it once I can begin investigating the situation further.

Right now, my mind is only thinking about one thing: sleep.

Oh, yes. A good, long sleep will be making me all warmed up tomorrow.

Author's Note

Yes, this story takes place after Season Four of the show, and before Season Five, hence why the Castle of Friendship is mentioned here. Thank you for taking interest in my work; I'll be even more grateful if you guys can help me out a bit with fixing some errors I might have made in the first two chapters.

As with a blog post I recently made, I'm currently open to world selection for this fan fiction. Yes, any world I am familiar with and can analyze from a gamer's perspective will be acceptable for my story. I've already gotten a single world selected, but if you can have more worlds for me, you can make the suggestions in the comment section to me. Thanks for your time.

Have a good day, everyone!