Stuck between two lovey beauties my heart can hardly take it, beating away frantically. This of course is not because I’m nervous of embarrassing myself rather, I fear for my life. With both arms occupied by a different mare and their murderous glares shooting past me, my current situation is a little less then optimal.

“Luna please, I didn’t see you were there I swear”

“That was made very clear to us the moment thou began stripping without warning let alone with another mare”

“You say that like it’s with a stranger. It’s Pinkie, my friken marefriend! Also what were you doing in my room!?”

“Yeah what we’re you doing in his room!”

Almost offended just from hearing Pinkie speak, Luna pulls her head back a moment before explaining herself. “I was waiting… for Joey of course”

“Waiting to eat him!?”

She brushes off the strange accusation with a twitch of her eye, “We wished to speak with Joey about something private”

“Oh yeah? And what’s that?”

“… were we not clear when we said private? Perhaps I should spell it out for you on a cake or sing it in a song. Whatever would help thou understand better”

“Actually I would appreciate- hey wait a minute! That was sarcasm!”

“Girls, not that I don’t mind you two trying to rip my arms off but, weren’t you both on good terms last time we were together?”

“Good terms? Agreement upon your safety most definitely but, nopony ever said anything about the two of us getting along”

Sadly Pinkie seems to be hurt by Luna’s words, “I thought we were friends…”

I try to comfort her while staring Luna down. I mouth to her ‘apologize’ but the most I get back is a hoof pointed back to herself while mouthing ‘us?’. Thankfully my continued deadpan stare gets the message through.

“*ahem* It appears that we should apologize.. for our actions. Miss pie it was not clear to me that thou saw us as such and we would like to say we are sorry” I mouth to her again, ‘that’s it?’. “Aaand we would… I would like to suggest a fresh start between us”

“A fresh start?”

“I am not good with making friends, if it was not already obvious by our lack of social skills. We hoped you could give us another chance, for Joey’s sake of course!” She rushes the last part for some weird sort of integrity.

“Luna you can’t be friends with somepony for another pony, that’s not how it works”

“Then could you produce a rule book for us that explicitly states what constitutes a friend?”

Then without making a sound Pinkie made her way around me to hug Luna. Caught off guard she takes a moment to return to act, still confused. When Pinkie pulls away she holds toothy smile.

“I’d love to be friends with you princess Luna but, first we gotta make a new rule! You have to call me Pinkie or Pinkie Pie or anything but miss pie! That way when ponies see us talking to each other they know how good of friends we are!”

“Is that all it would take for them to know? That feels awfully presumptuous”

“That’s not all silly but, friends don’t greet each other formally like that. Like how would you greet Joey?”

“Well, I might refer to him by his name or in certain situations young Marshall”

“Young Marshall?! That’s horrible! We can’t have you saying stuff like that!”

“What do you mean?! I think it is perfectly fine, is it not Joey?”

I shrug, “I let it slide cause you talk all old englishy. Kinda makes you you, you know what I mean?”

“Is it strange for us to call you that?”

“Eeeeeh yeah, kinda. Specially since we’re courting”

“I had no idea… what else should we do to appear more friendly?” Her intrigue was clear now.

“I mean if we’re going to go down this road, Pinkie you should probably stop calling her princess Luna as well. Drop the title”

“But isn’t that offensive?”

It was Luna’s turn, “Actually at times it’s somewhat refreshing to hear our name without title. We feel almost as if we are normal again”

“Okay, what about Loony then? Or what about moony? Oooo or what about-“

“Please just call me Luna”

“Okie dokie Lou-nah!”

“Close enough”

“Alright so the first thing-“

Then before I knew it, the next half hour suddenly went from a tug of war to a class session on making friends. Somewhere in the middle the two of them even began laughing and joking with one another helping ease the worry I once earlier had. The mood was light and the sky night, the rest of the day slipping away leaving me exhausted. If it wasn’t for the fact my sleep schedule was already all fucked up and I had just spent the entire day awake I would normally be raring to go. Unfortunately this wasn’t the only issue.

Since around the time of our picnic, a throbbing pain had become more severe bearing against the sides of my skull. Severe enough to have me rest in bed with eyes closed fighting for a moment of relief.

“Joey?” I could feel Pinkie climb up beside me. “You okay?”

“Hm? Yeah… yeah just have a little headache that’s all”

“What is it that ails you? Is it a fever?” Luna presses what I can only assume is her forehead against mine.

“Hey let me check!” Another soft push reaches my head. “Nope! No fever!”

“Look it’s really not a big deal, go back to having fun with each other and let me get a nap in. I think I’m just tired”

“Okay but take your collar off at least” Pinkie goes to remove it but is stopped by my hand.

“Woah, what if a maid or somepony comes in? I can’t take that chance”

Luna wraps a wing around me gently, “We shall stay to assure nopony enters during your rest”

Pinkie rests her head against my side, “Me too so let’s get that collar off. Besides when’s the last time you took it off?”

“Uhh…” truthfully I didn’t remember.

“Luna he’s taken it off before while he’s been staying here right?”

“Uh, we are not sure. Maybe once… maybe?” She lets out a few worried chuckles.

“Luna! You have to make sure he takes it off when he’s goes to sleep! Otherwise he’s too stupid to do it himself!”

“I don’t keep it on because I’m stupid, I do it-“

“Because you want to spook me to death! Now help me take it off or I’ll bite you”

“Alright alright.. no need to bite”

Sure enough, the moment the collar comes off my neck a strange feeling of release comes over me. I can physically feel the pressure on my head slowly ease.

“There feel better?” I nod.

“We did not know it would take so little of time to began hurting you Joey. Why had you not said otherwise?”

“Cause it didn’t start hurting until today. Usually I can’t sleep too once it gets real bad but, you’ve been kinda preventing that I bet. Some sort of weird sleep magic just from being around you”

“We do not have a floating aura of sleep magic around us for your information”

“Sometimes I have a bird that floats around my head but, that’s only if I bump it hard enough” we both take a second to admire Pinkie.

“… anyways I’m fine now so go back to your girly bonding stuff”

“You still gonna take a nap?”

“Yeah”

“Alrighty! We’ll be super quiet and make sure nopony comes in, I promise”

“You have my word as well”

“Thank you, both of you”

“Yep now take your nap nap before you get grumpy”

“I don’t… ugh whatever”

“See? He’s already grumpy” she whispers all too loud. I can hear Luna giggle as well.

“He does get awfully sour without his rest”

I ignore their bullying and try my best to get even an hour of sleep. Pinkie wasn’t wrong at least when it came to me needing sleep. Before the whole incident with Twi, I hadn’t really had a nice sleep in a long time but, now with this whole magic shit, when I have my collar off I can fall asleep and wake up plenty rested. My stupid insomnia before made any amount of sleep whether two hours or twelve feel the same. I guess you could call it the only positive to being a walking, talking poison.

Unsure of how much time passes, I eventually wake feeling horribly hot. Peeking through heavy lids it’s not hard to spot the problem. Luna lay around my right side, her foreleg around my upper chest and head resting above my own while Pinkie was on my left hugging me low. Her hoof was wrapped around my stomach and she rested against my side hugged close. It was way too much heat and I’d already begun sweating making things even worse but, when I tried to crawl free my constraints only tightened. Was this my demise?

“Quit your struggle, it is making it difficult to steal your warmth” Luna whispers from above.

“I’m sweating like two rats fuckin in a wool sock, give me some space”

“If thou continues to struggle it would be inevitable that the pink one wakes”

“Pinkie sleeps like a log. Watch” I then lift her drooling head to show how asleep she is. “See? Out cold”

“Hm, then she should not be needing this anymore” with a tug Luna attempts to pull me into her own hooves. Pinkie doesn’t budge, stuck to me like a leach. “Huh. Unexpected yet…*grunt* pliable” tugging again she fails to get Pinkie even an inch off of me. “Implausible! How is it that she holds on while completely unconscious?”

“I don’t know but trust me when I say I’ve tried everything. The only real option is waking her and we both know that’s not happening”

Luna shrugs squeezing me tighter, “Well I am not giving up my share if she is to keep hers”

“Even if I’m sweaty?”

“Strangely enough your scent is not that bad”

“Your like my cat”

“Thou has a cat?”

“Had, back on Earth I had a cat. She was pretty old when I left, wonder if she’s still kicking”

“Does it still bother you to think about the past?”

Given the question I can’t help but, think about my life before. My family, my friends. Misplaced guilt finds its way back to my heart and I instantly wish to stop.

“Luna I lost everything”

“I know we are not in the right to be saying this but, at what point will you be willing to talk about it? Surely you don’t intend to ignore this pain forever?”

“Until I have a reason to address it, I will bury it somewhere deep within myself where it will create irreversible damage on my psyche in the future”

“That sounds like a horrific plan”

“That’s for my future self to worry about” Luna bops my head with a hoof. “Ow, hey!”

“We suggest you talk it out. Whether in the dreamscape or in reality”

“I’ll think about it”

“You know when we revealed our deepest secret to thou, it felt as if a weight had been lifted from our chest. Even if the problem still remains it is comforting to know there is another that understand us”

“… I’m sorry for telling Celly”

She sighs, scooting down to my level. “I had forced your hoof. What else were you to do?”

“Keep your secret”

“And then what? Let our sister continue to imagine everything is well?”

“Maybe we could’ve figured things out before she ever had know?”

Luna doesn’t reply right away, letting the still sounds of the night fill the silence. “I am unsure if this is my purpose”

“Course it is, ya got the cutie mark to prove it”

“Joey you have spoken about your home world and how ponies do not have special talents. What is stopping this from being true in all worlds? Perhaps finding our special talent is a means to better understanding oneself but, not a purpose or guide to what we should seek. Could it not be a symbol of what we enjoy without having meaning? Why is it that we are expected to move the moon? Because of our cutie mark or because of our proven talent to do so? My sister is perfectly capable of moving both sun and moon, should she be expected to do both then? What we am saying is I do not believe we should let our special talents determine what we do. We should find what it is we wish to do instead”

“Do you not like being a princess?”

“We do not know” I watch as she walks away, stepping outside onto the balcony.

Feeling the urge to go comfort her I go to get up, stopped immediately by Pinkies hold. She needed an influence to let go so I leaned forward and placed a kiss upon her head. Pulling away I left her a whisper, “I love you but, I need to get up Pinkie”

Almost as if she could hear me the grip around my arm had vanished allowing me to slip out of bed. Approaching the balcony, the cold night breeze helped weather down my sweat. I took my place next to the pondering mare, her shape now transformed to her least royal appearance. As normal as any pony she barely could see over the railing, letting the moonlight brighten her soft blue hair.

“After a conversation with our sister I have been thinking about taking some time off”

I place a hand on her back rubbing it slowly, “That’s a nice idea, you should do that”

When she turns to me it almost looks like she’s about to cry. “Would it be okay if we stayed with you?”

“You.. you want to stay with me? With me and Pinkie in Ponyville?” Bashfully she nods looking away. “But ponies are going to know you’re staying with me. What if they realize we’re courting?”

“I would worry more about our image seeing how we would be skipping out on our duties, so little as they are”

“We can’t-“

“Do not worry about ponies recognizing us, we have a plan for that”

“Which is?”

Giving me a wry smile, she lights her horn creating a large puff of smoke. When it clears the pony before me is only slightly altered. While sharing the same mane and coat, the major difference would be her change of cutie mark and lack of horn. Where the black splotched crescent moon once rested was now a pony skull, similar to the design on the tombs in the morgue and where her horn once was, was now mane.

“Impressed?”

“Luna you almost look exactly the same!”

“What?! We do not! Look, we changed our cutie mark and our horn is gone. No pony would recognize us without the horn!”

“Yes because the pony that looks oddly similar to princess Luna without a horn couldn’t be just that, princess Luna without a horn. Where even is it anyway? Can you still do magic?”

With a light glow above her head, the horn briefly appears again before disappearing. “I can still do magic”

“You still look too similar”

“Joey nopony has seen us in this form besides you and our sister”

“Nopony? What about your voice? You sound and talk the same”

“I can speak correctly if I need to” she even changed the inflection while she spoke.

“Alright fine maybe that’ll work but, what about your name?”

“Call us Lulu as you have been”

“Luna there is no way-“

“Woah! Who the hay is that!?” Unbeknownst to our knowledge Pinkie had woken up, spooked at the arrival of this ‘new’ pony. “Joey who is that?”

“It’s-“

“It is a pleasure to meet you, I am Lulu Moonlight. I am a distant relative of princess Luna if you could not tell from my appearance”

Pinkie absolutely lights up as ‘Lulu’ speaks, rushing over to shake her hoof. “My names Pinkie Pie! I didn’t know Luna had any other relatives! Where are you from? Cloudsdale? I have a friend that used to live in Cloudsdale, actually two! Ones Rainbow Dash, I’m sure you’ve heard of her, and the others Fluttershy! They’re both just the bestest best friends ever and I hope we can be that too!”

Uncharacteristically outgoing Luna matches her smile, “I would love to be friends!”

“Great! Can you believe this Joey? This is.. Joey why aren’t you excited?”

“Pinkie that’s Luna”

“What?! No it’s not silly, it’s Lulu Moonlight!”

The altered Luna stepped between us, “No Pinkie, it is I. We wanted to prove to Joey that our disguise would work”

“Disguise? Are you a Russian spy?”

“W-wait what?”

“Pinkie would you mind if I stayed with you and Joey for a while? We feel a little overwhelmed as of late and could use a vacation”

“Stay with us? Sure that sounds super fun! We have a guest bedroom we never use anyways. It was my room when I first moved so some of my stuff is still in there but, I can just move it all to Joeys room”

“Wait I never-“

“Splendid! We will look forward to living with you both”

“It’s gonna be like a really long sleepover! It’s going to be so much fun!”

“Pinkie there is one thing I need from you”

“Sure what can I do for you?”

“Our identity must remain a secret between us three. Please refer to us as the pony you met earlier”

“You mean Lulu? That’s easy, I play pretend all the time”

“Perfect and this extends to you as well Mr. Marshall”

“Heh, Mr. Marshall” Pinkie giggles behind her.

Crossing my arms I play it cool, “As if I’d be the one to spill the beans”

“Then you are fine with this decision as well? In that case I shall attend to tidying our luggage for the stay. Goodnight to you both!” With a quick exit there wasn’t really much left I could do.

“Good.. night” I spin to Pinkie shaking her by the shoulders, “HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?!”

“Wooooahoooah, Luuunaaaa aaasked aaand I saaaid yeeeeesssss”

“Why?!”

“Cause it sounded fun! Plus you heard her Joey, she’s on vacation! We can’t leave a friend hanging without a place to stay!”

“Pinkie how are we supposed to keep this secret for so long? What if one of us messes up? You know how stupid I am!”

“I thought you said you’d never spill the peas?”

“Beans and that was false bravado, how could I make her worry by saying anything else?”

“I don’t know but, we have a new guuuueeeeesssst!”

I have to sit down to sink it all in, “Ugh this is one big headache”

“Wait you don’t have your collar on again do you? Nope! Must be a fever…”

I swat her hoof away from my head, “I don’t have a fever it’s just that this is a lot to take in”

“Not really when you think about it, it’s just Luna and her luggage”

“Not literally Pinkie”

“Hm?”

Falling flat against the bed I sigh, “Eh never mind, we’ll figure it out later”

She jumps beside me shaking the entire mattress, “That’s the spirit!”

As I lay on the bed I let my thoughts wonder to most of the day. Funny enough it was one of my most eventful when you think about it, my talk with Celestia in the morning, the day spent with the girls, and the night spent with Luna and Pinkie yet there was one pony I still forgot about. I never cleared things up with Novella.

“Wait… why is Luna packing up now? I thought I was staying in the castle?”

“Maybe she misspoke?”

“Hm… maybe” another long pause. “Are you heading back today?”

“Yeah… Twilight said we should probably only stay a day. I’m sorry”

“You know… I think the only reason I was able to make it without you until now was because I was so preoccupied. How did you fair? Like what did you do to cope? I don’t mean to ask you in a way that seems like you couldn’t go without me but-“

“I was busy too, Twilight had us dealing with big meany Discord for a long time then there was the whole loopy doopy cutie mark poopy. The first week was tough though”

“The girls were there though right?”

“Uh huh, Dash even stayed with me. She’s more of a nerd then you’d think! She reads her Daring Do books every night even if she’s already read them”

“I’ll have to keep that info for blackmail purposes”

“Why just blackmail? Why not all the colors?”

“You know I can’t tell at times if you’re actually somepony’s dad or Pinkie Pie with all the cheesy jokes you tell”

Looking herself over she nods, “Definitely Pinkie”

“Alright that’s enough goof for one night, let’s go to sleep”

“But if I sleep then it’ll be the morning and I’ll have to say goodbye again” her pouting eyes stab daggers into my chest.

“Piiinkie pleeease you’re killing me”

“Oookay, fine… but, I get to pick out one of your hoodies for my own”

“Deal” I get up and move to blow out any of the remaining candles still lit before hoping back in bed. “Goodnight Pinkie”

“Goodnight love”

My heart…

Our morning was brief and our breakfast rushed. Pinkie had woken up late so we didn’t have much time until her train took off. Partially it was my fault as well but, to be fair I had no idea when she needed to be awake. Sprinting down the streets my poorly dressed self and Pinkies fizzled mane gave all the details necessary to understand what had happened. By the time we make it to the station the girls had appeared to be bickering with the conductor.

“Now jus wait a darn second! She’ll be here any minute I swear”

“Girls! Girls sorry I’m late!”

“Pinkie! We’ve been waiting for over twenty minutes for you!”

“Sorry I slept in, hehe”

“Is this your friend?” A rather pissed off looking stallion asks from the conductors seat.

“Yes, now come on girls say goodbye to Joey and let’s hurry” Twilights the first to greet me with a hug on two hooves. “Stay out of trouble”

“I’ll try”

AJ greeted me next with a hoof bump followed by Dash. “Don’t be a stranger and write us a letter sometime Joey”

“Yeah and next time warn me about Pinkies obsession with cuddling. She nearly killed me in my sleep!”

Shy was next who gave me a little wave, “Oh gosh it was really nice to see you again. I can’t wait for when you get to come home”

“Always fun hanging with you too Shy. Tell Spike I have a present for him when you get back” she gives a little nod floating onto the train.

Rarity approaches next, “Goodbye dear” she leans close to me with a whisper, “And thank you for the dress information. I promise it’ll go to good use”

“No doubt, see ya Rare”

Last was Pinkie still standing at my side. She glances up to me with a pained smile, “You be a good colt you hear?”

“Yes mother” I meet her with a nose boop and a hug before letting her down. “Love you Pinkie”

“Love you Jojo”

“Please for the love of Celestia hurry up already! I have a strict schedule!”

With both shoot him an angry glare. “I’ll figure out the whole Lulu thing so things go smoothly when it does happen, so don’t worry about it”

“Didn’t plan to, see ya big guy”

“See ya little mare”

With a hop onto the train she gives me an air kiss, disappearing into the cart. I stand nearby when she reappears with the rest of the girls, all waving me goodbye with their passing. My smile doesn’t falter until their out of sight.

“That was cute”

“Jesus Christ!” The blue haired mare from theatre was nearly touching my side. “Are you stalking me?”

“Huh? Ha! No, I was just walking by when I saw you”

“That’s awfully convenient”

“Do you really believe it’s hard to notice a large pony on two legs running down the street with an all pink mare beside him?”

“So you only noticed me? That means you’ve been following me”

“Who says I wasn’t waiting for a train”

“Then if I stay here you’ll eventually have to get on a train right?”

“… you’re a busy stallion, I’m sure you have places to be”

I have to laugh, “Pfft, HA! My goodness you are quite the little fan girl aren’t you? Or should I say fan mare?”

“If I say yes will you sign my hoodie?” She even pulls out a marker.

“You really have been waiting for another opportunity haven’t you?” She vigorously nods. “*sigh* fine… give it to me”

She squeals in excitement, “Eeeep! Oh hay oh hay oh hay! Here!”

Taking my time I try to write my best signature. Never one for having pretty cursive added with the fact I’m writing on a hoodie with a marker, the end result isn’t too good. When I hand it back however, her eyes light up.

“This is the coolest thing that’s ever happened to me! I’m never going to wash it!”

“Gross, I have to get going-“

“Where to?”

“The palace, now please leave me to myself. I don’t like company”

“Wait if I told you I knew a quicker way?”

Last time I trusted a stranger in Canterlot I got a whole lot more then I bargained for

“What if I told you I prefer the scenic route?”

“Look it’s really faster I swear” judging off her appearance it seems like she’s really telling the truth but, who was I to know. I didn’t have enough experience with ponies.

“I don’t really know you so don’t take offense when I say this but, I don’t trust you”

“What?! What about when I helped you with that stallion at the theatre? Why would I do that then huh?”

“To gain my trust and trick me to go on some weird back alley route where you’d kidnap me back to your creepy kidnap farm”

She stands there shocked, “Wow that was oddly specific”

I take the moment to start walking away until she rushes to meet my stride, “Wait! At least let me come with you until you reach the palace!”

“Has anypony ever called you annoying before? Maybe not just one pony but many?”

“I mean some but, I think they were just joking”

“Just joking? Huh, and you must think I was just joking when I said I don’t like company”

“Well duh, you were with those ponies at the theatre the other day and the train station”

“Touché blue, touché”

“Blue?”

“I don’t know your name, your manes blue, therefore blue”

“It’s-“

“I don’t care what it is just leave me alone”

“Wow some hero you are”

“I never claimed to be a hero”

Continuing my walk she doesn’t budge, still following close behind. “You know I think it would be pretty cool if you just followed me back there, that way we would’ve already been back”

“Once again I don’t trust you”

“But I’m trustworthy!”

“How am I supposed to know that?”

“Because… okay I’ll be honest I was going to take you past a few of my friends but, it really was faster I swear!”

“Wow I trust you so much more now that you admitted to lying to me”

“Oh come on I’m not that intimidating”

Taking a look back I chuckle, “Heh, yea you’re really not but, if you had a horn you would be”

“Huh? Afraid of unicorns?”

I stop right in my tracks, “Look I’ve already signed your hoodie now can you please just leave me alone?”

A little embarrassed now by my forwardness she fails to keep eye contact, “Sorry… I just thought… I really wanted to say you were my friend to well, my real friends so I figured if I followed you around…”

“We might become friends?”

“Yeah..”

Facepalming, my stupid brain can let me just be an ass without feeling bad. “Ugh, look. If I go and see your friends and tell them we’re friends will you promise to leave me alone?”

She lights up like a Christmas tree, “You really would?”

“Answer my question before I regret it”

“Of course! I totally will! Now just follow me and I promise my friends aren’t like… weird or anything”

“Let’s just hope they aren’t any more weird then you” I whisper to myself.

Taking an immediate turn off the main street, my newly appointed stalker led me down unfamiliar territory. Through a much thinner cobbled path we walked along the high walls of multiple white Canterlot homes, their bodies made of some sort of clay or pastel. This was a complete guess of course, I had absolutely no experience with building homes whatsoever, it’s just that the smooth rounded corners of a few houses along with the soft texture gave a off different normality then anything I was accustomed to. Made me imagine I was in some sort of fancy pony version of Europe.

Most buildings shared balconies as well making the already tight alleyways appear clustered and messy, an urban jungle at points. Whether it be home grown potted plants bleeding over ledges or clothes lines stretched overhead there wasn’t much empty space.

Strangely enough there wasn’t many ponies for a city of this size either at the fault of my guide or perhaps the time of day, everypony at work. I made sure to keep my guard up either way given this mares previous admitted lie.

This mare…

“What’s your name?” She turns her head stopping whatever it was she was saying previously appearing confused. “What you never told me”

“Uh yes I did like just before we started walking this way”

“Oh, sorry I kinda zoned you out”

“… rude. Velvet Cinnamon, call me… actually whatever you want really. I have more than one nickname”

“Oh I’m sure you do like annoying mare or creepy stalker mare or…” her angry look stops my pestering. “Hehe sorry sorry sorry, I was just kidding. Couldn’t pass up the opportunity”

“You could’ve”

“Eeehhh knowing me? Probably not Sin”

“Sin?”

“Yeah like the first part of cinnamon”

“Oh a nickname. Well that’s pretty good, I was worried you’d actually call me stalker or something bad in front of my friends”

“I can be an ass but, I’m not heartless”

Across another four way split path, down a flight of dangerously steep stairs (in my opinion), and to a hole in the wall type building, this little dive appeared to be our spot. Graffiti littered the walls and several punk rock dressed ponies decorated the surroundings. At the sight of my arrival alone they began to whisper amongst themselves excitedly.

“Sin why do I feel like I’m going to regret my decision to follow you?”

“Huh? Is it because the way their dressed? I promise they’re not weird or anything. Most of them are probably too nervous to approach you anyways”

“I don’t like attention” and attention I was sure getting.

“Sorry. Here when we get inside I’ll take us somewhere private”

“You want me to go inside?” Taking a look over the building it was certainly in worse condition then most the ones near the main street, several parts of the paint chipping away and once again the various forms of street art. There even was a small rhythmic beat coming from inside. “Is this a club?”

“Only during the night. During the day it’s just a nice play to chill”

“And do heroine in the restroom, yeah I know these types of places Sin”

“Nopony does.. hair-o-in, in the restroom”

“Do they do drugs?”

She looks away shamefully opening the door, “A few. Not me of course!”

I follow close behind ducking under the small door. “I could tell that much at least, you’re too much of a daddy’s girl”

“I hate my dad”

“Uh huh”

Inside things are pretty dingy. Dark and dirty, I’m glad the lights are dim because I know for a fact most these walls are disgusting by the strange stains alone. I make sure to keep my body away from touching anything as Sin leads me through. The entrance was at first L-shaped leading into a main club floor which was unlit and still littered with the night before’s adventures. Above was a serious of paths that seemed to lead to many more rooms away from the party. At the far end was a bar also unlit and empty, the shelf’s bare as well probably to avoid any sort of theft in a place like this.

Several ponies lay sprawled about as well, some clearly under the influence and some just eating away their day. Either way at my presence they made sure to gawk or wave.

“I guess this attention isn’t that bad given most these ponies probably can’t even tell what day it is”

“Yeah” my guide replies somberly. “I kinda wish they wouldn’t allow anypony to light up in here during the day, it really ruins the place”

“Sin I think the place ruins the place. Whoever owns this building clearly doesn’t care that much”

“I heard it was a stallion named Persuasive Hoof but, I’ve never seen him here before”

Upstairs Sin leads me down a long hallway into a residential type looking area. Curtains remained down covering each window yet they failed miserably given this hallway was more lit then any other part of the building so far. The whole experience had become depressing very fast and I didn’t want to stay long.

“Your friends live here?”

“Uh, yeah they do. I kinda wish they’d move but, they always argue with me”

“How come?”

“This place used to be a lot nicer a while ago. They always say it’ll get fixed up soon when the owner sells the building but, they’ve been saying that for almost two years now”

“Your friends don’t… they aren’t like the ponies downstairs are they?”

Again she appears to get a little flushed, “Please don’t judge them, please. It’s really hard to live at a place like this and not have a few issues”

“Sin they have no excuse, they willingly choose to live here”

“They can’t afford to move!”

“Yes they can, they live in fuckin Canterlot for shits sake. Just tell them to move somewhere cheaper like a small town like Ponyville”

“I’m telling you they can’t afford to move. Steady is the only one with a job and he can barely afford the rent let alone a train ticket and a new place. Plus Ras is… she’s dealing with some stuff and I don’t know if she can just quit on the spot”

This was a part of Equestria I never hoped existed yet, the similarities to Earth still remained. Strangely I felt an urge to use my connections to help but, I’m sure Celestia and Luna already know about places like this. You can’t lead a country and also deal with every issue that plagues your ponies at the same time. They may be seen as gods but, only a few know how close they really are to any other pony.

When I come back from my thoughts Sin had already starting knocking on a well worn door. Most of the paint was chipped away and more came off with each knock.

A stir inside leads to approaching hoofsteps and then a reveal. “Velvet! What’s up?”

“Hey, I just thought I should show you both a new friend I met at the theatre the other day. You know the one you said I was totally lying about?”

“No way! You don’t mean…?” Appearing from the door, a small green stallion peeked in my direction. His eyes widen at the sight. “Yooooo no way! Come in, come in!”

Motioning with a hoof Velvet looked back to me to judge my reaction. Apprehensive I shrugged.

Sitting down on their coach it was oddly more pleasant inside their apartment then I’d imagined. Things were as well kept as they could be for a building like this and it was rather spacious as well. Although you could see almost every room in the apartment from my spot alone it was nicer than most. Kinda dim though.

“This is a nice place you got here”

“Thanks! Vel always says we should move” he throws a little shade her way with a glance.

He was awfully small for a stallion and skinny as well. His hair was a little messy likely from just waking up but, all together he didn’t seem to far from ordinary.

“Yeah cause the ponies that hang around here are gross!” Steady appears to get almost offended at the comment before Velvet continues, “Most of them at least. I just don’t like seeing ponies all messed up like that”

“Neither do I…” his voice fell a little flat.

“Anyways my buddy Sin here said her friends think I’m some sort of deity as well so I figured I’d stop by to see if she’s the only goof that thinks so”

“Heh deity. Nah dude, only Vel thinks you’re some sort of god but, me and my Ras still think you’re pretty cool. It’s not often you see a pony really stick it to the nobles and not give a hay”

“I don’t really stick it to the nobles at least I don’t think”

Velvet heats up beside me, “What?! Yeah you do! Everyday when you go around Canterlot without dressing up or like cussing out ponies when they yell at you. It’s pretty cool cause most ponies wouldn’t dare mess with a noble”

Steady’s ears lowered and he appeared bothered. “Yeah, I’ve heard some stories about what they could do if you get on their bad sides”

“Pfft, nothing? They probably would go and complain to Celly or Lulu about it with their ass all tight”

“Who’s Celly and Lulu?”

“Uh? Oh, my bad. Celestia or Luna”

“Holy… you don’t actually know the princesses do you?”

“Steady he lives in the palace with them, how wouldn’t he know them?”

“Sin why do you know so much about me?”

She blushes, “I-I uh..”

“Cause she’s obsessed about you”

“I am not!”

“Uh huh, and who was the mare who showed up last night and yelled about meeting the human for like three hours?”

“It was not three hours”

While we continued to discuss Cinnamon’s strange stalker habits, a door to the side opened revealing a light red mare with a black mane. Yawning she got the attention of everypony allowing me to inspect her a little longer without looking strange. Skinny like her coltfriend or what I can only guess is her coltfriend, she also rocked a messy mane. Although I couldn’t see her eye color, I could spot the freckle like mole just above her lip to the side. A new detail to ponies I didn’t know they could have.

“What’s with all the yelling?” When she’s done rubbing her eyes she spots the stranger creature sitting in her living room. “And w-who’s that?”

“Woah manners Raspberry, it’s the human that lives with the princesses. Um…”

“Joey, my names Joey”

“Joey, see? He’s actually friends with Velvet!”

Turning away from the other two, Velvet throws me a wink. I give a huff and an eye roll in return.

“Wow that’s awesome Vely-“ slipping next to Steady she lays into his lap. “-I’ll be honest I thought you were just joking”

There’s a spark within me to back up Velvets claim but, I makes sure to drown the flame and lean back to let her do all the work. If she wanted to prove we were friends she’d need to work for it.

“Well I wasn’t see?” She says with both hooves displaying me.

Looking a little concerned at my lack of enthusiasm Steady tilts his head, “You sure you aren’t just bothering our human guest here by following him around like you did that DJ mare?”

She totally is

“What? No, we’ve become fast friends right?”

“Yeah, how about you tell them a little about me to prove it”

She pulls at the choker around her neck uncomfortably, “Oh uh… wow hehe.. where to start. Um…”

“Joey is she bothering you? Did she follow you around town today until you agreed to come over?”

“Honestly-“

“Steady easy with all the questions, you never even let me explain about how we met today, see we were planning to meet up after yesterday”

Squinted he watched me closely, “You were?”

Stone cold I reply, “Yep, Sin’s decision”

“Huh and where’d you two decide to meet up at?”

“The train station” I answer before she can even come up with a lie.

She turns over to me clearly ticked off at my response, “Yeah hehe we sure did”

“That’s kind of a weird spot”

“Joey likes trains. Apparently they didn’t have public transportation back where he’s from”

Thanks for making me seem like a little kid or a retard Velvet

This seemed to peak Ras’s interest, “Oh really? Where are you from exactly? I heard you’re not from this world so I was wondering what your home planet would be like”

“I’ve already explained it to a whole bunch of ponies so how about you just tell them Velvet. Please”

“Oh no problem. He.. his home planet is like ours expect things are a lot more… uncivilized”

“He seems pretty civil to me Vel”

“Well he’s not from a part that’s uncivil but, that’s because he’s a noble. It’s part of the reason he stays at the palace”

“Oh well that would make sense”

When Velvet checks to see my reaction I give a smirk.

So I’m a noble now huh?

“Sorry by the way for.. having to see that stuff downstairs. We’d move if we could but, we’ve never had the bits” Steady says apologetically.

“Oh that wasn’t a problem at all, please don’t apologize. We had those types of issues back where I’m from”

“Your planet had drug abuse as well?”

“Like you wouldn’t believe. Shit really bums me out to see” something about what I said causes Ras to squirm a little.

“It’s really tough around this part of Canterlot. Guess it kinda comes with ponies dealing with a lot” he hugs his mare close, stroking her mane with a hoof.

I get the message. “I um… damn. Maybe we should change the subject to my new buddy. She really did bail me out when we first met”

“I really did. Some old stallion was getting all grump about Joey cutting in line. It was a misunderstanding and I had to hold the geezer back from freaking out”

“My marefriend and another friend of mine were there to see a movie but, that old coot thought I was cutting or something and when I tried to explain what I was doing he wasn’t having any of it, shouting out stuff like ‘I know a charlatan when I see one’”

Everypony laughs some at my terrible impersonation. “He really was! You should’ve heard what he said after you went up front, saying stuff like ‘things were better when it was just ponies’ and stuff like that. Ugh ponies can be such turds when it comes to new things”

Ras laughs, “Velvy you’re a pony”

“She’s a turd too” they both laugh.

“Hardy har har, laugh it up while you can”

“And they will but, I gotta be honest. I promised Luna I’d be back quickly so I oughta get going before she sends a search party. Thanks for having me even if it was only for a few minutes”

“Oh the pleasures ours, you’ve been absolutely wonderful!”

“Whaaaat? I didn’t even do anything”

“Oh yes you did, you became friends with our little Velvy here you see she doesn’t get along well with most ponies”

“Stop acting like my mom, I totally get along with everypony”

“When you say everypony do you mean just me and Ras?”

“No I.. flank you two can be so frustrating! I’ll be outside when you’re done saying goodbye Joey” she stomps off without another word.

“Thanks for having us it-“

“You’re not really friends are you?”

Guess the secrets out. I glance back to the doorway before whispering back, “No but, she promised to leave me alone if I came”

Snickering they both give me the brightest smiles a pony can muster, “Thanks for putting up with her, I’m sure it was a exhausting”

“And thank you for coming over and pretending to be her friend. She really looks up to us for some reason and always wants to impress us so when you came over she must’ve been super pumped”

“It was that or let her bother me all day”

“We know you didn’t actually have to go with her”

“Of course-“ the smirks on their faces told me enough. They weren’t buying any excuses. “Okay I felt like spoiling the brat. There I admit it”

“See don’t you feel better?”

“Not really”

“Maybe humans and ponies don’t feel the same when it comes to these things. Either way, thanks again”

“It really was nothing” I give a wave walking toward the door but, just when I reach the hallway I feel compelled to do something a little extra.

Call it overexposure from being around ponies all day or my heart aching from the environment, I reach into my pocket and pull out a bag of bits I normally carry around. Although in my opinion it isn’t a large amount, I know for Equestrian standards it’s a hefty purse to be swinging around for just petty purchases. Confused they look at me until I hold out my hand.

“Give me your hoof”

“Why?” Steady asks, following my command.

“Because you need this more than I do”

When he pulls his hoof back he looks to me with genuine surprise, “W-wait.. are these b-bits? How much is this?”

“I don’t know, about five hundred bits. Celestia pays me every month from an incident that happened under her supervision so it’s not like I had to work for it”

“This.. this is too much! Please you gotta take some of this back I mean you don’t even know us!”

With a smile I start walking my way out, “Sure I do. You’re Cinnamons friends. Now make sure you use that to help move out of town, this place is way too depressing to stay long term plus…” I pause looking to Ras, “I think you both need a change of scenery”

Unable to hold back her emotions, Raspberry begins to cry in her coltfriends hooves while he fights to hold his own emotions. “T-thank you! Really… Faust bless you!”

Shutting the door I see Sin down the hall tapping her hoof. “Done yet?”

When I start to walk past her she follows close until we’ve left the building and are even back on the main street. Checking to see if she’s still following I can tell something’s on her mind. “Sin?”

“I should probably stop following you now shouldn’t I?”

“Probably but, I was wondering if a friend of mine I happened to just meet would be willing to follow me instead? You see I kinda get bored on these long walks and could really use the company of-“

“There’s no need to say anymore! I’ll be at your side the whole way!”

Chuckling I ruffle her blue mane, “You’re awfully chipper for a mare that dresses like that”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Never heard of emo? Where do I start?”

Finally back at the palace after a weird morning, i wave off my new friend and start my way through the palace, up the stairs until I’ve reached the ‘secret’ floor to Luna’s bedroom. With a few knocks I lean back and await her response.

…

…

…

I give a few more knocks.

…

…

“Shes already up? It’s day, what is she doing?”

Did she actually pack her things for coming to Ponyville?

Now concerned I make my way to my room to grab the magic parchment, writing a letter to Luna asking where she is, only I get no reply even after twenty minutes of walking. Moving to plan b, I start moving to the throne room, stopped by the door guards when I arrive.

“Halt, no entering without the princesses consent”

“What? You two let me through all the other times, what changed?”

“Princess Celestia has not arrived for her morning court therefore the throne room is off limits until otherwise”

“Off limits? Wait, where is she?” They don’t reply. “Do you even know where she is?” Now they both look to each other worryingly. “Holy shit what’s going on?”

Taking my parchment I start writing a letter to Celestia as well however, this one is met with silence as well. This wasn’t good for my heart and my brain knew all too well where this was going. A one way bullet train to panic attack city. If I didn’t get my breathing under control soon I’d be in serious trouble. I rush back to my room slamming open the door and locking it behind me.

What if there’s a new villain or some shit? Holy fuck I don’t know what to do!

With my head in my hands and tensions high I don’t even notice Novella entering the room. “Um.. Joey?”

“FLYING FUCK HOW DID YOU GET IN HERE?” I say grasping my chest.

Shocked from my explosive response she holds out a pair of keys from her hoof. “It’s part of my job?”

“Novy thank god you’re here though” I rush over giving her a hug. “Something’s going on and I don’t know what to do”

Angrily she pushes off me, “Can you not touch me?!”

“Do you know where Luna and Celestia are?”

“Princess Luna is in her room and Celestia should be at day court”

“Do you have keys to Luna’s room?”

“Yeah but-“

“Then come with me we have to check if she’s in there”

“What? Why, wait what’s going on?”

Nearly tripping over her maid outfit with each step she races behind me trying to keep up. With Luna’s door accessible I allow Novella the honors when we finally do arrive. With a few clinks the doors makes a loud sound and she pushes her way in politely.

“Princess Luna, your coltfriend touched me… she’s not here”

Peeking around her it was indeed true. “Novella the princesses are missing, what are we supposed to do if they’re missing?”

“I uh.. I don’t know! I was never told what I should do if they both disappeared! I’m just a bucking maid!” She was starting to panic now as well.

What am I doing? I’m the adult here, I need to keep a level head… or at least pretend to

“I’ll.. write a letter to Twilight and see what she thinks we should do”

“T-that’s a good idea!” Near the entrance, a loud clutter followed by sheets of armor clinking together frightens the both of us into the air. Novella immediately hides behind my legs. “Take him! He has more meat on his bones!”

“What?! She’s lying I..” frozen by the pony entering, it’s one of Celestia’s valkyries.

With a kneel she begins to speak, “Prince Marshall, it has become evident that both of the princesses are missing. Given Luna’s request to keep your title as prince until her passing is proven, you know hold the highest position of power within the palace grounds. The valkyries are at your command until another princess is present”

“Wait you’re kidding?” She doesn’t budge, still kneeling before me.

“Tell her to do something Joey!”

“Uhh… until we find either of the princesses, make it a priority to protect any individuals of high standing within palace grounds. If we can, evacuate them somewhere safe so it’s easier to keep a watch and um.. keep looking for the princesses”

“As you command” standing tall she leaves the room only to renter shortly after.

“Aren’t you going to give the command?”

“We just have”

“What about looking for the princesses?”

“Our command was to watch over and protect prince Marshall until further notice, orders directly from princess Luna herself”

“When did she say that?”

“At your first arrival”

“My first arrival? Bullshit, I’ve never seen you once the entire time I’ve been staying here!”

“It’s is our duty to appear unseen unless our main priority should be conflicted by remaining concealed”

“So you’ve been following me even today?”

“Yes”

“Prove it”

“You left the palace around 8:30 this morning and headed to the train station with the element of laughter then met with an individual named Velvet Cinnamon who then convinced you to follow her to a nightclub”

“You at least followed me for today I’ll give you that”

“Joey do you have any idea what’s going on? How do you know they’re both missing?”

“Cause I went to day court and the guards there said Celestia never arrived!”

“Holy buck…”

“Should we move to a more secure location prince Marshall?”

“… wait at least until Twilight replies to my letter. If she comes back I’d like to at least be ready to tell her all that’s going on”

“Understood” Stepping aside the Valkyrie moved to the door holding guard over its entrance.

Panicked, Novella had to sit down to calm herself. “This is insane”

Taking my parchment I quickly address a letter to Twilight explaining briefly what has occurred and asking for her guidance. “Pretty on par with everything that’s happened since I got stuck here” With a flick of the roll it’s off and sent.

“This isn’t on par! We’re missing the two most important ponies in Equestria! Who’s going to protect us if whatever it is that took them is still out there?”

“Whatever, whoever, I really don’t care. All we need to do is gather everypony we still have and figure out what’s going on first. Who knows, maybe they just left to some other realm with Discord”

*poof*

It was a returned letter, Spike sent and all. She must be already back home. Peeling open the seal I scan over the short note to see Twilights advice.

‘Things are getting strange here as well, I’ll explain when I get there’

~Twilight

“She’s coming here? Also she said ‘things are getting strange here as well’”

Checking the letter herself Novy puts it down turning to me worried, “You think there’s other ponies disappearing as well?”

A voice from the door responded, “There has been no reports of any other individuals missing, either reported from guard or sent in by civilian”

“Do you think we should tell ponies about what’s going on?”

“No, absolutely not! Last thing we need is for ponies freaking out thinking there’s a pony snatching villain out there capable of taking both the strongest ponies alive. We keep this a secret between me, you, Twilight, and that guard over there”

“The entire valkyrie division was required to be filled in, in order to relay the current mission status”

“Okay, me, you, Twilight, and the valkyries”

“What about princess Cadance? Do you think she could help?”

“The Crystal Empire is pretty far away but, I can write her a letter filling her in at least”

Taking the time to do just that Novella found herself leaned against Luna’s desk, sitting on the floor. Her eyes searched for answers in the abyss, lost in thought.

“Joey.. if we die-“

“Nopony is going to die”

“Yeah but, if we do… I just wanted to say I’m sorry”

“Can we not do this? Nopony is dead or is going to die. We’re going to talk with Twi when she gets here and find the princesses without any issue okay? This is all probably a prank by that Discord guy, he did just get ‘reformed’ the other day”

“Okay but, I still need to apologize in case I don’t get the chance too! I never want to regret not saying sorry to a pony again”

I sit down beside her, “Past regrets?” She nods. With a large inhale and exhale I throw my parchment back onto the bed. “I’m sorry too. I really freaked out on you and I can’t really take back what I did so if you don’t want to be my maid anymore I understand”

“I didn’t know how much you’d been through. If I really knew… I wouldn’t have assumed you were some rich aristocrat…”

“Heh, you really should’ve seen that one though. I don’t exactly fit the mold of what a noble typically acts like”

“Entitled?”

“Cocky?”

“Rude?”

“Ignorant?” Sharing a chuckle I ruffle her mane fast enough to avoid her swatting hoof. “How about a fresh start?”

Her angry expression from my antics start to die down and she sticks a hoof out towards me, “Fresh start” Meeting hoof and hand the agreement is settled.

“Good. Now we can die friends” I lay back closing my eyes peacefully.

“YOU SAID-“

Still less than hour since the discovery, our secret party of three remained hidden up in Luna’s chambers. Novy peeked through the blinds while our guard still covered the entrance, occasionally stepping outside to be informed on the search. I currently sat at the end of Luna’s bed, admiring an old image of herself and her sister. It was a wonder it lasted this long as they both were without the qualities that make them alicorn today. Celestia’s pink mane was split by a long white horn while Luna kept her neatly maintained feathers to her sides. A unicorn and a pegasus, both blindly innocent to the future they held, an endless lifespan riddled with responsibility. How I felt blessed to have a mortal lifespan.

I rubbed a finger over the image to clear some of the dust, my thumb revealing a clearer image of Luna’s adolescent face. “What do I do Luna?”

“Prince Marshall” I’m brought back to the present leaving the picture on her bed.

“Any news?”

“Princess Twilight Sparkle has just arrived. Should we send her to your location or would you like to meet her in the throne room?”

Checking on Novella, she still seemed awfully scared at the pace of everything. “Have her meet us here. This floor of the palace is more safe to talk in then the throne room”

“Didn’t Luna disappear in this room?”

“We don’t know that for sure but, I do know not many ponies know of this floor so I’d rather play the odds”

“I will send word to her of our location”

Left alone for the moment, I start to gather my things. Watching over in question, Novella made her way in front of me to catch my attention. “What are you doing? Are you leaving?”

“I get the feeling that we can’t stay here. If Luna and Celestia were both in the palace when they vanished then this place isn’t safe enough to stay in. We’ll have to wait to see what Twilight says when she gets here though”

“You’re not going to leave me here alone are you?”

Smirking I stifle a laugh, “For the way you treat me I’d expect you to be glad”

“Maybe under normal circumstances but, not right now!”

“How about this, I promise to leave you with my personal guard while I go with Twilight. If there’s anypony else they’d want, it would be Twilight so it would be better for you if she didn’t stay here”

“You think somepony is going after the princesses?”

“Hard not to assume”

“This really sucks. Ever since you came here everything has gone completely haywire for me!”

“Hey! This is not my fault!”

“Trouble sure does seem to follow you…”

“You think my issue has something to do with this? These two circumstances are completely irrelevant to each other”

“How could you tell huh? I think it’s a pretty good guess”

“Emphasis on guess”

“Joey?” Emerging from the door with the valkyrie in tow, Twilight made her way over to me with a hug, checking me over for any injuries. “What’s going on? What happened to the princesses?”

“We don’t know, they just disappeared. What happened with you? You okay?”

“I’m fine and so are the girls but, Ponyville is under attack from all these weird plants! They’re all over the place and they’re destroying the town! We were going to ask Celestia what she might think but, now that she’s missing I have no idea what to do!”

“Maybe the weird shit going on in Ponyville has something to do with the princesses?”

“Maybe… if we’re going to do anything though we need to head back now, things were getting pretty dicey when I left”

“Sounds like our best option only how do you expect me to get there? In case you haven’t noticed I don’t have wings”

“I could fly us both”

“Twilight you just got your wings and I saw you fly with them already. You’ll kill us both”

“I flew here didn’t I?”

“… you really think you can carry me?”

“Why not? I’m a big mare”

Kneeling before us the valkyrie broke her silence, “I could carry him princess”

“No, I want you staying here watching over Novella”

She blinks twice unsure she heard me correctly, “The maid?”

“Yeah the maid. She’s my personal assistant so I expect you to keep her safe while I’m gone”

“Surely our abilities could be better utilized protecting-“

“I’ll be fine. Besides, I got a princess with me” I give Twi a little shove which she clearly wasn’t ready for, stumbling slightly before catching her balance with a smile.

“Heheh”

“Your orders conflict with princess Luna’s”

“Then let my word be final given her absence, he will be escorted by myself alone”

“So be it”

Swinging the door open with her magic Twilight runs out the room yelling to me, “Come on, we have no time to lose!”

“You sure you can carry me?”

Grunting beneath me from the added weight she refuses to break her confident smirk. “Trust me, I’ve got this” Flapping her wings we start to lift off. The motion causes me to instinctively grab around, holding a little too tightly for Twilights liking. “Joey please… you’re choking me”

“Sorry!” Ten feet turns to twenty, which turns to fifty and then cloud coverage. High above where the suns rays are unhindered she takes us into the jet stream. Such high winds make things awfully bumpy and I have to squint just to see but, my steed does not falter. I take a moment to throw out an opportunity I’d likely never get again. “Show me the meaning of haste”

“Huh?! What?! I can’t hear you with all this wind!”

“Nothing! Just… keep flying!”

“Uh… o-okay!”

Fighting against the battering gusts I have to hold close to avoid falling. With my face pressed against Twilights side it’s then I notice how far up we are. I don’t even waste a second clenching down harder making her shout in surprise.

“Holy fuck holy fuck holy fuck holy fuuuuckkkk”

“Could you loosen up a little? You’re holding on too tight!”

Closing my eyes it’s the only option I have, “Sorry again!”

The wind doesn’t die down ever and the trip starts to feel longer and longer each extra minute. I was anxious as hell to get down soon as possible. Unfortunately, the painstakingly long flight takes a while before I can start to feel Twilight lean forward lowering us toward the ground, it’s then I peek again.

Vines. They grew everywhere from rooftops to the many dirt paths in and out of Ponyville. The most noticeable thing would be the town hall standing tall among its constituents. Wrapped in its own veiny prison the sides appeared to become cracked at the pressure. I scanned the horizon for any reason or location they appeared from finding none. They were too chaotic, wrapped in various ways and angles even coming from the ground in most spots. It’s like the town was being eaten from below, pulled into the earths mighty claws, both massive and spiked. Yes, there wasn’t a vine without its own protective spiny coat, spikes sharp enough to shred stone.

Twilight put us down near her tree home, a few of the girls noticeably present from the shouting going on around the corner. Their arguing helped draw conclusion on who to expect yet, one voice in particular wasn’t familiar. It balanced upon a knifes edge whether to be masculine or feminine, laced with bravado. I was still sure it was a he but, the more he spoke the more these hairs on my neck stood tall. Taking lead Twilight rounded the corner first holding a hoof for me to stay.

“Discord! What did you do with the princesses!”

“Why what ever do you mean? My dear friend Spike can even vouch I’ve been with him the entire day! Can’t you Spike?” He finished his words with an almost poisoning delivery, my face contorting in disgust. I felt an urge to peek a look.

“Yeah you were and I wasn’t any better for it! Twilight he’s been causing trouble for me everywhere I go, from Fluttershy’s house, the bakery, even when I went to the bathroom!”

“Like two peas in a pod!”

“I don’t care if you have an alibi, I know you have something to do with this!”

“Are you assuming I’ve done something horrible and wicked in the past that may or may not have caused this whole mess because if so I would gladly take the credit. It’s not often you see a mess of this scale so unexpectedly! So beautifully chaotic!”

“See! It was him! We should kick his flank for-“

“Hold on now my flamboyantly colored friend, I never said I ever caused this. What I said was I would take the credit. Not often do you see a town so crestfallen and without a pony to blame”

“But I bet you know what’s caused this don’t you!”

“Me? Nope, not the slightest clue. I have absolutely nothing to hide”

“If you’re supposed to be our friend, then you wouldn’t let all of this happen to Ponyville! You have to help us clean this up!”

“So feisty and angry! Why I love that raspy voice as well, it’s devilishly seductive”

“What?!” Based on her tone I can tell how flustered she is.

“If you all claim to be my friend as well, then why do you insist on lying to me?”

“What are we lying about? That you’re rude and inconsiderate?”

“That there is another…”

My body runs cold and wet tendril like arms began to wrap over my back yet, when I look I find no culprit. I’m covered in goosebumps, ears deaf of any sound. With a slow turn the large shadowy figure looms over me without a single inch of movement. Almost eight or nine feet tall and slender, his frame stands still, as if he doesn’t even breath. Then slowly, he lowers his elongated neck to meet me face to face, smiling brightly with a single large fang protruding from his mouth.

“Hello my new friend. You surely aren’t a pony now are you”

I didn’t feel like being friends, “Very astute of you, you must be a pretty smart… whatever you are”

Whatever you are was a pretty good description as well. A hodgepodge of various body parts made the creature before me. A dragon tail, a lions paw, a donkeys mane, a horses leg. Nothing quite made sense about him and I guess it fit the character description I was told.

“Very” With a poof I’m with the girls, while my newly met annoyance rested a hand on my head for balance. “Twilight this has to be one of the poorest attempts of hiding a pony I mean he’s practically radiating magic!” Standing close he gives me a sniff. “Ooo potent”

I bat his hand away angrily, “Don’t touch me and what the fucks your problem teleporting me like that? If you ever touch me with magic again-“

Snapping his finger I’m transformed into a pony myself. I only notice as the change from two feet to four sends me tumbling onto my ass, staring straight up at my new brown appendages.

“And why can’t I if I might ask? I don’t see how it’s fair that you could stain the air with your vile magic and not let me use some of mine. This relationship can’t always be one sided you know”

“Change me back! Change me the fuck back!”

“And miss out on such an adorable stallion? Or would you prefer I make you a mare instead?”

Placing a hoof on my shoulder Twilight gives me a reassuring look, “While Joey is much cuter as a pony you still didn’t ask him permission to be changed like that now unless you want to be turned back into stone I suggest you turn him back to normal”

“Back to normal? This is normal! He wasn’t anything close to normal before! To be honest I believe this is better for him in the long run”

“Discord!” Fluttershy surprisingly shouts, “Change him back right now!”

Surprised himself he snaps a finger changing me back human, still on my ass. “Okay okay, I was only kidding”

“I’ve already had enough of this fuckin dude now let’s just focus on fixing this weird vine shit first and ignore the freak”

“The freak?!” He stands aghast, supposedly offended. “I’ve never felt so offended in my life”

“Joey that’s being too mean, apologize”

“Shy he turned me into-“

“Apologize!”

Frowning I look over to the now relaxing Discord, his ear comically large waiting for an apology. “You’re not a freak”

“Joey…”

“What?! I took back what I said!”

“It’s fine Fluttershy, I do believe he is just suffering from jealousy of seeing a pony so much better looking then himself”

“Uh huh”

“See? He even agrees!”

“Can’t you girls just zap him into stone again? I don’t see what value he really brings if he’s not here to help”

“Zap me again pfft, if I truly felt my life was in danger I would’ve easily torn you all limb from limb with a snap of my finger”

“Yeah he’s like definitely still evil”

Twilight turned to me confused, “What are you talking about?”

“Didn’t you just hear what he said?”

“What who said?”

“Discord!”

“I never spoke”

“Yes you did”

“Joey nopony said anything” the rest of the girls nodded in agreement.

It wasn’t until I turned to Discord where I was struck with a horrific flash image of his potential. Still in the very same spot he stood atop the elements, their bodies bloodied and mutilated, holding a very familiar looking human in his claw.

“Fucking Christ!”

“Joey! What is a matter with you?”

“None of you saw that?!”

“Saw what?! You’re starting to freak me out”

Not wanting to scrape it up as imagination, I decide to keep my eye on Discord for the remainder of my time, dropping the freak out all together. “It’s… nothing just ignore I said anything”

“Are you sure cause-“

“I’m sure”

Not really appearing to trust me she shrugs, “Anyways we need to figure out where these vines are coming from. Has anypony seen if Dash is done scouting?”

Twilight, Shy, and Spike talk amongst themselves on the next plan of action however, the instant I remove my eye from Discord I can feel his presence beside me. “Your magic is going to kill you, you know?”

“Gee Sherlock, how’d you figure that out?”

“The simply fact it begs to pour out of you like a waterfall. If it wasn’t for that cute little cat collar you had there I’d bet you’d be dead in under a month”

“How much do you know about my magic exactly? Celestia said it couldn’t have been you that sent me here or gave me this shit issue but, I feel like you still know more than any other pony”

“And what’s in it for me?”

“I don’t show Luna the image you burned into my skull in the dreamscape”

“What a pesky way to trouble me! I hadn’t even thought of that! I must be rusty… okay deal young mortal, I’ll tell you this. Your magic tastes horrible”

“That’s… that’s it?”

“Of course it’s not imbecile now listen closely as I won’t repeat this. That magic has the power to corrupt and kill even a god yet, you will never possess the power to yield it. Not even the individual who brought it here could handle it himself”

“You knew Quantum Matter?”

“More like met. He wasn’t exactly the sane type so I kept my distance”

“The god of chaos felt threatened by a suicidal pony?”

“There is so much you do not know”

“So you’re hiding more from me? What’s stopping me from telling the princesses?”

“For starters I will not squeal. Snitches get stitches and all that. Secondly, if I am turned back to stone, you will be left with more questions then answers”

“It’s not like you’re going to tell me anything anyways”

“Ahah! That’s where you’re wrong! You see I find you fascinating. Truthfully I’ve known of your presence for much longer then you’d imagine. It’s kind of hard to avoid a magic sniffing dog such as myself with such a horribly scented soul so following you hasn’t been much of an issue”

“You were trapped in stone”

“As if that could stop me…” he devilishly chuckled. “Alas your misfortune is entertaining and if keeping you alive requires throwing a few extra guiding hints your way every so often then I will oblige”

“So you’ll help me if it means I stay alive to… entertain you?”

“Mortals are strange and unpredictable. You’d be amazed”

I was left conflicted. Should I tell the others and miss out on any advice or risk the chance he destroys everything? From the sound of it, if he really wanted to do that he would’ve already so what’s the harm of keeping a secret? Besides, I’m really good a keeping incredibly important info to myself, it’s like a talent!

“I’ll stay quiet but, I want another hint”

“You are greedy”

“And you’re an idiot, now tell me”

“Awfully demanding for such a weakling, should I remind you of the place you stand?” With anger his presence grows, hovering over me even more. His own shadow’s touch cools my body with an icy brush.

“I know you’re bluffing about not actually being trapped in stone otherwise you wouldn’t be so easily convinced by Shy to be friends. Because of that fact alone I know you’re willing to tell me more”

“No I do enjoy Fluttershy’s company that is true however, the arrogant belief that you could outwit me is offensive. Do you truly understand the power I yield? I could remove you from time itself, all of those memories, all of those actions, lost like tears in rain. You wouldn’t even be remembered”

“Discord, leave Joey alone if you’re not going to help! And Joey, come follow us, Dash found where the vines are coming from”

“Tootaloo, it appears our conversation will have to be left for another time… if there ever is one” cheerfully he waves me off.

The chills on my spine don’t fade until I cover a good distance from him, still rattled from his strange aura. He was unpredictable and seemingly much more powerful then anypony I’d met up to this point. If there was a list of individuals I would hate to be on the bad side of, he would have just found his way to the top.

Caught up fully, Twilight notices my approach and comes close to question me. “Discord didn’t do anything weird to you did he? You acted all strange earlier, what was that about?”

“I don’t know… he just gave me bad vibes you know? I really don’t trust him and I don’t think you girls should either”

“Thankfully I think most of us don’t already. If he really wanted to gain our trust I figured he would’ve helped us with this at least but, I guess his motives are unpredictable as well”

“Hopefully he doesn’t get bored with playing nice guy soon, I’d like to take a break from the evil villainy we constantly face”

“Me too, hopefully this turns out to be just a weird tree and not another big bad pony from the past”

Our path went farther away from the town as Dash led the way flying from above. As we kept moving the rest of the girls joined in with us, most dirty and bruised from helping out around. Pinkie rushed over to me without hesitation, her mane messy and riddled with debris.

“What are you doing here? There’s all kinds of scary nasty vine things all around, you shouldn’t be here! But.. it’s not like I don’t want you to be here I mean I do enjoy being around you….”

I shake her by the shoulders to regain her focus, “Pinkie, the princesses are missing and Twilight thinks what’s going on here might have something to do with it. I came back to help out since there was no point staying at the palace”

“But Canterlot is like extra duper safe!”

“If the princesses could disappear staying there then how safe would I be?”

“Okay maybe not thaaaat safe but things aren’t any better here!”

“I’m with you now so I’d say things are better”

“Can you two stop kissing and hurry up, we’re almost at the edge of the Everfree!” As she yells, the overarching canopy causes her to land with the rest of us on foot. “Ack, it’s all thick! I can’t see a thing from up there!”

“Then you’ll have to stay on the ground with us Dash” pausing near the forest entrance, Twilight gathered us together. “Everypony stick close together and form a circle. Dash and AJ lead while Pinkie and Joey take the back. Rarity and I will take the middle and provide protection if anything attacks us”

“What about Shy? Is she supposed to hide in the middle?” Flutters nods in agreement.

“Heheh, yeah… Fluttershy, how about you stay in between us all, for you’re safety of course”

“Fluttershy can take care of herself! Ain’t that right?” She doesn’t seem to really agree.

I take a step forward, “We all know Fluttershy has her strengths and weaknesses but, if we’re being honest we should make sure she isn’t going to pass out on us if things get hectic” Dash shakes her head behind Shy while the rest of girls awkwardly look away. “What?! You all were thinking it, it’s just I was the only one with the balls to say it. Besides if she does pass out and she’s in the middle I can scoop her up and carry her”

“Uh.. I think it’s probably the best idea too”

There’s a followed sigh of relief along with Dash punching my shoulder. “You didn’t have to go out and say it”

Not too deep in, the terrain had become incredibly troubling. Thickets and vines, steep cliffs and valleys, small trenches and dark sunken pits, every step was more dangerous then the next. Each of us took our time at different paces. Twilight was cautious keeping an eye out for trouble. Dash was attentive, scanning our path along the vines. Fluttershy stayed timid, as if her very own footsteps could cause earthquakes. Pinkie remained painfully ignorant, leaping and avoiding deadly slip ups by near centimeters. Lastly, Rarity, Aj, and I remained concerned, all too certain our peace would be cut short.

Taking a leap over a few stones sticking from the ponds surface, Pinkie had already broke the alignment unaware of her speed.

“Pinkie! Slow down! You’re not following- Joey can you get her to slow down?”

Taking a step myself onto one of the stones I slowly make my way across. “Pinkie! It’s cool you’re having fun and all with this but-“ I’m cut off as the stone beneath me starts to rise. “Oh shit”

Throwing me to the side, half in water, half out, I land violently in the mud. When I wipe some of the sludge from my eyes the sight above me makes me feel like it’s time to pass on to the afterlife.

Hovering above still unaware of my presence, a alligator type creature made of stone looked for its disturber with killer intensity. I laid still, hoping the mud was concealing enough to hide me. Dash was the first to act.

“Hey ugly! Look over here!” It obliged and took two long strides from its former resting place, stepping atop my leg in the process.

Had the riverbed floor not been as soft as it had been, my leg would’ve snapped in two. Thankfully, it was forgiving, burying it deep under the water and nearly submerging my entire body down with it. My head fought against the surface for a breathe as Twilight and Pinkie rushed over to pull me out. With a combined effort my leg was pulled free, the suction of the mud pulling my shoe completely off.

I clutched my injured leg immediately. “Grr, fuck! That fat son of a bitch almost broke my leg!”

Twilight quickly looked it over while Pinkie leaned close to my face, “Hey, are you okay? It didn’t hurt you bad did it?”

“Ah… I don’t know… definitely not broken though” using a spell to remove most the mud and water, Twilight ripped away at my pant leg to assess the damage.

There were two large gashes which both bled moderately. It didn’t appear deadly but, I was definitely crippled from this point of the journey on.

“I’m going to disinfect it and then I’ll wrap it”

“Girls I think me and Joey should head back. I don’t like how close that was” her seriousness made it all the more worrying.

“Pinkie we can’t head back now, specially you. Whatever is causing this vine shit is going to need the elements of harmony” I try and stand after Twilight finishes the bandage, instantly cringing in pain. “We can’t stop now”

“Joey I think Pinkies right, if we keep going your leg might get worse! I think you should head back”

By now the rest of the girls had returned, their enemy now tied up in several of the sinister looking vines. Dash rushed over to check the leg I was clearly not bearing any weight on.

“Yikes dude, that doesn’t look good”

She wasn’t wrong, it already began to bleed through. “I’ll be fine. We have to keep going”

“There’s being stubborn and then there’s being stupid! Joey there is no way I can let you keep going like this! You have to head back”

“Now hold on there sugar, if he feels like he can make it then let the stallion tough it out”

“Thank you! AppleJack understand that we don’t have much time given that it’s-“ pointing to the sky it’s both day and night, the moon on one side and the sun opposite. “-day and night… the point is we need to hurry”

“But-“

“I’m fine!” Pushing past the girls I start limping my way in the direction of the growing vine. “Come on let’s go” Uncertain, they can’t physically drag me back so they follow instead.

“At least let me fetch you a new shoe!”

It was a searing pain with a fiery wet touch leaking down my leg. The makeshift bandage was soaked, enough make the group call for another stop to change it. If I were to compare the pain I’d say a serious case of shin splints with a second degree burn on top.

“Eeeeaye! Easy, that fuckin huuurtssss!”

“This is ridiculous, I can’t even smell anything besides Joey’s gross leg! Let me carry him to Ponyville and I’ll catch back up in no time”

“So much for the element of loyalty, trying to leave me behind”

“I’m not ‘leaving you behind’, I’m saving your smooth skin ass from getting any more hurt!”

“By leaving me with Discord?! That guys a serial killer!”

Twilight rolls her eyes, “He’s crazy and annoying at worst Joey. Besides, if we come across anything dangerous again how are you supposed to get away?”

“Y’all got the elements, you’ll save me or something”

“We can’t just use them whenever!”

“Have you tried?”

“Joey they’re for purifying evil not fighting monsters, hence the name, ‘of harmony’”

“Harmony means like peace or some shit not ‘purifying evil’” I wave my fingers childishly as I repeat her.

Standing unfazed she turns her head with a pout, “Fine, if you’re going to be like this then you can suffer the consequences!”

“Twilight! You can’t be serious dear, he’s clearly way too wounded to keep going like this”

“No Rarity, if he wants to be stubborn then let him be stubborn. Maybe at least this way when he gets hurt again he’ll learn his lesson”

Most of the girls seem horrified at her response, most of them except me. “Yes, let me learn my lesson. Now let’s keep going please”

We would keep going. Going until we came across a strange crack in the earth, a valley containing a large illuminating light from within. The girls followed quickly behind Twilight while Pinkie watched carefully over my every step. I was doing pretty good since our last stop up to the point where the only way down was a large staircase chiseled from stone.

I stopped and turned to Pinkie, “Go on without me”

“Huh? No way buster, you’re all banged up! What kind of mare friend would leave their stallion like this alone?”

“An important one now go catch up with them, this shits going to take me like a year to get down”

Looking over the steep cliff ledge and back to me she shakes her head, “No way! I won’t leave you!”

“Pinkie!” She holds tightly to my good leg causing me to sit. “Pinkie you have to go”

“I can’t!”

“Yes you can, I’ll catch up later”

“No no no…. no! I already had to let you go twice now, I can’t let you go again”

“It’s not like I’m going to leave-“

“What if you fall? What if when I leave you some… some big monster comes and grabs you the instant I go? I was able to let you go before but now… I don’t have the strength left to worry”

“Oh Pinkie…” running my hand through her mane, I pet between her folded ears. “Do you really have to wait for me?” Looking up with teary eyes she nods. I sigh, “Okay… you win”

And so began the story of Joey Marshall the descender of stairs. A story in which a injured man took his time, gingerly planting every other step. A story where his persistent pink pony precariously protect his potential pitfall. It wasn’t a eventful trip nor was it truly dangerous but, to say pointless…? Yes it really is pointless to even write about anymore then I have.

Back with the now impatient frustrated group, the angry looks my way gave me the energy to move forward. I passed by them all with a smile, waving to the imaginary crowd. “Thank you, thank you. Tis truly a pleasure you all waited”

“Twilight can I kick his leg?”

“If we get through this without issue then I don’t see why not”

I step back protecting my wound, “Twilight you can’t be serious?”

“What? You said you were prepared for the risks”

“Pinkie you’ll protect me right?” Giving the dopiest smile she salutes.

“Til our last breath captain!”

“Girls look!” Sure enough beyond the next turn, the source of the light was right there in the open.

From its base it towered above nearly sticking free from the valley. Glossed in a light blue, almost mirror like, the large figure carried several outstretching arms piercing into the walls aside it. Without a doubt it took the shape of a tree yet the details creating it made doubt of such possibility. This had to be pony made or at least made from a culture since long forgotten. Most the girls rushed forward to admire its beauty while I kept my distance, even pretty sights such as this one could be concealing danger. With further observation there was two opposing piles of vines beside it as well.

“That’s a preeeetty big tree!” Pinkie exclaims.

“That’s all you have to say about it?”

“It’s pretty pretty big?”

“Heh, yes it’s pretty big but you can’t tell me it looks natural. Somepony has clearly made this thing”

“Actually it is natural Joey! It’s called the tree of harmony. Matter of fact, I read from a book back at the library about this. It’s supposed to be a legend but, given the similarities to what’s been going on I’d say it was worth the gamble”

“Worth the gamble indeed…”

Content after seeing the tree remain docile even with our presence for long enough, I waddle my way over to check out the marvelous beauty close. Etched on the base of its largest branches six empty plaques remained waiting for their destiny. They kinda looked like…

“Girls I think these are meant for the elements of harmony”

I realized it first Nerdlight

“Nah can’t be, there’s only six slots”

She looks to me with a dead stare, knowing all to well there’s a joke incoming, “There’s only six elements”

“Yea and where’s mine huh?”

“Element of annoyance?” Dash took the time to laugh at her own joke.

I pulled her close in a cradle, “Element of love”

*smack*

“Ow!”

Face beat red she brushed off her wings from the fall from my arms, “That was coming and you knew it!”

“I’m injured!”

“Not your face”

“It is now!”

“I think we need to give up the elements…”

We stop our little argument noticing Twilight remove her elemental crown from her head.

“What? What’s the point of giving them up? How are we supposed to protect everypony?”

Holding my nose I laugh, “Little ironic huh? To protect everypony you gotta give up the things that protect everypony”

“A little? Twi I ain’t sure about this, can’t there be another way?”

“I don’t see one… I mean if it doesn’t work do any of you have a better idea?” She was met with silence. “We have to at least try”

“If Twilight thinks it’ll work then I’m all for it! She’s like the smart one!”

“Well darling if this doesn’t work I can’t say I enjoyed staying in the forest any longer”

“Um… I think… well maybe not think but… I trust Twilight”

Shrugging to themselves they start up the elements, a sight I had never actually seen before outside of that time at the wedding. The glow was bright, brighter then my eyes could handle. Even when I raised my arm I could see my bone like an X-ray.

With a flash, one by one the elements left their users and attached to the tree. It was then my slow brain realized the comparison. Elements of harmony, tree of harmony.

“Hey I think this is the right decision!”

“Thanks for the… for the late input genius!” Dash struggled to yell out.

“No problem Dash although could y’all tune down the light? Awfully bright”

Ignoring my plea the rest of the elements found their way home in each of the plaques, restoring the tree to even a bright glow then before. It’s branches seemed to pulsate and with its new lively appearance the dark vines surrounding it began to wither. As they wrinkled away, the piles laying on either side died away as well revealing a pleasant sight.

“Princess Celestia! And princess Luna!”

I never even realized the weight I was carrying until I saw her climb free from her prison. There she was perfectly fine and safe, Lulu.

“Joey! You must have figured it out! I was hoping- wait what happened to your leg?” She didn’t hesitate to start healing it right away.

Pinkie eyes lite up in amazement at the sight.

“Oh you know, hero stuff”

“Joey stepped on a rockigator a nearly died”

“N-no that’s not-“

“Oh our poor little Joey!” Taking both her hooves she smooshed my face together before hugging me close into her chest. “We are so proud of you!”

The surrounding snickers made me try to pull away but, Luna’s strength would prove too much. “Lulu please!”

During our reunion we all failed to notice a small sprout peeking out from the ground, it’s bud rapidly expanding until it sprout. In its place rest a small rectangular box which grew in width as it rise, the top six various shapes keyholes to a strange puzzle looking box. At the sight we all hurried over without much word.

“What is it princess?”

“Hm, I am not quite sure but, I do believe this is a question for you to discover. I am no element nor do I own the right to wield them anymore therefore, I will put my trust into my new princess companion and her friends”

“Princess I don’t-“

“Please, no formalities remember?”

“Sorry heh, Celestia I don’t see how we can figure something out you’ve never seen before. I normally go to you for advice with things like this. Are you sure this wouldn’t be over our heads? I mean this thing just sprouted from nowhere!”

“We can discuss it when we get back to Ponyville, I wish to check on the residents before I head back. It is our fault in the end that things escalated as they have” Luna nodded in agreement.

Finally back in town after another day saved, we studied the damage left over from the evil foliage. Things were rough, mostly cracked houses and damaged roads yet of the ponies that wondered back into town they all appeared in lifted spirits.

Flying back to us Dash landed with a smile, “Turns out nopony was hurt! Good thinking Twilight”

Wrapping a wing around her former student Celestia took the time to wipe a proud tear from her eye, “It appears we’ve truly made the right decision in naming you princess. Time and time again you have proved yourself worthy of the title, even more worthy then myself”

“And ourself as well. We cherish in your ascension”

“Ascension? Did we not agree it was called an awakening?”

“Sister we agreed over a millennium ago it was to be named ascension!”

“Did we?”

“Yes!”

“Huh… that does sound much better. Either way, you deserve the title you carry and I hope you’ve realized this truth by now”

“You know I actually wasn’t sure at first. The name princess feels like a whole lot of responsibility and I wasn’t sure I was up for the task. It wasn’t until I realized how much I… how much WE have done together that we were already doing what a princess does! And although I might have these fancy wings or a nice looking crown I think the most valuable thing I have, is my friends. Without them, none of this would have been possible” Even I need a group hug after that. Separating away from the tear fest, Twilight wipes her eyes. “You girls really mean everything to me. If I never met you all I’d probably still be a shut-in reading books in Canterlot by myself”

“I’m sure you would’ve found your purpose eventually, that or your friends would have found you first” Giggling to themselves the girls hugged each other close while I walked over to the distant Luna.

She sat atop a pile of debris, deep in thought. “What’s up with you?”

“Huh? Oh we were just thinking about our plan to stay with you”

“Having second thoughts?”

“No.. we… we can’t help but, feel immature for our actions after watching princess Twilight grow so rapidly. She truly is the makings of a wonderful princess”

“Luna you’re a good princess, you just need a break. Nopony is going to judge you for that”

“Yes, only we will judge the hardest”

“Then don’t listen to yourself, listen to what others say about you. Ponies that care”

“They cannot possibly say what is true to our face, it would be too impolite!”

“Do you want me to be honest?”

“Please, indulge us”

“I think you have terrible anxiety and you let it control your decision making way too much. I also think you care too much about your image but, say you don’t care what other think” she seems to agree, making things awfully moody. “I also think you’re really smart. That you’re willing to step out of your comfort zone if it means bettering yourself and helping other. Also that you kick total ass but, I think you already knew that one” A smirk starts to fight it’s way against her frown. “You’re also the prettiest princess”

“Oh please stop” she playfully bats me with a hoof. “Our sisters complexion is otherworldly”

“But does she got a butt like the dark side of the moon?”

“Ha! That was a rather amusing pun”

“Thank you, it’s about all I’m good for at this point”

“That and dashing good looks”

“You’re into strangely furless and scarred ponies now aren’t you?”

“I find your scars beautiful. Consider yourself blessed for not having anything worse”

“They’re kinda bad”

“Yes but they almost seem under the skin do they not? If I were to run my hoof over them it would appear smooth” she does just that rubbing the lightening like pattern across my left cheek. “A symbol of your scrape with death”

“More like a flirt”

“You are the flirt, only next time we would prefer thou avoids doing it with death please?”

“Clearly she didn’t notice my advances given that I’m still here so”

“Her loss” we share a brief kiss. “Perhaps we would be interested in more than just flirtatious playing and kisses… would this… interest you as well?” She searches my eyes with a blush.

“I’m a guy Luna”

“What does this mean?”

“Yes Lulu, it means yeah” her blush darkens her navy muzzle and she has to look away.

“This is good… we.. w-we should head back now to pack our things”

I grab her hoof before she can fly off, “Luna wait” she stops still flustered. “Discord, should I be worried about him?”

The question helps her compose some, “Discord? Pfft, that fool is as cursed as his name”

“He’s cursed?”

“While he is the god of chaos, completely unpredictable in both power and possibility, he also is unable to make his own decisions”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean he is completely at the whim of his magic. He cannot determine what he wants or what he enjoys, he must follow what is chaotic magic begs him to do”

“So how are the girls supposed to reform him?”

She sighs, “Let us hope luck is on our side and his chaos desires friendship. Who could think of a more unlikely outcome?”

Left with things to think about I let her hoof go, “I guess I shouldn’t worry too much about what I can’t control. Thanks Lu, see ya when you get back”

“We will see you-“

“Actually one more thing!” Happy to help she smiles. “I uh… I might have forgot my stuff back at the palace so could you maybe…”

She giggles, “We will bring thou’s stuff as well. Take care Joey”

“See you soon!”

“So is Luna still staying with us?” I leap at the sudden voice.

“EEEEAYE! Pinkie what the shit!”

“Oh you two were talking the whole time? You missed it, the big reveal!”

“The big what?”

“Discord caused this all!” She seemed happier to solve the mystery then she should feel angry for being lied to.

“Evil… he’s evil!”

“He told us he made an oopsie like a crazy long time ago and spilled a few magic seeds! That’s what made all the vines! Kinda unlucky he did it over the tree of harmony though”

“Yeah unlucky, what a monster”

“He is a monster, who spills perfectly good seeds?”

“Oh by the way I’m not going back to Canterlot”

“Huh? What about fixing your magic stuff? Isn’t Luna supposed to help you with that?”

“Well seeing how she’s coming to stay with us, Discords already met me, and there’s nothing left to do at the palace, I’d say now is a good a time as any to call it” I say each while counting with my fingers.

“But but…. the bad magic!”

“I got a few leads” I say petting her mane, “Don’t worry”

“You better! Otherwise you wasted a whole bunch of time we could’ve been cuddling! Cuddling and that other stuff we do privately, you know, the doggy way”

Blushing I look around to see if anypony overheard, “Jeez Pinkie can you not?”

“What? Dash thought it was cool”

“You told Dash?!”

“Yeah and AJ”

“W-whu.. who else did you tell?!”

“Ummm… I don’t know!” Innocently she shrugs. “Beats me”

“… I think I’m going to be sick”

Author's Note

After reading this chapter if you haven’t realized already, I’ve changed the timeline. In the show there is an episode where Twilight causes her friends cutie mark switch then the Discord episode. I chose to make Discord the cause instead as it felt like a more reasonable excuse for Twilight to become an alicorn so if you noticed this it wasn’t an accident.

Given this change, I felt like it was necessary for this chapter to be one big boy instead of a two separate chapters.

Also given a recent comment directed toward me on another story I feel as if I should reiterate this, if you enjoy content such as foalcon or nonconsensual porn surrounded stories I would prefer you did not read my story. While my own story carries the tag nonconsensual I purposely had written the one chapter in a way that would be both educational to how one might be affected/feel and a plot point for our character to recover from, showing how life can always get better. Yes it’s made up and Joey is a fictional character yet, when you read a inspirational story or movie that truly grips you, you can feel compelled or motivated at times and that was what I was hoping to do even just a little. In an attempt to make the specific scene less porny and more realistic, I tried to write it in a way that made even myself uncomfortable to the point I refuse to reread what has been written. If my scene has ever been taken in another way than I intended, a way that sexually satisfied someone’s fetish, then I might consider removing the scene or at least editing it to be less descriptive. I leave this decision to you guys the audience as I do not know personally if it was a mistake to include it

Thank you for reading and I hope you have a wonderful day/night, sorry for the long authors note