.

I had just set hoof on the red stone; as I am scanning the surroundings, I had found myself in.

The surroundings come out as normal, even if everything is out of the blue. Nothing; other than the tree behind me, had any place in the continuity.

As unexpected, and out of place as the surroundings may feel; the place is not alien, or make me feel uncomfortable or uninvited. It is just, as if I had stepped into a home of a friend. My friends commonly do invite me over, to their homes. They are my friends after all.

Likewise; I could invite any of my friends over, to my home.

Naturally; my friends, has grown accustomed to my sister being identical to me. How could they truly be my friends, if they could not accept this part of me in the first place?

While I guess I could visit a friend alone, just as my sister could visit a friend; but if a friend comes over, she will just have to accept and expect the two of us being there in the room at the same time. If it is uncomfortable, or awkward; it is pointless, and I have problems considering her a true friend in the first place. What is the point in pretending, or trying to hide the fact; that we are identical twins?

“Where am I?” is a question. The answer would be; that I am on the other side of the horizon. But, where this is, I have no idea. I simply assume, I can get back the same way I had come here.

I continue to trot, forwards. Putting a hoof, before the other.

“Glip, glop; glip, glop..” is heard, as I continue trotting over these red stones.

It is weird. Even the noises are strange, different. Yet; at least, these are the noises of hooves. Equine hooves.

I continue, trotting towards the right path.

This is the right path, but I could as easily have gone to the left. I could have chosen any of the three paths available, to me.

If the right path is the right path for me, at this point; who is to say, I do not know. Maybe, just maybe; I will find out, as I reach the path. Or as I reach the end of where this path will be taking me.

I had taken the path, just as I had taken the path leading me to the tree, entering the gate to this place; but why, maybe I am just curious. Yet, I had still taken the path, entering this place. I had not been forced, or coerced. I had simply trotted to where I am now.

After a moment, I find myself on the path. These stones are the same red, as on the square I had been before.

There are no signs, but the grass is lusciously green; growing tall and frisky, like I have never seen before. I am almost tempted; to try a bite, just to see if it is as good as it looks. Just that I had been enjoying the strawberries, before I entered this realm.

Now, I am still trotting, along the path; enjoying the moment, as I am seeing the path slowly flowing past me.

“Glip, glop; glip, glop; glip, glop..” is heard, as my hooves hit the hard stones of the path.

I continue, maintaining the slow trot as I move forwards; trotting along the path I had chosen, enjoying the moment. Just a slow, measured trot. Nothing much, and certainly not fast or fancy.

I am just the lone pony, trotting along the path before me.

What else would I be?

What else, indeed?

With grass on the right, and grass on the left; I can not quite hold back, as I am picking up speed.

Step, by step, by step, by step; I place one hoof before the other as I continue to trot. Just as I move faster; from the measured gate, into a trot, then a fast trot. Only to slip into a gallop, before I could even realize it.

“Glip-ity, glop glop; glip-ity, glop glop; glip-ity, glop glop..” is heard, as I canter along the path.

“I guess I could be fast, if I want to?” I ponder, as I continue to canter down the path I had chosen.

While it had been looking straight and even, as I chose it; now it is starting to turn this way and that, even if the stones remain smooth under my hooves. I neither trip or slip.

As my heart races, I feel the elation; as the excitement grows, capturing my spirit.

“Why did I never go here before?” I ponder, quietly under my breath.

Normally, my sister should have been hearing me; yet, there is no response on her part. Maybe she is out of range? I don’t let this get to me, but I had never even realized I had been pronouncing the words in the first place.

How long is this path? I have no idea. I could always turn around, trotting back if I wanted to. Couldn’t I?

Had the path ended here, I would have been disappointed. Abruptly, or not; I still feel the urge, just to gallop on and on further and further. I have far too much pent up energy, stored away; from the time I had been studying, safely lying on the top of my bed.

It may have been fun, but now I have to get out.

Just the green grasses, as company; lining the path, on both sides of the path, for as long as my eyes could see.

If these paths had been identical, I have no way of knowing. I chose this path.

Just feeling the air in my mane, like a frisky breeze; I find it invigorating, exciting. I can but enjoy it.

I had enjoyed it, I am enjoying it now, just as I know I will continue to enjoy it. At least, for as long as I remain on the path. The path, of my choice. It is a choice, I had made. Just for myself. with none around, none to judge me, or look down upon me over the choice.

It is a safe choice. Isn’t it?

I chose this, for myself.

It is the Pony’s choice, if I had known it or not; I am that Pony, but I had known that all along. Of course, how could I not have known it?

While I am still carrying the memories, of the girl I had been born to be; I am a Pony now, the past is irrelevant. At least, in this world; it is.

I can return, to where I came from. I need not worry.

This, is not a place of worries and fears; it is not man-made, and carries none of these flaws.

I enjoy myself, just as I am enjoying the surroundings. I continue, galloping, ever forwards.

Forwards, ever forwards.

The stones are still red, seamlessly placed one after the other. Only now, there slips in a few strands of grass. I had not noticed. I had failed to notice.

Little by little; the grasses are taking over the path, upon which I continue to gallop.

Step by step, I continue; step by step, the grasses are taking over the path. Like an invading force, I had been inviting; the grass grows even more frisky and adventurous. I feel the luscious green grass under my hooves.

It isn’t as if my hooves are not sensitive, just as sensitive as my skin. Just the hard front and sides that is protecting me.

Before I had even realized it, the path is green; covered, taken over by the grass.

All that remains, of the stones the path had been laid with; is the three lines of red stones, lining the path.

How could I resent the grass, taking over; or the stones, still lining my path? The stones are lining the path, guiding me forwards; towards the destination, I had already chosen. The destination, I had chosen for myself; as I picked the path leading to the left of the tree.

The path, seemingly stretches on into infinity, no end in sight.

However, it is escaping me; as I enjoy the scenery, and the elation imparted to me by the moment.

What I had not realized, what I had failed to notice; is just how sensitive my hooves are, as I continue galloping over the grass covering my chosen path. I guess my feet had always been sensitive, and now my hooves are too; though the grass under my hooves are particularly enjoyable and tantalizing in a weird and unfamiliar manner.

Of course, there is something else, I had failed to realize or notice; I am no longer dressed up in the clothes I wore, as I left my home. I am perfectly nude, but as the Pony I am now; this is perfectly natural, expected even. I guess, I could still put on some clothes or garments designed for a Pony.

Would this revert, as I turn back, or return to the point; at the tree, the entrance to this realm?

I look, exactly as I had; as I left my home, trotting out onto the road by our home.

My skin is white, like the skin of the Marsh Mallow herself; just as the suit I wore, while I was studying, safely in my home. My hooves, still the same, metallic electric blue, coated with the rubbery surface imparted me the hooficure my sister had offered me before. Had it changed, I guess I would have been shocked. Shouldn’t I?

My ears, perking up straight, focusing forward, in obvious curiosity. I am after all the Pony.

My eyes, large and bright blue; facing slightly further out than I should have been expecting; just mirroring my Pony body and personality.

I am wearing no muzzle, it is just how my face looks and feels; as a Pony. I am equine, of the Equestrian variety. Just as Rarity, herself. The other Rarity, that is.

Is the new nudity, in the equine form by any means part of my joy?

There had always been a trace of the sensation, of the clothes I had been wearing; as I wore the clothes, as well as the muzzle and ears. These sensations had been evaporating, as I had crossed the path I had chosen.

As a Pony, I had found myself nude. Not that it bothers me; I had barely noticed or even realized it, in the first place.

Why?

Should I have cared?

If so, why?

As the Pony, I had grown to enjoy myself. Just as the Ponies, in Ponyville; the place where Rarity lives, all the Ponies commonly enjoy being nude.

Why shouldn’t they? To Ponies, it is after all still natural.

Apparently, I am one of them. Now.

Since I had enjoyed it, in the first place; I am still enjoying myself, hooves down.

I continue on the path, I had chosen. Just galloping on the path, as if I had no care in the world.

Of course; I don’t have a care, in the world.

Why?

Why should I? What’s the point?

I do enjoy myself, and that is the end of it.

Though there is no end, of the field of grasses.

The stones lining the path remain, guiding me on my journey.

For such a simple, mundane event; I had still found it very exciting and exhilarating.

Is this just me? Or.. Is this something more, than meets the eye?

How long, had I even been here on the path? I have no idea. I had clearly lost track of time.

Of course, but how long does my sister think I had been here?

I do not know.

”Glip-ity, glop glop; glip-ity, glop glop..” is heard, as I continue to canter along the path.

After an undetermined and undeterminable time, I veer off to the right. Slowly, slowing down from the canter.

As I continue to slow down, I soon find myself flowing into a brisk trot; slowing down, further and further.

”Glip, glop; glip, glop; glip, glop..” is heard, as I am trotting over the grasses underhoof.

As I slow down, I stop, in the middle of the path; looking right and left, as I consider my next move.

I had been galloping for quite a while, now; but I don’t really get anywhere further, but that was never an issue. Not really. It isn’t, as if I had set out on the path, to go anywhere. All I had wanted, was to feel the wind in my mane; as I experience the elation of freedom, galloping on my own path.

Now, I take a few more steps; before I take the first step to the right, and another one and another one.

Here, I bend my head down, sniffing the lusciously green, frisky grass I am stepping over.

The tip of my muzzle soon reaches the grass, and I part my lips; just enough, to take the first tentative bite. Now I chew on the grass, finding it just as good as one could have been expecting.

Well; I am a Horse, after all. What had I been expecting. Okay, a Pony; but Ponies are Horses too, are they not? Ponies do eat grass too.

”Yummy..” I ponder; as I stand still, chewing on the grass.

I take another step, and another; taking a new bite, chewing, and chewing.

The grass makes me salivate in excitement.

Continuously, I take one step after the other; taking a bite and chew, then look up and scan the surroundings. I am after all Equine. It is in my nature, and I am curious.

Curiosity, above all else is what brought me here; I am not an athlete, and I never was. I know, I never will be. Just as it is obvious even to me; I had not come here, lured by anyone; or anything in my equine nature as a Pony.

Had I continued, in a straight line, I would have gotten to the end, of some kind. Yet, I am finding myself; now satisfied, as I am reaching the path that had taken me here.

The wings of curiosity.

Satisfied, I am turning back. Just one step after another; as I put one hoof before the other.

I may start out, with a slow and leisurely trot; picking up speed, as I enjoy the feeling of the wind in my mane.

Just one hoof at a time, one hoof before the other; even if I start out in a slow trot, I soon find myself in a brisk gallop, as I continue to pick up speed.

Maybe, just maybe; the speed itself, is irrelevant. However; the elation of movement and the wind in my mane, is still exciting and exhilarating to me. I can not help myself. I enjoy myself. The experience, growing on me.

Faster and faster. I can not hold back, or stop myself.

No idea, as to how far I had gotten; but the path is here and now.

I am enjoying myself, as if I could not get enough or grow tired.

But alas, I slow down, stopping as I approach the square.

Maybe, just maybe; it is the stones under my hoof, letting on I am closing in.

”Should I explore the next path?” I ponder; ”but I think it is time, to go home!” I conclude.

With that; I stop, at the middle of the square of red stones.

Just as before, these stones are looking as if they had been laid the day before. No sign of wear and tear.

Of course, the stones are hard, durable.

This, is not earth. However, I am certain; this place is just as real, as the one I had left.

I want to share this experience, with my sister. Just as I want to explore the other paths.

How could I not share it with my sister? This would not just be unthinkable; but akin to leave my human self, or my right or left side at the gate.
”Glip, glop; glip, glop; glip, glop..” is heard, as I trot across the square of red stones.
I approach the tree, slowing down as I close in on the tree.
Of course, the portal is still there, just as expected. I can see the blue surface of the pond; the horizon, I will have to cross.
I raise my right hoof, probing the surface; just as I had, as I had arrived from the other side.

The smooth surface, greeting the sole of my hoof; just as it had, on the other side. Nothing had changed. Just as I had been expecting. Why should anything change, or be changed while I am here? I have no idea, and right now I do not care.

Tentatively, I pull my hoof back; just as before, I feel my hoof being pulled back. I had never intended to pull back.

After a moment, I set my hoof down, trotting towards the horizon.

”Glip, glop; glip, glop; clip, clop; clip, clop..” is heard.

The sound of my steps, changing as I pass the border.

I am back, home. On Earth.

”Since I can’t recall, seeing this before; I wonder, if the tree will still be here by tomorrow!” I ponder, as I take the bath back and away from the huge tree.

While I still do not per se feel the clothes I wear, or the muzzle and ears; I know they are there, because I am back on Earth.

”The tree?” she responds; ”What tree?” she continues.

”The huge tree, in the middle of the park; just after the Cherry trees, I was hoping we could see tomorrow!” I respond.

”Oh, you mean the World tree?” she inquires; ”Now I want to see the Cherry trees in bloom too!” she points out.

”If we go up, early tomorrow; preparing the basket, we could have a picnic under the Cherry trees?” I suggest.

”I would love that!” she proclaims, jubilantly.

”Settled..” I respond; ”picnic under the Cherry trees tomorrow!” I confirm, as I continue trotting.

Author's Note

More will be following shortly.