Estranged Anomalies

Tap tap tap tap tap tap-

The sound had been ongoing for the past hour and a half, finally agitating the guard outside past the threshold of any lingering patience.

"KASIKOV. Shut - and I cannot stress this enough- the fuck UP." His voice snaps in a venom laced snarl.

"But how can I shut up something if it isn't coming from something I can shut?!"

The guard peers between the barred window at the man in the cell, glaring. The occupant had been tapping his head against a nearby wall at an unreasonably consistent pace, and it was pissing him off to no end. No one liked guarding Kasikov. It was the shift only the desperate or unfortunate were left with. Despite his annoyances, he was classified as a Code 5 threat level, on a scale that normally only went to 4.

Most guards, especially the new ones, just took that with a grain of salt. They hadn't had the chance to see what he was really capable of. All this guard could see right now was a large, disheveled looking man. Eyes were a dull brown. Messy black hair. He looked as average as average could be, if not a bit on the muscular side. It was lean muscle, however. Deceptively hard to notice.

"Fine. Poor choice of words. How about you do your best impression of a statue?"

Kasikov felt his eyes focus, gaze lingering on the guard. "Only if you do your best impression of a corpse~." He hums in a sing-songy tone, followed by a delightful cackle in response to the guard's slightly shaken expression. "I kid, I kid." Kasikov grins, tongue stuck out playfully.

"Christ, you are fuckin' weird... what did you even do to get put in here anyway?"

Kasikov would put a finger to his chin thoughtfully, if he wasn't bound by a straitjacket. "Well, my dear fellow… I found out what it means to be free." He pauses, for dramatic effect. The guard is not amused. "...And in a nation where such a notion is just perpetuated by stereotypes, false ideals and rules upon rules... some folks must've not taken kindly to that, I'd reckon!" He giggles joyfully, prompting the guard to roll his eyes

"Not sure why I expected a straight answer..."

The guard turns away, jolting when he hears a soft thump. Turning around reveals Kasikov staring straight at him through the bars and glass. "Never had there been more of a straight answer, my stringed up friend!" He bounces backward. "This is a world where we are forced to push down and smother away what makes us, us!"

"So, what, you were sad because you couldn't murder, or creep on people, or some shit?" The guard clicks his tongue, gripping his rifle tightly.

"Aha! Nothing so mundane. A plethora of things are illegal for a reason! No, I mean sometimes what can be described as nonsensical behaviors, strange hobbies, sexualities, moralities... even things you are born with and cannot change, you are expected to squirrel these things away, lest society deem you a freak, or worse for them!" He leans forward, smiling unnervingly. "I learned how to not be afraid. How to EMBRACE myself, for who I am! Love me, for me, and not give a damn what any yahoos think!"

The guard almost seemed a bit sympathetic, but couldn't let it show. Kasikov continued, "Tis' a world made up of smoke and mirrors, and all manner of nonsense that is constructed to form a teetering Jenga tower of life! All for what? A measly attempt at order, to keep the folk like me down and out, for fear that if we broke from our shackles, we'd upset the sanctity of this tower?" He sniffles, leaning against the wall, sulking. "I had attempted what many had done before. Try and make this dream realized! To try and induct the shackled into my freedom! But such a vision frightened the fat cats of this world, and they tried to bury my voice even deeper."

For Kasikov, this was good for a number of reasons. He liked to talk, but he also had to keep this guard distracted... mainly from the nearby panel that modified the state of his cell, having begun to go haywire. Fluctuating heat, a spiralling change in oxygen flow. It was all vacuum sealed. Now, the bars in his cell are merely decoration at this point. A reminder, with the glass on both sides of them as a precaution.

His collar began to glow blue, and spark. "But I- gack.... will not be silenced!" This was it. His only chance. If he screwed up, the collar would get perfected, and he wouldn't be able to build up energy anymore. The cell's environment paired with the electricity was wearing on him as he dropped to his knees.

Radio beeping was barely audible past the constant pounding of his head, the guard calling back up as he tried his keycard on the door. However, it was a bit hard when the reader you swipe your keycard against promptly explodes. A sneer spreads across Kasikov's face, the voltage growing more, and more intense. His pain threshold was being tested, and pushed to its absolute limit.

Sirens quickly came up, but Kasikov could hardly parse them as he heard the faint sound of fabric ripping around him. Not his straitjacket, but something else. The ripping was distorted, echoing into what seemed to be an infinite space. He shakily cracks his eyes open, seeing the torn space behind him in reality, barely big enough to fit him. His face is coated with sweat as the voltage explodes throughout his body.

And then, just as the door breaks open, he passes out... but not before falling backward, through a tear which repairs itself as quickly as it was opened.

He'd be happy, but all he can see is darkness.

...

.......

.........

-Crunch.-

Man, he hopes that was not his spine. It would really suck if he went to all this effort just to paralyze himself. Groggily, Kasikov sits up, which was a good sign to begin with. He looked under him, finding a lovely branch had cushioned his fall. Grumbling, he went to stand up... and immediately fell forward onto his face. Standing up clearly wasn't working right now. So, the obvious answer was to scoot around, dragging his face against the ground.

He keeps on scooting, up until his head is immediately dunked in some water. "GAH! COLD! MY ONE WEAKNESS!" Kasikov squeals as he yanks his face out, staring down with wide eyes. "Gasp! There is an equine creature in a straitjacket and collar in the water! What a coincidence!"

Kasikov pauses, moving his head around slowly as he watches the reflection mirror his movements. "No way, but... what if I'm... I'm..." He blinks, hearing a chirping noise to his right. "Aww, shucks. There goes the train of thought." He tries to wave at the bird, but falls over again. "Hi birdy- ack!"

Sitting up, the 'equine creature' frowns. "Yeah, this ain't working. How did Houdini do it... oh yeah!" And then, he throws himself into the water, totally submerged. The water remains still for several seconds, before Kasikov miraculously springs out of it, unbound, landing neatly on the shore. "Ta-dah! Gasp! I'M the equine creature, and by god! These hooves were made for walking!"

He was a moderately stout, light grey stallion, with dull features. Black eyes, a short and messy black mane, with a tail to match. A mark sat on his flank, displaying a trio of white theatre masks, all smiling and leaning against a black ribbon.

With that, he swiftly starts trotting around, gazing wide eyed at his surroundings. It looked like a forest! He was a big fan of forests. Always so peaceful...

He clicks his tongue thoughtfully as he walks. "Alrighty! I'm an equine entity now. In a forest as opposed to some cosmic pocket of unreality. Which is good!" His hooves patter at the ground in place as he continues getting used to them. Then, he lets his glance drift off to the side, seeing several sets of glowing green eyes upon him. "Ooh... I have an audience!"

Then, Kas was no longer standing there.

Several of the timberwolves blinked in surprise. The stallion they were just stalking... vanished? One of their lead hunters leaned forward, squinting at the nearby brush to see if the stallion managed to slip away.

"What're we looking at?" Kasikov whispers, causing the lead hunter he was right next to to let out a startled yelp. Snarls were heard on all sides of Kasikov, a few threatening barks being sent his way. "Ooh, so rowdy!" He squeaks playfully, springing into the air to dodge an oncoming pounce from one of the timberwolves.

"Not the best coordination, though." The lead hunter growls softly, causing the one that attempted to tackle Kasikov to patter back, ears folded sadly. "Aww, it was a commendable effort, though! Good reflexes!" Seems the lead hunter was confronting Kasikov, slowly circling the earth pony.

Kasikov stares in silence, before abruptly springing forward. The timberwolf is hardly able to dodge backwards due to the shocking speed of the pony. His brow crinkles as he is deftly booped on the snout with a hoof. "Aaaand, tag! You're it!"

The chase then commences, the dubiously human-turned-pony bounding through the forest, laughing up a storm as the wolves sprint after him, actually starting to get a bit tired out at the near boundless energy that Kasikov possessed.

"GWAAAR!"

The pony, and pack of timberwolves all stop in place, one bumping into the other one after the other in order of lineup, Kasikov at the front. Seems all their scrambling around had awoken a certain large, dangerous...

"KITTY! Oh my god, you look so fluffy, what the hell?" Kasikov coos, walking towards the manticore absentmindedly, its stinger tail primed and at the ready. The timberwolves released this was absolutely not worth the effort anymore, and had begun scrambling back the second the manticore had reared its head. Kasikov nimbly dodges out of the way of a large swipe from the beast's claw, now standing on top of its back.

"So feisty! Shh, relax!" He begins to joyfully pet the manticore's head, laughing the whole way as he dodges frustrated swats from the beast. This went on for a while, and the manticore quickly began to notice something. A quiet, rumbling sound coming from within its throat. Initially, the manticore begins to panic, thinking the pony had infected it with something. "Aww, you're purring!" The manticore relaxes a little at this, since it doesn't seem particularly bad... in fact, this all feels pretty good.

⌛ Thirty minutes go by... ⌛

Kasikov was more than content, petting the big, sleeping kitty that had curled up around him.

"Manticore tamers are rarely seen, lest on battlegrounds oh so clean..." The grey pony perks up, looking out to see a hooded figure out in the brush. He stares at them for a second, giggling.

"Dunno if I'd say that, I'm just good at multitasking."

The similarly equine figure steps out, doffing her hood to reveal a zebra. She holds out a hoof. "Zecora is my name." She simply states, with Kasikov sneakily slipping out of the manticore's grasp to shake her hoof.

"Kasikov! Nice to meet you, Miss Zecora!"

She chuckles, shaking his hoof in return but with less enthusiasm. "A unique name you own, I can see. I wonder if you come from far lands, just like me?"

"You could say that... where are we, anyways?" Kasikov decided to go a bit light on the details, lest this place scorn interdimensional travellers... he had never done something like this before, so he wouldn't know.

"This is the Forest Everfree, perhaps it's a home to thee?" He thinks for a second, before frowning and shaking his head.

"It's nice... buuuut too enclosed."

She frowns, but nods, understanding. "I'm sure I can come and visit, though! Maybe in exchange for you showing me the way out, hmmm?" He leans forward as he speaks, prompting her to giggle.

"A fair trade, there is no doubt. Come along, let us be en route."

Kasikov trots along behind her in silence, before nodding his head to the side. "So, where we off to? Er... hehe, I assume you mean a way out different from the way I came in!"

A nod is the first response from the monochrome mare, who adjusts her hood back over her face. "The Ponyville entrance is where I will bring you. Your demeanor makes me believe its name is new?"

"To me, at least, yes."

"If twas' an entrance not there, then may I ask where...?" Zecora tilts her head to the side, gazing back at him.

Damn, stuck in the middle of his own lie. "The... above one?" She stops, and stares at him in total silence. He could lie, but didn't do well when pressed.

"Okay." Is her only reply, followed by a light shrug. Thank god he got the cool forest guide.

The walk isn't much longer as he nears a break in the trees, spying a winding path leading further along and breaking off to a cottage as well. "Ooh, nice... who lives there?" He points a hoof at the cottage.

"A shy, and rather timid mare, one whom houses many animals with her care."

"I see..." He nods thoughtfully, rubbing his chin as he starts to trot forward. But then he looks back. "And thanks, Zecora! I'll be sure to visit you soon!" The smile she returns is warm, as if this was the first pleasant company she'd had in a while.

Kasikov happily trots along the path, casting a glance towards the cottage. Lights were off, so likely no one was home. That was no problem. Not like he would have just walked up to her house anyway, that'd be... weird. The lad is contemplative as he walks.

"Oookay, so! New dimension, new me. I need a… a job! Heheh, yes! Dang, been a while since I had one of those. I wonder if they got office buildings around here? Secondly, buy a house." Soon enough, he was trotting into town as he walked, still talking to himself. "...and I'll probably have to hoof it outside on my own for a bit... heheh, 'hoof'. Hope it isn't raining in the next two weeks! Implying I get a job on the first day..."

He stops dead in his tracks, ignoring the ponies that cast gazes his way every so often. "Wait, shoot. I need... eat and drink. That. Was it two weeks without food? That'd work, and I can easily get some drinkable water, I'm sure..."

"GASP!"

His gaze instantly snaps up. "Hey! That's my bit. That I just started doing." He shoots without missing a beat, a pink pony in front of him having gasped so hard the apparent inhaling of all that air brought her a few feet off the ground. Then, there was just a pink blur as she dashed away.

"EEEEE! I get to plan parties for TWO new ponies?! What kind of luck is THAT, wow!" Pinkie cried eagerly to herself, tone shrill as she hid behind the back of a nearby house.

Kasikov leans over her shoulder, eyes wide with curiosity. "Which two ponies?"

The pink pony yelps, stumbling forward abruptly. She wasn't used to being snuck up on, usually she was the person doing the sneaking! Kasikov holds out a hoof to help her up.

"How'd you do that?" Pinkie asks curiously, taking his hoof to help her back up.

"How'd I do what? Help you up?" She goes to say something, before he speaks up. "It's all on the wrist!" He pounds a hoof against his chest, looking proud.

"Heheh, never mind… well, since you DID catch me mid-party planning-"

"Are you sure it wasn't scheming? It kinda looked like scheming."

Pinkie pauses, before shaking her head. "Nah, nah, nah. Nah. Scheming looks different. And usually implies nefarious or self beneficial purposes, silly-billy!" She grins, leaning forward. Kasikov merely nods. "Pluuuus if I WERE scheming, there'd be a lot more wringing of the hooves, and manacial laughing to myself!"

"All solid points. Continue."

Pinkie clicked her tongue, trying to once again board her constantly rampant train of thought. "Oh yeah! I'm Pinkie Pie!" She holds out a hoof, grinning.

Her grin is met merrily by the grey pony, eho hives her hoof an eager shake. "I'm Kasikov! Can I help with the party?" It'd been so long aince he'd gotten to help with a good party, after all.

Pinkie stares at him blankly as her hoof falls back to the ground. "Can you… help?" He nods enthusiastically. "Ohmygosh! How come I never thought of that! It makes perfect sense to try and get some insight from the guest of honor to make everything is Pinkie Pie Perfect!"

"Yes, yes, YES!" Kasikov Squeals happily, bouncing in place.

"Kas, you are a GENIUS!" Ooh, he seemed to like that nickname. Proof enough by that brightening smile of his. "As per Pinkie Pie decree, I'm appointing you as my assistant!"

"Awesome! So, who are the parties for?"

She giggles, reaching out to boop his nose. "Well, one is for you, silly." Which is met by a quiet 'ooh" from him. "The second, is another new pony in town! I asked around, and figured out she's named Twilight Sparkle!"

"Pff, there is no way that's a real name…"

Pinkie just shrugs, turning with a flick of her tail, gesturing for Kas to follow with a nod of her head. "Anyway, c'mon! Let's get this show on the road!"

He chuckles, the two of them dashing off together. Chuckles from him evolve into laughing, with Pinkie quick to join in. And now, we have the world at the mercy of two Elements of Laughter.