Author's Note

Me tired. I sleep now.

A Welcome Intrusion

Near the edge of a rural community in the northern continent, two earth ponies stood at the bus stop. The younger of the pair was a colt with dark fur and a light blonde mane. The stallion beside him countered his aesthetic completely. His coat was pale as moonlight, his mane the hue of chocolate.

"I'm tired." the colt complained.

"Same here, bud. School starts way too fuckin' early. Now you know why I always crash before dark."

"When will it get here?"

"Soon. Just hang tight."

"It's cold. I wanna go home."

"Let's just try to have a good day for ma's sake. She's really stressed out right now."

"Okay..."

As if on cue, the bus pulled around the dirt path.

"Come on. We'll watch some DBZ when we get back."

The colt nodded. He followed his brother inside the oversized contraption. They took a seat in the back to avoid any unwanted attention.

Ian and Harmonic were the last two that needed to be picked up that morning. From their home, the bus headed straight for the city. It was far enough away for the brothers to get a quick nap in. As the teens approached the bus's exit, Ian felt a leg hold him back. Curious, he stared to the side. He was surprised to find a filly around his brother's age. She was impossibly strong for her stature. That fact alone stunned him in place.

"What's up?" he asked, trying to sound unfazed.

The young Pegasus handed him an envelope.

"Read this as soon as you can..." she uttered.

"What is it?"

"Something for you and your brother."

"Whatever you say."

Ian took the envelope, hastily evacuating the vehicle.

"The fuck was that...!?"

By the time the bus reached the primary school, Harmonic was already rousing from his slumber. He hoisted his book bag onto his shoulders, uncertain what to expect. For the time being, he followed his brother's advice, keeping his head down and concerning himself with his studies. Good behavior and good grades were all that mattered from here on out. From the distance, an unfamiliar face watched closely...

"I'll pay attention to the schedule and get close to him as soon as I can..."

The morning started off fairly slow. The children were refreshed on basic arithmetic and reading comprehension. Harmonic was a bit slower on the uptake than the others, but he managed to keep up for the time being. His scholastic struggles would soon be put to an abrupt end. Around noon, the students were given a free reading period to put their newfound knowledge to the test. They were allowed to pick one partner of their choosing. The filly made her move.

"Hi!" she said in the friendliest tone she could manage.

Harmonic, whose nose was already buried in a book about dinosaurs, looked up to see the girl overshadowing him. Her mane and coat resembled Ian's, though hers were arguably even more pronounced. She wore her bangs down over her eyes. A silver cross dangled around her neck.

"Hi..."

"Can I be your partner?"

"Okay..."

The new entity took a seat in front of the colt. She let him read long enough to expose her left eye. Without warning, she reached out and touched his hoof. The voice directed toward him was no longer that of a child, but a fully grown mare.

"Do you know me?" she questioned curiously, trying to reach him in a way he could understand. He shook his head, "It's okay. You'll remember in time. Until then, let's enjoy our time together...As innocents..."

Something about her words summoned familiar feelings of peace and security. It wasn't the first time Harmonic had been separated from his family for an extended period, but it was still frightening nonetheless. The supposed filly's words reassured him things would be all right. His anxiety began to melt away...

After lunch, Ian took study hall to read over the letter the girl had given him earlier that morning. He wanted to be skeptical of its contents, but his gut told him otherwise.

"You probably don't remember me, but you and I were good friends a long time ago. I don't really know how to explain this in a way that sounds believable, so I'll just come out and say it. You were my brother-in-law. Your brother was my husband. The two of you have lived this life before. It would take too long to thoroughly explain here, but to summarize, I rebuilt this world with one goal in mind. I wanted to see how your brother's life would've turned out with my influence tempering his resentments early on. A great deal of harm was once imposed upon him in his youth. With my power, I fully believe I can shape him into the man he always dreamed of becoming. I realize words alone are insufficient to prove my intentions. Underneath this letter, you'll find a photograph showing what we were like before."

Ian lifted the note, revealing the picture in question. He looked high and low for any signs of falsehood. He found none.

"The children you see are your nieces and nephew. Despite his strife, Harmonic proved himself to be a wonderful husband and loving father. The day I lost them, I feared I lost myself as well. That was the moment I came to understand the true extent of my own strength. Your brother offered me the love he himself so desperately craved. Now it's time to return his care in full, for I am..."

Ian lost all sense of his surroundings. His baby brother, a lover of the unseen. He gawked in amazement.

"Holy shit..."

The bus picked up the students in reverse order that afternoon. The younger children left campus first. They were assigned worksheets tailored to their unique experiences. On the ride home, Ian briefly acknowledged Atmospheric, punching the area of his chest where his heart was located. Her words struck him. The Pegasus nodded in understanding. The stallion settled next to his brother.

"A little birdie told me you met a cute girl today."

"Birds can talk?"

"You never know. Better keep her close, man. Things are about to get a whole hell of a lot more interesting."