My Terrible Nightmare

”Hiya ZJ!! You feeling any better?”

Pinkie Pie said right as Rarity opened the door to her boutique, surprising me a bit.

”Oh! Oh uhm.. yeah I’m feeling a bit better. My eye could still use some more rest.”

I rubbed my eye gently, it having a patch on it to keep it protected. Rarity invited me inside and closed the door behind. Ace was already there so I walked over to him.

”Hey ZJ! You feeling alright?”

I nodded.

Yeah, just a bit tired.

I sat down next to Ace and Rarity came over with 2 suits held in her magic. One black, and one dark teal.

Hello ZJ! Hello Ace! I have both of your suits right here! For both of you I have a sleek silk satin tuxedo in two colors, dark teal and black!

She floated them each in front of us and Ace grabbed his, Rarity’s magic fading out as his did and mine started to drop on the ground but I fumbled and caught it in time before it hit the ground. Rarity bit her lip.

”Oh! Sorry dear! I thought you had that in your magic feild.”

”It’s alright Rarity.”

She smiled kindly and walked to where the other girls were. I looked back at the tux and felt the coat. It was really sleek, course the silk being so as well.

”The color looks really nice! I’m surprised she gave me the black one hah! That color does look good with you anyways.”

He smiled sheepishly, and I gave a small one back. After a while of talking, we all packed our clothes and other belongings, except me with just the tux to pack with Ace’s things, which he didn’t have much anyways.

It took a bit to get to the train but we left on time, everyone sitting in seats close enough. On the way there, the girls talked to me about different things with Twilight asking if I read any good books or FlutterShy talking about how many animals I had as a favorite. After a while we made it there.

Took a few hours and I eventually doze of a bit, leaning against the window. Ace did tap me on the shoulder and I woke up with a jolt, and secretly swiped some drool off my cheek. I felt something pointy poke me on the side of the leg and there was a good pile of candy next to it. Ace said that Pinkie bought some candy and gave everyone some, him putting his back in his bag, and I guess put the rest of mine in his back as well.

”Hm.”

I croaked out, looking up where the castle was.
”Doesn't it look awesome!!”

Pinkie said, hopping out of the train with her bags on her back.

”It looks alright.”

I said in a low, quiet monotone voice.

Pinkie looked at me and put a hoof under her chin, squinting her eyes.

”Hmmm you remind me of someone. Oh! My sister, Maud Pie! Only difference is is that you show a liiiitle bit more emotion and enthusiasm than here, even though she shows a ton deep inside! Oh give me a second!”

She raised her hooves above my head and pulled my hair and tail down, both surprisingly flatten and go straight, looking like Maud’s hair style.

”Ha! Now you look just like her. *GASP* Another sibling!! Hurray!!”

She pulled me in for a hug, air escaping my mouth. I see AppleJack turn towards us.

”Pinkie Pie, be careful! Remember they just came out of the hospital today.”

”Oopsie! Sorry ZJ!”

She said, ruffling my hair to where it wasn’t really back to my normal hair, but I shook my head and fixed it a bit to make it go back to my messy normal style.

It took a bit to walk up to the entrance, but once we walked up to the doors, they opened up and Princess Celestia was there to greet us.

”Hello Princess!”

Twilight said. Ace jumped a bit and bowed down. He looked a bit nervous, guess I could understand that much. Anyways all ponies do it I suppose. I see him peek up towards me, and then shyly lift his head up chuckling nervously.

”Hello Twilight. Hello to her other friends as well.”

She said calmly, seeing her gaze go towards me and Ace’s, giving us a kind smile. I feel myself nod and feel a corner of my lip go into a small smile.

”I’ll have you all shown to your rooms and prepare for the gala in 2 hours. I have a feeling you all are tired from the trip.”

Everyone nodded, I just kind stood there just wanting to lay down. I start looking around, zoning out and just looking at huge tapestries hanging on the wall, a few of defeating monsters a lot of the princesses and the Mane 6.

I felt something tap my shoulder and I see Ace nodding towards the group moving towards where the bedrooms were. The girls were talking about what to do and what to see during the gala as me and Ace just walked silently, until Ace turns to me and leans in slightly.

”You alright? You haven’t really said anything somewhat during the trip here and in front of the Princess. You nervous?”

I just look at him, then back at the ground. I’m believe I’m having one of those weird mood changes, and didn’t feel like talking. I shrugged and grunted as my response.

”Oh. Uh, okay.”

He lifted his head back up, and we both continued to follow behind the Mane 6.

After what seems like hours… me and Ace pass the rooms where the girls get split up into 3 rooms, each having 2 occupants, and me and Ace going into the room where I see FlutterShy and Twilight go into. Ace places the bag he had and the extra suitcase he had with out clothes in it at the end of a bed.

I walk over to the other bed and throw myself on top, laying there without saying anything except for a grunt when I make contact with the bed.

”Hey I’m tired now to but.. can you please help me put these away so they don’t get wrinkly when we get to wear them later on? Uhm.. please?”

He said, leaning around to see if he can see my face. I lift my head up to where my chin is resting on the covers and I slump backwards to the ground.

”Uhh, okay. Yeah alright.”

I stood up still looking at the ground, shaking my head a bit, but then walking over and grabbing the hangers with my teeth and walk over to a rack and hopped up on my back legs and try reaching up to place them on it. I then eventually take them in my hooves and toss them up, them clanking on the bar.

There. Done.

I thought. I then turned towards Ace and he was placing the rest of his hints on and in the dresser. I walk over to the bed and climb up, laying down, but keeping my head up. I felt myself gazing at his cutie mark.

”Hey Ace?”

He turned around with a cursious look.

”How’d you get your cutie mark?”

He raised his eyebrows a bit, and then a smile appeared on his face as he placed a brush on the dresser top.

”I’ve always wondered when you’d ask me that.”

He said, walking over and sitting with me, laying down on his stomach.

”It is quite interesting as what my parents told me.. uhm, mother.. told me…”

He shook his head a bit then continued.

”I was just a kid.. maybe 5 years old? But uhm, it was during the flyers competition, I was flying with an old friend of mine, Lightning Strike. Around the 3rd lap, I felt something start tingling in my flank, but I kept going. Strike tried keeping up with me, but for some reason he said that I was going too fast then apparently caught up with me, only it wasn’t me, but a shadow of myself that was a few hooves behind me! I eventually outflew him and passed the finish line. Strike said when he saw me hard stop the shadow flew back where my body was and it was gone, then he landed next to me screaming out that I got my cutie mark, pointing at my flank. I was so happy I started doing loops in the air and accidentally face planted into a cloud with my hooves sticking out.”

I saw Ace have a dazed smile on his face, then seem to come back to himself like he just finishing gazing at a memory in the air.

”I know I tried doing it again and I only got the chance to do it another time, but then went to fast and sprained my wing. The doc told me if I exercised my wings enough it wouldn’t have happened. Eventually I took so much time recovering that I just kind of gave up trying that trick again. Eventually went to college for 2 years to see if I could go into a job that I wanted.”

He stretched and bit then crossed his hooves.

”Did you get the job?”

His smiled disappeared, then looked away.

”I dropped out because.. because of my dad.”

I sat there looking at him. I looked around the room figuring out what to say, but he eventually spoke.

”Well.. uhm. You can rest now if you want. I’m just.. going to take a shower.”

He slipped down off the bed and walked towards the bathroom, me watching him walk away and I just lay down on the bed, my eyes eventually closing as the sound of the shower drifts off.

”ZJ? ZJ! ZJ wake up it’s time to get ready!”

Before I woke up I saw bits of purple swarming around in darkness. I shot my eyes open and scurried to my feet.. hooves.. and jumped off the bed.

”Ehhh you don’t have to rush that much.. Rarity just informed that they were gonna go to the castles spa and get ready there, and more with getting ready with their hairstyles and whatnot. You wanna go or..?”

I halted my action then turned around, thinking.

”I guess we can go.. yeah.”

I smiled slightly and turned my gaze back towards the suits and walked up to them. I remembered that I was a unicorn. Ace was busy brushing his feathers, so I tried to concentrate on trying to see if I can pick up the clothes with my magic. My forehead felt a bit tingly as I hear the sound of my magic trying to activate, the slightest turquoise light showing above my head. I think Ace saw me since I heard a small gasp, but I kept my focuse on the suits. They started to flash with magic around the hanger and I thought about lifting them up. I saw them slightly lift up.

Damn I feel like I’m gonna get a headache from this, I’m already clenching my teeth! Shit I better stop then.

I let out a large grunt and put a hoof to my head where the pain was, and my magic fizzled out, the hangers making a small clank sound. I then looked over at Ace which a shocked and appalled look, then gave me a kind smile.

”We can try to work on that later. Maybe Princess Twilight can help during the whole hair stuff?”

I nodded rubbing the back of my neck, and Ace flew over and grabbed the hangers and we both headed our way to the spa.

It took us a while to find it but a guard was able to help us to the area, all the girls looking up.

”Oh good! You guys are here! Come! Sit, sit! The dressers will help you with your suits and hair if you guys would like a new hairstyle for the occasion.”

Rarity said waving at us then pointing at 2 empty chairs. We both walked over there and sat down, and 2 stations came over with surprisingly colored coats and hair. The one Ace had his coat was pastel yellow almost like FlutterShy’s, but his hair was nice bright red, and his body looked a bit bulky. So was mine as well but a bit more taller, his coat a bluish grey and his hair was white with a few light blue stripes, both earth ponies.

”How can we help you today, good sir?”

He said politely.

Wow, I’ve never been called sir before.

I silently smiled, mostly at myself. I am Non-Binary, but I don’t really care if I’m called either pronouns, unless people call me an ‘it’ like a few times.. but that’s a different story. I thought about that instead of the next works to say.

”I.. I uhm.. we’ll what’s the usual to get pampered and uh, stuff?”

He looked at me with a straight face except lifting an eyebrow up. I gave him a nervous smile.

”Darling we all need the best when going to the Gala! Both of you will get the full pampering experience! Good sirs, please give them the Extravagant Spa Massage! Thank you!”

Rarity said as me and Ace looked at her, then back at each other. The 2 male ponies nodded and proceeded with the ‘extravagant spa massage’. The guy asked for my hoodie and I took it off, him taking it and folding it nicely and placing it on a small table behind me, then walked over to a cart and brought it over.

There were brushes, files for hooves, some types of cream, and some things on the bottom that I couldn’t really see to clearly.

”Lay down and relax. I’ll be starting the hoofacure.”

He said, his hoof tapping the back part of the lounge chair and I laid back. Hopefully this doesn’t feel weird. He grabbed the file and went over to my back hooves, gently grabbing one and pressing the file put against it. Surprisingly it felt nice, so I just looked up at the ceiling and closed my eyes.

”Guess this is your first time going to the gala?”

I heard Ace say and I opened my eyes.

”Yeah it is. Is it yours as well?”

”Ehh kind of? I guess from what I can remember my parents brought me here when I was a colt. I don’t really remember anything that went on during it.”

I nodded and made a small grunting sound informing that I was still listening. I then felt something cold on my back hooves and looked down, the dresser pony putting a type of cream on them, probably just making them smoother, guess like cream for dry cracked skin. After that he moved to my front hooves and started filing them. I closed my eyes again, and let the process continue is course.