My Terrible Nightmare

“Twilight?”

The huge crystal door creaked as I opened it up. I peered in, looking around at first, then sliding in and shutting the door behind me.

”Twilight?” Hello? Anyone here?”

“Oh hey!”

I wip my head around to see Spike walking towards me. Seeing a door cracked open. Probably where he came from.

“Oh hey Spike, do you know where Twilight is?”

”Oh yeah! She’s in her study! Upstairs and to the left and then it’ll be on the door to the right!”

He smiled. Like I would remember that, with my brain forgetting everything the second someone tells me something. I only remember useless things.

“Oh, alright uh, thanks Spike.”

He nodded as I headed towards the stairs and up.

Now was it left? Yeah, and then the door on the right. Wow. I’m surprised I kept all that in my head. Course I’ll probably forget it later on. Or the opposite.

I thought as I knocked on the door.

”Twilight? You in there?”

I heard a small gasp and things falling. I think I spooked her. She was probably lost in thought of whatever she was doing.

“Ah ZJ! Welcome come on in! Oh, is your face ok? I see you got a couple scratches.”

As I walked in I looked down a bit and dragged a hoof across my mouth.

”Oh yeah, I uhm, I had uh, I had a bit of uhm an accident outside.. but, but my friend Ace helped me out. Im fine really, just scratches anyways.”

I gave a half hearted smile. Seeing that I can’t really smile, she gave a small one back and then peered behind me.

”What’s that in your hood?”

I looked at her then gazed towards the right, then remembered about the book.

”What? Oh! Oh uh, It’s a book a friend gave me. To help with y’know, magic and stuff, to help me better, heh.”

I didn’t bother to take it out, and just decided to ask her something else.

”Do you know a good place to study where it’s like.. calm and a good place to concentrate? Maybe like a balcony or something?”

”Oh yeah of course! Just keep heading down the hallway and the balcony should be right there!”

I nodded once and headed out.

”Thank’s Twilight.”

She smiled, and before I headed back I tried smiling back, then closed the door gently.

Wow. That went smoothly than I expected.

I thought, starting to walk down the hallway. My mind starts to wander as I look down at my feet… uh hooves. Shit, I keep forgetting.

I hear the clip clop of my hooves, my brows furrowing as I keep my eyes locked on them. I’ve never had hooves before, or wore a fursuit with hooves on them. That would have been cool. Guess I’m kind of in a horse fursuit in a way.. but uh, with flesh and not fur fabric.

I start to feel a warm breeze, and I look up and my eyes meet up with the balcony. It’s a nice view over Ponyville. I go over to the center of the floor and sit down, shivering a bit at the crystal flooring being a bit cold on my ass. I kind of zoned out, thinking of that I’m actually sitting like this, legs to my side, and knees close to my chest. I slump my legs down, stretching them. They feel weird on my new bones, but it’s still a bit comfy and a known feeling.

I reach behind me and grab the book, fumbling a bit as it dropped on the ground, and I just slid it in front of me. I opened the book and read the first few words.

”To my son Marble Moon. -Mom. Damn, he gave me a book passed down from his family? That was hella kind. Even it being really important to be locked away as well. But of course I won’t steal it or sell it. I’m not that big of a dick.”

I said to no one, and flipped to the next page.

Cool, beginner learning. Hopefully I’ll know how to do some magic.

I start reading it over, flipping the next pages for the beginners, it starting with ‘focusing on your inner magic and the horn on your head’. Being calm and collected to connect with it all.

”Being calm? Think hard with your horn and brain? I guess that makes sense. As well as calm yourself and really focus. Ok, I’ll try that since it’ll start my magic.”

I sit there, close my eyes, and try to focus. Guess go blank sort of. I remember it saying try to think of somewhere cozy, like a bed, a pet, your home.

Home. The cats. The warm bed. Soft. So soft.

I think of this for a few seconds, and I feel something tingle in my forehead. I want to see if the magic worked, but I’m actually being in focus for once, and I still concentrate on being in my comfort zone. I guess that’s what it is implying.

I do start to feel sleepy and I start to feel the wind pick up slightly. Since my eyes are closed, I didn’t realize there were leaves slowly blowing around me in a somewhat circle, basically an oval, or trying to form an oval. The tingle sensation is still on my forehead, and I concentrate my hardest.

My soft bed. Warm. Maybe a jacuzzi? Ah yes. That’s warm. Maybe even float in it. Mmm.

I forgot to read on it if I could open my eyes or not, but a feeling deep inside me told me I could open my eyes. Thankfully I can still feel the tingle in my forehead, and the wind circling around me.

I open my eyes, and see a tint of.. turquoise? I look up and I see an aura of turquoise!

”Hahaha!! Oh my gosh I did it!! YES!!!”

I jumped up in exitment and I felt something tingle even harder and I see a huge light above myself and I scream out, feeling something propel out of my head and shoot up into the sky. I look up in horror. Shit, I got to exited and scared my magic I suppose? Oh fuck.

It exploded in the air. Not like fireworks. Like an actual bomb. Almost like a nuke sort of. It was definatly bright. And for people to see and hear from far away. I’m still looking in horror at it all.

”ZJ? What in Equestria is going on here?!”

I jumped and sat down on the book, turning my head around. Twilight appeared with Spike by her side.

”I.. I was just concentrating, and.. and I guess I concentrated to hard. I’m sorry! I’m sorry!! I don’t know what happened I’m sorry!!!”

I fall forwards and shove my head in my arms, shaking my head. I heard hooves clopping towards me and stop. I peek an eye out from my arms and her purple hooves were a few inches in front of me. I get some courage and look up, and see that she looked up, and the explosion somewhat dying down a bit. Then she looked down at me.

I feel my ears pull back, and I pulled my body back away from her a bit.

”What kind of magic are you learning? That was incredible, but it scared the hay out of me!”

She put a hoof out for me, and I grabbed it, her lifting me up and me stepping off the book.

”J-just what I said earlier. A friend gave me the book to help me learn. I didn’t realize it would make me do that! I thought.. I thought I would just be able to pick up the book or somethin’!”

I slammed the book shut and slid it in front of me again, as well as in front of Twilight.

”Oh! That’s a rare vintage book from an old family of unicorns! I have one in old ponish and translated as well!”

”Well I just met the last generation so far that has this book. His mom gave it to him.”

I flipped the cover to the first page which said Marble’s name.

”Wow! I remember Marble Moon! He came to me a few months ago for a few books to read about history on a family that had terrible curses in their horns! That one is a classic, usually read for a bedtime story and campfire stories! You should totally read that one later! Just remind me.”

She winked at me, and I saw Spike role his eyes and smirk a bit. Probably because of what a crazed book horse she is. That’s what she’s into so I’m not judgin’.

”Oh of course! Sounds interesting actually. Could I have that now and I’ll keep them in my room? Just so I won’t forget to tell you later. My brain can’t remember shit.”

She nodded. Just then we all heard huge flapping noises, all 3 of us looking around.

”Oh! Princess Celestia! How nice-“

”Celestia?!”

Oh fuck please don’t drag me into anything bad.

I see Celestia float down towards us, looking at Twilight, then seeing her gaze towards me. My fear got the better of me and I hid behind Twilight’s tail.

”Hello, Twilight. I saw an explosion here and was wondering if everything was alright. I wasn’t doing much so I thought I could drop on by to say hello anyways. Ah, and who might you be?”

She looks at me. Holy crap she’s fucking tall. I feel myself gawk at her with wide eyes. I see she isn’t fazed by it, probably used to people staring at her. Twilight moved her hooves and stepped out of my way, and since I was somewhat bowing I remembered that people like me are low in society, so I ended up shaking my head and titling it down and bowed.

”Oh no need for that my little pony. What is your name?”

I shoot up and stand up sorta straight.

”ZJ! The names ZJ!”

I tried smiling again. My cheeks hurt and I just gave up, the corners of my mouth falling. She chuckled a bit.

”Your enthusiasm is so wonderful, and perfect in the hooves of Ponyville. You do look new in fact. Is this a pony your teaching?”

”Oh no no no no!! They were just practicing on their own! They accidentally shot an explosion up in the air! Nothing to worry about!”

”Sorry for the inconvenience of my existence.”

I made an unsure frown and looked at the ground. I guess she felt some sort a sympathy for me as I looked up and she made that sort of face.

”Oh no, you are find my dear. To my surprise for a beginner, your magic is wonderful. It did get my attention while all the way in Canterlot. And no need to apologize again you are totally fine.”

She caught me of guard, me with my mouth hanging open as I was about to say sorry again. I quickly shut it and chuckled nervously.

”By the way Twilight. Are you going to be ready for the Grand Galloping Gala this week?”

”Oh sure I am Princess! The girls and I are so excited!”

Yup. Feeling out of place in front of 2 princesses. I should be used to feeling out of place. Always feel it. The breeze still feels nice though. Guess I’m not really feeling that awkward anymore.

”ZJ?”

”What? Sorry?”

”Would you like to go to the Gala?”

Oops, I zoned out. Guess Twilight was talking to me.

”Oh wow, that would be cool! Thanks a lot!”

”..And here..”

Celestia used her magic to poof 2 tickets out of thin air in front of me. It spooked me slightly.

”.. You can bring a friend if you’d like.”

I held out one of my hooves and the tickets lost her aura and floated down into my palm.
I saw her smile at me, like she new I just made a friend. I felt myself smile, and instantly thought of Ace. Feels like I haven’t seen him in a while even thought I just saw him today. I smiled and nodded in confidence.

”Wonderful. Then I shall see you two this week at the Gala.”

She unfolded her wings and flew off. Isn’t it far to Canterlot? I then heard a distant magic teleport sound. Right. Teleportation.

”Wow ZJ! The Princess just gave you tickets! That means you’re super special! Or maybe she just wants to drag you into her class for gifted unicorns hah! Trust me that class was a breeze. Well for me. I had my face in books every day when I was in that class. But it was amazing! Oh! I could bring you to Rarity’s boutique to get you and your friend fitted for the Gala! Maybe tomorrow since the Gala is in 2 days?”

She smiled. I looked at her, and then down at the tickets. I made a small smile.

”Sure. That sounds nice.”