My Terrible Nightmare

by ZawaYashi

Rating: mature
Tags: Original Character, Profanity, Random, Adventure, Violence, Crossover, Main 6, Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Death, Alternate Universe, Human
Length: 36536

First person story of a young adult stumbling into the pony world by accident. Yes there's most likely a ton of stories like this.

Following a young adult into the world of ponies. Weird encounters. Fun times. Sad times. Awkward times. Anything could happen of course.

Wondering around trying to find their purpose in this new world. Also figuring out their own element with not having much too remember from their original life.

Enjoy the story, if you can.
Thank you.

Published 2022-10-14 21:10:00 UTC
Last updated 2024-07-17 03:03:09 UTC

Welcome to Ponyville

I opened me eyes too the sound of a rooster screaming it’s normal routine.

A rooster?! Oh no, I’m still in the pony universe. Ugghhh.
I closed my eyes and placed a hand on my face, jumping a bit from the hard thing hitting my face, forgetting again that I was a pony.

”Rise and shine partner!!!”

AppleJack said bursting into the room, making me jump out of the bed and landing on the floor, the blanket floating down and landing on my body, covering half my face to where only one eye was poking out. I groaned a bit.

After a nice breakfast of pancakes that tasted a little off, but was still ok, me and AJ headed towards the town, hopefully able to find one of her friends to talk to, mostly Twilight. I was still using her as a crutch, still walking on my back legs.

”Not to be rude, but are you one of those fancy ponies that don’t like to get their hooves dirty? And to be truly honest, you don’t really look like one of them.”
She said, turning her head at me and then back forwards.

”Well, uhm, sometimes I don’t really like dirty things depending on what it is, but I’m not that much of a clean freak.”
I said looking down at her gaze once she looked at me then back forwards like what she did.

”Nah I got’cha. I have a friend named Rarity who doesn’t like to get her hooves dirty at all, probably the same deal with you with what the situation is, heh.”
I nodded

We start to enter town, and hopefully no one finds me weird, even though this is Ponyville, things are gonna get weird.

I start to hear a high pitched sound, and I start to see something pink in the distance, starting to get closer.
”AppleJack, what is tha-?“

APPLEJAAAAAAAACK!!!!!!!”
It was Pinkie Pie, running in this direction. I braced for impact as she skidded to a hauly in front of us, the wind from her rush pushing me down, making me stumble.
I landed on my front hooves, instantly standing back up and wobbling.

“HI APPLEJACK! OOOOOOH! WHO’S THIS?!”

She looked at AppleJack then her gaze snapped in my direction, terrifying me a bit as I flinched slightly.

“Well howdy there Pinkie! I’m just helpin’ uh, this here pony to Twilights, thinkin’ she might help us out with a certain problem.”
AppleJack thought a bit, remembering that I never told her my name, or even thought of one on the spot.

“Well hey!! I’m gonna have to throw you a welcome party today! I was just on my way to get extra extra EXTRA supplies for my parties that I was thinking up of today and then I happened to see you AJ and the new pony and I was like *GASP!* and went over to say hi to both of you!”

She was talking a bit fast, I somewhat understood her but kind of didn’t. Something about parties and throwing me one.

“Maybe you and the new pony would like to come over after you visit Twilight and I could throw the party then and bring aaaallll our friend to welcome them!”

“Why of course Pinkie Pie! We’d love to go! Sorry partner, she’s a bit on the crazy side but always means well.”

She went to my side and patted me on the back, trying to cheer me up a little, seeing that I looked a little skiddish. I did nod, understanding, but still a little causious.

“Well! Imma get going and get all the awesome things for your welcome party! Oh wait! Before I go! What’s your name?”

She was bouncing in place. I saw AppleJack look at me then back at Pinkie.

“Oh oh!!! Let me guess! Is it Cookie Swirl?”

“No.”

“Chocolate Truffle?”

“No.”

“Chocolate Stick?”

“No..”

“Moose Tracks?”

“No-“

“-Coco Gram? *Gasp* Coco Bean? Coco Sprinkles? Chocolate Strawberries? Choco Cake?-“

“-No! NO! It’s… it’s nothing food related! I… I don’t have one! Yeesh!”

Damn she really got annoying. Had a feeling that she would be, no offense.

“A pony with no name? *GASP* COULD I GIVE YOU A NAME?!”

She was literally in my face, standing on her tippy toes… tippy hooves? Whatever.

“Ugh… uhm, sure. Just! Nothing food related.. please. I don’t wanna feel fat.”

I saw her make a concerned face.

”I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to put it that way.”

”No no, you’re fine Pink.. uh Pinkie.”

I patted her on the head, not sure how to cheer her up. She ended up smiling a little and closed her eyes in agreement.

”Okie dokie lokie! See you guys later then!”

She waved and me and AJ waved back and she bounced away.

I wobbled a bit but AppleJack was in the ready by my side, me putting a hoof on her for balance.

”Thanks, soon enough I’ll be walking on my own.”

”It’a fine sugar cube, you just take yer time ya here?”

I nodded, and then proceeded to Twilight’s home.

We got a few more stares mostly because I was still walking on my 2 legs, but I guess by now I didn’t really get bothered by eyes laying on me. It still made me uncomfortable, even with me not wearing clothes when I’ve been used to it literally my whole life. I need to find a hoodie or something soon.

I think 15 minutes passed and we were at Twilight's home. Oh god, I’m in the part where Twilight is a princess with a fuckin’ castle. Great. Guess I could of found it myself since it’s a literal skyscraper. Didn’t think much of it earlier since I was distracted by, things.

”Should have told you that she’s a Princess, but you don’t have to do anything proper to her like bowing. She doesn’t really like that cuz she doesn’t wanna feel special than everyone else n’ all. Guess she’s just guilty, heh.”

AJ chuckled and proceeded to knock on the huge crystal door. I hear flapping and a ”Just a second!” before seeing a magenta aura form around the door handle.

”Oh! Hello AppleJack.. and..?-“

I guess she saw my hoof on AppleJack’s back. I saw her open the door more and her face appears.

”H-Hi.”
I decided to blurt out. Damn I stuttered, yuck.

”Oh, hi! Uh welcome! Come in! Guess you need some assistance?”

Guess she was used to giving help now that she was a princess. I wonder how far into the world that other things have or haven’t happened.

”Hi Twilight! I’m here with a friend that needs help probably finding a place to stay. They’re new around here and just had a terrible accident. See, I found them passed out in my orchard in terrible condition. Not sure what happened, and they don’t know what happened either, so it had to be a hard enough blow for them to not remember anything!”

”I don’t even remember my name so don’t bother asking.”
I added. Sounded rude, but the damage has been done already. I’ll try to make it up later I suppose.

”Oh no your fine! Uh I do have a guest bedroom that’s empty. Actually I have quite a few, not to brag, heh.

I tilted my head a bit, looking up in an understanding state.

”That’ll be nice actually, thanks Twili-, uh Twilight.”
I thought I was gonna have to explain myself for knowing her name already, but remembering that I believe that AppleJack said it herself.

”Not a problem! Thanks AppleJack, I can take them from here if you’re busy!”

”Nah I ain’t busy, was earlier but that’s when this here pony came out of nowhere. But everything should be done. I’ll just check up on everythin’ over there and come back. Speaking’ of, we already met Pinkie, and she’s probably setting up a party at Sugar Cube Corner for a welcome party. Believe she said around lunch time ‘er after.”

”Ah course she is. But it has been a while since we had a party, even for anypony, but yeah! I’ll bring them over once I lead them to the room and get them settled down.

Alrighty! Thank ya Twi!

They said their goodbyes and AJ headed back to the barn.

”So what made you want to visit Ponyville?”
She closed the door with her magic and turned her head, finding me hugging the wall.

”Uhm, looked like a good place to visit, I guess. Hah.”
I feel like she knows that I’m nervous. I’m not really, but that emotion will probably appear later on.

We walked down the hallway, and she started to talk about some of the things in Ponyville that are a cool view to see. I did see her glance at me a couple times, me dragging a hoof across the wall steadying myself.

She didn’t question it, which is I guess a good thing, even though most people, or ponies, will think I’m those type of fancy, proper ponies that don’t like dirt, unless people have the thought that I don’t look like one like what AppleJack said earlier.

It’s whatever though. I’ll probably walk like an actual pony sometime later.

“Learn any magic spells?”

I stopped suddenly, and so did Twilight.

“Magic?”

I tried looking on my forehead and seeing something protrude outwards. I raised a hoof and felt around, feeling something pointy.
Oh my god, is this a win? No! I’d rather fly! Well actually I want both.. but I guess magic will do.

I was still patting my horn, eventually looking at Twilight, having an embarrassed look on her face. She was looking away then slowly looking back to see if I was done I guess being weird.

“Oh uh, no I guess. Haven’t really thought abou-“

“WHAT?! YOU DON’T KNOW MAGIC?!”

Her scream made me fall on the ground.

“Guess that damage to my head did a number on me huh? Heh heh, ehhh.”

I felt something warm and cold at the same time flow around my body as I see her horn start to emit light. I felt myself float to my feet as I quickly placed both my back legs on the ground first and reached towards the wall with my front, the feeling going a way and propped myself up on the wall again.

“Sorry sorry! I just, haven’t heard that come out of anyponies mouth before, let alone a unicorn! *Gasp*! Can I teach you everything about magic real quick?”

I jumped slightly as a pen and paper appeared right in front of Twilight being held up by her aura.

I gave her an “uhhh, really?” look. I saw her blush and poof away the objects and she chuckled nervously.

“Well uh, maybe later, I guess. We still have that welcome party Pinkie wants to throw.”

Twilight rubbed the back of her head and then pointed outwards.

“Oh! That’s right! Sorry for distracting us! But uh the rooms actually right over there if you wanna take a quick look at it!”

I nodded in agreeement and we both walked over.

Twilight opened the door and the room was pretty big. Guess I shouldn’t be surprised. I’m in a castle for once.

The bed was placed to the far right of the room, a nightstand with a desk light placed next to the bed. There was a desk opposite of the bed to my left when entering with its own light on it. There was a small trash can, a drawer at the foot of the bed against the wall, and a nice little window straight forward.

Twilight let me rest for a bit before coming back to get me for the party I took a quick shower. Thankfully there was also a bathroom in the bedroom as well as a separate room. That’s enough privacy for me hah.

I took a quick shower and lay on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. I didn’t have a phone to look at, no computer. I then started to feel my eyes flutter shut.

I dozed off, thinking about my other life. It was a bit sad, seeing that I would never go back there unless I died I’m this universe and woke up in my bed in that world. Oh well.

Pinkie’s Party Time

“Uhm, Hello? Hello? Uh New pony? Hello? Hello??”

My eyes shot open, hearing Twilight’s voice fade into existence.

“Huh wha? Yeah? Yes?”

I lifted my head up seeing her looking away a bit. I shook my head a little violently, trying to wake myself up. I ruined myself by taking a small nap. I don’t even know how long I was out.

“How- how long was I out?”

”Well when I dropped you off it’s been about 45 minutes since then.”

”Yikes… so like 35 or 40 minutes.”

I grunted as I lifted my body off the bed and plopped down on the ground, lifting myself off the bed and walking towards the door. I kind of got the deal with walking on my back legs, using the trim of the door for some balance, but then eventually walking without having to use anything to walk. Sure I looked weird but I’m used to this. I’ll do the 4 leg walking when I feel like it.

We made it to the party, Pinkie Pie probably seeing me and Twilight walk passed the window, and greeted us at the door.

“Hello Twilight! Hello new pony that I can’t think of a name yet!”

She waved and Twilight waved back, me hesitantly waving back. Here’s the part where it’s time for the neevous feeling comes in. Every Mane 6 was there, even Spike. I’m guessing Spike was with Rarity at the time of the invitation.

I shied myself behind the door, peeking around it. Why am I so nervous right now? They’re just ponies. Why am I so nervous? What’s going on??

I see FlutterShy start making her way over here and Twilight hops inside the building. I start getting heart palpitations. I didn’t know what was going to happen. I ended up closing my eyes.

”Hey, it’s ok. Everyone gets shy once in a while. Come on now, everything’s alright.”

I peeked my head around more, looking into the building. There was food and drink, and I was feeling a bit hungry, even though I was going through some sort of diet. Guess it doesn’t really matter much at this point. Good to try new things.

I then inched my way in, putting my hooves in front of me, one of my hooves rubbing the other one nervously. I moved my head down a bit, my hair falling in front of one of my eyes.

“Welcome in dear! It’s nice to meet you! You know, your mane and coat are very rare around here?”

Rarity was the one to walk up to meet me. Guess the last one was Rainbow Dash. Spike did wave at me, not sure if that was an actual greeting but it’s whatever.

”How is it rare? I’m just the color of dirt.”

”And chocolate!!”

Pinkie Pie butted in.

I felt myself glare at her slightly, her smiling embarrassingly and shrinking away. I tried to recover that emotion by looking up and shaking my head slightly, smiling a little. Guess that worked.

I saw Rarity laugh off the moment.

“Oh! Haha! No! It’s just that brown and tan is just different in a place with colorful coats and all! And your mane and tail style are cute too!”

I flinched at the world cute. Oh god that word. I was never called that ever, only super duper rare, which was in this sense.

“Hey new pony, how come you don’t have a cutie mark?”

I heard Spike say as he walks over with a cupcake in hand. I lm still against the wall, and turn my ass to the point where I can see the side of it. He was right. I didn’t have a cutie mark. Why?

I cringed at the blank spot, while the others looked over. It felt weird with everyone’s gaze staring at my ass.

”Oh my celestia, that just flew over my mind!”
AppleJack said, her putting a hoof to the side of her cheek. Twilight nodded.

”Guess you guys don’t see any adult ponies with no cutie mark huh?”

”You’re an adult?”

It was Rainbow Dash’s time to come greet me in a non “greet-able” way.

”I am! I’m just smaller than others because I was born different.””
I glared at her, baring my teeth slightly.

I saw her ears go back a bit.

”Yikes, sorry.”
She looked away, not sure how to take someone talking back to her in that way.

I just looked away as well. Guess I’ll probably be known as the pony to stay away from later, even though I don’t want that to happen and for also people to not talk to me here just like in the real world. It’s whatever I guess.

It was silent for a bit, then Pinkie jumped in.

”Oki Doki!! It’s time to party!!”

She appeared behind me, which kind of startled me, and pushed me in the middle near a table of food, everyone else follow suit.

I think about an hour passed and all the food is eaten except some pieces which I saw Pinkie Pie eyeing at times. The others were talking and eating what was left in their hooves. FlutterShy started to walk up to me.

”Hey, uhm. Not to bother, but, would you like to come see my cottage maybe after the party, or uh, whenever you want to? You seem to like animals, unless that’s wrong then uh, sorry.”

Hah, right there is the definition of my anxiety.

”How’d you know I like animals?”
I was leaning up against the wall, trying to hold my cup steady that had punch in it. Hopefully later Twilight will help me use magic, if it even flows through me. That would suck, then I would have this horn for no reason.

”You just seem like the type that would like animals.”
She gave a kind smile.

FlutterShy is my favorite pony. Not sure why, but just something about her I enjoy. Probably cuz we got the same anxiety levels in a way. I have no idea, there’s other ponies I like anyways.. like Derpy. Wonder if I’ll see her somewhere later on.

”I’d love to go see! Please tell me you have ferrets.”
I quickly said. I also have favorite animals heh.

”I do!”

”Ahh! YES! OOP-“
I tried to catch the cup I was holding, but got to excited and spilled it. Thankfully there wasn’t much in there, but still made a mess.
Fuck.

FlutterShy giggled, and I felt my face get hot. Wait.. am I? Oh god.
I’m blushing. I quickly hide my face, turning my head to where some of my hair falls in front of one of my eyes.

”Aww it’s ok pony with no name I can’t think of yet! I got it!”
Pinkie Pie said, and with that she swirled around my feet.. uh hooves.. and cleaned up the mess in 4 seconds.

I was a bit surprised by that. Gotta remember cartoon physics in this place.

After a good small talk and a few clean ups here and there, I talked to Twilight about going over to FlutterShy’s to see the animals and whatnot, maybe stay there for a night so that she doesn’t get worried if I don’t come back to the castle.

We all waved goodbye and I headed off with FlutterShy to her cottage. It was nice to have some time with FlutterShy, actually speaking to a favorite character from somewhere always sounded nice. Just had to try not to be to weird with saying things or asking things.

”Hey FlutterShy?”

”Yes?”

”Is it alright if we go look at the market? I wanna see if I can spot something I’ll like.”

She smiled.
”Why of course! What are you hoping for there?”

”Uh, clothes?”
I shrugged.

”Oh! Then why didn’t you ask Rarity? She makes beautiful clothes, and even dresses! Well, mostly dresses.”

”I just want something simple, like a hoodie.”

”Oh! Then yeah there’s a few shops we could look at that might have those. In fact, there’s one right over there past those 3 buildings.”

She pointed a hoof over at the buildings, me squinting my eyes and seeing a sign that looked like it had some sort of coat on it. Course indicating that it was the clothes shop.

We entered the store, a few ponies already there looking at clothes. There was mostly tops and a small corner almost about the size of a pony with pants on the shelves.

I started to look for hoodies which I found near the back, FlutterShy following behind. I was super happy that I found some coverage for me to put on, but then I realized I don’t even have money.

”Hey, we can go back to my cottage and get some bits if you really want it. I do think your really sweet and would love to get you a welcome gift.”

She smiled and it made me give her a small smile back.

”Wow, are you serious? Damn, thanks FlutterShy.”

She nodded as I dragged my hoof away from the hoodie, and we both walked out. We got like 3 minutes away from the store as I started to hear someone call out.

”HEY! HEY WAIT!”

Me and FlutterShy whipped our heads around and we both see a pony run up towards me with their wings flaring out. He were carrying a bag.

”Oh jeez I need to work out more.. but uh here! I know that FluterShy lives a little across the buildings so I uh, I didn’t want you two to have to come back over here just for a lousy hoodie. WELL UH! It’s nice! And you seem like a really nice pony!”

He said frantically as he shoved the package in front of me.

”It wasn’t much anyways so, I didn’t mind buying it. I wasn’t gonna buy anything in there anyways, I was just looking.”

”Oh wow, are you sure?”

”Oh of course I’m sure! I bought it already and I don’t look good in clothes, I.. I don’t even know why I was in there haha!! But you do! Uh, look good! Sorry if this is all awkward.”

He reached a hoof around his head and scratched the back, placing it back down afterwards.

I grabbed the hoodie and placed it on, with some difficulty, and wiped it a couple times to get some wrinkles out.

”Damn, I like how nice and soft it is. Thank you, uh..?”

”Oh! The names Shadow Ace! But you can call me Ace! Or Shadow. Either one is good! And you are?”

I looked and FlutterShy and she looks at me in return. He looks at FlutterShy and then back at me.

”Is it a secret?”

”Oh no no no! I uh, just had a huge accident earlier, uh yesterday and I can’t really remember a lot of things. Woke up in the hostpital.”

”Oh yikes! I’m sorry! Well if you need anything, I live right next to Sugar Cube corner, I have a little lightning bolt above the door, like a door knocker, but it isn’t one. Ha! Well, I’d like to see you later dude!”

”See ya! And you can actually call me ZJ. Kind of uh, came with it on the spot, mostly so I don’t have to tell them the hospital thing, heh.”

”Nah I gottcha! I’d like to see what ya come up with the initials.”

He winked and waved as he shot into the air, his wings carrying him away.

”I thought you’d become shy like me. Glad that you made a friend though!”

FlutterShy said, as we made our way to her cottage.

”No yeah same! To be honest I thought I wouldn't make any friends here.”

I gave her a small smile and she returned one back.

Hopefully things go well in the future here.

True Friend

I woke up, seeing animals surrounding me. Right. I spent a night at FlutterShy’s. It was nice though, after she showed me around and let me pet some animals and even help her around her cottage, we had some tea and dinner, Twilight ending up coming over to see if I was going to stay or not. She just stayed for dinner and then left after I said I was gonna stay a night here, just to get some more time with animals.

To be honest, I love animals. Surprised that the world didn’t give me a cutie mark, and just said fuck you and gave me nothing. Am I supposed to earn it? I did go through a portal after all, and just coming in here willynilly with a cool cutie mark would be too easy. It would suck if this was the purpose to come into this world to see what my special mark would be.

I do have a birthmark, not really a cutie mark, but still a mark. I need to stop rambling.

FlutterShy asked if I needed any assistance to Twilight’s castle, but I think I knew the way since you can’t really miss a castle almost the size of the Eiffel Tower in a small village.

We waved goodbye and I made my way. I was able to start walking on all my hooves, and I guess it felt easier, more balance of course.

”I wonder what else to do today. Maybe meet one of the other Mane 6 ponies? Maybe Rarity is making more dresses. I don’t think SweetieBelle met me yet, she seems like a nice kid-“

My self-talking ended in some pain in the back of my head, and I jumped, looking around. There were 3 ponies looking at me, all of them as the 3 races, Earth, Unicorn, and Pegasus ponies.

”Whoops! Didn’t see you there, like the lack of a cutie mark ya have, hah!”

Oh great. Bullies.

The one that spoke first was of course the leader who was an earth pony. Most leaders usually speak first, and then the other one or two do as well.

”Look if you’re here to bully me then your here to give me a lot of attention. Just leave me alone”.

I turned away and started walking towards Twilight’s castle. I feel more pain on my head and I whip my head around giving them a death stare.

”Why aren’t you blocking huh? Can’t you not use your magic?”

”I.. I don’t know how.”

”Really?! HAH! Pezly! Throw another!”

The unicorn out of the group was throwing them, but they didn’t really have an angry expression on themselves. Kind of like they didn’t care. Like that one pony.. uh Pinkie’s sister, Maud. Expressionless.

I just ignored them and continued on my way, hopefully going to Twilight’s place had some redemption. I felt a huge shove on my side and slammed right into the ground.

”Don’t walk away when somepony is taking to you! Didn’t your parents teach you any manners?”

Damn, this was a whole other level of bullying. I’ve been bullied when I was younger, like in middle school. But never like this, being thrown on the ground.
I tried to pick myself up off the ground, but the pegasus pony pinned me down. I started to feel a panic creep up on me.

”Look at me when I speak to you. Ponies like you need to learn better manners.

He smiled as him and Pezly approached in front of me. I felt the cold and warm feeling at my mouth as I see an aura bounce off the ground. They were holding my mouth open. The earth pony shoved some rocks in front of Pezly, me seeing one float up and towards my mouth. They we’re almost as big as golf balls.

My claustrophobic started to creep up on me fully, seeing them surround me and shoving rocks into my mouth. I started to squirm, but the pegasus put down more force on my limbs. I closed my eyes, tears flowing out of my eyes, hopefully I could zone this out, even though I don’t think that’s possible.

Suddenly, the weight lifted off my back instantly, as I heard a sickening crunch sound above me. Pezly and the earth pony gasped, and I felt the aura on me fade, as I spat out the rocks and jumped up. I had a weird feeling deep inside to where I turned around and kicked, kicking the earth pony directly in the jaw, tossing him to the ground.

”AH! WHAT THE-!”

Pezly jumped in front of the earth pony and their horn started to glow bright, I guess about to shoot something at me. I squinted my eyes and put a hoof above my head facing down, but then seeing a shadow and a black and slight green hoof appear in front. It was Shadow Ace.

”Back of assholes! This one’s mine!”

Mine?

”Well we saw them first!”

The earth pony spitted out.

”Well I saw them yesterday going to that scared yellow Pegasus’ cottage and got them there! You don’t take things from me on my turf, Mud Buck!”

”Don’t you dare call me that! It’s Mud Rock you pathetic barf pegasus! Come on guys, we’re leaving this gross place.”

Him and the other 2 ponies galloped away, Shadow Ace still standing ground in front of me. He then quickly turned around and put his hooves on me.

”Dude are you alright?! Oh celestia I saw the drama happening from the sky! How badly are you hurt? Do you need to go to the hospital again?”

He saw some blood from my mouth falll down my chin. I guess one of the rocks cut me. I didn’t know what to do. All I did was look down, and some more tears formed in my eyes. He saw this, and quickly picked me up and flew me away, probably towards his house since I saw a glimps of the Sugar Cube Corner.

He bursted into the door of his home and gently placed me on his couch. I turned to the side facing away from him as he dashed around his place to find supplies for me if I needed them. He placed a med kit on the coffee table in front of me and then ran around again to fetch other things.

”What’s hurting you the most? I saw that they were shoving rocks in your mouth. How bad is it? Do you need water? Dude?.. ..ZJ?”

His tone quieted down as he asked me. I have a hard time telling people the problem and just end up crying. I don’t know why, but I know I’m weak, and I hate myself for it.

”I.. I don’t.. *sniff* I don’t know, I’m sorry.”

”Sorry? Sorry for what? They’re the ones that were bullying you!”

He placed down the water he had ready for me and gently placed his hoof around my back. I flinched a bit.

”You’re safe now man. Here, do you want some water? Anything to eat?”

I just stared down at the floor. I didn’t really know what to say.

”Water. Please.”

I was a bit quiet, but he heard me clear as he reached for the water and gave it to me in my hands. Hooves. It was balancing on my right hoof, sadly it was a bottle with the cap on tight. I stared at it.
He looked at me and then the water bottle, and then back at me. I saw from the corner of my eye.

”I can’t open it.”

I sniffed a bit. He looked at me a little confused and then steadied his hoof and brought his other hoof over and twisted it off. How did that work, I have no idea. I held it gently in between my hooves and slowly drank from it, then after pulled it away.

”Why didn’t you use your magic to do like a force field or somethin’? Maybe throw something back? Teleport away?”

”I don’t know how! I don’t know how to do magic!”

I felt myself get a little mad, the bottle starting to crinkle, and I placed it down on the table, then just stared back at the floor.

”Oh. I’m.. I’m sorry.”

He looked at the spot where I was looking at, then picked his own spot.

”Hey! I have a friend that’s really good with magic if you want them to help you! They’re really nice and are willing to help anyone, unicorn or not!”

”Is it Twilight.”

”No no! I don’t really know her that much anyways, but my friend actually lives near Twilight’s castle! He’ll help ya any time!”

”Ok.”

I sniffed a bit and he got up from the couch and help me up as well. Before he reached for the door I remembered something he said.

”Hey, uh, Ace?”

He turned his head.

”Yeah?”

”What did you mean about me earlier. Me being yours or something.

I saw him think about it, but then his cheeks blushed a bit.

”Oh! Right, uh, sorry about that! I kind of have beef with them too and I guess I claim this town sort of. I don’t know they’re from all over Equestria, and I think Pezly is from Manehattan. Mud Rock is from western equestria.. Rockville I’m guessing, and Feather Crown is from Cloudsdale. The Pegasus, but I guess that’s obvious heh.

I nodded in agreement. We both exit his house and he locked the door behind us.

”Aslo beware, he might freak out when he realizes you don’t know how to do magic, cuz he kind of teaches filly’s how to use their magic, and control it, ya dig? He also hasn’t helped a grown pony too, mostly filly’s, but some teenagers if their a bit late with the magic stuff.

I nodded again. Hopefully they won’t be too crazy. I might just freak out myself from getting overwhelmed hah.

We reached the pony’s house 10 minutes later, and Ace knocked on the door.

”Comiiiiing!”

Sounded slightly feminine, maybe a gay pony? Damn I’d love to meet a gay pony. Would seem so cool.

”Hello Shadow! And oh! Who might this fine fellow be?

I saw him look up and down on me. But yeah probably a little gay side on him. I felt myself smile a bit. Oops.

”Hey Marble Moon! I have a friend here that needs help with something!”

”Why of course! Come in, come in!”

We both entered Marble’s house and he closed the door behind.

”What can I help you dears with today?”

It looked like he was shelving one of his bookcases when we arrived as he went back to reshelving.

”Me and ZJ were wondering if you could help with uh, magic?”

Marble looked back at us, mostly at Ace, but then remembering I was here. He smiled and turned back around.

”Does ZJ need some books about magic? I have some that’ll help with makeovers, making food on it’s own, maybe even some hovering!”

”Well.. no.”

”Then what do you need?”

He was continuing to reshelve as he floated more books over. Ace looks over at me.

”I uhm.. I don’t know how to do magic.”

Marble dropped the 5 books he was holding on the ground. He darted his gaze towards me and gasped a huge gasp like me and Ace just tracked in a bunch of mud.

”HAHA! N-no magic?! Haha! Your lying dear, you must be lying! What kind of unicorn doesn’t know magic, and one such as you in your age! Young adult I assume?”

I nodded. I could tell he was going crazy, mostly because he was a teacher of magic.
Marble quickly went behind me and brought me into a room, I guess his office, and placed me down in the chair in front of the desk, him eventually sitting down in his own seat in front of me, Ace quickly making his entrance.

He quickly looked behind him as the blinds were open, and he quickly closed them with some quick magic.

”I only specialize with fillys, not uh, adults. I do have some books that might help you get your magic back, or just boost it up a bit so you’ll be able to control some of it. Some unicorns really want the books from me, that’s why I have them in a secret place, mostly because there’s a lot of other books there as well. Of course I put a spell on them so that only my aura and magic grants access.”

He seemed proud and looked over at the wall. He used his magic on the whole wall and a somewhat big drawer came out and he floated a book over to me. I then saw him grab what looked like a book cover for a title and placed it on the book.

”So that no one will see the cover and try to steal it.”

He smiled and placed it on the table in front of me. I tried using my hooves to open the book which worked, and I saw a few pages with tips and tricks on magic stuff, stances and times, and the amount of magic to use.

This all looked so complicated. Mostly with everything in life, but I guess that’s just me. I have a hard time to learn things anyways and it’ll take me ages to remember if I do.

”Thanks uh Marble! I’ll try to learn later today.”

He nodded as he got up and opened the door, stepping over the books as we headed out. I placed the book in the hood part of my hoodie and it fit perfectly. Hopeful it won’t fall.

”If you have any more questions or need anymore help in anyway, please don’t hesitate to come back over!”

I agreed and waved goodbye and closed the door to Marble’s place.

”I better get back to Twilight. I think she expected me like almost an hour ago.””

”Oh really? Do you have to do things for her? Like her body guard or assistant?”

”No, I actually have residence there for a bit I guess until I find my own place. Pretty neat actually. You could come meet her if you want to.”

“Oh no no no! Uhm, at least not yet! I’m still a little skiddish talking to hire ups, even though I took on those douches back there. But later for sure!”

”Hah, alright man.”

We both waved goodbye and I headed on my way to Twilight, and thankfully it was close to her castle, and hopefully those idiots aren’t stalking me.
It was nice that Ace saw me or else I would have been in terrible shape.
He’s cool. Hopefully I can see him more later on, as well as uhm, Marble. They both seem really nice, and I guess it’s enough friends for me, guess so that I’d have them to go to if I’m dealing with something.

It would be nice to have a few more friends.

Power Struck

“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.”

Thoughtful Ways

There was a knock at Shadow’s door.

”Hello?” Oh! ZJ! What’s up?”

I stood at the door with 2 tickets in my mouth. I saw him look into my eyes and then down at my mouth where the tickets where, and his eyes widened.

“Holy Celestia! Are.. are those real?!”

He leaned in close examing them. I nodded and placed them in my hoof and moved them a bit closer to him.

”Yeah! To be honest, the Princess her self gave them to me, mostly because I tried out Marble’s spell book and I accidentally learned something odd. Not sure if you heard an explosion buuuuut that was me.”

I smirked a bit, it being a bit crooked, and I see his lips part and his eyes dart from the tickets to my eyes and then back to the tickets, then back to my eyes.

“I’m so glad I made friends with you! I can get into so many things!”

He was about to grab it in his opened mouth, but I swiped it away.

“Uhhh, excuse me?”

He was looking up at me and slammed his mouth shut. I saw his cheeks flush a bit.

“Oh no no no!! I was being sarcastic! That’s a thing I do, sorry I forgot to tell you, unless if the time ever came up, which is now. Dang now I feel stupid. My bad.”

He slammed his hoof onto his forehead. He did look guilty. But my trust issues are kind of on the edge from the real world.

This ‘is’ just a party thing anyways. It’s not like anything bad could happen. And besides, this is the first thing I’m ever gonna do with him.. and he’s never asked me for anything.

I started to remember that he’s the one that gave me this hoodie. He does have a funny and kind spirit, and I guess I do get carried away when I joke around to much.

“Hey man it’s fine. I get carried away with jokes some times.”

I handed him the one on top and he looked at me and smiled kindly, and gently took it out of my hoof.

“Ah ok good. I didn’t mean to sound like a snob or anything.”

I nodded in response.

”Oh yeah. Do you know when it is?”

”Yeah, in like 2 days I believe. Twilight also said we can get prepped at Rarity’s shop tomorrow if that’s alright with you. You can get a cool outfit with being around famous ponies you know.”

I gave him a little sneaky smirk, and he returned with a scrunched nose and a smile, seeing that he got my ‘joke’.

”Ha yeah, I guess so buddy!”

He couldn’t help it but he started to laugh, me just standing there and feeling my brain go numb, my weird smirk falling.

Dammit, I better not be having mood swings. I am trying to be funny after all. Well I can’t shove negative feelings around this world and ruin it like the real world. Guess this is the part where I try to actually laugh, even when it might be fake.. I guess?

I started to chuckle, trying my best to show that I was also having ‘fun’. He wiped away a tear and smiled up at me, my chucking coming to a hault. His smile fell slightly.

”You.. don’t show too many emotions at times, do you? Like your mood just kind of dies then and there.”

I pull my head back and felt my ears droop, which felt weird since I haven’t had pony ears at all and normal boring human ones.

”I uh, uhm..”

I couldn’t find the right words and my eyes starting looking around. I shook my head sorrowfully.

”Yeah sorry, I don’t know why my emotions just suddenly drop at times, I don’t mean it, honestly.”

I then looked down, seeing my hooves. I started to try to ‘close my hands’, starting to feel myself grab dirt.

Man this doesn’t make any sense. I can still grab things but I don’t have any fingers.

I then felt pressure on my shoulder and I looked up, seeing that Shadow’s hoof was on it. He was smiling.

”I understand man.”

He then leaned in and gave me a hug. I flinched slightly, but being hugged my something soft feels comforting. I feel him rest his head on my back as he hugged, and then pulled back and patted me on the back.

”But hey! Thanks for the ticket, really! Do you uh, want to come inside? Maybe watch a movie or, just hang out?”

He scratched the back of his head nervously.

I nodded, smiling slightly. He stepped aside and lead me in, following behind me and closing the door.

”So what movies are you into? Like drama, adventure, horror, uhm.. romance..”

I hear him hesitate at romance, but I didn’t think much of it. I was looking around the room, mostly at the pictures, him still listing movie genres, but then I looked at him.

”I don’t mind a horror movie.”

I shrugged a bit. He smiled.

”Oh awesome! I actually have the best horror movie for us to watch!”

He dashed over to a small shelf, grazing his hoof over what seemed to be the movies, and pulled one out.

”Track Pad and The Questionable Horse Shoe! Trust me, it’s a classic but sooo cool. It is a bit bloody though. You don’t mind blood do you?”

I snorted slightly at the name, but then focused my gaze at the cover.

”I don’t mind gore.”

He smiled and ran to the TV set. I walked over to the couch, making me remember the moment of me sobbing here and recovering from the bullies, but just shoved the thought away and sat down at the same spot as earlier. The tv turned on and in a few seconds the name popped up on screen.

”Since I’ve watched this a few times I’m gonna go get some snacks and drinks. Your fine with soda for a drink? I could also bring other stuff as well.”

”Anything is fine.”

He nodded smiling all the way to the kitchen, me blinking my eyes towards the tv. I tried sitting in a way that was comfortable. These new legs and bones feeling weird when trying to sit like humans do. I found a good position, me leaning on my side slightly with my arm over the arm rest, and I placed my head on my hoof.. after swiping some dirt of it from earlier.

He came back about 7 minutes later with a tray on his head full of food, and leaned his head down as it slid onto the coffee table in front of me.

”Alright ZJ! I got the goods right here! Got some chips, hay sticks, peanuts..-“

My eyes shot open as I looked down at the tray, seeing the peanuts in a bowl closest to me.

”Ahhh Shadow! I uh, ah crud I forgot to tell you I’m allergic to peanuts.”

I feel myself cringe a bit still looking at the peanuts. I see his eyes widen and he gasped as well as he grabbed the bowl and rushed it to the kitchen, me hearing clambering sounds and the water running, then him rushing back.

”Oh crap I’m sorry about that! How highly are you allergic to them?!”

”If they’re around me I’m fine. It’s only when I eat them because if I do my throat will close up and I’ll slowly suffocate.”

His lips parted and his eyes winded more.

”Dang dude. You know, actually, my younger brother is allergic to blueberries. Yeah it’s some what funny and sad at the same time, but I guess the universe wasn’t to greatful with him either.”

I shrugged. After a weird awkward pause we both look to the screen as a yelp happened in the movie. Realizing that we were watching a movie, I scooted over slightly and he sat next to me, reaching down and grabbed some chips and crunches down on them.

After 30 minutes into the movie, a really ‘scary’ part was about to happen, where the pony named Track Pad, was walking through a hallway of a hospital, the ambience having a scared suspenseful sound. Course me not knowing what was going to happen I decided to spit out a statement.

”He’s gonna appear around the corner.”

I blurted out. He looked at me and raised an eyebrow, then looked back at the movie, minutes later, the murderer jumping out and swinging an axe at Track Pad, Track jumping back and screaming, beginning to run down the hallway with the man in pursuit.

”How’d you know that?””

He looked back over at me again.

”I don’t know, just felt like it was gonna happen.”

”Can you do it again?”

”Uh maybe, just give me a bit, gotta see if I can think of what’s gonna happen next.”

He nodded in response and looked back at the tv. 25 minutes passed and I felt the thought of something that might happen again, needing to say it.

”She’s gonna die.”

He looked at me and his mouth opened in question, his eyes darting from me and the tv as the girl dies from a knife getting thrown into her throat.

”Is this your secret talent?! It’s amazing! I did see that you made noises to cliche parts, so I guess you knew those moments as well?”

I tilted my head and shrugged.

”Heh I guess so. I mean I still wish I had a cutie mark.”

I looked at my ass seeing nothing there. He did as well which was a bit awkward, but I guess everyone does cuz of the cutie mark. His eyebrows raised.

”Oh! We could I mean, draw one on if you feel insecure about it, or if you just wanna have one. But I mean.. you can literally have any cutie mark you want! Which is actually better than an actual one to be honest.”

He looked down at his own flank, seeing his cutie mark which was an Ace of Spades; half black and Half white in a wavy line, like it being the Yin Yang sort of.

”Yeah, I guess I could have anything. What would it be though?”

”Well, what do you like to do?”

I thought for a second. Games and drawing, I guess sleeping, hah.

”I’m not really sure actually. I like to do a lot of things really. I don’t have a special talent. Guess that’s why I don’t have a cutie mark.”

Shadow thought for a bit, then he got up and walked over to a dresser and moved some things around, eventually pulling out some paper and a pencil.

”Do you mind if I draw some ideas?”

He said with a smile.

I nodded.

”I’d like to see what you come up with. I don’t really have any ideas on my mind anyways.”

He hopped once and came over and plopped on the couch, grabbing a book from underneath the coffee table and placed the paper on. I leaned my head on a hoof as I kept watching the horror movie, which I think had 35 minutes left.

I felt my eyes slowly close as I drifted off to sleep. Hopefully he comes up with cool marks.

Secret Being

”Psst. Hey. Hey ZJ. ZJ?”

I jerked awake, looking around and then looking at him.

”Man, you must of been really tired.”

”I mean.. I guess so. What time is it?”

He made a sheepish smile.

”Uh heh, it’s uhm.. its 6 at night. It’s been around 3 hours. I let you sleep, anyways it seemed like you needed it.”

My eyes went wide. I haven’t slept that long in a while, or at all really. I rubbed my eyes.

”Did you ever finish the cutie marks?”

”Oh yeah! I actually have a couple, but I finished it like an hour and a half ago.”

He pointed at the paper on the desk and I leaned forwards picking it up. Wow some of them looked really cool. Then one struck my eye.

”I like this one. Looks.. unique.”

He looked over and smiled.

”Oh heck yeah! This one took me a bit to think of but it’s based off this cryptic god from the far past named Cyrobe. Took ponies souls and controlled their minds like zombies, and the ponies souls went to an abyss that was just like space, floating around in the middle of nowhere.”

He moved his hooves to what he was explaining. The mark did sound pretty cool, and looked cool as well

”Do you have like.. paint or something to put it on my ass? Or uh flank.”

”Oh totally! I’ll go ahead and get it! This is gonna be so awesome!”

He hopped off the couch and trotted to a small door in the wall, usually where people or uh, ponies, put junk stuff in. He pulled out a can of paint and then little paint tubes, and a few different sized brushes.

”I only got this blue in the paint can, but all the other colors I have in the tube! And it does take a bit to make it come off so splashing water on it won’t make it go away as easily.”

He shoved them towards the coffee table with the paint brushes in his mouth and dropped those onto the table. He sat next to me with one of the tubes in his hoof. He was about to reach over to my flank, and I looked at him a bit weird, not realizing my face was a “uhh what are you doing” face.

”Oh uhm, is it alright if I..?”

I shook my head, getting rid of the emotion I had on.

”Oh yeah sorry! I didn’t mean to make a face if I did.”

He smiled shyly as I positioned myself a little better for him to start painting. Course this felt weird, someone drawing on your ass.. well I guess it’s like getting a tattoo, which I just remembered, I actually had a tattoo, but I guess the world didn’t want me to have, probably thinking that ponies will think I had my mark in the wrong spot on my body, or whatever that thing was called.. Cutie Pox? But I think that was from a potion or something.

I felt a cold tingle on my flank as he started to paint, me twitching at the feeling, but then the feeling leaving as I started looking around the room, letting him paint, hopefully not making it anymore awkward.

I saw on the wall a picture of Shadow and what looked like a small child.

”Hey Shadow?”

”Yeah, wassup?”

He didn’t look up, continuing the cutie mark.

”Is that your brother?”

He looked up for a second and then looked back down.

”Oh yeah that’s him! Stripe Hoof. I know it isn’t really showing in the picture, but he’s got a birthmark on one of his hooves that is, you guessed it, a stripe. It’s actually pretty cool cuz it sorta wraps around his arm as well, just starts at his hoof. I was of course born with the white streak in my hair, and I guess he got the stripe on his fur.”

”What do you think his cutie mark is gonna be? If he uh, doesn’t have one already.”

I felt him freeze the brush for a second, him thinking, then continuing.

”I have no idea really. I mean he does like to fly really fast, idolizing a pony named Rainbow Dash, mostly because he’s blue as well, and believes that all the blue pegasi would be just as fast as him. He did say there was a blue pony in his class, but they’re an earth pony.”

I made a slight “hm” sound in response, and then looked back at the picture.

30 minutes passed and he nudged me a bit as I woke up from a small nap.

”Tada! Finished both sides!”

I shook my head slightly from the nap and looked back at my butt, seeing the cutie mark. It looked so weird but also really cool. Kind of makes the area tingle but I mean.. I’ve never had my ass painted on before so, I guess that’s where the feeling is coming from.

”Oh wow thank you, it looks great! But.. what would I tell other people what it is or how I got it?”

”I mean you can say you got it from learning that explosion you did earlier and practiced with it and got this mark. I don’t know if a lot of ponies will know who Cyrobe is since the cryptic myth was so so long ago so, you should be fine.”

”Ah ok. It does feel a bit weird having one though, hopefully I don’t get any stares.”

Shadow shook his head and put an arm around me.

”Shhh you’ll be fine. If anything you can say that I “helped” you get it, like having the idea and all.”

I shrugged a bit, then yawned.

”Heh, guess your still tired huh? I mean it is almost 7 o’clock, and I don’t know if Princess Twilight will get super worried or not.”

”Yeah, I would still like a place of my own though, I guess for privacy reasons and so no one will worry where I would be at night so I don’t have to go home at a time.”

Shadow put a hoof under his chin and looked around, thinking.

”I do remember somepony talking about moving to Manehatten, but they said that 4 weeks ago so I don’t know when they’re moving. But I guess you can keep a look out for that. It’s a few blocks down but you’ll still be close to me if you need anything.”

I smiled slightly and got up, stretching my legs, hearing some of the joints crack. I look back at my flank, my eyes laying on the painted cutie mark.

”Thanks a lot. Hopefully those dumbass ponies will stop bullying me, or probably from what you said earlier about, ‘claiming’ me or something.”

He nodded and walked me to the door.

”Be safe now ya hear? You should already know where Princess Twilight’s castle is, right?”

I turned my head a little back towards his direction and nodded, walking out of the door. He waved and closed it behind me, making my way down the road.

I made it to Twilight’s castle, thankfully nothing happened while walking back to her house, except for some stares but other than that nothing to bad. I opened the door and closed it, jumping slightly when I saw Twilight and her friends standing there talking.

”Oh! Hello ZJ!-“

They all gasp, seeing my ‘cutie mark’. I shrink back a bit and hid it by facing them so they won’t really see it, but also shoving my hoodie down a little more over the mark.

”Oh darling! You got a cutie mark!”

Rarity said, but I looked at the ground and shook my head.

”It’s… it’s not.. it’s not real. I had a friend draw one on me because hopefully I’ll stop getting bullied.”

I sat down on the ground and AppleJack walked over.

”It’s alright sugar cube. At least you told the truth to us. But your mark looks mighty fine!”

She said, me seeing her gaze go towards my ass. Everyone else nodded, making agreenment sounds as well.

”Can we see it more?”

Twilight said, trying to get a better view at it. I nodded and I got up, slowly making my way over to them and turning my flank towards them. I saw them all smile, but Twilight had a confused face on, probably trying to understand it.

”That mark looks somewhat familiar. Do you know if your friend knew anything about the mark?”

”He said it was based off of a creature named Cyrobe. Something about taking souls and whatnot. I found it pretty cool so I went with it.”

A few of them blinked in response. I just smiled shyly then shook my head.

”By the way, was I disturbing something?”

”Oh no your fine! We were just discussing about the Gala! Want to join in?”

Twilight said, all of them beginning to smile. Felt really strange but I nodded and walked more closer to them both.

”I heard that you and a friend wanted to come over to my boutique to have some work done before the gala?”

”If it’s not to much trouble.”

”Oh darling your fine! I love to style peoples dresses and suits for the gala, or any other occasion!”

She used her hoof to gesture.

”If it’s alright, I’m going to go lay down for the night. Kind of had an exhausting day. When should I meet you at your place?”

”1 should be fine! I don’t have anything else planned since the gala would be the next day.”

I nodded in response and said goodnight too the mane 6, then walked to my room which was just down the hall. As I closed the door, I felt a wave of nausea hit me. I stumbled a bit and caught myself on the wall. I looked around the room, some objects turning slight shades of purple, then fading out to the usual color. I froze for a bit then looked down at my ass, staring at the cutie mark.

Shadow better not have screwed me over. Unless this is what nausea is to ponies.

I thought. Still staring at my mark for a few more seconds, shook my head, and walked to bed. Me realizing there were no windows in the room since the bedroom was somewhat in the center of the castle. I threw myself on the bed, laying there for a couple seconds then rolling over on my back, grabbing the covers and shuffling under them.

I could easily get a new cutie mark.. guess it would take a while for this mark to rub off unless they got some stuff for things that are stuck on fur. Oh well, let’s see what happens tomorrow.

Impulsive Behavior

I open my eyes…

I think my eyes are open..

Are they?

I feel like I can here a type of ambiance but, at the same time, I can’t.

Suddenly, I see a bright light get brighter below me, and I see something fly up and stop in front, eventually fading to where it looked like I’m standing on the ground in an alley way.

It’s all blurry as hell, but I see 2 figures, looks to be ponies, one of them looks to be holding something, and the other one looks to be holding something small, and moving a bit.

Something sharp.

I see their faces look towards me, my vision slowly beginning to tower over them, my gaze moving towards the one with the smaller object, and their eyes fading to black instead of white, and looks to be crying ink.

I see a gust of what looks to be a maroon color, fly out of that one pony and float towards me, eventually the pony turning a dark grey color and collapsing.

I look over to the pony holding the small moving object, which I heard noises and it sounded like it was dying.

My perspective then became small and my eyesight was in line with theirs. The cries started to get louder, and it was a baby crying? I started to see the face of the pony holding it and it looked like she was screaming in terror from what just happened.

Wh-whats going on? What.. what did I do? Why is it getting louder? Make it stop.. make it stop! MAKE. IT. STOP.

”AHHHHHHHHH!!!”

My head shot up, the only noise I heard after my scream is my heart beating fast. I sit there in a cold sweat, panting hard. I’ve never had a dream that intense before.. and I usually don’t scream awake.

I sit there stumped, eventually thinks if Twilight and Spike heard me. Hopefully not since I believe their upstairs and I’m downstairs. I still sit there, putting a hoof up to my chest. I think back to the nightmare I just had.

Did I just kill someone? Is that why it looked like I took their soul and they just slumped over? I guess it was a baby they were holding in their arms. Was that girl getting robbed?

I felt a headache and my hoof moved up towards the spot, clenching my teeth and shutting my eyes. After a minute of the pain it stopped, me dropping my hoof to my side and staring at the bed sheets. I then look over to the small clock on the nightstand, and it said 5:24. I didn’t see a pm or am, so I just figured it was 5 in the morning.

Hopefully it wasn’t 5 in the afternoon, never would have slept through the entire day and missed meeting up with Shadow and the others at Rarity’s boutique. I climb out of bed and walk to the door, opening it and cracking it a bit. It was dark. I close the door and walk back to the bed, climbing in and shuffling myself underneath the blankets. I shut my eyes, still feeling tired, so it won’t be long til’ I fall back asleep.

I wake up again. No dream this time. Just darkness. I look over at the clock again.

1 pm. 1... 1?!

I sit up, rubbing my eyes and rushing to the bathroom. I look alright I guess. I turned on the water and put my hooves underneath it, getting them wet. I then pulled them back and shook them a bit, then dragged them across my hair, since my hair is really poofy, I usually damp it with some water to hopefully seize the frizziness for a bit. I turn off the water and then run back into the bedroom, grabbing the hoodie from the bed and shoved it on me, eventually getting one of my feet.. Fuck. I mean hooves.. through the arm hole.

I dart through the door and close it behind me with the back of my hoof, and I start running. It feels weird running on all fours, but it does give me more speed than two. I see the entrance, or exit in this case, to the castle. I slid to a hairy in front of it and open the door, pulling it with some difficulty, but opening it enough for me to squeeze through the crack and then close it. I carefully go down the stairs and I suppose gallop towards the boutique. I just realized I don’t really know where it is so I just looked around while I was galloping.

Then I hear it. A baby cry. I slid to a hault again, but since I was running on dirt, I tripped over a pile of dirt and fell on my side. I got up quickly, and heard another cry. I freeze.

Is that.. No.. is it?

I asked myself. I then heard screams of not a baby, but a woman, and sounds like a dude yelling?

Wait. Was my dream a vision?!

”NO PLEASE!! I DON’T HAVE ANY BITS! PLEASE JUST LEAVE ME AND MY BABY ALONE!

My mind gets the better of me and walk over to the screaming and I peek around the corner, seeing a pastel pink pony with a pastel magenta baby, the guy trying to rob her was a maroon color. She sees me peering around. Her eyes were filled with terror, her pupils pin pricks. I believe the dude saw her dart her gaze towards me and turn around, glaring at me.

”Stand back horn head! If any magic happens, I’ll slice this mare apart!”

He stands in front of her. She peeked around, her eyes beginning to leak out tears, her baby continuing to cry.

The only magic I know is that explosion, and of course that’ll hurt the lady. They both are earth ponies after all.

Don’t tell him you don’t know magic or you are also in danger.. unless you run.

,’Don’t Run’,

That… wasn’t my thought..

,’I guess it’s time for me to come out and play..~’,

I begin to feel faint, I think losing conscious for a second, getting a massive headache and my vision starts to become… purple? The last thing I see before things start to become more purple, blurry and muffled, I see the muggers face turn almost white, him looking like a giant meteor was lunging right at him. My vision fully turns purple, and all I hear is what I believe is muffled screams.

Did I… hurt them?

,’Everything is fine.’,

My vision comes back to me and I see the maroon pony collapse on the ground, the pink pony’s mouth agape, the baby still crying. I stumble a bit and shake my head, staring down at the ground. I slowly look up at the mare.

The front of my face feels tingly, but I shove that aside as I back away from her, then run off. I start to run, wanting to look back to see if she was following me. Why would she follow me? I then see something big and white in the corner of my eye. It’s Rarity’s place. I make a quick right turn and dash for the building.

I don’t know what time it is, but hopefully they’re all there. Even Shadow. I start to slow down, but a rock of course blocked my hoof to where I tripped, and tumbled, my back slamming into the door. I get up quick, wipe my shoulder, and gently knock.

”Oh! ZJ, welcome! We all thought you got lost! Oh my, is your horn alright?

Rarity was the one that opened the door.

”What? My horn? Yeah I’m fine, accidentally ran into the door from such a rush hah! It doesn’t hurt I’m fine!

”Oh! Then did you color it? It does have a nice design.”

I blinked a bit at her and tried looking at my horn. She stepped a side for me to walk in, also giving me the intention to show me a mirror to see what happened to my horn.

Everyone smiled but then had all surprised faces on. Rarity then floated over a mirror and I saw.. maroon color? My horn was a maroon color going down my face and stopped at my muzzle. It looks like i jabbed someone with my horn and the blood dried. I thought about earlier and my mind went racing.

”Wow! That looks nice on you! Did you get it to match your cutie mark?”

Rainbow Dash flew over to talk with me. Everyone else started to gather around, me seeing Ace sitting near the corner. I felt like I had to talk to him about it, but I wasn’t sure.

”Uhhh sure! Haha! Uhm so, did you guys start or?”

Rairity placed the mirror down, walking over to some outfits.

”Nope! We were just talking waiting for you to arrive! But I have some outfits for you guys to choose from as I help out the girls with their dresses! Mostly to add to what theirs were the last gala. I just have to get them from my closet! Come on girls!”

They all started giggling and talking to one another as they headed their way to the closet, me and Ace going over to the rack where some clothes were hanging from, me instantly grabbing an all black suit, while Ace looked at a navy blue suit. The one I picked had a rose in it, which I didn’t mind, but I guess it was proper to have a rose in the front pocket, but I didn’t mind.

I believe 30 minutes passed and the mane 6 came back with their dresses on, seeing if we were done as well. Ace was wearing the navy blue suit having a black bow tie around his neck. I was wearing the black suit with the rose in the front pocket, and the shirt part being white. The shirt part was stitched to the front so it looked like you were wearing a shirt underneath, which I had to wear during school pictures, but I guess that was every school since it was easy to put on an off.

”You guys look amazing! I love the rose!”

I nodded to Twilight’s remark.

”Do they fit right? I can add some things onto it if you want to match your marks if you’d like.

Me and Ace looked at each other.

”Uhm? Sure, but just don’t overdo it please. I wanna be able to uhm. Walk. Heh.”

I chuckled slightly, hopefully the awkward moment would pass, and it did with Rarity laughing it of as well.

”Oh haha! Of course darling! I’ll get to the changes right away to be ready for the gala tomorrow!”

All the girls smiled and began to talk again, me and Ace just smiling at each other.

”You look really good in black.”

Ace told me. I felt the corner of my lips curl, making a slight smile.

”You as well man. Blue is really nice on ya.”

He smiled and nodded.

After a bit we all took the outfits off for Rarity to fix for later, and we all headed out to go to our chores or to just go home and relax. I went to Ace’s place to hang out for a bit, and maybe discuss more cutie marks.

We all walked out and saw what looks like ponies in white clothes? Some unicorns carrying medical kits and a stretcher. Everyone started looked at each other, except me, which probably knows where their going to. The mane 6 starts rushing over, as well as Ace. I made my way as well, but not really in a rush.

When I made it over, my heart stopped. The mugger from earlier was on the ground, his body a pale color than his original, his eyes grey in hue, and a terrified expression frozen on his face. I only looked at the lady earlier, and never really looked at the guy. Speaking of, I saw her in the corner of my eye. I glanced over quickly, hopefully her not looking at me. She was looking at the paramedics surrounding him, what seems to be her husband was next to her, him holding the child.

”BEAR!! BEAR WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO YOU?!”

I shot my gaze over to… oh no. It’s Mud Rock. He shoved some medics aside and was shaking his.. brother… friend, the dude, but the medics and cops brought him aside, eventually a unicorn officer restrained him with his magic, then releasing home once they put the hurt pony in the back of the ambulance. Funny that the ambulances are just painted white carriages that have a cover and a red cross on each side.

I kept watching, but probably shouldn’t have because his eyes darted towards my direction, but then away again, him realizing I was looking at him and he slowly looked in my direction. I haven’t felt more scared in my life other than countless personal problems. I see his eyes turn into pin pricks, and he stared at me, not losing his gaze, seeing his eyebrows furrow, but still keep the shocked angry look.

He muttered something under his breath, which I didn’t really make out, but then he dragged his hoof across his throat and pointed it at me, and kept pointing until I didn’t see him no more. I gulped, looked to my right and jumped a bit, Pinkie’s face right next to me.

”What’s wrong Little Z? You’ve been shaking a little bit. I saw that pony look at you, doesn’t seem really nice. You ok?”

I didn’t answer for a good 5 seconds. I parted my mouth, then slowly closed it, eventually looking at Ace who looked at me.

”Ace. I need to tell you something. Private.”

I said private in a more irritated tone. He slowly nodded, and I started walking away. He looked at the mane 6 and then saw that I was a bit always and he clambered after me.

”So what happened?”

I kept looking in front of me, heading towards his house.

”I’ll tell you when we’re in your house.”

He nodded, and we proceeded.

No Worries..?

As we walked into his house, he closed the door behind us. He began to turn around to face me, and I felt my legs quiver, starting to collapse. He rushed over but missed as I stumbled down.

”ZJ! You alright? What’s going on?”

He rushed in front of me and picked me up. I never had this feeling before, but my vision was blurry and everything around me was muffled, only for Ace to snap me out of it with some cold ass water. I shook my head in response.

Ace what the fuck!”

He looked at me for a second, him shaking his head slowly.

”What the fuck yourself! Your eyes started getting all weird and you weren’t responding to me! What is it that you wanted to talk about?!”

He raised his voice a bit, him gesturing with his hooves as the cup he held smaller on the ground, rolling over to the tv stand. I felt myself get angry, then sad, then confused. I breathed in heavily.

Get this mark off me right now.

”What?”

”GET IT OFF ME RIGHT NOW DAMMIT! IT WAS ME! I KILLED THAT GUY. OR… AT LEAST SUCKED THE LIFE FORCE OUT OF HIM OK?! THIS MARK MADE ME DO SOMETHING BAD ACE! I ALMOST KILLED AN INNOCENT MOTHER AND HER CHILD IF I WOULD HAVE WENT OUT OF CONTROL! ACE PLEASE, PLEASE ACE YOU HAVE TO-“

I look up at him, and my head suddenly turned to the side, pain starting to follow on my cheek. My eyes started to focus at the spot my eyes landed on after the hit and lifted a hoof up to it, then slowly looked over at Ace, his hoof still raised. I just looked at him, hopeing he’d say something, but then in that moment his eyes constricted and he dragged his hoof back down.

”I.. I’m sor-sorry… sorry it’s just that I don’t like yelling. It.. frightens me.

I look at him for a few more seconds, then turned my head and laid down on the couch, closing my eyes. He looked at me, and I saw him make a movement to where his hoof was about to reach me, but pulled back slowly.

”I’ll be.. in my room.

He walked passed me and headed upstairs, him slowly closing the door. My mood has drastically changed. Now I don’t care if I get this mark off or not. I feel tears start to form in my eyes, and one falls down my cheek. I closed my eyes.

Maybe if I just sleep everything’ll be fine.

I start feeling myself enter dream land, the sounds outside fading away and my mind going blank. Then it happened. A dream faded into existence. Everything was blurry again, seeing a figure in front of me, probably a pony, cyan color, ran up to me, their face not really showing any emotion, but I did see a face. IThen my vision began to grow again, and this time a cyan color came out of the pony and I guess I breathed it in, my vision lowering down again. I looked left and right fast and ran away. I hard screaming again, sounded like someone calling out a name, then they just started screaming, and screaming, probably seeing the body.

”ZJ! ZJ!!” ZEEEEJAAYYYYYY!!!”

I shot up and yelled out, arms flailing around, eventually feeling something cold splash on my face. I woke up in a cold sweat again, then just got doused in cold water.

”Sorry! I’m so sorry! All I heard was screaming and ran down here and saw your eyes glowing and I didn’t know what to do except wake you up!”

Ace dropped the bowl he had in his hooves and it fell with a clang. I sat up and shook my head, some water flinging off and landing on Ace’s face. I looked up at him.

”I need this mark off me right now.. this is what I was trying to talk to you about, but I guess I kind of freaked out.”

I felt tears start to form in my eyes, but I quickly shake my head.

I’m having dreams of sucking the life out of someone.. and then it happens in reality. Ace. I’m the one that possibly killed Mud’s friend or whatever. I didn’t mean to do it too. Something… came out of me and did it. I know that sounds stupid but.. what if Cyrobe is controlling me.

I’ve never described anything like that before to anyone, but I see Ace slowly nod his head. He looked around, I think him trying to figure out what to say.

”How do we stop it from happening again?”

I put a hoof under my chin.

”Well.. I believe it only happens when I sleep and dream about it.. but sadly enough I already dreamed about a cyan pony that I uh.. take their soul.”

I rub the back of my head.

”Hey uh.. you can sleep here tonight. If it happens again I could probably wake you up before you take the ponies soul. If that’s alright with you of course.”

I looked down and nodded.

”Guess when my eyes started to glow you can wake me up then.”

He smiled, but then it went away quickly.

”Sorry I slapped you earlier. I sort of panicked.”

”Eh it’s fine. I needed to be quiet anyways.”

I shrugged as it was his turn to rub the back of his head.

”I’ll go get some blankets and pillows for you. Do you want me to sleep down here or back in my room so it won’t be awkward watching you sleep. I could put on a movie as well.”

”Whatever works, I don’t really care. Sleep down here I suppose.”

He gives me another smile again. A bit later and he has pillows and blankets on the couch and around it as well for him. I sprawl out on the couch and roll up in a blanket, snuggling deeper into the warmth. Ace lies down in front of me, the coffee table moved towards a bookshelf. The movie he put in was an adventure one again. I felt tired anyways, so placed my head down and closed my eyes. I think a few seconds passed and I felt a blanket cover me. Guess it was Ace just trying to be kind. I felt myself smile slightly, and drifted off to sleep.

ZJ? Psst, ZJ?”

I woke up, my eyes looking around lazily but then focusing on Ace.

”Did it happen? Or did you stop it.”

”No no shhh, I think someone is outside.”

He put a hoof to my mouth for a second, and then creeped over to the window.

I guess I slept until when dinner usually is since it’s somewhat bright outside, but the shadows make it darker. He was looking out one window, and I got up and decided to look out the window from the kitchen.

”WWAAHHHH!!”

I shrieked and fell back, almost doing a backwards somersault. I shoved my hooves on my mouth, rolling over and jumping to where Ace was, almost jumping into him since he faced me and got up, then paused as I farted towards him.

”THERE! THERE THERE THERE!!”

I whined with gritted teeth, sharply pointing towards the kitchen. I’ve never been jumpscare so badly, since everything was so quiet, and seeing 2 almost glowing green emeral eyes staring deep in my own.

Ace grabbed a knife from the kitchen, and unlocked the front door and stomped out. I then saw him walking where the kitchen window was and ran over to it.

”Where are you dammit?! Come out!

I heard him say, somewhat yelling but not much to not draw any attention. I then heard a hoofstep at the door. I turned and saw… oh.. my.. It was Mud Rock, and he was staring right at me. His hair was messy, his pupils small as a pin prick.

”YOU. IT WAS YOU. I KNOW IT WAS YOU!”

He jumped at me screaming out. I pushed myself against the sink to the right and landed down on the ground, Mud Rock, landing on the sink, banging his chin on the faucet. I yelped and scrambled away, Ace coming in the front door with the knife in his mouth. He then grabbed it with his hoof.

”The fuck you doing in my damn house?! I could kill you right now and no one would care because I was defending myself from an intruder!”

Mud turned around quickly and stomped back down on the ground.

”I KNEW IT WAS YOU. That new mark on your ugly face PROOVES IT! The same color.. AS MY COUSIN!!!

He leaped for me again but Ace turned and kicked him in the face, him flying at the bookshelf, some books falling all around and on Mud. Ace shot a look at me.

”THE TELEGRAPH IS IN MY ROOM!! GET THE DAMN COPS!”

Ace was jumped by Mud as he was flung on the ground, both of them rolling to the tv. I breathed heavily as I ran for the stairs, hearing Mud try to run at me but Ace grabbing his leg and tripping him, Mud throwing a hoof back and punching Ace in the face. I ran smoothly up the stairs, having ran on all fours when I was little was a lot easier than running on two, so this was no sweat, except when you’re running from a crazy shit stain.

I saw the telegraph on the table near the only window and ran over to it.

A telegraph? Fuck I don’t know how to operate this! How would I even send it to the police station?”

I said to myself, looking all over the boxes and seeing the little thing for what looks like morse code.

”ACE I DON’T KNOW HOW TO WORK THIS!”

I quickly looked down the stairs but saw Mud’s face also appear there as well, blood coming from his nose and mouth. Ace’s hoof coming into view and tripping him again, and I quickly pulled my head back, looking around the room for something to smack him with. Then I see a lamp.

I rip off the cover and hold it in my hooves, waiting until I see Mud’s brown fur. I feel my chest rise as I hold my breath as I hear thumping up the stairs. When I saw brown, I swung, a huge crash happening and I threw the lamp at him, seeing Mud slam up against the wall. I backed up tripping over the lamp cover. As I fell back and pushed myself up, it was to late, Mud jumped on me and held my arms on the ground.

”HE WAS CLOSE TO ME YOU FILTHLY BITCH! YOU DIDN’T HAVE TO GO AND KILL HIM!”

”HE AIN’T DEAD YA CUNT!”

I see his hoof raise and swing. I cringe and feel his hoof collide with my face hard. I’ve never been punched before, always being the innocent one when younger, and growing up never really faught with anyone, other than just having the thoughts to. He punched hard, my jaw stinging the nerves, my brain getting an instant headache. My jaw quivered from the blow. I slowly opened my eyes just in time to see him swing again. I felt everything go dark for a split second, opening my eyes slowly, seeing the wall, knowing that he punched more on the soft spot on my skull.

I started to cry, feeling something leak out of my mouth, and my tooth ache. I don’t know if my tooth was there, but it hurt. He punched, and it went dark again. I could hear before I could see, but I saw 2 ponies loom over me and Mud, and yank him off me, him flailing around to try to get to me to finish me off. I just lay there, my vision blurry and my ears ringing so much that that’s all I could hear except the muffled sounds of what seemed to be the cops restraining Mud, and Mud screaming at the top of his lungs.

”Alright alright let’s go!”

”Stop kicking you psycho!”

”I’LL COME FIND YOU FUCKER!! I’LL ALWAYS FIND YOU!! I SWEAR YOU’LL BE DEAD! DEAD!!!”

The voices faded away as a new voice came into view. It was Ace. His face was above mine talking to me.. I think. I felt something fall on my face. I think he’s crying. Eventually some more ponies surrounded me, seeing white things in their mouths, guess there the medkits, as I feel them touch all around me, searching for more wounds I think. I don’t know if I had anymore wounds, or what else Mud did to me, but I didn’t care. I saw that they coaxed Ace away for the medics, but he was reaching out to me.

The voices started to fade out more, as my vision got more fuzzy. My eyes rolled in the back of my head, and I was out.

In The Past

,’Wake Up.’,

I jolted awake, my eyes shot open, and all I saw was purple, sitting up fast . Course I wasn’t actually awake.

”Uhh, hello?”

I asked, still looking around, but only being surrounded by purple. Eventually I see a black mist float towards me then swirl around in one place, eventually forming in front of me.

,’Ahhh, you’re finally awake.. at least awake in my domain.’,

He swirled around me, then floating above me and continued.

,’I know your not from the conscious world, I do not feel the power of these, ponies, inside you.’,

A mirror floated down in front of me and I.. was human again? I looked down and saw that I was back into my original form, but of course not realistic and in the usual cartoony form.

,’Your friend should have known better to draw a powerful entity on your flank for a cutie mark. So much as cute hm?’,

He chuckled as I felt my face.
It seems like it’s been months since I was back in my original form. I looked back at him as he floated down behind the mirror and then peeked out.

”Uh.. why’d you bring me here? And why at the point of me getting beat up and passing out?”

,’Well, you see. I wanted to talk to my victim face to face since all I can do is come out and consume people’s consciousness’s from them. Sure they’re still alive, but in a deep, deep sleep.’,

He chuckled evilly as I looked from him to the mirror again and straight into my eyes.

,’Besides, it’s been a long time since I’ve been awakened from my own sleep. I need to thank your friend sometime if I can get a hold of him.’,

He swirled at me and closed my eyes, feeling a chill as I look back up and seeing my eyes change into a bright purple light, no pupils, my hair starting to float out like there was no gravity.

,’It is a shame that I was thrown into someone that doesn’t have any powers, like an alicorn or the chaos lord, what was his name.. oh right.. Discord. But I cannot go near him. He knows of my power, and probably can locate where I am, well for instance you weilding my power.’,

”Are you able to do anything about.. like go into another pony?”

,’Sadly no, I’m stuck in your worthless body.’,

I frown and roll my eyes.

”Anyways, uhm is this your actual form? I can’t remember what Ace told me about your form unless he never did.”

He smiled devilishly.

,’And why would you like to know?’,

I raised an eyebrow in question.

”Because I’m interested in evil designs of characters.. or uh, things… like you… I suppose.”

The last part was mumbled, and my artist and curious side just wanted to see what he looked like actually, instead of just hearing about the details.

,’Hmmm, alright then.’,

He floated out from me as I shut my eyes from the weird feeling again and looked back at the mirror, seeing my eyes were back to normal again, but then shooting my gaze at him as he grew bigger, forming more into a pony shape… or maybe not a pony? Defiantly has hooves.. but then his face formed.

His face was sharp, looked like teeth pierced out from his mouth, and what looked like pointy ears, 8 of them, 4 on each side sprawl out, almost the size of his own head. He scratched a sound that made my eyes widen and cover my ears. Since this was part of my mind, the sound went right through my hands, making my ears hurt. He did look pretty cool though.

,’There, happy? Probably better than your form.’,

He said as he towered before me. He then leaned his head down towards me.

,’Speaking of which, I haven’t seen your species at all before.. and you don’t have any dragon features on you at all. No wings, no claws. All you got is stubby fingers’,

I’m uhm, a human. And yeah, your right, I’m not from this world, or even the conscious world, outside, where life happens or whatever. I actually came from a portal that opened up in my original home. Magic doesn’t even exist in my home, mostly in movies we humans make, which of course isn’t real, just what some people call ‘television magic’.”

,’Worthless that this.. television.. isn’t superior in your world with it being fake. Such a shame.’,

We then both pay attention to an intense sound happening. I lol up seeing if he was doing it, but he was also shocked of what was happening.. eh sort of.

,’You are going to wake up shortly. Do not talk to anyone about our meeting, or I will do something you will regret.’,

I furrow my eyebrows as I see him shrink down into smoke again, and as he flies inside my chest again, everything goes white as I hear what seems to be someone saying something, then things go black.

”Hello in there? Hello- Oh!! Twilight! They’re waking up! They’re waking up!”

It seems that I hear Pinkie Pie’s voice when I stir. That’s strange.. I thought Ace would be near me…

”Oh my celestia! ZJ your awake! Are you feeling alright? We heard what happened!”

My eyes… eye?… fluttered open, and I saw half of Twilight, and Pinkie Pie on the right, but I turned my head back at Twilight and saw her fully. I slowly raised my left arm up, abut a shock of pain shot through my arm and hit some nerves in my neck. I made a groaning sound from it.

”The.. the hell happened to me?”

Twilight used her magic to lift a small mirror over to me, and my eye widened, wincing from my left eye trying to widen as well. My head was bandaged, remembering what Mud did to me. Did he really hit me that hard? Well duh I passed out from it. Hopefully my eye doesn’t look bad.

I lifted my other arm which didn’t hurt, except the spot where Mud held me down, and placed it over my covered eye. I felt like smirking a bit, but the thought left my brain, which was good, because I didn’t want to smile with them looking at me with concern, and then looking at me in shock.

”Where’s Ace?”

Twilight cocked her head, then blinked her eyes remembering.

”Oh! Your friend! Uhm…”

Her face fell a bit.

…”apparently his father is here as well but a level up from us in the hospital. He told us that then ran to go see him.”

”He left once they set you on this bed!”

Pinkie added, putting her hooves up on it next to my leg smiling. It is weird seeing her smile at this point. Somewhat different than me smiling at my probably disfigured face.

I looked at the clock, seeing that it was 4:30 in the morning, then looked back at them.

”I want to go see him.”

The girls both looked at each other, Pinkie’s happy demeanor falling into a concerned look which I guess was grateful for in this situation of course.

We made it to the room in a few minutes, Pinkie pushing me in a wheelchair as Twilight helped with the IV fluids with her magic. I knocked and heard a quiet…

”Come in.”

…from Ace. He didn’t sound like himself, which I guess I understood.

Twilight opened the door with her magic and Pinkie pushed me in a bit to see Ace fully. He was sitting in a chair next to the bed of where his father lay, the only sound came from the monitors. I turned my head towards Pinkie and Twilight, then back at Ace.

”Do… do you want me to leave?”

A few seconds pass and I see him shake his head.

”No, but… just you please. I don’t want things to get.. overwhelming.”

I look back at the two girls and they both nodded, Twilight moving the IV along with me as Pinkie pushed me next to Ace. I thanked them as they quietly left, Twilight shutting the door behind Pinkie. I look at Ace’s father. He seems in worse shape than me. I felt like asking him, but of course he seemed like he just needed to be comforted instead of bombarded with questions.

”You remind me of him sometimes.”

I heard Ace say, his head turning slightly towards me, but still looking at his father. I felt my pony ears twitch at the fact.

”Oh.. how so?”

It was quiet for a couple seconds again, and he looked at me with tears pouring out his eyes, a small wavy smile on his face.

”Understanding.”

He blurted out and threw his arms around me.

Understanding?

I tired thinking of what I did, only remembering this moment with just being quiet and… understanding of the situation. Hmm.. I guess I am.. I mean I wouldn’t be like Pinkie with her happiness, but even she knew how to read the room and be sorrowful.

He was crying on me now, and to show that I was more understanding to him, like his fathers I suppose, I gently put my arm around him. I guess that’s alright.. or understanding enough.

A few minutes pass, and I feel that he’s calming down, leaning back and wiping some tears from his eyes. I pat his back a bit and rubbed it, and it seemed like it soothed him a bit more.

”Can I ask uhm, why he’s in here?”

He looked up at me, and then backed at his father, then sighed.

”He’s part of the military and… had a bad accident with a bomb. Lost both his legs.”

His head was kept a bit low, looking directly at the bottom half of his father, and now as I see it, his legs were short, probably just stubs under there.

”Oh wow.. I’m, I'm sorry to hear.”

I didn’t know what else to say, so I just sat in silence with him and his father, looking at Ace, his father, then just looking around the room.

What felt like 30 minutes were only a few minutes, as I kept looking around the room, back at his father, then glanced around the room again. I looked back at Ace when he told me something.

”Have you ever been injured baldy?”

I thought for a bit.

”I guess a car accident. But I only had a badly swollen left eye.

I pointed to my eye while looking at Ace still. He turned his head slightly towards me.

”Car?”

I looked at him confused, but then realized this isn’t home.

”Oh uhm, carriage I guess?”

”Oh.

He said, nodding slightly then looking back at his father. He then lifted his head up and scooted his chair back slowly and hopped off.

”Lets go. I don’t want to disturb his sleep anymore.”

He started walking away, the clip clop of his hooves on the dark floor. I got up to, then sat back down again since I was in a wheelchair. Forgot I was a patient here. I never really operated a wheelchair in a while, but eventually it got easier as I placed my IV fluid pole i front of me to where it moved along with me as I rolled out, I looked back to close the door and looked at his father for a second, then closed the door.

”You guys alright?”

Twilight said as I turned back around.

”Oh, uhm, we’re alright.”

I said, looking back at Ace, and I made a surprised face. He was, not sad anymore. He was.. smiling.

”You still up to go to the Gala tomorrow? Well actually in a few minutes since it’s turning to tomorrow soon!”

Pinkie said, smiling a little after she said that.

”I’m fine with going. Hopefully my look doesn’t throw anyone off.”

I gently rubbed a hoof over my covered eye.

”It’ll be alright. Rarity will think of something nice for you otherwise!”

She gave a kind smile.

”Now let’s get some more rest before the Gala since we are going back to Rarity’s place, if that’s alright.”

”That sounds nice, I need more sleep anyways.”

Pinkie and Twilight smiled and walked me back to my room, Pinkie going behind me and pushing the wheelchair as Twilight helped with the IV.

After they helped me back into bed and closed the door, Ace wanted a few seconds with me alone, and Twilight and Pinkie said their goodbyes and slowly closed the door.

”Hey, uhm, ZJ? Thanks for sitting with me back in my dads room. I just get a weird feeling each time I see him, and I don’t even know what to do.”

He rubbed the back of his neck in the middle of his sentence.

”Oh of course, I understand.”

He gets more close and wraps his arms around me, and I did the same. He pulled away first and then I followed after.

”See ya tomorrow. Gonna be exciting.”

I gave him a small smile and nodded in agreenment. He gave me one back and walked towards the door, opening it. Then closing it.

Restful Thoughts

”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.

Gala Time

”GALA TIME WHOO HOO!!”

Pinkie Pie called out, jumping around after the doors flew open. For some reason seeing all the ponies and crowed areas made me shrink back behind Ace. He turned his head me.

”You okay ZJ?”

I looked at him then darted my gaze back at the crowd.

”Uhm looks a bit overwhelming.”

I shook my head a bit violently for a second to try to get her nerves away, but it didn’t work.

Ace looked around the room and saw a table with no one there. He tapped my shoulder and nodded to the table, me closely following behind. I quickly scooted myself on one of the chairs facing towards the rest of the room.

My hair was styled from how I usually have it so I didn’t have any coverage for my anxiety to hide my face.

”Hey ZJ, I’m gonna go talk to somepony over there if you need anything.”

I nodded and smiled a little, then dropped it as he turned around and walked away. I put my hoof under my chin and rested my head on it, looking around the room. There was a lot of colorful ponies here. I see Twilight talking to some ponies, one blue colored, and one white with pink hair, and a yellow pony with blue hair.
Suppose they’re friends.

My eyes darted around, looking at them all and hearing all the talking and chill cello music in the background. I have seemed to zone out almost not feeling something tap my shoulder. I look over to my left where I felt it and no one is next to me. Confused, I smelled something sweet and turned back towards the table seeing a pink cupcake in front of me.

Did someone give this to me?

I looked at the cupcake, then felt another tap on my other shoulder and shot my gaze towards my right, seeing no one. I moved my eyes, then my head towards the table, seeing a chocolate cupcake next to the pink one. I placed my hooves a bit forcefully on the table looking at both of them. I though about looking back instantly when I felt another tap.

A few seconds pass and I felt a tap on my back. I turned them quickly looked back, seeing a white blue fly upwards and leaving a blue cupcake next to the other 3. I stared at the cupcake, then slowly looked up.

”Ahhhh! Ya cought me!!

Said the white pegasus. As they flew down, I see that their fur was not white, but a really light blue hue to it.

”You looked lonely over here so I thought of giving you some cupcakes to cheer you up! I was try’na be funny with making the cupcakes appear in front of you! Was it funny? I hope it was!”

I was surprised about their enthusiasm, kind of like Pinkie’s but maybe a bit less.

”So what are you doing here by yourself? You look so dressed up but you aren’t mingling! Oh! I could help with that, if you don’t mind. I know it takes me a while to do it myself but I slightly get the handle of talking to ponies. But anyways let’s start over. Hi! The names Cherry Shine! What’s yours?”

They held out their hoof, and I slowly lifted mine up and placed it on theirs.

”ZJ.”

”Ooooh! That’s a cool name! What does it stand for?”

I looked around a bit nervously and shrugged. Cherry seemed to make a softer face.

”Sorry if I surprised you! Like I said you just looked lonley over here. I’d like to be friends if you don’t mind. Anyways, imma go back to handing out cupcakes to every pony! See ya around friendo!”

Cherry said, flapping their wings and waving, flying over to the sweets table.

Would be nice to have another friend.

,’Indeed.’,

I jumped a bit. The voice to familiar to be a friendly one.

”What… what are you doing here. Don’t you only come out when I’m dreaming? Or catching an innocent pony?!”

I shielded myself behind the table, putting a hoof in front of my face for extra coverage.

,’Yesss, but I finally have enough power to talk to you from your mind. Hope you don’t, mind, it.’,

Cyrobe chuckled. I shook my head and tapped it a bit hard.

”Get out! I don’t want any attention drawn to me!”

I grit my teeth and then flinched as I heard Twilight call out my name.

”ZJ? Are you alright?”

I turn around and smile, trying to play off what just happened. I felt a headache wipe across my brain, and I saw a slight purple hue glaze over my eyes, and I think Twilight saw as she cocked her head a bit. I shut my eyes and rub my head.

”Im fine I’m just uh, tired! Hah, yeah! Would you like a cupcake?”

I shoved the cupcakes closer to her still trying to smile. She smiled a bit and took the chocolate one.

”Well if your doing alright, Pinkie Pie set up a piñata in that corner over if you wanna join her and the others! I see that Ace is there. Why don’t you go join him?”

I look around and nod, hoping this will calm the damn curse in me.

”Hopefully ZJ is alright. Hopefully that purple in their eyes didn’t seem.. eh, right.”

I think I heard Twilight say something, but I just trudged on towards Ace, Cherry, Marble as well which Ace probably found when he walked away from the table I was at, and the others. I kept seeing purple start glazing over my eyes and I shook my head, tapping a bit forcefully, glancing over at some ponies that were looking at me and I just stood up straight and smiled, picking up the pace. I kept glancing over at other ponies hopefully they won’t see me how I’m acting and of course I bump into Pinkie.

”Oh! ZJ! Your just in time to hit the piñata! Rainbow Dash is going right now but you can go after her! Uhm.. you feeling okay?”

I was a bit dazed but blinked a few times looking up at her.

”Huh what? Oh uhm, yeah I’m fine.”

”Good! Because it’s your turn now!”

She got the stick back and tossed it in my arms and shoved me to the piñata.

”Have at it!”

She smiled and hopped backwards out of the way. Everyone’s eyes were placed on me, even some more ponies walking up and seeing it. Pinkie smiled and move her hoof to the piñata. It’s been a while since I’ve hit one before. I stood on my back legs and held the stick. I started to swing my arms behind me, feeling a small headache, and shook it off, rearing up again and smacked the piñata. A hole appeared and one piece came out.

”Come on ZJ! Hit it hard than that!”

Shadow Ace cheered. I reared up again and I saw some purple cover my eyes and I shut them tight, swinging it a bit harder than last, 3 more pieces coming out of the hole, and the hole opening a bit more. I hunched over slightly opening my eyes the purple filing my vision again, and a deep laughter started to fill my ears. I feel my breath quicken, the corner of my eyes tingle as purple slowly leaks out. I look up at the piñata, and it slowly turns into Cyrobe laughing. I clench my eyes and grit my teeth.

”GAAAHHH!! GET AWAY FROM ME!!”

I reared up, still having purple in and pouring down my eyes, and swing at Cyrobe, the piñata getting ripped of the string and flew all the way to the wall, cracking and opening up, the children all running over there blinded by getting candy.

I threw the stick down and landed on all fours, taking one up and covering my forehead. I feel a hoof on my shoulder and tiredly look up, the laughter quietly dying down to hear Ace’s voice.

”Oh my gosh, ZJ! Are.. are you alright?!”

I shake my head trying to get the headache out of my head then look back up at Ace and my eyes widen. I see Cyrobe appear behind Ace, his mouth started to open up. I started to breathe heavily.

”I.. I NEED A BREAK!”

I pulled away from Ace and ran towards the nearest exit, where Twilight and Pinkie were, Ace trying to follow suit, but Twilight put a hoof out.

”I know you’re friends with them, but give ZJ a bit to relax by themselves.”

”Don’t want their mind going all loopy goopy on ya!”

Pinkie added grinning, but then making it smaller realizing that the moment wasn’t really cheerful. Ace looked back to where I ran off, the door closing shut.

I found myself collapsed at the gardens fountain, thankfully far away from the gala and secluded area with tall hedges surrounding it. I had my hooves on the top of my head breathing hard, tears starting to fall down my cheeks, hearing Cyrobe whisper about talking lives and taking over Equestria.

”Stop stop stop STOP STOP!!! I don’t want to hear this anymore!”

I shook my head and slammed the side of the fountain. I looked back at my reflection in the water and saw myself looking miserable. Cyrobe chuckled and disappeared, finally getting quiet. I then placed my arms up and put my head on them, looking at the water still.

”Well well, didn’t know the weird power came from.. a pony.”

My head shot up, thinking it was Cyrobe, but this voice didn’t seem echoey and deep. I turned around, trying to see if anyone was around, which there wasn’t, and turned back around looking in the water, but then seeing a crown on my head. My eyes widened slightly. Eyes popped out of the front and I jumped and tossed it in the water, but then, he appeared. He rises out of the water and glares at me.

”Throwing a delicate crown that might be valuable to gain tons of bits from? Impossible!”

He spun his entire body like a wet towel around making water leak out, then spinning back to his normal self. He then cocked his head, probably looking at my cutie mark and smiled.

”Oooh I called it! I knew I felt Cyrobe’s deranged power come out once again, hahah! The names Discord, Lord of Chaos, but guess things have changed.”

He snapped his fingers and I suddenly felt dizzy, slowly rising up, my chest feeling pressure on it and a black mist came out, my ass stinging as the cutie mark peeled off and slapped right on the side of Cyrobe, the cutie mark getting covered up with his black mist. I then get tossed back, getting thrown on the ground about 2 feet.

”What are you doing in this pony here? Wouldn’t you have tried, I don’t know.. probably getting one of the princesses?”

”To be honest Lord of Chaos, I was minding my own business ruling over a big kingdom when I was summoned by a pegasus into this, barely called a unicorn, pony.”

They both looked at me as I scrunched away from them, then looked back at one another.

”Oh trust me Cyrobe you’d be better in that world than staying in this colorful pony realm. I’ll deal with this little one here.”

He snapped his fingers as a portal opened up and Cyrobe slithered in the portal, it disappearing. He turned around and saw me creeping away almost out of site from a hedge. His body flashed as he appeared with cowboy attire and spun a lasso around and tossed it my way, it wrapping tightly around my waist as I get dragged back to his spot and he glared down at me.

”How did a pony like you with barely any power get a being like him into you? Kind of absurd, really. Speaking of which I feel you don’t have much power from your energy at all really.”

He pulled a magnifier from behind his back and looked me over with it.

”In fact I’ve never seen you around here before? Where are you from? Oh wait! Don’t tell me! Are you from Mainehattan? Cloudsdale? Phillydelphia?”

As he said those places, a few suitcases appeared next to me and 2 hats appeared on my head as well as a trench coat appeared on my body, and flags from each place were placed in my hoof.

”I uhm, I don’t remember. I kind of, guess literally fell out of the sky?”

I shrugged a bit as the 2 hats fell into my face covering one of my eyes.

”Ha just like my cousin 4th time removed and then added with some slinkies!”

3 more of him appeared and all their bodies were slinkies. They then bounced away. I put down the flags and shook of the hats, then taking off the trench coat.

”So did you come here to just get rid of Cyrobe or was there anything else you wanted to do.”

After I looked away from the junk around me I looked up at him but then turned my head around trying to find where he went. Apparently he was in my hoodie and wrapped around me, then looked at me, waiting for an answer.

”Uhm, we’ll my friend accidentally painted the cutie mark on me since I don’t have one.”

”Wow! A grown pony with no cutie mark? That’s a shocker! I would gladly give you one but it would keep disappearing so, yeah.”

He opened up a jacket that appeared on him and I saw many cutie marks, 2 being both Celestia’s and Luna’s mark, but then he closed his jacket up and made the jacket disappear, slithering off me and standing up. He dusted off himself as I walked over to the fountain and sat down, sighing out, facing down.

Wondering Wonders

Discord turned around, seeing me quiet and unmoving.

”Whats wrong? Sad that your evil friend had to go?”

I felt him glide towards me, hovering above me. I shook my head.

”Well if your not going to talk about it, how can I, Discord, your new friend help you? Can’t help when you’ve gone mute.”

I felt like he smiled while talking, another flash and I’m holding an umbrella, with the rain coming down from inside the ‘brella, getting me all wet. I wasn’t having it and tossed the upbrella away, it landing on its side and and raining sideways, Discord moving away before the water hitting him. He rolled his eyes and snapped his fingers, the umbrella going away as well as the wetness on my body.

”Goodness me, you remind me of Twilight when I took over her home town and all of her friends were a lost cause. Oh that was the funny days.”

He smiled laughing a bit, looking back down at me then frowning.

”Are you even listening to what I’m saying? You probably have the best life not having to deal with an evil creature. Unless dealing with one would make you happy hm?”

Before he could snap his fingers, I knew that he’d probably snap a monster to attack me or someshit so I yelled out before it could of happened.

”NO NO NO NO! I don’t need that right now. I just.. I don’t know what’s wrong. I mean thanks for getting that thing away from my body but I still feel miserable. You probably won’t know what to do anyways so..”

Discord put a finger under his chin in though and rolled his eyes.

”Ugh fine. It’s not like I’ve done this before.”

He snapped his fingers and a ton of bags with yellow coins appeared under me, my height reaching Discord’s.

”Uhh what do I need these for?”

Discord raised an eyebrow.

”These are bits. You should know what bits are!”

Oh right. Isn’t this money? I do need a new place though but.. that place isn’t open near Ace so.. what’s the point.

I still looked down and Discord snapped his fingers again, small puppies replacing the bits.

”What about some puppies? Surely puppies will make you happy, hm?”

As the puppies gave me some happiness, I shook my head.

”These won’t really lift my spirits. To be honest working for it makes it more better to receive.”

I smiled awkwardly and Discord groaned, snapping his fingers and everything disappearing.

”Ugh now your acting like AppleJack. Twilight now AppleJack. You going to act like Rainbow Dash next? I’ll be a step ahead for that!”

A snap of his fingers and my color schemes changed to Rainbow Dash’s to where my fur was sky blue and my hair rainbow. I widened my eyes as I grabbed a piece of my hair in front of my face then swatted it away, it falling back into its place. I shook my head.

”Alright Discord, thanks for all of this but I don’t really need anything else! I have good friends, a place to stay in Twilight’s castle, not to mention I’m not even from this place and everyone is so nice to me I don’t know what to do or say! IT’S CONFUSING!”

I yelled the last part, stopping my front hooves in frustration. Discord backed up slightly at my outburst, then looked away then back, raising an eyebrow.

”Alright. I don’t want to get in the middle of your mess then. If you do need any more chaos in your life. Give me a call.”

He then snapped his fingers and disappeared, I looked down in sorrow then furrowed my brows.

”DISCORD!”

I yelled out, and he reappeared in front of me. He looked at me with an eyebrow raised, then raised them both as I looked at him angrily.

”What?”

I then lifted one of my eyebrows, leaning my head down to look at myself then back at him. He rolled his eyes and snapped his fingers, my color going back to my brown shades.

”To be honest, you looked better with her colors.”

He said floating up and sitting in the air, closing his eyes and turning his head, snapping his fingers and disappearing.

”ZJ? Is that you?”

I shook my head and saw a shadow, the hair making it clear that Ace was coming around the corner. I scurried towards the fountain and sat in front of it, right when Ace appeared around the corner.

”ZJ? You doing alright? That was kind of a show you pulled there, huh?”

He chuckled after it, sounding nervous. He then made a small gasp.

”Your cutie mark! It’s gone!”

I looked over and looked at my side, seeing it blank. I shrugged and shook my head, turning back around.

”It’s fine. I don’t have to cause people pain anymore.”

I laid my head on the side of the fountain, Ace coming around and sitting next to me, an eyebrow raised.

”Hurting.. people?”

Ponies! I’ve been hurting ponies.. b-but on accident!”

I shot my head back up looking at Ace after the last part.

”Apparently when you painted the mark on me a mid evil creature found itself inside my mind and started to take peoples souls. So far I’ve only taken one. Mud’s brother or cousin or whatever.”

I shooed at the air as I explained, cooped my arms up and placing my head on them. Ace sighed.

I kind of uh.. knew about that.”

He winced as I lifted my head up and glared at him.

”B-B-but!! But not on purpose. since I thought it was a thousand years later I thought he was to old to poses someone, mostly just thought he wasn’t real anyways.”

I looked down at him, the put my head back down. Ace looked up at the setting sun. He then had an idea.

”This might be an obvious answer but, have you ever been in the sky?”

I slowly turned my head to him, my head still resting on my arms but my eyes looking up at him. I shook my head.

”No. I haven’t.”

”Would you like to, y’know, go up there?”

I took a moment to think. I have been in the sky, just not, out of a plane. Plane. My.. other life. Damn. How long has it been since I came here? 4.. 5 days?

”It’s okay if you don’t want to, I know it’s pretty up high for a unicorn-“

”No no! I uhm, I’d like to go up there. It’s seems fun.”

I smiled shyly, and Ace smiled back, him standing up and back, his wings flailing open and take position low, able for me to hop on. I get up and walk to where he is, looking at his back, then at his face.

”It’s alright, I don’t mind, I used to fly my brother around before he was able to fly himself. And I don’t mind the weight, makes me get stronger!

He smiled triumphantly as I climbed on carefully. I angled myself to where his wings were able to flap with out slapping my legs.

”Alright ZJ. Hold on!”

His wings flapped hard and away we flew, I felt myself cling to his neck and rest my head on his neck to be more stable. From the side of Ace’s head I see that we start to fly next to a building, the windows passing by as I see ponies inside. I felt my eye bandage rip off my eyes, forgetting that it was even still on my eye, but it was to late to even turn around to grab it, unsure where it was going to land.

”You can look if you want. The view looks awesome!”

The air did feel nice, and I slowly lifted my head up. Landscapes don’t really fascinate me, but since I was in this.. pony world, the sun was almost passed the line of the horizon, and my eyes go wide slightly, feeling the wind go by my ears and into my hair, my ponytail wiping around, as well as my pony tail protruding from my butt bone.

This seems, surprisingly peaceful.

I thought. Looking around the ground, seeing the castle from a high view. I held on more tight as Ace turned slowly, starting to circle around the castle, then close to a waterfall next to it. We got so close to it to where I could touch the water, reaching my hoof out and feeling it splash. I felt myself smile, a big one this time than the other times I’ve smiled here.

Is this what feeling free feels like? Not worrying about much and just, living? This is to real for it to be a dream. Probably known that since I got attacked and felt it.

I shook my head at the last thought, and drew my hoof away as we flew around and down to the castle’s gardens where we flew off from. He gently landed next to the fountain so I can easily get off and hop off his back and sit on the dye of the fountain. I then stood up on my back legs and fumbled a bit, Ace turning around and catching me.

”Whoa there! You alright?”

”Y-yeah, I’m fine. Just getting my land legs back.”

He smiled as he looked at me, his eyes concentrating on mine. I was getting an awkward feeling, our eyes staying on each others. I then felt him get slightly close..

..”Ace? Did you find ZJ?”

We both whipped our heads around, hearing a familiar voice turn the corner of the hedge. It was Twilight, followed by Rainbow Dash, and Cherry. I quickly scramble to my hooves, my mouth going into a thin line. At the corner of my eye, I saw Ace blink quickly, then shake his head, brining his gaze back up to the others.

”Oh good! We found you guys!”

Cherry said jumping at me, flapping his wings to get a little bit more in the air and landed on me, sending me to the ground. He picked me up and hugged me, taking some wind out.

”When you didn’t come back from looking for ZJ, Cherry decided for us to go find you guys.”

Rainbow Dash said, landing next to Twilight. Cherry nodded enthusiastically.

”Yeah, yeah! And loooook, I save a cupcake for you! Chocolate!”]

Cherry reached behind him and pulled out a big chocolate cupcake. I was getting pretty hungry, so I took it and took a bit out of it.

”Wow, this tastes really good. Thanks.”

I said, giving a smile. Cherry reached a hoof out and patted my head, the cupcake hitting my nose and left some frosting. Cherry stopped as I looked over at him but then reached one of mine and scooped up a small piece for frosting and bopped it on Cherry’s chin and smirked. We all started laughing. Twilight smiled and Dash looked over.

”Guess he can make friends after all huh?”

She said, nudging Twilight’s shoulder. Twilight chuckled.

”Yes, Dash. Yes.”

Secret Dwelling

Me, Ace, and Cherry all walked into the ball room laughing and chuckling, following Twilight and Rainbow Dash right behind.

"Hey ZJ! I know a bomb ass place we can go to after this party if your up for it, or now if ya wanna ditch the fancy getup?"

Cherry said, facing and nudging me in the ribs lightly. thought a bit. This place does seem a bit uptight, which I don't find myself really staying here at all much longer really.

"I guess so, I am getting a bit tired. Would be nice to wake up a bit."

"Ha sweet! Those suits do look expensive, so I guess you'll go back up to your room and get out of it huh?"

Cherry said, looking back and forth between my and Ace's clothes. Ace nodded.

"Yeah, Rarity made them for us. Pretty nice actually."

"That's why she's the element of generosity!"

Cherry replied back chuckling. I just chuckled a little. Eventually Cherry told us to meet him right back here, and he'll take us to the 'bomb ass place' he was talking about. We got back up to the room and neatly placed the tuxedo's on our beds and
slipped on my hoodie, then walked back down, seeing Cherry near the entrance.

"You guys ready to go? And hey! Nice hoodie!"

Cherry looked down and bopped my shoulder.

"Oh yeah, Ace got it for me."

I looked over at him, and he smiled, acting a bit shyly. I kinda smirked back, and Cherry snapped us out of our stare.

"COOL! Well, lets get goin' shall we? The place just opened 2 hours ago, goes until 3 in the morning which is pretty sick!"

Cherry started hopping a way, me and Ace following closely behind.

"Where is this place if I may ask?"

I asked, Cherry seized his hopping and looked towards me, continuing the walking instead.

"This is just a few trots out of the castle. I've been there many times to the point a lot of people know me, including the staff of course! Might want to work there if I wanna, but I already got a nice job."

Cherry explained. I nodded in response and grunted out for one as well.

"What's your job? Is it weather duty?"

Cherry whipped his head around and looked at me, making a scrunched version of a smile and smirk.

"Nahhhh, not every pegasus does 'weather' duty. My family actually owns a cherry farm. It's really neat actually. You should come by some time so I can show ya the ropes!"

"Oh yeah, I'd love to go. I've been to AppleJacks' apple farm and it seemed pretty cool."

"Yeah but that's apples! You're gonna love the cherry harvesting we do. Would you.. wanna try helping out sometime? Would love a friend to work and hang out with."

"Oh, uhm' yeah, I'll give it a shot."

"Sweet! never really had a magic user on the farm before! Gonna love how you harvest the cherries! Mother would be flabbergasted!"

My eyebrows furrowed, my head going down slightly, turning my head a bit towards Ace's direction and seeing him frown. We eventually made it to the bar. Seeing the neon sign saying 'Salty Lick' with booming music being heard.

"We made it! You ready to get your hooves shook and dancin' hard?"

Cherry jumped and looked at me and Ace.

"Ha yeah, I'll try my best!"

"Awesome! Go find a booth, I'll get some drinks going so we can party!"

Cherry flapped his wings a couple times while saying that, then skipped away to the bar, me and Ace finding a nice booth and scooching in. I nodded my head to the beat. Haven't heard good music in a while, and this was dubstep. The DJ was a white coated mare with a blinding blue mane. Vinyl.. I think was her name.

"Wow, I haven't been to a place like this in a bit! love to come back where whenever we come to Canterlot again."

I smiled at his reply, continuing to bop my head with the music. I felt him scoot a bit closer.

"You don't seem like the dancing type. Surprised you wanted to come here."

I shrugged a bit.

"Eh yeah, I mean, I don't usually go ape shit in the dance floor, unless I get really drunk."

I said it a louder tone, course with the music blasting all around us, we can still hear each other, but of course some part will get slightly muffled out. Cherry came back with to drinks in hand.. hoof.. and placed them in front of me and Ace. I looked down and the drink seemed to be a weird purple hue to it.

"Drink up! This one's called Midnight Malice!"

Me and Ace looked at the drinks, then looked up at each other. I made a smirk and slid my hoof into the cup handle, and Ace did the same, us clinking them together, chugging it down. This drink was dangerous. I didn't taste any of the alcohol, so I'd never know how much alcohol was in there. Ace stopped drinking, but I kept going, drinking it all in one go, slamming the cup down and seeing shocked expressions on both Ace and Cherry. I wiped my mouth on my sleeve and made an awkward smile. Cherry then smiled widely.

"HELL YEAH ZJ!!!"

Cherry screamed out, sticking a hoof out for a fist bump, well a hoof bump, and I hoof bumped him back! He tapped the table, saying he'd get more, and went on his way. Ace was still looking at me astonished.

"Sorry! I just tasted really good, kind of like candy! Like uh... Fruit By The Foot!"

"What? Oh! You mean Fruit By The Hoof! Yeah, my little brother loves those things! You getting tipsy already? What's even a foot?"

I chuckled slightly, course still having human knowledge in my head.

"Nah, just being funny I guess haha!"

I put a hoof on Ace's shoulder, laughing it out, and he laughed it out as well. Minutes later, Cherry got back and put 2 more drinks a little on my side, seeing that Ace's cup was still a bit full.

"Lets take another go! Ace keep up your pace dude!"

Cherry called out, Ace smirking slightly. He seemed like Cherry was annoying him slightly, but he grabbed his cup again, Cherry counting down and all of us chugging it down, Ace actually getting it all down. Cherry cheered at Ace, and I did as well, Ace feeling a bit more better.

"You guys can get more liquor if you want, drinks on me! I'mma go mingle with some friends of mine I see! Catch ya later!"

He finished a few drops from his drink and placing it on the table, hopping away, looking to see he was heading towards a purple pegasus mare. Ace let me finish his drink, seeing that he wasn't really in the mood to drink, and I guess to be sober enough to take me back to the room since it was a bit of ways away. More minutes passed, me jamming out in the booth, feeling more tipsy by the moment, Ace keeping a close eye on me. I then see 2 mares walking towards me, a yellow one, and a red one, both unicorns.

"Hey you two! We saw you both across the room and were wondering if you'd like to come dance with us, hm?"

The red unicorn said. They both seemed to have lustful eyes. Ace seemed a bit cautious, but my tipsy mind didn't want to make anyone feel bad, so I smiled at her.

"Oh hey!! I could possibly dance with ya but-"

She and the other mare both slid into the booth, the mares on each side of us, trapping us in the middle.

"That's alright darling. Sitting here is good enough for me and Lyla."

She looked over at her friend, both of them chuckling. Lyla placed her hoof on Ace's shoulder.

"Would you like to dance with us?"

She fluttered her eyelashes at him, and he seemed a bit uncomfortable, glancing over at me. I was distracted of course, the red mare putting her head on my shoulder, seeming to nuzzle me.

"Wa'ss your name?"

"The names Crimson. What about you sweetie?"

"Mmm, ZJ."

"Hmmm, well ZJ, I'm going to dance, come with me please? I'll be soooo lonely without you, hm?"

She said getting up slowly, hesitating to get her butt off the cushion then looking behind her and at me, then walking slowly away. In my mind I just wanted to party, so I started scooting out of the booth, heading off with her. Ace was a bit sad, me not knowing of course, him stuck with Lyla starting to nudge up against him. I didn't really remember much after that, having small memories of me staring at the ground, looking at Vinyl, putting my head under Ace's chin, and then the castle entrance.

"Aaacceeeee."

"What."

"Aaaaceeeeee."

"What is it ZJ?"

"I'm hungrryyyy."

"Yes I know, you said that 5 times in the past 10 minutes. That's all you keep saying. Also can you please walk on all fours? It's kind of hard when you walk on 2 legs."

"Whaaaat? I've always walked like this."

I lifted my arm off of his back and started walking on my 2 back legs, stumbling away and eventually falling into a patch of flowers. Ace rolled his eyes and sighed, trudging over and lifting me up. I looked at Ace, his face concerning. My mind couldn't register much around me, but I felt sad, my eyes slowly closing. I think I heard Ace call out to me, but everything sounded muffled, my head eventually falling to the side, and passing out.

It feels like I wake up, but I'm in a forest. I feel taller and look down, sure enough, I'm back being a human. I start to hear growls, my eyes darting around. Out of nowhere, a shadow with a terrifying face popped up right in front of me. I don't mind a good scare, but something about this face was not right. I fell down and scurried away, getting up on my feet and running as fast as I could. I could feel the presence of the creature right behind me, but when looking back it's not there. I then feel more creatures appear behind me, but of course looking back I see nothing. I looked back just in time to see a huge hole, stopping instantly. I hear my heart beat. I can only hear my heart beat. I look around frantically, those creatures soon appearing slowly. I feel the heel of my foot touch the edge, and quickly pull away, some part of the cliff falling off and falling into the void. My heart beat got faster and my legs felt weak. I fell on the side of my legs, keeping the front of my body up with my arms pressing against the ground. Tears starts to fill my eyes, but then, a flash of light comes out of nowhere. After it, I look up, tears still pouring out of my eyes. A silhouette of a pony appeared in the sky, with wings, and a horn. She landed hard and zapped the creatures away with a light. They disappeared. She turned and faced towards me.

"You, aren't a pony, are you?"

I see her hooves in front of me, and I slowly look up.

"No, I am not. Is it a bad thing?"

She smiled and chuckles slightly.

"No, it is not. I haven't seen your species in a long while. Before I was.."

She shook her head, and used her magic to pick me up and put me back on my feet.

"Why does this feel so real?"

I wipe my eyes, then fold my arms, the tears still continuing to fall.

"It usually happens when I am around, I assure you. You are in no harm at this moment. But tell me, what has been troubling you?"

I start looking around, then at her.

"I... I'm not sure."

She looked around as well, and used her magic to change the scenery slowly shifting and changing into a nicer forest, brighter colors, and sounds of animals being heard.

"How did you come to Equestria? Do you remember?"

"No, It's been a few days. All I remember was waking up in a hospital with AppleJack and AppleBloom beside me because I apparently fell into the orchard. Not sure how though."

She nodded.

"What might your name be? I forgot to ask, my apologies. I am Princess Luna."

"Names ZJ.. I think."

"Well ZJ. I hope you like it here in Equestria. Do You remember anything before you arrived here?"

I shook my head slowly.

"Not much. I mean I do remember my family. That's pretty much it."

She nodded again.

"Can you please keep this a secret. I don't want anyone to know."

I looked into her eyes, and she understood what I was feeling.

"Of course, ZJ. I will not tell a soul. Ponies might figure out eventually though if you are not careful. Have you done anything humanish lately?"

I look around the ground for an answer as a bird flew on top of my head.

"Maybe just walking on my back legs. That's pretty much it. But since I'm a unicorn, ponies give me weird looks since I use my hooves for picking up things when of course they don't know why I'm not using my horn. Can you teach me how? I think I forgot to ask Twilight earlier for help but, things got in the way I believe."

A squirrel and a bunny hopped next to me and nuzzled my leg. I decided to sit down, and the bunny hopped on my lap. Luna sat down as well, and some bunnies and birds came to her as well. She smiled faintly.

"I am not sure in this realm since you do not have your horn, but I do remember my sister talking about you casting a firework explosion at Twilight's castle."

"I was reading one of her spell books and I guess one of the techniques did that.. but uhm.. that was the only magic thing I did. I can't even lift up a single hanger with a coat on it."

I pouted, pulling the grass on the ground out of frustration, the grass growing back afterwards.

"I guess that would make sense since you are not used to using a horn where you are from. No magic, correct?"

"None. Magic tricks are still a thing, but of course doesn't really count as 'magic'."

I shrugged at my explanation, Luna turning her head to one side.

"You are unique. You do know that, right?"

I look at her, Luna giving the kindest smile she could give, and I felt a bit warm inside. I let out a sigh, seeing a ferret hop towards my direction, I smile, picking up the ferret and it trying to climb all over me. I chuckled, the ferret nesting itself around my neck and under my hair.

"Can I see you, in the waking world? For help with my magic of course. I know Twilight can but.. I do feel more comfortable around you since, well you know why I can't use magic."

She smiled, putting a hoof on my knee.

"Of course I can. I'll do anything to help you feel at home here."

We both smiled at each other. Suddenly. Everything started to get dark, and all the animals started to dart away and scurry under bushes and into trees. I felt a weird ache in my head, holding my hands up to it. Luna got up quickly, her wings flapping, taking flight.

"Luna? What's happening?!"

"You are waking up ZJ! This kind of wake up happens when I am around. But do not fret., just see me whenever you have the time!"

She started to get blurry in the distance, I reached out for her, but knowing she was too far away for me to grasp her. I throw my hands back on my head, the dream seeming to spin around. The trees starting to disappear as well as the ground. Eventually, I was falling in the void, screaming, reaching up at a small glimpse of light. It disappeared, eventually my vision going as well as I could no longer see my body.

Willing To Try

My eyes open. I stare at the ceiling. I feel nauseous. What happened last night?

I sit up, putting a hoof to my head, rubbing at my temple. I look around, then stare in front of me. That dream I had.. unlike most dreams I’ve had, I felt.. everything. The grass and twigs under my feet, the wind, my dream-self feeling sad, feeling the tears roll down my face. I rub a hoof along my cheek, dragging down, and plopping it beside me. I look out the window. The sun starts to rise.

”Oh hey, good morning, ZJ.”

I dart my head towards Ace, seeing him rub an eye, trying to wipe out the sleepiness.

”Surprised that you woke up before me since all that happened last night. You were pretty wasted.”

He let out a chuckle, and stretched his arms. He looked back at me, glaring slightly.

”You okay though? You don’t have a headache do you?”

I drew my gaze to the window, the sun passed the horizon and now about to set perfectly in the sky. I look back, rubbing my head.

”Y-Yeah. Yeah I’ll be fine.”

Ace nodded.

”Need some water? I’ll get you some.”

I shook my head no, lost in thought, but then nodded yes for water, and Ace made a small smile, got up, and went to a cupboard and grabbed a cup.

I looked out the window again, remembering that I needed to talk to Luna. Ace came back with the water, and I grabbed it with my hooves and chugged it a bit, realizing I was dehydrated as hell.

”Hey Shadow.”

”Yeah? What’s up?”

I took a few moments to think of what to say, took the last sip out of the cup.

”Do you think Twilight knows where Luna is?”

Ace jolted a bit from the question, and tilted his head.

”Princess Luna? I-I mean, she should be around here somewhere.. why?”

I turned to the window, then back at Ace.

”I saw her in my dream, and wanted to talk to her, well in the waking world of course.”

Ace’s eyebrows raised, and nodded his head.

”You can go ask Princess Twilight, course she’ll know where Princess Luna is.” Do you want me to come with?”

I thought about the dream, thinking that if I say I’m actually a human, he’ll probably freak out, think I’m weird, maybe not be friends with me… yeah, can’t let that happen.

”I think I’ll go by myself, just me and Luna. Thanks for being here with me though.”

Ace smiled.

”Of course dude! I got your back! We can talk to Twlight at breakfast since it’s in like.. 15 minutes.”

My eyes widened a bit and I bolted off the bed going to the bathroom, Ace did as well. After a bit, me and Ace found the room with the huge ass table in it, all the Maine 6 ponies sitting and talking and laughing, and already starting to eat.

”Hey! Good morning ZJ and Shadow Ace. Come take a seat!”

Twilight said, 2 empty seats in between Twilight and Rainbow Dash. I took the seat next to Twilight, and Shadow Ace sat next to Rainbow Dash. There were already pancakes on the plate, with chocolate chips and whipped cream to top it off. I just looked at the pancakes, then at Twilight, who was scarfing the last one down, smiling. She noticed I looked her way, and swallowed her food before speaking.

”You alright ZJ? Don’t like pancakes?”

She said, pointing at them. I shrugged, but then remembered why I felt uneasy. Unsure what to say about wanting to speak to Luna.
Hopefully she’ll understand.

”Do you know where Luna is? I need to speak to her about.. something.”

Twilight was drinking some orange juice, coughed a little, and wiped her mouth with a napkin.

”Princess Luna? Is everything alright?”

”No no.. yeah everything is alright.. I just have to talk to her about something.. uh, personal.”

Twilight cocked her head to one side, but then put on a gentle smile.

”Of course ZJ. After breakfast, I’ll bring you to her. Okay?”

I nodded, and Twilight pat my back. She offered some orange juice and helped me pour it into the cup, and we all ate breakfast. Twilight talked about the past fights, all the mares going on adventures, even as small things, like FlytterShy overcoming her fear of dragons.

Eventually, breakfast was done, and Twilight tapped me on the shoulder.

”You ready?”

I finished the last sip of OJ, and nodded, turning to Ace and telling him that I will be back soon. He hugged me and I got off the chair, following Twilight to the thrown room.

Twilight asked again if everything was alright, and said it was okay to talk to her if I needed anything. I wasn’t sure to say I saw Luna in my dream, and if I did, I thought that she would wanna hear what I had to say to her from curiosity. I just said it was a bit private, but I would come back to Twilight later for results. She felt alright with that answer, and we reached the thrown room.

I shivered a bit. Celestia was there too. I just wanted to talk to Luna about it, and looked at her. They were both looking directly at me, and I looked down a bit, trying to hide my nervousness. But of course that shows it. Twilight waved and quietly said, ‘good luck’, and closed the doors.

She just… left me here? I guess I said to much about it being to personal that she didn’t wanna intrude on something that great… I guess it kind of is.. since I’m going to talk to Luna that I’m.. I’m a human. I slowly turned back around, and saw them still looking my way. Sitting there elegantly. I began to walk more closer to them, to get a better view, since I just remembered I need glasses, and that when I went into this world, I didn’t have any on. That’s another matter to deal with later. I stopped a good distance away, and looked over at Luna. She just looked down at me, as well as Celestia. I opened my mouth to say something, but realized I didn't have any words to say. Then Celestia started to speak.

"Are you the one for the personal castle tour?"

I was surprised that she talked first.. but a tour?

"Yes. I assume that you are, ZJ?"

I nodded, eventually Luna looking over at Celestia and her giving her a nod, Luna getting up off the thrown and flying over, landing gracefully next to me and walking towards the exit, me following behind.

We decided to head to the garden, me walking through the doors, a few ferrets running out between my legs, and running away to a bush, one of the ferrets looking back at me, then running away. Luna took a seat near a tree, and I did the same.

”So, you are human. That doesn’t make any difference here, but it has been a while since me and my sister have seen one. I believe a few decades.”

”What happened to them?”

I asked, Luna’s face changing a bit to a slight sorrow.

”Like most things, a war. Eventually leading to everyone destroying themselves to where.. there isn’t a trace at all to them. Only relics remain.”

I gazed at the ground, wondering what kind of relics these ponies had.

”I do know of this one relic, but it is not from your kind. The Masdifah necklace shows the true forms of creatures that disguise themselves to blend in with ponies, eventually taking pony by pony, and devouring them. They eventually caught on to this one pony, the Masdifah, and cut the head off, and retrieved the necklace. The last time I remember it being left was somewhere in Estern Equestria. Other than that, I have no clue on where it is.”

She closed her eyes and a flash of her horn, a paper appeared right in between me and her, a scroll, unrolling it and showing the necklace. A diamond shape with looks to be like outwards arrows at each line of the diamond.

”If you do want to find it, I will give you this.. and ZJ.”

I glance at her.

”I told my sister about you, and she will keep your secret safe.”

I felt a little unsure, but I nodded.

”That’s fine. Just hope nothing bad happens later.”

She smiled kindly and put a wing around me.

”Nothing will, believe in it.”

I just nodded. She rolled it back up and handed it to me, but then the scroll fell to the ground, remembering that I couldn’t pick it up. I make a nervous slant smile, and she smiled back as well.

”I can help you with that, if you don’t mind a little permanent magic in you.”

”I don’t mind, guess I’ll be finally able to lift things without ponies looking at me weird.”

We both chuckle, and she stood up, getting ready to perform the spell. Her horn glowed, and shot out towards me, me flinching, my horn beginning to glow teal, then go out. She handed me the scroll, and I looked at it, me looking back up at Luna again.

”Just concentrate on lifting it up. It will work when you know you have it on you, even in a bag.”

I look back down at the scroll, and I see the hues of the magic change to mine. Teal. My eyes widen. I thought of moving it to the right, and it moved, I smirked. Luna smiled back, knowing that she has helped enough.

”Am I able to teleport things?”

She nodded.

”Yes, you can. You just have to remember a place you would like to place it, and to bring something to you, you have to think of the last place you put it.”

My smirk faded, knowing I will not remember shit.

”Ahh, I got a bad memory.”

I said, bonking the side of my head. I did have an idea though.

”You will be fine. The spell has that with it as well. Just make sure to not cast many spells on yourself, or they will get mixed together, and depending on what they are, won’t turn out well.”

I nodded, looking at the parchment and watched it fly behind me, and slide into my hood, forgetting about it, and feeling the magic disappear.

”Thank you, Luna.”

She smiled.

”Of course. If you need anything else, you can ask Twilight to send a note to my sister, and she will give it to me.”

I felt like going in for a hug, but I respected her boundaries and nodded. We both walked out, and actually met Ace, and the Maine 6 walking out from this stairway. Right. Today was the day to go home, me remembering now that I didn’t pack, but saw that Rarity was holding my suitcase in her magic along with some of hers.

”Oh, thank you Rarity, almost forgot today we were leaving.”

I said. As she get next to me, I took the suitcase without hesitation, and they all seemed astonished. I smiled a little awkwardly, looking back at Luna, and she just smiled, and walked away, waving goodbye to us all. They all looked back at me.

”She helped.”

I said, and all of them nodded. On the way home, Twilight did want to know a little bit about what me and Luna talked about, and I just said that we talked about this dream I had, talking about how I feared being unwanted, and she just hugged me and told me that everything would be fine, and I got plenty of friends to go to if I had any other concerns. I smiled a bit. Of course I can’t tell them the truth, fear of it spreading and causing people to not like me anymore. The thought trailed away as we made it back to Ponyville, using my magic now to pick up my suitcase and heading out.

On our way back, Ace got stopped by a pony with a suit on, talking about how this certain house was vacant now, and was asking him if he still wanted to grab it, and Ace smiled and nodded, looking at me. A few houses down from Ace. Awesome.

Author's Note

This might be the last chapter with pictures since I am getting busy in real life, but I will try to continue each chapter.

Thanks for understanding!

Secure Home

”Welcome to your new home!”

The pony said, opening the door and seeing empty space everywhere I looked. Ace jumped in excitement.

”Finally I can have a friend that lives close by!”

He put his arm around me and I smiled, setting my suitcase down. After going back to the castle and getting a few things, I set down a few boxes in a corner next to the door, starting to walk in the seller pony leaving us to marvel in the new place. It was like Ace’s place, but sort of opposite, the stairs next to the entrance for the kitchen, and space for a couch and a tv would be placed on the left. Kitchen was still on the same side as Ace’s, just with the stairs there. Twilight appeared as well with the other girls, all of them having something in their hooves.

”We are so glad you find a place to stay! Sad that I won’t be able to see you in the halls again.. but…”

She trailed on and formed my first furniture, a bookshelf, with a few books on it. I walked towards it and grabbed a book with my magic, moving around a bit, still getting used to my magic. It was about animals.

”Thought I’d give you a few things to read if you ever get bored! These were a few extras just for this exact moment! I know I gave some to Starlight before she left.”

I thanked her, Rainbow Dash coming up next, dropping some Wonder Bolt posters next to the bookshelf and a statue that had a lightning bolt placed on it, as well as the first book to Daring Doo.

”Okay so, I don’t know what you really like, and I know you don’t have wings, but the Wonder Bolts are super cool, as well as Daring Doo! I lent you my first ever book I got from Twilight when I started reading. Sure reading can get a bit weird, but I love this book! Read it first in a hospital. Pretty cool though!”

I picked it up with magic and saw the back, reading the summary of the book, and smiled, and nodded.

”Thanks Rainbow Dash, I’ll be sure to read this some time.”

She smiled and fell to the back. FlutterShy’s turn.

”I know you told me you really like ferrets, so me and rarity had the idea to sew you a little plush of one. I hope it’s okay.”

I smiled, holding the ferret plush in my aura. It was a bit bigger than an actual ferret size, but I didn’t care. I thanked her smiling a bit wider, smiling. Rarity was next.

”Other than the plush, I made you a new hoodie! But of course I know that one is a bit special.”

She said, winking, me and Ace looking at her and then at each other, eventually quickly looking away sheepishly. She flew the hoodie over, and saw it was made in a dark teal with dark purple trims, the hood as well. I nodded in approval, liking the style. I grabbed it with my magic and thanked her. AppleJack was next.

”Me and Granny quickly made this quilt for you for a blanket on your bed. Didn't know what you liked, so hopefully apples are okay!”

”Thanks AppleJack, feels nice.”

I felt the blanket. It felt a bit weird, but it still had a soft touch to it. I placed it down next to the other things, and once I turned around, Pinkie Pie was there, holding a rather big popper and popping it right in my face, confetti exploding around everywhere, blowing my hair back, a hat snapping in my head and ending up with a party blower in my mouth, me breathing out from the shock, but also making the blower make a noise.

”Happy ‘Welcome To Your New Home’ Day!!”

She shoved a present in my arms, and I spit out the blower and opened it up, seeing a huge cupcake, surprised that it wasn’t messed up with the tossing around.

”Oh hah, thank you Pinkie Pie. I can eat this a little later if that’s alright.”

”Of course!!! Whenever you want!”

She smiled and hopped to me, hugging me, my magic moving the cupcake out of the way, making sure she wouldn’t have knocked it over. She then hopped back where the others were.

”Thank you guys, really. All the gifts were amazing.”

I said, all of them saying you’re welcome. Eventually they all moved aside, as a mail pony came with a bed, and a couch. Ace going over and signing off the paper, and turned around, and smiled.

”This is my gift, haha. Hope the colors are alright.”

The couch was a royal blue, and the bed had a dark brown wood frame, with the blanket being purple, with normal colored white pillows. I looked at Ace and went over, hugging him.

"The colors look fine Ace. Thank you."

After they helped placed the furniture around the house, they said their goodbyes, and Ace stopped behind and turned.

"Hey, If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask. Okay?"

He smiled, and I nodded, and he flew away. I went up stairs and collapsed on my bed, stretching. I glanced over at the mirror Rarity lent over. It was a bit to pretty for my taste, but at least I had a mirror. I then stood up, walking over to it, looking at myself. What did I look before? I know I was human. I tried to visualize my face, and it slowly appeared. I tried smiling, but then the face disappeared and my pony face appeared back. I felt a bit sad, and a few tears slid down my face. I shook my head, laying back on the bed, and then crying, crying to much to where I passed out.

I woke up hours later, rubbing my head. Man, I really need to stop crying here. I shook my head and looked out the window. I was a bit dark, raining a bit. I got up and walked around my new place, moving around a few things before being satisfied with the results. Didn't take as much time, so I went back to the bed and fell back asleep. I then woke up by a knock at the door.

"ZJ? ZJ? You awake?"

I yawned and got up from the bed, heading down the stairs and towards the door, opening it. It was Shadow Ace.

"Look what tomorrow is! Wanna come with me?"

Ace shoved a flyer in my face, using my magic to hold it in front, seeing that it showed a bunch of artifacts with words I still can't really read. Whatever their language is It never really transferred over to whatever magic connected to me. Well at least Luna game me some. In fact, I saw that my magic color changed a bit to be more bluish. Eh, that's just Luna's magic probably since she used a spell. Or something more... Oh well.

"Oh, well sure. I don't have anything so why not?"

I smiled, rolling the flyer up and putting on the couch. Ace peaked in.

"Hey! You moved some things. It look really nice and tidy in here! Everything looks like they should be. You fine with it?"

He said, standing aside so he could come in and closing the door behind.

"Well yeah, I'm fine with it. Didn't take much to move it all since I got my magic working."

I said, my horn glowing and then not.

"Oh yeah, how was your talk with Luna? Did she help you with your magic?"

“Mhm, she did. Got to talk to her about other things as well which was really nice.”

Ace nodded in agreement. We then talked for a bit, him mostly about his family which started up a conversation about his brother.

"So my brother doesn't really want to get a cutie mark, says he doesn't want the 'wrong one', whatever that means."

"Yeah I get that."

I said, looking back at my flank. That does make sense really, getting a cutie mark and not liking it, or it looking off.

"Hey, wanna meet my family? Not doing anything now right?"

I looked up at him.

"Oh yeah, I would love to man."

He smiling, turning around and opening the door.

"They live a ways away, but there still in town, I just wanted a place to myself you know?"

I nodded, following behind him, closing the door. We walked for a bit, talked about his family and their interests, and we finally made it to the house, and he knocked on the door.

"Hello? Oh honey! Hi there! How are you doing dear?"

His mother said, pulling him in for a hug.

"Oh and who's this? Is this the pony you've been talking about?"

Ace nodded, her walking towards me and pulling me in for a hug. I just smiled a little.

"Come in! Come in! I have some sandwiches if you guys would like some."

We both nodded, closing the door behind us. As I walk in, and blur zooms by and startles me a tad.

"Oh that's Stripe hoof, my brother."

Ace said, as Stripe slammed down and landed right in front of us. He grinned.

"Hey Ace, I learned how to do 2 loops in the air today! Mom watched me do it!"

"That's nice little dude!"

He patted his head and Stripe jumped excitedly and flew around again. We walked towards the dinning table and sat down, his mom placing the sandwiches down. I looked inside the sandwich and saw there was hay straws and what looked like mayo. I shrugged and took a bite. Kind of dry, but the mayo gives it a taste.

"Hey kid."

I say, finishing one last bite. Stripe Hoof stops in mid-air and looks at me.

"Why don't you want a cutie mark?"

He glares over at Ace, and Ace shrugs, taking a bite of a sandwich.

"Well, if you must know, I just don't want something on my flank that'll scar me to do it's bidding."

My mouth drops a little and I think.

"I mean, you can still get a cutie mark and still do other things you love. You don't have to be bound by it."

He nods, but then looks surprised at me, me knowing that he's looking at my flank.

"WHOA! How did you go this long without getting a cutie mark?!"

I think for a bit, remembering that I came here out of nowhere.

"I'm.. not sure actually, I just did a lot of things and I guess nothing really stuck."

Guess that sounds about right.

"Well then, I guess I can try a few things, maybe It'll all be so boring that I don't get a mark like you! HA! I'm going to try to go to the playground to try some things out!"

Stripe said, opening the door.

"Don't be out so late Stripey!"

Stripe rolled his eyes and nodded, zooming out of the house. The others looked a bit shocked. I looked around unsure what they were feeling.

"Wow, never expected him going to the playground to do anything. Maybe he'll find some friends there?"

His mom nodded and continued doing the dishes, eventually picking up my plate.

"He doesn't have any friends?"

"Well no, kind of? I mean he had one, but they moved to Phillydelphia."

Ace said, finishing his sandwich and giving the plate to his mother. After she finished the dishes, she sat down with me and Ace and asked about what I liked to do, even though I 'tried' everything. I said I just like to draw and play some games, and they thought that was pretty cool. After a while, the sun was setting, and Stripe zipped through the door.

"GUYS! I made a new friend! His name is Silo Cart! He's a really strong earth pony!"

He said, as a red coat and pink haired colt walked through the door. I stared at the red coat, and Mud Rock flashed in my mind, giving me a mini heart attack. Ace slightly noticed and asked if I was okay. I said I was and just shook it off. Silo's mom also peeked through the door, her coat was yellow, and her hair was a dark maroon. That also shook something in me, but of course I shook it away. 'Is trauma getting to me some how?'

"Hey, it's uhm, kind of getting late. I might head back home if that's alright."

"Hey no worries man! Want me to walk you home?"

I nodded and we both got up, him hugging his mother and we both walked out of the house, Silo's mom and Ace's mom talking, the kids getting a long well, both of them zooming around the house. It was silent on the way home, Ace was distracted looking at a butterfly following us to my house, which was a really nice magenta color with yellow trimmings. We made it to the door, and I unlocked and opened it, walking inside.

"It was nice to see your family. They seem really nice peop- ponies."

Ace smiled.

"Awe thanks man! Maybe one day I'll get to see yours as well! Well, have a good night! And oh! I'll be here around 1 so we can go to that awesome fair, okay?"

I nodded, and he went on his way. I closed the door, and just stood there. My family. I blinked a tear, and just walked towards my bed and laid down. Yeah, my family was not here. Just me, and me only. I mean, we need a break from a family once in a while right? Right. 'But.. I miss them.'

Am I Still Asleep?

I woke up realizing I had to use the bathroom badly. I usually don’t wake up this early, the day doesn’t matter as well, it being Friday n’ all. I take a peek at my phone.. 3 am. Damn. I fully get off the bed and walk to my bedroom door, opening quietly and heading to the bathroom which was thankfully right outside my room. Just when I was about to close the door of the bathroom, I hear a giggle.

I freeze. “The fuck?” I mutter to myself. I stand there for a couple seconds, then I shrug and continue to close the door. A minute passes and I clean up before returning to my bed. I rub my eyes, thinking if I’ll go to bed fast enough unlike the other nights. I freeze again before climbing into bed.

There it is again. Laughter? Sounds like children. I then see under the door of the laundry room, which of course right in front of my door, pink or magenta light emitting from underneath it. Everyone is asleep, of course. I have a feeling that my brother bought something and left it in the room. He hasn’t left the house since he works at home so.. and I don’t remember him leaving to go somewhere else.. but he’d never tell me. My fingers swooped my bedroom door as I left it behind, slowly walking up to the door.

I stop right in front of the laundry room, and placed my hand gently on the knob. I take a breath and open the door.

My eyes widened as I look on the ground where a magenta pentagram lay on the ground. My hair swished around so I reached up and pulled back my bangs, some hair coming free and flying around again. The wind smelled like I was outside, fresh, clean, free. It felt, tempting to walk towards it. Thankfully the dog was still downstairs with the gate on the bottom stair.

It seem to be getting bigger each time I went towards it. I tried to get a good look at the symbols but couldn’t make out any. None of them looked familiar. I felt half of my foot go into the pentagram, feeling this taking a step back, but it got bigger and started dragging my foot in. I frantically looked for something to hold on to, only to find myself on the ground, half my body in the damn thing.

”Fuck fuck fuck!! AHHH-“
It drags me in, the portal closing, becoming silent in the room.

I feel myself falling, shooting my eyes open. Am I outside?! Thinking this, I look down, instantly seeing apple trees. I’ve never fell this far before, even though I’ve always wanted to skydive. I start screaming, seeing the trees come close.
And then it went dark.

What felt like an eternity, I open my eyes. Everything is dark. Did I become blind? I can’t hear or feel anything though. Wait. Did I die? I remember falling from the sky..- I look down and see my body. Feels like I’m floating in space.

All off a sudden a bright light appeared in front of me. I couldn’t make out what the creature was or is. I shield my eyes from the light, but then the light eventually subsided and turned into some sort of a creature.

”Who-who’s there? Who are you?”

The creatures outlines turned into a horse shape. What looks like long hair and a tail swished out from its body and stretched out like it’s wings were doing. The wings were huge, and the horn it looked to have the same width as it’s own body.

”Calm down, my child. You are not in any danger.”

”This would suck if this was what heaven was.” I muttered to myself.

”You are not in heaven. Nor Hell. I am an entity of light that travels into your mind. Think of me as your personal Angel. You are unconscious of right now, and will wake up shortly.”

I felt my mind overthinking. Starting to hear static sounds surrounding me. I feel dead. I might never see my friends and family again. I know I fell through that pentagram and it felt so real. I won’t be able to live life anymore, and my dreams are gone. I’m gone. I don’t exist anymore anywhere. How could my life end here- The entity bowed its head and started to glow brighter, flapping its wings once. When that happened, my thoughts disappeared, and I felt, calm.

”Silence your thoughts, young one. You will be fine. Your world that you were in before has stopped for now, mostly because this world that your currently reside in is way different from yours. I may not know much about your world, but I was that sliver of hope that you carried all the way from birth, and was buried with all your regressions and depression. What those foul beings did to you when you were little was not right, and crushed all your hope with everything else, only leaving sorrow and misery.”

Hearing all that hurt. It was true. ”I just want to be happy that’s all. Help people I guess?” I wipe a tear from my eye.

I felt the creature smile. ”Those are defiantly needed in this world. Speaking of, you will wake up soon. So it is my time to go. I’ll still be with you of course. Just in your mind.” The enitity started to fly upwards.

”Wait! Will I ever see or talk to you again?!” I called out. ”You will, in the time of need. You’ll be fine.”

I saw them fly upwards again.. no.. I’m falling? I feel myself fall faster. I don’t like this feeling of falling in the middle of nowhere. Basically being in the void. I start to cry out, afraid of what was going to happen. The creature above me was just a dot, then nothing. I kept screaming and closed my eyes, feeling myself get dizzy. Then passed out.

Author's Note

Please be kind with your words if you ever comment. I know this is in public, I understand.

This story is just me becoming a pony. That is all. Nothing to complicated.

Even though it is me, I have changed a lot of backstories and other things so it’s not entirely me, because most things the main character will do in here I’d never do. Mostly it’s just a different version of me, and of course with weaknesses I do have. But I’m just guessing on how I’d react to certain situations, and no hate towards any characters in here as well.

Also, please be aware of your words. I haven’t written a story in ages so of course I’m at a low level in writing stories.

Thanks.

Coming to Terms

”Hey! Looks like they’re wakin’ up!”

”Calm your voice down sugar cube. Don’t want to get them all worked up.”

I'm starting to hear voices as I grasp my conscious mind.

”Ah Christ my head… where, where am I?”

I opened my eyes, my vision not really being nice to me as the light stings my eyes, making me squint.

”Dont worry ‘bout nothin’ hun. Your at ponyville hospital!”

Those words stabbed my brain.

”The hell?! Hospital? WHOA!”

My eyes opened at the word hospital, feeling my eyes open wider as I see an orange face looking at me from the right with a small yellow face looking at me as well but from the foot of the bed.

I see the orange faced creature flinch a bit, probably hearing me curse in front of the smaller one. I didn’t care though.

I feel a sharp pain in the back of my head, reaching my hand on the spot and rubbing it, trying to scratch at it with my fingers… my fingers. Why can’t I grab my.. oh no. I place my hand in front of my face. I didn’t have a hand, I had a fucking hoof. I started to whimper, shaking my hands, or rather hooves, in front of me, looking around frantically. I see that those creatures in front of me were in fact characters out of that childrens pony show; My Little Pony. AppleJack and AppleBloom, to be precise.

”Calm down there youngin’, your gonna be fine, okay?”
She placed her hoof on my shoulder, me of course never feeling a hoof, shivered and shrugged her hoof off me. I started to laugh along with small cries, like I was going crazy.

”AppleBloom, please go get the doctor. That concussion must of done a great job on their brain.”
She said, facing to AppleBloom.
”Yeah, sure thing sis.”

She then ran out the door. Since I was making such a ruckus, some staff members walking past the room froze for a bit to look in side, seeing me freaking out. Eventually, the doctor that I guess was taking care of me ran into the room, going to the left of my side. AppleBloom went back to the end of the bed.

”Oh my goodness! What happened?”
They were a white pony with pink hair. Forgot what her name was, but that doesn’t really matter.

”All that happened was that they woke up and started freakin’ out like there were vermin's all over them!”

AppleJack said, exaggerating with her hoof. I was still freaking out, couldn’t really process pony faces in front of me, even though through my younger times, acting and thinking of ponies next to me. Imagination sucks at times.

”We might have to use some sleeping gas to calm them down. Stand back! This usually freaks the patients out.”
I heard her say sleeping gas. I felt like I should run out of here, but I also don’t want to pass out again. Fuck I don’t want to pass out. What would they even do with me when that happens??

”NOPE! I’M GOOD!”
I lied, shooting up in my bed. I put on a smile, which didn’t look like I was being honest. Pffft, honesty.
”Are-are you sure dear?”
The mouth piece was inches away from my face. I quickly shake my head yes, still putting on that smile. I can’t smile correctly, so it looked like I just hid a body before someone saw it. Even having a horse muzzle felt weird when smiling. Ugh, I hate smiling. Just feels weird.

”Do you know why you were screaming?” AppleJack faced towards me.
”Uhhhhh, I just heard uhm… uhhh hospital! Yeah! Hospital! I uh.. just haven’t been to one in a while.. aren’t they a lot of money though? Ughhh….”

I slammed one of my hands on my face. Dammit. Forgot I had hooves, fuckin’ hurt. I ended up rubbing that spot I slapped at.
”Dont worry ‘bout the bits sugar cube, we got ya covered. It wasn’t much anyways.”
AppleJack said, moving a hoof out pretending to shove the problem away.

The white pony smiled.
”Yup! Everything’s all set and covered! Just be easy on your hurt hoof, but you are able to leave when ever you’re ready! And you can just leave the gown on the bed, the cleaning mare will be in here shortly, so I won’t want to be in here for to long. Have a nice day you guys!” She said, nodding and heading out the room.

”Here, let me help ya out the bed.”
AppleJack said, holding a hoof out for me to stable myself. I shoved the covers off me and scooted towards the side of the bed where AppleJack was, her helping me get off. She even helped me with taking the gown off.
”There ya are! Here I’ll help you walk out of the hospital if that’s alright with ya.”
I was still propped up on the bed.

”Oh uh, no, no that’s fine, I’ll try to find my way out.”
I said, starting to slide my legs off the bed and placed my hooves on the ground. I shivered at the feeling. I didn’t have any toes, and this didn’t feel right. I stood up on my legs using the side of the bed to help me stand. I then walked over to the door and prop one of my hooves on the trim. I turned my head around slowly and looked at AppleJack. She was looking at me weird, seeing her eyes roll down to my legs and back up at my eyes.

I pushed the thought away.
”I uhh, actually do need help if you don’t mind.”
I made a small smile, still looking weird and both AppleJack and AppleBloom both looked at each other, AppleJack looking back at me and giving back another small smile.

As I was walking down the hallway, I kept getting weird stares, seeing this making me uncomfortable and I leaned in close to AppleJack more. She probably knew why I was close, seeing her glance at me from the corner of my eye. I was walking on my back two legs, for me it was something I’ve been doing my whole life of course, being a human and all, and now feeling the need on walking on my hands? Well uh, other feet. Just didn’t seem right to me, for now.

”Thanks AppleJack, guess I just needed the path to the entrance, heh.”

”Oh no problem sugar cu- wait, how’d you know that’s my name?”
She looked at me, and eyebrow raised.
”Uhhh, y-your sister said it I believe! Heh, yeah! Yeah.”
Course I lied. I forgot that I don’t know them, in there eyes.

”Did I? Huh, I don’t remember.”
I saw her put a hoof up to her chin.
”Hah it’s fine, I always forget things, but uhh thanks for helping me out guys!”

I tried to make another friendly smile as I started to wabble away on my to legs. I feel like walking away on all 4 hooves, but for the life of me, I forgot that I wasn’t a human no more.

”It looks like you still need help.”
I realized I didn’t go to far, and AppleJack was back at my side as she caught me with her back. I pushed up a little to get my bearings right and I nodded sheepishly.
She knew I was embarrassed.

”Hey now it’s alright hun, we all get embarrassed once in a while. Do you know where your house is? We’ll help ya walk to it.”
I froze, gazing off into the distance.
What should I say? I don’t live here? I don’t know? Lie and say I live with one of her friends?

”I uhh, I don’t have one.”
I said, shaking my head a little.
I saw her face change from a smile to a frown.

”Oh? Are ya visiting? That’s alright! Uh, hey! It’s getting late, and my barn is a little far, but we’ll check in with my friends in the mornin’ to have a proper welcome! Don’t want it to get to dark before it’s AppleBloom’s bed time. School and whatnot.”

I saw AppleBloom quickly look up at AppleJack, probably gonna somewhat talk back to her sister. I looked over AppleJacks head.
”Hey kid, every child has to go through with school. Yeah it sucks but it’ll be worth it. Probably a little easier here, in a way.”
She looked at me and I saw the gears in her head turn.
”Yeah, I guess so.”

Nice. I sounded smart.. for once.
I felt myself smirk slightly.

About 30 or so minutes later we reach AppleJack’s house; Sweet Apple Acers. I’ve always wanted to walk into farm territory before. It all looked cool, the suns rays shining from the horizon and casting shadows over the farm life. The animals going into pens or just piling up and going to sleep. I felt myself a bit tired, even though I was always tired, but tired to the point where my eyes felt heavy.

”It’s just around dinner time if ya’d like to join us before turning in.”
Before I came here, it was 3 in the morning. Here? Probably like.. 6 or 7 pm here now. Unless it’s that thing where in here it’s a few minutes like 2 or 3 and in real life it’s like 3 hours or something. Yikes. Come to think of it, sounds scary. But yeah anyways.

”Uh sure! Guess it is that time.”
I give a small smile. Wonder what they’ll give for dinner, even being in a pony world.
”Hey ya’ll, we’re home!”
The three of us walked through the door that AppleJack held open for me and AppleBloom. I kept tapping around the wall, still being on my hind legs, stuck to the wall. Good thing the table was right there.

”AppleJack! Finally, me and BigMac finished dinner for ya. Hey. Who’s the new youngin’?”
Right. Granny Smith.
”Oh yeah! This is uh.. a shoot! I forgot to ask you your name!”

I swallowed. My real name isn’t a pony name.. and it’ll sound weird.. and not my internet name.. that’ll also sound weird?? FUCK! I can’t think of a pony name on the spot too! My brain isn’t capable enough for coming up with things on the spot! Just say you don’t remember. Just say it. Say it! SAY IT!

”Ahhhh, I uh… I can’t… I can’t remember.”
I quivered a bit, having my mind go crazy.
”What? Can’t remember? What kind of pony doesn’t remember their own name?”
”Granny, they’re the pony I helped to the hospital today. Their head got banged up pretty bad, so I don’t judge them.”
She looked over at me, which I was busy hugging the wall and inching closely to the table. I smiled again.
”They gonna stay here til’ morning so I can take ‘em to my friends that might help them more.”

”Oh well that’s nice dear. Come sit down, dinner is ready! AppleJack come help me please.”
”Course Granny! Go ahead and sit down wherever.”

She smiled at me and walked towards Granny Smith, helping her put the food on the table. I was a few inches away from the table, so I quickly pushed myself off the wall and walked forwards with my back legs to the closest chair, stumbled a bit, and plopped down in the chair.

Forgot BigMac was there, but he just closed his eyes and nodded, probably just a greeting from him. I nodded back. All the food was placed on the table, and AppleJack asked about how I passed out in the orchard. I just said I don’t remember. It seemed like they accepted that answer and just ate food. Guess they’ll accept anything that I’ll say, mostly because I guess I was knocked the fuck out.

When dinner was finished, I tried to help clean up the table, AppleJack ending up cleaning it up since I was the guest technically. She led me to the guest bedroom, which was of course apple themed, not much though, just earthy colors and whatnot.

”Heres the guest bedroom, bathroom is down the hall, and my room is just around the corner. If ya need anything don’t hesitate to ask! Have a good sleep!”

She smiled as she closed the door behind me. I was tired, remembering again that it was probably really early in the morning in my real world. I get under the covers of the bed. It was cozy, making my eyes start to close.

Maybe I’ll go to sleep and wake up in my actual bed. Wake up to Saturday morning.
This is all just a dream..

..Right?