I know I agreed to stay put until Applejack came to get me, but holy shit I’m bored. It looks like the sun is setting, so I know it’s been a few hours. I thought maybe I could use this time to figure out how to use my magic and I think I’ve gotten the hang of it, but the only thing I could really tinker with was Mage Hand or else I risked probably burning this barn down.

After playing 400 rounds of rock, paper, scissors with my mage hand I decided to do some people watching out the window. AJ wasn’t kidding when she said almost the entire Apple family tree was here. I think I counted at least 60 different ponies out and about. At some point I’m pretty sure I spotted a purple unicorn with a giant lizard which just about made me break my neck when I did a double take.

I remember Applejack mentioned unicorns, but I didn’t really think much of it. I can’t really tell what the difference is between unicorn and non-unicorn but considering magic was mentioned I’m guessing they’re the spellcaster subclass for ponies.

After the unicorn left I decided to just trance the time away and here I am. Strangely though, I don’t see anyone outside anymore… did the celebration start and she forgot about me?

Alright it’s officially dark outside I’m done waiting.

I start walking in the direction I saw the unicorn go when it left, there’s probably a town or something beyond all these apples. Sure enough, after walking past what feels like an endless sea of apple trees I crest over a hill and down below I can see a small village. There’s a stream of ponies walking and.. flying? Ok, I guess they have pegasus here too. They’re all going from what looks like a tree towards a tall building in the town center. Let’s see here if I can spot an orange mare with a cowboy hat on.

A familiar blue hue overtakes my vision as a single 20 sided die rolls into the air.

6.

Well I guess I’m not gunna find Applejack in this crowd then, haha. Had to roll bad at some point.

+9 Arcana.
15.

Everything fades away back to normal and before I can even question why the skill check was Arcana, I feel it. I faintly feel a tear of magic, and it’s incredibly far away. It had to be some serious power for me to feel it over here, but it doesn’t seem like any of the ponies felt it. I can’t tell if that’s a good thing or not.

Either way I need to keep moving, I don’t see Applejack in the stream of ponies so I’ll go check the tree they’re all coming out of to see if she’s still there.
“You’d plain spook everypony out there and cause a ruckus…” Her words echo in my mind as I approach the tree, maybe I should sneak in through the window. If I find her I can try and grab her attention with mage hand or something.

1. +6 Stealth. 23.

I’m impressed at how silently I’m managing to climb this tree right now, the leaves scattered about the branches are still and I’m able to distribute my weight across to prevent the branches themselves from moving. Just as I’m about to climb onto the balcony I hear someone talk and pause my next step.

“I hope the Princess wasright and it is just an old pony tale.”

“C’mon Twilight, it’s time to watch the sunrise!”

Taking a peak through a window it looks like the purple unicorn, Twilight, is concerned about something. She and the reptile are gone now though, so I slip through the balcony into the tree. Only to discover the tree is empty, I guess they were the last two to leave. One thing worth remembering is that apparently this tree is a library, if I’m gunna be around for more than a few days I should come educate myself on where I am. For now though I’m going to quietly follow Twilight and the other ponies to the town center and see if this Princess Celestia is there.

What the hell even is a summer sun celebration? Why is it happening at night? I feel like I’ve clearly missed something. Perhaps when the sun comes up is when the celebration actually begins?

This Princess will be able to help me right? No, no focus. I’ve been fighting off this panic for almost 24 hours.

The inside of this building definitely seems like it’s the right place. They have banners and streamers with the sun all over it and it looks like I see Applejack over on the side by the food. Sneaking onto the highest level looking down onto the main floor I decide to just wait here and observe.

An older looking regular pony comes on stage under the spotlight and proceeds to announce, “Fillies and gentlecolts, as mayor of Ponyville it is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the Summer Sun Celebration! In just a few moments our town will witness the magic of the sunrise and celebrate this, the longest day of the year. Now, it is my great honor to introduce to you the ruler of our land, the very pony who gives us the sun and the moon each and every day. The good, the wise, the bringer of harmony to all of Equestria, Princess Celestia!”

Wow, do all the ponies worship the princess this much? With all the praise in that introduction I wonder if the mayor smells anything other than shit all day.

The mayor points her forehoof to a big curtain that pulls back to reveal… an empty space?

She’s not here. She can’t help me. I’m never going home.

Panic. Panic. I feel my chest get tight when suddenly,

1. +9 Arcana. 26.

It’s the same magic from earlier but a lot closer this time. It’s almost nauseating how powerful it is. Is this the princess?

As if to answer my question a dark blue starry mist creeps and expands its way outwards onto the stage before coalescing into the largest pony I’ve seen so far. A deep jet black colored unicorn with wings, it appears to have on some type of helmet and armor piece around it’s chest. I mean this has to be the princess right? She’s tall and has all the qualities of the 3 different types of pony I’ve seen so far.

Feeling my panic settle down, I can finally hear what the ponies below are actually saying, “What did you do with our princess?!” a sky blue pegasus with rainbow mane yells out and seems like she actually attempts to charge at the large pony, who is apparently not the princess. The rainbow pegasus is held back by Applejack though for some reason. So, this large pony is not only not the princess, but she’s done something to her?

A new feeling starts to bubble up, it’s not the familiar feeling of panic, no, this is something new. It’s rage.

I grab my spellbook in my left hand and instantly decide what spell I want to use. My body instinctively acting on its own forms my right hand into a finger gun and as a small spark appears from the tip of my finger I yell out,

“Fire bolt!”

Tall, dark, and ominous snaps her head in my direction, but it’s too late. Time has frozen and I see something that makes me happier than I’ve been all day.

“ADVANTAGE.”
14 and a 20.... perfect.
“NATURAL 20.”

The dice fade away and are replaced by a single 10 sided die.

1. +10 Crit. 16 Fire Damage.

Time resumes and the fire bolt lands squarely between the ponies eyes causing her to flinch. She then glares at me and I’m hit by a shocking realization.

She doesn’t even have a scratch on her.

“Oh, I’m so fucked.”

Time freezes once again and all I see are three words.

“ROLL FOR INITIATIVE.”

Author's Note

I got hung up in the middle of this chapter for like 2 hours on and off and then I suddenly slammed out the last like 800 words, so if the back half of the chapter is worse than normal it's because I got struck by inspiration and was able to just crank out all of it in 1 go. Grammar corrections are welcomed by the way, I can't believe no one told me that Applejack is one word. For over 12 years I have thought her name was Apple Jack and I feel like a complete fool.

Anyways, we get our first taste of combat soon. Sorry for the cliffhanger.