Supposed Insanityby Ryan DarlingChaptersPrisonWaitingStill LearningSuspicionsInvestigationsPlanningExpositionFleeting HopeEscapeTerrance's ViewA letter of ThanksPrisonFunny... It seems that only a few weeks ago I was at home with my family, talking about our days as we did every so often. My brother of the test he passed, my mother of her day with her friends shopping. Finally my father of the new policies he had written for his workers. He seemed very proud of himself. When the conversation came around to me, the only thing I had to talk about was the day I had spent in Equestria. "Ryan... Honey, we know that this show is important to you. But it's not real. I'm worried that you're taking this a little too seriously." My mother tells me. Her words go unheard. I'm not one to be easily discouraged. My father is frustrated with me. This is at least the fifth time I've brought up 'My Little Pony' and his patience was wearing. His words had more of an effect. "Carol, don't even try to sweet talking him! He has a serious problem. Ryan you have a serious problem. This is all you ever talk about anymore. You don't have any friends and you are always in your room! The only time we ever see you is for meals!" I come out of my trance and all of my attention is focused on my father and his judgmental words. I am almost gleaming hate at him, i'm not breaking eye contact, i'm not blinking. I feel as if he had just personally attacked me over something he doesn't even understand. I don't show any patience for him either. "Dad, I do have friends. Twilight Sparkle, AppleJack, Rainbow Das-" "RYAN!! THEY ARE FICTIONAL CHARACTERS FROM A CHILD'S TELEVISION SHOW!!" I can't believe this. He cuts me off mid sentence just to tell me that my closest friends are nonexistent. They are my friends. I am able to see them everyday thanks to a special skill I call 'Traveling'. Neither my parents nor my brother have seen me 'Travel' so that's probably why it's so hard to believe me. Basically, I'm able to move myself from this universe, to that of Equestria. Yesterday I stopped by Sugarcube Corner to talk to Pinkie Pie and sample some of her cooking. She was very enthusiastic about my arrival. She told me she was waiting all day for me. It was heart warming to see that at least one person, or pony rather, enjoyed my company. "So what are we doing today Pinkie?" I ask her. "Well, I made some extra super special pie crust yesterday and I wanted to try it with a new filling Mrs. Cake showed me to see if it was good or not, okay?" I nodded my head in agreement and followed her into the bakery. After about ten minutes of preparation, the pie was completed and was ready for it's taste test. She cut a slice out of the pie, placed it on a plate, then shoved it my way. I was still getting used to eating off of the table. I couldn't very well pick up the plate because of my hooves. Yes, once I 'Travel' here, I am a pony. I'd say it's very neat, but it is still strange having to deal with walking on four legs and not having fingers. But I am surrounded by loving ponies at almost every moment, so that complaint seldom occurs to me. Anyway... The pie was stupendous and I thanked Pinkie for the time she spent with me. I had to leave again. I realized that every time I 'Traveled' I had a certain amount of time until I had to leave again. Once it was time to leave, I would experience a tingling sensation down my spine and it would only become more and more intense the longer I stayed. I learned that I had to leave at this point because, the one time I stayed, I felt horrible excruciating pain all throughout my body. It felt like being crushed and stabbed to death at the same time. Horrible, simply horrible. I return home feeling just fine and am happy both because of the relief from the horrible pain and the fact that I am associated with the mane six! It was such an ecstatic sensation. But as the expression goes, "All good things must come to an end." Which in my case, was pretty abruptly brought to an end. Although, not entirely. I could still 'Travel' there where ever I was at any time. But anyway, apparently I had talked of my experiences in Equestria one too many times and my parents were done with it. They assumed that I was "mentally insane". It was too realistic for me and I couldn't get over something that wasn't real. Such an enclosed perception of the wonders of the universe. Idiots! I was, about a week later, instituted into the Harbor Oaks Hospital for the mentally ill. I felt like I was nothing to them anymore. They ran out of patience for me and decided to just throw me away like a broken watch that wouldn't keep time no matter how many times you "fixed" the gears. This is where I currently stand. I am in a white room with a single lonely window on the opposite wall. It lets light in, but it's too high to see out of. I am in colorless clothing and lace-less shoes.My bed is a single mattress with a single pillow and a thin sheet. I am definitely not insane, and I don't think that many other people would consider me insane either. I just think I was given some of the most impatient and least understanding parents ever conceived. Well, I'm not complaining. I have time to myself.(Almost more than I wanted) But it was still nice. The lack of human interaction allowed me to better and more oftentimes 'Travel'. I was almost always in Equestria. More specifically, Ponyville. I am just glad that there were no cameras in my room. The 'disappearing patient' might cause some of the workers here to end up in the same place I was. Funny how that works out. The pills though. They are the only downside to being here. I can't concentrate once I've taken them. I am a living corpse when I'm on them. I don't move very much. I don't say anything. I even breathe slower. The only reason I know this is because one of the nurses didn't even try to hide them in my food today. Apparently, they have been crushing them into a fine powder and mixing them into my oatmeal. Today around lunch time, I was given my oatmeal and sure enough, there were the pills sitting right on the surface of my soupy meal. I decided not to eat today. WaitingIt's gotten rather hard to sustain myself on almost no food. My thinking has been clearer but I experience hunger pangs every so often. They will occasionally cut my concentration. Once the nurses have given me my meal, I hide it under my mattress. (I realize, not the best place but where else could I put it?) Once it's out of sight, walk back to the door and say that i'm still hungry. They will occasionally give me an apple or two. Though they are misshapen and bruised, it's better than nothing. I decide that "Nap time" is as good a time as any to 'Travel' again. I concentrate long and hard about where I want to go. Equestria, Ponyville, Twilight's library. My destination is set and I am ready to leave. I close my eyes and relax, thinking only of my expected surroundings once I arrive. I feel myself being whisked out of my chair, as if a group of people lifted me up all at once. I then feel speed. I am moving rapidly through whatever dimension I 'Travel' through to get to Equestria. Like being on a roller coaster, but one that is peaceful. Then, as quickly as it started, it stops. I open my eyes and i'm back in Equestria. Twilight's library, best source of knowledge anywhere! I notice my orange hooves and my yellow mane again, my cutie mark, which I missed! I missed everything! I feel pretty happy right now. That is, until i'm sent head first into one of the many book shelves. When I get back up, I'm not hurt or bleeding but a little dizzy. Apparently Twilight had been levitating some books over to this shelf and I happened to be in her blind spot. "Oh! I'm sorry Ryan, I didn't see you!" She's very polite when she apologizes. "No, no. It's my fault. I should have chosen a more open area to appear in. I'm okay anyway." I subtly brought a hoof up to caress the back of my head, hoping she wouldn't notice. "So, what are you doing around here?" I ask her. She picks up few books with her magic and stacks on top of a much larger pile on the opposite side of the room. I've always been fascinated with how they could do that. I, myself, was a Pegasus. No point in asking for magic lessons. "I was just going to re-alphabetize the library with a little help from Spike." Spike was unconscious on one of the stair cases. I hadn't noticed him until she mentioned him. With the sleeping dragon and the colossal amount of books left to sort, I offer my assistance. "How would you like these arranged?" I ask. Twilight looks around the room at the many hundreds of book shelves. After a few moments of quiet thinking, she spins around and directs me. "I want these books-" She points her hoof at a large pile across the room. "Organized in A-Z order, and I need them ordered by color on those three book shelves!" She finishes pointing towards some shelves upstairs. This must be exciting for her. She's smiling and skipping around like she just one the lottery. Even though she wouldn't know what that is. "Alright. I'll take care of it!" I am enthusiastic about helping her. She has been very kind and hospitable these past few months. I had explained the predicament I have to face back in my world, and she was so understanding. I love these ponies! About three hours later, I have finished my book shelf organization. "Hey, Twilight! I'm done!" Twilight teleports herself up to me and I jump back. It always scares me! "Good job Ryan! If you're still able to help me I have to organize my scrolls." I am about to answer when I get the tingling sensation again. "Sorry, Twilight. I have to leave for a while. Is that okay?" She nods. "Yes, I can finish here by myself. I was just giving you something to do to keep you from getting bored." Well I certainly wasn't bored! I can't believe how difficult that was! This make Trigonometry look like a game! "Alright then. See you later." I say farewell and trot out of the library. The tingling has become more of a burning now, so I need to leave quickly. I go through the 'Traveling' process again and land on my bed in the mental institute. Hurray! Back to misery! I sit there for a few moments. The tingling is gone, so I try to 'Travel' again. But before I can... "Ryan? You have visitors." The door swings open and my family is let in. Like I really want to see them! They stand there for a few seconds until the nurses come in with a few folding chairs. My family sits down and the nurses close the door. Silence fills the room as the tension from our stares at each other does most of the talking. "Ryan?" My mother speaks. "We miss you honey... We didn't want to have to do this, but you didn't seem like you knew the difference between reality and fiction. We want you to come home. We forgive you." I am instantly enraged. Pure seething hate erupts from my mouth as I speak. "YOU FORGIVE ME!!! I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG!!! YOU ARE SUCH HORRIBLE PEOPLE! LOCK YOUR OLDEST SON IN A MENTAL INSTITUTE BECAUSE HE SAYS HE CONSIDERS THE CHARACTERS FROM A SHOW TO BE HIS FRIENDS!!" My father tries to say something and I stop him before he can. "DON'T YOU EVEN DARE TRY SAYING ANYTHING TO ME! YOU ARE THE VERY WORST PEOPLE I HAVE EVER HAD THE MISFORTUNE OF DEALING WITH!!" My mother has tears in her eyes while my father wears an angry expression. My brother just sits in his chair twiddling his thumbs. "I WANT YOU OUT OF THIS ROOM, I WANT YOU AWAY FROM THIS HOSPITAL, AND I WANT YOU OUT OF MY LIFE!!!" My family can see the rage in my eyes and my message finally gets across. They immediately get up and leave. Really that's what I was waiting for. My father gives me a hateful glare, my brother looks at me blankly, and my mother can't even face me. Once they are gone, I sit back down on my bed, and sob bitterly. I'm just glad that none of my friends in Equestria can see me like this. Still LearningThat whole talk with them. Every word that was said. They burnt like fire. I can't believe that they could be so naive. Saying they forgive me! I was completely dumbfounded by their incompetence. I didn't lock myself in here! They are complete and utter idiots! I try to calm myself down a bit, I slow my breathing some and I close my eyes. It doesn't even matter. I don't need them, and they don't need me so just forget about it. I try to focus back on Equestria again. I think I'll visit the Cutie Mark Crusaders. They're such nice fillies! It is so wonderful just to listen to them talk about the day they have planned. I relaxed myself again and concentrated on my destination. Knock, knock, knock. What now!? "Ryan? It's time for your examination." Examination? They didn't say anything about examinations when I was instituted here. Must be a weekly thing. A quite tall man dressed entirely in white entered the room. He almost blended in with the rest of his surroundings. He was wearing a small pair of glasses at the tip of his nose. The man had rather long, black hair and he wore an expression of disgust when he looked at me. "Hello, Ryan. How are we feeling today?" He had no emotion in his voice, like that of a computer program. "Good." I was short with him. I felt both confusion and anger for I didn't know why he was here and he didn't seem to want to have to deal with me, which was also pretty offensive. He held in his right hand, a pen and in his left, a clipboard with various papers stuck to it. "I am going to ask you a few questions. Is that alright?" He didn't care whether I minded or not. I could tell by his almost tired voice. I nodded and he scribbled something on his pad then flipped the page. "Do you feel that these... er, uh, ponies? Do you feel that they are your friends?" I took a minute before answering just to analyze him. He didn't give of good vibes. The feeling you get when you know someone is going to hurt you. That was all I felt. "Yes, I do. They are the kindest friends I've ever known." He looked back down to his clip board and wrote something down again. "Have you seen them? The ponies?" I become scared. If I say that I am able to 'Travel' there, they might install a camera. "Yes." "When?" "In my dreams." Good save. He writes some more notes down and flips another page. The man clicks his pen and looks up at me. He gives a sarcastic smile. "I trust that you've been eating your daily meals?" I give a more... confused expression. What kind of question is that? I simply nod and he nods back. "Good. Enjoy the rest of your day." Yeah, nothing better than being locked in a small blank cube all day. Should be tons of fun! He leaves and I am alone again. Finally! I get back into my little trance and focus on the clubhouse. Cutie Mark Crusader's clubhouse..... I open my eyes and I'm there. I am very happy right now, back where I am cared for. "RYAN!" The CMC shouted in unison. The most precious sound you could ever here is those three girls calling your name. I turn to greet them. "Hey girls! How are you?" They're each wearing an enormous smile. I assume something exciting is planned, or more realistically, something they shouldn't be doing. Fun! Scootaloo was the first to speak. "Zecora told us about some awesome sounding weird creatures in the EverFree Forest!" Apple Bloom took over. "So, the three of us were gonna go try to catch some of 'em!" Sweetie Belle finished. "But Rarity and Apple Jack said it was too dangerous and that we needed an adult to go with us. But they said they wouldn't come." The three all looked up to me with their eyes, glistening and their smiles, wide. I gave a smirk. "You're wanting me to take you, aren't you?" I asked, already knowing the answer. "Plllllleeeeaaaaassssee??" They spoke in unison. It was the most adorable sound ever. But I might have offended Scootaloo if I said they were cute. I agreed to go and they responded with their chant. "CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS, CREATURE CATCHERS! YAAAAAAY!!!!" It was the first time that I've ever heard them do that with my own ears. Man did it hurt! Cute but painfully loud. They sped back inside the clubhouse and grabbed some supplies. I was told to just wait outside for them, and I didn't very much mind. They reemerged with a few duffle bags of various tools and instruments for catching their creatures. The EverFree Forest... I have never had a good look at it from the inside. I am always told to stay away from the forest because of the weird things that go on within it's premises. The truth is, it's not much different from the forests back on Earth. The clouds move on their own, the plants grow, and there are strange animals that we don't know much about. Sounds familiar. The girls were up ahead of me looking around at the trees and plants. The woods were still creepy, don't get me wrong, but It isn't as creepy as ponies say it is. They stopped suddenly. "Girls. What's wr-" "SSSSHHHHH!" The three cut me off. They had obviously spotted an animal. Scootaloo motioned for Apple Bloom. She pulled a net out of her bag and gave it to the orange filly. Sweetie Belle sat her bag on the ground and unzipped it. Underneath was a large metal mishmash of random parts. She picked it up and pulled a few gears on it. Rearranged it and sat it upright. A net launcher! These girls were serious about catching something! Scootaloo put the net inside the cannon and Sweetie Belle prepped it to be fired, while Apple Bloom sat at the controls with her hoof over the fire button. I only watched. The creature was still. Scootaloo tossed a whistle at me and said to get the animal close enough to catch. I blew the whistle and the targeted creature instantly reacted. It squawked and flew towards us. It looked gargantuan in size! It got closer and closer when suddenly. "FIRE!!" Sweetie Belle commanded. Apple Bloom immediately slammed down on the button and the net was sent flying through the air and wrapped around the creature. A thump was heard, which told the girls that they were successful. The three of them ran over to their catch which was pinned to a tree. A simple toucan. "DARN IT!!!" They pouted. "I thought we caught some big 'ol monster or somethin'!" Apple Bloom admitted. The net was tangled in the branches and was unable to be unknotted, so we had to cut the bird out. The Cutie Mark Crusaders decided not to keep the toucan. "That was our only net!" Scootaloo was very disappointed. I tried to cheer them up. "Hey don't worry about it! I'll show you girls how to make a net from a few ropes. That way, you don't have to go buy a new one every time." They seemed to like the idea. "REALLY!?!?" "Sure." We headed back to the clubhouse. Sadly I had began to fell the tingling around the time of cutting the net down. Now, it was burning and I couldn't hold out much longer. "Sorry, girls. I have to go." They all let out a simultaneous 'awww'. I apologized and continued out the door as I did. "Wait!" Apple Bloom stopped me. "Ah have somethin' for ya!" She runs back inside and comes out with a bag of about four apples. "I had Granny Smith pick the best apples out of the bunch for ya!" It was tear jerking. "Thank you." I patted her on the head and said goodbye to the three of them. I focused back on the mental institute. Then I was back. Again, I had a short blissful moment. This was such an extraordinary gift I had. Apple Bloom is such a sweet little filly! The sparkle in her eye when she handed me her apples. Such a sweet g-... I froze. In the shock and awe I stared at what lied next to me. Sitting on my pillow to my side was the bag of apples. "Well... That's new." SuspicionsThis is amazing! Here, in my hand, I held something that existed in an alternate universe. My mind was buzzing with questions. How did I get this here? How long have I been able to do this? Could I do it again? Complete and utter amazement! But immense confusion as well. Maybe... I just need to be touching something before I 'Travel' in order to take it with me. Maybe. Ha! I talk as if I'll be able to keep anything in here! There are daily inspections between five and six o' clock. The same man is sent into my room every week to ask me the same questions, including 'Have you been eating your daily meals?' That was a very unsettling question. I figured that if I were to act as if I were a zombie, that may relieve some tension from that subject. So that's what I'll do. The apples were delicious. I ate them for my lunch and dinner one day, the bag is in my pillow case. I hope to God that they don't search anything in or around my bed, or more specifically, my pillow. Security is surprisingly tight for an institute ran almost completely by computer. Still no camera. Hallelujah! My time in Equestria was shortened. This was a problem but at least I could still go there. Today the man entered my room again. I now believe his name is Terrance. "Hello, Ryan. How are we doing today?" He has asked me this question at least five times since I've been here. Read off the same paper, in the same tone, on the same day every week. "Good...Just like every other time you've asked me this question." I was irritated by this entire session. "I'm going to ask you a few questions. Is that alright?" Why, oh why was he asking this one again? "Yes let's get on with it." He flipped through a few papers on his clipboard. "Do you feel that these ponies are your friends?" This was getting tiresome. "Yes, my closest and most precious friends. Next." His expression didn't change, he seemingly ignored me. "Have you seen these ponies?" Does this guy have memory loss or something?! "Yes, in my dreams for the umpteenth time!" A few papers are flipped and he looks back up. "I trust that you've been eating your daily meals?" I am becoming angry that he is still in the room. I only nod. He again nods and turns to leave. But before he does... "You've honestly been eating your food?" This is the first time he's asked me twice in the same session. I am very uncomfortable right now. They really must want those pills in my system! But why? I reassure him. "Yes, if I didn't eat then I'd starve." He gives an emotionless smirk and leaves. Strange... Today I enjoyed a slice of the Cake's legendary desert. The 'MMMM'! The best part? I ate it on Earth! I've mastered the ability of moving inanimate objects from Equestria to Earth. The cake was superb in every way. I actually think that they under exaggerated it's taste in the show. It was far beyond comprehension. It had never occurred to me to even try to take something with me. It's amazing that I can, but I feel pretty stupid for not realizing or even trying it earlier. Oh well. All of the past times that Pinkie has offered a pastry to take with me or Twilight, a book, I have always turned it down because I had to go. Now I simply take it with me! Very nice. "Alright! Now try a corkscrew!" Rainbow Dash commanded. I adjusted my wings and pushed my self downward, then began to spin myself in circles. A Rainbow Dash corkscrew consisted of at least five spins before pulling up and posing. I did three and crashed into the cloud floor. I quickly jumped back up onto my feet before Rainbow Dash landed in front of me. "Still needs some work... But it's an improvement." I am flattered. Any complement from Rainbow Dash, no matter how sarcastic it sounded, was appreciated. I had been taking lessons from her for a while now. I could fly for as long as I wanted, and could raise and lower myself. Still, I wasn't race quality, but at least I wasn't slow in her eyes. Which was enough for me. "Thanks Rainbow. These lessons have been very helpful." She smiles. "No problem. Thanks for those books. That Stephen King guy is pretty good!" I chuckle. Rainbow Dash may be a daredevil, but she has a very intelligent side as well. She had a lot to say, all you had to do was talk to her. Apparently ponies don't talk with her very often. Unfortunate. But, that's why I was there today. "Well, I have to go. Thanks again for the lessons today." She smiled and nodded. I responded in kind and flew back down to Ponyville. The reason that I left was that I had promised Apple Jack some help on the farm. Zap Apple season and I was here for it! I could only wonder what they would taste like. I was doing very good for myself today. Two hours and not even a slight tingling! We had harvested the apples from almost every tree. The few apples that were left disappeared like they always do. It was pretty fascinating to watch them vanish, but not so much that you'd just watch it happen. I was shown how to make deserts and pastries that I didn't even know existed, and the ones I did know of where ten times better than I expected. It was a lot of fun baking with the Apple family. But around half way through making, I think our third pie? The tingling set in again. I approached Apple Jack and informed her that I had to leave again. "Here." She began. "Take a couple a pies with ya." She put a few mini Zap apple pies into a small box for me. The mare also put a few of the apples in a bag and handed them of to me. I thanked her and left. I thought to myself that the next time I'm here I should see if Twilight knows of any ways to extend my visiting time. But for now I had to leave. My attention is put on the sad white room I'm forced to stay in and I am taken there. I still have all the deserts and fruit I was given and they are immediately put under my pillow. The box was very small, therefore easy to hide. I sat down and pulled a Zap apple out from my bag. I took a bite... Oh my God! This had to have been magic! I felt more alive just eating it. The texture was like a normal apple but the taste was that of angle food cake and fudge. Only it wasn't overly sweet, it still made you want another bite. Simply amazing! Knock, Knock, Knock. I was in complete shock. I had no way of explaining the apples or the pies! I had nothing! My mind was racing with possible solutions. 'The nurse gave it to me.' No, someone would deny it. 'I made it.' How?! 'I am able to travel to an alternate universe with the power of my mind.' Don't even joke like that! Nothing seemed to be the right answer... THAT'S IT!! When in doubt, act delusional! I hid as much as I could under my pillow, leaving out only the apple I was eating and one other. The nurses entered the room. All of them instantly noticed the strange multi-colored fruit I held in my hand. "Where did you get that?!" One asked. She seemed scared of it. "What?" "The apple!" I looked at her with tired eyes. "What apple?" "The apple you're holding!" I blinked at her, then slowly tilted my head down towards the fruit in question. "(gasp)!! How did... What is... What.. Who put this here?" I laughed at the half eaten apple. The nurses all gave a simultaneous grunt at what seemed to be another patient who was completely out of it. They took my apples and searched the room. Fortunately, staying away from my bed. Once they had finished, they left and Terrance entered the room. It wasn't a Tuesday... He shouldn't be here. "Ryan. How are you?" I looked at him with the world's blankest stare. ".....Good....." He smiled and turned to leave. But, again, stopped at the door. "Those apples... They must have been good... But you're still eating your daily meals I hope." I nod very slowly, giving him a look of slight disgust. "Good. Enjoy your day." He shuts the door behind himself. InvestigationsThe doctors repeatedly bring up the subject of my food. Why is it so important that I have to have those pills? The workers here, every time they ask me about the food, they are in a dead serious mood. Almost as if I stopped taking my pills that they would pay for it. I noticed that I've been getting my oatmeal in larger portions as well. I think they're catching on to me. The inspections have been moved from once every other week to twice every three days. They same questions are asked, just more often and the question of whether or not I'm eating my food becomes more and more serious. 'Did you eat your food?' Yes. 'Are you sure you've been eating your food?' Yes. 'You need to be eating your food.' I have been. But the questions just keep coming. Today, the oatmeal was given to me along with some toast and a granola bar. The toast smelled strange and the granola had a very oily substance on it, so I can only assume that they were drugged also. I have only one Zap apple pie left and it isn't even lunch time. I'm gonna have to go get some food from Pinkie or something. Just not right now. I've been able to time my inspections, they last only about three minutes and the occur at about five o' clock. It was a quarter to five so I didn't bother 'Traveling'. Five thirty. No nurses, no doctors. Maybe there wasn't an inspection today. Upon that note, I relaxed and focused on Equestria. The world began to fade just as- Knock, Knock, Knock! Every time I try to leave! I slouch on my bed and ready myself for more stupid questions and another unnecessary search. Two female nurses enter the room. The taller and older of the two spoke first. "Hello, Ryan. We're just going to take you to go get a simple blood test." She spoke slowly as if not to alarm me or she thought I was stupid. "Alright." I say. The younger nurse steps away from the door and motions for me to leave. I get up and walk out of the room, the two nurses walk with me. One on either side. We pass many other rooms. I didn't get to see much when I was first put in here. Inside each room is a patient of a different mental disorder. One of a schizophrenic disorder launched himself against the door to his room as I passed by. He startled me. We rounded a corner and stood in front of a small metal door. It seemed very old, do to the corrosion on it's face. We entered and a dirty looking table was under a large circular light. They sat me down on the table but didn't strap me down. That was a load off. I thought something of some horrible nature was going to happen. So far, so good. The younger of the two nurses took a sample of my blood and handed it over to the older one. Who then mixed it with some chemicals. My blood was turning all sorts of shades of blue and green. "Thank you, Ryan. I'll take you back to your room now." The younger nurse again motioned for me to leave the room. The older one stayed behind to mess with my blood. Interesting and frightening at the same time. When we arrived back at my room, the nurse closed the door behind me and locked it. I walk over and sit back down on my bed. Back to 'Traveling'. I am about to 'Travel' to Fluttershy's cottage, but before I can I am struck with a more serious thought. They are testing my blood! They are going to see that I don't have any of that drug in my system and they're going to do something. Something bad, I can feel it. I need to get some help. "What do ya think they're gonna do to ya?" Apple Jack wore an expression concern. "I'm thinking along the lines of electroshock therapy." I spoke in a defeated manor. I was going to be taken away from my friends and there wasn't a lot I could do about it. Rainbow offered some support. "Don't worry Ryan. We'll figure out a way out of this!" I gave a weak smile that almost instantly faded. Twilight was in the back of the room writing something. "I'm sorry that this is happening, Ryan. I hope we can help." Fluttershy was very kind. But she apologized for everything as if it were her fault. "No need to apologize, Fluttershy. It's not your fault." It seemed as if I had just taken a load off of her mind. Pinkie Pie walked up to me. "Sooooo, what are we going to do?" She asked, still retaining that ecstatic attitude. I glanced over at Twilight again who was now having Spike send whatever she had just written. Rarity was about to speak but Twilight interrupted. "I've just told the princess of your predicament. She should write back any-" BELCH! Spike handed Twilight the note. She skimmed through the message. Her lips were slightly mouthing each word as she read them. "The princess is coming." "-and now I think they're going to do something rash." The princess had been listening in at the edge of her seat since she arrived. She took a moment to gather her thoughts before speaking. "I understand. This is a very significant problem." She was not at all concentrated with hiding her concern. I made me feel both grateful and worried. She must have appreciated my company to show so much emotion, and if Celestia was concerned about it then it must have been really bad! "Do you have any idea of how to address this problem?" I thought for a minute. "I have no idea at all. I am able to come here but I am not able to stay for very long without experiencing immense pain." She gave a quiet grunt. But then her eyes lit up. "Believe it or not, Ryan. But you are not the first one to have this ability." My eyes widened. "Yes. Centuries ago, another human visited here by the same means. He too suffered the same pain from prolonged exposure to the world we live in. But he worked as what he called, an engineer back in his world. He developed a machine that could transport matter from one place to another, permanently!" I was enveloped in her speech. This could be the solution I was looking for! PlanningShe told me of a remarkable device. A teleportation pad. One built here and one back on Earth. She spoke of how it's location back on Earth was hidden, because the previous user wanted no one of impure intentions to enter Equestria. Celestia told me that all I had to do was make it to that pad and I'd be home free. Exciting! I was given the location of the pad in my mind. The princess pretty much printed a map onto my brain. So to speak. This was all well and good but there was still one major problem.... How was I to get out of the hospital? "We will help you." The princess offered. I was delighted that they were offering me so much. "We'll show you some of our moves so you won't get into trouble!" Rainbow Dash seemed ecstatic about this escape. Although it was dangerous. But I suppose she's not a dare devil for nothing. So we began training. Apple Jack taught me how to cock my legs back and launch them forward for the most devastating kick. One that would leave my opponents gasping for air. Rainbow Dash showed me a sort of upper cut that would knock my enemies unconscious in as little as one hit. Over at Pinkie's, I was shown how to talk my way out of a situation, in case I was caught and wasn't ready to fight. At Twilight's library, I was given the ability to make one person side with me... Hypnosis, almost. But she warned that I would only be able to do this once so I would have to save it for an emergency. Rarity and Fluttershy simply wished me good luck. I was going to need it. This hospital, I've noticed, has recently gotten almost twice as much security detail from as little as three weeks ago! Whatever they know, it must be serious... Truth be told, I was scared. This was dangerous, if not, life threatening. I was running through there blind with only my fists and a map in my head. Not very much... I was not sure about the plan we had set up so I told them of a back up. If I didn't arrive through the teleporter in two days, they were to come get me out of there. The six of them, along with Celestia agreed and gave me reassuring smiles as I left. I was at this point beyond afraid. I feared that this would be the last time that I saw them. Fear and sadness were my primary feelings when I returned to Earth. Knock, Knock, Knock. Well, this is it. "Ryan? You have a visitor." Oh... Hopefully this doesn't ruin the plan. The nurse opened the door fully and my mother was let into the room. Unfortunately... "Ryan. I'm sorry about what I said the last time I was here. I know that it was wrong of me." She said. "It was beyond wrong! It was selfish! You lock me up in the nut house because I talk of something you don't understand and then you come back and expect me to apologize!?" She shed a tear or two, then wiped her face clean as she continued. "I know. It was completely our fault, not yours. We were not supportive of you and we truthfully didn't understand. And I think... We didn't want to understand." This was different. My mother was actually being genuine. "I just..." She balled for a moment or two, then regained her composure. "I just, wanted you to be normal. To know that my son was normal. It was hard for me to see that you don't have to be the same as the others. I see that now though." She almost asked me the last part. As if she could have said instead, "Are you buying any of this?" I wasn't. "Ryan. I know now that you can't control this condition of yours. You see these animals and you can't help but talk about them, because that's all you have around you." Now I was offended again. It was a genuine apology up until this point. Now, instead of being mad for acting crazy, she thinks I'm full blown insane. "Mom. I am very happy that we had this talk." Sarcasm was dripping from my lips as I spoke. "It was a very insightful conversation. Now get out." She began to cry again. Whatever. After about five minutes of her crying in front of me trying to get me to pity her, she left. Finally! But, with her departure came Terrance's arrival. Not again! Not the same questions again! He again pulled out his little chair and sat down in front of me. "Hello, Ryan. I'm going to ask you a few questions. Is that okay?" I was paying almost no attention. But, even though I didn't answer, he went on. "Do you think of these ponies as your friends?" This was completely unnecessary. The same questions? Right down to the punctuation. THE SAME QUESTIONS?! "Yes. I. Do." I wanted to emphasize every word in case he forgot again. He looked me strait in the eye for a moment, as if he were analyzing me, then wrote something on his clipboard. "When do you see them? The ponies?" Well now I was completely out of patience for him. I answered. But I wanted to be sure that he wouldn't forget what I said this time. "Now, I know I've said this before, but I'm going to say it again. This time I will speak slowly and clearly for you, so that you won't be confused and have to come ask me the same set of questions again. IN..... MY....... DREAMS........" His expression didn't change and he wasn't at all fazed by what I had just said. He simply looked down at his clipboard again and wrote something down. I slouched on my bed. This stupid little quiz show was driving me crazy and I just wanted him to stop. Or at the very least, to ask some different questions! The same ones over and over again were just painful to hear. Terrance wrote a few more sentences down and flipped the page. Then continued to write. Currently, I am sitting in my sad little prison room with a strange man in front of me just writing. I can't 'Travel'. I can't get up. He won't leave. He scribbles notes on different sections of his paper then stops abruptly. He cocks his head up and looks me strait in the eye with a hateful glare. I am extremely confused. Then, after a few moments of just staring at me, he speaks... "Why haven't you been eating your food?" My heart stops at the very instant those words leave his mouth. Exposition"Uhh..." I had no idea at all of how to respond to him. "I...uhh... What do you mean?" I was horrified. They had figured me out! "Oh, I think you know exactly what I mean." He was staring at me. Monitoring me like a security camera. "Wh-what? What are you talking about?" I was only prolonging the inevitable. They were going to do something. Whatever it may be, they were going to do it. "I just told you... I know what you've been doing..." I only stared at him with an expression of pure fear plastered onto my face. I ask him again. "Wh-What have I been doing?" "Well, as you know, we took a sample from your blood." He paused to gather his thoughts. Probably to make it seem as scary as possible. "And from your blood sample, we found no trace of our drug in your system. Which is a problem." Terrance paused again. This time he spoke with a more angry tone. "From that evidence.... We concluded that you are still able to get to Equestria. Because of the fact that your brain activity is functioning at optimal speed. This drug is supposed to slow it down." I was frozen where I sat. HOW IN THE WIDE WORLD OF WONDERS DID HE KNOW ABOUT EQUESTRIA!?! I resorted to playing dumb. I was desperate. "What is Eekesta?" He chuckled at me. Apparently I was a pretty bad actor. "You know very well what Equestria is. You have to, because you still 'Travel' there." This is a worst case scenario. This would go against every part of the plan. I gave up the act and instead tried to figure him out. "Okay... How do you know about Equestria?" I barely got the whole sentence out before he answered. "About, three hundred years ago, ancestors of mine were dedicated to keeping the multiverse in tact. Your constant jumping from universe to universe has begun to take a toll on the fabric of reality." I raised an eyebrow. "Oh, don't worry. Nothing noticeable has occurred yet. But we are going to stop you before something does." He seemed much more sinister at this point. The room grew darker with every word. "What do you mean, 'Stop me'?" He chuckled again. "Well we are going to render your so called 'gift' completely useless." Now I knew the meaning of horror. In a sad act of desperation, I made a break for it. It was left open when Terrance came in so I thought it was my only option at this point. The very second I was past the door frame, I was confronted with two bulky guards blocking my path. I hadn't noticed them, the entire time I was sitting at my bed. Instead of simply shoving me back into the room, they tased me. Excruciating by the way. The world around me faded to black... I hope they don't kill me.... I awoke in the same room that they had taken my blood. I was on the table again, strapped down this time. About three other nurses were in the room. Along with Terrance. The nurses prepped some syringes with some murky liquid inside, while Terrance rubbed the sides of my head with a gelatinous substance. "Ahh! You're awake." Terrance was fully smiling now. "Ugh... What's going on?" I was confused as to where I was. But I knew exactly what was going on. "Didn't I tell you? We are going to take away your ability to leave this universe." He gave me an excited smile as he rummaged through some supplies just out of my field of vision. "Why are you even concerned about my ability?!" He was almost angered by my words. "We've known of your skills for as long as you've been here! You are tearing at the fabric of reality and you must be stopped. Like I said, my ancestors tried to put a stop to another 'Traveler' and failed! I will not do the same! You see, years ago when my great, great, great, great, gr- well you get the idea. My grandfather built this place. When he did, his intentions where not at all about helping the mentally ill or doing good work... It was for stopping your kind! Your kind needs to be disposed of, so that the rest of us can live in harmony!" He was angry and only getting angrier. "You don't need to do anything rash! I won't leave this universe anymore, I swear!" I figured, if I'm going to be living in Equestria permanently, then I won't need to 'Travel' anymore. He only laughed at me. "Like I can take your word for it?!" He stressed the sarcasm. Terrance pulled up two small pads at the ends of a couple of wires. Then pressed them together and an electric current was visible. Electroshock Therapy.... I knew it! So I am in a completely hopeless situation. "You are never going to see your friends again! You are never going to leave this place again! And you will never... BRING DISHONOR TO MY FAMILY'S NAME AGAIN!" He laughed in my face. I struggled to get out of my binds, but they only grew tighter. I didn't care about how badly I was being burned by the straps grinding against my skin... I needed out! Desperation filled me as I frantically shook myself as if I were having a seizure. My struggles were abruptly put to rest by the pain of a needle sticking me in the arm. I cocked my head to the side, only to be greeted by a large male nurse with a needle gun clenched in his right hand. I figured that the liquid would knock me unconscious again...Not the case. I wasn't able to move any of my limbs. I was now absolutely terrified. Terrance put the two metal pads together again, to show me the electricity passing between them. My breathing became erratic. My eyes darted back and forth between the pads and the crazed look in Terrance's eyes. He touched them to the sides of my head. "GAAAAAHAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" My body convulsed and spasmed as much as it could underneath the restraints. Terrance then let off for a moment for some reason. In my dizziness, I saw that he was only pumping up the juice on the machine. Again... "GAAAAAAAAHAHAHHHHHHHHHHH!! AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!" "Trust me, Ryan! This will help you forget!" He does it again. Fleeting HopeToday, I woke in my bed as usual. Nothing special about that. But, once awake, a nurse came in and gave me my shot. Two horrible things have happened since only yesterday. One, they are giving me my medication in the form of a shot. Two, even if I could gather the strength to 'Travel', I wouldn't be able to... They installed a camera. The nurse was as rough as ever, jabbing the needle into my arm, pulling the trigger and ripping it out again. I'm just glad that the shot isn't near any arteries or veins of importance. With his accuracy, I could be dead right now. The questions are almost constant now. Terrance comes in and asks me what I've done all day. I say 'I've just sat and waited' he smiles. But I can't complain entirely... He asks different questions now. I'm not able to make a lot of progress in anything. When I'm being talked to, I will sometimes forget that someone is in the room with me. Or if I'm eating, I will sometimes drop my oatmeal and wonder why the nurses threw food at me. This is not any way to live. Terrance has taken 'Avenging the ancestors' too far. In my eyes, at least. Most people would be happy in these conditions. You get free food... People always checking up on you... Not having to work... But the truth for me is, if I can't see Equestria anymore, then what's the point in even trying to enjoy myself. I just wish that I would have never brought up Equestria to my parents. I wouldn't have been locked in here and I still could be able to see all my friends. Sometimes, I sit and wonder how stupid I am. Why did I have to open my big mouth? Why did I have to be made brain dead? But most importantly... Why haven't Twilight and the gang come to help me? Knock, Knock, Knock... "Ryan? You have a visitor." The door swings open and my brother is in the entrance. He walks in and sits down in a chair that the nurse provides. "Hey, Ryan..." He tries to throw me a reassuring grin but my mind is too clouded to even notice. "Ryan... I know that mom and dad made you angry but it's going to be alright." That much got through to me. "Wuhh... What... What do you mean?" I'm glad that I got that much out and not just some gargling noises. "I mean that it's going to be okay. You'll see you friends again." What was he implying? "What friends are you talking about?" He gives me a smile. "You know who I'm talking about!" I am happy. But I noticed a problem, the camera. The nurses must have heard every word of what he said. I point my finger directly at the stubborn piece of equipment and my brother chuckles. "Yeah. She thought that there would be a camera, so she gave me this thing." My brother held up a small crystal with various pictures on it. Most of them were of me in the room I was sitting in. "This thing blocks the video feed and replaces it with some still photos of us just facing each other in silence. They can't hear or see anything we're doing!" My brother is a merical! But still, who gave him that crystal. "Who gave you this?" He smiled. "Princess Celestia asked Zecora's help. She wanted me to get in here and deliver you a message. So Zecora gave me this crystal and this feather." "What's the feather do?" "Erases memory." Cool... "What was the message?" He thinks for a moment and leans in. "You are not alone..." What did that mean? "Was that it?" He nodded. It wasn't much, but coming from Celestia, it might have been all I needed. "Thank you, Christian." "Your welcome, man. Just make sure you write me from Equestria!" We both shared a brief laugh. I gave him a hug. This is the only good person in my family, right here. I love my brother. "Time's up!" The nurse shouted. Christian deactivated the crystal and left. I was left with half a sentence rattling around in my head. 'You are not alone...' I can't do very much with that. Again once someone left Terrance arrived. Great... "Well, Ryan. How are you today?" He seemed much happier now that he had it in his head that he had won. "...........okay........." It took me a minute to think of that one. The medication. "Good! Now do you still consider those ponies your friends?" I answer as you'd expect. "Yes..." His smile fades to a frown. "Well, that's all I needed to hear." He got up from his chair and made a strange motion with his hand. The two guards from last time entered the room. They hoisted me up from under my arms and dragged me out of my room. "It seems that you need more treatment." Terrance teased as I was dragged down the hall. We arrived in the same dark and miserable room as last time, and I was again strapped to the table. The sides of my head were moistened with that gelatinous substance again. The electric machine was prepped. Terrance touched the two pads together again to get the electric current flowing. Then they were touched to my head. "GAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!" He backed off momentarily and turned up the power. Then again... "AAAAAAAHHHHHAAAAHHHGGGH!" "This is going to help everyone, Ryan. Think of it as your service to reality." His breath stank of sarcasm. "This should be the l-" He was stopped by an unsettling sound. "CODE RED! CODE RED! INTRUDER IN SECTOR 5-A! I REPEAT, INTRUDER IN SECTOR 5-A!" Terrance dropped the pads and ran to the door. "NO NO NO NO NO!!!" He screamed as he ran. The room was cleared of all doctors and nurses. All of them left to go check on whatever 'code red' was. I was left alone in that room. My vision was blurred from the amount of electricity that was pumped through my body. I was still shaking some. I took advantage of the moment of peace and shut my eyes, trying to get some rest. "There he is!" A female voice echoed through the room. A, familiar, female voice. I opened my eyes and was faced with one of the nurses. Of course... "Ryan! We're here to get you out of this place!" "What?" I looked closely. A pair of friendly violet eyes met mine. The nurses hair was purple with a pink stripe down the side. Is that? No it can't be. It's a human. "Twilight?" She nodded. Another nurse entered the room. This one was taller and had long white hair. Her eyes were about the same color. I could only assume that it was Celestia. EscapeShe untied me from the table and let me up. “What are you doing here? And why are you...human?” She smiled at me. “It's good to see that you're still yourself.” I chuckled but was still hurting. The shocking took a toll on my mind and I grew weary from simple thought. It almost hurt to think. “You didn't arrive after a few days, so we assumed something bad happened. We used that teleportation pad to get to you.” I stood up and was steady for a few seconds. But the very instant that I tried to walk, I stumbled and fell to the ground. “Well... Good thing you all came to help me. I don't think that I would've been able to take much more of that.” Twilight put my arm over her head and hoisted me up. “Thanks.” I said. I was able to move my legs, but I was to weak to support myself. As we limped down the hall, we passed by another nurse sitting at a computer. This one had bright, curly, pink hair. “We've got him, lets go!” Twilight shouted. “Okie dokie lokie!” She responded. I thought so. Who else could it have been? She sprung from her chair and followed the train of people down the corridor. We passed by a few other rooms with other patients still inside. It seems that only the workers left. We kept walking. As we passed by the rooms Twilight reached out and knocked on one's door without losing speed. A woman with blue curled hair emerged and followed. Rarity... A few doors later Twilight knocked again and this time a blonde woman followed. AppleJack. They did some planning here before coming to get me! “HE'S ESCAPING!!!” Terrance's voice pounded through the hallways. I flung my head around to be greeted by about four angry guards running at us with tasers in hand. “AppleJack! Take Ryan!” Twilight dropped me just as AppleJack was wrapping my arm around her neck. Twilight turned to face the guards and held up both hands. Her eyes glowed a bright violet and a pulse of energy emitted from her palms, flinging the guards back to the far side of the hallway. Freaking Jedi! We had some more time now. We rounded the corner and sprinted down the hall. The exit was insight, freedom growing ever closer. “FREEZE!” Two guards shouted as they sprang from either side of the hallway. AppleJack and Rarity acted at once. Rarity, raising her hand and enveloping one guard in her blue aura and launching him into a cell. The door was closed and locked behind him. AppleJack simultaneously roundhouse kicked the other guard directly in the chest, sending him flying across the floor. He flung himself around gasping for breath. You do not want to get in a fight with these ponies! Outside a rusty looking car was waiting. A young woman with multicolored highlights in her hair was sitting in the driver's seat, head banging to some sort of rock music. Rainbow Dash apparently. Fluttershy sat it the passenger seat with her hands cupped over her ears. Twilight flung the door open and AppleJack helped me into the back. The rest piled in. “Go!” Celestia commanded. Rainbow slammed on the gas and the vehicle rocketed forward. We didn't even get a block away before an unmarked van flew from the hospital and sped after us. Rainbow Dash noticed this and pushed down even harder on the gas. “This music is pretty awesome!” Korn played boomed throughout the car. “We don't have anything like this back in Equestria!” I chuckled a bit. But I was overcome with dizziness and my vision blurred again. Twilight put her palm on my forehead. Her eyes glowed again and warmth rushed through my body. My head stopped hurting and my vision returned. “Did that help?” She asked me. “Yes. Thank you.” I returned. The van behind us significantly increased speed. They were gaining on us and we didn't have a very go-... Wait... A thought forced it's way into my head. Twilight taught me to get someone to side with me. Only one use. But it looked as good a time as any. I turned and looked into the van behind us. Terrance was in the passenger seat. I could see pure rage in his eyes. But I didn't think much of him and instead focused on the driver. I concentrated... It felt as if an energy left my body. It left me feeling tired afterward but once I opened my eyes, I noticed that the van was slowing to a stop. I cheered. The others saw why and they cheered as well. But our victory was short lived. The driver was flung from the vehicle and Terrance took his place. “Rainbow Dash! Up ahead!” Fluttershy pointed out the window towards an abandoned building. Various wooden boards covered the windows and the door hung open, half of the hinges missing. Rainbow Dash shifted gears and spun the car and drove towards the building. We were getting closer to the building. Really close! I leaned up in my seat. “Rainbow Dash?!” She smiled. “I know what I'm doing!” She shifted gears again and made a hard right, spinning the car around the side of the building and into a garage opening. In front of us was a large metal pad waiting in the center of the room. The inside was considerably small compared to the outside of the building. We all scrambled out of the car and onto the pad. Celestia threw a switch. After a few moments, light consumed everything. When I open my eyes again, it appears that we are still in the same place. Only... I am a pony! We made it! “Thank you guys! I coul-” The pad lit up again. “They are coming through! Ryan, get back to the library! We'll handle them.” Twilight ordered. I did as I was told and flew out of the building, back towards Ponyville. I could only wonder what would happen, just nothing bad I hoped. The pad went off again. About three ponies stepped off. “WHERE IS HE?!?” Terrance screamed. Terrance's View“HE'S ESCAPING!!!” I screamed. Ryan was being helped out of my hospital by those blasted ponies! How did they even get here?! I ordered my guards. “Tasers!” They pulled their electrified weapons from their sheaths and readied them. “AppleJack! Take Ryan!” The purple haired one turned and faced us. Easy enough, I assumed. She held her hands up and beamed some purple aura at us, blowing us back. I quickly jumped to my feet. I shouted commands into my radio. “Intersect at isle four, subsection B! Entrance two!” “Rodger!” They answered. I got my men back onto their feet and we continued the chase down the hallway. The entrance was clear of all but one of my men lying on his back. Someone ran over to check on him. “Sir! He's got a few broken ribs and a collapsed lung!” “Leave him. Someone else, ready a van.” I responded. “But, Sir! He's not going to-” “I SAID LEAVE HIM!!” I forced my disobedient worker onto his feet and out the door. We arrived in the parking lot in a matter of seconds. We ran towards our fastest vehicle. I ripped the driver's side door open and pushed him inside. “Drive!” I ordered. He put the key in the ignition and shifted the gear as I sat myself in the opposite seat. We sped out of the lot around the same time that Ryan's vehicle was rounding the corner. We were going to catch him! They spun around a corner. “DON'T LOSE THEM!!” I screamed. The driver quickly flung the wheel around and our van followed in suit. “KEEP ON THEM!!” I was at the edge of my seat pounding on the dashboard. I'm surprised that the airbag didn't go off. Ryan turned around and faced me for a moment. We were closing in on him and it looked as if he were afraid. He had good reason to be. “Chris!” The man behind me responded. “Yes Sir!” “Do you have a clear shot from back there?! I want you to take out their tires!” He pulled his pistol from it's holster and took aim. “Now only take out the tires! Don't hit Ryan! We need him to be-” The van began to slow. “WHAT?! WHY ARE WE SLOWING DOWN?!?” I flung my head to the side and noticed that the driver was seemingly asleep. “We need some time to escape. Slow down.” He mumbled. I looked back towards the car in front of us. Ryan held his hand out toward us. Mind tricks, huh? “NO! WE'RE NOT PLAYING THAT!!” I released his buckle and shoved him out of the van. His body hit the pavement at over fifty miles per hour. But at this point I didn't care. Another one of those universe jumping freaks was about to escape and I would not be responsible for that! I jumped into his seat and closed the door. We were regaining speed. Their car sped toward an old abandoned building. They slid around the side and pulled into an unseen entrance. “YOU ARE NOT GETTING AWAY!!” I slammed my foot down on the gas pedal and the van launched us forward. We followed the same pattern that was set by Ryan's car and we ended up at the rear entrance. I hit the break and jumped out of the van. My men followed suit. Myself and two others stepped onto a pad that was just flashing all sorts of brilliant colors. The fourth one with us, I told to flip a switch hanging off the wall. Everything went white. The light faded and we were apparently still in the same room. Although, when I looked down, I noticed that I had hooves. Disgusting! The other ponies that helped Ryan out of my hospital were still in the building with us. “WHERE IS HE!?!” I demanded. “He's far away by now. I suggest you just leave.” The tallest of the ponies said. “He's safe and you ain't doin' nothin' to him!” A smaller pony wearing a Stetson shouted at me. I only smiled. “You are all IDIOTS!” The ponies recoiled. “Do you think that you have any idea what’s going on here?!” They seemed more confused now than angry. “You’re trying to hurt Ryan! We won’t let you!” Again, I smiled. These incompetent ponies were funny to listen to, but not to deal with. “I’m not trying to hurt Ryan… I am trying to keep the multiverse in tact and you all are getting in the way!” They again were confused. All but the purple one. “Well, wouldn’t the multiverse fix itself if he were to live here on a permanent basis?” She asked. I became angry. “IT DOESN’T WORK LIKE THAT!! He has to be in his home world for reality to be stabilized!” I looked at them. I could tell by their expressions that they could see the fear in my eyes. “Now hand him over!” They resisted. “MEN! TASERS!” My guards pulled their tasers out again. “IF YOU WON’T HAND HIM OER THEN WE’LL TAKE HIM!!” My men approached the ponies blocking our way, but before they could attack. “Stop!” Ryan’s voice… I turned my head toward the entrance to the building and sure enough, there he was. “I will go with you… If you swear to leave them alone.” I laughed. “If you come with me, I won’t have a reason in the world to come back here!” He nodded and walked towards me. Strange enough, not even one of his pony friends tried to stop him. How sad… But what else could you expect from such disgusting creatures? The pad went off again and we had returned to Earth. “Destroy the portal!” I commanded. My men began disassembling the device as we got into the van. I sat in the driver’s seat, Ryan sat in the back. He was restricted due to a strait jacket I had put on him. He was staring out the window, a blank expression on his face. “Although this seems that we are doing something to hurt you, we are only protecting the universe. Nothing personal. But, regardless, thank you for your cooperation.” He only looked at me. His face was completely blank of any expression or emotion of any kind. He almost seemed dead. Good. I had saved the universe, sewed all of the loose seams, and broken the spirit of the one causing all the trouble. We arrived at the hospital. I got Ryan out of the van through the back. He was strapped to a dolly and I had to roll him into the building. “You are doing the right thing here.” I assured him… Still no response. Still good. But unusual. We were back in the treatment room. Ryan was being strapped down by the nurses and I was readying the shock pads. I touched them together to get the current going. I walked over to the one restrained and stood over him. “Thank you.” This would be the last time someone like him escaped my hospital. “No. Thank you.” He responded. But it wasn’t his voice! “Because if you hadn’t fallen for this decoy, then Ryan might have actually been caught.” “WHAT!?!” It was that purple one’s voice! “Also, don’t worry about the stability of the universe. I did research and made calculations when Ryan first started coming here. If he is here on a permanent basis, then the universe will be fine.” I fell to my knees. How could I have not noticed something! He was too cooperative! I am an IDIOT!!! “YOU CAN’T DO THIS!!” I screamed. “I can, and I have.” She responded through his mouth. “Thank you for destroying the portal. This will assure that no harm comes to Ryan or any of us. Good bye.” The doppelganger smiled then evaporated into a purple mist. “NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!” A letter of ThanksDear Princess Celestia, I would like to thank you for allowing me to stay here in Equestria. I would not have survived otherwise. Thank you for the hospitality you have shown. Thank you for the time you’ve spent with me when I was trapped in that horrible place. I have made many friends here in Ponyville and I plan on learning as much about friendship as they have. I am currently building myself a house in the Everfree Forest. I realize that most ponies are afraid of that area, but that’s alright. I won’t be spending much time at home anyway. Again, thank you for all you have helped me with. You can expect friendship reports from me as well, telling you of all I have learned in this magical place. Sincerely, Ryan Darling
PrisonFunny... It seems that only a few weeks ago I was at home with my family, talking about our days as we did every so often. My brother of the test he passed, my mother of her day with her friends shopping. Finally my father of the new policies he had written for his workers. He seemed very proud of himself. When the conversation came around to me, the only thing I had to talk about was the day I had spent in Equestria. "Ryan... Honey, we know that this show is important to you. But it's not real. I'm worried that you're taking this a little too seriously." My mother tells me. Her words go unheard. I'm not one to be easily discouraged. My father is frustrated with me. This is at least the fifth time I've brought up 'My Little Pony' and his patience was wearing. His words had more of an effect. "Carol, don't even try to sweet talking him! He has a serious problem. Ryan you have a serious problem. This is all you ever talk about anymore. You don't have any friends and you are always in your room! The only time we ever see you is for meals!" I come out of my trance and all of my attention is focused on my father and his judgmental words. I am almost gleaming hate at him, i'm not breaking eye contact, i'm not blinking. I feel as if he had just personally attacked me over something he doesn't even understand. I don't show any patience for him either. "Dad, I do have friends. Twilight Sparkle, AppleJack, Rainbow Das-" "RYAN!! THEY ARE FICTIONAL CHARACTERS FROM A CHILD'S TELEVISION SHOW!!" I can't believe this. He cuts me off mid sentence just to tell me that my closest friends are nonexistent. They are my friends. I am able to see them everyday thanks to a special skill I call 'Traveling'. Neither my parents nor my brother have seen me 'Travel' so that's probably why it's so hard to believe me. Basically, I'm able to move myself from this universe, to that of Equestria. Yesterday I stopped by Sugarcube Corner to talk to Pinkie Pie and sample some of her cooking. She was very enthusiastic about my arrival. She told me she was waiting all day for me. It was heart warming to see that at least one person, or pony rather, enjoyed my company. "So what are we doing today Pinkie?" I ask her. "Well, I made some extra super special pie crust yesterday and I wanted to try it with a new filling Mrs. Cake showed me to see if it was good or not, okay?" I nodded my head in agreement and followed her into the bakery. After about ten minutes of preparation, the pie was completed and was ready for it's taste test. She cut a slice out of the pie, placed it on a plate, then shoved it my way. I was still getting used to eating off of the table. I couldn't very well pick up the plate because of my hooves. Yes, once I 'Travel' here, I am a pony. I'd say it's very neat, but it is still strange having to deal with walking on four legs and not having fingers. But I am surrounded by loving ponies at almost every moment, so that complaint seldom occurs to me. Anyway... The pie was stupendous and I thanked Pinkie for the time she spent with me. I had to leave again. I realized that every time I 'Traveled' I had a certain amount of time until I had to leave again. Once it was time to leave, I would experience a tingling sensation down my spine and it would only become more and more intense the longer I stayed. I learned that I had to leave at this point because, the one time I stayed, I felt horrible excruciating pain all throughout my body. It felt like being crushed and stabbed to death at the same time. Horrible, simply horrible. I return home feeling just fine and am happy both because of the relief from the horrible pain and the fact that I am associated with the mane six! It was such an ecstatic sensation. But as the expression goes, "All good things must come to an end." Which in my case, was pretty abruptly brought to an end. Although, not entirely. I could still 'Travel' there where ever I was at any time. But anyway, apparently I had talked of my experiences in Equestria one too many times and my parents were done with it. They assumed that I was "mentally insane". It was too realistic for me and I couldn't get over something that wasn't real. Such an enclosed perception of the wonders of the universe. Idiots! I was, about a week later, instituted into the Harbor Oaks Hospital for the mentally ill. I felt like I was nothing to them anymore. They ran out of patience for me and decided to just throw me away like a broken watch that wouldn't keep time no matter how many times you "fixed" the gears. This is where I currently stand. I am in a white room with a single lonely window on the opposite wall. It lets light in, but it's too high to see out of. I am in colorless clothing and lace-less shoes.My bed is a single mattress with a single pillow and a thin sheet. I am definitely not insane, and I don't think that many other people would consider me insane either. I just think I was given some of the most impatient and least understanding parents ever conceived. Well, I'm not complaining. I have time to myself.(Almost more than I wanted) But it was still nice. The lack of human interaction allowed me to better and more oftentimes 'Travel'. I was almost always in Equestria. More specifically, Ponyville. I am just glad that there were no cameras in my room. The 'disappearing patient' might cause some of the workers here to end up in the same place I was. Funny how that works out. The pills though. They are the only downside to being here. I can't concentrate once I've taken them. I am a living corpse when I'm on them. I don't move very much. I don't say anything. I even breathe slower. The only reason I know this is because one of the nurses didn't even try to hide them in my food today. Apparently, they have been crushing them into a fine powder and mixing them into my oatmeal. Today around lunch time, I was given my oatmeal and sure enough, there were the pills sitting right on the surface of my soupy meal. I decided not to eat today.
WaitingIt's gotten rather hard to sustain myself on almost no food. My thinking has been clearer but I experience hunger pangs every so often. They will occasionally cut my concentration. Once the nurses have given me my meal, I hide it under my mattress. (I realize, not the best place but where else could I put it?) Once it's out of sight, walk back to the door and say that i'm still hungry. They will occasionally give me an apple or two. Though they are misshapen and bruised, it's better than nothing. I decide that "Nap time" is as good a time as any to 'Travel' again. I concentrate long and hard about where I want to go. Equestria, Ponyville, Twilight's library. My destination is set and I am ready to leave. I close my eyes and relax, thinking only of my expected surroundings once I arrive. I feel myself being whisked out of my chair, as if a group of people lifted me up all at once. I then feel speed. I am moving rapidly through whatever dimension I 'Travel' through to get to Equestria. Like being on a roller coaster, but one that is peaceful. Then, as quickly as it started, it stops. I open my eyes and i'm back in Equestria. Twilight's library, best source of knowledge anywhere! I notice my orange hooves and my yellow mane again, my cutie mark, which I missed! I missed everything! I feel pretty happy right now. That is, until i'm sent head first into one of the many book shelves. When I get back up, I'm not hurt or bleeding but a little dizzy. Apparently Twilight had been levitating some books over to this shelf and I happened to be in her blind spot. "Oh! I'm sorry Ryan, I didn't see you!" She's very polite when she apologizes. "No, no. It's my fault. I should have chosen a more open area to appear in. I'm okay anyway." I subtly brought a hoof up to caress the back of my head, hoping she wouldn't notice. "So, what are you doing around here?" I ask her. She picks up few books with her magic and stacks on top of a much larger pile on the opposite side of the room. I've always been fascinated with how they could do that. I, myself, was a Pegasus. No point in asking for magic lessons. "I was just going to re-alphabetize the library with a little help from Spike." Spike was unconscious on one of the stair cases. I hadn't noticed him until she mentioned him. With the sleeping dragon and the colossal amount of books left to sort, I offer my assistance. "How would you like these arranged?" I ask. Twilight looks around the room at the many hundreds of book shelves. After a few moments of quiet thinking, she spins around and directs me. "I want these books-" She points her hoof at a large pile across the room. "Organized in A-Z order, and I need them ordered by color on those three book shelves!" She finishes pointing towards some shelves upstairs. This must be exciting for her. She's smiling and skipping around like she just one the lottery. Even though she wouldn't know what that is. "Alright. I'll take care of it!" I am enthusiastic about helping her. She has been very kind and hospitable these past few months. I had explained the predicament I have to face back in my world, and she was so understanding. I love these ponies! About three hours later, I have finished my book shelf organization. "Hey, Twilight! I'm done!" Twilight teleports herself up to me and I jump back. It always scares me! "Good job Ryan! If you're still able to help me I have to organize my scrolls." I am about to answer when I get the tingling sensation again. "Sorry, Twilight. I have to leave for a while. Is that okay?" She nods. "Yes, I can finish here by myself. I was just giving you something to do to keep you from getting bored." Well I certainly wasn't bored! I can't believe how difficult that was! This make Trigonometry look like a game! "Alright then. See you later." I say farewell and trot out of the library. The tingling has become more of a burning now, so I need to leave quickly. I go through the 'Traveling' process again and land on my bed in the mental institute. Hurray! Back to misery! I sit there for a few moments. The tingling is gone, so I try to 'Travel' again. But before I can... "Ryan? You have visitors." The door swings open and my family is let in. Like I really want to see them! They stand there for a few seconds until the nurses come in with a few folding chairs. My family sits down and the nurses close the door. Silence fills the room as the tension from our stares at each other does most of the talking. "Ryan?" My mother speaks. "We miss you honey... We didn't want to have to do this, but you didn't seem like you knew the difference between reality and fiction. We want you to come home. We forgive you." I am instantly enraged. Pure seething hate erupts from my mouth as I speak. "YOU FORGIVE ME!!! I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG!!! YOU ARE SUCH HORRIBLE PEOPLE! LOCK YOUR OLDEST SON IN A MENTAL INSTITUTE BECAUSE HE SAYS HE CONSIDERS THE CHARACTERS FROM A SHOW TO BE HIS FRIENDS!!" My father tries to say something and I stop him before he can. "DON'T YOU EVEN DARE TRY SAYING ANYTHING TO ME! YOU ARE THE VERY WORST PEOPLE I HAVE EVER HAD THE MISFORTUNE OF DEALING WITH!!" My mother has tears in her eyes while my father wears an angry expression. My brother just sits in his chair twiddling his thumbs. "I WANT YOU OUT OF THIS ROOM, I WANT YOU AWAY FROM THIS HOSPITAL, AND I WANT YOU OUT OF MY LIFE!!!" My family can see the rage in my eyes and my message finally gets across. They immediately get up and leave. Really that's what I was waiting for. My father gives me a hateful glare, my brother looks at me blankly, and my mother can't even face me. Once they are gone, I sit back down on my bed, and sob bitterly. I'm just glad that none of my friends in Equestria can see me like this.
Still LearningThat whole talk with them. Every word that was said. They burnt like fire. I can't believe that they could be so naive. Saying they forgive me! I was completely dumbfounded by their incompetence. I didn't lock myself in here! They are complete and utter idiots! I try to calm myself down a bit, I slow my breathing some and I close my eyes. It doesn't even matter. I don't need them, and they don't need me so just forget about it. I try to focus back on Equestria again. I think I'll visit the Cutie Mark Crusaders. They're such nice fillies! It is so wonderful just to listen to them talk about the day they have planned. I relaxed myself again and concentrated on my destination. Knock, knock, knock. What now!? "Ryan? It's time for your examination." Examination? They didn't say anything about examinations when I was instituted here. Must be a weekly thing. A quite tall man dressed entirely in white entered the room. He almost blended in with the rest of his surroundings. He was wearing a small pair of glasses at the tip of his nose. The man had rather long, black hair and he wore an expression of disgust when he looked at me. "Hello, Ryan. How are we feeling today?" He had no emotion in his voice, like that of a computer program. "Good." I was short with him. I felt both confusion and anger for I didn't know why he was here and he didn't seem to want to have to deal with me, which was also pretty offensive. He held in his right hand, a pen and in his left, a clipboard with various papers stuck to it. "I am going to ask you a few questions. Is that alright?" He didn't care whether I minded or not. I could tell by his almost tired voice. I nodded and he scribbled something on his pad then flipped the page. "Do you feel that these... er, uh, ponies? Do you feel that they are your friends?" I took a minute before answering just to analyze him. He didn't give of good vibes. The feeling you get when you know someone is going to hurt you. That was all I felt. "Yes, I do. They are the kindest friends I've ever known." He looked back down to his clip board and wrote something down again. "Have you seen them? The ponies?" I become scared. If I say that I am able to 'Travel' there, they might install a camera. "Yes." "When?" "In my dreams." Good save. He writes some more notes down and flips another page. The man clicks his pen and looks up at me. He gives a sarcastic smile. "I trust that you've been eating your daily meals?" I give a more... confused expression. What kind of question is that? I simply nod and he nods back. "Good. Enjoy the rest of your day." Yeah, nothing better than being locked in a small blank cube all day. Should be tons of fun! He leaves and I am alone again. Finally! I get back into my little trance and focus on the clubhouse. Cutie Mark Crusader's clubhouse..... I open my eyes and I'm there. I am very happy right now, back where I am cared for. "RYAN!" The CMC shouted in unison. The most precious sound you could ever here is those three girls calling your name. I turn to greet them. "Hey girls! How are you?" They're each wearing an enormous smile. I assume something exciting is planned, or more realistically, something they shouldn't be doing. Fun! Scootaloo was the first to speak. "Zecora told us about some awesome sounding weird creatures in the EverFree Forest!" Apple Bloom took over. "So, the three of us were gonna go try to catch some of 'em!" Sweetie Belle finished. "But Rarity and Apple Jack said it was too dangerous and that we needed an adult to go with us. But they said they wouldn't come." The three all looked up to me with their eyes, glistening and their smiles, wide. I gave a smirk. "You're wanting me to take you, aren't you?" I asked, already knowing the answer. "Plllllleeeeaaaaassssee??" They spoke in unison. It was the most adorable sound ever. But I might have offended Scootaloo if I said they were cute. I agreed to go and they responded with their chant. "CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS, CREATURE CATCHERS! YAAAAAAY!!!!" It was the first time that I've ever heard them do that with my own ears. Man did it hurt! Cute but painfully loud. They sped back inside the clubhouse and grabbed some supplies. I was told to just wait outside for them, and I didn't very much mind. They reemerged with a few duffle bags of various tools and instruments for catching their creatures. The EverFree Forest... I have never had a good look at it from the inside. I am always told to stay away from the forest because of the weird things that go on within it's premises. The truth is, it's not much different from the forests back on Earth. The clouds move on their own, the plants grow, and there are strange animals that we don't know much about. Sounds familiar. The girls were up ahead of me looking around at the trees and plants. The woods were still creepy, don't get me wrong, but It isn't as creepy as ponies say it is. They stopped suddenly. "Girls. What's wr-" "SSSSHHHHH!" The three cut me off. They had obviously spotted an animal. Scootaloo motioned for Apple Bloom. She pulled a net out of her bag and gave it to the orange filly. Sweetie Belle sat her bag on the ground and unzipped it. Underneath was a large metal mishmash of random parts. She picked it up and pulled a few gears on it. Rearranged it and sat it upright. A net launcher! These girls were serious about catching something! Scootaloo put the net inside the cannon and Sweetie Belle prepped it to be fired, while Apple Bloom sat at the controls with her hoof over the fire button. I only watched. The creature was still. Scootaloo tossed a whistle at me and said to get the animal close enough to catch. I blew the whistle and the targeted creature instantly reacted. It squawked and flew towards us. It looked gargantuan in size! It got closer and closer when suddenly. "FIRE!!" Sweetie Belle commanded. Apple Bloom immediately slammed down on the button and the net was sent flying through the air and wrapped around the creature. A thump was heard, which told the girls that they were successful. The three of them ran over to their catch which was pinned to a tree. A simple toucan. "DARN IT!!!" They pouted. "I thought we caught some big 'ol monster or somethin'!" Apple Bloom admitted. The net was tangled in the branches and was unable to be unknotted, so we had to cut the bird out. The Cutie Mark Crusaders decided not to keep the toucan. "That was our only net!" Scootaloo was very disappointed. I tried to cheer them up. "Hey don't worry about it! I'll show you girls how to make a net from a few ropes. That way, you don't have to go buy a new one every time." They seemed to like the idea. "REALLY!?!?" "Sure." We headed back to the clubhouse. Sadly I had began to fell the tingling around the time of cutting the net down. Now, it was burning and I couldn't hold out much longer. "Sorry, girls. I have to go." They all let out a simultaneous 'awww'. I apologized and continued out the door as I did. "Wait!" Apple Bloom stopped me. "Ah have somethin' for ya!" She runs back inside and comes out with a bag of about four apples. "I had Granny Smith pick the best apples out of the bunch for ya!" It was tear jerking. "Thank you." I patted her on the head and said goodbye to the three of them. I focused back on the mental institute. Then I was back. Again, I had a short blissful moment. This was such an extraordinary gift I had. Apple Bloom is such a sweet little filly! The sparkle in her eye when she handed me her apples. Such a sweet g-... I froze. In the shock and awe I stared at what lied next to me. Sitting on my pillow to my side was the bag of apples. "Well... That's new."
SuspicionsThis is amazing! Here, in my hand, I held something that existed in an alternate universe. My mind was buzzing with questions. How did I get this here? How long have I been able to do this? Could I do it again? Complete and utter amazement! But immense confusion as well. Maybe... I just need to be touching something before I 'Travel' in order to take it with me. Maybe. Ha! I talk as if I'll be able to keep anything in here! There are daily inspections between five and six o' clock. The same man is sent into my room every week to ask me the same questions, including 'Have you been eating your daily meals?' That was a very unsettling question. I figured that if I were to act as if I were a zombie, that may relieve some tension from that subject. So that's what I'll do. The apples were delicious. I ate them for my lunch and dinner one day, the bag is in my pillow case. I hope to God that they don't search anything in or around my bed, or more specifically, my pillow. Security is surprisingly tight for an institute ran almost completely by computer. Still no camera. Hallelujah! My time in Equestria was shortened. This was a problem but at least I could still go there. Today the man entered my room again. I now believe his name is Terrance. "Hello, Ryan. How are we doing today?" He has asked me this question at least five times since I've been here. Read off the same paper, in the same tone, on the same day every week. "Good...Just like every other time you've asked me this question." I was irritated by this entire session. "I'm going to ask you a few questions. Is that alright?" Why, oh why was he asking this one again? "Yes let's get on with it." He flipped through a few papers on his clipboard. "Do you feel that these ponies are your friends?" This was getting tiresome. "Yes, my closest and most precious friends. Next." His expression didn't change, he seemingly ignored me. "Have you seen these ponies?" Does this guy have memory loss or something?! "Yes, in my dreams for the umpteenth time!" A few papers are flipped and he looks back up. "I trust that you've been eating your daily meals?" I am becoming angry that he is still in the room. I only nod. He again nods and turns to leave. But before he does... "You've honestly been eating your food?" This is the first time he's asked me twice in the same session. I am very uncomfortable right now. They really must want those pills in my system! But why? I reassure him. "Yes, if I didn't eat then I'd starve." He gives an emotionless smirk and leaves. Strange... Today I enjoyed a slice of the Cake's legendary desert. The 'MMMM'! The best part? I ate it on Earth! I've mastered the ability of moving inanimate objects from Equestria to Earth. The cake was superb in every way. I actually think that they under exaggerated it's taste in the show. It was far beyond comprehension. It had never occurred to me to even try to take something with me. It's amazing that I can, but I feel pretty stupid for not realizing or even trying it earlier. Oh well. All of the past times that Pinkie has offered a pastry to take with me or Twilight, a book, I have always turned it down because I had to go. Now I simply take it with me! Very nice. "Alright! Now try a corkscrew!" Rainbow Dash commanded. I adjusted my wings and pushed my self downward, then began to spin myself in circles. A Rainbow Dash corkscrew consisted of at least five spins before pulling up and posing. I did three and crashed into the cloud floor. I quickly jumped back up onto my feet before Rainbow Dash landed in front of me. "Still needs some work... But it's an improvement." I am flattered. Any complement from Rainbow Dash, no matter how sarcastic it sounded, was appreciated. I had been taking lessons from her for a while now. I could fly for as long as I wanted, and could raise and lower myself. Still, I wasn't race quality, but at least I wasn't slow in her eyes. Which was enough for me. "Thanks Rainbow. These lessons have been very helpful." She smiles. "No problem. Thanks for those books. That Stephen King guy is pretty good!" I chuckle. Rainbow Dash may be a daredevil, but she has a very intelligent side as well. She had a lot to say, all you had to do was talk to her. Apparently ponies don't talk with her very often. Unfortunate. But, that's why I was there today. "Well, I have to go. Thanks again for the lessons today." She smiled and nodded. I responded in kind and flew back down to Ponyville. The reason that I left was that I had promised Apple Jack some help on the farm. Zap Apple season and I was here for it! I could only wonder what they would taste like. I was doing very good for myself today. Two hours and not even a slight tingling! We had harvested the apples from almost every tree. The few apples that were left disappeared like they always do. It was pretty fascinating to watch them vanish, but not so much that you'd just watch it happen. I was shown how to make deserts and pastries that I didn't even know existed, and the ones I did know of where ten times better than I expected. It was a lot of fun baking with the Apple family. But around half way through making, I think our third pie? The tingling set in again. I approached Apple Jack and informed her that I had to leave again. "Here." She began. "Take a couple a pies with ya." She put a few mini Zap apple pies into a small box for me. The mare also put a few of the apples in a bag and handed them of to me. I thanked her and left. I thought to myself that the next time I'm here I should see if Twilight knows of any ways to extend my visiting time. But for now I had to leave. My attention is put on the sad white room I'm forced to stay in and I am taken there. I still have all the deserts and fruit I was given and they are immediately put under my pillow. The box was very small, therefore easy to hide. I sat down and pulled a Zap apple out from my bag. I took a bite... Oh my God! This had to have been magic! I felt more alive just eating it. The texture was like a normal apple but the taste was that of angle food cake and fudge. Only it wasn't overly sweet, it still made you want another bite. Simply amazing! Knock, Knock, Knock. I was in complete shock. I had no way of explaining the apples or the pies! I had nothing! My mind was racing with possible solutions. 'The nurse gave it to me.' No, someone would deny it. 'I made it.' How?! 'I am able to travel to an alternate universe with the power of my mind.' Don't even joke like that! Nothing seemed to be the right answer... THAT'S IT!! When in doubt, act delusional! I hid as much as I could under my pillow, leaving out only the apple I was eating and one other. The nurses entered the room. All of them instantly noticed the strange multi-colored fruit I held in my hand. "Where did you get that?!" One asked. She seemed scared of it. "What?" "The apple!" I looked at her with tired eyes. "What apple?" "The apple you're holding!" I blinked at her, then slowly tilted my head down towards the fruit in question. "(gasp)!! How did... What is... What.. Who put this here?" I laughed at the half eaten apple. The nurses all gave a simultaneous grunt at what seemed to be another patient who was completely out of it. They took my apples and searched the room. Fortunately, staying away from my bed. Once they had finished, they left and Terrance entered the room. It wasn't a Tuesday... He shouldn't be here. "Ryan. How are you?" I looked at him with the world's blankest stare. ".....Good....." He smiled and turned to leave. But, again, stopped at the door. "Those apples... They must have been good... But you're still eating your daily meals I hope." I nod very slowly, giving him a look of slight disgust. "Good. Enjoy your day." He shuts the door behind himself.
InvestigationsThe doctors repeatedly bring up the subject of my food. Why is it so important that I have to have those pills? The workers here, every time they ask me about the food, they are in a dead serious mood. Almost as if I stopped taking my pills that they would pay for it. I noticed that I've been getting my oatmeal in larger portions as well. I think they're catching on to me. The inspections have been moved from once every other week to twice every three days. They same questions are asked, just more often and the question of whether or not I'm eating my food becomes more and more serious. 'Did you eat your food?' Yes. 'Are you sure you've been eating your food?' Yes. 'You need to be eating your food.' I have been. But the questions just keep coming. Today, the oatmeal was given to me along with some toast and a granola bar. The toast smelled strange and the granola had a very oily substance on it, so I can only assume that they were drugged also. I have only one Zap apple pie left and it isn't even lunch time. I'm gonna have to go get some food from Pinkie or something. Just not right now. I've been able to time my inspections, they last only about three minutes and the occur at about five o' clock. It was a quarter to five so I didn't bother 'Traveling'. Five thirty. No nurses, no doctors. Maybe there wasn't an inspection today. Upon that note, I relaxed and focused on Equestria. The world began to fade just as- Knock, Knock, Knock! Every time I try to leave! I slouch on my bed and ready myself for more stupid questions and another unnecessary search. Two female nurses enter the room. The taller and older of the two spoke first. "Hello, Ryan. We're just going to take you to go get a simple blood test." She spoke slowly as if not to alarm me or she thought I was stupid. "Alright." I say. The younger nurse steps away from the door and motions for me to leave. I get up and walk out of the room, the two nurses walk with me. One on either side. We pass many other rooms. I didn't get to see much when I was first put in here. Inside each room is a patient of a different mental disorder. One of a schizophrenic disorder launched himself against the door to his room as I passed by. He startled me. We rounded a corner and stood in front of a small metal door. It seemed very old, do to the corrosion on it's face. We entered and a dirty looking table was under a large circular light. They sat me down on the table but didn't strap me down. That was a load off. I thought something of some horrible nature was going to happen. So far, so good. The younger of the two nurses took a sample of my blood and handed it over to the older one. Who then mixed it with some chemicals. My blood was turning all sorts of shades of blue and green. "Thank you, Ryan. I'll take you back to your room now." The younger nurse again motioned for me to leave the room. The older one stayed behind to mess with my blood. Interesting and frightening at the same time. When we arrived back at my room, the nurse closed the door behind me and locked it. I walk over and sit back down on my bed. Back to 'Traveling'. I am about to 'Travel' to Fluttershy's cottage, but before I can I am struck with a more serious thought. They are testing my blood! They are going to see that I don't have any of that drug in my system and they're going to do something. Something bad, I can feel it. I need to get some help. "What do ya think they're gonna do to ya?" Apple Jack wore an expression concern. "I'm thinking along the lines of electroshock therapy." I spoke in a defeated manor. I was going to be taken away from my friends and there wasn't a lot I could do about it. Rainbow offered some support. "Don't worry Ryan. We'll figure out a way out of this!" I gave a weak smile that almost instantly faded. Twilight was in the back of the room writing something. "I'm sorry that this is happening, Ryan. I hope we can help." Fluttershy was very kind. But she apologized for everything as if it were her fault. "No need to apologize, Fluttershy. It's not your fault." It seemed as if I had just taken a load off of her mind. Pinkie Pie walked up to me. "Sooooo, what are we going to do?" She asked, still retaining that ecstatic attitude. I glanced over at Twilight again who was now having Spike send whatever she had just written. Rarity was about to speak but Twilight interrupted. "I've just told the princess of your predicament. She should write back any-" BELCH! Spike handed Twilight the note. She skimmed through the message. Her lips were slightly mouthing each word as she read them. "The princess is coming." "-and now I think they're going to do something rash." The princess had been listening in at the edge of her seat since she arrived. She took a moment to gather her thoughts before speaking. "I understand. This is a very significant problem." She was not at all concentrated with hiding her concern. I made me feel both grateful and worried. She must have appreciated my company to show so much emotion, and if Celestia was concerned about it then it must have been really bad! "Do you have any idea of how to address this problem?" I thought for a minute. "I have no idea at all. I am able to come here but I am not able to stay for very long without experiencing immense pain." She gave a quiet grunt. But then her eyes lit up. "Believe it or not, Ryan. But you are not the first one to have this ability." My eyes widened. "Yes. Centuries ago, another human visited here by the same means. He too suffered the same pain from prolonged exposure to the world we live in. But he worked as what he called, an engineer back in his world. He developed a machine that could transport matter from one place to another, permanently!" I was enveloped in her speech. This could be the solution I was looking for!
PlanningShe told me of a remarkable device. A teleportation pad. One built here and one back on Earth. She spoke of how it's location back on Earth was hidden, because the previous user wanted no one of impure intentions to enter Equestria. Celestia told me that all I had to do was make it to that pad and I'd be home free. Exciting! I was given the location of the pad in my mind. The princess pretty much printed a map onto my brain. So to speak. This was all well and good but there was still one major problem.... How was I to get out of the hospital? "We will help you." The princess offered. I was delighted that they were offering me so much. "We'll show you some of our moves so you won't get into trouble!" Rainbow Dash seemed ecstatic about this escape. Although it was dangerous. But I suppose she's not a dare devil for nothing. So we began training. Apple Jack taught me how to cock my legs back and launch them forward for the most devastating kick. One that would leave my opponents gasping for air. Rainbow Dash showed me a sort of upper cut that would knock my enemies unconscious in as little as one hit. Over at Pinkie's, I was shown how to talk my way out of a situation, in case I was caught and wasn't ready to fight. At Twilight's library, I was given the ability to make one person side with me... Hypnosis, almost. But she warned that I would only be able to do this once so I would have to save it for an emergency. Rarity and Fluttershy simply wished me good luck. I was going to need it. This hospital, I've noticed, has recently gotten almost twice as much security detail from as little as three weeks ago! Whatever they know, it must be serious... Truth be told, I was scared. This was dangerous, if not, life threatening. I was running through there blind with only my fists and a map in my head. Not very much... I was not sure about the plan we had set up so I told them of a back up. If I didn't arrive through the teleporter in two days, they were to come get me out of there. The six of them, along with Celestia agreed and gave me reassuring smiles as I left. I was at this point beyond afraid. I feared that this would be the last time that I saw them. Fear and sadness were my primary feelings when I returned to Earth. Knock, Knock, Knock. Well, this is it. "Ryan? You have a visitor." Oh... Hopefully this doesn't ruin the plan. The nurse opened the door fully and my mother was let into the room. Unfortunately... "Ryan. I'm sorry about what I said the last time I was here. I know that it was wrong of me." She said. "It was beyond wrong! It was selfish! You lock me up in the nut house because I talk of something you don't understand and then you come back and expect me to apologize!?" She shed a tear or two, then wiped her face clean as she continued. "I know. It was completely our fault, not yours. We were not supportive of you and we truthfully didn't understand. And I think... We didn't want to understand." This was different. My mother was actually being genuine. "I just..." She balled for a moment or two, then regained her composure. "I just, wanted you to be normal. To know that my son was normal. It was hard for me to see that you don't have to be the same as the others. I see that now though." She almost asked me the last part. As if she could have said instead, "Are you buying any of this?" I wasn't. "Ryan. I know now that you can't control this condition of yours. You see these animals and you can't help but talk about them, because that's all you have around you." Now I was offended again. It was a genuine apology up until this point. Now, instead of being mad for acting crazy, she thinks I'm full blown insane. "Mom. I am very happy that we had this talk." Sarcasm was dripping from my lips as I spoke. "It was a very insightful conversation. Now get out." She began to cry again. Whatever. After about five minutes of her crying in front of me trying to get me to pity her, she left. Finally! But, with her departure came Terrance's arrival. Not again! Not the same questions again! He again pulled out his little chair and sat down in front of me. "Hello, Ryan. I'm going to ask you a few questions. Is that okay?" I was paying almost no attention. But, even though I didn't answer, he went on. "Do you think of these ponies as your friends?" This was completely unnecessary. The same questions? Right down to the punctuation. THE SAME QUESTIONS?! "Yes. I. Do." I wanted to emphasize every word in case he forgot again. He looked me strait in the eye for a moment, as if he were analyzing me, then wrote something on his clipboard. "When do you see them? The ponies?" Well now I was completely out of patience for him. I answered. But I wanted to be sure that he wouldn't forget what I said this time. "Now, I know I've said this before, but I'm going to say it again. This time I will speak slowly and clearly for you, so that you won't be confused and have to come ask me the same set of questions again. IN..... MY....... DREAMS........" His expression didn't change and he wasn't at all fazed by what I had just said. He simply looked down at his clipboard again and wrote something down. I slouched on my bed. This stupid little quiz show was driving me crazy and I just wanted him to stop. Or at the very least, to ask some different questions! The same ones over and over again were just painful to hear. Terrance wrote a few more sentences down and flipped the page. Then continued to write. Currently, I am sitting in my sad little prison room with a strange man in front of me just writing. I can't 'Travel'. I can't get up. He won't leave. He scribbles notes on different sections of his paper then stops abruptly. He cocks his head up and looks me strait in the eye with a hateful glare. I am extremely confused. Then, after a few moments of just staring at me, he speaks... "Why haven't you been eating your food?" My heart stops at the very instant those words leave his mouth.
Exposition"Uhh..." I had no idea at all of how to respond to him. "I...uhh... What do you mean?" I was horrified. They had figured me out! "Oh, I think you know exactly what I mean." He was staring at me. Monitoring me like a security camera. "Wh-what? What are you talking about?" I was only prolonging the inevitable. They were going to do something. Whatever it may be, they were going to do it. "I just told you... I know what you've been doing..." I only stared at him with an expression of pure fear plastered onto my face. I ask him again. "Wh-What have I been doing?" "Well, as you know, we took a sample from your blood." He paused to gather his thoughts. Probably to make it seem as scary as possible. "And from your blood sample, we found no trace of our drug in your system. Which is a problem." Terrance paused again. This time he spoke with a more angry tone. "From that evidence.... We concluded that you are still able to get to Equestria. Because of the fact that your brain activity is functioning at optimal speed. This drug is supposed to slow it down." I was frozen where I sat. HOW IN THE WIDE WORLD OF WONDERS DID HE KNOW ABOUT EQUESTRIA!?! I resorted to playing dumb. I was desperate. "What is Eekesta?" He chuckled at me. Apparently I was a pretty bad actor. "You know very well what Equestria is. You have to, because you still 'Travel' there." This is a worst case scenario. This would go against every part of the plan. I gave up the act and instead tried to figure him out. "Okay... How do you know about Equestria?" I barely got the whole sentence out before he answered. "About, three hundred years ago, ancestors of mine were dedicated to keeping the multiverse in tact. Your constant jumping from universe to universe has begun to take a toll on the fabric of reality." I raised an eyebrow. "Oh, don't worry. Nothing noticeable has occurred yet. But we are going to stop you before something does." He seemed much more sinister at this point. The room grew darker with every word. "What do you mean, 'Stop me'?" He chuckled again. "Well we are going to render your so called 'gift' completely useless." Now I knew the meaning of horror. In a sad act of desperation, I made a break for it. It was left open when Terrance came in so I thought it was my only option at this point. The very second I was past the door frame, I was confronted with two bulky guards blocking my path. I hadn't noticed them, the entire time I was sitting at my bed. Instead of simply shoving me back into the room, they tased me. Excruciating by the way. The world around me faded to black... I hope they don't kill me.... I awoke in the same room that they had taken my blood. I was on the table again, strapped down this time. About three other nurses were in the room. Along with Terrance. The nurses prepped some syringes with some murky liquid inside, while Terrance rubbed the sides of my head with a gelatinous substance. "Ahh! You're awake." Terrance was fully smiling now. "Ugh... What's going on?" I was confused as to where I was. But I knew exactly what was going on. "Didn't I tell you? We are going to take away your ability to leave this universe." He gave me an excited smile as he rummaged through some supplies just out of my field of vision. "Why are you even concerned about my ability?!" He was almost angered by my words. "We've known of your skills for as long as you've been here! You are tearing at the fabric of reality and you must be stopped. Like I said, my ancestors tried to put a stop to another 'Traveler' and failed! I will not do the same! You see, years ago when my great, great, great, great, gr- well you get the idea. My grandfather built this place. When he did, his intentions where not at all about helping the mentally ill or doing good work... It was for stopping your kind! Your kind needs to be disposed of, so that the rest of us can live in harmony!" He was angry and only getting angrier. "You don't need to do anything rash! I won't leave this universe anymore, I swear!" I figured, if I'm going to be living in Equestria permanently, then I won't need to 'Travel' anymore. He only laughed at me. "Like I can take your word for it?!" He stressed the sarcasm. Terrance pulled up two small pads at the ends of a couple of wires. Then pressed them together and an electric current was visible. Electroshock Therapy.... I knew it! So I am in a completely hopeless situation. "You are never going to see your friends again! You are never going to leave this place again! And you will never... BRING DISHONOR TO MY FAMILY'S NAME AGAIN!" He laughed in my face. I struggled to get out of my binds, but they only grew tighter. I didn't care about how badly I was being burned by the straps grinding against my skin... I needed out! Desperation filled me as I frantically shook myself as if I were having a seizure. My struggles were abruptly put to rest by the pain of a needle sticking me in the arm. I cocked my head to the side, only to be greeted by a large male nurse with a needle gun clenched in his right hand. I figured that the liquid would knock me unconscious again...Not the case. I wasn't able to move any of my limbs. I was now absolutely terrified. Terrance put the two metal pads together again, to show me the electricity passing between them. My breathing became erratic. My eyes darted back and forth between the pads and the crazed look in Terrance's eyes. He touched them to the sides of my head. "GAAAAAHAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" My body convulsed and spasmed as much as it could underneath the restraints. Terrance then let off for a moment for some reason. In my dizziness, I saw that he was only pumping up the juice on the machine. Again... "GAAAAAAAAHAHAHHHHHHHHHHH!! AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!" "Trust me, Ryan! This will help you forget!" He does it again.
Fleeting HopeToday, I woke in my bed as usual. Nothing special about that. But, once awake, a nurse came in and gave me my shot. Two horrible things have happened since only yesterday. One, they are giving me my medication in the form of a shot. Two, even if I could gather the strength to 'Travel', I wouldn't be able to... They installed a camera. The nurse was as rough as ever, jabbing the needle into my arm, pulling the trigger and ripping it out again. I'm just glad that the shot isn't near any arteries or veins of importance. With his accuracy, I could be dead right now. The questions are almost constant now. Terrance comes in and asks me what I've done all day. I say 'I've just sat and waited' he smiles. But I can't complain entirely... He asks different questions now. I'm not able to make a lot of progress in anything. When I'm being talked to, I will sometimes forget that someone is in the room with me. Or if I'm eating, I will sometimes drop my oatmeal and wonder why the nurses threw food at me. This is not any way to live. Terrance has taken 'Avenging the ancestors' too far. In my eyes, at least. Most people would be happy in these conditions. You get free food... People always checking up on you... Not having to work... But the truth for me is, if I can't see Equestria anymore, then what's the point in even trying to enjoy myself. I just wish that I would have never brought up Equestria to my parents. I wouldn't have been locked in here and I still could be able to see all my friends. Sometimes, I sit and wonder how stupid I am. Why did I have to open my big mouth? Why did I have to be made brain dead? But most importantly... Why haven't Twilight and the gang come to help me? Knock, Knock, Knock... "Ryan? You have a visitor." The door swings open and my brother is in the entrance. He walks in and sits down in a chair that the nurse provides. "Hey, Ryan..." He tries to throw me a reassuring grin but my mind is too clouded to even notice. "Ryan... I know that mom and dad made you angry but it's going to be alright." That much got through to me. "Wuhh... What... What do you mean?" I'm glad that I got that much out and not just some gargling noises. "I mean that it's going to be okay. You'll see you friends again." What was he implying? "What friends are you talking about?" He gives me a smile. "You know who I'm talking about!" I am happy. But I noticed a problem, the camera. The nurses must have heard every word of what he said. I point my finger directly at the stubborn piece of equipment and my brother chuckles. "Yeah. She thought that there would be a camera, so she gave me this thing." My brother held up a small crystal with various pictures on it. Most of them were of me in the room I was sitting in. "This thing blocks the video feed and replaces it with some still photos of us just facing each other in silence. They can't hear or see anything we're doing!" My brother is a merical! But still, who gave him that crystal. "Who gave you this?" He smiled. "Princess Celestia asked Zecora's help. She wanted me to get in here and deliver you a message. So Zecora gave me this crystal and this feather." "What's the feather do?" "Erases memory." Cool... "What was the message?" He thinks for a moment and leans in. "You are not alone..." What did that mean? "Was that it?" He nodded. It wasn't much, but coming from Celestia, it might have been all I needed. "Thank you, Christian." "Your welcome, man. Just make sure you write me from Equestria!" We both shared a brief laugh. I gave him a hug. This is the only good person in my family, right here. I love my brother. "Time's up!" The nurse shouted. Christian deactivated the crystal and left. I was left with half a sentence rattling around in my head. 'You are not alone...' I can't do very much with that. Again once someone left Terrance arrived. Great... "Well, Ryan. How are you today?" He seemed much happier now that he had it in his head that he had won. "...........okay........." It took me a minute to think of that one. The medication. "Good! Now do you still consider those ponies your friends?" I answer as you'd expect. "Yes..." His smile fades to a frown. "Well, that's all I needed to hear." He got up from his chair and made a strange motion with his hand. The two guards from last time entered the room. They hoisted me up from under my arms and dragged me out of my room. "It seems that you need more treatment." Terrance teased as I was dragged down the hall. We arrived in the same dark and miserable room as last time, and I was again strapped to the table. The sides of my head were moistened with that gelatinous substance again. The electric machine was prepped. Terrance touched the two pads together again to get the electric current flowing. Then they were touched to my head. "GAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!" He backed off momentarily and turned up the power. Then again... "AAAAAAAHHHHHAAAAHHHGGGH!" "This is going to help everyone, Ryan. Think of it as your service to reality." His breath stank of sarcasm. "This should be the l-" He was stopped by an unsettling sound. "CODE RED! CODE RED! INTRUDER IN SECTOR 5-A! I REPEAT, INTRUDER IN SECTOR 5-A!" Terrance dropped the pads and ran to the door. "NO NO NO NO NO!!!" He screamed as he ran. The room was cleared of all doctors and nurses. All of them left to go check on whatever 'code red' was. I was left alone in that room. My vision was blurred from the amount of electricity that was pumped through my body. I was still shaking some. I took advantage of the moment of peace and shut my eyes, trying to get some rest. "There he is!" A female voice echoed through the room. A, familiar, female voice. I opened my eyes and was faced with one of the nurses. Of course... "Ryan! We're here to get you out of this place!" "What?" I looked closely. A pair of friendly violet eyes met mine. The nurses hair was purple with a pink stripe down the side. Is that? No it can't be. It's a human. "Twilight?" She nodded. Another nurse entered the room. This one was taller and had long white hair. Her eyes were about the same color. I could only assume that it was Celestia.
EscapeShe untied me from the table and let me up. “What are you doing here? And why are you...human?” She smiled at me. “It's good to see that you're still yourself.” I chuckled but was still hurting. The shocking took a toll on my mind and I grew weary from simple thought. It almost hurt to think. “You didn't arrive after a few days, so we assumed something bad happened. We used that teleportation pad to get to you.” I stood up and was steady for a few seconds. But the very instant that I tried to walk, I stumbled and fell to the ground. “Well... Good thing you all came to help me. I don't think that I would've been able to take much more of that.” Twilight put my arm over her head and hoisted me up. “Thanks.” I said. I was able to move my legs, but I was to weak to support myself. As we limped down the hall, we passed by another nurse sitting at a computer. This one had bright, curly, pink hair. “We've got him, lets go!” Twilight shouted. “Okie dokie lokie!” She responded. I thought so. Who else could it have been? She sprung from her chair and followed the train of people down the corridor. We passed by a few other rooms with other patients still inside. It seems that only the workers left. We kept walking. As we passed by the rooms Twilight reached out and knocked on one's door without losing speed. A woman with blue curled hair emerged and followed. Rarity... A few doors later Twilight knocked again and this time a blonde woman followed. AppleJack. They did some planning here before coming to get me! “HE'S ESCAPING!!!” Terrance's voice pounded through the hallways. I flung my head around to be greeted by about four angry guards running at us with tasers in hand. “AppleJack! Take Ryan!” Twilight dropped me just as AppleJack was wrapping my arm around her neck. Twilight turned to face the guards and held up both hands. Her eyes glowed a bright violet and a pulse of energy emitted from her palms, flinging the guards back to the far side of the hallway. Freaking Jedi! We had some more time now. We rounded the corner and sprinted down the hall. The exit was insight, freedom growing ever closer. “FREEZE!” Two guards shouted as they sprang from either side of the hallway. AppleJack and Rarity acted at once. Rarity, raising her hand and enveloping one guard in her blue aura and launching him into a cell. The door was closed and locked behind him. AppleJack simultaneously roundhouse kicked the other guard directly in the chest, sending him flying across the floor. He flung himself around gasping for breath. You do not want to get in a fight with these ponies! Outside a rusty looking car was waiting. A young woman with multicolored highlights in her hair was sitting in the driver's seat, head banging to some sort of rock music. Rainbow Dash apparently. Fluttershy sat it the passenger seat with her hands cupped over her ears. Twilight flung the door open and AppleJack helped me into the back. The rest piled in. “Go!” Celestia commanded. Rainbow slammed on the gas and the vehicle rocketed forward. We didn't even get a block away before an unmarked van flew from the hospital and sped after us. Rainbow Dash noticed this and pushed down even harder on the gas. “This music is pretty awesome!” Korn played boomed throughout the car. “We don't have anything like this back in Equestria!” I chuckled a bit. But I was overcome with dizziness and my vision blurred again. Twilight put her palm on my forehead. Her eyes glowed again and warmth rushed through my body. My head stopped hurting and my vision returned. “Did that help?” She asked me. “Yes. Thank you.” I returned. The van behind us significantly increased speed. They were gaining on us and we didn't have a very go-... Wait... A thought forced it's way into my head. Twilight taught me to get someone to side with me. Only one use. But it looked as good a time as any. I turned and looked into the van behind us. Terrance was in the passenger seat. I could see pure rage in his eyes. But I didn't think much of him and instead focused on the driver. I concentrated... It felt as if an energy left my body. It left me feeling tired afterward but once I opened my eyes, I noticed that the van was slowing to a stop. I cheered. The others saw why and they cheered as well. But our victory was short lived. The driver was flung from the vehicle and Terrance took his place. “Rainbow Dash! Up ahead!” Fluttershy pointed out the window towards an abandoned building. Various wooden boards covered the windows and the door hung open, half of the hinges missing. Rainbow Dash shifted gears and spun the car and drove towards the building. We were getting closer to the building. Really close! I leaned up in my seat. “Rainbow Dash?!” She smiled. “I know what I'm doing!” She shifted gears again and made a hard right, spinning the car around the side of the building and into a garage opening. In front of us was a large metal pad waiting in the center of the room. The inside was considerably small compared to the outside of the building. We all scrambled out of the car and onto the pad. Celestia threw a switch. After a few moments, light consumed everything. When I open my eyes again, it appears that we are still in the same place. Only... I am a pony! We made it! “Thank you guys! I coul-” The pad lit up again. “They are coming through! Ryan, get back to the library! We'll handle them.” Twilight ordered. I did as I was told and flew out of the building, back towards Ponyville. I could only wonder what would happen, just nothing bad I hoped. The pad went off again. About three ponies stepped off. “WHERE IS HE?!?” Terrance screamed.
Terrance's View“HE'S ESCAPING!!!” I screamed. Ryan was being helped out of my hospital by those blasted ponies! How did they even get here?! I ordered my guards. “Tasers!” They pulled their electrified weapons from their sheaths and readied them. “AppleJack! Take Ryan!” The purple haired one turned and faced us. Easy enough, I assumed. She held her hands up and beamed some purple aura at us, blowing us back. I quickly jumped to my feet. I shouted commands into my radio. “Intersect at isle four, subsection B! Entrance two!” “Rodger!” They answered. I got my men back onto their feet and we continued the chase down the hallway. The entrance was clear of all but one of my men lying on his back. Someone ran over to check on him. “Sir! He's got a few broken ribs and a collapsed lung!” “Leave him. Someone else, ready a van.” I responded. “But, Sir! He's not going to-” “I SAID LEAVE HIM!!” I forced my disobedient worker onto his feet and out the door. We arrived in the parking lot in a matter of seconds. We ran towards our fastest vehicle. I ripped the driver's side door open and pushed him inside. “Drive!” I ordered. He put the key in the ignition and shifted the gear as I sat myself in the opposite seat. We sped out of the lot around the same time that Ryan's vehicle was rounding the corner. We were going to catch him! They spun around a corner. “DON'T LOSE THEM!!” I screamed. The driver quickly flung the wheel around and our van followed in suit. “KEEP ON THEM!!” I was at the edge of my seat pounding on the dashboard. I'm surprised that the airbag didn't go off. Ryan turned around and faced me for a moment. We were closing in on him and it looked as if he were afraid. He had good reason to be. “Chris!” The man behind me responded. “Yes Sir!” “Do you have a clear shot from back there?! I want you to take out their tires!” He pulled his pistol from it's holster and took aim. “Now only take out the tires! Don't hit Ryan! We need him to be-” The van began to slow. “WHAT?! WHY ARE WE SLOWING DOWN?!?” I flung my head to the side and noticed that the driver was seemingly asleep. “We need some time to escape. Slow down.” He mumbled. I looked back towards the car in front of us. Ryan held his hand out toward us. Mind tricks, huh? “NO! WE'RE NOT PLAYING THAT!!” I released his buckle and shoved him out of the van. His body hit the pavement at over fifty miles per hour. But at this point I didn't care. Another one of those universe jumping freaks was about to escape and I would not be responsible for that! I jumped into his seat and closed the door. We were regaining speed. Their car sped toward an old abandoned building. They slid around the side and pulled into an unseen entrance. “YOU ARE NOT GETTING AWAY!!” I slammed my foot down on the gas pedal and the van launched us forward. We followed the same pattern that was set by Ryan's car and we ended up at the rear entrance. I hit the break and jumped out of the van. My men followed suit. Myself and two others stepped onto a pad that was just flashing all sorts of brilliant colors. The fourth one with us, I told to flip a switch hanging off the wall. Everything went white. The light faded and we were apparently still in the same room. Although, when I looked down, I noticed that I had hooves. Disgusting! The other ponies that helped Ryan out of my hospital were still in the building with us. “WHERE IS HE!?!” I demanded. “He's far away by now. I suggest you just leave.” The tallest of the ponies said. “He's safe and you ain't doin' nothin' to him!” A smaller pony wearing a Stetson shouted at me. I only smiled. “You are all IDIOTS!” The ponies recoiled. “Do you think that you have any idea what’s going on here?!” They seemed more confused now than angry. “You’re trying to hurt Ryan! We won’t let you!” Again, I smiled. These incompetent ponies were funny to listen to, but not to deal with. “I’m not trying to hurt Ryan… I am trying to keep the multiverse in tact and you all are getting in the way!” They again were confused. All but the purple one. “Well, wouldn’t the multiverse fix itself if he were to live here on a permanent basis?” She asked. I became angry. “IT DOESN’T WORK LIKE THAT!! He has to be in his home world for reality to be stabilized!” I looked at them. I could tell by their expressions that they could see the fear in my eyes. “Now hand him over!” They resisted. “MEN! TASERS!” My guards pulled their tasers out again. “IF YOU WON’T HAND HIM OER THEN WE’LL TAKE HIM!!” My men approached the ponies blocking our way, but before they could attack. “Stop!” Ryan’s voice… I turned my head toward the entrance to the building and sure enough, there he was. “I will go with you… If you swear to leave them alone.” I laughed. “If you come with me, I won’t have a reason in the world to come back here!” He nodded and walked towards me. Strange enough, not even one of his pony friends tried to stop him. How sad… But what else could you expect from such disgusting creatures? The pad went off again and we had returned to Earth. “Destroy the portal!” I commanded. My men began disassembling the device as we got into the van. I sat in the driver’s seat, Ryan sat in the back. He was restricted due to a strait jacket I had put on him. He was staring out the window, a blank expression on his face. “Although this seems that we are doing something to hurt you, we are only protecting the universe. Nothing personal. But, regardless, thank you for your cooperation.” He only looked at me. His face was completely blank of any expression or emotion of any kind. He almost seemed dead. Good. I had saved the universe, sewed all of the loose seams, and broken the spirit of the one causing all the trouble. We arrived at the hospital. I got Ryan out of the van through the back. He was strapped to a dolly and I had to roll him into the building. “You are doing the right thing here.” I assured him… Still no response. Still good. But unusual. We were back in the treatment room. Ryan was being strapped down by the nurses and I was readying the shock pads. I touched them together to get the current going. I walked over to the one restrained and stood over him. “Thank you.” This would be the last time someone like him escaped my hospital. “No. Thank you.” He responded. But it wasn’t his voice! “Because if you hadn’t fallen for this decoy, then Ryan might have actually been caught.” “WHAT!?!” It was that purple one’s voice! “Also, don’t worry about the stability of the universe. I did research and made calculations when Ryan first started coming here. If he is here on a permanent basis, then the universe will be fine.” I fell to my knees. How could I have not noticed something! He was too cooperative! I am an IDIOT!!! “YOU CAN’T DO THIS!!” I screamed. “I can, and I have.” She responded through his mouth. “Thank you for destroying the portal. This will assure that no harm comes to Ryan or any of us. Good bye.” The doppelganger smiled then evaporated into a purple mist. “NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!”
A letter of ThanksDear Princess Celestia, I would like to thank you for allowing me to stay here in Equestria. I would not have survived otherwise. Thank you for the hospitality you have shown. Thank you for the time you’ve spent with me when I was trapped in that horrible place. I have made many friends here in Ponyville and I plan on learning as much about friendship as they have. I am currently building myself a house in the Everfree Forest. I realize that most ponies are afraid of that area, but that’s alright. I won’t be spending much time at home anyway. Again, thank you for all you have helped me with. You can expect friendship reports from me as well, telling you of all I have learned in this magical place. Sincerely, Ryan Darling
