Ponder was surprised his old password worked.
" Huh. "
He muttered, as he moved the mouse to a video recording app.

" Testing... Testing. " He said into the built-in-microphone.
A quick save and test later, and he had what he wanted.

He started another recording, taped over any and all indicator lights with black construction paper, then pulled up a full screen image of a black background.
Perfect.

He started a recording on his phone, and unlocked the door to the room.
He walked to the side of one of the utility cabinets and opened it's doors; concealing himself between it, the cabinet, and the wall.

And now he waited.

' Boy, wouldn't it be ' awkward ' if another person came instead of her? '
He thought.
Yup.
" awkward "
indeed.

After a long while, his target finally showed up.
She had her hand in her bag, and wasn't feeling too good if her body language and look on her face were anything to go by.

Ponder slowly closed the cabinet door, revealing his location.
" You know. "
The green one jumped in response.
Ponder continued his speech, nevertheless.

" Having your hand on your weapon when your trying to conceal it is generally not good practice. "
She was frozen in place. Her eyes were fixated on him as he slowly walked to the door, both hands in his pockets.

He even (almost) turned his back to her to close that door.
But he didn't take his eyes off of her.

He slowly turned back around to see a frantic green human, ready to fight.

He was about to say something, when -

" How do you know about the memory stone? " She blurted out in strained expression.

' Huh. Ok. '
' I guess were just jumping into it. ' He gathered his thoughts.
Ponder slowly inhaled.
It wasn't everyday he could be instantly destroyed at range by an adversary.

" I didn't. " He admitted. " I knew about the memory erasure, but not in the form of an artifact. " He plainly responded.
He was still blocking the door.

His target started breathing heavily.

She pulled out a rock, and presented it to him.
Or rather, at him.

Ponder flinched. But only just a bit.
" Man, your... Not really used to how the game of power is played, huh? " He offered a hand in gesture.

" CUT THE CRAP! " She spat out brashly.
" You didn't send me a serial killer letter and lock in me in this room just to talk! "

" Oh? But I did. " Ponder worked hard to channel his inner autism. To confuser her.
It worked.

" Wha- Huh? " Her grip on the stone loosened.
His target, now properly out the ' confrontation ' state of mind, could now be brought into the fold.

" First off, I'd like to say good job. ", " Very well done. " Ponder gave her a short clap, but not too loud.
Her face contorted into sheer befuddlement.

" You really did remember to get everything when erasing me from this world. "
" Or- At least that's why I think this school isn't swarming with police, feds, and the military by now. "

" Not well enough. " She sighed, looking off into the corner of the room.
" And I don't think It'll ever be enough, either. " She looked back to him.

" Equestria? Is that what you call it? " She asked.
Ponder nodded.

She inhaled.
" I don't- know anybody there. " " Or how to access them. " " Or what type of systems they might have in place to defend against this! " She shook the stone, Her breath becoming manic.

" But- " She took a deep breath.

" You don't know anything about that. Or this. " She shook the stone again. " You locked me in here because you don't know anything about this entire situation! " She almost snarled.
" But - "
" How could you? "
" How could you know? "

Ponder reared back. Just a bit.
He was starting to understand the reactions he got from AppleJack and similar. This was scary.

She started talking :
" I'm the one with - "

" Your right. " Ponder cut her off.
" I basically have no idea. " He monotoned plainly.

" That's why I tested your ability here. "
" And frankly- I think you could use some help. "

" Oh- Nuh uh. " She shook her head.
" After this conversation you aren't going to remember a thing. " Her eyes narrowed.

" Oh I'm aware. " Ponder responded plainly and quickly.

" Then - " Her tone becoming higher.
Ponder responded to her open ended 'question' :
" I just thought I could offer you some information. And advice; but only as someone who got in a fight every other day and thus had to deal with the administration here. "

She looked at him with suspicion.
" Of course, I don't know what you've been through. " He added.
" Just thought I'd offer. "
He took a slight, little step closer.

She readied her weapon.
He stopped.

He let a slight look of aggression slip through before correcting it. Her eyes narrowed.
Man this sucks.

" No. " She said with poorly hidden aggression.
" You don't. "

" You have NO IDEA how hard it's been! "
" The sleepless nights, the constant fear of surveillance! "

" Not being able to relax, because you know at any given moment, you could just wake up in some government black site! "

" I spent- "
" 2 weeks. "
" 2 weeks straight trying to get your parent's name and faces. " Ponder was uncertain if her small fit of crying was out of frustration or anger.
" I was lucky only one of them was actively searching for you. " Her tone was tense all throughout.
One of them?
Not ' none of them? '
What?

No.
Can't be distracted.

She continued :

" My grades are the worst they've ever been. "
" I missed out on second planting season this summer. "
" This THING " She violently shook her weapon.
" RUINED MY LIFE! " Her voice gave out as she screamed at Ponder, hurt visible all over.
It was quite sad.

Ponder took a pause.

" Alright. " He sighed.
" But- In your outburst- you let slip the limitations and requirements of your weapon. "
He stared at her emotionlessly.

She recoiled.
She was most certainly -
scared.

" And- Yeah. " He added.
" That must suck. "

" So I won't try to claim I understand. " He plainly and softly stated.
He continued to stand there, arms behind his back.
One holding a bunch of sand,
And the other holding a knife.

" Also, thanks. "
" I really would hate if Pony World fell to this world's nonsense. Bio weapons and nukes and such. "
Her gaze softened.

" But by that logic - " He stretched out that last word.
" You don't understand me either. "
He opened both his eyes to their maximum size.

" I could be an Equestrian agent posing as myself. "
" Ready to take back what's ours. " He looked to the stone.

" I could just be playing with you, and all I need to do to get my stone back, Is a flick of my wrist, an idle thought, "
" and a snap of my fingers. "
He brandished his hand to her, about to snap.
He had since put his knife away. No use intimidating her that much.

He un-pressed his fingers.

Quite a long silence ensued.

The tension seemed to be naturally fading.
Ponder spoke first.
" I'd considered myself lucky that whatever your holding ended up in your grasp, rather then in any of these other retards. "
" I only figured that you'd be open to vital information about how the ' other world ' works, so you don't raise more questions by using that thing. "
He had to make sure she got it. No misunderstandings or misinterpretations could be had.

She looked around the room.
She tensed up.
Her eyes then darted around, frantically changing size.

She sighed. She relented.

" Alright. " She lowered her arm.
He wasn't sure if she wanted to make peace or because her arm was getting tired. She still held the stone though.

" I knew the person I talked to back when Sunset went crazy had functional grey matter. " He confidently stated.

She looked around aimlessly in realization.

" You're that creep that tried to talk to me at the Fall Formal! " She pointed to him. Her voice was returning to ' manic '
" That was purely my parents idea, trust me. " He argued.
" Me BEING there, not me trying to make conversation. " His eyes trailed off.

" And- was that an insult? " She tilted her head.
" No. " He said with his speech stretched out, minor pain in his voice.

It appears he had pushed his luck a bit too far. She was back rearing to go, and he hadn't yet info-dumped everything relevant he knew on her to aid her never-ending mission.

But she didn't attack.

An opportunity.

He went to open his mouth, but stopped.
She still stared at him.

' Just - stick to the facts. ' He remembered Twilight telling him.
This wasn't that situation, and her order certainly didn't apply here, but...
Maybe...

" Sorry. Should not have said that. " He offered.
Her tension waned.

" I'm assuming you already know I'm - ' PonderBright ' ? "
" Sure. If you want to go by those cutesy horse nicknames. " She said with disgust. She seemed ready to talk.
" Whatever. "
" WallFlower. "

" Not that you'll be remembering it, just thought I'd help the conversation along. "

" Honestly. " Sunset mentioned, walking with Twilight down the hall.
" It was probably the best possible scenario. "

" At least - considering the alternative. "
She and Twilight had been standing up for awhile. They stopped at the library.

" Sorry again Sunset. " Twilight took a sorrowful tone.

" I - Think it might be a bit of everypony's fault here. " Sunset swirled her hand around while sounding like a teacher.
" That - proper communication initiative thing you were writing to me about? "
Twilight nodded in response.

" I honestly think it couldn't come fast enough. " Sunset continued.

" I- agree. " Twilight reluctantly said.
" Oh. " Sunset showed minor surprise.

" I was hesitant at first, too many things on my mind, I guess? " She smiled a small smile.
" Twilight. " Sunset gave her a knowing look.
" Come on. "

" We've known each other for too long to keep secrets like those. "
" Why so somber? " She switched to a inquisitive face.

" Well - " Twilight twirled her hands around.
" While I do - somewhat - agree with how Equstria is changing - "

" I - "

" Can't help but feel that I'm forgetting something. "
" Or- "
Sunset interrupted.

" Or maybe that you've yet to do something you need to do? "

" Yeah. " Twilight smiled. Sunset cocked her head. She spoke :
" Trust me, I know all about that. And the pressure. "

They both smiled.
" Pinkies slumber party. " They both said in unison.

After laughing, Twilight grabbed her arm.
" Yeah. But this is different. A bit. "
Sunset raised an eyebrow, but did it in that typical Sunset fashion; ie, somehow not making it insulting.

" It's not anypony's expectations I'm worried about. " Her tone turned slowly away from ' happy '
" It's like I forgot something important, but I never even knew what it was in the first place. "

" Wow. " Sunset swerved in front of Twilight.
" Now that's some pressure. "

Twilight quickly looked away in embarrassment.
" I don't mean to sound needy or preachy. "
" I know. " Sunset lowered her eyes.

A thus their session of catching up continued.

" Shouldn't Ponder be about done by now? " Sunset asked.
" Well - He didn't exactly tell me where he was going. " Twilight shrugged with a forced smile.

Sunset calmly facepalmed.
She sighed.

" Well, I'll search the 2nd floor. You take the first? " Sunset seemed geared to jump into action.
" Alright. " Twilight turned away. She gave Sunset a short wave goodbye.

Ponder had wondered why there was a message written on his hand in his handwriting. He check his phone like the message said. Nothing.
No video, no pictures, no evidence.

The message continued onto his arm.
Whoever this was must be a chatty one.

' Check pc 13? '
Ok... ?

" Huh. "
He muttered, as he moved the mouse to a video recording app.

But to his surprise, he was already logged into this pc.
And it was recording.

Well then.
Time to take a watch.

He was done writing on his arm again. He figured that was enough info if she decided to do it again.
So it really was that easy?
To just - wipe out any source information on someone?

Well.

Atleast, IF you know about the source.

Welp, time to leave this shithole.

It took awhile to find Twilight. He had returned to the first floor band room, as that is where he saw her last.
The students are going to be let out soon.
He had to find her quick.

Ah! There.
He walked up to Twilight, and was the first to speak :
" I - didn't know just how hard sorting out multiple intertwining schedules was. " He rubbed the back of his head in apology.

" Oh. " She only said.

" Lets- return to the portal, shall we? " She put on a smile.
A fake smile?

He couldn't tell.

He was also expecting a more... Colorful? Reaction. At least.

They walked in silence to the courtyard.
It wasn't long, but it wasn't short either.

SwiTwi was waving her scanner around. She seemed to be zoning in on something.

" They still haven't repaired that thing? " Ponder motioned to the statue.
Twilight looked away, but quickly looked back.
" And I guess not everyone here is as complacent as you think? " Twilight opened a hand to her counterpart.
' That almost seemed natural. ' Ponder thought.

" Yeah. " Ponder admitted.
" I guess. She's not entirely incompetent."

" I also guess I'll have to find a way to smooth things over. "
Twilight nodded. She was about to speak when -
" As soon as I figure out how to take my hoof out of my mouth. " Ponder said in blank monotone.

A smile and a quick head turn.
THAT was the reaction Ponder was looking for.

...

Why did he value her approval?
That was the problem here.

After so many instances, It could not hide from him any longer.
Even if that thing was himself.
Or a part of himself.

" Are you ok? " Twilight raised an eyebrow.
" Oh. Yeah. " Ponder replied.

" I just get lost in thought sometimes. " He looked back to SciTwi, hoping for answers.

Man, she really was getting very close and accurate measurements, wasn't she?

Sparks.
Sparks coming from the top of that thing.

He sprinted.

Not again.
Not again.
NOT AGAIN.

PonderBright dashed at a speed unbecoming of someone who was supposed to be physically disabled.

He ran toward SciTwi. Twilight, for just a moment, feared the worst.
Until he stopped in front of her.

He took a... wide stance?
His arms were outstretched - almost making a X shape with his body.
Completely blocking that which was behind him.

He stared wide-eyed at the portal.

After a short pause -

His head twitched back to the closest Twilight.
" RUN! "

That certainly scared her into action.
But, as he said so, more sparks flew out of the top of the base of where the statue used to go.

A light came out.

It shot out as if by spigot, then slowed.
And then started following SciTwi.

Ponder moved to intercept it.
It slowed again.
It seemed... Fluid? It continued to delay it's 'fall' towards the two.

SciTwi had scrambled and fallen down on her first attempt to flee.
She scurried back up, dropping her backback, book, and scanner.
She flattened her scanner under her foot.

She, not surprisingly, slipped again. But this time in the other direction.
The magic blob swept itself upward in response to her getting up, then downward.
Ponder jumped at it like a goalie. He didn't stray too far from SciTwi.
It stopped in face of him. Again.
It was almost like it was - repelled. By him.

The look on his face was one of abject terror. He was certainly not fooling anyone - or anyTHING to his levelheadedness.

SciTwi, after pausing for a short observation of the situation, got up for a third time. She was much more calculated and careful, and this let her escape the orb's range fully.

Ponder started backing away.
But, as he did, The orb, lacking any other target, started accelerating towards him.
No longer repelled by him, but now attracted to him.
Almost like a magnet.
There was no way he could dodge.

He quickly moved his arms in front of his face in an ' X ' formation, not knowing what else to do.
It did not help. The orb connected, and phased into him.

A flash of light.
Almost blinding.
A pale, golden light.
Like a sickly sun.

Both Twilights witnessed in horror as the flash gained 3 eyes above it. Very large at first, but quickly shrunk down to rest in front of Ponder's face. Two in front of his regular eyes, now warped too, and a third vertical one for his forehead.

He gained a ring with spikes behind his back; just hovering there.
Most of the rest of his body was clad in golden armor, minus his hands, which had extremely long, sharp claws made of some geometric material. The armor's patterns resembled eyes.
There was some sort of yellowish light making up 2 horns atop his head. Angular, goat horns.

And, perhaps worst of all, was the faintest of glows.
Radiating from behind his eyes.

Author's Note

I post on my FIMfiction blog!
https://www.fimfiction.net/blog/1037520/own-story-or-adaptations
Be involved!
Make friends!!
Influence (ever so slightly)
The direction of the story!

I am open to PM. No discord or email. Do not use email. Please.
I am open to work, even collaborations. I can't draw. Muscle condition.

Want to test my writing with this one. Will try to write more and more challenging subjects as time goes on.
All criticism minus something that can only be seen as a nitpick will be appreciated.

Surely... Giving good and grace a little room to breath in the face of unknown adversity and challenge couldn't hurt too much...

Right?