Author's Note

Touched up. The plot remains the same, but readability has been improved.

• 12/12/2024

Sebastian

Another weekend of fun, games, and roleplaying.

This weekend I had the rare opportunity to step into the role of a player, temporarily hanging up my usual hat as the game master. This particular session managed to stretch on for a few hours longer than our typical ones.

As farewells were exchanged and I began my journey back to my house, a desire to continue playing with the boys tugged at me. But the hour had grown late, well past midnight judging by my phone’s lock screen. And I had made a promise to one of my fellow players to dedicate some time tonight to watch the first two episodes of My Little Pony. I'm a man of my word, so I always make good on my promises — if and when I can.

After making it back home and watching both of the promised episodes, I found myself pleasantly surprised to be genuinely enjoying it. To the point where I found myself eager to watch on. I guess my friend has good taste in shows after all, or maybe it was just this one. I’d have to tell them that I rather liked the show after all.

Making my way to fetch myself a nice and refreshing glass of water, I filled it up to the brim and raised it to my lips. As I closed my eyes to savor that cool, hydrating water, a peculiar sensation washed over me. It was as though I was instantly submerged in electrified water for a fraction of a second. Energy surged through me, and just as quickly as the sensation came, it left.

In an instant, the familiar ambiance of my air-conditioned kitchen gave way to the crisp embrace of a natural breeze. My eyes snapped open, and I whirled about, startling myself and some owl that took flight from my shoulder and soared, circling overhead.

“The fuck?!” I exclaimed in my bewilderment.

To my astonishment, I found myself shorter in stature, no longer quite my usual height. Glancing down, I could see that I was now wearing flowing purple robes, complete with a satchel, various pouches that seemed to serve as pockets, and a book dangling from my belt by a chain. Needless to say this is not my normal getup.

“Why am I dressed like a stereotypical wizard?” I asked aloud, and naturally no one responded. “Where the hell am I anyway?”

As I scanned the room, my eyes locked onto a throne atop a dilapidated dais. My breath caught. It was unmistakable — the very same throne from the second episode. But how could it be here?

“No. This is impossible. This has to be a hallucination or—” My self-reassurance was cut short by a sharp thwack as the owl swooped down, landing squarely on my shoulder and delivering a pointed peck to the side of my head.

“Dammit, Aldin!” I snapped, my whole body jolting with the unexpected jab. But then it hit me.

“The robes… the owl… the spellbook… I’m shorter!” I muttered, a strange mixture of panic and awe overtaking me. “This… this is me! Or, not me. My wizard! My first wizard character? In Equestria? What? Why? How?”

I frantically tore through the pouches hanging from my belt and the satchel strapped to my side, searching frantically for answers. My hands brushed against a spellbook and a component pouch but found no sign of wands, no potions or scrolls, or any of the wondrous items that had defined Meridin at his higher levels of power.

“I must be — for lack of a better phrase — inside Meridin as he was freshly created at level one,” I muttered, rubbing my chin. “The inventory, Aldin, the spellbook, no mythic power… it all fits. But am I really without mythic power?”

Closing my eyes, I focused inward, searching for any hint of untapped energy — a hidden well of power waiting to be drawn. I held my breath. Felt nothing. “Nope. Not a spark of the mythical,” I sighed.

I could live without mythical power. Magic by itself was more than enough for me.

Turning to a nearby window, I wiped away years of grime, revealing a warped but serviceable reflection. My face stared back, younger by a few years — barely twenty, at a guess. Clean-shaven, with brown-almost-black hair framing sharper-than-expected features.

Leaning closer, I squinted to catch the details. Hazel eyes gleamed in the dim light, and a grin spread as I confirmed a full set of teeth. “Good start,” I mused. “But there’s one last thing to check…”

Awkwardly wrestling with my robes, I managed a quick, discreet inspection. My smirk widened. “Well, well. A few more inches down there. Things really are looking up.” With a chuckle, I adjusted my robes and turned back to the room, a spark of humor breaking through the surreal circumstances.

My smirk crumbled like a sandcastle beneath a relentless tide, the weight of Aldin's emotions crashing over me through what could only be our empathic link. Though his words remained a mystery, the sensation was unmistakable.

Fear.

The air behind me thickened, a heavy presence pressing down like a storm cloud. My body went rigid as dread sank its claws into my chest. I didn’t need to look to know who it was. There was no one else it could be.

Nightmare Moon.

Warm breath tickled my ear, and a silky, venomous voice followed, low and far too close. "Well, what do we have here?"

My thoughts immediately spiraled. When had she gotten so close? How had she managed to creep behind me without a sound? Oh gods, she’s going to flay me alive, isn’t she? My skin is too smooth for this! I like my skin! I’m so fucked.

She stepped into view, her midnight coat gleaming faintly in the dim light, her lips curled in a fang-filled smile that was anything but reassuring. Her eyes raked over me, sharp and calculating. "I don’t believe I’ve seen your kind before. What manner of creature are you?"

Think, Sebastian. Think! You've outmaneuvered death in worse situations — or at least your characters have. Panic fought to take over, but I clung to a desperate lifeline: what would a bard do? Those charming lunatics could escape anything with a few well-placed words.

Falling back on bard tactics… truly these are dark times. I’m so boned.

Swallowing hard, I adopted an air of composure that I didn’t feel a shred of, brushed nonexistent dust from my robes before dipping into what I hoped was a suitably respectful bow. Above, Aldin’s restless circling betrayed my nerves.

"Your Royal Highness, Nightmare Moon, I am Sebastian Hilam, a humble human wizard," I declared, my voice far steadier than I felt. "The ancient prophecies foretold of your glorious return, and I am honored to witness it."

Her gaze sharpened, as if she could peel back the layers of my very soul. "Strange... You know who I am, yet my little ponies have forgotten. Why is that?"

"They lack the vision to appreciate the beauty of your night, Your Majesty," I replied with a level of smoothness that surprised me. All the while praying to every god I could think of in hopes that she wouldn’t notice the sweat threatening to pour down my forehead.

Her eyes narrowed. "And what brings you to my domain, human?" Her voice dripped with menace, the kind that made me wonder if she was already deciding how to use me for target practice.

Wizard apprentice. It was the classic go-to.

At least if I died, it’d make for one hell of a story. Desperate times, desperate measures.

I tucked my chin further into my chest and deepened my bow, almost groveling. “Princess Nightmare Moon, I have ventured here in hopes that you may take me on as your humble apprentice!”

A crushing silence descended, each heartbeat pounding louder than the last. Oh gods, she’s not saying anything! The seconds dragged, every moment feeding my rising panic. This is it! She’s going to kill me! I’m going straight to the Boneyard!

At last, her voice shattered the oppressive stillness, laced with dark authority. "Very well. Wait here, human. Touch nothing in this chamber," she commanded, her tone a promise of dire consequences should I disobey. "I have pressing matters to attend to. Upon my return, we shall see if you are worthy to serve me."

With that, she dissipated into a swirl of inky mist, and vanished from sight.

Aldin fluttered down from his agitated circling, landing on my right shoulder. Through our bond, I could feel his nerves settling, though his talons gripped me just a little tighter than usual.

"Well, that was fun," I muttered, swiping a trembling hand across my sweat-dampened forehead. "Let’s find a place to lay low and watch without getting ourselves vaporized."

I surveyed the chamber carefully, finally spotting a good location. Between two thick pillars near a large window, there was just enough space to remain inconspicuous. As inconspicuous as one could be in a near empty room. Quietly, I maneuvered over and leaned against one of the columns, Aldin adjusting his perch as I settled in to wait.

With nothing better to do, I cracked open my spellbook and began poring over its pages. To my amazement, the text wasn’t just intelligible — it felt innate, like a part of me I hadn’t known existed until now. Every arcane diagram, every sigil and notation, seemed to hum with familiarity, like rediscovering an old talent.

As I flipped through its pages, a realization hit me. If I really was in Meridin’s form, then I should know Draconic, Celestial, Abyssal, and Sylvan! The ultimate nerd package!

“Not exactly the most practical languages in Equestria, except for perhaps Draconic,” I mused aloud, glancing at Aldin perched on my shoulder. “But they’ll be invaluable for summons. And honestly? It sounds pretty badass to use.”

I closed the book for a moment, my mind drifting. “What was Meridin’s school again?” I tapped my chin. “Oh, right! Conjuration — Teleportation subschool! Before all the ‘Flexible School’ Archmage shenanigans, of course.”

Aldin tilted his head, his unblinking gaze granting him an unflappable demeanor that reminded that he couldn’t answer me yet. “Right, right, no talking yet. But you’re definitely listening, aren’t you?”

I grinned as I pieced it together. “If my stats carried over, I should have seven uses of Shift per day.” Excitement surged through me as I focused on the spell. Channeling that inherent understanding of arcane energy, I visualized myself shifting.

“Okay, okay. Let’s test this out.” Drawing on my newfound arcane instincts, I focused on the concept of blinking out of existence. A flicker of energy surged through me, and in the blink of an eye, I reappeared five feet from my starting point.

With a blink, I vanished, reappearing five feet ahead in an instant.

“Yes!” I threw my hands in the air, nearly dislodging Aldin as he squawked indignantly. “I’m a wizard!” Scooping him into my arms, I twirled around with an unabashed laugh. “Do you hear that, Aldin? A fucking wizard!”

Aldin emitted a soft trill, his amusement tinged with a dash of annoyance that bled through our link.

To test my newfound knowledge, I tried speaking random phrases in each of my languages. Draconic rolled off the tongue with a guttural elegance, Celestial sang with divine grace, Abyssal dripped with malevolence, and Sylvan sounded like wind through the trees. Anime quotes and pop culture references in these tongues were particularly entertaining, and left me grinning like an idiot the entire time.

Satisfied, I turned my focus to my cantrips: Prestidigitation, Mage Hand, and Detect Magic. Under Mage Hand’s control, a small pile of rubble floated through the air, only to collapse into untidy heaps moments later when I let go of my concentration. With Prestidigitation, I wiped away years — maybe centuries — of grime from the nearest window, leaving it gleaming like freshly polished crystal.

“Not bad, huh?” I asked Aldin, gesturing to my handiwork.

Aldin blinked at me, his silence somehow validating my efforts.

Switching gears, I activated Detect Magic. The arcane pulse revealed faint traces of an aura lingering in the room — the remnants of Nightmare Moon’s mist. It clung to the air like an otherworldly shadow, a blend of starlight and malice. Was it actually mist? Shadows? Cosmic leftovers? I had no idea, and frankly, I wasn’t going to ask her. That mare is terrifying.

Despite knowing it was futile, I tried analyzing the magical residue, treating it as a self-imposed challenge. I got nowhere, of course, but the effort wasn’t entirely wasted — it sharpened my senses and reinforced the importance of pushing limits, even with unattainable knowledge.

My musings were interrupted by the sudden arrival of Nightmare Moon, accompanied by none other than Twilight Sparkle and the orb-like forms of the Elements of Harmony. Halting my cantrip practice, I shifted my focus entirely to the unfolding drama.

New fear unlocked: What if this isn’t a canonical universe? What if Twilight and her friends screw up, and Nightmare Moon wins?

I gulped. "Aldin, I am not built for evil apprentice life," I whispered. "Being apprenticed to a potentially insane demi-god doesn’t exactly scream ‘job security.’ She’ll end up skinning me alive if they mess this up!”

A pang of guilt surprised me with its presence. A thousand years of solitude would break anyone, right? No wonder she’s so... frightening. Damn it, now I feel bad for her.

The confrontation played out almost exactly like the show. Twilight and Nightmare Moon charged at one another, and Twilight pulled her teleportation stunt. The initial spark failed, sending her flying. Nightmare Moon destroyed the orbs with a laugh so deliciously villainous I couldn’t help but nod.

“Okay, that is an amazing evil laugh,” I muttered in genuine admiration. “Aldin, you’ve got to admit, if Nightmare wins, there could be perks. Free villain lessons, for one!”

Aldin gave me a side-eye that screamed, ‘You’re insane.’

But the Elements quickly rallied, and the bearers began to glow. A dazzling light filled the room, forcing me to avert my eyes.

“Oh, look, Aldin,” I muttered. “This is where she gets blasted by a rainbow. Not the worst way to go, all things considered.”

Sure enough, a swirling rainbow erupted from the bearers, arcing toward Nightmare Moon. Her scream of terror echoed through the chamber as the magic engulfed her, ending her reign in a swirl of light and color.

When the radiance faded, only Luna remained.

"Well, I'd say this turned out rather well, wouldn't you agree, best-buddy?" I remarked, unsurprisingly receiving no response from my new feathered friend.

Instead, he departed from my shoulder and landed atop the still unconscious Princess Luna. I watched in astonishment as Aldin began to gently nuzzle Luna, rousing her from her slumber.

“Aldin, the fuck? You just pecked me!” I muttered to myself half-heartedly.

A light appeared behind me. The sun has risen with Nightmare’s defeat. Good, I like some nighttime action but nighttime without the option of daytime is a real bitch.

Leaning forward, I noticed that Nightmare Moon’s armor was turning not into dust, but into a purplish mist filled with stars.

“Ok. That is metal as fuck.” I whispered to myself.

Princess Celestia approached, casting a towering presence over her sister. I was so distracted with the pieces of armor I hadn’t noticed her arrival.

"It has been a thousand years since I last saw you like this," Celestia spoke softly as she lowered herself to Luna's level. "It is time to set aside our differences. We were destined to rule together, my dear sister."

Resting my cheek against my fist, I observed the tender scene unfolding before me as the bearers of the Elements of Harmony expressed their astonishment.

"She has a sister?" one of them exclaimed in disbelief.

"Wow! They really were unaware that their ruler — who moves the sun around — has a sister?" I mused aloud to Aldin as he returned to his customary perch on my shoulder. “Wait! Aldin, are alicorns gods, demigods, or just stronger than the average pony?”

Princess Celestia enveloped Princess Luna in a tight looking hug, and they shared a moment, only slightly interrupted by the murmurs of awe from the assembled ponies.

As the two alicorns concluded their exchange and turned their attention towards the gathered ponies, introductions ensued, leaving me feeling somewhat excluded. However, my sense of detachment swiftly dissipated when Luna whispered something to her sister, prompting the pair to approach me.

"Wait a minute... didn’t I just essentially declare myself as Nightmare Moon's number one biggest fan and aspiring apprentice? Fuck me with a rusty tire iron," I muttered under my breath, a sinking feeling settling in my gut.

Before I could fully process the implications of my ill-conceived declarations, the two alicorns confronted me, effectively backing me in a corner. Both figuratively and literally.

"Sebastian Hilam," Luna addressed me with a tone of finality. "Nightmare Moon is no more. Return to whence you came and abandon your misguided pursuit of her."

Taking a moment to collect my thoughts, I decided to abandon any pretense and opt for honesty — honesty is the best policy after all. That of course was just what I told myself to help myself cope. The truth was that I couldn’t lie to save my life. My lie to Nightmare was probably just a fluke. Besides, I just know that lying would result in me inevitably fucking up the lie at some point, or the lie coming to bite me in the ass somewhere down the road.

"I don’t like lying, so I'll keep it real with you," I began, steeling myself for their reaction. "I made all that shit up out of sheer panic — no idea how I pulled that off. Patting myself on the back for that one! I never wanted to become Nightmare Moon's apprentice. In reality, the situation is that I've been transported to this reality from a world where your existence is fictional. Nightmare Moon caught me off guard, and I lied so she wouldn’t introduce me to CBT."

With the confession laid bare, I braced myself for their response. My eyes homed in on the spot of the stone floor where Nightmare Moon’s helmet dissipated.

It was Celestia who spoke next, her tone almost surgical in nature. "Is there anything else you wish to tell us?"

The question hung in the air like a execution’s axe, just waiting to fall. I debated my options. I could keep quiet and hope the rest of the truth never surfaced — less risky for the moment. Or I could come clean, facing the unknown but potentially avoiding worse consequences later.

The first option almost won, but Celestia’s gaze pinned me in place. She knew. Somehow, she already knew I was about to lie.

“Ah, screw it," I muttered, dragging a hand through my hair. I’d already said enough to doom myself a dozen times over; what was one more nail in the coffin?

The tagline of the show was ‘Friendship is Magic’. What’s the worst that could happen?

“This isn’t my real body... or, more accurately, it’s not my original body," I admitted, each word tasting more absurd than the last. "I created him for a tabletop game I used to play with friends. What you see right now? He’s just a character from one of those stories. I have no idea how I ended up like this! One second, I’m drinking water, and the next thing I know, I’m shorter, casting spells, and doing wizard stuff!"

I could feel cold sweat trickling down my back as the words spilled out. Any second now, I was expecting rainbow death beams or a good old-fashioned zap-to-ash scenario or I’m going to a nice padded cell somewhere.

Oh gods… what if they lobotomized me?!

Luna decided my fate, "For now, Sebastian Hilam, you shall remain in Canterlot until a decision is reached."

Relief flooded through me. It seems like I won’t swing from the gallows just yet.

Luna tilted her head slightly and asked, “There is one thing that confounds me, what is ‘CBT’?”

I couldn’t match her gaze or keep a straight face as I gave my reply. “Cock and Ball Torture…”

Celestia experienced a sudden bout of coughs. A choking noise could be heard coming from one of the six bearers.

I held my hands up, “Hey, I ain’t judging no one! I’m just saying its not for me, and I want my twig and berries in one piece!”

_~_~_~_~_~_~_

The Everfree wasn’t so bad.

As long as you’re being accompanied by two goddesses, and their merry band of misfits who happen to be packing magical artifacts that can one shot this world’s version of a deity.

All of the ponies were understandably curious, and they bombarded me with questions. I did my best to answer each one. It was hard to not enjoy divulging what was essentially tabletop lore, and the lively conversation helped pass the time as we traversed the Everfree.

Rainbow Dash, flying alongside us, was the most eager to throw out her question. "So, what exactly is a 'tabletop game'? Is it like Chutes and Ladders or Monopoly?"

"Wait, you guys have Chutes and Ladders, and Monopoly here?" I asked, genuinely surprised.

"Why wouldn't we?" Rainbow Dash retorted as though my question was the crazy one.

"You know what? I have no idea," I chuckled. "But to answer your question: tabletop games like the one my friends and I play focused more on playing a character than something like Monopoly."

As the conversation marched on, Fluttershy spoke up. ‘Spoke’ would be too generous, whispered would be more accurate. "Who is your owl friend? If you don't mind me asking…"

“Why, this is my best-buddy, Aldin,” I said while delivering pets to Aldin, who preened at the attention. “He’s my familiar.”

I realized further explanation was required by the blank looks I received. I took up a studious tone, pushing up glasses that I no longer had on my face, “A familiar is a creature that is linked to a spellcaster through an empathic link. Through this link we share emotions and grow stronger together.”

Aldin decided it was time to get attention from another, and made himself at home atop the head of Fluttershy. To my surprise Fluttershy didn’t shy away from Aldin, but instead she began talking to him.

And before long she was laughing and petting him too!

This is the thanks I get for saving our asses from being flayed? That little traitor.

Applejack spoke up next, “What this about a ‘character’?”

"Meridin was his name, and by the end of his life, he racked up quite a few titles," I took a moment to reflect on his story, a hint of nostalgic-amusement crept into my tone. "Meridin the Archmage. Meridin the Bastard! Last one’s my personal favorite."

Chuckling softly at the flashes of memories that arose as I thought of him, I recounted the little blurb I whipped up oh so long ago, "Meridin was born into a family of nobles who have fallen on hard times. In a desperate attempt to pay off their debts and regain their good standing amongst their fellow noblemen, they turned to a cult of demon worshipers for help. The cult promised them a second chance at life, riches beyond imagination! That was a lie, of course, but as they say: a thirsty man in the desert doesn’t question the water."

I unconsciously rubbed at my left shoulder, a phantom pain flashed across my torso for a moment. I ignored it and continued Meridin’s tale, “A mishap occurred in the calling ritual, and as a result his family was slaughtered by a particularly ‘merciful’ vrock — a demon of wrath. Who also decided it would be a fun pastime to ‘raise’ little Meridin.”

"Why would anypony do such a thing?" Applejack sounded particularly disturbed about the family bit of the tale.

I let out a hum and a shrug before I replied, “If my understanding of demons is still accurate, it did it because it loves bloodshed. Bloodshed and dancing. Although the dancing causes more bloodshed, so I guess it's just bloodshed?”

Twilight raised her hoof, and I couldn't help but feel as if I were suddenly cast into the role of a teacher in a classroom. "Yes, Twilight?" I beckoned her to speak.

"Can you explain the titles? Especially the Archmage one!" she inquired eagerly, her enthusiasm for magic evident.

"‘The Bastard’ refers to the fact that Meridin was a grade-A asshole for most of those early years of life," I began, elaborating on Meridin's monikers. “He was the kind of guy you would cross the street to avoid if you recognized him. And 'the Archmage’ is a title he gave himself. He believed himself to be the pinnacle of the arcane arts."

Twilight Sparkle tilted her head. "Was he?"

"For a while he thought himself to be," I explained while watching the branches above us sway in the breeze. "From his point of view it made sense to call himself that. He held within him an amount of Mythic Power that rivaled deities, he had a proficiency with magic that was frightening, and had insane level of willpower. He rarely ever lost a fight that he knew was coming, and he understood very well that he was strong."

Luna regarded me with surprise, her curiosity peaking through. "You don't seem that strong."

"Not yet," I admitted. "If my understanding of the situation is accurate, then this form would be before Meridin gained his Mythic Power or met his friends. Twenty years or so of age, I think. Meridin’s age was always in question. Time works differently in the Abyss…”

Silence descended for a bit. Aldin decided to stop being a traitor for now, and returned to my shoulder. I immediately caved and began petting him again. I can’t say no to that owlish charm!

Celestia’s own question came and broke the silence, “Sebastian, how did Meridin’s story end?”

I paused, meeting Aldin's gaze as a sense of gravity settled over him and I. Through our link I could feel Aldin’s curiosity pique at the question. As if he wanted to know too.

"It ended like every hero's story tends to end: in death," I began solemnly, I suddenly found the leaves of the nearby trees to be especially interesting. “The Material Plane was faced with a formidable foe — an ancient malignance. There wasn’t much time left, or strong enough heroes to answer the call. We had to make a judgment call.”

I looked around, I had their undivided attention, so I continued. “We volunteered for it, naturally. Meridin was the most magically gifted of our merry band of fools. There was no better choice for the role of bait! Together, Aldin and I lured the thing into a trap. A singularity that devoured their very essence.”

“So great was the Singularity that it erased the very concept of their existence from the Great Beyond. It was as though they never existed in the first place.” Recalling that moment, I began to stroke Aldin gently. It all felt more profound than I remembered it to be. “Don’t worry, best-buddy. This time, our tale will be filled with far more joy and far less sadness. I promise it to you, and I always keep my promises.”

Turning to the assembled ponies, I offered them what I hoped was a reassuring smile. "Apologies for bringing down the mood. Let's keep going."

As we walked, the ponies and princesses conversed on many various topics, but I found it hard to focus on any of it.

My mind was in turmoil over the details of Meridin’s passing. It shouldn’t have bothered me, yet here I am, wandering through the woods while worrying over a fictional character’s demise. But then again, I am currently surrounded by fictional ponies, in a fictional forest, on a fictional world. The line between fiction and reality might as well not exist anymore.

As I wrangled with myself, Aldin leaned over and nuzzled the side of my head. So those aren’t reserved for just Luna and Fluttershy after all.

“Thanks, Aldin.”

I had to keep reminding myself that he could feel my emotions through our link; it was not a one-sided thing.

This will take some time to adjust to.

_~_~_~_~_~_~_

Our arrival to Ponyville was quite the spectacle, to say the least. The mayor pulled off one of the most hurried celebrations I’ve ever witnessed, all with a smile that never once left her face.

The princesses, leading a throng of curious ponies, made their way through town. Eventually we gathered in the very room where Nightmare Moon had made her dramatic entrance mere hours before. While Celestia introduced her sister and tasked Twilight with studying the magic of friendship here in Ponyville, I felt a tug on my robes.

Looking down, I froze. A white unicorn filly stared up at me with wide, awestricken eyes. It was adorable, really. The little pony was acting like it had never seen a human before… which I suppose she hasn’t. Nor has any other being in this world.

"Are you one of the Elements of Harmony? Like my sister?" she asked with a kind of innocence that only a child could wield.

I tilted my head, trying to recall if I had seen this little filly before... nothing.

"Unfortunately no. I tried out, but they said I wasn't 'harmonious enough' to make the cut. And apparently, I have too many hands for their liking," I replied with a faux pout.

"Oh, that's too bad!" the filly replied, my sarcasm easily going over her head.

"Say, little one, who's your sister?"

"Rarity!"

"Ah, the marshmallow! She runs a boutique here, right?"

"Yep! The best boutique in Equestria!"

I couldn't help but chuckle at her youthful enthusiasm. "Well, I might have to order a couple of shirts and pants at some point. As much as I enjoy the wizard’s robes, you can’t beat a nice shirt.”

The crowd’s cheering stole my attention, and I glanced towards the crowd. As the crowd began to disperse, I turned to bid the filly farewell, but she had vanished. Only an empty space remained where she had stood.

"Hey, where did that kid go?" I asked the empty space beside me.

Aldin gave me a confused feeling through our bond, and naturally, the space itself remained silent.

A touch on my shoulder, I reacted proportionately, and nearly had a heart attack. "You'll never take my hands!"

Princess Celestia cocked an eyebrow at me. "I have no interest in your hands. Sebastian, are you alright?"

"Just a little on edge after the whole Nightmare Moon ordeal. She popped up behind me in that castle, you know! Nearly gave me a heart attack."

Scanning the room, I saw no trace of the mysterious filly.

"Hey, Princess Celestia, did you happen to see a filly here talking to me?"

She looked around before responding. "No?"

She sounded like a padded cell was waiting for me in my near future.

"Great! Just tired, I guess. Extradimensional travel can really put the tiredness in you, it seems."

Celestia gave me another strange look. "Uh huh. Well, any minute now, a carriage will arrive to take us to Canterlot. You're not afraid of heights, are you?"

"Nah, if anything, heights should be afraid of me!" I replied with a smirk of confidence that was very much forced as I tried to brush off the unease creeping into the back of my mind at the mention of heights.

As we embarked on the carriage and ascended into the sky, my knuckles turned white from my death-grip on the carriage railing. Confusion coursed through me, in the past I have never cowered from heights. I’ve flown dozens of times in the past. But here I am, clutching at the railing like a babe clutches at their mother’s bosom.

Aldin, sensing my discomfort, pressed close, offering silent reassurance. I don’t know what I’d do without him. Probably puke.

"Thank you, Aldin. As soon as I can, I'll make a scroll of Feather Fall," I murmured, closing my eyes and focusing on the reassuring sensation of his presence through our link.

“Sebastian, the carriage stopped minutes ago.” Luna spoke as though she was attempting to coax a small child that was irrationally afraid.

Shaking my head free of my fears, I stood tall, “Of course it did! I was simply admiring the fine craftsmanship of the carriage!”

Taking steady steps off said carriage, I offered a sheepish apology. "Sorry! I thought I wasn’t afraid of heights, but flying in a carriage like that must have brought it out of me."

"It is fine,” Celestia waved off my apology with a hoof. “Captain Shining Armor will show you to your room. Stay there for now, and you will be called when you are needed."

A captain to guide me to my room? Surely they have someone lower in ranking to do such a simple task? Why waste a captain on something as minor as guiding someone to a room? I shoved the questions aside.

Eyeing the golden-clad guard stepping up, I nodded, “Sounds good to me. I think I need a nap after all that excitement.”

Offering a quick nod of thanks, I followed the solar guard captain through the labyrinthine corridors of the castle. As we walked, I attempted some small talk. Hoping to lighten the mood, or at least make the walk more than a bore.

"So... what do you do in your free time?" I asked, probing my overly qualified guide.

He rubbed the side of his helmeted head for a moment in thought. "Recently, I've been hanging out a lot with my marefriend."

Watching his reaction, I picked up just how excited he got at the opportunity to mention his marefriend. He’s practically begging to talk about this ‘marefriend’ of his. Who was I to deny his desire? Couldn’t hurt to ask.

"Tell me more about this marefriend of yours."

Shining Armor's face brightened even more, and he took up a fond expression as he talked. The rest of our walk, he spoke non-stop about his marefriend. His last date with her, some of her likes and dislikes, something about a ladybug dance, all sorts of minor details. It was refreshing to hear someone passionate about something speaking about it so openly.

This Cadance of his is one lucky mare.

“Oh!” Shining stopped abruptly in front of an unassuming door. “Looks like we’re here already! Next time, I’ll try not to talk your ear off.”

He gestured towards the door, and I stepped forward to open it.

The room beyond was unexpectedly luxurious: a king-sized bed dominated the space, complemented by a sturdy desk and chair, an empty bookshelf ready to be filled, a personal bathroom complete with a tub, and even a private balcony overlooking the city streets below.

I took a step inside and let out a low whistle. “Damn, this is one hell of a room.”

Shining laughed from the hallway. “Duty calls! I’ll leave you to settle in. Catch you later.”

“Take it easy,” I called back as the door swung shut behind him.

Aldin took flight from my shoulder and settled comfortably atop the empty shelf. Smiling to myself, I flicked my wrist and murmured a quick cantrip, using Prestidigitation to warm the sheets to the perfect level of comfort.

"Ah, this bed is simply heavenly," I whispered to myself as I settled in for a nap.

_~_~_~_~_~_~_

It proved to be a short nap. There was a knock on our door that echoed through the room, and I cast a glance toward the balcony, noting the lack of sunshine. Since I hadn't undressed for bed, I simply answered the door with Aldin scowling from my shoulder.

A maid mare stood in the doorway. I greeted her with a nod. "Hello, what can I do for you?"

Is she wearing a Victorian era maid outfit? Maybe she has to wear it to identify herself as castle staff? Or maybe Princess Celestia developed some kind of maid fetish over the millennium without her sister? I mean it is a cute outfit, but the brain rot that has infected my mind from overuse of the internet is probably just twisting things.

Probably.

I hope.

"Princess Luna requests your presence at the sparring grounds. When you're ready, I can show you the way," she replied politely.

"Of course,” I responded a little too fast. “Lead the way!"

The journey to the training grounds proved brief, as it was located just two halls down from my room. Upon arrival, I observed a running track approximately two hundred yards in length, encircling an earthen training ground dotted with practice dummies. Standing on the track nearby was none other than Princess Luna herself.

I couldn't help but notice a remarkable change in Luna's appearance; her mane flowed freely with stars sparkling throughout, and she stood taller by about a foot and a few inches. Now, she’s just a few inches below my eye level.

"Wow, she changed fast," I whispered to Aldin, marveling at Luna's transformation. "Are those stars? Like Nightmare Moon? Celestia's mane is just multicolored with a few sparkles thrown in. Luna has goddamn constellations in her mane! Celestia should step up her game, throw some fire in there." Despite knowing Aldin couldn't respond to my words yet, I couldn't help but share my thoughts with him. Aldin blinked slowly, tilting his head as if he understood my meaning.

I took a deep breath and looked back at Princess Luna, who stood silently watching from in the center of the grounds. Her mane flowed on an ethereal breeze, the constellations shifting gently with its motion. Her eyes, sharp and discerning, were fixed on me.

This all felt like the beginning of some sort of test.

"Sebastian Hilam," Luna's voice was calm but authoritative and carried an edge to it that made me stand a little straighter. "You have been summoned here to receive my judgment. You have two paths before you."

She paused, allowing her words to sink in. I felt Aldin's curiosity mingling with my own, our link hummed with shared anticipation.

"You may choose to go free into the world and make your own path," Luna continued, her gaze unwavering. "Or you can become my apprentice and learn under my guidance."

The silence that followed was heavy indeed. I felt the weight of her words settle over me, the enormity of the decision pressing my mind. Go free? Make my own path? The idea was tempting. The thrill of adventure, the freedom of exploring this new world I now found myself in sounded fun. Although, that did sound a bit on the risky side of things.

But then, there was Princess Luna. The chance to learn from a being as ancient and powerful as her, to hone my magic underneath someone powerful enough to manipulate the moon...

I tried removing myself from the situation and thinking about this as though it was a player character decision. What would I want to do?

The wizard apprentice path just made the most sense to me. I get to live in a castle in a city that sits on a mountain, Luna looks cool as fuck, and wizard stuff is not cheap.

Wandering the wider world might be a better option if I knew anything about it. Maybe I would be better off out there, walking the world and figuring things out relying only on my own wits and Aldin’s help. But that would be quite the gamble, and I preferred not to gamble with my life.

Apprenticeship it is then.

"I'll become your apprentice," I said, surprising myself with just how steady my voice was steady despite the nervous flutter in my stomach. “Teach me, Princess Luna."

A slow, almost imperceptible smile curved Luna's lips. "Very well," she said, her tone holding a hint of satisfaction. "But know this, Sebastian. To become my apprentice, you must first pass a test."

"A test?" I echoed, feeling a mix of interest and apprehension.

"We shall start with assessing your physical capabilities. Once I have gauged your physical prowess, we will move on to magical tests. By the end of the night, I will have a comprehensive understanding of your abilities and we shall see if you are worthy." Luna gestured toward the track encircling the training grounds. "Begin with as many laps as you can run. Now!"

I took a moment to curse my choice and to momentarily lament that perhaps I had chosen poorly, before I launched into a run. In my original body, I wouldn't have lasted long, perhaps just one lap if I were lucky. But as I am now, I possessed far greater endurance. I managed to complete four laps of non-stop sprinting before collapsing onto my ass.

Before I could catch my breath, Luna levitated weight in front of me. Strength had never been Meridin’s strong suit, at least not until he reached higher levels and began augmenting himself with various magical and mythical enhancements. I embarrassingly struggled with the weights, barely managing ten reps with the fifty-pound dumbbells before my noodle-arms gave out.

Exhausted, I once again let myself fall flat on my ass. “Princess Luna, what’s next?”

Luna remained silent, giving me a look that looked too similar to a cat playing with a cornered mouse for my liking. She didn’t offer me a response.

Instead, she lifted up a rubber ball that she got from… somewhere, and sent it sailing towards my head with her magic.

The impact knocked me to the ground, "A heads up would've been nice!" offering a snarky one-finger salute from the dirt.

As I sat up, nursing a fresh lump on my forehead, Luna launched another ball my way. This time, I managed to dodge, but my celebration was short-lived as another ball struck me in the same spot on my forehead, sending me sprawling once more to the dirt.

"Fucking hell!" I exclaimed, scrambling to my feet.

Luna, now holding over a dozen balls with her telekinesis, interrupted my protest with a single word: "Dodge!"

“Oh no.”

I was bombarded with a barrage of rubber death, resulting in numerous circle shaped bruises and aches. The first barrage I managed to dodge with a quick Shift five feet to the side. That definitely surprised her, if only for a moment, and resulted in every single ball flying wide.

Very quickly I used up all of my Shifts and had to rely purely on reflexes to try to reduce the number of balls I would be taking to the face this night.

After what felt like an eternity, Luna called a halt to the onslaught. She leaned down toward me as I lay on the ground, thoroughly exhausted and battered. "Do you still wish to be my apprentice?"

Summoning the last of my energy, I raised my left hand and booped her on the nose. "Yes. You can't scare me off, Princess, but you do have a mean fastball..."

"As you wish. To your feet, 'apprentice'! Your next task is to cast as many spells as you can," Luna commanded.

Struggling to my feet, I caught my breath and responded, "I have three spells I can cast daily right now, and three I can spam. I'll start with Vanish."

Exhaling deeply, I focused my energy and waved my hands while reciting the incantations. With the final syllable, I was wrapped in invisibility for six seconds. As I disappeared, I thought I saw a slight widening of Luna's eyes, but it was probably just my imagination.

Reappearing, I moved on to my next spell, "This one is called Grease." With precise gestures and chanting, I conjured a layer of slippery grease.

I waved my fingers, jazz hands style, toward the little puddle of grease. "Tada! I can also use it to coat all sorts of objects, such as clothing or weapons."

Luna nodded in acknowledgment, prompting me to continue with a wave of the hoof.

"The next spell is Summon Monster 1. It involves summoning a creature from a different plane of existence," I elaborated. “Highly versatile, especially when it reaches higher tiers of magic.”

With a flourish, I conjured a tiny viper on the ground. The viper glowed a faint gold as it looked around. I dismissed it with a flick of the hand before it could do something unpredictable. Like attempt to bite a certain lunar princess.

"Presto! Magic!" I exclaimed theatrically.

Luna regarded the spot that the summoned creature vanished from with a neutral expression. I took it as a sign to move on to my cantrips. "I currently have three prepared: Mage Hand, Detect Magic, and Prestidigitation," I informed her, about to begin some spiel detailing their functions.

But Luna seemed uninterested, and sighed softly. "That's enough. I've seen what I need to see. Sebastian Hilam, I have one final test for you."

“I’m ready for any test you got, Princess!” I declared confidently in spite of the exhaustion that weighed on my limbs.

"Will you help me overthrow that foal that is my sister?" Luna asked the question like she was asking about the weather instead of asking me to help her with a coup d'état.

“Huh? I’m sorry, what did you say? I think I might have taken one too many of your balls to the head.” I must have developed a hearing problem a second ago because it sounded like she’s going evil right away, at the drop of a hat. It’s only been a few hours!

I flinched back a step as Luna closed the distance, now easily within arm’s reach. She may have been a few inches shorter than me, but she may as well have been a giant looming over me.

Luna’s voice was sharpened steel. "I said: Will you help me overthrow that foal that is my sister? You wanted to become my apprentice, well, this is it, Sebastian!"

The sparring grounds felt deathly silent as Luna and I locked eyes. I spat out my decision, as I resigned myself to my fate. "You know what? Fuck it…"

Luna looked surprised and a little disappointed, “Sebastian this—”

I decked Luna with the meanest right hook I could muster while shouting, “Aldin fuck her up!”

Aldin didn’t hesitate and attempted to swipe his talons across her face. His talons met only air as Luna scrambled backwards.

I knew if I let her catch her composure then I’d be done for, albeit I’m pretty sure I’m screwed either way. Fueled by a cocktail of anger, spite, and a light dash of fool-hardy determination, I closed in for another attack, but before I could land another strike, a blue aura enveloped me and Aldin, freezing us in place.

Luna rubbed gently at her swelling eye, and much to my surprise, she was laughing. She fell to her flanks and laughed harder.

“Hey! Don’t you laugh at me! Get it over with, or let me go so I can give you the cleanest left-right-goodnight I can dish out with these noodle arms!”

Luna managed to calm her laughter long enough to wheeze out two words, “You passed!”

“Passed?” I was absolutely flabbergasted. “This was all part of the test?”

Luna’s laughter slowed, and she released us from her magical grasp. “I was testing you to see if you would wilt under pressure. You passed. Turns out those noodle arms of yours can deliver quite the blow.”

I looked at her like she was crazy. Hells, she might actually be crazy considering what she's been through.

“That was intense,” I let out a sigh and plopped down on my ass, feeling like I'd hit the ground a million times tonight. “Sorry about the eye.”

A small smile adorned her face. “No need to apologize, Sebastian. You did well tonight. Go relax for the rest of the night. Your apprenticeship will officially begin tomorrow night. Meet me at moonrise in the castle library.”

"Got it, princess," I replied, hauling myself to my feet. As I made my way out of the training grounds, I tossed over my shoulder, "See you at the library!"

Limping back to my room, I made a show of walking evenly and even shooting some finger guns at the occasional guard. Flexing my digits on those who are lacking in hands.

They seemed confused by the gestures.

Shutting the room door behind me, I let out a groan, “Aldin, that really sucked.”

I considered speaking of my theories and concerns, but what if they’re listening? Eavesdropping through magic is rather simple and easy, especially if it’s a room that you give someone. Best to keep all my concerns in my head for now. At least until I can decide whether my worries are legitimate or I’m just being paranoid.

I’m probably just paranoid.

Aldin patted my head with a wing, and let out a few hoots before flying to a little nest he’d just finished putting together in the shelves of the bookcase.

Stripping down to my birthday suit, I made my way to the shower. I stopped myself when I noticed a sight that filled me with dread. The bathroom — like most do — had within it a mirror. With said mirror I noticed a trio of scars on my body. Three savage looking scars that ran from my left shoulder to my right hip.

I must have missed it due to excitement at the gaining of magic and the lengthening of my johnson.

Shaking my head clear of the scars, I refocused on my task. Better to leave it to the birds.