My laughter didn’t last long. My sides ached like never before, and my chuckles only intensified the pain. Judging by Limestone’s expression, I must have sounded a little bit too unhinged while I laughed.

So, I stopped, the sound dying in my throat.

“Oblivion, what did you do?” Limestone asked, her eyes wide with concern. The apprehension etched on her face stung more than I expected.

“Me? Nothing.” Technically, that was the truth, but her expression suggested she didn’t buy it.

“Cut the bullshit! You started babbling nonsense in this—this detached voice… It scared me, Oblivion! I didn’t know what was happening to you! And then…” She trailed off, her gaze fixed on the horizon where the pink explosion had originated. “That happened.”

I followed her stare. In hindsight, the pink bubble was unsettling. I might have been as freaked out as she was if I hadn’t felt so… out of it earlier. It felt as though I was no longer part of my body. I could see and understand what was unfolding, yet it didn’t feel like it was happening to me; it was happening to him.

I sighed. “Listen, I genuinely didn’t know what that was. But yes, I had a sense that something would happen.” I glanced back at Limestone, trying to convey my sincerity through my eyes.

She only looked more confused. “How?”

“I just… I don’t know. I just felt like it would.” I shrugged, attempting to conceal my irritation.

“That doesn’t make any sense!”

I scoffed, frustration bubbling up. “Your world doesn’t make sense.”

“Oblivion, that was bucking magic! We’re earth ponies, not unicorns! Don’t you get it? It’s not normal! Did you have this… power all along? Have you been hiding it from me? Don’t you trust me?” One of her hooves hugged her chest, a mix of hurt and anger washing over her face.

“No! I mean, yes! I—” I growled. “The hell did that come from? Listen, Limestone, that wasn’t my doing! I think I… nudged it along, but I didn’t create it!”

“I-I don’t understand.” Her eyes darted around as if she were trying to recognize me.

I sighed once more, trying to release the blend of anger and frustration building inside me. “I don’t know what to say.”

And I despise that feeling.

The silence that followed my response felt awkward. I stared at Limestone as she looked down, her gaze averted. My eyes drifted to her body, and I grimaced; that bruise must sting. We should probably do something about it.

“Here, let’s patch you up,” I said, slowly moving toward her and the satchel. “Got anything—”

“Oblivion.” She cut me off.

I paused. “Yeah?”

“You have a cutie mark.”

What?

I glanced at my flank; she was right. The infamous mark now adorned my rear. It was white, depicting two masks—one smiling widely in deep laughter, the other frowning with tears. I recognized the image instantly.

I tried to scrub it away with my hooves, but it was as if my coat had changed color to display the mark. I exhaled in frustration.

“It’s kind of creepy,” Limestone remarked, her brow furrowed as she stared at my flank. “What is it?”

I frowned, hoping the mark wasn’t permanent. I didn’t want to go home with this on my butt.

“The comedy and tragedy masks,” I replied, still fixated on the design. The more I thought about it, the more my stomach twisted with worry.

“The what now?”

“Do you have theaters here? Or plays?”

She looked back, confused by the abrupt shift in topic. “Uhm… yeah. But they’re more of a thing for the rich in Canterlot. Not many plays go on here, just a few traveling magicians or whatnot.”

I stared at her, my eyebrow twitching in annoyance. Canterlot? Really? What’s with this world and its weird place names?

Never mind. Don’t dwell on it; it’s not important.

“Well, the masks represent the dramatic arts in my world. They’re kind of the official symbol for it…” I trailed off.

Wait.

Theater and plays. Comedy and tragedy. The strange, on-the-nose town names. The bizarre magic. The princesses. The creature. This world felt as if it had been… invented, created.

Was this some sort of… story?

Was I really in a fucking story? A fictional world filled with heroes, villains, and all the plot twists and problems that came with it? Was I being forced to play a role in a narrative I hadn’t chosen? Just a grand illusion, a stage set for characters to perform their parts?

Limestone was still waiting for me to finish my explanation. My silence must have worn down her patience, because she suddenly scrunched her eyes, a confused expression on her face. “What? You’re saying you’re good at acting?”

I didn’t respond. I was too lost in my own thoughts. I just stared at her—was she really my friend? Was she real? Was she aware? An actor or a character? Did she have genuine thoughts, emotions, and a life, or was she just a puppet delivering lines to move the story along?

“Oblivion, talk to me,” she urged, frustration creeping into her voice. “Will you stop staring and say something already?!”

My lack of memories, of my name. The sudden arrival in the middle of nowhere, only to miraculously find help on the same day—almost as if I had been carefully placed here. The family I met, each with distinct personalities, but wasn’t that normal? Everyone is different; we all have our unique traits. Yet theirs seemed more… pronounced, as if they were highlighted for easy distinction.

Was Limestone, the individual… fake?

No-no-no-no-no. Not again. I can’t. I—

“Oblivion, what the buck is happening?! Why are you acting like this?!” she exclaimed.

Her words jolted me from my thoughts. I stared at her, the impact of her question hitting me harder than any blow I’d received from that creature. The realization struck me even more than the notion of being trapped in a story. I didn’t know the answer. I didn’t want to think about it.

I just didn’t want to think anymore.

And so I laughed. It was instinctual, a barrier I had built over many years to protect myself. Just laugh it off, and everything will be better. Like it was one big fucking joke. It can’t really hurt you if you don’t take it seriously.

It was like adding a laugh track to a serious scene, transforming it into slapstick comedy, or throwing some puns at the villain and turning a tense fight into an actual joke.

But the mare flinched at my laughter, a look of discomfort crossing her face. After a moment, she slowly realized that I wasn’t truly laughing anymore. In fact, even to my own ears, it sounded more like the beginning of sobbing than anything else.

“O-Oblivion?” she said softly, lifting a hoof to comfort me, but I slapped it away.

“DON’T TOUCH ME!” I shouted, the venom in my voice surprising both her and me.

She stumbled back in shock, her eyes wide, but since her side was still injured, she mostly just shuffled backward in pain. My eyes widened in horror at my own actions. I let the ‘mask’ slip.

“Fuck me. Looks like I’m a piece of shit.” I chuckled, drying my tears with a hoof. “Not like that’s news to me.”

That seemed to dissolve her shock, igniting something fierce within her. “What the buck are you saying?! You don’t make any sense!”

I stared at her, struggling to separate the real from the fake. It was a sort of talent of mine—always uncovering the true motives hidden beneath the surface. It felt normal, safe; it kept me a step ahead. But now… now I was lost, and that terrified me.

“I…” I paused, the words caught in my throat. “Never mind. Let’s just go see if there’s anyone left in this town who needs help.”

She surprised me by tackling me to the ground, even despite her injuries.

“Wha—Get off me!”

“Not until you tell me what’s happening!” she growled in frustration, her hooves pinning me down effortlessly.

I thrashed around, trying to escape her grasp, but despite her injuries, she was still stronger than me. “Why the fuck do you care?” I shouted, frustration and rage bubbling inside me.

“Because I’m your friend!”

“We’ve only known each other for less than a week!”

“And in that same week, you’ve shown me how kind, caring, funny, and charming you are! I don’t care that you’re a bucking alien! And you know what? Buck your ‘you’ll find a stallion in no time’! You are the stallion I fell for, and I know it would have happened even if I wasn’t in bucking heat! So yeah, I’m your bucking friend!”

I stared at Limestone in shock, my eyes wide. Her breathing was ragged, her chest heaving with each inhale. I frowned, glancing away, unable to meet her gaze. How could I tell her that the one she had fallen for wasn’t the real me?

“You wouldn’t understand…” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Oh, buck off with your pity party! Just tell me already!”

Pity? PITY?!

I glared back at her. “Alright, you want the truth? I’ll give you the fucking truth! I think this world is fake! That you are fake! A fictional story created to entertain! With this magic shit that makes no sense and all the fucking clichés that come with it! I look at you, and I don’t know if I’m seeing a friend or a fucking character! Hell, I think I’m a character too! I don’t remember any names from my past—just memories that could have been also invented to give me a fucking backstory!” I gasped for breath. “And now I’ve just discovered that I have a fucking butt tattoo that shows I’ve always been and will always be a big fucking asshole! No matter how hard I try to act nice, it’ll never change that! Happy now?!”

She just stared at me; her expression serious as she lifted an eyebrow.

“That’s it?”

I looked at her incredulously. “’That’s it’? What do you mean ‘that’s it’?! Don’t you understand what I’m saying?!”

She sighed, shaking her head before locking eyes with me.

“Even if what you’re saying is true, that doesn’t change a thing for me.”

“Oh, fuck off! Don’t give me that crap!”

“Oblivion, I’m not an idiot. And you’re not one either. You call yourself an asshole, but are you really? You could have done the bare minimum at the farm, and we would have let you. You could have complained about your workload, and it would have been fair, but you didn’t. I don’t know what you did to Marble, but she talks to you! She may be shy, but she’s a good judge of character. Buck, you could have just rut me and left me with a foal—Celestia knows I would have let you last night—but you stopped yourself!” She took a deep breath, then smiled. “So, yeah, Oblivion. You are a good pony and… a good friend.”

I just stared at her, my mind struggling to process the words she’d just thrown at me. “What about being in a story?”

She chuckled. “Honestly, with what Pinkie can do sometimes, being a character in a story is still more believable than her antics,” she added with a fond smile.

I… uh… I… How…?

“How can you be… so nonchalant? Aren’t you afraid that everything around you is fake? Your life? Your family? Me?”

The gleam in her eyes was all the warning I got before she smashed her lips against mine. Her tongue penetrated my feeble defense, intertwining with my own. She moaned deeply as her body pressed against me, radiating heat through my coat. A surge of electricity ran through my entire body; the passionate kiss sending shivers down my spine.

I didn’t know how long it lasted, but after what felt way too short, Limestone broke the kiss, panting heavily. Her eyes sparkled with desire, and a seductive smirk played on her lips.

“Looks real to me. How’s that for an answer?”

I simply stared at her, too stunned to respond, before letting the back of my head fall against the ground in defeat.

I slowly and carefully wrapped Limestone’s barrel with a bandage, using my teeth and hooves. I applied a salve made from a plant left in her satchel that closely resembled Aloe Vera to soothe the pain. She winced at my touch, but I knew she could handle it. This was for her own good; the kick she had received earlier had left a deep bruise, and the salve would help.

Once I finished, I spat out the leftover roll from my mouth.

“Puah! The taste is disgusting.” I tried to scrub the flavor off my tongue with my hooves, but it only made it worse. The bitter taste and slimy texture were not doing it for me. “Ugh…”

She glanced at me, amusement dancing in her eyes. “Took your time, huh?”

“Excuse me if I didn’t meet your standards, princess,” I rolled my eyes. “I’m an alien, not a nurse.”

She smiled and booped my nose with her hoof. “Well, you’d make a cute nurse. Didn’t you say you’re good at acting? So, get to it! I want a thorough examination.” She smirked, her tail swishing playfully behind her.

I sighed in exasperation. “Yeah, no.”

It was her turn to roll her eyes. “What? Still thinking you’re a bad guy? You say it, but I’ve never really seen that side of you—apart from the curses. And yours are funny! What does ‘fuck’ even mean? Is it the bastard version of ‘buck’?”

I gowned, facepalming with my hoof.

“What is it then?” she pressed, sensing my reluctance.

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “Want me to tackle you again? I could go for round two.”

“No! It’s, ugh… I… I did some pretty shitty stuff. Back home.”

“Okay?”

She waited patiently, an encouraging smile on her face. I stared at her, torn. One part of me wanted to spill everything and be done with it, but another part urged me to hold back.

“I—Listen, I don’t want to talk about it right now. But I promise I’ll tell you later, when I’m… ready.”

“Pinkie Promise,” she said, her tone suddenly serious.

“What?”

“Pinkie Promise me that.”

“Uh…” I glanced at my hoof in confusion. “I don’t have a pinky.”

Now it was her turn to be confused. “What? No. Look at me. I’ll show you what a Pinkie Promise is.” She demonstrated a series of movements that left me utterly bewildered. “Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” She then looked at me as if she hadn’t just performed the strangest ritual I’d ever seen.

“Now your turn.”

“Do I have to do the eye thing?”

“Yes.” She nodded firmly.

I sighed in resignation. “Alright, I promise to tell you later. Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” I mimicked the movements as best as I could, being cautious with the last part.

It seemed I got it right, judging by the huge smile that spread across her face. Honestly, it felt like I’d just made a pact with a demon, selling my soul in the process.

She surprised me with a quick kiss on the cheek. “Thank you.” I tried to push down the bubbling feeling in my chest, but a small smile still formed in response to her gesture.

I shook my head, attempting to clear my thoughts. “I hate to kill the mood, but ‘ponies’ are still missing.” I waved a hoof around us.

“Right…” she said, her joy and humor vanishing in an instant.

The town lay silent. It felt eerie to be in a place where individuals had lived, now completely empty. The sight of personal belongings abandoned in the dirt was depressing. I hoped nothing terrible had happened to them. The creature had said it needed my ‘love,’ so at least I could hope they were still alive. And if this was really a story, I prayed it wasn’t the classic ‘town destroyed by disaster’ trope, used to motivate the protagonist into revenge.

Because I definitely wasn’t made of protagonist stuff.

After a few minutes, we began our search around town, entering various shops and homes while calling out if ‘anypony was there’. With each attempt, the silence only worsened our mood, and after an hour, we fell silent, searching the buildings in an almost mechanical routine.

At least there are no corpses…

Limestone seemed to bear the brunt of it. I could see her frustration and fear mounting with each failed search, her trot turning frantic. I maintained a calm exterior, but inside? I felt… empty. I didn’t know these ‘ponies’, and maybe they never existed at all, but hearing about disasters on the news was entirely different from experiencing one firsthand. And Limestone… I could see it slowly breaking her. The discarded, torn toy left on the side of the main street was the final blow.

She sat beside it, her eyes distant as she picked up the toy. I quietly sat next to her, allowing her the time she needed while I watched the clouds drift by.

“I… What do we do…?” she murmured, almost too softly to hear.

“We’re not qualified for something like this. We need to report what happened here to the authorities.”

She slowly nodded, then carefully placed the toy in her satchel, which made me question her action.

Limestone chuckled nervously at my look. “I… uh. It didn’t feel right to leave it here, abandoned. I’ll give it to Mom when we get back. She knows how to knit. She’ll make it as good as new. And then, when they finally find the missing ponies… I’ll return it to its owner.”

I simply nodded, a small smile escaping my lips before I turned my gaze back to the clouds. Then something caught my eye.

“What is that…?” I said, pointing to the sky. It looked like two shining birds, the sunlight reflecting off what I thought was their plumage.

She squinted, following my hoof, then gasped in shock. “That’s the royal guards!” She then waved her hooves, trying to signal the duo to our position.

The royal guards? That’s… convenient.

As the figures drew closer, I could see them more clearly. They were literally flying ponies in armor. Their golden—yes golden—chest plates protected their upper bodies while allowing their legs, wings, and tails freedom of movement. A blue star gleamed prominently on their chests. They also wore what resembled Roman helmets, complete with blue crests—stylish, I guess? I wasn’t sure how practical it was, but—were those golden shoes on their hooves?!

And those wings… so that’s a pegasus, huh?

I glanced to my side, my mood sinking. Here I was in another fantasy world, where I could have had wings to fly. But no, the ‘story’ decided to tell me to go fuck myself—'stay on the ground, little alien horse. And while you’re at it, enjoy a side of existential crisis; it seems you’re quite fond of that’.

The two flying horses landed gracefully in front of us, their landing precise and controlled. I studied the guards carefully; their armor was expertly crafted, fitting snugly against their bodies, though it looked heavy. I noticed traces of skirmishes on the surface, and the tired expressions on their faces suggested they had recently been in battle. Strangely, apart from the height, they looked almost identical—twins, maybe?

“Miss, sir, we’re relieved to see that not everypony in this region has been captured by the changelings,” one of the guards said, their eyes scanning us with sympathy as they took in the large bandage on Limestone and the bruises covering my body.

“The what?” I asked, my confusion evident.

“The changelings,” the other guard replied, her feminine voice firm yet laced with anger. “They’re dark, insidious creatures that can change their appearance at will.”

“That’s what that thing was?” I murmured, the realization dawning on me. Even though I spoke softly, they seemed to hear me clearly. In an instant, their stances shifted to one of higher alert, wings extending wide in a show of readiness. It was impressive… and intimidating.

“There’s one here?!” the taller guard shouted, his eyes darting left and right, scanning the area for any sign of danger.

“Um… not anymore. It got pushed away by that pink magic,” I explained, trying to reassure them.

They both let out a breath of relief, their wings retracting as the tension eased.

Goddammit, I’m so envious right now.

“Thank Celestia for that,” the male guard said, shaking his head. “I’ve had enough of these bugs for a lifetime.”

“What happened?” Limestone asked, her voice steady but tinged with concern.

The two guards exchanged solemn looks before the male spoke again. “Canterlot was invaded. It was a coordinated attack.”

“WHAT?!” Limestone exclaimed, shock etched on her face, making me jump at the sudden outburst.

“They infiltrated our ranks without us realizing it. By the time we understood what was happening, it was already too late,” he continued, his voice heavy with the weight of regret.

“They even replaced Princess Mi Amore Cadenza during her wedding!” the female guard interjected, stomping her hoof in frustration. “Her own wedding! Have they no shame?!”

The other guard gently nudged her side, giving her a pointed look. She took a deep breath, steadying herself before continuing. “Never mind that. In the end, we still succeeded in expelling them. We have the princess and the captain to thank for that.” She shifted her gaze to us, her expression softening. “Since we’re here, do you need any assistance?”

“Actually, yes,” Limestone replied, her voice steadier now. “The ponies from this town vanished. We think these… changelings took them.”

“Don’t worry; nopony was lost,” the male guard assured us, his tone calm yet firm. “All the ponies taken are on their way back from Canterlot. It’ll just take some time—moving that many at once isn’t easy. Those vermin kept them close to feed their troops during the invasion.” He spat on the ground, his expression darkening. “Despicable creatures.”

“So they’re safe… thank god for that,” I sighed in relief, though my choice of words seemed to confuse the guards. “Are they already on their way back? How far is Canterlot, anyway?” I glanced back at Limestone, who was still processing the news. “Wasn’t that the town you mentioned earlier?”

Limestone met my gaze, her expression unreadable. “That’s not a town… that’s the capital.”

Ah.

The two guards exchanged glances, their expressions shifting subtly but noticeably to my trained eye.

“You don’t know Canterlot?” the tall one asked, his tone dripping with skepticism.

Oh-oh. I didn’t like where this was headed.

“Um… no,” I replied, keeping my voice sincere.

“Where are you from?”

“Uh…” I shot a glance at Limestone, silently asking for help.

“He’s from Rockville. The Rock Farm,” she interjected quickly.

“Rockville?” The guard pulled out a scroll from… somewhere. How did he manage that? “What’s your name? Both of you.”

“Limestone Pie,” she said confidently. He checked his scroll, nodded, and then turned his gaze to me.

“O-Oblivion,” I said meekly, feeling a lump form in my throat.

He flipped through the pages of the scroll, scanning for my name, then returned to the original page. “You’re not on the list. Are you sure you’re from Rockville?”

“Uh…”

He pointed a hoof stopping me from saying anything more, his frown deepening. “I’ll stop you right there. I strongly suggest you choose your words carefully and tell me the truth.”

“Wait! He’s… he’s not from around here,” Limestone jumped in, trying to diffuse the situation.

“Then where is he from?” the guard pressed, his voice growing sharper. As he continued his interrogation, the female guard subtly maneuvered to position herself behind us, keeping a watchful eye.

We exchanged glances, both at a loss for what to do. Lying would only dig us deeper into trouble, and the truth? Too unbelievable. The guard, noticing our silence, sighed in irritation.

“Look, we just had an invasion by a species capable of changing their form. We’re not joking around. This is a matter of national security.”

“I’m not one of them!” I exclaimed, desperation creeping into my voice.

“Then answer this simple question: where are you from?”

“You won’t believe me,” I replied, my heart racing.

“I suggest you tell me the truth before I make you do it myself.”

I instinctively held Limestone back as she bristled at the guard’s threat. She stood no chance against him, and any confrontation would only escalate the situation. Lying wouldn’t work, so I figured it was time to come clean.

Fuck me, this is going to end badly.

“Okay. Alright.” I took a deep breath, trying to adopt the most sincere and professional demeanor I could muster. “I am not from around here. In fact, I’m not from this world at all. This…,” I said, gesturing at my pony form, “isn’t my real body. I’m not normally a pony.”

Shit, why did I just say that? Now they’ll think I’m one of the changelings!

“I mean… I’m not one of them. I’m… an alien.”

Fuck! That’s even worse! Why am I so terrible at telling the truth?!

Limestone stared at me, disbelief written all over her face. To her credit, the guard didn’t seem fazed by my confession, which gave me a flicker of hope that was… quickly snuffed out.

“Alright, show me your hooves,” he commanded.

“My what?” I asked, confusion knitting my brow.

“Your hooves. Now.”

Before I could react, the female guard who had been circling us swiftly cuffed my legs from behind. The handcuffs were designed for each set of hooves, making the simple act of trotting a near impossibility. How had she done that so fast?

“What are you doing?!” I protested, struggling against the restraints.

“We are detaining you on suspicion of being a changeling and a threat to the throne. You will be released once we have verified your identity. Miss, please step aside.”

I’m being arrested?

Limestone tried to push against the taller guard, but with her injuries and his armor, she was no match for him. “Oblivion!”

“Listen, this is just a big misunderstanding!” I pleaded.

The female guard rolled her eyes. “They all say that.”

“I’m serious!”

“Huh-huh.”

She lifted herself into the air, hovering just above me.

“W-What are you doing?” I asked, a sense of dread creeping in. I hoped this wasn’t what I thought it was.

She smirked down at me. “Preparing for departure.”

That only made Limestone panic further as she desperately tried to help me. “Wait! Just one question, please? Who will be conducting his inspection?”

The taller guard moved in front of us, his wings extending and his stance wide. “Escort formation. Ready for takeoff.” He then glanced at Limestone. “Don’t worry, a unicorn by the name of Twilight Sparkle will be conducting it. She’s one of the best in her field. If you’re telling the truth, you have nothing to fear.”

Limestone brightened at the mention of the name, relief washing over her as she finally stopped obstructing the guards. “Alright, thank you.”

“What? Who is she?” I asked, anxiety rising as the female guard’s magic tightened around me.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

“Don’t worry, Oblivion. You’re in good hooves,” Limestone said, trying to calm me.

“Are you kidding?! I’m being arrested right now!”

“Package secured. Ready for takeoff. Ugh… heavy, aren’t you?” the mare said from above.

Package?!

“Don’t worry, I know you’ll be back in no time. I’ll be home waiting for you. Just… try to have fun in the meantime.” Limestone’s voice was soothing, yet it only heightened my sense of dread.

Fun? Fun?! I’m about to fucking die!

“Think of it like a mini adventure! Like… you’re part of a story!” she said, giggling at her own words.

“You—Limestone! Stop joking and help me!”

“Be safe!” she called, waving enthusiastically at me.

I barely had a moment to process the situation before I was lifted into the air, screaming like a little filly as the ground fell away beneath me.

Author's Note

Heya! I hoped I had finished the chapter for Halloween, but words... difficult. So you’re getting it today instead. Hope you liked it!