“So, he’s the one?” the unicorn asked.

The mare must have been this Twilight Sparkle, the one the guards kept talking about. She was much younger than I expected. For ‘somepony’ who was supposed to be the best in magic, she looked barely out of her twenties, if even that.

“Yes,” Thunderhoof replied, his eyes scanning the surroundings as if waiting for something to go wrong.

Twilight nodded, her expression serious. “I have a spell that can confirm if he’s a changeling. I even used it before, during the invasion.”

Her horn began to glow, the soft purple light flickering as she closed her eyes in concentration, her brow furrowing slightly as she gathered her magic.

“Wait!” Thunderhoof said abruptly.

Twilight’s concentration faltered, and the glow around her horn dissipated. “W-What?” she stammered, visibly flustered.

“Not here,” Thunderhoof said, his voice low and urgent. He gestured with a slight movement of his head toward the crowd around us. Ponies moved past, glancing curiously in our direction, but none had noticed anything unusual yet. “If ponies see a changeling, we’ll cause a panic. Let’s move somewhere more isolated.”

“Oh, right.” Twilight chuckled nervously, a faint blush rising on her cheeks. “Sorry…”

“That’s alright,” Thunderhoof said. “Do you know a place where we won’t be interrupted?”

Twilight’s eyes flickered for a moment as she tapped her hoof thoughtfully against her chin. “Hmm… we could go to my old study. I practically lived there before I moved to Ponyville. It’s the perfect place for this kind of test."

Ponyville?

I couldn’t hold it in any longer. The name was just too much. The sheer absurdity of it hit me like a wave, and I burst out laughing. I knew it wasn’t that funny, but after the day I’d had, I needed a release from all the tension.

"Um... is he alright? I mean, he seems... a little off." Twilight asked, sounding uncertain.

I couldn’t answer. I was on the ground now, barely able to breathe between fits of laughter. My stomach ached, laughing so hard I was nearly crying.

“Don’t mind him,” Sky said, her voice carrying an edge. “It’s better that way.” She stood there, doing her best to ignore my chaotic outburst. She was probably used to it by now, but it still clearly irritated her.

“…Okay?” Twilight replied, clearly not sure what to make of it.

“Oh God, Ponyville!” I gasped between laughs. “This is so stupid, I can’t!”

Twilight stared at me, clearly baffled. The other two guards remained stone-faced, though I could see their brows furrow slightly. I couldn’t stop—until Sky sighed, clearly fed up. She stepped forward and poked me in the side with a hoof.

“Alright, that’s enough,” she said, her voice firm.

“Ha, ha—hey, ow! Stop that!” I yelped, swatting at her hoof in an attempt to make her back off.

Well, it worked. The laughter died in my throat as I glared at Sky. She stared right back at me, unflinching, her gaze daring me to start up again.

Twilight, still looking unsure, spoke up. “Are you sure he’s a changeling? He… doesn’t really act like one.”

Thunderhoof sighed and glanced at her, his expression pained. “Honestly? No. But his actions and choice of words don’t fit with a normal pony.”

“That’s because I’m not a pony,” I said casually.

Twilight froze. Her eyes locked onto mine with genuine surprise, her expression filled with disbelief.

I flashed her a grin, the kind of smile that suggested I was up to no good. “I’m an alien.”

And the best part of it? It was technically the truth.

Twilight blinked. Once. Twice. Her mouth opened, then closed, and for a moment, she just stared at me. Her eyes darted to the two guards, seeking some kind of confirmation. Sky, predictably, rolled her eyes—she’d heard this all before. Thunderhoof, however, didn’t look annoyed so much as… exhausted. He sighed, rubbed his temples again, and looked like he was bracing for a headache.

“Miss Sparkle,” Thunderhoof said, his voice tired, “it’s been a long day. If we could head to your place now, that would be much appreciated.”

At the mention of his words, Twilight seemed to snap to attention, her body practically springing to life with renewed energy. "R-Right, of course! I’ll... um, just give me a second. I’ll get everything ready."

She looked off to the side, glancing toward a nearby tower with a thoughtful expression, as if she was about to calculate something. Her hoof scratched at the dirt, tracing invisible lines as she mumbled to herself.

“…this should work,” she murmured to herself before glancing at the guards. “I just need a minute to charge it, and I’ll teleport us there.”

Wait. What did she just say? Teleport?!

A sudden chill ran down my spine as her horn began to glow again, but this time it was deeper, more intense. I could feel the power gathering, a hum in the air that made my skin crawl. Her eyes were tightly closed, her face set in a determined frown.

“What is she doing?” I asked, my voice trembling with more than just curiosity.

No one responded. Of course, they didn’t. The only sign that anyone had heard me was the faint smirk on Sky’s face, and from that, I could tell I wasn’t going to have a good time.

And of course, I was right. As the seconds ticked by, a strange tingling sensation spread across my skin. A magical purple energy slowly enveloped me, and the others, too. The air seemed to shimmer, and an odd sense of weightlessness settled over me. I felt as if I were floating, and then, in the blink of an eye, a flash of light washed over my vision, and I was no longer in the same place. It wasn’t so much like traveling through space as it was being pulled, stretched, and tugged through a tight tunnel. The world around me blurred, spined, and in less than a second, everything shifted. My body wasn’t anywhere, and yet, in a flash of light, we were somewhere else entirely.

It felt like I’d just been through a washing machine of teleportation. My head spun. I was dizzy and light-headed, my senses scrambling to keep up. It was like my brain had crashed, like the blue screen of death had taken over. I didn’t like it. Scratch that, I fucking hated it.

"Here," I heard Twilight’s voice through the haze of confusion, her breath heavy. "This place should do it."

As the dizziness began to fade, the first thing that registered in my mind was the sheer height of the place. My eyes swept upward, taking in the towering structure around us. The room was huge, stretching upwards in an almost dizzying way. The walls were made of solid stone, but the sheer number of glass windows created a panoramic view of the outside world. The room was filled with books, rows upon rows of shelves crammed with ancient tomes, scrolls, and even strange artifacts, some of which I couldn’t even begin to identify.

Thunderhoof scanned the room, his sharp gaze moving over the space. His eyes flicked briefly to Twilight before returning to the shelves and the exits. After a moment, he spoke. “May I?”

Twilight nodded, but she seemed distant, there was something in the way she lingered on the room that caught my attention. Her eyes swept over the familiar sight, and for a brief moment, her expression softened, as if lost in thought. There was a nostalgia in her gaze, but it was mixed with something else.

Thunderhoof did a sweep of the place, checking for any sign of other occupants and ensuring all exits were clear. Sky, meanwhile, stood by my side, her expression unreadable as she gazed out at the large window. As for me, I just tried to find a comfortable position, my body still aching from the events of the day.

“The place is clear. Miss Sparkle, you may proceed.”

Twilight nodded, her focus shifting to me.

"Let’s get this over with," I muttered, letting out a sigh.

I just hoped it wouldn’t hurt.

And I found out almost immediately. The spell caught me completely off guard. It was way faster than the last one. In a matter of seconds, Twilight’s horn started glowing again, and this time, no one stopped her. A blast of purple magic struck me directly in the face, blinding me. The surprise and shock hit me all at once, but there was no pain—nothing really strange, just a watery sensation, like paint washing over my skin. When it ended, the only lingering effect was the afterimage of the blinding light. I blinked rapidly, trying to clear my vision.

It felt like I’d just speedrun an eye exam—only, you know, weirder. And with horses.

“Did the spell work?” I heard Sky ask beside me.

“It did,” Twilight replied. “He’s… not a changeling.”

I scoffed as the last of the light faded from my eyes. “I want to say, ‘told you so’, but honestly? I’m just done at this point. All this time wasted for something as stupid as this.”

Thunderhoof stared at me, his face unflinching. He slowly closed his eyes for a few seconds, then reopened them again, his gaze flicking briefly to Sky, giving her a brief nod. I didn’t see it, but I heard the unmistakable sound of clanking metal—Sky had just removed the cuffs from my hooves. And she didn’t seem happy about it.

"As the higher-ranking officer here, the fault for this rests entirely on my shoulders," Thunderhoof said, surprising me. Sky seemed about to say something, but Thunderhoof’s piercing glare stopped her cold. “You’ll be compensated for this, and your return trip will be covered by the crown.”

I stared at him, shocked. I’d expected more complications, more tests, or at worst, getting dumped in a cell. Not... an apology.

Thunderhoof continued, his tone unwavering. “If you have any complaints, you’re welcome to speak with my superior, Lieutenant Scarlet Light, or even Princess Celestia herself. They’ll hear you out.”

“Sergeant, you can’t—” Sky started, clearly frustrated.

“Sky.” Thunderhoof cut her off with a sharp shake of his head. “Don’t interfere.”

“But—”

“Sky, dismissed.” His voice dropped, firm and final. “Go rest. After today, you deserve it.”

Sky looked like she wanted to argue, her body tense, but she held it in. With a sharp turn, she trotted out of the room, shooting me a glare as she left.

Thunderhoof let out a heavy sigh, then glanced back at me. “For your compensation, just ask for Raven Inkwell. She’ll handle everything.”

“You’re really letting me go?” I asked in suspicion. “What about all this ‘medical attention’ crap from earlier?”

“I still think you need it,” Thunderhoof said, his tone cool. “I don’t trust you, and I’ll make sure my superiors know about your existence. But you’re not a changeling, and so, not a threat. As for arresting you on a false assumption, I am sorry.”

I studied his expression, trying to see any signs of insincerity, but his words seemed genuine.

“You’ve got a real talent for apologizing while still making a guy feel insulted,” I said, raising an eyebrow.

For the first time since my capture, Thunderhoof’s lips quirked into something resembling a smile at me. “Well, you make it easy.”

I snorted, not bothering to respond. He seemed to think the conversation was over, turning his attention to the purple mare. She was caught in an awkward spot, too hesitant to leave, but out of place staying. It was clear she didn’t know what to do with herself.

“Miss Sparkle, thank you for your aid,” Thunderhoof said, bowing his head slightly. He didn’t meet her eyes for long, his gaze flicking briefly to the door, his mind already elsewhere.

“Oh, uhm… it’s no problem.” She waved a hoof dismissively.

Thunderhoof simply nodded, his exhaustion clear in the slump of his shoulders. He exhaled slowly, his voice heavy. “Well, have a good evening. I’ll be off.”

He turned to leave. As I watched him, thoughts drifted in and out of my mind. A wave of frustration surged again, and before I could stop myself, the words tumbled out.

“Hey, Sergeant,” I called.

Thunderhoof paused mid-step, his head turning slightly.

“Sorry for being an ass,” I said, more seriously this time.

He seemed to pause at that moment, his gaze still averted, focused on something far off, never quite meeting mine.

“If you are truly sorry for that,” he said, a quiet finality in his tone, “then somepony else deserves to hear it too.”

And with that, he left.

The silence that followed Thunderhoof’s exit stretched on until a voice from behind me finally broke it.

“Um… if you don’t mind me asking, I’ve been wondering…” Twilight said, her tone awkward as she lifted her hoof, hesitantly, like a student asking a question in class.

I sighed, exasperated. Honestly, I was done with today. I just wanted it all to be over. “Yes?”

“Are you really an alien?” Her eyes sparkled with a mix of curiosity and excitement. “I mean, like… an extraequestrial life form?”

I stared at her, taking in the sight of the eager mare. I studied her posture, the way her ears twitched and her eyes practically gleamed with anticipation. I didn’t know this pony. For all I knew, I’d never see her again after this. My body ached, every muscle sore and stiff. I hadn’t eaten since my time with Limestone, and now I found myself in yet another unknown place. Frankly, I didn’t have the energy to entertain this.

“No,” I said flatly. “I lied.”

Her expression faltered, like I’d just told her that Christmas was canceled. “Oh…” she murmured, the excitement draining from her face in an instant.

“Well, if that’s everything, I’ll be on my way,” I said, starting to trot toward the exit. But then, something struck me.

Fuck, he didn’t give me any directions. At all.

I turned back to the purple mare. “Twilight, was it?”

She blinked, a little surprised, but nodded. “Yes?”

“Do you know where I can find this... Raven Inkwell, and, uh…” I paused, tapping unconsciously a hoof against the floor. “...where to find the other guard? Sky Danser?”

Frankly, I should’ve asked ‘somepony’ else for directions. This castle was a damn labyrinth. And let’s not even talk about that near-death experience I had earlier trying to navigate the endless stairs down the tower. Whoever designed that monstrosity clearly had no regard for common sense or personal safety. And trying to go downstairs on all fours when you're used to walking on two legs is terrifying.

Finding Raven Inkwell, though? That was easy. She was waiting for me at the entrance to the castle grounds like I was a late employee reporting for work. She had this no-nonsense, secretary vibe, with her glasses perched on her snout, a clipboard in her hooves, and a pencil clipped behind her ear, like she was ready to record my every move.

How the hell she knew I was looking for her, I had no fucking clue.

Without a word of greeting, she quickly started ticking off the list of compensation and paperwork I was due: a small pouch of ‘bits’, a royal scroll granting me guest status for the next three days, and a train pass to anywhere I wanted to go. It was all a bit overwhelming.

Before I could even process it, she was gone, just like that. I was left standing there, feeling like I’d been hit by a tornado. At least she’d left me a small side bag to carry all the stuff she’d shoved into my hooves. Honestly, I had no idea what I would’ve done without it.

For the next hour, I tried to follow the directions Twilight gave me to the royal garrison. My mistake? Not asking for help sooner. By the time I realized I was hopelessly lost, I had already wasted too much time. Swallowing my pride, I finally flagged down a passing guard, and after a couple of minutes, I found myself standing in front of Sky’s room, located in the castle’s guard quarters.

I decided to just knock. No point in making this more complicated. There was a rustle from the other side, followed by the door swinging open. A green earth pony mare stood in the doorway, looking me up and down like I was some kind of curiosity. Then, something shifted in her eyes, and her professional demeanor melted away, replaced by something far more… sultry.

“Well, well,” she purred, batting her lashes. “I don’t believe I’ve seen you before… Need anything, handsome?”

I swear, all these mares were way too forward. Or maybe I’d just been invisible before turning into a horse.

“Um… yes. Is Sky Danser here?”

The mare blinked at me, then flashed a mischievous smile. She glanced back over her shoulder, calling into the room.

“Hey, Sky! Stop reading that saucy book of yours, your coltfriend is here!” she called, her tone light and teasing.

I heard some rustling, followed by a loud thud of something falling. A curse, then Sky’s voice, slightly annoyed, rang out. “For buck’s sake, Clover. I told you to leave me alone. And you know I don’t have a—”

The door creaked open wider, and Sky Danser appeared—but not quite the Sky I remembered. Her white coat, once a color she shared with all the other guards, had shifted to a soft yellow, and her mane, previously hidden beneath her helmet, now cascaded in a surprising mix of blue, green, and pink streaks. But despite the changes, her face and voice were unmistakably hers.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, her eyes narrowing in irritation.

I blinked. This definitely wasn’t what I expected. “Sky? You look… different.”

“It’s Private Sky to you,” she snapped, her voice suddenly cold. “What do you want? Here to gloat in my face, is that it?”

Clover, standing nearby Sky, looked a little taken aback by the sudden shift in attitude, but stayed close, her presence almost protective.

“No,” I replied, shaking my head. “I came to apologize.”

“I don’t want your apologies.”

I let out a heavy sigh. “Yeah, I figured. But I’m still sorry. You were just doing your job and insulting you didn’t help anything.”

Sky didn’t say anything right away. She just stood there, silent, her gaze piercing as she processed my words. Clover, sensing the shift, gave a gentle nudge to her side. Sky’s eyes briefly flicked to her, then back to me.

“I—” Sky started, but she clamped her mouth shut, visibly struggling with whatever she wanted to say.

“You don’t have to say anything,” I said quickly. “I just came to say it.”

I turned to leave, my hooves clicking softly against the floor. But a commotion behind me made me pause.

“C-Clover?! What are you—hey!”

I turned back in time to see Clover physically pushing Sky out of the doorway. Sky stumbled into the hallway with a look of utter disbelief as Clover slammed the door shut behind her.

Sky spun around, knocking on the door with a hoof. Her wings flared slightly, and her voice rose in frustration. “Clover! Open the door! This isn’t funny!”

From the other side, Clover’s voice came, calm but firm. “I’m not opening this door until you sort this out. You won’t feel better until you do, Sky.”

Sky groaned, slumping against the door for a moment before turning back to me. Her expression was a mix of frustration and reluctant resignation. Her ears drooped slightly, and her wings folded tightly against her sides.

“Buck,” she muttered under her breath. She glanced at me, then away, her hooves shifting uncomfortably. Finally, she sighed and met my gaze. “Listen, I—” Her voice faltered, and she sighed again, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. “I’m sorry too.”

“You don’t have to—” I began, but she held up a hoof to stop me.

“I do,” she insisted. “Even if you’re the most infuriating stallion I’ve ever met, I shouldn’t have let things get that far. When you started calling me those stupid names, I... lost my composure. I wasn’t acting the way a royal guard should.”

The admission seemed to weigh heavily on her, her posture drooping as she spoke. Her ears flattened, and her gaze dropped briefly to the floor before meeting mine again.

The silence lingered a bit too long before I finally decided to break it.

“Well,” I said, offering a tentative smile, “we both messed up. Let’s just move on, live our lives, and all that.”

Sky blinked, her expression shifting to one of mild disbelief. “That’s the worst pep talk I’ve ever heard.”

“My brain’s running on empty, okay? Cut me some slack. So, acquaintance?”

“Acquaintance?” She tilted her head, one eyebrow arching.

“Yeah.”

“Don’t you mean ‘friend’?”

“I don’t think we’re there yet.”

Sky snorted softly, the faintest hint of a smirk breaking through her irritation.

“I can get behind that,” she said, stepping closer.

She raised a hoof toward me, holding it there expectantly. I tilted my head, giving her a puzzled look.

“What? Why are you pointing at me?”

Her expression instantly shifted, her ears flattening slightly as she gave me a look of pure exasperation. The kind that could rival even the ones Igneous used to give me.

“Sweet Celestia, you’re a lost cause,” she muttered, shaking her head. “Just bump your hoof with mine already.”

“Oh,” I said, finally catching on. I awkwardly raised my hoof and bumped it against hers.

“Alright,” she said, stepping back and flicking her tail. “Have a good night. I’ve got a roommate to discuss personal space with.” Her words were accompanied by a dry chuckle.

“Right. Good night.”

I gave her a small wave of my hoof, turning to leave. My hooves clicked softly against the polished floor as I made my way down the hallway toward the exit.

Or at least, what I thought was the exit. Because I found myself at a dead end.

Muttering under my breath, I turned around, ears flattening in embarrassment as I trotted back the way I came. And, of course, Sky was still there. She was watching me approach with one eyebrow arched so high it practically touched her mane.

As I hurried past, cheeks burning, I heard her snicker echo behind me.

Even though I had the paperwork to stay the night at the castle as a guest, I had no intention to. Instead, I found myself trotting toward the train station, impatient to head back to the Rock Farm. To go back to… Limestone. Damn it, now that I could actually acknowledge and realize that I miss her, heading home was going to be a lot harder with her in the back of my mind.

I’d just leave that problem for future me to handle.

As for finding the exit, it was easier than I expected—minus the embarrassing detour earlier, which absolutely didn’t happen.

The streets of Canterlot were still crowded with ponies, but the main event seemed to be winding down. A good number of them were heading home, and the evening had slipped into the early hours of the night.

Trotting beneath the fantasy sky was an experience all on its own. The moon hung full and bright, surrounded by a blanket of stars so vivid that a city guy like me could hardly believe they were real. It was… truly breathtaking. The city itself felt warm under the soft orange glow of windows lit from within, giving everything a strangely cozy feel. With the long, grueling days on the farm, I never really had the chance to stop and appreciate the nightlife.

As I approached a larger crowd of ponies blocking my path, I stopped and sat on my haunches to see what was going on. I could hear laughter and chatter nearby, drawing my attention.

“Hey, careful! I’m still—” a boyish voice called out, followed by a small cry of surprise and the sound of a thud.

“Pinkie? What in tarnation are ya doin'?” came a southern drawl that caught me by surprise. It wasn’t far from where I stood.

I turned my gaze toward the voices and spotted a group of six mares in fancy dresses, along with a strange green and purple creature wearing a top hat and tuxedo. It was the first non-equine creature I’d seen so far, resembling a lizard more than anything else. It had just tumbled to the ground, its head stuck inside its hat, limbs flailing in every direction.

The sight would have been strange enough on its own, but I was distracted by something else. One of the mares in the group, now that I looked more closely, was none other than the unicorn from earlier—Twilight.

The others were unfamiliar to me, though they all wore the same crown of pearls and flowers that Twilight had perched on her head. The two mares beside her were a yellow pegasus and an orange earth pony, respectively. Not far from them stood a white unicorn, and—no joke—a blue pegasus with a fucking rainbow-colored mane.

Sure, Sky had multiple colors in her mane, but this one? She had all of them, and somehow, it suited her perfectly.

But the real spectacle was the last mare: a very pink earth pony who was currently sniffing the ground like a hound on a scent trail. She darted through the crowd at an unbelievable speed, her movements defying logic. She zipped between ponies, weaving in and out with an agility that seemed almost cartoonish.

Then, as if physics had no hold on her, she came to an abrupt stop—her hooves planted firmly, her momentum completely unaffected by the laws of motion. Her expression, in that moment, was pure, unadulterated joy.

Before I could even process the absurdity of what I’d just witnessed, she vanished. One second, she was on one side of the street, and the next, she had blurred across the crowd, reappearing by the rainbow-maned mare’s side.

“Oh my gosh! I can’t believe it! She’s here! She’s here!” the pink mare squealed, shaking the rainbow pegasus wildly with her hooves.

“Pinkie, let go of me!” the rainbow mare groaned, struggling to break free.

The white mare seemed to be the first to snap out of her daze at Pinkie’s antics, trotting forward to intervene.

“Darling, stop shaking her! You’re going to ruin all her beautiful hair!” her refined voice called out. “And who exactly are you talking about? Who’s she?”

The pink mare stopped shaking her friend, offering a quick apology to the rainbow-maned pegasus, who seemed momentarily off balance. Then, she turned to answer the white unicorn.

“Well, duh! My sister, obviously!” Pinkie replied, her voice high-pitched and bubbly, her hooves clapping with excitement. “Eeeee, it’s been forever since we’ve seen each other!”

“Um… guys? Can I get a little help here?” a muffled, boyish voice called out, the creature still stuck in his top hat.

I ignored it and took a closer look at the pink mare, something about her seemed oddly familiar. Like I had seen her somewhere before. Even the name ‘Pinkie’ rang a bell. But where?

Before I could think further, Pinkie pulled a pair of binoculars from beneath her dress and pressed them to her face, scanning the crowd like a hawk. Her head whipped around rapidly, searching for something—or someone—among the ponies nearby. After a few moments, she gave up, tossing the binoculars behind her with a casual flick of her hoof, just barely missing the head of a passing pony. Undeterred, she dropped to the ground and began sniffing once again, as if she were picking up an invisible scent trail.

“Her sister? And what’s with the sniffing? Is this some sort of ‘Pinkie Sense’ thing?” Twilight asked, her body shuddering slightly at the thought. She then used her magic to help the little guy, freeing him from his top hat and gently depositing him on her back. He gave her a grateful nod.

“Beats me,” replied the rainbow mare, tapping her head with a hoof as if trying to shake the stars spinning around in her mind. “Pinkie being Pinkie.”

Unfortunately, since I was distracted by the other mares, I didn’t notice that Pinkie’s trail had led her straight to me.

“Ah-ha! Found you! I’m so—” She froze mid-sentence, blinking rapidly at me. “Wait, you’re not my sister.”

I stared at her, utterly confused, glancing over my shoulder to see if ‘somepony’ was behind me. When there was no one there, I turned back to her with a confused look.

“Um… no,” I replied, trying to understand what was going on.

“Hmmm... that’s strange.” Pinkie stared at her nose, her eyes crossing as she poked at it with her hoof. “I never make mistakes with this,” she said, giving her nose a little wiggle. “My nose is like a super-duper ultra-reliable sniff machine!”

Then, without warning, she dropped her head low again, sniffing the ground, and began circling me—her movements almost dizzying in their speed. She spun around me three times, before stopping right in front of me again.

“And the results are in: you smell like her, mister,” she declared, her voice almost accusatory.

The rest of the mares had trotted up to us by this point, eyes wide as they took in the strange scene.

“Wait… you’re that stallion from earlier,” Twilight said, her brow furrowed as she took a few cautious steps forward.

Then, without any warning, the pink mare did something that completely took me by surprise. She dropped her head again, sniffing deeply, before shoving her face right between my front legs and straight into my sheath. My eyes went wide, and I froze in shock.

“Hmm, the scent is even stronger here…” she said, her breath brushing against the spot.

“PINKIE?!” The other mares gasped in unison, their voices filled with shock. As for the little lizard, he just looked confused.

The orange mare was the first to react, her expression one of pure panic. She lunged forward, biting down on Pinkie’s tail and pulling with all her strength. The force sent both of them tumbling backward, away from my legs.

“What in tarnation do ya think yer doin’, girl?!” she barked after spitting Pinkie’s tail out of her mouth.

“Oh my…” the yellow mare squeaked from the side, her face flushed bright red. She quickly hid behind her hoof, peeking out to watch the chaos unfold.

The white mare hurriedly stepped up to me, her eyes filled with concern and disbelief as she took in my frozen expression.

“Oh, we’re just... so terribly sorry, darling!” Rarity’s voice had a melodic lilt, but there was an unmistakable edge to it now, as she tried to salvage the situation. “I really don’t know what got into my friend.” She shot a pointed glance at the downed pink mare. “Pinkie, apologize. Now.”

“But he’s got—”

“Pinkamena Diane Pie.” Rarity’s tone was cold and firm, her eyes narrowing with authority. “If you don’t apologize this instant, I’ll make sure you spend the rest of the night in a very tight-fitting corset. And I’ll personally see to it that you never wear anything without one again.”

Pinkie’s ears drooped to the side, and she let out a soft whine, clearly chastised. Somehow, her mane slowly lost her pouffiness, the pink losing color. She stepped back with a sad look, though her eyes still darted to me.

“…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to… I’m sorry,” she mumbled, her voice small and fragile.

Now, normally, I’d be on high alert. People—or ponies in this situation—don’t just drop from ecstatic to distraught so quickly without there being some kind of manipulation involved. But for some reason, at this moment, I knew she was being 100% sincere. And that knowledge left me more perplexed and unnerved than I’d like to admit.

I felt a pang of sympathy. Why did I feel bad for her? She was the one who shoved her face into my… private place. And somehow, I felt like I was the bad guy. This was confusing.

“Um… I guess it’s alright,” I said, unsure.

“Really?!” Pinkie gasped, her eyes bulging as if I had just handed her the world. In an instant, her entire demeanor shifted. Her mane poofed back to its cotton candy glory, and her colors burst back to their usual vibrant hues. “Then we can be the bestest of bestest friends forever and ever and ever!” she squealed, bouncing in place.

“Alright, now. That’s enough o’ that.” The orange mare stepped forward, her voice firm with a touch of authority. “Time to get to bed ‘fore ya wear yerself out.”

With surprising ease, she pulled a lasso from under her dress—do all mares keep stuff under there?—and quickly tied it around Pinkie, halting her frantic bouncing. Then, she gently hoisted the pink mare onto her back.

“Wait!” Pinkie said on her back. “I still don’t know your name! And why you smell like my sister! And—”

Before Pinkie could finish, the orange mare grabbed an apple from a nearby stand and plopped it into Pinkie’s mouth, effectively silencing her.

“Sorry ‘bout that, partner,” she said with an apologetic smile. “Ah’ll get her outta yer hooves.” She trotted past me, toward the castle, Pinkie still secured on her back.

“…Sorry.” The yellow mare, her face still flushed, whispered quickly as she passed by. Her wings fluttered nervously, and she avoided making eye contact, probably embarrassed by the whole scene.

“Darling,” the white mare chimed in, her tone smoother now. “If you ever pass through Ponyville, I’ll make you a piece of clothing—on the house! Oh, I can already picture it... so many ideas!” She gave a little flick of her mane, eyes sparkling with excitement, before disappearing down the street with the others.

The rainbow mare shook her head in exasperation but said nothing before flying off to rejoin her friends.

Twilight was the last one to stand there, staring at me, her expression unreadable. Her eyes seemed to pierce into mine, as though searching for answers hidden within.

“Twilight, you going?” The little guy called from atop her back, snapping Twilight out of her trance. With a small shake of her head, she trotted after the others, her hooves clicking against the cobblestone road, each step growing quieter as she rejoined the group.

As for me? I remained frozen in place, still trying to process everything that had just happened. My mind could only focus on one thought:

I think I need a drink.

Author's Note

Here you go! The first proper chapter where Oblivion meets not one, but all of the Mane 6!

*cough* Plus Spike, *cough*

Hope you liked it, and thanks again for reading!