Fractured Equestria

Chapters

Prologue
Chapter 2: The Kingdom of Confetti. Part 2
Chapter 1: The Kingdom of Confetti. Part 1
Chapter 3: The Kingdom of Confetti. Part 3
Chapter 4: Shorts
Chapter 5: A night to think
Chapter 6: Welcome to Canterlot, refugees
Chapter 7: Get involved or walk away
Chapter 8: Morning Perspectives
Chapter 9: The Interview
Chapter 10: Just a normal pony
Chapter 11: Time to set the record straight
Chapter 12: Talking to the Moon

Prologue

Author's Note

Hello!
I'm new here and English is not my native language so if there are any grammar issues let me know. I'll try my best!

Also. The pink text that will be presented later will be to represent Pinkie Pie commenting on the events of the compilation of facts that led to the current scenario.
"Hello ponys! I'm Pinkie Pie"

Likewise with the greenish text, but this will be to represent the comments of the main character.
"Hi, I'm someone else, you can call me Arthhur"

This dynamic will only be present for the moment because I found the interaction with Pinkie Pie funny, but it is not a general mechanic that will be taken into the story.

Prologue

Ponyville, a town not too small, but not quite a city either. A rather warm and cozy place with medieval-style houses, white walls reinforced with wood and thatched roofs. Most of the homes seem to be two-story, with flower pots by the windows. The streets are dirt paths lined with a few smooth stones. The color palette? Pastels everywhere. At first glance, it might feel like an eye diabetes factory, but you get used to it after a while.

Overall, it seems like a pretty nice place, I’d say.

Or, well, that’s what I’d generally say... if I weren’t in my current situation.

Let’s just say that being chased by the entire town while trying to escape in a new pony body I’ve only had for two days isn’t exactly the right moment to stop and appreciate the town’s beauty.

So, see that pony over there, the one running like his life depends on it, wide-eyed, with a stupid look on his face, and screaming like a little girl while a bunch of crazy ponies are hot on his tail? “Yeah, that’s me. And this is my story.”

"Oh, so we’re doing that thing where we show a flashback of how we got to this moment?" Pinkie Pie says, bouncing through the crowd. "Leaving the audience all intrigued and wanting to know what happened, how you ended up here, right now! And asking themselves: 'Who’s this crazy pony, and why should I care about his story? He’s not even a main character!'"

“What the heck?!” was all I managed to say before I felt some strange force completely immobilize me.

Did I mention I was running for my life a second ago? Well, not anymore. Just when Pinkie interrupted my big moment, it seems she did more than just that.

Everything around me froze; the crazy Ponyville mob chasing me came? frozen. The butterflies fluttering near some plants growing beside a house? Frozen. Me, suspended in midair in a desperate escape pose? Completely frozen.

Everything was still. Except for one bright pink pony with a poofy darker pink mane. Unlike the others, this one’s a little bigger and not only has fluffy pegasus wings but also a horn, like a unicorn. I can’t quite remember what they call these winged-horned ponies.

“I’m an alicorn, silly,” said the pink alicorn with an innocent smile.

Oh right, alicorns! Now I remember. But the important thing is that she somehow managed to catch up with me while everything was frozen, even me. With a big smile on her face, she stands in front of me, looking me up and down.

“Ready for a recap from the beginning? I’ve got the popcorn and cupcakes for the movie!” Pinkie says with a wide grin, flashing her big teeth. She pulls out a massive white screen and a projector, seemingly out of nowhere.

“Movie?”

"Wait! This isn't frozen... it's PAUSED! Of course! It's the classic dramatic pause-with-monologue moment! How did I not see this coming?" When a story starts like this, it usually seems like the kind of scene where the main character talks directly to the audience.

And I’m the main character in MY story.

EFFORT... EFFORT...

“Ha! I did it, I can move! Alright, Pinkie, let’s see how this whole mess started!” I say, grinning through my teeth, stretching like a cat. Pausing isn't exactly comfortable.

“This is going to be super awesome and mega fun!” Pinkie Pie squeals, bouncing onto a sofa that just appeared out of nowhere, and lands perfectly into a seat.

“Shouldn’t we be more worried about, oh, I don’t know, the whole town being stuck in pause?” I mention with mild concern as I sit down next to her on the same sofa.

“Pfft, don’t be silly, they’ll be fine once we’re done,” she responds, waving a hoof dismissively.

“You’re the expert on breaking the fourth wall, so I’ll trust you… this time,” I say, shrugging and grabbing a handful of popcorn from Pinkie. “So, do we just let the movie play or...”

“Or…?” she asks, tilting her head in confusion.

“Or... do you want us to comment on it as we watch? I kinda wanna do that, sounds fun,” I said, flashing a playful grin.

“OOH OOH OOH! I wanna comment, I wanna comment while we watch!” Pinkie exclaims, leaping on the couch, scattering popcorn everywhere with each bounce.

The typical three-second countdown from an old projector film begins.

Two Days Ago...

I was in a forest. A forest that looks quite different from the ones I’m used to seeing here is more colorful and vibrant. I’m standing by a calm, crystal-clear lake, so clear, in fact, that I can see my reflection perfectly.

And just as I suspected: yup, I’m a pony. A pretty good-looking one too, if I do say so myself, despite my lack of knowledge about pony beauty standards. But hey, it’s me, so I must be handsome. I look again, just to double-check, and yep, still a pony. Cream colored fur with white gradients on my... legs? Hooves? Whatever they’re called. My mane is a swirl of lime green with sky-blue streaks.

With a sigh, I step away from my new reflection and trot onto the bright green grass in the middle of an open field.

I trot in different directions straight ahead, turning sideways, even in circles just to test and get used to my new movement. Compared to the first hour of tripping and face-planting into the ground, along with bruising my ego, I’ve improved quite a bit, considering I now have a new body, and one that isn't even bipedal.

“So, are we starting right from when you’re already used to your pony body?” the pink pony sitting next to me asks, confused, as we watch my actions. “What about your first reaction to discovering your new body and surroundings? Are we just going to skip the first few minutes?”

“Of course we are! There are way too many stories about people getting transported to another world and another body. Their reactions are so predictable,” I say, closing my eyes and turning my head. “It’s not fun anymore. It’s repetitive.”

“But I wanted to see your initial reaction,” she says, genuinely interested.

“My initial reaction? Come on, Pinkie! It's textbook stuff: screaming, confusion, more screaming, and… oh yeah, falling to the ground repeatedly,” I say with exaggerated enthusiasm, waving my front hooves around for emphasis.

“But that’s the best part! I want to see how you were tripping and screaming like crazy,” Pinkie says, starting to deflate a little.

“Look, I’ll sum it up for you: I tripped, I screamed, I got up, tripped again… basically, a disaster. Nothing out of the ordinary,” I explain, gesturing with one hoof as if ticking things off a list.

“But what about the big final scream?” she asks, giving me a playful grin.

“Oh, of course! You can’t start a new life in another world without a final dramatic scream for flair!” I wave my front hooves in the air dramatically, like mimicking an explosion.

“I knew there was some drama there!” Pinkie says, pointing a hoof at me, her smile returning.

Once I got used to walking on hooves and moving around on four legs, it was time to follow the usual steps in stories like this.

First, I needed to go over my own backstory before I got here. Hopefully, I still have my memories and I’m not one of those characters with annoying amnesia and a mysterious past. Nothing against a good mystery, but when it's the main character, it’s frustrating to always be left wondering about their forgotten past.

My name is Arthur Green, a 22-year-old human with a life so average, you could use me as the definition in a dictionary. Average height, decent skills, and grades… well, also average. My hobbies include movies, cartoons, stories, novels, comics, you name it. My hair is a mess of brown curls that I never bother fixing, because, let’s be honest, who has time to care about appearance when you can lie in bed listening to music? And that’s exactly what I was doing before waking up in this fantasy forest.

“Yes, my memories are intact. Thank goodness! I don't want to waste time on a dark, mysterious past storyline,” I say, giving my head a few light taps with my hoof—a habit I had to learn, considering how often I ended up hitting my own face the first time I arrived here.

With that sorted, my next goal is obvious: find a way back home.

Looking around, I can see the forest and trees. To my right, there’s a rather pleasant-looking forest, with lots of light filtering through the morning sun and casting warm patches on the ground. To my left… well, there’s more forest, but this one’s darker, with twisted trees and ominous clouds hovering above, blocking out any sunlight. So yeah, that’s a definite no.

Normally, I’d stop and reflect more on this, considering I’m in a place far from home—or at least I think so. Where I live doesn’t look nearly this colorful, nor are there trees straight out of a fantasy story, or fluffy clouds that look like they were pulled from a TV show. So, either this isn’t my world, or I’ve been dumped into some remote forests of Ireland. But honestly, I’d rather embrace the idea that this is another world, so I’m going with that: I’m in another world.

Oh, and not to mention, I’m in a different body. In an unknown place, with unknown and possibly dangerous threats. But hey, at this point, all I can do is pick a direction and hope it’s not the wrong one.

I chose the path on the right.

As I walk, the best thing I can do is think about my situation. Trapped in an alternate world, completely new and much more vibrant than my own. It all feels like the start of a story, and with that in mind, it’s logical what my next steps should be:

Find civilization. Preferably one that doesn’t want to burn me at the stake.
Figure out what kind of world this is and how things work here.
Become a hero who rises absurdly fast to legendary status, known by everyone.
Kick my own butt if I actually let step three happen.
5.And of course, find a way to get back home. Sorry, parallel world, but being a hero isn’t on my agenda.

I’m not what you need. There’s always someone else better for this kind of thing, right? Super-powerful knights, level 100 wizards… they must have someone. Because, honestly, I’d only drag out the process of saving the world, and that sounds exhausting. I don’t want to go down that route—the one where they focus so much on being heroes, they forget their main objective, and just end up dragging things on forever.

“Wait, wait… You don’t want to be the hero because the journey’s too long?” Pinkie says, tilting her head in confusion.

“Well… more or less. Honestly, I’m just too lazy for that. I’d rather stay on this couch, eating popcorn, watching others do the hard work… but not because I’m egotistical or anything,” I add, pretty much without a care.

Leaving aside the whole hero thing, now that I think about it for a moment, I should probably find a high point and use it as a reference to look around for any sign of civilization.

I look around, but all I can see are more trees. I probably should have thought about this earlier when I was in a meadow and not deep in a forest. Though I do have the option to climb a tree.

I approach the nearest tree and get ready to climb. First, I raise my arms around the trunk for support to pull myself up, pressing my feet against the bark… only to end up hugging the tree awkwardly because I forgot I don’t have hands or fingers, and I have no idea how to climb with hooves.

"Alright, I should've thought this through a bit more before trying to climb a tree without hands," I say with irritation. "Bravo, Arthur, you've just given the most awkward hug of your life... and to a tree, no less."

I fall to the ground on my hind legs and lay on my back. I gaze up at the sky, even though I’m deep in a forest. I’m glad there’s enough space between the leaves to at least catch a glimpse of the blue sky.

"But hey, at least the sky is really beautiful. Blue, clear... I could honestly spend hours here just staring at it. Though, I have to admit, I prefer the night. There's nothing like a star-filled night sky to make the world seem less complicated, less... urgent." I lose myself in thought as the wind gently rustles the leaves.

Parallel world… Of all the tiny and improbable possibilities that could lead to someone suddenly appearing on another planet, universe, or whatever, it had to happen to me, of all people. Then again, who’s to say it hasn’t happened to someone else besides me? Still, why me? Was it pure randomness? Destiny, perhaps? Or maybe it's something else entirely...

...

Am I dead?

If I think about it, it would make sense because now I'm a miniature horse, so reincarnation is a possibility. Though, maybe the dimensional shift altered my body and matter to adapt to the rules and laws of this universe or dimension. But that’s just theories based on what I've read, nothing scientifically founded—after all, I’m no scientist.

If I did die, then I guess it wouldn’t be so bad. If this is my new life, then I don’t have to worry about finding a way back home and can just focus on living here. But that brings up more questions—if I died, why do I still have my memories? And why am I a small horse that seems to be in its young adult years? Shouldn’t I have been reborn as a baby pony? I mean, I can move and talk, so I’m not a baby, but I’m small, so maybe... am I a kid?

peeew POW

Suddenly, a flash in the sky catches my attention.

"Wait, what’s that? Fireworks?" I straighten up slightly, squinting to see the colorful explosion on the horizon.

"Well, that’s definitely a sign of civilization... or something like it. And where there’s civilization, there are probably people who know how to get me out of here. I guess it’s worth investigating." I say with renewed confidence, especially after hugging the tree.

With a quick jump, I get to my feet, standing firm on all four hooves, and with a faint smile, I ready myself to run in the direction of the fireworks without further delay.

Excited to find my next step, I launch forward with what can only be described as an overconfident stride and a touch of elegance... like that of a trained ballerina. I dodge obstacles with grace, as if I’ve been doing this all my life. Or, well... maybe I tripped many times and spent more time eating dirt than running, but with determination!

"I have to admit, running with these hooves is like trying to jog in ice skates..." I stumble awkwardly, shaking off the dirt and regaining my focus. "Maybe when I get there, they’ll welcome me with... uh, I don’t know, a party?"

"Party! Oh, oh! Did you say party? That’s exactly what’s going to happen! There’ll be cake, confetti, balloons, and even a piñata," says the pink alicorn, bouncing around, and—wait, did I just see two Pinkies at the same time?

"Hey, hey, Pinkie! Don’t get ahead of yourself, you can’t say anything yet. You almost spoiled it!" I say, trying to calm her down by putting a hoof on her shoulder.

"Oops! Spoilers? Me? No way! I was just excited because this is the moment where I—"

"Pinkie! You know what? Never mind. I guess it’s inevitable you’ll show up sooner or later, so let’s just roll with it," I said, crossing my hooves in frustration.

"Exactly! Now, keep running, Arthur. Big things await you! And who knows, maybe even a cupcake or two."

Chapter 2: The Kingdom of Confetti. Part 2

Arthur and Turner managed to make it to the inventor's house without too much trouble, aside from scaring and dispersing the "pinkie-fied" ponies who were eager to play with Turner's "Trash-Robot."

They both entered the house, quickly closing the curtains to keep out any unwanted guests who might want to casually join the party. Once Time Turner made sure the coast was clear, they both sighed in relief.

Much to Arthur’s surprise, the inventor’s house was actually pretty tidy. But not because Turner was particularly tidy; it was more because there wasn’t much cluttering it up. Arthur had expected an inventor’s house to be messy, filled with gadgets and half-finished projects strewn about. But the house was oddly empty… until he saw the basement. That was a different story.

“Not that I’m one to judge,” I said, trying to lighten the mood as I looked around the basement, which looked like it had lost a battle against a Monday morning. “But it looks like someone could use a little tidying up around here, don't you think?”

“Wow, I love how you get so playful when things get tough, Arthur!” The pink Alicorn laughed nonchalantly.

Turner gave a short, tired laugh. “This tragic state is the result of what I believe to be the same event that caused Ponyville’s radical transformation.”

“Ah, I should have listened to my mother about not going to Pinkie-Fest this year. There were rumors that it wouldn’t be as good as last year, and I just didn’t take the hint,” I joked, shrugging.

Turner, ignoring my joke, began to walk thoughtfully. “Now that we’re in a quiet place,” she said, “we can begin planning our course of action to solve this rather complicated puzzle.”

Finally, a moment of peace to process everything that had happened since I arrived in this strange town. Those hyperactive ponies and their constant noise had given me a tremendous headache. I’ve never been much of a social person, always looking for excuses to avoid the few parties I’d been invited to. So, being the center of attention here? Definitely not my thing.

It was supposed to be easy, finding someone to send me home. And now, I had to worry about saving an entire town. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not heartless, but let’s face it, I’m useless. I couldn’t even fall off that giant cake with dignity. How was I supposed to help Turner with this cotton candy mess?

As I sat there, my mind started to wander. The more I thought about it, the more familiar this whole situation seemed. Someone is sent to another world, barely finds anyone, and the ones they find are in serious trouble. It sounded like… a story. Yeah, I wasn’t good at thinking logically like Turner, but I did know about stories.

If I could think of this as a narrative, maybe I could figure out what the protagonist (you know, me) should do next. I mean, I had that mindset before I got here. The hero usually finds a way, right?

I sighed and looked at Turner, who was staring at a makeshift map of Ponyville, clearly deep in thought.

“Can’t we just, I don’t know, tell someone to clean up this mess and be done with it?” I asked, half-joking, but also hoping there was a shortcut.

“Well, now that you mention it,” Turner said, rubbing his chin, “we could talk to Pinkie Pie’s friends. That is, if they haven’t been ‘Pinkie-fied’ already.”

I pondered the answer for a moment. If he could even think for a moment with the idea of asking someone else to fix, well, all of this. Then it’s possible that not only this problem could be fixed with the right people but my own problem as well. But the last part he said stopped me from thinking about it any further.

I frowned. “What if they have been?”

Turner’s expression turned grim. "Then we could be looking at a much bigger problem."

"Why would it be a bigger problem if her friends were also 'Pinkie-fied'?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "And, first of all, what could they do that you can't?"

Turner looked away from the map for a moment and turned to me, his expression serious. "Pinkie Pie's friends aren't just any ordinary ponies, Arthur. They're the bearers of the Elements of Harmony."

I was left blank. "The what of the what?"

"The Elements of Harmony," Turner repeated, as if that cleared anything up. Seeing that my confusion was still intact, he sighed and sat down across from me. "They're powerful artifacts that represent different aspects of harmony. Each of her friends carries one of those elements: honesty, generosity, loyalty, kindness, laughter—which is Pinkie's—and magic, which is Twilight Sparkle's. Together, they've saved Equestria on more than one occasion."

I seem to have stumbled upon an important backstory to this world without realizing it. While I didn't understand most of what she said, I think it's best to pretend for the moment that I do so I can move on. After all, I can't be sure of anything right now, and I might just be exaggerating.

"I see..." I said, though half of that explanation sounded like pure fantasy to me. "And let me guess, they're basically the superponies of this place."

"More or less," Turner replied with a slight smile. "If they've been 'Pinkie-fied' as well, then we're losing not only the only hope of reversing all of this, but also a group of ponies with enough power to balance out any threat in Equestria."

I leaned forward, scratching my head. "So... how likely is it that those superponies are also caught up in this never-ending party madness?"

Turner hesitated before answering. "It's hard to say. If Pinkie Pie was affected, there's no reason to think her friends weren't as well. But until we confirm it, we can't rule it out."

“Great. So not only do we have to worry about the invasion of hyperactive clones, but also the fact that the only ones who could save us are already jumping on bouncy castles and throwing confetti around.” I sighed. “Great. Just what I needed: a bigger problem.”

Turner focused back on his map, clearly thinking through the possibilities, while I leaned back in my chair, letting my thoughts wander. So far, none of this seemed remotely manageable. Finding Pinkie’s friends was our only logical option, but we had no idea what state they were in. It was like wandering blindly through a maze.

As the movie continued to play, I settled down on the couch next to Pinkie, trying to look relaxed. But of course, all I could think about was how I had forgotten the snacks. “Ah, great… I forgot the popcorn.” I blurted out, a little nervously as I looked at Pinkie in hopes that she wouldn’t suspect my actions.

Pinkie, unfazed, smiled widely. “Don’t worry! We can just whip something up! Do you have cake? Cake is also great for watching movies! And don’t worry about the ‘Elements of Harmony’, I’ve never heard of that. It must be an inside joke or something!”

I looked at her, incredulous, but then remembered that this Pinkie knew nothing about the Elements. Great… another piece of the puzzle that didn’t fit. I simply nodded. “Sure, whatever you say, Pinkie… Let’s keep watching what made me get chased by everyone.”

Not only is it bad for our current situation, but for me. If it was possible that their ‘Elements of Harmony’ could help me in some way, they won’t be able to do so in a state of constant laughter. Practically forcing me to solve this crazy town case first to at least think about my own case.

"Well," I said finally, trying to clear my thoughts, "if we can't count on them completely, what's the next step in your plan? Because, frankly, I don't think we can keep dodging party ponies for much longer."

Turner frowned, pointing at something on his map. "I've been working on a theory. If we can find the exact origin of this phenomenon—where the 'Pinkie-fication' started—we might have a better idea of how to stop or reverse it."

"And how are we supposed to do that?"

Turner stood up and began searching through his tools, pulling out a strange metal device. "I have a magical anomaly detector. If we can track down the source of the magic that altered Ponyville, maybe we can undo what's been done."

How convenient, I guess, for a world of talking ponies, this would make sense.

I looked at him in disbelief. "Right, a magical anomaly detector. Of course you have one of those in your house. What, did you keep it by the coffee pot or something?"

"It's a prototype," Turner replied, ignoring my sarcasm. "But it should be functional enough to track down a source of magic of this magnitude."

With no other idea for solving this other than going with the flow (which has usually worked for me for many years) I think this is the best option for now. Besides it's better than doing nothing, I need to move if I want to make progress.

"Well," I said, standing up, "it's better than just hanging around doing nothing. Let's find that fountain before we end up covered in confetti forever."

Turner nodded, and with his detector in his hoof, we prepared to head out again. Meanwhile, in the back of my mind, I couldn't stop thinking about how I had ended up in the middle of all this. I wasn't cut out to be a hero, but if this was the kind of story I was in, I might as well start acting like one… or at least, pretending as best as I could, something that was becoming a regular occurrence in my life and in this new life, I guess it doesn't change.

As Arthur stood up to follow Turner out of the house. Pinkie and Arthur on the couch continued to watch intently, getting more and more into the plot unfolding in front of them.

"You know, I like your plan to pretend to be a hero! Although… you can always try it for real too!"

Sighing, I leaned back on the couch. “Faking it seems to work so far… but we’ll see how long it lasts.”

Among the bustling streets of Ponyville, Turner, the local inventor, trudged along with a detector-like contraption attached to his leg. Beside him, his “Trash-Robot”—a pile of trash on wheels that look like hooves—followed him clumsily, as if it were searching for something. Or at least, that’s what it told curious ponies who stopped to watch.

“BEEP. So we’re just going to wander around here until we find the source?” I asked, awkwardly imitating a robotic voice. “How hard can it be?”

Turner gave me a nervous smile. “Well… I wouldn’t want to discourage you.” He seemed to choose his words carefully. “But since the whole of Ponyville seems to be infected, the energy we’re looking for is everywhere. Finding the exact source is going to be tricky.”

I raised an eyebrow, skeptical. “So, it’s going to be a ‘lot’?”

“I’m afraid so,” Turner sighed in resignation.

...

And so it was. We wandered all over Pinkie Pie’s Kingdom of Laughter.

We took advantage of this to put two plans into action: find the source of the anomaly and find Pinkie’s friends who are also carriers of these ‘Elements of Harmony’ with the slight hope that they are okay.

The inventor led the way, even though it was an altered Ponyville, it was still Ponyville and he knew how to wander through its streets.

We passed a tree in the middle of an intersection. Turner told me it was the best place to investigate, it was a library after all. We knocked on the door, but after about twenty minutes of waiting, nothing happened and we decided to either leave my costume aside for a second and go in through the window. With no other option, the inventor pony followed me.

He told me it was also where one of the pink alicorn's friends, 'Twilight Sparkle', lived but what we saw when we entered was clearly a simple hollow tree with doors and windows. There are empty holes in the walls, no furniture, even less than Turner's house. There was no sign that anyone lived here or had ever lived inside.

Disappointed at not finding the pony in question and no signal on the detector, we left.

We stopped in front of a carousel the size of a house. Unlike the tree, this carousel, despite its size, had no doors or windows, just a colorful carousel with hanging streamers, constantly moving with cheerful music playing.

The inventor mentioned that it was supposed to be the home and business of another of Pinkie's friends. Whatever upset Ponyville and its inhabitants, it affected more than Turner initially thought.

Eventually, we reached a point where the detector began to beep more rapidly. However, just then, we heard a high-pitched, frustrated scream that made us jump. We quickly hid behind a bunch of balloons, trying to figure out what had caused the ruckus.

This scream had nothing to do with the laughter or the merriment around us. No, it was a scream of pure frustration. A feeling Turner and I knew well by now.

On the other side of the park, we saw a grumpy pony arguing with the newly crowned alicorn Pinkie Pie. Pony no, it was actually a donkey. And from the look on his face, he was clearly fed up with the situation.

“Cranky Doodle?” Turner muttered, surprised. He knew him.

Intrigued by the scene, we leaned our ears in as close as we could, trying to catch what they were saying.

Cranky was arguing—no, scolding—with Pinkie Pie, who, in her usual carefree style, seemed to think it was all just another joke. This, of course, only made Cranky angrier.

That’s when Turner and I shared a quick glance. Cranky was unaffected by the “Pinkie-fication,” just like us.

As we crouched behind the colorful balloons, I watched as Cranky tried, without much success, to get Pinkie to take him seriously. His cries echoed through the festive atmosphere, like an off-key note in a catchy song.

“I don’t want any more balloons! No more confetti, no more giant smiles!” “Can you stop laughing like a maniac for a second?!” Cranky looked on the verge of a breakdown, waving his paws in the air to emphasize each word. Which, by the way, was hard to take seriously with that party hat on his head.

Pinkie, who was floating above him, inflating more balloons with her magic, looked up at him with a dazzling smile. “Oh, Cranky! Always such a joker! It’s impossible not to smile in Ponyville, the Kingdom of Laughter!” She then tossed him a handful of streamers that tangled around his ears. Cranky didn’t flinch; rather, he looked like he was about to explode.

“I’m not a joker! I’m a donkey! And I’d like someone to listen to me for once!” His raspy voice echoed with pure frustration.

I glanced at Turner from the corner of my eye. “Should we do something?”

He shrugged. “That would be ideal, but look,” he nodded at the detector. “It seems we found the center of the whole event. When I pointed the device at Pinkie, the detector went off to its maximum capacity.”

“Well, yeah,” I exclaimed, rolling my eyes, “we already knew Pinkie became super powerful, so is she the epicenter of all this?”

Turner, with his other hoof on his chin, said, “I recalibrated the detector so it will detect the magic that infected Ponyville… we should wait to find more data. If it is Pinkie, we will have to face a powerful being, I just hope it is something else.”

The smiling pony seemed to not even pick up on Cranky’s displeasure. In fact, he wrapped him up in a sort of giant balloon, making it bounce slightly as he continued to talk about how wonderful the new Ponyville was.

“It’s the happiest place in Equestria! And everyone should be smiling all the time!” she said, her alicorn wings flashing as she inflated more balloons. “Look, you even have your own balloon now! It’s like being on a cloud of fun!”

Cranky, trapped inside the balloon, was pounding on the inside with an expression of utter bewilderment. “Let me out of here right now, Pinkie Pie, or I swear I’ll do something I’ll regret!”

“Oh, Cranky! If you can’t say something nice, you better not say anything at all!” Pinkie bounced the balloon once more, completely ignoring the donkey’s pleas.

“That Pinkie Pie sure knows how to have fun!” said the innocent-looking alicorn sitting next to me.

I grimaced at her reaction.

The donkey continued to struggle in vain. “Pinkie, seriously, stop it! This isn’t fun anymore! I want everything to go back to normal!”

That last sentence seemed to make Pinkie pause for a second, her smile faltering. But she instantly covered it up with more laughter. “Back to normal! But, Cranky, this is normal! It was always like this! Don’t you remember?”

“NO, IT’S NOT!” Cranky finally managed to pop the balloon with one of his long ears and fell to the ground with a thud, covered in streamers and frustration. “I don’t know what’s going on here, but you weren’t like this before. Nothing was like this before!”

Something about that statement affected Pinkie in an unsettling way. She stood completely still, and all the other festive ponies did the same. In an instant, the laughter died down. A deathly silence fell over the place, more disturbing than any resonant laughter. Not a sound, not a whisper, could be heard.

I could see Turner's expression. The fear in his eyes was a clear indication that what was about to happen would not be good.

Suddenly, the smile returned to Pinkie's face, but the atmosphere was still permeated with an oppressive silence. He took a step towards the donkey, who instinctively backed away, a mix of confusion and fear evident on his face. He looked around, feeling the pressure of the now eerie and silent scene.

The closer the alicorn came, the further Cranky backed away, until he collided with a round table covered in cupcakes. Pinkie continued forward, her smile widening unnaturally, while a faint pink glow began to emanate from her body.

In a blinding flash, something shone between the curls of Pinkie's fluffy mane. I blinked, puzzled. What was that?

Looking closer, I realized: there was something embedded in his hair. No, it wasn't a simple rock. It was a brilliant gem, glistening with an eerie light. I turned to see Turner's reaction, and our eyes met briefly. We had both noticed the same thing, and the situation was growing more and more sinister.

The fearful donkey tried to speak, but no words came out. He was paralyzed with fear, completely terrified.

Suddenly, the silence was broken by Pinkie's voice, speaking to Cranky with chilling calm: “Don't worry, Cranky! I've figured out what's wrong with you,” she exclaimed cheerfully, though her tone seemed more threatening than comforting. “It's sadness... and it's keeping you from thinking clearly. I know how to fix that, you just need to laugh!”

Before Cranky could process what she had said, Pinkie activated her horn with a blinding flash. In the blink of an eye, the donkey was gone.

The pink flash that had enveloped Cranky disappeared as quickly as it had arrived, leaving behind an overwhelming void. There was no trace of him, no clue as to where he had gone. Only a light breeze moved the remains of the cupcakes he had knocked over when he tripped.

It took a couple of seconds for my mind to process what had just happened. I looked at Turner, hoping he had some answer, but his expression was just as stunned.

“Turner… did you see the same thing I did?” I asked quietly, my words heavy with disbelief.

He nodded slowly, his mouth slightly open. “I saw him… but… what did he do? Where did he send him?”

“I don’t know, but I have a feeling he’s not right. And something tells me we could be next if we don’t act fast.”

Pinkie Pie, still wearing that sinister smile, turned her head toward us. She didn’t seem to notice us, but her attitude gave me the creeps. The pink glow emanating from her body intensified for a brief moment, and I felt the air grow thicker. Everypony around her froze, as if they couldn’t move without her permission.

Turner gulped and gave me a gentle push. “Arthur, we have to go. Now.”

I didn’t need any more persuasion. We snuck around the balloons and colorful decorations, trying not to draw Pinkie’s attention. My thoughts were racing. What had that gem been? And why Cranky? This was all beyond anything I had imagined.

As we ran through the empty streets of what used to be Ponyville, I heard a distant echo. A laugh. But not a joyful or contagious laugh, but a broken laugh, as if happiness itself had been twisted and deformed. I paused for a second to shed the dead weight of my costume and to listen better, but Turner grabbed my arm—or rather, my paw—and dragged me forward.

“Don’t stop! It’s not safe here.”

“What do we do, Turner?” I asked as we continued to run. “Pinkie’s not the only one who’s wrong. This whole place is… distorted. And that gem… what was it?!”

Turner looked at the device in her paw, which continued to emit irregular little beeps. "Whatever is affecting Pinkie, it's coming from that gem. Something is amplifying her power, and not in a good way. We need to find out more... and fast. If Cranky disappeared like that, I don't want to imagine what will happen to the others."

As we walked away from the center, the landscape began to change. The bright lights and festive decorations faded, being replaced by an ever-present shadow. What was once a joyful kingdom of laughter now had a sinister tinge, as if the world itself was losing its shine.

We arrived at the outskirts of Pinkie's kingdom, where the garish colors no longer dominated the view. The air was cooler, but the tension was still present.

I looked around, trying to calm my nerves. It seems like it's getting late and the sun is about to set, the pink environment changing to an orange one. "So, what do we do now?"

Turner looked out into the dark horizon and, with a determined tone, said, "We're going to look for answers. But we can't confront Pinkie directly... at least not until we understand how to break the control of that gem."

Before we could process anything else, Turner's detector began to sound like an alarm, a high-pitched beep echoing through the still air. The light on the device flickered brightly, and I felt my heart pounding.

"Something big is coming!" I shouted, just as Pinkie Pie appeared from a confetti-filled smoke bomb, beside us, as if she'd been there the whole time.

"Hey, guys! Ready for the party? I've been looking for you two!" Pinkie exclaimed with her usual enthusiasm. But there was something in her tone that sounded off, as if the words were void of their usual joy.

Turner, trying to remain calm, stepped forward. "Pinkie, what's happening isn't normal. The energy in Ponyville is distorted, and we need to understand what's going on."

She frowned, her expression changing from happiness to disappointment. "Distorted? But... everything is so... fun! Why would you want to run away from such a cheerful welcome?" Her voice deepened, and the air around us became oppressive.

"Pinkie, it's not that we don't want to be here," I interrupted, trying to calm the situation. "It's just that—"

"You don't want to be here?" she said, interrupting me with a tone that made my skin crawl. "It's really disappointing. You should be enjoying all of this." The atmosphere became tense, and before we could react, Pinkie lit her horn with a blinding flash.

Everything turned pink.

Once I regained my vision, I looked to the side for direction. We were inside a padded room with only one fully closed metal door, everything was so bright that I had to squint to even get an idea of what was in the room. Ornaments hung in the corners, balloons floated everywhere, streamers fell from the ceiling, a mountain of pillows and confetti was scattered across the floor as if someone had had a never-ending party.

But besides that, I could see Turner on the other side of the room, also disoriented like me, trying to regain his composure. Next to me, Cranky was sitting on the floor, rocking up and down as he curled into a ball, as if trying to convince himself that this was all just a bad dream. His expression was a mix of confusion and frustration.

“What the hell just happened?” I asked, feeling completely lost.

“Why does it always happen to me!?” Cranky bellowed, his voice echoing in the padded room. “First, all of Ponyville is partying and now this. I can’t take any more craziness!”

Turner approached us, adjusting his scarf. “It seems like Pinkie has created some kind of… extreme party? This is too controlled an environment, as if she’s trying to encapsulate us in her world of happiness.”

“Encapsulating us, that sounds nice!” Cranky interrupted, his sarcastic tone barely hiding his disdain. “So what do we do now?” “Shall we dance and laugh until our lungs explode?”

“For heaven’s sake, I don’t think this is the time for that,” I replied, trying not to lose my cool. “We need to find a way out, and fast. We need to figure out what’s going on here before Pinkie decides to make this an even crazier spectacle.”

“Oh, please! Don’t you see what’s going on?” Cranky stammered, waving his paws in frustration. “We’re trapped in a place where happiness feels like a prison.”

“Yeah, I know,” Turner said, looking around with a determined expression. “But it might also be our chance to find the source of this energy. If we can undo what Pinkie did, maybe we can restore balance to Ponyville.”

“And how are you going to do that inside the clown room we’re trapped in? Genius,” Cranky said, frustration showing in veins forming on his forehead.

Just as the inventor was preparing to answer, a sudden burst of festive music filled the room, shaking the walls and making the decorations tremble. “Welcome to the Laughter Party!” a voice rang out, clear and jubilant. It was Pinkie, appearing out of nowhere with a big smile and a surprising amount of balloons.

“There’s no time to waste! Let’s have some fun!” she exclaimed, with an energy that seemed capable of lighting up the place. However, her gaze had an eerie glint that made me feel like it wasn’t the same cheerful glow as always.

“Pinkie, wait,” I said, raising a paw. “We can’t have fun if we don’t understand what’s going on. Why are we here?”

“Oh, that’s simple,” she replied, spinning in circles as she threw confetti into the air. “I want everyone to feel happy, and the best way is to share the laughter. Cranky needs some joy in his life, and so do you!”

“How about you just let us out of here?” I suggested, trying to be diplomatic.

She stopped dead in her tracks, her smile still present, but her eyes held a flicker of confusion. “Get out? Why would you want to get out when you can all stay here?”

It was at that moment that I realized Pinkie wasn’t simply trying to throw a party. There was something darker behind her unwavering joy. We needed to get out of here, but we had to get to the bottom of what was happening to her first.

I could only give a bewildered look as I watched the events again, sitting on the couch as if it was no big deal. After all, I’m doing what I can to handle this situation. I glance over at Pinkie Pie sitting there choking on popcorn and cupcake. She seemed to be quiet for a long time, but looking into her eyes, it seems like she’s loving this part where we’re staying at her party and she’s happy about it. Not fully understanding or comprehending it.

Once Pinkie suddenly left with a flash of confetti, leaving cheerful music echoing through the room on loop, it left us some time alone to try and sort out the situation.

I woke up in the middle of the forest early in the morning, and my situation was desperate. I had turned into a colorful animal and was alone in the middle of nowhere; it couldn't be worse. But now, everything had quickly gotten out of hand. In fact, I don’t even think I ever had anything under control at any point, whether in the forest or here in the kingdom of a pink crazy pony.

I was able to make progress for a while on a relatively good path, but it was only thanks to Time Turner. I don’t want to imagine what would have happened if I hadn’t found him or if he had also transformed into… whatever ponies turned into. If it weren’t for him, I’d probably still be stuck on top of a giant birthday cake.

I lay defeated on the ground, my gaze downcast. I glanced quickly at the others: Turner was sitting with his eyes closed, clearly deep in thought, while Cranky had hidden himself in a corner, muttering something in an annoyed and frustrated tone.

“Great,” I thought, “this is exactly what I needed. A grumpy donkey and an inventor who looks like he’s about to have a nervous breakdown. Nothing screams ‘crisis situation’ more than this.”

I began to monologue to myself, as if my mind needed some company. “Anyone else would be better qualified to be in this situation than me. Who needs an average human when you have a bunch of ponies who could do this job so much better? I’m sure anyone else who would take my place could handle this with their eyes closed. Maybe even a cactus with legs would be more helpful than me.”

“This sucks,” I told myself, feeling reality hit me. “I don’t know what to do. And to top it off, I’m under a time pressure. Pinkie’s probably already coming up with a plan that involves balloons and fireworks, and here I am, unable to even understand how the magic of this place works. Where are the Elements of Harmony when you need them?”

I could feel frustration starting to build up inside me. “Why the hell did I get myself into this? I’m not a hero. I don’t have the heart of a pony, and I definitely don’t have the energy of one. I just want to go home and forget about this madness”

The cheerful music continued to echo through the room, a constant reminder that we were trapped in Pinkie Pie’s madness. I turned to Turner and Cranky, determined that we could at least exchange some ideas. “Well, how about we start thinking about how to get out of here? Maybe we can find a way out, or something”

Turner, with an air of concentration, nodded. “We could try to follow some trail. It seems the room is completely sealed, the only door is blocked but maybe we can force it.”

“And how do you think we would do that?” Cranky interrupted, his skeptical tone evident. “All we have is confetti and we are two earth stallions and a donkey, I'm not sure this will work if there is no one capable of using magic.”

Turner was stunned by the reality and although he wanted to respond, he couldn't find the words to do so. He just sat on the floor.

“It should be nighttime by now.” said the inventor with a dejected voice “we should rest and think better about the morning, it was a… hectic day for everyone.”

In response to his comment, the lights in the room dimmed to a slightly dark blue and the cheerful music died down and although still present, it became quieter. We each took a pillow and separated ourselves in different corners to rest.

Leaving us to our own thoughts.

…

Who am I kidding. I just went with the flow hoping something would happen, it was always like that even before I got here.

Breathe, Arthur.

Just breathe, everything will be okay.

Things can be really bad no doubt. But you're still breathing, that's okay. You may be locked up, in a new body, in an unknown world… but you're still breathing and that's good.

Breathe

As long as you're still breathing you'll be okay. Things can get worse but as long as you're still breathing, everything will be okay. Just focus on your own breathing and don't give in to nervousness, pressure and frustration. Focus.

It's funny, ever since I got here I've somehow been avoiding thinking about my situation or myself. I know that whoever is in my situation would have the same goals, finding a way back home, which I instinctively set as my own goal for lack of one. But it was just a way to cope, taking on a mission to think about without even reflecting on what I really want.

After all, it's something most people would do, so I should do it too, right?... but if I just focus on what I really think for a second, the reality can be disconcerting.

My life wasn't that bad but it wasn't a paradise either, it was a monotony, one that over time I simply lived on autopilot. What I studied, the friends I made, my family, even in my own hobbies.

Now that I think about it, I haven't done anything. Or at least nothing that I really wanted to do in my past life.

I studied what I could, I couldn't go to a school that was half a day away from my house because it would be a waste of time that would cost me the whole day, other schools that caught my attention and weren't that far away, their tuition cost too much, I couldn't ask my parents for the money and I couldn't work enough to earn what I needed, plus what caught my attention wasn't really profitable in the end, I would have trouble finding a job in the end; I had to resign myself to studying something I didn't want just for the sake of having a school nearby, low cost and a more comfortable future. But it wasn't what I wanted.

I only interacted with my classmates because I had to, after all there was always teamwork to do which would be very problematic if there was tension between the members. I had classmates that more or less got along well, but in reality we didn't go beyond just being classmates who had lunch together. However, I hated every time I was always chosen in the end, or I wasn't even chosen and I had to join the team that was unlucky enough to have me. God, how I hate teamwork.

I only interacted with others for the benefits like getting some materials I might have forgotten or was in a hurry with homework, but it seems I dug myself into a hole by trying to be friendly with them; after all, they actually took more advantage of me than I could get from them by constantly lending them my things and notes.

With my family it was no different, being the youngest of four children. Contrary to what you might think, being the youngest had no benefit beyond inheriting worn out and shabby items. When you have three people who made their way splendidly, it only leaves you with a bigger shadow to try to climb out of.

My parents didn't get along, fights, arguments and outbursts from both sides. For most it would be a problem that would cause them emotional problems or trauma if they witnessed something like that for as long as they can remember, but for me, it was the bread and butter. I got to a point where I simply decided it was better not to care about it, I had already spent enough time of my life thinking about it and I didn't want to waste it anymore. I just didn't care anymore and tried to move on while continuing to not pay attention to it.

The only thing I had were my hobbies, but even in that I couldn't do what I really wanted. Or at least I didn't feel like I could do what I wanted.

Family problems were something that was discussed daily, whether it was because of a fight between my parents or some of their relatives. Every day they filled the environment with uneasiness and discomfort, but all the time they reminded me of the same situation that I couldn't help but hear about, leaving me with a bad taste in my mouth. Always.

Studies, I went down a path that any parent would wish for their children for a better future, but I hated it. I followed the path of one of my brothers so every day I went to school and saw the blackboard, I was only reminded of the poor attempt at a clone that I tried to copy from another, something that discouraged me and only made me feel like a fake and that I couldn't move forward. Unfortunately, there came a time when I had to close my mind and pretend as much as I could, but that only made it worse. I continued studying something that I hated for years.

Friends or rather classmates, I only had them for the benefit and because it was something that one was supposed to have. I tend to be very uncomfortable when talking to someone, I start to stutter or end up saying something that didn't make sense, was stupid or simply couldn't be understood what I was saying. A habit that ended with my reputation on the ground.

I tried to have decent conversations with others, I tried to think of my words, but it was only detrimental. By thinking too much about what to say, you end up getting nervous trying to find words that don't seem to offend the other person, not rambling unnecessarily and trying not to say complicated words so as not to stutter or seem pretentious. All this only filled me with nerves which only got worse the more I thought about it. All this in a casual conversation.

There came a time when it broke, all those points of my life. Only stress, frustration, anxiety and nerves that attacked me when I woke up, they only made me feel useless and that I didn't deserve or simply couldn't do more. I didn't deserve to take a break while my family was having problems, I had to study, I had to make friends; I shouldn't waste my time with what I wanted, after all it was something silly that wouldn't serve me anything in the future.

I got to a point where I didn't care about anything and I kept pretending until I got it. I didn't care about the problems of my parents and family, but I still had to pretend that I cared. I didn't care and I even hated what I studied, but I had to continue to have a future, so I didn't care about what I wanted and I continued. I didn't care about the relationships with my classmates and it was even annoying to have to put up with it while I pretended a forced smile for everything they said.

I didn't care and I didn't care about my life.

But despite all this.

Somehow, I always ended up in the same place. With all the problems that only piled up, grew and gave me more anxiety, I always ended up in the same place again and again.

Television, programs, movies, stories and tales.

It was a form of entertainment that could reflect society in a less distressing way. You could relate to a character and not feel alone, you could live adventures that take you out of the monotony, you could have hope without being judged or looked down upon for what you really wanted.

You could do what you really wanted.

I started to wander off during class, on my walk or on the bus, while my family started another show. I just started thinking of stories, dozens, hundreds of them.

I started looking around, especially up. After a lifetime of just looking at the ground, I finally managed to take a look above me. And what I saw was such that for the first time after so much time of biting my tongue and holding on... I was finally able to shed a genuine tear. It was beautiful. The sky was something incomparable.

The blue night sky that stretched as far as I could see, the clouds moving lightly and in a harmonious, seamless way. And in the middle of all the dark night sky, there was something that was atomically powerful but distant. Stars.

I live near a city, one that is very illuminated at night, so when looking at the night sky, I couldn't see much. But despite the problems it gave me to see at least something. There it was, a single, lonely and simple star that despite all the odds against it, managed to shine bright enough to be seen.

It was the only star I could see at night, but that didn't stop me from marveling at it every time. I started to have another habit, one that I really liked doing.

Looking at the sky.

I fell asleep hoping that the next day I would be able to see the sky again.

Author's Note

Our heroes began to have a plan to save Ponyville.

In their search for the origin of the change, they explored Ponyville and visited some familiar places, it's a shame that apparently the event changed more than they imagined and they didn't meet those who lived in those places.

They found another pony... or rather donkey that wasn't affected. Besides the origin of the change.

It's a shame that like Cranky, our two heroes were also caught and were transported to a prison of joy and laughter by Pinkie Pie.

Arthur managed to have a moment of peace to reflect.

Twilight will be present but a little later. In fact, Arthur's arrival in Ponyville was going to be much faster but as he developed it, it extended more than he had thought.

Chapter 1: The Kingdom of Confetti. Part 1

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter 3: The Kingdom of Confetti. Part 3

The next morning, the atmosphere in the room felt somewhat more relaxed. Each of us had managed to get some rest, enough to calm our nerves, although the situation had not changed. Turner was the first to speak, suggesting that we could try to reason with Pinkie Pie when she visited us again.

“We can try to convince her,” Turner said, in his usual tone, logical but calm. “Maybe if we tell her that we now understand the importance of the party and are willing to cooperate, she might let us out.”

Cranky and I raised an eyebrow; the donkey seemed to have trouble with this, but for lack of ideas, worse was better than nothing.

For lack of a better plan beyond throwing pillows at the door to open it (which I tried), we began to talk amongst ourselves so she couldn’t misinterpret it and convince her to get us out of the colorful prison.

When Pinkie Pie burst into view, accompanied by an explosion of confetti and trumpet music that we couldn't figure out where it was coming from, Turner was the first to step forward. His expression was tense, but he tried to keep his composure.

"Oh! Good morning, my friends! Ready for more fun?" Pinkie was jumping around the room, as if confinement was the best thing that had ever happened to us.

"Actually, Pinkie..." Turner began, choosing his words carefully, "we've been thinking about this whole party thing. And you're right, we need to celebrate more... life, friendship... and parties." He paused, giving me a gentle nudge with his elbow, as if it was my turn to say something.

I let out a sigh and stepped forward. "Yeah, yeah, Pinkie. Look, we all understand how important the celebration is to you. Sometimes we just need to let off some steam, don't we? And well, after spending the night here, I thought... it really is a good place. All that confetti, the colored lights. Great! Fantastic!" I said with an enthusiasm that I honestly had a hard time finding.

Pinkie stopped jumping and just stared at us with half-lidded eyes, a playful but dubious smile peeking through. "Hmm... really? Are you sure you don't want to escape the 'Biggest Party Ever' anymore?"

Cranky snorted, but I quickly covered it up with a nervous giggle.

"No, no, no! Escape? Nooo. Actually, we wanted to ask you... could we go out for a bit? You know, so that when we get back to the party, we'll be more lively. We don't want to clash with your energy." I said this with the widest possible smile, as if my life depended on it... because it probably did.

Turner nodded, supporting my desperate attempt to convince her. "Exactly, Pinkie. We think that if we take a little break, we might enjoy the party even more. Maybe we could come back with some new ideas to make it even better."

For a moment, Pinkie was silent, biting her lip as if she was considering the idea. Her eyes darted back and forth, her thoughts probably racing as fast as her legs when she jumped. Finally, she stopped, frowning. "Well... I guess everyone needs a little break every now and then..."

I felt a pang of relief, but it was short-lived, because she quickly continued, "But I don't want you to miss out on all the fun, so I'm going to put some 'balloons' on you so you can always come back! Party on wheels!" She let out an elated laugh and suddenly, three colorful balloons appeared tied to each of us.

Before I could protest, I found myself lifted off the ground and yanked back as I tried to take a step toward the door. The balloons glowed with a magical sparkle, and were apparently designed to teleport us back if we tried to stray too far.

“Ta-da!” Pinkie yelled as she bounced toward the exit. “You can go now! But if you try to escape… pop! You’re back to the party!” She bounded out the open door, leaving us floating inches off the ground.

Turner brought a hoof to his forehead. “This wasn’t what I had in mind.”

“Great,” I muttered. “We’re in the same place… but with balloons.”

Cranky didn’t say anything, but his expression said it all: we were literally tied to Pinkie Pie’s party, with no clear plan to escape her festive madness.

The day began with a sense of cautious optimism. After all, Pinkie Pie had said we could “go,” though we were now tied to these ridiculous magical balloons. There was no way of knowing how we would get out of the city.

Turner suggested that it would be best to stay quiet and not arouse suspicion. "We blend in with the crowd," he said, his tone logical and confetti-proof. "And when Pinkie Pie is distracted by another part of the party, we try to leave."

Cranky frowned, obviously unconvinced, but he had no better plan. "Blend in with the crowd? Really? You think they won't notice us with these colorful balloons stuck to our heads?"

I had no arguments against that, but we decided to try it anyway.

First attempt: The dance competition

We found ourselves in the Central Plaza, where a dance competition was in full swing. Ponies of all colors were spinning, jumping, and busting out dance moves that downright defied the logic of equine physics. “If we blend into the crowd, we might be able to take advantage of the chaos to sneak in,” Turner said confidently.

The problem was that none of us knew how to dance.

“Come on, how hard can it be?” I ventured, taking a step forward. But the moment I tried to keep up with the upbeat music filling the plaza, one of my balloons launched me into the air in a forced pirouette, leaving me spinning around as if I were part of the show.

Turner, in her attempt at graceful moves, ended up with three ponies tangled in her balloons, all spinning wildly while Pinkie Pie watched from afar, clapping enthusiastically. “Way to move your body! Way to go!”

Finally, Cranky let out a groan and retreated to the far corner of the plaza, muttering something about the ridiculousness of the situation as he watched us being dragged around like puppets. “This is a mess.”

“Oh my god, I still remember, they were the life and soul of the track.”

“Don’t remind me. Please,” he says, hiding my face in the couch.

Second attempt: The “fun run”

After the failed attempt to blend in on the dance floor, we saw an opportunity during a “fun run” that Pinkie had organized. The track passed close to the borders of Ponyville, and it seemed like we could sneak past undetected if we pretended to be part of the racers.

The only problem: every time we tried to move toward the finish line, a cheerful pony would push us back into the race. Streamers, confetti, and even candy would be thrown at us. Our balloons would drag us back every time we strayed too far from the track.

“Why can’t we just run in a straight line without something landing on my face?” I asked, exasperated, as a pony dressed as a clown sprayed us with a water gun. Cranky responded in his usual grumpy tone. “Because this isn’t a normal race, it’s a fun run. Which is cheating.”

Third attempt: The damn happy ponies

After the race, we tried to simply walk to the outskirts of Ponyville. We told ourselves that maybe if we did it calmly and with an “everything’s okay” face, we could make it. But reality was different.

Jolly ponies were everywhere, and none of them seemed to want to let us go without inviting us to a new activity. From pie-eating contests to guessing games, every time we took a step toward the exit, someone else appeared to stop us with a ridiculously cheerful smile.

At one point, we were so close to the outskirts that I could see open fields, but a group of ponies intercepted us with a chorus of songs. "Come on, friends, sing with us!"

I tried to sneak away, but my balloons glowed brightly, teleporting me back to the center of the action every time I got more than ten steps away. “Damn balloons,” I muttered.

Turner tried to reason with a few ponies, but it was impossible to talk to them. “Don’t you understand? We need to get out!” But all he got were smiles and offers of cupcakes.

Cranky, after being caught by a gang of ponies wearing ridiculous hats and clown noses, finally snapped. “This is worse than torture! They’re trying to drive us crazy with all this happiness!”

“I don’t know why you say that. Any repercussions from my parties are caused by pure accident and no intention, just like any war crime.”

At Night: Back to Prison

At the end of the day, as the sun began to set and the party lights began to glow, we found ourselves once again back in Pinkie Pie's colorful "prison." The balloons, true to their promise, teleported us back as if they had been patiently waiting all day to do so.

We collapsed exhausted onto the mats. "Fine," I said, unwilling to move. "We tried everything. The party got the better of us."

Cranky dropped to the ground with a defeated sigh. "This is a nightmare. I've never seen so much concentrated joy. I can't stand any more happy ponies."

Turner, ever the optimist, was rubbing his temples as if he was dealing with a monumental headache. "Well... at least we weren't caught physically. Just... mentally."

I just stared at the balloons tied to us, glowing with that cheerful, irritating color. “I’d say physically, too…” I replied wearily. “This can’t get any worse,” I muttered. But of course, in Ponyville, it always could.

And so, we fell exhausted once again, trapped in our prison of balloons and laughter.

As night fell over Ponyville, the party began to slow down, but only slightly. The colored lights continued to flicker in the distance, and the echo of laughter and music continued, as if it would never end. While Turner and Cranky settled in to try and sleep in the uncomfortable, colorful “cell,” I lay awake, staring up at the ceiling, the sound of the balloons floating around us still present.

My mind kept racing, going over everything we had tried during the day. It had been one failure after another, a constant struggle against the unbridled joy Pinkie Pie had imposed on her kingdom. We tried everything: from Turner’s logic to Cranky’s tantrums, and not even my sarcastic attempts served to change our situation. We were tied up, trapped, and it was clear to me that trying to win against Pinkie Pie's party was a losing battle.

But something didn't add up. There was something going on before my eyes, something I hadn't considered.

As I lay on my makeshift mattress, watching the balloons float around us, I realized something. Chaos. Everything was out of control, but it wasn't just Pinkie Pie's gleeful madness that kept us trapped. It was our insistence on facing her world head-on with a logical mindset, as if reason could work here. But this wasn't a logical place, it was chaos embodied in endless laughter and fun.

"You can't fight chaos," I muttered to myself. "But you can use it."

That's when the idea hit my mind like a bolt of lightning. If Pinkie Pie was the queen of party chaos, then the only way to escape was not to resist it, but to harness it. Instead of fighting against the flow of absurdity and antics, we had to become part of that chaos, make it work in our favor. If order had no place here, perhaps what we needed was something equally chaotic, something Pinkie couldn't control.

Turner and Cranky looked at me as I stood up suddenly.

“What’s wrong with you now?” Cranky muttered, rubbing his eyes, clearly exhausted.

“I have an idea,” I replied, looking at my own balloons, which floated around me, colorful and irritating. “We’ve been doing it wrong this whole time. We’ve resisted the party, we’ve tried to be reasonable. But in this place, reason means nothing. Here only chaos reigns.”

Turner, who had been massaging his temples, looked up curiously. “And what do you suggest?”

“If we can’t defeat Pinkie Pie’s madness with logic, then we must be even more chaotic than she is,” I said, with a smile that I hadn’t expected. “We’re going to cause so much chaos that even Pinkie won’t be able to keep control.”

Cranky raised an eyebrow. “More chaos? Us? In the middle of the craziest party in Equestria? That sounds like a terrible idea.”

"Exactly," I said, feeling the energy building in me. "And that's the key. If Pinkie Pie's party is all chaos, confetti, and endless laughter, what we need is to introduce something even more unpredictable. Something she can't handle. Pinkie Pie thrives on fun, but if we give her more than she can handle, we could throw everything into disarray."

Turner was starting to get the idea. "So... if we ramp up the chaos to the point where even Pinkie can't keep up, we could create a distraction big enough to escape."

"Exactly," I replied, excited for the first time all day. "We need to make her own party uncontrollable. We won't be part of the order here. We'll be part of the chaos."

Cranky sighed, but his eyes held a spark of hope. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm willing to try anything at this point."

We began to plan quietly. It wouldn't be easy, but we had an idea: use the most chaotic elements of the party, combine them in ways that even Pinkie Pie hadn't anticipated, and cause a mess so big that even she couldn't handle it. We had to be quick, clever, and most importantly, chaotic.

"Tomorrow," I said with a twinkle in my eye. "We're going to be the biggest mess this party has ever seen."

The plan was in motion. And while chaos was the enemy, it would also be our only way out.

By the next morning, the idea had taken root, and we were off and running. We knew we needed something big, something so flashy that even Pinkie Pie couldn't handle it. We decided to form a marching band, but not just any band. No! This would be the most chaotic, loud, out-of-control BAND Ponyville had ever seen. If we were going to embrace chaos, we were going to do it in style, and we were going to do it big.

Turner, always having a practical vision, took charge of getting the instruments and stereos. He had to make sure our "music" was loud enough for everyone to hear, especially Pinkie.

While Turner took care of the instruments, Cranky and I went around gathering everything we could find in the way of special effects. Fireworks, flashing lights, and confetti by the ton. Soon we had a pile of resources to cause the biggest mess Ponyville had ever seen.

“This is crazy,” Cranky muttered as he blew up giant balloons filled with sparkles and glitter. “I never thought I’d do something like this.”

“That’s because you’ve never been a part of anything this crazy,” I replied with a grin. “Trust me, it’s going to be legendary.”

Everything was almost ready. Turner was tuning his instrument. Cranky was checking the timing of the fireworks, making sure they went off right at the climax of our performance. And I, well, I was practicing my voice on the microphone, making sure I could scream loud enough to override the noise of the party.

Around us, the ponies were going about their usual celebrations. Music, dancing, and laughter filled the air, but nothing compared to what we were about to unleash. We’d spent all day preparing for the show, and when night came, we knew we were ready.

“It’s time,” I said, adjusting the microphone to my mouth. "Let's show these ponies what a real party is all about."

We headed to the center stage in the plaza, which Pinkie had vacated for the party's "intermission." Perfect for us.

The night of the big performance had arrived. The center stage was set, and the crowd of ponies, already in full party mode, had no idea what was to come. Turner, Cranky, and I were backstage, putting the finishing touches on what would be the most chaotic show Ponyville had ever seen. Everything was in place: the massive stereos Turner had set up, the megaphones strategically placed in each corner to amplify the sound, and of course, our instruments.

"I can't believe we're going to do this," Cranky muttered, adjusting his drum kit somewhat nervously. "Are we really going to play a rock band to distract Pinkie Pie?"

“It’s the only way,” I said, setting up my automatic guitar—a masterpiece of improvisation courtesy of Turner, who had modified it to play itself, since I had no idea how to play a real guitar, much less with headphones. “If we want to get out of this never-ending party, we have to use its own chaos against it.”

Turner, meanwhile, was tuning the keys on his electric piano. “Pinkie controls everything here with her magic, but if we can get the party so chaotic that even she can’t handle it, we might create an opportunity to steal the gem she wears in her mane.” He pointed to Pinkie’s fluffy lock of hair, where a small embedded stone could be seen glistening, which was apparently the source of her party magic.

“And what happens when the crowd goes completely crazy?” Cranky asked.

I smiled and pointed to the life-size cardboard cutouts of our figures, hidden behind the stage. "When everything is out of control, we put up our pictures and sneak out. No one will notice we're gone, especially if Pinkie is busy keeping the madness under control."

“Where did you get the cardboard? It seems to be impossible to get them in one day”

“The pony who can materialize whatever he wants in less than a second says,” I replied with a gesture with my hoof to finish off the popcorn Pinki summoned out of nowhere a little while ago. “But to answer you, we asked a random pony and luckily he had figures of each of us”

“That's terrifying!” the hypocritical pony said.

Cranky looked at the cards and then at me. “And what do we do once we're out?”

Turner intervened, gently tapping a key on his piano that emitted a soft tone. “We approach Pinkie while she's distracted and steal the gem from her mane. Without it, her magic will weaken, and we can escape without being seen.”

I crossed my arms, looking at my two companions. “All we have to do is ride out the madness of the crowd for a while and then perform on cue. Trust me, it will work.”

Cranky sighed, grabbing the drumsticks. “If this fails, at least we’ll die playing good music.”

We laughed briefly, though nervousness was in the air. We knew we were betting everything on this plan.

“Oh my!” I exclaimed, standing up on the couch. “This is so exciting! A rock band, they should go on tour all over Ponyville someday!”

Finally, the lights came on, ponies began to gather around the stage, and Turner sat down in front of his piano, Cranky stood behind the drums, and I took the microphone with the guitar on my back, which was ready to play itself when I flipped the switch.

“Alright, guys,” I said, adjusting the microphone. “It’s now or never.”

Turner nodded, as Cranky began to play a soft beat on the drums, marking the start. Turner's piano soon filled the air with a vibrant, energetic melody. The stage shook from the power of the stereos, and the megaphones amplified every note, making every corner of Ponyville invaded by the roar of our music.

And then, it was my turn. I activated the automatic guitar and the machine worked its magic, throwing out perfect chords as I shouted into the microphone:

"Ponyville, this is the party you'll never forget!"

The ponies clapped and screamed with excitement, and soon enough, chaos began to break out. Lights flashed to the beat of the music, fireworks exploded in the sky, and tables of food began to fill in an exaggerated manner with giant cakes, overflowing candy, and drinks that never seemed to run out.

Turner, completely focused on his piano, watched from the corner of his eye as the crowd reacted, becoming increasingly wild. Ponies were climbing up on stage to dance, others were throwing confetti and streamers incessantly, and some were even jumping into the chocolate fountain that had magically appeared in the middle of the square.

"Louder!" I shouted into the microphone, encouraging the crowd to take the madness to the next level. "More noise! More party! More everything!"

And, as if on cue, Pinkie Pie appeared at the edge of the stage, jumping and laughing as always, but something in her expression indicated that the situation was beginning to overwhelm her. She was using her magic to make the crowd's requests come true: one pony asked for a roller coaster, and one appeared right next to the stage. Another wanted a pool of gelatin, and there it was. Each request was more absurd than the last, and Pinkie, although excited, was beginning to lose control over her own party.

While all this was going on, we kept playing. The balloons that kept us tied down started to weaken, the magic holding them up was no longer as strong. I could feel the rope that tied me to the ground starting to loosen.

Finally, we reached the climax of the song. The biggest fireworks exploded in the sky, filling the night with lights and explosions. The crowd was completely out of control, doing things so crazy that even Pinkie Pie couldn’t keep up.

“Despite the naked eye, wow, they played like no one else! They have talent at this” I exclaimed while spitting out popcorn “But I don’t remember them mentioning the name of the band”

“We actually had a conversation about it while we were setting up the stage, several came to mind, but in the end we chose ‘Los perros locos’ so that we wouldn’t be confused with a youth band”

“Los perros locoocos… I like it, I think I’ll make t-shirts of that”

It was time. Unnoticed, Turner, Cranky, and I placed our cards behind the instruments and, amidst the chaos, snuck off the stage. We moved quickly through the distracted ponies, heading straight for Pinkie, who was still trying to please the crowd with her magic.

"Now," I whispered as we crept closer. Turner nimbly jumped behind her, and with one swift movement, managed to extract the gem from her fluffy mane.

A thin, two-pointed pink gem, a crystalline pink color with a slight transparency, gave off a faint pink glow. Even without one knowing what it was, it was evident that some kind of power emanated from it - is this what magic feels like?

It wasn't a rock or a simple gem, it seemed to have cracked and looked like just a piece of something larger. It looked like a fragment, but of what?

Instantly, Pinkie's magic weakened even further. The balloons that had been tied to us popped one by one, and the control I had over the party began to fade. The crowd was still in its frenzy, but Pinkie, without her gem, was disoriented, unable to understand what had gone wrong.

"Quick, let's go!" I whispered, and the three of us snuck off towards the edges of Ponyville, leaving the crowd in the midst of the greatest chaos we had ever seen.

As we slipped through the shadows, we thought we had accomplished the impossible: we had stolen Pinkie's gem and were just a few feet away from escaping her party madness. Turner carried the gem securely in a makeshift bag, and Cranky and I followed close behind.

But, just when we thought we had emerged victorious, a loud shout echoed behind us.

"There they are!" a pony shouted from the crowd, and within seconds, all of Ponyville turned toward us. The ponies, still in their party frenzy, had spotted us.

"Run!" I shouted, pushing Turner forward. There was no time to waste. The crowd began to chase after us, with Pinkie Pie leading the charge. Despite being weakened without the gem, her energy was still impressive, and her determination to regain control of the party was relentless.

We ran through the streets of Ponyville, dodging tables full of food and mountains of confetti that blocked our path. The ponies, encouraged by the music still echoing from the stage, were determined to catch us.

"They're catching up to us!" Cranky shouted, a tone of panic in his voice. "We need to split up or they're going to get us all."

I knew he was right. If we stayed together, we'd be easy targets. I looked at Turner and nodded. "We're splitting up. You take the gem. I'll meet you at the rendezvous point."

Turner, despite his concern, nodded quickly and took a detour to the right, disappearing into the dark alleys of Ponyville. Cranky and I continued to run down the main street, trying to get away from the crowd that was now splitting in several directions to catch us.

The ponies' screams echoed throughout the town, and each corner became more dangerous. Some ponies had begun throwing streamers and confetti, making it difficult to see where we were running. Every time we thought we had lost some, more ponies appeared from other sides, preventing any attempt to escape.

"This is ridiculous," I muttered between gasps. "They're chasing us like we're the last cakes in Ponyville."

Cranky, in his usual grumpy mood, barely managed to get out a response as he ran alongside me. "I'd rather it were cakes, at least we could eat one."

We took another sharp left turn, entering a plaza filled with ponies still partying, oblivious to the chase. We briefly blended into the crowd, trying to lose our pursuers, but we knew we couldn't hide for long. We needed time for Turner to escape with the gem.

Eventually, we found a small alley where we momentarily hid behind some boxes. Cranky was breathing heavily as I peered over the edge to see if they were still following us. Most ponies were still searching elsewhere, but we knew we didn't have much time.

"Do you think Turner managed to get away?" Cranky asked, still trying to catch his breath.

"He has to have," I replied. "It's our only plan now. We just need to buy time for him to get far enough away."

But before he could say anything else, we heard Pinkie Pie's unmistakable laugh echoing nearby.

"You can't hide from me forever!" she shouted, her playful tone tinged with slight frustration. It was clear that without her gem, Pinkie was losing some of her power, but she still wasn't giving up.

We knew time was running out. We looked at each other briefly, and without a word, we ran off again, hoping Turner was far enough away.

Now, the chase was more tense than ever.

As I sprinted through the party-lit streets, I realized I couldn’t go much further. Cranky had taken a different direction in a desperate attempt to split up the ponies chasing us, but that only meant I had attracted an even larger group of them.

“For some reason this all feels familiar,” he wondered, a hoof to his temple.

“I don’t know why you’d feel that way, Pinkie,” I replied dryly.

In the distance, I could hear the frantic laughter and cheers of the ponies following me. No matter how fast I ran, the chaos of the party seemed to surround me. Every corner I turned, every street I crossed, there were more ponies ready to catch me and bring me back to the heart of Pinkie Pie’s never-ending party.

“Really? Is this how it all ends?” I thought as my hooves pounded the ground, each step heavier than the last. There was no easy escape. The happy and elated ponies were relentless, their energy knew no bounds.

With terror in the form of smiles and laughter chasing me behind, I could only look around for some escape, despite everything I began to appreciate the town once again.

Let's just say that being chased by everypony in town while trying to escape with a new pony body that I barely had two days ago, is not a very good situation to stay still and appreciate the beauty of the town.

So, can you see that pony who is desperately trying to run away with a stupid face with his eyes wide open while his girlish screams sound everywhere while some crazy ponies chase him? “Yes, that's me. And this is my story.”

“Yes, that's me.” Everything stopped. The ponies chasing him stood still, their smiles frozen, their bodies paralyzed in the middle of the run. She was floating in the air as she was doing a jump in my run, with the world stopped around her. Pinkie Pie, even without her gem, had managed to slow down time, showing that her power, as an alicorn, was still formidable.

“So that’s how I got here,” I began my monologue as I looked around. The imaginary camera seemed to zoom in on my face as I sighed and stood up on the couch. “This wasn’t how I imagined it would end. It all started a while back, when I was just living a normal life, a boring life, until…”

“Never mind that. It seems we’ve made it to the present day. Pinkie.” I said.

She nodded vigorously, but her gaze was a bit confused.

“Yeah! The present day! Where everything is one awesome party!” Pinkie replied, jumping a bit in place.

“What did you think of my life? Movie-worthy?” I asked.

“Meh, the main character was obnoxious and his jokes didn’t even earn a sympathetic chuckle,” the funny alicorn said as she held back her laughter with her hooves.

However, feeling like the moment was perfect to act, I took the initiative. "Pinkie, could you please put yourself back where you were before you paused everything?" I asked.

Pinkie frowned for a second, but then smiled. "Sure! This is going to be so much fun!" She quickly moved behind the group chasing me where she had cast her magic to freeze everyone.

Once Pinkie took her original spot, the pause disappeared, and the bustle of the town came back to life. The ponies that were previously chasing me were now on the ground tied up with thick ropes, some complaining while others exclaimed:

—"Ugh! I didn't expect that!"

Pinkie Pie was behind the group of ponies fallen on the ground as they writhed in a futile attempt to free themselves. She could only make a clear expression of confusion on her face as she looked at her citizens of her kingdom before looking up more and seeing in front of her the pony they were chasing who remained quite calm and with a mocking smile drawn on his face. At a reasonable distance from her.

“What…” the confused alicorn could exclaim.

Taking advantage of the fact that the situation of the crazy pony and the other confused one with whom we had the dynamic between us since I arrived, was reversed. I could not resist and began to explain what had happened. As if the world itself agreed with me, I had coincidentally stood under the light of a street lamp in the middle of the night while fireflies flew around me as if it were a great presentation.

Thus I began my monologue and explanation for Pinkie.

“That's right, the confusion on your face is clear” I began calmly shaking my hoof “well you see Pinkie, since we arrived, we were playing chess with a snakes and ladders game table, where you knew, created and mastered the rules to your liking. That is why, with a serious mindset in the face of the situation, thinking logically, in the end it was detrimental to us” How I love to see her surprised face, finally.

I continued my speech, moving from one side to the other, “but it was on the second day that I had an epiphany, a ‘click’ that made everything clear. There would be no way to win the game if we weren’t playing the same game.” An uncontrolled smile formed, but with a great effort to look cool, I managed to hide it. “Chaos against chaos. And when you used the same chaos mechanics again to pause everyone, reacting like someone would normally, wasn’t the best; it was like giving you what you wanted and falling into your trap.”

“Instead of fighting the pause, I used the same logic you’ve been using to join in with your trick.” I’m getting much more excited than I should be in this speech that I can’t stop giggling. “I had no idea if it would help, but to both of our surprises it worked! And it worked like a charm. I came out of the pause and just had to play along.”

I glanced surreptitiously at the mountain of festive ponies still caught in the rope to look back at Pinkie.

“Halfway through the movie that was a flashback of my events, I just had to use an excuse to get away from you for a moment. Fortunately you are a carefree pony and didn't question that I had to look for snacks even though you could easily materialize anything.” My god, I feel like the villain explaining his plan, it's the best thing in the world.

“I used that moment alone to take care of every poni-fied person in town, even those who were chasing my comrades.” I turned my back to Pinkie Pie and with my hooves together in a Machiavellian pose I finished my speech. “When I made sure there wasn't a single pony loose, I returned to the couch as if nothing had happened. Fortunately you didn't question or wonder about anything.”

I left a silence in between to give more drama to the matter. Then I put my four hooves on the ground in a race preparation pose to tell her in a whisper:

“But that wasn't the only thing I did when I left…” I said with a smile. Then I started running again.

Before Pinkie could even begin to process what she had done, a sound alerted her. She glanced to her right.

*POW*

Pinkie got cake all over her face when she looked at the giant cake cannon they used on me earlier. She could only stand there with her mouth open and her eyes wide open in surprise.

Before I could wait for Pinkie's reaction, I simply ran as fast as I could, passing several streets before the blast wave of wind reached me. I turned back from my shoulder and was left with my mouth open at such a spectacle. Where I had stunned Pinkie, there was a cloud of sparkles as if it were a bomb.

Ignoring the obvious sign of danger, I focused on running as fast as my hooves could. In my path, next to some alleys to my right and left, Turner and Cranky appeared respectively, joining me as we continued running.

“Arthur! What a surprise, you won't believe what happened” said the brown pony still not believing what he was saying “some ponies found me and started chasing me, but in the blink of an eye, they were trapped with ropes for no reason”

“Funny you should say that, something similar happened to me” answered Cranky.

“Ehh” I could only say with my eyes looking to the side “never mind that, do you have the Turner gem?”

The inventor quickly pointed to the bag containing the fragment, hanging around his neck and nodded.

We began to quicken our pace to get out of this place as soon as possible.

To the surprise of everyone or no one, laughter began to resonate behind us. We didn't have to look behind us to distinguish who that laughter belonged to, but I took a quick look behind my shoulder anyway. It was Pinkie Pie jumping at high speed while humming a tune.

“Run as fast as you can!” I managed to shout, with a voice a little higher than I would have liked. We were being chased by a pink demon who, without his precious gem, was still capable of anything.

My warning didn't matter, both of them had already planned to do that anyway, it only increased the tension that was forming between the three of them.

I had already run too far, but the moment of the pause gave me enough time to rest, something my companions did not have. They began to fall behind me while their sweat covered them like a stream of water due to the extra effort they were giving at that moment to not fall to the ground.

I continued without turning back until a dull sound to my left where Cranky was caught my attention. I could only see how a brown blur had been carried by a rope of soft candy to Pinkie Pie with a desperate cry followed, until I could not see him anymore.

"There is no time, I can't take it anymore, he will catch me soon" Turner exclaimed with his calm tone abandoned long ago "If you manage to escape, go to Canterlot, it is possible that it is a safe area and make sure to inform the- uff"

Before he could complete everything he wanted to say, he was subdued by streamers that seemed to be alive like snakes all over his body, falling to the ground. He was only able to free one of his hooves in time to throw his bag with the fragment inside and say one last warning “LOOK FOR THE PRINCESSES!” he said before he could completely lose his voice as he continued running, picking up the bag along the way.

Now alone. I ran as fast as I could, despite that, I could still hear the laughter and jumps of my pursuer just before catching up to me.

I ran without looking back, feeling my heartbeat thumping in my chest. Despite the adrenaline, I could hear the laughter and jumps of my pursuer, getting closer and closer. The landscape around me became a blur as the colors of Ponyville mixed together in an explosion of vibrant hues.

As I ran, my mind filled with thoughts. “I'm so close to joining Turner and Cranky in that nightmare prison! I was doing so well, what am I missing?”

That's when I awkwardly remembered, the same way to beat Pinkie is to be like Pinkie even though you're running away. I thought, "Pinkie can do all this for fun, maybe I can too. Maybe it's not just about running away, but about getting into her game even in this situation."

With this epiphany in mind, I began to make a bold decision. It was time to stop running for my life and instead have fun. With an unexpected twist, I began jumping like Pinkie Pie, moving in different random directions, as if I were dancing instead of running away.

“That’s it, Arthur! Keep going!” I encouraged myself, feeling the energy beginning to surge within. With each jump, I ducked, spun, and rolled, mimicking Pinkie’s festive moves.

“Woohoo!” I shouted as I did a spiral jump, feeling myself release the tension of being chased. Surprisingly, my erratic movements seemed to be effective. Pinkie, at first stunned by my behavior, began to become confused by my unexpected twists and jumps.

“Arthur! You can’t escape the party!” Pinkie shouted, trying to catch me, but every time she came close, I would give her a quick turn and jump in another direction. The laughter and party energy that had once frightened me now became my ally.

Finally, watching Pinkie stagger under her own momentum, I realized that I had managed to elude her. With each leap, the distance between us grew, and as I looked back, I saw that Pinkie’s expression had changed from determination to pure amusement.

“That’s it, Arthur! You’re making this more fun!” Pinkie exclaimed, unable to help but laugh at his audacity.

Seeing that my strategy was working, I continued to jump and leap through the streets of Ponyville, Pinkie Pie’s laughter echoing in the air. Maybe it wasn’t just about escaping, but about joining Pinkie’s madness and finding my own place in this festive world, even if it meant becoming a bit of chaos myself.

When I took an intersection in the road, where it looked like I was going to lean, I quickly changed to the other direction with a jump and managed to see from the corner of my eye that the path I avoided was waiting for me with Pinkie Pie with some of her party traps.

We went like this for a while, dodging every trap she had. A huge pit from the apple-catching game, I used a bounce house and jumped over it. A street where instead of darts hidden on the sides of the street, there were sticky cakes throwing themselves out of control, but with a dance I managed to dodge the projectiles. A motionless green alligator in the middle of an alley with a party hat, I grabbed some balloons and they propelled me into the air enough to go over it.

I managed to get to the edge of town. But it wasn't the only one, there was my last obstacle before I could escape. Pinkie Pie with a big smile and motionless in the middle of the road, how did she get there if she was behind me? I guess at this point I can only say that it was because she's Pinkie.

I stopped dead in my tracks as I saw the powerful, pink, laughter-loving alicorn in front of me, standing motionless in the middle of the road with a smile that shone brighter than any star in the sky. The air was charged with vibrant energy, but I knew I couldn’t let my guard down.

“Arthur!” Pinkie shouted, her voice filled with joy that always seemed to infect everyone around her. “You’ve been the best party companion I’ve ever had! No one has ever managed to dodge my party traps like that! But…” she paused, her expression changing slightly. “I need my shard back!”

I frowned, feeling the pressure in the air. There was no emotional connection to the shard and if it were to be for me I would give it to her if it would get me out of this place, but I knew it was important. Turner had made it clear to me that it was essential for Pinkie’s magic to work.

“Listen, Pinkie,” I began, trying to choose my words carefully. “It’s not just about a shard. I don't care about that piece of rock, but I understand that it's crucial to you. However, I can't stay here, knowing what that silly gem can do.”

Pinkie tilted her head, but her smile didn't fade.

“Oh, Arthur!” she insisted. “The party needs the gem. Without it, I can't make everyone have the most fun. And you, you had fun! I know!” she began to move her front hooves, pointing at me. “That's why you have to be here. You were the only pony who actually joined me in my games and started to understand me. Your idea of having a rock concert was amazing. We even watched a movie together. You have to stay with me.”

Arthur stepped forward, trying to be clear.

“No matter how hard I try, I can't stay. This isn't my world. But if you keep the shard, then everyone will still be partying and enjoying themselves, but it won't really be them, and I... I need to take this shard with me so that doesn't happen.”

Pinkie's gaze hardened. It was clear that nothing in the world could change her mind.

“No, no, no,” she said, her voice rising in pitch. “You have to stay! You're the best party companion I've ever had! And I want the shard back, no matter what!”

I felt cornered, trying to stay calm. Pinkie seemed adamant about leaving me trapped in her confetti kingdom with her like a loyal pet that follows its owner wherever they go, along with its precious shard.

“Pinkie, I really can't...”

At that moment, the pink alicorn began to walk slowly towards me, her eyes shining with a mix of determination and a hint of madness.

“You know, Arthur…” she said, her tone innocent yet menacing “There are ways to change your mind.”

A shiver ran down my spine as she continued to approach, the intensity of her gaze unsettling.

“It doesn’t have to end with everyone covered in glitter, but…” she murmured with a mischievous grin “If you don’t give me the shard, I might have to throw a surprise party for you. And you know what that means: more balloons, more laughter, and a lot more… chaos!”

Pinkie’s laughter echoed through the air as she came ever closer, leaving me with a sense of urgency. I knew I needed to find a way out of this situation before my life became one never-ending party.

I found myself face to face with Pinkie Pie, the air between us thick with tension. Before I could react, Pinkie suddenly took a step back and smiled. She pulled a similar looking bag out of her mane. He took one of his hooves and grabbed the object inside the bag to give it a quick look. It was the fragment.

He took the bag I had hanging around my neck and took out what was inside, pure rock. I've been running with rocks this whole time.

“You know Arthur,” he began to say with a giggle, “You weren't the only one who used the 'Pause' for his own benefit, in some ways we're more alike than you think.”

In an instant, his hooves made contact with the fragment, and with a deft movement, he made the fragment disappear in a burst of confetti smoke. Without having any idea where he sent it, the fragment that we had worked so hard to keep safe was gone.

“Taran!” Pinkie exclaimed, laughing as the confetti fell around her, leaving me stupefied.

Without the fragment, I felt momentarily defeated, but I couldn't give up. I knew I had to escape, even if it meant doing so without what everyone considered so important. I thought of the phrase he had whispered to himself on other occasions:

“When the hero seems to be trapped, there is always a ‘Deus Ex Machina’ to save him. Where is my Deus Ex?”

In a face to face confrontation, the only being capable of defeating someone like Pinkie is Pinkie herself… wait. Only Pinkie herself can defeat herself. An idea began to form.

“Pinkie” I said, trying to keep a carefree tone “Have you ever thought about how amazing it would be if you summoned something spectacularly huge right here and now? It could be like… a giant cake! Imagine that”

Pinkie’s eyes lit up at the word “cake”.

“Well yes, it sounds fun but I don’t think now is-“

“Of course it is!” I interrupted her “it’s always the perfect time for a cake, or maybe…” a huge mischievous smile formed on my face “You’re not as fun as you say you are, you sure are a party pooper who hates any kind of party at any time of the day”

“Oh! “Of course not, I love parties!” she replied, her excitement palpable.

BINGO

Without a second thought, Pinkie began jumping in circles as she summoned her magic, creating a three-layer cake that materialized right above her, covered in chocolate and strawberries.

“Ta-da! A three-layer chocolate and strawberry cake!” she shouted, as the cake fell spectacularly, surrounded by colorful sprinkles.

Seeing my chance, I prepared to bolt. Pinkie’s distraction was my best ally. Without wasting a second, I darted to the side, dodging the explosion of sweetness that was unleashed in the air.

“You can’t run away like that!” Pinkie exclaimed, but she was too busy enjoying the cake to notice that I had already set off.

As she ran, the echo of the alicorn’s laughter could be heard further and further away. Pinkie stood savoring the cake. Giving me the chance to escape once and for all from her kingdom of laughter.

The festive madness surrounding me had become my greatest ally, and as I walked away, I smiled to myself, feeling that the chaos had been her companion in this adventure but with the relief that I would no longer need it in the future.

As she ran, the echo of Pinkie's laughter could be heard further and further away, a reminder that her festive world was as chaotic as it was fun. Pinkie had stayed behind to savor the cake, giving Arthur the chance to escape once and for all from her kingdom of laughter and madness. She had managed to get out of Ponyville, and a sigh of relief escaped her lips as she walked away.

As he reached a considerable distance from the edge of the town, he stopped to reflect. Turner and Cranky were still trapped, and the shard that had been so vital to his mission was now in Pinkie's hands. Despite this, Arthur couldn't help but smile, relieved to have escaped. After a long work and suffering, immersed in endless laughter, he had finally managed to get out of this situation.

“It's a bittersweet triumph,” he thought as he walked. Turner's words before he was caught echoed in his mind: “If you manage to escape, head to Canterlot. “Find the princesses!” Not knowing exactly who these princesses were, or how to get to them, Arthur decided that Canterlot would be his next destination.

With a new purpose, he began walking through the meadow that marked a dirt road in the hope that it would lead him to Canterlot. The feeling of freedom enveloped him, but also a hint of unease. “I don’t know what awaits me there,” he told himself, “but it’s better than being trapped in that party world.”

As he moved forward, he realized that, although he had left Pinkie’s madness behind, the adventure was only just beginning. There was much more at stake than he imagined, and it was now his responsibility to figure it out in some way. Although he didn’t really know what to do, he would figure it out once he got the message across. So, with determination, Arthur continued on his way into the unknown, hoping to find answers and maybe, just maybe, a way to solve this problem and find a way home.

But for now all he could do was continue forward beneath the starlight of the night sky.

Author's Note

On the second day, they tried to escape the madness without much success but at least it gave them the solution to their problems...

Make a Rock Band! The Mad Dogs made their debut in the most chaotic way ever.

Remember how in the prologue there was that moment of "Yes that's me and this is my story"? After a long journey, we arrived at the point where it all began. The journey up to that point was pretty absurd as you expected?

Don't worry, I'm not planning to add the mechanics of comments that break the fourth wall again. Or at least I'm not thinking about it yet hehe...

The story went on with Tree Hugs, Giant Cakes, Dressing up as a robot with a trash can, magic balloons, participating in different parties and being humiliated in each one, making a rock band, breaking the fourth wall with comments, explanations of villains and unexpected Plot Twists... Pretty crazy? or not so much?, to think about it in the future.

After a long journey and misadventures, Arthur finally manages to get out of Ponyville unscathed physically (mentally not so much). Although he couldn't do anything about it with his companions who are still trapped there and he lost the laughing fragment.

Starting a new story arc!

The Ponyville arc, initially would be at most two parts and would be much faster. Arthur would arrive, see the chaos, get the information of the world, be imprisoned for one night, with a quick trick on the second day, escape and go to Canterlot. And there would be no confrontation against Pinkie Pie. But while I was writing it, I extended it but I don't regret that.

Initially Arthur would only have a small interaction with Turner and Cranky when they were in prison but I quite liked their interactions as a group.

Now Arthur, totally alone, must wander until he reaches Canterlot, at Turner's request and meet the PRINCESSES!

And where there are princesses, there is Twilight. The little thing was on the bench for quite a while, but it's time for her to get into the game... although I don't know if immediately or after the fill-in in between... I'll think about it.

Chapter 4: Shorts

Meeting the Talking Tree

The sun was beginning to set on the horizon, painting the sky a soft orange as Arthur continued his walk out of Ponyville, glad to have escaped Pinkie Pie's madness. After what seemed like hours of walking, with only trees and bushes around, Arthur began to feel fatigue. His hooves were tired, and the thought of taking a break was too tempting. Spotting a small clearing, he finally decided to stop.

Arthur sighed and plopped down at the foot of a large tree that stood in the center of the clearing. The shade of the tree provided a respite from the heat of the day. He closed his eyes, leaning his head against the trunk, and exhaled deeply.

“At least there are no balloons here... or flying cakes,” he muttered to himself, with a mix of relief and sarcasm.

Suddenly, a strange sound echoed from the tree, like a soft whisper. Arthur opened one eye, confused.

“What...?”

The sound came again, louder this time, as if the wind had taken the form of words. Arthur, still lying down, raised an eyebrow and looked around.

“Who’s there?” he said out loud, but got no response.

He shook his head, thinking maybe it was just tiredness. But just as he was about to close his eyes again, he heard a sort of deep murmur coming from the tree itself.

Arthur sat up straight. “Wait, wait! Don’t tell me this tree… is talking.”

The tree remained silent for a few seconds, until a soft, hoarse voice, like the creaking of branches on a windy day, answered:

“What you see is not always what it is, weary traveler…”

Arthur blinked, completely incredulous. “Excuse me? Did you speak, or am I really losing my mind now?”

The tree, or rather, the hollow trunk through which the wind passed, made another deep sound, as if it was trying to imitate a wise voice. Arthur, realizing the absurdity of the situation, decided to play along.

“Okay, okay… let’s talk, what do you have to say to me, oh wise tree of the forest?”

The wind blew softly through the trunk, creating a sound that almost seemed like a mystical whisper. Arthur crossed his arms and, as if he were in a deep philosophical conversation, said:

“Why can’t trees talk normally, huh? It’s always with that mysterious tone… If you have something to say, say it clearly.”

The tree (or so Arthur thought) whispered again:

“The path you’ve walked… it’s just the beginning. The winds of doubt surround you… but the truth will always be rooted within you…”

Arthur rolled his eyes. “Ah, right, the classic deep, meaningless talk. Should I write this down on a scroll or something?” Because if this is advice, I've heard it before... in a fortune cookie.”

The “talking” tree continued its strange whispers, and Arthur, fully into the role of frustrated philosopher, decided it was time to bring the tree back to seriousness... in his own way.

“Listen, tree friend. I've been through worse than a mysterious forest, okay? Have you tried running from ponies that literally throw exploding cakes at you? Or outrunning a party band with balloons chasing you? Trust me, your 'winds of doubt' don't impress me.”

There was a long silence after that, as the wind died down and the trunk remained still. Arthur leaned back again, satisfied that he had won an argument with a piece of wood. But just when he thought the moment had passed, the trunk let out one last, almost inaudible whisper:

“...time is the keeper of all answers…”

Arthur jumped up. “Oh, come on! “Can’t you just leave it there? Time? Really? It’s always time…”

Arthur looked around, waiting for an answer. But the clearing was silent, save for the faint rustling of the wind through the branches. No one else was there. Finally, he let out a tired sigh and shook his head.

“Perfect. Now I have wise trees that speak to me in riddles, too. Of course, because what I was missing was a little more confusion in my life.”

He turned to leave, but couldn’t help but cast one last glance at the tree.

“You know what? I like you, tree. At least you don’t throw pies.”

And with that, he walked away, the wind once again rustling softly through the leaves, as if it had been part of a cosmic joke that only the tree understood.

The Mad Dogs, Take 2

After resting for a while, a relief that was scarce before escaping Ponyville, Arthur decided it was time to move, after all he still had a mission. Although he just wanted to relax for a little while longer.

As he continued his way towards what he believed to be Canterlot, he came across a small clearing filled with forest animals. Squirrels, rabbits, birds, all of them were looking curiously at the base of a bush.

With curiosity activated, Arthur decided to take a look at what caught their attention so much. When he got close enough he could only be surprised by what he saw. It was the automatic guitar that Turner had given him when they played in the town.

How did it get there? He wondered, he had left it with the decoy in Ponyville but with a quick glance at several animals around, he simply assumed that some curious animal brought it here with them. Something he learned from this world is that you don't have to think too much about the details.

Arthur smiled slyly. “What's wrong, guys? “Do you look like you’re up for a good rock show?”

The animals stared at him in silence, blinking. They didn’t seem to understand a word he was saying. But that didn’t discourage Arthur. In fact, a spark of inspiration struck him at that moment.

“Perfect. This is a sign! If there’s one thing these woods need, it’s a little rock and roll.”

Arthur picked up the automatic guitar that was perched on top of the bush waiting to be activated. He had no idea how to actually play, but that guitar, modified with Turner’s inventions, would do all the work for him.

“Welcome, boys!” he exclaimed as he climbed onto a small mound, “To your one, only, spectacular concert by the… ‘Mad Dogs’!”

“Unfortunately the other members are absent due to illness,” he said, looking to the side. “But that won’t stop the show!”

The animals looked at him with the same neutral expression, but Arthur decided to ignore them and pressed a button on the guitar. Immediately, the instrument began to play electrifying chords, and an epic rhythm filled the clearing. Arthur began to move to the beat, letting himself be carried away by the music.

“Yes, yes, we feel the power! We feel the music! I feel… I don’t even know what I’m saying!”

The guitar roared as Arthur, in his usual exaggerated style, decided it was time to sing. And so, with the energy of a thousand heroes, he began to sing his personal “anthem.”

The Ballad of Arthur, the (Not So) Hero

"I'm the world traveler, the one who escaped chaos!
I fought flying cakes, I survived the hugs of the crazy tree!
I faced parties that never end, but here I am,
Arthur, the bold, the only one, the one who always... survives!
I fought balloons, I dressed up as a robot,
and even if fate wants to crush me...
Nothing brings me down, because I'm... a MAD DOG!"

The guitar beat became more and more intense, as Arthur launched into singing with all his heart. His movements became more dramatic, raising the guitar as if he were playing the most epic solo ever heard. The animals of the forest began to fidget, their eyes growing wider and wider at the intensity of the show.

Arthur, delighted with his own performance, decided to add an extra touch. With a heroic pose, he shouted to the sky:

"Mad Dogs, forever! We are the band that defies the heavens, the cakes, and even the squirrels!"

The rabbits began to back away, the birds flew up into the treetops, and the squirrels, hearing the last distorted and exaggerated note of the guitar solo, ran away in terror.

Arthur lowered the guitar, panting, but with a big smile of satisfaction on his face.

"Yeah, guys, I get it... Too much rock to handle in one sitting, huh? Not everyone can handle 'Mad Dogs'!"

The animals were gone. The clearing was now empty, save for the echo of the last guitar note resonating through the trees. The silence that left the concert was absolute.

Arthur sighed dramatically, feigning disappointment. "And here I thought we had finally found our perfect audience. I guess the rock world isn't ready for us."

He put away the automatic guitar, taking one last look at the empty clearing. “Well, at least they didn’t throw pies at me. That’s something.”

And so, Arthur, with the ego of a true rock star and the confidence of someone who had just given a concert for a non-existent audience, went on his way, ready for the next madness that fate had in store for him.

The Chosen One Who Didn't Want to Be

The Chosen One Who Didn't Want to Be
Arthur walked slowly through the forest. The ground was covered in tangled roots, and the treetops intertwined so much that they barely let in any sunlight. As he walked forward, he heard the sound of a gentle trickle, and soon he came upon a small waterfall that gracefully fell into a clear stream. Stones littered the riverbed, forming a natural passage that seemed to invite anyone to cross it without difficulty.

“This seems easy at last, a breather perhaps?” Arthur muttered to himself as he carefully walked over the stones, crossing the stream without much effort.

But just as he reached the opposite bank, he stopped. In front of him, a huge rock with one completely smooth side blocked his path. The rock looked ordinary, until suddenly, it made a deep rumbling sound.

Arthur frowned. “What the hell was that?”

Before he could react, words began to appear etched into the surface of the rock. It was as if an invisible hand was carving into the stone before his eyes.

“Welcome, noble traveler. You have arrived at the sacred place where fate has brought you. You, Arthur, are the chosen one.” said the message on the rock.

Arthur blinked in disbelief and instead of being amazed, he let out a sarcastic laugh. “Chosen one? Me? No thanks, I don’t have time for any more last-minute magical adventures.”

A message was written on the rock again “You cannot escape your destiny, Arthur. The kingdom needs you! Only you can free the sword that lies in the rock and claim your place as the hero and king destined to save us from darkness.”

Arthur sighed deeply. “My, my… the typical sword in the rock. Look, buddy, I’ve dealt with endless parties, flying cakes, and tree hugs, I’m not interested in becoming the next ‘King Arthur’. It’s too cliché, even for me.”

“But this is your destiny. Only you can wield the sword and bring peace. Only by doing so will you embrace your true power and fulfill the prophecy that has waited centuries.” said the message on the rock.

Arthur rolled his eyes. “Prophecy? I see how this goes… I’m sure I’ll become an alicorn too, right? Crown and all! I’ll pass on that. I’ve had enough trying to survive in this world without being assigned magical tasks.”

The rock, seemingly ignoring Arthur’s indifference, let out another rumble, and in the blink of an eye, an ancient, shining sword appeared stuck into a small rock formation next to the large stone.

With a bright light, another message was written on the rock “Wield the sword, Arthur, and accept your destiny! By doing so, you will be proclaimed king, hero of all peoples. Only you can do it!”

Arthur stared at the sword for a few long seconds. The sunlight reflected off its blade, and the air around it seemed to grow more solemn. It was as if the forest itself was waiting for him to make the decision.

And then, Arthur took a step back.

“Nope,” he said in a calm but determined tone, turning in the opposite direction. “No way. I'll pass. I'm not falling for this trick. I don't need any more titles, crowns, or legendary swords. It's not my style.”

“Arthur, you can't run from your destiny! The kingdom needs you!” said the message on the rock.

Arthur waved his hand as if he were dismissing an annoying old friend. “Yes, yes, whatever you say. You'll see how they find another, more enthusiastic candidate. I'm sure there are hundreds of ponies ready for glory. I'm leaving.”

And without looking back, Arthur began to walk away from the talking rock, leaving the sword shining and the prophecy unfulfilled.

Behind him, the rock let out one last desperate message:
“Arthur, come back! Destiny...!”

But Arthur didn't stop. In his mind, there was nothing more ridiculous than becoming the next hero of an adventure he hadn’t asked for. And with a self-satisfied smile on his face, he continued walking, whistling a cheerful tune as he left behind another ridiculous scenario that, for once, he had managed to avoid.

“King? Ha, right… that suits a talking tree better. Now, where was Canterlot?”

The Complicated Rabbit

Arthur walked with his head down, tired and a little annoyed by the amount of turns he had already made without success. "I just need to know where the hell Canterlot is. Is it that hard?" he muttered to himself as he made his way through a clearing in the forest.

Just as he was about to give up, a white rabbit came bounding in front of him. She was larger than the average rabbit and had a decidedly haughty expression on her face.

"Hey, you! Are you lost?" said a talking rabbit.

Arthur looked up, managing to see a talking rabbit. By now he's so desperate and used to it that he won't ask why.

"Do you know how to get to Canterlot?" he said hopefully.

The rabbit looked him up and down, with a paw on her chin, as if she were sizing him up. Finally, she nodded slowly. "I know where it is, but I won't tell you that easily."

Arthur sighed, suspecting what was coming. "And what do you need?"

The rabbit smiled mischievously. "A few favors, nothing you can't handle."

"What kind of favors?" Arthur asked.

The rabbit, eyes closed, began to say her favor. "First, I need you to pick carrots. But not just any carrots, just the ones at the end of the valley... they're kind of hard to pull up."

Arthur raised an eyebrow, but decided not to complain. "Just carrots? Well, that doesn't sound so bad."

Little did he know that the valley's carrots were embedded in the ground like rocks. After an hour of pulling on a single carrot, his muscles exhausted, he finally pulled it up and ended up covered in dirt.

When he returned with the carrot, the rabbit looked at him, satisfied. "Good. Now, I need you to clean my burrow."

Arthur looked at the rabbit's small burrow, thinking it would be quick. However, upon entering, he discovered that it was an underground warren of tunnels filled with tiny furniture and ridiculous decorations, all covered in dust. It took him hours to make it presentable.

Arthur came back, panting, and the rabbit looked at him in amusement. “Now, my last favor.”

He could only squint wearily. “And what is that?”

The rabbit came closer, with a mischievous smile. “You’re going to be my boyfriend.”

Arthur took a step back. “What?”

“My parents won’t stop pestering me to get one, so you’re going to help me. Just for a little while, until they leave.” The rabbit said as if it were a normal thing.

Arthur gaped. “You want me to pretend to be your boyfriend? Really?”

The rabbit nodded, giving him a push to start walking towards the burrow again. “Don’t worry, just smile and say you love how I arrange the carrots.”

He sighed deeply and, resigned, decided to go along with the plan. Inside the burrow, two older rabbits watched him with critical eyes as Arthur tried to look as convincing as possible.

“Uh… yeah, your… way of arranging carrots is… unique.” Arthur said with a stutter, still not believing what he got himself into.

The rabbit’s parents nodded slowly, reluctantly approving the relationship. After what seemed like an eternity of awkward questions and uncomfortable stares, the parents finally left satisfied.

As Arthur emerged from the burrow, exhausted and mentally drained, the rabbit smiled widely at him. “Good job, ‘boyfriend’. Now I’ll tell you how to get to Canterlot.”

Arthur breathed a sigh of relief. “Finally.”

The rabbit pointed her paw into the distance. “It’s there. Right there.”

Arthur followed the direction she was pointing and his face fell when he saw that Canterlot, with its towering spires and elegant buildings, was literally hanging off the side of a mountain on the horizon, clearly visible.

Arthur brought a hoof to his face in frustration. "All this time it was just there!? How did I not see it before?"

The rabbit shrugged. "I guess you were too busy being my boyfriend."

Arthur simply shook his head and began walking towards the mountain. "This is ridiculous... absolutely ridiculous."

With the mountain in sight, he waved goodbye to the rabbit without looking back, as she watched him walk away with a small smile.

Author's Note

The rabbit is actually one of the Easter bunnies seen in G5, that's why he can talk.

Four short comedy clips of Arthur wandering around in search of Canterlot as a break while I develop the next story arc.

For now I can assure you that Arthur will continue to get into trouble and continue with his absurdities.

Chapter 5: A night to think

I've been wandering around for three days since I managed to escape Ponyville. The reign of a pink alicorn named Pinkie Pie. Where the citizens apparently altered into a state of... well, fun, happiness and laughter. But it seems this event that transformed them didn't affect everyone in the town, there were some people or rather ponies... or donkeys, who weren't affected by this. From what I was told, they didn't notice the change until they woke up the next day.

It seems the change was made overnight, on the same day I arrived, I don't want to jump to conclusions, after all it could just be a coincidence.

There is quite a bit of information I want to reflect on as well as many more questions I want to find the answers to.

However, while I was trapped in Pinkie's kingdom, I couldn't think of anything else but trying to escape, it's totally crazy that place. At least I managed to escape and got some time to finally think about the things I have in my hands… which one of those is the fact that I no longer have hands.

The fact that I am no longer human still disturbs me. Just having hands is a great advantage that allows me to manipulate objects with ease, on the contrary, I have… , I already got a little used to them with an irrefutable technique. I tried to pick up little things over and over again, did I look ridiculous trying to hold rocks in the short breaks? Yes, without a doubt. But it worked and now I only drop them a little more than three times to grab it firmly.

Although it only gives me an existential crisis, I mean, how is it possible? Sure I can use it as stumps, but I can also use the hooves to grab things. Every time I use it it just makes me question it, I think it is better to say that it is magic simply.

Luckily, despite wandering around forests, rivers, and grasslands, I managed to survive this long which is a great achievement for me. I have never been able to go on a camping trip in my previous life, something I have always wanted to do but never had the means to do so I have no experience of being in the forest. But despite that, having a new body has helped me in my survival.

A human's body is very different from a pony's. A human is omnivorous, meaning they need vegetables and meat in their daily food, but for a pony, I just need to look for tall grass and flowers and that's it, I don't have to worry about hunting animals for food. I just have to find a clean enough water source and a decent enough shelter to spend the night. This is good. Although when I think about it, I wonder if I'll still be able to eat meat, I mean, I'm not that big a fan of meat, but I wouldn't want the list of what I can eat to be reduced.

I managed to create an improvised camp, gathering several loose twigs together with many dry leaves to build an improvised tent in the shape of an inverted 'v'. Unfortunately I was not able to create a campfire in these three days, even if I had hands, something like that would be impossible for me, now with hooves I am less lucky. Without fire, I have not been able to cook the few foods I have gotten like the carrots that a rabbit gave me after doing her favors.

To my surprise, I found the automatic guitar that Turner gave me at the show, it was brought by some animals, I am not going to question it and I will just go with the flow, it is right next to me so I don't lose sight of it, it may be useful later.

Right now I am in my camp resting for tomorrow. It is night and without any source of light beyond a few fireflies that illuminate only a small part next to me, everything else in the forest is dark. I can only hope that no dangerous animal suddenly appears or it will be my game over.

My camp is based in a tent right next to an oak tree, in front of me, a few steps away is the mountain of sticks and leaves, surrounded by rocks. My campfire except that I didn't get a single spark so it's just piled materials. Luckily I'm surrounded by trees, bushes and plenty of natural foliage around me, a good thing if I want to go unnoticed by predators who want a late night snack.

With no problems other than the worry of wild animals, it's pretty quiet here without having to listen to party music all the time.

Quiet enough to think, mostly.

It's been six days in total since I was transported to this world, in a new body. On the first day I had the bad luck to stumble upon a village ruled by a pony with too much enthusiasm.

From what Turnet told me, Ponyville wasn't like this the day before I arrived. Someone or something made them become extremely happy ponies, but it didn't happen to all of them as you can see with Turner and Cranky who weren't affected. We couldn't check out all of Ponyville so I have no idea if there are any more who weren't affected, if there are any more, they didn't leave their houses or they were able to blend in with the other party-goers so they wouldn't end up like the three of us did and get waxed. Which is an option because we put on a show.

We have an idea of what caused it, though I'm not entirely sure, namely, we found a pink gem embedded in Pinkie's mane that seemed to be the source of the change. Turner's artifact showed us that it was the source of the most magical energy in the entire town, but just because it was the largest source of magic doesn't mean it's the culprit of the change they suffered. It could have been the gem, or it could have been someone else.

Speaking of the gem, it looked more like a shard because of the barely visible cracks you could see if you squinted. If it's a shard of something larger, this only gets more complicated. Are there more shards scattered around town? Or are they further away from the site? I can only hope I'm wrong and it's just one piece. Having to go after collectibles wasn't my preferred goal in video games.

It's a shame Pinkie snatched the shard from us after we snatched it from her. If I had it in my hands-hooves, I could have studied it or given it to that typical sage on top of a mountain. At least we know it was a source of Pinkie's power, though without its source, it was still powerful enough to break the laws of physics. And for some reason, the pink alicorn seemed pretty concerned about getting it back for what it's worth.

Another regret I have is that out of the unlikely group of a calm and logical inventor pony, a grumpy but realistic donkey, and me, only I was able to escape. After our escape attempt, I have no idea what Pinkie plans to do with those two, I guess keep them locked in the endless party cubic prison she forced us into before. I can only hope they're okay, I guess Turner will make sure Cranky doesn't go crazy.

Speaking of Turner, in our attempt to escape and before he was caught, he told me something that still resonates in my head. He asked me to go to Canterlot and find the princesses. Lacking a goal at the moment beyond surviving and finding a way to get home, I decided to do what he asked, although I have my doubts.

First: Ponyville was affected by this change so I don't know if other places are also a fun fair. At least I know that not everything is, being in the forest, it seems pretty normal or at least normal for this world. But something that worries me is that in the village there was something on the ground that was quite suspicious. Some pink stains that increased the closer you got to the center of the village. Is it some kind of infection? Will the laughing madness spread? Or will it stay in the village without expanding?

It seemed as if the event also affected the terrain of the world so if that is so, as long as I stay away from places with those stains, they should be normal places without worrying about finding something affected by this. Like the forest that seems to be normal and unchanged. I hope that this Canterlot guy was not affected.

Second: Where was Canterlot but that was solved recently, I was wandering for days to find it but without luck until I had to do favors for a rabbit that could talk and when she finished she showed me where Canterlot was. Which was somewhat embarrassing not to have found it by myself when I found out that it is in a fairly visible area in the mountain. It is better not to talk about it.

Third: Who are these princesses? Yes, Turner mentioned princesses and because of the rustic medieval style that Ponyville had. That makes me understand that in this world there is a society that is located in the Middle Ages and that they maintain a monarchy with princesses and all that.

But why did he ask me to look for the princesses? Why didn't he mention the king? It may be that it is common knowledge that the king is not so apt to solve conflicts of such a high level as these, making his daughters the ones in charge of managing the kingdom. A bit cliché in medieval dramas, but it's okay.

Something else I have to think about is the information about Pinkie's friends that Turner told me. She mentioned that they were some kind of superheroines that use the 'Elements of Harmony' that are able to bring, as the name implies, harmony to chaos. Something very convenient to solve this problem. But too bad nothing can be easy. While we were looking for the origin of the change in the town, we explored in search of her friends, but there was no trace of them, not even their houses seemed like someone lived there.

From what Turner told me, she also didn't find them jumping around Ponyville when we were trapped by the balloons that wouldn't let us out. So there's a chance that they're okay, but then why did their houses seem to be empty? Did the event erase any trace of them? If so, I'm in bigger trouble.

Without the Elements of Harmony, which seemed to be the simple solution that fixes everything in the stories, I'll have to bet everything on some princesses believing me in this whole problem if it was an isolated incident and not a worldwide one. Although I couldn't confirm the fact that, if they still exist, and I happen to meet them, they can do something. The inventor mentioned to me that Pinkie was also part of these elements. Can the others achieve something, even if they're missing a member?

There are quite a few things that I don't understand and they just make me wonder, but you know what, I don't care. For now I just have to focus on doing one thing first. It won't do much good to think about what I don't know instead of what I know.

What I do know is the following: I was transported to another world by chance on the same day where an event occurred that changed the town of Ponyville. I'm in the body of a pony. There is a gem or fragment that is important and lastly, I have to go to Canterlot and pass on the message and ask the 'princesses' for help.

Once that is settled, I shouldn't overthink what I can't control or find an answer to soon. I've already spent a few hours thinking about this and I have to rest to go to Canterlot first thing tomorrow morning, finally.

I guess that, through progress, everything will become clear and solved. It's just a matter of time. Just going with the flow, it's worked for me so far.

I just need a quick look at the night sky to clear my doubts.

What I manage to see is something... something, god I have no words for this. I'm so used to looking at the sky with only one star, but here, whether it's because I'm in the forest or in this world, whatever the reason. It's a wonderful landscape. A bright night sky, with hundreds or thousands of even brighter points. Thousands of stars lighting up the big sky.

In short, I'm in another world. I've never seen anything like it, but even if I had hypothetically made a trip to the forest before on earth to look at it, I highly doubt it could compare to the sight of this new world. What a wonderful night.

It's something I've always wanted to see in my life…

I fell asleep in just seconds.

Author's Note

A moment for Arthur to think about all the craziness he's been through since he woke up in this new world and a new body. And to reflect a bit.

Hi everyone! In the next arc, it will take place in Canterlot. But I'm going to change the amount of text in each chapter, instead of doing it in long parts of 6,000 words or more, I'm going to make it lighter each chapter.

By the way, I'd like to thank you all for reading my story, it's my first story and it may not be that good or have mistakes here or there, but I'm going to give it my all to do the best I can!

Thanks for reading.

Chapter 6: Welcome to Canterlot, refugees

I woke up to the gentle warmth of the morning sun streaming through the branches. I stretched out in the makeshift camp, letting out a long yawn as I rubbed my eyes. The forest around me seemed much more alive at that time of day. Birds were chirping, and a cool breeze rustled the leaves of the trees, giving the place a sort of almost magical calm. I felt refreshed, even though I knew I was in for a long walk.

I stood up, brushing off the leaves that had stuck to my body, and slung the guitar I found in the woods (probably brought by animals, but let’s say it was by pure magic) over my shoulder. It wasn’t time to philosophize about lost guitars, but to start walking. Canterlot wasn’t going to come closer on its own.

Not far away, I found a dirt road that crossed an open field. The sky was already clear, and in front of me, like a destiny impossible to ignore, stood Canterlot Castle. It was built into the side of a mountain, almost suspended in the air, and there was no mistaking that this was my goal. It looked imposing from a distance, its golden towers glistening in the sun.

I began to follow the path steadily, confident that I was heading to the right place. As I continued, the landscape changed from forests to plains, and the path meandered through gentle hills. I was not alone; other paths crossed mine, but I stayed on course, certain that all paths led to the same place.

To my surprise, I was not alone on this journey. As I got closer to Canterlot, I noticed that other ponies were also heading in the same direction. At first I thought they were just casual travelers, but their numbers grew, and I realized that they seemed to be just as determined as I was.

"Wow," I said to myself, watching the ponies walking beside me. "Are we all on our way to Canterlot?"

I walked alongside the other ponies down the path, my hooves hitting the ground in that steady, gentle rhythm. It was curious, in a way. Here I was, a human turned pony, walking as if this was all the most natural thing in the world. Nothing was out of place for the others, but for me… it was almost absurd. A part of me couldn’t help but find it amusing. I mean, how many humans could say they’d spent a morning walking alongside magically colored ponies? I felt like an imposter, someone who was pretending to be something I wasn’t.

It was like I was in the middle of someone else’s story, blending seamlessly into this fantasy world. There I was, with my hooves, my mane, and the guitar slung over my shoulder, walking seamlessly alongside them. Somehow, it felt… normal? Like I was part of this world, even though I knew I didn’t belong here.

But then I started paying more attention to the ponies around me. At first I thought they were just not paying attention to me because, well, I was just another pony among many. But as I looked closer, I realized it wasn't just that. They looked tired, discouraged... exhausted. Their steps were heavy, and many of them walked with their heads down, as if they were carrying an invisible burden.

I frowned and focused my gaze on three ponies walking a few meters ahead of me. They were earth ponies, and the truth is that they seemed to be on the verge of collapse. They were sweaty, their manes messy, and their movements were slow, as if each step were a monumental effort. I wondered what had happened to them. Had they perhaps experienced something similar to what I had gone through when I arrived here? Or perhaps something worse. It was as if life had beaten them, and now they found themselves on some kind of forced path to Canterlot, with no other option.

Then I looked behind me and saw two mares walking a short distance away. One was a unicorn, and the other a pegasus, but both seemed to have small branches and leaves tangled in their manes and tails, as if they had passed through a bush or something worse. For a second, I let out a silent laugh. At least I wasn’t the only fool to get lost in a forest. A small relief, I suppose.

But still, it was unsettling. It wasn’t just me who was out of place here. It seemed like all of these ponies had been through some sort of ordeal, too, and now we were sharing this strange path to Canterlot. What had happened to them? Was it something related to the event that had fragmented Equestria?

The air between us was thick with weariness, with uncertainty, and even though we were walking in the same direction, there was a sense that we were all, in some way, lost.

The road to Canterlot grew longer as I went along. It seemed like the closer I got, the more ponies appeared on the path, all heading to the same place. It was strange to see the group grow and grow, as if we all shared a common destination, even if none of us knew exactly what it was.

It wasn't far now. The castle, imposing and majestic, stood on the side of the mountain, so close that I could almost feel it. But getting to the gates wouldn't be so easy. The last part of the journey consisted of a gentle, but steady slope that grew steeper with each step. What had been a simple walk at first had now become a physical challenge. My legs were starting to ache, and I could tell I wasn't the only one. Everyone around me was showing signs of fatigue, heavy breathing, tired eyes. We had been walking for hours, and the last stretch seemed to have no end.

Finally, when I reached the entrance gates, I came across something I hadn't expected: a crowd. Ponies of all kinds were crowded in front of the gates, forming a mass so dense that it was barely possible to move forward. At first I didn't understand what was going on, but I soon realized that no one was entering. They were stopping us before we could get through.

I positioned myself at the back of the crowd, where at least there was less noise, and I could hear the murmurs of the others. Everyone seemed to be as confused as I was. "What's going on?" some wondered. The atmosphere was tense. We were all tired, sweaty, and exhausted. There was no room for patience.

I decided to try to make my way through the crowd, gently pushing the ponies around me as I approached the front. After a while, I got close enough to see what was happening. One of the guards, a white unicorn in golden armor that reminded me of something out of a Roman movie, stood on a box to make himself noticed. His armor gleamed in the sun, but his expression was neither authoritative nor proud; It was that of someone on the verge of collapse, just like us.

The guard raised a hoof to call for silence, though no one really spoke at that point, and said,

“Attention, please!” His voice had a tired, almost desperate tone. “We know that you have all gone through a lot of hardship to get here, but we ask that you remain orderly and calm. We are going to proceed with a list. We need you to form an orderly line to register. Only then can we ensure that everyone is treated fairly.”

The murmurs continued, but no one seemed willing or able to cause a fuss. The guard continued, a clear warning in his tone.

“Those who cause trouble or disorder will be sent to the back of the line,” he added sternly, though his fatigue was evident. “Please cooperate. We don’t want any complications.”

There was no energy to fight. No one wanted to argue. We were too exhausted to object, so, almost out of inertia, we all started to form a line. It was a strange scene. A bunch of ponies, tired and disoriented, doing their best to follow instructions without complaint. I wondered what the hell was really going on, and why everyone was in this situation. But one thing was for sure: the chaos I felt inside didn't seem all that different from the one around me.

Waiting in line, I couldn't help but let my mind start to wander. I peeked my head around the side, looking at the ponies around me. It was at that moment that I allowed myself to notice something I had missed in all the chaos: all of them had some sort of tattoo or mark on their rear. Or rather, on their flank. It was strange that I hadn't noticed it before, but well, I'd been dealing with quite a bit since I came to this place, so I didn't take it too hard.

At first I thought it might be some kind of cultural custom or ritual of ponies. You know, something they do to mark maturity or maybe a status symbol. However, curiosity got the better of me, and I turned to look at my own flank, half uncomfortable, half intrigued.

Nothing. No marks. All clean.

I tried not to think about it too much, but I couldn't help but let my mind start analyzing the marks of the ponies around me, with an intensity that now seemed unnecessary. I focused on the tattoo—or whatever it was—on the yellow pegasus right in front of me. It had a teddy bear next to some wings. I stared at it, trying to figure out what it meant, when I suddenly realized that the mare had noticed my gaze. She immediately turned forward, clearly uncomfortable.

Great. Now I looked like the weird guy who stares at other people's butts. Or, rather, their flanks.

I quickly turned around too, looking away, wishing the ground would swallow me up. It hadn't been my best idea, analyzing in such detail the mark on someone else's rear—flank, flank—. Definitely a bad move on my part.

Still, my curiosity didn't disappear completely. I looked around again, more discreetly this time. I noticed that a few foals had broken out of the line and were wandering around. It was then that I saw that they didn't have any marks on their flanks. Hmm, interesting. Maybe this was something ponies got when they became older. Like a "welcome to adulthood" tattoo of sorts.

I thought for a moment about how problematic it might be for me not to have a mark like them. If someone looked too closely, maybe they might start to see me as something weird. But then I smiled to myself. If they started to look at me strange, I could always put a bunch of mud and paint on my flank. There, problem solved.

After waiting for what seemed like hours (though it was probably just a few minutes, but I'm not a fan of waiting), I finally made it to the front of the line. There it was: the imposing gates of Canterlot, guardians of the majestic hanging city. The only thing stopping me from getting to the other side were two nearly identical guards, one on either side of the entrance, and the same guard from before, now sitting behind a table with a stack of papers and a pen that he looked like he hated as much as I hated being here.

"Name, age, tribe, where you're from, and cutie mark, please," the guard said in a monotone voice, not even looking up.

"Oh, sure, easy," I thought. Name and age are kind of kindergarten questions, but... tribe? Do ponies form herds here? I mean, it would make sense in my world, but how am I supposed to answer that? And the cutie mark thing... it sounds more like a cooking contest than anything serious.

"Arthur Green, twenty-two years old and… um… tribe…" I dramatize a little, puffing out my chest, and gently tap my hoof against my chest to add some epicness. "I'm a lone wolf, dude! No one chains this pony up!"

The guard finally looked up, arching an eyebrow with the same excitement a rock would have watching moss grow around it. He let out a long sigh, as if it was the umpteenth time he'd heard something so stupid that day, and with a grimace he turned back to the paper in front of him.

"A prankster… Earth pony. Place of origin and cutie mark," he said with that same overwhelming apathy.

Ah, so tribe means the subspecies of pony. Ok, mental note taken.

"I come from Ponyville," I replied, with a casualness worthy of someone who just didn't survive a tyranny of endless parties.

The guard looked up again, this time with surprise mixed with something that could be described as pity, as if he saw me as someone who had just won a reality show after spending months eating tree bark and worms. Great, just the image I was going for.

“And… about the cutie mark,” I said, nervously scratching the back of my neck, “I have a… little problem there. Could you enlighten me on what exactly that is? Just out of curiosity, of course.”

The guard stood still for a moment, clearly confused, until his eyes lowered to my flank. Seeing that I had no mark there, his face instantly changed expression. Suddenly, he looked as if he had seen someone trip over a box of orphaned puppies. His voice lowered in tone, filled with unexpected empathy.

"Wow... I'm sorry, buddy. I didn't know you... hadn't gotten your cutie mark yet. It must be... hard. But, hey, don't worry, everypony has their time. Maybe one day you'll find it."

Then the thing on my butt is called a cutie mark, what a curious little name. But the most important thing is that he just saw my butt? Well, my flank. But the most curious thing was his expression, looking at me with pity just because I don't have anything back there.

"Uh... yeah, I guess." What am I supposed to say? Thanks for the condolences? Although, if I'm being honest, not having a little drawing on my butt wasn't exactly the most worrying thing in my life at that moment, I thought, "I guess not all of us can be lucky enough to have a decorative butt."

The guard nodded solemnly, as if he had just given me some great life advice.
"Well, you can come in. Good luck... with everything."

"Thanks, I appreciate it... I guess." Trying not to laugh at the absurdity of it all, I quickly slipped through the doors as the guard looked at me with a mix of understanding and pity. I definitely needed to find out more about this world. Or at least find someone who didn't think my lack of back tattoos was some epic tragedy.

Author's Note

Arthur arrives at the gates of Canterlot.

He discovers that there are apparently more ponies in a similar situation.

After some revealing questions for Arthur, he manages to enter the iconic Canterlot. What awaits him there?

Thanks for reading.

Chapter 7: Get involved or walk away

When I finally made it through the gates and into the big city, I was struck by the absurdity of the day. Not only had I survived the craziness of Ponyville, but now I was stuck on a quest for Turner, with half the information, no map, and... apparently, no butt mark, which is apparently a big deal here. But that's not the worst of it.

Once inside, the chaos and chaos that was generated behind the gate was not exclusive to that part. In front of me was an absurd crowd of ponies. As seen from the outside, the city has a majestic style with white colors and gold and purple edges. Large buildings with fantasy castle styles and elegance rose above me. A floor made of stones instead of the dirt in Ponyville.

But what surprised me was that there were several camping tents on the streets everywhere, with several ponies going from one side to the other with an expression of defeat and discouragement. Several metal barrels that were set on fire next to some branches with vegetables embedded in the edge to cook.

It was there that I realized a revelation that I should have realized before. Most of the ponies are refugees like me. It would make sense why they wanted a greater order to enter.

Then the event that altered Ponyville took place in other places. This is bad, I had planned to wait in a nice place until they solved the problem of the crazy kingdom while they looked for how to return me to my home. But now, I am just another refugee in search of a place to rest like the others.

Now I will have to fight against others to get food and a bed. Well I already survived Pinkie, so fighting for a loaf of bread will not be a problem. Prepare to fight ponies because I will give it my all without mercy-

Ho! There is a soup cart with a rather short line over there, now that I realize I have not had breakfast. So I went to line up.

As I sit at an available table, alone, I take the opportunity to observe the scene I am witnessing and eat soup that I could hardly pick up with my hooves and put it on the table without spilling.

It is curious to see the ponies, all brightly colored with few exceptions. Even though they have fled from the crazy party, they do not seem to have had the same experience, I mean, I would expect to see some of them with glitter or confetti still in their mane or tail like I did for a few days after escaping.

Is it possible that they have not gone through the same thing as me?

They seem different from my situation. There are some that seem more tired than possible, as if they do not know the word rest with huge black bags under their eyes.

There are other ponies that look like they got lost in a jungle and fought with their local fauna. They are full of roots, leaves and flowers and are also bandaged and with scratches everywhere.

Another group of ponies are all beaten up and slightly burned, and they can barely stand before they fall to the ground.

And the last group, they seem normal. Except that they are glowing a little, not like party glitter, but literally glowing.

After finishing my soup, I get up from the table and decide to take a walk.

I take a loaf of bread that was being given to the refugees, from a table with a gray pony wearing a chef's hat. While taking small bites, I continue my way to what seems to be the main castle of the place next to some huge doors with several steps and in front of the castle there is quite a space in front where I see a crowd of confused ponies beginning to accumulate.

I pushed my way through the crowd, which was growing in confusion and tension, until I managed to get closer to the front. Nonchalantly nibbling on the bread (though it wasn't too bad for crisis supplies), I watched as the situation heated up. Ponies began to raise their voices, throwing out questions and complaints that blended into a cacophony that was hard to follow.

"We want answers!" one shouted.

"What's going on with Equestria?" another shrieked.

A guard, standing on a raised platform, raised his firm voice in an attempt to calm the mob:

"Calm down! As soon as the princess arrives, all your questions will be answered!"

Arthur:
"Princess, huh..." I thought. "Well, at least some good news."

The chaos increased when, finally, the huge doors of the castle began to open with an imposing creak. A mystical aura enveloped the doors as they slowly opened. It was an effect that seemed a bit excessive, if you ask me, but I guess being a princess has its advantages of gratuitous drama.

With the doors fully open, a figure stepped forward with determined steps. The princess, unmistakable for the air of authority she exuded, like Pinkie, she also has wings and a horn (are all alicorns important and powerful beings?) is purple with a mane with dark purple bangs with two stripes, one a brighter purple and the other pink, her flank or 'Cutie Mark' (what a name) was formed by a six-pointed star next to some smaller stars. She walked towards the wooden podium that was prepared for her. The purple cloth with her emblem was carefully placed on it, as if this whole show had been planned down to the last detail.

The princess, her voice clear and confident, began to speak, finally managing to silence the crowd:

"Canterlot ponies and refugees from all over Equestria, I greet you, I am the princess of friendship Twilight Sparkle" she said, with a serenity that seemed to calm even the most restless. "I know that many of you are scared and confused, and rightly so. This is an unprecedented time in the history of our land, but I am here to assure you that we will do everything in our power to protect each and every one of you."

"Wait, Twilight? She's not one of Pinkie's friends and an item, according to what Turner told me. Well, at least she's not a crazy party tyrant," I thought as I chewed another piece of bread. This already seemed like a nice change.

Twilight continued, her tone becoming more solemn. “As some of you may already know, Equestria has been fragmented into six parts. Five of those fragments have been transformed in ways we could never have anticipated. The terrain has changed, and many of the creatures and ponies that lived there have as well.”

The crowd murmured, whispering amongst themselves as they took in what they had just heard.

“The sixth part, the one we are in now, is still the same Equestria we remember. Canterlot is our refuge, and we have done our best to ensure that it is a safe place for all those who managed to escape the affected places.”

“Six parts, huh?” I thought, remembering the fragment we had encountered. “Great, because life wasn’t complicated enough already.”

The princess continued, her gaze sweeping over the ponies present. “We are working day and night to understand what has happened and how we can fix it. But we can’t do it alone. We need volunteers, ponies who have been at the center of these changes, who can give us information about what they saw and experienced. I know it’s not easy, I know you’ve been through a lot, but any information you can share will be vital.”

The crowd was silent now, some heads lowered, and it was clear that trauma weighed on them. Twilight continued in a compassionate tone. “I’m not asking you to relive your worst nightmares for no reason. I promise you that every word you give us will bring us one step closer to restoring peace to Equestria. Together, we can do it.”

The mob seemed appeased, though not entirely convinced. It was evident that most were still mired in their confusion and fear, but Twilight, with her firmness and leadership, had planted the seed of hope.

“Okay, then,” I mused, “A fragmented, chaotic, and divided world where we are outnumbered… I guess this is my cue to stay out of it.”

I finished my bread, brushing the crumbs from my snout as I watched Twilight retreat from the podium. The guard resumed his place, reminding everyone that registration would soon begin for those who wished to speak about the fragments. With the new information, I decided to keep a low profile. I had enough to do surviving Ponyville.

I decided to take a tent that seemed empty to rest. I don't really know if I have to register to have it or if I can just stand on it to claim it. If they say something to me, I'll just get out and do the proper process. Simple as that.

So I decide to take a short break while I rethink my ideas.

I've had only rough days since I arrived so I deserve at least a little break. Of all the worlds I could fall into, why did it have to be one that was beginning its apocalyptic event? I would have even settled for a halfway apocalyptic world, but not a complete one like this one.

They told me I had to talk to the princesses, but the incident apparently happened everywhere and they already know about it, I guess my presence here became useless. I just have to wait for another refugee from Ponyville to give the information and that's it, there are several ponies around here, there must be at least one that was able to escape besides me.

There must be someone else right? I better make sure.

Without moving from my position on the ground, I lift my head to look from side to side. I notice that one of the nearby ponies, a young-looking mare, collapsed on the ground, exhausted. Another pony helped her up, but the atmosphere of desolation became more and more evident. Canterlot, the city of princesses, seemed to be a refuge for those fleeing the unknown now.

I try to observe each pony to know where they came from. I see jungle ponies, shiny, burnt and others that are sweaty… but I can't see anyone with confetti.

I get up from the ground and manage to say a murmur “Don't tell me I'm the only one. Don't say it!”

There has to be at least one, right?
…
“Unless I'm that ‘at least one’, this can't be happening…” I manage to say after swallowing.

Damn, I didn't want to stand out too much in this whole situation, I've had enough already. Calm down Arthur, breathe. It's not that big of a deal, it's just giving information and that's it, if there's no one else, then just go and tell them. But how can I not worry about being interviewed? What if they find out I'm not from this world and they start to get suspicious and throw me in a dungeon and, and, and... wait, that was what I wanted, to tell them my situation so they send me home. I guess an interview is actually a good thing for me.

I think all this does affect me a little more than I imagined. Well, once the registrations are open I'll just sign up, tell them everything I know about Ponyville, about my personal situation and ask the princess to send me home. I don't have to get more involved in their problems than I should.

Or... is it a bad idea? That's how someone starts getting involved in problems. Also, there's the possibility that even if I say my world-traveling status, they'll think I'm going crazy with the current situation of THEIR world and send me to the psychiatrist thinking I have a trauma or something.

All of this just gives me a headache, thinking about every possibility that can happen with just a simple 'say or don't say' option so simple. It's better to think about what should be best for the moment before doing something stupid.

Well for the moment, I can use this time to wander around.

“Well, Canterlot, let's see what secrets you're hiding. With a little luck, maybe I'll get a princess willing to fix all this... or at least, someone who knows where the bathroom is.”

I wander around the streets of Canterlot aimlessly, on the streets I see more refugees, shops, supply stands and some trash. I'll worry about supplies later, it's still early with the sun not yet at its highest point to worry about it.

I look around at different buildings and stop at one that is huge, it has a Roman style, with marble columns and some ornate statues on the edges of the stairs, there is a sign with a picture of a book. The library.

“Well, whatever, I need answers, and this is the most logical place to start… although logical does not seem to be the norm in this world.”

I enter the library and I was right, a place with windows that have a slight ray of light coming through the curtains. Lots of neat shelves with books piled high. A red carpeted floor with gold edges. Several tables with cushions to sit on and lamps to read. A somewhat older receptionist with glasses behind her desk by the door.

I approach the receptionist and out of habit I give her everything I have, that is, the guitar that followed me on my back all the way to Canterlot. Without unnecessary words, we remain silent. I hand her the guitar and she hands me a card with a number on it and I hang it around my neck.

I nod to the receptionist and she nods back with a smile. I wander around, taking in the place.

The library was always a place I liked to go, other people preferred to go and play at recess, but I stayed here and read. My school library didn't have a big enough collection and it wasn't even arranged for anything and the books were mostly stories and cultural tales. When I got to college, I managed to work for a while in the library, it was a big change, more books, more shelves and everything arranged. But that doesn't compare to this place, it's much bigger and more fascinating.

It's not that I'm a nerd or a brainiac, I just like books, after all I like stories.

I keep walking through the aisles until a doubt hits me in the head, making me jump a little "Am I able to read his writing?" I think.

I go to any book that is within my reach and pick up one that was in front of me. With some effort to open it, I use both my hooves to do so, but fail miserably and it falls with a thud to the floor, kicking up dust with it.

Wincing in pain, I remain completely still, not hearing anything from the receptionist (Apparently the library is not very busy at a time of crisis and is almost empty), I approach it and squint to see the book. Luckily it opened in the middle, allowing me to see its contents.

I wipe the sweat from my forehead with my hoof and breathe a sigh of relief. It seems I won't have any problem reading.

After several minutes to be able to pick up the book and put it in its corresponding place, I reconsider having a moment to practice grabbing things with my hooves.

I return to my routine of wandering the halls like a ghost in search of some book that will help me.

I don't understand how this wonderful place, full of books, full of information and stories to tell, can be so empty.

I take several books that seem to be helpful and put them on a cart, taking them near a table. I got several topics that could be useful to me, Equestria History Books, one that talks about towns and cities. Several about magic (a fantasy world where magic exists! Of course I'm going to read about magic) and other books that talk about the elements of harmony, pony anatomy, bestiary and economy.

I pick up a book from the pile I took, the first book on Equestria's history and I put it in front of my face to pay as much attention as possible. A break in the adventure to get information, it's a classic that at some point I stop and investigate in a library. After all, there are several things I have doubts about and others that I have to reflect on.

Arthur sits at one of the library's large tables, surrounded by a mountain of books he's collected from different sections. The place is still silent, with the slight rustling of pages being the only thing that breaks the silence. He takes out the history of Equestria book, places it in front of him, and carefully opens it. What interests him most, at the moment, is understanding how this world worked before it was fragmented. As he reads, his mind begins to wander.

Arthur mutters to himself "How does a world come to break into six parts? It's like it's one of those fantasy stories where everything ends badly... but here it's real life."

Right at the next table, Twilight Sparkle, immersed in her own research on the fragmentation of Equestria, is focused on a book on advanced magic. Hearing Arthur's low voice, she can't help but answer without looking up from her own book.

"Sometimes, it's not so much how a world comes to fragment, but why no one saw it coming." Twilight said without taking her eyes off her book for a second.

Arthur pauses for a moment, not looking back to see who spoke, and lets out a light chuckle before saying, "That sounds like something someone who's always looking for the reason behind things would say. But what's the point of knowing if you can't fix it afterwards?"

Twilight, still not taking her eyes off her book, raises an eyebrow at the comment, "Knowing the why of things doesn't always fix what's broken, that's true. But if we don't understand the origin of the problem, how can we prevent it from happening again?"

Arthur nods, even though no one sees him. He takes a second to think before answering, "Hmm, interesting point. Although sometimes I wonder if what's broken is meant to stay broken... Or if it's just a matter of moving on and not complicating our lives trying to fix it."

Twilight closes her book for a moment, thoughtful, but doesn't turn her gaze to him. She is deep in thought, trying to reconcile the reality of what has happened to Equestria. “That sounds like the perspective of someone who would rather let chaos take its course than face it head on… But chaos, if left to its own devices, spreads. We can’t always just walk forward without looking back.”

Arthur smiles, finding in this stranger’s words something that resonates with his own life. “Maybe you’re right… Or maybe I’m just someone who doesn’t want to play the hero. In every story, it’s always the hero who cares about stopping the chaos and saving the day. And honestly, I never understood why they would do that, right? What do they care?”

Twilight purses her lips, feeling intrigued by the conversation. Though she doesn’t know who is speaking, the words provoke her somehow. “It’s not just about wanting to be the hero… It’s about responsibility. If you have the power to change something, don’t you think you should try?”

Arthur rests his head on one of his hooves, thoughtful, as he turns another page in his book. “Responsibility, power… Do you really think that defines everything? Sometimes, I feel like power just burdens you with more problems, doesn’t it? At the end of the day, everyone is looking to have less problems in their lives, not more.”

Twilight lets out a sigh, pondering his answer. She had never considered power that way, but there was something about what this other person was saying that had a point. “Maybe… But avoiding problems doesn’t always mean living better. Sometimes, facing the complicated is what makes the world go forward. Maybe it’s not about being the hero by choice, but by necessity.”

Arthur chuckles, amused by the idea. It sounds familiar, like it's part of the classic narrative of the movies and series she used to watch. "You're absolutely right. Although, to be honest... it sounds pretty exhausting. Like, no matter how much you want to just stay in peace, something always drags you into the middle of the chaos. And the worst thing is, if you don't do anything, you feel even worse, like you're letting everything fall apart."

They both remain silent for a moment, lost in their own thoughts, with the slight sound of pages being the only thing that fills the air between them. The conversation had led them to reflect on their own lives, although neither really knew who the other was.

"Maybe that's how it is... Sometimes we just get dragged into the situations we most want to avoid." Twilight murmured.

Arthur leans back in his chair, feeling the weight of the conversation. For the first time since he came to this strange world, he felt understood in some way. "Well, I guess you can always try to fix things, but I don't promise to be good at it either..."

Twilight smiles slightly, finding some comfort in the conversation, though still not knowing who her interlocutor was. "No one is born knowing how to save a world. Sometimes, it's just a matter of learning along the way..."

They both continue reading, in silence, not realizing that the person they just shared an existential conversation with was much more important than they thought.

After a while concentrating on the books I brought and an exchange of words with whoever it was, I decided to turn to the window. The sun was setting. I took all the messy books and put them in the cart I brought. With a quick wave goodbye without turning to the other pony in the room who made a soft noise in response, I headed to the receptionist.

I gave the card to the receptionist, she gave me back the guitar and I hurried out.

She directs me to where the princess gave the speech to calm the crowd looking to share information. I find a table with a sign on one side and a guard with papers and pen in place. Luckily there doesn't seem to be a line.

I slowly approach the booth.

“This is the best right?” I think “I mean, when I first came to a place, I accidentally got into a lot of trouble, having to face basically god and nothing went well. This won't be the same, right? It's just sharing information... I hope it's just that" I gulp as I look at the guard staring at me.

I stand right in front of the information sharing registration booth. On the table there are two papers with colored dividers, a paper placed in the center facing my direction, a pen next to it and an inkwell on the other side.

"Good afternoon. Just fill out this form with your information and the next day at nine in the morning, you will be allowed to enter the palace. Mentioning your name, you will be guided to a waiting room where you will have a private appointment with a person in charge to write down the information you wish to provide us" said the guard sitting behind the table. Why do all the guards look alike?

Unsure of which would be the best option, I stop, close my eyes and put a hoof on my chin, with a thoughtful face for several minutes.

...

I decide to take the pen on the second try and fill out the form. With a thank you from the guard, he takes the paper and puts it on top of the others.

I have doubts about whether it was the best decision, but I hope I made a good decision.

After a while of browsing the supply stalls, getting dinner and some blankets, I take over an empty tent (I asked and they said it was fine) and go to bed.

Since I came into this world it was problem after problem without stopping, I've been through so many things in such a short time. Despite all the odds against me, I've been able to keep up and somehow or another I've moved forward, whether by luck, chance or something else. I'm not quite sure what I'll face next, but one thing I do know is that I'm going to face it my way.

It doesn't matter if it's absurd, crazy, senseless, dangerous, sweet or a general nuisance. I'll be ten times crazier and more annoying to get over it.

I take a quick look at the starry sky that continues to light up the darkness and fall asleep.

Author's Note

Arthur finally arrived and entered Canterlot but it is not the wonderful place without worries as he could have imagined. Being full of refugees from all over Equestria.

We arrive at Twilight's presentation.

Doubts for Arthur about what he should do.

The first interaction of our protagonist with the brainiac.

Arthur decides to get a little involved in this whole problem of a divided Equestria with something simple. It is just to give a little information, it is clear that they will not provoke any chain of actions that end up involving him in any way.

Thanks for reading.

Chapter 8: Morning Perspectives

Arthur Green's morning.

The morning sun slowly streamed through the gaps in the tent, drawing soft shadows that danced on the blankets. Arthur stretched with a slight grunt and rubbed his eyes with his hooves, remembering the chaos of the past few days.

"At least I had a rather interesting conversation in the library last night... although I never found out who that pony was," he thought, as he recalled the philosophical exchange he had. His life had gone from one disaster to another since he came to this world, but for some reason, it gave him a strange sense of normality.

He slowly sat up, stretching his legs and feeling the creaking in his joints. "Nothing like a little pain to remind you that you're still alive," he muttered to himself, as he took a breath of fresh air.

He stepped out of the tent, watching the city of Canterlot wake up around him. The bustle of supply stalls and distant conversations were beginning to fill the air, giving the city a lively and, surprisingly, peaceful air for a place full of ponies concerned about the problems of the kingdom.

Arthur decided it was a good time for a morning walk and some food. With a sigh and a wry smile on his face, he headed towards the city market, looking for something to eat for breakfast other than vegetable soup or stale bread. As he walked, he recapitulated his previous day, the decisions he had made and, of course, the registration for the audience at the castle.

"The interview is until nine... I still have plenty of time," he thought, as he sniffed the air, trying to locate the nearest food stall. He walked down the cobblestone street, observing the ponies around him, the majesty of Canterlot's buildings and the towers that rose in the distance.

However, as he browsed the stalls, he noticed a small detail.

"Oh, great... I don't have any money."

With an expression of mild frustration and some resignation, Arthur searched his saddlebag (which he had borrowed), looking for some coins, but only found the guitar he had brought with him. "Well, at least I have this..."

It was then that a spark of inspiration lit up his mind.

"A guitar..."

A mischievous smile spread across his face as he looked at the guitar with new eyes. "I may not have bits, but I do have music," he thought, as he held it between his hooves. And although he was not exactly a virtuoso musician, the guitar was made by a talented inventor who modified it to play itself. He knew enough to strum some decent tunes so as not to raise suspicion, and more importantly: the trick was in the show.

Arthur found a small space in one of the busiest squares in Canterlot and, with his guitar in tow, he prepared for what would be his debut in this new world. The idea of being a street musician seemed strangely perfect for the situation he was in.

"I don't know if anyone will give me money for this, but at least I'll have fun," he thought as he placed the guitar in position and turned the instrument down. He began to strum the first few chords, hoping that some generous soul would drop a couple of coins on the ground in front of him.

As the first few minutes passed, some ponies began to approach, curious about the sound and, perhaps, the unusual presence of a strange pony playing in the square. Arthur, with a sarcastic smile, decided it was time to raise the level of the guitar and his voice.

"Maybe Canterlot isn't so bad after all..." he thought, as he played, feeling that, somehow, he had found a small way to deal with the chaos that surrounded him. And although he wasn't sure what would come next, he was willing to face it in his own way: a little crazy, a little disorganized, but completely himself.

Twilight Sparkle's Morning

Sunrise in Canterlot used to be a majestic event, a perfect dance between the sun, moon, and sky. However, as of late, that cycle that once brought peace and harmony to Equestria only brought a sense of emptiness to Twilight Sparkle.

Twilight watched from the window of her office in the highest tower of the castle. Though the sun was rising as usual, she knew things were far from normal. In the distance, the air of Canterlot seemed calm, but she could sense the latent unrest lurking beneath the surface. Her thoughts tangled, caught in a loop of guilt and responsibility.

"All of this…," she thought as she closed her eyes for a moment, "is partly my fault."

The event had changed everything, fragmenting not only the kingdom but the lives of her friends as well. Since that fateful day, she had no idea where her companions were. The bond that united them, once so strong, now seemed like a distant echo. She knew that each of them had been dragged into a separate realm, fragments of Equestria that now lived under the uncontrolled influence of the Elements of Harmony. And although she had worked tirelessly to try to fix what had happened, the burden of that guilt still weighed heavily on her shoulders.

“If only…”

Her thought was interrupted by a soft knock on the door.

“Come in,” Twilight said, turning her attention to the entrance.

The door opened, revealing Raven, her royal assistant, who entered with her usual precision and calm. The white-furred earth pony with a dark mane, always impeccably collected, approached with a folder of reports between her hooves.

“Princess, I have the updated report on those registered for today's interviews,” Raven announced, bluntly, always straight to the point. “The number of participants is low, as we expected. Only a few from each fragmented territory have decided to share their experiences.”

Twilight sighed as she nodded. It wasn't a surprise, but the low turnout only confirmed the atmosphere of fear and hopelessness that reigned in Equestria.

“And what about... Ponyville?” Twilight asked in an almost subdued voice, as if the mere name of the place made her uncomfortable. That place, among all the others where they had little information, the place where they were completely unaware, gave her a bittersweet feeling.

“Only one pony from Ponyville has managed to escape and decided to sign up for the hearing,” Raven replied, flipping through her papers. “We don't have any more details about him other than the peculiarity of not having a Cutie Mark despite being older, but he seems to be the only one who was able to get out of that territory.”

Twilight frowned. “Only one…” She pondered what that could mean. “Without a Cutie Mark... it's not someone I know,” she said with a downcast face. She hoped that one of her friends could have escaped.

Raven looked at her, waiting for instructions. However, Twilight changed the subject.

“I snuck out to the public library last night,” she said, changing her tone, though with a hint of melancholy. “I needed more information, something I didn’t find in the castle library. There… I had a conversation with someone. I never knew who it was.”

Raven raised an eyebrow, curious, but professional as always.

“Was the information you found useful to you?”

Twilight shook her head.

“I didn’t find what I was looking for. But the conversation was… unexpected, it made me reflect on some current issues. We talked about philosophy, politics, even our lives, but… I never saw his face.”

“Would you like me to look into who it was?” Raven asked.

Twilight looked at her, considering the offer, but after a moment shook her head.

“No. It might not be important right now.”

Raven nodded and changed the subject, something more urgent in her tone.

“About the ponies’ spirits, Princess. I’ve noticed they’re lower than usual. The few who have decided to speak today do so out of despair. “There’s barely any life left in the city.”

Twilight sighed deeply, walking over to the window to look out at the horizon. It was something she had noticed for a while now. Morale was dropping, and even though she was doing her best to stay calm, things felt more and more out of control.

“I can’t blame them, Raven. Equestria is broken, and my friends…” Twilight paused, sadness enveloping her words “I don’t know if we can ever get back what we had.”

Raven remained silent, knowing there were no words to comfort the Princess at that moment.

It was then that a peculiar sound interrupted the heavy silence between them. A distant, almost jovial noise that didn’t fit with the gloomy atmosphere of the morning.

Twilight frowned and peered out the window. In the distance, in one of Canterlot’s squares, a lone pony was playing a guitar, a lively tune that seemed to resonate with an energy that had been missing from the hearts of the inhabitants for a long time.

“What is he doing?” she wondered aloud.

Raven came over to look as well, and they both watched the strange pony play nonchalantly, as if the world wasn’t falling apart around them. Twilight couldn’t help but be drawn to the simplicity of the scene. It was so ordinary, yet at the same time, so unusual in these dark times.

“I don’t know, but it seems that, somehow, it has caught the attention of some,” Raven said, pointing to several ponies who had stopped to listen to the music.

Twilight smiled for the first time in what seemed like an eternity.

“Maybe that’s what we need now…” she whispered, more to herself than to her assistant.

Raven looked at her, not quite understanding, but accepting the change in the Princess's mood.

Twilight, for a moment, let go of the worries and guilt she carried, allowing herself to enjoy the strange little moment unfolding before her eyes.

Arthur was sitting on a bench in Canterlot Square, his automatic guitar resting on his lap. The sun was not quite up yet, and around him, ponies passed by, looking distracted and downcast, as if the weight of the world was on them. He could feel the gloomy atmosphere that reigned in the city.

"Well... if there's one thing I know how to do since I arrived, it's cause a little chaos," he thought with a half-smile.

His hooves lightly tapped the guitar's strings, which automatically responded with a cheerful melody, almost as if the guitar itself was eager to change the mood. Arthur glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, pretending to adjust the strings, even though he knew the guitar was doing all the work.

"Time to pretend I know what I'm doing," he thought with amusement as he began to hum a catchy tune.

Soon, the sound of the guitar echoed through the square, attracting a few curious glances. Some ponies stopped to watch from afar, though most continued on their way, too absorbed in their own problems.

Arthur smiled and began to sing, his voice blending with the lively rhythm of the guitar.

—Today is going to be a good day!, I can feel it! Put your hooves on the ground, feel the beat!
Let the music make you move, come on, there’s nothing to lose.
Jump, laugh, sing loud, the world won’t stop. Let’s dance, until dawn!

As he sang, Arthur slowly rose from the bench, marking the rhythm with one of his front hooves as it hit the ground. The movement was simple at first, just small steps in time to the music, but soon he began to move with more energy, letting the music guide him.

—Hey, hey, there’s no time to lose!
Shake your mane, feel the power!”
The world is crazy, and so are we, so let's have a good laugh.
Dance in circles, spin around, life is better if you don't look back.

Arthur was now jumping, spinning around with improvised grace. His right hoof still tapped the ground hard, echoing throughout the square. His voice was clear and carefree, and his carefree attitude was beginning to infect the ponies who stopped to watch.

Some ponies had already gathered together, forming a small, curious crowd. Arthur, pretending to play the guitar strings, walked towards them, a mischievous grin on his face. He moved back and forth, dancing with exaggerated movements, causing his spectators to let out shy laughs or smile unintentionally.

—Hey you, yes, you! Why so serious?
Come on and move those hooves, forget the mystery!
Jump high, do one more turn, the music doesn't stop, and neither will you ever.

Arthur got closer to the audience, with increasingly energetic movements, doing pirouettes and playing with his automatic guitar, as if he were really playing each note. The ponies watching him began to sway to the rhythm of the music, and some even began to hit the ground with their hooves in time with the song.

The atmosphere in the square had completely changed. What was once a tense and heavy atmosphere had now become a small improvised party, with ponies laughing, moving, and enjoying the show that Arthur was putting on.

—Raise your hooves, there is no end here!
The music continues, and there is nothing else!
Dance with me, don't look back, life is enjoyed if you don't stop.

Arthur took one last leap, stamping the ground with both front hooves, as the guitar finished the tune with a final vibrant note. The audience erupted in applause and cheers, many of them laughing and chatting amongst themselves, as if for a moment they had forgotten the sadness that had enveloped the city.

He took an exaggerated bow, leaning forward and raising the guitar above his head, pretending he had done all the work.

“Thank you, thank you, I’m a genius, I know that,” he said quietly, with a mischievous grin, looking out at the crowd. No one had any idea that the guitar played itself, but who needed to know that? As long as it worked, he would remain the star of the show.

Arthur allowed himself to enjoy the moment. For a brief instant, he forgot the chaos, confusion, and troubles that had brought him to this strange world. As he watched the ponies clapping and smiling, he couldn't help but think that maybe being a little annoying and chaotic was just what this world needed.

I never would have imagined playing in front of a whole crowd before I got here. I guess the fact that once I get home, it won’t matter what they think of me does wonders for my nerves in front of an audience. When there are no social consequences, this becomes a lot easier.

Plus, it’s fun. I’ve always wanted to do it at least once. Well, I did it before, but that was different… it was for survival. This is out of necessity.

Speaking of necessity… I said to myself, looking back at the saddlebag I left open in front of me. It had been strategically placed to catch the generous shower of bits from the audience, who were clearly enthralled by my talent, my energy, and—well, my automatic guitar.

“Let’s see how much loot I got for the show…” I muttered with a confident smile.

I walked over to the saddlebag and, with some anticipation, opened it wide to count the generous reward that—… What?

My eyes stared at the bleak contents: a few, very few bits. Barely a handful.

For a moment, I stood completely frozen, the smile erasing from my face, replaced by a grimace of disbelief. This was not a charity show – I need money to eat hot food!

In my mind, the voice transformed into a desperate cry, but my whole body reflected that despondency. I dropped to my knees, raising my hooves to the sky in a dramatic, exaggerated silent protest, as if some higher power could see me and take pity on my misery.

“Why?!” I blurted out, though of course, only in my head.

After a long sigh, I resigned myself. Well, at least I wasn’t completely broke. I gathered up what little I had managed to gather and, with a final sigh, I got up from the ground. With what I got, I couldn’t afford any luxuries, but something hot to eat was non-negotiable.

With a slow but determined pace, I made my way to one of the nearby stalls, the ones that didn’t look like they charged too much. I bought a notepad and a piece of charcoal to write on. I don’t know, maybe I’ll end up needing to jot down any ideas that come to mind, after all I’m on an adventure and keeping a journal is crucial.

Finally, with the last bits, I treated myself to a hot meal. Nothing fancy, of course, just a simple stew and some bread. But after the spectacle, the music, and the lack of any worthy loot, sitting down and eating something that wasn’t cold was reward enough.

“Take it easy, Arthur,” I thought as I savored what little I had. At least you survived another day…”

Chapter 9: The Interview

It was time for the interview. I was standing in front of the huge gates of Canterlot's main castle, with two serious-looking guards stationed on either side. Both of them looked at me with that professional blankness that seems to be part of their uniform, as if they had been carved from stone. I took a breath and approached.

“Name” one of them said without much preamble.

“Arthur” I answered bluntly.

The guard checked a list and, after a few seconds that seemed to last an eternity, he nodded slightly.

“Go ahead. Follow this main hallway, take the first right, then the second left. They will tell you where to sit,” he said without emotion, as if he had repeated those same words a hundred times a day.

I thanked him with a nod and walked through the huge doors. The air inside the castle was cooler, perhaps because of the stone walls, or perhaps simply because of the solemn atmosphere that permeated everything. The silence here was not the same as in the streets. It was deeper, more… calculated, as if the place was always waiting.

The main hallway I walked through was long, almost intimidating. Tall windows let in the light of the setting sun, casting long shadows on the floor. White marble columns flanked both sides of the hallway, and each step resonated with a soft echo. The decor was minimalist but imposing: dark-colored tapestries with symbols I didn’t understand, statues of heroic ponies, and here and there, paintings depicting important moments in Equestria’s history… moments I didn’t know about, obviously.

I turned right and then, following the guard’s instructions, took the second left. After walking a few more meters, I found myself in a narrower hallway. Along the wall were several wooden benches, and on them, a few ponies sat silently, waiting their turn. Their faces showed a mix of nervousness and tiredness. It seemed like the tension of the whole “event” had taken its toll on them.

Without saying a word, I walked over and sat down on one of the empty benches. The atmosphere here was different from the main hall. There were no large windows, just a few wall lamps that cast a dim, almost cozy light. A door at the end of the hall opened every few minutes, and a guard called out to the ponies one by one.

While I wait for my turn, I take out the pad I bought with the little money I got and start making notes. Ideas come quickly: details about my arrival in the kingdom of laughter, how Pinkie Pie and her “joyful citizens” wouldn’t stop celebrating, and, of course, some quick sketches. I’m not an artist, but I like to doodle what I see. Pinkie Pie with a giant cake on her head, that image won’t leave my mind.

Finally, it’s my turn.

“Arthur”

I get up from the bench and put the pad in my saddlebag. Gulping at the tension that was beginning to form in my chest, the door opened for me, and the guard motioned for me to enter. There was no turning back now.

The interior of the office was more sober than I had expected. There was a large dark wooden table in the center of the room, with stacks of papers organized along the sides. To one side, a bookcase filled with neatly lined tomes took up an entire wall. In front of the table, a single chair. The atmosphere smelled of old parchment and ink. Everything was extremely orderly, as if every detail was perfectly calculated to convey a sense of control.

Behind the table sat a white-furred earth pony, with a dark brown mane pulled back into a bun. Her eyes were piercing but kind, and everything about her conveyed professionalism. There was no mistaking that this was the assistant I had been told about.

“I’m Raven,” she said, bowing her head slightly in greeting. Her voice was calm and confident, as if there was nothing in the world that could disrupt her day. “You’re here for the interview, right? Arthur, as I see on the list.”

“That’s right,” I replied, trying to sound relaxed, even though inside I felt like a mouse in a maze.

She nodded again and looked through one of the papers on her desk.

“Okay, please take a seat. Let’s get started.”

I obeyed, sitting down in the only available chair in front of her desk. The seat was more comfortable than it looked. While she was preparing some paperwork, I took a moment to take a deep breath and calm myself down. This wasn’t one of those life-or-death situations I’d been in lately, but still, I felt a strange pressure.

“Sure, I’m ready.” I smiled, trying to appear confident.

“First of all,” she started with a piece of information that made me even more tense. “I have to mention that out of all the refugees, it seems you’re the only one who made it from Ponyville, so the information you’ll be giving will be very valuable to our investigation.”

So it’s true that I’m the only one who managed to get out? Normally it would be a bad thing, but I think that makes me look more like the tough guy of the show. And the information I’ll be giving will be crucial, ha! I won’t be so useless after all. I’m already getting excited about this interview.

The first few minutes were calm. Simple questions like my full name, my whereabouts before arriving in Ponyville, and what I was doing before the "event." I gave vague answers, leaving out the part about being a human trapped in a pony's body, because I wasn't sure how she would take it, best to leave it for last, after she gets used to the irrationality. Everything was going relatively normal... until we started talking about Pinkie Pie and her kingdom.

Raven's perspective:

Raven, the royal assistant. Loyal, extremely professional, and serious. She takes her job too seriously, even though her support is usually behind the scenes, that doesn't diminish her importance in what she does.

Being a pony with a professional personality, she doesn't beat around the bush, joke around, or generally isn't social at all. She doesn't have to be after all, she just has to do her job properly and that's it. This thought helped her climb her career path to become the princesses' assistant, but it didn't help much in her social relationships.

Even though Equestria shares the friendly idealism, for an assistant, that's not as important as doing the day's job properly, even if it means she doesn't have someone to chat with, this doesn't discourage her. A job well done is as important as having friends or even more important. However, that doesn't mean she doesn't want to have a casual chat from time to time, but when what you've done all your life is based on professional behavior, her communication skills weren't well developed.

Without the basic communication to keep an interesting conversation going, at some point she inevitably ends up with awkward moments of silence. Others tend to avoid her for this reason, in addition to having an intimidating aura that encourages others to only have professional dialogue and nothing more. This led Raven to be cautious and to stay away from others, not only because she has a hard time keeping a casual conversation, but also because she doesn't know how to deal with a dialogue with other ponies, so she can't stand jokes or in general any behavior encouraged by others.

Unfortunately, due to a lack of staff in the castle due to recent events, she was forced to attend and give interviews to the refugees who will share their experiences. She will have to deal with the emotions of others, something she is not used to and does not know how to deal with. At least she'll be able to maintain a calm conversation on her part, which in these circumstances would be adequate to handle the negative emotions of others. It was a sigh of relief for Raven, so she won't have a problem with how she should behave and could focus on giving the interviews. After all, she is a professional and she will do her job diligently, smoothly and calmly as always.

--------

"So, tell me Arthur, how would you describe your experience in Ponyvi-?"

"Kingdom of confetti or laughter if you want to be technical," Arthur interrupted, clearly determined to give a more epic air to his story.

I paused, adjusting my pen on the paper, trying not to lose my composure. "How would you describe your experience in the kingdom of laughter?" I rephrased the question, hoping he would calm down a bit.

Arthur took a deep breath, his eyes shining as if he was about to tell a great feat. I watched him intently, prepared for anything... or so I thought.

“Well, it all started with a party. Actually, with lots of parties, and of course, with Pinkie Pie as the host,” she began, blurting out those words as if they were the most natural thing in the world.

My eyes lifted from my notes, already intrigued. “Pinkie Pie?” I asked. “What do you mean? What did she look like?”

Arthur put a hoof to his chin, clearly enjoying the suspense before blurting out his answer. Then, suddenly, he jumped up in his chair. “A blessed Alicorn! With wings, a horn, super-powered, and an insatiable thirst for happiness and endless laughter.”

My nerves jumped for a moment, barely able to keep myself calm after that statement. An Alicorn? Pinkie Pie too…? The thought flashed through me, and I felt the tension in my mind.

Arthur waited, noticing my reaction, but I just nodded for him to continue, writing quickly. This is getting more serious than I expected...

"As soon as I arrived, I was greeted with fireworks, giant cakes, balloons, and a group of ponies who, according to them, had not stopped celebrating for... I don't know, years, I think. The music, the laughter, the confetti... it was impossible to escape. Literally," Arthur continued in a dramatic tone, as if he were a narrator of his own epic.

I frowned slightly. "Impossible to escape?"

“Yeah, I tried to leave, but every street, every corner of Ponyville was blocked off by some festive activity. It was like Pinkie Pie knew where I would be before I got there, and she always showed up with another cake or a new competition.”

Arthur paused and pulled out a notepad. He handed it to me, showing me a surprisingly detailed drawing of Pinkie Pie, with a cake on her head, surrounded by balloons and confetti.

“This is basically what every moment looked like,” he explained, his voice heavy with exaggeration, as if it were all part of some big absurd comedy. “Parties everywhere. I think I even won a dance competition at one point, though honestly, I don’t even know how anymore.”

I stared at the drawing for a few seconds. This can’t be real, I thought, though the seriousness on his face told me otherwise. “A dance competition?” I repeated slowly, my voice filled with disbelief.

“Yeah, a dance competition,” Arthur stated, as if it were the most logical thing in the world. But before I could even process that, he interrupted again, in the same exaggerated tone. “Oh wait, I got ahead of myself. You should have seen what happened earlier!”

I was having a hard time keeping my face professional. What is he talking about?

“Before the dance competition, I was intercepted by a bunch of ‘Pinki-fied’ ponies. They cornered me on top of a giant cake. Yes, a cake. I couldn’t believe it, but there I was, trapped. And just when I thought it couldn’t get any more ridiculous, some inventor showed up trying to escape, and I… well, I ended up dressed as a robot. Guest of honor, no less.”

“Robot?” I asked, raising my eyebrows. This has to be a joke.

“Exactly, robot.” He nodded, his tone absolutely serious, as if everything he said made complete sense. “And not just any robot costume. It was a costume made out of garbage… and it worked for a while! We managed to fool the ponies at the party. But of course, it didn’t last.” We ended up in a party prison, alongside a donkey who had been condemned for not being happy enough.”

I gulped, the quill slipping from my hooves. This is crazy. Still, I couldn’t help but feel like there was something behind all this delirium.

“After that, we were chained to a magic balloon,” Arthur continued, his voice animated, as if he were recounting an epic adventure. “A giant balloon that automatically returned us to the party every time we tried to run away. It was impossible to escape! We went through balloon-blowing contests, sack races, karaoke… all to entertain Pinkie and her eternally happy citizens.”

I looked at Arthur, trying to maintain my composure, but I was now completely immersed in his story, unable to determine if what he was saying was a delirium or an important revelation about the state of Ponyville.

I set the quill down, taking a deep breath. “So… it was all just a series of endless games and competitions to keep Pinkie Pie entertained?” I asked, trying to grasp at what little logic I could find in all of this.

Arthur looked at me, a crooked smile on his face. “Basically, yes. And let me tell you, Raven, thinking like her was the only way we managed to stay afloat in the midst of all that chaos.”

The weight of his statement rendered me silent. As ridiculous as it all sounded, the way he said it, with that mix of desperation and humor, made me believe there was something deeply real in what he was saying. Maybe, after all, Pinkie Pie has become something much more dangerous than anyone could imagine.

I picked up the pen again. This isn’t just a survival story. This is something more…

I looked at the guy sitting across from me, Arthur Green. I'd heard strange stories before, but this... this was another level. My pen, which had always been steady on my hoof, was shaking a little as I tried to keep a neutral expression. I decided to compose myself, taking a breath to calm myself. After all, it was my duty to document everything, no matter how absurd it seemed.

"So, after all that crazy stuff, what did we do?" Arthur paused dramatically, raising his hooves in overflowing excitement. "We put together a rock band!" His excited tone made me blink, trying to process what he had just said. "We put on a great show, we played like our lives depended on it."

A nervous laugh escaped me, though I quickly corrected myself, regaining my professional stance. I picked up my pen again, though my thoughts were reluctant to return to the usual order. I wrote down rock band... to escape endless parties. I struggled to make sense of this story. “I see… it sounds like you had a pretty… intense experience,” I said, choosing my words carefully. “And… you managed to get out of there thanks to the rock band?”

Arthur let out a laugh and leaned forward as if he was about to tell me an incredible secret. “Well, we actually had to run like crazy after planting life-sized cardboard boxes of ourselves as decoys.” He smiled triumphantly. “It didn’t work for long, obviously.”

“I see…” I muttered, my eyes focused on the paper, though what he was writing was starting to become meaningless. Arthur kept going, though, enjoying every second of his tale.

“And as I ran—obviously bravely, not like a scared little girl—I broke the fourth wall along with Pinkie Pie. Literally. We paused to talk about how this was all too weird. We even watched a movie while everything paused!”

I closed my eyes for a second. I was trying to keep up, but each sentence seemed like another blow to common sense. “So… you managed to escape by taking advantage of that… pause?”

“Exactly!” Arthur exclaimed, as if what he had just said was completely reasonable. “Although, if you think about it, it was more because of the power of rock, general confusion, and of course, a plot twist that no one saw coming.”

I didn’t know what to think anymore. “Sure, a plot twist,” I muttered, while rubbing my forehead with a hoof. This tale was challenging every logical fiber of my being.

Arthur didn’t seem to notice my confusion. On the contrary, he was more excited than ever. He stood up from his seat, raising his hooves dramatically. “But even after all that, Pinkie Pie caught us all, one by one! I was left alone!” His eyes sparkled, as if he were reliving a glorious battle. “And that’s when I understood something crucial.”

My interest was slightly renewed. Finally something sensible? I looked up from my notes. “What did you understand?”

Arthur grinned widely. “The key to beating a crazy, party-obsessed alicorn was… to be just as crazy, unhinged, and chaotic as she was!”

I gulped, feeling like my mind was about to collapse at the ridiculousness of it all. But before I could process his statement, he continued.

“I figured it out on the second day,” he added in a conspiratorial tone. “We tried it with the rock band and it worked! Even when Pinkie put us on hiatus, I used it against her. And in the end, in the final chase, I had to think like her! Jump instead of run, be unpredictable. It was the only way!”

I could feel a part of me, that ordered, logical part, crumbling. This whole tale seemed more like a crazy dream story than an actual experience. But Arthur was telling it with such conviction that I couldn't help but keep listening, even though my common sense was protesting in the back of my mind.

"And wait, wait," he continued, growing more excited. "The final confrontation was outside Ponyville! I thought I'd be safe, but no... I was face to face with Pinkie Overloaded Pie. The final obstacle. One on one."

My eyes went wide. "You went... face to face... with Pinkie Pie?" I could hardly believe what I was saying, but I'd already lost control of the conversation.

"Of course I went up against Pinkie Pie!" Arthur nearly jumped in excitement as he remembered the moment. "And after an epic exchange of words and some mind tricks, I distracted her long enough to escape." He finished his story with a triumphant smile, as if he had just recounted the greatest feat ever accomplished.

I, on the other hand, could only stand there, pen suspended in the air, not knowing what else to ask. I had heard all kinds of stories, but this... this was something else entirely.

"So..." I began, trying to compose myself. "Is that what allowed you to escape?"

Arthur nodded seriously. "Exactly. I did it thanks to madness, chaos, and a good dose of rock!"

I stared at him, mouth agape. Every word he said seemed to defy everything I thought I knew. How could an earth pony take on an alicorn with Pinkie Pie’s limitless power and live to tell the tale? But there he was, Arthur Green, sitting across from me, recounting his story as if it were a simple, everyday anecdote.

“You… managed to defeat Pinkie Pie?” My voice came out in disbelief, almost unable to believe what he was saying.

“Well, yes and no,” he answered, and I noticed how his tone of voice changed, lowering his gaze. He no longer seemed like the same confident Arthur who had been narrating his adventures with a spark of excitement. “Although I managed to escape, I also lost. I lost both of my companions in the process… they were captured. And worst of all, I also lost the fragment.”

I blinked several times, trying to comprehend what he had just said. Fragment? It took me a moment to process it before I asked, somewhat bewildered, “Fragment?”

She tapped her forehead with a hoof, as if she’d forgotten to mention something crucial. “Oh, right! I didn’t mention the shard to you. You see, along with Time Turner we found the source of all that chaos that had infected Ponyville. It seemed to be altering not only the terrain, but the inhabitants as well. It was all connected to a shard that Pinkie had… stuck in her mane.”

I frowned, feeling a mix of curiosity and bewilderment. “A shard?” I repeated, more interested this time.

“Yes,” she confirmed firmly. “It was a long, thin shard, transparent pink in color. It emitted an incredible amount of power and a sort of magical aura that affected the entire place. When we put on the rock show to distract Pinkie and her ‘citizens,’ we took advantage of the confusion to steal it from her.” She leaned forward, her serious expression contrasting with her previous words. “I’m telling you, it was incredibly difficult, but we did it. We managed to get it out of her mane.”

I was now fully focused, my notes filling up quickly. The seriousness of the situation was evident, and what Arthur had recounted went far beyond any account I had heard from other refugees. This was not just another survival story.

“And what happened to the shard?” I asked, trying to remain calm, although a slight urgency crept into my voice. This detail could be key.

Arthur sighed, his expression reflecting a mix of frustration and sadness. “After everything we went through, Pinkie got it back. It was right at the last moment, when we thought we had it made. A twist of fate, and… we lost it. Let me tell you, Pinkie was desperate to get it back. She just wanted the shard back.”

I stayed silent, allowing what I had just heard to settle in my mind. This was not something to be taken lightly. Arthur had revealed information that, if true, changed our entire understanding of what was happening in Ponyville. My emotions fluctuated between shock and growing concern.

“So… a shard… of some kind of powerful magic? And you saw it, had it even?” My voice shook slightly, trying to keep my composure, but aware of the magnitude of what Arthur had just revealed.

“Exactly. And I didn’t just see it, I stole it for a brief moment.” Arthur pulled out his notepad and showed me a drawing. “Here it is.” I looked at it closely. There was a detailed sketch of the shard, along with other images of Pinkie Pie, portrayed in all her overflowing chaos. “It’s this one, the one here in the middle. Though it’s hard to capture the glow it gave off, but I did my best.”

My eyes widened more than I thought possible as I studied the drawing. I could feel the weight of truth in his words. This was something much bigger than any of the other refugees had mentioned. I looked up slowly, trying to hide my shock, though it was nearly impossible.

“This… is incredible. None of the other refugees mentioned anything about a shard.” My mind was still racing, trying to process all this new information. "And you... you faced Pinkie Pie, an alicorn, and managed to come out alive after all this?"

Arthur smiled, but this time his pride was tinged with a sort of resignation. “Well, it wasn’t easy, but yes. Like I said, it was all about thinking like her. Sometimes the only way to beat chaos is to fully embrace it. And it worked… at least for a while.”

I took a couple of deep breaths, trying not to lose my composure. “This is… something I need to report right away. Arthur, what you’ve told me could change a lot of things. Not just about Ponyville, but about Pinkie Pie herself and what’s going on. I must thank you for all this information.”

Arthur shrugged, clearly uncomfortable with the acknowledgement. “Eh, it was nothing. Just another part of my day-to-day life in this crazy world.”

I couldn’t help but smile slightly, though I still felt the impact of everything I had just heard. “Arthur… you’ve been incredibly helpful. I’ll try to process all of this as objectively as possible, but I can’t deny that it’s quite difficult to take in.”

He nodded, seemingly satisfied that I had shared his experience. But as I watched him, I noticed he was frowning slightly, as if he had just remembered something.

“Did you forget to mention something?” I asked cautiously.

Arthur paused before answering. “I’m not sure, but… I have that feeling. Like there’s something important that I missed. But well, I’ll remember it sooner or later.”

I thanked him again, suggested that he could come back again for any further information he might have, and we parted with a quick nod.

I need to talk to the princesses about all the new information as quickly as I can. It might be what we were looking for.

I let out a breath I didn’t know I held, relieved to be done with the worst and by far, overly lively refugee interview for me.

Author's Note

Arthur has his interview where he recounts the events in the confetti kingdom, unfortunately for Raven, she will have to listen to him.

Thanks for reading.

Chapter 10: Just a normal pony

Well, I think the interview went pretty well. I didn't stand out so I wouldn't get into more trouble. I told everything that happened to me. And everything went well… No, I forgot to mention my personal situation!

I have to find Raven to tell her that I'm not from this world and to send me home! She took the whole confetti kingdom thing pretty well, I wanted to tell her about my situation at the end when she was more acclimated to the madness but I completely forgot about it in my epic tale!

I turn around to where the interview hallway was and knock on the door quickly. After a minute of not answering I realized she was already gone.

I rush down the hallway to find her, but when I turn around, I'm faced with an empty hallway. “Arthur don't panic, you just missed what may be the only chance for someone to send you back home, it's not that big of a deal…” I try to tell myself to calm down, which fails “Of course it's important!”

I pick the first address that comes to mind in hopes of finding her.

I basically run aimlessly through the castle, my hooves clicking on the marble floor. How could I have forgotten? That's the first thing I should have mentioned! “Hey Raven, by the way, I'm not from this world, help me get home!” It was so simple… so obvious. But no. I had to get lost in the stories of rock and mayhem, forgetting the essential.

“Raven!” I shouted, even though I realized she probably wouldn't hear me. The place was pretty quiet, and the worst thing is that I didn't even know where to go.

I just have to find her and she can pass the message on to one of the princesses. According to what I read in the library, there are five princesses, but there are two in Canterlot. However, yesterday I managed to see one of them who was here, Princess Twilight, I'm not sure at this moment if she was one of the two who were here or not. Anyway, each alicorn according to what I researched, are quite powerful and also based on my experience when facing Pinkie Pie, I don't doubt it. However, Twilight was also an element of harmony so she could solve my problem doubly.

As I turned a corner, I almost crashed into a figure that was walking calmly. I stopped suddenly, sliding a little on the flagstones of the floor. Looking up, I saw a mare, slightly taller than me, with impeccable white fur and a pastel pink mane, which fell straight to one side of her face.

"Excuse me," I said quickly. "Have you seen a pony named Raven? Dark hair, with a face that's always two seconds away from losing her temper..."

The mare looked at me with a calm expression, and at that moment, something in her gaze made me stop. There was a serenity... as if the chaos around me didn't affect her in the slightest.

"Raven, you say?" she asked in a soft, but firm voice. "I'm afraid I haven't seen her recently."

I let out a sigh, frustrated. "Well, that complicates things, although it seems to be the norm."

"You seem to be in quite a hurry. Are you looking for something important?" The mare looked at me with that calm, as if nothing worried her. If only she knew the chaos I carry within me...

I scratched my head with a hoof, searching for an answer that wouldn't give everything away at once. "Well, yeah, sort of. Let's just say I have a... problem, but it's not something that can be solved by just anyone. Maybe it would be best to find one of the princesses, you know? I've heard that they're the ones who might have the power to help me."

The mare looked at me with interest, but not surprise. "The princesses? Why them, in particular?"

I let out a small, nervous laugh, not realizing that I was about to blurt out more than I wanted to. "Well, you see, my situation is... complicated. I'm not exactly... from here." I paused, watching her gaze, trying to read if she was taking me seriously or if she thought I was just another crazy person. "I'm not just talking about this castle. I mean, I'm not from this world at all."

She blinked, but didn't say anything, which was even more unsettling. I crossed my arms... or well, as close as a pony can get to crossing their arms. "The thing is, I have a big secret, one that only someone really important could understand. Someone with influence, power... maybe a princess." Seeing that she remained calm, I let out a sigh. "Look, this sounds ridiculous, but I'm not from this pony world. I'm from another one, and... well, you see the mess I'm in. So I need help, but not from just anyone."

As I spoke, I saw something in her gaze change, as if she was more interested than I expected. But before I could react, she looked back quickly, as if she had seen something.

"What's behind you?" she said, her tone serious.

I turned around instinctively, my heart pounding. "Where? What?" I looked back and saw nothing. I turned around again, somewhat embarrassed. "Uh... there was nothing."

The mare smiled with an eerie calmness. "Oops, I was wrong, there was nothing at all."

I shook my head, trying to get the conversation going again. "Well, like I was saying, it's an important secret. And if you know any princesses or see Raven, maybe they could help me. But if not..." I shrugged. "I guess I'll have to keep looking."

"What if I told you I could help you?" she replied with complete calm.

I looked at her a little skeptically. "You?" I looked her up and down again, as if trying to find something I hadn't noticed before, by the looks of it, she's just a unicorn. "Well, no offense, but you don't exactly look like an alicorn or anything like that... you know, from what I've seen, princesses tend to be quite... alicorn-like."

She smiled again, keeping that serene state that, frankly, was making me a little nervous. “Oh, sure, I’m not an alicorn. But I can offer my help, if you trust me.”

Something in her tone gave me a chill. I didn’t know if I should trust this strange pony, but I couldn’t deny that there was something about her that intrigued me. Finally, I sighed. “Well, since I’m here… I guess I can’t lose anything by trying.”

She extended a hoof, as if she were formalizing some kind of deal. “My name is Celestia.”

I looked at her, processing the name. “Celestia?” I repeated it, a little bell ringing in my head, but I still didn’t connect the dots. “Nice to meet you. I’m Arthur… Arthur Green.”

We shook hands, though the feeling that I was missing something important still lingered in my head.

As we walked through the castle, still with that uneasy feeling in my head, I noticed that Celestia kept a relaxed pace, as if there was no real rush to find the princess we were looking for.

"So, Celestia, do you have any idea where we could start looking?" I asked, looking around. The walls were adorned with tapestries and portraits of important ponies, all in heroic or royal poses. But every time I tried to take a closer look at one, Celestia would gently get in my way, pushing me in another direction.

"Oh, don't worry, Arthur. I'm sure the princesses are busy with their royal business. In the meantime, why don't we take a little tour of the castle? You could get used to everything." Her voice was so soft and convincing that I couldn't help but nod.

"Yeah, sure, a tour... but wait, that doesn't sound like finding a princess." I tried to pull away to look at a huge portrait that, for some reason, seemed to have a sticker on it in the shape of a crown. But Celestia diverted my attention again.

“Oh, look! Here we have the stained glass room. Each stained glass window represents an important victory in Equestria’s history!” she said excitedly, pointing to one where, if I wasn’t mistaken, a pony was defeating a group of bug ponies?

“That’s cool and all, but I wonder if we could find—” I started to say, but before I could finish, Celestia gave me a gentle push towards another stained glass window. “This one shows the moment Twilight Sparkle became a princess. A monumental event.”

I looked at her suspiciously, but it was hard not to get lost in the details of the stained glass. “Yeah, okay, but—”

“Ah, look! An empty royal dining room, how about we take a little break here to plan our next move?” He said, leading me down another hallway before I could object. My stomach growled slightly, which seemed to give him the perfect excuse to continue.

As we walked through the castle, I kept trying to focus on my search for the princess, but Celestia, with her endless patience, always seemed to find a way to divert my efforts. Every time I headed toward a portrait, a tapestry, or a room that might give me some clue, she would point out something more interesting, something that captured my attention just long enough for me to forget what I was doing.

Eventually, I gave in to the strange dynamic. “Maybe the princess really isn’t here right now,” I thought, “so at least I’ll get to know a little more of the castle.” But I still had that uneasy feeling in my head, that nagging feeling that something didn’t quite add up.

Suddenly, as we walked through a hallway adorned with statues of ancient rulers, Celestia made a quick turn to the side and pushed me toward a small door I hadn’t noticed before.

At the sight of her face, she looked startled, as if she had dodged a bullet.

"Oh, well," she said quickly, looking around as if searching for a new distraction, "I needed to do some normal pony stuff, and since you're here, I thought you could join me."

"Normal pony stuff?" I repeated, incredulous.

"Yeah, simple stuff like... watering the plants in the royal garden!" Out of nowhere, two watering cans appeared in front of us. "Come, Arthur, let's go help the castle flowers stay fresh."

I stood with the watering can in my mouth, staring at her, not sure if she was being serious or if this was some kind of test. "Really? Plants?"

Celestia was already watering with a serene smile. "That's right. Don't you find it relaxing? Plus, we can search for the princess afterwards."

"I'm not sure if this is a quest or if you're making me do your work…" I muttered, but grabbed the watering can anyway. I watered a couple of plants, all while trying not to lose my patience.

After that, we went to... set the table in the royal dining room? "It's a very important tradition that the table is always set, just in case the princesses decide to make an appearance." Celestia handed me a stack of plates.

"This can't be happening," I said, as I placed the plates one by one, with Celestia adjusting them right after I set them down on the table.

Finally, after what seemed like hours of "normal pony stuff," I stopped, exasperated. "Hey, are we really looking for the princess, or are you just taking me on your to-do list?"

Celestia laughed softly, tilting her head. "Oh, Arthur, the princesses are really busy. But since we're here, why not relax a bit and enjoy the castle?"

I sighed, dropping the stack of plates. "Okay, but I feel like you're hiding something big from me."

She smiled mysteriously. "Me? Never."

But there was something about that smile that told me the joke was definitely on me.

After a while

As we wandered through the endless hallways of the castle, I found it increasingly difficult to remember why I was running around in the first place. At first, I kept reminding myself that I had a mission: to find the princess. But Celestia's company, her serenity and pleasant chatter, slowly made me let my guard down.

We found ourselves passing through a wing of the castle I hadn't seen before: an area dedicated to guards. Suits of armor gleamed in a row, perfectly aligned, as guards moved about their daily routine of patrols and breaks. Something about that scene caught my attention.

"Wait a minute," I said to Celestia, stopping in front of a royal guard's armor. "Can you imagine being one of them? Standing around all day, straight-faced, keeping watch… It must be exhausting."

"It's an important job," Celestia said with a small smile. "But it can also be… a bit monotonous, I suppose."

"Well, since we're here, I'm going to try something," I said, a spark of mischief in my eyes. Before Celestia could say anything, I put on one of the guards' helmets, somewhat too large for my head, and assumed an exaggeratedly rigid stance, staring blankly ahead.

After all, who hasn't wanted to dress like a knight at some point in their life? This is my chance to impersonate one. Medieval fantasy world, magic, castles, of course I'm going to do this.

"I'm guard Arthur," I said in a serious, formal tone, imitating the deep voice of one of the guards as best I could. "Nothing escapes my watch. No confetti cake enters my realm without my permission."

Celestia let out a soft laugh, something I hadn't expected. It was as if my little silliness had completely taken her out of her own bubble.

"Not bad," she commented, with an amused smile. "Although I would say that being a guard involves more than just confetti."

“What? Never! Confetti is the number one threat these days, you’d know that if you were in the business of surviving the confetti kingdom.” I turned to a passing royal guard and, without losing my pose, greeted him as if I were his superior. “Sergeant, everything is in order here. No confetti has crossed the border.”

The guard looked at me, perplexed, but said nothing. Celestia tried to hold back another laugh, but it was useless. She laughed softly, as if enjoying this small respite from her usual serious life.

As we continued our tour of the guard area, I slipped into other costumes and even improvised a little action scene. I pretended to draw an imaginary sword to face an invisible enemy. “To arms! The kingdom is in danger!” I shouted dramatically, thrusting into the air, then falling to the ground, exaggerating my fall with a clumsy twist.

Celestia watched me with a mix of surprise and amusement. Seeing a pony behave like that inside the castle probably wasn't something that happened often. "Are you always like this?" she asked with a gentle smile.

"So how?" I asked from the ground, where I had fallen dramatically after my "battle."

"So... full of life, even when things seem difficult."

I stood up, taking off my helmet. "I don't know. I guess it's my way of dealing with all this. When things get serious, I just try to... keep it light and take it like I don't care. You know, it's not like I want to be a hero or anything." I paused and looked at her, a little more serious now. "But sometimes, it's like I have no other choice."

Celestia nodded slowly, as if she understood more than she was saying. "It's a way of looking at life, Arthur. Facing difficult times with a smile. It may not be the solution to everything, but it helps keep hope."

We continued walking and somehow, our conversations became deeper. We talked about life, about what it means to be stuck somewhere you don't really belong. I told her a little about my life on Earth, how I felt like I was always waiting for something big that never came, how I escaped by stargazing. I was surprised at how easy she was to talk to, how understanding she was.

Celestia, for her part, spoke to me about the burden of ruling, which puzzled me a bit. "Sometimes, all I want is to have a normal day," she admitted, "A day where I can do everyday things, laugh, and not think about the responsibilities I have."

That left me a bit thoughtful. How could a normal pony, a servant perhaps, speak so familiarly about being royalty and ruling? I scratched my head, but before I could ask anything, she smiled and changed the subject, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

"Well, then today is your lucky day," I said with a smile, "because right now, we're just two ponies doing silly things in a castle. No royalty, no responsibilities."

She smiled back at me with palpable gratitude, and for a moment, something in her eyes made me see that maybe, just for that day, Celestia really did want to feel like just another pony, without titles or expectations. So I just went with the flow.

We were so immersed in our little ones that I somehow completely forgot what I was doing. I laughed at my own clumsiness as I improvised comedic scenes to make her laugh, Celestia, to my surprise, let out a genuine laugh, something I hadn't expected from someone who was supposedly just a normal pony.

As we continued walking, we stumbled upon a room adorned with old portraits. It was then that something started to click in my head. On the wall was a huge painting of a white alicorn, with a long horn and majestic wings. My eyes narrowed as I saw the name beneath the portrait: Princess Celestia.

I froze, my brain processing at full speed.
"You know," I said, as I looked at the portrait, "I read some of the history of Equestria before I came here. There was a princess named... Celestia."
Celestia, who was beside me, also looked at the portrait, completely calm. "Oh, yes," she said with a smile, "she is a princess. Although... we share the same name. Coincidence, I suppose."

I'm not familiar with this world so it could be true. Although I still have suspicions, there's something off about the image.

My gaze once again went to the large portrait of an alicorn with a flowing mane of blue, green, and pink hair that looked too much like... "Wait a second. That looks a bit like you..."

Celestia quickly interrupted. “Ah, but look closely! This alicorn has a magical mane and huge wings, while I, as you can see,” she waved a hoof at her back, “have no wings, no flowing magical mane. I’m just a humble unicorn pony who shares a name.”

I stared at her for a moment. Though in that instant, her normal pony appearance (well, a bit larger than the others) made her seem much more… earthly. No wings, no flowing magical mane. Just… a normal Celestia. It couldn’t be the same one, right?

“Coincidence?” I repeated, scratching my chin as I tried to process what I was hearing. “Well, I guess that makes sense. You don’t have wings, so you can’t be the princess. Plus, you’re… well, you’re too normal.”

Celestia let out a soft laugh, almost as if she was relieved. “Too normal, huh? I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Yeah, no offense, but… a little normal for an alicorn princess. Which is fine, huh? We don’t all have to be heroes or royalty.”

Celestia looked at me with a warmth that disarmed me. We continued walking, chatting, and the day became more relaxed. Slowly, I felt less anxious, more… present. We had spent the day doing simple tasks and enjoying deep conversations, as if time didn’t exist.

But then, like a bolt of lightning, something clicked in my mind. The princess! My mission!

I stopped dead in my tracks, staring at Celestia with wide eyes. “Wait a second! We’re supposed to be looking for the princess! How the hell did I let myself get so distracted?!”

Celestia looked at me, clearly enjoying the situation. “Sometimes, Arthur,” she said with an enigmatic smile, “important moments happen when you least expect them.”

“Yeah, right,” I replied, half sighing. "But I'm supposed to be... oh, I don't even know what I'm doing anymore." I put a hoof to my forehead, trying to compose myself. "How did you manage to distract me so much?"

She just looked at me with a calm look, as if she knew something I didn't.

After our talk, I was so bewildered that I began to stumble between my mission to find the princess and how much I had gotten carried away with the day. Something didn't add up, but at the same time, I had no idea what to do. It was in the midst of this whirlwind of thoughts that Celestia, who was clearly enjoying my confusion, made a suggestion.

"You know, Arthur," she said, in that soft, calm voice, "the princess might not be in the castle today. Why don't we take the opportunity to explore Canterlot a bit? You could relax, clear your head, and who knows... maybe you'll find something to help you with your search."

I raised an eyebrow, thinking it was an excuse to go on a meaningless walk, but, well... if the princess wasn't there, why not go out for some fresh air? I hadn't entirely given up hope of finding her, but a little rest couldn't hurt. Besides, I'd already spent much of the day distracting myself anyway.

“Going out to explore Canterlot, huh? Sounds… good. Maybe I can find something interesting,” I said, as if trying to convince myself more than her.

Celestia smiled at me in such a relaxed way that I almost envied her. Before I knew it, I was already walking next to her, through the massive castle doors.

“How did you manage to get us out so easily and without questions?” I asked, as we made our way out of the castle without the guards even blinking.

“Oh, I have my ways,” she said with a giggle. “Sometimes, you just need to know how to ask.”

I didn’t question it any further, because… well, I was already out, wasn’t I? Why complicate things?

The next thing I know, we were strolling through the streets of Canterlot. Between the majestic architecture and elegant shops, I found myself walking next to Celestia as if we were two lifelong friends. My quest to find the princess faded to the back of my mind with each new distraction that appeared.

First, we went to a famous bakery. Celestia insisted that I try some sweet buns that she claimed were “the best in all of Equestria.” I’ll admit they were pretty good, but what caught my attention the most was that the owner of the place, an older pony, greeted her with a slight bow. Nothing over the top, but… odd.

“Do they know you everywhere or something?” I asked, my mouth full of bun.

Celestia just smiled and shrugged. “Let’s just say I’m… a regular customer.”

Afterwards, we ended up in a huge park, where we sat by a marble fountain. We spent hours talking, about life, fate, and how sometimes one just needed a break from it all. Eventually, the conversation took a turn toward what it meant to be normal.

“Have you ever felt out of place?” I asked, stretching my legs. “Like you don’t fit in anywhere.”

Celestia looked at me with those deep eyes that seemed to see beyond words. “All the time,” she said softly. “And sometimes, that’s okay. Finding where you fit in isn’t always so simple.”

“I guess so…” I said, feeling unexpected relief at hearing that. Maybe I wasn’t the only one having an existential crisis in this pastel-colored world.

The day went by, and even though every time I looked at the sun going down over the mountains I felt a tug in my stomach—the feeling that I was wasting my time—for some reason, it didn’t bother me as much as it used to. Celestia and I had walked all over Canterlot, stopped at shops, talked to street vendors, and even ended up playing rock toss in a lake, seeing who could do the most jumps.

I realized I was laughing, really laughing, like I hadn’t in a long time.

As the sky began to darken, Celestia and I found ourselves back in front of the castle. Somehow, the day had passed in the blink of an eye.

"I guess it was a good day after all," I said, looking towards the castle gates.

"It was," Celestia replied, with a calm smile.

I scratched my head. "Although... I didn't find the princess. I think I'll try again tomorrow. Maybe she'll be here then."

Celestia nodded, almost as if she knew something I didn't. "Yeah, maybe you'll have better luck tomorrow."

I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. "Thank you for the day... even if you've completely distracted me from my mission."

"You're welcome, Arthur," she said, with a small laugh. "Sometimes, one needs a break from their mission in order to move forward."

"Yeah, I guess..." I muttered, somewhat confused, but too tired to think too much about it.

With a final smile, Celestia said goodbye to me as I headed off to the refugee tents for the night. As I walked, I couldn't help but wonder why, in some way, that day had been so special. But then, I remembered that I still had a mission to accomplish.

"Well, tomorrow is another day," I said quietly to myself as I entered the castle.

Once she had said her goodbyes and made sure her friend didn't see her, Celestia broke the illusion spell she had put on her wings. It worked better than she had expected, of course it didn't work to fool the castle staff and a few ponies in Canterlot but it worked great for one pony in particular.

Celestia walked through the halls to her room, reflecting on the day she had spent. Since the incident that had fragmented Equestria a week ago, her life had changed drastically. The event had weakened her powers, enough that, after performing her duties as a princess—raising and setting the sun—she had no energy left for anything else. On the advice of her butler and her faithful assistant, Raven, she had spent most of her time in bed, trying to recover. But the inactivity weighed on her more than she had expected.

It had been exhausting to simply rest all day, without being able to do anything useful. It was not to her liking. Today, however, had been different. Today, she had decided to stretch her legs and take a walk, albeit discreetly. She wanted to take a look at her kingdom, to observe her little ponies without them noticing her current state. What would they think if they saw their princess weakened at such a critical moment? She didn't want to worry them. Equestria was already fractured; the last thing they needed was a princess on the verge of exhaustion.

Celestia stopped in front of a window, looking out at the moonlit city of Canterlot. She knew that hiding behind the image of royalty was a way to protect her people, but deep down, she also felt a deep sadness. All she wanted sometimes was to be a normal pony. To be able to enjoy everyday life, without the responsibilities that came with being the ruler of an entire nation. She remembered bitterly the time she decided to eat as much cake as she wanted, only to be the gossip of the front pages for weeks. Sometimes, she wished people would see her as more than just a dignified, majestic being, who had the freedom to get into mischief without it making headlines.

Sometimes, she just wanted others to treat her like a normal pony instead of a powerful, elegant, serious being, someone who had to be careful with how she addressed her, her manners, and other etiquette.

Sometimes, she wanted to meet someone who just didn't know her. Unfortunately, being a princess who rules all of Equestria isn't something that's particularly discreet for someone in this world to not know her.

So when she met Arthur, everything changed. He wasn't a pony of this world (although she didn't know whether to believe it or not), she didn't know his title, and that was... refreshing. She remembered how they passed each other on one of their discreet walks through the castle. He didn't recognize her, which, for her, was a relief. It was the first time in a long time that someone didn't treat her like the princess of the sun, but like just another pony. And, strangely, that little interaction had filled her with joy. She could chat, laugh, and behave in a more natural way. Arthur, with his clumsiness and sarcasm, had made her feel alive in a way she hadn't experienced in years.

For a brief moment, she didn't care what others thought. She was able to have fun and despite her current appearance, she was encouraged to leave the castle and have a good time with another pony who treated her as an equal. Today had been a perfect day.

Celestia was about to enter her room and lie down on her bed, when she heard a soft knock on the door. It was Raven, her faithful assistant. “Princess Celestia, may I come in?” she asked in her usual professional tone.

“Come in, Raven,” Celestia said with a smile as she settled into her chair.

Raven entered, adjusting her glasses and checking a small scroll. “I’ve been looking for you for quite a while, your highness. No one knew where you were.”

Celestia let out a small playful laugh. “Oh, you know, I just took a walk with… a friend,” she said, not mentioning Arthur’s name. “Afterwards, I thought I’d explore outside the castle a bit, to stretch my legs. Don’t worry, I used an illusion spell.”

Raven raised an eyebrow, visibly surprised. “A walk? Well, fortunately she didn’t cause a fuss this time. But I must inform you that she has an important meeting.” There is something crucial that has come up."

Celestia stopped smiling and nodded. She knew duty called her again. "What is it?"

"Interviews with refugees from the affected territories have uncovered new information about the event that fragmented Equestria," Raven replied, her tone grave. "It might change our plan of action."

Celestia slowly stood up, her face serious. The day of fun was over. "Very well, Raven. Let's get to the meeting. Time to see what we've learned."

Author's Note

Arthur spends the day with a very normal pony named Celestia.

Thanks for reading.

Chapter 11: Time to set the record straight

A beautiful sunrise awaited me. Yesterday I had my interview at the castle, where I was able to tell everything that happened in Ponyville. However, I forgot one small, but crucial detail: I forgot to mention that I'm not from this planet and that I need to go back home. I cursed myself for my own absent-mindedness.

When I remembered this, I decided to turn around and look for Raven to tell her. But, after going through half the castle, I couldn't find her. Instead, I ran into a pony named Celestia, a rather kind pony who offered to help me. Although her behavior seemed a bit strange to me, I didn't give it too much thought. They are magical ponies, after all, so oddities come as standard... I guess.

The day passed without us managing to find anyone else, but I took advantage of it to hang out casually. I returned to my tent in the area designated for refugees, and she returned to the castle. We said goodbye with the promise to continue the search for the princesses the next day.

After spending the night camping, my day was normal, I woke up, went to a food stand for refugees since I had already run out of the money I had earned, went to the library to investigate a little more about the history of Equestria where I was able to learn more about the princesses of the sun and the moon.

Princess Celestia, who curiously had the same name as my friend, I suppose that, yes, it must be a popular name, after all the same thing happens in my world with famous people; is in charge of raising the sun every day. Normally I would say one of two, either the princess pretends that she does it to have a presence of an omnipotent god like 'You can't do anything against me, I move the same sun at my whim' or do all the ponies really believe that a powerful pony moves the sun like a fairy tale that they still believe. But since this world is a magical world, who knows, there is a possibility that she can move the sun. Magic is so convenient.

The other princess is Princess Luna, the younger sister. She is in charge of raising the moon, the night and something curious, also of dreams; I don't know how that would work. Does she go from house to house to calm someone if they have nightmares, touch them with her horn and that's it? Anyway, she is in charge of the night and brings the stars with her as an ornament that lights up all of Equestria. Or which one gives me more doubts, how does that of taking care of dreams work? If she is in charge of decorating the skies, then she should be much more powerful than Celestia, you know, billions of stars are more than just one.

I definitely have to talk to Princess Luna. I don't know her but if she brings the night and the stars, she instantly became my favorite.

After a while of reading about the story of the two sisters, where apparently the ponies did not appreciate the night that Luna brought, she made Luna become Nightmare Moon and she was trapped in the same moon for up to a thousand years. Until the elements of harmony redeemed her.

Reading this story I could only feel empathy for Luna. She tried hard every night to bring a show of hope, brightness and light in the darkness so that in the end everyone else wouldn't care. If I were in that moment, I would let Luna know how wonderful what she did was.

After finishing reading the story, I headed back to my tent. I would take my borrowed saddlebag and guitar to put on another show in the square in hopes of getting more money and then go with Celestia, the normal pony I met yesterday, not the princess (although they looked similar), to continue looking to talk to a princess, but when I passed the corner, I saw two ponies standing in front of my tent.

The guards came to get me for an audience I had with the princesses, they said it was of utmost importance. And of course, who else would have organized something like that? Celestia, of course. The thought made me smile all the way.

The guards escorted me through the long hallways of the castle until I reached an imposing door. I wasn't entirely sure what awaited me on the other side, but what I found was a large, dark room, barely lit by the dim light of a few candles. A long table dominated the center, projecting a more somber atmosphere than I would like.

As I waited, I began to wander around the room, inspecting everything thoroughly. The place had a heavy atmosphere, almost as if the same tension hung in the air. It wasn't long before a knock came from guards at the door. Several figures entered and positioned themselves around the table. Three of them I recognized instantly. One was Raven, my interviewer; the other, none other than Princess Twilight, who would no doubt have many questions for them. And, of course, there was Celestia, my "new friend." But the fourth figure was new to me: an imposing presence in a dark blue color, radiating elegance, respect, and a kind of coldness that made my hair stand on end. If I had an audience with the princesses and Twilight was here, then she must be Luna.

The atmosphere was tense, and my brain told me that it would be best to approach the only one I already knew, or at least the one who wasn't going to glare at me. Without a second thought, I walked straight up to Celestia, greeting her in the most casual way possible, as if we were old friends. I even gave her a nickname, as if that was the most natural thing in the world.

“Hey, Celes!” I said with a smile. “How’s it going?”

The reactions to my familiarity with Celestia were instantaneous. The confusion and surprise on the faces of the others was palpable. Apparently, my friendly approach to the princess was more impactful than I had anticipated.

Luna, radiating a mix of elegance and severity, was the first to speak. Her tone, like a cold wind, rang with clear indignation.

“Who do you think you are, addressing a princess so disrespectfully?” she asked, her narrowed eyes fixing on me with an intensity that almost made me recoil.

For a second, I stood there blankly, trying to process what she had said. Princess? What was she talking about? Twilight, for her part, looked at me in confusion, her tone less severe, but equally perplexed.

“Arthur... Do you have any idea who you are talking to?” Twilight asked, with a mix of curiosity and wonder.

That left me more confused than before. What the hell was going on? I decided it would be best to address Celestia, using a joking tone to lighten the tense atmosphere.

“What are you talking about, Celes?” I said with a lopsided smile, hoping she would clear the air for me. “Don’t tell me you’re part of some secret society or something?”

To my surprise, Celestia let out a small laugh, as if she was having fun with this whole misunderstanding. With a graceful flourish, she turned around and showed me her back, revealing a pair of massive wings that gracefully unfurled. I stared at her, mouth agape, as my brain tried to catch up with what I was seeing. Not only was she a kind pony, but she also… had wings. How had I not noticed that before?

“Arthur…” she said in a soft but clear voice. “I am Princess Celestia, one of the rulers of Equestria.”

Boom. My brain short-circuited.

“What…? You? Princess?” I stammered, still trying to put the pieces together. I leaned back slightly, staring at her with my mouth agape, but not losing my casual tone. “Well, that does explain why they let me run around doing silly things in the castle… Wow, Celes! You’ve been playing at being the normal pony, huh? Is that something you do often?”

Celestia simply smiled, enjoying my reaction without making a big deal out of it.

“I just wanted to make you comfortable and have a little time,” she replied with a spark of humor in her eyes. “Though I’m afraid the time for revelations isn’t over yet.”

Before I could make another witty comment, Luna, with clearly limited patience, interrupted my surprise.

“Enough of the nonsense,” she said, her tone stern, but not losing her composure. “We have important matters to discuss, and I’m sure you have questions, Arthur, about the reason for this meeting.”

Twilight nodded, speaking up immediately after.

“But before that, perhaps it would be best if we all introduced ourselves properly,” she suggested, her voice softer, seeking to ease the tension. She gestured towards Luna. “She is Princess Luna, co-ruler of Equestria and guardian of the night.”

Luna looked at me with her deep dark eyes, still serious, but less harsh than before.

“And I am Princess Twilight Sparkle, ruler of Canterlot,” Twilight continued. “You should have met me before when I reported the situation in the square, but never in a formal manner.”

Raven, who until then had remained silent, greeted me with a slight nod.

“And I am Raven Inkwell, court attendant. I make sure everything runs smoothly in the castle, including these meetings,” she said with a polite smile.

Finally, Celestia, who was standing next to me, bowed slightly.

“I am Princess Celestia, though you already know that,” she added with a slight smile, remembering our previous interaction.

I nodded, still a little overwhelmed by the sudden formality, but trying to keep up.

Twilight picked up the thread of the conversation, her tone becoming more serious as she focused her attention on the center of the room. My gaze followed hers until I noticed a large, detailed map of Equestria, spread out on a table. It wasn’t just any map; it was divided into six irregular regions, each highlighted with a bright color that was vaguely familiar to me. Something about the way each area stood out told me that this wasn’t just decoration.

“We know you must be confused by everything you’ve seen and what happened in Ponyville,” Twilight began. “But what you’re about to hear is essential to understanding what’s really going on.”

Luna stepped forward, pointing solemnly at the map. “This is the current state of Equestria,” she said, with a gravity that captured my attention completely. “Divided, fragmented into six regions, each altered by the influence of one of the Elements of Harmony. What was once a united kingdom is now… broken.” Each of these territories has been affected by the power of the element that rules them.”

The idea of a broken Equestria was not new to me. I had already seen firsthand how Ponyville had been transformed into a kind of perpetual party theme park, completely under the influence of Pinkie Pie and her laughter, but seeing it represented this way on the map gave a new dimension to the chaos I had witnessed.

Twilight continued, supporting Luna's words “Five parts of the total of six of all Equestria, were altered by the elements of harmony: Laughter, Honesty, Kindness, Loyalty and Generosity.”

Twillight continued speaking although her voice began to break for a second “The former bearers of the Elements, my friends, have been affected. They have become powerful alicorns, each ruling their own territory. But what is really at stake is not just the division of Equestria... Something deeper has changed in them. Their behavior has been... altered, and they act very differently now than they did before.”

I noticed that even though they knew something had gone wrong, they didn’t seem to have the whole picture. The interviews, the reports... They weren’t sure why they had turned into alicorns or why they were acting that way. And they didn’t even know about the memory loss. When Turner and I watched Cranky, facing Pinkie, for her there was always the realm of laughter and she was always an alicorn. Their expressions showed concern, but none of the princesses mentioned amnesia. They only talked about behavioral changes.

It was at that moment that Luna turned to me, her gaze piercing. “Arthur, you have been summoned because you were the only one who managed to escape Ponyville,” she said firmly. “You are the only one who, as far as we understand, has faced Pinkie Pie and left her territory. We want to know how you did it… and what else you discovered during your stay there. Especially regarding the fragment.”

My thoughts raced through my mind. They knew about my “escape,” but they clearly had no idea of the details. They didn’t even know that Pinkie Pie had forgotten who she was before her transformation.

“Well… About Pinkie,” I began, choosing my words carefully. “I wouldn’t say I “beat” her. More like it was a… stroke of luck. Her parties are exhausting, but in the end I managed to find a weak spot and escape. As for the fragment…” I paused, looking at the map and remembering again.

The princesses watched me silently, expectantly. I knew that the fragment was the key to everything that had gone wrong in Equestria.

I began to say it as clearly as possible “We used a radar to detect the source of the change, and everything pointed to that fragment. Pinkie Pie was obsessed with getting it back; there was something in her behavior that made her seem more... desperate than one would assume. And, although I was able to snatch it from her for a moment, she later got it back.” My voice became more serious as I watched the princesses exchange worried glances.

“I'm pretty sure of the fragment's existence and that it's the source” I stated, although with more doubt than I intended to show.

The princesses exchanged glances, clearly worried. Twilight leaned over the map, pointing out the other territories.

“If Pinkie has one of the shards, chances are the other kingdoms have theirs too.” Her tone was thoughtful, but there was no hesitation in her words.

“Shards in every kingdom?” I asked, unable to contain my curiosity.

Celestia nodded solemnly. “It’s a possibility. If those shards are what’s keeping Equestria divided, then uniting them could be the key to restoring balance.”

The room fell into a tense silence. She felt the weight of the atmosphere.

Luna was the first to break the silence.

“Arthur,” she said, her tone more serious than it had been before. “We need you to escort Twilight back to Ponyville. We must retrieve that shard. We know it’s no easy task, but you’re the only one who’s managed to escape Pinkie Pie before. You… know her territory better than anyone.”

My heart skipped a beat. Going back to Ponyville, to Pinkie's kingdom, where I had barely escaped with my life the last time... The thought filled me with panic. But the princesses were looking at me, waiting for an answer, and I was left silent, thinking.

“I'm sorry, princesses, but...” I began, breaking the awkward silence. “I don't understand. Why me?”

Twilight was the first to respond.

“Because, in addition to what we already mentioned, you managed to face an alicorn without possessing magic or wings. Also, you have more experience than anyone else with that fragment,” Twilight said in a firm tone.

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts.

“That's not what I'm asking,” I answered, this time more seriously, putting aside my nerves. “I want to know why me in particular. I understand that you have some experience, but, as you said yourself, I don't possess magic or wings. Besides, there are many others more capable than me. They have guards, scouts... Why not send one of them?”

Twilight sighed, and after a brief exchange of glances with Celestia, she continued.

“The guards are working day and night. Since Equestria was fragmented, not only the territory has changed, but also its inhabitants. Many escaped their disturbed homes and have sought refuge here in Canterlot. Our staff is depleted, and those that remain are overburdened with the duties of maintaining order and assisting the refugees. The princesses...” Twilight hesitated, looking back at Celestia, who gestured for her to continue. “After the event, both Celestia and Luna have lost much of their power. They can barely carry out their duties as guardians of the sun and moon. It all falls on me now. Normally I would try to take care of this alone, but after talking about it last night, we all came to the same conclusion.”

Twilight took a step forward.

“You are the only pony who managed to escape the Kingdom of Laughter and make it this far. You were the only one to face the Elements of Harmony up close, and you possess the most promising information so far. Also, from what we observed, you were responsible for raising morale in the plaza yesterday.” “I need someone to accompany me on this long and complicated journey to restore Equestria, and you, Arthur, are the best option we have.”

I felt as if the ground was falling out from under my hooves.

“They don’t understand,” I said, with a mix of frustration and confusion. “I… I have my own problems and issues. In fact, I’m not even sure if I should be involved in all of this.”

“Arthur…” Celestia intervened, her voice soft. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but we believe in you. Even if you don’t feel it now, you have more capacity than you think.”

I closed my eyes, feeling a mix of exhaustion and despair.

“I can’t do it,” I said, firm and clear, surprising everyone, even myself.

Twilight looked at me confused, and before I could answer, the words came out of my mouth in a rush.

“I'm not who you think I am... Normally I shouldn't say this, but there's no point in hiding it anymore. I don't even belong in this world.” I paused, watching the princesses' gazes meet, and I felt my whole insides crumble. “I woke up one day in another body, in another place... in another world that isn't my own. I arrived a week ago, right when this mess started. I know it sounds crazy, and maybe you think I'm going crazy, but I had to say it, sooner or later.”

The princesses exchanged glances, especially Celestia, whose face seemed to soften as she understood why my behavior had been so strange from the beginning.

“Everything I've done since I got here... I've ruined it, over and over again,” I said, my voice tinged with a mix of resignation and pain. “I can't do this, I really can't. You should find someone else. I'm not that person... I've just caused trouble. I've failed at every attempt to do something right.”

Without further ado, I decided to leave the room as quickly as I could. I couldn't stand another second without breaking down.

Author's Note

Arthur finally has an audience with the princesses.

The effects that altered Equestria and how to possibly repair it are made clear.

Arthur is asked to go on a journey with Twilight but this request only awakens doubts and fears that Arthur has held since he arrived.

For a moment, Arthur puts the jokes aside and becomes serious.

Thanks for reading.

Chapter 12: Talking to the Moon

Arthur turned to the door, his face paling, beads of sweat sliding down his forehead. He could barely contain the trembling in his legs as he left the room with hurried, agitated steps. He couldn't bear the weight of the princesses' gazes; he felt like they were judging him, as if they were expecting more from him than he himself knew he was capable of giving. He stepped outside, and found an empty balcony where he stood until he was in the moonlight.

There, for the first time since his arrival, Arthur stopped being sarcastic, stopped pretending. He collapsed onto the floor of the balcony, his back against the railing, staring up at the night sky. The stars shone brightly, but they didn't offer him the comfort they used to. He felt defeated, unable to continue the charade he had maintained all this time. He let out a sigh, closing his eyes as the pain of self-recrimination washed over him.

Then, the soft sound of hooves came closer. Arthur didn't need to open his eyes to know who it was. Princess Luna's presence was unmistakable.

“Arthur,” Luna said quietly, sitting down beside him with solemn patience. “What's wrong with you? Why do you feel this way?”

Arthur was silent for a moment, but he knew there was no point in hiding what he felt any longer. Luna deserved an honest answer. He opened his eyes slowly and looked up at the stars before speaking.

“You don't understand, Luna. Everything they say I did, all those stories of escaping Ponyville and facing Pinkie... it sounds like something to be admired, something great, like it was a victory. But... it wasn't. Every single thing I did was a defeat.” Her words were harsh, filled with a sadness she could barely hide.

Luna remained silent, letting Arthur continue.

“When I got to Ponyville, I froze. “I lost control of the situation from the very first moment, and every attempt to escape was one failure after another. Even when I thought we had gotten the fragment… I felt good, for a moment. I thought I had finally achieved something. But it was just a lie. We lost it in a matter of minutes and I ended up running for my life.”

Arthur gritted his teeth, his hooves shaking as he brought one to his face, trying to hold back the tears that were gathering in his eyes.

“And you know what’s the worst?” he continued “I thought I had beaten Pinkie, that I had somehow bested her at her own game. But no… She was just playing with me. I was a toy for her. The fragment… I lost it from the start. I ran with a bag full of rocks, thinking I was doing something right. I lost my teammates, I lost the fragment, and I couldn’t do anything to stop it. I just lost.”

Luna watched him intently, her eyes reflecting a mix of understanding and compassion.

“And when I managed to get out of Ponyville, it wasn’t because I was brave, it was because I ran away cowardly. I left the others behind… and then I got lost in a forest for days, wandering aimlessly. When I got to Canterlot, I tried to do something to earn a little money. I put on a show… I did my best. But in the end, what did I get? A couple of coins. Even with a self-playing guitar, courtesy of a companion I abandoned in Ponyville, I couldn’t do anything decent. How pathetic can that be?”

The silence became palpable between the two.

“I’m not a hero,” Arthur whispered, his voice breaking. “I’m not a winner, or a good person, or even enough for myself. Every time I think I’m doing something right, I screw it up. I can fake a smile, make jokes, pretend everything is okay… but I’m just pretending, barely keeping myself together. I’m not what they need... I’m just a loser.”

Luna looked at him for a few more moments before leaning in closer, sighing softly before beginning to speak, her eyes reflecting deep empathy.

"I'd like to say I know what you're going through, but that would be a lie," she said softly, her voice calm, but full of emotional weight. "Even though our stories may seem similar, each of us lives our struggles differently."

Her eyes lifted to the moon, shining faintly in the distance. A small, sad smile formed on her face as she continued.

"I am the princess of the night, guardian of the moon and protector of dreams. I have been fulfilling that duty for hundreds of years." Her words had a melancholic tone, as if each one carried with it centuries of memories. "But, no matter how hard I tried in everything I did, I felt like no one cared. The night I brought to you with all my love… no one appreciated it. I felt alone and unappreciated."

Luna closed her eyes for a moment, remembering the mistakes of the past. His expression darkened, and his voice dropped to a whisper.

"I threw a tantrum. I let the darkness influence me and hurt the ponies I had sworn to protect. I hurt my own sister, forcing her to face me, even though it caused her pain." He paused, pressing his lips together as if reliving the weight of that moment. "I lost as Luna... and as Nightmare Moon as well."

He opened his eyes, looking straight at her, a mix of sadness and understanding in his gaze.

"It's true that our stories have commonalities like we've both lost, but I'm not going to pretend that I can fully understand what you feel." Luna tilted her head slightly, showing respect for Arthur's internal struggle. "Each of us faces our challenges in unique ways, even if the circumstances seem similar."

A spark of tenderness appeared in her gaze as her voice took on a warmer, more comforting tone.

"However, there is one thing I know about you: despite facing defeat after defeat, you keep moving forward. Even though your smile is forced at times, you haven't stopped. Losing doesn't mean you're a failure," she said, firmly but gently. "On the contrary, every defeat is an opportunity to get up, learn, and try again, even if you might fall again."

Luna paused, measuring her words before continuing, as if each sentence had to be precise and meaningful.

"I don't know if it's true that you're not from this world," she confessed, her face showing uncertainty, but also trust in Arthur, "but what I do know is that you're not like the others, and that's something important."

Luna walked a little closer, her posture upright but calm, as if she wanted to offer support without invading Arthur's space.

"Pretending everything is okay can seem easier sometimes," she admitted, lowering her gaze slightly. "I did it for a long time, and eventually that weight took its toll on me."

She looked up again, her eyes showing a rare vulnerability.

"That's why I know how dangerous it is to pent up all those emotions without bringing them out into the light," she said, her tone softer now. "No matter where you come from, you shouldn't hide who you really are. Pretending to be something you're not won't get you anywhere good. I despised myself and discredited everything I did before I became Nightmare Moon, and it was that that dug my own grave."

Luna took a step closer to Arthur, a flash of urgency in her gaze, but her tone remained calm.

"And now, Arthur, you're doing the same," she pointed out gently. "You're despising yourself and belittling everything you've accomplished."

Her words echoed in the air, and after a moment of silence, she continued in an encouraging tone.

"You may see your actions as failures, but... what if you tried to see them from another perspective?" Luna gave a small smile, soft but genuine. "If you really did come to Equestria without knowing anything, you still made progress. You were in a strange world, trapped in a distorted town, but you didn't fall. You kept going, looking for a way to escape."

Her smile grew a little wider, as if she was remembering something positive.

"Despite facing a powerful being, you managed to slip away and, if only for an instant, you obtained the fragment," she said with admiration in her voice. "Even when your companions were caught, you didn't give up and kept running."

Luna stepped a little closer, her tone now filled with pride.

"And yes, you managed to survive days in an unknown forest until you found the way," she added, her tone firm but loving. "Even though your show in Canterlot didn't make you much money, you did manage to get something. Maybe it wasn't a huge haul, but you made others laugh, even in one of the worst situations Equestria has ever experienced."

She paused for a moment, gauging Arthur's reaction before concluding, calm determination in her eyes.

"You don't need to be a hero or a winner," she said with conviction. "You can fail as many times as necessary, but you should never give up or think that you didn't gain anything from it. It's all about how you see things, and more importantly, how you see yourself."

Luna bowed her head slightly again, in respect.

"I'm not going to force you to do something you don't want to," she concluded, her final tone gentle but firm. "I just want to help ease what ails you, no matter what decision you make."

Arthur stayed silent as Luna spoke, his gaze lost among the stars. The princess’s words resonated within him, but at the same time, he fought the feeling of failure that had invaded him.

When Luna finished, Arthur let out a long sigh and, for a moment, said nothing. He just stared at the distant lights in the sky, as if searching for an answer among them. Finally, he broke the silence.

“It’s easy to say, you know?” he murmured, his voice still shaky. “Seeing things from another perspective, trying to learn from failures… it sounds so simple when you hear it from someone who’s been through the same thing. But when you’re there, when you feel like nothing you do makes sense, it’s like being stuck in a hole. No matter how hard you try to climb up, you just keep falling.”

Luna nodded, moving a little closer.

“I know,” she replied softly. “I never said it was easy. Sometimes, we just need someone to remind us that we're still moving forward, even if we don't see it at the moment.”

Arthur closed his eyes, resting his head on his front paws.

“I just... I don't know if I can keep pretending. I don't even know what I'm doing here.” He paused, his voice breaking a little. “I... I never asked for this, Luna. I didn't ask to be transported to another world, I didn't ask to be part of any epic quest or story. I just want to go back home, to my normal life, although I don't know if I really want that either.”

Luna looked at him with compassion, understanding the weight of his words. There was a deep truth in what he said, a truth she herself had known at one time.

“It's true, Arthur. Sometimes life takes us down paths we don't understand, paths we never asked to walk. But even in those moments, we find our own strength. You may not see it now, but you've already proven that you're stronger than you think.”

Arthur let out a bitter laugh, not taking his eyes off the sky.

“Strong…” he repeated, sarcastically “The only thing I’ve shown is that I’m good at running and hiding.”

Luna leaned slightly towards him, her tone now firmer, but filled with warmth.

“You’ve shown so much more than that. You’ve shown that, despite everything, you haven’t given up. You’re still here, Arthur, even when you think you’ve failed. You keep fighting. And that, in itself, is a kind of strength that many don’t have.”

Arthur didn’t answer right away, but something in Luna’s words seemed to have struck a chord within him. He felt the weight of his defeats, but he was also beginning to see that maybe, just maybe, he hadn’t been as useless as he thought.

“Maybe…” he muttered, almost to himself “Maybe I haven’t ruined everything… but I still don’t know if I can do what they ask of me.”

Luna stood up and offered him a soft smile.

“You don’t have to make that decision now. Just remember that you are not alone, and that you can take as much time as you need to find your way. No matter what you decide, I will be here to help you.”

Arthur looked at her for the first time since they had started the conversation. Although he still felt lost, something about Luna’s calm presence gave him a small glimmer of hope.

“Just one more thing,” Arthur said in a careful tone, “if hypothetically they would believe me that I am not from this world, is there any chance they could return me home?”

“The fragmentation took something from all of us with it, in my case and in my sister’s, we don’t even have enough power to offer you an option to return home. Sorry,” Luna replied, in a sad tone.

“So while there is all this problem limiting your power, I have no choice but to wait…” she said with a sigh.

“I’m afraid so.”

“Don’t worry, I had that in mind... Thank you, Luna,” Arthur said quietly, his words sincere. “I guess that’s all I can say for now.”

Luna nodded before taking her leave.

“That’s more than enough.”

Author's Note

Arthur finally put aside the jokes, sarcasm, pranks and absurdities that he used as a wall to avoid thinking about all the failures he made since he arrived.

Arthur and Luna have a conversation, under the light of a starry night where they share their experiences and failures.

I know there are several chapters (not to say almost all or all) where the focus is on comedy and absurdities, but I think what makes an emotional moment special is when the comic character stops being one for a brief moment.

I hope you liked it.

Thanks for reading.