Somehow, I'm Twilight Sparkle.

Chapters

It's like a prison... Only, more personal.
That's because I almost drown.
I'm already tardy.
Like an infant.
What does it take?
That was graceful.
It... makes me giggle.
We're an individual together.
Not at all, Sir.
This could be a problem.
My right mind or not.
Stay calm.
Taking a shot in the dark.
Hey, progress.
You just need to care.
You need to calm down.
You're just learning.
Well, that's a comfort.
4:14 (A.M.)
Like I said, complicated.

It's like a prison... Only, more personal.

It’s currently 4:38, and I’m feeling a bit more comfortable with walking; I’ve been doing so non-stop since I figured out I’m Twilight Sparkle. Well, I’m not Twilight Sparkle, but I know for a fact that I look exactly like her.

My horn had been caught under my armrest, which is why my head hit it. Unfortunately I’m used to hitting my head when I wake up, since when I was still sharing a room with my little brother, I was too tall for my bed.

Unfortunately, there was a hole large enough for my head to fit through, a wall just behind my headboard, a pillow propping my head up, and a phone that would wake us up at 4:00-7:00 every morning.

I have no idea how I’d forgotten that I no longer sleep on that bed, considering it’s leaning up against my wall right now. Still don’t know why it hasn’t been taken to the dump, but at least it keeps my room from feeling like it’s empty.

Tangent aside, I can’t seem to stand on two legs anymore, since I’m now a pony, I can’t lift my phone because of my hooves, and I can’t even reach my TV to pass the time. Heck, now that I think about it, how would I even use the controllers for the PS2 if I don’t have fingers to push the buttons with?

Not to mention picking up my room with my mouth is a pain, ESPECIALLY when it comes to larger items that bend(stupid putting practice... thing), my door-knobs(Door-handles, for those of you who aren’t American) are out of reach, and to top all of that off, nobody is awake to hear me yelling for help.

This could be worse, really, although I’m not going to say it aloud; that always comes around and bites you in the butt... Oh great, even thinking it, it turns right around and sucker punches you. I need to go to the bathroom now.

At first I try using the wall to get up high enough to reach it, like I did with the lightswitch, but I end up falling a little and having to twist to keep myself standing somewhat properly.

Unable to leave my room, I turn around and start walking in circles in front of my bed, trying to think of a way to get out of my room. “C’mon c’mon, think!” I say to myself, as if it’s actually going to help the situation.

“Just try it again, that worked with the lightswitch.” I say, also to myself, as if holding another end of a conversation.

“Right, because I’m totally capable of grasping the doorknob.” I say in irritation with myself.

“Well you could try using your mouth.” I offer, starting to look at my reflection in the TV’s black screen.

“Or, you could use that horn on your head.” I say in a slightly flat voice, to Twilight’s image.

Turning to the door, I start trying to use magic to open it. It then strikes me that I have absolutely no idea how to use magic, meaning I’m back at square one, and actually a little bit more irritated than I was thirty minutes ago.

How can I be a unicorn but not know how to use magic? Isn’t it like, one of the biggest things for unicorn foals when they can finally control their magic? Then again, I was never actually Twilight to begin with, so not knowing how to use magic isn’t anything big, right?

Oh right! Bathroom, I need to go to the bathroom! No time to question why it is I don’t know how to use magic; my floor hasn’t been peed on by the animals since it was shampooed, and I’ll be a monkey’s uncle if I’m going to break that streak, even if I’m now a pony, or well, unicorn really.

I really needed to stop distracting myself with my thoughts.

Moving over to the door, I prop myself up and grab on with my teeth. Soon after, my hooves slip and I feel like an idiot; gravity didn’t like my idea, and I know this because my teeth now hurt, and I’m having issues trying to right myself so that they don’t.

About five minutes later, I’ve finally got my doorknob out of my mouth. I’m still propped up against the door, so I take a moment to try and grab the doorknob with my hooves instead. My hooves only slip off though, so it seems I’m making almost no forward progress.

It feels like I’m in a prison... Only, it’s a little bit more personal than the monotone cells you find inmates in... That, and prison cells all have toilets.

Wow, second time in my life I’ve ever felt claustrophobic. And it’s still early.

No longer feeling comfortable in my own room, I decide it’s about time I try to open the door again. I try using my mouth again, but instead, I cock my head to the side before trying to grab the handle.

I didn’t quite get the door to open with my head righted from the trick, and my teeth are hurting again, but with a quick twist of my head, and a half step back, I find my door opening as I again, fall backward.

I’m really missing my sense of balance today.

Anyways, I quickly right myself again and make a mad dash, or really, awkward gallop, into the bathroom.

Sparing the details, I have quite a few issues with that ordeal, even when it came to washing my hooves with a push top soap dispenser.

I just sit there looking at my reflection for a while as I let my hooves dry over the sink. Not the first time I’d ever stared at myself for a while, but definitely the longest.

This was really happening. I was staring at myself, and Twilight was looking back.

How on earth did this happen? How on earth am I going to tell my family it’s me? I can’t just be all ‘Oh hey everyone, I’m suddenly a unicorn! Oh! and more than that, I’m a girl!’.. Actually, I could, but I’d get more stares than I’d like, not to mention that they’d probably not believe me.

I have a hard time trying to believe it, and it’s happening to me!

I don’t know what will be harder to take in. The fact that I’m a talking pony, or the fact that I’m suddenly a girl. Probably the first one. I mean, people have gender altering operations. Not my thing, but at least I get to know what it’s like to be a girl for a moment... or a month.

Okay, now time is on my mind. How long will this last? I really wish my family was awake at the moment... I’m feeling more alone than usual. Blast whatever made this happen, blast my hooves for not being able to grab my phone easily, and screw me for not being able to use magic.

“Oh great, five stages of grief, stage two: Anger. You know what, forget this, I’m hungry.” I think to myself as I go over to the stairs. Looking down the stairs, it occurs to me that I’m lacking my sense of balance. If I even try to go down normally, I will hurt myself, where my head sticks up off the front end of my body.

… I’d like to believe this is only obstruction number five, but I know that’s wrong mathematically.

I take a quick glance at my alarm clock to check the time before slowly going down the stairs backwards.

After I reach the bottom of the stairs, I head to my left through the living room to the kitchen, remembering that the kitchen has two microwaves that say it’s roughly 5:17. They’re almost never set to the same time, and since I can’t see the stove’s clock, I can’t hazard a guess off the three of them.

Whatever, I’m hungry. Cereal is out of reach, and burritos are in the outside fridge... “Oh, wait.” I say to no-one in specific, and then open the fridge.

The drawer in the fridge tasted disgusting, but I don’t know of any other ways to open it at the moment. It was the contents of the drawer that had my attention anyways.

Pulling out the salad mix, I gave a kind of skipping trot to the table after I shut the drawer and door of the fridge behind me. The bag isn’t going back into the fridge anyways.

About halfway through the meal, my brother Conner walks through the kitchen into the living room. I don’t even know if he notices me, but I doubt he does, since he doesn’t do a double take. After a moment, I hear the Wii turning on, so I just go back to eating.

Twilight really doesn’t seem to have much of an appetite, so I ended up throwing a bit of the salad mix away. This is sad really. It’s the first time I’ve ever actually enjoyed having a salad that wasn’t covered with enough meat to make it look like I put some leaves in with a pile of diced canadian bacon.

I started heading back to my room only to get caught up in an episode of Scrubs, mostly because of one of J.D’s fantasies. I hadn’t even made it passed the piano that was next to the entry to the kitchen from the living room before I lost my focus.

Never could keep that though.

Unfortunately, it was an episode that wasn’t really very funny, and when the episode ended, Conner turned around. “Wait, what?” Was the first thing he said to me that day, and at first I was confused.

I had for some reason decided that it was a good idea to sit right there next to the rocking chair where he was sitting, right in front of the piano. I probably still think it was a good idea, actually, can’t be sure.

“What?” I asked, after a moment of awkward silence. “Wait, was tha-.” I had stopped mid-sentence, putting a hand, no, hoof, to my mouth.

Oh right, I woke up as Twilight Sparkle.

How do you forget something like that?

That's because I almost drown.

I don’t believe I actually introduced Conner properly. He’s my younger brother, and the only other boy in, wait, scratch that, the ONLY boy in the house that watches My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. He’s also a little bit of a klutz, and probably my best friend in the world.

“Wait, you talk?” He asked, as if taken back by my own questions.

“Well, yeah, why wouldn’t I?” I asked rhetorically.

“Who are you?”

“It’s me.” I say at first, only to cringe at forgetting that I don’t have my own voice. “Er, Asher. Sorry, I’m still trying to get used to not being me.”

“Yeah, right...” He says skeptically. “How long did we share a room then?”

“Are you kidding? We just stopped sharing a room not that long ago.” I point out, a little irritated that he’d ask the question.

“Answer the question!” Conner demands. I’m kinda happy that it’s still early, or things could have been going downhill much faster.

“I don’t know, since we were like three! I’ve never been good with time!” I shout. This is about when it finally sinks in that I’m trying identify myself to my brother with time, and I’ve never been good at keeping it.

The answer seemed to hit somewhere though, since he doesn’t seem so apprehensive.

“Alright... What happened at summer camp?” He asks, his face saying something dark.

This is understandable though... That’s because... “I almost drown.” I say flatly. I kinda start to laugh quietly though. Stupid lifeguards, not paying attention.

I think he hears me laughing though, because he starts laughing himself. We start to loosen up a bit more and soon we’re both laughing like I remember us doing after that just happened.

I know, I’m mental. I have fun with that though.

After a few moments of controlled laughter, Conner finally speaks up. “How the heck did you manage to become Twilight Sparkle?”

“I honestly have no idea, but it’s pretty freakin’ sweet, isn’t it?” I ask, still giggling. I had to note the fact that I’m Twilight Sparkle. Still have no idea how I forgot something like that.

“Can you use magic?” He asks, almost sarcastic sounding.

“I dunno. Lets find out!” I say just before attempting to take a stance I’d seen Twilight herself take in the show. I managed to go too wide with the stance, and my hooves slipped out from under me. Conner smiled, and tried to suppress a laugh.

“Shut up!” I say, trying to stand up on my own two feet, which were missing. Conner lost it after I fell again, hitting a few keys on the piano.

I believe I’ve just lost all rights to call him Grace for the rest of my life.

“Oh my gosh! Did you forget you can’t stand on two feet?” He asked from the kitchen. He assumably walked into there while laughing. We seem to walk around and leave rooms sometimes when we’re laughing. It’s an odd habit, really.

“Shush, get out of my kitchen!” I said. No, I’m not the owner of the house, I’m only seventeen. That’s just some line I say as a metaphor. Kinda stems from my hopes of working in a kitchen someday... Not really the topic here, sorry.

This time, I try to stand on four legs, actually remembering I’m a pony this time. “Now then, without the pose.” I said, trying to think of what spell I want to use. Teleportation? Levitation? Conner already has a mustache, so using that one would be pointless. What other spells were there?

Oh, that’s a good one! Transfiguration! I take a look around the room to try and find something I could freely transfigure. After a few minutes of searching, I find an empty soda can. I cringe internally. The only thing that keeps me from blowing up about it is the fact that I’ve been raised to not be obsessive compulsive...

It didn’t completely work, clearly.

Deciding to try and surprise him, I go to pick it up. I managed to dent it a little with my hooves, but this was good, since it let me get a better grip on it with my mouth. Still don’t like the taste of any metal being in my mouth.

I set it down on the coffee table and backed up a bit, then lowered my head until I thought my horn was pointing at the can. I started thinking really hard, focusing on it becoming a cup instead.

Nothing happened.

“Huh.” I said after I’d lifted my head enough to look at the can. I lowered my head again, and started focusing on a cup-like shape, and sliding it onto the can as if warping reality. I looked up to see...

That nothing had happened.

“Er, Hocus pocus?” I said, uncertain as to if it would actually do something, as I again thought of turning the can into a cup.

Nothing happened yet again.

I groaned as I heard my brother stifle another laugh. “Fine!” I said, walking up to the can and yelling “Oogity-boogity!” as I strike it with my hoof, sending it flying through the air onto the rocking chair. Well, now that I think about it, it’s actually called a recliner.

Whatever, it’s a chair, and the can is now in it.

I turn around to see my brother holding his sides as his chest bounces rhythmically, the way he does when he’s laughing so hard he actually goes quite. Never understood how people go quiet from laughing hard.

“Shut up and put the can in the can bag!” I finally tell him, after he spends about two minutes laughing at my expense.

How on earth can I not use magic? I’m Twilight Sparkle dangit, Twilight. Sparkle! I’m probably the most magical unicorn in equestria! Wait, maybe that’s it. I’m not in equestria. Great.

“So, what’s it like to be a unicorn?” Conner suddenly asks. I notice he’s now sitting on the loveseat style couch, and the can is no longer on the recliner. Must have spaced out.

“Horrible, considering I can’t even use magic.” I deadpan. Again, he stifles a laugh. “Shut up!”

“I’d rather not.”

“Pfft! You’re dumb!”

“No your face.”

“I’m Twilight Sparkle, your argument is invalid.”

After this short exchange both of us are laughing pretty hard. I hadn’t even noticed that my sister had come out of her room, and by the time I’d noticed her, she was already in the kitchen making herself some breakfast.

I think she put it together that I’m Asher by the way me and Conner were laughing with each other.

This is actually going a lot smoother than I thought it would at first.

I'm already tardy.

Conner and I end up talking for a few hours, like we usually do. I don’t even remember all the details of the conversation, as usual, but I leave the conversation feeling a bit better about not being able to use magic.

As my brother pointed out several times during the conversation, at least I am a pony.

He set up a cot we have lying around the house in front of the computer so I could use it. It was a pain getting back upstairs, but I managed to do it without falling.

Anyways, I had to hold a pen in my mouth to push the keys on the keyboard, and use both of my front hooves to utilize the mouse, but soon I was on Equestria Daily. Been a little over a week since I’d been there last.

I see a new flash game or two, but I don’t think I’m able to play them, considering I’ll lack the ability to use the keyboard in a timely fashion. But that’s not what catches me.

Back several pages, almost a week ago, there was apparently an announcement from Princess Celestia herself involving the people who’re become ponies.

I went into the post thingy passed the break to find there was apparently a youtube video of it. Not surprising really, considering how fast bronies work.

Soon, there was a half filled press room on the screen of my computer.

“I... suppose you’re all wondering why Lauren called this conference.” Said a man nervously. “You see, the last two days, she and Tara have been afflicted with a condition that was unknown to us, until the culprit revealed himself. I...” He paused, seeming to hesitate. “Maybe it’s best you all see for yourselves. No questions will be taken.”

The video went eerily quiet, and if what happened to me was any indication, I knew why the conference room fell silent.

What I seen though, was actually surprising to me though.

Not only did I see Princess Celestia entering from the right, but Princess Luna as well. Guess that explains why I’m Twilight, where Tara became Princess Luna.

I only knew this because I was reading about the video during the conference room’s silence. Well, that and Princess Celestia was the one to take the podium.

After a moment of pause, Princess Celestia finally spoke up. “I-I...” Okay, not a strong start... “I know you all must be, uh, shocked about this. Believe me, I am too. But please don’t doubt me when I say that I am Lauren Faust, and she,” Lauren said, pointing one of her white hooves to Luna. “is really Tara Strong.”

Lauren seemed to be taking a breath at this moment, but the video is a little hazy. “The reason I called this conference today is not to tell what happened to us. As you can see, it’s obvious.” This made me shudder. Celestia’s voice always does that when it lacks humor. “I called for this because this is the only way to assure I am heard by my target audience. You see...” I then hear what sounds like coughing, so I assume she’s clearing her throat.

“There is one other out there like us. I don’t know who, or where, but somewhere there is a person like us. Changed. Into a pony.”

… Wait, am I the only one? No wait, it’s an announcement about people becoming ponies.

“But this will not be the case for very long.” She went on, pulling my thoughts back to the video. “Everyday, someone else is afflicted, and this will continue until...”

… That can’t be good...

“Yet, the most important thing I have to say is this, to those who find themselves changed.” And then, she seemed to pick out the camera from where she was and stared directly into it, which was really unnerving.

“If any of you find yourself to be an element of harmony, I need your help. You need to come to New York.” She stared a moment longer before turning her head away, sighing. “No further comment.”

I believe I need to start studying. I hate studying.

It’s now closer to two in the afternoon, and I’ve watched the video several times by now, as well as looked up several transdimensional travel theories, and I’ve come up with several numbers on how much of the world was now ponies.

Smallest number was nine including the princesses, but the largest was only a little short of being a thousand.

Most of the bigger numbers were crack theories that didn’t make much sense when I went back over them a second time.

Speaking of second times, I can finally remember waking up this morning, but it gets kinda fuzzy passed going downstairs because I was hungry. Something about a can and magic... and something else about hair...

Could have sworn I’d gotten control of my memory issues by now. That’s what I get for thinking I’d gotten a hang of my split personalities.

I suppose I’ll have to deal with those even in Twilight’s body, even though she... Okay nevermind, she argues with her own reflection... Her sanity is debatable.

Anyways, the most reasonable numbers are between nine and eighty people in the world now being ponies, and I myself had to find a way to New York, where I was now Twilight Sparkle, the Element of Magic... who, for some reason, cannot use magic.

I wish I could just make someone else Twilight Sparkle instead, not have to deal with the trip to New York. I’ve already had my lifetime’s worth of cross country trips, I didn’t need to suddenly have a reason to go on another.

Yet, here I was, as Twilight Sparkle, needing to go across the U.S.A. to get to New York. Where at in New York? Who knows, I only got a state, not a town or city. Chances are I’m wanted around New York City, New York.

That’d be my best bet.

What all do I have to work with? Can’t have my parents drive me; my dad is disabled and my mom needs to make sure he gets all his medication, my sister, Aamira, works, my older brother’s fiance, Kate, works, my older brother, Becker, needs to stay so that my dad doesn’t try and lift anything too heavy, and my younger brother, Conner, is too young to drive.

As well as all that, My other sister, Bera, is married and off in North Carolina, and any other family that might have helped are all in Utah.

That means I’m on my own, with only fifteen dollars, and a few hundred miles to cover.

How am I supposed to do that?

I suppose I could only pay for transportation, but I’d only get so far before I’d have to walk. I’d have to sneak out early in the morning tomorrow after packing. No issue with that.

I’ll need a map, and I’ll need to pack some food, a few blankets, and possibly a tent. My family has an atlas of the U.S, so I’ll have a map ready. I’ve got a blanket on my bed, and there’s a few other lying around the house that I could take.

I think I’ve got a tent strapped to that camping bag in my room, so hopefully that’s already taken care of. The issue is packing food. Greens don’t stay fresh very long when they’re not kept in a refrigerator, unfortunately, and I have no idea what weeds taste like.

I might have to figure out though, considering lawns are actually nothing but weeds... Not looking forward to that.

Even if I do all that, it would take me forever to reach New York... Looks like I’ll have to leave my comfort zone more than once. Social networking, you’re my only hope for getting there in a timely manner.

Well, considering I was probably expected to be the first to get there, where I’m Twilight Sparkle, I could already consider myself to be tardy. Well, again, I’m not Twilight, I just look like her.

That said, time to make a FaceBook...

Like an infant.

I can’t believe I’m doing this... I seriously, cannot believe, that I am doing this. I hate social networking sites.

Well, I’m calling myself Asher Spark. I’m pretty sure it’s obvious that Spark is short for Sparkle, but I don’t want to draw a whole bunch of attention... Or, maybe I should try and grab attention... I don’t know, all I know is it’s 3:15 P.M, and that I’ve got to get to New York post haste.

At least my new Facebook is up. It’s too bad I can’t use the internet on the road, since my parents can’t afford to have any added fees on the plan... Wi-fi hotspots will have to do, as I’ve not got anything else I can work with.

At least I managed to get my new Facebook profile rolling. Now to sign into it on my phone.

I make an awkward sideways step off the cot I’ve been standing on for the passed few hours. I have no idea what it is, but I just can’t seem to balance at all in this body. I’ll get a hang of the equilibrium at some point, I know I will. I’m just... having issues, is all.

After taking a moment to stand up, I walk into my room. Unlike usual though, I leave my door open. I had enough issues getting out the first time, I don’t want to repeat that... at all.

I walk around the furniture-to-be headboards and grab a hold of my camping bag with my teeth, dragging it out into the center of my room. I left it packed from last time I went camping, for some reason, so I have to empty it out a bit.

Inside of the bag, I find a whole bunch of dirty clothes(which tasted horrible, by the way.), a sleeping bag, a flashlight, some water shoes(which also tasted horrible.), a neckerchief, and some CR2032 batteries.

Fortunately, I knew where there was a hat and a hat-light. The hat-light being on one of my furniture-to-be headboards, and a hat under the sink in the bathroom. I’d always questioned the placement, but for once in my life, I was kinda happy that my family kept them in such a weird place.

That said, I still had a lot of planning to do.

I run into the bathroom and grab the hat, taking it into my room to start packing. I also took several blankets, the atlas, and I managed to take a bag of saltine crackers. This should be enough for at least one day. Not sure how I’ll make it passed that, but I’ll manage... somehow.

I give a short sigh then start trying to fold things up so that they’re neatly inside the camping bag. Using only my mouth to grab things makes it rather hard though, but I have no idea how they use their hooves in the show, and I’ve already tried to use magic several times, so I just sat there and took the time to fold things using my mouth, draping things over my hooves to help.

It’s now roughly 4:30 P.M, and I’m mostly done packing, I just need to find a way into my top drawer so that I can grab the money I have in an envelope in it. I’m not sure how to do that actually, considering it’s the highest thing I’ve needed to get to all day. Heck, the mouse is lower than the doorknobs.

As much as I’d like to finish packing though, my mom actually bothered making dinner at a reasonable time tonight, so I’ve not got a whole bunch of time to think about it. I need to wash up though. I’ve actually been thinking about it off and on all day, and I’ve only come up with one thought.

I can’t possibly clean myself up alone.

Just when I thought the situation of being a pony couldn’t become any more degrading, I have to have someone wash me for me, like an infant.

I weigh my options on who I think I would find it to be the most comforting, considering it’s going to be a very uncomfortable situation. Conner would crack way too many jokes, Becker wouldn’t be much of an improvement, I’m not even related to Kate, and I’m not having my mother give me a bath.

Where my dad’s disabled, that just leaves Aamira.

Nervously, I step out of my room, putting my camping bag back where it was to begin with, to keep things looking inconspicuous. “A-Aamira?” I call out, already feeling uncomfortable.

“Yeah?” I hear from her room, which is thankfully across the loft from my room.

“I-I need help...” I say, after approaching her door. I hear her give an agitated huff, followed by her getting off her bed. I back away from her door before she opens it.

“With?” She asks, almost as if I’m about to say something that’s going to be a wait of her time.

“W-well, I n-need to, uh... shower...” I say, feeling like I’m two feet tall. Actually, that’s not too far from true, considering. And to think I used to be five-foot six.

We stood there in an awkward feeling silence for awhile, the only thing keeping me from shrinking back further was the fact that I’d already occupied my hind-left hoof with tapping at the floor. I was seriously uncomfortable, okay?

“Really?” She finally asks, as if I might be joking about that.

“No, I’m a bold faced liar who can totally use magic.” I say bluntly, though it seems to get the point across, as she rolls her eyes and starts walking into the bathroom.

To try and protect any masculinity I may have felt, I had her use my Axe two-in-one shampoo and conditioner to clean me up.

Drying off took a lot longer than I had expected, what with the mane and the tail, as well as all the fur-like growth on the rest of my body. Once I was dry though I was free to run around the house until dinner was done.

Didn’t take long before that though, as it was already 5:45, and mom had been cooking since around four-thirty. I wasn’t very keen on eating with everyone, and sat by myself in the living room focusing on a thumb-tack that was left on the floor.

I still couldn’t lift it. I didn’t even have a clue on how to lift it. I was just staring at it, wondering what on earth I could be doing wrong. I... I don’t want to go back to magic kindergarten.

“… Wait, where did that come from?” I thought to myself, taken off guard by the foreign thought.

“Asher, are you going to eat?” My mom says, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“Y-yeah, I-I’ll just have some potatoes and carrots and then be off to bed.” I told her as I went to the table.

My mom had been dead-set on having pork-chops that night. I made sure she went through with it. I’ve got a much smaller appetite than before, so I’d be fine with a plate of grilled potatoes and carrots.

“I thought you didn’t like carrots.” She said as I entered the kitchen.

“I don’t, Twilight does. It’s her body, so chances are I’m going to like what she likes.” I say, sounding as sure of this as I can.

“Alright, but don’t load up, just in case you don’t like them.”

“I’ll be sure not to.” I say, staring at the table for a moment. Again, my comfort zone must be broken. I must eat at the coffee table. “C-can you put my plate on the coffee table? I’m not sure I can sit at the table.”

My mom seems taken off guard by this. Don’t blame her, I’d always made it a point to eat at the table. “Alright.” She says, then takes the plate to the living room like I’d asked.

As I slowly canter over to the plate of food, my mind is draw back to magic kindergarten. What brought that thought on? I clearly remember Lesson Zero, but the thought of magic kindergarten actually made me laugh.

“No dog.” I say when the family pet, Princess, started sniffing at the table. It was a good thing she did though, because I noticed I still hadn’t touched my food. I decided I’d take one last shot at magic for the day and be done.

Staring at a single slice of carrot, I focus, and think about lifting it into the air. I try doing so while pointing my horn at it, and also hold my breath trying to concentrate on the carrot slice. This all amounts to nothing though.

As soon as I eat what I can, I head back up the stairs, probably for the last time for a while, and head into my room, closing my door behind me to be alone.

Not long after, Conner came into my room and closed the door behind himself. I was curled up on my bed, silently crying.

“Need a hug?” He asked as he sat down on the edge of my bed. I just nod a little, hugging my pillow to the best of my abilities.

After sharing a room for pretty much our whole lives, Conner and I have started to be able to pick up on when one another are feeling down, even if we don’t show any signs of being upset.

Only I wasn’t just upset. I was crushed.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

I honestly sat there for a while before nodding my head.

“So what’s up?”

“... I need to go to New York.”I said.

“What?”

“I need to go to New York.” I repeated.

“Why?”

“Princess Celestia, or really, Lauren Faust, has requested that the elements of harmony go to New York. Only issue is I’m short on cash and I can’t use magic. I mean, what good am I? I’m a unicorn who’s unable to use magic. Heck, I’m Twilight Sparkle. Twilight. Freaking. Sparkle! And yet I find myself unable to lift so much as a thumb-tack.” I say, tears starting to pool up faster as I sniffle.

“How do you plan on getting there?”

I don’t even bother trying to answer his question at first. How could I answer? I had only a few blankets, a tent, a hat with a flashlight on it, an atlas, and a single package of saltine crackers. I couldn’t even reach my top drawer to get my money.

I was doomed to fail before I even started...

And yet, I felt I had to go. Almost as if my other personality was excited to face certain defeat, but... for some reason, it wasn’t quite the same.

It was a confident feeling that I didn’t understand, but understood entirely.

I lifted my head a little and stared at my brother for a moment before I finally said “Luck.”

We sit in silence for a moment before he finally stifles a laugh. “Good luck with that.” He says, standing up as if he’s about to leave.

“Hold on, could you get into my top drawer and get out any envelopes you see in there?”

“Sure.” He says before digging around in my top drawer, pulling out only a single envelope. He tosses it on the bed in front of me. “Anything else?”

“Nah, that’s it.” I said, picking up the envelope with my mouth and putting it on the ledge of my window.

“G’night man.” He says, walking over to my door and opening it.

“Night. And, thanks.”

“You’re welcome” He says before walking off, leaving my door open for me.

I sat there smiling for a moment before deciding I should go to sleep. After all, it’d been a long day for me.

What does it take?

((Author’s note: This chapter, as will most dream chapters, will be changing perspectives frequently, with no way to tell who is who all the time. Every change of perspective is marked with a “-”. In non-dream chapters, these will be the marks that show personality changes, although, not all personality changes are marked. Thank you for taking your time to read this.))

“Hello?” I call out, looking around what seems to be a library. “Is anypony there?” I wait for a moment, half expecting the silence that answered. “Well, if that’s not the start of a nightmare, I don’t know what is...” I say to myself, laughing at myself.

Am I in a library? That’s weird, not even schools have libraries in my dreams, so why would I suddenly be in a full sized library? I’m not much for talking to myself, unlike me, who will do almost anything to have a little fun.

“Good, I actually managed to create a bridge I’m comfortable with. Not exactly what I expected, I mean, this place looks to be bigger than the Canterlot Archives, although I’m not partial to the dark cherry that they used for the bookshelves. That said, I should start looking for the universe the princess is in.” I said before I had set off through the labyrinth that had been set before me.

Books upon books. That’s not a bad thing, but the only thing that doesn’t seem to remain the same about them is the color of their covers. It’s a fruitless effort to try and guess the color of the next book, not to mention boring, but at least it’s passing the time until I run into someone.

“Huh, this library’s books are more like photo albums of my life as I know it.” I said as I flipped through the pages of the eighth book I’d pulled from the shelves. “Psychologically thinking, the books up top are the ones that are hard to get to, considering I’ve got acrophobia, that means they probably hold all the memories I’ve subconsciously decided I should forget...” I theorized aloud.

“Well, who the heck am I to question myself? I’d hate to remember something I’d purposely forgot subconsciously!” I say, bursting into laughter as I put the book onto the shelf and went off down the isle.

I’m a little uncertain as to if there’s an end to these bookshelves. They’re a lot taller than I think they should be, considering I’m a pony. The turns are at least logical, as I’ve yet to run into an area where the turns would run into an aisle I’ve already been down.

There hasn’t been any intersections though, so I’m wondering if I’m supposed to keep following the path or turn around. It’s seemed nearly endless so far, and that’s not a good onset for anything.

“This place is a lot bigger than I thought, and why do these books seem to hold my memories? That’s weird, it’s like I’m looking through my subconscious...” I said, putting a book back that I had just finished looking through.

None of these books had a title, a date, or even a symbol to mark them. I was beginning to wonder if the only thing that said anything about the books was the color, and if so, what did the colors mean? I’d have to see if I could return at a later date to see if I could figure it out, but I had more pressing matters to attend to.

“Why do all the books have to visit all my bad memories?” I asked myself as I continued through the giant library. “Oh, that’s right, I’m an emotionally distant and terrible person whose good memories are far and few between.” I state to the nothingness around me, discluding the library.

I’ve finally gotten to somewhere where there’s not books everywhere, but it’s not exactly an improvement considering I still have no idea where I am. There’s seven other paths leading from where I am, discluding the path I just followed. I hear footsteps though, so I figure I should wait for whoever is coming.

They could have directions out of here.

“That’s it, I’m done with these books!” I yelled as I slammed the book back into where it was on the shelf. “What’s the point of this place? Do I need to jump into a memory or something? I’m freaking sick of looking through my memories!”

I start storming off, trying to find something better to do with my dream time.

“How did you get here?” I hear a voice ask. I turn to look at the source and see my current self sitting down. This situation feels familiar...

“You mean you didn’t have anything to do with this?” I ask, trying to sound like I’m actually surprised.

“What?” The other me says, as if taken off guard by the question.

“Wait, you mean you seriously have no idea how I got here?” The other Twilight asks, sounding more genuinely surprised by that fact.

“No, and why do you look like me?” I ask the weird doppelganger.

“Woah, hold on, what do you mean ‘why do you look like me’?” She asks, looking more confused as we trade questions.

Honestly, I don’t blame her; I’m a little confused myself.

I can’t honestly remember the last time I was actually angry with myself. Maybe it happened a long time ago... too long ago. How can I not be angry with myself? I’d hurt people in the past, heck, I still hurt people! and chances are, I’m going to hurt people in the future...

“What does it take before it’s just too much?” I ask myself aloud, staring down at my hooves, slowly dragging them across the library’s wooden flooring.

“Okay, maybe we should try and get a few things straight.” I said sheepishly, since I had no idea if I was dealing with a changeling. “Who are you?”

“Asher.” My doppelganger said. “And you?”

“Twilight Sparkle.” I said, feeling a little better that the thing that looked like me didn’t try and share my name.

All of a sudden, I frown. I’m not even sure what for, but I just know I’m not happy with myself.

“Er, is something wrong, uh, Asher?” Twilight asks.

“Huh? Oh! Er, no, not really, I’m just upset with myself.” I say, trying to brush it off.

“Do you feel like talking about it?”

“Not really, I mean, we have more important things to go through right now.” She said.

“Such as?” I ask.

“What do you mean what ‘why do I look like you’?” She asks.

This question is a little unsettling.

I hear voices in the distance. That’s weird, they sound like I do. Usually when I have dreams, they’re of importance to the future, but this sounds like a conversation to myself. I’m the only one who does that between myself and I...

I’ll just take a moment to listen to the conversation.

“I’m currently in between universes at the moment, so it’s a little unsettling to see something that looks like I do.” I tell my look-alike, hoping she’s not some interdimensional authority.

“In between universes?” She asks, her face looking as if she finds humor in what I just said.

“Er, yes. Why do you ask?” I inquire, not sure if I want to hear the response.

“Because I’m actually dreaming.” She says, sounding as if she’s holding back a laugh.

“Dreaming?” She asks, almost as if what I said is ridiculous.

“Yep.” I say as flat as I can, but I can’t help but be amused by what my copy claims. I’ve only ever heard claims so unbelievably wild on shows and in my dreams, so it’s only logical that I’m dreaming where I’m hearing it.

“... Have you heard the name Princess Celestia?”

“Have I heard the name? She was in the news about a week ago.” I hear myself say. It’s not like me to hold a conversation without myself, but I guess becoming a Twilight look-alike has done more to that half of me than I thought it might.

Laughable really, but I thought I was stronger.

“Heck, she practically was the news.” I finished, trying not to laugh at how obvious my split was being in his attempts to dupe me into thinking this was Twilight.

It would probably be less obvious if she wasn’t so accurate to the show, but I give myself props on remaining detailed.

“Oh, geeze... That spell mentioned something about bodies, but I must have misinterpreted it.” She said.

… Now is about the time I started second guessing things.

That didn’t sound like something I would dream about. I stood up and started slowly walking toward the voices, wondering if I’d actually decided to have a normal dream for once. What I seen was actually a shock to me.

There were two other Twilight Sparkles.

I quietly slid over to one of the bookcases and filled my front left foreleg with books. I just decided to stand quietly off to the side for the moment, but rest assured, I’d get them...

“I’m going to need to take control of your body, okay?” I said, standing and taking a cautious step forward.

“I’d be willing to-”

“Great, then I’ll just-” I start, only to be cut off.

“No!” I suddenly hear a voice scream over my talking.

“I don’t care who you are, you do not cut other people off!” I scream, still ready to throw the books.

“Wait, who are you?” One of the two Twilights asks.

“Asher.” I answer, eyeing the two others to see if I could pierce through the deception with my eyes.

“Oh, good, now can you get rid of this illusion so we can get to the usual? I’m kinda tired of this dream.” I say, staring at myself.

“Wait, you didn’t make that?” He asks.

“Wait, how are you here if you’re over there?” Twilight asks, drawing both of my gazes.

Suddenly, one of my lookalikes started throwing books at me, yelling “Third consciousness!” while the other just stared curiously.

“What is wrong with you?” I asked once the volley of books has ceased.

“What do you mean by that? You’re the foreign thought process!” The one who was just throwing books at me said. I could probably be safe in the assumption that that’s the reasoning.

“Calm down, I’m sure she’s freaking out enough without having to deal with us when we’re angry!” I yell at myself.

“Oh, so now you’re on the side of the person who just tried to shunt us out of our own head?”

“No, I’m just saying lets try to be fair! He seems confused!”

“And why would you say that?”

“I’m a female, so you should say ‘she seems confused!’” The new self said.

“… He thinks he’s Twilight Sparkle.” My other self said.

“… What?” I ask, staring at my new personality split.

“Yeah.” My other self replies.

“Woah woah woah woah woah, I am not going through another Mario stage in my life! I still haven’t lived that down!” Asher said to… Asher.

“You’re telling me? Dude, I am you! I’ve yet to live it down either!” She yelled back.

“Wait, hold on a minute!” I yell, hoping to stop them before things get more confusing.

Cut the music up~

“Wait, what’s that?” ‘Twilight’ Said.

A lil’ louder~

“My alarm.” Myself and I answered in unison. “I swear, if we start doing that, I’m going to punch you!” I yell at myself as he starts dying laughing.

“Alarm? For what?” ‘She’ asks.

Yeah~

“To wake up in the mornings...” I say groggily, lifting my head off my pillow a little. “Oh, hey, I’m awake now...” I add. I looked over to where my phone was and seen it where I’d put it nightly.

“Stupid thing.” I say, sliding out of my bed. I tried to stand up only to fall over onto my side in a familiar fashion. “Welp! gravity hates me.” I said, giggling to myself. I look over myself, and then stand up properly. Sadly, I hadn’t dreamed becoming Twilight Sparkle.

That was as real as it got.

That was graceful.

My phones alarm is next to impossible when trying to turn it off with hooves. Memory alarm? Lets push three squares all at once. Math alarm? Lets push all the wrong answers twice. And to make it worse? My phone’s touchscreen does its work through heat sensors, so any time I would try to hold my phone in my... ankle-like, joint thingy... my leg would end up on the screen some and I’d be unable to do anything.

What took me seven minutes at most with fingers took me somewhere closer to fifteen with hooves. Luckily, I left my other alarm off yesterday, or else I would have had to rant and rave at it again, and my younger brother stopped my phone’s eight and nine o’clock alarms from going off.

He never did like how I had set my alarms.

My bedroom door having been left open all night so I could get out in the morning was a good thing; I hated the taste of metals in my mouth. Honestly, I even had a little bit of an issue with metal silverware, although those felt better sitting in my hands then the plastic Ikea silverware.

I shake my head for a moment to get my train of thought back on path.

I slowly walk over to the computer, and grab a nice stack of paper from atop the tower before heading back into my room as quietly as I possibly can. Setting them down on my bed, I look over to my window, and the envelope sitting on the window’s ledge.

I was actually doing this, right? Throwing any help I could have out the window just because we lacked something? I walked over to the window and picked up my phone and the envelope, putting them into a side pocket of my bag with a heavy heart.

After struggling with my camping bag for a few minutes, I’m finally able to stand up on my own four hooves with it on. I head over to the window again and grab a pencil I’d gotten from school one year.

It said B.U.G. on it, which stood for Bringing Up Grades. Probably one of the stupidest things I’d ever seen. I would avoid getting things like that if at-all possible because they irritated me. At least the blasted thing would write fairly dark with only light contact with the paper, and it was short, so I would have more control.

I would say I walked, but I more of sulked over to my bed to start writing a farewell note to my family, that way they’d have an idea on what was going on. I didn’t write very well, but compared to my handwriting... Well, it’s actually kinda hard to say which was better... you could at least see the spacing with my mouthwriting.

“Dear Everyone,

“I’m heading off to New York, as per request of Princess Celestia herself. I have no idea on how I’m getting there, but I’m taking my phone, the tent, a few blankets, my birthday money, and a bag of saltine crackers.

“Don’t follow me, I know that you’ll be worried and that I’m not even really old enough to be out on my own yet, but to take anyone with me could end up messing up life in the house more than what it has bee-”

A dull thud shook the house.

Dropping the pencil, I glance around my room real quick, trying to think of what could have caused the shake.

About a minute later another, louder thud shakes the building. This time it feels like a small earthquake.

I quickly crawl under my bed from reflex to keep away from hazardous areas in an earthquake.

Another long pause, then another earth rattling shake, this time knocking over several things in the house and setting off a nearby car alarm. I hear screaming from outside.

This time I’m sure it’s not an earthquake. I quickly crawl out from under my bed and run over to my window, tossing the blinds over me, since the drawstring was well out of reach.

At first, nothing seemed to be there, until a small cottage was suddenly directly in front of me. Being on the second floor of the house, this was a bit perplexing until I realized it was standing on stilts that looked oddly like chicken legs. Then I realized that there were chicken shaped impressions making a line up the street to the slightly swaying structure.

For a split second, my mind went to jokes I could make about the nickname my grandma gave my mother for a while, “Chicken Legs.” Then I thought about Howl’s Moving Castle. Then I finally came to the sane thought of “Why is there a cottage on chicken legs?”

A cackle loud enough to echo through the street came from the cottage before an ancient woman in long black robes was seemingly flung from the chimney, coming down to float in front of the doorless cottage. She wore a typical Witch’s hat and held a broom, but she did not use the broom to fly, she simply floated. “POOOOONY! WHERE ARE YOU PONY?” She hollered, laughing. “Come out come out!”

The old lady had to be blind, or I had to blend in with my white blinds fairly well in the bluish light that came from the street lights. I actually started to laugh a little at the fact she couldn’t see me despite the fact that I was in plain sight, but decided it’d be a good idea to get away from my window.

A moment later with a blast of magic, the front wall of my room was gone in a shower of splinters and glass. “POOOONY!” She called, before cackling again.

I’m good with pressure. I wrecked a tote goat into barbwire, stood up, and ran to the house. I almost drown, and was laughing about it five minutes afterward. I became a pony, and was mostly over it by the end of the day.

But here? Nope. Nothing in my life had me ready for a day where some witch would come along and blast through my bedroom wall for some reason. What did I do? I started screaming like a little girl as I turned around and started running, something I’d not done in almost eight years.

“Come back pony!” The witch screeched, blowing apart a nearby bookshelf.

What little balance I had normally was gone since I had my bag on my back, and running wasn’t something I was used to yet, so I tripped just before reaching the stairs. Lucky for me that gave me a moment to remember that walking down forwards was most likely a bad idea. Another fortunate thing was that my family was woken up by all the noise.

Becker opened his door, looking like he was about to murder someone, while Aamira pulled her door open with this frightened look on her face. I heard Conner open his door and come running down the hall while at the same time, I heard doors slam open and closed from my parent’s room.

I quickly scramble to my feet and try walking down the stairs backwards before stumbling and falling backwards down the steps. Landing on one’s horn isn’t a nice thing, it leaves one in a daze with a slight headache.

The witch had managed to make her way through the wreckage of my room and into the loft, finally spotting me just as everyone got to where they could see the top of the stairs.

For a short moment, absolutely nothing happened.

“… wow, that was graceful.” I heard from my head. Blasted headaches, always making the lines in my head thin.

The witch, oddly enough, bowed to my father from the top of the stairs. “Baba Yaga is pleased to be welcomed to your home with such a gathering. However, I must be taking this pony, and I must be leaving.” She said in a nasally voice before starting down the stairs towards me.

“The hell you do.” My dad said, readying my mom’s little handgun, which was pretty much the only gun in the house that stayed loaded. I couldn’t see upstairs clearly, but I think Kate finally came walking up behind Becker.

The old woman stopped, now in the center of the rough gathering of humans and pony. “Oh? You wish to challenge Baba Yaga for the pony?” She asked, with an unsettling grin.

“The heck do you even want from me?” I shouted, feeling rather cornered. The backyard was fenced, the front door too close, and the garage went right under her.

“You are to be my agent of destruction in this new world, pony. I have been promised your assistance in the destruction of the... inner net? Yes. We will be destroying it. Now come along or I will have to remove the spines from these ingrates that are sheltering you.” she said in a bored tone.

“Destruction of the internet?” I ask. “Well, I’d be down with that, if not for the destruction of my room, the four A.M. stop, and then the fact that I kinda need the internet to get to New York.” I throw out before I could get an answer.

“Wait, New York?” I hear my mom ask from behind me, electing a nervous laugh from me.

“I will get you to the York if you help me destroy the innerweb. This I swear upon the darkest horrors of your nightmares. You will come with me now.” Baba yaga demanded.

“Right, before I do anything rash, who exactly promised you I’d help you destroy the internet?” I ask. “I was about to tell you to ask that.” I hear from my head. “Oh come on dude, I’m not going to do anything stupid without thinking about it for three seconds.” I think back to myself.

“Oh, nice man. Thing. He said he brought me here to do it, and I really have not much else to occupy myself with.” She said, shrugging animatedly.

‘Right, working with vague figures isn’t my big thing, so I’m just going to try to find a backdoor option with you, okay?” I respond nervously. Conner seems to pick up on the hint and starts slowly moving toward the back door.

Everyone upstairs seems to see dad has a gun, and are staying out from behind the weird old lady. I’m not even able to tell how old she is, she looks that old. This is saying something, since my great grandmother died two years ago, and she was something like ninety-seven or something like that.

“What? You still will not come with me? Why would you be so foolish, pony? I am Baba Yaga! I can offer you knowledge and power beyond your wildest dreams! Why would you make at talking when action is needed?”

“I’ll be honest, I don’t trust people I’ve just met, and you came in by blasting through my bedroom wall. It’s not exactly a very warming way to introduce yourself to somepo- er, someone.” I say, keeping my eyes fixed on her nose.

“Besides, I’m not exactly looking to have power, although knowledge would be nice.” I add on, to keep her rolling while my brother inches toward the door.

“Very well, what would you like to know? Not about the nice man, but other things?” She prompted, seeming more and more curious in our conversation.

‘Well, first off, why do you want the internet gone?” I ask, hoping she’s actually stupid enough to fall for this. “She’s offering you knowledge beyond your dreams, she’s not just going to fall for some little scheme like that!”

“Pony, I do not even know what the inner net is! I was told to make it go away, so I will. With your aid.” She said, waving a hand dismissively.

“Well then, why get rid of it if you don’t even know of it? Why specifically me? Why create such a scene for something that probably doesn’t even matter to you?!” I ask, getting more hostile as I went along. “Wait, how is this actually working?” I hear from nowhere, but the voice is fading, as well as my headache.

“I will get rid of it because I was told to by the nice man. You are going to help me because you have Facts. Facts and knowledge are two different things, pony. I have Knowledge, you have Facts.” She smiled much wider.

“I make such a mess, because it is fun.” she turned away from me and, with a shake of my head, I realized I was now inside of a gently swaying, windowless, doorless cottage.

“Well, that plan didn’t work.” I thought to myself, only to hear a silence answer. “Great, the one time I’d love to hear my own thoughts, I can barely even hear my own... Stupid headaches.” I thought, trying to fill the void.

How on earth did I even end up inside of this thing?

It... makes me giggle.

Suddenly the gravity of the situation started beating on my head. I started looking around to try and find something familiar, but anything I knew was on my back. “Wai- wait, wha... what?” I asked absently, trying to think of something to explain what happened in a rational manner.

“It’s called a cottage, and you are called?” Baba asked, turning to face me with a raised eyebrow and a smile. A smile that held no warmth.

“Eh, Twi- er, Asher.” I replied, quickly catching myself before I said Twilight’s name. “M-my name’s Asher.”

Baba yaga shook her head. “You have another name, the name the nice man gave me. I want to hear you say it.” She demanded.

“Uh... Asher?” I said questionably. I knew I had a personality disorder, but sometimes people had to have completely different name to be able to cope with their disorder. Not common, but definitely not unheard of.

“No, your pony name. What is your pony name?” She said, frustrated.

“Tw-Twilight! Twilight Sparkle!” I said, crouching down a little as I backed up by instinct.

“Good. Good, now Twilight, I want you to sign a pact, agreeing to what you will do for me, and what I will do for you. All I need you to say, pony, is that you agree to help me destroy the inner net and in return I will take you to New York.” She said, her eyes cold and intense.

“Er, I don’t even know how I could be of use to you when it comes to destroying anything... I-I can’t even use magic.” I protested nervously.

“You know this land, and you know of the spell that brought you here. You are pressing a point that you do not wish to press. Do you wish me to take you to New York or not, little pony?” She snarled.

“What? I’ve tried using magic several times in the past twenty four hours! I have no idea how I could use it, and the spell wasn’t even my doing!” I shouted.

“I am talking to the wrong pony...” Baba Yaga mumbled.

“The wrong, wait wha-...” Before I can finish, the witch holds out a hand towards me.

“I need to talk to all of the Twilights, and all of the Ashers. I need you all to sign the contract.” With that she snapped her fingers, and I felt a tugging at the back of my head, as though someone was pulling on my mane.

“You should be.... more the pony I need by tomorrow. Are you hungry, pony?” She asked as if nothing had happened.

“N-not overly...” I said cautiously. All the stories of witches eating people I didn’t believe, although that didn’t mean squat about not eating animals. That made me question how she would need me to destroy the internet though, so chances are good that I’m safe... for now.

She shrugs and pulls a head of cabbage from a bag, slowly chewing on it as the cottage rocks back and forth underneath us.

I looked at the bag, filled with what I assumed to be cabbage, for a while before I started looking around the rest of the cottage. The tugging at the back of my head didn’t mean much to me at the moment, as it wasn’t really a pressing matter for now.

I was curious about it, but I’d have to learn about it a little later. For now, I had to figure out how I would get out of here, and fast. I needed to have the internet handy, so helping her destroy it was far out of the question.

What was her whole deal with saying “Inner net” anyways? That could be interesting to make a joke about. Wait, she’s not even saying it right... She wants me to join into some pact thing to destroy something that doesn’t exist! I can actually use this to my advantage!

“So, uh, about the inner net,” I force myself to say, although it irks me to do so. “how exactly are we going to go about destroying it?” I ask, trying to pry her plans out of her.

She sighed, taking another bite from the cabbage before answering. “If I knew what it was, I would not need you, would I? You will guide me to it, and we will destroy it. I am sure that my powers will be enough.” she said dismissively.

“I-I suppose not...” I said. As creative as I was, I wasn’t entirely sure how I could pull this off. Being obsessive compulsive, I had a hard time saying inner net. I couldn’t think of anything to make her target either. I could have fun with it, but I needed to keep the chaos down.

“I could take something physical and target it, but that could break spirits, so I need something abstract. Everything on a small enough scale never actually makes contact with another, so basically everything has its inner nets, but that’d destroy the universe.” I thougth to myself.

“Try something metaphorical.” I heard a thought say.

“That could work actually... Everything is caught in a giant net. Bad ideas, money, even down to thoughts. Maybe I can finally get that void filled by having her destroy the walls in my mind. Let myself hear all my thoughts.

“No, hearing my thoughts too much could hurt or become confusing... I need something to help me focus on communication with myself. How does one focus on oneself? Mirrors. Seems vain, yeah, but at least it’s doable. Wait, I’ve already heard a thought...

Maybe just my imagination, I’m trying to think about too much at once. Now, how do I phrase it?” I asked myself. How does one ask to have the barriers that one had put there for one reason or another that they can’t remember why they put the up in the first place, taken down?

“I think I have a different idea on what to do...” I said, finally taking note of the fact I was sitting on the floor. I wasn’t sure when I did that, but whatever, I was lightheaded. No complaints from me, I’ve had enough falling.

The witch had finished her Cabbage silently and was picking her teeth with some sort of bone that could only have been summoned from thin air, unless it had been pulled from her ratty hair.

“You talk of another way to destroy the Inner Net?” She asked suspiciously. “You must agree to the pact before I take you to New York, though, pony.”

“I’m actually going to change the agreement a little.” I said, lifting a hoof to my head. The rocking of the cottage did little to ease my lightheadedness.

She only narrowed her eyes.

I shuddered a little as her eyes narrowed. “We’ll destroy the inner nets,” I said, this time without the hesitation. “but instead, I’d like for you to give me a way to have some control over how I talk to myself.” I said, struggling to stand up without falling over.

“What are the inner nets, if you have become the pony I need to talk to, you must know.” She demanded.

“They’re a metaphor, one that represents my subconscious will to keep my personalities, or possibly even identities, separate.” I said, trying to keep her off my intents to protect the internet... I wasn’t even sure if that’s what she was going at anymore.

“So... If I help you destroy this inner net, you will become one pony, like I wanted anyway, and I will have fulfilled my debt?” She asked, smiling.

“I’d like to not become one person, or pony, as you say, but I’d like to not have to worry about not knowing what I’m talking to myself about when I’m not in my head.” I explained, hoping she would understand.

She thought for a moment. “If I destroy the net, and in place put... a window... if I give you a barrier that does not keep the parts separate, that would do what you wish but destroy the net, yes?” She clarified.

“Well, I would use something more like a low fence, but a window would work.” I said. “I mean, I just don’t want to hear myself complaining about what I’m doing when I’m doing it, and talking to myself is kinda hard when my head doesn’t hurt, so I’d like something that would allow me to know what I’m doing and hear my thoughts under certain circumstances.” I added, trying to clarify further.

“You wish to be at peace with yourself, pony. Such a thing cannot be forced with magic. But until that time, I can make a window, I can make you sane while destroying the Net. Will this be enough for you to agree to the pact?” She asked eagerly.

“Okay, so would you explain what this window would do?” I asked sheepishly.

“You will be able to think from one part of yourself to another, as though talking to another person, your thoughts will be kept to your own.... room. You will be able to give control of your body to the other ponies in your head. Such things are simple, but to have you share your soul and self with them... I cannot do that by magic, and I have no reason to try.” She said with a frown.

I sat and thought about it for a moment silently. “Do you think I could have the control giving part taken out?” I asked with a bit of a grin. “I kinda have fun with being in control at random.”

“You wish for them to be able to control your body without your permission? I will never understand mortals.” She shook her head, sighing.

“Er, no, not them to be able to control my body without permission... I’d rather have our whole random cycling of who’s in control to keep going... It... makes me giggle.” I said, chuckling.

She rolled her eyes. “Very well, so you must agree to the pact, by your name.” She prompted.

I took a moment to clear my throat. “I, Asher-”

“No! your pony name.” She demanded again.

“Er, s-sorry...” I said. “W-wait, shouldn’t I be using both names, to signify that all three parties, or, four parties, really, are in agreement?” I asked, expecting to be treated like an idiot.

“The pony name, is the name that matters. It is the one that I was tasked with finding.” She said.

“Oh...” I sounded, a little insulted by this actually. “Well then, I, Twilight Sparkle, agree to help Baba Yaga destroy the inner net, in exchange for an inner window of sorts.” I said, fairly certain I had screwed something up.

“And in return, I, Baba Yaga, will take you to the New York. To this you swear?” She asked in her screeching, high pitched voice, as the lanterns lighting the cottage began to dim, casting eerie shadows across the wooden interior, the building rocking back and forth with more force.

Well, that seemed to be a bit of a mistake on her end, but who was I to complain? Or maybe it was misinterpretation... oh well. “I swear.”

Then the lights were gone.

We're an individual together.

I honestly have no idea how long I was sitting in the dark, but eventually a soft white glow began to surround me. I looked around quickly, but could only see the dim reflections of myself in a pane of glass on either side. I trotted up to one of the panes of glass, and put a hoof to it.

Slowly, a purple glow began to show itself from the other side, illuminating Twilight. Sure, I looked like her, but for some reason or another, I could tell it was actually her. Her eyes were closed and she seemed to be sleeping while sitting up, which I find funny, because my mom does that, and I always poke fun at her for it.

I trotted over to the other pane of glass. I didn’t even need to touch the pane of glass, as it started to glow a light blue color. I could tell it was me as I made the form that was looking back at me. A small blue pegasus, with what seemed to be a blond windswept mane.

“What on earth did you do?!” He yelled.

“What do you mean?” I asked, staring myself right in the eyes.

“Look at what’s gone on in here! I know you better than that! You wouldn’t have put us into some weird rooms separately, especially not with Twilight in the last of the three!”

“Oh come on! This will help and you know it! We’re getting to New York! We’re able to talk to ourself whenever! And now we know that Twilight is actually the Twilight!”

“Yes, because being in the body of the person who’s the weakest of our consciousness of our being is a good thing!” He yelled, his green eyes locking on mine.

“Better than whatever you’d have done!” I screamed, trying to force myself into a metaphorical corner and failing. I knew I was on the shallow end of this argument.

“Guys....” A groan from behind me interrupted our shouting.

“S-sorry...” I said, quieting down. I had to step out of here, since I’ve never been on my good side and Twilight was trying to sleep.

“I’m sorry.” Twilight said from the other side of her glass. She looked like she had been crying.

“W-what?” I said, running over to the window that allowed me to see her.

“I-I didn’t know what the spell would do, and now that I’ve used it, I caused all of this arguing.”

“I hate to say it, but you’re wrong.” My blue self said. “Myself and I have never been on good terms.”

“And I’ve made that worse. Don’t you understand? This can’t last. Baba Yaga can’t keep the inevitable from happening, we will merge, and I don’t think either of you will be whole when it is over... I’m so sorry.”

For a second I tried moving the shape of the world so that it wasn’t so awkward to talk to myself and Twilight. I actually managed to somewhat move things, but it only went so far as my own room.

“We’ve never been whole to start with.” I say, actually starting to laugh.

“For once, I agree with myself.” I heard myself say. He’d done the same with his room, moving the windows next to one another, and shaping his room into the triangular form I had mine in.

”So the thought of part of yourself dying doesn’t scare either of you?” Twilight asked softly. “Because it sure as Tartarus scares me.”

“Maybe that’s a good thing it scares you.” I said with a smile. “You’re plenty more sane than I am, I can tell you that for sure.”

“Besides, we lose ourselves a little bit every day to begin with.” My blue self says. “I may be frightened by change, but I can live with it, because I’ll never lose my individuality.”

“But, how are you individuals if there’s more than one of you?” Twilight asks, her sadness slightly less prominent than her curiosity.

“Simple,” I start, starting to laugh again.

“We’re an individual,” My other self added in, a soft and understanding expression on his face.

“Together.” We say as one.

I start laughing my tail off so much it seems a little forced, but I can’t help it. Any time I’d ever agreed with myself, my mood was hard to kill.

“So, as I become one with you, and we both lose ourselves to some degree, I am going to be the one in a panic, not you two? I thought for sure I would be the strong one when it came to things like this.” She said with a nervous chuckle.

“I’ve always believed that it’s best not to panic, no matter what the situation.” My other self said, since I was still incapable of conversation. “Besides, fear is one of the things that’s made people strong. It’s an emotion I would never get rid of.

“Also, what’s not to say you lost your nerve after being kept from taking the conscious role earlier?” He finally asked.

“I’ve been keeping myself subdued. I don’t want to accidentally cause more damage than I already have.” Twilight said. “At least, that’s my excuse, I don’t know what would happen if I really tried to take over.”

“Probably nothing. We’re at constant war with ourself over who’s going to be in control... Although, that’s a weak excuse.” My other part said. “Do you really think you could cause more harm than that?” He asked. I didn’t even need to see to know he was gesturing toward me.

“Hey, don’t forget *gasp* about yourself!” I called in between bouts of laughter.

Twilight closed her eyes and steadied her breathing, before reaching out a hoof and touching the glass in front of her. A hole in it the size of a dime appeared with a deafening crack, and a few smaller cracks spread from it. She quickly pulled her hoof back and looked at the hole in shock. “Oh Celestia, I just meant to test it... to gauge the strength of the barrier.” She said in shock.

I stopped laughing and got to to a standing position. “Wow, we can slightly break it... think we can fix it?” I asked with a smile, wiping my hoof over it several times just to see what the glass did.

It mended some of the smaller cracks, leaving a small but clean cut hole.

“Well, lets try not to break down the glass unless needed.” I said, a little afraid of what would happen if the windows were gone.

“Say, where are we anyways?” I heard myself ask.

“We’re in our head?” I ask rhetorically, as if to answer my question.

“No no, what I mean is, where are we on the map?” He clarified.

“Well, you would have to wake up for that, pony.” A shrill voice said from above.

“Oh geeze what?” I said reflexively. “Bloody muffins lady, are my thoughts not private!?” I called to the skies.

That raised the question of how, if I was dreaming, was it only from one perspective?

“No! they are not, until this little gathering is over. I have made the windows, and I must wait for you to awake in order to leave your mind. It is filthy in here, please wake up.” She said snippily.

“Filthy? Filthy!? Why I oughtta-” My other self started

Twilight held up a hoof. “I see a library around me, I’m sure you see something else, I’m sure she just sees what she wants to see, and she doesn’t like us. I think we should wake up to get her out.”

“WAKE UP CALL!” I yelled suddenly and ran away from the windows. I ran over to a bed and jumped onto it, looking into the mirror there.

“Mirror mirror on the wall, wake up time says time to fall!” I shouted as I dove headfirst at the mirror as I heard myself call me some derogatory name.

Not at all, Sir.

I have no idea what my idiot of a self did, but at least he managed to wake us up. Never thought I’d see him as the red coated, green eyed, blond maned pegasus I’d seen, but he did something. For some reason though, my eyes refused to open.

Oh, there they go. Now, I should be able to tell where I am once the morning haze clears up. First thing to hit me is that I am lying on the floor, in a room that has no windows, and doesn’t seem to have a door.

With a small grunt, I forced myself into a sitting position. “The hay?” I ask myself, rubbing the back of my head to try and get rid of that feeling of something pulling my mane. It seems stubborn though, and won’t go away, no matter how hard I rub.

“Wait, where the heck am I?” I say more audibly, finally noticing I’m inside a cottage. “Who the heck are you?!” I ask some old lady at a table, rocking back and forth. She seemed to be staring at a picture that I couldn’t see from my angle.

She turned to me with an amused expression. “Which pony are you today?” She asked curiously, with an air of boredom.

Okay, she seemed to know about the whole ordeal with my personality disorder... Exactly what had I done before? “I, uh...” I started, then shook my head. “I’m sorry, but I believe I asked first.” I stated, still trying to figure out where I was.

“That’s Baba Yaga, the witch who kidnapped us.” I heard from myself. I don’t exactly know how to explain how the thought felt, but I could tell who thought it. “Also, we’re Twilight if she asks, unless she can see through blatant lies.”

“Oh wait, Sorry, I uh...” I started without waiting for her to answer. “Multiple people in one head can lead to memory issues. So uh, Baba Yaga, yes? I’m Twilight.”

“Oh good. We are almost to the New York.” she said, turning back to her little picture frame.

A dull thud rocked the cottage, out of time with the footsteps of the cottage itself.

“Silly mortals.” Yaga chuckled.

“What the heck was that?” I asked, put on edge by the thud.

“Nothing to worry about. Soon we will have parted our ways, I will be free and you will be where you asked me to take you.” She said, shrugging.

“Is this thing dancing or something? I don’t hear any music.” I said quizzically. The lack of music made the timed thumps from the motion of the cottage’s legs seem strange to say the least.

“The cottage is walking. That is how we are traveling; the cottage walks and we wait. Oh, almost there. Any questions before we part ways?” She asked as another, louder thud shook the cabin.

“Just one.” I said, looking around. “How exactly do I get out of here?” I asked, feeling like I’d regret the choice of words.

“And here I thought I was the crazy one.” I heard from some part of my head.

“Do you have a better way to phrase the question?” I thought back, a lick of venom to my thought.

A split second of silence. “Good point!” I heard before an eruption of laughter. I cut the thoughts out from my head at that point.

“Like this! Goodbye, Twilight Sparkle!” With a wave of her hands, and a flash of purple light that felt almost familiar, I was standing on the deck of some kind of ship.

“Hostile!” I dimly heard someone shout, and quickly I was surrounded by sailors with sidearms and SMGs readied and pointed at me.

“State your intentions!” One of them barked.

I let out a frightened squeak as I tried to throw my forehooves above my head, only to fall backward from my lack of experience when it comes to sitting on my hind legs alone.

“The creature is retreating.” Someone said, looking off into the distance. I sat up a little to see what they were talking about, to see a cottage on chicken legs that had turned and was walking away from the vessel.

Judging it be better to stay quiet until prompted again, I slowly turned back to look at the men with guns.

One of them finally looked back to me and sighed. “Weapons down. So, who and what are you, and why did you just appear on our ship?” He was obviously the highest ranking officer in the little gathering, but he gave off the impression that he really didn’t want to be.

I could feel the tension drop as the weapons were put at ease. “A-Asher, Asher Allshouse, sir.” I said, trying to calm down. “Unicorn. I-I’ll be honest, I think Baba Yaga teleported me aboard.” I said, as straight-faced as I could muster after just having had a small group of sailors point guns at me.

The officer sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. “That... makes more sense than a lot of other theories about the walking cottage that we had come up with. So, why did she bring you here?”

“I-I don’t know, she said she was taking me to New York.” I said, still trying to level out my thoughts.

One of the lower ranking sailors snorted and covered his mouth before turning away and the entire group seemed to suddenly be at ease as they burst into laughter.

The officer grimaced. “Return to your posts, all of you.” He commanded.

“Asher, she did what you asked. You are on board the U.S.S. New York.” he said humorlessly.

I sat there with a dumbfounded look for all of about three seconds before I turned and looked out in the direction Baba Yaga had left. “Crafty, evil, little worm!” I exclaimed, somewhere between a hearty laugh and an irritated yell.

“Come with me, we have to document that you were here and figure out if this counts as trespassing on a naval ship, I’ll put in a good word for you. Also, out of curiosity, I didn’t know Asher was a girls name,” he commented, most likely in revenge for the amount of paperwork he would soon be digging through.

“Wh-what?!” I yelled, my stance turning somewhat aggressive. “I am, er, was a boy! It’s just, Twilight, and.... Augh!” I screamed in frustration as much as indignation. My hooves reflected my mood as I started following the man.

Several sailors could be seen peeking around corners and whispering to eachother as the furious little pony and the sailor passed by, slowly making their way through the ship to the bridge, where a man seemingly made of steel and muscle stood with his back to the door.

“Captain, this is Asher, the.... intruder. It appears that a mythical character tricked her... him, into being sent here instead of the state of new york,” my guide helpfully explained.

My eyes darted around the area, taking in as much info as possible. Having been raised by a Navy man and hearing stories related to a few odds and ends he’d gathered in his career, I noticed he was obviously a seasoned sailor.

The hulking man, however, was not the one to turn around and speak. A man who had been all but obscured by him turned and stood. The Captain was a laid back looking, friendly man. He was built more like a fighter than a bodybuilder, and he wore his short red hair combed back.

“Well, you seem harmless enough, although I am going to have to ask you to let us put an iron ring around your horn to keep you from blowing us all up or something, orders from the top on that one.” The man said apologetically.

“W-wait, you think I'm capable of doing that?” I asked, rather astonished by the amount of power that I was assumed to have. “I-I can’t even use magic!” I shouted, upset that I wasn't even trusted.

He shook his head. “Relax, relax.” He turned to a nearby drawer and pulled out a thin ring.

“Not soon after people started changing to ponies, we found out that a ring made of Chromium, Tungsten, and Iron will keep the powers subdued enough that all one of you magical ponies will be able to do is lift stuff up. Safety precautions, you understand.” He said, holding it out and crouching.

I gave out an upset groan, but sat down and lowered my head to try and make it easier for him. “I can’t even lift anything...” I said to myself.

He slipped it on, the small weight making my head feel a little heavier.

“I’m sorry, but orders are orders. As long as you wear that, you can stay on board until we get to port.” He said. “We will let you stay in an officer’s quarters.”

“Understood.” I said, trying to sound as neutral about the situation as possible. If I was going to be on a ship full of Navy and Marine officers, I might as well act as if I somewhat belong.

“One last thing before we let you settle in.” The Captain said ominously.

“My son would kill me if I didn’t get a picture of you, do you mind?” he asked, with a tired smile.

I was caught off guard for a second, but with a small giggle and an awkward salute I said, “Not at all, sir, not at all.”

This could be a problem.

Okay, situation inspection.

I’m aboard a ship that’s at sea. How far at sea? Not very far, I’d think. I’m aboard a MILITARY ship... Not exactly good, although I know I’m safe from the likes of Baba Yaga. Never again will I ever talk to a witch about what to do, and what it is I need to do.

“Forgetting something?” I felt the thought from that side of my head that doesn’t seem to know when to stop bothering me.

“Because I actually want to talk to you!” I thought back, the venom still edging on my thoughts.

“Uh, could you smile? I don’t want my son to think I’m bothering you.” The captain said, looking around the camera he’d pulled out.

“OH! Sorry, just uh... thinking.” I said, which was my generic response to pretty much any question asked when I’m thinking. I was a little glad he pulled me out of my thoughts.

“That’s okay, I’ll just give you a second to think then.” He said, lowering the camera.

“Thanks, but I’ll be fine, really.” I said, putting a smile on my face. My heart was still racing from the whole thing with guns being pointed at me, which was probably why my smile felt forced.

“Well, you don’t entirely look it.” The man who had escorted me to the captain pointed out.

“I’ve just... had a long morning...” I said, thinking back to when I woke up.

“Haven’t we all?” The captain asked, clearly trying to calm me down.

“True...” I said, considering the situation from their point of view. “Now, um, forgive me for only now asking, but...” I continued, having just realized something. “What are your names?”

“Right, right, we haven’t gone over names.” The captain said, returning to the center of the bridge. “I am Lieutenant Commander David Smith, Captain of the U.S.S. New York. The man who’s escorted you here is Lieutenant Jonathan Dachs.” He said, gesturing to the man next to me, who gave a quick nod of acknowledgement.

“Mr. tall, strong, and silent here is actually our Chief of Communications, First Lieutenant James Carters.” Captain Smith went on, continuing to identify everyone in the bridge. Some turned to acknowledge that they’ve been introduced, and some didn’t even seem to notice that their names were said, like James.

Although, a few seemed to take great interest in me, much like Captain Smith himself, for family members, or even a few for themselves. After being introduced to everyone on deck, and letting the captain take that picture for his son(I even asked if he’d let me put his hat on for it, but he said no), I was taken to what would be my room until we docked.

There was two beds hanging from the left wall and two hanging from the right, as well as four lockers. There were two desks and a small table as well. “Fortunately for you, this is my berthing, so you’ll have someone to talk to.” Lt. Dachs said. “The other two should have stopped by here come lunch time, so you should be able to take a few minutes to get to know them as well.”

“I’ll be sure to.” I said as I looked at a deck of cards sitting on the table.

“Great, I’ll come by and check on you every once in awhile, to make sure you’re okay.” He said as he started heading for the door.

“One question before you go.” I said, turning my head to look at him. “Exactly how long before lunch?” I asked, feeling the pain for not having accepted Baba Yaga’s offer for breakfast.

“Lunch will be served at twelve-hundred thirty.” He said as he went to leave, before stopping in the doorway. “Eh-”

“Twelve thirty P.M, understood.” I said, cutting him off while turning my gaze back at the deck of cards.

“Alright then.” The officer said as he shut the door behind him on his way to whatever he was doing.

“Alright, Finally alone.” I said, focusing on the cards. How did one use magic? Imagination didn’t seem to be a major part of it, because no matter how I envisioned performing levitation, I couldn’t make anything move.

“... I suppose I should try to have internal conversations...” I thought to myself. “Say uh... Twilight? Can you hear me?” I thought in an attempt to communicate with my... well, myselves, I guess...

“Yes, I can hear you. So, why were you freaking out when they pointed those weird things at you?” She thought back, thankfully.

“Those were guns, and... they’re not exactly the nicest things in our world, to put it simply. Anyways, how do I use magic?” I thought to her.

“Well, first you need to think about what you want to do, and then you, uh... and then you just...” She paused for a moment. “you simply...” Another pause.

“Simply what?” I asked.

“I... I don’t know.” I heard.

“You don’t know!? What do you mean you don’t know!?” I thought angrily. “This is YOUR body, YOU’RE the one who grew up as a unicorn! How can you simply not know how to use magic!?”

“I-I don’t know! I just can’t remember how it is I used magic!” I heard Twilight think back.

I let out an external groan. “This could be a problem.” I thought opening my eyes back up.

I start focusing on the cards again. Even one card would be something. I’m sick of not being able to use what should be a natural ability. Even simple levitation would be amazing at this point.

Narrowing my eyes at the deck, I start to chant “I want to lift those cards,” over and over in my head.

This leads to no success.

After staring at the cards for a good while, Lt. Dachs comes by, assumably to check up on me like he said he’d do periodically. “How are ya doing?” He asks.

Startled by the sudden voice, I scrambled clumsily to my feet... er, hooves. “I’m okay, I just didn’t expect you here so soon.” I said after giving a quiet sigh.

“Captain Smith told me I’m to check on you at least every thirty minutes to make sure you’re okay.” He said.

“Alright then, I’ll just be trying to figure out how to lift a card with my horn.” I said passively.

“Okay, lunch is in an hour, just to let you know..” He said, leaving the room again. I made a mental note that I’d see him once more before lunch before setting back to trying to learn magic from scratch.

“Do I need to say something?” I thought to Twilight.

“Not for anything I know of, but there might be some spells that require incantations.” I felt her think.

“Great, looks like I’m stuck then...” I thought, looking up at the cards.

I decided I’d get a little bit more comfortable instead, so I took a few minutes taking off my camping bag. Looking around again, I decide it’s best to just leave my bag right in the middle of the floor next to the bed on the right side of the room when entering.

I started trying to climb into bed, but it was too high for me to be able to actually climb in. I decided to learn how to jump so that I wouldn’t need to be picked up, but I was having serious issues with it. Just as I was getting to the point where I could get all four hooves around three inches off the ground...

My phone started ringing.

My right mind or not.

I won’t bother telling you how hard it was getting my phone out of my camping bag, but I will say that I’m a little worried how hard it will be to get the saltine crackers I packed.

Looking at the caller I.D, I see it’s my parents’ phone that’s calling. Luckily, my phone has a button that will allow me to accept the call, instead of having to struggle with the touch-screen.

“H-hello?” I said, leaning backward into a corner of the room so I don’t fall.

“Asher? Asher is that you?” I heard my mom said. I didn’t even need to hear her and I would have been able to tell that she’s crying.

“Yes mom, it’s me.” I said.

“Oh my god, are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.” I told her, trying to keep myself from getting teary eyed.

“Oh thank god. So she didn’t hurt you?”

“No, no she didn’t.” I said flatly.

“Where are you?”

“I’ll be honest, I have no idea.” I told her with a slight laugh.

“What the hell do you mean you have no idea?”

“Exactly that.” I said.

“Does she know you have your phone?”

“Who, Baba Yaga?”

“Is that her name?”

“I’d assume so, I mean, that’s what she responded to.” I answered.

“The hell did she want with you?”

“She wanted to destroy the ‘Inner Nets’ of my mind. I mean, at first I thought she wanted to destroy the internet, but she just wants to make me go freakin’ nuts.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve been telling you that I’ve got a split personality for years, but now I’ve just got flat out D.I.D, lets leave it at that.” I tell her, assuming that she’ll just think I’m saying this. Nobody aside from Conner ever believed me when I said I have a split personality, and even then, he's skeptical about it.

“Are you sure you’re okay, baby?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“Okay... Is she close by?”

“Baba Yaga?”

“Mhmm”

“Oh pfft, no, she’s long gone. Kinda dropped me off on a ship and left. Lucky I didn’t get shot.”

“Shot!? Oh my god, are you okay?”

I give a small grunt. “Yes mom, I’m okay, Lieutenant Dachs told his men to lower their weapons, and Captain Smith set me up in a berthing with the Lieutenant.”

“Lieutenant, Captain!? Where the hell are you?”

“Eh, I’m on a military ship. Can’t exactly tell you where at though.”

“Oh my god... I’m going to give the phone to your dad, you can talk to him for a moment, I need to calm down some.”

“Uhm... Okay?” I said, slightly confused.

Sure, she was always the worrier, but she seemed more freaked out than usual. Then again, I was just kidnapped this morning. Being on a military boat probably wouldn’t be much of an improvement over having been kidnapped.

The whole ‘lucky I didn’t get shot’ thing probably doesn’t help either, now that I think about it...

There was a moment of quiet conversation coming from the other end before my dad said “Hello.”

“Hey Dad.”

“So your mom says you’re on a military ship?”

“Yeah.”

“The hell did ya manage that?”

“If I knew, I’d tell you.”

“Do you know what sea you’re on?”

“No, not really.”

“Seen the captain yet?”

“Yes, Captain... Something Smith.”

“Where did he put you?”

“He put me in an officer’s berthing.”

“How many beds?”

“Four.”

“Do you have any of the officers’ names?”

“Only Lieutenant Johnathan Dachs’.”

Eerily, the lieutenant stuck his head into the room to check on me at that moment in time. After a quick nod to let him know I’m okay, he quietly shut the door behind him.

“Right, what I want you to do is call when you get to shore. Think you can do that for me?”

“Sure thing dad.”

“Alright then. Your brother wants to talk to you, so I’m gonna give the phone to him, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Okay then. Love you Asher.”

“Love you too dad.”

“M’kay.”

“A’ight.”

“Buh-bye.”

“See ya.”

That was a relief. Dad’s probably going to call a few favors with some people he knows. He was liked throughout the Navy. In fact, he was on good terms with a Fleet Admiral or two from what he’s told me. Hard to imagine he was only an E6.

“Asher?” I heard my brother’s voice from the other end of the line.

“H-hey.” I said rather meekly. I was good at handling talking to my parents with a brave face. But I knew my brother would be able to see through my mask.

“You okay?”

“More or less.” I said, trying to keep him ‘outside,’ I could say.

“More or less?”

“... Less, actually.” I admit. “I’m freakin’ terrified. I mean, I had a witch, blow a freaking hole in my wall, just so she could abduct me! I’m getting these weird as crap thoughts of ‘Will I go back to magic kindergarten if I fail?’ or ‘When was the last time I sent a letter to Princess Celestia?’ or even ‘Did I forget to feed Owlowicious this morning?’ It’s freakin’ confusing.

“Then, I end up taking a dive into my mind in order to break down that thing that’s been keeping me sane since my birth, so clearly I’m going to go insane at some point, with the added sweetness of learning that not only do I look like Twilight, I’ve got her bustling about in my head.

“And then if that’s not bad enough, Baba Yaga, the witch who abducted me, managed to twist taking me to ‘The New York’ so that she ended up taking me to the New York. And I don’t mean the state either. I mean a freaking... Military ship, that’s out at sea. I mean... How the heck did she even get us out here?” I ask rhetorically.

“Magic? I dunno.” He answers.

“Conner, here’s what I want you to do. I want you to go up to my room, find the biggest bit of wood you can find, and smack your head with it as hard as you can.” I tell him, my voice soaked with caustic overtones. “Can you do that for me real quick?”

“Oh I’ve got this!” He says, as if what I just said was some kind of challenge.

“Conner, CONNER! Frick!” I scream into the phone, knowing it’s already too late to stop what’s about to go down.

I then took a short moment to laugh quietly as I tried to keep my face buried into my... well, memory called it my knee, but I wanted to call it my elbow.

He and I always had this little thing between us where we were... Something. We just shared a special kind of kinship. An advanced form of camaraderie if you prefer. I don’t have a way to properly describe it.

But often times, it lead to stupid moments like this that both of us found amusing in some profound way.

“Ow.” He said over the phone, making my laugh a little more audible.

“The heck man!?” I asked through my laugh.

“You told me to!” He said in defence.

“I was joking!” I responded.

“I don’t care.” Is what he threw in my face.

“So what’s going on?” I ask him.

“Everyone’s freaking out about you being kidnapped.”

“I mean aside from the obvious.”

“Mom and dad are now talking to the police saying you’re safe, but that they don’t have your location, Kate and Becker are currently in their room, Aamira is off at work, and I’m here talking to you from your destroyed bedroom.” He lists, going over the major points. “Lovely work that lady did in here, by the way.”

“That bad huh?”

“And then some.”

“Yeesh.” I sounded. We sat in a bit of a silence for a moment before I finally spoke up again saying, “Conner, I need you to do something for me, and I don’t care what you think, I need you to do this for me.”

“Tell me what it is and I’ll tell ya if I’ll do it.”

“Conner, I’m not taking a ‘maybe’ answer, I need you to do this for me.”

“I’m not agreeing to it unless I know what it is.”

“Conner!” I yell, and I mean actually yell, to let him know how little I want to play this game.

“Did you really need to yell?” He asked.

“Yes, because I need you to do this.” I said coldly.

“I’m not agreeing to do anything for you unless I know what it is.”

“Conner, I mean that I actually need you to do this for me. I freakin’ need this to be done.”

“What is it and I’ll tell you if I’ll do it.”

“Conner...”

“Asher you were just kidnapped from in the house! I’m not sure if you’re in your right mind or not!”

“I honestly couldn’t care less if I was in my right mind or not! I’m Twilight Sparkle, and I’m Asher Allshouse! Just... FRICK!” I screamed in frustration. “Just, do this one thing for me okay?”

“Ashe-”

“NO! Conner, just.... No.” We sit in silence for a moment. “Just... do this one thing, okay?”

I hear a sigh from the other end of the phone. “Fine. What do you need me to do?”

“I need you to keep everyone at home. No one can come after me.”

“Oh geeze, you think?”

“Wait, what?”

“That old lady threatened to kill us if you tried to do anything against her. I don’t think she’d be happy about us following.”

“... That’s a good point.”

“Mom and dad are set on going though, and I wanted to get your opinion on it first.”

“Then why did you say it as if you were going to do so anyways?”

“Because you’re stubborn. You were planning on going it alone last night, so your opinion is going to be that much more set after being kidnapped just because you’re a pony.”

“... Thanks.” I say simply.

“No problem.”

“Say, you don’t happen to have my old MP3, do you?”

“Which one?”

“The blue one.”

“No, why?”

“Because I want to know if it still works after being caught in an explosion.”

“That thing still worked?”

“Yeah!” I said enthusiastically.

“I thought that thing was broken.”

“It is, but the music still plays.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Right on.” He says, and I just start dying laughing.

The door to the berthing opens and Lt. Dachs sticks his head in. “Hey, lunch time. We need to head to the mess hall.”

“Oh, okay.” I tell the lieutenant. “Hey man, I gotta go. Call me if you find it.”

“Okay.”

“See ya man. Love ya.”

“Love you too, Asher.”

I shove my phone into the pocket on my camping bag that it was in and then follow Lieutenant Dachs out of the berthing area.

I started smiling. Asher’s relationship with his brother reminds me of the one I have my own brother, where they're so close. I really should write Shining Armor more often then I do.

Author's Note

Sorry about not putting anything up for the passed little bit. Holidays man, they kill me.

I've actually been able to start writing again, so at least you know I'm not dead.

Stay calm.

Lieutenant Dachs and I walked silently for a moment after I left the Berthing, but I guess he didn’t like the silence, because he broke it by asking, “So who were you talking to, Asher?”

I kept walking along side him silently, waiting for either Asher to answer, or strangely, for him to say the right name.

“Asher?” He prodded.

“Oh, you’re talking to me?” I asked.

“Well yeah, you’re the only other living thing in this passageway.” He explained.

“Oh... Right...” I said, looking back and seeing the empty corridor. “My name’s Twilight though.” I corrected, as if by reflex.

And then it sunk in.

Apparently for all three of us because as soon as I said that, both Ashers were suddenly freaking out in my head... It sounded a little like this.

“Wait, what?”

“Oh my gosh.”

“I knew this was coming!”

“Why didn’t I see this coming?”

“Do me a favor and-”

“Twilight, remember to-”

“stay calm.”

“We don’t need an-”

“Things could get hairy if-”

“Will you two stop thinking for a moment?! You’re giving me a headache!” I thought to them, cutting them both off. I let them sit in silence for a few seconds before I thought, “Thank you. Now please go over that one at a time so that I’m not only catching bits and pieces.”

I have no idea why I could tell their thoughts apart, since their thoughts sounded exactly alike. The only explanation I could give would be something Baba Yaga did. It kind of makes me feel bad for thinking she might have eaten me.

“What happened?” Asher thought.

“I don’t know!” I thought back.

“Twilight?” Lieutenant Dachs asked.

“I-I can explain!” I stated. “See, I used this spell that Princess Celestia had l-”

“No need, I understand.”

“-eft sitting in her quarters because... What?” I asked, caught off guard by his ungrounded understanding.

“I’d tell you, but I think it’d be easier on you if I just let you see for yourself.” He told me.

“The heck does he mean by that?” Asher thought to me.

“Do you think there’s another pony on board?” The other Asher thought.

“Another pony?” I thought to them.

“Well, it’s possible.” Asher thought.

I started thinking about the workers on board the ship, and everypony I know, trying to think of what they have in common. The workers on the ship seem to be of some kind of military. Who do I know that’s in a military service?

“Wait... Shining?” I said quietly to myself as I starting to smile. “Do you mean my brother’s on board?” I asked excitedly.

“Uh, maybe?” The man said with a light shrug. “I never watched the show.”

“Show?” I asked...

“Yeah, My Little Pony.” He said.

I gave him a confused stare as we continued walking.

“Awwwkward~!” I heard Asher think after a minute or two.

“You know what he’s talking about?” I thought to him.

“Yeah... it’s just... you know plays, right?”

“Of course.”

“It’s like that... it’s just... ah geez, how do I say this? It’s a bit more... like illusions? No no... Take a really weird dream, and then give it a form... Frick! Sorry, I’ve never been any good at explaining things.”

“It’s okay, you’re trying at least.”

“True... Anyways, it’s like a dream, turned into a play, that’s possible because it’s done using illusions, I guess.”

“I’m not sure I understand what you’re saying.”

“I kinda figured you wouldn’t... I’ll just, show you when we get to shore.”

“Okay...”

“The other tray isn’t for me, I’ve got a pony with me.” Lt. Dachs said, pulling me from my inner conversation. “Don’t give me that look she... he’s right here.” He said, gesturing toward me.

“Look, she’s right here.” He said, bending over and picking me up.

“Wai- HEY!” I yelled in protest.

“See?” He said, holding me up in display. Needless to say, I wasn’t very impressed with being held up like that. I just shot the man on the other side of the warming cart an irritated stare, forelegs crossed, and a frown on my face.

“It’s not moody, is it?” He said.

“Nowhere near as moody as your wife, if that’s what’s worrying you.” Lt. Dachs said.

“Go to hell, John!” The man from the kitchen said.

“Right behind you, Olliver.”

“Could you set me down now?” I ask, a little irritated.

“Oh, right sorry.” Lt. Dachs said as he put me back on the ground.

“Thank you.” I said, happy that I wasn’t completely dropped this time, unlike when Pinkie had gotten a group of ponies to toss me. How she got them to do that on a moment’s notice is still beyond me, but I guess that’s Pinkie for you.

“Can it fly as well?” The man on the other side of the serving window said.

“She... he, doesn’t have wings, so I wouldn’t think so.” The lieutenant said.

“I’m a she.”

“I thought you said you were a boy.”

“That wasn’t me.”

“Oh, right, the whole thing with two of you.” He said as he took both out trays and started walking toward a table.

“You know, why don’t you just tell me who the other pony is?” I asked, keeping pace with the lieutenant.

“You could look over here.” A new voice cut in.

“Wha- wait...” I started, looking over to where the voice came from.

Across the table there was a pegasus stallion in the armor of the solar guard. I couldn’t see his cutie mark, like any other soldier from Canterlot. I think it’s an illusion spell on their armor, but Celestia won’t give me a direct answer when I ask about that.

That aside though, I couldn’t help but feel like I knew him from somewhere. I squinted my eyes to try and focus in on anything I was overlooking, but I just couldn’t put my hoof on why it was I felt like I knew him.

“Is... there an issue?” He asked, assumably uncomfortable with my scrutinizing gaze running across him.

“Er, Twilight... it’s not exactly nice to look over people like that.” Asher thought to me.

“Do I... know you?” I asked the stallion.

“Well, you’ve probably heard of me, maybe seen me in a picture, or seen me around when you were visiting your brother while we were in training.” He said.

“You know Shining?”

“Yeah, me and him were great friends in training. Only ever trained with one another for some of the physical and group exercises though.”

“I thought that pegasus and unicorns had different training regimens.”

“We do, but we have some exercises designed to help us learn how to coordinate with the others; You can’t have a military force if it doesn't have teamwork, can you?”

"I suppose not." I admitted.

"Call me Knightly Vigil." He said, introducing himself. "I figured since I'm a pony, I should have a name that sounds like it, even if I am human."

"Asher and I should probably work on something like that..." I said.

"Nice to see you two getting along." Lt. Dachs said. "Now are you going to eat or let your food get cold?”

“John, it’s an herbivore’s meal.” Knightly said. “It would be a good thing if it were to get colder."

"Right, right." Lt. Dachs said. "Thinking of what everyone else is eating."

I hopped up onto the seat at the table to start eating.

"Since you're going to be sleeping in our berthing, we figured we should get to know you.” Lt. Dachs said. “ As you should know, I'm Johnathan Dachs, and the, uh... pegasus, is Lt. Knightly.” He motioned toward the only other pony at the table.

"He says call him Knightly Vigil, but his actual name is Carter Knightly. Started calling himself Knightly Vigil yesterday afternoon after some kind of nervous breakdown.”

“I was scared, and rightfully so.” Knightly defended. “Myself, as both Vigil and Carter, thought we were losing ourselves. What would you do in a situation like that?”

“Not piss myself on the landing deck, that’s certain.” Lt. Dachs said.

“Amen to that!” Said the other man at the table. “Allow me to introduce myself as well. I’m Richard Hensley, an O2 lieutenant.”

“Yeah, lieutenant J.G.” Knightly cut in with a laugh.

“Oh shut up!”

“He’s got a point you know.” Lt. Dachs interjected with a laugh of his own.

“Yeah well at least my wife’s still with me!” Richard threw at Dachs.

“What?! She just now divorced him?” Knightly asked.

“When did you even hear about that?” Dachs interjected.

I just sat off to the side feeling awkward in the situation as the sailors went on talking about this and that, knocking one another down a notch. What I didn’t understand was how they could be laughing the whole time they were talking.

“Sometimes, people become friends because they can pick on each other.” Asher popped into my mind thinking. “Some for the fun on shooting others down, others because they feel they need to be put down for something. I really don’t understand it much myself, to be honest.”

“How can a relationship like that exist?” I thought back, a little confused.

“Honestly, I’ve never been in a relationship like that. They’ve been a mystery to me as well.”

"How are you able to tell me about it then?"

"I've... done a bit if looking into psychology..."

"I... guess that makes... a little sense."

"Uh, Ms. Sparkle?” Someone says, cutting into my thoughts.

“Huh?” I responded absently.

“You kinda zoned out there for a moment.” Knightly said, hovering over the table.

“I did?”

Everyone at the table, in exception to me, started laughing. “Er, yeah. Ya-*snrk* ya kinda did.” Knightly said through his own chuckles.

“Really... Huh, that’s strange, usually I can focus on multiple things at once easily, but now it seems as though I’m having problems focusing on even one thing.” I said, making the mental note aloud.

“Well, I had asked you if you knew much about the person whose mind is now part of yours.” Knightly said, drifting back over to where he was initially seated.

“I know bits and pieces, but I think he’s trying to keep me out.” I said, thinking back on everything I could remember of being human. It wasn’t a lot, but they weren’t really my memories, as much as they are mine.

“Such as?” Dachs asked, prying. Not that I minded, of course.

“A few books he’s read, something about building a speaker out of a styrofoam cup, and a few other things like him running around a yard hitting a ball with some stick with a large end.” I said, reciting some of the more prominent ones.

“Okay, memories, good, now can you tell us what he’s like?” Knightly inquired.

“Well, is it normal that there’s two of you humans per mind, or is that an abnormality?”

“Wait, could you explain that?”

“So it’s not normal for humans to have two conscious thoughts?”

“Do you mean he has some kind of alter ego?”

“Well, an alter ego usually means that there’s another name, even if it’s as uncreative as just spelling your name in reverse...”

“So you’re admitting you lacked creativity when you were younger?” Asher’s thoughts cut in.

“I was a foal!”

“Wait, you serious? She did something like that?” The other Asher asked.

“You can’t access that memory?” Asher asked the other.

“... I would say no, not an alter ego, but... something more like an alternate self?” I said, questioning the phrasing of it as it left my tongue. “Uhm... There’s two Ashers is the best way I can explain it; I’ve never really had any experience prior to now with those that have two personalities.”

“So he has a split personality?” Dachs asked.

“I believe so.” I said.

“So can you tell us what’s so different between them?”

“I... don’t know, they seem to keep swapping most of their traits as if something’s missing from them...” I said aloud. “I’m not even sure if it’s a little bit missing, or if it’s a great deal missing.” I continued, happy that I had shut them out from the waking world.

“I know I shouldn’t keep secrets, especially from them, but I don’t think I can trust him with this.” I thought to myself. “It may be that his mind that’s likely not complete, but I don’t want to know what knowing that could do to their psychological state. If he’s right about his own mind, a push in the wrong direction could be disastrous.”

“Has it ever occured to you how crazy that sounds?” Lt. J.G. Hensley asked.

“Well, yes. But then again, apparently the idea of a unicorn is pretty crazy too, isn’t it?” I asked, trying to take some light off Asher. He probably doesn’t need the stress.

“Are you going to eat that?” Knightly asked, pointing at my food.

“Oh, right.” I said, before leaning down and eating. It was rather odd feeling, but I couldn’t seem to levitate my food to my mouth, and I needed to eat somehow. The food was pretty good, at least.

The rest of the meal passed silently for me. Asher and himself seemed to be occupied with whatever thoughts they were going through, but I couldn’t stop thinking about him. Why did they never stop changing? The most defining features was one tried to stay serious all the time and the other was a psycho, but even that had minor fluctuations.

The serious one would be able to talk to Hensley, as he seems to be paranoid about people who are crazy for some reason, but Knightly and Dachs were rather aloof. It a was rather enjoyable experience, though, so I couldn’t complain.

After lunch, Lt. Vigil and Lt. Dachs escorted me back to the berthing that I was placed in. “Right, well, Lt. Knightly and I will be checking in on you every once in awhile for the rest of the day. We apparently dock tomorrow.”

“Thank god! I thought we’d never get off of this hellhole.” Knightly said in an elated tone.

“Right, well, we’ll be taking a picture with everyone on deck at sunrise. And yes, that includes you, Twilight.” Dachs said.

“But I-”

“Don’t worry about it! Technically, this ship isn’t even supposed to be floating.” Knightly said, cutting me off as he pulled me into a hug with his wing.

“Oh, okay...” I said sheepishly.

“Alright then, I’ll be off then.” Lt. Dachs said, heading down the corridor.

“As a heads up, don’t worry too much about the Merge, Twilight.” Lt. Vigil said as he messed my mane up with his hoof. “If what your brother’s said about you holds true, I worry more about the guy with the split personality.” He offered as comfort words.

“Y-yeah, s-sure thing.” I said, taking my gaze away from his eyes.

“If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.” He said as he started marching off.

“I won’t!” I called after him, paying attention to the way his tail swished while he walked.

“WHAT ON EARTH?” I heard myself think, finally drawing my attention to exactly what was happening.

I ran into the berthing and shut the door in a hurry. I hurried over to my bag and pulled my phone out of it, using the slight reflectiveness of the black screen to look at my face. Just as I had expected, I found a dark blush.

“No. No no no no no no NO!” I said, progressively getting louder until it was a flat out yell. “I don’t have time to be a hormonal teenaged girl!” I screamed at myself.

“Uhm, Asher?” Twilight thought to me. “I am a teenager.”

Gravity took hold of the situation as I finally caught up with one of the things I was not okay with. My other half might have been totally cool with suddenly being a girl, but I on the other hoof...

I broke down screaming at the realization that my constant focus on other things had kept me from noticing one little detail!

I’M A FREAKIN’ GIRL!

I believe I should note that I hate having ADHD.

Author's Note

Nope. Only reason this came as late as it did is because I'm lazy.

Frick my angles.

You have my apologies.

Taking a shot in the dark.

“What do you mean ‘not a whole lot about me does’?”

“I’m a walking contradiction.”

“Okay, half-quoting a song aside, what makes you contradictory?”

Asher suddenly stopped and spun on me, lifting himself to his hind legs for a second to better stare me down. “How about the fact that I’m an individual best when I’m living my duality? Or, the fact that I love humanity but hate myself? What about those aren’t contradictions?”

“Okay, I’ll admit, you have me there, but tell me, why exactly do you hate yourself?”

“Gah, could you ask any more questions?!” He suddenly snapped.

“Here’s a better question, why aren’t you asking questions?”

“Because, I don’t need to ask questions! We’re going to become one another anyways!”

“Then why aren’t you trying to speed it up?”

“Because quite frankly, I don’t want that to happen.”

“Why not?”

“Because my other side is swooning over stallions. I don’t know about you, but I don’t really want to find myself attracted to another race.”

“Well, that’s not exactly a worry for me, although I’m sorry that you got pulled into this.” I said, sitting down. “I mean, I didn’t even know exactly what that spell was going to do, to be honest. I’m really sorry that you’re getting the short end of the stick here.”

Asher let out an annoyed sigh as he fell back onto his tail. “What’s new there? I’ve always gotten the short end of the stick, so I really shouldn’t be surprised by it anymore...”

“... I’m not sure you’re completely on the short end of the stick... You did always want to have telekinetic powers, right?” I noted.

“... I suppose...”

“Well, you can have the next best thing with magic.” I pointed out, trying to cheer him up.

He sat there silently for a moment. “You’re a sick mare, you know that?”

“What?”

“Taking advantage of the fact you can use my thoughts, hopes, goals, and dreams to get me to do whatever you want me to do.”

“I’m not doing that.”

“Not on the surface.”

“Not on the surface?”

“You’ve been trying too hard to merge with me while I’ve been unwilling. You need to relax with it before you pretty much become me... We want middle-ground, not low-ground.”

“How would you know this?”

“I don’t, I’m just taking a shot in the dark. There has to be a reason that spell takes two beings and makes them one though. Whatever the reason though, I don’t exactly like this.”

“Excuse me?”

“No no, it’s not you, it’s the situation. Heck, I could be fusing to anything in the world and I’d still hate it. I mean, here I am, or should I say, there I was, a seventeen year old boy finally figuring out what he wants to do with his life, and then suddenly, my entire world is almost three times as large as it was, and I’m suddenly having to relearn how to balance, let alone how to do half the stuff I liked doing in the world!” He started ranting, progressively getting louder and more hostile.

“Excuse me if I’m making this three times bigger than it really is, but I believe I’ve got more than enough reason to be upset with the whole situation, even before the life threatening parts that seem to just want to ERADICATE MY VERY BEING!”

We sat there in silence for a moment while Asher caught his breath from all his yelling. I had no idea that he felt so strongly about the situation. Listening to him though, it’s at least an understandable rage.

“Feel better?” I asked, once he finally let out one last annoyed puff of air before he returned to a more dignified pose.

“No.” He replied, still sounding aggravated.

“Well if i-” I started before suddenly the whole world seemed to lurch the side and down, causing both Asher and I to fall to the floor. “What was that?” I asked as I started to pull myself up from the floor.

“Asteroid belt, comet patch, intergalactic weapons, take your pick.” He said as he tried to stand up without using one of his wings. I wasn’t entirely sure if it was a normal thing for pegasi to do it, but I noticed a good number of them at least extended a wing when standing up from lying on their stomach.

“Whatever it is, it doesn’t like us, and I don’t want to stick around to figure out if our hull can take a lot of that or not.” He added as he managed to get his hoofing and take off down the corridor.

“Wait up!” I called after him as I gave chase, since he seemed to have some inkling as to what he’s going.

The passageways winded on, and some had boxes in the way, but they weren’t very hard to navigate around. They led to some weird room full of screens and buttons. Asher was at one of the screens, assumably reading what it said.

My attention went to a map of the ship’s common passageways. I don’t think he realized it was there, but I was certain he would notice it at some point.

“Alright, according to the diagnostics, it was a grazing blow to the outer shell, thankfully.” He said as he looked back to me for a moment. “Shields have been rendered inactive due to lack of power flow...

“Twilight, I’m going to need you to run down to the maintenance bay and grab some schematics for the ship so that we can get some info on whatever we’re flying. Fortunately, we’ve got a coms system in this piece of crap, so we should have no issue keeping in touch.

“Unfortunately, I need to know what sector of the ship I’m trying to keep in contact with, so whenever you’re about to leave one part of the ship, tell me what sector you’re entering.”

“Wait, why can’t you come with?” I asked hurriedly.

“Someone needs to be familiar with the controls, and this looks rather straight-forward so far. I’ll keep trying to figure out how to fly this thing up here while you look for some schematics in maintenance.”

“How do you intend to fly this?”

“I’m not sure, I was planing on figuring that out as I went along.”

“Are you crazy? You don’t even know how this thing moves and you want to try and pilot it?!”

“Well would you rather be a sitting duck?”

“Lightning never strikes the same place twice, so yes, I would rather stay put.”

“Only one issue with that.”

“What’s that?”

“THIS ISN’T LIGHTNING!” He yelled just before whatever we were in started to shake ungodly amounts. “See what I’m saying?!” He yelled just before we were jostled again, although thankfully, to a lesser degree.

“Alright, which way to Maintenance?”

“I have no idea.”

“Isn’t that your other side’s thing?”

“Unfortunately, no.”

“So what’s his thing?”

“I have no idea.”

“Alright... Heading out to Maintenance.”

“Hurry, we’ve got a hull breach in Berthing C, and I don’t know how to perform lockdowns... Careful out there.”

“Will do.” I said before I turned and ran out the door, shutting it behind me.

I looked around at the room I’d found myself in. Oddly, my control over what was happening in my mind was dampening at an alarmingly fast rate. I’d started to wonder what it was that was happening in my head soon after I noticed.

Whatever it was that was going on, it caused the the whole vessel to shake a moment ago.

My thoughts aside, I managed to find my way into what looked like sleeping quarters for a crew of a small vessel. Good timing too, since I was getting rather sore from all the running around, and not being able to complete my sideways freefall had really upset me.

I crawled into one of the beds that were sitting low to the ground and got comfortable, only to have the other side of the room try to implode upon itself.

After the room stopped shaking, I looked up to see a black dodecahedron in the center of the room, surrounded by a liquid that had a solid looking dark blue coloring to it. If it wasn’t for the way the light turned blue when refracting off of it, I would have sworn the liquid was a darker black than the dodecahedron itself.

Upon seeing the dodecahedron, I quickly jumped out of the bed and pulled it out from in the middle of the ring of dark blue liquid, just before whatever the fluid was could make contact with the shape I was now carrying.

It was awkward, having to pick up and throw the relatively large object, but I needed to keep this thing away from that blue stuff that was now following my every move. I was lucky that the crap was slow. Heck, being as slow as it was, it’s no surprise I got out of the room with the nearly spherical object.

As I closed the door, I let out a small sigh. “Better that crap be locked up and have this with me than let that junk follow me around this... ship of sorts...” I said, sliding the dodecahedron further away from the door. “Where’s the crew, anyways?”

The lights blinked, leaving me in complete darkness. “Oh great, now the lights are out...” I said, dropping backward onto my rump. With the lights being out, I could now see that the center of the dodecahedron was glowing a soft blue color.

“Woah...” I said, amazed by how gentle the glow coming from the shape beside me, and how familiar it felt. The only thing that kept me from being put into a trance by the glow was a slimy sound coming from down the corridor.

Unable to see very far from the dodecahedron, I actually climbed atop the shape to be as far away from the edge of my vision as possible. I was actually shaking as I stared at the edge of the glow.

Immense was my relief when a small slug-like creature crawled into few.

And harsh was the panic that came back when I seen at least forty more of them crawl into sight, followed by one at least half my current size with a leech-like mouth.

“OH FRICK!” I yelled as I bounced a little on the dodecahedron to get it to start rolling. I thanked the heavens that I managed to get the thing rolling with me still standing on it as I kept it rolling with some careful hoofing.

Unfortunately, my careful hoofing was plain luck and I fell off a few seconds after I started. This didn’t stop me though, as I got back up and started rolling the glowing object as fast as I could in the opposing direction as that hoard of freakish parasites.

“WOULD THE BLASTED LIGHTS COME BACK ON ALREADY?” I yelled into the emptiness around me, in exception to the hoard of monstrous slugs behind me.

"If you can hear me, please respond. I repeat, if you can hear me, please respond." I called through the intercom for what was probably the thirtieth time. I sat there in silence for almost thirty seconds before I let out an irritated groan.

I hadn’t noticed it the first

“I swear, it’s like power to half the ship is gone.” I said to the empty bridge. “I would absolutely love if I knew how to get the power back, but NO, I just HAD to choose a sci-fi setting!”

“It’s not SO bad, if you ask me.” Came a voice from behind me that sent chills through every fiber of my being. “Although it could do with a little more cotton candy if I say so myself. And I do!”

“Discord, huh?” I said before I turned around to see him on the ship’s displays.

“In the thought!” He said with a bow, flourishing his paw a little.

“So, what reason do you have for being here?”

“Well in order to maintain any level of control over YOUR thoughts, I need to make an appearance.” He said matter-of-factly. “You’re very well organised, just like that mare you’re becoming.

“Makes it a little hard to alter your thoughts to major degrees without causing you to stop the thought and question what happened to make you think of whatever you did.”

“So you’re just placating a system?”

“Am I?”

“Well... maybe.” I said, to which he just gave a hearty laugh.

“So sure of yourself, but you don’t even understand how you think!” He cried between his own bouts of laughter. “I’m not placating your thoughts, not that I’d have to. An artist’s mind doesn’t usually make sense all the time, even to them.”

As if to make things more unsettling, he just smiled at me as he brought my attention to a screen showing a four-sided shape stuck in an airlock. “I’m just poking an ursa with a stick.”

“Wha-”

“Ah-ah, don’t gawk at it. Run along little filly, make daddy proud.” Discord said with a sickeningly sly grin before power to the bridge went out, his image fading with the power.

“Life-support’s been running over-time...” I said, horrified.

I ran as fast as my hooves could carry me out of the room. As I had expected, pretty much only the emergency lights were working. Having no idea what the layout of the vessel was like, I was pretty much blindly running around until I found myself looking into the room I had found myself in upon arrival in this world inside my head.

On the other side was the jammed airlock.

“Why is this not surprising?” I asked as I stared fearfully across the room that I had to cross.

Desperate times called for desperate measures, and it takes a desperate mare to take them.

I stepped into the room, only to be greeted by blackness...

I’ve stricken what I found in the room after the darkness passed...

Nopony likes to talk about the dark corners of their minds...

Nopony...

Author's Note

I'm not leaving you sitting for a month this time? SHOCK!

Leave your thoughts, as always. I'm open to ideas.

Hey, progress.

I managed to get through the room relatively unaffected by that dark spot, thankfully. Unfortunately, even the emergency power was starting to fade.

This, giving me very little time to think, was probably a good thing... although I still question why it is I decided it would be a good idea to take a deep breath before throwing an emergency switch for the airlock inner door, exposing me to the vacuum of space.

Holding my breath, I got back to my fe- hooves, where the force of the decompression of air in my area threw me a few feet toward the door. Thankfully the life support system had slowed the decompression enough to keep me from being sucked through the doors that were jammed.

Gravity was gone, but my wings were a big help, although it took a bit trying to figure out how to work them in reduced friction conditions. Once I got the the pyramid shape I wrapped my forehooves around it, although it only having four sides made pulling it out hard, where I couldn’t get both hooves around a corner to lift.

I eventually managed to pry it out from between the doors, which sealed up almost as soon as I pulled the pyramid thing out. Soon after, the air compressed to safe levels again, and the lights came back on, although they seemed rather dim.

Oh, and gravity dropped me on my flank.

“Not even in my own freakin’ mind...” I said as I got back to my hooves again. I turned and looked at the four sided pyramid shaped thingy. It was black, aside from a glowing red center... I couldn’t bring myself to keep looking at it as it was a little unsettling.

I scooped it up onto my back, using my hooves to slide it in place, and my wings to balance it.

I wasn’t all that used to being a pegasus, but that was likely to change soon. I may be able to accept being a pony easy, but becoming somepony else was not something that I was okay with. I’d already noticed shifts... “My mane isn’t supposed to be neat cut like it is.”

I started to ponder things as I walked down the hall.

“How do I slow this down? It’s not right for Twilight to go into this not knowing what she’s taking on...” I thought as I looked back at the shape on my back. “What am I even hiding that I’m so afraid of?”

This wasn’t mine. I knew what I was hiding. He knew what I was hiding. But... “why don’t I know what he’s hiding?”

This question sat in my head, pounding at it.

What could I be hiding from myself?

I stopped to stare at the pyramid thing for a moment.

“... What are you hiding?”

“STUPID FREAKING SLUGS WHAT THE FRICK YOU AREN’T SUPPOSED TO MOVE SO FAST!” I yelled, praying for some kind of miracle to occur.

The dodecahedron was getting kinda hard to roll around at this point. I mean, it wasn’t really hard, but I was kinda... running out of energy. Lucky for me, the lights came back on at that moment.

“THANK YOU! OH MY GOSH, THANK YOU!” I yelled, thankful that I could finally see more than three feet in front of me. It didn’t stop the swarm of slugs, but I no longer took four seconds to choose turning left or right.

Nor did it stop me from running directly into Twilight.

“Ow.” I said, picking myself up off the ground.

“Sorry! Run! Slugs! Don’t question!” Asher said as he picked himself up and started pushing around a dodecahedron.

“What?” I asked, cocking my head to the side a bit. My answer came in the form of a giant slug crawling around the corner down the passage that Asher came from. “Okay...”

That single giant slug was joined by at least a hundred smaller slugs as it opened up its mouth and started crawling towards me with a noteable speed. “Oookay!” I yelled as I started chasing the red bodied pegasus.

“I TOLD YOU NOT TO ASK!”

“How was I supposed to know you were being chased by giant pony-eating slugs?!”

“I was hoping you wouldn’t have to find out!”

“Turn right up ahead!”

“Right. Just take over rolling this thing for me, alright?”

“Why?”

“Because my forelegs are starting to hurt, okay?!” He snapped.

“This better be important!”

As we turned the corner, Asher passed the dodecahedron over to me, and I took up rolling it. It took a moment to figure out how he got it actually rolling, instead of pushing it so that it was bouncing forward. After that, the task became a lot less taxing.

“Okay, which way here?” He asked as we started to approach another turn.

“Left.”

“Alright.”

Turning turned out a lot harder than I thought it would be, and I ended up tripping over the twelve sided shape and falling on the other side of it. Fortunately we had a good lead on the swarm of parasites, so I got back up and rolled it down the hall.

“What took you!?” Asher asked as I caught back up with him at the next intersection.

“I tripped!”

“Well careful!”

“Will you calm down already?!”

“Right, right, sorry...”

We sat there for a moment catching our breath as we watched behind us for the swarm of slug-leeches.

They never showed, strangely.

“What’s their problem?” Asher asked as his breathing started to return to normal.

Her face. Oh my gosh, her face. That question was definitely worth it for that ONE face. Oh my gosh. The question was stupid yeah, but the bewildered look... Honestly, I think you had to see the face in order to really get it. I couldn’t stop laughing. It hurt to try and stop laughing.

Then again, I was laughing so hard that it hurt, so I guess I wouldn’t win with that one.

Still worth it.

After spending more time than was really necessary rolling on the ground laughing, I finally managed to get back onto my hooves. “Honestly, that was amazing.” I said, trying to once again steady out my breathing. “Oh my GOSH that face...”

“Are you done?” She asked, a bit of an edge to her voice.

“Yeah, I think so.” I said, still giggling a little.

“Good, now we need to get to maintenance.” She said, starting to roll the dodecahedron down the hall.

“Why?” I asked, walking alongside Twilight as we continued down the hexagonal corridor.

“Ash...er... I really need to think of better things to call you and yourself than your name...”

I started laughing at her. “You probably should.”

“Right... You’re red... I might call you Ember...”

“That... is probably one of the only names I’d be cool with... I mean, ashes, embers... I freakin’ love it.”

“So what would you have me call your... other self?”

“If that’s what you want to refer to me as.” I

“Wait, you’re the sub-lying personality?”

“Nope.”

“Then what are you saying?”

I start to chuckle. “I’m saying I am myself, as is he.”

“That... sounds like something he would say.”

“That’s because we’re in agreeance there. He is me, I am him, and neither of us are the other.”

“How does that work.”

“To be honest...” I started, pausing to look like I’m thinking about it. “I have no frickin’ clue.” I say and start laughing.

“Right... remind me not to rely on you too much for answers...”

“Can do.” I say, still giggling.

Twilight stops suddenly, sitting down. “So, what’s this thing about?” She asked, gesturing to the giant semi-spherical shape she’s been rolling for the passed few minutes.

I sat there looking at the dodecahedron for a moment. “It’s... a meta-physical representation of repression... That’s... That’s all I’d like to say about it...” I said. “To be honest, I forget how dangerous this thing is sometimes...

“I just remember that I need to bring it to myself so he can lock it back up somehow...” I explain, then take a deep breath.

“... Do you have one?”

“... Yeah... I can’t remember what I put in it though... I just remember that I did it for something I find to be important...”

We sat there in silence for a moment, looking at the shape to relax.

“What makes you so sure this is his?”

“It’s blue.”

“So will yours be red?”

“Yep.” I said flatly.

Twilight let out a sigh. "So, even though this thing is serene, it's really dangerous?"

"Manticores are majestic, but they're dangerous as all knows what." I threw out as a comparison.

"If that's what you consider majestic..."

"I've called weirder cute, sooo." I held the last word for a few seconds before dropping it with a chuckle.

"You really don't consider yourself level headed, do you?"

"If I was level headed, I wouldn't have stabbed people."

"... That... is a reasonable argument..."

"Assuming this craft was designed by humans, maintenance would be somewhere low... and the engines somewhere to the back... keeping maintenance close to the engines would put maintenance near the middle of the ship on a lower level..." I reasoned to myself.

"Sounds logical..." I said, keeping a steady paced trot as I looked around the spaceship like thing I was on. "I really need to stop talking to myself..." I thought.

I wasn't entirely sure at the time, but I thought I heard some strange squishing noises. I didn't like the idea of that, supposedly being in space and all.

Picking up my pace, I made my way in the direction opposite of which I thought I heard the noise come from...

Where I seen probably the worst omen I’d ever seen.

A dark blue... puddle-being.

“... Why are you here?”

The puddle remained silent.

“...”

More silence.

“...”

By this point, I was pretty sure it was just sitting there to irritate me.

“Fine, don’t talk.” I said, cautiously walking around it. “Although you’re going to need to at some point.”

I picked up my pace even more... actually, I think I was kinda running at that point. I don’t like when constructs of MY mind don’t talk to me.

What worries me most is that thing even had my signature.

I never created it though.

"Do you really think our magic is being cut off?"

"Yes."

"Why would it be cut off though? I mean, it's a normal thing for me, right?" Ember asked.

"Maybe how you're thinking about it, but the subconscious mind might think otherwise." I started, "You're not exactly the only one who can block it though."

“Good point.” he conceded.

"I can be straight with you, right?"

"Don't see why not."

"Just thought I'd check."

"Good thing to do. Not everyone wants to hear what you think."

"Well, I don't think you're as crazy as you try to make yourself out to be."

The constant clacking sound that had been present since Asher and I started moving cut as he suddenly stopped walking. I turned to look at him, only to find him giving me a stare of disbelief.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"Why would I try to seem like something I'm not? ESPECIALLY if it's a bad thing."

"So you feel safe."

"That's why I learned how to kill things."

"That's not something to joke about."

"Yeah, well," He began as he started rolling the dodecahedron again. "Who said I was joking..?" he asked, a grim note in his voice.

“... You were cute at first, but you're just getting to be plain creepy now. Would you stop following me?" I asked the blob that had been following me for the passed few corridors.

Yet again, the blasted thing answered with silence.

"I hate you..." I said as I turned around and ran off down the corridor. It was surprisingly fast, I had to admit. I couldn't shake it.

I stopped in the middle of an intersection and turned on it. "Are you going to do anything helpful or are you just going to go follow me around all day?"

Suddenly a vent busted open to show a giant slug with teeth, which made a beeline for me. Having been startled by the loud noise, I dropped the pyramid thing I've been carrying since I pulled it out of the airlock.

As I scrambled to pick up the shape I'd dropped, the slug was jumped by the blue liquid, which quickly dissolved the thing.

I just stared at the blob of apparently sentient acid as it crawled toward the shape I've been carrying. I lifted the shape onto my back before it could get to it. "Right, just... let's not make things worse, okay?"

It only shook violently in response.

“Hey, progress.”

We’d been going up and down corridors for the passed... what, thirty minutes? Daydream time always confused me, always speeding up and slowing down. One minute you’re going five hours to every ten minutes, the next minute you’re going three days to every ten seconds.

I don’t know, that might just be my experience with daydreams.

Didn’t really help that I couldn’t seem to get out of my head at the time... Still questioning that one.

Anyways, the whole time Twilight kept asking me, “What do you mean ‘who said I was joking?’”

I never answered her. My answer should have been obvious enough.

The trip was pretty uneventful otherwise. We’d finally reached Maintenance though.

“Wait, how do we ge-” Twilight started, only to stop when I got the door to open.

“After you.” I said with gentlema- would it be gentlecoltly? Whatever, I said it with a polite wave of my hoof.

“How did you open the door?”

“I dunno, I just kinda, hit the wall like this,” I bumped the wall with with my hoof, making the door close. “and the doors open and close.” I bumped the wall with my hoof again to reopen the door.

“That’s odd... The bridge door opened with a button that was around head height...”

“I never saw the bridge, so I wouldn’t know.”

“Well, I suppose we’re not making any progress standing here talking,” she said, walking into the maintenance bay. “let’s find us some blueprints!”

“I’ve always wanted to feel like an engineer.” I said happily, skipping into maintenance.

“Nothing?” I asked the blob of acid as it followed me while I wandered the ship.

The silent creature held true to what it had shown thus far.

“I should have guessed.” I said as I approached another intersection. I really wished there was a map on the blasted space vessel. The intersection went either straight or branched left.

To my pleasant surprise, the left path did what I wanted and went down, instead of staying level, like pretty much three fourths the rest of the ship. “Frick. Yes. Finally!” I rejoiced.

“Alright, I found something!” I called to Ember.

“Sweet!” He replied before trying to pull his head out of a locker, but somehow managing to pull everything in it out. The loud clattering of everything falling to the floor forced my ears to go down to keep from ringing.

“I’m okay!” He said standing up from underneath all the stuff that had fallen on top of him.

“Right, well, I found some schematics.” I informed him, pressing the paper in between my hooves in order to move it to the low sitting table.

Once we got it there, we opened it up and started looking over it.

“What is this?”

“A geo-core engine?” Asher asked as if it’s obvious, although the look on his face implied heavy sarcasm.

I gave him a flat look.

“What? That’s what the title says.”

“Well yes, but how does it work?”

“I have no idea, it’s sci-fi... half the stuff around here probably wouldn’t work, realistically...”

“Then what’s up with the engine?”

“I dunno, it’s probably symbolic or something.”

“How could this possibly be symbolic?”

“The heart of the ship?”

“The heart of the ship?” I repeated.

“Eh, yeah?”

“The heart?” I clarified.

He sat still, looking confused for a second before his face lit up with understanding. “OH! Magic is in the heart!”

“I don’t think you fully understand how magic works...”

“Okay, yeah, it’s different for everypony, but it’s a perception thing, right? Well, perception is determined as much by morality as it is position. Morality is measured in the ‘color of the heart,’ and so, it comes down in root to the heart, right?” He reasoned.

“That actually makes sense on why magic sits close to your heart...” I said.

“So we’ll figure out where the block is by going from the source out, right?” Asher asked.

“That’s a better idea than most.”

“Then lets get going.” Asher said, heading toward the door. “OH HOLY FR-!” he yelled, jumping off to the side of the doorway, just before a blue blob flew through the doorway.

“Woah woah woah! What did I say about making matters worse?” I heard Asher yell from outside the room. Oddly, the blob seemed to respond to what he said. “Whatever you’re issue is with me, drop it! We’ve got more important things to do.”

“Asher, is that you?” I hollered to see if it was him.

“Who else would it be?” Ember remarked.

The blue Asher stepped in and gave his red counterpart an unamused stare. “You really love joking around, don’t you?”

“Well one of us has to have a sense of humor that isn’t dark and depressing.”

“Frick you.”

“Alright then!” I cut in, hoping to diffuse the tension between the two.

“To the engine?” Ember asked.

“The engine?” the other Asher asked.

“Yes, to the engine.” I answered.

“Woah woah woah, can someone please fill me in? I’m missing something.”

Ember and I both shared a small laugh.

“Okay, that makes sense.”

“Right, now that you know why we’re heading to the engine, would you mind telling me about your little attack blob?”

“Honestly, I don’t know much about it myself.”

All three of us came to a dead stop once we seen the entry to the engine room. Unsurprisingly, there was a mass hoard of the alien leech slugs between us and the engine room.

“Right... How’re going to need to get through that unscathed?”

“I have an idea...”

“Lay it on me.”

We all huddled in.

“We’ll have little blob guy here cut through the center, Twilight, carrying the pyramid and ball thing.”

“Tetrahedron and dodecahedron, respectively.”

“Right, whatever, the plan is you follow the blob and jump into the engine room while myself and I split up and, carefully, run through the hoard of shleegs.”

“Shleegs, really?”

“Well? They’re slugs, and leeches, so...”

“That is probably the least creative name I’ve heard from you.”

“Whatever, it’s a plan! So, are we rolling with it?”

“Hey man, whatever gets us out of our head sooner. I don’t like being stuck in my head.”

“Is that why you don’t like dreaming?”

“Can we just get moving?!”

“Alright, alright... Your call.”

“Okay then...”

We all got ready, making a three pony line.

“Alright, cut!”

At the order, the blob made a line through the “Shleegs” to the doorway, with our little rag-tag group of crazies following close behind. Myself and I split apart from each other as Twilight dived in through the doorway to the engines.

The plan was crazy. The place was crazy.

Heck, the entire thing was crazy.

And it was freakin’ amazing.

Author's Note

Don't worry, you're not supposed to be able to tell who's perspective it is at the end.

You just need to care.

The jump was a little disorienting. One second I was jumping into a room on some spaceship, the next, I was standing in a park with a fountain. I started looking around. The entire world was floating in a slight purple haze.

The more I looked around, the more confused I was. It looked mostly human, but it had specks of equestrian culture here and there.

“Oh, boy, oh boy, oh boy oh-boy...” I heard from behind me all of a sudden. Turning around, I seen a teenaged boy with a bad case of bedhead, almost as if he hadn’t brushed his hair for a few weeks.

“Who are you?” I asked the figure, taking in more of his features.

“Bad question.” He said. He was wearing two shirts. A short-sleeved T-shirt over a long-sleeved T-shirt, Jeans, and some skater shoes. He gave the air of being thoughtful, if distant, in the way he walked around.

“How is that a bad question? I’m just asking who you are.”

He sat down a short ways from me, making it easier to see his blue eyes. His hair was dirty blonde, and...

His face was marred with scarring.

“Asher.” He said simply.

“What... What happened to your face?”

“Are the scars unsettling?”

“No, they’re just... why are they there?”

“Because despite not being there naturally, I feel they are part of me.” He answered flatly.

“What happened?”

“I wrecked a tote-gote. Although this isn’t related to why you are here.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re here for a reason. Although I have a feeling you’d like to talk to me after you’re done talking to me.” He said almost cryptically.

Almost.

“So... I’m to talk to both halves of you?”

“Correct.”

“Well...” I started, looking around. “where is the other one?”

“Follow me.” he said, standing up.

I looked around at everything as I followed Asher, although there wasn’t much to look at. It was just two houses of equal size sitting on opposite sides of a street leading up to a prison like facility at the top of a hill.

Looking back at the park, I began to feel a little out of place.

“Where are we?”

“Correction: Where are you.”

“But we’re both here.”

“No. I am a construct for ease of conversation. I am not the conscious mind you are used to talking to.”

“Wait, this is the subconscious mind?”

“Yes.”

I stopped in my tracks and looked around again. Everything was much darker, and the houses looked to be extremely distant. The road to the containment building had more twists and turns than it had before, and the park was out of view.

“How did we get clear up here?”

“Up where?”

“But... Look!”

“I cannot see things from your perspective, as I am not you.”

“You mean you can’t see this?!”

“I cannot see anything, except for what my eyes can show me.”

“But you have eyes right there!”

“My eyes are nothing but part of your perception of a world that does not truly exist.”

“... You mean... I’m influencing this place?”

“I do not interfere with the thoughts of the frontmost consciousnesses.”

“But... that means... aren’t you my subconscious?”

“In part, yes.” He said, standing perfectly still. “Although I urge you to attend to your business before you upset me.”

“Upset you?”

“There is a reason you perceive there to be something related to restraint.”

“Like a prison.”

“If that is what you perceive then that is what it is.”

“You mean... Asher’s in a prison?”

“Yes, and I urge you to hurry. My patience is not great by any measure.”

“Right, sorry.” I said, walking toward the penitentiary.

We reached the door, which was obviously much thicker than was probably necessary, even just looking at it. The walls were impossibly high, and there were no windows. Unnervingly, the door opened itself as we approached.

“This is as far as I can tread.” Asher said, stopping just before the doorway. “I am not allowed to enter a mind which is not my own without permission.”

“But this is your mind...”

“As much as it is my mind, I have no control over it, thus, it is not my mind. I wish you luck as you converse with my less... civil, counterpart.” He said before the door to the prison closed, leaving me inside.

There was no reception desk. There were no cells, occupied or empty alike... There was just a hallway to a much smaller door.

Taking a breath I proceeded down the corridor and opened the door, to be greeted by low menacing laughter.

“How long has it been since there was a door leading here?” Asher asked, although unlike the other one. For some reason, his voice sounded cold and threatening. “Five, five and a half... years, was it?” he asked, bursting into a louder, more mocking laugh. “How bad did you shit yourself that you’d need to hold your own hand to talk to me?” he mocked. I could pretty much feel his smile.

I stepped in to see the same boy from earlier, although his hair was short and tidy, and he was only wearing a short sleeved T-shirt with his cargo pants and tennis shoes.

“Nothing to say?” He asked, trying to look around, but his neck brace kept him from doing so. He had so many chains leading to the cuffs and shackles that were on him that it was surprising he could look as comfortable as he did, and even the amount that still held him restrained looked like toy handcuffs compared to all the chains, cuffs, shackles, and braces that layed on the ground around him.

I stepped into his line sight, looking at him with a mix of fear and curiosity.

“Oh? A pony?” he said, smiling as if he found it to be more amusing than anything. “Odd... I really wish I got more information down here...”

“Wh-” I started, only to get cut off.

“You’re perceiving things to be as such.”

“Wh-”

“Because I don’t care enough to hear what you have to say.”

“Wh-”

“You know, you ask “Why” a lot, why don’t you try asking more important questions?”

“Wha-”

“Better. Nothing is wrong with me. Next?”

“Wi-”

“No, I will not stop cutting you off. You’re too predictable, Twilight Sparkle.”

“That doe-”

“No, it doesn’t. Do I care? No. Now, what is it you’re here for?”

“I don’t know!”

“Oh? Getting irritated with me? Get over it.”

“Will you just-”

“You’re here about something to do with magic, right? Can’t use it because of some block? News flash, filly, I’m not obstructing anything.”

I could only stare at him.

“That’s right, I have no issue with becoming more powerful. Why don’t you go smack my conscious self and tell him to suck it up and just accept that I’m going to get the power one way or another, and there isn’t a thing I can do to stop it from happening.” he remarked, although what he said irritated me more than the arrogance he was displaying with the smug grin he had.

“You si-”

“Oh, how cute, you think I’m a jerk. Your daydream can only keep you here for so long you know. You’ve settled whatever business you have here with me, so why don’t you go back out to pansy ass out there and get whatever business you have here in the subconscious sorted out once and for all?”

“I will.”

“Good. Nice to see how sexy I am.” he adds, narrowing his eyebrows, clearly trying to get under my skin.

Undoubtedly, he succeeded.

I stormed out of the building, leaving a laughing voice haunting the single hallway of the building.

As I emerged into the calmer world, I noticed everything seemed to be closer again. The winding road back to the houses was now a short walk downhill. Asher was even waiting there laying back on the hill, looking up at the purple hued sky.

“Something important is about to happen.” He said, although it seemed to be more of a voiced thought than something he was telling me.

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing all that important for you, but of great importance to me. Or myself. I will benefit from it, even if I am not myself.”

“That... is actually kind of cryptic.”

“As is wont to do.”

“So... You know why I’m here, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then you’re holding it back.”

“Yes.”

I let out a sigh. “I was hoping you wouldn’t say that.”

He just lied there on the hill staring skyward.

“Why is it you’re holding back the magic?”

“Because I avoid getting power.”

“Why?”

He sat up, and looked back at me. “Because being outside of perceived normality caused me to become that.” He said, pointing back to the penitentiary.

“How?”

“I was hated.”

“By who?”

“Everyone that wasn’t family... Even some family hated me.”

“What?”

“I was too advanced for those who weren’t used to me, and so they hated me for being different.”

“When?”

“Before I was pulled out of school.”

“Wait, you were pulled out of school?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Again, he pointed to the penitentiary. “Because he wasn’t locked away like he is now.”

“And what’s that have to do with anything?”

He sat there silently for a moment. “Violence.” was all he said, before lying back down on the hill.

I looked to him, not sure if I was shocked by the answer, or dumbfounded that he would use that as the answer. “What?”

“I have had a history with violence, and my future is riddled with it as well,” he started. “Take, for example, a kitten. It starts play fighting, but as it grows older, it becomes a lot more and more aggressive toward it’s fellow felines.

“I started out less innocently though. I was fueled by anger, which gave room for hate to grow. And it did. Eventually my own animosity made me a target for the hate of others. As I became more and more disliked, I grew more and more cold toward others...”

We sat there silently for a moment.

“I don’t like my history... I’m not guaranteeing that you will become violent... I’m just saying it’s highly likely.”

“Trust me Asher, I’m going to do my best to avoid becoming the violent pony you think I might become.” I said, looking at him.

“There are a few other things you need to watch out for, Twilight.”

“I’m pretty sure I can handle it.”

“What is not seen is the least of worries, but of the highest of dangers.”

“You like to be cryptic when you talk, don’t you?”

“What’s cryptic is only by the eye of the perceiver. The obvious is cryptic to another, and vice versa.”

“I’ll take that as a ‘Yes.’” I said giggling.

We again sat in silence for a moment.

“Would you mind unblocking the flow of magic?” I asked, looking to Asher.

“You know the answer.”

“Will you unblock it anyways?”

He sat quietly before letting out a breath. “I suppose I should... But remember that I weaken my seal when I do this.”

“Why are you locked away anyways?”

“So that I can seem normal.”

“Asher...”

“You’re running out of time, anything you say must be done with utmost haste.”

“You don’t need to be normal, Asher. You just need to care.” I said, pulling him into a hug.

I didn’t really expect it, but I got a hug back. As quickly as the hug came though, it broke. “Now, Twilight, I need you to focus on keeping yourself you, alright?”

“After seeing what’s in there, I’m not looking forward to merging.”

“Neither am I, although I happen to be psyched. I won’t be able to help you when you face yourself. Stay strong Twilight Sparkle. You’ll need all the strength you can get.” he said while getting to his feet. “Now, hurry, you need to get to the park to get out of here safely, and the time you’ve spent here, although brief, is running out.”

“Right. Thanks for unblocking our magic!” I hollered back as I started to sprint back to the park.

Asher was right, the world started to vanish as I made my way to the park. The closer I got, the faster the place seemed to vanish. As everything started to converge on the fountain, I dove in.

That’s the last thing I remember of that place.

You need to calm down.

I’d shaken myself to consciousness only to see a pastel pink nose in my face, causing me to yelp and cartwheel backwards away from the inquisitive pegasus with the pale purple mane.

“What the-?” I tried asking as I waited for my heart to stop pounding, a hoof on chest.

“My name is Bonnie.” She said with a grin. “And you are Twilight Sparkle.”

Clearing my throat I started to climb to my hooves, asking, “Okay, so, what the hay are you doing here?”

“I’m here to tell you that you need to hurry up. You don’t have much time, Twilight.”

“What don’t I have much time for?” I asked, trying to bring my thoughts back from the daydream.

“To get to new york, to beat Discord, to gain the Element of Harmony.” She listed off.

“Okay, can I hear something I didn’t know?” I asked her, unsure as to if she actually had something of use to say.

“Well, you need to stop worrying so much about Asher’s problem affecting you. Let it happen. Your worry and panic will only make it worse.” She said, a confident smile on her face.

“But if it’s Asher’s problem now, it will be my problem later. I would like to know how to deal with it when the issue arises.” I told her as I seated myself on whatever surface I was on.

“Don’t look at it as a problem, it is a facet. A diamond has many faces, or it would not shine so bright, but the diamond does not reflect so it thinks it is broken.” She replied.

“How do you even know all this?” I asked her incredulously.

“That isn’t important. What is important is that you let go of your fear, and carry on. Make haste.” She turned to leave, giving me a good view of the two blue lightning bolts on her flank.

“Wait, what are you even talking about?” I inquired, trying to figure out what she meant.

“Your fear,” She said as she looked back at me. “That you are losing yourselves. Do not fear, child. You are gaining so much more,” she told me before trotting out of the room, leaving me confused and alone with myself.

“Why were you even looking there?” I heard Asher, rather embarrassed.

“Looking where?” I ask aloud, forgetting he’s in my head.

“Her cutie mark,” he replied, a slight choke feeling rolling through my head.

“It’s no different from when you glance across a woman’s breasts to know how fit they are,” I say before realizing I’m talking to a voice in my head as if it’s external. “You two are starting to rub off on me.”

“Two way road. You remember my mane, right?”

“Good point,” I thought back as I looked around to get my bearings. Somehow, I’d managed to get atop the table in the berthing. It actually offered a decent view of the area as a whole.

The place was actually rather well organized. I wasn’t quite sure what I was going to do to pass time, honestly. Nothing around here was calling to me, and any magic I could use for entertainment, I couldn’t remember something for, or required another living being for.

I decided I could probably take a nap. Being near blown up, held at gun-point, lost in my head with giant slug leeches, only to confront both a hostile, and an aloof Asher, and then the random mare who seemed to know about the whole ordeal?

I didn’t even bother with the time. I just knew it was a long day, and unfortunately, it was probably only just over half done.

I leaped off the table onto the floor. My landing was a little lackluster, but at least I didn’t manage to seriously hurt myself. A little stiffness from falling, maybe, but nothing was pulled.

“You know, she was pretty bad at being cryptic,” Ember thought, drawing my attention.

“You mean you understood her?” I questioned, thankfully internally.

“Really? ‘A diamond has many faces’? You didn’t get that?”

“Wha- OH!” I thought, and physically brought my hoof to my face. “I can’t believe that flew over my head the way it did.”

“Wait, what am I missing?” Asher cut in. “Oh wait, never mind,” he shot out before either Ember or I could start to answer answer.

With that business sorted, I jumped onto the bed that my temporary roommates had assigned me. Better to try and take a nap to let the stress pass than to try and add to it sorting out something that’s already been dealt with.

Do you know how hard it is to take a nap when you have A.D.H.D?

If you do? Good on you. If you don’t? It’s pretty freakin’ hard.

Do you know how hard it is to take a nap when you have a split personality?

No? I wouldn’t expect you to, it’s an extremely rare disorder I have. Most mistake a difference of mood for it.

Do you know how hard it is to take a nap when you have another consciousness in your head?

Yes? Hello fellow Equestrian. No? Let me tell you, it’s not easy.

Now, fun part! Where Baba Yaga did her who-do magic crap, I had to deal with having to try and clear my mind without focusing on clearing my mind, meaning I had to not focus on keeping both Twilight and my thoughts silent.

This made it so I had to hear the two talk in my head, since I had to focus on keeping them out of my thoughts to not hear them. Having that split personality really screwed me over with the second mind bullcrap here. I’d dealt with it fine before.

All those memory issues were nothing major. I could always just ask about things. Identity? It’s not Dissociative Identity Disorder, I don’t claim to have three different names. Individuality? What better to be unique than to be two while you are one?

But this was ridiculous. Not having my head to myself was quickly wearing at me. It’s really hard to fall asleep when you have A.D.H.D. with two voices in your head talking, being well rested, and your legs being a little sore from a slightly off landing.

I gave a sigh as I sat up, and decided to give the room another scan over. I tried to brush something away from my eyes real quick. Failing that, I tried again. And again.

And it still wasn’t gone.

“The frick?” I asked under my breath as I tried another wipe across my face with a hoof.

“What’s up?” I heard from the other part of my mind.

“There’s something in front of me.” I answered, swinging my hoof around in front of my face to try and knock whatever it was away.

“I don’t see anything,” I got back from myself.

“What?” I asked, actually taking a moment to look. I couldn’t see anything in front of my face, but I kept swinging my hoof through the air to move something. The more I payed attention, the more it became apparent that there wasn’t anything there.

There wasn’t anything touching my face, nor was there anything obscuring vision. I heard my hoof moving through air, and there wasn’t any smell in the air.

That’s also how it caught up to me how humid the air is when you’re on a ship at sea.

The lack of anything really took me by surprise. I sat there looking at my nose in silence.

It was probably five minutes I was sitting there when Lt. Vigil came in and said, “Hey Twilight, you okay in here?”

Half a minute of silence.

“Er, Twilight?” he asked, opening his wings to fly up to me.

“Not. Twilight,” I answered, keeping my eyes on my nose.

“Uh, is something wrong?” he asked. I assume I looked freaked out, because he sounded worried.

I was freaked out. I was terrified.

Heck, as much as I don’t swear, I was flipping shit.

That’s how frightened I was.

“What’s on my face?” I asked. My voice had gone monotone.

Not surprising.

“Uh, nothing. Why?”

“There’s something on my face. What is it?”

“There’s nothing on your face,” he assured.

“Asher, there’s nothing on our face,” Twilight thought, just before I could ask again.

“Wha-?” I started, my voice cutting out on me.

“There’s nothing on your face,” Lt. Vigil repeated.

“You’re getting your senses crossed.”

I just sat there dumbstruck.

“You’re feeling magic with our horn. You didn’t wake up having access to magic, so I’m guessing the instincts that come with it didn’t quite catch. We might have to go over that at some point, but first, you need to calm down.”

I had no idea how to feel. Frustrated. Relieved. Confused. Excited.

Afraid even.

I hadn’t even noticed that Lt. Dachs entered the room. I just remember he poked my nose.

“Asher?”

“Hey, you okay man?”

“I- What?” I asked aloud, somewhere between a serious and a rhetorical question.

“Is she okay?” Jonathan asked as he was standing over me.

“I don’t know, but she thinks there’s something on or over her face or something.” Knightly said. I wasn’t sure if he was worried or bored anymore. I wasn’t exactly looking at him.

“Okay, he’s not doing anything. How do we get him moving?”

“Uh... We don’t?”

“How do we take control then?”

“Er, we can’t.”

“What?!”

“I opted out of that.”

“For what reason?”

“Amusement?”

I swear. For near five minutes, I could have heard a pin land on carpet. I was stunned, staring at my nose, with Twilight and myself doing what seemed like nothing, as Lieutenants Vigil and Dachs conversed about something I can’t quite remember.

Finally, what Twilight had said clicked in my head, and my eyes went straight to the other side of the room as I took in an audible breath of air, catching Jonathan and Knightly’s attention.

I let out the slowest ‘oh’ I have ever heard in my life.

“I’m sorry, what?” Lt. Dachs asked as soon as I finished, looking at me questioningly.

“Oh, yeah, sorry about that,” I said sheepishly. I knew my face well enough to know I was blushing. Twilight never acts sheepish without a blush on her face. “I just crossed some senses... Need to figure out magic and all...”

“Is that why you were asking me if I know how to fly earlier?” Vigil asked. I couldn’t quite make out whatever expression he had on his face. I never was good with that anyways.

“Well, not exactly, but it’s related,” I started, bringing a hoof up to rub the back of my head. “Earlier, I had no clue what I was doing about magic, I just had a bunch of half-baked theories, figuratively speaking.

“After you left, I started trying to use magic and it occurred to me; why can’t I feel the magic? So I figured I’d do a little searching inside my head.”

“Is that what you were doing before the whole staring at your nose thing?” Vigil asked.

“Wait, how long have I been staring at my nose?”

“Almost forty minutes.”

“What?!”

“Yeah,” Lt. Dachs answers, laughing into his hand a bit. “I was about to get everyone in here to place bets on when you’d snap out of it.”

“Oh, thanks,” I snark, giving him a slight glare. “Anyways, after a whole bunch of I don’t even know what the frick went on in my head, I... No, Twilight... Twilight, decided to take a nap... here about forty minutes ago, apparently.

“Speaking of, what time is it?”

“Almost eighteen hundred,” Dachs answered.

“So, about two hours to practice magic...” I said quietly to myself.

“So, are you okay?” Vigil asked, probably the only worried looking being in the room.

“I think so,” was all I could think of as response.

“Right, so dinner is at twenty-hundred,” Lt. Dachs informed as he made his way towards the door.

“Don’t practice until dinner, you’ll get cramps if you eat right after extensive use of magic.”

“Will one of you remind me of dinner thirty minutes beforehoof?”

“Wait, what?” Dachs interjected, twisting to get a look at me.

“Will one of you remind me of dinner thirty minutes beforehand?” I repeated.

“Right,” Dachs responded after a brief silence, looking like he was about to laugh as he left the room.

Vigil paused halfway to the door as he made for the exit himself. “You’re sure you’re okay? You don’t feel like you’re losing yourself, do you?” He asked.

“Don’t worry about me, I’m okay,” I told him.

“Alright, but promise me something, okay?”

“Before I make that promise, can I hear what it is you’d like me to promise?”

“Try not to get in over your head?”

“Sure thing.”

“Great, because your brother would kill me if I let you do something stupid,” Vigil said with a laugh, skipping out of the berthing.

I honestly fell to my side laughing.

You're just learning.

After I’d finished laughing, I decided I would actually get to practicing magic-- that thing I had been planning on doing from the start.

Once again, I faced the deck of cards on the table.

“Target…”

Aforementioned deck of cards on the table. I think they were Bicycles, actually.

“Check. Energy… Okay, I know I have that one, I just spent… two hours, was it, trying to get it? Whatever, check. Feeling… Maybe..? I have no idea what I’m looking for there... Desire… … Check.”

I took a deep breath. “Let’s do this,” I said, focusing on the cards.

First attempt: Lifting with pure thought. Failed.

“Oh wait, horn ring,” I said to myself before taking the thing off with my hooves and setting it aside. “Can’t believe I forgot about that thing... Alright, now let’s do this.”

Second attempt: Lifting with pure thought, take two. Failed.

Third attempt: Lifting by imagining upward force. Failed.

Fourth attempt: Lifting by imagining something lifting it from beneath. Failed.

Fifth attempt: Lifting by imagining a hand lifting it.

Still absolutely freaking nothing.

I let out an aggravated sigh.

“Asher, remember that you need to remain calm,” Twilight instructed. “Magic may be easier when one’s emotions are directing the energy for a spell, but in most scenarios you won’t like the end results.”

“Any other brilliant suggestions?” I asked, trying to sound as sarcastic as I could.

“First, you should calm down.”

“Fine,” I spat, closing my eyes and focusing on why I was upset, taking the usual path of identification.

“Magic has me upset. Why? Because I can’t figure out how to use it. What am I doing to resolve the issue? I’m avoiding the use of magic, waiting for the information to come to me. Is this curbing the issue? No.

“What is the issue? I can’t use magic. Why? Because I don’t know how. What am I doing to resolve the issue? Attempting to learn magic. Is this curbing the issue? No.

“What is the issue? I don’t know how to use magic. Why? Because I wasn’t born a unicorn. What am I doing to resolve the issue? Attempting to learn magic. Is this curbing the issue? No.

“Common ground found.

“What is the issue? I’m not learning magic. Why? Because I lack the foundation of knowledge to get a grasp on the abilities required. What am I doing to resolve the issue? Nothing.

“Problem found.

“What can I do to resolve the issue? Seek out someone who has the fundamental knowledge of magic to teach me.

“That’s easy; I have Twilight Sparkle in my head.”

I let out a breath I was holding. “Okay Twilight, I’ve got nothing when it comes to magic. Can I get some help?” I asked, opening my eyes to stare at the cards.

“Okay,” She answered, somewhat cheerily. “What do you need help with?”

“Everything.”

“That’s a wide topic with a bit of studying to do. Where do we start?”

I’d internally cringed at the word ‘studying.’ “Uh, yeah... I’m totally qualified to answer that question.”

“Shall we start with energy types?”

My ears fell back in mild annoyance. “Again, totally qualified to answer the question.”

“Can you not be sarcastic when answering my questions?” she asked. Wasn’t really all that hard to tell she was a little miffed.

“Could you not ask questions that are so easy to be sarcastic with answering to?” I asked in turn.

A wave of irritation came from the back of my mind, undoubtedly from Twilight. “Energy types it is. Let’s start with the common one of topic-- the leylines themselves. Magic-- or, more specifically, the energy used for magic-- as you may or may not believe, flows. Do you understand hydrophysics?”

In retrospect, I probably could have been a little less sarcastic when I’d asked her to not be so easy to give sarcastic replies to, but it was too freaking easy.

“Er… Study of the physics of water, right? Because if so, I haven’t studied it, but I’ve figured out bits and pieces.” To be honest, a lot of it just seems to be common sense.

“First thing to learn is that we call the energy for magic ‘manilliane energy,’ the name stemming from the measurement of mana-- which you could say is the basic ‘Imperial’ unit to the metric thaum. I’ll be using it to help ease you into magic. Now, most manilliane energy is in constant motion, like the ocean. Specifically, high and low concentration leylines are the ones always moving, even if slowly.

“High concentration leylines-- as you could guess-- get their name for having a higher concentration of energy, as well as moving more actively than low concentration leylines. It’s an easy way for anyone to tell the difference.

“Despite this, high leylines-- the accepted shorthoof term for high concentration leylines-- are known for yielding lower absorption efficiency than low leylines-- which is also accepted shorthoof. This is caused by the energy flowing around us in the same way water goes around a sponge when moving quickly.

“Mute leylines are motionless, much like a stagnant pool of water, and can hold vast or minute amounts of energy. The name ‘mute leyline’ comes from their nulled activity. Due to the lack of motion in mute leylines, they’re even harder to absorb energy from than high leylines, as the energy doesn’t move in to fill a space from which it was taken. Not that most unicorns will enter one, as it causes lightheadedness. Some-- including myself-- pass out their first time. … Or their first few times…”

I decided to quietly take note of the wave of discomfort pouring around my head. Her head. However it is that’s supposed to be stated.

Then from inside my head came the sound of someone clearing their throat… likely just my imagination adding to the ‘uncomfortable cough’ sensation that came from there. “Anyway, absorbed energy is the second form of manilliane energy I think you should know-- the ‘mana pool,’ to use a term you might be familiar with.”

“Hey, quit digging in my head already!”

“Really?” Twilight asked in a flat tone. “You’ve spent more time playing video games than most anything else, it makesthat detail next to impossible to miss,” she pointed out, to which I could only scrunch up my face in indignation, since I couldn’t stare at her.

“One thing I’ve noticed across your mind is that the character’s energy for magic is a finite supply, and fortunately it’s one of the few things they got right, as it will make understanding it easier for you. Inversely, something that most of your games imply that they’ve gotten wrong is the growth of magical ability and saturation tolerance. It’s not as spiritual as they may have you think.

“If you haven’t gathered, magic isn’t genera--”

“Woah, no way?” I cut in. “Honestly, I’m not inept, so I don’t need you to point out every little detail.”

“If you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to finish what I was saying.”

“You have a reason for pointing that out?”

“Yes; magic isn’t generated in the way you think it is,” she clarifies. “Every living object will generate manilliane energy over time, yes, but it’s a natural process that is mostly static to each source. There’s very little deviation if you were to compare how much energy is produced from several different unicorns, and it’s generally insufficient for amassing the energy for a spell in a timely manner.”

“Oh,” I sounded, soon proceeding to give a bit of a nod. “Sorry, my bad...” I couldn’t help but feel like a jerk for that one.

“Right. Having covered leylines and personal saturation, next we’ll address manilliane capacitors; compressed, stored energy. These would be your ‘mana restores,’ in loose comparison, although they’re far less common than your games would suggest. About one in every few hundred unicorns would be able to have one.

“And as much as I could go on about those-- such as how they’re made or how to use them-- I suppose that’s enough on energy types, as you should know enough to understand mana now.”

“Alright, and mana is …?” I asked, trying to roll my eyes up like it would let me see her or something.

“A unit of energy

“She totally said that already.” The cheeky tone rolling in my head when I felt that thought come through from myself wasn’t the most uplifting of events. “Cudos on the attention span, buddy.”

“Yes yes, poke fun while you can, eventually you’ll be the one--” Twilight stopped me from going further in that thought with an implied throat clearing feeling that went… pretty much cutting through my head. It was an… interesting feeling.

“Now, I’m not sure how you could forget that so quickly, but let’s move on. One mana is enough to carry one pound fifteen feet using levitation, although this will vary with cutie marks and familiarity with the spell, but that’s part of more advanced studies, which you’re not likely understand, being as new to magic as you are.”

“And likely the most interesting thing I’ve heard so far,” I noted, smiling at the prospect of learning advanced studies of any sort.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to talk about it later. For now you should try to understand the basics of energy. As for the use of mana, you could compare them to calories-- though I don’t think it would be very accurate, as you burn both calories and manilliane energy when using magic.”

“Noted. So, do I actually get to learn magic yet?”

“That will come in time,” she points out. Unfortunately, she probably knew more about what she was talking about than I could figure out on my own… Actually, that she does know more is why I turned to her in the first place. “Experiment with feeling the flow of energy for a moment and see if that helps you understand any.”

“I suppose I could try.” I said, trying to focus on the new form of nerves running through… well, it wasn’t my body, but I was using it... It didn’t help that I had no clue exactly what it was I was trying to feel.

“Hour and a half to dinner,” a voice said behind me, startling me for probably the third time that day. Actually that guess could be kinda low. A lot of crap had already gone down.

“Frick, do you people ever knock?!” I asked, trying not to glare at the lieutenant.

“Sorry, but with shared sleeping quarters, knocking doesn’t exactly come to mind.” Lt. Dachs said as he entered.

“Right, can’t believe I forgot about that,” I said, trying to start some idle conversation.

“So I couldn’t help but hear you talking to yourself.”

“Please don’t make me go into that,” I said, placing a hoof on my face.

“Why not?”

“Because I’ve had enough with the bullcrap for today, having been abducted by some insane witch who threatened my family; held at gunpoint-- thank you for that by the way-- trapped in my mind by Discord-- which I hate being in my mind to begin with but it’s far worse when you’re stuck there, and even more irritating when you’re not stuck there because of your own mistake.

“Basically the only thing I have left in the world that I can take comfort in is knowing my own thoughts apart from Twilight’s and mine, which makes a lot more sense when you know what’s going on in my head, but the chances of that are so unbelievably low, I have to pretend like you get it--

“Not to mention that not even a full forty-eight hours ago I was a boy, and now suddenly I’m a mare! My phone is the only thing that holds any sort of tangential assurance of my previous physical identity, and I can’t even use it effectively with the new limbs I have!

"And now, to top it all off, I’m trying to learn how to feel and use something that humans can’t even perceive! My focus is so unbelievably everywhere it’s hard to actually get any progress done with anything that requires your complete attention, so I’m highly doubting my ability to actually learn magic!

“So, if you wouldn’t mind, could you step out of the room so I can get back to focusing on something that’s actually got some relevance to my life at the moment? Because frankly, I shouldn’t even be on this ship!”

“Asher, take a moment and calm down; you’re leaving the ideal state of mind for practicing magic.”

“Hey, calm down, you kno--”

“Don’t tell me to calm down,” I cut in, unable to hide the glare.

“Alright, alright, I’m just saying, you showed up on the ship without explanation, we had to assume you were hostile until proven otherwise.”

“Well you could have done so without mocking me!” I shouted.

“Asher, calm down; getting irritated will do nothing for you right now.”

“Calm do--”

“I told you. Don’t tell me. To calm. The freak. Down.”

“Calm down, Asher!” Twilight scolds.

“Twilight. Shut up,” I responded with a sharp, searing tone.

“Look, I don’t want to deal with your bitch fit right now, okay? I’ll step out.”

“Excuse the frick out of me?!”

“Forget it okay? I’ll just come back and talk to you after you’ve calmed down,” Dachs said as he started leaving the berthing.

“I told you,” I started, narrowing my eyes. “Don’t tell me to calm the frick down!” I yelled, pointing my horn at him.

After a light purple flash-- followed by two moderately loud thuds-- I looked up to see Lt. Dachs on his back in the corridor just outside the berthing. He produced a pained groan as he began to sit up, which let me know he was alright.

“Asher!”

“Now leave me the frick alone!” I shouted, trotting over and slamming the door with my hoof just to emphasize my irritation.

“That was completely unnecessary,” Twilight scolded from in my head.

“Don’t freaking care,” I said, voice still soaked with anger.

“Don’t go in there,” I heard Dachs advise someone through the door.

“Why not?” Came another familiar voice.

“She’s on fire.”

“I told you, I’m not hoping to get with her. That’d be sleeping with one of my friend’s sister.”

“No, I mean literally on fire.”

“Shit, really?”

I tuned them out so I could look for a mirror. There was one on the wall, but it took me almost five minutes just to get to an elevated platform so I could see myself in it.

Sure enough, I was an off-white color, and my mane was a freaking flame. This would have been awesome if it wasn’t for the fact I was seriously ticked.

I started doing some rather useless stress relief exercises, like taking deep breaths and counting down from ten. You know, usual things. They never worked, and sometimes added to my irritation.

When I opened my eyes again, I still saw a flaming mane. I did note the red eyes this time.

“Feel better?” I felt from Twilight, probably the first bit of sarcasm I’d heard from her. Wasn’t really paying attention. I’d grown too used to that crap, having grown up with a sardonic family.

“I assume you have an explanation for this.” I said, keeping as much of a straight face as I could.

“Some unicorns-- like myself-- when under the proper conditions, undergo a temporary physical change. It’s a good way to burn excess thaumatic energy, as well as emphasize our emotional state.

“Mine-- and by extension yours-- will turn my mane into flames, while my coat goes white-hot. You should already know the trigger, considering how quick you were to set it off.” She pokes. I didn’t think she was happy, as I could feel waves of irritation rolling around in my head.

“Oh, great. Look forward to being on fire all the time, because my temper is horrible!” I shouted with mock cheer.

“I don’t think we have the thaums to survive that. We’re burning out as it is...”

“... What?” I asked, partially unsure of what that meant, and partially freaked out by the fact she’d mentioned survival. Survival isn’t something that’s mentioned lightly.

“That’s weird. This suggests our saturation limit is maybe sixty-five, seventy thaums at most.”

“That’s not answering my question any,” I stated, annoyance starting to build on top of my confusion.

“Sorry, this is just a staggering drop in my saturation limits...”

“Clarify please?” I asked.

“Let’s give it a little perspective. I had roughly five and a half, maybe six times the average saturation tolerance for a unicorn in their mid-twenties.” She pointed out.

“And?” I asked simply.

“The average saturation tolerance of unicorns that just got into magic kindergarten is nearly twice what we’ve got to work with. It’s having practically no energy compared to what I used to have-- or any unicorn over the age of twelve-- and… it might be part of why you’re having problems learning magic.”

I’ll be honest, I had no idea what to think.

Author's Note

That feeling when you're terrified of getting back to something after months-- or now a year-- before you do something, and you expect hate for not having improved, even though you rationally know that people are likely to still enjoy it.

That in the air, throw me your opinions, harsh and kind alike.

Well, that's a comfort.

“I… But… What?” I stumbled out after a few moments, still trying to move through all the information at once. “Can’t survive that?”

“Oh, sorry. I forgot you’re still new to all of this,” Twilight thought out to me. “Terminus energy is something I probably should have explained first.”

“You’re not answering questions,” I pushed, starting to freak out a little, which was an odd feeling-- especially when I realized I was doing so despite the fact I’d laughed about almost having drowned in a lake.

Another wave of irritation rolled through my head. I quieted myself for fear of causing a headache if I hadn’t.

“Right. Terminus energy is a quickly generated form of energy, used to perform spells in the same way you’d use other forms of energy. The defining part of this type of energy is that it generates only when it’s needed, and the greatly amplified potency from the energy being pulled directly from the source.

“This alone sounds nice, but there’s a huge drawback in that generating the energy puts a tremendous amount of strain on the body. There have been unicorns to fall over dead on the spot from using too much of the energy.

“In a voluntary research done on those who didn’t immediately die from using it too often, they were always found to be almost constantly disoriented, distracted, and even occasionally hallucinating for what may seem to be no reason.”

“O...kay... Basically ‘don’t screw around with magic, it will frick you up,’ is the theme here...” I said, silently happy that I didn’t seem to be on fire anymore as the nervous tone came back to my voice.

“In an odd, though fairly simple way of saying it, I guess.”

“I’ll just uh... preoccupy myself then...” I said sheepishly. “You know, keep my mind off things...”

“If you think it will help.”

“Hey, maybe you can get that nap Twilight was talking about! Some sleep would be awesome.” My... other part-- or whatever you’d call it-- chipped in.

“If you two could keep quiet, maybe I could,” I shot, still agitated about it.

“Are you sure it wasn’t you in here talking to Twilight? Because I could have sworn I was yelling at you two to shut up.”

I took a breath in as if I was going to yell, but then I hesitated as I realized something. “I... Don’t know,” I admitted vocally.

“Well, that’s a comfort.”

“But you two are different colors, how can you not tell?” Twilight asked, almost as if she was still having a hard time with the split.

“We have individuality from each other, but we’re the same person.”

“A single mind in two parts,” I added in hopes of clearing things up, rolling my eyes at the ambiguity of my comment, and the difficulty of not only trying to understand the disorder, but trying to actually put words to it.

“To really understand us--”

“You’d need to look past the colors.” I never trusted myself to talk about advanced interpersonal concepts, even the more simple ones.

“Um... Asher? You’re starting to talk together.” I had to repress a laugh as I felt a suppressed indignified “Hey!” try to come through from myself.

“I think that’s normal, actually,” I responded, not really sure of the validity of the guess.

“We are only one person after all,” in-head me added on, trying to-- figuratively-- sound more introspective than the sentence actually is.

“Why do you appear as if you’re two then?”

“I think that has something to do with association,” I said, rubbing my jaw with a hoof. “Don’t quote me on that.”

“Association?” The question felt more doubtful than confused or curious.

“Well, I don’t exactly agree with some of the things he’s done.”

“Two way street there, pal,” I put out with a disapproving scowl.

“He’s way too content with doing nothing. It’s asking to be put in a chair for the rest of your life, and banality isn’t something I want to do.”

“So, you can’t associate yourself to some of the things you do?” Twilight asked before I could comment about banality, though it felt like she was just going through the conversation just to be courteous.

“It’s a complex life I’ve lived. Never tried to make sense of it.” I might have sounded bored-- not that I’d do well with actually knowing. Too many mental disorders skewing my perception on it.

“But doesn’t that mean you don’t understand yourself?” Twilight asked-- a rather spot on question if I’d heard one.

“I never tr-” I started before the a knock at the door took my attention. “Uh, come on in?” I called out, wondering why anyone would need to knock on the door.

“So it’s safe now?” I heard Vigil shout through the door.

“Why wouldn’t it be safe?” I shouted, jumping off the table.

“You were on fire from what Johnny said.”

“Er, right well…” I checked my hoof again real quick for a white coat or maybe some flames. Nothing wrong with double checking. “I’m not on fire anymore...”

The door opened slowly, Vigil hovering in the hallway with a worried look on his face. “So... are you going to put the suppressor back on?” He asked, motioning to the ring on the ground.

“Oh, right... I probably should do that.” I said, picking the ring back up from the ground and placing it on my horn.

“Right, thank you.” Vigil said as he flew into the room. “So, I figured where you figured out magic, You’d be cool with me flying around.”

“I honestly don’t remember how I blasted Lieutenant Dachs.” I admitted sheepishly, rubbing the back of my neck. “It’s really not like I’d have blamed you for doing something you’ve learned how to do anyways. I mean, you did kinda learn.”

“That’s... actually rather mature...” Vigil said, giving me a confused look. “How old are you?”

“I’m seventeen,” I answered, trying to pop my neck.

“That sounds about right…” he said, shaking his head as he looked to the side.

“Really?” I asked, much more used to hearing comments on others thinking I’m older than I am.

“With a temper like that, but the maturity to at least accept what you can’t control? Yeah, around early college years is where I’d put it. To be honest though, I was thinking you might be a year or two older than seventeen, but… Ech, close enough, I guess.”

“Ah… ‘Kay, that sounds about right…” I said, nodding my head at the difference in age of the guess.

“The hell is with your temper, anyways?”

My ears folded back in mild annoyance at the reminder of my temper. “Right... That’s just something I was born with. Been trying to get control of it.”

“Really?” he asked, looking at me skeptically.

“Let me put it this way; I once hit my cousin with a solid plastic guitar as I ran past him, just because I didn’t agree with the way he was telling me to play a game. I was two,” I told him. The only thing that kept me from laughing at the story was the fact I was being totally honest.

“Over a game?”

“I never said I was mature,” I said with a bit of a laugh, picturing myself running through the living room my family had at the time-- half naked-- as I was rushing through with plastic guitar that could have well been half my weight at the time.

“I’m curious on why you’re Twilight now.”

I sat there in silence for a moment, thinking about it. “I...” I started, putting my hoof to my head and rubbing as I thought. “I... really don’t know, actually.”

“Well, I guess we’ll figure that out when we hit that road.”

“Guess so,” I said with a slight chuckle.

“Well, anyways, my shift’s over. We can talk about whatever you’d like.”

I tried not to laugh, but I felt the smile on my face. “Dude, I’m the wrong guy to get to spark a conversation.”

“And why’s that?”

“Because I can’t make small talk to save my life.”

“What makes you so sure of that?”

“Every conversation I’ve had thus far has either sucked or been Twilight.”

“I’ll be sure to let the captain know he’s a boring person,” Knightly said with a smirk.

“Pfft, he’s about as amusing as used tissue. He’s a family man, they’re way too easy to read.” I shot back at him, trying not to laugh. “Then again, sometimes used tissue is more fun than even stencil paper.”

“What?” he said, face scrunched up in confusion, and what might have been mild amusement.

“I ‘unno man! I’m weird!” I said, putting my hooves up in an overdone shrug.

“Right the fuck on man.”

“Hey, at least I’m not one of those kids who’re so messed up in the head they can’t wipe their own butt,” I said with a smile. “... Unfortunately, I think I’m related to two of them, and I think both are older than my younger brother.” I could feel my smile wilting as I said this, rolling my eyes slightly.

“And how old’s he?”

“Fourteen,” I stated rather aloofly.

Knightly smirked, which got a small chuckle out of me as I thought about the absurdity of the notion. It wasn’t long after that that he started laughing in full bravado, and I wasn’t far behind. Fortunately Lt. Dachs stepped in to keep us from choking on our laughter. “What the hell?”

“Porn,” I said with a suddenly straight face. Knightly lost it, I got Dachs to chuckle, and I couldn’t keep the straight face for more than three seconds.

“Again, how the hell are you Twilight Sparkle?” Knightly shot out through the laughter, bringing me back from hysterics slightly.

“Again, I have no umpty-fluff-a-doodle of a clue as to why I’m Twilight,” I answered, shaking my head as the laughter subsided a bit more.

“There’s a reason you guys became specific ponies?” Lt. Dachs asked, glancing between Knightly and myself.

“Apparently? I don’t know, probably something to do with compatibility or something. Twilight understands magic more than I do.”

“What kind of girl smacks their cousin with a guitar, anyways?” Knightly asks, still laughing slightly.

“Sh- Wait, what?”

“Not a girl,” I said, staring at Knightly sourly.

“Another gender change case?” He asks with a renewed chuckle. “How many on the ship is that now, eighteen of twenty-three? Oh, no wait, with Twilight it’s twenty-four. You know what, fuck it, let’s just say the ship is a guy.”

I couldn’t contain my laughter at that comment. It hurt to laugh. Then again, it hurt trying not to laugh, so I suppose I couldn’t win there.

I personally believe that man is secretly a comedic genius.

Or a really good assassin... Either or.

I was pretty sure he’s a cool guy though; left us all laughing until dinner an hour later.

The walk there was no less entertaining, and when that last guy in the berthing I was staying in showed up, he seemed a lot less apprehensive. I forgot his name, honestly.

Not really important anyways.

Getting dinner went about the same as lunch, which thankfully, due to whatever mind-bugging witchcraft Baba Yaga did, I could actually remember.

“Would you like any help with your dinner?” Knightly asked as we made our way to the table.

“Naw,” I sounded, making my way to whatever table they were leading me to. “I’d like to see if I can actually learn magic this time.”

“Why didn’t you offer to carry your own plate then?” Lt. Dachs asked, setting my plate down at a table, and taking the chair next to my seat.

“Apparently I don’t have much energy to work with,” I said, looking around the area once again, though nothing really caught my attention. “Something about a sharp saturation tolerance reduction.”

“... I don’t know much about magic, but being Twilight Sparkle, I wouldn’t think that would be much of a problem for you,” Lt. Vigil poked, settling down in the spot on the other side of me.

“Apparently it is. Something like seventy or so thaums? It’s apparently a rather low limitation...”

Knightly started laughing a little as he set down his own plate. “Right, so, what happened to your... what, three giga-thaum pool?”

“That’s an over-exaggeration. I was a few hundred kilothaums short of two megathaums, sure, but that’s… okay, it’s not normal, but it’s not quite so absurd. Who could even withstand that much energy?”

“Celestia maybe?” I asked aloud, giving a shrug with a small smile, as I always loved looking crazy.

The table just gave me weird looks, which I ignored as I listened to Twilight’s answer. Figuratively.

“Maybe? It’s not a normal question.”

“Who likes normal?” I threw out, shrugging. “I’d rather lead an interesting life than a life that conforms to the idea of ‘normal.’”

“Yes, the curse of an interesting life,” I felt myself think. “Not that I entirely disagree, but I’d rather life just be slightly abnormal. Something not entirely relaxed, but definitely not ‘interesting.’”

“Asher, you’re talking to yourself. No one can hear what you’re thinking up there,” Knightly said, dragging me from my to-self conversation.

“That’s… kind of the point?” I gave a shrug, not really sure what else I could say.

“You’re going to get the wrong kind of attention doing that,” Dachs says, picking at his meal.

I give another shrug. “People can draw all the assumptions they like. I might agree with them.”

Pretty much everyone at the table shook their heads and stopped paying attention to me, which let me reach up to take the horn ring off. An awkward movement, all in all, since I had to balance on my hind legs.

I started to tune out the world around me, thinking back on what I could remember of magic. Or… everything I associated with it, I should say. It was pretty easy where almost everyone was minding their own business, and those who were paying attention to me were

“We can’t use magic because we can’t feel it!”

“Feeling…” I started to focus on Twilight’s horn, and the sensations related to and coming from it. “… Check.” I also silently berated myself for completely blocking out the sensations that are about as vital as my eyes.

“As for the use of mana, you could compare them to calories-- though I don’t think it would be very accurate, as you burn both calories and manilliane energy when using magic.”

“That’s a bit harder… Hard… Heart… Magic lies at the heart… Clearly a metaphor… Interpretation. Perception… There’s a perception to it that I’m missing.” I shook my head. “I’m off point. She was saying it’s a limited supply, nothing deep like that.”

“The focus, or Spellform… I can’t show you when we share a body.”

“Well, could you explain it?”

“If you were familiar with feeling magic, maybe, but you’re just learning.”

“… I’m going to need help… Uh, Twilight?”

“Yes?” She replied, though I wasn’t sure if she felt tired or slightly annoyed.

“Can I get some help with levitation? I’m kind of at a brick wall.”

“I can’t do much from here aside from try to tell you how to go about it, and even then, you don’t have any experience with magic to go off of.”

“I’d rather say my ability for magic being naught is not from a lack of trying. Give me what you have,” I thought back, rolling my head slightly.

“Levitation is a mostly instinctive spell, so listen to it a bit… if you have the instincts. Mostly it’s just moving the existing energy.”

“Not as simple as it sounds, I assume…” I said to myself, looking at the fork on the table.

Twilight’s answer was a little delayed but she did put forth a comforting, “Maybe?” Only to make it better she added on, “I probably make a horrible frame of reference, being exceptional with magic.”

I gave an internal sigh at the thought, going back to paying attention to the sensations coming from my horn. I could feel the energy… The shifts… Even on the smallest degree. In me… Around me… It was almost surreal.

“Is this what a stoner feels like?” I asked, more than loud enough to get the entire table looking at me with mixed expressions of confusion, amusement, or slight glares. The was a chuckle or two even, but they were quiet.

Though, quiet as they were, it seemed to help my nerves. It almost felt like eyes shifted from me. Helped me clear my head… though, only for a moment as a familiar feeling struck me, filling my head with words.

Words I said out loud as they came to me, for whatever reason it was.

"Food, eggs, waffle, pancakes, eggs, fork, fork, knife, FRICK! Eggs, pancake, knife, fork, FRICK, FACEBOOK, FRICK!

"FRIIIIIICK! FRICK!" I shouted before throwing myself backwards off my seat, laughing hysterically. "WHAT. AM. I. DOING?!" Was the last thing I shouted before my laughter was the only noise for awhile.

The collective silence was heavy enough to kill a blue whale if you were to have dropped it on one. Little unnerving actually.

“I need to check facebook when we dock,” I said, smiling from my place on the floor.

“Have a smartphone?” one of the sailors that was at the table with me said as she stood up and walked over to help me to my hooves. Good thing too, as the ground is cold, and I still took awhile to get to my hooves on my own.

“Er, yeah… Why?” I asked, accepting the hand offered in assistance.

“You can just hook up to the ship’s wi-fi, but you’ll have to get one of those lugs to do it for you,” she said, motioning to the lieutenants.

“... I guess I’ll check Facebook when I get back to the berthing.”

After getting back to my hooves, I hopped back onto the seat, then… magically I ate my food.

… By stuffing my face unceremoniously into the meal.

“I thought you said you were going to try to figure out magic,” Lt. Knightly said, sounding rather unamused.

I lifted my face, looked over at him, swallowed the facefull of whatever the kitchen had served that night, then I told the pegasus, “I’d rather practice with my phone after bathing--since I already need to do that after lunch--and preserve energy for something more immediately relevant to my interests and goals than waste it on something that’s not going to change anything.”

I might have gotten a few looks, but I think Knightly understood what I was talking about. Or pretended to. Either way, the questions stopped, and I could eat in silence.

Author's Note

And with this chapter, I'll be moving.

I'll be writing on the go, so hopefully I'll have something ready to put out when I reach my new home, so...

I was stupid and never actually put the link up for someone to check over it for quality,

See you all this summer!

4:14 (A.M.)

There’s a weakness; in the window; place my footprints; in the dark realm~

“Music? Oh wait, that’s my phone. What song is this?” I wonder, caught halfway between dreaming and being awake.

There’s lonely voices; like a scarecrow; in the hallway; like a lost ghost~

“Wait, what time is it?” I think as I smack my pillow off my head to look at my alarm clock, set to go off eight minutes later.

In the bedroom; I see a shadow; from the moon with light from a candle~

“Oh.” I say groggily, and then try to lift my head so I can slide off my bed.

*TANG*

On a bed-frame; lies a girl; her reflection; in the mirror~

“Freakin’ headboard.” I thought to myself as I slid to the side of my bed and went to stand... And then gravity seemed to shift.

Ladada dadada dadada dada dat dada~

I’m not used to tripping like that, and it took my mind off hitting my head, but it’d been awhile since I’d last done it, so it really doesn’t strike me as odd. I twist around to try standing again, but from the floor this time, yet somehow run into the same issue of lack a center of balance.

I like your eyes wide~

The fall was at least a little more graceful, as I didn’t manage to completely hit the floor. I was waking up with all this falling, that much I can tell you easily. I’m not getting much ground, which I find a little strange. “Blugh.” I sound out absently.

Ladada dadada dadada dada dat dada~

That’s when it struck me that my voice was currently very feminine sounding... “Weird, I sounded just like Twilight for a moment.” I thought for a moment... I’ll be honest, things were starting to freak me out at this point.

At least I was able to reach my phone now. Barely, but still.

Knocking at your backdoor~

Now that I finally... dropped my phone? Alright... That’s happened before. I swept my arm passed the outlet that my phone’s charger was plugged into, taking up the cord and lifting it in front of my face with my...

Is that a hoof?

Ladada dadada dadada dada dat dada~

Alright, now everything is starting to run through my mind from when I woke up to that point. I seem to have lost my balance when I went to sleep last night, I smacked my head on something it usually rests atop because I’ve got enough padding on the bars of my futon to make it so my head sits at the same level as the top of it, and I’ve got a hoof in place of a hand.

I’m now once again trying to stand up to head to the lightswitch, taking a moment to look to my legs to make sure I’ve got my footing right... and once again, I’m seeing hooves in place of my hands and feet, not to mention that my legs are sticking out at odd angles from my body.

At first I thought someone broke them while I was asleep, but then I noticed I don’t hurt, not to mention that when you feel enough pain while asleep, you wake up and I hadn’t been woken up once last night.

I’m not even paying attention to my phone as its alarm is going off, which isn’t really that hard, since it’s not my loud alarms. I take a moment to force myself onto all fours, which seems rather natural... except I have no idea how to walk around... and I’m once again too short to reach the doorknob, let alone my TV so that I can play games for a while to try and take my mind off things.

Everyone’s gone to bed at most five hours ago...

I feel afraid for my well being for the first time in awhile, discluding whenever I’ve been more than four and a half feet off the ground. I’d start hyperventilating, but that would only give me more reason to worry. Besides, I’m not short on breath or trying to take in too much oxygen.

Using what knowledge I had for walking on all fours from when I knew my body, I start moving toward my lightswitch so that I can take a good look at myself, since the sun’s not up and my blinds are down, like always, my room’s pretty dark.

This doesn’t mean I can’t see; I’ve lived in a dark room ever since I was thirteen. I’ve never liked to have the lights on, and so I left them off at night. Heck, I like the dark, so I even put a few blankets over my previous window to keep light from the streetlamp from getting into my room. I’m used to darkness, so seeing things isn’t an issue.

… Not that there’s anything on my floor that I don’t know exactly where it is, let alone what it is. I’m obsessive compulsive, I make sure my room is organized, and that means trash goes in a specific area.

Anyways, it feels a little goofy, but I could walk. I’m not used to the way these joints move. I mean, yeah, I’ve been curious, but going from phase zero testing to final phase isn’t my usual thing when it come to this.

Yeah, I almost never play video games on anything less than normal, and even normal is a difficulty level I hardly play, but there’s a fine line between ‘I want to know what this is like’ and ‘I want to play this game.’

I finally got over to my lightswitch, and tried to use my wall as support so I could reach the lightswitch. I’ll be honest, I failed the first time, falling to my right... which is where my door is... and my room having an awkward angle door, I hit my door, then fell backward onto my skateboard... which had a basket and bucket on it full of a whole bunch of stuff.

Lucky me, I only broke the handle of the basket where I mostly landed on it. That, and I knocked most of my stuff back into the bucket on reflex once I noticed my skateboard threw it upward a little bit where I landed on the opposite end.

I rolled off my skateboard onto my side to stand up, and picked everything up that I didn’t knock back into their containers and set them back inside. That being said and done, I now went back to trying to turn my light on.

Or at least wanted too, because that’s when my alarm clock started screaming at me to wake up.

“You’re a little late!” I yelled at my alarm clock as I walked over to turn it back off. I still felt off balance, and the struggle to turn off my alarm clock did little to improve my slowly degrading mood.

Lucky me, my family is a bunch of deep sleepers, so I can get away with yelling at inanimate objects at 4:14. (4:14 A.M. For those of you who use the A.M./P.M. system.)

Oh, and my phone’s alarm is now in snooze mode, so it’s playing Echo by Gorilla Zoe now. Good song, I think. Once the lyrics came along I actually started to hum it. Not surprising, but I really am sick of hearing my voice as Twilight’s.

After I stride back over to the door, I try propping myself up on some headboards I’m planning on using as furniture for my room... which, fall over under my weight, since I’ve forgotten that they're not exactly well balanced.

Once again, I have stuff on my floor that shouldn’t be there, and I’m not a whole lot closer to getting my light on so I can see myself. In fact, with my camping bag that’s sitting next to some beds that are still sitting in my room for some reason, I’ve managed to move the headboards-that-are-soon-to-become-furniture away from the wall where they’re supposed to be.

Once again, I try propping myself against the wall to reach my lightswitch, and to my further frustration, I actually manage to do what I’ve been trying to do for the past ten minutes.

After cleaning up my room, again, I finally get around to looking at myself. No, I don’t have a mirror, I’m not a girl, I actually had to look down at my feet to see... Hooves.

I go to look at my hand... Another hoof.

I look back at my legs and see... Oh no...

That’s Twilight’s cutiemark...

You know how I just said I’m not a girl?

Scratch that, the feminine voice I’ve been hearing is mine, and it’s Twilight’s.

Somehow, I’m Twilight Sparkle.

Like I said, complicated.

“Feel better?”

“I think so.”

“Do you really have to say what you’re thinking aloud?”

“No... it’s just fun to do so.”

“... You just love getting under my skin, don’t you?”

“More than you know!” I said, mocking myself.

“Asher, you voice your thoughts too.”

“She’s right you know, so don’t give me that ‘Do you have to mre mre neh,’ when you do the same thing!” I scolded myself playfully as I lit up the screen for my phone. 13:42.

“Okay, so. Oh-four-hundred, to one-forty-two, that’s nine... Nine hours. Nine plus twenty-four is thirty-three... I’ve been Twilight Sparkle for thirty-three hours now...” I rambled off, pausing only to think.

I often do this when I’m stressed. Math helps me to relax, unlike with most people I’ve met, who only get aggravated by numbers. Unfortunately, that was the only bit of math I had.

“Wait... CRAP! What time-zone am I in?” I asked aloud, having remembered that I’m at sea. I’m fairly certain there aren’t any oceans in the Memphis Tennessee area.

“Would you stay focused for more than five seconds?!” I suddenly blew up at myself.

“I will if you will, and we both know that won’t happen.” I said, shrugging off my own over-exaggeration.

“Just think of something to do that isn’t jumping through fifteen different topics, okay?” I responded irritably from in my head.

“Fine, fine, I’ll try and figure out magic... Sheesh, what crawled up your butt and died?”

“You, minus the dying part, which makes the problem that much worse.”

“ASHER!” Twilight suddenly burst between our conversation. “Will you two stop fighting each other... Yourself... Whatever! I’m sorry, but you two haven’t let off from your fight since I started talking to you about... interests.

“I understand you two are at a disagreement, but please, for the love of Celestia, just calm. Down.” She finished with a demanding edge to her feel.

Still had to admit that was odd, having sound and pitch replaced by feelings that are only felt when the thoughts are sent between ourselves... ourself. That was going to kick me in the butt, no matter how used to it I was.

I set myself to the task of figuring out how to use magic, as my phone was as organized as I needed it, and my hooves navigated the touchscreen on it with less than desirable results.

I closed my eyes and started to-

“Twilight?” Came Knightly’s voice, startling me.

“Oh, uh... Knightly, right?” I asked. I had always sucked with names.

He just gave a slight chuckle before simply saying, “Yeah, feel free to call me Vigil though.”

“Alright then, Vigil... Are you here to check up on me?”

“Yes Ma’am.”

“Sir.” I corrected.

“Er, sorry, I’ll just be off.” He said, turning to leave the berthing.

“Wait! I uh, wanted to ask you... uh...” I said, quickly trying to think of how to phrase my question.

“To ask me what?”

“Are you familiar with your equine body?”

“Woah, what?” He asked, his face a darker shade of red than I purple.

“I mean how you move it!” I yelled, my face reddening a bit as well as I caught on to the possible implications of my question.

“Oh! Oh... S-sorry... Yeah, I know how to move around.” He replied, his face now a more pink color.

“... A few questions then.” I said, trying to get out of the awkward waters.

“Uh, fire away.”

“First, do you know how to fly?”

“Yes.” was his simple response.

“How easily did it come to you?”

“Most of it was pretty easy, actually. The hard part was learning to get off the ground.”

“Right.” I said, nodding my head to show I understood. “How did you learn to move your wings?”

“I... woke up knowing.” He said, opening his wings a little.

“Wait, repeat.”

“I woke up knowing how to move my wings.”

“You’re telling me, you just woke up, knowing how to use foreign body parts?” I asked, halfway between agitated and shocked.

“Uh, I guess? I never really thought about that.” He noted, looking at one of his now outstretched wings.

“How?!” I practically demanded.

Jumping at my shout, he said, “W-well, if I had to guess, I think it has something to do with the pony part of my mind. I was a pegasus, so naturally, he’d know how to use our wings.”

I stopped to think for a moment, sitting down in the middle of the floor. “So naturally, he’d know how to use our wings.” was the part of what he said that stuck to my mind.

“I-I don’t know.”

That was Twilight’s response on how to use magic.

“But, if she doesn’t know, that means it’s not Twilight. Heck not even a unicorn... No, that’s not possible, all the memories are unmistakably Twilight’s...”

“As much as I enjoy the game twenty questions, I need to get back to my post.” Knightly said, turning for the door again.

“Yeah, you do that... I have a lot to think about anyways.” I told him.

“How is it that Twilight wouldn’t remember how to use magic? I remember her using it first hand... I just can’t think of the process.” I thought to myself, running my entrance exam through my mind again...

“How did she do it? Why can’t she remember how she did it?” I thought, looking at the deck of cards on the table. I tried to lift the cards using magic, but I couldn’t feel anything for some reason.

“Feel... Feel! FEEL!” I thought excitedly. “I think I figured out why we can’t use magic!” I shouted.

“I swear if you’re pulling my leg...”

“No no no! It’s feeling! See, we can’t use magic because we can’t feel it!”

“That has to be the most idio-”

“Hold on, I think he’s onto something. That sounds really familiar.” Twilight cut into my other’s thoughts.

“Wait, there’s actually some merit to that?”

“Yes. Magic is powered as much by emotion as it is by raw energy.”

“Then the last part has to be focus, the part that actually shapes spell!”

“Precisely!” Twilight thought. I would say I was almost able to feel her excitement, but that would be a lie, since I actually could feel the excitement.

“Then all we need to do is figure out is how to gather the energy!”

“Not quite.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, an ear dropping in my confusion.

“Unicorn magic has a visual aura. If magic were to be colored by the surrounding energy, magic would change color based on where one is, not based on whose magic it is.”

“Oooh, I get it! We need to find out what’s blocking our energy!”

“Exactly. The only issue we'll have is trying to find it.”

“Leave that one, to me.” I said, before closing my eyes and just letting the world go as I focused on feeling inside myself.

It only took a few moments before I was gone, and freely roaming my mind.

“Wait, how did you get in here?” Twilight asked, looking startled by my sudden appearance.

“Out of myself and I, I’m the one who knows how to utilize the power of our imagination.” I said as I stood up.

“What happened to your mane?” I heard myself ask from behind.

Quickly I turned around to see myself staring at top of my head... and likewise, I started staring at the top of his. For some strange reason, his mane was styled like Twilight's. Since he and I share a preferred physical form, despite the color difference, I assumed mine was the same way.

“I would ask you the same question, but I guess I already did.” I joked.

“Very funny.”

“I thought it was, so what’s wrong with you?” I asked myself between chuckles.

“Asher, focus, do you want to use magic or not?”

“Of course I do.” I said simultaneously.

“Jinx! You owe me a soda!” I said, knowing I’d eventually treat myself to a soda.

“Don’t mind him, he’s just being weird.” Other-me said, stepping forward as he rolled his eyes. “So where’s the magic?”

“I don’t know.” Twilight answered.

“You don’t know?!”

“Magic is unique to the individual Asher, remember?”

“So we’re going to need to find out where it is on our own.”

“YES!” I hollered, jumping up and running off without the others, completely ignoring the adventure rule of “Don’t split up”.

I was picturing my mind in a sci-fi theme. Tunnels with lit floors, and hexagonal corridors, and all that stereotypical tomfoolery. I figure, sometimes the best way to not be bothered by something that annoys you is to enjoy it in a ridiculous manner...

Which is exactly why I was breaking all the laws of physics with my ventilation system. I punched a vent into the shaft, and crawled into it like there was nothing there, only to start crawling out of the ‘ceiling’.

“Hello, gravity~!” I said, looking at my relative down. “SKYDIVING! PINKIE-PIE STYLE!” I yelled to the nothing around me as I jumped out and assumed the position I’d seen Pinkie use in the Fighting is Magic previews.

I’d always loved to take a dip into my mind for these reasons.

I’d believed it was a good time for a step back through my relative time. I don’t know why I do so, but I do it a lot when I’m lost in my imagination.

Finally thinking straight again, I opened my eyes to see... nothing. I’m not afraid of the dark normally, but then again, I wasn’t exactly in a regular darkness.

I was in a dark spot of my mind.

“OH DEAR LORD NO LET ME OUT!” I yelled as I spun around and ran to a door that I couldn’t see. I don’t even know what it was that was hiding in the dark, but it was chasing me, and I could feel it. Panicking, I threw the door open when I got to it, and kicked it closed when I got out.

Even though I knew it was trapped in the room I had just escaped, I hightailed it out of there. I swear, I went through six corridors before I slowed down.

“What do you mean?” I hear emanating from everywhere.

“Unicorn magic has a visual aura. If magic were to be colored by the surrounding energy, magic would change color based on where one is, not based on whose magic it is.” I hear Twilight say from down the hall.

“Oooh, I get it! We need to find out what’s blocking our energy!” I hear from the walls again.

“Exactly. The only issue I’ve been having is trying to find it.”

“Leave that one, to me.”

“Wait, how did you get in here?” I heard Twilight ask.

“Out of myself and I, I’m the one who knows how to utilize the power of our imagination.” My other-self said as I walked around a corner.

“What happened to your mane?” I asked, looking at his now Twilight-styled mane.

“I would ask you the same question, but I guess I already did.” He quipped.

“Very funny.”

“I thought it was, so what’s wrong with you?” He asked me between chuckles.

“Asher, focus, do you want to use magic or not?”

“Of course I do.” Myself and I said simultaneously.

“Jinx! You owe me a soda!” He said, once again proving that he's incapable of being serious for more than ten seconds.

“Don’t mind him, he’s just being weird.” I said, rolling my eyes as I took a step forward. “So where’s the magic?”

“I don’t know.” Twilight answered.

“You don’t know?!”

“Magic is unique to the individual Asher, remember?”

“So we’re going to need to find out where it is on our own.”

“YES!” My other side hollered, jumping up and running off without us. It’s quite likely he wasn’t even thinking about what he was doing.

"He's going to get us killed, I swear to you, he is." I said as I watched him turn a corner.

"... Aren't you saying that you're going to get us killed by saying that?" Twilight asked as I started leading us down a separate corridor.

"As much as I hate to admit it, yes." I told her as I looked at our science fiction surroundings. "Could I have picked a more annoying theme?"

"Why don't you like it?"

"It's sci-fi."

"You don’t like science fiction?”

“Not really.”

“Why not?”

“It’s often overplayed, and the estimates on when we’d have such technology are too soon. It makes it feel like I’m being lied to.”

“How do you feel like you’re being lied to?”

"Here's an example." I said, readying myself to rant. “Mega-man, a game series in which the protagonist is a robot designed to look and act human, is originally based in two-thousand ten. Here we are, two-thousand twelve, and they’re only just getting around to making robots that can move somewhat like a human can.

“Until recently, any attempts at such robotics looked unnatural. I know it’s their guesses, but I’m not exactly thinking about this from an individual standpoint. The majority of humanity, from my experience, is too easily swayed.

“Expectations are too easily set high, which means a lot of people are easy to disappoint. Having a set time area, science fiction works can become what some people will believe. I know it’s not something everyone will do, but those that do might be upset by such things...

“I guess I just don’t like the idea of people being upset by what’s written or portrayed... I don’t know, I don’t have myself here to talk about it with.” I said, concluding my little rant about sci-fi.

“But... aren’t you separate from him?” Twilight asked, sounding rather confused.

“Yeah.”

“Then how are you not sure why you hate sci-fi settings?”

“It’s... complicated.” I admitted, looking away from Twilight.

“We are going to be the same pony, so we might as well get the complicated parts out of the way first.”

I let out a sigh and look back to the mare in my mind. “Well... as much as we’re separate, we’re the same.”

“How does that work?” She asked, looking confused.

I take a deep breath and sit down. “That’s something I don’t have the answer for. As much as I’ve looked into psychology, I’m no master of the mind. I’ll be honest, my other part understands more about mental matters than I do.”

Twilight had sat down in front of me, listening intently. “So, you mean to say, as much as you know, your other self knows more?”

“In terms of matters of mind, yes. Although, in most topics, I know more.”

“So, you two have different strengths, even though you’re the same person?”

“Like I said, complicated.” I said, standing back up.

“That... really doesn’t make any sense.”

“Unfortunately, not a whole lot about me does.” I'd told her as I walked past her.

Author's Note

HEY!~

I'm horrible. I know.

That's twice now.

Feel free to point and laugh at my laziness, I'm aware of it.

Also, tell me what you think because the chapters of this daydream has me nervous.

EDIT: DEAR LORD I WAS TIRED WHEN I POSTED THIS. I just edited my author's note. Jeez.