Destiny of a Lover

Chapters

Life Shouldn't Suck This Much
We Only Know What We Think
Lay Down Your Burden
A New Dawn Approaches
Paradise Gained?
End of the Beginning?
A Year Later
The Clothes Hit the Floor
Day Of Remembrance
And the Drum Beats Begin
As Dreams Fade, Reality Sets In
Glory Falls To Those Who Win It

Life Shouldn't Suck This Much

“Welp, another day… another dollar not made.” Sighing, Cynthia exited the internet browser program. Ever since she’d quit her last job in frustration a few weeks ago, she felt better about herself, but she couldn’t shake the chill of the impending meltdown of her adult life from her mind’s eye. If only, she thought. If only there had been time in her youth. If only there had been time in those jumpy, torrid teen years. If only I had known…

Cynthia was a striking young woman in many ways. Her demeanor was usually a reserved one, preferring to avoid others unless she could help in any way she knew. She hid a dismal and undistinguished past; this girl was unique. For most of her life, she knew herself as a boy; so did everyone else around her. She never thought that her life would end up this way, but here she was; looking blankly at the button on her computer screen that would put her back in touch with her boyfriend.

My boyfriend. I never thought… but then, what DID I think was going to happen? That life would go on, as if I had never understood myself more clearly? That I would continue to be acknowledged as on equal footing with any other independent adult? Silently she cursed her misfortune. First, a twisted childhood, at the mercy of the passing whims of an abusive father. Then, religious segregation in a deeply conservative group opposed to everything that wasn’t their own doing. As if that all wasn’t enough, there was always that nagging, never ending feeling that all was not what it could have been. Now, with peace in her innermost being at last, Cynthia was adrift in the sea of apathetic self-interest that was the adult world.

There were always a few things that kept Cynthia’s spirits on the up and up for a while, if not completely happy all the time. She had a boyfriend, a warm place to sleep and eat, computer games, and ponies. Pony toys, pony colouring books, pony stories… then of course, there was an actual show about the ponies too… Cynthia wanted to believe in a world where friendship really meant more than money, where happiness meant more than being financially solvent. Come to think of it, she thought, I should check my online bank statement.

Exiting the Skype window, Cynthia opened the browser again. It loaded slower nowadays. She mentally groaned, remembering what it was like when this computer was new. Fast as a Bugatti, compared to the computers she’d owned before. Able to open programs and execute functions in a few seconds. Now it’s as old and tired as my first car. Distracted temporarily by the meaningless jibber jabber of friends on Facebook(modded to put ponies in every artful place imaginable), the checking of her email for new job postings or comics, the World of Tanks forum(just to check the trolls - OMFGWTFBBQ WG NURF THE RUSHIUNZ NAOW PLOX!!11!), and anything else she could do, she finally opened the link to her online banking portal. Entering her numbers quickly, Cynthia waited the mind numbingly long time it took her kinda-sorta-decent computer to load a simple banking page, dreading having to watch the numbers take another hit. Another bill to pay, another grocery trip to make… It was a dreaded experience.

Before the page had finished loading, she popped open another tab. Might as well make the wait semi-interesting. She opened her favourite pony fanfic site, hoping for an update to one of her favourite stories, just to forget the cares of this horrid adult life crap. At least I’m happy with my life as a girl, even if I’m constantly a wreck. Maybe a nice long chat with the bf about something I couldn’t care less about will help; it always does. Noticing the original bank page had loaded before the fanfic site even had, she reluctantly pulled herself from her second favourite thing in the world, to exercise some adult responsibility.

It wasn’t enough. A cellphone bill to pay, a never ending thirst for entertainment(that cost little, but still cost) just to keep from being bored to the point of self-harm, a nagging sense of guilt at having to accept help from her family with food, rent for next month, a small service charge here and there. It just wasn’t enough.

Disgusted, Cynthia made a mental note of the numbers on the ledger, emblazoning her mind with a safety net of exactly how much she wanted to spend, before there was anymore money to put in there. Goddess, I’ll have to watch it… Thanks mom, for all the wonderful food! The road to acceptance of her self-discovery by her family was long and hard, but she finally had a mother that thought of her as a daughter. At least things are right where it counts. There was finally a stable relationship in her life; her boyfriend shared many of her heartaches and frustrations; he really seemed like the boy she wished she could give the world. Oh well, she thought, better a happy life as a slightly unusual woman, than a perfect life as a man tortured by his own soul. Cynthia counted herself lucky; she had so much now, that she hadn’t before.

As she went back to the site with all the pretty stories about ponies to dream about, Cynthia felt herself lose balance. Putting her head on her desk, she willed the ache in her head to just leave her in peace; she had enough problems, didn’t she!? Putting the pain in a distant corner of her mind, she remembered the story she had been following for sometime now. It was long; sometimes just so funny she couldn’t think about anything else so funny, sometimes so sad she almost cried. It was rarely that she cried, but at least it came better now, with the hormone treatment pills.

That was it! She remembered. A man named Charles was ripped away from Earth, after a lifetime’s worth of pain and remorse. He had been put in a magical world where the inhabitants actually trusted each other(for the most part). With his life experiences, he had ingratiated his new friends in Equestria, and earned their trust by his respect and care for everyone. I’m so glad I have a boyfriend who has all that heart, plus a body! With that, Cynthia realized she was too tired of looking at a screen to keep using this electronic box of self-aggrandised corporate talking head… Well, if only for a short while, I should let my eyes rest a bit… Shading her eyes strategically, she located the power button for the monitor. Moving a bunch of stuff that never seemed to get put away from the bed to the chair, she pulled open the covers and got in the bed. Sleep seemed to overtake the tired girl, and soon she was hugging her piled pillows to simulate a warm body she could snuggle up to…

Awaking with a bit of a start, Cynthia pawed at her one remaining pillow. I’ll bet the other one slipped down on that side, she thought through the haze of dream-filled sleep.

We Only Know What We Think

"My, my. What do we have here?"

There was a soft, feminine voice speaking, and the sound of rushing water. To Cynthia's ears, it was like being next to a water jet, for all its ferocity.

Cynthia's perspective

As I slowly broke through the ethereal wall between sleep and wake, I became aware of the voice, the warm breathing over me, the rushing water. I was about to get up, but I realized it was all probably my latest harebrained dream that I would never make sense of. I'm still at rest inside; that's all that counts, right? I slowly groped around for my blanket; I was getting chilled. Then I realised that the sound of the water was real. The voice must've been real too, then. WHAT!?! I slowly opened my eyes, my body grumbling under the pressure of being asked to do anything besides sleep. My eyes feel heavy, I thought to myself. That wasn't all. My eyes... moved differently?!? Well, let's see if I can at least still see...

I opened my eyes slowly, not knowing what to expect. There was a creature with large eyes in front of me, with canary yellow fur... AND A PINK MANE!?!?! It stood on four... appendages of some sort... Then it spoke.

"I haven't seen you before. Hi there; I'm Fluttershy..." It said, cowering under my gaze.

WHAT. THE ACTUAL. FUCK. It spoke... something I understood. Okay, so this is different. Without moving my head(which felt different, but I'll think about that later), I surveyed my surroundings. I was in a verdant forest. Dark and gloomy in its depths, it gave way to the clearing I was in. At one end of the clearing, there was a small waterfall; complete with a rainbow hue along its height, seemingly mocking my surprise at my new surroundings. There was indeed rushing water, and there was abundant fern and moss growth, dwarfed by birch and poplar trees.

Back to my head. It felt elongated. My neck turned differently. As I slowly turned my head, I looked down where my body should be. A(miniature) HORSE!?! Oh, no. No, no. No fucking way. Turning what seemed to be my head towards the audience to my confusion again, I realized who I was looking at. Fluttershy. My mouth(I have a mouth, still?) and heart breathed it, like I could never have forgotten, had I had the presence of mind to think about it. She cowered further back upon hearing my recognition of her. Of course, you dumb girl. She's SHY.

"Uh, do I know you?" She asked. Her expression was inquisitive, and confused. Holding her ground, she said, "I'm sorry; I meet so many ponies... What's your name again? I'm very sorry I forgot it." That's right, I look like a pony... I guess I'll have to gather as much information on this as I can. I knew I was having a dream. I had to be. There was simply no way I was in Equestria. Just, no. Until I figure out what it is I'm supposed to learn about myself this time, I'll stay here and... figure things out. I looked down at my body again. I had the same legs I expected to see on one of the ponies. But no wings. I guess I'm not a pegasus, then. I slowly scanned my flank for a cutiemark, remembering that some(like Derpy's) weren't a colour that clashed with the rest of the coat. No cutiemark. Huh. Well, I don't know what I'm supposed to do, then. I extended my consciousness throughout my body, feeling every nook and cranny of my new muscles. Oh, hello. A horn. I guess I'm a unicorn, then! Magic... hrmmm, this will be a difficult dream.

All this time, poor Fluttershy had not moved. "Excuse me... what is your name? I, um, don't think I know you..." Her voice trailed off as her gaze found the soil beneath us. Her pet bunny, Angel, scampered out a bush, happily carrying some freshly dug-up root. He stopped dead when he saw me, a low growl starting to form in his throat.

I now had an idea of my body's capabilities. I felt brave enough to try to form words now. "Cynthia." She shrank back down, looking back up at me. So I look down on most things here too then, huh? "Wha... what was that?" Her big blue eyes were still curious, but were now a little more evaluative. "You asked me for my name, and if we'd ever met. Cynthia is my name, and I'm sorry to say we never met before. I'm sorry I took you off guard." Angel's growl ceased, but there was still a brave look plastered on his face. I smiled down at him, thinking of how silly he had been in the series back home. Back home. I'm here for something... I wonder if it's to do with Fluttershy... ?

*SNAP*

I looked over to my other side. There was a trio of unicorns there, dressed in some sort of armour, like Princess Celestia's guard, but... darker, more aggressive. "You there! Identify yourself!" The one in the centre said. "I'm Cynthia." Stated calmly. Like a real lady! "We are under orders to bring you to see the King; will you comply?" King? That could only be... Midnight Flame... 'Will you comply?" He repeated, as the other two approached. "Yes. I will come willingly." No sense in starting a fight with an equine, is there? Pondering it, I decided quickly that I'd only do that with a firearm, and at a distance. "Very well; you will come with us!" He turned to the other two. "Ready?" "Ready!" They responded.

I looked over my shoulder at Fluttershy once more before they teleported me away. She was cowering, looking at me. Angel was still scowling at me, doing his best to shield Fluttershy with his tiny body. She doesn't trust me...

*SNAP*

Lay Down Your Burden

Third-Person perspective

*SNAP*

Cynthia opened her clenched eyes, and looked around; she had been teleported to a bleak stone room, with elegant hangings on the wall. "We found this in the Everfree Forest, while we investigated the magical disturbance." The seeming leader of the trio of guards that had taken me said.

In the room, there were several ponies present. Focusing on the tall and elegant Princess Celestia first, Cynthia bowed her head slightly in a show of reverent humility. There were others; guards, mainly. Princess Luna was also in the room, along with several graying ponies, and a standout unicorn stallion; Shining Armor.

Cynthia's perspective

I turned my senses to the conversation in the room again. "Well's he's just indisposed at the moment," Shining Armor was saying, "Let me take care of it." Princess Celestia then spoke up, "What is your name?" "Cynthia," I replied hoping to get somewhere with this dream that seemed to be taking a while.

"Very well then, Cynthia. Follow me to your... temporary accommodations." Shining Armor was again taking a pivotal role in the scene that was playing out. I rolled to my knees, and tried to stand for the first time on these legs. It was painful, and unfamiliar. Okay, so maybe this isn't a dream after all, I thought to myself. I haven't had a dream like this one before... Standing on my hooves painfully, I attempted to take a step forward with one hoof. "Are we going to have to teleport you to a cell too? Let's get a move on, Cynthia - or who ever you are." Shining Armor was getting impatient; he wore a look that seemed to say, 'I don't trust you, and I will only trust you less if you don't co-operate.' I couldn't blame him. I was having a hard time just moving! Stay with it, Cyn. "Hey, I'm sorry, okay? I'm not even sure what I'm doing here!" I snapped back at him. He replied, "Whatever. Just get moving; we have questions for you that need answered before we know what we can and can't let you do."

Slowly, I got the hang of moving my legs, two at a time. I must've really looked like I didn't know what I was doing, even walking, because he didn't say another word to me about moving faster. As I sped up, making sure to move two legs at a time, on each side of my body, he started directing me. "Left here," he said. Then we were looking down a hall with a row of doors on each side. They're putting me in a cell. This is not good. And I'm in Equestria... WTF!?! Content to have figured this much out, I walked into the room he opened.

Sitting down at the solitary table in the room, he again spoke, "Okay, so your name is Cynthia?" "Yes," I replied, as calmly as possible(I was in what looked to be an interrogation room, or maybe even a cell). "And where do you live?" He asked. "I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in the country of Canada." He gave me a deadpan look at this juncture. After going back and forth over it for a few minutes, I finally managed to get across to him that I didn't even know why I was here, or how I had gotten here. "And you know all of us, how?" He asked. This is going to get dumb, and I'll probably spend a night in this room. I groaned outwardly, then began my explanation of that fact. "See, where I come from, this place, this whole world; is a figment of the imagination of a writer for children's entertainment." He's giving me that look again. He thinks this is dumb; I don't blame him. "So then, why are you so big; as big as a stallion, yet you have the features and voice of a mare? And why don't you have a cutiemark?" He asked. Oh boy, here it comes again. "See, I was born a male human. But I never liked it; I never felt comfortable with it. So I take technologically-produced medication to give me feminine features in place of the masculine ones." I suppose I could tell him a lot more, like why my nether region is out of step with my life, or the procedure used to correct that on Earth. NAH; too much work for nothing!

"Uh-huh, So... why are you a mare here?" He asked, but he seemed to talk to the table. "Come again, please?" I asked. "Oh, nothing. I was kind of thinking aloud there," he said. "I'll tell you what," he continued, "our King, Midnight Flame-" "I've heard of him," I volunteered. "Ah yes, that reminds me; is he also someone you are familiar with through these... children's stories you told me about?" he queried. "Yes, that is how I know about him. I know he used to be a human too; a man named Charles." I need to be careful who I show recognition around here, they're all too suspicious of me as it is. Didn't they just have a world war or something? "As I was saying," he continued, "I will notify the King of your... situation. At his earliest convenience, I'll have him meet you. In the meantime, I think I've found out what we need to know about you, initially at least. I will find you more comfortable lodgings around here." I should only be so lucky... I guess things are looking on the up and up. Stay here, while I arrange for your stay in a more appropriate area. GUARD!" he yelled.

I was lucky to have gotten this all straightened out, before it turned into a repeat of my life on Earth. I wonder how long before I can just get on with my life... Come to think of it, NOW WHAT? While he was gone from the room, I pondered the events of the evening to myself. A bleagh bank statement, then a horrible headache, then hunger, now this? Well, I guess I need to figure out what I do now. Before I could fininsh the thought, though, he was back, with a guard pony behind him. "Come with me," Shining Armor commanded, "I have secured you a room to stay in for the night."

As we walked along the bleak hallways adorned with tapestry and stained-glass, he explained the 'rules'. "... and furthermore you are not allowed to leave the room for any reason. There will be a guard posted outside your window, and two more outside your door. Should you need anything, tell the ones at the door. I will come talk to you in the morning. Good night!" he said as we reached the double doors. The guards following us strode ahead to the door, opening one for me to enter. "Th-thank you, Shining Armor. Thank you for having faith in me." I stammered to him, before entering the room. As soon as I entered, the two guardsponies at the door gave one last look in the room, then closed the door firmly, with a resounding THUD! The pegasus guard outside the window looked in as he passed by, making sure to catch my eye. He looked serious. Looking over the accommodations, they seemed okayish, I guess. A single bed against one wall, green covers pulled back at the corner invitingly; A bookcase full of books beside the bed; a single plain wooden table, with a lit candlestick on it.

I flopped on the bed, worn out by the day's events. The room is a bit stuffy; I should open the window. Opening the window, I was met by a gentle breeze, caressing my sk-coat, I guess. Looking over the vista, the first thing I noticed was the same(Or do they all just look the same?) pegasus guard to my immediate left. He gave me a look of studied determination, not flinching a bit as I jumped away from his seeming sudden appearance. Oh, well. I'll just leave it ajar, I guess. Flopping down on the bed, I decided to just go to sleep immediately. Oh, hello. I need to find a restroom. Hoo boy, this is gonna be a weird night...

A New Dawn Approaches

There was a furious rustling outside the doors. Awoken suddenly, Cynthia looked to the still-locked portal, and called out, "Yes?" One side of the entrance flew open; "Finally!" It was Shining Armor, obviously out of breath.

As the Cynthia looked at her morning visitor, a guardspony looked in. Seeing Shining Armor hyperventilating, he stammered, "Are- Are you alright, sir? You look out of sorts?" "I'll be fine, thanks for asking" Shining Armor turned in towards the rudely-awoken Cynthia, closing the door behind him. "Shining Armor, what's going on?" Cynthia asked, still trying to properly twist herself onto the floor. Curse these confounded bodies... Why doesn't it work like my real one?

"The King wants to see you immediately," Shining Armor finally gasped. He had obviously been running. "What's so unnerving? You didn't seem like this last night." Cynthia asked. Now that I'm finally settling into this... what now? "Well, you see," Shining Armor began, "as soon as the King heard about your arrival, he wanted to see you immediately. He woke me up in a great fuss, I'm afraid. Uh, do you need some time to get ready or something? I realize you just got out of bed..." No shit, Sherlock... Ducking into the bathroom, Cynthia looked at her... mane.

Pushing and preening everything visible from the front into place, Cynthia realized she barely knew how to turn around. "Oof!" She collapsed all over. Uggghhhhhhhh. "Are you okay?" Shining Armor called from the other room. "Just a sec! I just fell over... give me a moment!" Seconds later, she was following Shining Armor down the hall again, taking care to remember each set of motions to step forward.

At last, they came to a sunnier hallway, with clear glass panes on one side giving illumination to the row of doors on the other side. Suddenly, he turned the corner, into the hall. Waiting at a door halfway down the hall, with a guardspony behind him, stood King Midnight Flame. Taller than Princess Celestia had stood, with burning flames for a mane and tail, and a carbon-black coat down to fetlocks the same colour.

Cynthia came to him, and attempted a slight bow, collapsing in the process. "King Midnight, I presume?" The tall Alicorn cocked his head, looked to Shining Armour, who merely looked on with an expression that plainly said, "She's crazy. Just roll with it." The guardspony opened the door, and the King strode in, pondering this Cynthia's reaction(or lack thereof) to him.

Seating himself on a pile of velvet pillows on the opposite side of the room, he motioned to the Captain of the Guard to leave them, then gazed on Cynthia, who was feeling increasingly untrusted.

"How do you know me, and whom do you serve?" He started. "Well, it's like this-" "I'll have you know that I've heard your claims and see them as preposterous! How could you know of this place, on Earth? And to know of me and my doings here, on top of that? What year do you come from?" he cut in. Cynthia pondered his reaction, fearing his mistrust. And I thought he trusted people/ponies... Then again, he did just get done fighting off a bunch of rogue Elemental ponies. Maybe he thinks I know something about that. "I come from the year 2012, and I know about this land as the fictional work of a toy company," she started. "Furthermore, I know of your exploits here through a fan-written story, based on this line of toys." He better like this, because it's the only truth I know... Midnight hesitated, then spoke again softly, "What year, did you say? I only remember the year as being in the 1980s sometime..." "I come from the year 2012, and know a lot about the world you left behind. It didn't get any better; the disappearances that started with you have apparently been going on for quite a long time. Centuries, maybe." "Mm, I see. And what do you know of how you got here?" he probed. "As far as I remember, I went to sleep after reading a story about you on my computer-" "Wait," he broke in, "exactly who were you, to afford one?" "Well, they've gotten a lot cheaper in the decades that you've been gone. Now it's common for a home in the West to have two, maybe three at once." "Alright, we'll leave that alone. Tell me more about how you got here. "That's just it," Cynthia replied, "I don't know." Perplexity crept into her voice.

I wonder if he's figured out any of this at all. He straightened from his musings. "There was a disturbance in the Everfree Forest, do you know where that is? It's where we found you." "Yes, I know a good bit about Equestria," she said, "it's one of my few hobbies, in fact."

"Well, imagine that. Who's to say what's real anymore? So, tell me about yourself. Why do you look like... a stallion-sized mare?" He was sniffing the air now, eyeing her for seemingly the first time, from horn to hoof. "It's not that simple, but I'll give you the soundbyte version, mkay?" "The what now?" Oh, great. Just wonderful. I have to learn new idioms too. Returning her gaze to the King, she started again, "I'll give it to you in a nutshell." "Oh! Why didn't you just say so?" he chortled. Seems he knew what I was saying anyways... "Well, I was born male, and my teenage years were spent as a male... but I never felt comfortable with it, so I'm letting myself be the girl... er, mare I feel I should have always been." she explained.

After a slow, awkward look, accompanied by silence, he started forming words again. "So... you still have a cock?" ugh!!! Every. Single. Guy. !!!! "Look, for what it's worth, I know what happened to you in Appeloosa, and... I'm not like that. I don't let guys just think I'm a natural mare, if I get in that situation." "This is over. How one of you freaks managed to find me here, of all places, I'll never know." he was already getting to his hooves, headed for the door.

"Hey, wait! I'm a unicorn, but I don't know how to use magic!" She yelled. Great fucking start to a new life. The one being I thought I could trust with my secrets in this world is a hater. Swell. He slowly turned around at the door. "I will teach you," he said levelly, "and then you will go... somewhere else. Not Ponyville." "Great. Just one request, on top of helping me with magic. Turn me back human, please." He looked at her strangely. "Why would you want that? So you can hog attention, like you did on Earth? So you can bemoan even MORE 'special' status?" Deadpanning, his mane started to flicker a little more.

"Fine, I'll turn you back. But you won't fit into this world very well, you know." "I know, just do me this favour. Please?" She was now bowing her head(already shorter than he) towards the ground, in a show of humility. He snorted, there was a prolonged flash, and suddenly, she fell down slightly. Ooohhh. Isn't one transformation enough for one day, for me? Bending his horned head down further, he touched it to her forehead, making her blood run cold. Screaming, she passed out.

King Midnight Flame left the door open, and instructed the Captain of the Guard to take wilted form back to the prepared accommodations, and defer her business to another functionary.

Author's Note

I realize I went light on the spatial descriptions here, and too heavy on the dialogue. I'll try to correct that next chapter.

Paradise Gained?

Birds chirped outside the window, voicing their beautiful cries of indignance at the intruding patrol. On the bed in her room, Cynthia stirred softly.

What's this? I have human appendages again! Then the pain hit. The pain of a mind filled to the brim with information, and then pushed over the edge with physical pain. Ow! Fuck! Looking down at the bed, Cynthia could tell that her body was indeed back to normal(as she knew it), and apart from the pulsating pain in her head, was quite capable of the same physical performance as before the transformations began.

Splashing a bit of water into her face in the restroom, everything seemed out-sized. The mirror was big, the faucet was equipped with clunky-looking valves(in place of handles)... it was a world built for horses. Miniature ones. Miniature talking horses that happen to use a form of telekinesis to perform daily routines. Cynthia looked at her body in the mirror. Still feeling the effects of the latest batch of feminizing pills she had taken. Sighing softly, a razor and lathering creme were located, and Cynthia began the daunting task of removing the growth of troublesome facial hair with the equine tools.

A knock at the door startled her ruminations, and she washed her face of the cleansing products quickly. "I'll be just a moment!"

When she opened the door, there stood King Midnight Flame, accompanied by his newly-wed wives Rarity, and a Princess Celestia that seemed to just be leaving. Curtsying quickly, Cynthia invited her royal guests in, prompting Princess Celestia to excuse herself for 'royal business'. Whatever that means.

The King spoke first, and rather sheepishly, "About what I said yesterday afternoon," I'll bet you REAAAAALLY want to talk about that again. He looked at the floor before stammering out again, Rarity holding her harsh gaze on him. "I just wanted to tell you, I'm sorry. I've mulled it over in my head, and it's not very welcoming of me to dismiss newcomers so harshly. And such anger that I showed you yesterday was not worthy of me. I hope you can forgive me?" he blurted. Really, now? I wonder who talked him into this... He started again, "This place is not Earth, and I shouldn't have brought my preconceived notions of ponies... and people, here."

Cynthia paused for a moment before speaking, "Well, thank you. It means a lot to me, to have a chance to prove my value." Midnight nodded, then continued, "So, exactly... what are you?" Hah! You just told me how little you know about a transwoman. "Are you a drag queen? A crossdresser?" Seriously, some people just need to learn... Oh well. I guess I'm going to 'be the change' I want to see... "Well, I am a woman, in spite of my somewhat... difficult past. And I take no part in what doesn't concern women... or mares, I guess, now." She paused, thinking if there was anything she missed. "Also, as you said, this is a different place. This is an opportunity to use what I've learned about humanity to help, not destroy. I'd be happy to help wherever I go."

"I see. A few more questions, before I have to attend to other business. Where are you from?" "Canada. You came from Kentucky, originally. Right?" "Yes, yes, I did," King Midnight confirmed. He then continued, "Also, do you have a major skill? A career, I mean?" "No; I have varied experiences, but no set career." "no worries, no worries." Rarity then looked up to her husband again, and muttered her first words so far, "Wasn't there something else, darling?" "Oh, yes! I meant to tell you Cynthia," the King said, rather quickly, "I've had the... opportunity to speak to the person known as Venus again, about your..." falling into silence, the King then picked up again. "I talked to Venus, and it's been made clear to me that you aren't like him at all. In fact, 'she' educated me quite a bit. Apparently there's something called a trans-mare here, something like what 'she' is, but... different. To say the least, my worries about you were put to rest." Hope he's done talking about that; I'm getting tired of hearing it...

Catching a breath, he started again, "So, have you quite recovered? From the ordeal last night, I mean." "Yes, yes; I'm quite over it, thank you. But what exactly is the point of having magic anymore? I'm a human again. I guess I wasn't thinking properly when I asked for both?" "Well," he began, "people from Earth can access certain more... exotic forms of magic. Try lifting that lamp with telekinesis, for starters."

Straining, Cynthia tried to pour her thoughts into the lamp, envisioning it floating with no support. Soon, the lamp bobbed off the table, floating a few centimetres in the air. "Good, good!" exclaimed King Midnight, "Now, just put it down, and I'll stop pestering you." Well, I hope he stays happy this time. I wouldn't want a freaked out Alicorn on my hands! "There you are, you've got it!" he cheered gleefully. "Now, if you ladies will excuse me, I have royal business that requires my presence." With that, the King excused himself, leaving Cynthia and Rarity in the room alone.

Rarity looked at Cynthia, appraisingly, as if to judge her suitability for a certain outfit. "I hope you don't hold yesterday's events against my husband, do you? Oh! And do you already know who I am?"

End of the Beginning?

The elegant white unicorn looked up at Cynthia. A green and purple cape, adorned with turquoise, sapphires, and amethyst on the collar, fell gently from her neck. This is Rarity.

Standing eye to eye, she spoke. "I do apologize so very much for my husband's indiscretions yesterday! I hope that isn't an indicator of your experiences here in Equestria; in fact, you'll find most ponies are tolerant of all others, with very few exceptions!" With a bright grin, she continued, "So I must ask - why choose to be human again? You will stick out, you know." "That's not my intent; I want to be the best human female I can possibly be - even with my unique... difficulties."

"I must insist on training you in the ways of magic, nevertheless! You had such a very hard time even lifting that lamp; how will you be a productive member of society otherwise?" she asked. "Oh, didn't Midnight-" "King Midnight, if you would, please? He is the King, you know." Rarity broke in. "Ah yes, of course. As I was saying, King Midnight copied a good many spells into my mind yesterday, and I think I can figure out how to summon objects from my home here." "But didn't you want a new start? Don't you want to leave the pain of the old world behind you? Tell me you aren't really going to just freeload your way through life - it's the surest way to make ponies resent you, even here!"

Now Rarity was concerned. Here was being in a new world, who had spoken of new beginnings and leaving a tormented past behind, and she wanted a part of it back?!? Such was not to be condoned!

"Oh, no, no," Cynthia spoke again, "I'll make the most meaningful contributions I can here, in the ways of this place." "Oh; I was worried there! I was thinking I might have to inform my husband, you know." This could be bad. Just ease your way out of this one, Cyn... "Heh, I don't think that will be necessary. But on the subject of the King being your husband... does that not make you a Queen?" Cynthia queried, narrowing her eyes. "Technically, yes. But by Equestrian law, I am a Duchess. For all intents and purposes, I am a Queen however. But call me Rarity," her mouth forming a smile that breathed friendliness and warmth.

Kneeling to the ground, Cynthia there swore her fealty to the fashionista-turned- nobility.

"I thank you for your loyalty, Cynthia. Where will you go now? And how will you support yourself? The Royal Treasury is not so great as some of those on Earth, my husband tells me." "Oh, don't worry 'bout that," Cynthia began, "I believe I have that quite handled." At those words, a pile of yellowish dust gathered on the floor. "Oh! What have you summoned there?" "Gold dust, m'lady. I gathered it from the core of my world's sun. No one shall miss it." Looking on as Rarity carefully picked the gold dust up with her magic then placed it into a bag, Cynthia smiled to herself. Now there are truly no limits. "There will be train tickets for you by the end of the day, if you already know where you want to go - seeing you already seem to know Equestria." Rarity said over her task of bagging all the dust, her eyes radiating delight at the shiny bits of metal in the pile. "Thank you ever so kindly, for your contribution to our royal expenditures! I will issue a personal memorandum to the internal financial officers stating that your taxes are fully paid for, for the weight of gold that you have given us!" she proclaimed.

"Now, Cynthia, where are you planning on going? You know we can't really keep you in this room for long. Plus it's so-" looking around the room as if she had just noticed it, her eyes quickly grew in horror, "SPARTAN! Surely you can't have been happy with this! Oh, I do apologize; you seem to have been given a room unworthy of a royal guest!" She was practically shrieking now. Oh, boy. How do I just get out of here?

Cynthia laid out her plans to go to the outskirts of the Everfree Forest. At this, Rarity's pupils simply dilated to the size of dimes. "Oh no, you simply can't! You've no knowledge of that forest, really! It will be the untimely end of you!" Rarity's penchant for dramatisation was getting old, very fast. "I can take care of myself; thank you so much for your concern though. Survival is one of the few things I doubt is really that different here." Cynthia shrugged as she straightened out her frame, mentally wondering if she did indeed have all it took to survive alone, even for a few days.

By the end of the day, Cynthia had gotten a taste for daisy salads and apple fritters, and was escorted to the train station, with a royal order to put her up in Ponyville's town hall.

"Thank you; thank you all" Cynthia said, trying to look at everyone-everypony assembled to send her off. King Midnight, Princesses Celestia and Luna, Duchesses Applejack, Rarity and Twilight Sparkle. Hugging everypony present, Cynthia boarded the train, thoroughly drilled in how to get to the town hall at Ponyville's centre, armed with a map of the small town, and followed by the smiles of a royal family pleased to welcome a new friend to their Kingdom.

I guess this is my life now... I wonder how every-everyone back home is doing... In spite of all that had gone right since the wild events of the last two days, Cynthia shed tears, not seeing the countryside roll by in the retreating sunset.

A Year Later

"Mmmmpfff..." Derpy rolled over, still sleeping. It's been a strange year, Cynthia thought to herself, I began as a jobless, almost desperate, young woman. Trapped in a 22 year old body.

Over the year, Cynthia had been ogled lots. As the new human 'round Ponyville, she had garnered much scrutiny. Unwelcome scrutiny, but still it came anyways. First had been Mayor Mare, 'Oh... well, I suppose you know the King, then... Right?' She could never quite wrap her head around the fact that Cynthia just didn't want to rule them, and she acted like Cynthia was the new emissary of Canterlot. Then there were the Apples, with their 'If Celestia will have it, then we live with it' attitude. As if it weren't enough of a standout being a human! Being obviously clumsy, a misgendered fit... it was quite the ride, even here. How do they even know how to make me feel so... so... WORTHLESS!

With time, Cynthia had become a fixture of life in Ponyville. After all, local jewellers would have gone out of business, if not for her magical ability to pull gold and other elements out of the Sun! And then there's Derpy... The plucky mare, known for her cheer and lack of awareness, had instantly taken to Cynthia. At first, they were only friendly acquaintances. It was soon more; much, much more. Even Carrot Top was suddenly on the sidelines of Derpy's life. The two talked less and less.

Almost a year ago to the day, the King had been turned to stone. 'Not dead,' they had told a stunned citizenry. 'Only in slumber.' The Princesses had returned to regency of Equestria, and the other mares of the King had either disappeared or gone insane. Rumours abounded, and conspiracies were suspected.

Equestria had become what every human Cynthia knew hoped it would not.

Still awake, Cynthia gently extricated herself from Derpy's loving embrace, and pushed away the wings that tried to pull her back. Striding to the balcony of their cave-home, Cynthia looked out at the night.

"Why are you sad?"

Cynthia gazed sideways at the mare who had followed her out to the balcony. "I couldn't sleep. I came out here... to... to think" she finally responded.

Nodding her head, Derpy continued to observe the sky above Ponyville. "It will never be quite the same, will it?" Trembling slightly, the pegasus remembered the day of her fight with Carrot Top, and let tears stream down her face.

"It's like, I barely even matter to you anymore! That... that... person has you locked into her life, and you only treat me like a lamp anymore! It's like I'm not even here!" Carrot had screamed. The tears had flooded Derpy's vision, before she could even reply. "But... it's not like I don't love you! It's just that..." "Oh, so we're going back to 'just friends', is that it?! You can't feed me that bullshit anymore!"

It was the last time they had really said anything with meaning to each other. Derpy had found a kindred soul in Cynthia, if locked in a funny body. But Carrot Top...

Cynthia gazed at the vista; the beautiful starscape, painted by Princess Luna herself since time immemorial. Ponyville's soft lines of harmony with the forest. A brand new theatre, still letting light through its stained glass windows at this late hour. The world looked at peace.

But she had left someone behind; a young man, broken by the vast machinations of the world. His youth taken and beaten out of him, by years of endless requirements, overcompensating peers who had nothing but pride left of their former lives, and a drive to simply see the job they had chosen through. Death, chaos, and confusion were his abettors, and yet he had never wanted any of them. They simply were, and he had only chosen what side of the barrel he would find himself on.

I wonder what he ever did; where he went. I hope he found someone to take care of him.

Feeling a mess of feathers at her side, Cynthia slid into Derpy's silent embrace, comforting her partner; hoping life was all just the dream some philosophers thought it was.

Justin. I love you. Forever.

Author's Note

I'm experimenting; please give feedback in the comments!

The Clothes Hit the Floor

"Mmmm." The somewhat raspy voice of Derpy Hooves called out in the early morning, melding with the songs of birds. In her warm embrace was a human woman, kneading the joints of Derpy's wings and rib cage. In the blissful calm of erotic wing-play, the mare relaxed her muscles, content to let Cynthia's ministrations to a heap of fur and feathers.

"Hey, do you mind if I, you know... gnaw?" Cynthia asked the near-oblivious mare. "Sure. I trust you. I know you'll be gentle." came the reply. Derpy didn't mind.

The human female called Cynthia might have had her quirks, but she had adapted to life in Equestria, mastering the concepts of magical summons and transformations. She had managed to figure out recently turn a what she called a male appendage(that she had been born with, apparently) into its female counterpart(which she called a... homologous organ?). She had summoned useful objects to the pony world, never failing to go to agonizing lengths to make sure the 'mistakes' of her former home would no be repeated here.

Just what mistakes, Derpy didn't know.

Cynthia had finished her massage of Derpy's ribs and wings, moving downward as she continued to administer her love to her lover's body.

Pausing at the navel, she pulled away. Staring at the small round hole before her, Cynthia wondered what the mare's parents had been like in person. She had asked, but had never received more than a look of pained memories from Derpy Hooves. Derpy, like Cynthia, had always struggled to even accept herself, reasoning that that was the only way anypony would ever be her friend. Carrot Top had been there for a spell, but she had been experimenting with her own life. In the end, Derpy Hooves and her filly, Dinky, had been the most adorable of guinea pigs. Cynthia was her match, and they both felt it.

Continuing to wonder at the survivor of an inner cultural war before her, Cynthia dove in. Taking in the scent of Derpy's relaxed fur, she kissed a small circle around the equine's only remaining physical tie to her parents. Kneading a pattern into the fur, Cynthia tickled her marefriend.

In time, her mouth and hands moved a little southward, pausing every so often to return to Derpy's warm belly, full of the contentedness of acceptance and an early human-style breakfast.

At the top of the pubis mons, Cynthia changed directions. Moving instead to the legs, Cynthia stroked the outside and insides of the powerful equine thighs. Paying attention to the dense hardened muscle in between the joints, she heard Derpy's soft moan of pleasure, and felt her wings guide Cynthia back to the mare's sex.

Smiling to herself, Cynthia looked at the pert little set of lips. Interesting that something so small, could be the focal point of so much pleasure. Idly, Cynthia wondered what Derpy had felt with the stallion that had chosen to take her innocence. Pain? Pleasure? Both? Maybe she's not so unlike the last female I was with. The trim lips were starting to glisten with physical evidence of what Cynthia had gotten used to smelling whenever they were together. She stroked the vulva surrounding the delicate hole, and moved up to eye level with Derpy.

Sensing her lover change positions suddenly, Derpy's eyes fluttered open. Look at her, Cynthia thought to herself, She thinks she's the only one who knows what she wants. The mare's big eyes stared at Cynthia, and simultaneously at the ceiling. Giggling, Cynthia closed the gap between their faces, locking their lips in a kiss of passion and happy fulfillment.

Positioning her legs in between Derpy's, Cynthia brought her body to contact along the whole length, making sure to mash her voluptuous breasts into Derpy's chest. Squealing happily, the equine's forehoof shanks came up to the sides to Cynthia's torso.

"Cyn," she said,, "I'm so glad I found you. I just can't believe-" Cynthia clamped their lips together again, understanding loneliness and it's only cure.

Grinding her sex into the mare's, Cynthia gave her lover a feeling of love and closeness only two females could know. Their vulvas soft from each other's soft touch, they stared into each other's eyes as they pressed themselves ever closer, tighter.

Laying in each other's arms, the two lovers thought of their future together. Their thoughts needed no words; they were closer than somepony might think of their brother or sister.

I'll figure it out, someday. And then we can live together, and we can love each other. All together. Someday

Picking herself up from Derpy's embrace, Cynthia began to think of what her day would entail, while she attended to the attention her nature as a transwoman demanded

Day Of Remembrance

Chzzzzzzzzz!!!

"Another one?!" A dead field mouse lay at Cynthia's knees, its last movements spasming from its nerves, as Cynthia sighed. It's been two goddamn hours! Can I even do this? Will I ever get this to work? Hearing the 'clip clop' sound of hooves behind her, with a familiar scent, Cynthia turned her head to look at Derpy. "Why... are you... What's going on?" Asked Derpy, confused at the sight before her.

Sighing, Cynthia, rose to her feet, standing twice the the height of the little pegasus pony. Seeing the difference once again, she knelt down, her legs to one side of her tall frame. "You remember that man I told you about... from my homeworld? Justin?" She began. "Ye-yes. What does that have to do with dead mice? Are you doing something to them?" Derpy asked.

She can be so oblivious; it doesn't matter how adorable she is, she just doesn't get it. "Yes, Derpy, I'm trying to figure out how to use magic to bring Justin - my man - here. So we can both be under his protection and love," Cynthia replied. "It's been so long... do you think he's found someone else? And you still haven't told me about the mice here yet," came the reply.

"I don't know... I wish there was a way to know for sure... Really, I think I'll just have to be selfish this time, and bend his life to my ideas - not like I haven't done it before!" Giggling, Cynthia let her dreams flow, using magic to imprint her visions and dreams on Derpy's mind.

"Oh! Oh! You want us..." Derpy paused a moment, obviously still not yet at grips with what she had just witnessed. "You want us to all live together... like a herd. Right?" "Yes, Derpy, that is what I want." Looking her pegasus lover in the eye, Cynthia could see things working out: In this land of peace and love and tolerance, her lovers would coexist, and be there for her, and her past with both of them would merge into one, beautiful, narrative.

The eyes of the pegasus were disinterested. "So, what would happen to Dinky? And you still... haven't told me about the mice..." Cynthia looked around quickly, startled from her reverie. "Huh? Them? Oh, I had to use a test subject, to make sure the transfer would be safe for him. Princess Twilight herself said it was okay! Well, I can't go trying to bring sentient people - er, ponies, here, now can I? I need a test subject, to make sure it's safe!" Looking down at the dead creatures, Cynthia mused about the things sacrificed for love. So much, so often...

"Look, I guess you need to make sure it's safe, but..." Derpy bit her lip, gazing sadly at the soil beneath her hooves. "What's wrong, my love? I've talked to you about this before..." Derpy came back to reality, steeling her eyes. "I wish you success. I suppose I'll get to know him when you figure out a way to get him here." With that, the pegasus mare excused herself, and started preparing for the day's parcel deliveries, leaving a very focused woman in her wake.

I hope I don't regret this. It's true, he may have someone else now.

During the day, Cynthia managed to introduce several more mouse corpses to Equestria. The latest ones seemed to have oddly coloured fur, and were definitely more fragile than the first few. Reflecting on this, Cynthia considered what made a person change; seasons, weather, climate... even environmental changes... Purging that last thought, Cynthia almost didn't notice the last mouse materialize. This one didn't die, and when Cynthia saw it, her mind shot fireworks.

"EUREKA! I am Goddess of travel!" Cynthia could barely contain herself. Here was proof that inter-dimensional transfer could not only be safely achieved, but the subject could also be saved from the morass that the Earth had apparently(considering the latest few mice) become!

The mouse, apparently used to loud noises nearby, paid her little heed, as it fled into the forest. Mottled brown, with patches of lost hair, it seemed to be diseased, but at the same time, had much larger ears than Cynthia remembered. Odd, I targeted a genus that exists in both dimensions... I wonder why I have found so many of these things, sick and hurt?

Stifling her enthusiasm for a moment, Cynthia paused to look at the configuration of runic artifacts, the center of which was the spot where a targeted subject would re-materialize. Memorizing it, she turned to get her sketchbook(a seemingly parallel technology of socially developed races between the dimensions), and penned and exact, to scale, sketch of the outline of artifacts.

Calmly, the pattern was scaled up, until the size was right for a reclining human. Then, as Celestia's sun set on the horizon, the target was confirmed. Cynthia's magical powers began to manifest, and she concentrated on the body and spirit of the one she chose for transfer.

Coming up to the gate, Derpy noticed an odd concentration coming from Cynthia, as she focused her being on the subject of inter-dimensional transfer. Seeing her engrossment, Derpy bypassed the fence, and crept into the house from the back, so she wouldn't disturb the human girl in the front yard.

With a distortioning of the ground, Cynthia continued to pour concentration on the subject, and keeping a steady hand on her flow of magic. It was no small task, to just keep her enthusiasm for the task in check, but she pressed onward steadily, increasing the focus incrementally.

Finally, there was a whirring noise, and the ground before her rippled. It was time. Cynthia stepped into the circle of runes, continuing to pour herself into a focus on only the subject of her concentration, and letting her passion pour through control. As the air seemingly snapped with electricity, and raw magical energy started to swirl, a human form appeared. Swirling clouds of magical energies surrounded the figure, and the visage of the person became clear.

Frozen in the gap of inter-dimensional travel, the man transported open his eyes. Focusing on Cynthia, he reached out with his presence, and took hers by its hand. With both now pouring themselves into the other, they gradually started to solidify. The magical forces rippling the ground around them dissipated, and the man looked into Cynthia's eyes, and took her by the shoulders.

It was the man of Cynthia's dreams; her parallel, her mentor, her confidant, her guide, her mate.

This was Justin.

In the house behind, Derpy watched the culmination of her lover's energies manifest itself; it was love, no doubt about it: nothing else would motivate Cynthia to leave the world, and pour herself into another.

In her mind's eye, Derpy watched the man called Justin embrace her Cynthia. And for the first time in a long time, Derpy shed a tear.

This was the dawn of a new chapter in all their lives.

And the Drum Beats Begin

He looks worn; I hope he's okay.

Justin's eyes were dark with exhaustion, and his face was wizened. His clothes were a dark green, and were ripped, and spattered with mud, blood, and excrement.

As he opened his eyes, his body tensed, and he put his arms forward immediately; expecting a fight that was obviously his last act of desperation.

Cynthia's perspective

Oh... my god...

"Justin? Justin?" I backed away quickly, using my time-proven method of falling to the ground, and skidding away on my palms. As Justin turned towards me, I saw scars on his face, and noted the harsh glare, with which he fixed me.

"Who are you?" he demanded abruptly, "Whatever you're looking for, I don't have it." He growled; he was obviously not cognisant of who he was looking at.

"Jus... Justin?" I asked, fearing what I heard. "Are you alright... baby?"

Immediately, I got caught in a vise-like grip, tight as death itself; it was as if there was absolutely nothing he had left to risk by hurting me.

"Who are you?" he growled again. Something was very, very wrong.

Justin's perspective

I'd been in combat; I'd lost the only people important to me. And now it was me who would finally leave this life. Perhaps now, I'll finally find the rest I've searched for.

The woman standing before me was a stunner, in terms of the world before everything just went to hell. Raven-haired, green metallic eyes, that pierced the very soul. She looked every bit the evil, seductive, domina, that had terrorized the deaths of the unlucky men sent to stop her. The only thing this woman seemed to not share with that one was her clothes; they looked tattered and torn.

Jumping forward, I grabbed the woman and spun her so that I would be able to snap her neck if I still needed to.

"Who are you?" I repeated. I only heard a frightened gasp in reply; clearly this was not nearly the same woman, and wouldn't put up a fight. Still, it paid to be watchful. And if I'd learned anything about the packs of wild women, it was that they were usually as good(if not better) negotiators than the ones the tribal lords kept around. No, I would let her know who's boss. And if I have to, it'll be the last mistake she makes.

Third-Person perspective

Cynthia's eyes watered, realizing her position. The man that held her barked incoherent bursts of rage, that seemed to have a familiar pattern.

"Justin? Please let me go," she croaked. "Just answer my fucking question! Who the hell are you!" he was sounding more and more coherent; perhaps she had sounded similar when she had first come here.

Calming herself, Cynthia stopped crying, and immediately sniffled, enough to draw breath; not so easy when you're held in a way that makes you feel like your neck will snap any second!

"My name... you asked my name. It's Cynthia." Almost at the point of choking on her own breath, Justin finally let her go.

"Cynthia who?" he demanded, "Last girl I knew named Cynthia, died a year ago. Who are you?"

Almost falling to the ground, Cynthia caught her balance a few feet away from her erstwhile captor. "I am Cynthia (redacted). I... can explain what happened to you. Please calm down."

Justin's jaw dropped ever so slightly. "So you're going to do some freaky-ass feminine act shit, and now you're my dead girlfriend? Again, who are you?" Justin wasn't reacting outwardly anymore, but was still poised like a predator. "And why... "

As his gaze shifted to the arrangement of runic stones and trinkets on the ground, the impossibility of his situation suddenly struck him.

"Please, Justin, sit down," Cynthia instructed. Now, let's see exactly which parallel universe this boy comes from; it definitely doesn't look like mine. Although, that's kind of moot, seeing as I never figured out how to send him back if he doesn't want to stay...

Behind the two humans, a mare watched, unseen in the shadows of a darkened cave-home. It had all come to this; perhaps now, Cynthia would see how futile summoning this man from her old home... As things stood, whatever(or whomever) the creature was that she had summoned was violent, and Derpy could see now why Cynthia feared bringing those mistakes from her old home, to this new one.

"It's just- I dunno; I just don't know anything, since DOOM became reality." Justin's face was crestfallen; a picture of a man who'd lost everything, and had no faith in anything but bare survival anymore.

"But that's just what I'm telling you," Cynthia continued. "Once I roughly figured out the mechanism to get to this place, I realized I would never be happy, wondering if you were okay. I just wanted to know... to know that I could be there for you. And look at this place! Birds, forest, nature... peace! Did that exist, on Earth?"

The man called Justin looked around; indeed, this place was the embodiment of peace, during the day. Still, that didn't mean he was alive in it; maybe this was the afterlife?

I'm starting to think he doesn't believe me. So I die, the world goes to hell in a handbasket, and he's now a rogue in his own back yard? Well, if I am only in his dream, I hope he never wakes up. "Justin," she intoned, "look, I know you don't believe any of this. I don't blame you; it's a pretty fantastic story. To believe that unknown feats of nature can be achieved by thought, and that I'm not gone... I don't blame you at all. Can we please make this a beautiful dream, even if it is just a dream? We can do that, right?"

"Look," he began, "if you are really Cynthia (redacted), then tell me again: what happened to you, that you came to this place? Did you know you'd come here?"

Adorable; he still doesn't believe me, and he'll let me be his guide to peace anyways. I guess he really did think he'd lost everything. "Okay. First question: I fell asleep in my room, after a long, grueling day of looking for work online. And finding nothing, I might add. Secondly, no. I didn't know this place was anything more than the cartoon world of some TV writer's dreams. That cover it?" "Almost, and I think I could learn to live here, if this place really is peaceful," he replied. Cynthia began again, "Alright, and when I came here, I learned to use this arcane force-like ability to change my form, and calm my mind. Are we good on that?"

"Sure," came the reply. This place was nothing but peace, according to what Cynthia had said.

Getting to meet for the first time, Cynthia and Justin eyed each other, head to toe. Indeed, they had waited all their lives for this; no time was wasted now.

Leaping on her old lover, Cynthia stroked his arms passionately, taking in his scent as she scanned his eyes. Truly, this wait had been worth it.

*SNAP*

It was a SpecOps guardspony. In the wake of Cynthia's appearance in Equestria, Princess Luna had taken the cadre of trained guards, and selected those most able to detect and wield magic. Pegasus, unicorn, and earth pony alike, they stood as a stark reminder of the fear humans were greeted with, though more and more had been sucked in recently. With few exceptions, they had been successfully assimilated into Equestrian society. Those that didn't... had exposed the need to toughen security in the larger cities, and patrol the countryside.

"This human; you're taking care of him?" The stern guard looked in Cynthia's direction, and fixated her with a gaze of boredom-turned-directed aggression.

"Yes, I am," Cynthia replied quickly; it was not good to keep them waiting for answers, rumour had it.

"Then by the authority of the Equestrian Royal Family, your influence will be considered, if this human proves to be a... nuisance."

The guaredspony's lips turned up, almost predatorily. Then he was gone.

*SNAP*

"What the hell was that?" asked Justin anxiously. "I thought this was all 'peaceful and happy.'"

In the months after my coming, this place has become more like what I've read of Communist Russia; I hope he doesn't do anything to upset the authorities here. "Since my coming, the authorities have tightened their grip on the people- er, ponies. Harmony is still prized above all, but the motto of the government here seems to be 'damage control'. I'm afraid they're too jittery, and may spark a civil war." Cynthia was now sporting a faraway look, and seemed to not see the glorious beauty of the forest anymore.

"So, just what happened, after I disappeared? Tell me, Justin?" [A/N: listen to this while you read: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84aIX8UPklI] "Well," he began, "immediately after, I began to panic. Obviously, it was really only a big deal to me." Sighing, he started again, "About a month after you disappeared, more people started to go missing." Justin paused, and cleared his throat. Apparently, I missed more than a bit of fluctuation in the real estate sector... He began again, "Dead bodies would float on rivers, and there seemed to be no end to them. Eventually, it came out that contact with the dead, even breathing the spores their bodies left behind, would condemn a living person to the same fate. Winter came soon, though, and none too soon for the few people left. By this time, the governments had collapsed, infrastructure had eroded, and there were only a few people left behind. In the spring, people began to coalesce into organised groups again, and small 'banana republics' of a few thousand began to make their appearance; by the next winter, most people were forced to serve some kind of warlord or self-proclaimed deity, or go rogue. I went rogue."

Cynthia broke in, "What was happening to you, that you reacted so fiercely when I brought you here?"

"Well, that's one of the things that happened over the first summer of the 'new order', as some have called it. Many of the established clans formed pacts, and pledged to not use the tremendous destructive weapons they had inherited from the old world. But there were many who didn't make such agreements; they used the chemical and biological and nuclear weapons as a means of punishment, enforcing their control through complete destruction of their enemies."

"Wow, Resident Evil, meet Iron Sky."

"Pretty much; there wasn't much left, and I was in the process of being captured by a particularly bad gang. They're led by a woman who looks a little like you; painfully so, actually. She tortures males as a sport, and does things to females that we did to ants when we were children; unspeakable."

Cynthia recoiled a little at this information. You know... I wouldn't be surprised if I found out that I was capable of that stuff too. I guess I'm lucky I learned to respect people or leave... "I... don't know what to say to that."

"There is nothing to say."

"No, there is," Cynthia replied. "I love you, Justin. Pinch yourself; you're not in a dream. I brought you here, so you could be safe, with me."

Looking into her eyes, the still dazed man softened. "I know," he began, "I know... And I, you. I love you so much, Cynthia. I know you're real, and I'm just so happy to see you safe at last!"

Tears forming in Justin's eye's, he brought his strong, grizzled hands to Cynthia's arms. The soft skin was almost like a pillow, inviting him to pull it closer, and drink deeper from the Fount of Love. Tenderly watching her movements, Cynthia put her hands to his neck, caressing the scar she found there.

Their lips parted in harmony.

Behind them, Derpy Hooves looked on, and mindlessly chewed the lily flower she had bought Cynthia earlier.

The drums had begun to beat.

As Dreams Fade, Reality Sets In

I've pulled my man into my world, once again; I've filled him in on most of the doings of my life, since I got to Equestria... what's left? Ah, yes! Derpy Hooves... I suppose that will be something he has to see for himself.

Third-Person perspective

Cynthia snuggled up to her found-again lover. "I've got someone you need to meet." Squinting her eyes in judgement, she paused. "Who is it? What are they to you?" Justin knew to pick his words carefully; even after a year's time apart, Cynthia was still dangerously unstable in her personality. A slight verbal misstep could be a bad mark on his new lease on life.

Looking away, Cynthia remembered, back to the time when she had first begun to unravel her own identity. Back then, males in general were distasteful creatures; slovenly, emotionally cold, and obsessed with being the ruler and regulator of all. Back then, only fellow females seemed even remotely capable of feeling what she did, and she had paid the price for that folly. Heartbreaks and sorrow abounded, until she opened herself to the possibility that maybe, just maybe, she had only run into the wrong ones. And to think that the answers were in front of my nose the entire time, she reflected bitterly.

"Babe? What's wrong?" Justin did the only things he knew would soothe a bitter Cynthia; rubbing her arms and looking her in the eyes, he found her attention once again. "You okay? You seemed a little sad there for a moment," Justin said, concernedly.

"Meh. I was just thinking... You know; about the time..." Cynthia's eyes welled up, but no tears came, "... the time before I opened up to you." "Well, I'm here now. You don't have to deal with those people anymore. We clear on that?" I wish pouring my own soul into someone else's life was that easy to forget... "Yeah, I'm fine," she sniffled, looking back into his eyes. "I have you now, and my soul has been agonised, from the day I got here, because you weren't with me."

"Awwww, I love you too, babe," he started, and put his arms around Cynthia's body. Seeing a motion out of the corner of his eye, Justin tightened his grip, then whirled her around, so his back was to the cave.

"What is it, love?" Cynthia knew her man's foibles, even if she didn't recognise the actual intent; protect, at all cost, her. "I saw motion in that house-thing. Is the door locked?" he started.

"Oh, no! Justin, that's my partner, that I found here; her name's Derpy-" "Hooves," he finished for her. The fanbase of the little kids' show she loved had almost completely created this character, but she had long since been phased out of the show's focus. And now here she was, in Cynthia's home; quite possibly in her bed too.

"Are you serious," Justin started. "You have the Derpy Hooves here, and she's your partner?" "Yes," Cynthia replied, "I wasn't sure how to introduce you to her, but I can't imagine her missing all the noise we made, when I brought you here."

"Well, let's go meet her," Justin started towards the door.

Cynthia's perspective

I let him go, because he was already comfortable enough in this place. Maybe, this was all he'd ever dreamed of in a world - to live peacefully, and never have to worry about the endless bills, or bombs, or bullets... Was it really his dream? Well, I guess there's only one way for him to learn that this world is only missing mass-market profiteering. With a heaving sigh, I followed him to the door, and stood before it with him.

"You realise what this means, don't you?" I challenged, "You are about to meet a flying, magical, talking, equine, that I happen to be quite happily bedding." "Well, I would love to at least meet her..." he stammered. "Are you sure that isn't... you'd like to 'meat' her?" I shot back with a coy grin. Men can be such fun!

Motioning Justin away from the door, I put my hand to the doorknob, and turned. There, standing by the kitchen table, was a hollow-eyed Derpy Hooves, who looked at me... wistfully?

"I'll just leave," Derpy started. "Wh... why?" I asked. I was dumbfounded. Her reply was swift, and to the point; "I was happy to see you succeed, but I just can't... not with a stallion-male-thing around... I'm sorry."

She turned, and walked out the side entrance, not giving us a second look. Justin and I simply looked at each other; even a year apart, we could still communicate silently. I dashed to the side entrance she had just left.

"Hey, what about your stuff?" I cried, "I'll come back... sometime, to get it all," she called back. "I'll send someone to tell you I'm coming."

Slumping my shoulders, I stood there and contemplated. So, the three of us, huh? I guess that one didn't really go off as planned. Well, I have what I worked for. As Justin turned around from closing the side door, I looked him over. Torn, soiled clothes were the rags he wore; his face was grizzled more than I remembered; and his grip was still that of a man who had lost everything. I had Justin, and as before, his life was all I had. I am not his mother, but I will care for him like my only son. Crying, we embraced again, and sat on the couch nearby.

Third-Person perspective

The young couple lay on the loveseat in the den; spent and worn by the sharing of tales over the evening. Cynthia stirred; her hands were still on his legs. Moving carefully, she put her hand up his leg, massaging his thigh.

"You didn't really think I'd sleep through your touch, did you?" his voice came out in a slow moan, that convinced her she had him relaxed and pliant. "Of course, how could I have forgotten honey," Cynthia replied. Her voice was low and rumbling, but smooth and honeyed.

"Even after what happened earlier," she started, " want you to know that I still care for you, and love you deeply." I know," came the reply, "I'm happy, because I know you're real. If you're not real, then this is the best damn dream ever, and I never want to wake up from it." Justin's eyes fluttered open now, looking quizzically at Cynthia.

"What?" she asked. "Oh, I'm just wondering if you're ready to, you know," Justin started.

"Go through the bedroom, and find what wasn't a part of my life with Derpy, and bring it out for the both of us?" Nodding his head, Justin replied, "Yeah... that."

Silly man. Myman.

"I'm sure there will be time for that tomorrow," Cynthia replied. "Let me get something for us to sleep on, for tonight." "You don't want to sleep on a bed?" he queried. "No, there's only one bed in the house... can we please just leave it to tomorrow? I promise I'll get it then, and we can sleep in it, okay?" Cynthia wanted nothing to do with that bed right now, and fetched a sleeping bag out of a closet.

My man. My life. My love.

Glory Falls To Those Who Win It

The sound of knocking on the door jolted Cynthia and her boyfriend from sleep. With a moan of frustration and rekindled desire, Justin rolled off her, and started to dress.

Cynthia, having mastered the art of magical camouflage, simply applied a shield of energy that looked an awful lot like a bathrobe that you might see at the local spa. "Just a minute, I'm coming!" she yelled.

"My you really are getting this magical thing down." Justin remembered with glee, how his girl had figured out how to enhance the experience of both vaginal and oral stimulation. His head still 'in the clouds', Justin pulled on his tshirt and pants(the old, much-worn out ones he'd been wearing before had been replaced before the night was out), and headed into the kitchen which was adjacent to the entryway, when he overheard Cynthia talking to the person at the door.

"How soon? Should I... you know, dress up? I mean, he is a king and all..." Closing the door with a sigh, Cynthia turned to her lover.

"Who was that?" he asked, noting the pained expression on the girl's face. "An emissary from the king; he's coming here." "Wait, this place is run by a king?" "Yes, and the first time I met him went..." Cynthia's voice trailed off, her voice choked by unhappiness. "Went what, love? What did he do or say?" "I... he.." Cynthia paused and regained composure.

"Wash your face, and shave," she instructed, changing the subject quickly. "What don't you have to anymore? he queried. "No, I can use magic to permanently alter my physique. A girl's dream!" She beamed, and it sent a wave of joy through Justin's heart. "Babe, I'm glad things are the way they are for you now... It's just... you!" he exclaimed. "Did you know," he continued, "that my dick still hurts?" "No!" Cynthia's face screwed up in a teasing laugh. "Did you know," she quipped, "that you are the first male I've let do that stuff to me, while I was here?" Justin paused. "Have you really not gotten any... at all?" "Nope. I knew I'd figure out how to bring you here, or... I dunno." trailing off, Cynthia looked at the ground for a moment, then felt her chin being lifted. "No matter what happens, it seems you just won't let go of me," he cried through watering eyes. "No matter what I've done, or what I do... why?" Putting her hand on his chest, Cynthia smiled as she looked into his eyes. "Because, I love you... and that's not something I feel for anyone - or anypony - else." Nuzzling his chin, she suddenly tightened her muscles, and took a small step back.

"Now, we have a king to meet!" she stated pompously. "Wait, that's what the person at the door was all about?" "Yes; I told him months ago I was going to figure out how to bring you here, and I suspect that he wants to make sure everything is in order." she said proudly.

King Midnight Flame strode in, followed by his wife Celestia(who was now a Queen of Equestria). Sitting down on the proffered cushions in the living room, pleasantries were exchanged and tea was served.

"So, this is the new guy, eh?" King Midnight eyed Justin up and down. "Son, you look like you were just pulled out of a warzone." Justin began to reply, but he was cut off, and Cynthia spoke up. "The whole world went to hell, king. From what Justin has told me, things started falling apart very fast after I was taken here." Yes, yes, I've heard the same from other... survivors of the journey here."

The king narrowed his vision, and continued. "After you, there were many other... incidents, let's call them, of humans coming into contact with Equestria." Cynthia gasped, wondering what the important information the king was about to divulge.

"Nazis, Cynthia. The nazis are here."

The pupils of the two humans across the room shrunk, and both bodies tightened. "How?" Cynthia started, "How, did they get here? And do you have any names of the ones that got here?"

"Well," came the king's reply, "I don't know how they got here, and I know little about them. The fact is, we have agents in their circles, throughout Equestria, but they're so damn secretive..." Justin started here. "Do we have any names? That might help-"

Cut off by the king's upraised hoof, Justin fell silent. King Midnight pulled a piece of paper from his saddlebag, and floated it over to the humans in the room. On the cover was the slogan: Banish the Impure! Reclaim Equestria, in the Name of Brotherhood! On it were also a few ponies, wearing the distinctive armband of international peace-turned-to-hate: the red and black swastika.

"It's... real..." Cynthia stammered. King Midnight nodded, and looked to Celestia before adding, "We have the name of the leader too." With the full attention of all three beings in the room, he went on. "His name... is Ernst Roehm..." "But he's supposed to have died, in 1934!" Cynthia exploded. "I know, but given the circumstances of all the people that have gotten here from Earth... I mean, we have people who believe the world is flat! I don't know what to do with these 'immigrants.'"

Celestia spoke up again, drawing Cynthia's attention. "Perhaps we should leave the men alone, Midnight can take good care of himself." Cynthia brought the queen to the front yard, where they began to walk the open ground.

"They showed up in Trottingham and Mareheim," Queen Celestia started. "Funny, those names sound just like the area those people came from on Earth..." Cynthia replied, looking away. "Is something the matter?" "No, it's just that... I guess I thought this place would be safe from them. You've seen into Midnight's mind; the horrors they're responsible for?" Nodding Celestia sat on the stone ben beside Cynthia. "Midnight... Charles, I guess, back then. He was in a place called Vietnam. Horrific, what he went through. But he's seen the historical records left by the monstrosities we have now." Looking her queen in the eye, Cynthia pressed her forehoof like a hand. "Them being here... we're going to war, you know this, right?" Queen Celestia nodded again, watching the nearby zen fountain Cynthia had set up.

"I see," King Midnight said, "so you're a veteran of... the Persian Gulf War..." "The second one, actually. Really, it was never called off." "One of those 'cease-fire' things?" the king asked. Justin only bobbed his head, and both men looked at the flyer, contemplating the things to come.

"I know I can count on you, Kennedy," the king started again, "I was Marine, but I partied with some Army guys. The bras didn't like that a whole lot." Laughing, Justin reached his hand over to the king's hoof, and waited. "When the time comes, you know you can count on me, right? Cynthia will need protecting, and this place is a place worth fighting for." Eyeing his hand, King Midnight put out his hoof. "I know you're trustworthy. I'll tell you when we know more. We do things differently here, you know." Laughing, the men rose to their feet, and started searching for the ladies.

"Griffons, Dragons, Windigoes... the list goes on! This land is a land of peace, as long as it is ours!" The crowd roared, "You! You, are the ones who are worthy of the peace of this land! You must be the ones to take back the Equestria of old!"

"Good orator, is he not?" one stallion in the crowd said to another. "Yes, yes, he is! He makes a convincing case. We have lost something of ourselves in all this 'tolerance' crap lately," the other replied. "Do you know his name?" said the first one. "No, but he is a smart stallion," said the second. "What is his name then?" "He calls himself Ernst Roehm," the first replied.